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(11/07/12 11:00pm)
Video games have not fared well on film. Few films based on video games could be considered good. On the other hand, films related to video games such as “Tron,” are somewhat more successful. “Wreck-It Ralph” fits into the latter category. “Wreck-It Ralph” is a story entrenched in video game culture, but it is not inaccessible to the average viewer.
“Wreck-It Ralph” follows the story of Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly), the villain of a fictional arcade game called “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” (based off the classic “Donkey Kong”). Ralph has been wrecking things, getting defeated by nice guy Felix (Jack McBrayer) and living alone for 30 years. After attending a villain support group, which features several classic video game characters, Ralph decides that he is tired of being a bad guy. He ventures out into other games to prove to the people in his game that he can be a hero. His adventures take him into other arcade games where he meets Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) from the first-person shooter game “Hero’s Duty” and Vanellope von Schweetz from the racing game “Sugar Rush.” Felix follows Ralph in an attempt to bring him back home.
The movie is very simplistic in its message and nature, but it is very effective. Throughout the film, Ralph is shown that while the acceptance of others is nice, he must learn to accept himself before he can be happy. This message is very similar to the one from the first “Shrek” movie in that the protagonist must come to terms with his own faults before he can be happy with his life. He sees this message reflected in the other characters he encounters through the different games.
There are several games that are briefly shown in the film in what could be considered extended cameo sequences, but the majority of the film takes place in “Fix-It Felix Jr.,” “Hero’s Duty” and “Sugar Rush.” These three games were created for the film itself. Out of the three of them, most of the time is spent in the “Sugar Rush” world featuring Silverman’s character, Vanellope. The game worlds are interesting, but the trailers for the film implied that the characters would visit more games over the course of the film.
While they did not go to as many games as expected, there were several cameos by various game characters. The various game characters would visit each other’s games or be seen at the Game Central Station, the area that connects all of the games. Many of the cameos were well executed and clever. Most of the cameos were nonspeaking roles in the background, but it was still entertaining to see well-known characters interacting. The reference humor in general was well executed and not as obtrusive as many pop culture references are in film.
The voice acting was very well done. John C. Reilly did great as Ralph. His voice alone made his emotions so evident that his feelings could be accurately portrayed without the animation. Jane Lynch steals every scene she is in with her role as Calhoun. She and Jack McBrayer’s Felix play off of each other very well and the contrast between her harsh voice and his wholesome voice works well. Both were great casting choices. The role that has divided many viewers is Sarah Silverman as Vanellope. She is from the “Sugar Rush” game and spends much of the movie with Ralph. They attempt to portray her as a cute and spunky child, and this meets with mixed success. Some viewers find her character to be charming and endearing; others find her and Silverman’s voice to be annoying.
“Wreck-It Ralph” is an excellent family film. There are lighthearted moments for the kids, and plenty of dark moments for the older viewers. Many of the video game references will only be picked up by people who grew up with the games. The movie is directed by Rich Moore, who directed several episodes of “Futurama” and “The Simpsons,” so he has a firm grasp on how to handle an audience of mixed age groups. The movie has the potential to appeal to a wider demographic and is well worth watching.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
Many Macon residents agree that fresh produce is a great thing to have, especially when it is conveniently located downtown on Mulberry Street.
The Mulberry Street Market strives to provide fresh food that is not pumped with preservatives and driven across the country in a truck. The market also aims towards providing goods to the public that are of high quality.
The Mulberry Street Market wants to support local farmers by bringing local farmers and consumers together and cutting out the middleman.
The Mulberry Street Market is run by Community Health Works (CHW), a non-profit organization dedicated to finding innovative health solutions and providing aid for people who are financially strained due to their medical needs.
The Mulberry Street Market is designed to give the consumer direct access to the farmers goods at discounted prices, as well as give the farmers a market to distribute their products.
The CHW was recently awarded a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant in the amount of $87,165 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
When asked about what the funds would be used for, Program Specialist for CHW, Chris Kiker explained that, “The money will fund salary, an extensive marketing campaign, food access work in low income communities, and the creation of an online market with weekly distribution days.”
Fred Ammons of CHW is pleased with the grant as well. He feels that it will be a great opportunity to expand their existing programs and seek out new forms of promotion. Their goal is to use the funds to promote the expansion of the Mulberry Street Market through an extensive marketing and educational campaign.
According to Kiker, CHW was eligible for the funds due to USDA releasing a request for proposals (RFP) centered on farmers market promotion. “Realizing the strengths and weaknesses of our market,” he explains, “we submitted a competitive application and was chosen among a large applicant pool.” Kiker, who has worked intimately with the farmer’s market over the past year, is pleased with the amount of funding they were approved for. Ammons adds that their application “had a specific emphasis on improving the access of low income, EBT/food stamp clients to healthy food in an attempt to help improve health in our area.” This is one of the fields he is happy to see improved with the funds.
Both agree that this will have a huge impact on the community. “The market is serving as a small business incubator for local farmers and producers,” Kiker says, explaining how they want to aid local farmers and businesses with the market. They plan to use the funds to expand the reach of their project. They are collaborating with local organizations to plan additional events for the market. According to Kiker, events they plan to host include, “from concerts to chef demos all centered on promoting and creating a healthier lifestyle for families in the Central Georgia area.”
That is CHW’s goal with this project in the end, to provide healthy and affordable produce for consumers. They are doing the best they can through the Mulberry Street Market, and these additional funds will ensure that they continue doing so.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
On Nov. 4, 1979, an event that gripped the attention of the world occurred in Tehran, Iran: The Iran Hostage Crisis. The events of the Hostage Crisis are common knowledge, but most people do not realize that six Americans actually escaped the American embassy and hid at the Canadian Ambassador’s house.
“Argo” tells the story of the plan to rescue these people from Iran before they are discovered. The CIA decides to send one agent undercover to sneak them out of the country. The cover story is that they are a Canadian film crew scouting locations for a sci-fi film named “Argo.”
The film follows CIA agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) as he attempts to put together a cover story to rescue the Americans. After hearing absurd plans, such as having the Americans ride bicycles by night to the border, Mendez proposes what he refers to as the CIA’s “best bad plan.”
His reasoning is sound: Hollywood will go anywhere to make a movie, and exotic landscapes work well for sci-fi films. He enlists the help of famed Hollywood make-up artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to build the cover of a fake production company, scouting Middle Eastern locations for a Star Wars ripoff. The CIA and State Department only accept the idea because it is the best of the bad ideas.
“Argo” is quite possibly the best film to be released so far this year. Everything about it works amazingly well. The plot is unique and almost laughable in its concept, yet it has the credibility of being based on real events. If a purely fictional film tried to pitch the concept of rescuing people from enemy territory by pretending to shoot a B-grade science fiction movie, no one would buy it. “Argo” has credibility because it is based on true events, which makes it all the more fantastic.
The film has a great ability to mix suspense with comedic relief. The film does well at still keeping the viewer in suspense despite the possibility of the audience having knowledge of the outcome of events. One of the most surprising aspects of the film is its sense of humor. The dialogue is surprisingly quick and witty, never getting dull or boring to the audience. This is aided by the actors’ sense of comedic timing.
The actors bringing this story to life all turn in great performances. Ben Affleck delivers what may be the best performance of his career in this film. Alan Arkin and John Goodman steal every scene they are in. They have wonderful comedic timing, and the rapid dialogue between them and Affleck is great. Brian Cranston turns in a great performance as Mendez’s superior, Jack O’Donnell. The rest of the cast does great as well, but these are the standouts from an already wonderful cast.
Amazing story and acting aside, the technical aspects of this film are equally impressive. Some of the shots of Tehran are absolutely beautiful. Some of the more enjoyable scenes are the ones that recreate actual historic footage from the period. The film also employs an excellent use of actual archival news and television footage from the period to immerse the viewer in the events. The costuming and makeup also contribute to this immersion.
“Argo” is definitely worth seeing. It may be the first genuine Oscar contender of the year. Not a single scene in this film fails to entertain. It is a great retelling of one of the most tense periods of the last century. This film easily scores five stars out of five.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
“Halloween,” “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” are widely accepted as the best and most famous slasher films to date. They all have several characteristics in common, and those characteristics define what it means to be a slasher film.
The slasher film is a subgenre of the horror genre that often focuses on a mysterious, psychotic killer stalking and killing victims in a bloody manner. The slasher film is different from other horror films in that it places emphasis on suspense and psychological elements. The best example of this is in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” a film that many consider a forerunner of the modern slasher. In “Psycho,” rather than show the killer and long sequences of violence, Hitchcock focuses on building suspense and expanding on the psychological aspects of his characters.
“Halloween” is often credited with starting the modern slasher genre. It has several examples of the psychological examination of its characters’ actions. Dr. Loomis is tracking the killer, Michael Myers, and reveals much about the killer’s bizarre mental state. Loomis’ obsession and paranoid nature shows signs of insanity at times, which serves to make the relationship between him and his prey all the more complex. Other films such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street” explore the fears of the victims and the nature of dreams.
Despite the psychological focus of some slashers, most films focus primarily on violent and bloody kills. The violence is the most known aspect of the slasher film. When a person thinks of a slasher, they do not think of the psychological reasoning behind Jason Voorhees’ mother fixation. Instead, they remember the scene where he cuts a man in half from groin to chest.
Humor is also an important component in a slasher film. The contrast between the strange and exaggerated compared to the everyday settings of most slashers, such as “Halloween” and “Black Christmas,” are a key component to the genre. This is similar to the Victorian literary genre known as the sensation novel. They would take mysteries and violent acts and place them in everyday situations. The contrast between the strange and familiar is one of the characteristics that draw people into watching the genre.
There are many notable classifications in the slasher subgenre. Each classification has its own films that exemplify its style. Almost all are based on the success of other films. The slasher genre can be seen as a game of Follow the Leader: if one film does well with a concept, others will try to follow the example.
Due to the success of “Friday the 13th,” many slasher films went off to camp and ruthlessly slaughtered enough teens to permanently shut down all summer camps, had they been set in the real world. Other notable films in this style would include movies like “Sleep Away Camp.”
Novelties like holidays and settings like schools and camps could only go so far. “A Nightmare on Elm Street” took a different approach by creating surreal environments and relying heavily on effects for the deaths.
The genre is not the greatest achievement in film history, but it does have enduring value. The sheer number of films shows that there are still people interested in watching them. As long as there is an audience, studios will continue to pump out these movies.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
Halloween is a time of year known for monsters, costumes, horror movies and sweets. For most people these sweets are of the store-bought, candied, variety. Others will look for alternative sweets, such as homemade chocolates and cakes.
This however can be difficult for those living in dorms, as they do not have access to cookware or ovens. One chocolate cake recipe only relies on two bowls, a spoon, a microwave and a coffee mug.
The needed ingredients for one Mug Cake are:
4 tablespoons cake flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon baking powder or just a small pinch
1/8 teaspoon salt, another small pinch
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
The first step is to measure out four tablespoons of cake flower, four of sugar, and two tablespoons of cocoa powder into a bowl.
There are a few quick advisories on this step. The first is to be sure you put the proper amount of materials in the bowl. If you are off in the levels of ingredients, the cake will not come out right, or in some cases not cook at all.
The second advisory is to not try eating the raw cocoa powder. Yes, it is chocolate, but it is strong and somewhat bitter and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Mix the flour, sugar and cocoa powder in the bowl, while adding the pinches of salt and baking powder, until they are consistently mixed. A tablespoon would work well here for the mixing.
Next, in another bowl, carefully crack open the egg and pour it into the bowl.
Be careful to avoid any shells getting in there too. Now beat the egg, which means to stir it rapidly until the yolk and whites are mixed together and the egg is a soupy yellow liquid.
Once the egg is beat, pour it into the bowl with the mixed powders. Mix the egg into the powder thoroughly until it forms a dry mushy mixture. Then add three tablespoons of milk and three tablespoons of oil.
Vegetable oil will work well here, it is cheap and easy to find. Mix all of this together until all of the powder has joined the liquid into making the batter.
Then pour the batter into a tall coffee mug. It is recommended to grease the interior of the mug first with some sort of cooking spray, but depending on how it is served it may not be necessary.
Place the mug in the microwave on high between 2 1/2 and 3 minutes. When the cake is done, it will most likely have risen to over the rim of the mug.
Be careful when you remove the mug from the microwave, it will be hot.
There are two options for how to serve the cake. It is entirely possible to leave it in the mug and cover it with whipped topping or frosting.
On the other hand, the cake can be removed from the mug and served on a plate.
When the cake is removed from the mug, do not be surprised if it looks like an angry Frankenstein’s monster…or a pile of mud with a snarl, this can be fixed with a healthy dose of icing.
The cake is best served warm. If it is cooled, just pop it back in the microwave for a few seconds to heat it back up.
(10/24/12 9:00pm)
After 92 years of student publication, Mercer’s student run newspaper has been digitized into an online database archive. The project is an exciting development for the Cluster, allowing people to access a large portion of its coverage of the 20th century.
The Cluster began its publication in 1920, during one of the strongest periods in American history prior to the Great Depression. It was named after the book of hymns owned by Jesse Mercer, the school’s founder. The Cluster Archive is an online database that has collected some 50 years of the Cluster for easy access.
The archive contains more than 5,000 pages and can be browsed by date or by full-text search. This allows complete access to the majority of the American century from the perspective of Mercer’s own newspaper.
Dr. Jay Black, Assistant Professor of Journalism is excited about the project and said that it has been in the works for some time. He said that this has “opened a window into Mercer’s past that was not available before.” According to Dr. Black, members of the Society for Collegiate Journalists investigated the possibility of a database a few years ago. At the same time, the library was investigating the idea as well. It was convenient timing for both parties.
“This project was done by people who deeply care about this university and its history,” said Dr. Black.
Elizabeth Hammond, Dean of Mercer’s Libraries, is excited about the work that she and her department are doing in this project. Hammond said that the Mercer papers are, “popular and rich resources for people interested in Mercer history.” She pointed out that students, faculty, alumni or even those interested in learning about the school could use this archive to find out about Mercer’s past.
The process is a time consuming venture that has cost $5,000 so far. Digitizing the Cluster involves taking microfilm records on file in the Tarver Library and converting them to digital image files. The files are then uploaded onto a system designed by the Digital Library of Georgia for newspaper archives.
Hammond explained that Laura Botts, Head of Special Collections, and Jeremy Brown, Head of Library Systems, led what she described as “a collaboration with the Digital Library of Georgia, a GALILEO initiative housed at the University of Georgia Library, who did the scanning and digitizing.” The Cluster is being hosted on the DLG Historic Newspapers server.
Hammond stated that there will be more papers added to the database once the funds are available. She also revealed that there are plans to digitize the papers of the other student newspapers from Tift College and the Atlanta campus.
This is a great opportunity for the current student body of Mercer. Editor-in-Chief of The Cluster, Kaleigh Manson is “very excited to have the opportunity to look back at old editions of The Cluster and see how much our student newspaper has changed.” She is also aware of the scholastic merits of the archive, saying that it will, “offer journalism students the chance to learn about how different topics were covered throughout those 50 years.”
Hammond also brought up the educational possibilities that the archive allows for. She said that Special Collections is already working with Mercer INT 101 students on campus history projects, and the online archive will make the work much easier.
The Cluster Archive is an ambitious project that propels Mercer among only a few universities with online databases of campus newspapers. The Cluster’s records of the early 20th century can be viewed as a chronicle of that century.
That chronicle of the American century is now easily accessible for all to view.
(10/10/12 4:01pm)
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, a plane crash occurred at the Downtown Macon Airport. A Beech 400 Jet descended from Charleston Air Force Base with the intent to land at 10:00 a.m. Although it was raining, the jet departed as scheduled. The jet was small and privately owned.
There were three passengers aboard the plane. John Dewberry, head of the Atlanta based Dewberry Capital Real Estate Company, pilot Brian Landers, and co-pilot, Joel Perkins.
“Water had built up on the runway from the rain,” Lieutenant Sean DeFoe of the Bibb County Sheriff’s office explains. They touched down on the slick runway and applied maximum reverse thrust to slow the jet. As the jet attempted to make a safe landing, it hit the built up water and did not quite make it to the ground. “The pilots and the witnesses claim that the jet hydroplaned,” Lieutenant DeFoe elaborates.
Dewberry was able to leave the wreckage on his own and stumbled towards the road. Perkins also managed to extricate himself from the remains of the jet. Landers was trapped in the wreck until firefighters arrived to cut him from the wreckage. Perkins received minor injuries, the other two men walked away unharmed.
The wreckage caused Ocmulgee East Blvd. to be closed between Hubbard Road to Herbert Smart Airport Road. Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration arrived to investigate the wreckage shortly before 1:00 p.m.
According to Lieutenant DeFoe, the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, took the remains of the plane, including the recorder and black box, to Conyers Georgia for further examination. Kathleen Bergen, of the FAA, said that the remains were turned over to the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, for the investigation.
The NTSB reports that the plane was “substantially damaged when it overran runway 28.” The calculated airspeed at approach was 108 knots before descent. They touched down within the first 1,000 feet of the runway. There was visible water on the runway at this point.
The pilots activated maximum reverse thrust, as well as braking and ground spoilers to slow their journey on the runway. Reverse thrusters are a common feature on this type of jet, though an optional one for this particular model. The system is designed to slow the plane upon its landing and is more effective than traditional braking. The system is also supposed to be effective in slowing on poor weather conditions.
However, both pilots reported an as yet unexplained pulsation in the brake system. Evidence shows that at approximately 1,000 feet from the departure end of the runway, evidence of tire tracks were visible. The tire tracks swerved on the runway before exiting the runway into the grass, traveling to the crest of a 25-foot embankment, down the embankment, and across the highway before coming to a rest at the base of a large tree.
The NTSB is continuing its investigation. They have taken the cockpit voice recorder, Garmin 500 global positioning unit, Power Brake Valve, Anti-skid unit, both wheel speed transducers, brake units, and the hydraulic valve package for further examination. Judging by the elements they are still investigating, it is likely that they are examining whether or not the crash was due to a malfunction in something relating to the braking system. They plan to release a final report once they have reached conclusive results.
(10/10/12 4:00pm)
The average film adaptations of video games are usually bad. Most are based on games like “Mario” or “Mortal Kombat”—games that lack a story. What about a film that takes place in continuity with a game franchise renowned for its story? “Mass Effect: Paragon Lost” is an anime film that takes place during the events of the critically acclaimed game “Mass Effect 2”.
The story follows James Vega, a supporting character from “Mass Effect 3”, and his platoon of Space Marines as they guard a human colony on a distant world. When a mysterious alien race known as the Collectors attack the colony and abduct its people, it is up James and his platoon to save them.
This plot sounds like generic sci-fi fare, and it is at times.
However, there are plenty of surprises along the way to keep you interested in the story. The twists in the film, save for one painfully obvious one, are well done, and one is particularly chilling. The story is a classic race-against-time rescue mission and holds your attention throughout its runtime. The climax of the film is excellently written and beautifully animated.
The opening sequence is especially well animated. The opening involves James’ squad engaging a group of alien soldiers in a bloody and brutal battle. The battle is well paced and wonderfully animated, and does a good job of establishing the tone of the film. It gives the audience a brief taste of the action to come before spending the next half-hour developing the characters and establishing the world in which the film is set.
After that, the film progresses into a survival-horror style of sci-fi, reminiscent of John Carpenter’s “The Thing.” One of the key themes of the “Mass Effect” franchise is choice, and the film presents James with several choices that he must make. He is aware that no matter what choices he makes, he will have to live with the outcome. The film is surprisingly accessible for people who are not familiar with the franchise. Of course, it would be much easier to understand with prior knowledge of the “Mass Effect” series.
“Paragon Lost” is a Japanese anime, which of course means that it is traditionally animated unlike the computer animation of the video games. The animators do a good job adapting the character designs of the aliens, and of James himself, to animation. The animation style of the film overall is crisp and clean. It is obvious that the film had a good budget behind it. The film also makes use of a surprising amount of horror elements, and it pulls the horror off surprisingly well. The amount of gore and violence mean that this film is definitely not for kids. The violence is on par with that of the M-rated games.
The characters of the film are the typical action-hero stereotypes that you see in most films of this style, but they are still entertaining and enjoyable. The focus of the film is James, who was one of the team members from “Mass Effect 3.” In the game, he is an affable and friendly veteran who eventually reveals deep emotional damage and trauma because of his former encounter with the Collectors. “Paragon Lost” serves to explain and develop his backstory. At the start of the film, he is presented as an eager, competent and painfully idealistic marine who will do anything to protect his squad. The film shows his progression to a darker, more troubled man who still believes in doing the right thing but questions whether his decisions are right at all.
The voice cast for this film is excellent. Funimation Studios contracted some of the best actors available for this film. Freddie Prinze, Jr., reprises his role as James from the games. Prinze’s acting talent has been debated over the years, but in this film, his voice acting is superb for the character. He is able to properly bring out the emotion and determination that the character possesses.
The film was shown in a world premiere at Anime Weekend Atlanta and will not be available for public viewing until December of this year. It has a few flaws, but the script is solid, the animation is great and the story is good. If you are a “Mass Effect” fan, “Paragon Lost” will be well worth seeing despite the long wait.
(09/26/12 9:30pm)
Macon is a diverse city with a surprisingly rich cultural history. Many Mercerians, unfortunately, do not know much about this history. This may be because they are unfamiliar with the area, or they could be new freshmen who are fearful of crossing the bridge into Macon. Even if you are afraid to venture into Macon, there are a few people from its history that you should be aware of.
The most obvious Maconite a Mercerian should recognize would likely be Mercer’s very own alumna, Nancy Grace. Grace is a former prosecutor turned television host and a self-proclaimed proponent of victims’ rights. She is a polarizing figure whose comments in the media have won her as much praise as they have condemnation. Did you know that she was born and raised in Macon? She studied English at Mercer and intended on being an English professor. It was not until the murder of her fiancé, Keith Griffin that she went to law school. She has been the host of multiple television shows and has never been one to hide her opinion on a subject. This quality has led her to be a notable media personality.
Most people think that the Allman Brothers Band were from Macon, but this is not entirely true. Greg and Duane Allman originally formed the band in Jacksonville. They did operate from Macon for quite some time though. This was due to their signing with Macon’s Capricorn Records label. Despite the fact that The Allman Brothers Band are now known as one of the most influential rock bands of all time, their early work with Capricorn was not productive. It was not until the release of their “Live at Fillmore East” album that they became a hit. “Live at Fillmore East” is considered to be one of the greatest live albums ever recorded, and the version of their song “Whipping Post” from the album is also considered to be one of the greatest songs in rock history. It was during their involvement with Capricorn that they were based from Macon in The Big House. The Big House was where they would stay while in town and have other artists visit the area. It is now the official Allman Brothers Museum and is well worth visiting.
Richard Wayne Penniman is better known by his stage name, Little Richard. That’s right; Macon was the birthplace of the man that most people believe invented rock and roll, the music genre that defined a century. Think about that for a moment, our humble city produced the man who would go on to inspire countless other performers and contribute to the creation of one of the largest genres of music. It is difficult to even imagine the numerous accomplishments that can be credited to Little Richard. His frantic piano style and raspy vocals set him apart from any major artist that came before him. That, coupled with his charismatic performances, led him to becoming one of the first real music idols. Without him, there would most likely not have been an Elvis Presley or a Michael Jackson. His impact is definitely still around today.
Little Richard inspired another Maconite to pursue a career in music: Otis Redding. If Little Richard created rock and roll, Otis Redding perfected soul. Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia but moved to Macon at age three. His family struggled so Redding eventually quit school to help provide for the family. Through it all, Redding nurtured a love for music. He credited Little Richard as an inspiration for his love of music. Eventually Redding would get his big break by performing with Little Richard’s backup band. Redding went on to become one of the most acclaimed performers in history. His career never slowed before his tragic death in the plane crash that killed most of his band. He was 24 years old. “Dock of the Bay” was recorded just three days before the crash and was released after his death. It was the first posthumous album to reach number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts.
Much of Macon’s music history is due to the existence of Capricorn Records, which went under in the late 1970’s due to financial problems. Co-founder Phil Walden personally knew and aided singers like Redding and the Allman Brothers before and after the dissolution of his label. He went on to be the agent for Lynyrd Skynyrd and various other musicians. He even gave various actors their starts, such as Billy Bob Thornton. It could be said that Phil Walden was one of the most important people to ever live in this town. Without him, groups like the Allman Brothers probably would never have achieved the success that they did.
Now you see that Macon isn’t such a scary place after all. It has a wondrous and rich cultural history that is well worth exploring.
(09/26/12 9:24pm)
Known across the world as one of the most violent and controversial films ever made, “Battle Royale” is only now receiving an official U.S. release after 12 years. Attempts to release the film in the U.S. were halted due to beliefs that the film’s content would be too controversial following the Columbine shootings. It is also one of the most critically acclaimed films to come from Japan in the last 20 years, being one of the nation’s highest grossing films. Director Quentin Tarantino has even gone on record saying that this was his favorite film of the last 20 years.
The film takes place in an alternate version of Japan where every year a random middle school class is selected to compete in a broadcast battle to the death in order to quell the masses. More specifically, this is done to instill fear into the growing Japanese youth, who are becoming increasingly violent and delinquent. The film follows several members of a ninth-grade class as they are abducted from a school trip to a deserted island and forced to compete.
It is hard to speak of this film in modern context without also mentioning the recent success of “The Hunger Games,” which has an extremely similar plot. There are crucial differences between the films, the first being that the film is set in modern Japan instead of the future setting of “The Hunger Games.”
The characters of “The Hunger Games” have sponsors who arrange for them to receive aid; in “Battle Royale,” each kid is given a bag containing a piece of bread, two bottles of water, a map and a random weapon, which could range from a shotgun to a pot lid. The kids in the Hunger Games spend a large amount of time training and preparing for their fight. In “Battle Royale”, the kids are released onto the island less than ten minutes after finding out that they are going to be forced to kill their friends.
That brings me to the biggest difference between the two: the kids in “Battle Royale” have been classmates since the seventh grade and many are going to have to face their friends in fights to the death, all while being monitored by the seventh-grade teacher they abused years earlier. Despite the dark content, the film has a strong grasp on when moments of dark comedy are appropriate. At times, it is shocking how quickly moments of joy and levity transition into horror.
“Battle Royale” is an engrossing movie that focuses on how average school students would react while placed in such a harsh setting. The actors portraying these kids do a great job, and only one or two of the forty students turn in a mediocre performance. The main villain, Kitano (played by veteran actor Takeshi Kitano) plays the class’s seventh-grade teacher and he steals every scene. Kitano adds depth and a comedic touch to a character who watches his former students fight each other to the death. Despite knowing of the horrible things he is condoning, it is hard to actually dislike his character.
Despite its outward appearance as a violent thriller, the film has many well-developed themes. Both “Battle Royale” and “The Hunger Games” deal with media exploitation, but that is not the core theme of “Battle Royal.” “Battle Royale” is about the struggles of the youth of today trying to survive in a modern industrialized world. Just as the students in the film compete for the right to live, the youth in Japan fight to survive in the competitive job market.
The film uses the loss of innocence though violence to illustrate the idea that Japanese children are losing their childhoods and are instead being exploited as a commodity by a harsh and brutal society. The film is difficult to watch at times, but the violence does not detract from the overall message of the film. The story is well thought out and well told. There are few flaws with the film and I can easily give this film five out of five stars.
(09/26/12 8:59pm)
Mercer University’s academic excellence was recognized on a national scale by the U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Mercer high on its lists of regional universities.
The most notable ranking is that Mercer was named the number one best value school in the South. Mercer was also named the seventh best university in the South and the University debuted at sixth place on the list of “Up and Comers.”
According to the U.S. News & World Report, Mercer was named fifth most ethnically diverse university in the South.
In addition, Mercer’s School of Engineering was named as the 44th best undergraduate engineering program in the nation.
Mercer Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President for Marketing Communications Larry Brumley, feels that this is a sign that Mercer is being recognized by its peers for its accomplishments. Brumley explained that the U.S. News surveys are the result of subjective reputational surveys that are sent out to academic officers and university heads such as President Underwood.
The people who receive the surveys rank the other schools in their region. Mercer’s high ranking in so many category shows that the school’s reputation is spreading. This is especially evident with Mercer’s placement on the list of Up and Comers. This list is purely subjective and is based on which schools the voters feel are doing the most interesting work.
Other, more objective data is used as well. This set of data includes academic scores and admissions statistics. These statics are gathered by the Department of Institutional Research. Sarah May, the Director of Institutional Research explains that her department takes the various data and statistics about Mercer and compiles them into collections of data called the Common Data Set. The CDS is then given to various college guides and surveys that express an interest in Mercer’s statistics. For instance, the CDS shows the ethnic diversity of the campus, which was the criteria for Mercer being voted as the fifth most ethnically diverse in its region. She explains that because 64 percent of the student body are minorities, Mercer achieved a high rank.
The objective academic data is combined with the surveys and the net cost of the school to determine the best overall value. Mercer is number one in best value in its region. “This is all due to President Underwood,” Brumley explains, “he has worked hard to keep the tuition increases as low as possible.” In the tough economic times, President Underwood is trying to keep Mercer as affordable as possible, despite other schools rapidly raising their tuition rates. The best value score was reached by taking Mercer’s overall score of 82 out of 100 and comparing it to the cost of tuition.
The final ranking that Mercer is in is the Top 50 Undergraduate Engineering programs, where Mercer ranked at 44th. This is another great honor for Mercer as there are many highly competitive Engineering schools in the same category as Mercer. Dr. Wade Shaw, Dean of the Mercer School of Engineering, is pleased that the faculty and students hard work in engineering is being recognized. When asked about why Mercer placed as high as it did in the list, Shaw said that he felt it was because, “Our programs interest people.” He cites the amazing work that the students have done through various Mercer on Mission projects, as well as the work they do in various fields, such as prosthetics.
One reason that he feels is essential for the Engineering School’s success are the students themselves. He credits the hard work and student Honor programs with how well Mercer has been recognized. Part of the Honor program requires students to present their work at conferences, further spreading the name and accomplishments of Mercer. He is also quite pleased with the fact that companies are actually approaching Mercer looking for students to hire. He estimates that within four to six months of graduation, roughly 80-90% of graduates from his department find work. This is not counting the numbers that attend graduate schools. This is an excellent rate of employment, and their accomplishments reflect well upon Mercer. “We don’t try to over promote,” he says, explaining that word of the School of Engineering gets out through the accomplishments of the students. Despite the feelings of satisfaction that obtaining such rankings may give, not all reactions to the rankings have been positive.
“I’d honestly prefer if the scores would just go away,” Brumley admits. Brumley adds that he is glad that Mercer has done so well in its ranking, but he does not feel as though these lists should be used as “measures of the quality of the school.” He feels that such lists only serve to commoditize education and there are more criteria that should be taken into account. “Just because a school has a lower rank does not mean that it is a bad choice for a student,” it may still fit their needs in other regards. Brumley takes pride in the diversity of American education, saying, “American higher education is a world leader due to its diversity.” The ranking system takes away from some of that diversity. “They should be taken with a grain of salt,” Dr. Shaw says, pointing out that the lists are not linear. While the School of Engineering is at the 44th position, there could be several other schools that share this spot. Both agree that the school should not be judged in a list but instead be judged by the accomplishments of its students and alumni.