FutuRéale Magazine August 2011

August 2011 vol. 4 issue 8

FUTURÉALE arts . culture . living

www.futuréale.com

Q&A featuring Marty Machacek on pages 20-21

ART FOR OUR SAKES PG.12

ASTROLOGY PG.26

TORONTO PRIDE PARADE PG. 19

LARRY CROWNE PG.4 DESTINATION WEDDINGS

PG. 8

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Note From the Editor FUTURÉALE

FutuRéale Readers, At the peak of summer’s bliss, our FutuRéale team continues to thrive with energy as our readers encourage innovation with each progressing month. Our hard-working staff has put together an interesting August issue with a glimpse of the Toronto Film Festival, a sneak peak at the best fall movies, a mouth-watering exposé on the best cupcakes in Toronto, and a look inside some of history’s dark corners.

FutuRéale peaks every individual’s interest in exploring the journeys in art, the sparkle in culture and by distilling truths of Canadian living. Our inspiration stems from none other than our loyal readers who are the reason for our efforts each month to bring to you the latest issue of FutuRéale magazine.

This month, Flittering Pages illuminates the truth about language in a piece about translation and the writers whose wisdom breathes between the pages. Be sure to also check out PsychRhythms and it’s look into some of the world’s most horrific psychological experiments ever conducted. Enjoy!

Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro

Jess Silver and Anastasia Rokina Associate Editors- In Chief Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro -Interim EIC: Anastasia Rokina and Jess Silver Online Content Editor Shawn Shapiro Executive Director Omar Murji Contact FutuRéale at: info@futureale.com www.futureale.com ISSN 1916-3215 FUTURÉALE FutuRéale Magazine is published by The Organic Press www.organicpress.ca FutuRéale Magazine is a proud member of the ONAMAP Network www.onamap.ca © 2011 ONAMAP Enterprises

Masthead Publisher Omar Murji Editor in Chief Shawn Shapiro Associate Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Rokina Jess Silver Layout Artists Graeme Mollison Rav Rawat GH Interns: Sarah Doktor Olena Protsiv Melissa Doyle Editorial Interns Lindsay Romeo Olivia D’Orazio Brian McLellan Jess Morton Olga Shugurova Abby Plener Vicky Tobianah Ilana Perry Contributing Writers Maryam Gordpour Jeremy Colangelo Adriana Kolijin Alicia Ward Jess Morton Melissa Doyle Craig Wilkins Markus Pidek Ilana Perry Karolina Wisniewski Lindsay Romeo Jess Sliver Juan Thomas Amanda Cupido Lia Mezzacappa Anastasia Rokina

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

2

Table of Contents

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

04 Review Larry Crowne Maryam Gordpour 05 Game of Thrones Adriana Kolijin 06 First Among Equals Jeremy Colangelo 08 Destination Weddings Alicia Ward 10 Toronto Film Festival Craig Wilkins 12 Art For Our Sakes Marcus Pidek 16 Toronto’s Best Ice Cream Ilana Perry 14 PsychRhythms Anastasia Rokina 18 Rap Back to Basics Lindsay Romeo 20 Fall Movie Guide Jess Morton 21 Pride Parade Karolina Wisniewski 22 Marty Machacek Melissa Doyle 24 Top 5 Cupcake Shops Amanda Cupido 27 Flittering Pages Jess Silver 28 Astrology Credibility Juan Thomas 30 Black Creek Festival Jess Silver 31 U2 Concert Lia Mezzacappa

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

3

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Larry Crowne Movie Review Maryam Gordpour

L

arry Crowne, with an E, is a must see movie of the summer. Classic actors, Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are remarkable and hilarious. The on-screen chemistry made it more engaging and who’s arguing about the familiar faces?

We all grew up to Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in very different story plots and as much as the film resembles an unemployment criteria, the actors do fulfill the hopeless romantic comedy standard among it all.

The film teaches viewers the ugly truth about the economy and the big factors of why education is very important.

Coming into the plot story I thought of the words comedy and romance. The film started out slow and very boring. I thought to myself the word predictable and a Hollywood sell-out with well known actors slimming down to please their audience; their new audience anyhow.

However as the film picked up and we were introduced to new actors the story plot did not seem too bad. The film shifts to the educational factors and the moral of the story starts to become significant to every age group. Even though target was an elderly age that is already familiar with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

The surprising factor in the film was none other than Wilmer Valderrama. He was as hilarious as could be. His character brought out the seriously funny Fez from the 70’s show. Tom Hanks meets Wilmer and joins his hilarious scooter gang. Saving money, having economic problems and yet still perusing his education to hold his spot in the real world really becomes struggling for Tom when his age becomes a bigger factor.

Julia Roberts comes into play as a drunk teacher that is stuck in a bad relationship with no spark in her life. She tries to help her students find the meaning of care and to be outspoken students to the public world. I feel as if her role was very played out, certain moments throughout the film it just seemed like Julia Roberts wasn’t the same as she was years

ago. However she needs up becoming American’s sweetheart which was also a huge prediction.

Tom Hanks’ directing skills are a little fuzzy but his writing skills with Nia Vardalos aren’t as questionable. There are moments in the film when the direction of the camera makes it seem so amateur. He should just stick to acting. Larry Crowne is the second feature he ever directed but, in my point of view, there are some camera shots that are very unexplainable. His acting was as old school with a fresh modern out look, especially with his attire and scooter gang life he had created for himself throughout the film. Tom Hanks made many people crack a laugh in the packed theatre and the familiarity of the actors made it even more interesting to watch. Tom Hanks is the kind of guy that everyone likes within movies or outside of it all, and in this film we sure like him a little too much. His transitions and his life struggles make it dear to our hearts to watch and see him find his hope in the film he wants to create for himself.

This film made 26.2 million in the Box office and small actors in the film such as Rami Malek and David L. Murphy made it quite humorous throughout the film. Cedric the entertainer was one of the funny characters throughout the film with his larger and everyday Garage sale. The audience starts to find the film more humble than anything because of these characters and the familiarity.

I would recommend this film to those already familiar with the actors and students inside and outside of school. The film conveys to stay focused because actions can catch up to you. I give Larry Crowne a 3/5 stars. Grab your popcorn and watch the summers classical comedy at a theatre nearest to you. Scooter lovers I’m talking about you!

Cheers!

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

4

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

game of thrones More than just another fantasy series about wizards and dragons Adriana Kolijin

G

ame of Thrones, a new miniseries from HBO, based on the first novel in the saga A Song of Ice

and Fire by George R.R. Martin, just finished airing its first season to roaring acclaim. Starring Sean Bean, Mark Addy, Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey, among many others, this lavish miniseries is more than just your ordinary fantasy, as it steers clear of magicians and stock characters, and takes viewers into a world of shrewd politicians, dangerous knights and corrupt kings. George R.R. Martin, also known as the “American Tolkien”, has taken great pains in developing a detailed world, and this attention to detail is vividly portrayed by the TV miniseries.

A detailed world also means a huge cast of characters and multiple cultures waiting to be explored by the viewer. The story begins ominously as we are shown a dark forest in which dead men return to life and ruthlessly kill trackers, who were sent to find the people they call Wildlings. Wildlings are those who live on the other side of the Wall, a massive structure built out of ice, which is supposed to keep the “Others” out of the kingdom of Westeros. Who the “Others” are no one really knows, nor will we as they remain a mystery in the first instalment of the series (a second season is already in production).

Cut to a different scene, we encounter the House of Stark. The gruff but honest Lord Eddard Stark, played by Sean Bean, is introduced dealing out justice as he beheads a deserter from the Wall. He informs us and his son Bran that it is best to hand out justice personally when you are the leader: it is the way of the north. Overall, Lord Stark, or Ned as he is called by his family, seems happy ruling of his castle Winterfell and loves his wife and children. However, trouble stirs when the King, Robert Baratheon, rides to Winterfell with an important request, that Ned become the Hand of the King. Catelyn, Ned`s wife, begs him to refuse the king`s offer, but knows that Ned`s sense of honour will likely make him accept the position. She has almost convinced him to refuse when a letter arrives from Catelyn`s sister which reveals that the former Hand was murdered. Now Lord Eddard has no choice but to accept the post as he is eager to discover the reasons the assassination took place. Catelyn lets him go with a heavy heart. The situation is further complicated as their son Bran, on one of his climbing excursions, sees something he is

not meant to see and is gravely injured in a fall.

From here, things move quickly, and the story and characters jump into action as the viewer learns more and more about this complex world, where summers can last years and winters even longer. The story does not only stay in the continent of Westeros, but moves east to where the children of the deposed King, mad Aerys II, live across the sea on the continent of Essos. They are plotting to return to their rightful throne and Viserys, the heir, sells his sister to a Dothraki horse lord hoping he will be given an army in exchange with which he can conquer Westeros. Although this plot line does not cross with the others, one can surely guess that it will in due course.

The main players are the House of Stark, the House of Baratheon, the House of Lannister, the house of Targaryen and those who guard on the wall. As the series continues we are introduced to many other characters, and keeping track of every character might be confusing to those unfamiliar with the books. Luckily, the appearances of the families making it easier to differentiate them, as the Starks mainly have dark hair and the Lannisters are usually blond.

The series has lavish costumes and set designs, and the acting is also well done. Most of the actors are well cast, from the honourable hero figure played by Sean Bean to the character of Tyrion Lannister, a shrewd dwarf known as the Imp and appropriately portrayed by Peter Dinklage. There are many lesser-known actors in this miniseries, as is often the case, but they all fill their roles well, including the child actors.

Overall, the success of the series can be linked to the fact that it is not only for fantasy fans. Even people who are normally not drawn to fantasy can enjoy this series since it does not rely on neat magic tricks as a way to forward the plot. The story is intricately plotted, and the characters are all well-rounded, making them very interesting to watch. Oftentimes, the viewer will find him/herself speculating about what one character will do next and what the consequences of his/her actions will be.

The series is certainly off to a good start and if the quality continues the second season could be as satisfying and interesting as the first. However, there is a one-year wait and for those who are impatient, picking up the books would be a good idea, as they are an engrossing read. Either way, HBO’s adaptation of Game of Thrones is off to an excellent start.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

5

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

The First Am Jeremy Colangelo

E

ach book is different. Some are long intricate narrative. Understanding what makes a good first line is an important tomes of description and social commentary skill for any writer to have, and few places are better to learn from than the masters – so let us turn to an example: while others are short and concise texts with minimal frill and fuss. Some books are straightforward, some are “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he oblique, and some are outright impenetrable. What unties them is that they all have a beginning. Even if the book starts out in medias res (in the middle of the action), or even if the story itself is cyclical (like Finnegans Wake), there is still a first page, and a first sentence on that page.

The first line is perhaps the most important of the lot. From a practical standpoint, it is the first thing that the reader (or publisher) will see, and could determine whether they continue reading. In terms of plot, it is even more vital. Normally, each line of text builds on what came before it. One cannot end a quotation with “. . . he said” without earlier saying who “he” is, and who “he” is, only matters to the reader because of what “he” has already done before. The first line is different. Save for the cover, the title, and the masthead, the reader has no other information on what the book is about. The first line is the only line that the reader can interpret completely on its own.

found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” – From The Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka.

This line is one of my favourites. As a quick aside – the word “insect” here is a translation from the German word “Ungeziefer,” which could also mean “bug,” “vermin,” or “disgusting creature.” “Insect” is the more common rendering, and it is my preferred translation, as it best describes the thing that Samsa turns into.

This is an example of the establishing-shot narration that I spoke of earlier. This line gives you the protagonist (Gregor Samsa), the main setting (his bedroom), and the conflict that drives the plot (he has become an insect). It also, via the “uneasy dreams,” helps establish Samsa as a man worthy of our pity, and he only becomes more so as the story progresses.

The first’s lines independence gives it great power. In it the writer can quickly establish context for the entire story. Beginning with a short description of the character or the setting automatically gives those things increased importance, and those descriptions will echo through to the end. The writer can also outline their thesis, or the main point of the story. If you want your book to have a message – be it “love conquers all,” “slavery is wrong,” or “society is decadent” – then this is the place to do it.

Kafka is very good at these sorts of punchy sentences. It begins slowly and unexpectedly, giving us only the protagonist’s name. Then the tension turns up a bit with “uneasy dreams,” and further with “found himself transformed.” Once we get to “gigantic insect” the once modest sentence has become quite unusual, and also quite fascinating. The opening line mirrors Samsa’s metamorphosis from an uncomplicated travelling salesman to the protagonist of one of the twentieth century’s greatest works of literature.

The reader will implicitly judge the rest of the story based on this sentence. This fact gives the skilled writer great power, but it is also a pitfall. If you mess this line up, it could cripple or forever change the

“We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.” – From Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

6

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

mong Equals This is another very good line which, as before, serves multiple purposes. To begin with, it sets up a clear beginning to the story. Whenever you begin a plot, you must first ask yourself “why does my story begin here and not an hour ago, or a day ago, or two months in the future?”

The Metamorphosis begins where it does because that is the moment when Samsa discovers his transformation. Fear and Loathing begins here because that is when the small pharmacy that the two protagonists have running through their veins begins to affect them. Both beginning work because they tie into their respective theses. Whereas The Metamorphosis is aboutSamsa’s growing misery, Fear and Loathing spends a great deal of time describing the protagonists’ long and improbable binge through Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The beginning of the story is when the thesis begins to matter, and so the first line reflects that.

The opening to Fear and Loathing also establishes the scene. The “we” at the start means that there are at least two people, and saying that they are “around Barstow on the edge of the desert” provides an image of the setting. Even if the reader doesn’t know where Barstow is, almost everyone has an idea of what a desert is like.

Fear and Loathing’s opening line also helps draw the reader in.

It shows that one of the best ways to keep the reader interested is to provide only as much information as is absolutely necessary. They’ve taken drugs, but what drugs? What kind of drugs? And how many? The drugs have begun “to take hold,” but what does that mean? This suggests that they have been completely taken over by their influence (and that proves to be mostly true), but we only know that by conjecture. The line makes us ask these questions, and the rest of the book gives us the answers – and that is why the line works.

dice, by Jane Austin.

This line is very famous, and deservedly so. It is a very good example of the thesis-establishing lines that was discussed previously. The line, beginning with “it is a truth universally acknowledged,” sets itself up like a maxim. By arguing that it states a universally accepted truth it, somewhat ironically, provides a degree of ambiguity. Does a wealthy man always want a wife? Sure, one could make a case for it being a ruleof-thumb, but what if the man is ant-social, or uninterested, or gay? Can the statement still claim universality?

The novel’s plot does mostly deal with a wealthy man and a wealthy woman courting each other, and so acts as an argument in the first line’s favour. Since all rich men “must be” in search of wives, this rich man in search of a wife reflects a universal truth – or so the novel says. Thus, the opening line implicitly poses a question through its inflexible claim to universal truth – and so thereby demands the reader’s criticism while simultaneously posing its thesis. The line also helps establish the novel’s scene, as we can now be pretty sure that the plot will involve wealthy men, wealthy women, and wealthy men trying to marry wealthy women (and, surprise surprise, that’s what happens). This opening line, like all really good ones, is doing several jobs at once, and does them exquisitely.

A brilliant opening line is never a fix for a terrible story, but it can take a good story and bring it near perfection. A good writer should be able to use their openings in most of the ways I listed above, and a great writer should be able to do all of them at the same time. Think of the book as a lever and the first line as its fulcrum – if they’re strong enough, you should be able to move the world.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.” – From Pride and Preju-

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

7

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Destination Weddings Alicia Ward

wedding day?” Claydon explains dress choices she has seen in the past to me, “some brides like to keep it a little lighter if they’re going somewhere hot but really it can be either, right from a formal wedding gown to a short white beach dress.”

Claydon has many brides traveling across seas to their preferred wedding location but sees just as many brides traveling close to home in Canada and the United States to be closer to family. The most popular location in Claydon’s experience is Mexico. “I think the most popular location is Mexico but we have brides going to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii and as far as Bora Bora,” Claydon recounts to me. She is actually lucky enough to be attending a destination wedding in Palm Springs this summer herself.

Mid July temperatures for Palm Springs can reach into the low forties. Cancun in August can reach temperatures as high as 33 degrees Celsius with agreeable lows at 26 degrees Celsius. Similar temperatures are seen throughout Mexico reaching lows that still require shorts, tshirts and flip flops to be comfortable. May through to October Bora Bora is constantly reaching highs of 28 degrees Celsius with minimal chance of showers and plenty of sun. Need I say more about why destination weddings are popular?

We have all seen movies where couples in love jet to a tropical location to be married on white sand, against a background of blue waters and sunsets. It is assumed that

If it is not the stunning weather and guaranteed sun that captures the imagination perhaps it is the beauty found in tropical locations. Bora Bora is an island in the South Pacific Ocean with nothing surrounding it but blue waters and more islands. The beauty found on this island, from the marine life while snorkelling to the flora while sun tanning are second to none. Along with extreme natural beauty Bora Bora boasts of a history filled with myth and legend. If having a destination wedding at a resort the resort will often have many activities for all interests to keep the guests happy. The guests will go to the tropical location to see the couple married but as Claydon gushes, “you did get a vacation out of it and there’s lots of activities for everyone to do [at a resort].” At a destination wedding the guests are sure to have a good time since they are enjoying the sights and sun just as much as the married couple.

Carma Claydon, a bridal consultant at The Bridal Centre in Calgary helps brides find the perfect dress for their perfect day. Claydon often asks, “where are you going, what do you see yourself wearing on your

I assumed the allure of a destination was purely the location the bride and groom pick but Claydon gives me a surprising answer: “I think the destination wedding is popular because it’s easier. Everything is arranged for you and you get a holiday out of it.” When a bride and groom pick a large resort for their wedding the resort takes care of venue, decoration, music and catering services. Anything a couple may want at a wedding the resort can usually provide, making wedding planning easy. Claydon also notes that guest sizes are smaller accounting for

the destination wedding is an expensive endeavour that is complicated to organize and only achieved perfectly in fictional stories. False. The destination wedding can be achieved by those happy couples in reality as well. The best part: destination weddings are less pricy than expected, not to mention a hell of a lot more fun for the happy couple and guests.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

8

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

a more intimate wedding where the guests get lots of face time with the happy couple. Claydon adds, “usually the people that are most important to you are the ones who are going to travel,” allowing the obligatory invitations to be negated.

Claydon also speaks on price, “I think [local weddings and destination weddings] are comparable. Local weddings can be pretty expensive.

Destination weddings usually have fewer guests and usually the bride and groom pay for their own travel expenses and then maybe a dinner for their guests.” Local weddings consists of major costs such as wedding and reception venue, transportation to and from, flowers, catering, DJ, plenty of invitations and the list continues. Destination weddings allow the resort to do the work, plus every bite of dinner seems better when staring at a tropical sunset. Usually the guests foot the bill for their own travel expenses and, to seal the deal, Claydon also notices brides planning a destination wedding are noticeably less stressed than the brides planning local weddings.

The fun does not have to stop after the wedding either.

Claydon has come across couples that have picked a location for their destination wedding and a second location for their honeymoon. Often when a couple returns home they will then host a party where all of their family and friends who could not attend the destination wedding can still celebrate the couple’s happiness with a dinner and a dance.

Claydon will be the first to admit that she “loves any wedding” and is willing to do most anything to fulfill a bride’s wishes. For the bridal consultants at The Bridal Centre the bride always comes first. Not even humidity, sand or the groom’s ideas for a powder blue tuxedo can override the bride’s wishes. Claydon concedes, “it’s nice to have [the bride and groom] complement each other but really from our perspective it’s about the bride.” The Bridal Centre even makes getting the wedding

dress to the location easy, “We will pack[the bridal gown] in a solid garment bag so you can’t see through it and the bride will usually contact the airline to see if they can hang it on the plane,” Claydon explains.

Claydon warns that it’s “not recommended to check [the dress] with your luggage.” If anything Claydon reluctantly says the dress can be stored in the overhead bin. The dress can be one of the most expensive purchases of a wedding but it is clearly a very important purchase, ask any bride. Best to keep the dress safe by keeping an eye on it.

The disadvantages to a destination wedding will be the extra paperwork needed to be completed in order for a couple to become united on foreign soil, especially if someone from home is brought to unite the couple. There also might be certain health risks and preventative measures needed to be taken before leaving. Since the resort will organize the entire affair, the wedding might not have a personal feel for the couple. Most local weddings will have handmade center pieces or Grandma’s meatballs but all that is left at home when flying to a destination wedding. The bride and groom must decide for themselves if palm trees and fresh coconut milk beats having their own special touch added to their wedding.

I continue to press Claydon for more trends she’s seen with destination weddings over the years, but the reoccurring trend seems to be that the possibilities are endless. “It’s up to the bride and groom” Claydon continually tells me. People in the wedding business are ready to break their backs making a couple’s wedding day a special one, it seems as though anything is possible for the bride and groom. What better way to celebrate a marriage than to turn the special day into a vacation for the whole family by inviting them to travel with the bride and groom to their destination wedding. The experience will be unforgettable and they’ll be thanking you for the memorable times for years and years to come.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

9

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

The Toronto F

Craig Wilkins The Toronto International Film Festival is the high point of the year for movie lovers in our great city. Coming after a summer of blockbuster super hero movies and part 7-b’s, it is, for those of us who enjoy independent and foreign film, the perfect time to binge on movies, day and night, watching sometimes past the point of exhaustion.

We take time off work, we stand in lines for hours, we live on Starbucks coffee and popcorn, and at the end of the festival we stumble back to our regular daily lives a little sleep deprived, sore and bleary eyed, but unbelievably happy. Christmas does come once a year, and this year it comes September 8th and runs till the 18th.

TIFF likes to present itself as the people’s festival. It is all about us, the viewer, but we know it is really about the movies.

We spend hours looking over film titles and descriptions trying to find exactly the right mix of movies to make our festival experience memorable. We watch what we can, we discuss them with other film junkies in the lines, we blog about them online and leave clever little messages on facebook, and then we go onto sites like IMDB to see what others thought, hoping against hope to find someone to argue the merits of the movie with, keeping it alive even longer.

For eleven wonderful days in September the whole world becomes one big movie.

I don’t know about you, but I get so caught up in the films that I forget, or am completely blind to, all the work and the thousands and thousands of people behind the scenes and on the front lines needed to organize everything and keep it all running smoothly.

I’d like to take just a few moments to talk about the 2,000 volunteers who each year donate more than 54,000 hours to keep the festival running. Because, when it comes right down to it, the Toronto International Film Festival runs on volunteered time. It was probably a volunteer who helped prepare your ticket package, a volunteer who helped direct you to the right line at the box office, a volunteer who answered your ques-

tions about exchanges and single ticket purchases, a volunteer who greeted you when it was finally time to attend your first film, a volunteer who took your ticket and showed you inside, a volunteer who escorted the director and the stars to the stage for the Q&A afterwards, and a volunteer who collected your ballot for the Cadillac People’s Choice winner as you exited the theatre.

I know I am guilty of not appreciating TIFF’s volunteers. That might be the ultimate compliment. Generally we do not fully appreciate the hard work that goes into making something run smoothly until it doesn’t. And while some of the festivals volunteers are more personable than others, they are all well trained, and well organised and answer the thousand questions they hear each day, “I need to exchange my pass for a ticket,” “Has “Rare Exports” gone in already,” “I’m in theatre 4,” with an ease that makes their work seem almost unnecessary.

300 movies with multiple showings for industry and the public in eight different theatres over eleven days, most with Q&A’s meaning you not only have to get the movie to play on time, but get the talent to and from the screening and manage the screening and exit of the theatre in a timely manner so the next screening can begin on time. While time might stop for us as we watch a film or listen to a legendary director, it continues to run for the festival and like rush hour on the 401, the slightest delay can cause a ripple effect that not only delays everyone, but throws the whole festival off kilter.

A large part of that leg work is done by the festivals volunteers. I was trying to visualize for myself just how great a contribution they make to the festival, so naturally I did the math. Last year the festival utilised 2,000 volunteers who donated a total of 54,000 hours of their time. To put that in context, there are 8,760 hours in a year. If you worked 16 hours a day 7 days a week, you’d need to work 3,375 straight days to accumulate all the hours that were volunteered last year. That’s 9.25 years of working every single day every hour you were awake

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

10

Film Festival all for a few free movie tickets. So before we grumble about volunteers doing nothing and getting tickets to all the best showings, take just a second to think about that, the sheer number of volunteer hours it takes to keep the festival running as smoothly as it does.

They deserve our thanks, and not simply the 30 seconds of forced applause we give them before each screening. Last year I got to sit in a theatre at the AMC and listen to Guillermo del Toro talk about monsters he was designing for an upcoming movie and his love for the little Spanish indie creeper “Julia’s Eyes” we had just seen. He was big and brash, and somehow just a guy, perfectly living up to his reputation. It was the high point of my festival, an experience I will take with me to the grave. Every point along the way, that experience was made possible thanks to volunteered time, from the volunteer who pointed me to the line I needed to be in to get my ticket order form and package, to the volunteer who drove Guillermo to the theatre that Sunday morning. (Speaking of the volunteer who escorted Guillermo to the AMC, what would we give, all of us movie lovers, to have been that volunteer!)

I’m a big believer in volunteering your time. It allows you to give back to the community by supporting those things we feel are most important. Becoming a TIFF volunteer allows you to do something for the film community in Toronto, give back a little for all it gives you. It also connects you with other like minded members of the community, 2000 individuals so into movies that they volunteer their time for the festival. Wouldn’t you want to meet some of those people, get a chance to talk movies with them? It’s no wonder that so many volunteers come back year after year.

I asked my friend Kris who now works for the festival during those eleven days in September, but for years was a volunteer, why he goes back every year. “It gives me a chance to indulge my love of film.” He also mentioned that having a two year old doesn’t allow him much time for going out to movies and they can’t really afford a va-

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

cation right now, “it’s my holiday. I take a week off work and still make a bit of money and see some spectacular films.”

Rob is also a long time volunteer, and while he loves the movies as much as Kris does, he’s more a people person and loves meeting the stars, “I’d rather talk to the guys nobody knows anyway. They’ve got the best stories.”

I have heard stories about some of the swag that can be picked up, left behind press packages that include coupons and gift certificates as well as some very cool collectables, and one person I talked to online said it was a birthday present for himself every year, that he maxes out the free movies he was entitled to and writes reviews online instead of sleeping.

Contacts, connections, giving back to the community and simply being immersed in film for 11 days are all very good reasons to consider volunteering. The free movies and swag are a nice added bonus.

If you decide that volunteering is for you, you need to be at least 18 years of age and able to commit to at least 4 shifts over the 11 days plus an orientation. There are always more applicants than positions available and returning volunteers are given priority, so apply early. You’ll need three references and an updated resume. You can apply online at http://www.tiff.net/abouttiff/volunteer I want to end by thanking all of you who have chosen to volunteer your time so that our film festival continues to run smoothly and attract the biggest stars, and the smallest, to our great city. The festival could not run without you and it truly is my favourite time of the year. For the rest of us, I think it would be nice if we not only applaud at the beginning of each movie, but remember to thank the volunteers who help bring the festival we are enjoying to life. Because as nice as the connections, community, even the free movies and swag might be, a simple thank you is always the best payment for any volunteer action. So thank you, now let’s bring on the movies!

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

11

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Art For Our Sakes SHOW Markus Pidek

Me What You Got!

T

he Toronto Outdoor Art Show was on July 8 – 10 can buy them. Even with the mokume which is very time consuming, and the weather couldn’t have been finer. It was I try to keep the price low so people can appreciate it. I want a lot of

beautiful! Actually, we spent a little time hiding in the shade spooning down ice cream. It’s what makes summer worth waiting for. As well as this annual Toronto art show. There’s a lot of competition for the privilege to have a table to show off your creations. The good news is that I met seven really surprising artists. The bad news is that they gave me more shots of their amazing and at times pretty wild creations than I could use in one article. I just didn’t have the heart to cut any of them.

So the good news, again, is that I get to share them with you over two articles – for August and September. These people are all very bright and enthusiastic and each one is so different in their vision. I love art shows.

If you don’t know mokume, you need to know Yair. Yair Stern has a site at www.ystern.net. He’s a mathematician from Israel who fell into jewellery by helping his brother and now, he makes beautiful mokume pieces that require the attention to details of a five star chef. Imagine sandwiching twenty four layers of silver and copper together while keeping them so clean you could eat off them. Any little smear or particle could corrupt the surfaces and they would not fuse together properly. Not even after crushing them together with twelve tons of force and heating them in a kiln almost to the point of melting. Mokume is an ancient Japanese tradition which was used in sword making and the different beautiful swirling patterns you can create are only limited by your imagination. His photo has USB sticks as mokume pendants. Yair had a gallery in Jerusalem for jewellery and judaica – a term for artifacts or ceremonial vessels. For example, with the Jewish New Year coming up in September, a honey dish is a popular item. Yair loves to do all kinds of jewellery, “Every six months, I have a new collection. They’re eclectic collections. I enjoy doing a lot of techniques – the mokume is so nice, I enjoy the process. I do a lot of hammering and I like textures and the contrast of having a very clean piece and adding some mokume near the smooth piece. It’s quite organic. I sell mainly in Isreal, Australia and I’m concentrating in Canada. It’s good, here. This is my home, now. I get a lot of comments on low prices. I decided I wanted to make nicely designed pieces and offer them to the public at a good price so that anyone

people to enjoy this craft.”.

Meet Heather Rathbun, jewellery designer and metalsmith. It’s easy to notice she loves to incorporate her love of movement in her work.

You can see it in her photos of pendants with chains and gears. She’s also fascinated by using the influence of 3D photography in her pieces.

“I made a locket with a 3D photo and included a pair of 3D glasses in

the locket so the owner can share the 3D effect with her friends.” I love it! Who even thinks about things like that? “I make jewellery because I can combine interactive qualities and kinetic options in wearable pieces to give a more intimate action with the wearer. I was more conceptual, coming out of school, in spatial aspects, and now I’m more traditional but marketable. I came to Toronto last year from the East coast and I

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

12

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g love it. I was meant to be here. It’s the largest community for jewellery in the country. Toronto’s a great opportunity for emerging artists to bounce ideas off each other and interact. I’m a jeweller at the Harbour front and I teach jewellery as continuing adult education which allows students to try it out. I hope to continue to use a fresh approach. People often say my work looks very different and modern. I hope that this is what sets my work apart.”. You can find Heather at www.heatherrathbun.com

jewellery. I think Toronto is emerging.” What defines her as an artist? “ I like to create an interactive piece of wearable art and structure that has a story behind it. A story made for you. You can come and get it designed especially for you. An interactive piece you can enjoy which will spark conversation and attract attention. An extension of your personality.” You’ll find Shannon at the Globe Studio in Kitchener in a Co-Op of about twenty different artists who do bookbinding, ceramics, paintings, jewellery and theatre. Look for www.cynosure-jewelry.com

Shannon Kennedy is obviously as much in love with sculpture as she is with jewellery. In the photo of the trees, each tree is a pendant, set together as a habitat. They provide an ambience as a single sculpture would but each one can be taken out separately to wear, without losing the habitat effect. They are black clay with fine silver accents in the birds and leaves. Her clients wear them but also love to find a special spot for them in their home. The photo of the five rings shows her whimsy

The last artist in this month’s group really tickles me with her vision.

If some people think out of the box, I believe Sachiko Burgin lives out there. I mean that in a nice way. She is multi talented and, obviously, a deep thinker. Looking at her work is like the old commercial for potato chips where a person says, I’ll bet you can’t have just one. I just keep coming back to these two shots of her work because there’s more to see at each glance. The two little sweater earrings that are joined by the sleeves make me smile. They hold two models together, yes. But also, they look like they’re on little wire clothes hangers and the one is white with grey stripes, blending through the sleeve, into the grey sweater with white stripes. And they each have two matching buttons, I’m guessing garnets in sterling bezels? It’s great! Totally impractical but that’s why it’s so amusing. Now, the rings with the eyes looking out. A little creepy?

You bet. But not in a way that grosses me out. Quite the opposite. One potato chip. I kept coming back to them. Those flat parts that look like leaves are finger prints. They’ve got living person written all over them.

“They’re a little creepy but I made them because the eyes are the windows to the soul. I’m still discovering my style. I like darker palettes in colours. I’m all over the place with concepts and techniques. OCAD was a good starting point, there’s so much to learn. It’s a good eye opener to what is possible to learn. It’s good to have access to programs and studios from jewellery to sculpturing. I want to keep going. I don’t want to stop with metal. I go from painting to printmaking to fibre arts to jewellery – all over the place. I was born in Toronto. We have a strong arts community and a lot of art support. I want to see the world but I want to get grounded, first. I like to let the materials speak for themselves. You shouldn’t get too hung up on an idea. You should let it grow naturally.

Let it expand from a small idea. Just go and let it develop even if it’s sketchy. Let things flow naturally – don’t let scepticism stop you. Don’t be sceptical of your own idea. Let your idea be your starting point.” I like it.

for the idea of community. While the ring bands are sterling silver, the people are porcelain. And the buildings are formed in precious metal clay which is mostly fine silver and can be hand moulded, then fired in a kiln, leaving sculpted silver figures. All from the hands of the artist.

Although Shannon is back in Kitchener, she came to Toronto to study design at OCAD and learned a more technical discipline in George Brown College. “Toronto is striving, it’s great – there’s a competition of the art skills and it’s growing. There are places like Made You Look and Devil’s Workshop where you can see the work that goes into the

Sachiko’s site is www.sachikoburgin.com

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

13

PsychR a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

The “psycho” in psychological experiments Anastasia Rokina The world’s fascination with the mind has often over- The Milgram Study powered ambivalence and driven curiosities to unfathAlready famous for it’s astounding yet unethical findings, the Milomable ends. The human mind has been manipulated, altered, con- gram study tested how authority could overpower inferiority. In other fined, subjected and exposed through unethical methods that may or may not have been informative. History’s shadows reveal a side of human curiosity that is better left in the dark.

The Aversion Project In the South African apartheid during the 70’s and 80’s, a study led

by Dr. Aubrey Levin attempted to “fix” homosexuality by matching sexual orientation with physical sex. In order to do this, homosexual males and females, including any under suspicion, were forced to undergo unethical experiments to “re-align” their sexual identities.

Homosexuals would be sent to psychiatric units where attempts

words, how well would people obey a person in power, and to what extent? The results were shocking, and until this day shame humility.

Participants were told that the experiment was to study memory and learning. Two participants, one of whom was the actual participant and the other an actor, were given a slip and told to play that role. Both would receive slips that said “teacher”, however the actor would say that they received a “learner” slip, in order to make the participant believe they had the power of authority.

Both would be put into separate rooms where they could only hear each other. The teacher, who was the actual participant, was told to read a series of questions. If the learner got the answers wrong, the teacher was told to administer a shock, increasing with every wrong answer.

No actual shocks were administered, but the experiment wanted to see to what extent a participant would obey the command. At first, the teacher was administering low voltage shocks, to which the actor responded with “ouch” and “ohh”. With increasing voltage with every incorrect answer, the actor would eventually scream and gargle in pain, banging on the walls and begging for the experiment to stop.

were made with prescription drugs. When this failed, the experiment resorted to aversion shock therapy and hormone treatment. Determined to “fix the problem”, hundreds of young gay men and women were chemically castrated. Chemical castration, mislead by it’s name, is not a physical castration of the genitals, but rather a reduction in sex drive and libido; the objective to reduce sexual tendencies or remove them altogether.

When all else failed, over 900 soldiers were forced into having sexchanges. This included surgical castration of the genitals and removal of breasts, constant hormone ingestions to promote the opposite gender and addition of breasts, a penis and/or vaginal openings.

14

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

Rhythms So what’s so shocking if no one actually got hurt? The participants were told that they would not be held responsible for anything resulting from their actions, and they were encouraged to keep going with the experiment. Although many were distressed, not one participant refused to stop before 300 volts. That is equivalent to being shocked by 3 electric lines at once.

Experiments like this one only reveal that human nature can be a deep, dark place. Makes us question what else goes on in the free world.

Project MKULTRA In the 1950’s an experiment that almost lasted 20 years began it’s research in the alterations and manipulations of the mind. In lame terms?

Mind control.

In attempts to strengthen it’s power, the CIA began to experiment with mind-control administering various drugs and psychiatric methods to see how it alters brain function and mental states.

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

secretly tested to see how their minds could be manipulated.

In 1973, all documents and files were ordered to be destroyed.

Monkey Drug Trials In 1969, a variety of monkeys were taught how to inject themselves with drugs. Once trained, they were exposed to drugs such as morphine, amphetamines, cocaine and other illegal and harmful substances. The animals would be left regularly with a large dose of each drug and after eventually becoming addicted to either an individual drug or a combination, attempts made to escape their confinements were of such frenzy that bones were broken in the process. Hallucinogenic drugs left monkeys with severed limbs due to self-inflicted damage, including having torn off their own fingers. Alongside convulsions and seizures, many cases did not live past the two week mark.

It is needless to even mention that this experiment was pointless and conducted for both expected and predictable results. May we draw our own conclusions as to why it was done in the first place.

One can understand why recruiting for this project wasn’t successful. Subjects did not agree to participate in this study, nor signed any form of consent, but were given LSD without their knowing in order for the reactions to be studied. Mentally ill patients, prostitutes, doctors, CIA’s own employees among individuals from the general public were

These are only few among the many experiments, alongside medicinal projects as well, that have been conducted either in secret or without consent, all in an attempt to gain (more) control or power. Hundreds of experiments that multiply in atrocity are still being practiced today, only the multitude of moral deviance forces better kept secrecy, leaving us completely in the dark. It seems that the optimism of good in everyone forgot it’s opposite.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

15

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

What would you do for mouthwatering ice cream?

The Best Ice Cream in Toronto Ilana Perry I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

Sundaes, fried ice cream, sorbets, chocolate, vanilla and the list goes on and on. It literally does. There is no ending in sight for diverse ice cream flavours or the ways of making it. Pretty much everyday a new ice cream flavour is created. Not that we’re complaining or anything. I mean who doesn’t want more options of that ice-cold melt-in-your-mouth goodness?

There is so much you can do with ice cream now days. From ice cream cakes to ice cream centerpieces, the sky is the limit. It meshes well with almost everything; you can eat ice cream with any type of dessert, after any type of meal, whether it be pizza, hot dogs, macaroni. In fact, ice cream can even be a meal on it’s own. There is no question as to what happens to your adult body as your mouth devours that vanilla flavoured ice cream loaded with chocolate chunks. What happens is you fall back into your childhood. Yes it’s true I know, no matter what age you are or what extravagant type of ice cream you are dipping on your tongue, you will at least conjure up one story of your childhood ice cream days.

In my opinion there are two types of ice creamers. The first is the one who can’t get enough. Ice cream for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack. The one who will devour the entire ice cream cake on their own, and no I am not referring to myself. The second category is the ice creamer that watches their waistline. I mean really? C’mon, the days are short and summer is even shorter. Ice cream is the cheerleader to the summer days. Take it in; forget the calories and three scoops you just got on top of your remaining two melting scoops. If the impact ice cream has on the size of your waistline is not sitting well with you, don’t fret I have a few guilt free parlors just for you.

After all this ice cream talk I bet you are interested in one thing and one thing only right now, which is deciding on a place to cure your ice cream craving. This must be your lucky day since I have ten - yes you read that right, ten, of the best ice cream locations in the GTA. But before you rush to grab your car keys take a good look at each one of them, you never know which one of these ten might be exactly what your taste buds await.

Toronto is one of the best places you can go to tame your ice cream craving. On pretty much every street corner stands an ice cream parlor, it most certainty can get overwhelming, which is why I am here to assist in the decision. Let’s start off with one of my favourites. Ed’s Real Scoop has probably the most creative and visually appealing ice cream flavours.

Located right by the beaches Ed’s is packed from open to close during those hot summer days. Have you ever licked the bowl dry after eating the sugary goodness of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal? I know I have.

Can you believe they have a flavor that resembles the taste? I have had the great pleasure to try it and there are no words to sum it up. I would say get over to Ed’s and experience the incomparable taste yourself. For roughly around $4 a pop your mouth will be transported to a new world.

The Big Chill located in little Italy is truly a child’s playground. Although I have not been there myself I have heard great reviews from adults and children. The outside patio contains child sized toy cars set up specifically for the kids. Not only will they enjoy the ice cream but will have a blast driving their cars. A great place for families to sit back and enjoy some frozen treats on a warm day. For you waistline watchers The Big Chill even has low fat frozen yogurt, perfect for every type of ice creamer. If you are looking for something from our U.S neighbors, Sweet Creamery, is the one for you. Originally the owner hails from the U.S but brought his ice cream creations across the boarder. If you are addicted to peanut butter like I am then look no further. Sweet Creamery is known for it’s peanut butter sundae, which I have traveled for hours to get my hands on. Just to add, it is more than worth the drive.

With over 100, that’s right ONE HUNDRED different creamy flavours Greg’s Ice Cream is sure to cater to that indecisive family member or friend. I am sure you have been in the position where every person you are with has their mind made up as to which ice cream flavour they want, except one. Nothing at Dairy Queen pleases them so they walk out unhappy and upset with you for getting something. I completely understand, next time you take them for ice cream, head over to Greg’s with one hundred flavours I can guarantee they will fall in love with at least one.

The name Summer’s Homemade Ice Cream speaks entirely for it-

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

16

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

self. Summer is when the best ice cream emerges. Twenty-five years and still going strong, this parlor is packed, all day everyday. Line-ups are extremely long but somehow are the quickest I have ever been in. For a fifty-person line-up it takes nearly two minutes to reach the ordering counter. It is a homey place, and gives you a “part of the family” feel as soon as you enter. For those of us who enjoy plain strawberry or vanilla every now and then, I would for sure recommend their simple flavours, they are just as tasty as their jam packed ones.

Dutch Dreams is another family owned ice cream shop. There is something about a family owned ice cream parlor that gives me a warm tickle. They deck out their ice cream like works of art. Topped with fruit and sprinkles your eyes will be drawn to it as much as your mouth is. A local ice cream shop that has caught a lot of outside attention is Maple Leaf Dairy. If you are looking at getting more for your buck, this is it.

Fairly cheap prices for the amount of ice cream that you receive.

My Favourite Ice Cream Shop has flavours that you cannot find anywhere else. It is relativity busy during the summer months and even into the fall, and back to you ice cream calorie counters, My Favourite Ice Cream also offers an edition of fruit based yogurt ice cream. The Village Chill is a small shop with big reviews. They are closed throughout the winter to prepare for their booming summer. I have been there many times and am thoroughly pleased each time. Last, but not least, there is Hollywood Gelato. The best gelato in my opinion in Toronto. Amazingly tasteful sorbets and gelato. Not too costly but the line up is always heavy but do not be shy to wait a few minutes.

So there you have it ice cream lovers ten of the best ice cream places in the GTA. I would definitely recommend checking out each one if possible during the short summer months. Each one has different flavours and a different atmosphere then the next; it truly takes exploring them to find your perfect fit. I have faith that everyone will find his or her soul mate, in ice cream that is. As for you ice creamers who insist on watching what type of ice cream gets put in your body; my advice to you is just live. Ice cream is one of the happiest desserts ever and to rid yourself of it just because of the calorie count seems ridiculous, do an extra five sit ups to make up for it, but do not stop yourself from indulging in summer’s cheerleader. I know it is a long list but my summer mission to you is to try at least one flavour from each. Hurry, ice cream does not last forever, get it before it melts away.

Locations: Ed’s Real Scoop -2224 Queen Street East The Big Chill -367 Manning Ave Sweet Creamery- 521 Parliament Street Greg’s Ice Cream -750 Spadina Ave Summer’s Homemade Ice Cream- 101 Yorkville Ave Dutch Dreams- 78 Vaughan Road Maple Leaf Dairy- 934 Lake Drive East My Favourite Ice Cream- 3 MacPherson Ave The Village Chill- 325 Lonsdale Road Hollywood Gelato- 1640 Bayview Ave

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

17

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

O.F.T.B. is Bringing Rap back to Basics A piece of rap history bursts into our contemporary world

Lindsay Romeo O.F.T.B. is a rap group that was originally established in the 1990s. I had the pleasure of interviewing Kevin “Flipside”

White and Ronald “LowMB” Watkins who are members of this revolutionary rap group. The information I gathered from their heart strong words led to the construction of this piece. I learned more than ever about the culture that surrounds this boundary breaking music, and I hope in reading this piece you understand the real meaning of music.

Their music stands to make a point, and it is a great moment of authentic rap history brought back into our contemporary culture.

O.F.T.B. is back with their recently released album “Damn Near Dead” this past July 12th. “Damn Near Dead” was originally produced in the 1990s, but the album was not released until current day, which stands to prove the authenticity of this piece of rap history. The album is literally bringing back to life the meaningful rap of the 1990s.

Their music is real, it is open, and they tell the truth. Make sure you check out this remarkable piece of rap history, and listen to it while it stands out among the music which surrounds us now. “Damn Near Dead” is a groundbreaking album that is a must listen to.

The members of O.F.T.B. all grew up in the Watts Nickerson Gardens Project. Many people believe that this area is at the bottom. O.F.T.B. found a way to rise up and above by creating their own movement. The movement was official and it was called; “Operation From The Bottom” hence the name of the band, O.F.T.B. The band got up and created a real movement to get them out of the bottom.

It is a major part of society that stories are told to others. O.F.T.B. tells their own stories through their music, and the movement was the start of it. Their stories are the truth. O.F.T.B. tells their stories and they do not hold anything back. Their stories are cutting edge and go beyond borders. O.F.T.B. is worth listening every moment to.

Music is becoming more broken down and it is breaking boundaries.

In the 1990s, which is when O.F.T.B. was established, music was more about life and reality in comparison to now.

In our current day, everyone thinks that they know what they are doing. Before, people would listen to the deejays and the producers, but now people assume that they can do things themselves in their content and raps.

18

There has been a loss of passion, in the past there was a lot of real passion. Rap has changed since the 1990s. O.F.T.B. produced “Damn Near Dead” during the 1990s when passion filled raps, and this album was just recently released in our current day. So, it is obvious the historical significance that this album holds in being released contemporarily.

The oldies are what influenced the music of O.F.T.B. The way-backs that go far back are what mattered to O.F.T.B. and their music, like Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. O.F.T.B. always writes their music. They want to get their own message out there, change lives, music is life to O.F.T.B. They grew up listening to oldies, but now they are here to express their own voice and their own message.

O.F.T.B. does not often listen to the radio, but they may bob their heads up and down to some of the tunes, like to Kanye West. O.F.T.B. wants to turn around people’s commitment to listen to the radio.

O.F.T.B. creates authentic songs that are more real than what the radio has to offer.

The music on the radio is not real, and the radio music is controlled by directors. The people on the radio already have their spots set up to play their music, whereas O.F.T.B. has created ground breaking raps that deserves to be listened to, but they just do not have their spot set up to play on the radio. That is why people have to be open to listening to music outside of what the radio offers, because you can find more than what you expect.

The inspiration for their music comes from themselves. O.F.T.B. is inspired by reality, they want to express themselves through music, and being where they are now is an inspiration in itself.

Every song on their recently released album “Damn Near Dead” stands out to O.F.T.B. in its own way. The album has the same sound as when it was produced in the 1990s. So, this means that the album is educational because it is going to take you back in time to hip hop. The album is about living in the moment, and it is a piece of entertainment merged with literature.

O.F.T.B. had a blast working with Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and MC Hammer on the album. Snoop Dogg is a radio icon, and they loved his professionalism. These people are successful and they have a love for music, and being in their presence was wonderful for O.F.T.B.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

The recently released “Damn Near Dead” album is standing out among music now. “Damn Near Dead” is a classic album. The album contains the life of music. The music is something entirely different, and is something you do not hear often now.

The album makes a point to set their music apart from others.

“Damn Near Dead” will take you back to an era where it was much different than now. The album is fresh, whereas now the same old concepts are played over and over again. O.F.T.B. wants to change this so they are bringing music back to basics. “Damn Near Dead” is a different album completely and is worth listening to.

There is a lot to look forward to with O.F.T.B. Besides their recently released album, they are also coming out with another album in the near future. You can check out many of these updates and more at: oftbmusic. com. You can also find out information there to purchase their recently released album “Damn Near Dead”. They control their own situation.

You can also check them out at deathrowmusic.com, and on Facebook and Twitter.

“Damn Near Dead” is a classic album and it is going to bring you back to a significant era. O.F.T.B. has it together in order to keep freedom of speech and hip hop. O.F.T.B. is about expression, and every song on “Damn Near Dead” is uncut and untouched. “Damn Near Dead” speaks the moments of time, and it is real.

O.F.T.B. is in full support of their fans, so make sure you twitter them. O.F.T.B. wants to be involved with their fans. O.F.T.B. is setting the record straight, and they are setting a whole new chain. If you want your music to be out there and heard, make sure you contact O.F.T.B. The fans are the ones who make the artist. O.F.T.B. has the same energy they had in the 1990s, and they are bringing music back to basics. Make sure you check out oftbmusic.com to find out how you can purchase this realer than real album “Damn Near Dead”. O.F.T.B. wants more than anything to be involved with their fans, so do not be afraid to twitter and facebook them. Make sure you listen to the “Damn Near Dead” album and participate in this piece of memorable rap history.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

19

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Fall Movie Guide for 2011 Jess Morton

T

his summer gave audiences sev- Restless – Gus Van Sant directs this tragic The Rum Dairy – From writer/director eral action-packed films. With love story. Restless centers on Annabel a ter- Bruce Robinson comes the long-awaited dra-

comic movies like Thor and Captain America, the last chapter to the Harry Potter franchise, and J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi thriller Super 8 there was something for every excitement-seeking viewer. The fall Hollywood line-up is a change of pace from Michael Bay’s explosion extravaganza. This time around we’ve got a focus on story and character depth at our fingertips, not to mention a fabulous array of actors.

The Debt – This historic thriller will premier at TIFF on the 14th of September. The plot consists of three Israeli Mossad agents who went on a secret mission to capture and kill a Nazi war criminal. With a few sacrifices their mission became a success, but thirty years later shocking news reaches the agents. Another man resurfaces claiming to be the criminal they killed all those years ago. Now these very same agents come together to find the truth: did they kill the wrong man? The Debt seems promising as the plot shifts between the two different time periods building up to the truth.

The film stars Helen Mirren, Ciaran Hinds, and Tom Wilkinson as the present day secret agents and Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington, and Marton Csokas as their 1960’s counterparts.

Drive – Nicolas Winding Refn directs this Cannes Official Selection film based on the book by James Sallis. Drive originally premiered at Cannes Film Festival back in May, but will be hitting the big screen this September. Ryan Gosling stars as a Hollywood stuntman who works as a getaway driver on the side.

One day a job goes wrong and Gosling must go on the run. The action thriller Drive also stars Cary Mulligan as Gosling’s love interest Irene.

Other stars include Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks and Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.

Drive was well received at Cannes this year and is the perfect choice for audiences looking for something other than the average fast cars film.

minally ill girl who meets and falls in love with Enoch. Enoch proves himself as a strange and slightly morbid boy who spends his time attending stranger’s funerals and talking to Hiroshi – a ghost of a Japanese pilot from WWII. As Enoch and Annabel’s relationship deepens Enoch finds himself panicked and angry as he faces the reality of Annabel’s death. This film is sure to break your heart in all the good ways.

Restless stars Mia Wasikowska as Annable, Henry Hooper as Enoch, and Ryo Kase as Hiroshi.

Johnny English Reborn – Western audiences best know Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean, but in 2003 he took on a hilarious new character known as Johnny English. Now eight years later Atkinson reprises his role to give us another token of witty British humor. This time around Johnny English, MI7’s top spy, returns from hiding to prevent the assassination of the Chinese premier. With faithfulness to the original the sequel Johnny English Reborn brings back Ben Miller as English’s intelligent and humble sidekick Bough. Johnny English also stars Dominic West, Gillian Anderson, and Rosamund Pike.

50/50 – This new dramedy follows twentyseven year old Adam who’s diagnosed with cancer. The film shows how an ordinary person deals with a death sentence and his journey to try to beat the disease. No word yet if poor lovable Adam, played by Joseph GordonLevitt, actually dies in the end. Its certainly a different approach as there’s a fine line to try and make cancer funny without being insensitive or making a mockery out of the disease.

For a comedy like this to work the film needs a strong cast to support it. Not only does 50/50 have Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but it also has Seth Rogen as Adam’s best friend Kyle, Anna Kendrick as his therapist Katie, Bryce Dallas Howard as his sister Rachael, and Anjelica Huston as his mother Diane.

ma based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson. Although the film will hit theatres at the end of October The Rum Diary originally cast Depp back in 2000. Johnny Depp plays Paul Kemp a freelance journalist who works for a run-down newspaper in the Caribbean. Kemp tries to build himself a more secure career as he situates himself among a group of lost souls all set on a path of self-destruction. The film also stars Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, and Richard Jenkins. The Rum Dairy will be the first movie released since Depp’s last Pirates of the Caribbean film.

In Time – In Time is a new sci-fi thriller from writer/director Andrew Niccol who also wrote and directed The Truman Show, The Terminal, and Lord of War. In Time is set in the near future where people stop aging at twenty-five.

Each person must work to live longer as time is now the new currency. Will Salas, played by Justin Timberlake, stumbles onto a fortune and now must go on the run from the corrupt Time Keepers. In Time also stars Olivia Wilde, Alex Pettyfer, Amanda Seyfried, and Cillian Murphy. This film is a change of pace for those sci-fi fans looking for something different from the time-traveling theme.

Contagion – Ocean’s Eleven Director Steven Soderbergh brings us a modern day thriller.

Contagion centers around the outbreak of a deadly disease that causes mass fear, panic, and chaos. The film follows how the outbreak started and how an international team of CDC doctors deal with the disease. Contagion will prove to be smart and terrifying because the premise of viruses running rampant is absolutely possible today. Contagion stars several brilliant actors including Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Bryan Cranston, Jude Law, and Laurence Fishburne.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

20

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Toronto Pride Parade Canceled?

Karolina Wisniewski

After Toronto’s largely successful Pride Week draws to a close, an unfortunate truth has made itself uncomfortably clear. Engrained into the

minds of many Torontonians is not the positive message of equality and celebration of diversity, but the absence (and perhaps disdain) of Mayor Ford, threats of slashing the Pride budget and petty squabbles over the number of attendees. Less important than whether the extensive array of grudges and gripes are justified is that the inflation of such trifling matters is an assault on the ideological underpinnings of Pride itself: an ethic of love, mutual respect and magnanimity in the face of unwarranted and small-minded aggression.

Undoubtedly, the most publicized facet of Pride Week 2011 was the notorious absence of Rob Ford, the Mayor of Toronto. It has been a long-held tradition for the Toronto Mayors to attend the event, and Ford added insult to injury when he justified his absence with a slew of ridiculous and pathetic excuses, the most ludicrous of which was have plans to go to a cottage (which likely wouldn’t be cause enough to justify one’s absence from a day of work, never mind the leader of Toronto missing one of the most significant events of the year). As misled as Ford was in his absence from Pride, the smear campaign launched against him in reaction was equally nonsensical. It is no secret that Ford has a long list of enemies and an even larger pool of dissenters; many expressed disbelief and vowed a loss of faith in their fellow citizens when he was elected as Mayor. Perhaps some of his critics raise valid points. But what became clear was that the press and public took his absence as an opportunity to unabashedly and enthusiastically sling countless accusations at the mayor, as if they had been poised in anticipation, pen in hand, waiting for the perfect moment to launch an all-out attack. While Ford’s absence was inappropriate and disrespectful, it alone is

not enough to project disapproval of the entire Pride project. Though Ford was amiss at celebrations, it is quite a large leap of logic to say that he does not support the event, or worse, that he is homophobic. It would be absurd to suggest that all those who did not attend Pride ought to have their absence interpreted as tacit disproval or homophobia; to do so would be utterly unreasonable. Of course, as the Mayor of Toronto, Ford has a responsibility to attend, and neglected his duties as Mayor. But to draw any further conclusions from that fact alone is premature and unwarranted.

Another distasteful headline that has emerged regarding Pride Week is councilor Mammoliti’s recent declaration that all funding from Pride must be withdrawn. This mainly arose over concerns that Pride promotes or is associated with Anti-Semitic sentiments, as individuals in some of the marches wore shirts bearing slogans that were “Israeli-bashing”. For the time being, it looks as though funding for Pride is safe, but such news does damage to its reputation that says it is an all-inclusive, welcoming event. Many have accused Mammoliti of falsely attributing the unacceptable behavior of a small, isolated number of participants to the entire event. Mammoliti shot back that as an event partially funded by the money of taxpayers, Pride Week organizers have the responsibility to edit the content and behavior of its participants; failure to do so is sufficient grounds to withhold further funding. It is not the aim of this article to take sides on this issue; in one writer’s humble opinion, however, the behavior of both is equally concerning.

Publically expressing racist sentiments is always unacceptable, but doing so at an event like Pride is doubly concerning. It is truly unfortunate that an event designed to support various groups that have been wronged by society has become a platform for propagating hate. On the other hand, Mammoliti is unfairly projecting the irresponsible behavior of a few onto an entire event, and needlessly punishing

the people behind a positive cause. The entire news story is depressing, distasteful and unnecessary.

A final unfortunate post-Pride development concerns completely trivial arguments over the number of attendees at Pride Week.

McLean’s Magazine recently published an article asserting that a million people were present at the Pride Parade. When several readers called them out on inflating the figure, asserting that to cram a million people into two city blocks is a mathematical impossibility, McLean’s quickly ran another article. Instead of simply publishing a correction, they threw their hands up in protest, crying they has gotten the figure from yet another news site, and embedded a hyperlink in the online article to a story on the 680 News website, in which the estimate of a million attendees can be found.

The obvious question here, of course, is why no one had thought to fact-check the information garnered from the 680 News story. More unfortunate though, is McLean’s’ handling of the issue, which was more akin to a child hastily blaming its sibling amidst assertions that “It wasn’t me!” than a respectable news source taking responsibility for its own reporting.

Disagreements over figures miss the point; the essence of Pride is spreading its message of equality and tolerance to all citizens of Toronto. Evaluating its success take more than simply rounding the number of attendees as if it were opening weekend at the box-office.

All this negative attention swirling around Pride Week obscures the essence of it. Of course Ford should have gone, those shirts should not have been worn and news outlets should publish accurate information. It is time to take notice of the reason for the event, and to stop taking advantage of Pride Week to further various private agendas. Hopefully, the faux pas are noted of and future event goers see Pride Week 2012 as a chance for retribution.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

21

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Q&A Marty Machacek

Melissa Doyle

Q. Where do you do your work?

A. “They are all inspired from real places either those in Victoria or other I lived in, usually outside of a building, in a shop or home and the paintings. Generally at home one room is a studio just because I do a lot of the blending kind of in a closed environment. I also display artwork in a harbor here in Victoria. I do that together with my wife. We actually work on smaller pieces. People really get to see how artwork is made, many think it’s done in Photoshop, when it has a lot of detail, but it is nice to interact with the public and educate them “

Q. What can we look forward to seeing in your upcoming work?

A. “I guess as an artist , you wonder how long am i going to work in this style , and i still really enjoy realism and figurative work, so it is kind of in the back of my mind, working with figurative work.” Now just because I have so many from other countries, I think I am going to be pursuing that , branching out as far as what I am looking for in other cities in North America, and eventually in Europe.”

Q. What technique do you use?

A. “Paint on wood and on canvas, just like any other artist but to achieve transitions of shadows and how light hits a building so they don’t dry as fast much like you would oil paints. It gives me more time to work with paints, layer colour on top of colour.”

Q. What moves you most in life, either to inspire or upset you?

A. “In this style, to do people would move towards caricatures, really like to focus on it, I grew up in Prague and one of my dreams, clear goals, when going to Art College was to be an architectural illustrator, around drawings.” I, myself don’t like being so caught up in the perfection of my work, I prefer the beauty of the imperfection.”

Q. What is the place of your work in society?

A. “Initially i started painting architecture. In Calgary, newer city, historical buildings being torn down, coming from old city of Prague, my drive was to bring attention some of the beauty of the heritage, and painting them in this way. If I was to do an exact representation of a building, and see it is portrayed in stylized, and it is drawn, how it was made it is interesting because a lot of people see details in the work.”

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

22

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

23

Top 5 Cupcake Shops in Toronto Amanda Cupido

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g 5. OMG Baked Goodness 1561 Dundas Street West www.omgbakedgoodness.com Large cupcake: $2.75 Mini cupcake: $1.50 Lesley Mattina spent over 10 years in the hospital industry but in 2009 opened OMG Baked Goodness and has never looked back. The pastry shop offers around three different cupcakes on a daily basis. The location has a few seats where customers can sit and has recently expanded to selling their most popular goods in Toronto’s Modular Marketplace.

Mattina prides herself in making the best chocolate cupcake. “And it just happens to be vegan,” she said. Her chocolate, vegan cupcakes are her best seller and I got a chance to try one, which took me by surprise. I had never eaten a vegan dessert and, not knowing what to expect, I realized I wouldn’t have been able to even tell that the cupcake was vegan. Her red velvet is popular also and got its name since she doesn’t use any food colouring to get the batter to be red. Mattina uses red, pureed seasonal fruits in order to get the desired colour. She tweaks the recipe depending on the flavour of the fruit, making her red velvet cupcakes one of a kind.

Taste AFlavour Variety BDiet Accodmmodations A Atmosphere B Price B

4. Miss Cora’s Kitchen Location: 69 Kensington Ave www.misscoraskitchen.com Large cupcakes: $3.00 Mini cupcakes: $1.50 12 large for $30.00 12 mini for $15.00 The artsy and rustic allure of Miss Cora’s Kitchen will immediately catch your attention while wandering through Kensington Market. Cora Devries opened her shop four years ago and has been going steady ever since. She’s known for offering the widest variety of vegan cupcakes including chocolate, peanut, coconut, orange and many more. She also offers several glutton free and nut free cupcakes.

The most popular sellers are their red velvet, chocolate mint and carrot cake cupcakes. What’s great about Miss Cora’s Kitchen is that they sell classic cupcakes with a slightly different spin, making them unique. The carrot cake is adorned with orange icing and edible gold flakes, giving it a sweeter taste rather than a cheesy finish. I also got to try the red velvet which has wafer like balls as a topping. That changed the texture of the cupcake and was a fabulous way to experience one of my favourites.

Although there are no seats available for customers, the outside of the shop makes up for it.

It’s hard to ignore the specially painted mural that depicts Cora as a cupcake. It resembles their desserts. “A lot of our stuff is quite colourful,” Devries said. “And everything is made with love.”

Taste A Flavour Variety B+ Diet Accommodations A+ Atmosphere B Price B

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

24

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g 3. Dlish Location: 833 Queen Street West www.dlishcupcakes.com Large cupcake: $3.00 6 for $17.00 12 for $33.00 Dlish is one of the newest cupcake shops in the west end and the owner, Verge Manuel, said it provides the city with a sophisticated location to purchase the popular pastry. “There was nothing in Toronto similar to what you’d find in other cosmopolitan cities,” he said. The sophistication comes from the quality ingredients, an example being the chocolate they import from Belgium.

Dlish doesn’t have vegan cupcakes and although some cupcakes aren’t made with nuts, they have nuts on the premise. However, if you are looking for a cupcake to give as a gift, this is the best place to purchase it. They offer individual cupcake boxing with ribbons and tags to match any occasion, including “over him” or a classic “happy birthday.”

The shop is quaint with three seats looking out the front store window for customers to sit while enjoying their cupcake. I sat and tried a Nutella flavoured cupcake, which was perfect in every way. The freshly baked cupcake had a hazel nut flavour with the perfect amount of Nutella filling in the middle. Dlish offers a variety of flavours and even has a flavor schedule where they promise to make specific flavours on certain days of the week. “It helps us and the consumer as well,” said Manuel. “People can plan ahead.” Nutella is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Taste A+ Flavour Variety A Diet Accommodations C+ Atmosphere APrice B2. She Takes The Cake Location: 1600 Dundas Street West www.shetakesthecake.ca Large cupcake: $2.50 Specialty cupcake: $2.75 Mini cupcake: $1.50 Adrienne Weignberg adorns a gold necklace with a cupcake charm while working in her shop, which has been open for three years. Weignberg can’t imagine herself not baking. “I love taking nothing and making something out of it,” she said.

Although a lot of her business comes from companies like Pusateri’s Catering and about 10 restaurants throughout the city, her shop is still equipped with several tables for walk-in customers.

Weignberg said she’s able to make an infinite number of flavoured cupcakes and offers vegan, flourless and peanut free cupcakes. Some specialty flavours that will be hard to find anywhere else are her liquor and green tea cupcakes. I tried her red velvet cupcake, her most popular. It was by far the best I have ever tasted. And I’ve had a lot of red velvet cupcakes this summer. The cream on top is what stood out the most since it was freshly whipped and fluffy. “That’s what we go out of our way to achieve,” said Weignberg.

Taste A+ Flavour Variety A+ Diet Accommodations A Atmosphere B+ Price B+

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

25

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g 1.The Wedding Cake Shoppe Location: 859 College Street www.theweddingcakeshoppe.com Large cupcake: $2.65 Walk-in special: 6 for $14.50 12 for $27.00 Cindy Coelho opened her business in 2004 and originally sold wedding cakes out of a loft.

Graduating from the George Brown pastry chef program, Coelho only started making cupcakes because that’s how clients would sample her wedding cakes. “It just happened,” she said. “We’d get more and more orders for the cupcakes and we weren’t even trying to sell them.”

Coelho’s College Street location opened two years ago and is bright and spacious. With several tables, there’s enough space for walk-ins to sit and enjoy a fresh cupcake while wedding cake shoppers meet for a consultation. Their most popular sellers are red velvet and the vanilla bean with vanilla butter cream icing. The Wedding Cake Shoppe offers six flavours of cake and over 30 flavours of icing, allowing for you to mix and match. Some combinations are specifically designed to complement each other, like the cookies and cream cupcake I tried. The cake actually tasted like an Oreo cookie and the cream was a fluffier version of an Oreo’s cream filling. I’ve never had anything like it.

The shop also offers mini vegan and glutton free cupcakes in chocolate or vanilla and can be mixed with almost any of their icings. Although Coelho finds herself constantly making cupcakes, she says that her team never gets tired of them. “We still all eat our own cupcakes… and other people’s cupcakes.”

Taste A+ Flavour Variety A+ Diet Accommodations A+ Atmosphere A+ Price A

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

26

Flittering Pages

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Translating colorful cadences, does it lead to language transparency or create a sense of universality?

Jess Silver

V

ested in language is a power that is not easily nals can, according to Waseda Online. The gift of a well written work compared with any other. Words allow for the exchange is in its ability to call out emotions and foster multiple perspectives—

of information to occur, they are like the wheels that get suitcases rolling when negotiating the next major business venture. Colourful cadences act like mirrors as they reflect the nature of one’s feelings and culture. The goal of a writer is to convey a message through a language understood by all, but what happens when the language is translated in a text to create this universalized experience? Does the act of translating a work of literature lead to its transparency?

Nineteenth century playwright, writer and poet, Anton Chekov once said, “I am waiting for the flesh and bone to appear on stage”. With this quotation, Chekov addressed the notion of realism that he felt the language of drama was responsible to represent. He was one of the first to recognize that dramatic acting is to be organic- an audience responds to what is familiar and human to them. This came to him before Canadian playwright, David Mamet said in the twenty first century that “the hero’s journey is most important”. Chekov understood that in order for a connection to be made, one must use not only relatable language but comment on ideas that have a type of universal resonance.

Such is evident in his short stories where he taps into simple emotions and the absurdity of one’s behavior to provide wisdom. For example, in the story entitled Nerves he discusses the importance of loyalty and respect and the relationship that decency and truism plays into sanity.

In both the Russian and English versions of the story, one understands that this is a story of a troubled man named Dmitri Osipovitch Vaxin whose nerves are running high because he is unsure of what he should do with the ownership of his home and he then starts to have hallucinatory conversations with his deceased uncle, Klavdy. What becomes problematic in the translation of Chekov’s work is the fact that the reader cannot feel to the extent that he does in the original, just how tormented the architect is. The intricacy and musicality of the Russian language is very different from English. It feels as though the reader is stripped of description in a translated work.

Theodore Dostoyevsky, author of Crime and Punishment and The Idiot writes characters that are realistic and it is due to this realism that there is a literary reinsurgence connoted as ‘The Dostoyevsky Boom in the 21st century. “The characters are so realistic that they seem to be real flesh and blood people”, says Professor Atsushi Sakaniwa of Waseda University. The problem is that in the translation of the famous works according to both professor Sakaniwa and literary scholar Bakhtin (1895-1975) is that translated works cannot transcend the same polyphonic, fragmented, and complex discussion as the origi-

in a translation, oftentimes such is lost. One cannot convey the same intricacy because each language possesses unique linguistic structures to thus create different expressive modes. This goes for both idiomatic expressions and daily ways of speaking. For example in Spanish, the word rica is used to describe a flavor’s richness but it is also applied to describe feminine features and beauty in different contexts.

One cannot say Chevere! which means great in Uruguay to someone who speaks Spanish in Venezuela because their idiomatic expression is Barbaro! Because dialectic differences exist, it is valid to say that the beauty of each language is in fact in its difference. Although it seems paradoxical to say that difference creates color while trying to universalize an experience, it is true. Although one translates a text so that everyone can enjoy it, it is in the translation that nuances are often lost.

In an article from the University of Toronto’s Journal for Jewish Thought entitled “On Translation: An Interview with Jessica Cohen”, Ms. Cohen describes the way in which she applies a metaphor developed by writer Walter Benjamin to her own works of translation. Benjamin explains, “She [the translator] does not strive to reproduce the original work in a new language rather, she finds in the language into which she is translating those words and sentences which give voice to the intension of the original in the form of an echo.” Ms. Cohen attests to the fact that “it is impossible not to be aware of the fact that it is just that- an echo. The translation lacks perhaps the volume and nuances of the original sound”. This is why with Pablo Neruda’s poem, “Cancion Desesperada”, one does not feel the deep sense of void that he says in Spanish when he says Era la alegre hora del asalto y el beso.

La hora del estupor que ardía como un faro. The English translation does not possess the same cadence and rhythm in saying; It was the happy hour of assault and the kiss.

The hour of the spell that blazed like a lighthouse. Neruda in his original poem captures the solemn but beautiful musicality of the Hispanic culture. His adept description and ability to transcend what is truly the essence of humanity becomes transparent as does Anton Chekov’s poignant wisdom when it is reconfigured to suit a different linguistic framework. A translator is like a sculptor that etches away at his subject. Careful not to lose a defining feature, they both must delineate to epitomize veracity in a way that does not erase the ‘master’ from his masterpiece. Translation is not transparency disguised as clarity, rather it is a medium used to transcend words, the most powerful vehicle to man.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

27

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Is There an Ounce of Cr Juan Tomas I once purchased a book on the subject by Linda cal fuehrer, the evil doctor has the babies sent to adopted families that Goodman entitled Sun Signs. Being a Pisces myself, the first are similar to the background of his infamous leader. So much for relything I did was to turn to the section that dealt with my signs’ profile. It was right on the money, so I thought, and presently I bought my copy.

ing just on the stars for our destinies. But what about the evidence of successful future predictions you might well ask?

I read fervently through all things to do with Pisces, before moving on to Scorpio, the sign of my wife of many years. It too was accurate, except that like my sign, it was divided up into two parts; the benevolent sexy Scorpio, and the more nasty minded type who can be conniving.

My Pisces sign divides up into the loser type, and the creative and intuitive winner variation. Something else I remember that really had me going: one young lady I once knew turned out to be a Capricorn. Upon reading her profile from Goodman’s book she smiled a big grin at the part that dealt with money. It said she craved leadership and power, and was interested in material gains, (the opposite of a Pisces). Her smiling face told me before she spoke, that the horoscope profile I read to her was apropos.

Some people use Astrology to generate expectations about the future and about personalities, and many believe that it has worked for them. They would say that there is evidence to prove that it works. Astrology uses Scientific knowledge and star charts to support its’ validity. An Astrologer would say that the fundamental premise is that heavenly bodies — the sun, moon, planets, and constellations — have an effect on earthly events.

The example of the moon and the ocean tides would be a good point to bring up. The problem here is that the moon’s affect upon us is much stronger, because it is closer, than let’s say Venus.

Before I began writing this article, I decided to consult my favourite literary guru Al Navis, writer editor and book store owner. He asked me some rather provocative questions regarding my topic. He told me that when he was born at 9:00 am at Wellesley Hospital, another baby was born beside him at 9:02 am. Al then suggested that if there was anything to Astrology, both he and the baby born beside him two minutes later, should be very much alike,astrologically speaking. Al told me that he still knows the other baby today; they met just recently. I’m sorry to say that they are not similar in anyway. So I asked if he really knew this person deep down inside. He admitted he didn’t, but said “her life path was very different than mine”. Al reminded me that our personalities are formed more by environment and genetics than the affects of the stars.

There is a movie which makes this case very clearly. Trading Places, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy, used the idea of switching poor man for rich man, a theme borrowed from the Prince and the Pauper, to demonstrate just how much circumstance plays in our development. In another movie, The Boys from Brazil, starring Gregory Peck, a Nazi hunter in Paraguay discovers a sinister and bizarre plot to rekindle the Third Reich. Dr. Mengele has genetically cloned Adolf Hitler. In order to make sure that the 90 or so cloned babies turn out like his fanati-

28

Using a set of rules regarding the positions and movements of stars, Astrologers claim they can make predictions. For example, a person born just after the spring equinox is probably likely to become an entrepreneur. In my own case, Goodman’s book says that I am likely to become a psychiatrist, an artist, a writer, or a musician, and to be creative. Well that is correct on all fronts except that I’m not a psychiatrist – except from the fact that I love to help others with their problems.

Perhaps it is that I want to believe in Goodman’s profile of Pisces, it flatters my ego. We desire to have control of our destinies, our futures,

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

redibility in Astrology? and be able to exploit whatever God given talents we possess. There is something else the Goodman book of interest to me. Pisces are very spiritual and are drawn to the occult.

Goodman’s revaluations about myself are so accurate that out of the need for my own person privacy, I shall not reveal them further. Obviously, I must sound like a believer, or at least one who wishes to believe. To test the validity of Goodman’s book and Horoscope personality profiles, I decided to arbitrarily read the section on “How to Recognize Gemini”. Here is what I found: “Man or Woman, Gemini is impatient with conservative stick-in-the-muds, or with people who can’t make up their minds where they stand on particular issues. Gemini knows where he stands, at least for the moment”. (87) That sounds like me. In fact I’ve been told that I’m rather opinionated.

Guilty as charged.

There have always been seers, oracles, false and true prophets, and those that claim to have Devine wisdom about our impending future doom. The Egyptians and Greeks had their oracles, Moses told of the coming plagues that came, Nostradamus sort of predicted Hitler’s rise to power, Prophet of Doom is the best-documented, most comprehensive, presentation of Islam’s five oldest and most reliable scriptural sources, and now our environmentalists are giving us Scientific evidence of emending doom through our own refusal to halt gas emissions. Astrology has a lot of competition in the future predictions department.

Let’s look at a few unexpected events that Astrology and other

means of predictions never picked up on before they happened. Perhaps the fall of the U.S.S. R. and the Berlin wall was the most unexpected event in my life time. Communism, with its’ iron grip on Europe seemed to be destined to rule for at least another hundred years, maybe more.

To my knowledge, there were not any high profile predictions regarding the imminent fall of the Russian totalitarian state before 1989. For those of you who were born around that time, you did not experience the living spectre of Communist power, aggression, and threat of total annihilation from nuclear warfare. There seemed to be no way of thwarting the U.S.S.R.’s massive military juggernaut. Additionally, I would say that the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers 9/11, caught everybody by surprise. Not because there were no warnings, indeed there were several that went unheeded, but due to the unbelievably of what happened. It seemed more fitting for the fiendish plot of some 007 movie than reality.

Just for fun, I decided to check my Horoscope for today in the three major Toronto newspapers. From the Toronto Sun we have: “Your past experience can help you a lot now. Don’t make the same mistake with someone who can alter your life”, from the Star we have: “You might be careless, as you are in your head. As a result, observe a tendency to be accident-prone”, and finally the Globe says: “If what you are planning today has in some way or other been done already then it will pay you to find out what those before you did right or did wrong. Both success and failure are there to be learned from”. As you can see, they are not homogeneous in any way. Now to be objective, a truly qualified Astrologer would tell me that they need specific information about the exact birth date and time in order to do a correct Astrological chart. So no, I shall not use the newspaper example to debunk Astrology…it wouldn’t be fair. After all, newspaper Astrology services are there to make money, and meet the market demand created by those who seek some sort of guidance.

What we are left with is the need to have control of our lives, our loves, and our futures. Astrology seems to work for some people, and that is great. Faith is important to us. I once told an adolescent girl that she shouldn’t say there is no Santa Claus. “Why?” she asked me. I told her that Santa Claus is the embodiment of our faith in goodness. Perhaps that is how I shall exit the discussion on Astrology. I still like Goodman’s Pisces profile.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

29

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

A Metropolitan Jewel Becomes A Hub for Hollywood Starlets Toronto’s Black Creek Festival lights up the stage

Jess Silver As the summer sun envelopes the surrounding sky scrapers, city goers wonder what gets people scurrying like ants. Is it the savoury noodle swirls and summer salads enough

to make people salivate? Or the cinematic wonders that hit the silver screen? Toronto is a metropolitan jewel where art thrives as an enterprise because of the city’s investment in artistic pursuits and the eagerness of the art-inclined. It is a hub for Hollywood starlets that have graced both the North American and international stage. This summer is no exception as well known artists will be making their presence count at Toronto’s Black Creek Festival running from June to August.

Art is a critically important facet of society that functions not only to bring people together on the sweltering hot days that await Torontonians during the summer, but it informs the larger world as to what people are preoccupied with politically, personally and socially. Because of social instruments such as the Canada Arts Council, founded in 1957 and mandated in 1951 by the Federal Government after the chairman of the Massey Report, Vincent Massey recognized the bleak future of Canada’s art scene; innumerable forms of artistic expression make their appearances on our stages and in our galleries today. According to The Canada Arts Encyclopedia, its goal was to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of works in the arts” at a time when it was difficult to ascertain control over totalitarian regimes. When it first began, The Massey Commission operated in a climate that was infiltrated by war propaganda during WWII. Today, the Council remains invested in its development of art in Canada by providing grants to arts organizations and artists throughout the country.

It is because of the fact that artistic endeavors are recognized by the Canadian Government and its citizens to be integral to the flourishing of the nation and humanity as a whole, festivals like Toronto’s Black Creek are able to attract the attention of so many faces, both famous and not.

Hollywood stars may look all glamorous on the screen, appearing too posh to come to a summer barbecue, but the truth is they’re just like the rest of us. They love a happy, relaxed crowd and it is all the better when a fan appreciates their jokes or can sing along to their songs. Famed actress and Dame, Helen Mirren said in an interview that she cannot wait to reappear in the production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream alongside Jeremy Irons at the Festival this summer. “I absolutely love the play with its rifts on love and sexual attraction and the foolishness of love and the magic of nature. It was just a lovely opportunity to

30

revisit the text and have it in my mouth again. I love the combining of the text with music, and I think it can make for a very magical evening.”

The 65 year-old fearless Hollywood starlit, who became Dame Helen Mirren in 2003, will be on Toronto’s Black Creek stage Wednesday June 29th, 2011. Her career is one that has reinvigorated audiences’ interest in the British Monarchy, redefined the status of women before the Feminist Movement and questioned the role of society in times of political strife. Alongside fellow Brit Jeremy Irons, the Dame continues to alight so many faces. The Black Creek Festival welcomed many famous acts in June fit for every kind of music lover or drama junkie as Spanish virtuoso, Placido Domingo and guitarist James Taylor make their mark.

The sizzling summer month of July opened its doors to Grammy Award Winner and Jazz Legends Tony Bennett and Diana Krall as they spoke to Canadian R & B lovers on July 2. Broadway Musical lovers got a chance to sing the high notes and laugh not just a little but a lot with appearances by Canadian comic, Martin Short known for all the years he made us laugh at Second City and on SNL. Others included actress Jane Krakowski, and Golden Globe, Pulitzer Prize Winner Marvin Hamlisch. August unveils a list of music heavy hitters with whom Rolling Stone Magazine named “a giant among entertainers”, the charmer of the lyric Mandy, Barry Manilow. He continues to make women want to dance and smile and will be on the Canadian stage on Sunday August 24th, 2011 at 8 pm alongside The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra.

Other stars that will be showcasing their talents and embracing the summer heat include the famous conductor Lorin Maazel on Tuesday August 30th at 8 pm, and French and Italian Tenors, Roberto Alagna with Svetla Vassileva on August 31st.

The stars love to come to Toronto whether for a very first and groundbreaking time, or to impress a well developed, likeable fan base.

Although not the Capital of the nation, it is home to many of Hollywood’s big names and is always welcoming to the many colors that form an artistically intricate masterpiece. Black Creek Festival is just one of the many attractions hitting the arts scene this summer and although it does not take place in the heart of Toronto, it is creating a kind of musical bash familiar to cymbal players and rockers alike. Get your dancing shoes on and mics prepped because hey Canada! It’s a loud one at Black Creek this summer!

For more information log onto www.blackcreekfestival.com/events

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

U2’s FAN-tastic Concert

a r t s . c u l t u r e. l i v i n g

Lia Mezzacappa

U

2 fever. That is the best way to closely with the fans and give the audience a

describe what fans experienced during Friday nights’ concert at the Montreal Hippodrome. “The Claw”, standing at 167 ft tall, is the circular stage in which they perform their latest tour; U2 360. The eventful concert brought 80,000 dedicated fans for the much anticipated show. After all, they waited long enough.

chance to see different angles of the show.

The promoter for this special event - Evenko - spared no details. They encouraged all concert-goers of the STM’s special U2 transport return ticket ($5) for the shows. The Fan Jam, a pre-concert festivity, held in the Hippodrome parking lot opened at noon. Once inside, fans had the pleasure of eating Montréal’s famous roast beef from the Taverne Magnan, our famous cheese, gravy and French fry delicacy from la Poutinerie just to name a few. U2 merchandise as well as ATM machines were available on site. Budweiser had the largest Kiosk and had fans quenching their thirst with ice cold beer. Q92, CKOI and Virgin 96 as well as other local radio stations were on hand encouraging fans to come by and attend the festivities. In order to reduce the crowd for easier access to the metro, the Fan Jam was set to reopen after the concert.

Bono made quite the effort speaking mostly in French, thanking the crowd for their patience. He also spoke candidly about current world issues. On the big screen appeared Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition political leader who states “to bring about change, it starts with just One person” and the fans went wild as the band began singing their famous tune.

A video on a massive four-sided screen above the stage captured picture perfect closeups to all corners of the spectrum, allowing the sound to be even more impeccable.

Due to the sophisticated stage set up, you were surprised to see that the stage actually moved. Bridges allowed them to interact

As promised they delivered an intimate spectacle showcasing, alongside new music, songs from their well known albums Joshua Tree and Actung Baby. The crowd went wild as they started the show with “Even better than the Real Thing”. And it was.

You couldn’t help but feel wonderment; lucky to be able to be there, dancing under the stars listening to your favorites songs taking in all that they had to offer. The increasing wind that brushed your skin as the concert drew to a close complimented the night. The company of 80,000 people was an added bonus – bringing the excitement to a higher level. During “Moment of Surrender” the crowd got soaked as the rain began to fall. If fans suffer from a U2 fever, they will say it was well worth it.

FUTURÉALE ARTS | CULTURE | LIVING

31

www.futurĂŠale.com