Hypnotist to entertain, help students destress
Hypnotist Frederick Winters will be performing tonight at Ball State University.
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Hypnotist Frederick Winters will be performing tonight at Ball State University.
Underage students can once again jam to local bands without having to venture off campus.Ball State acoustic artist TJ Fields and local pop-rock band Dreams of University will be playing a free show in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Tally at 8 p.m. tonight as part of University Program Board's weekly Wired! series promoting local bands and musicians. Turnout for Wired! in the past has been light, but freshman Chris Aveline, who is training to take over the program after UPB program director Nick Hewitt, has high expectations for tonight's show."For [tonight]'s show, I originally started looking at local Muncie bands, and the one that caught my eye the most was Dreams of University," Aveline said. "I'm hoping they will draw a decent crowd because I know they have a really big following here in Muncie. I hope they will help make Wired! much more successful and give it more publicity."Dreams of University started in the summer of 2006 and was recently listed as the top unsigned band in Indiana on Myspace's list of top artists and has steadily been gaining a legion of fans, playing in all-ages venues and opening spots for national and regional acts.TJ Fields has performed around Muncie in such venues as Charlie's Library and the Living Room, when it reopened in September.Aveline has big plans for developing Wired! over the next year, including increasing the name recognition of Wired! through more extensive marketing of shows both online and around campus. He also plans to expand the format of the program and, in doing so, eventually move the event to a larger venue."I hope I can develop Wired! into a full concert instead of just a band with an acoustic opener," he said. "I want to make it into a full show, which in my experience is usually three to four bands, and move it to a larger setting."Hewitt, a sophomore public relations major, said Wired! started in February 2008 with acoustic acts as a way to enjoy local music talent before the weekend because they were easy to set up after Friday Night Filmworks in Pruis Hall.In an earlier article he said UPB chose the Tally for its coffeehouse feel and created the event to get local band and performers' name out and provides a venue for them to perform. The first Wired! event this year featured headliner and acoustic guitar player Phil Johnson of the band Mid-American and drew in a crowd of roughly 60 students on Sept. 11.Most of the music performed at Wired! shows is acoustic and performers usually play solo acts. Other past Wired! performances have included unplugged artists like Ben Clark and Jim Gedda as well as bands such as Save Our Syndicate, The Day After, and When, Not If. After the first show Hewitt said he planned for Wired! to follow a 15-minute opener, 45-minute band set format. Hewitt said UPB's goal this semester is to remaster the event and bring in a lot more bands."Now we have an acoustic opener with a band performing as the bulk of the show," he said.
With novels, movies and television shows such as "Twilight," "True Blood" and "The Vampire Diaries," the seduction of the vampire world is growing. People are becoming more and more obsessed with these fantastical creatures. Instead of being seen as monsters, they have become the dark, brooding, sexy desires of female affection. But when did these vampires myths originate?Vampire myths and folklore stretch across cultures. Early myths developed in countries such as China with tales of people rising from the dead. In Hebrew folklore, Adam's first wife, Lillith, was said to attack babies and drink their blood.Though they have their roots in ancient culture, much of what we know about vampires comes from the European folklore. Elizabeth of Bathory, a noblewoman in the early 1600s, was the origin of many qualities of later vampiric myths. A countess of Hungary, she believed that virgin blood preserved her youth. Consequently, she murdered nearly 600 peasant girls in order to bathe in and drink their blood.Bram Stoker, author of the well-known vampire novel "Dracula", combined many different legends, including that of Elizabeth Bathory, to create the title character Dracula. The name came from the Romanian prince known as Vlad Dracula. Though he never drank the blood of any of his victims, he still exhibited that bloodlust characterized by vampires. After staking several of his victims and watching as they died, he became known as Vlad the Impaler. Though today's vampires thrive on having that air of seduction and desirable sex appeal, they were not always viewed that way. The first vampire movie made was a German film featuring the monster Nosferatu. He was an unattractive character featuring hairy palms, bat-like ears and other monstrous characteristics. It was not until later in the century that vampires became the creatures we know today.Vampires became increasingly popular in the '70s with the publication of Anne Rice's novel "Interview With a Vampire." Later in the '90s it was made into a movie starring Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. These vampires took on more humanlike qualities distancing themselves from the grotesque figures in the folkloric past.The modern vampire contains the same bloodlust and power over its victims as it did in the past, but now the focus has changed from a monster tale to a love story. Characters such as Edward Cullen and Bill Compton contain several qualities characterizing them as both a lover and a monster, seducing audiences deeper into the vampire myth.
When she was 10 years old, senior Sarah Utt took a trip with her grandparents that she never forgot. They traveled to Disney World, and one park in particular stood out: Epcot.All the different countries put on performances. One day Utt and her grandparents went for the Italy performance, in which artists were doing chalk art on the ground. Since that day, Utt has wanted to do art like this on the sidewalks in Italy.Utt was one of 15 art students and two art professors, Scott Anderson and David Hannon, who traveled through Italy from May 11 to June 13 to experience and create art inspired by Italian culture.A combination of those pieces and reaction pieces to the trip has been on display in the Atrium Gallery since Nov. 10 in an exhibit called "Findings."Some went to grow. Some went to see a different culture. Some went for the opportunity of a lifetime. All 15 students went to see the art they've been studying in classes and throughout their lives.The group first arrived in Venice, went down to Rome and Pompeii and ended the trip in Rome. During their trek across Italy, the students ventured into many other towns and cities.A typical day for the students consisted of walking around the town for the day visiting museums, basilicas and monasteries. The group also saw its fair share of towns and cities."We would stay in a hotel for maybe two nights or one night, and get up in the morning and go to a new place," fifth-year senior Allison White said.The trip involved a lot of walking in the heat, creating an exhausting journey. But none of the students cared, Karla Hughes said. They just wanted to see as much as they could.One of Hughes' favorite parts of the trip was something not on the agenda. The group went to a classical concert in Cesi one night and afterward was invited to a restaurant behind the church where the concert was held. There, a local artist showed them his work. The students watched him draw and hung out with him for three hours that night."There were a lot of things to see, and it was overwhelming at first," Utt said.The trip has become a semi-annual one for the art department, and students come away from the experience changed. Leonardo's sketches, for example, have influenced Utt's sketches, she said."You look at a Picasso and you compare it to a Dali, or you look at a Leonardo drawing and compare it to another artist's painting," Utt said. "You compare and contrast techniques and you can see how skills evolved through time. And then you take what you see and put it into your own work."The colors were inspirational to both White and Bethany Hosbach. White said she found herself in Italy."It kind of helped me become who I am," White said. "I became more of an adult. I grew up."While Karla's heart stopped at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, senior Liz Kurtz found real inspiration in the little things."Even the small things that may seem insignificant are important," Kurtz said.Through that, she gained a lot of confidence in her own work, she said."I am more confident in what kind of art I want to make," she said.While Kurtz found confidence in a drawing style, which is showcased currently in the "Findings" exhibit, Utt submitted one three-piece drawing, a watercolor landscape and four other pieces completed in Italy. White focuses on the colors, landscapes and buildings in Italy while Hughes, an art photography major, showcases all different mediums, from photography to watercolors and drawings. Hosbach, however, features still life images she encountered in Italy."I like to think of them as snapshots of the trip," she said. "I know every time I look at them, I will think back to that moment and relive the experience."Her artwork in other media also serve this function."I've got 500 photos and half of a journal filled with memories from the trip ... it was the best adventure that I could and most likely will ever go on in my entire life," she said. "You can't even imagine the beauty and history that pulses through Italy and brings to life its culture."
The Ball State University Students for a Sustainable Campus will show a documentary about how coal mining practices affect the United States' Appalachia region tonight.
An Indiana University Bloomington professor will give this year's speech at the Edmund F. Petty Memorial Lecture today in the Museum of Art.
Zulu dancer Jomo Xulu said he dances to show the beauty of African culture.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the longest running children's television show. Since its debut on Nov. 10, 1969, the show has aired in more than 140 countries and has won 118 Emmy Awards. Its memorable characters, celebrity appearances and important lessons have made a mark on generations of viewers, and today, a new season emerges to continue that tradition.Google has also recognized the occasion: Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch have greeted site visitors from behind its infamous letters this week.It was "Sesame Street's" entertainment and educational factors that encouraged the creation of WIPB-TV, East Central Indiana's own public television station. The network began on Oct. 31, 1971, and credits its creation to "Sesame Street's" popularity.Ball State University telecommunications professor Terry Heifetz can relate to the Cookie Monster. He said he doesn't believe his love of cookies was a direct response of watching "Sesame Street," but said it might have had an effect on him — and the giant, empty bag of chocolate chunk cookies in his office."Watching ‘Sesame Street' was one of my first memories of watching TV," Heifetz said. " ... and I have liked [cookies] for as long as I can remember."Junior Spanish major Cherelle Dunn also acknowledges her "Sesame Street" allegiance to the Cookie Monster."I was definitely a PBS kid," she said. "I liked Cookie Monster before he was into vegetables."Some of the other memorable characters include Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, Count Von Count, Grover, Snuffleupagus and of course, Elmo.Graham McAllister, a fourth year student at Ball State, always considered Oscar the Grouch (who was orange instead of green when the program first aired) his favorite character from the series."I always felt bad for Oscar," he said. "Everyone made fun of him."The show's longevity can also be credited toward the many celebrity guest appearances, including Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, LL Cool J, Neil Patrick Harris, Ray Charles, Heidi Klum, Jack Black and Adam Sandler, who worked with the characters to teach different lessons. This season's premiere episode, "Frankly It's Becoming a Habit," will include first lady Michelle Obama, who helps Elmo plant a garden.Musicians have also made guest appearances on the show. Dunn remembers when she missed the episode when her favorite group visited the puppets."I was upset when I missed the episode ‘N Sync was on," she said. "I was like, ‘No, they didn't just get on "Sesame Street!"'"However, some viewers never paid attention to the stars beside the puppets."Famous people never mattered to me when I was 5," McAllister said.The program doesn't forget about the adults — it continues to incorporate new TV shows by performing "Sesame Spoofs," which include Bruce Stringbean, "Law & Order: Special Letters Unit" and "Desperate Houseplants." The season premiere will also include a "Mad Men" parody, which can be seen at youtube.com.However, adults who watched the show as children haven't forgotten "Sesame Street" either."It's a cultural thing now," Heifetz said.He remembers watching shows like "Family Guy" make references of Sesame Street characters and was also reminded of the puppets in unusual ways."When working at a newsroom in Indianapolis, a co-worker said my laugh reminded him of The Count," Heifetz said. Even though the staff was comprised of people from all over the country, he said, everyone knew who The Count was. "Twenty years later, we still have memories of the characters," he said."Sesame Street" entertains children while teaching important lessons about literacy and numeracy. It also incorporates other life lessons. In 2004, it launched the Healthy Habits for Life initiative about childhood obesity. For the new season, it will debut a two-year science program called "My World is Green and Growing" to teach children about the environment.Associate professor of telecommunications Dominic Caristi doesn't see an end in sight for "Sesame Street.""It's not like a situation comedy," he said. "[‘Sesame Street'] has a new audience every year and can use segments from 30 years ago ... It's considered a service to kids and parents, why get rid of it?"Heifetz still sees children as engaged to the program today as he was when he was 3 years old."The show still teaches good values, morals and the alphabet," he said.He also admits the ‘healthier' Cookie Monster might have had a different effect on him in the past."Maybe I'd love vegetables more if [Cookie Monster] pushed it then as he does today."
After a month filled with events such as the drag show and Queer Factor, Spectrum will conclude its P.R.O.U.D. month of events with its own production of the musical "The Wiz" at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Pruis Hall. The show will feature Spectrum members, as well as students who are not a part of the organization.Spectrum President Damon Clevenger, who plays the Timan, picked out the show at the end of last year. Unlike previous years' performances, "The Wiz" does not focus on GLBTQ issues but still sends out a message the whole audience can connect to."I like to call it our community theater, emphasis on the unity, because I think there are some central ideas in the show that can really bring people together," Clevenger said. "Some of the best themes in the show are believing in yourself and the value of home, wherever that may be."Originally done with an entirely African-American cast, "The Wiz" puts the original story of Dorothy in a different cultural setting and places the tale to more contemporary music."‘The Wizard of Oz' is a show for all ages where ‘The Wiz' is more for older audiences," Jenika Garetson, the show's choreographer and Scarecrow, said. "College-age students would be able to pick up on jokes younger kids wouldn't understand."While choreographing the numbers for the musical, Garetson said she tried to keep as close as possible to the style and themes portrayed in the original. She took inspiration from the movie and previous work she had done for a production of "The Wizard of Oz," she said. When choreographing, she also tried to look at each character and interpret how they would act.Katherine Lozon, who plays Dorothy, said Spectrum's version will try to capture the same craziness presented in the movie but make it more grounded to connect with the audience."[‘The Wiz'] is a basic story that they've changed into a more fun and funky story," Lozon said. "I hope that that can translate, how everybody can come together and put on a great show that everyone can enjoy."
Edward James Olmos wishes he would never have to give another seminar like he did Wednesday night in Pruis Hall.
Quick-stepping Irish dancers will take over John R. Emens Auditorium as they transport the audience to a mythical time in Ireland filled with Celtic music and dance.A touring production of "Lord of the Dance" will return to the Emens stage at 7:30 p.m. for the first time since 2002. Emens Auditorium director Robert Myers was able to see part of the show when it visited Muncie seven years ago on May 2, 2002."The energy of the show is uplifting. There is a joy that exudes from the nature of the dance. I really like the technology in the show and the moving lights and pyrotechnic effects," Myers said.In 1996, Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" made its debut at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, the tour has gone on to become globally popular, becoming the highest grossing international tour in the history of entertainment since 1996, and has been seen by over 50 million people in 60 different countries and six different continents, according to the Lord of the Dance Web site.Maggie Revis of Putnam Valley, N.Y., has been doing Irish dancing since she was 4 years old and has a passion for this type of dancing, she said. Revis has been involved in Michael Flatley's "Celtic Tiger" for two years and "Lord of the Dance" for three years, in which she stars as one of the female lead performers.Revis attributes the show's success to its all-ages appeal. She said the show has grown in popularity over the years because the people who attend are able to recommend the show to all ages and types of people.The story of the dance takes the audience on a journey through an old Irish folklore tale and kicks off as the Little Spirit transports through time to help the Lord of the Dance protect his people from Don Dorcha, the Dark Lord. The story continues to unfold throughout 21 scenes as it draws the audience into a world of good and evil, love and hate."‘Lord of the Dance' is a basic story of good vs. evil that I think the audience is able to relate to. Irish dancing is one of the only ways to truly tell a story without speaking, which I think also contributes to the popularity of the show," she said.The cast of "Lord of the Dance" consists of around 50 world-class dancers ranging from 17 to 35 years old who have all won major international championships. Revis said she enjoys getting to know some of the dancers she used to compete against on a more personal level. Flatley and fellow choreographers are constantly changing the choreography to keep up with the current times and culture, so those who have seen the performance before can expect new and exciting changes at tonight's show, Revis said.
The Broadway musical "Little Shop of Horrors" comes to the Muncie Civic Theatre this weekend as the theater celebrates its 78th anniversary."Little Shop" opens Friday at 7 p.m. and will be shown the next three weekends.The musical is about Seymour Krelborn, a man who purchases a flower only to find out that it survives on human blood. Throughout the play, Seymour and his plant become a town sensation, but also become involved in murder and deceit.
The best of all fall foods came together at a Sunday morning brunch for Minnetrista's annual Flavors of Fall event. Four chefs from the American Culinary Association each prepared their own special autumn treat, informing the audience about preparation techniques and helpful cooking tips."We're very excited about how it all turned out," Sales and Event Manager Amanda Kavars said. "We always have really good chefs, but [Sunday] they all had good menus, spoke a lot about the different techniques they use and were very entertaining."The morning started out with an appetizer buffet in the lobby featuring a host of seasonal goodies, which came mainly from Minnetrista's local vendors and their farmers market. Hot apple cider and cream cheese topped with a roasted red pepper jelly were just a couple of the snacks laid out for guests.In the banquet room, chef Gary Abbott kicked things off with a demonstration on how to make apple butter. Instead of heading straight into how it's made, however, Abbott first delved into the history behind the apple, tying in relevant facts about John Chapman, an Indiana resident and apple enthusiast, better known as Johnny Appleseed."I knew Minnetrista was all about education, and I found out there's a tie to this area with Johnny Appleseed," Abbott said. "I found out things I didn't know about him being buried in Fort Wayne, and they have a festival every year in Fort Wayne commemorating what he was all about. I love sharing the history too, because I wanted to bring to the table more than just apple butter and bread."After sampling the bread and apple butter, attention turned to chef Tim Vegh, a culinary arts student at Ivy Tech in Muncie and information technology professional at Cowan School Corporation. During his demonstration, he launched into how to prepare his tomato and cabbage soup as well as his recipe for garlic croutons. "I have been an IT professional for about 30 years, and I've wanted to make a change in my life," Vegh said. "I've always loved cooking, so I decided to take some culinary arts classes to see if that was something that I'd like to pursue, and if nothing else I felt it would improve me as a cook. As it turns out, I've really enjoyed the program, and I want to continue in that direction."Next on the list was the main course, a fall vegetable hash with poached eggs and lamb sausage prepared by chef Lois Altman. Altman, also an associate professor of family and consumer sciences at Ball State, laid out her complex recipe in an easy-to-understand way, making it as easy to make as it was to enjoy.A pumpkin-apple compote followed for dessert and was prepared by chef Riley Groover, a culinary instructor at Ivy Tech. Compote is a cooked dish made of two or more chopped fruits. Groover quickly proved that dessert doesn't necessarily need to be fattening by using only healthy fruits and fresh granola to create the treat."Minnetrista wanted something healthy using fall flavors, and I figured something light and well-balanced was a good choice," Groover said.All in all, the brunch turned out to be more of a sit-down Sunday luncheon with food lovers from Delaware County. A healthy-sized audience turned out to watch the event and everybody left full of both culinary knowledge and good food."All the food was fantastic, but my favorite was the dessert," attendee Ken Vallance said. "It was an unusual conglomeration of fruits and flavors. It just struck me as a great way to end the meal."
University Program Board is showing a double feature of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" tonight, and the later showing is expected to sell out.