The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Arts
Friday, December 8, 2017 — 5
NETFLIX
‘Easy’ is isn’t alway easy
Even as it enters its second
season, “Easy” remains one of
the year’s most underrated and
overlooked TV displays amidst
the flood of fresh Netflix originals.
The anthology — with each
episode
presenting
different,
individualistic
characters
and
storylines — continues on to
explore more diverse Chicagoans
and their experimentation in the
realms of business, romance and
culture. Whether it be trying out
an open marriage, broadening
entrepreneurial
endeavours
or raising an angsty teen, the
experiences within the show
are
extremely
approachable.
After a binge-watch of season
two, it is evident that much of
the allure of the series is due to
writer and director, Joe Swanberg
(“Drinking Buddies”), who fuses
his indie, improvisational and
highly unconventional structure
with captivating and introspective
character development.
I have to admit that at first
glance, “Easy” had me feeling the
opposite of what the title implies.
I was confused and somewhat
uncomfortable, not quite sure how
to approach the mumblecore vibes,
ever-changing plot and overall
unpredictability of the show. The
characters talk over one another,
the tone is almost too relaxed and
conversational, and the situations
that the various personalities are
dealing with come off as somehow
intensely serious and humorous at
the same time.
But after a few more vignette-
style episodes, I came to accept
that my very uneasiness is an
integral element of the show’s
intent.
The
spontaneity
and
tackling of ultra-contemporary
issues like sexuality, status and
race are what give “Easy” its
honesty. The way that I became
invested in new characters who
then disappeared after a mere
30-minutes left me hoping for
the expansion and elaboration of
certain stories into stand-alone
pieces.
It must be said, however, that not
all of the episodes and stories had
as equal an impact and intrigue
to them. The significance of each
episode was entirely dependant on
how devoted I was to the featured
personas and scenarios. While
some of the stories picked up as a
continuation of season one, most
were unfamiliar and innovative,
allowing similar opportunities
for a sparked interest. The most
entertaining
and
compelling
episodes of “Easy” were the ones
that
highlighted
experiences
that I could envision myself
encountering in real life, which
prompted the self-investigation of,
“How would I handle this?”
Hands
down
the
funniest
episode of the season is the first,
where a group of dynamic and
hyperbolized suburban couples
form a neighborhood watch to
catch a package thief. Though
simple in plot, the focus on
mob mentality, or how one’s
perspective can sway the group’s,
and
Aubrey
Plaza’s
(“Parks
and
Recreation”)
subsequent
unconvinced and unimpressed
facial expressions are enough
comedic payoff in themselves.
In fact, the genuine and palpable
acting within “Easy” is one of its
greatest successes, as this season
spotlights
some
Hollywood
geniuses like Joe Lo Truglio
(“Brooklyn
Nine-Nine”),
Judy
Greer (“Arrested Development”),
Zazie
Beetz
(“Atlanta”)
and
stand-up comedian Kate Berlant
among
others.
These
actors
take on roles of various races,
ethnicities,
sexualities,
ages
and professions, and they lend a
real authenticity and normalcy
to diversity and difference. In
a time when diversity in media
is so often included to “check
boxes” of character variety, the
character portrayals in “Easy”
never appear forced or unnatural,
remaining legitimate and relatable
throughout countless storylines.
It becomes evident that the
premise of “Easy” is not to feel
content after each episode wraps
up (even though each story
does culminate with some sort
of conclusion), but to continue
wondering about the trials and
tribulations of others, and maybe
even look at your own life with a
different lens. The show teaches
compassion and consideration for
those around you, especially those
who may look or seem different,
and to acknowledges that not all of
life’s situations have an immediate
happy ending. This underlying
message is not only comforting
and surprisingly uplifting, but is
extremely relevant and necessary
in today’s often idealized society.
Season two of “Easy” reveals
that aside from what it seems, life
is not, in fact, always easy. The
series represents a mishmash
of
varying
personas
and
perspectives and consequently
leaves viewers with a mishmash
of feelings and emotions, which
interact
in
an
uninterrupted
and natural way. “Easy” breaks
down the reserved sheltered
way that traditional comedy-
dramas portray sex, romance
and money-making, and is a hit
with millennials because of that
candor. With seemingly endless
scenarios that future storylines
could follow, I’m hopeful that the
series will return with a season
three and continuing inquiring
upon the often untold truths of
our types of diverse and dynamic
people.
“Easy”
Season
Premiere
Netflix
EXHIBIT REVIEW
NO FILTER
YALE INSTITUE OF SACRED MUSIC
Bach Collegium Japan
bring Christmas to Hill
The
classical
sounds
of
Christmas will be coming to Ann
Arbor tonight.
The Bach Collegium Japan is an
ensemble that was started in 1990
by Masaaki Suzuki, founder and
musical director of the group. They
will perform J.S. Bach’s Christmas
Oratorio, which is split up in parts
that celebrate the major feasts of
Christmas time. Bach Collegium
Japan will perform parts, one,
two, three and six.
“I think people will enjoy the
variety of expression of the music,
as well as experience the story
of Christmas time,” said Suzuki
in an interview with The Daily.
“I’m hoping to show a connection
between
Christmas
and
the
passion chorale.”
The passion chorale appears at
the beginning and ending of the
Christmas Oratorio, and Suzuki
finds it to be one of the most
interesting aspects of Bach’s piece.
Bach has always played a huge
influence
on
Suzuki’s
music
work. The Bach Collegium Japan
started as a small choir, which
later expanded and gave him the
chance to perform some of his
works.
Suzuki has established himself
as an outstanding conductor,
organist,
harpsichordist
and
leading
authority
on
Bach.
Suzuki
has
guest
conducted
the New York Philharmonic,
Boston Symphony Orchestra, San
Francisco Symphony and more.
He was awarded with the Leipzig
Bach Medal in 2012, the Royal
Academy of Music Bach Prize in
2013 and the Das Verdienstkreuz
am Bande des Verdienstordens der
Bundesrepublik from Germany in
2001. The Bach Collegium Japan
has also won several awards,
including the 45th Suntory Music
Prize and the Echo Classical
Music Prize in 2014.
Understandably,
Bach
has
played a major role in Suzuki’s
musical career. Suzuki noted
that Bach’s music has a universal
appeal to it, as it has the ability
for everyone to understand the
emotions and moods it attempts to
portray.
“Music is very powerful and
dense in its structure,” Suzuki
said. “It speaks to me very
strongly. The three dimensions
built into Bach’s oratorio — the
biblical text, chorale movements
and congregational singing — will
give the show a lot of variety and
power.”
The ensemble has also recorded
Bach’s
complete
cantatas
in
chronological order, an enormous
project that spanned from 1995
to 2013. Receiving high praise
internationally, their work has not
gone unnoticed. They have also
recorded works by other classical
composers, such as Beethoven’s
ninth symphony and Mozart’s
“Requiem.”
The Bach Collegium Japan
brings
together
musicians
worldwide for its performances,
coming from America, Europe and
Japan. The ensemble performs
all over the world and regularly
in their home country’s cities of
Tokyo, Kobe and Nagoya.
“We work on a project basis, so
every time we come back together
it’s a reunion,” Suzuki said.
“Especially with the spirit and
theme of Christmas time, it’ll be a
very happy atmosphere for us.”
Suzuki is also a principal
guest conductor of Yale Schola
Cantorum and was on the choral
conducting faculty at the Yale
School of Music and Yale Institute
of Sacred Music from 2009 to 2013.
Suzuki and the rest of his
ensemble
keep
Bach’s
music
and spirit alive through their
dedication and hard work.
NITYA GUPTA
Daily Arts Writer
TV REVIEW
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
UMS presents
“J.S. Bach’s
Christmas
Oratorio”
Hill Auditorium
Friday, December
7th @ 8:00 p.m.
Student $12 - $20
Adult $14 - $80
Russian Classical Ballet to
perform ‘The Nutcracker’
Like it or hate it, the holiday
season is undeniably upon us. A
walk down Main Street offers
proof of this: Bright lights wrap
themselves gracefully around
trees, Christmas carols ring
from inviting Kerrytown shops
and couples walk hand-in-hand
with a seemingly newfound
sense of happiness.
If you’re like me and love
the
spontaneous
comradery
that springs up during this
time of year, or just need a
way to escape the mounting
stress of finals, you’re in luck.
The classic holiday special
“The Nutcracker” will make a
reappearance this Saturday at
the Michigan Theater
This performance of “The
Nutcracker” is presented by the
Academy of Russian Classical
Ballet,
based
in
Wixom,
Michigan. The Academy is
made up of talented ballet
students from Michigan and
Ohio who learn the traditional
Vaganova (Russian) style of
classical ballet. The Academy
also
holds
a
Professional
Trainee Program for students
intending to pursue ballet as a
profession.
This is the third time the
Academy will perform “The
Nutcracker”
at
Michigan
Theater, and they intend to
keep
the
performance
as
close to the Russian Bolshoi
Ballet Company’s rendition as
possible.
As a way to follow the
original ballet, this particular
rendition
doesn’t
“have
a
specific wooden Nutcracker
doll. We have a younger dancer
who performs the role,” said
co-director of the Academy
Jessica
Morschakov
in
an
interview with the Daily.
The dancers are excited
that their version of “The
Nutcracker” stands out from
other modern interpretations.
“For the Spanish (corps), it’s
really interesting to do the
original choreography rather
than something newer,” said
Nina Schotland, a dancer in
the Spanish dance sequence.
Schotland, an LSA freshman,
performs in the Waltz of the
Flowers and in the Spanish
corps as a soloist, in addition to
other roles.
Professional ballet dancers
from Moscow Ballet in Russia
will join the cast of local
ballet students on Saturday.
“Our young Clara and young
Nutcracker
are
Michigan
students,” Morschakov said.
After Clara, the main child
protagonist of the play, enters
her dreamland, the Nutcracker
is
transformed
into
a
handsome prince. The Russian
professionals will perform “the
grown-up version of Clara and
the Prince.”
Tchaikovsky’s
score
for
“The Nutcracker” is timeless,
even for the dancers who’ve
performed
it
many
times
before. “I listen to it a lot. I
wake up to it,” said Luke Eller.
Eller will play the role of the
Fritz, Clara’s mean brother and
the Nutcracker in the first act,
among others.
The Oakland Homeschool
Academy
of Russian
Classical
Ballet
Presents “The
Nutcracker”
Michigan Theater
Saturday,
December 9th @
6:30 p.m.
$35 - $45
COMMUNITY CULTURE PREVIEW
Choir, a local children’s choir
that
gives
homeschooled
children a chance to participate
in
musical
education,
will
provide
live
music
as
per
the original. “The music of
Tchaikovsky ... was written
with the Children’s Choir of St.
Petersburg singing during the
Snow scene,” Morschakov said.
They aim to parallel this effect
with the Oakland Homeschool
Choir.
“To let people enjoy the
beauty and artistry of classical
ballet
is
a
really
unique
experience,” Schotland said. The
performance boasts beautiful
backdrops,
intricate
hand-
sewn costumes and a mystical
ambiance combined with that of
the Michigan Theater.
The passion of the Academy
is sure to whisk the audience
away to a wonderful winter
dreamland.
Saturday’s
performance
of
“The
Nutcracker” promises to add
a magical touch to the holiday
season.
TRINA PAL
Daily Arts Writer
MORGAN RUBINO
Daily Arts Writer
DO YOU THINK
PITCHFORK’S BEST
ALBUM LIST SUCKS?
SO DO WE.
JOIN ARTS.
E-mail arts@michigandaily.com for
information on applying.