The University News

‘Hedda Gabler’ is impressive, if uneven, version of Ibsen’s classic

Jared Walsh • November 16, 2007

"Hedda Gabler" is the story of a spider. Everything and everyone who comes close to the spider becomes caught in her web. Spinning and twisting, controlling all that she touches, the spider is sick in the head. Cold and calculating, the spider manipulates everyone in her way.

Kevin Smith chronicles life in the fast lane, or lack thereof

Carly Doenges • November 16, 2007

Don't think the title is misleading-Kevin Smith's life really is boring. Not mind-numbingly, fall-asleep-in-class boring, but definitely not as glamorous as one would expect from a well-known Hollywood director. Smith's new book, My Boring-Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith (Oct.

Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden hope to gain following with new album

[email protected] • November 16, 2007

The name Kate Tucker & The Sons of Sweden can conjure up images of yodeling and goat-calls. For this Seattle band, however, mountaintops and farm animals couldn't be further from the truth. "I met [keyboardist] Nick [Danielson] when we both lived in the same building," Tucker said.

Comedian Demetri Martin booked for Fall Fest

Kelley Dunn • November 16, 2007

The Student Activities Board announced their headlining comedian for Saint Louis University's Fall Fest 2007: "The Daily Show" correspondent and "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" writer, Demetri Martin. "We think that this is a higher-touted comedian than we've been able to have in the past," said SAB Vice President of Public Relations Kristopher Priemer.

The Kite Runner causes worldwide stir

Kelley Dunn • November 9, 2007

Thank goodness for accidents. Homayon Ershadi never planned on becoming an actor. Born in Iran in the 1940s, Ershadi studied architecture in Italy and eventually went back to Iran, where he became a prominent architect. It wasn't until 1997 that Ershadi left the blueprints for the silver screen when Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami offered Ershadi the lead role in Ta'm e guilass, better known in the United States as A Taste of Cherry.

SLU museums get ready to celebrate the holidays

Kelley Dunn • November 9, 2007

Christmas is coming, and the signs are abundant. The bows around campus, garlands hanging from everything that can hold their fresh, pleasantly prickly weight, various light strands surrounding the Busch Student Center and the upcoming events being organized by Saint Louis University Museum of Art all serve as reminders of the upcoming holiday season.

Jay-Z preaches his own hustler’s gospel with news Gangster album

Tim Elliott • November 9, 2007

Jay-Z once compared himself to Pope John Paul II-all the rappers follow him-but Brooklyn's favorite son is probably closer to Peter the apostle. He's the foundation of the modern rap game, influencing, confounding and ultimately converting every rapper to release an album since 1997.

On the inside: And then I drank my pudding

Kelley Dunn • November 9, 2007

I judge people by what they drink. I don't mean to be snobby or pious by any means; I just find it to be a good measurement of one's personality-or, if nothing else, his or her current temperament. Drinks shape my mood, they dictate my surroundings, they affect my psyche to the Nth degree.

The Forms calmly put together musical masterpiece

Kristen Mommers • November 9, 2007

Like a piece of fine art, The Forms bring their listeners a fresh, inspirational masterpiece after a second swing in the studio. Crisp, clear and carefully constructed sounds send along melancholy vibrations capable of slowing down everything but time. The Forms bring much more than soothing sensations with their new self-titled album (Oct.

American Gangster pleases, doesn’t wow

Matt Wilhelm • November 9, 2007

American Gangster (Nov. 2, Universal) fulfills the definitions of the great American novel on the big screen. The film represents the spirit of American life and reflects on the state, culture and perspective of the common American citizen. Frank Lucas, played impeccably by Denzel Washington, is the protagonist working to make it big as the Ray Kroc of criminal business-creating a name brand in narcotics, whose cost to society is only relative to fast-food obesity.

mae I introduce you: The multisensory aesthetic experience explained

Kat Patke • November 9, 2007

At times, students just want to be rock stars . and, at other times, rock stars just want to be students. Don't believe me? mae guitarist Zach Gehring said that he thought it would be fun to go to school without any particular goal or restrictions, to be able to "just kind of learn and learn until .whenever," he said.

Shooting War hits and misses

Tim Elliott • November 9, 2007

Picasso's famous anti-war painting Guernica is an example of how current events can inspire art that comments on politics, without seeming like a piece of "message propaganda." Shooting War (Nov. 19, Hachette), an original graphic novel from author Anthony Lappe and illustrator Dan Goldman, makes a similar attempt to straddle the fine line between art and commentary.