The Current: Nov. 3, 2011

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NOVEMBER 3, 2011

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TOP STORIES SINCE YOUR LAST VISIT (2)

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Adam Waytz Theories about how being on social media may sap your empathy. Q&A on page 4

Events

Like Comment 4 minutes ago

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Ursula Ellis: Profile of this student filmmaker on page 5

APPS Music Notes More

Mobile Uploads Like Comment 19 minutes ago

The Current Listened to Better Off Dead by the Sounds on Spotify. Music review on page 3 Something to Die For The No Song Yeah Yeah Yeah

Like Comment 46 minutes ago via Spotify

Alex Goldklang RENT’s Benny talks Mad Men, Nicki

2

THE CURRENT viewpoints

Thursday, November 3, 2011

OUR 2 CENTS

Megan Patsavas

Mackenzie Bronk

Kate Middleton, who seemingly can’t stop winning things, just topped the U.K. Harper’s Bazaar Best-Dressed List. What will Kate win next?!

She already won one prince — she better not get Harry, too...

An Oscar. Best Actress in a Leading Role for “How to Rule a Kingdom in 10 Days.”

The Presidency.

Name two things Kris Humphries won’t have to worry about anymore.

His in-laws and what stupid K names he’ll have to come up with for his children.

Getting hip bumped every time he tries to walk; ambiguous references to “Kris” in the homestead.

Getting crushed in bed and pretending like he loves his wife.

THE CURRENT

Annie Chang

DESIGN EDITOR jenna fugate DESIGNER rebecca savransky

My heart, if she’ll have it.

PULSE PULSE

HOW WILL YOU BE OCCUPYING NORTHWESTERN? #OccupyTech 7.5%

... Useless questions with

EDITOR IN CHIEF ashley fetters ASSISTANT EDITORS colleen park, megan patsavas

Kaitlyn Jakola

& Jasmine Hubbard (ReFresh) pictured) Suzanne Hutt (Boomshaka, not Refusionshaka Useless Questions with Jasmine Hubbard (ReFresh) and Suzanne Hutt (Boomshaka) for Refushionshaka If you were forced to theme your

Kim’s ass; the other side of Kim’s ass.

Too occupied already 77.4%

wedding, what would it be? Jasmine: I would definitely make it some sort of video game theme. Right now I’m thinking Super Mario. Me and my husband would be Mario and Peach then we’d have like, Luigi and Toad as best mates, and for the bridesmaids and whatever you call the men, just choose other characters from Mario Kart. Not only would it have the most awesome decorations, but we could have so much fun with games and the menu and just about everything else at the wedding! Suzanne: My wedding theme would be Classic Hollywood Films from the ’20s and ’30s — black and white, super classy, when romance was beautiful and uncomplicated and everything was in a soft lens. Boy meets girl, they fall in love and live happily ever after. –Alyssa Clough

Um ... I think I might be the one percent 5.7%

Camp out at the Lake Fill 9.4%

Out of 98 people compiled by Cat Chen

@TWIT.PICKS @md_young: “Did Burgie really just say ‘pimps and hos’ in an email to all of northwestern?” (Oct. 28)

@smarshmallow2: “I’m that bitch that puts on a normal weekend outfit and a headband and calls it a costume” (Oct. 29)

@KelseyStokes_: “ ‘Nebraska is having its way with Michigan St.’ #sexualfootballreferences” (Oct. 29)

@saraheblau: “The Great Room isn’t so great when the heat’s turned off :/ #brrr” (Oct. 30)

@katieamagee: “Halloween in Madison is like a real life version of Where’s Waldo?. Except Waldo is everywhere. And you can’t not find him.” (Oct 29)

@priyakkumar: “How can Kim Kardashian be getting divorces when I haven’t even finished watching the 4 hour wedding special? #thiskindaruinsitforme” (Oct. 31) compiled by Rachel Morello

Thursday, November 3, 2011

REVIEWS

REVIEWS

THE CURRENT reviews

3

FAIRY TALE FACEOFF: ‘Grimm’ vs. ‘Once Upon A Time’ Genre/ Location

ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC Sundays 8/7c)

GRIMM (NBC Frdays 9/8c)

Premise

Fairy tale connection

Supernatural factor

Cheese factor

Fantasy, family drama. Storybrooke, Maine (where happy endings apparently go to die)/fairytale land (every girl’s retirement plan)

In order to seek revenge on Snow White and Prince Charming, the Evil Queen exiles the entire kingdom to Storybrooke, Maine. The only one who knows their true identities is a Henry, a 10-year-old boy given up for adoption by Emma Swan— who doesn’t know she’s the daughter of Snow White, or that the fate of the fairytale world rests on her shoulders.

The land from whence these characters originally came seems to be a strange melange of all the Grimm fairytales.

6.5/10 Grain of salt, though: There are two separate lands, but the real world seems to be getting more magical by the second.

9/10 Everything from the costumes to the script reeks of cheese. The show takes itself too seriously It’s hard not to laugh when Grumpy, Geppetto and Prince Charming chat casually, like its just another Monday at the water cooler.

Supernatural, crime drama. Portland, Oregon

Homicide detective Nick Burkhardt learns that he is the last descendant in a long line of supernatural hunters called the “Grimms.” He discovers that he can see people’s supernatural identities, enabling him to fight them with the ease and accuracy that no one else can; meanwhile, he continues to investigate murders while keeping his legacy a secret.

The creatures that Nick must fight are all creatures or villains coming from Grimm’s fairy tales.

5/10 The series takes place in the real world, which is infiltrated with supernatural beings (a fact only known to a few people).

3/10 The show is surprisingly un-cheesy and manages to mix some humor and irony into its dialogue, which keeps things a little light-hearted and balances well with the dark, twisted cases that they face.

VERDICT: With the creators of “Lost” at its helm, “Once Upon a Time” seems like the more original series on paper. But it doesn’t really have the magical effect that it should. “Grimm” has a better survial chance because it takes a well-known formula of a crime TV series and gives it a fairytale twist that adds flair instead of cheese.

Depp plays (another) eccentric drunkard in ‘The Rum Diary’ 1958, Puerto Rico: Paul Kemp (Johnny Depp) is a journalist on the hunt for booze, a story and a girl. If this sounds corny, that’s because it is. The Rum Diary, an uneven, if occasionally fun, romp under the tropical sun, is adapted from the far superior Hunter S. Thompson book of the same name, and led by the always-charming, sometimesgrating Depp. Kemp is an almost-middle-age would-be novelist who moves south to work at a faltering paper full of somewhat lubricated newsmen much like himself. Depp has always played a good drunkard, and this time is no different, although after some corrupt American businessmen bring him in on their diabolical plans, his virtuous bent gets old fast.

Don’t worry, though: Kemp doesn’t spend more than a third of the movie actually pursuing the plot. A good deal of time is given to Kemp’s colorful adventures through the gorgeous, tourism-brochure-worthy countryside with fellow staffer Bob Sala (Michael Rispoli), qualifying it as a “buddy film” without being amusing enough to earn the distinction. The film dwells, without becoming trite, on the seductive power of alcohol. Kemp describes his drinking as on the “upper end of social,” but when he wonders aloud what it’s like to be an alcoholic, the audience roared with laughter. He is haunted by the very real possibility of becoming like Moburg (Giovanni Ribisi), a wino who even processes the ethanol out of factory filters for a drink.

What little time is spent on the plot lacks Thompson’s knack for working the audience into a froth of righteous rage, despite the fact that neither the book nor the movie gets far past the “let’s whine about how bad things are” phase. Any movie that boldly declares the falsity of the American dream not once but several times is a tad too obvious for me. The movie is just as sexist as the book, without the excuse of being written half a century ago. Amber Heard plays Chenault, a love interest so devoid of personality her sole activities are flouncing, lounging and seducing. Plus Depp is 23 years older than Heard — am I the only one who prefers a couple to be born within the same decade? Nevertheless, the screenplay is intelligent, taking cues

from Thompson’s biting, elegant prose with quips such as “The island of Puerto Rico is an unwilling part of the United States: it’s like England with tropical fruit.” Ultimately, the movie seems determined to eulogize Thompson, who was a maverick writer himself, and just as quick as Kemp to break a rule, denounce a power broker or drain a snifter. Yet this Kemp and this movie in general, are too upstanding and straightforward to be truly Thompsonian. While he would have enjoyed the idealization, I’m not sure even Dr. Gonzo would approve of this pretty but ultimately empty film, which reeks too much of the “bastards” of industry that Kemp himself denounces to ultimately carry any weight. –Britta Hanson

‘Sounds’ like success: A Swedish import you won’t find at IKEA While Maja Ivarsson, frontwoman of Swedish rock band The Sounds, seemed happy to see the Chicago crowd again, she seemed rather disappointed with one particular venue regulation: Before she sang a stripped-down version of “Night After Night” from the band’s second album, she told the audience that she loves smoking, but she is not allowed to do so on stage; she told the audience that she would hold off on lighting up a cigarette because she didn’t want to make anyone angry. With her iconic mic swirling, high kicks and that signature sweetly badass attitude, Ivarsson kept the crowd jumping all night. Starting from the first song, “It’s So Easy,” Ivarsson instantly took over the stage at the Vic Theater with her natural charisma.. Touring non-stop since 1999, the Sounds played 210 shows in 2006 alone. Their North American tour began in mid-October in Florida, and the band has

officially started US promotion of their latest album, Something to Die For. Their 90-minute set during their Chicago show included many of their previous hits like “Living in America,” “Painted by Numbers,” and “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake”—all of which their cult-y fan base, who turned up in droves at the Vic, knew by heart. The first single from their fourth studio album, “Better Off Dead,” was recently featured in Rolling Stone’s MP3 Download section. Guitarist and Ivarsson’s high school classmate Felix Rodriguez said, “It’s a song that we refused to compromise with when we recorded it.” This track is multi-layered, as Rodriguez describes it, and has a strong dance-electronic component that has not been shown so much in their previous albums. Their second single, “Something to Die For,” is another song written by Rodriguez and the band’s

keyboardist/guitarist Jesper Annenberg. This upbeat track is more similar to the band’s previous work in that it has easy and catchy melody, but the overall electronic vibe of the album also shines through. Their latest album also features “The No No Song,” which has a fun and easy beat with a simple melody, and “Yeah Yeah Yeah,” which was used as a part of the soundtrack of the movie Scream 4. As just one of a burgeoning wave of Swedish import acts—including Robyn and Lykke Li—The Sounds have produced yet another exceptional work that made me purchase both vinyl and CD version of the album. Their show is one you’d never want to miss. The last show of The Sounds’ ongoing North American tour is scheduled for November 22 in Vancouver. –Jennifer Suh

MORE NEW MUSIC

INNI, Sigur Rós (Nov. 7 )

Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós has been teasing fans all summer with cryptic videos promoting its forthcoming live album, INNI. The DVD/double CD set will feature songs from every one of the band’s releases, and two tracks (“Ný Batterí” and “Festival”) have already been released on the band’s website for free.

Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011, R.E.M. (Nov. 15 )

R.E.M. announced its official break up last month, but the band members are not letting that stop them from releasing a compilation album on Warner Bros. Records. The double-disc release will include countless past hits, as well as the recent “We All Go Back to Where We Belong,” a melancholy ballad bookending the band’s long and successful career. –Kara Ali Goldsmith

‘Frog And Toad’ a delightful year in the life of friends It’s not often that students at Northwestern sit side-by-side with 5-year-olds, let alone for over an hour to watch the same show. But in “A Year With Frog and Toad,” the children’s musical by Robert and Willie Reale, student audiences have found themselves laughing right along with the youngsters. “A Year With Frog and Toad” is based on the “Frog and Toad” children’s stories by Arnold Lobel, and is presented through ImagineU, a project focused on bringing theatre for young audiences to NU’s Theatre and Interpretation Center. The story follows the upbeat Frog and the worrywart Toad through a year out of hibernation, along with their friends: Mouse, Turtle, the three Birds and Snail. From springtime to Christmas, Sophie Rich brings the musical year to

life with a soft-spoken, simple optimism, making it impossible for even the grumpiest theatergoer to leave feeling jaded. The characters themselves seem to exude the same bright, colorful hues of the set, which change with each passing season of the year. Zach Piser in particular, as Frog, brings unexpected wisdom and joy to the table. Providing a foil to Piser’s cheery Frog is Jake Perlman as the bumbling yet well-meaning Toad. As with the rest of the cast, Perlman embodies both his character’s animal and personal qualities, creating a space for understated comedy to arise — kids and theater majors alike can’t help but giggle at Perlman’s animated tuba serenade to the seeds he is trying to grow, with music and interpretive dance as encouragement. Rounding out the ensemble

are hilariously spot-on character performances from Taylor Bostwick as sassy Turtle and Gabrielle FeBland as a perfectly portrayed mouse, along with Meg Lowey, Kylie Mullins and Darrin French as feathered-friend narrators. Ben Barker as the spunky Snail steals the stage with his impassioned, if slow, journey through the postal system, showing off a unique and skilled vocal style along the way. Perfect casting (the petite, squeaky FeBland as Mouse and amphibious-limbed 6’5” dance major Josh Rubietta as Large And Terrible Frog) keeps the plot universally entertaining without playing too much to just the kids, as the show’s moral messages are applicable for both kids and adults. In the hilarious and relatable “Get a Loada Toad,” Toad refuses to go swimming because he “looks

funny in a bathing suit.” When Turtle catches on and spreads the news, Toad’s predicament reveals a useful lesson for kids and grown-ups alike: It’s all about confidence. Seemingly simple songs about things such as raking leaves, flying a kite and baking cookies are actually thinly veiled moral messages, giving the play a subtle depth that will appeal to older audiences. Whether you’re a kid deep down or are just looking to see what NU’s theatre-for-youngaudiences community has to offer, “A Year with Frog and Toad” is a bright gem that’s easy on the ears as well as the heart. A Year With Frog and Toad will play in Struble Theater on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. –Maggie Gorman

4

THE CURRENT profiles

Thursday, November 3, 2011

‘War is Kind’

MY____________ COLDEST NU moment

Snowstorms never really fazed me. Maybe it’s because I never spent my childhood eagerly anticipating snow days or dreaming of a white Christmas that I never quite knew how much snow was too much snow. In the Philippines, where I grew up, you knew a typhoon was really bad when you stepped outside and saw people walking waist-deep in floods. Here, snow is snow, and plows and shovels clear it away before it gets too cumbersome. So on that fateful Tuesday last February, I didn’t quite understand what all the hype was about. There was a big snowstorm. Big deal. Isn’t this Chicago? Don’t we get snowstorms all the time? It was hard not to get excited when everyone around me was buzzing at the news. My suitemates rearranged our furniture so that our couches were facing the windows. The Daily canceled publication for the first time in, well, probably ever.

And there was thundersnow. Thunder during a snowstorm! In the midst of all the excitement, my friend uttered the words that would change my life forever (OK, a little dramatic): “Let’s go outside.� We weren’t just talking about a five-minute venture into the outdoors. My friend wanted to walk in the middle of the snowstorm — even as we could hear the thunder — to Burger King and back. A mere two hours earlier, I debated whether I would be a horrible person to subject the Joy Yee’s delivery guy to bringing me my dinner in the midst of a snowstorm. I knew I didn’t know a lot about snowstorms, but something told me that when Northwestern cancels classes for the first time in ages, it must be saying something about the severity of the storm. Call me crazy, but I dutifully put on my sweatpants and my coat.

When we got to the entrance of our dorm, the snow literally prevented us from opening the door. We gladly took on the challenge and managed to dig our way out into the cold midnight air. But we hadn’t even reached the Rock when I began to seriously doubt the intelligence of this plan. There was a lot of snow everywhere, and what’s even worse is that I’m shorter than your average human, so I was pretty much wading through the waist-high snow. I considered going back, but my friend told me, “We’re on a mission to Burger King. We can’t back out now.� Sheridan Road was empty. Every 10 seconds, I would open my eyes to find out where we were, but when I tried to keep my eyes open for longer than that, my eyes would literally burn from the cold. The typically 10-minute trek to Burger King took half an hour.

Q&A

But when we walked into the restaurant, what we saw made us proud to have made that trek. BK was packed with fellow Snowpocalypse trekkers. Standing in line with the rest of them made me feel like a proud member of a cool (quite literally) club. As I sat down and enjoyed my BK treat, I looked around and I could feel how proud we all were for braving the storm. Police cars were driving around the streets outside, and I overheard someone say that they were offering people rides home from the storm. That night, I saw a once-in-a-lifetime picturesque scene of Evanston quite literally buried in snow. And best of all, at the end of my probably dangerous and most likely stupid foray into one of Chicago’s worst snowstorms, I finally understood what it meant to have too much snow. –Kris Anne Bonifacio

JAM ALEX GOLDKLANG

By Alyssa Mercado

By Ashley Fetters

Ever wondered if your friends are bringing you down? Recently recognized in Time for his research on social connectivity and dehumanization, Kellogg professor Adam Waytz explains the effect social networks have on you. Excerpts: THE CURRENT: What led you to explore the link between social relationships and dehumanization? Adam Waytz: When I was in graduate school, my advisers and I had been studying anthropomorphism, the process by which people treat nonhuman entities — pets, God, technological gadgets — as human. We developed a theory that identified loneliness as one of three primary causes of this. As we started to conduct these studies we thought these same principles might apply to the construct of dehumanization. So we had to invert our predictions and found that just as loneliness increases humanization, making people feel less lonely and highly socially connected increases their tendency to dehumanize people. THE CURRENT: What makes your research unique? AW: Our study was different because it looked at dehumanization in particular, which the past research hadn’t done as much, and also because it looked at not only the effects of groups but just at the effects of connection between two individuals. THE CURRENT: Do you feel that the results of your study match up to your personal life? AW: Not to the extent that I think I am dehumanizing others, but I think the part of our research that I relate to is the feeling of being overextended. There are so many social obligations and social circles we belong to as social animals that we end up spending our social resources to the point that they become depleted, and therefore, we cannot fully attend to everyone. That’s the experience that resonates with me. THE CURRENT: What was it like to be interviewed by Time?

AW: The Kellogg PR department had prepared me for this. That’s something new to me, though, as a new professor. That was my first experience working with a PR department, but I was very well prepared for the interview. THE CURRENT: Is there any publication that you would be especially excited to be featured in? AW: An ideal publication, I’ve always loved to read, is Harper’s. When we had conducted our research on anthropomorphism, Harper’s included us in one sentence in a section called “Findings,� and that was very exciting. To appear in Harper’s is always sort of my goal. THE CURRENT: As a new professor at Northwestern, do you plan on using this research as part of any upcoming course material? AW: I will be teaching a course called “ValuesBased Leadership,� which is a course on ethics and on how people can motivate and lead through values, and not merely through material incentives like money. I’m not sure yet if I’ll use the research as I am just familiarizing myself with the course, but it’s certainly an example of how people can behave unethically and treat others unethically. THE CURRENT: What can we expect next on the research front? AW: Broadly, I look at how people think about others’ minds. One entity that we’ve gotten very interested in is the group. Some people think groups have minds and some people say that groups have no minds at all, that they’re just collections. So, we’ve been looking at the conditions under which people will sort of humanize groups and think of them as persons versus when they fail to consider groups as having minds of their own.

5

Ursula Ellis brings the story of war close to home

THAT’S MY

ADAM WAYTZ

THE CURRENT profiles

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Last winter, current Communications senior Ursula Ellis was just beginning to write the script for her newest film project. Now, almost a year later, with locations approved, actors rehearsed, and a U-Haul rented and packed with equipment, the cast and crew of War Is Kind have begun the filming process, paving the long journey ahead to the RTVF Senior Directing Premiere this spring. War Is Kind tells the story of Ella, a 15-year-old girl struggling with the tensions of growing up in a military family and the dramas of adolescence. Ellis, who grew up in a military family, wrote the piece to convey the emotional difficulty of having a parent in Afghanistan, a perspective not touched upon often. “Personally, I’ve never seen a film about what it’s like for family members, specifically when a parent or loved one is at war, so I really wanted to depict that in a way that was honest, sometimes even brutally honest,� said Ellis. “Drawing from my own experiences and experiences of others that I knew, I hope people will empathize with the character and maybe gain some understanding of the specific world of an army brat.� With three large film productions under her belt during her time at Northwestern, Ellis anticipated the costs of making War Is Kind, applied for and was awarded the 2011 NUWFA grant (Northwestern University Women Filmmaker’s Alliance). “Filmmaking is a very expensive process. We do have a lot of equipment provided by the school but you always end up needing more,� said Ellis. “You have to consider costume design, location fees, snacks and meals, transportation - sometimes you wonder how it will even be possible to make it happen but somehow it comes together if you push hard enough.� Financing was only one hurdle to the film’s production, according to Communications junior

and producer of War Is Kind Allison Siladi. The dramatic nature of the film was a second challenge for both the cast and crew. “The film is about how war affects the people involved, during their everyday lives,� Siladi said. “Ursula focused on the people who aren’t actually fighting, the people who essentially are left behind.� Ellis worked hard to find a cast that could convey the intensity of the film’s subject matter, starting with her lead, Communications sophomore Lauren Guiteras. Despite Guiteras’ lack of acting training, Ellis praised for her performance and dedication thus far, mentioning summer Skype sessions and her rehearsals twice a week throughout the fall to perfect the emotional foundation for the character of Ella. “Lauren is incredible. She has been in front of the camera before but she isn’t a trained actress, which I really valued,� said Ellis. “When I auditioned others this fall, I casted all of the other characters to fit her persona. I knew I Hands on director: Ellis works on one of many film sets during the production of needed to use her.� The cast has worked on physical and ’War is Kind.’ Photo by Ellen Barry emotional exercises together, both in Guiteras. “She sent me playlists with specific music, opening of the film. character and away from the camera. Ellis prefers using a more proactive approach when movies that feature non-actors in lead roles - things “A lot of people don’t know the intensity of prodirecting and values on-and-off screen connection to help me feel more comfortable even though I duction and how much effort goes into student between her cast members. With visits to military felt less experienced.� film,� said Ellis. “Everyone has worked so hard so bases, rock music in the background of rehearsals The team continues to film War Is Kind for the far and I can’t wait for the final product. Despite and group dinners out, Ellis encourages the cast to next three weekends before entering post-pro- the long road it’s been and the work we have left, embody their personas and relate to each other. duction, in preparation for the Senior Directing I’m feeling pretty blessed.� “Ursula has been very hands-on. She gave me Premiere and Studio 22 premiere this coming exercises to get me inside the character’s head,� said spring, where the public will be able to see the –Jacqueline Andriakos

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If you thought our generation didn’t respect its elders, then you’ve probably never met Alex Goldklang. The Communication senior, who plays yuppie landlord Benny in the Theatre Interpretation Center’s upcoming production of “RENT,� has a serious case of pop-culture nostalgia—but in the best way possible. Goldklang, a Communication senior, put his “vie boheme� on hold for a hot second to chat with us about swinging ‘60s sex appeal and his undying love for Judy Garland. THE CURRENT: So what’s on your iPod these days? What are you listening to? Alex Goldklang: Bon Iver’s whole new CD [the self-titled Bon Iver] just kills me. Especially “Perth� and “Calgary.� Beyond that, Judy Garland and some Nicki Minaj. THE CURRENT: What’s the story with Judy Garland? AG: Judy is my life. She can do no wrong by me. She sings all my favorites. I started listening to her when I was 16—as a joke, kind of, and then I got obsessed. Driving in the car with my high school girlfriend, we’d listen to Judy and she’d be like, “Remind me again why I’m dating you?� But I’m very open about it in college, and girls still date me. Sometimes. T HE C URRENT : So is this, like, Wizard of Oz-era Judy, or later-in-life saucy Judy? AG: No. Saucy, drunk, dying Judy. Carnegie Hall in 1961 Judy. THE CURRENT: What’s your favorite recording of hers? AG: Judy at Carnegie Hall is my favorite. I listen to it four to six times a week—often twice in a row. Her rendition of “San Francisco� sends me there and back.

THE CURRENT: Let’s talk Nicki for a second. Tell me about your relationship with Ms. Minaj. AG: My roommate turned me on to her, because he says her Pandora station is by far the best for party music. Also, my favorite YouTube video in the whole world—besides the Yes Dance—is that little British girl singing “Super Bass.� [Sophia] Grace Brownlee? I feel like I’m in the video. I feel like I’m her, and I’m just absolutely killing it. She’s so obnoxious! She’s basically my alter ego. A sassy, chubby 7-yearold British girl who can sing like a monster. THE CURRENT: How about your TV lineup? Any shows you’re obsessed with? AG: I watch “Mad Men� just for the design aspects; how they look, the settings, all of that. I belong in the ‘60s. I would’ve been so hot in the ‘60s! I just don’t fit in in 2011. Funny story: I actually auditioned for NBC’s “The Playboy Club,� and they loved me! But they said I was too short. THE CURRENT: Bummer! How do you feel now that it’s cancelled? AG: Don’t care. Never watched it. See Alex in “RENT� on at 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 20 at the Ethel M. Barber Theater.

ho mon-sat sun

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4

THE CURRENT profiles

Thursday, November 3, 2011

‘War is Kind’

MY____________ COLDEST NU moment

Snowstorms never really fazed me. Maybe it’s because I never spent my childhood eagerly anticipating snow days or dreaming of a white Christmas that I never quite knew how much snow was too much snow. In the Philippines, where I grew up, you knew a typhoon was really bad when you stepped outside and saw people walking waist-deep in floods. Here, snow is snow, and plows and shovels clear it away before it gets too cumbersome. So on that fateful Tuesday last February, I didn’t quite understand what all the hype was about. There was a big snowstorm. Big deal. Isn’t this Chicago? Don’t we get snowstorms all the time? It was hard not to get excited when everyone around me was buzzing at the news. My suitemates rearranged our furniture so that our couches were facing the windows. The Daily canceled publication for the first time in, well, probably ever.

And there was thundersnow. Thunder during a snowstorm! In the midst of all the excitement, my friend uttered the words that would change my life forever (OK, a little dramatic): “Let’s go outside.� We weren’t just talking about a five-minute venture into the outdoors. My friend wanted to walk in the middle of the snowstorm — even as we could hear the thunder — to Burger King and back. A mere two hours earlier, I debated whether I would be a horrible person to subject the Joy Yee’s delivery guy to bringing me my dinner in the midst of a snowstorm. I knew I didn’t know a lot about snowstorms, but something told me that when Northwestern cancels classes for the first time in ages, it must be saying something about the severity of the storm. Call me crazy, but I dutifully put on my sweatpants and my coat.

When we got to the entrance of our dorm, the snow literally prevented us from opening the door. We gladly took on the challenge and managed to dig our way out into the cold midnight air. But we hadn’t even reached the Rock when I began to seriously doubt the intelligence of this plan. There was a lot of snow everywhere, and what’s even worse is that I’m shorter than your average human, so I was pretty much wading through the waist-high snow. I considered going back, but my friend told me, “We’re on a mission to Burger King. We can’t back out now.� Sheridan Road was empty. Every 10 seconds, I would open my eyes to find out where we were, but when I tried to keep my eyes open for longer than that, my eyes would literally burn from the cold. The typically 10-minute trek to Burger King took half an hour.

Q&A

But when we walked into the restaurant, what we saw made us proud to have made that trek. BK was packed with fellow Snowpocalypse trekkers. Standing in line with the rest of them made me feel like a proud member of a cool (quite literally) club. As I sat down and enjoyed my BK treat, I looked around and I could feel how proud we all were for braving the storm. Police cars were driving around the streets outside, and I overheard someone say that they were offering people rides home from the storm. That night, I saw a once-in-a-lifetime picturesque scene of Evanston quite literally buried in snow. And best of all, at the end of my probably dangerous and most likely stupid foray into one of Chicago’s worst snowstorms, I finally understood what it meant to have too much snow. –Kris Anne Bonifacio

JAM ALEX GOLDKLANG

By Alyssa Mercado

By Ashley Fetters

Ever wondered if your friends are bringing you down? Recently recognized in Time for his research on social connectivity and dehumanization, Kellogg professor Adam Waytz explains the effect social networks have on you. Excerpts: THE CURRENT: What led you to explore the link between social relationships and dehumanization? Adam Waytz: When I was in graduate school, my advisers and I had been studying anthropomorphism, the process by which people treat nonhuman entities — pets, God, technological gadgets — as human. We developed a theory that identified loneliness as one of three primary causes of this. As we started to conduct these studies we thought these same principles might apply to the construct of dehumanization. So we had to invert our predictions and found that just as loneliness increases humanization, making people feel less lonely and highly socially connected increases their tendency to dehumanize people. THE CURRENT: What makes your research unique? AW: Our study was different because it looked at dehumanization in particular, which the past research hadn’t done as much, and also because it looked at not only the effects of groups but just at the effects of connection between two individuals. THE CURRENT: Do you feel that the results of your study match up to your personal life? AW: Not to the extent that I think I am dehumanizing others, but I think the part of our research that I relate to is the feeling of being overextended. There are so many social obligations and social circles we belong to as social animals that we end up spending our social resources to the point that they become depleted, and therefore, we cannot fully attend to everyone. That’s the experience that resonates with me. THE CURRENT: What was it like to be interviewed by Time?

AW: The Kellogg PR department had prepared me for this. That’s something new to me, though, as a new professor. That was my first experience working with a PR department, but I was very well prepared for the interview. THE CURRENT: Is there any publication that you would be especially excited to be featured in? AW: An ideal publication, I’ve always loved to read, is Harper’s. When we had conducted our research on anthropomorphism, Harper’s included us in one sentence in a section called “Findings,� and that was very exciting. To appear in Harper’s is always sort of my goal. THE CURRENT: As a new professor at Northwestern, do you plan on using this research as part of any upcoming course material? AW: I will be teaching a course called “ValuesBased Leadership,� which is a course on ethics and on how people can motivate and lead through values, and not merely through material incentives like money. I’m not sure yet if I’ll use the research as I am just familiarizing myself with the course, but it’s certainly an example of how people can behave unethically and treat others unethically. THE CURRENT: What can we expect next on the research front? AW: Broadly, I look at how people think about others’ minds. One entity that we’ve gotten very interested in is the group. Some people think groups have minds and some people say that groups have no minds at all, that they’re just collections. So, we’ve been looking at the conditions under which people will sort of humanize groups and think of them as persons versus when they fail to consider groups as having minds of their own.

5

Ursula Ellis brings the story of war close to home

THAT’S MY

ADAM WAYTZ

THE CURRENT profiles

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Last winter, current Communications senior Ursula Ellis was just beginning to write the script for her newest film project. Now, almost a year later, with locations approved, actors rehearsed, and a U-Haul rented and packed with equipment, the cast and crew of War Is Kind have begun the filming process, paving the long journey ahead to the RTVF Senior Directing Premiere this spring. War Is Kind tells the story of Ella, a 15-year-old girl struggling with the tensions of growing up in a military family and the dramas of adolescence. Ellis, who grew up in a military family, wrote the piece to convey the emotional difficulty of having a parent in Afghanistan, a perspective not touched upon often. “Personally, I’ve never seen a film about what it’s like for family members, specifically when a parent or loved one is at war, so I really wanted to depict that in a way that was honest, sometimes even brutally honest,� said Ellis. “Drawing from my own experiences and experiences of others that I knew, I hope people will empathize with the character and maybe gain some understanding of the specific world of an army brat.� With three large film productions under her belt during her time at Northwestern, Ellis anticipated the costs of making War Is Kind, applied for and was awarded the 2011 NUWFA grant (Northwestern University Women Filmmaker’s Alliance). “Filmmaking is a very expensive process. We do have a lot of equipment provided by the school but you always end up needing more,� said Ellis. “You have to consider costume design, location fees, snacks and meals, transportation - sometimes you wonder how it will even be possible to make it happen but somehow it comes together if you push hard enough.� Financing was only one hurdle to the film’s production, according to Communications junior

and producer of War Is Kind Allison Siladi. The dramatic nature of the film was a second challenge for both the cast and crew. “The film is about how war affects the people involved, during their everyday lives,� Siladi said. “Ursula focused on the people who aren’t actually fighting, the people who essentially are left behind.� Ellis worked hard to find a cast that could convey the intensity of the film’s subject matter, starting with her lead, Communications sophomore Lauren Guiteras. Despite Guiteras’ lack of acting training, Ellis praised for her performance and dedication thus far, mentioning summer Skype sessions and her rehearsals twice a week throughout the fall to perfect the emotional foundation for the character of Ella. “Lauren is incredible. She has been in front of the camera before but she isn’t a trained actress, which I really valued,� said Ellis. “When I auditioned others this fall, I casted all of the other characters to fit her persona. I knew I Hands on director: Ellis works on one of many film sets during the production of needed to use her.� The cast has worked on physical and ’War is Kind.’ Photo by Ellen Barry emotional exercises together, both in Guiteras. “She sent me playlists with specific music, opening of the film. character and away from the camera. Ellis prefers using a more proactive approach when movies that feature non-actors in lead roles - things “A lot of people don’t know the intensity of prodirecting and values on-and-off screen connection to help me feel more comfortable even though I duction and how much effort goes into student between her cast members. With visits to military felt less experienced.� film,� said Ellis. “Everyone has worked so hard so bases, rock music in the background of rehearsals The team continues to film War Is Kind for the far and I can’t wait for the final product. Despite and group dinners out, Ellis encourages the cast to next three weekends before entering post-pro- the long road it’s been and the work we have left, embody their personas and relate to each other. duction, in preparation for the Senior Directing I’m feeling pretty blessed.� “Ursula has been very hands-on. She gave me Premiere and Studio 22 premiere this coming exercises to get me inside the character’s head,� said spring, where the public will be able to see the –Jacqueline Andriakos

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If you thought our generation didn’t respect its elders, then you’ve probably never met Alex Goldklang. The Communication senior, who plays yuppie landlord Benny in the Theatre Interpretation Center’s upcoming production of “RENT,� has a serious case of pop-culture nostalgia—but in the best way possible. Goldklang, a Communication senior, put his “vie boheme� on hold for a hot second to chat with us about swinging ‘60s sex appeal and his undying love for Judy Garland. THE CURRENT: So what’s on your iPod these days? What are you listening to? Alex Goldklang: Bon Iver’s whole new CD [the self-titled Bon Iver] just kills me. Especially “Perth� and “Calgary.� Beyond that, Judy Garland and some Nicki Minaj. THE CURRENT: What’s the story with Judy Garland? AG: Judy is my life. She can do no wrong by me. She sings all my favorites. I started listening to her when I was 16—as a joke, kind of, and then I got obsessed. Driving in the car with my high school girlfriend, we’d listen to Judy and she’d be like, “Remind me again why I’m dating you?� But I’m very open about it in college, and girls still date me. Sometimes. T HE C URRENT : So is this, like, Wizard of Oz-era Judy, or later-in-life saucy Judy? AG: No. Saucy, drunk, dying Judy. Carnegie Hall in 1961 Judy. THE CURRENT: What’s your favorite recording of hers? AG: Judy at Carnegie Hall is my favorite. I listen to it four to six times a week—often twice in a row. Her rendition of “San Francisco� sends me there and back.

THE CURRENT: Let’s talk Nicki for a second. Tell me about your relationship with Ms. Minaj. AG: My roommate turned me on to her, because he says her Pandora station is by far the best for party music. Also, my favorite YouTube video in the whole world—besides the Yes Dance—is that little British girl singing “Super Bass.� [Sophia] Grace Brownlee? I feel like I’m in the video. I feel like I’m her, and I’m just absolutely killing it. She’s so obnoxious! She’s basically my alter ego. A sassy, chubby 7-yearold British girl who can sing like a monster. THE CURRENT: How about your TV lineup? Any shows you’re obsessed with? AG: I watch “Mad Men� just for the design aspects; how they look, the settings, all of that. I belong in the ‘60s. I would’ve been so hot in the ‘60s! I just don’t fit in in 2011. Funny story: I actually auditioned for NBC’s “The Playboy Club,� and they loved me! But they said I was too short. THE CURRENT: Bummer! How do you feel now that it’s cancelled? AG: Don’t care. Never watched it. See Alex in “RENT� on at 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays through Nov. 20 at the Ethel M. Barber Theater.

ho mon-sat sun

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THE CURRENT self Ally Wierema’s guide to stealing the look Did you know there is another Olsen sister? If you didn’t, you definitely will soon. Elizabeth, the younger sister of child stars Mary Kate and Ashley, just made her first major film debut in the psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene. The film focuses on a young woman who returns to her family and suffers from delusions after spending time at an abusive cult. A word of warning — this film can be very disturbing at times — I often felt the urge to wrap myself up in a big, warm sweater like Olsen’s character did. So before you check out Martha Marcy May Marlene, prepare yourself and take a look at these chunky fall knits.

Knitted Chunky Stitch Jumper ($80, Topshop)

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Sex talk with Felicity Amethyst

WHAT THE F#%KSAW ?!

You know all those manners your mom taught you when you were younger? Don’t leave the toilet seat up, elbows off the table, don’t point at people, blah blah blah. Well, there is a whole slew of manners she never taught you, just as important and just as useful — oral sex etiquette. Last week Lindsay Lohan’s dad, Mike, was arrested for physically assaulting his girlfriend after she refused to give him a blow job. I think we can all agree that this does not fall under the category of good oral sex conduct. But exactly how obliging do we have to be if our partner asks for some tongueon-junk loving? Maybe they drank all that coffee and you know their jizz is about to taste like toxic waste. Maybe you’re suspicious about whether or not they’ve showered recently, or you could just not feel like it.

My new boyfriend and I just started having sex about two weeks ago and it is awesome, but he hasn’t made me orgasm yet. And believe me, we have tried. Help! Sometimes reaching the big O can be hard for ladies, so take control of your own orgasm. This means if you need more foreplay than you’re getting (women typically need about 20 minutes before they are really ready to go, according to Cosmopolitan), then tell your partner. The good guys will trade the wait for the great payoff. And an extra bonus, according to Women’s Health, if he can get you to orgasm during foreplay, chances are he will be able to get you to orgasm during sex.

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Well, if you’re not into it, then I’m asking you not to do it. Yeah, you probably want to please your partner and you feel bad denying them, but if it feels like a chore then that will probably be the worst head you’ve given in your life or at least second to that time you got your braces tightened. Good oral can only happen when two (or more) people are totally enthusiastic, so don’t make it an obligatory ordeal. Look at it this way — hooking up is the one thing in your life that you can and should only do because you want to and under no other circumstances. If your partner is pulling a Mike Lohan and getting coercive, tell them to lay off. If getting off is so important, they can do it themselves. But let’s just say you’re dying to get your partner’s mouth on your pussy or dick. If they’re into it, that’s great! Make their

THE BIRDS & THE BEES

by emma lehmann extended pleasure

THE BIRDS & THE BEES

by emma lehmann extended pleasure

Pay attention to your clitoris, which can be stimulated by the girl-on-top position, or manually by you or your boy toy. “Although the G-spot gets a lot of press for being your erotic epicenter, it’s the clitoris that packs the most pleasurable punch for you during sex,”

experience a little more enjoyable by: 1. Washing up. Not too much to ask to let some water run over your balls, right? And no, ladies, your snatch doesn’t need to smell or taste like flowers. It just needs to taste like a clean snatch. 2. Being gentle. Gentlemen, this is mostly for you: Do not thrust your cock down her throat because she might a) gag and stop blowing you and possibly b) vom all over you. Both are to be avoided under ideal circumstances. 3. Don’t be a douche bag about kissing them afterwards. If it tastes that bad, then maybe you shouldn’t be subjecting them to getting it all up in their mouth. Eat some pineapple or something. Get laid, Wildcats. And get some head while you’re at it, too. whatthef.cksaw@gmail.com

according to Cosmopolitan. It’s also important to remember not to stress out about the orgasm during sex. Focus on guiding him to what feels best for you. Ultimately, though, you both need to realize that communication is key in reaching the big O, and as a new couple you are in the position to either develop a good pattern of communication or doom your sex life by not saying anything. Tell him what you like and steer him away from what you don’t, and you should be able to get to that oh-so-important O in no time. Emma is a sexual health reporter and a Medill sophomore. Send her your sex questions at nusexquestions@ gmail.com.

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THE CURRENT weekend

Thursday, November 3, 2011

diversions and excursions adventures in evanston and chicago Evanston

Event: Tweet-Along with the Evanston Police Where: The City of Evanston Twitter When: Friday, Nov. 4 from 3-11 p.m.

This Friday, the City of Evanston’s Twitter will be tweeting almost all emergency calls to the Evanston Police Department. This will give the public the chance to get an understanding of the amount and nature of the calls received by the 9-1-1 Center. You should definitely check it out!

Chicago

Event: Bank of America Museums on Us Where: Look below When: Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 4 Do you have a Bank of America debt or credit card? If you do, you’re in luck! Every first Saturday and Sunday of the month, Bank of America users get free admission to the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago History Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the DuSable Museum of African American History and Shedd Aquarium. You should take advantage of this opportunity soon because the offer ends December 4!

7

’round here

this weekend on campus What: A&O Blowout Featuring Lupe Fiasco and Matt & Kim Where: Welsh-Ryan Arena When: Friday, Nov. 4 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Lupe Fiasco and Matt & Kim are performing at Northwestern! Get tickets now from the Norris Box Office for only $10 each. What better way to start the weekend than dancing and enjoying the night with your friends?

What: Cycle for Life Where: SPAC When: Saturday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Pike is happy to present Cycle for Life! This great event is a bicycling fundraiser supporting leukemia research and care. Make a team of five to seven people and sign up at mysignup.com/pikecycle. It is $50 per team, and the highest fundraiser gets a prize!

What: ReFusionShaka 2011 Where: Tech Auditorium When: Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Come watch the three talented dance groups ReFresh, Fusion, and Boomshaka as they come together to create one great show! Five dollar tickets for students are sold at the door. Be prepared to be amazed!

What: Rent Where: Ethel M. Barber Theatre When: Friday-Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. (three-weekend run) RENT has finally come to Northwestern! Acclaimed Northwestern faculty member Dominic Missim directs this Pulitzer Prize winning musical. –Michelle Neider

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THE CURRENT odds & ends

Thursday, November 3, 2011

THE RUNDOWN

stalking celebrities so you don’t have to

the BACK BURNER a dining column

THE WEEK THAT WAS

As the temperature drops, why not treat yourself to an afternoon tea? While there’s nothing wrong with a butternut squash bisque or hearty chili, afternoon tea is daintier and more luxurious. You can eat, drink and warm up without stuffing yourself and spoiling supper. If you take my favorite Northwestern shuttle bus to the Gold Coast, there are a couple great options for tea within walking distance. The Palm Court at the Drake Hotel (140 E. Walton St.) serves afternoon tea for $35 from 1-5 p.m. every day. You’ll munch on finger sandwiches, scones and an assortment of pastries along with your choice of tea. There are more than 20 teas to choose from, including classic black teas like Darjeeling and Earl Grey, to caffeine-free herbal infusions and tea-tinis. The dress code is dressy casual, so no ripped jeans or sandals. If you’re looking to book a reservation for December, you’re probably already

out of luck, but it’s worth a try. Every day in December, the Palm Court is sold out, serving 500 teas a day. The lobby and restaurant might look familiar, and that’s because scenes from “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “What Women Want” and “Risky Business” were filmed there. Ladies, don’t forget to check your makeup in the powder room, which was named a finalist for America’s Best Restroom in 2009. And keep an eye out for famous guests.

BERRY COMPOTE

The Chai Life On Thursday, buses departed from Northwestern and headed toward the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation in Evanston for the third annual Hillel Formal. Students danced, dined and drank from the $10 open bar. Cheap drinks, a sugar rush and good music? Always a recipe for a good time.

Both Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana have had tea here before. More recently, Aretha Franklin and John Travolta have stopped by. For more budget-minded tea sippers, trek a little farther north, to Old Town, where Delightful Pastries Bakery & Cafe has introduced a new afternoon tea menu this fall. For $10, you’ll have your choice of 12 organic looseleaf Rishi teas along with your choice of three mini-pastries. Pastry choices include a classic Italian tiramisu, lemon mousse parfait, chocolate mousse with fresh berries and caramel panna cotta. Chef and owner Doba Bielinski loves mini-pastries because they give customers more choice. She likens them to the “sweet table” tradition popular throughout Europe. For an indecisive diner like myself, this is the perfect solution. I can have a taste of everything without feeling like a glutton. –Amber Gibson

Friends Forever, Frog and Toad Last Friday night TI’s “A Year with Frog and Toad” opened at the Mussetter-Struble Theater. The show, aimed towards children ages 5-10, made kids in the audience squeal with delight, but the stories of strong friendship showed us that we could all learn a thing or two from Frog and Toad.

THIS WEEK NU STUDENTS WERE NOT:

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CLASSY

Backstreet’s…back? Kevin Richardson, former member of the Backstreet Boys, told Ryan Seacrest he would love to perform with the old crew again. Do I smell a reunion? Apparently, Richardson had finally been shown of the meaning of being lonely. Robbing the cradle George Clooney’s ex-girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis made headlines this weekend by delivering a crushing blow to her former flame, comparing him to a ‘father figure’ in an interview with an Italian journalist. Oh man, this gives a whole new meaning to “who’s your daddy.”

CRAZY

Kan you believe it?! Kim Kardashian has filed for divorce from her husband of only 72 days, Kris Humphries. SERIOUSLY? I haven’t even gotten through the entire 4-hour wedding special yet!

Spooky Scary No, this weekend wasn’t a werewolf bar mitzvah, it was even scarier: a Northwestern Halloween. Those who didn’t flea to Madison were rewarded with SAE and A Phi’s Project Scare and Bar Nights/Barn parties a plenty. For those whose midterms kept them home for the weekend, there’s always next year.

“Rumor Has It” According to her record label, Adele is going to undergo throatrelated surgery and will have to cancel all remaining live performances this year. Looks like she won’t be rolling in the deep much longer… which is too bad, because we’ll really miss her.

Mummy dearest After weeks of speculation, Jessica Simpson has finally confirmed her pregnancy on her website, posting a picture of herself in her Halloween costume, accompanied by the statement: “It’s true, I’m going to be a mummy!” Wait guys, we’re probably reading too far into this…she might actually just have been telling us about her costume…

CREEPY

–Rachel Morello

Morty Madness Major campus celebrity and president Morton Schapiro presented Northwestern’s strategic plan on Tuesday to a packed house. Students, faculty and community members piled in to hear what’s in store for the years to come. And like every great middle school party, Provost Daniel Linzer was adamant in pointing out that the plan goes from 2011-?. -Allison Lasher

Reading all 28 pages of Morty’s strategic plan • Mourning the loss of another football game • Feeling homesick for New England weather –CURRENT Staff

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