‘Change’ gives partisan advice

Article published in The American University Eagle on November 15, 2009. The article can also be found at http://www.theeagleonline.com/scene/story/change-gives-partisan-advice1.

‘Change’ gives partisan advice
Generation Change: 150 Ways We Can Change Ourselves, Our Country and Our World
GRADE: B

     You’re young, politically-inspired, electronically-savvy tweeters ready to change the world. According to Jayan Kalathil and Melissa Bolton-Klinger, the authors of “Generation Change: 150 Ways We Can Change Ourselves, Our Country and Our World,” you are “Generation Change.”
     The authors joined forces while working together at VH1,Kalathil in public affairs and Bolton-Klinger, a writer-director with a film background, on the creative side.
     “We were both inspired by President Obama’s election, but more so we were inspired by the movement that it created with young people,” Kalathil said. “Watching him connect with younger voters and young Americans in general and watching them get involved in the political process — it showed that with the right message and technology, people can really be galvanized and get on board with a political campaign and causes in general.”
     Bolton-Klinger was hoping that the book could jump off of the “change” platform that was touted during the campaign.
     “We were bombarded with change, change, change […] We’re hearing this message but when he gets elected — well, now what?” Bolton-Klinger said. “Maybe we can pick up the baton and not make change become another slogan, but write something so it can feel tangible.”
     The book reads like a guide of 100 tips — its very own SparkNotes.
     “The way we write it is very casual; the ideas are pretty universal to everyone,” Kalathil said.
     The book is broken into categories including mind, body and soul; neighborhood issues; the nation; fighting poverty; human rights and the environment. The book reads like a conversation, suggesting places for information dealing with whatever issue one may be interested in.
     The book is littered with quotes from President Barack Obama. The authors explain their inclusion that “peppered throughout we’ve added quotes from the president to keep you inspired.” Some tips cross the line between helping to change the world and becoming an Obama follower. While tips like learning how to cook, knowing what’s going on in the government and laughing and smiling more are tips we can all agree with, numbers 23, “Obamify Yourself,” and 85, “Send President Obama a Thank-You Note” seem preachy. Though this may alienate some conservative or apolitical readers, the goal of the book is bipartisanship. The authors wanted the book to be something everyone can take away from.
     “Granted we use the president a lot, but I think the ideas and issues we bring up don’t really fall under political partisanship,” Kalathil said.
     Bolton-Klinger noted that the tips are mostly accessible to everyone.
     “You should still read our book because [advice like] flossing is definitely bipartisan and we should be doing more of that,” she said. “I think change is something for everybody, not just liberals.”
     The best tip for college students is using their voice, according to Bolton-Klinger.
     “You have something you need to say more than anyone because this is a time in your life when you’re exposed to new things and have new thoughts and you can take advantage of that voice, and they should do that as much as they can,” she said.
     “Generation Change” outlines some great ways on how to become sustainable and how to research things one has always wanted to do. The boasting of President Obama can be overbearing, but if one can get past it, the tips and resources will help one achieve goals and connect with others on issues they care about.
     “We’re at a place in history where we can connect to each other and it has never been easier to get involved in a cause that interests you,” Kalathil said.

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Play shows ‘heart’ of war in Vietnam

Article published in The American University Eagle on November 11, 2009. The article can also be found at http://www.theeagleonline.com/scene/story/play-shows-heart-of-war-in-vietnam 

Play shows ‘heart’ of war in Vietnam
By Natalie Kirkpatrick
Eagle Staff Writer

     The American Century Theater’s performance of Shirley Lauro’s “A Piece of My Heart” exposes the human story that is typically left unexplored when telling the war element of Vietnam.
     Seven outstanding actors portray the truth about life in Vietnam, as depicted in oral histories told by 26 out of approximately 1,500 American women who recounted their experiences as civilian humanitarians, nurses and entertainers in Southeast Asia, in a play compiled by Keith Walker.
     Crafting plays about war can be quite difficult, as political biases are hard to ignore and keeping with the facts can be difficult. “A Piece of My Heart” tells the truth about these women’s experiences in Vietnam and their return to the United States, showing the good, the bad and the ugly. “A Piece of My Heart” highlights the real lives of women in Vietnam and not just the glory of volunteering.
     Vietnam is a war that society doesn’t want to talk about and the play does a good job of showing both the positive and negative aspects of the war while avoiding a political stance. Overall, the play educates.
     Stories from Holocaust survivors of World War II and experiences of slaves in the Civil War have been heard, but the stories of women who volunteered in Vietnam are ones shockingly untold until now.
     While all seven actors in “A Piece Of My Heart” had individual story lines, the other six acted as the outside characters in the others’ stories; no one character was stagnant or uninvolved throughout the play. The characters were aware of each others’ storylines and contributed to the personal connection in their histories. When one was in tears or in outrage, the others looked on and interacted, not maintaining their independent character. All actors had the unbelievable ability to change the inflection in their voice, the way they carried themselves and even break out into song. These performers are not just actors; they are talented singers, role players and dancers.
     The play was certainly not a comedy, but the hypocrisy of reality versus impressions led equally to laughter, tears and outrage. One character remembers when she was told to buy nice bras and panties because once she got to Vietnam trudging around in the dirt, she would forget what sex she was.
     The beginning of the play shows the eagerness of the women to help others, as well as their thoughts on Vietnam, up through the installation of the Vietnam Memorial and the war’s aftermath.
     The set, props and costume changes are all scarce and the costume changes are minimal, yet they offer a maximum output. The effect of using simple camouflage green and blood red are astoundingly powerful.
     Music was used as a transition with careful attention to content and context. Mary Jo, a southern performer who was sent to Vietnam to entertain the troops, acted as an onstage musical element, always keeping her guitar by her side. Having her on stage as musical accompaniment kept the audience involved in what was happening. During larger transitions, like before and after intermission, relevant music from the ‘60s played, including the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye and Janis Joplin.
     Since the performance moved from Virginia to the Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church on Massachusetts Avenue, the show will run until Nov. 21. The venue offers a personal and intimate connection to these actors and the stories of the amazing women they represent. “A Piece of My Heart” is a performance that should not be missed.

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Giraldo’s humor only worth time on YouTube

Article published in The American University Eagle on November 11, 2009. The article can also be found at http://www.theeagleonline.com/scene/story/giraldos-humor-only-worth-time-on.-youtube

Giraldo’s humor only worth time on YouTube
By Natalie Kirkpatrick
Eagle Staff Writer

MIDLIFE VICES
GRADE: C-

     If Comedy Central-affiliated comedian Greg Giraldo was aiming to offend every demographic possible, he has done so in his recent comedy CD “Midlife Vices.” Just rolling through his track list is an introduction to those he plans to attack, including fat kids, people who are homeless, old, female, Chinese, handicapped, gay, asthmatic or Puerto Rican — emphasis on the female.
     Newly-divorced former drug addict Giraldo indulges in a number of slightly (yes, slightly) humorous tirades in his June 2009 New York City Union Square Theater performance. According to Giraldo’s Web site, he has previously done work on Comedy Central’s “Root of All Evil” and “The Gong Show” in addition to appearing on multiple “Comedy Central” celebrity roasts. Maybe Giraldo should stick to that type of late night comedy — bringing his type of humor out in the light of day is just flat out distasteful.
     Recording his performance in NYC lent itself to the introductory section on jokes for New Yorkers, beacuse in New York, there are parades nearly every weekend in the summer, creating traffic jams throughout the city. Giraldo’s choice of focus was the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which he claims offered empowering messages to women like, “You’re never too fat to wear a tube top.”
     The snippets that are appropriate enough to be repeated to friends without being pummeled for offending mass groups of people aren’t worth the time spent on the whole disc.
     Giraldo touches on a lot of recently controversial subjects such as stem cell research, the economy, athletes and steroids and gay marriage. He discussed homosexuality and how he doesn’t believe it’s a choice, just as his attraction to women isn’t a choice.
     “I don’t choose it,” Giraldo says on the CD. “I happen to be attracted to women. It sucks, but I don’t choose it. Every 10 years or so I have to give all of my shit away and start from scratch,” he said, referring to his divorce.
     Giraldo’s bits are amusing if one enjoys laughing at others’ expense, but not funny enough to spawn audible laughter — unless discussing which animals would be fun to have sex with forces you to laugh (Koalas? Kangaroos? Let’s talk about it for three minutes in great depth — Giraldo does).
     His bit on the female anatomy is revolting. When he describes his thoughts the first time he saw a nude woman, it makes one want to shut off the disc. Though that part is contained in the first half of Giraldo’s set and the second half of his performance proved to be better than the first, it still does not warrant the purchase of the entire CD.
     Some of Giraldo’s comedy is somewhat entertaining, specifically a track entitled “Texting/Technology/Wall Punching,” which almost produces audible laughter when he grapples with new rainwater windshield sensor technology in cars. Apparently we’re too lazy to twist the windshield wiper stick, but we can still text and drive. This routine is worth a listen — but just find it on YouTube.
     Giraldo proves that he is capable of clean, inoffensive humor when he finds a Jamaican man asleep in the dead center of his audience in the middle of his performance. He then mocks the man and tells a funny anecdote from his trips to Jamaica. It’s the kind of humor one can get from sarcastic friends after a family vacation.
     Though some of Giraldo’s material is funny, don’t waste time or money picking up this CD. Finding the best of his skits on YouTube or searching blogs for his highest-rated routines is a better option — it’s just not worth the purchase.

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