Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' takes risky and questionable turns
“Alice in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carrol continue to be fascinating works because unlike other fantasy books from that era, the books acted more as an exploration of the human subconscious as seen through the eyes of a child in all of its absurdity and wonder than a fantastical adventure. It’s a rare fable whose imagery only become more surreal and wild as you grow older, be it on a literary level or through more, ahem, influenced methods.
The movie, directed by Tim Burton and produced by Walt Disney Pictures, doesn’t really feel like the continuation of those themes but rather an extension of the public conception of its imagery. As the case with a lot of sequels, simply using the characters the same way can kind of miss the point of what made those characters special. However, it still makes for a decent, enjoyable adventure that’s sure to appease many, disappoint Carrol-lites, and justify the Burton-haters.
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1930's opera explores drugs and romance
Marking its 75th anniversary, the one night performance of George Gershwin’s folk opera “Porgy and Bess” at the Municipal Auditorium was stunning visually as well as musically enchanting.
The opera, first performed in 1935 with a classically trained all black cast, was deemed controversial for its subject matter as well as the racist portrayal of African Americans. The story revolves around Porgy, a crippled man living in the slums, and his attempt to rescue his love Bess from the virile Crown and drug dealing Sportin’ Life.
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright and conducted by Samuel Bill, this timeless piece kept the audience melodiously engaged.
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Anit-gay senator is in fact...super-gay
It’s a story as familiar as a fairy tale..minus the romance and love.
California state Senator Roy Ashburn received a DUI, Wednesday, March 3, and was seen leaving the gay nightclub Faces in Sacramento’s popular midtown. The catch? The senator is a father of four, a Conservative, and extremely anti-homosexual.
He was arrested before 2 AM in a state-issued California vehicle. The officer said that Ashburn was extremely cooperative throughout the entire process. The senator was arrested and charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol count of .08 or higher.
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This week: Victoria Lebron, Freshman
So caught up in this constant game of cat and mouse, it's hard to remember why I play. She was here, but now she's gone.
The locker, beaten and bruised, greeted me the same everyday- nothing interesting to say, nothing of interest to it. My actions were subconscious. Enter combination, open locker, take books, close locker. The paper floating to the floor was like the fluttering of a butterfly's wing. Seeing it caused the whole course of my day to suddenly change. So seemingly insignificant, yet so powerful.
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Iraqi characters risk everything for the promise of freedom
“Betrayed,” a play by George Packer that is currently at the San Pedro Playhouse, is based on real interviews Packer conducted with two Iraqi translators that risked everything for America’s promise of freedom. The play, directed by Gregory Hinojosa, is currently being performed at the San Pedro Playhouse Cellar Theater until April 3. Tickets are $15 for students, $25 for adults.
The Cellar Theater is a black box theater that holds about 100 people; however, if the cellar was seated to capacity, many may find the theater to have tight seating. The actors are only a few feet away from you; hence, it is very intimate, and there’s not a bad seat in the room. As Adnan—a Sunni who hides his job in the Green Zone from his family—punches the table and yells, you jump in your seat and your heart begins to race. You can see his tears falling at the end of the play, when he thinks about leaving Iraq and his family. Throughout the play, the props stay the same almost the entire play, and the actors aren’t constantly changing their costumes, unless they are transforming into another character.
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The artists insights on the UTSA art exhibit
The fine arts association presented its 26th annual student art exhibit on Feb. 25. The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 1p.m. to 4p.m. on weekends. The exhibition will close on March 10.
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And the sex scandal bandwagon continues...
Actor Matthew Fox, star of Lost, can add himself to the list of wholesome celebrities involved in a sex scandal.
InTouch magazine had an exclusive interview with Stefani Talbott, a woman claiming she slept with the happily married star. The Bend, Oregon stripper says she and Fox slept together twice.
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UTSA band Articles of Separation releases first album
“Trade in Your Pieces”, the freshman debut album by Articles of Separation, a UTSA student band, offers a lighthearted but musically sound experience, though it grows a bit repetitive and fails to break out of the monstrous pool of Indie Rock.
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This week: Extemporaneity
I asked some student buddies of mine to partake in an experiment in extemporaneity. Omar Quimbaya was voicing his soul onto a small pad of paper one day. I then asked all of his coworkers to follow suit.
I did this for you, UTSA, so requite my largesse with readership.
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Featuring performers with nicknames such as Butter Smooth James and Wild Bill, the UTSA Jazz Ensemble fully embraces the blasé mentality of the American music genre. Much like jazz music, the UTSA Jazz Ensemble has transformed itself while drawing from influences of national and local cultures.
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There’s been much discussion about what expanding the number of Best Picture nominations from five to ten has done to the integrity of the awards show. Now the cynic in me knows well enough that expanding the field was in direct response to the unfathomable snub of “The Dark Knight” in the previous year; nonetheless, I actually like the 10 nominations. Sure, there’s always going to be films that don’t get in, but without the expanded field, films such as “Up”, “District 9”, and the underseen “A Serious Man” would have never had a chance. Here’s how I think the night will go down. Don’t worry, I’ll only stick to the top-tier nominations.
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Fox’s newest comedy series isn’t as funny as advertised
Krystal Bordner paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net FOX’s newest comedy series is about to start! The show is called Sons of Tucson, and it will air March 14 at 8:30. Now, when watching a new series, you always give it at least three episodes to see if it’s going to be worth your time to watch every week.
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Krystal Bordner paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net UTSA’s next big star, James Merryman, released his first album to itunes Tuesday, Feb. 16. Merryman, is only a second semester freshman, but he’s wasting no time in his college career. Taking a little over six months to record his first album, “The Time is Now” is a great first step for this aspiring singer/songwriter.
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Jaqueline Calvert paisanosports@sbcglobal.net After months of hiding out, cheating golf superstar Tiger Woods is back, fresh from rehab and ready to make amends with the public. On February 19, the adulterous celebrity issued an apology to his family, friends, and fans.
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I always get the impression when I answer, “Poetry,” to the question, “What do you write?” that poetry is a sissy pastime – that despite my beaming masculinity, my maleness is docked a few points on account of deeper callings.
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Novelists Liss and Porter give book reading and signing
On Thursday Feb 18, Gemini Ink presented The Autograph Series featuring David Liss and Andrew Porter at Trinity University’s Chapman Graduate Center Auditorium.
“The Autograph Series presents writers of national or international stature in a free public reading followed by audience Q&A,” the program advertised.
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Soft opening brings modest crowd and room for improvement
Finally, the repetitive droll of the Roadrunner cafe has been taken into account for on-campus diners. Chili’s Too opened Valentine’s Day to a modest number of students ready to try the restaurant’s popular Americana menu.
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Pop star controversies
Singer/songwriter John Mayer got himself into hot water this week with his Playboy interview.
No surprise there. He joins the ranks of Spencer Pratt and Kevin Federline on this one.
In his Playboy interview, Mayer frequently uses the N-word, talks about his sexcapades and refers to his penis as a white supremacist. Umm.... Excuse me?
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This week: The feeling of unknowing
I want to say something funny or clever. But I can’t. This week, I bring you God.
In the context of literature and art, I find God peculiar. He’s as omnipresent in society as one’s faith might present him to be, but in literature, his presence is relegated to nuance.
My point is, here I give you God. Openly. Explicitly. Honestly. And maybe poems that overtly regard God are withheld from canonical texts because society’s cannoneers mean to tell us to crave nuance. All I’m saying is I don’t want to get in trouble for cracking a funny one at the expense of everyone’s faith.
Thank you, Jasmine, for a poem very full of imagery and honesty. And thank you, Chelsea, for your clever, anti- but ironically pro-Romantic Poe poem.
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Downtown San Antonio was in another dimension this past Wednesday night.
The Dimensions in Blue that is.
The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center hosted the United States Air Force Band (USAFB) Dimensions in Blue on Feb. 10. The event was free and open to the public. The performance took place in Ballroom A of the Convention Center.
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This week: Where’s your stuff man?
What’s worse than “biting the hand that feeds you” is ignoring it. Thanks UTSA, fraught with your timid Timothies and timorous Tabathas, for the utter dearth of submissions sent in this week. In a hermaphroditic manner akin to last week’s submission, I attempted to nurse you, with The Paisano as my breast, in an effort to nourish all you unmotivated poets and poetasters. I gave you fodder for your muses, and your muses burped it up.
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Comedian Gabriel Iglesias returns to San Antonio for night of laughter
He’s not fat; he’s fluffy.
This endearing description is recognized by many as the calling card of comedian Gabriel Iglesias. Originally starting out in California, Iglesias has since taken the world by storm, performing in sold out shows all over the country, as well as in Canada, the Middle East and a European tour in the works.
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‘How to get Divorced by 30’ describes rise and fall of relationship between a pothead and an obse
Many readers feel wary of yet another Hollywood author publishing a memoir on inane diets or touch-of-fame anecdotes, and rightly so. Sascha Rothchild, author of “How to Get Divorced by 30,” does live in L.A., has dieted incessantly and had brushes with fame.
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Features column: Water Cooler
You know you’ve read about it: the irresistible gossip of all the latest celebs, the quickest way to a beach body and the best way to tell what a man is thinking. All of our favorite magazines like People, Cosmopolitan, Us Weekly and Allure always tell us exactly what we want to hear, but should we believe it?
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This week: The Unspoken
“What is the goal of Creative Corner?” I’m bringing art straight to your face.
“What makes you qualified to choose which art is brought to our faces?” Well, failure to acknowledge the subjectivity of art inevitably gives rise to pretty frustrating contradictions; so, I’ll here say: Nothing. Nothing qualifies me. I am not qualified.
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Poetry Jam takes over the UC
On Jan. 28, the University Center Program Council (UCPC) hosted Poetry Jam in the UC’s Ski Lodge featuring poets Travis Watkins and Shihan the Poet. Shihan the Poet has been featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and was the star of the night.
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60’s inspired musical is socially responsible and entertaining
The San Pedro Playhouse became a time machine over these past two weeks, a musical time machine that is. Beehive the 60’s Musical took audience members back with some of the 1960’s greatest performers: Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Leslie Gore, Connie Francis, Dusty Springfield, Petual Clark and many more.
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Dance company mixes Chinese culture with modern dance
The Na-Ni Chen Dance Company put on a one-of-a-kind performance Jan. 30 at the Carver Community Cultural Center.
Dancers combined contemporary dance with a mix of Asian art and martial arts. They used grace, flexibility and sheer talent to tell a story through each song. Only the beat of the music and sounds of their props filled the auditorium, which allowed the audience to focus entirely on the dancing.
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Cancer survivors recruit volunteers for 12 hour charity event
One of the greatest and most emotional nights for a cancer survivor is coming in May, but now is the time to sign up and become a part of this big day.
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San Antonio Symphony play ‘Star Wars’ greatest hits
Saturday at the Municipal Auditorium, the San Antonio Symphony performed the music of one of the most popular and most successful American orchestral composers of the modern age: John Williams.
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Arts and Entertainment Column
Despite more important events, such as the Haiti earthquake relief, “The Hills” star Heidi Montag still manages to make the cover of “People Magazine” for her addiction to plastic surgery. With 10 procedures done in one day, her transformation has apparently caused quite a stir in the tabloids.
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UCPC hosts free casino night in ballroom for students
Falling coins hitting metal, voices yelling “winner, winner,” people cheering and loud music that could be heard coming from the UC Ballroom on Jan. 14 during the second annual casino night.
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A book about the texts you wouldn’t want your mom to read
Uncensored and unabashed, the book “Texts from Last Night” offers a fine sampling of the degenerate humor available from www.textsfromlastnight.com (TFLN). This is the Web site’s first print release.
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Gemini Ink creates a unique experience combining theatre and visual arts
On Jan. 17, Gemini Ink presented a Dramatic Readers Theatre production, “Responsible Witness,” at 2 p.m. at The Southwest School of Art and Craft.
Three actors - Eduardo Cavazos Garza, Pamela Dean Kenny and Bill Martin - read excerpts from popular war literature with grammy-nominated trumpet player Al Gomez in accompaniment.
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Water Cooler (Arts and Entertainment column)
Hi there UTSA. My name is Joseph Tidline, and I am The Paisano’s Arts and Entertainment Editor for Spring 2010. Expect loads of cultural commentary this semester on the Water cooler.
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Like “Sex and the City the Movie” was for women over 30, “Lord of the Rings” for nerds and “Harry Potter” for younger teens, the “Twilight” series has premiered its own sequel so the young adult females of the world can rejoice. It’s ironic that something as seemingly cult-like as the “Twilight” series can have such an effect on the cinema market.
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Senior tenor Rafael Moras makes headway major opera audition
Rafael Moras, UTSA senior, recently tied for first in the 51st Annual Metropolitan Opera Southwest region auditions and is now training for the semifinals in New York which take place the first week of March.
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Palin’s new autobiography sheds little light on the GOP’s ‘soccer mom’ and sometimes politician
Since she was propelled into the American mainstream media in August 2008, Sarah Palin, ex-governor of Alaska and former vice presidential nominee, became politics’ proverbial box of chocolates.
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Robert Calcagno
Joel and Ethan Coen, the writerdirector team produced a variety of cinematic gems including “Raising Arizona,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Fargo,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” the Best Picture-winning “No Country For Old Men” and last year’s “Burn After Reading,” have demonstrated the uncanny ability of taking the oddities of life and applying a seamless whimsy to the narrative.
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‘Lovely Bones’ novel explores the mystery genre with a more heavenly approach
They were Susie Salmon’s final moments of life: Mr. Harvey leaned to the side and felt, over his head, across the ledge where his razor and shaving cream sat. He brought back a knife. With only seconds to spare before her last breath, Susie most likely cursed herself for being so naïve and allowing her curiosity to get the best of her.
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On Nov. 3, classical guitarist Nemanja Ostojic performed at Trinity University’s Ruth Taylor Concert Hall. Ostojic recently won first prize at the 2009 San Antonio International Classical Guitar Competition.
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On Oct. 29, the Sheldon Vexler theater presented “Orphans.” Buried in the recesses of Barshop Jewish Community Center, this playhouse is a tad bit hard to find but locating it is well worth it.
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In Michael Jackson’s final performance to the world, he showed off the real king of pop, on and off the stage. “This Is It” showed a run through of what his last show would have entailed.
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UTSA biology major Adam Barnett, 22, spent about six weeks of last summer working with Miley Cyrus in Touchstone Pictures “The Last Song,” which wrapped up filming in Savannah, Georgia last month.
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Google the name David Crystal and you’ll find an erotic poet and a techno DJ from Italy, or the UTSA sponsored, David Crystal—the linguist–who presented three days of lectures on linguistics.
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New Braunfels, Texas – the only city in the United States where grown men willingly wear lederhosen. Originally started in 1961, as a local festival to celebrate mouthwatering German foods, Wurstfest is attended by more than just the locals.
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On Oct. 22, both the UTSA Orchestra and the UTSA chamber orchestra provided a free performance to faculty, students and the San Antonio community.
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Glass slippers, evil stepsisters and Prince Charming will sweep you away, San Antonio Metropolitan
The San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet is performing Cinderella for the third time in their winter ballet set along with the Nutcracker at a later date.
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The Cameo Theater’s production of Joel Paley’s and Marvin Laird’s off-Broadway hit Ruthless! The Musical Comedy offers a diverse, if minimalistic, cast of women caught up in the horror of show business.
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UTSA’s first men’s choir performs for the first time
A historic event happened in the music department this past week. The roof shook from an overload of applause, the women inspired and the men conquered.
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‘The Brain that Wouldn’t Die’ shows the sexy, sleek side of horror
Don’t let the Overtime Theater’s random setting deceive you. The Overtime Theater looks far off from what some expect from a high-end theatrical establishment.
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“The most requested show” at the San Pedro Playhouse has returned. Although it doesn’t beat the high standard that Madonna set in her portrayal of the movie version of “Evita,” the play still is a very enjoyable experience.
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San Antonio music fans desperate to bask in the aura provided by legendary artists are in luck.
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Every student at UTSA should find some time to go to the Majestic Theatre and watch the San Antonio Symphony performances.
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She’s guest-starred on Seinfeld and ER. She has won several awards, including the 2007 Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program and has been nominated numerous times.
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Though other horror institutions have a severe lack of variety, such as the slasher genre comprised mostly of insipid torture porn or almost any “Twilight” knockoff, the zombie genre has maintained a high level of versatility in the past decade.
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“Paranormal Activities” follows a modern young couple through their documenting a presence that has been appearing throughout their time in their house. The film is entirely taped by the two main actors, Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston, by what is essentially a regular home video camera. Although this film has been inspired by movies such as the “Blair Witch Project” and “Open Water,” it is not comparable.
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The UTSA community enjoyed the privilege of hosting the world-renowned traveling acting company Actors From the London Stage throughout the second week of October. Actors From the London Stage is an educational acting company that emphasizes realistic presentations of Shakespearean productions.
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Gone are the dog days of summer, along with the blockbusters we’ve all come to love and expect. With the absence of transforming robots, young wizards and segregated aliens to dazzle theater-going audiences, it seems easy to ignore the movie theater for the rest of the year. But wait–there’s hope!
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Thai restaurant proves to be more mild than spicy
Located on 1146 Austin Highway Tong’s Thai Restaurant appears to be the perfect escape to Thai food and a relaxing atmosphere. While the ambient atmosphere at Tong’s is quite Zen and exotic, the food is rather disappointing.
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Had a bad day? Need a good laugh? Got a date?
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When Five Finger Death Punch released “Way of the Fist” in 2007, they set the bar high for themselves and everyone else around them. On Sept. 22, they took that bar and threw it even higher.
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Fall kicks off with bang as new heavy weights in industry release new albums
The next few months may prove to be an exciting time in the music world, with several major artists releasing and announcing new albums.
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“The Lost Symbol” is Dan Brown’s sequel to his bestselling novel “The Da vinci Code.”
“The Da Vinci Code” was fascinating, blurring the lines between history and fiction. The historical evidence was a little farfetched along with the coincidences, albeit historically inaccurate and mostly fictional.
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“Madame Butterfly” is a heartbreaking love story of an Omaran Japanese woman who falls in love with a different kind of American dream. The opera is typically set in imperial Japan, glorifying the traditional Geisha dress and the American military dress of the period.
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Bullock’s film choices need tune up
n the film “All About Steve” actress Sandra Bullock (“The Proposal”), plays nerdy, but witty, Mary Horowitz. Still living with her parents, she spends her entire life around creating crossword puzzles for a local newspaper.
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Cheap, delicious Asian cuisine
Finding Café Nyo Shii driving down 5282 Medical Drive is not easy—especially if you never heard about it before. The restaurant is hidden in a bland building surrounded by medical offices, but bland is the last word to describe this restaurant. The interior is a complete contrast from its grey-colored exterior.
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Coming to Carver Community Cultural Center on Sept. 26 is KAVITHA, an Indian dance interpretation of classic poetry by poets such as Maya Angelou, Pablo Neruda and Will B. Yeats.
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Director Shane Acker does an admirable job adapting his universe, with the blessing of Tim Burton Timur Bekmambetov and the studio support of Focus Features, into a visual feast. However, the visuals of the feature that are the only compelling aspects of “9.”
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A heart wrenching crude tale about a Muslim Egyptian-Pakistani named Nidali, “A Map of Home” by Randa Jarrar explores every awkward and inappropriate feeling expressed by the average teenager.
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Brings the boys to the school yard
Walking into a Sunday afternoon performance of Alan Bennett’s “The History Boys” at the San Pedro Playhouse, I must admit I didn’t have very high expectations of the show.
After the show, I was very satisfied with the production and thought the cast and crew worked diligently to put on such an entertaining play.
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With simple power chords, distortion and a narrow range of vocal content, Texas based band Rescue Signals sounds just like every other band in the alternative music scene.
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Needmore members Garrett McArthur, Danny Mareco, Jonathan Beveridge and TJ Hartmann, are a four member alternative rock band that made its way to the music scene in 2006, originating in Columbus, Ohio.
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Robert Torres
Aug. 21 marked the directorial debut of UTSA alumnus Rick Sanchez with “Psycho Beach Party” at the Zumbro Lounge of the Cameo Theatre. The play, penned by Charles Busch, is a comically demented take on 1960’s culture, and overflows with crude yet well-crafted sexual humor.
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The Greenhouse Fine Art Gallery held a champagne reception last Friday, for their Celebration of Three Artists. The three artists featured in the exhibit were Calvin Lang, Darcie Peet and John Pototschnik.
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UTSA Today
The UTSA Department of Art and Art History will host the exhibit “Far Places Close: Photographic Essays of South Asia,” from Sept. 2 to Oct. 11 in the Art Gallery in the Main Campus Arts Building.
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Tips and tricks for music and art students to survive college years
Yes, UTSA has an arts building. It houses two of the smaller departments in the university: the art and music departments.
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“As you may have heard, we’re not in the pris-na’ takin’ business. We’re in the Natsee killin’ business and, cousin, business is a-boomin’,” Brad Pitt’s character Lt. Aldo Raine said. This quote is from a field interrogation scene in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film, Inglourious Basterds.
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Stephen Dillard-Carroll’s debut album “Introducing…ME” is a nice mix of electro-dance and hip-hop. Coming from the Midwest, Stephen wants people to know that there is more than just corn and nothing. “What people don’t realize is there is a huge dance underground scene here in the Midwest,” Dillard-Carroll writes on his Myspace page.
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Austin, Texas, is a perpetual breeding ground for talented and refreshing bands, covering the entirety of the musical spectrum. With their first six-track EP, “My Guest List,” Tribella attempts to make an impact on the Austin scene by appealing to listeners with melodic and ear-pleasing tunes.
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Arts scene for fall 2009
The arts of San Antonio come alive to a small UTSA audience. This week, a plethora of events occurred that most will now never see.
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The film that manages to set women back to the dark ages
The end of students’ college careers is a mysterious time when many graduates must choose whether to jump head first into the job market. “Post Grad” attempts to cinematically explore life after college through the eyes of a young girl who has her planned life for the perfect job after graduation.
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After a brief stint as guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde decided to go solo. In the early 1990s, Wylde had formed his own solo band, Pride & Glory, playing a mixture of southern rock with heavy metal.
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The Witte Museum will participate in Fotoseptiembre 2009 with “Small Town Texas: Photographs by Ricardo Romo” on view in the Focus Gallery through to Oct. 4. The exhibit examines the historical nature of small towns in Texas through photographs taken by Ricardo Romo, president of UTSA and historian.
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