The Pharos

An Easter Present....

2010-04-04T08:32:00.002-04:00

Pharos readers, in honor of Easter, we post for you a clip from Martin Scorsese's 1988 film "The Last Temptation of Christ." In the third act of the movie, Jesus hangs on the cross and has a vision, a vision of his life to be if he continues living and does not make the sacrifice. In the scene below, Jesus runs into Paul, played by the always-wonderful Harry Dean Stanton, and the two men have a wonderful conversation about the necessity of religion.

Come out to Read Aloud!

2010-01-28T01:00:00.001-05:00

By Jeff Webb

In an effort to increase volunteerism and literacy, Upshur County Read Aloud is hosting two training sessions today, January 28th, for anybody interested in participating in the program. The first session will be held at 11AM in Martin Religious Center, and the second session will be held at 3PM at Stockert Youth Center in Buckhannon. Anybody is welcome to attend.

Sarah Wilkinson, Americorps VISTA, literacy and tutoring coordinator, urged for anybody who has a desire to work with students and young children to come out to the training. Read Aloud will teach participants how to read in an engaging and entertaining manner, hopefully resulting in allowing Read Aloud volunteers opportunities to read in schools and interact with children.

Wilkinson encouraged such people as education majors and any campus groups looking for philanthropy projects to consider coming out to the training.

Those that complete the training will receive a card that shows they have the necessary skills for effective reading aloud activities.

Leann Brown, Director of Community Engagement and Leadership Development, also encouraged people to volunteer for Read Aloud just for the simple reason of “reading great books to children and seeing their excitement.”

If you have any further questions or would like to know how to get involved, you may contact Wilkinson at Stockert Youth Center at 304-473-0145, and you may also visit Wesleyan’s Center for Community Engagement.

Top Ten Films of 2009

2010-01-25T20:01:00.003-05:00

By Jeff Webb

Okay: we're now 25 days into 2010, and, with the exception of a few stragglers here and there, I feel confident that I've seen the majority of critically-acclaimed film releases from 2009. With that in mind, acting as the Pharos' resident critic, I give you my top ten films of 2009, as listed below. Feel free to leave a comment if you disagree or if you would like to express your own top 10.

1. Inglourious Basterds: It's not Pulp Fiction, but it's Tarantino's second best film. Completely complex in both technique and theme. Nothing short of a masterpiece.

2. A Serious Man: One of the best movie endings ever. Leaves one speechless.

3. The Hurt Locker: Speaking of endings....Jeremy Renner gives what was, to this critic, the best male performance of the year (note: I have yet to see Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, so that opinion might change).

4. Up in the Air: Possibly Clooney's best acting. A heartfelt, tragicomedy about love and the meaning of home.

5. The Road: It's not the book, but, then again, it's not really right to compare. Director Hillcoat creates the perfect atmosphere, anchored by Nick Cave's score and Viggo Mortensen's egoless performance.

6. Public Enemies: An old-school gangster movie produced with today's technology and tenacity. The car chase sequence is, perhaps, the best action sequence of the year.

7. Drag Me to Hell: Fun. That is all.

8. Funny People: Just as Mickey Rourke was perfectly matched for Randy "The Ram," so is Sandler perfectly matched for George Simmons. Great, great role, full of melancholy and regret. And a mature, grown-up directing/writing effort by Apatow.

9. Avatar: It lacked in the story department, but the visuals and acting more than made up for it. A great time at the cinema.

10. Precious: Completely engaging. Not one false note; everything felt so real.

So, there it is. That's my top 10 of 2009. Do you agree? Disagree? What would you add? Let us know by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook page.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2010-01-08T14:52:00.001-05:00

A Review of "Up in the Air"
By Jeff Webb

Do you know anybody with an iPhone? Or a Blackberry, for that matter? These people walk around, constantly playing with their phones, checking their Facebook walls and Twitter posts. They know what everybody is doing every second of their day, from what store their best friend is shopping at to what their favorite athlete is eating for lunch. It is a technology obsessed culture, one where people communicate more through text message than face-to-face meeting.

Such interaction, understandably, can lead to loneliness, a craving for something real, and this is the story of director Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air.” George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man who spends his life traveling from city to city, all for his job. That job is, fittingly, a termination specialist, someone who is contracted out to companies to come in and fire employees. It is a position that conditions him to not have connections. He must remain detached in his firing, and, because of his constant travel, he must remain detached from his home.

Bingham is someone who does not want human connection. Like last year’s Randy the Ram from “The Wrestler,” Bingham is a man who escapes in his work. However, instead of retreating to a fantasy world of the ring, he, instead, runs away from reality by isolating himself in airplanes and bars and motel rooms. Human connection brings responsibility and disappointment. Lovers leave, people die, etc. It is understandable someone might want to leave all this, and that’s what Bingham does, but, in so doing, one must realize something else. You may escape the burden of relationships, but you cannot escape loneliness. “Life,” as Bingham comes to acknowledge, “needs company.”

Clooney brings a desperateness to the role that he has shown perhaps only once before, in 2005’s “Syriana.” Bingham goes from a confident loner to someone who wants, so terribly, a meaningful relationship, and it tugs on the heartstrings to watch as he simply ends up jaded. The fast-paced world of the 21st century cannot allow him to form that connection. This is what he must come to realize, and Clooney plays it wonderfully, allowing himself to shed his cocksure image and achieve something much more everyman, something real and honest manifest in Bingham’s sadness.

Vera Farmiga plays Bingham’s love interest, and, while Farmiga is a wonderful actress, she feels a little underused and isn’t given much to work with. Anna Kendrick, however, who play’s Bingham’s young apprentice, is given the meatier of the female roles, allowing Kendrick to undergo a similar transformation in character to Clooney, from confident to jaded. She does so wonderfully.

“Up in the Air” will probably win Best Picture at the Oscars. It is not the best film of the year, in the opinion of this critic, but it is a great film, and it would be deserving of the title. Reitman delivers a strong script with fast dialogue, and there doesn’t seem a false note in performances. The story is somewhat Capraesque, but there is also a turn for the tragic, resulting in something much more like Cassavetes. It is that tragedy, that loneliness in the world, that resonates with viewers and makes the film special. The film, then, may look modern with its emphasis on technology, but its themes are something eternal. Something real.

Moby-Dick 2: Ahab's Revenge

2009-12-09T11:35:00.003-05:00

By Jeff Webb

So, my American Literature class just finished reading—or Sparknoting, for some—Herman Melville’s _Moby-Dick_. While I found the novel to be quite the classic and well-deserving of its “Great American Novel” reputation, I think it did leave something to be desired. Then it hit me: the book needs a sequel.

Picture this: the last time we saw Ahab, he was being pulled down to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, tangled up in some lines attached to the Whale. We assume he dies, but what if he doesn’t?

Thus, the book’s sequel, tentatively titled _Moby-Dick 2: Ahab’s Revenge_. It begins with a legless, old man being washed up on some remote Pacific island. He is unconscious and stumbled upon by some of the island’s natives. They take him and nurse him back to health.

It is then that Ahab tells them the tale of Moby-Dick, how the Whale possesses supernatural powers, how he seeks revenge on it. He recounts how he survived the events of the first book, that he was being pulled down, but he managed to cut himself loose and the tide must have carried him to this island.

Ahab befriends the islanders, and maybe, just maybe, he might develop a romance with one of the women. However, his passion for revenge and the White Whale’s blubber overrides his want of a peaceful life. He convinces the islanders to help him construct a boat out of the island’s trees, and then he puts together a crew. During the course of this, too, he fashions himself a new leg out of a tree branch (and, if Robert Rodriguez were filming this, Ahab might go so far as to turn this branch into some sort of Gatling gun).

After a heartfelt goodbye with his romantic interest on the island’s shore, Ahab sets sail once again, seeking revenge upon Moby-Dick.

Just imagine it, though. The woman asks him, standing there in the sunrise, the boat rocking back and forth on the ocean, she asks and pleads, “Ahab, why do you have to do this? Stay here and be happy.”

Ahab, the most sentimental we’ll ever see him, kisses her face and says, “It’s what I have to do. Billions of years have led to this moment. I’m going to kill the Whale.”

Thus ends Act 1 of _Moby-Dick 2: Ahab’s Revenge_.

Act 2 could see Ahab return to his old self, captain and dictator of the ship. It could also lend for some interesting—and, at times, humorous—events, as Ahab will be working with a ragtag team of islanders who have never manned a whaling vessel before. Unlike the experienced Starbuck or Stubb, Ahab must not only lead these men, but he must also teach the basics of maritime etiquette. All the while, they steadily get closer and closer to Moby-Dick.

Act 3 could conclude the novel with an epic fifty-page showdown between Ahab and the Whale. This time, instead of letting the Whale ram the ship, Ahab turns the ship toward the Whale, and the two crash in a head-on collision. The ship—it’s only made of trees, remember?—breaks apart and men fall into the ocean, drowning. Ahab treads water as the Whale comes toward him, opening its mouth, and, like Jonah, swallowing Ahab whole.

However, inside the Whale, Ahab sees this as a perfect opportunity for victory. He somehow makes his way to the heart, stabs it with his harpoon, then he claws his way out as Moby-Dick finally perishes. Ahab has, at last, achieved his revenge.

The novel can end with a little epilogue, detailing that Ahab returns home to Nantucket. After his voyage with the Pequod and then his time on the island and his voyage with the islanders, Ahab had been at sea for nearly five or six years. He was thought dead, and, as such, his wife has moved on, marrying another man.

Ahab, also, finds that a young man named Ishmael had survived the Pequod endeavor and told everyone the story about his madness, thus ending any whaling company ever wanting to hire Ahab as a captain. He may have killed the White Whale, but, in doing so, he has garnered a reputation as a madman, and nobody wants to entrust a ship to a madman.

Thus, we end with Ahab, old and alone, drinking in a bar and telling stories of his glory days to anybody that will listen. His life and love had always been at sea, but now he can never go back. He must end his poor, miserable life on land.

The question becomes this: Ahab has gotten his revenge, but at what cost?

Tell me you don’t want to read that book.

Zombies, oh my!

2009-10-29T18:24:00.001-04:00

'Invictus' Trailer Now Online

2009-10-28T12:41:00.002-04:00

Over the past decade, Clint Eastwood has proven to be the most consistent and best American director working today. With films like "Mystic River," "Million Dollar Baby," "Letters from Iwo Jima," and "Changeling," Eastwood's films offer a tough view of the world, but they are, always, full of human emotion and power. It looks like Eastwood's latest effort, "Invictus," will be no different. The film, due out later this year, tells the true story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team's quest to make the 1995 World Cup Championship. The trailer was just recently released online, and we have embedded it below. Feel free to take a look:

C'etait un rendez-vous

2009-10-26T22:16:00.005-04:00

With Halloween approaching, it's always worth looking at some scary movies, and, though _C'etait un rendez-vous_ isn't a scary movie in the classical sense of the term, it is, nonetheless, absolutely 8 minutes of suspense. On an early Sunday morning, Claude Lelouch set out on the streets of Paris in his Mercedes, and the result is one of the best car chases--it's not a chase, but you get the idea--ever filmed. There is also some romance involved, which is always a bonus. So, check out the video below. Feel free to turn up your speakers and enlarge the screen to get the full effect.

SYC Wants You!

2009-10-01T19:11:00.001-04:00

My Experience as a Tutor at Stockert Youth Center
By Jeff Webb

It’s that time of the year again. The leaves are changing color, people are getting sick with the flu, and Stockert Youth Center is asking for volunteers.

As an education major, I’ve put in two semesters at Stockert, and, I must say, the time I spent there was some of the most rewarding time I’ve ever had in my life. It was even more rewarding than the time I met LFO (anybody? anybody?) after their performance at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, but that’s the topic for a future blog post.

During my time at Stockert, I worked with two separate students. Without breaching confidentiality, I’ll simply say that one was an elementary-aged girl, and the other was a middle school-aged boy. The girl was perfectly nice and eager to learn and quite the conversationalist. She’d tell me about her day, and then I’d help her with her homework and maybe we’d play a couple games of “Hangman” or something to end the session. For one hour, two days a week over the course of one semester, this is what I did.

The boy, on the other hand, was a bit more difficult. He had some learning disabilities, and it was often hard to get him to focus. There were days where he was completely uncooperative and just sat at the desk with his head down, refusing to work or even to talk. Being the young educator I was—I’m still a young educator—I was left a little lost. I didn’t know what to do with a kid that so stubbornly refused to work. All of education, though, can be summed up in doing whatever you can to “get their attention,” so I learned the kid’s interests—he liked football, I remember—and I tried to gear the learning in our session toward football in someway.

Alas, this still didn’t work, and, actually, my inability to reach the student still irks me a bit to this day. But, that’s life. It’s never going to come out perfect, and there are some students—no matter how hard you try—you just might not be able to reach.

The important thing is, though, I kept meeting with the student for the remainder of the semester. Granted, I was required to for one of my education classes, but, every tutoring session, I still tried to engage him. I tried and tried and tried different methods, none of them really working, but I kept trying, and, from that, I got my reward.

Knowing that I had some effect on these students—be it positive or negative—was perfect intrinsic motivation. Knowing, though, that I was doing something useful with my time—when, normally, I’d probably be spending that hour in the afternoon sitting in my dorm room, reading a book for Russian literature or, more likely, watching Youtube videos—was, perhaps, even more rewarding. In some small way—call it the butterfly effect, if you will—I was doing my part in bettering the world. That’s really the essence of all volunteer services, and it’s also really something you probably wouldn’t understand until you take part in a volunteer service.

So, yes, now that Stockert is looking for volunteers and tutors, perhaps you should give it a consideration. It can be difficult, indeed, but it can also be so satisfying.

If you are interested in volunteering at Stockert in some capacity, you may contact SYC at (304) 473-0145.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-09-02T22:09:00.003-04:00

A Review of "Inglourious Basterds"
By Jeff Webb

There is a scene in the final act of Quentin Tarantino’s WWII drama “Inglourious Basterds” wherein two characters—on opposing sides of the war—shoot each other dead. Said scene is bloody, loud, and fused with wonderful Ennio Morricone music, and, then, Tarantino cuts away from it, as well he should. The characters are dead; their story is done. But, just a couple minutes later, as mayhem ensues in other realms of the story, Tarantino cuts back to the two characters, an overhead shot—almost God-like—looking down on the stillness of the bodies laying side-by-side. It is, perhaps, the most poignant shot in the film.

Likewise, the whole story of “Inglourious Basterds” just might be summed up in that one single shot. Two characters—two forces, essentially, or two ideologies—clash, and they destroy each other in brutal fashion.

Or, perhaps it’s better described with the words of the film’s Lt. Aldo Raine, that he didn’t come all the way from the Smoky Mountains to be humane to the “Natzee” bastards.

In short, war is hell, and both sides, when paired with absolute certainty and fanaticism, are equally capable of destroying one another.

In this meditation on violence, Tarantino does for war movies what Peckinpah’s “Wild Bunch” did for Westerns. That is, Tarantino takes our classic idea of the hero and twists it, perverts it, and, doing so, he reveals that oftentimes the good guys aren’t good.

In this case, it’s the Basterds, a group of American-Jewish soldiers who blaze their way through Europe, scalping and torturing any German soldier that crosses their path. As the audience, we cheer for them because—why? They’re American, yes, and perhaps the Nazis have it coming to them, but do even the Nazis deserve such cruel punishment? And what of the ones who fight more out of compulsion, out of allegiance to home or their fellow countrymen as opposed to out of allegiance to the Fuhrer? Do they deserve to die such horrific deaths?

See, the Basterds use intimidation and torture and suicide-bombings as standard war tactics. Does any of this sound familiar? Yet, we see them as the good guys, and we want them to succeed, but, yet, they are just as savage as the evil in which they fight.

Tarantino isn’t insinuating that the Americans who fought in WWII were just as bad as the Nazis or that they used terrorist tactics, because, in short, this isn’t a real WWII film. It’s an alternate reality, the WWII time period serving more as a filmic allusion than as a historical setting. Tarantino, in his usual style, wanted to make a film that harkened back to war films like “The Dirty Dozen” and Spaghetti-Westerns like “Once Upon a Time in the West.” The WWII setting simply provides Tarantino a setting in which to blend those two genres.

After that blending, though, the story becomes entirely his. He distorts history to his own means, as any artist should. However, to dismiss “Inglourious Basterds” for this reason is a tremendous mistake, for, even with its distortions, it is, still, perhaps one of the best war films to emerge from Hollywood in recent years. The commentary on violence and justice, feminism and nationalism—it’s all there, handled maturely, handled well.

However, perhaps what is most interesting about the film is one of its many subplots. In this case, the subplot revolving around the premiere of a German propaganda film entitled “Nation’s Pride,” and the pride, indeed, the Germans take in such a film. They watch and cheer as a German sniper kills hundreds of Allied troops, and, at the same time, we watch and cheer as a squad of American soldiers kill German troops. This cannot be coincidence on Tarantino’s part. No, this is his own propaganda film, and, perhaps the only reason we ever find ourselves cheering for the Basterds is because Tarantino, very subtly, has conditioned us that way. The Germans are presented on ominous terms, the Americans on light terms. This is Tarantino’s own propaganda film making a statement about propaganda. That is, we are all capable of being fooled, of being roped in under false pretenses, of being tricked by our governments, or, on a more personal basis, our friends, for a thread of deceit runs all throughout the film.

“Inglourious Basterds” is not Tarantino’s best film; that would still be “Pulp Fiction.” However, in its layering of theme and story, it is his most complex film, his one most provocative for discussion. And that’s a good thing.

On a technical level, the film is near perfect. The cinematography—especially in the first fifteen minutes—is so beautiful and, at times, so unbelievably tense, almost delivering Hitchcock-like suspense. As for the acting, there is not a single weak performance. Much has been said of Eli Roth’s Bear Jew, but Roth, exuding arrogance and temper, does just as the part requires. The true stand-outs of the film, though, as many other reviewers have commented, are Christoph Waltz as Hans Landa and Melanie Laurent as Shosanna. Both of them, especially Waltz, deserve nominations when the time comes.

For those that love movies, “Inglourious Basterds” is all the more wonderful with its frequent allusions to older films. For those that don’t necessarily possess quite an encyclopedic knowledge of film as Tarantino does, that’s okay; the film still has much merit. It teaches us about violence, about war, and, with its epic theatre atmosphere, it constantly removes us from the story, asking us to see it objectively, to see it as it is: a story. Thus, at the end of things, we can view it clearly, that the Basterds are just bastards and the Natzees are just Nazis, and there is just so much hatred, so much aggression, that it all just explodes in a hail of gunfire, dynamite, and celluloid.

Woodstock Remembered

2009-08-16T10:11:00.002-04:00

Forty years ago, from August 15th to August 18th, nearly half a million people gathered in upstate New York to watch the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Santana, Canned Heat, the Who, Janis Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. Below is a video of one of the best of these performances. So, without further ado, here is Joe Cocker performing the Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends."

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-08-11T08:03:00.001-04:00

A Review of "Julie & Julia"
By Jeff Webb

First of all, I liked “Julie & Julia.” I didn’t necessarily expect to, but I had a great deal of fun watching the film. The charming performances of the leads, the vicarious experience of encountering wonderful foods, and the straightforward and simple comedy all create a light-hearted, escapist atmosphere. Perhaps above anything else, it is an incredibly relaxing film.

Now, with that aside, it’s probably not a film I would care to see ever again.

The problem with “Julie & Julia” is the script. It revolves around two stories, the first taking place in the mid-twentieth century and depicting chef Julia Child’s efforts to create a French cookbook for American women. The film’s second story is set in 2002 and shows blogger Julie Powell’s attempt to make every recipe in said cookbook within a year’s time.

It is the latter story that I take issues with. Amy Adams plays Julie Powell, and Adams is wonderful, as always. However, when the main conflict of a story is whether or not a character will meet her deadline in time, it’s a little hard to be enthralled or to leave the theater feeling you have learned something monumental about life. Now, perhaps perseverance is the life lesson here, but when it is about something so mundane as cooking, it still feels empty. Perhaps if the film was in the hand’s of a more competent director, someone adept with the mundane—someone like Jim Jarmusch, for instance—something could be taken away from the story, but, alas, the film is in the hands of Nora Ephron, a talented romantic-comedy director but really nothing more than that.

There are moments of real human drama in Julie Powell’s story, but they are brief moments, fleeting moments. There never is any tension, and that is because the conflict isn’t engaging. Every story, no matter the genre, needs a conflict, and it needs to engage the audience.

The film’s other story, revolving around a young Julia Child, is a bit more fulfilling to watch, but even it suffers from a similar problem. Its tone is too light to be accommodating as a biopic for a real person, and its suspense is killed by the interjection of the Julie Powell story. Perhaps more than anything else, though, the audience never comes to know Julia Child. We see her efforts to publish her book, but she is the same woman at the end of the film as she is at the beginning. There is no real development to her as a character, as a person.

Yes, Meryl Streep is fantastic and proves, once again, why she is the best actress of her generation, but she really isn’t given much to work with. Her Julia Child becomes a parody of the real thing, an embodiment of the woman on TV, and Streep, with the exception of one or two scenes, never probes deeply into the person that was Julia Child. But that’s a flaw of the script.

“Julie & Julia” is a good way to kill two hours, and it fits perfectly into the summer movie season. It just fails to deliver human drama, and, while funny, it’s nowhere close to being a classic of the comedy genre. To end with a terrible food analogy, the film is almost like hospital food: it’s not necessarily bad, it’ll fill you up and taste alright, but it’s not something you ever really want to eat ever again.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-08-01T04:10:00.001-04:00

A Review of "Funny People"
By Jeff Webb

It’s interesting to watch the direction of Judd Apatow’s directorial career play out on cinema screens. With his first film, “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” Apatow introduced audiences to his stories of “bromance” and men stuck in adolescence. With “Knocked Up,” Apatow covered similar territory, but this time making it a bit more personal, basing it somewhat on his own experiences with becoming a father. Still, there was a sense of the cartoonish in the characters, an outrageousness to the film. With his third and latest film, though—the newly released “Funny People”—Apatow has hit his stride. It is his most focused feature yet, completely realistic and understated and restrained.

The problem with Apatow’s previous two films is not that the stories lack a moral—for they do have a point—but that they sometimes lose focus of that moral, wandering into territory where it just seems like comedy for the sake of comedy. Nothing is learned. Plot and characterization is not advanced.

That is not the case with “Funny People.” Yes, the movie is long—perhaps a bit too long—but every scene plays a part in the bigger story. That story revolves around George Simmons, a popular comedian who, upon finding out he has leukemia, starts to reevaluate his life. Helping him on this journey of self-discovery is young and insecure comedian Ira Wright.

Adam Sandler plays Simmons, and Seth Rogen plays Wright. For the latter, it is clearly the best role of his career, one that is truly unique from his other characters. For Sandler, it is his best since work since 2002’s “Punch-Drunk Love,” and, even at that, Sandler may be even better here than in PTA’s mini-masterpiece. Simmons is Sandler, Sandler is Simmons, and through the course of the film, Sandler plays his part to perfection, never ringing a false note, never going for the zany over the dramatic. It is a character wrought with pain and disappointment, and Sandler plays him just as such.

Some people will walk into the film expecting a comedy, and, while the film is a comedy, it carries quite a bit of dramatic weight with it, as did Apatow’s “Knocked Up.” However, unlike “Knocked Up,” the drama in “Funny People” doesn’t come across as forced or schmaltzy. It feels natural, perhaps because the premise is a serious premise. It is about a man dying. If anything, it is the laughs that feel forced, but the very fact that the man in question is a comedian makes it all seem right.

There is nothing outrageous about “Funny People,” no hair-waxing scene or mushroom trips to Las Vegas or shock value shots of female genitalia. No, like the characters in his films, Apatow finally seems to be growing up, not only addressing themes of adulthood, but also addressing them like an adult: serious, focused, and in control.

Without giving it away, the ending of the film is enough evidence of Apatow’s maturity as a filmmaker. There is nothing grandiose about it. It’s just a plain and simple ending to a fairly plain and simple story, and, thus, by making it all the more real, it becomes all the more relatable.

And that is something every filmmaker—be the genre comedy or drama—should strive to achieve.

Neil Young with the Band

2009-07-28T19:09:00.001-04:00

Neil Young is a great musical artist, and, perhaps, he has never been better than seen here, performing "Helpless" with backing from the Band. Enjoy.

It's An Honor Even To Be Nominated

2009-07-20T23:49:00.000-04:00

By Jeff Webb

A little less than a month ago, Academy president Sid Ganis announced that 82nd Academy Awards will feature ten Best Picture winners, as opposed to featuring just five as in years past.

To some, this may be occasion to rejoice, and having ten nominees might not be that bad. For instance, take last year’s Oscars as an example. Films like Rachel Getting Married and The Wrestler most certainly deserved a Best Picture nomination, but they were shut out. Widening the field to ten would likely include these films.

Likewise, animated films and lower-budget indie films might also gain an advantage, with the Academy looking elsewhere than big-budget December releases to fill their Oscar pool.

Lastly, the revenue brought in by having ten nominees should be positive for studios, theaters, and the Academy broadcast. Ten films gaining critical praise means more people rushing to see these movies in theaters, as well as more people tuning into the broadcast to see whether or not their film will win.

However, even with these benefits—and there are more, as you can read on some other blogs devoted to this—having ten nominees may have its drawbacks. In a way, it seems more fair to be including more nominees, but that may just be a fantasy. Already the Academy nominates things that shouldn’t be nominated and leaves out things that should be nominated. Why would widening the field to ten be any different? Instead of having two mediocre nominees and three good ones, now we might just end up with four mediocre nominees and six good ones, with other good films left out.

The Academy might also be more likely to nominate something just to give it the honor of a nomination rather than nominating it on the basis that it could—and should—win the Best Picture Oscar—cough, cough, The Dark Knight.

It does not seem quite the honor of receiving a nomination when the field is ten as opposed to five. The club isn’t as exclusive, and for a program that is supposed to recognize the very best in the year’s motion pictures, exclusivity should be a consideration.

If a film truly is great, it should, theoretically, be good enough to receive a nomination, and that shouldn’t change whether the field is five or ten, though that doesn’t always happen. But why would that happen with ten nominees as opposed to five? The Academy is going to nominate what it’s going to nominate.

It seems as though the Academy might be grasping as straws to make the awards more open and appealing, but, in doing so, it might be hurting the prestige of the Oscars. If they really do nominate ten of the year’s best films—of which I am skeptical—what will it say for the winner? Whereas under the previous system, two or three frontrunners would emerge, with ten nominees, we might have four or five frontrunners. Votes will be divided, and there might never be a clear winner. Not only would it seem less impressive to say a film has been nominated, but it might be just as underwhelming to say that a film even won.

My Top Ten Movie Theater Experiences

2009-07-14T12:44:00.001-04:00

By Jeff Webb

I have loved movies all my life. Seeing recent summer blockbusters like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” and “Star Trek,” I have been thinking about some of my best movie-going experiences, the films and the energy that really made me feel involved in the picture. I have listed ten of these experiences below, and I encourage you to list some of your favorite movie-going experiences in the comments below this posting.

Note: The years correspond to the year the film was released, not the year I saw the film in theaters.

1. Grindhouse (2007): Probably the most fun I ever had in a movie theater. I went and saw this on opening day with about four or five of my friends, and the theater was packed. “Planet Terror,” full of tongue-in-cheek fun, had the audience all pumped up, though the energy dwindled some when “Death Proof” came around and the pace of the film slowed down. However, the climatic car chase redeemed it all, and still ranks as one of the best car chases, in my opinion, in film history.

2. Titanic (1997): Anybody growing up in my generation listing movie-going experiences and not including “Titanic” is lying. It was an event movie, and in the twelve years since—even with the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Harry Potter, and the trend of superhero movies—nothing has still approached the epic reception of “Titanic” by the public. You didn’t just see it once. You saw it two times. Three times. Middle-aged couples planned evenings around it, like they were getting dressed up to see a play, but, rather, they went to the cinema. I, for one, saw it in the now defunct Kanawha Cinemas, with water dripping slowly from the ceiling, giving it all an air of realism. It was my first experience with Kate Winslet, too, giving my fifth-grader self a movie star crush that lasts even to this day.

3. The Dark Knight (2008): If any movie has come close to “Titanic,” it is “The Dark Knight.” I saw it five times, and every time was fantastic, though the best was opening night. It was a midnight showing at Marquee Cinemas, a sold-out theater, and, that first showing, it all was so much darker and intense than I had ever anticipated, and I loved it for it. It’s not a film masterpiece, as some would suggest, for it does have some flaws script-wise, but, in terms of summer blockbusters, “The Dark Knight” is one of the absolute best.

4. No Country for Old Men (2007): Perhaps the most suspenseful movie I have ever seen in theaters. I sat in the front row with two of my friends, in a packed theater, and perhaps because the crowd was into it, or perhaps because I was so close to the screen that I felt actually in the action, I was completely tense. I remember actually feeling a weight lifted off me when the film concluded, a conclusion that many people criticized but I felt to be absolutely genius.

5. There Will Be Blood (2007): The film that should have won 2007’s Best Picture Oscar. I could not convince anybody to go with me, so I drove alone one Friday evening from Buckhannon to Morgantown to see it. The theater itself was new to me, and was a very clean facility, which was nice. The film, though, was what really impressed, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction reminiscent of such greats as Kubrick or Huston, and Daniel Day-Lewis, as Daniel Plainview, turning in one of the best performances of motion picture history. The audience was completely engrossed by the time the final scene came around, and I just remember everybody sitting in stunned silence at the shocking ending the film serves up.

6. The Wrestler (2008): My friend and I anticipated this film for a good six months before its release. I ended up seeing it twice, once with said friend in Pittsburgh, and once more with a girl in Buckhannon. In Pittsburgh, on the film’s opening weekend in the town, the theater was packed, and the audience energy was high, responding to such scenes as the hardcore match and the Ram working in the deli. In Buckhannon, it was just the girl and me alone in the theater, but “The Wrestler,” is, in all essence, a simple film, one that can enjoyed both with a crowd and with only one other person.

7. Jurassic Park (1993): I only have a vague memory of this experience, as I was five years old at the time I saw it, but I remember it was at a drive-in theater, and it was at night. I remember being scared, thinking that dinosaurs might come out from behind the movie screen and attack us all. It was, probably, the first time I was terrified by a movie, but I also loved it. Spielberg films have always been dear to me, playing important roles in the development of my childhood, and “Jurassic Park” is no exception.

8. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): Speaking of Spielberg, I saw this at the Warner Theater in Morgantown in Spring 2009. I have loved Indiana Jones since I was a child, going so far as naming a pet cat, when I was six years old, after the iconic movie character. The film is completely mesmerizing on the big screen and in a dark theater. However, I had already seen it countless times on home video, so I knew what to expect, but I must wonder what it would have been like seeing it for the first time in 1981, and how exciting that must have been.

9. Blindness (2008): The film received poor reviews, but I, for the life of me, cannot figure out why. I saw it by myself, in a theater completely empty but for me, and that was an experience. That has only happened a couple times in my life, and it is such an outstanding feeling. It makes you feel important, like it’s a private screening all for you, and, with a film like “Blindness,” it makes it all much more intense and scary, which, perhaps, is why I have a more favorable opinion of the film as opposed to others.

10. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999): I saw this with my brother and his friend, Kenny. I don’t remember much about the experience, though I do remember it was at Park Place Cinemas in Charleston right after they had remodeled, and that it was a tremendously funny movie. I just had a good feeling that night, and that, of course, is the end result of a good movie-going experience.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-07-12T18:53:00.000-04:00

A Review of "Bruno"
By Jeff Webb

With “Bruno,” star Sacha Baron Cohen crosses every line of taste, and, while such boldness succeeded in “Borat,” it just can’t help feeling recycled and tired in the latest effort. It is a funny movie, yes, and, at times, it achieves moments of comedic greatness, but, by the end of the film, one has learned nothing. It is almost all comedy of shock value and no comedy of intelligence.

Chiefly, “Bruno” fails where “Borat” succeeded in that Cohen, in a way, holds back. No, he doesn’t hold back in terms of gags and graphic content, but he holds back in terms of the challenges he makes to his audience. “Borat” was a wonderful satire, exposing in both over-the-top and subtle ways the prejudices of American society. With “Bruno,” all the subtlety is gone, and, at that, all the satire is gone. Of course someone is going to act angrily when a naked man comes to his tent in the middle of the night. It is funny, yes, but it is cheap, and it lacks the intelligence of Cohen’s previous effort.

In addition, the story is practically a rehashed story of “Borat,” making the film feel rather stale. The story arcs are the same: a foreigner comes to America, causes some trouble with Middle America, loses his partner-in-crime about halfway through the film, sinks into a depressed slump, and, at the end, is reunited with his partner and all is alright. That was the plot of “Borat,” and that is the plot of “Bruno,” only in “Bruno,” it’s nothing new.

Cohen, for all his effort, is an amazing acting talent, becoming so completely the characters he plays. It would truly be interesting to see him in a more serious role, something akin to his brief performance in 2007’s “Sweeney Todd.”

Director Larry Charles, who directed “Borat” and is noted as a prime creative force behind TV’s “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” is also genius at dissecting the idiocy of American society, but, once again, with “Bruno,” all the honesty and patience feels lost.

Perhaps more than anything else, though, the film feels rehearsed. There are many more staged scenes in “Bruno” as compared to “Borat,” and, while that might work if the story were truly compelling, it can’t help but make the film feel more false. Because the film is not real, because Cohen goes more for the insane than the subtle, one never really feels challenged. The satire is lost, and the film is nothing more than unintelligible comedy garbage.

But, strangest thing of all, it is one of the funniest things you will ever see in your life.

Happy birthday, America!

2009-07-04T20:41:00.003-04:00

'Tis July 4th, America's Independence Day, or, at least, the day we celebrate our independence as the true date of our Independence Day is kind of up to discussion. That said, spend the day with friends and family, but remember what the day is about. Be rebellious, because our forefathers were rebellious. You know, read a banned book or curse loudly or something bold like that. To put you in such a patriotic spirit, see video below:

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-07-01T23:18:00.001-04:00

A Review of "Public Enemies"
By Jeff Webb

“Public Enemies” is not new or original. The story of John Dillinger has, many times, been brought to life through literature and film, and the basic plot of “Public Enemies” follows along the same lines as many other classic—and superior—crime films, such as “The Untouchables” and “Heat.” However, perhaps never has such a story about Depression-era crime been told with such grit and honesty as “Public Enemies,” acclaimed director Michael Mann applying modern sensibilities to an old story. The end result is brutal, tense fun.

Mann, the director of the aforementioned “Heat” as well as “Collateral” and “Manhunter,” has always had a knack for depicting crime on film, and “Public Enemies” is very much a Michael Mann film. Yes, the people are pretty, the settings are nostalgic, but the camera work—while slow and clear at some points—can quickly become rapid and grainy, and that is pure Mann. Viewers aren’t used to seeing this type of old-style gangster movie filmed like a police procedural about two cops in South Central, but the lack of sentimentality makes the film unique. Even the legendary “Bonnie & Clyde,” which was groundbreaking in its portrayal of violence onscreen, digressed into comedy and melodrama at times.

Evidence of the power of this filmmaking objectivism is clearly evident in the climatic shoot-out with George “Babyface” Nelson. There is minimal music, minimal lighting. We just hear the punches, the gunshots, and we see the resulting corpses. In a way, it’s savage, but it’s so very real.

However, “Public Enemies” falls short of other classic crime dramas, though, mainly due to character development. John Dillinger robs banks, and Melvin Purvis is the FBI agent charged with tracking him down. That’s about all we know about the two main characters, and, while this fits with the film’s terse tone, it’s not quite as effective. What makes the film unique is the way it tells an old story in a new way. What makes it fail is that, while the technique is new, the story is still old.

At the end of the film, audiences might be left asking, “Why did we really care if Dillinger got away or not?”

That is a question that is never really resolved.

However, working with what they had, all the actors do an exceptional job. Johnny Depp delivers as John Dillinger, though, with the exception of one or two scenes, he isn’t necessarily electric. Christian Bale as Dillinger’s chief antagonist is quite wonderful, ever-stoic and tough, but it is Dillinger’s story, and Bale never really gets an opportunity to come alive, but that is a problem with the script and not a fault of the actor’s.

Marion Cotillard as Dillinger’s girlfriend, though, is the film’s real stand-out, perhaps because she is the best developed character, or perhaps just based on Cotillard’s sheer talent. Either way, she gives her character life and takes her through a whole range of emotions.

It should be interesting come next winter to see whether “Public Enemies” benefits from the expansion of the Academy’s Best Picture field from five to ten. It’s not winner-worthy, but, depending upon further releases this year, it might be good enough to warrant a nomination. At the very least, though, “Public Enemies” is certainly the best of the summer, thus far, one of those rare gems that comes along in the middle of the season that melds both blockbuster and arthouse flick into one enjoyable experience.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-06-29T22:56:00.003-04:00

A Review of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
By Jeff Webb

Nobody walks into the theater to see Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with the expectations of seeing a serious film about such things as technology and war. No, people go to see the new Transformers film to escape, to live vicariously through the characters and be caught up in the action. They want to be entertained rather than stimulated in thought.

The question then becomes not whether Revenge of the Fallen is a good film, but is it an entertaining film? The answer to that is yes.

The story picks up where the first Transformers left off, with Optimus Prime and his band of Autobots protecting the world from the evil Decepticons. An audience member really needs to know nothing else to grasp the action of the story, though, and that is unfortunate. The first film’s biggest flaw was its script, and the same goes for the sequel. It lacks complexity, and it lacks detail. Why do the Decepticons despise the Autobots so much? Why is the Matrix of Leadership so powerful? No answers are given, and character motivations are not only hidden but practically non-existent. Yes, the film calls for a suspension of disbelief, but—as this summer’s Star Trek or last summer’s Dark Knight evidence—suspension of disbelief does not necessarily mean that a film still cannot be grounded in some reality.

Mostly, though, the shallow script does not allow the audience to connect with the characters. Yes, we know Sam Witwicky and the noble Optimus Prime, but, other than that, characters are two-dimensional. Even the most unbelievable of films must connect the audience with the characters, must allow the audience to relate to the film in that way, for, if the film fails in that regard, the audience will never be truly enthralled.

Still, with the lack of story depth, the film is entertaining, reliant primarily upon its visual effects. The action scenes look spectacular, even though some of them—including the climatic battle in the desert—are too frantic and, in the words of my father, “busy.” It’s easy to lose track of the characters, especially when many of the transformer robots bear such striking resemblance. However, there is truly one wonderful scene—perhaps the best of the summer—and that is the action scene in the forest about halfway through the film. Interestingly enough, it is the one scene where Michael Bay’s camera and editing are at their most deliberate and calm.

Say what you want about Michael Bay and his films, but the man has his own style, and that is a lot more than many directors can say. Yes, he specializes in cheesy, over-the-top action films, but it’s not generic action. It is Bay’s vision, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, and anybody that has a vision and can commit that vision to film should be applauded at least just a little bit.

It is worth mentioning, too, that Shia LaBeouf is another victim of unwarranted criticism. His acting in this film, while safe and typical, is not bad. Anybody that truly believes Mr. LaBeouf is a bad actor need only to watch A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints.

In conclusion, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will probably be the highest-grossing movie of 2009’s summer movie season, and with its beautiful cast and stunning action, it’s easy to see why. However, it does lack a story, and, while such things can be expected or forgiven, one can only wonder how good a film it might really have been if it had been written just a bit better. If one can see the film, though, and truly suspend all disbelief and just be entertained, one should not be disappointed, for the film, with all of its flaws, is still a step above most other mindless Hollywood action flicks.

Just one step above, but a step, nonetheless.

Remembering Farrah Fawcett and the King of Pop, Among Others

2009-06-26T01:08:00.002-04:00

By Jeff Webb

Actress Farrah Fawcett, 62, and Michael Jackson, 50, both passed away yesterday. Their deaths follow the recent passings of David Carradine and Ed McMahon, all four of these recently deceased not only being renowned entertainers but also pop culture icons who played a large part in defining their respective generations.

Of course, news coverage of these stars' deaths can get excessive. The mourning people express can become obnoxious and pointless. Famous though they were, at the end of the day, Ms. Fawcett and Mr. Jackson--along with Mr. Carradine and Mr. McMahon--were just people, full of life but also full of flaws. Yes, they were imperfect, like all the rest of us.

So, we really can't spend too long mourning these persons, because they were, after all, persons, but they were persons that most of us knew only through a television screen.

However, by the very job description of "entertainer," they were persons who were ever focused on an audience, and that is where we, the fans, are hit hardest. We didn't know them, but we were affected by them, by their movies, their comedy, their music. Escapist entertainment most of it was, yes, but in a world that can get so depressing, escapist entertainment comes in handy sometimes.

Perhaps, then, it's with a sense of nostalgia that we mourn the deaths of these persons. Not so much are we mourning the absence of them, but more so are we mourning the absence of their characters, and, better yet, the emotional responses those characters evoked in us. That sense of loss is truly a testament to these individuals' skill in their respective art form.

They were gifted performers, the whole lot of them.

Ed McMahon, 1923-2009

2009-06-23T09:09:00.001-04:00

Ed McMahon, best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick on The Tonight Show and as the host of Star Search, died today, June 23rd, 2009, at UCLA Medical Center. He was 86 years old. The Pharos would like to extend its thoughts and prayers to all affected by Mr. McMahon's death.

Coppola Interview

2009-06-22T19:25:00.008-04:00

Francis Ford Coppola is, quite possibly, America's greatest filmmaker, having directed such classic films as The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation. Below is an interview from KQED Radio with the man himself.

Better Pay for West Virginia Teachers

2009-06-20T22:33:00.002-04:00

The following blog entry is a response to a prompt from aBetterWestVirginia.com, which asked bloggers in the state to "identify an obstacle that hinders West Virginia and discuss its solution." This opportunity was offered by aBetterWestVirginia.com as a way to celebrate West Virginia Day, which is a day remembering the birth of West Virginia's statehood: June 20th, 1863.

By Jeff Webb
West Virginia needs good teachers. With many young teachers opting to leave the state for better paying jobs and many experienced teachers approaching retirement age, the West Virginia educational system has positions to fill, and the state needs to offer some incentive—some enticement—to get educators to stay in the state.

Perhaps the solution is offering higher salaries for teachers. Over the past several years, with an average salary somewhere around $43,000, West Virginia has consistently ranked low in national rankings of teacher pay, while bordering states of Virginia and Ohio have consistently been ranked near or in the top ten highest-paying states for teachers. It is little surprise, then, that young teachers, fresh out of college and looking to start a life, migrate to these nearby states for more lucrative job opportunities.

There are some problems, though, when it comes to raising teacher salaries in West Virginia, namely that the state isn’t a very rich state to begin with, and the current economic recession in the United States can’t help matters, either. According to one recent survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median family income in West Virginia is somewhere around $44,000, and, in this respect, the average teacher pay is not far off from what most other West Virginians are earning.

However, using this excuse—that teachers do not need more money because they are right at the average income for the state—is frivolous, as the basic problem still exists: other states offer better pay, and, as a result, West Virginia is losing teachers.

The state’s two largest teacher unions, AFT and WVEA, have each offered their own ideas for pay raises, but there are flaws in their ideas. Namely, in the pay raise plans of both unions, not only do teachers receive a raise, but so, too, do superintendents. With the average salary for superintendents around $90,000—and the salary being even higher in some counties, such as Kanawha—there doesn’t seem much use in the superintendents receiving raises. Rather, it would be much more beneficial to the state and its educational system if the raise were only given to the people that need it: teachers.

Currently, the West Virginia legislature sets the minimum pay for teachers, and then individual counties, based on population and taxable income, can pay more than the minimum. Perhaps, then, what the legislature needs to do is raise the minimum salary by a couple thousand dollars in order to bring West Virginia up to par with other states. If financing for this is hard to come by, perhaps some superintendents and other government officials might consider a pay cut.

Humility. That is the simple answer to this problem. Nobody becomes a teacher for the money. A person becomes a teacher to help others, and that person will do the job no matter what the pay. It’s just that, in the current society, money is necessary to living, and wanting to receive more money for a job whenever possible is not a difficult motive to grasp.

However, it will take humility for West Virginia teachers to accept what they need, not what they want. Likewise, it will take the humility of government leaders to cut back on excess, to give more money to those that need it and not, perhaps, to those that don’t.

Receiving a proper education is one of, if not the most, important things in a person’s life. Paying West Virginia teachers a better salary makes the profession both more respectable and appealing, and that, right now, is exactly what the state’s educational system needs.

Annual Conference Update

2009-06-13T23:28:00.002-04:00

By Jeff Webb
Day Four: Nice Hand

Well, today was my last day at the 2009 West Virginia Annual Conference. I actually woke up at 4:20AM today and crawled out of bed at 5. For some reason, I have been sleeping terribly at Conference, perhaps because of the lack of air circulation in my dorm room, even though I do have a huge fan blowing in from the open window.

I went jogging around the track again this morning, though, in all honesty, it was quite pitiful compared to my previous work-outs. No need to go into details.

I went to breakfast again, and had a lovely conversation with WVWC's Grandma. The fake eggs Aladdin served weren't very lovely, though.

Ms. Harriet Olsen led the morning Bible study again, focusing on the character of God. She told the congregation "it's your turn" to take God into the world.

Bishop Lyght elaborated on this, saying, "This is the acceptable time. You are in mission. Go, therefore."

Business got started at 10AM. Bishop Lyght began the session by saying, "As we do our business, we will remain kind to one another, we will love one another, and we will be respectful to one another."

Perhaps the biggest issue of the day was the voting for the constitutional amendments. Amendment #1 drew the most discussion.

If accepted, the amendment would clarify that the United Methodist Church is in ministry to all persons.

Some people read this as indirectly including homosexuals in the church, though, funny enough, the word "homosexuality" was never uttered, and "gay" was only mentioned once.

It was all like one big elephant in the room.

One gay man stood up during debate on the amendments and said that he is a gay man, that his church knows this and they show God's love to him.

This man said, "I would hate to see anyone not accepted into membership for something other than the love of Jesus."

Reverend Monty Brown added that the United Methodist Church has always been, and should always be, open to all people. The Discipline already proclaims that "all persons shall be eligible to attend...worship services, participate in its program, receive the sacraments, and upon baptism be admitted as baptized members."

Of course, another person countered that the Church needs to guard against permissiveness. Such permissiveness, according to this person, might bring about divisiveness in our church membership.

The final vote was 281 for the amendment, and 411 against. These totals will be added to totals from other Annual Conferences to reach the final vote tally and to decide whether the amendment is adopted.

On another note, Conference Director of Communications Laura Allen presented the campaign to "Rethink Church," asking, "Will we tell our story anew, through our actions?"

Allen said the Church should "speak the language of love."

After going over topics of finance, Bishop Lyght said, "A basic stream is flowing, a stream of spirituality. When the stream of spirituality is flowing, congregations don't sit around talking about money issues. They talk about ministry and mission."

It was announced that David Jasper, who has served in the cabinet for eight years, will be returning to the local church. He will be serving at Morris Memorial in Kanawha City.

Ellis Conley will replace Jasper as superintendent of the Mon Valley District.

Bishop Lyght said that there wasn't a clergy member in the room who hadn't secretly imagined being a superintendent one day. The Bishop added, "Superintending is the toughest job in the United Methodist Church. It's the frontline. It's frustrating, but with joy comes frustration, and with frustration comes joy."

I departed Buckhannon after the 3PM worship service, which ended with Bishop Lyght lifting up a prayer for those embarking on and considering ministry.

I left Jenkins Hall for what should be my last time ever staying in the place, but who really knows? As I said, it somehow just keeps pulling me back in. I would not be surprised if Camden collapses before the beginning of next school year and I get transferred back to the third floor of Jenkins, which, you know, might not be that bad. I've grown quite accustomed to the insanity of the place.

Next year's Annual Conference, in June 2010, will be June 10th-13th. The guest speaker will be Bishop Gregory Palmer.

So, in closing, I leave with this thought:

God abides. The Dude abides.

Shalom.

Annual Conference Update

2009-06-12T22:47:00.002-04:00

By Jeff Webb
Day Three: I See Your Raise

I've come to the conclusion that this year's Annual Conference is a slow burning one. The business sessions and worship services, while good, are not quite as energetic or passionate as they seemed in years past, but that's okay. After tonight's worship service, with an awesome message delivered by Bishop Nhiwatiwa and powerful music performed by the praise band, things really do seem to be heating up.

Like yesterday, I started today with an early morning jog around the track. Then, I headed over to the dining hall for breakfast, where I also checked my mailbox and--surprise, surprise--I had an envelope from none other than Dr. McNamara herself. I opened it to find two graded Irish literature exams and my paper on Samuel Beckett. Good stuff.

I went to the morning Bible study at 8:30AM in the Chapel. It was led by Ms. Harriet Olsen, who spoke about Acts 1 and asked the people in attendance, "If you could serve as an eyewitness for Christ, what would you report on?"

The business session began at 10AM. After a laity address delivered by 16-year-old Mark Evans, who shared his experiences about volunteering in the Dominican Republic and at Spring Heights church camp, the Conference moved on to vote for our first set of resolutions.

One particular resolution, "Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform," should have caused some debate, but it did not. Surprisingly, the resolution was adopted with little opposition. Who would have thought Christians could actually agree on something from time to time?

At the evening worship service, Bishop Nhiwatiwa challenged the congregation, asking, "Are you the Church?" and instructing us to "go and tell in Jesus' name."

Near the conclusion of the service, Bishop Lyght offered up a prayer for the unchurched before dismissing the congregation by saying, "Our service has ended, but our service begins."

Bishop Lyght also invited people to stop and have ice cream on their way out of the Chapel, as tonight was the annual ice cream social sponsored by the Conference Youth.

Tomorrow, which is the last day for business, proves to be very interesting. We will be voting on a set of constitutional amendments that will probably be cause for some discourse, so that should be fun.

Once again, morning prayer and Bible study is in the Chapel beginning at 8:30AM. Business starts at 10AM.

Shalom.

Annual Conference Update

2009-06-11T23:16:00.002-04:00

By Jeff Webb
Day Two: It's On

Annual Conference officially got started today. For me, it began at 5AM when I woke up in my dorm room and couldn't get back to sleep.

After laying in my bed, awake, for a further forty minutes, I got up and went for a jog around the football field. The sun was already up--it came up early--and the sky was a beautiful orange.

Opening worship was at 9:30AM in the Chapel. The Africa University choir, who will be touring the state after Conference's conclusion, sang a wonderful song that got everybody inspired. Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa, of the Zimbabwe Annual Conference, delivered the message, asking the congregation, "What kind of Christ do you know?"

Communion was held at the end of the service. It always amazes me how they manage to do communion with so many people in the space provided, but they get it done somehow.

The first business session started at 1:45PM. Wesleyan's Dr. Marvin Carr was presented with the Francis Asbury award "for his countless acts of kindness." In addition, WVWC President Pamela Balch gave a report about the current status of the College, how enrollment has continued to climb, graduate programs have been added, and students continually participate in service-oriented projects.

Next week, according to Balch, the College will start to focus on its Master Plan, which will bring changes to the campus not seen "since the 1960s Stanley Martin era."

The Cabinet ended the first business session with their State of the Church address, referencing scripture about the Tower of Babel and urging churches to work on building bridges, not towers. Wesleyan District superintendent Ken Ramsey stressed that building these bridges and forming connections with people in the name of Jesus Christ is an urgent task.

Overall, it was a good day. Tomorrow proves to be even more interesting as business gets further underway. Opening worship is at 8:30AM in the Chapel, and business starts at 10AM in the Chapel.

On one additional note, as I referenced it in my previous post: Theta Chi no longer needs to cut its grass. It was mowed today, and the yard looks quite lovely.

Annual Conference Update

2009-06-10T23:09:00.004-04:00

By Jeff Webb
Day One: Arrival

I left my house in Charleston, WV, sometime around 5:30PM, and, roughly two hours later, I arrived in Buckhannon for my third consecutive Annual Conference. I drove into town listening to Kiss' "New York Groove," a song that always gets me in the mood for returning to Wesleyan. After turning onto College Avenue and driving past the Theta Chi house (which, by the way, needs to have its grass cut), I ended up in the Chapel Oval, parked outside Rockefeller Gymnasium.

I made my way inside to the gym and registered. Then, I went over to Jenkins, where I checked out my room and also retrieved some items I had stashed on Jenkins' fourth floor at the end of last semester.

After dinner and a quick stop at Walmart, I returned to my room to relax and prepare for tomorrow, for tomorrow is when the real fun begins. Opening worship kicks off at 9:30AM in the Chapel, and the first business session starts at 1:45PM in the Chapel.

At that, I bid you good night. Check back here tomorrow for more updates.

Annual Conference Updates

2009-06-10T08:18:00.002-04:00

This week, the West Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will be meeting at Wesleyan's campus. Starting today, Assistant Editor Jeff Webb will cover the event, reflecting on his experiences each day and posting the reflections to this blog. So, if you find yourself curious about the going-ons of the UM Church, check back here. Shalom.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-06-06T00:55:00.005-04:00

A Review of Drag Me to Hell
By Jeff Webb

Drag Me to Hell is one of the best horror films to emerge from Hollywood in recent years. Directed by Sam Raimi, the man responsible for the iconic Evil Dead trilogy, the film is just pure scary, campy fun.

The story revolves around bank employee Christine Brown, played sweetly and innocently by Allison Lohman, who denies a housing payment extension to gypsy Mrs. Ganush in the interest of earning a job promotion. In retaliation for the bank foreclosing her house, Mrs. Ganush places a curse upon Christine. For three days, Christine will be tormented by evil, and on the third day she will be, as the title indicates, dragged to Hell.

The film is full of Raimi’s trademarks: evil spirits, possession, scatological and physical humor, quick camera zooms, absurd close-ups. The overall effect gives the film a somewhat light-hearted tone, despite the dark territory of the story. However, that is precisely Raimi’s objective. Completely tongue-in-cheek, Drag Me to Hell doesn’t make the mistake of taking itself too seriously. As a result, the film is all the more refreshing when compared with most other contemporary horror films, films that tend to be overly serious and exist for nothing more than punishing their audiences. Drag Me to Hell, meanwhile, harkens back to horror films of old, when scary movies would terrify their viewers, but, at the same time, provide an endless amount of fun.

If the film has one major flaw, it is that it indulges in the technology of today to tell its story. Here, Raimi, once a masterful low-budget filmmaker, uses CGI as opposed to good, earnest make-up effects for most of the film. However, most of these CGI effects, while ambitious, come across as incredibly cheap and fake looking, some of them laughably bad. One really must wonder, though, if this was perhaps Raimi’s point. The entire film is purposefully cheesy, so why not the effects? Whether intentional or not, this one flaw—if it is a flaw—does little to detract from the overall effect of the film.

In this still-young summer movie season, Drag Me to Hell ranks right up there with Star Trek as the best of the season. Refreshing, campy fun, Drag Me to Hell is, pun intended, one hell of a film.

David Carradine, 1936-2009

2009-06-04T14:06:00.002-04:00

Actor David Carradine, best known for his roles on TV's Kung Fu and as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, died Wednesday, June 3rd, at the age of 72. To remember this talented actor and pop-culture icon, we have included a video below. In it, Carradine, playing Bill in Kill Bill, ponders the mystery and wonder of life and death.

The Pharos Joins the 21st Century

2009-05-26T23:32:00.002-04:00

Taking a page out of the Chloe O'Brian playbook (anybody? anybody?), The Pharos is going high-tech this summer. Follow us here at our blog, or check out our Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/wvwcpharos or join our Facebook page at facebook.com.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much

2009-05-22T00:50:00.002-04:00

A Review of Star Trek
By Jeff Webb

The new Star Trek film, directed by J.J. Abrams, is perfect entertainment for the summer movie season. Full of action, adventure, romance, and special effects, Star Trek has all the elements and spectacle of a big-budget blockbuster. Though lacking some in thematic depth, the film more than makes up for it in other arenas, its dialogue and acting and directing firing on all cylinders. It is an amazingly consistent and absorbing film.

The film begins with an epic space battle that is both suspenseful and sad. From there, viewers meet a young James T. Kirk, not yet a legendary Starfleet captain but rather just an arrogant and thrill-seeking adolescent rebelling against all forms of establishment. However, after a conversation with Captain Pike, played by the underrated Bruce Greenwood, Kirk’s fate begins to take shape. He joins Starfleet, and from there the Star Trek characters audiences know and love are introduced. Spock, Bones, Sulu, Scotty, Chekhov, Uhura. They’re all there, albeit a bit younger than their 1960s counterparts.

The film’s casting is near perfect. As Kirk, Chris Pine is perfect, emoting a playboy charm but also a melancholy depth. He is a reluctant hero, carefree and sarcastic, someone who wants to live life for himself and no one else, but that all changes. In many ways, Star Trek is a coming-of-age story for Kirk as much as it is a story about time travel and space exploration.

Likewise, Zachary Quinto as Spock is wonderfully cast. He brings a coldness to the character, yet also a desperateness to succeed. His human side forever in conflict with his Vulcan side, Spock is a complex character, torn between two ways of life, between reason and passion.

Abrams just might be a great director someday. Almost with the ease of Spielberg, though not quite, Abrams understands the balance between commercialism and depth. He has a sense for cinematography and a sense for atmosphere, yet there is also an undeniable sense of fun running throughout the film. Star Trek is, if nothing else, a great adventure story.

The heart of the film, though, is the relationship of Kirk and Spock. It is a film about friendship, about the discovery of that friendship. For audiences, the film is nostalgic, a rediscovery of the friendships we all had with these characters, and perhaps a rediscovery of the humanity within us all. Star Trek is full of diverse personalities, from whites to blacks to Asians to alien creatures all working together for the common good. It is an optimistic thought, an inspiring thought, that maybe, someday, in the 23rd century perhaps, all peoples and creatures can come together and boldly go, together, to where no one has gone before.

2009-2010, Volume 101

2009-04-23T14:08:00.001-04:00

The Pharos congratulates next year's Editor in Chief, Alic' Shreves. Her assistant editor will be Jeff Webb.

Best wishes to everyone next year, and thank you to the current staff of The Pharos for a great year of publication!

Message From the President

2009-04-09T09:18:00.002-04:00

Note: Due to space constraints, this week's Message from the President was not run in the print edition. It is being run here instead. Questions? Comments? Email pharos@wvwc.edu.

As I sit here and write this column, it is the evening of the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Virginia Thomas Law Center for the Performing Arts. Today is truly a huge success for Wesleyan. This center has been years in the planning and making and another goal will have been achieved for Wesleyan. I believe this campus should give a big hand to President Balch, the Trustees, and Wesleyan’s entire administration for taking this project from a picture to a completed success that stands on College Avenue.

The ribbon cutting ceremony is the kick off event for the spring Board of Trustees Meeting. Also to be included during this spring session is a tour of the new research center and also the Fleming renovation project. I am very excited to see the progress of both projects and also to see how much closer Wesleyan is to complete more goals.
In thinking about the goals that Wesleyan has completed, I think of the leaps and bounds we have made as a Student Senate this semester. For those not directly involved with Student Senate I would like to update you on our completed goals. We have raised and continue to raise funds to be offered to student organizations, we have pushed and continue to push the Student Bill of Rights and the Honor Code through the channels of approval, and also we have increased attendance tremendously. Julie Keehner spoke up at our Student Senate retreat and shared with us that when she arrived at Wesleyan, there were approximately 4-5 students that attended each meeting. Now, we have over 40 students that attend each meeting.

Since I arrived at Wesleyan as a freshman I have been involved with Student Senate and I have personally seen how it has grown not only in attendance but also in the tasks that it achieves. This has been a very successful semester for Student Senate and for the Wesleyan Community. I hope we will all stay focused on Wesleyan’s goals and as President Balch says, “continue to take Wesleyan from good to great!” I wish you luck in the last few weeks of the semester. Our last meeting will take place at Dean Julie Keehner’s house on April 21st at 6pm.

All the best,

Eric Hillyard
President, Student Senate

Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference

2009-03-11T17:08:00.002-04:00

The Pharos reminds everyone that the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference will be held on campus this Friday, March 13. We encourage everyone to attend and support the scholars and their work. After all, that's part of what college is about, right?

Below is the schedule, taken directly from the school's website. Find something you're interested in and check it out!

1:00 Friday March 13th MRC 200

Amanda Seebaugh, WVWC: “A Potential Role for Kisspeptin in Puberty Onset in Sheep.”

Sarah Owen, WVWC: "The role of MucC in antibiotic susceptibility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1."

Kimberly Larch, Casey Burroughs, Amanda Wriston, WVWC: “Analysis of Chloride, Nitrite, Nitrate and Sulfate in Waters from the Peck’s Run Sub-watershed using Ion Chromatography.”

2:00 Friday March 13th MRC 200

William Hilinski, Clinton Hirschfeld, Morgan Locy, Andy Harner, and Richard Robenstine, Capital University: “ An Analysis of Rhizospheric Nitrogen Fixation Among Common Crops”

Jeremy Hay, WVWC: “Development of a microfludic device for the analysis of perchlorates.”

Rachel Yoho, Capital University: “Application of a Novel Microbial Fuel Cell Design for Voltage Production in a Sus domesticus Manure Holding Area.”

3:00 Friday March 13th MRC 200

Stephanie Petitjean and RoxxAnn Williams, Capital University: “Post Hurricane Characterization and Distribution of Scleractian Corals on Reef Casa Del Mar Cozemal Mexico.”

Mary Teter, WVWC: “LptF mediated antibiotic susceptibility and biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”

Alex McElfresh, WVWC: “Photocatalytic Hydrogenation of Ethene Using a Supported Rhodium Catalyst.”

Katie O’Shaughnessy, Capital University: “A Comparative Study of Genetic Modification in Corn: United States verses Central and South America.”

1:00 Friday March 13th MRC 300

Cody Meglio, Marietta College: “Accounting Standards in the USA: Is the Adoption of IFRS the Answer.”

Jennifer Scott, WVWC: “The Akaka Bill: Supporting or Stifling Native Hawaiian Interests?”

Ashley Lewis WVWC: “Sin Qua Non.”

2:00 Friday March 13th MRC 300

Sarah Wilkinson, WVWC: “Revenge, Peace, or Anarchy: American Strategy and Politics Going into the Nuremberg Trials of Major War Criminals, 1945-46.”

Brian Smith, Marietta College: “Quaker Egalitarianism in Early America.”

Annie Martin, Brevard College: “How Were the Hairstyles of Ancient Roman Women Attained?”

3:00 Friday March 13th MRC 300

Tatiana Chattoo, WVWC: “Which start position, behind the bag or in front of the bag, produces the fastest time in NCAA Division II softball athletes while running from first base to second base?”

Brad Coleman, WVWC: “The Pondera Board: Will New Rehab Product Increase Balance and Increase Strength in Lower Extremity Muscles?”

Megan Holstein and Helen Breznicki, Marietta College: “Genetic Digit Determinants in Female Athletes.”

Kelly Blechl, WVWC: “The Femur: Determining Past Cultural Environments.”

1:00 March 13th Trustees Room

Mike Murphy, WVWC: “Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance.”

Jackie Queen, WVWC: “Spectroscope Analysis of Enceladus.”

Phil McElfresh, WVWC: “Biomedical Applications in Physics.”

2:00 March 13th Trustees Room

Josh Mullenax, WVWC: “Geothermal Energy and Ehermoelectricity.”

Duncan Oliver, WVWC: “Raman Scattering of Superconducting Materials.”

Robert Powell, WVWC: “Spectroscopic Analysis of Organic Materials Using Lasers.”

3:00 March 13th Trustees Room

Kyle Allard, WVWC: “Raman Analysis of Organic Materials.”

Corey Duke, WVWC: Supernovae and Neutrinos.” Beth Bradley, Marietta College: “Class Conflicts in the Civil War.”

4:30 MRC 200 KEYNOTE ADDRESS

"The Beginning of Time" by Professor Joseph E. Wiest Ph. D., professor of Physics and Engineering at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Ash Wednesday Opportunities

2009-02-24T22:33:00.002-05:00

Ash Wednesday, the start of the Lenten season of the Christian calendar, is tomorrow. Students wishing to observe this formally will have two opportunities on campus, one at 12:35 and one at 4:35, both in the West Meditation Chapel. Each service will last approximately 20 minutes.

Students wishing to observe off-campus have several opportunities as well. Holy Rosary Catholic Church will have services at 12:05 PM and 7 PM. Also at 7, First United Methodist on Florida Street will be hosting a community service featuring area ministers.

Vandalia Submissions due SOONEST

2009-02-23T19:56:00.002-05:00

Submissions to the Vandalia are due no later than March 6! All categories still are taking submissions-- fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, photography, everything! You are eligible to submit to the Vandalia if you are a current student or faculty member at WVWC.

Send to vandalia@wvwc.edu as a MS word attachment. Make sure you give your name and contact information in the body of the email, but that your name doesn't appear on the document itself.

Be bold! Submit!

Pancake Breakfast for Relay for Life!

2009-02-23T15:52:00.002-05:00

Wesleyan's Relay for Life committee will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast on March 14 at Horizons Church from 8 AM until noon.

The cost is $5 for adults, $3 for children, and $4 for Wesleyan students with ID. All of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the American Cancer Society at the Relay for Life.

Horizons Church is located next to Tennerton Elementary School. To get there, go towards Maroma's Mexican Restaurant (State Route 20), but turn left at the public library. Go up the hill and take the first left. The church will be directly in front of you.

Be sure to look for more information in your e-mail as the date draws closer. Come out to support a great cause!

Obama's First 16 Days

2009-02-16T15:37:00.003-05:00

President Obama has sat in the Oval Office now for 16 days and he has already made drastic changes to America and Her future. While watching the coverage of the Inauguration Parade one could not help but wonder if President Obama thought he had better places to be and more important things to do than watch a parade. President Obama said from the beginning that he wanted to get to work “fixing” America and it has shown during his first 16 days.

During President Obama’s second day in office he signed three Executive Orders, or a type law that the President has Constitutional authority to make with out Congress’s approval. The first three Executive Orders all dealt with the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. The First order dealt with closing the base and the proper and timely review and disposition of detained individuals. The second and third were made to review the detention policies at the base and to ensure that lawful interrogations were happening on the base.

These three Executive Orders, in many people’s eyes, were much needed. While some were pushing for reform at the base, many were pushing for closure in light of recent accusations by prisoners about poor treatment, facilities, interrogation tactics, and torture.

The President also signed three major Presidential Memorandas. The first two dealt with the President’s administration; the first set in motion a potential freeze on the Senior White House Staff’s salary and the second was a commitment by the President that his office and his administration would strive to have a transparent and open government. These two memorands were big steps in the President’s public relations by upholding one campaign promise, the open government, and a more recent promise to do what ever he can to help the economy and tax payers.
The third memoranda dealt with the Mexico City Policy, which has over turned or reinstated by every President since President Ronald Reagan. The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 prohibits nongovernmental organizations (NGO) that receive federal funding from using the funds to pay for abortions as a family planning method. President Ronald Reagan expanded this act in 1985 to include any NGO that provided advice, counseling, or information to patients on abortion or lobbied a foreign government to legalize abortion, this became known as the Mexico City Policy. President Clinton revoked the policy in 1993, President Bush reinstated it in 2001, and now President Obama has followed tradition and revoked it. This was President Obama’s first step to changing America’s stance on abortion and trying to uphold Roe vs. Wade.

President Obama did also take some action dealing with the economy. He met on Tuesday January 27th; President Obama met with leaders of the House to work on passing his $825 billion stimulus package. He mainly focused on trying to make the vote as bipartisan as possible by talking to many Republican leaders. Currently the Senate is looking at passing a different version of the stimulus bill than the House did, which might cause confusion to some. However, if that happens what will take place is a conference of the two versions with members of both chambers participating and then both chambers would also have to vote on the conferenced version. President Obama has said that he hopes the bill will be on his desk to sign by mid-Friday.

President Obama has a long way to go on his agenda; after all he is only 16 days into his new job. However, so people have been asking me why is there so much focus on a President’s first 100 days? Well it started in 1932 when Franklin Roosevelt became President. In those days the economy and the nation was in the midst of the Great Depression and people wanted to see fast action. In Roosevelt’s first 100 days he was able to get Congress to pass 15 major bills. So now a days it is seen as a way to judge how fast acting and how productive a President can be. And President Obama only has 84 days left.

--Megan Hakes

Disclaimer: The facts cited in this article come from whitehouse.gov and cnn.com. Comments can be left here on the blog, or sent directly to pharos@wvwc.edu, where they will be forwarded to Ms. Hakes.

The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum for free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed with The Pharos reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or The Pharos staff as a whole. Material in the paper and its online format, the Pharos Blog, is selected, edited, then produced.

A Note from Wesleyan's Gay-Straight Alliance

2009-02-12T23:21:00.003-05:00

Jennifer Jones, Convener of Wesleyan's Gay-Straight Alliance, writes:

Thursday, February 12th marks the first anniversary of the school shooting that claimed the life of openly gay, gender nonconforming eighth-grader Lawrence King at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard, CA last year.

15-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King was shot in the head at the E.O. Green School in Oxnard, California, reportedly for being gay. He was in the eighth grade. King's killer, 14-year-old Brandon McInerney, apparently targeted the student because he was openly gay and sometimes dressed in women's clothes.

The GSA hopes everyone will take a moment to reflect on this event. To learn more about the GSA, contact Jennifer Jones. Her information is available from Wesleyan's online directory.

I Admire Your Pictures Very Much: A Review of "The Wrestler"

2009-02-09T17:24:00.001-05:00

The Wrestler is a heartbreaking film about loneliness and pain. The film’s hero, Randy “The Ram” Robinson, is a tragic hero, overcome by his own desire for escape. From the very beginning, the film tells a predictable story, but it is also an inevitable story, a story that constantly picks up speed as it moves along toward its final frames. The last twenty minutes of the film are staggering in their intensity and sadness.

The character of the Ram is, as he says in his own words, “an old, broken down piece of meat.” In the 1980s, he was an all-star professional wrestler. In the twenty years since, his career has left him damaged. He resorts to working in a supermarket and wrestling in independent wrestling circuits on the weekends to make his money. He has a strained relationship with his daughter, portrayed by Evan Rachel Wood, and, in his spare time, he hangs out at a strip club trying to woo a middle-aged dancer, portrayed by Marisa Tomei.

The film is, first and foremost, a character study. It is about a man who has pushed everything in his life away, a man who has lived his life “burn[ing] the candle at both ends.” The Ram cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality, insisting people refer to him with his stage name even when he is not onstage. He gives up in the face of his problems, succumbs to his demons of violence and drugs. Real life is hard, painful, and sad. It takes work to raise a family, to satisfy a lover, to keep one’s health. The Ram retreats into the fantasy of the ring when faced with the obstacles of life, preferring the cheers of an audience over the love of those that truly care about him.

Mickey Rourke plays the Ram. A washed-up wrestler, the Ram’s life mirrors Rourke’s real life, and Rourke certainly must pull from some very dark demons of his own to achieve his perfect portrayal of the character. It is a performance that, in its understatement and honesty, recalls the best of Brando, the best of DeNiro.

Wood and Tomei also turn in stellar performances, albeit their characters are both a bit underdeveloped, especially in Wood’s case. She only appears in a few scenes for few minutes of the film; however, in her scenes Wood perfectly conveys to the audience the anger and hate and disappointment her character feels toward her father.

Darren Aronofsky is the film’s director. His films are usually dark and full of spectacle, and while The Wrestler is dark thematically, it is anything but spectacular in terms of visuals. Aronofsky employs a minimalistic, handheld approach to the film, giving it all a very stripped down, gritty atmosphere. The camera is often placed behind the Ram. It follows along with him through the ring, the strip club, the supermarket, paving the way for some wonderful tracking shots. The honesty of the camerawork matches the honesty of the actors’ emotions. There are no gimmicks here, no tricks or special effects. It’s all very real, very quick and on-the-spot, the camera responding to the situation as opposed to the situation being controlled by the camera. A feeling of spontaneity exists in the film, as does a feeling of truth.

The film’s writer, Robert Siegel, said in one interview that he is very heavily influenced by films of the 1960s and 1970s, films that feature such isolated characters as Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver and Joe Buck from Midnight Cowboy. The Ram can take his place among such characters, a man who, unable to deal with the complications of life, isolates himself from life. By the end of the film, he invests himself wholly in the fake world of wrestling. He stands in front of his fans, putting on a showman’s façade and asking for their applause. In truth, deep down, he is a man that is hurting and dying, a man that has given up on life.

--Jeff Webb

Interactive TWIH

2009-01-30T17:24:00.002-05:00

If you picked up the print edition of The Pharos that came out yesterday, and you read page two, you know that today (Jan. 30) is the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday incident in Londonderry (now just Derry), Northern Ireland.

The column mentioned the U2 song "Sunday Bloody Sunday." Below is a video of that song along with photos and news footage of the event.

Volume 100, Issue 7

2009-01-29T12:04:00.002-05:00

Volume 100, Issue 7 of the print edition of The Pharos is now available. You can grab a copy on the ledge in front of the mailboxes in the campus center. Check out the inauguration pictures on page five, and our new cryptogram on page four!

As always, feel free to get in touch with us at pharos@wvwc.edu or Box 148. We always accept letters to the editor, but be aware that we reserve the right to edit for content or brevity, and reserve the right to print or not print.

Film Screening

2009-01-27T17:47:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, January 28, Dr. Eric Waggoner of English Department and The Frets fame will be screening Eraserhead, a 1977 film by David Lynch. The screening will be in Hyma Auditorium and will begin at 8 PM.

All are welcome to the screening of this semi-horror, surreal flick, but be forewarned: it is aggressively strange, in Dr. Waggoner's own words. Therefore, those with "delicate constitutions" might consider opting out this time.

This screening begins a semester-long series of David Lynch films, so if you can't make this one, there'll be another.

Since part of college is becoming a more cultured individual and really just being plain cooler than you were before, the staff and editorship of The Pharos highly encourages you to check this out!

Masquerade Ball!

2009-01-23T19:51:00.003-05:00

Everyone on the staff of The Pharos hopes to see you, yes, YOU at the Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball TONIGHT at 9 p.m. at the Bi-Ci! The ball is sponsored by CAB and a plethora of other organizations.

Dress is semi-formal, and masks are encouraged but not required. Those who are over 21 will have access to the bar at the 88 restaurant.

See the upcoming issue of the print publication for photos and a write-up.

Hope to see you there!

Inauguration!

2009-01-18T17:49:00.004-05:00

So, are you and your friends doing the American thing and cutting class to attend the Inauguration in DC Monday and Tuesday?

Then you should send The Pharos pictures of your experience at pharos@wvwc.edu ! We'll publish a selection of photos we receive in an upcoming print publication.

Just be sure to tell us who is in the photo and who took it. Have fun celebrating a new era for the USA!

2009 Is Upon Us

2009-01-09T12:32:00.002-05:00

Hey!

We realize this thing hasn't been updated since Heath Ledger died. Sorry about that. Things were pretty crazy here at The Pharos last semester, but we're back now. You'll see lots of stuff here, everything from opinion pieces to recipes to things that we just think are especially relevant for the college community and beyond. But first, let me give you a quick rundown of what's been going on personnel wise for us.

This year, The Pharos is headed up by senior Sarah Wilkinson and sophomore Alic' Shreves, serving as co-Editors in Chief.

News Editor Daniel Trader and Social and Community Editor Jeff Webb both returned to their respective positions, without too much pleading from Editor Wilkinson.

Entertainment Editor Jennifer Elkins also returned to her position, albeit after a semester-hiatus of study abroad in London, England. We are all very jealous. During her "sabbatical" as we'll call it, Krysta Rexrode filled her position as Interim Entertainment Editor, and everyone on staff is very grateful to Krysta for her service.

New in the fall was Sports Editor Carlee Gault. We are thrilled to have her; she's fantastic!

New this spring to our lovely Editorial Board is Alice Foley, who will fill the slot of Greek Editor. This position sat vacant last semester due to lack of available parties, but we're thrilled to have Alice on board. She'll be fantastic, and she's also quite entertaining.

Our print publication dates for this semester have not yet been set in stone, but look out here for updates on that. As far as this blog goes, you should have updates at least every other day, if not every day.

We look forward to a great semester of serving the Wesleyan community!

(Got something to say? Leave a note in the comments or email pharos@wvwc.edu!)

The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum of free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed within the Pharos and its affiliated forms reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or the Pharos staff as a whole.

The Pharos mourns...

2008-01-22T18:26:00.000-05:00

Everyone on the staff of The Pharos is shocked, saddened, and disheartened to learn of the death of actor Heath Ledger.

Ledger was a prominent actor in several films that defined our generation, including 10 Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, and Brokeback Mountain. His enormous talent will be greatly missed.

According to CNN and wire reports, Ledger, 28, was found dead in a Lower Manhattan apartment. Ledger was discovered by his housekeeper, who was attempting to wake him for an appointment with a masseuse. He was pronounced dead at 3:30 PM today, Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

The Pharos mourns this tragic loss to the film making industry.

Recipe for your Dorm

2008-01-10T16:30:00.000-05:00

Note: This recipe does require an oven, which all of the Camden apartments have, as well as most of the upper-class dorms. Editor Wilkinson also thinks (though she has not tried this herself) that maybe if one used a bagel (or maybe two or three bagels) instead of pizza dough, one could do this in the microwave until the cheese gets melty.

Recipe submitted by Lauren Hametz, reporter for The Pharos

Spinach Dip Pizza

Here is an easy to make twist on a pizza that any college student can make and you don’t even need to know how to cook.

prep time: 5 minutes

cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

1 pizza pre-made pizza dough

1 TGIFriday’s spinach and artichoke dip

1 tomato or 1 can of diced tomatoes

Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Directions

1. First, you will need to preheat your oven to about 400 degrees. Then you will need to heat up the spinach dip in your microwave for a couple of minutes just to make it soft so that it will be easy to spread on top of the pizza.

2. Next, you will need to spread the dip on top of the pizza dough. Put on as much as you like or as little as you want.

3. After you have put the spinach dip on you will need to either cut a tomato up and put it on top of the pizza or open a can of diced tomatoes and put those on top of your pizza.

4. Then you can sprinkle some cheese on top of your pizza to your liking.

5. Finally, all you need to do is place your pizza in the oven and wait about ten minutes, checking your pizza a little before ten minutes to watch its progress, and when your pizza is cooked to the way you like it, take it out, let it cool down, and eat it!

The Pharos Gears up for Second Semester

2008-01-10T16:04:00.000-05:00

Whew! We here at The Pharos can hardly believe how quickly the fall semester went by!

Spring 2008 brings a couple of changes for The Pharos. First, we now have a vacancy in the position of Sports Editor. We will continue to bring you the best sports news possible as we work to fill the position. Second, we have a new crop of writers thanks to the Newspaper Practicum class! We are very excited about these new people, as well as the experienced writers who are staying on staff from previous semesters.

Editors Zak Ritchie and Sarah Wilkinson look forward to another exciting semester of bringing you The Pharos. Be sure to email pharos@wvwc.edu with news tips and suggestions!

Most of All You've Got to Hide it from the Kids: The Coming of Age Tale of “The Graduate”

2007-12-03T22:56:00.000-05:00

Young adults refusing to conform to the idealistic standards of society is a constant theme portrayed throughout history. Consequently, many young adults believed that the older adults of their generation simply did not understand them—or their lifestyle choices. Throughout the 1960s, following the conservative mindset of 1950s America, many American teenagers sought to cut away the apron strings of their parents conservatism, taking part in the rebellious lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
The film, “The Graduate,” produced in 1967, typifies the struggle of a young man, Ben Braddock, who is attempting to find his place in the world, while at the same time, portraying his rebellion from his parents as he engages in a marital affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson. The plot of the film is incredibly twisted, not only because Mrs. Robinson is the wife of Ben’s father’s business partner, but is also a long-time friend of the family.
It is evident that Ben’s family is suffocating him with their values in the first scene of the film in which Ben is gazing into a fish tank in his room, not wanting to attend his college graduation party.
Mr. Braddock: What's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.
Benjamin: Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?
Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?
Benjamin: I'm just...
Mr. Braddock: Worried?
Benjamin: Well...
Mr. Braddock: About what?
Benjamin: I guess about my future.
Mr. Braddock: What about it?
Benjamin: I don't know... I want it to be...
Mr. Braddock: To be what?
Benjamin: [looks at his father] ... Different.

Throughout the film, Ben struggles to find himself—a recent graduate, he is unsure what he wants to do with his life. Mrs. Robinson’s initial attraction toward Ben first appears at his graduation party, an ironic twist because her own daughter, Elaine Robinson, is merely a college student as well. Upon coercing Ben to take her home and then proceeding to seduce him, it is obvious that Ben is incredibly uncomfortable.
Ben: Oh my god.
Mrs. Robinson: Pardon?
Ben: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no.
Mrs. Robinson: What's wrong?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you didn't... I mean, you didn't expect...
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Ben: I mean, you didn't really think I'd do something like that.
Mrs. Robinson: Like what?
Ben: What do you think?
Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don't know.
Ben: For god's sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You got me into your house. You give me a drink. You... put on music. Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.
Mrs. Robinson: So?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.
Although at first, Ben may have been uncomfortable with Mrs. Robinson’s aggressive sexual behavior, he soon warmed up to the attention and the two began their affair—further coercing Ben to become more emotionally involved in the relationship than Mrs. Robinson. He wants the pair to talk rather than simply having sexual intercourse;
however, Mrs. Robinson quickly opposes, wanting to keep their relationship merely sexual.
Ben’s situation becomes more complicated when his parents begin questioning his late-night whereabouts, along with his plans for the future—thus proving that Ben is merely drifting along in his life, without any concrete plan.
Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing?
Ben: Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.
Mr. Braddock: Why?
Ben: Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.
Mr. Braddock: Have you thought about graduate school?
Ben: No.
Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?
Ben: You got me.
Furthermore, his relationship with Mrs. Robinson disintegrates when he begins to date—and fall in love with—her young, attractive daughter Elaine. Soon after, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell her daughter of their relationship, forcing Ben to admit to their affair. The whirlwind of trauma that follows—Ben’s parents’ disgust, Mr. Robinson’s threats, Mrs. Robinson’s psychotic behavior and Elaine’s departure to college—only fuels Ben’s unrequited love for Elaine. He refuses to give up, and follows her to Berkeley.
The film’s plot continues to display parents’ forcing their children to conform to their morals and standards when, after Elaine falls in love with Ben, the Robinson’s force her to marry a medical student from Berkeley. Ben was completely heartbroken; however he rushed to the church, where he found Elaine kissing her new husband. Still not willing to give up on their love, he yells at Elaine through a glass panel, and she flees from the church, thus allowing the pair to start their relationship with one another—at the contempt of their families.
Mrs. Robinson: Elaine, it's too late.
Elaine: Not for me.

Although many critics argue that “The Graduate” promoted sexual promiscuity, and was too risqué for its time, I believe that the film was both eye-opening and revolutionary to the lives of young Americans. All too often, young adults make their life decisions based on their parents’ views—rather than regarding their own happiness and well-being. The internal conflict of Ben, which is seen throughout the film, epitomizes his struggle of finding himself following his graduation. He is unsure what he wants to do with his life, although his affluent family and friends try to impose unwanted advice. His affair with Mrs. Robinson further shows his confusion and although the affair could be deemed as sexually provocative to film critics, I believe that it was necessary to enhance viewers’ perception of Ben’s uncertainty in his life.
All in all, “The Graduate” portrayed the exact feelings—confusion, anger, mistrust—that many young adults living in 1960s America felt. It is practically impossible for young adults to grow up independently in a society in which the previous generation’s ideas are forced upon them. At the same time, this same concept compels many coming-of-age men and women to engage in outlandish behaviors, such as Ben’s affair with Mrs. Robinson. Without films like “The Graduate” young adults would possibly not be able to have the courage to make their own decisions about their lives. The film is a straight-forward portrayal of a reality in which young adults must make decisions about the lives—whether right or wrong—in order to ensure their happiness, without regard for the approval of their parents’ generation.

-Meaghan Cochrane

Letter to the Editors

2007-10-31T22:40:00.001-04:00

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos. Due to space constraints, this letter was not published in the print version.

Dear Editors:
This is in response to Amanda Seebaugh’s column in the Pharos on Oct 18^th.

When we read the article, we were hurt not only because we felt like people were singled out, but also because we felt like it was us, as fellow human beings, that were causing her to feel silenced. In response to the article, a dialogue took place on campus that Amanda took part in. We got to speak with her and how her article affected some of her readers.

We value that everyone has a voice and we strongly believe that everyone deserves to be heard. However when we do vocalize what we feel, we believe that there is an obligation to make sure what we’re saying is clear.

There were a few points in the column that we wanted to recognize. First, she said that she felt like she was being persecuted in several different ways including her religious beliefs and her moral standing. The problem that we found was that in response to this persecution she then singled out another group that then felt persecuted. This, we feel, doesn’t solve anything and may have even deepened the rift in communication that could have remedied the situation.

Secondly, she makes a point that she’s afraid of offending people for what she has to say. What we could do, instead of constantly remaining silent, is to recognize why these thoughts are offending people, to take a moment to see things from another person’s perspective. This doesn’t mean that you can’t say what you feel, but that you should be contentious of others and their feelings when you’re speaking.

We realize that if this article wasn’t written, we would have no idea how this one person felt, and if you don’t speak up about what you feel, no one will know what you feel either. In addition, it’s also important to listen to what others are saying and not be afraid to disagree with them. You may disagree, and that’s not a bad thing, we need to learn how to talk to one another, and this is where we can start.

So now that we’ve learned that there’s prejudice on campus, let’s talk about it.

--Jennifer Jones and Jess Barkley

Letter to the Editors

2007-10-31T22:35:00.000-04:00

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I have grown since coming to college. In my three years (and change) here at Wesleyan, I have learned more than what can be taught in lecture halls. Some of these lessons have been very difficult. Perhaps one of the most difficult, and yet obvious, is that communication is the key to any relationship, whether it be with your significant other, your friends, your professors, God – whoever. Though some might not recognize it, communication is important with your peers, as well, even if you don’t consider yourself to be in a direct relationship with them. What you do and say may come in conflict or agreement with what other people do and say, even if you aren’t interacting personally. In a way, this is communication within a relationship.

Upon reading Amanda Seebaugh’s latest article, I recall these things. She makes several valid points. She has brought a pressing issue to the forefront and it might make many people uncomfortable to have opinions expressed so bluntly that until now only seemed to be undercurrents. Some may react with indignation, claiming that the problem rests with the “closed minded, out-of-date, and mean” Christians. Others may express empathy and feel defensive about their own beliefs as well. Neither of these stances is helpful to the communication required to handle the situation.

Open communication between people of different faiths and practices is desperately needed on this campus. What are the true differences and what are the roots of conflict? These questions should be approached with open dialogue that is non-judgmental. Those involved should understand that they will walk away not having gained a convert but instead a better understanding of someone else’s beliefs.

I recognize a double-standard that exists within our language on this campus. Many people have worked against the use of the word “gay” as an adjective to describe something undesired and there has been success with that. However, many of these same people, if they were to become particularly frustrated, might growl, “Jesus Christ!” This is something Amanda claims to be particularly offensive. If you ask others to check their language, I think it would only be fair to check your own language as well. This comes from understanding.

Speaking of frustration, it seems to run deep with the students here. Hot topics such as homosexuality are closely intertwined with ones’ spiritual beliefs. These are also political issues (same-sex marriage, for example), making the need to discuss them all the more necessary and yet, when they are mentioned, people roll their eyes. The talking points have already been spoon-fed to the opposing camps by the spindoctors and no one wants to hear them rehashed. The world of politics does not stand still while we grow tired of the issues at hand – Congress still passes laws despite our short attention span. Now is the time when we should be gaining a deeper understanding of what the other side has to say. Why do some people believe homosexuality is wrong? Can you ask this question of someone and listen patiently to their answer, honestly trying to understand where they are coming from?

It is difficult. And yet, it is necessary. What can be gained from letting our anger and frustration rule our discussions? Does this help anyone on either side of the debate? I encourage the people of this campus to speak with someone about something on which you disagree. Ask questions curiously, not spitefully. Let go of your concerns about being judged and simply learn from one another. Share what you believe, what you’ve learned here and elsewhere, and this will lead to a better understanding of that which once frustrated you.

--Josh Briscoe

Letter to the Editors

2007-10-31T22:33:00.000-04:00

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I am responding to the article written by columnist Amanda Seebaugh in the last issue of The Pharos. It has come to my attention that Ms. Seebaugh has received considerable negative feedback for her work. I would like to express my thoughts.

First of all, I have to say that I am a Bible-believing Christian. Therefore, I agree with Ms. Seebaugh’s stance on homosexuality. Also, I understand how she feels. It is true that prejudice exists on this campus, against both homosexuals and those who do not agree with that lifestyle. However, sometimes this results in a self-righteous attitude and people such as I seem to evade such people. This is not what Christianity is. Christianity is not about avoiding non-believers. Jesus commands us to love. He calls us to love God with everything we have, as well as our neighbor.

Ms. Seebaugh pointed out that she does not avoid homosexuals. I am glad she mentioned this. She does not believe she is any better than someone who is not a Christian, and neither do I. We are not perfect; Christians mess up. This is not an excuse to sin, however. I am glad she mentioned that Christians need to speak up more. This is true, but we can’t do it out of self-righteousness or duty. It has to be out of love and a desire to point people to Jesus. I do not believe Ms. Seebaugh is trying to be hateful with her article, merely truthful. She wants people to hear what the Bible says.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about being right. It is about the fact that humans are sinful, sin separates us from God, someone was going to have to pay the price of death for that sin, and Jesus Christ died so that we wouldn’t have to. I just want everyone who reads this to know that love is not about saying something is ok. I don’t hate homosexuals because I disagree with them. I still love them as people, just as everyone should. Thank you for your time.

--Josh Carpenter

Letter to the Editors

2007-10-31T22:29:00.000-04:00

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

Practitioners of Christianity have been persecuted since the religions’ first emergence; it’s practically a foundation of the dogma. Amanda Seebaugh voiced her opinion that she feels persecuted by much of the student population because of her beliefs. My response to this is: who doesn’t? West Virginia Wesleyan College is a very unique animal—a religious liberal arts college. With a student body of less than 1300, we are going to encounter, in close proximity, people and ideas that challenge our beliefs. But if I believed for one second that there is a wave of anti-Christian sentiment on this campus as massive as the one described by Miss Seebaugh in her article, I’d have to eat my shoe. I have seen nearly nothing here but positive acceptance of a variety of convictions, and I can’t imagine something so widely endorsed as Christianity would meet with the amount of opposition expressed in her article.

As we are a predominantly Christian campus, with an assortment of Christian student organizations, I am astonished that she could not find more like-minded companions rather than people who oppose her.

But even in the midst of my incredulity concerning the basis of her article, a thought springs to mind: is seeking similar friends the point of going to college? If college were just about a degree, then we’d all just come in, learn, and leave. But part of the college experience, the one we’re paying nearly $30,000 a year for, is to interact with different types of people. I imagine that Miss Seebaugh, though anticipating a change of scenery, was perhaps ill-prepared to deal with the very real actuality that there are people who’ve had different lives and who have different ideas about the world we inhabit, and perhaps confused ugly prejudice with strong criticism. But criticism isn’t prejudice; your convictions are your convictions whether others hold them or not, and criticism can, in fact, strengthen your beliefs. Who knows, Miss Seebaugh; you may come out of college with an even stronger faith than when you entered.

--Jennifer Scott

A New Beginning: A Freshman's Thoughts on Adjusting to the Wesleyan Experience

2007-09-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

What a roller coaster preparing for college has been! For almost four months I have been planning, organizing, re-organizing and trying to make sense of this new stage of life all while trying to remain sane. I am so thrilled to finally be able to step outside of my comfort zone and be exposed to many new things that I previously would have never considered. I am still in the adjusting phase and probably will be for at least a couple more weeks but can already feel that I have made the right decision. There is something about this school that just puts me in a good mood. Yes, I have been unhappy at times, but it doesn’t seem to take long for something to cheer me up. If nothing else, the massive amount of squirrels provide a good laugh.

After one week of class, the work load seems to be manageable as long as I stay focused. It will be interesting to see how I am able to balance a healthy social life while achieving the grades that I desire. The staff here at Wesleyan has been excellent this far. I feel very sure that each professor is more than willing to help me in any area of difficulty. This peace of mind was one of the main reasons why I chose this college over a year ago. Since my arrival, I am even more confident that the staff is working very hard to help me succeed both academically and as a well-rounded person.

Although I am very happy here, it is still not home. No matter how hard I work to make my dorm more inviting, it is still hard sleeping in a cement block room that feels like it is ninety degrees every night. The food is better than most colleges but could never compare to home. Probably the most inconvenient thing I have experienced is the shower situation. Now, flip flops and fans are now a necessity that I would be miserable without. Although things feel a little uncomfortable now, over time I am sure that this place will seem much more relaxed. It’s nice to know that I am only an hour away from home!

-Samantha Phillips

The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum of free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed within the Pharos and its affiliated forms reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or the Pharos staff as a whole.

First Issue Release

2007-09-07T12:39:00.000-04:00

Issue 1, Volume 99 of The Pharos has been released at several distribution points on campus. Please feel free to take a copy at your earliest convenience! We look forward to hearing feedback on the issue.

Thanks!

The Pharos Announces Plans for New Year

2007-07-30T21:47:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again! Pretty soon, the serene sidewalks of West Virginia Wesleyan College will see students moving into dormitories and running to their first classes of the new academic year. It's an exhilarating time, and The Pharos, Wesleyan's student-run newspaper, has some exciting changes to go along with it.

First off, there are some changes to the Editorial Board.

Editor Tracie Wise graduated from Wesleyan in May 2007 with best wishes from the entire Pharos staff. Her former position of Editor-in-Chief for this year will be filled by two people, co-editors Zak Ritchie and Sarah Wilkinson. Last year, Ritchie served as Assistant Editor, and Wilkinson served as News Editor. Editors Ritchie and Wilkinson look forward to a great year of bringing The Pharos to the campus community.

The Pharos is also very excited to announce a new section of the paper and a new position on the Editorial Board. Because community service is such an integral part of the Wesleyan experience, The Pharos decided to add a section of the paper devoted to it. This section will also cover many of the social events on campus, as even those tie back in to community service. Heading up this section on the Editorial Board as Social and Community Service Editor will be Jeff Webb.

Also appointed to the Editorial Board were Daniel Trader as News Editor, Jennifer Elkins as Entertainment Editor, and Liz Short as Greek Editor. DJ Payne and Josh Arthur will be returning as Sports and Layout Editors, respectively.

There will be some minor changes to the content of the paper as well. While you can still count on The Pharos to bring you all the relevant news, sports, and entertainment, also be on the lookout this year for a new This Week in History column, as well as a myriad of other new features and columns. The layout of the paper will also be improved.

The Pharos looks forward to unveiling the new features and the work of the new Editorial Board on campus this fall. Keep a lookout for new editions in the Benedum Campus Community Center! See you soon!

(Are you a Wesleyan student interested in writing for The Pharos? Let Editors Ritchie or Wilkinson know at ritchie_jz@wvwc.edu or wilkinson_sa@wvwc.edu!)

CORRECTION: Volume 98 Issue 12

2007-04-27T20:41:00.000-04:00

In the Volume 98, Issue 12 editon of The Pharos, we mistakenly identified musical theatre major Shannon Connell, who portrayed "Velma" in the recent production of "Chicago." In the article "Chicago Rocks Wesleyan!" on page 7, both the caption and name identified in the article as "Shannon Huff" should read "Shannon Connell."

The Pharos greatly regrets this error.

WVWC Battle of the Bands!

2007-03-18T18:06:00.000-04:00

West Virginia Wesleyan College’s own Campus Activities Board will be hosting its annual Battle of the Bands Friday, April 27th, 2007 from 4 – 8pm.

This event promises to be better than ever, showcasing the top six bands that WVWC and the surrounding communities have to offer. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 6, 2007. All are welcome to apply. Must be accompanied by a demo CD with a track list (only up to one half of songs listed on demo CD can be title songs).

Bands will be competing for a monetary grand prize. Submissions should be brought to the Campus Activities Board office in the Benedum Campus Center, WVWC Campus, or can be mailed to Jessica Starcher, 59 College Ave. Buckhannon, WV 26201. No late submissions will be accepted.

A picnic dinner and novelties, such as Airbrushing T’s will occur during the Battle of the Bands (FREE to WVWC Students, non WVWC students may pay for these items)

CAB hopes to make this event fun for everyone, and hopes to see everyone out supporting the bands and having a great time. All information, rules and regulations, questions/comments, as well as the application can be obtained by e-mailing starcher_jw@wvwc.edu. We hope to see everyone there!

College Announces Cost Hikes

2007-02-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

The following is the email announcement from Wesleyan President Pam Balch.

---

From: President Balch
To: Wesleyan Community
Subject: Campus Renovations and Tuition and Fees

I am writing to share news about upcoming summer campus renovations and our direct costs for 2007-08. I am pleased to report that we have experienced a five-year high for both new student mid-year enrollment and fall to spring retention. These are encouraging developments and I am grateful to everyone for their contributions to our enrollment efforts.
I am also pleased to announce that during the summer we will complete the second phase of our facility renovation project. We will replace all windows in Agnes Howard, Benedum, Holloway, and Jenkins residence halls as well as in Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library, Christopher Hall of Science, and Middleton Hall. We will also complete several painting projects and renovate bathrooms in Doney, Fleming, and McCuskey. These improvements will re-fresh our beautiful campus.

Finally, the Board of Trustees has approved our Direct Costs for the 2007-08 academic year. Our Direct Costs, which represent a four percent increase, are listed below:

Tuition $20,980
Student Activity Fee 200
Technology Fee 650
Room & Board 6,160
Total Direct Costs $27,990

We are committed to offering a high-quality total educational experience while remaining fiscally efficient and responsible.

I continue to be honored and excited to serve my alma mater as president. There is a great sense of optimism about West Virginia Wesleyan. I welcome your comments and suggestions as we work collaboratively to strengthen the College.

---

Peter Turchi Reading

2007-02-07T14:31:00.000-05:00

The English Department presents Peter Turchi in An Event for Those Who Like Creative Thinking. Be in Nellie Wilson at 7:30 PM tomorrow, 8 February, 2007, to witness this event.

Issue 7 Available Now

2007-02-01T14:43:00.000-05:00

The Pharos is pleased to announce the release of Volume 98, issue 7. Stop by the switchboard and pick up the new issue today!

A Stand Against Wikipedia

2007-01-31T18:41:00.000-05:00

Editor's Note: Periodically, we will be posting stories relating to the college experience here on The Pharos blog. If you have anything to say, please give us your opinion via the comment option below the post.

"As Wikipedia has become more and more popular with students, some professors have become increasingly concerned about the online, reader-produced encyclopedia.

While plenty of professors have complained about the lack of accuracy or completeness of entries, and some have discouraged or tried to bar students from using it, the history department at Middlebury College is trying to take a stronger, collective stand. It voted this month to bar students from citing the Web site as a source in papers or other academic work. All faculty members will be telling students about the policy and explaining why material on Wikipedia — while convenient — may not be trustworthy."

Read on...

The Five Most Anticipated Albums of 2007

2007-01-31T11:32:00.000-05:00

As 2007 gets off to a rousing start, it’s time to take a look forward to what we can expect in the music world this year. Below are my Five Most Anticipated Albums. Excited? You should be!

Silverchair: When Silverchair’s last album, “Diorama,” came out in 2002, it was called “one of the boldest musical statements ever made by an Australian rock band.” Even Bono of U2 told Rolling Stone that you should “swim to Australia to hear them if you have to.” Yes, it’s true that “Diorama” took a drastic turn away from the band’s original grunge sound. However, their new album “Young Modern” should surpass “Diorama” easily. The guys have had a four year break, allowing for plenty of writing and recording and taking the time to do things just right. There will most likely be some orchestration and electronica over the ‘Chair’s normal heavy rock, as we saw them do in “Diorama,” but expect them to take this album even further. Hopefully this album will also see success in America; the band hasn’t had commercial success here since their 1999 release “Neon Ballroom.” “Young Modern” will drop in late March or early April on Eleven: A Music Company.

The Smashing Pumpkins: This is the Most Anticipated I never thought I’d get to write. When I heard about Billy Corgan’s full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune, promising to bring back the band, I doubted he could do it. Now he’s proved me wrong. While the lineup of the band won’t be entirely the same (Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are the only original members returning), the sound will most likely be assuredly Pumpkins, with haunting lyrics and soaring melodies. We can expect to see Corgan’s brilliant songwriting dominate the album, hopefully with tinges of growth and maturity that weren’t in previous Pumpkin albums. The album is due in late spring or early summer.

The Used: They were supposed to release an album last year. They didn’t. Things within the band got rocky, and eventually led to the replacement of Branden Steineckert with Dan Whitesides. Because of all this, expect their new album (which, yes, will be out this year) to be a little tougher than their previous works. Actually, it’ll probably be a lot tougher. Also, don’t expect it to be a concept album—guitarist Quinn Allman has already nixed that theory by telling Alternative Press, “Each one of our songs is its own concept.” The album has been promised for February or March on Warner Brothers.

Aiden: These guys are young and talented. However, their previous efforts, including their most recent “Nightmare Anatomy,” have all been lackluster. They were so obsessed with being “unique” that the quality of the music suffered, and they wound up sounding like every other teen goth act in America. Hopefully their new album will show us that they have matured a little bit, have stopped limiting themselves, and can play with the big boys. I’m expecting more singing and less screaming from frontman wiL Francis, as well as lyrics that a normal human can comprehend. Expect the album to drop sometime in July on Victory Records.

HIM: This band has long had a bit of a cult following in America; by now, we’ve all seen their trademark Heartagram plastered somewhere. The Finnish quintet stunned many with their last album, “Dark Light,” which was much more pop-sounding than their previous efforts. “Dark Light” was also their final push (and first real success) in America, thanks in part to the support of MTV star and skateboarder Bam Margera. However, don’t expect their next album to continue the pop vibes. They’ll most likely head back to their monster rock roots, leaving the pop behind. They’ll probably also experiment some with acoustic sounds. Expect the new album to drop in September on Sire Records.

Also expected to drop albums this year are Fall Out Boy, Sevendust, Good Charlotte, Modest Mouse, Joss Stone, Aerosmith, The Black Eyed Peas, Dido, Jimmy Eat World, R.E.M., Britney Spears, U2, and 80s stars Duran Duran. Stay tuned to the Pharos Blog to see reviews of many of these albums as the year progresses!

(Have an album you’d like to see reviewed here? Let Sarah Wilkinson know at Wilkinson_sa@wvwc.edu !)

The Pharos Needs You!

2007-01-29T18:37:00.000-05:00

To all current Wesleyan students:

If you, or anyone you know is interested in working for The Pharos, please contact Assistant Editor Zak Ritchie at your earliest convenience. We are seeking students who are interested in writing or journalism. This is a great chance to show off your work and help build a strong resume. Please send questions or inquiries to the above email (hotlink).

Short Sets: Movies I Saw Over Break by Chris Garton

2007-01-17T13:24:00.000-05:00

Apocalypto, Starring Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, and Carlos Emilio Baez. Directed by Mel Gibson.

Who it’s for: People who like heavy doses of realistic violence with their chase movies.

Who it’s not for: People who don’t like heavy doses of realistic violence.

There was a lot of talk prior to the premier of this movie of people boycotting this movie because of Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks he made while blind drunk one night. I would compare this to boycotting your barber because he is a Republican. Now obviously being a Republican is not quite so heinous a crime as slandering all the Jews of the world, but the point is that his personal views have nothing to do with the product or service he is providing you. Is Apocalypto itself anti-Semitic? It is set in Mexico before any Europeans had set foot on the continent, so no, it doesn’t have an anti-Semitic frame in its body.
The story centers around a young man named Jaguar Paw (Youngblood) who lives in a small village in the middle of the jungle. They are a tight-knit community of hunters, and for the most part they seem quite content. Jaguar Paw’s wife Seven (Hernandez) is pregnant with their second child, and life is good. Then one morning the village is attacked by vicious troops they have never seen before. These troops kill, rape, or capture everyone in the village, but Jaguar Paw manages to lower Seven and his son down a well not far from the village. The upside of this is that they aren’t found by the invaders. The downside is that Jaguar Paw is then captured and they have no way of getting out. Also, this particular well fills up with water every time it rains, and they are in the middle of a rain forest.
What follows are the exploits of Jaguar Paw as he is taken to a huge city, learns that he is about to be sacrificed, escapes at the last moment, and then leads his hunters on an amazing chase through the jungle, trying to get back to the well before what is left of his family drowns.
This is not much more than a glorified chase movie, but it is a great chase movie. Gibson knew what he was trying to do, and he delivered. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Eragon, Starring Edward Speelers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Rachel Weisz, and John Malkovich. Directed by Stefan Fangmeier.

Who it’s for: Small children and people seeking a good laugh at these poor actors expense.
Who it’s not for: People who are familiar with the plots of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

I don’t have much to say about this movie, other than that I don’t recommend it at all, except to kids under 12, perhaps. Maybe kids under 10. There was not much in this movie that was original. It either stole from J. R. R. Tolkien (most of the base material), or blatantly plagiarized George Lucas. The plot goes something like this. A young revolutionary princess is about to be captured by evil forces, but she has in her possession a precious item that can help turn the tide of the war. She sends it to a remote location where it is discovered by a young farm boy. The youth seeks the wisdom of a local eccentric, who turns out to be more than he seems. Unfortunately, the evil forces have tracked the item to the boy’s home, and when he gets there one night, his house is burned to the ground and his uncle is dead. He sets off with his new mentor to rescue the princess, who is held within the evil kingdom’s dark fortress. While rescuing the princess, our hero meets up with a roguish character that he’s not sure he can trust. This coincides with the tragic death of the mentor, who sacrifices himself so that our hero can get away. The princess, the hero, and the rogue then make their way to the base of the outlaw rebels, who make ready for the assault that is sure to come, because our trio have been followed.
Now, am I describing Eragon or Star Wars? Answer: both. Substitute “dragon” for “Death Star” and you have Eragon. Substitue “Ben” for “Brom” and you have Star Wars. For sheer unoriginality, I give it ½ out of 5 stars.

Blood Diamond, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, and Kagiso Kuypers. Directed by Edward Zwick.

Who it’s for: People who prefer their moral outrage served to them while they are comfortably seated.
Who it’s not for: The squeamish.

The theme of this movie is similar to one of last year’s best films, The Constant Gardener: the exploitation of Africans by rich white corporations in the developed world. While The Constant Gardener was a superior work, in my opinion, Blood Diamond hits its mark thanks to the excellent performances delivered by all of its leading actors and the high intensity direction of Zwick.
The plot focuses on Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a poor fisherman trying to get his oldest son through school so that he can be a doctor. His world is shattered by the arrival of a ruthless gang of thugs who call themselves “revolutionaries”, who proclaim that they will free the people of Sierra Leone from the government. They roll into town, shoot, maim, and kill many, capturing some of the younger males for indoctrination into the revolution, and some of the older males for slave labor in the diamond fields. Solomon is forced into the diamond fields, his son has an automatic rifle pressed into his hands. Diamonds are the currency of the revolution. They are traded for guns and rocket launchers by weapons dealers who then smuggle the diamonds out of Sierra Leone and into Liberia, where they can then be sold to diamond merchants from Europe. Danny Archer (DiCaprio) is one such smuggler. By a chain of events I won’t bother to explain, Danny and Solomon find themselves in the same prison, where Danny hears about an enormous pink diamond Solomon allegedly found and buried. Danny pulls some strings to get both of them out, and then tells Solomon that if he’ll take him to the diamond, Danny will help find Solomon’s family.
DiCaprio and Hounsou both give incredible performances, Leonardo as the emotionally hardened mercenary, at first concerned only with his own well being, and Djimon as the emotionally distraught father who couldn’t help his family. Jennifer Connelly was also very good as an outraged reporter trying to make the world right and as the eventual love interest to DiCaprio’s Archer.
What ultimately keeps this film from achieving greatness is a few too many cliché emotional scenes, seemingly stuck in the screenplay to placate the audience and give them something to cheer for. This is a movie that is crying out to be real, and I think for the most part it is. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The Pharos wants to know:

2007-01-11T04:01:00.000-05:00

What was your favorite part of break?

What are looking forward to the most during the coming semester?

Editor Wise enjoyed having the time and energy to read for fun, but can't wait to get back among her friends and live up her last semester.

Leave a comment with your answers!

A good quotation with which to start the year

2007-01-11T03:55:00.000-05:00

"Consider your origin; you were not meant to live as brutes, but to pursue virtue and knowledge." --Dante Alighieri

As you prepare to return to Wesleyan for the spring semester, The Pharos too looks forward to new beginnings and some interesting changes. Our various editors will be contributing their individual styles to the paper (page 6 of the last issue gave you a taste of how great that will look) and some adjustments we are considering may lead to a change in the size of our publication. All in all, we hope to continue the improvements we made during the first semester.

Enjoy the last few days of your break and watch for a new issue, to be released at the end of January.

Winter Break

2006-12-09T01:43:00.000-05:00

The Pharos would like to wish everyone a safe and happy break, and a bright return in the new year. The Pharos itself will return shortly into the new semester; please stay tuned here for updates and further information.

Thank you for your comments and support throughout Fall Semester 2006.

Quotation of the [whenever we have good quotations to post]: Vo. 2

2006-12-09T01:38:00.000-05:00

"No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow."

--Alice Walker

"Let me tell something to you." Happy Feet Lives Up to the Hype: by Chris Garton

2006-12-09T01:34:00.000-05:00

Happy Feet, Starring Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, and Savion Glover. Directed by George Miller.

Who it’s for: Lovers of ‘80s and 90s music, kids of all ages, and those who don’t mind an environmentalist message with their humor.

Who it’s not for: People who did not find themselves laughing during Shrek.

This movie starts out one thing, and ends up something different. This has been done well in other movies. Million Dollar Baby comes to mind. In this movie, however, I feel that either one of the directions it tried to go would have been fine on its own, but when you try to put them together, they get in each others way.

The first half of this movie deals with a young penguin named Mumble (Wood), who, in an unfortunate accident, was dropped onto the ice when he was still an egg, which leads to him being slow to hatch. When he finally does break free of his shell, his dad, Memphis (Jackman) immediately senses that something may not be right with his boy. His feet are constantly moving. “Whatcha doin’ with your feet there, boy? Better stop, people will think it’s strange,” he says. Soon after this, Mumble learns that he has a terrible singing voice. This is the real tragedy, as a penguin’s “heartsong” is what they use to find a mate. Mumble taps out his heartsong with his feet, but his strange ways don’t catch on in the tribe. Without a heartsong, Mumble has no hope of winning the heart of the girl he is smitten with, Gloria. He is shunned by the Emperor penguins, and eventually winds up in the company of “the amigos”, a ragtag group of penguins led by Ramón (Williams).

The movie continues in this vein for a while, and we think that eventually Mumble will convince the tribe to accept him, get the girl, etc. etc. What happens instead is that there is a fish shortage, and Mumble sets off to find the aliens that have been mysteriously abducting birds and putting strange yellow bands on their legs, and asking them to stop taking all the fish. There is a heartfelt environmental message at the core of the second half of the film, and I’m all for environmental messages, but it just doesn’t mesh well with the first half.

The best part of this movie is the music. There’s plenty here for a music lover to laugh at. There are lots of great 80s and 90s hits, with Queen, Prince, and Earth Wind and Fire being represented as well as Elvis Presley. There is also some music influenced by other parts of the globe. The Amigos impart a distinctly Latin flavor to the numbers they sing.

I can’t end this review without mentioning the man behind the Mumble. Elijah Wood may provide the voice, but Mumble’s character really comes out through his feet. It is Savion Glover’s feet we see, captured by the computer, which has even picked up Savion’s habit of practicing while he’s standing still. Savion was a regular on Sesame Street for several years, and has been in films such as Tap with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr. and Spike Lee’s Bamboozled. I hope he gets enough credit for doing this movie, because in my opinion, he carried it.

I enjoyed myself at this movie, but it seemed like it was struggling to figure out what sort of movie it wanted to be. Should this deter you from going to see it? I hope not. It’s certainly worthwhile. I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Wintersong: A review by Sarah Wilkinson

2006-12-06T14:35:00.000-05:00

Title: Wintersong
Primary Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Essential Tracks: "Song for a Winter's Night," "Wintersong," and "Silent Night."
Producer: Pierre Marchand
Label: ARISTA Records
Running Time: 45:39

It's no secret in the recording world that Sarah McLachlan has one of the best vocal instruments of our time. But let me add to this: She has one of the best vocal instruments of our time when she wants to use it. Although she gives some breathtaking performances on her new Christmas album, Wintersong, most of the songs on the album feel as though she just didn't want to exercise her vocal cords to their full potential. This, coupled with some bad arrangements of classic songs, leads to a merely decent album.

The album opens on a very appropriate note with her cover of the John Lennon classic "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." Although she sings the song in a more serious tone than the dearly departed probably intended, it serves as an excellent opening to the album, and the addition of a children's choir is brilliant. From here, we are forced to sit through her version of "What Child is This? (Greensleeves)." Though her lilting voice does bring a haunting air to the piece, she is performing an arrangement that seems to have left the melody out; it’s not the "What Child is This?" that we all know and could sing along to. It sounds as though she arranged it and just decided to write only the alto line. She took too many liberties with an already haunting and beautiful piece.

However, after sitting through that, we are rewarded with her version of Joni Mitchell's "River." I have to confess, I've heard both the original and the Linda Ronstadt versions of this song, and never liked either of them. Then I heard Sarah McLachlan's version, and now it makes sense. McLachlan puts the needed emotion into the piece that previous vocalists neglected. This song was correctly selected as the single from this album.

Next up is her original piece and the album's title track, "Wintersong." This is the song for true Sarah McLachlan fans. Here she gets back to her roots, with simple piano and soft, sentimental lyrics. It is quite melancholy, but it brings a different air to Christmas music than many other songs out there. It may take time, but I foresee this song becoming an eventual classic. After "Wintersong," we hear fairly simple versions of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Though there isn't really much to say about these, she does demonstrate that she can arrange and not trash the songs. These are simple, classic, and quite lovely.

After those two tracks comes the song that I think caused me the most consternation, "The First Noel (Mary Mary)." I adore what she did in this arrangement. She melded together the folk "Mary Mary" with the classic "The First Noel," with the use of everything from harps to African drums, and it's fantastically done. However, she opens the track with a stunning almost-operatic chorus of "The First Noel" that shows off her range so perfectly I really just want her to keep doing that over and over. I think it would have been wise to record a classic version of just "The First Noel," simply because it's so beautiful.

Next are, in my opinion, the three best tracks on the album, "Silent Night," "Song for a Winter's Night," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." These, like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" show that McLachlan can do an excellent job of arranging when she wants to. She shows us her range beautifully on "Silent Night" and "Song for a Winter’s Night," and incorporates a big band style on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" that, though a huge risk for her to take, she pulls off nicely. However, after this trio of beautiful songs, she delves back into things that are almost impossible to listen to. Her version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" is fairly traditional, but her vocal performance kills what would otherwise be a nice song. She arranged it so that it crosses her vocal breaking point constantly, and to the listener, hearing her go from singing well to ungracefully trying to hit notes that are too high gets old quick. The last song on the album, "Christmastime is Here," is even worse. You'll of course remember this song from A Charlie Brown Christmas, but don't expect Snoopy to make an appearance here. It is excessively slow and lacks the jazziness that made the song work for our bald-headed friend and his beagle. I personally think she should have left the song alone, but if it had to be on the album, it and "In the Bleak Midwinter" should have both been placed in the middle somewhere, and let the three or four good songs in the middle bring a nice ending to the album.

Overall, Wintersong captures the melancholy of winter and reminds us of the religious side of Christmas. Although there are some lackluster performances, it is an album worth at least one listen. I give it seven out of twelve candy apples.

Borat: A review by Chris Garton

2006-11-15T11:17:00.000-05:00

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Ken Davitian, and Pamela Anderson. Directed by Larry Charles

Who it’s for: People looking for a good belly laugh, but not offended by a bit of naked wrestling and slandering (all in good fun) of pretty much anything you may or may not believe in.

Who it’s not for: People with delicate dispositions who are offended easily. Also, if you are asthmatic, at least make sure you have an inhaler. This movie is a workout.

The plot of this movie is easy to recap. A small time journalist from a small town in Kazakhstan decides to come to America to make a documentary about what makes us so great. Hilarity ensues. While watching TV in his New York hotel room, he sees Pamela Anderson in a rerun of Baywatch. He falls in love. Hilarity ensues. He convinces his producer to go with him to Hollywood so that he may marry this Pamela Anderson. They buy a vehicle and take a cross country road trip. Hilarity ensues.

I don’t want to give away too many of the punch lines, but this is not a comedy that relies on punch lines. Cohen is a master of the ambush, dependent upon the reactions of people who are not in on the joke. To us, who are in on the joke, the situations he gets in are almost unbelievably hysterical for the simple fact that the situations are almost unbelievably uncomfortable for the participants who are not in on the joke. It is also remarkable that Cohen and his team did not get arrested during the making of this film. They may have, for all I know, but that gives you some idea of the lengths this man is willing to go to in order to get the laugh he wants.

Besides being one of the funniest movies you will ever see, there is something else extremely interesting about this film. Borat himself is a raging anti-Semite (Cohen is actually Jewish himself) and incredibly misogynistic. There are several scenes that, besides being very, very funny (I’ve run out of synonyms), also highlight some of America’s deep-seated fears and prejudices. Borat exposes these fears, and we laugh at the hypocrisy, and are inwardly horrified that such beliefs still exist. There is a scene where Borat is at a Rodeo in Texas, talking to one of the cowboys. The cowboy tells him that people get nervous around individuals who look like Muslims. He tells Borat he might want to shave his mustache, so he’d look more Italian, maybe. He says “I see somebody who looks Islamic, I get to wondering what kind of bomb he’s carrying around, know what I mean?” Borat points out that he is Muslim. One message I took from this movie is that, often, those most easily offended are the ones doing the most offending.

Perhaps I am reading too much into this. Borat is, in the end, the funniest movie of the year. Sacha Baron Cohen has an uncanny ability to stay in character in situations where I would have trouble controlling my bladder. He is one of the best at improvisation, and he even shows some acting range in this movie with a couple of quietly moving scenes in between hilarious bits. Unfortunately, this type of comedy depends upon the unsuspecting participants not knowing that they are talking to an actor, so this pretty much wraps it up for Borat. I give it five out of five stars. *****

Quotation of the [Whenever we have good quotations with which to update]

2006-11-06T16:11:00.000-05:00

Alert Reader Josh Briscoe suggested we make the blog more updatable, including quotations, interesting blurbs, et cetera. So here you are; don't spend it all in one place.

“Let us be about setting high standards for life, love, creativity, and wisdom. If our expectations in these areas are low, we are not likely to experience wellness. Setting high standards makes every day and every decade worth looking forward to.”
--Greg Anderson

Volume 98, Issue 4

2006-11-01T10:54:00.000-05:00

The Pharos is pleased to announce the release of its fourth issue of the semester. Copies are available at the switchboard and around campus.

As always, we appreciate your responses to the issue. Reach us here via comment, at x. 8004, or by email at pharos at wvwc dot edu.

We are still working out some bugs, as we recently switched to another publishing program. We appreciate you patience as we work out issues with our photographs.

New Issue

2006-10-18T14:43:00.000-04:00

The Pharos announces the release of Vo. 98, Issue 3. The newspaper is now available in front of the post office and in many buildings around campus.

Please excuse some minor glitches as we continue to improve our paper. Namely, there are no page numbers and page 4 is on page 2. We apologize and hope that these problems are fixed next issue.

The Departed: A Movie Review by Chris Carton

2006-10-18T14:41:00.000-04:00

The Departed, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and Vera Farmiga. Directed by Martin Scorsese

Who it’s for: Fans of The Godfather, Donnie Brasco; people who like good acting, writing, and directing.

Who it’s not for: Those of you who deplore blood and violence, and get upset that there’s only one female character who is not portrayed as a sex toy.

Martin Scorsese, Godfather of the Mafia movie (no offense to Francis Ford Coppola), has finally recognized that the Irish can be mean as hell too (yeah, I know Gangs of New York was about the Irish. I didn’t see it. You got something to say about it?).

Based on the Hong Kong thriller Internal Affairs, The Departed is set in present day Boston and features Leonardo DiCaprio (a Scorsese favorite) in a stunning role as Billy Costigan, a young cop from a no good family who wants to do something useful with his life. He is offered a job undercover in the operation of Frank Costello (Nicholson), a brutal mob boss who the entire police force is looking to bring down. Costigan reports to two people and two people only, Sergeants Queenan and Dignam (Sheen and Wahlberg). Nobody else knows his true loyalties. Meanwhile, Colin Sullivan (Damon) is a young officer on the fast track up, with an impeccable record. He also happens to be an informant for Costello. So the stage is set for a ruthless game of cat and mouse, as each side tries to smoke out the other side’s rat.

This movie poses many interesting questions and moral dilemmas. Is there a difference between good and evil? While Costigan shakes down bookies, beats men unconscious, and acts as an accessory to murder in the name of taking down the organization, Sullivan acts from his office, tipping Costello off at every turn. Is it easy to see which one is the good guy and which one is the bad guy? The film also does a very good job at contrasting the lives of these two men. Costigan lives in fear for his life, horrified at the things he is witnessing. He’s a man constantly on the edge. Sullivan, on the other hand, has a comfortable job, a steady girlfriend, and a nice apartment. How is this fair? What incentive is there to be a good person, and to do the right thing? What is the right thing?

This movie drives home a fact that I believe many people have overlooked: DiCaprio can act. He is right up there with many of our finest actors, and this movie features many of our finest actors. Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen have already established themselves as some of the best of the best. In Nicholson’s case, I might go so far as to say he may be the best of the best. This movie doesn’t weaken my case. He has the ability to look incredibly intimidating (and crazy) without actually doing anything. Matt Damon is certainly one of the strongest actors of his generation, and all of his considerable talent is on display here.

Scorsese’s directing melts into the background. No flashy camera gimmicks here. No blow you away special effects. The Departed relies on character to hold your attention, and if these characters don’t make you snap to, you may want to seek professional help.

I want to say something about the soundtrack. Irish punk rock bagpipes. If they don’t get your blood pumping. . . maybe you’re not Irish.

I believe this to be a contender for Best Picture. Expect lots of nominations when awards season comes around. I give it five out of five stars. *****

Welcome, Josh Arthur.

2006-10-11T18:32:00.000-04:00

The Pharos welcomes freshman Josh Arthur as our new Layout Editor.

Check the next issue of The Pharos for a look at Josh's handiwork. We're sure you'll be pleased.

The next issue of The Pharos will appear on stands October 18, 2006. Until then, we hope you enjoy our latest issue and continue to send your comments.

The Black Dahlia: A movie review by Chris Garton

2006-10-07T12:51:00.000-04:00

The Black Dahlia, Starring Josh Hartnett, Aaron Eckhart, Scarlett Johansson, Hillary Swank, and Mia Kirshner. Directed by Brian De Palma.

Who it’s for: Mystery buffs who don’t mind being confused.
Who it’s not for: Fans of the book will probably get mad.

There are several different ways to adapt a book to a movie, and most of them will leave at least some fans of the book disappointed. Most of the time, you can't fit everything from the book into the movie, so you're going to have to make cuts. The first way to accomplish this is to take a rough outline of the plot, and then rewrite the entire story, keeping the themes in mind. That way you have a movie that, while it may not follow the book exactly, is good in its own right, and follows the spirit of the original story. Some people will not like the changes, but so be it. The second way is to take the parts of the book where the key events happen, smoosh them together, and call it a movie adaptation. This will leave people who haven't read the book confused. People who have read the book will still be disappointed about the parts that were left out, but now also about the movie sucking.
Josh Friedman elected to use the second method when he adapted James Ellroy's darkly fascinating psychological study, The Black Dahlia. The result is a confusing movie whose only redeeming quality is some good atmosphere.
Set in the late 1940s, the plot concerns two LAPD police officers, Bucky Bleichert (Hartnett) and Lee Blanchard (Eckhart). They are partners in the Warrants division, and best buddies. Lee lives with a woman he met while working on a case, Kay Lake (Johansson), but they have a completely platonic relationship. When Bucky enters the picture, the trio become inseparable—a condition that can’t last. Shortly after New Year’s, the body of a young woman, Elizabeth Short, is found in an empty lot. She is horribly mutilated. Lee, for reasons that are not clear at the moment, becomes completely obsessed with the case. The press takes to calling the girl “The Black Dahlia.” Relating the rest of the plot would not only spoil some of the rather weak surprises, but it would also be tedious, as it gets complicated.
The best parts of this movie by far occur when you aren’t trying to figure out who did what to whom and why these two people are hitting each other. The casting videos found of the Dahlia are the most powerful scenes in the film. Mia Kirshner, whose acting credits include a character arc in “24” and a role in Showtime’s “The L Word,” brings a sophisticated pathos to the role of Elizabeth Short.
These scenes are shot in black and white, and the melancholy evident in her eyes during these scenes makes you forget the shortcomings of the rest of the movie for a moment.
Unfortunately, the film ends weakly, being wrapped up all too nicely, quickly, and dumbly. The acting wasn't bad, but the script moved from one plot point to the next so quickly (and without nearly enough explanation) that we never got a chance to really see them playing characters. They were just playing caricatures. Too bad really. I thought it had great potential. I give it two out of five stars.

Print Delay

2006-10-04T09:45:00.000-04:00

Due to difficulties at our print source, this week's edition of the Pharos will not be available until Thursday, October 5 at the earliest. We apologize for the delay.

Welcome

2006-09-30T00:28:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the online blog of West Virginia Wesleyan's student newspaper, the Pharos. This serves primarily as a supplemental editorial forum where writers can hone their skills; however, we may also post small stories that fall outside of our printing timeline and letters to the editor as we receive them. Feel free to comment on the blog or submit work for the blog by emailing your piece to pharos at wvwc dot com.

The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum of free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed within the Pharos and its affiliated forms reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or the Pharos staff as a whole.