Vo l u m e I I I , N u m b e r X I X
Celebrating The Precious Human Tapestry
F e b r ua ry 2 7 , 2 0 0 9
A brief and wondrous reading by Junot Díaz BY MAXWELL PRICE Editor
You could tell just by looking at the audience that something exciting was about to go down. Caribbean American college students, old ladies, and a Boston high school English class all mingled together, atwitter with the prospect of meeting the person behind the words they’d cherished, that starkly original, inventive spinner of tales about the immigrant experience. Junot Díaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” spoke at Back Pages Books on Moody Street this Sunday, and as a result, you may never find a copy of the author’s books on the shelves in Waltham again. Mr. Díaz speaks with a rare mixture of streetwise humor, intellectual insight, and genuine human sincerity that shines through in his writing. The event took place in Boston University’s film school, across the street from the bookstore to accommodate the large, diverse crowd. He spent more time answering questions than he did reading, but his delivery provided clues to interpretation for the careful listener. He began by reading excerpts from a short story entitled, “The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars,” which chronicles a young Dominican couple who decide to travel to Santo Domingo on vacation despite their impending breakup. His elocution was part kindergarten teacher, part Dominican Tony Soprano, adding emphasis to mark off his phrases like a poet. There was irony and dramatic perspective in his voice, bringing out colorful Hispanic phrases with relish. His candid, sometimes foul-mouthed commentaries on his texts ranged from hilarious asides to philosophical proc-
lamations. One of the comments that seemed to hit home with audiences was a timely prophecy, especially to students at Brandeis. “As these hard times get harder,” he offered, “We will rediscover the importance of the arts. Although in response to hard times, the arts get jettisoned first.” Mr. Díaz, who is currently a professor at M.I.T., remained humble and downto-earth despite his recent high profile accolades. He prefaced his reading with a simple, “So, uh, let’s just do this, yeah? You don’t gotta know much about this.” And indeed you don’t need to be familiar with Mr. Díaz’s subject matter, the inner lives of Hispanic immigrants, to appreciate his artistry. The prose leaps off the page (or in this case, the tongue) with lively descriptions, taut dialogue, and clever bilingual turns of a phrase. But beneath the narrative sparkle, there lurks a wry emotional poignance that uncovers the tensions underlying the immigrant experience. It’s not surprising that an author whose work evokes influences as disparate as Sandra Cisneros, J.R.R. Tolkien, and David Foster Wallace draws such a diverse readership. The range of questions from the audience was also a testament to the varying levels of interpretation in his work. A young Jamaican man wanted to know about the author’s portrayal of Caribbean unity. A middle aged white gentleman commented on the novel’s playful treatment of history. A high school English teacher inquired about bilingual communication. Díaz offered a window into his worldview, but he refrained from taking the work of interpretation away from his readers. “You’re a writer because you think you’re able to see something no one else can,” he explained. Seeing the man in person was only further proof that his vision cuts to the heart of the unexplored territory of American life.
Images of Pakistan reveal a land of beauty BY MYRA CHAUDHARY Special to Diverse City
This was written on a blog series about US-Pakistan Relations called Hope Within Pakistan for Senator John Kerry. It is incredibly important for Brandeis students to know not only about Pakistan, but about the entire world. When we look closely and try to learn and understand other cultures, we find how similar we all are and how similar our basic desires and emotions are. You can learn from the most surprising and unexpected places. As the next generation, it is up to us to be a beacon of hope to the entire world. In the inspiration of this I have started a blog called A Forum of Hope about global issues. Please see aforumofhope.blogspot.com. Remember any idea can make a difference: Ever since I was a child I have always been captivated by the immense beauty in Pakistan. I would eagerly collect and treasure any pictures or memory that I could
IN THIS ISSUE:
find. These are my very special memories of my travels to Pakistan. How can anyone honestly not fall in love with these enchanting images? Pakistan was founded just about 60 years ago but this land is rich with culture and traditions which go back thousands of years. It is home to some of the most ancient civilizations in the world, the Indus Valley Civilizations: Harrappa dating back to 3300 BC with an estimated 40,000 residents, which was very large at that time. Taxila dating back to the 5th century BC and Moenjodaro dating back to 2600 BC. Evidence in these ruins points to the fact that these places had been the earliest villages and cities, with proper cen-
Mardi Gras takes New Orleans by storm Chorus, page 10
ters of learning, writing, industries, dance, art, sculpting, and also with established social, economic and agricultural systems. These are all there waiting for everyone to witness. And so are the Sish Mahal (Mirror Palace) in Lahore Fort and the lovely Shalimar
Antony displays haunting voice in New York Chorus, page 10
Gardens with its 410 marble fountains and waterfalls built by the Mogul King Shah Jahan, the one who also built the majestic Taj Mahal in honor of his beloved wife. Pakistan is home to K2, the second highest mountain in the world. The Karakoram Highway, the highest paved international road in the world is a modern and sturdy highway on top of the highest mountains, the Himalayas. Remarkable! Words cannot begin to describe the true splendor of all of the things that I have seen there. Scenes of breathtaking mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, spectacular and richly detailed ornate architecture, parks, splendid gardens, natural life, peacocks with their magnificent displays of turquoise, green and gold feathers, ancient artifacts, and modern scenes of shopping centers, highways, and buildings. What I miss most, though, are my walks around my grandmother’s garden. Enjoying the beautiful colorful and fragrant roses, jas-
DID YOU KNOW?
See PAKISTAN, p. 10
Bono and the Edge of U2 are teaming up with director Julie Taymor (“The Lion King”) to create a Spiderman musical.
Diverse City 9
February 27, 2009
VISIONS
What did you do over break? Photos by Max Shay
10 Diverse City
Images of Pakistan PAKISTAN (from p. 8)
mines, marigolds, and the palm, mango and pomegranate trees. As a child playing in the warm summer rains, I was mesmerized by views of the beautiful rainbows and vibrant deep orange purple sunsets from the veranda of her house. Such lovely sights, I wish the whole world could experience and feel them. Pakistan has much to offer and continues to be a source of some of the loveliest treasures: oriental rugs, embroidered and mirrored tapestries, hand woven textiles, handicrafts of leather, metal, brass, jade, marble and wood, pottery, exquisite tiles, furniture, and much more. The royal look of clothes; real masterpieces of art with sparkling beads, real gold and silver thread sequins and embroideries. Glittering and shiny glass bangles. Exquisite gold and silver jewelry with dazzling jewels and gems; all truly glorious. The greatest wealth the country has, though, is its richness in fine arts and the immense love affair of its people with literature, poetry, dance, music and singing. Having been blessed with some of the most heavenly voices plays a very big part in the lives of people. So lovely is the sound of the poetic, fluid language and the music which is filled with beautiful rhythms, emotions, and energy, all about love, happiness and friendship. The sound of pianos, flutes, violins, drums, guitars, sitars, tablas, dholkis, and harmoniums creates the most magical melodies. The foot and hand movements and gestures of the very beautiful classical dance flow gracefully with the music and translate into so many different emotions, all flowing like water, one with music. The dancing spreads a happy energy that becomes contagious, allowing even the most unwilling of dancers to have a thrilling time. It is all a true celebration of love and life. So deep is this love affair with music that Pakistanis are always looking for an excuse to celebrate. Weddings are the biggest expression of this love, joyous occasions when not only two hearts, but two families become one. They are a true display of dazzling dresses, jewelry, shimmering lights, music, dancing, and mouthwatering food, another true love of this culture. The celebrations are elaborate and go on and on; they last about three days. Gatherings are not small either, the average being three to five hundred. Big ones, of course, are big! This land is beautiful but what makes it even more special is the great warmth and hospitality of its people, many of whom I have met and known over the years. These very social people who make you feel like family whether at home or abroad. They will welcome you into their hearts, making you fall completely in love with them. If you had been in their company or have been to a Pakistani party you will know what I mean. Even saying good bye can take forever. Oh it’s simply wonderful. The silent majority needs to wake up, join hands, and work to help bring peace, understanding, and stability to this region. All these treasures and the beauty of this culture and land need to be preserved for the whole world to cherish and enjoy. You truly have to be there and see Pakistan with your own eyes. To view rarely seen views of this gorgeous country, check out flickr: WONDERFULVIEWS and search "Images of Pakistan," or go to http://thehoot.net/ external/pakistan
February 27, 2009
CHORUS
Laissez bon temps rouler BY ALIZA SENA
Special to Diverse City
Last weekend I traveled to New Orleans for the celebration of Mardi Gras. The holiday, which translates to “Fat Tuesday,” acts as the final party before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. It is celebrated in cities all over the world, notably Brazil’s Carnival. In New Orleans, the festivities begin about a month before the actual Fat Tuesday and attract thousands of people every year. As a former student at Tulane University in New Orleans, I am a Mardi Gras veteran. One parade I particularly remembered was of the Krewe D’État who skewered well-known pop culture and political icons. A large float emblazoned with our president’s face in green was introduced as “OZ-bama,” and an oversized rifle-toting Sarah Palin winked furiously at the crowd. The Krewe also tackled some local issues, referencing New Orleans’ infamous Mayor Nagin and having a “Sh**ty Hall” building on one of the floats. Of course, the nonstop festivities make it extremely hard to pay attention to the parades. The uptown parade route on St. Charles was filled with families, locals, tourists, and, of course, many fraternities. At night, the streets along the parade route became semi-abandoned ghost towns of people who didn’t want to lose their parade spot and fraternity pledges responsible for sleeping on the parade route to guard the port-o-potty, the tent, and most importantly, the precious kegs. Of course, in New Orleans, the party doesn’t stop after the parades. Tourists crowd Bourbon Street in search of the potent “hand grenade,” which boasts to be
“New Orleans’ most powerful drink,” or head to Pat O’s to gulp down the original “Hurricane.” Unlike Boston, bars can stay open all night long, making it very hard to call it a night. By far, the most popular college bar is “The Boot” which stands directly across Tulane’s campus and offers drink specials for every night of the week, much to the delight of the students (and teachers) there. People usually start to pour in around 2:00am, also known by many as “Boot-O’Clock,” but for Mardi Gras, the bar is open and busy 24 hours a day. Filled with tacky décor, this hot spot has been visited by celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan. After a long night out in New Orleans, nothing hits the spot quite like a po’ boy. These sandwiches of crusty French bread usually have fillings such as fried oysters
(my personal favorite), fried catfish, fried shrimp, fried chicken…you get the point. These are eaten either “dressed” with mayo, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes, or simply plain. Other typical dishes include beignets, boiled crawfish, gumbo, and jambalaya. While New Orleans is definitely not a city to diet in, sampling the spicy Creole fare is one of the best parts of visiting. Though I unfortunately had to come back on Sunday for school, the parties raged on. It is impossible not to fall in love with the charming city and the friendly, fun-loving people who live there. For anyone who has doubted the recovery of New Orleans after Katrina, the city looks fabulous and is definitely back in action. Without a doubt, Mardi Gras is a celebration that everyone should experience at least once.
debate. Regardless, the selection was a rare moment of humor in an evening dominated by dark, brooding romantic tunes that explored the inner recesses of the singer’s psyche. In transforming the hip-hop ditty into a plaintive rumination on madness and romantic obsession, the singer seemed to flaunt his talent for individual interpretation. This moment wasn’t as surprising as it might have been for another “serious” singer-songwriter, because Antony’s music dwells in a liminal realm between joy and despair, shadow and light, birth and decay, male and female. These contradictory forces are apparent not only in his lyrics but in his vocal expression, which is an indescribable blend of quavering falsetto and woeful, vibrato-laden wailing. The transgendered singer channels his personal anguish over love, identity, and mortality into heartrending serenades. At the start of the performance, the opening of a two-night engagement at the historical venue, Antony mentioned that he felt a special connection “coming home to New York,” where he lived at the beginning of his artistic emergence. I can’t definitely say if that was the reason he connected so well with the audience, but I couldn’t help but feel from his sheer sincerity and vulnerability that we were a small group privileged enough to have direct access to the singer’s consciousness. The half dozen other musicians in the band, including a stellar string section, only helped project Antony’s vision from his tormented heart to our grateful ears. The music itself challenged conventional
categorization, borrowing as much from cabaret nightclub acts as it did from alternative rock. “Epilepsy is Dancing,” from the band’s extraordinary new album, “The Crying Light,” was one of the less ponderous numbers, featuring a delicate melody and a poignant acoustic guitar arrangement. “Shake That Devil” was the only song that might properly be classified as rock, although its propulsive snare beat, call and response verses, and saxophone riffs were hardly radio friendly material. “Aeon” was more representative of Antony’s catalog, supporting his pleading vocals with expansive arpeggiated chords and lush instrumental arrangements. But no song could have topped the climactic “Fistful of Love,” a sprawling epic of self-discovery and love that builds on a familiar-sounding chord progression into a blossoming catharsis. If the music didn’t speak for itself, Antony’s face contorted into what can only be described as artistic rapture. It was as though after weathering the sturm and drang of his personal transformation, we were given a moment of life-affirming exaltation. The problem with writing a review of an Antony and the Johnsons show is that if you haven’t heard Antony’s voice, there’s nothing I can possibly do to convey its gorgeous tone. And if you have heard his voice, you don’t need my blabbering to convince you how extraordinary it is. So do yourself a favor and buy the new album immediately, before he hits the big time, gets corporate, and actually starts touring with Beyonce.
An intimate evening in a sold out crowd with Antony
BY MAXWELL PRICE Editor
Every generation there comes a singer whose voice radically reshapes conventions and standards of vocal beauty. Artists like Nina Simone, Patti Smith, Tom Waits, and Thom Yorke have each, through their own vocal genius, altered the popular music landscape in significant ways. As I sat spellbound in the balcony of New York City’s legendary Town Hall last Thursday night, I couldn’t help but think that another such luminary was being born. And as I listened to the dulcet, flowing sounds— “You’ve got me looking so crazy right now/Your love’s got me looking so crazy right now.” No, this publication is not as Beyonce obsessed as the February 6th issue may have led you to believe. Although, whether Antony Hegarty, front man of the band Antony and the Johnsons, chose this cover as a way to weigh in on the Etta James/Beyonce battle of the divas is up for
Diverse City 11
February 27, 2009
END-NOTE
ICC Calendar Korean Night 2009 Sat. February 28, 6pm-10pm Levin Ballroom K-nite is one of the largest annual cultural events held at Brandeis. It is composed of unique performances and presentations that strive to spread the art and knowledge of Korean tradition and culture, encompassing crucial aspects of Korea such as politics, history, arts and traditional clothes and food. "Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else?" Mon. March 2nd at 7:30 pm in Schwartz Auditorium The MHC (Mixed-Heritage Club) and BORG (Brandeis Official Readers' Guild) are bringing a speaker to campus, Eric Hamako, to present his popular speech "Monsters, Messiahs, or Something Else? Representations of Mixed-Race in Science Fiction Movies". The speech will use popular science fiction movies (such as “Harry Potter,” “Blade,” and “Underworld”) to help people notice, examine, and explore stereotypes about multiracial people.
Revive Mumbai BY RICHA SAHAY
Special to the Diverse City
The members of Revive: Mumbai, believe that a global face of terrorism requires a united response. Created after the November 26th, 2008 attacks in South Mumbai, we continue to address issues concerning terrorism by promoting co-existence and communal harmony. As citizens of a university that reflects the ideals of social justice, we wish to mobilize a group of students that can delve further into the underlying dynamics of conflict and intolerance. Revive: Mumbai believes that conflict has many interplaying causes, including lack of social and economic empowerment. Education and communal dialogue are means of facilitating this empowerment. To achieve this, we have collaborated with the Experimental Theatre Foundation (ETF) and the Parivartan school. The Experimental Theatre Foundation is, in its founder’s words, “art not for art’s sake but one that caters to human needs and provides itself as a platform for expression.” Parivartan school strives to informally educate underprivileged children in Wadala slum in Mumbai. We
have envisioned a project that harnesses the power of street theatre in deepening social understanding amongst the children of Parivartan. At this stage, we are looking for students interested in exploring the dynamics of co-existence and conflict within the Indian social context. The group of Brandeis students selected for this program will work with the children of Parivartan and their families to identify and explore these relevant social issues through workshops supported by the ETF. The Brandeis students will also meet with experts in the field of social science to substantiate this fieldwork. This will culminate in a street play created by the Brandeis students and ETF. The play will be performed by these families for the local slum community. The internship experience will expose the Brandeis students to the complex realities of marginalization in India. As the only pre-requisite is an interest in exploring conflict and co-existence, undergraduate students of any academic background are encouraged to apply. For more information please contact Richa Sahay At rsahay@brandeis.edu and Tathagatha Sengupta at tsg@ brandeis.edu.
-Showtimes-
Embassy Cinema 16 Pine Street Waltham, MA Telephone: (781) 891-0911 Feb 27 – March 5 only Title Rating
THE CLASS
PG-13
Friday
Sat Mon
Tues Thurs
(12:45) (12:45) (5:10) (3:30) 3:30 (8:10) 6:30 6:30 9:25 9:25 (4:00) (7:00) 9:40
(4:00) 7:00 9:40
(5:10) 8:10
R
(1:05) (3:50) 6:50 9:35
(1:05) (3:50) 6:50 9:35
(2:10) (5:00) 7:50
R
(12:55) (3:40) 6:40 9:30
(12:55) (2:10) 3:40 (5:00) 6:40 7:50 9:30
THE WRESTLER
R
(1:35) (4:20) 7:20 9:50
(1:35) 4:20 7:20 9:50
(2:50) (5:20) 8:30
GRAN TORINO
R
(1:15)
(1:15)
(2:30)
THE INTERNATIONAL
THE READER
MILK
R
COMING SOON WATCHMEN 3/6 SUGAR on 4/10
Obsession BY SAMANTHA SHOKIN Special to Diverse City
Human beings take comfort in routine. Daily routines can range from the typical—coffee in the morning on the way to class— to the more peculiar, compulsive habits like chewing food in even numbers before swallowing. Regardless of the methodology or reasoning behind them, routines are necessary in order to maintain stability in the otherwise unruly madness of life. Like the ticking hand of a precise stopwatch, routines (or as some may call them, “rituals”) maintain a steady rhythm in the midst of the unpredictable and wavering – a healthy pulse in the ever-changing processes of our daily lives. But what would happen if our lives were no longer based on this pulse for mere stability? What if we were so dependent on our routinely rituals that we lived for them, instead of just with them? When an insignificant daily routine becomes a consistent and perpetual thought, the otherwise harmless habit takes precedence over one’s sanity and crosses over to a level of obsession. Surely you have heard about the horrors of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. I am not even going to go that far with this essay. I will instead bring to light an issue overlooked by many, and even praised by some, of the “everyday obsession.” An everyday obsession is something that you may see in a handful of your peers, and can be summed up with a few more forgiving terms: drive, passion, impulse, etc. These things are all well and good when used sparingly. But a line must be drawn between simply caring enough about one’s grades, for example, in order to excel, and caring so much about grades to be driven to the point of insanity. I am speaking strictly from personal experience. Not about grades per say (take a look at my current study habits and that will be clear), but about living with obsession. The majority of my life was driven by random phases of obsessive thoughts and goals. A goal can often be used as a
healthy thing, propelling one forward in times of disarray, much like a comforting routine can. But my goals were silly and useless, and don’t really make much sense to me now that I look back at them. I would thrive off of them until I would burn out from exhaustion, much the same way I will overplay a favorite song until I can stand it no longer. My emotions and moods would be dependent on how well my day matched the current obsessive phase I was in, and at times, this worked for the better. When my happiness was dependent on my appearance, I could essentially formulate a good mood with nice clothing and makeup. But once I became focused on relationships, suddenly my happiness was less easy to control, being so stubbornly dependent on other people. Eventually, (and rather recently) my obsessive behavior managed to subside. What was left over instead was a very dull kind of apathy, not only to the things that I used to obsess over, but to everything in general—a residual emptiness. I spent a lot of time trying to escape boredom, procrastinating, sitting on Facebook and the like (which, if you add up the number of hours I spend wasting away on Facebook, is really a horrifying thought…) until eventually I stumbled across a hobby that was actually, to my disbelief, quite fulfilling. I discovered a passion in me that wasn’t an unhealthy obsession, that wasn’t a ridiculous ritual, and wasn’t a compulsive desire to control some aspect of my life that really holds no importance whatsoever. It was the simple passion and desire to write. A calling, if you will. Suddenly my emptiness was filled and my general apathy subsided, being replaced with a selfish curiosity towards this one calling. It was the most fulfilling revelation I’ve had yet, and may every person be lucky enough to find his or her own unique drive in life. So although I may not have stopped obsessing, at least I know now it’s over something worthwhile—and something, that finally, gives me peace of mind.