Bethany Larson

3-D TV: Good Idea or Bad Idea?

August 26, 2009

As everyone who doesn’t live under a rock knows, this December audiences will be graced with James Cameron’s (supposedly) fantastic non-animated 3-D film, Avatar. Apparently this film is exciting because it’s the first non-animated 3-D film. Seeing that animated 3-D films like Coraline and Up have been commercially successful, it is speculated that Avatar will be even more successful because of the reception that Cameron normally receives from audiences.

So to continue capitalizing on this 3-D frenzy happening in the film industry, the next logical step would be 3-D television, right?

Well, that’s what Panasonic has decided. According to an Associated Press article, Panasonic and their rival Sony are in the process of producing “flat-panel TVs that show three-dimensional images...” And, of course, these images would have to be viewed through those oh-so attractive 3-D glasses.

I will make is clear now– I’m not a 3-D fan (although I will admit that I did enjoy Up). Every now and then I think it’s kind of fun, (in Disney World, for example) but honestly, I don’t enjoy watching things pop out of a screen at me.

The argument Panasonic makes in favor of this ridiculous 3-D television is that it would be used to watch the growing market of 3-D films when they are released on 3-D Blu-Ray so as to maximize the 3-D viewing experience .The article does acknowledge that there is currently a scarcity of material to be viewed in 3-D, but it sounds that Panasonic is confident the 3-D phenomenon is here to stay. Panasonic has drunk enough of the 3-D Kool Aid and believe in the validity of their product so much that they will be setting up trailers screening Avatar on 3-D televisions all across the U.S. and Canada next month. They do this in the hopes of showing the public exactly how much they need a 3-D television so that they can watch Avatar (which won’t be released in theaters for another 3 months) when it comes out on 3-D Blue Ray. (Geez, how many times can I say 3-D?!)

Director James Cameron believes that 3-D will revolutionize how the audience experiences what they are watching because 3-D somehow makes it reality.

Now it’s time for speculation: if 3-D televisions are produced and are somehow successful, it is plausible that television series would then be shot in 3-D because there would be a market and a demand.

But is this a good idea?

I don’t think so. I disagree with Cameron’s idea that audiences like 3-D because it makes what they’re watching a reality. I think they like it because it’s a gimmick. Besides that, I don’t want television to feel like reality. That defeats the purpose of TV for me. I watch it because it isn’t reality. Even “reality” TV isn’t reality! Television is an easy escape. You just turn on your favorite show (or just randomly turn it on when you’re bored) et voila!, you’re watching new people in a new place doing new things that you, the viewer, are probably not doing while on your couch at home. It’s fantastic. And that’s why people tune in. Well that and they think someone on the show is attractive.

So, in my estimation, making 3-D television shows would be a huge mistake. It would defeat the purpose of television– we watch television because it isn’t reality.

Furthermore, who would actually want to wear ridiculous looking glasses that give you a headache while at home?

MASS MoCA Music Festival Review

August 18, 2009

The MASS MoCA Music Festival, held August 15, was my first ever music festival.

Before this, my idea of a festival was people laying around in the sun, taking their chances of getting heat stroke, most likely getting high, watching bands play 30 minute sets while being pushed around by the huge crowd that has amassed.
This festival wasn’t like that. Although it was hot and some people were laying around (and a couple were getting high), it wasn’t uncomfortable, claustrophobic, or disappointing. The line-up was Josh Ritter (the reason why I went), Ben Kweller, Kaki King, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, and Samantha Crain.

Samantha Crain, the opening act, kept telling the audience how nervous she was because she was playing without her band. It was annoying and pathetic. However, she has a voice that reminded me of Feist, whom I really like. She should just stick with singing and not talk to the audience.

Then came Elvis Perkins in Dearland. I had heard some really good things, but had never really given them a chance. Perkins himself sounds a bit like Buddy Holly mixed with the lead singer from Fleet Foxes, and his band, consisting of a stand up bass player, a drummer, and a guy who played the organ, trombone, and flute during the set, was a lot of fun to watch. During “Doomsday” they got the audience to form a circle and run around. (They thought it was appropriate since they were performing at a contemporary art museum…apparently people running is art.)

Next up was Kaki King. I’m not really sure what else to say. She was splendid. I Wikipedia-ed her and found out that she played all of the guitar parts in August Rush. Not gonna lie, I’m slightly disappointed that the little kid didn’t actually play….

Having seen Ben Kweller before (2006 at the University of Arkansas) I wasn’t super excited to see him, and to be honest, I haven’t really kept up with his career. Thusly, I was very confused when a steel guitar player came out. I really like his new “country and western” sound. It’s fun and fresh, actually. He’s cute little Ben Kweller with a quirky voice, lyrics, and personality, and he infuses that with an old-school country sound. It worked for me.

And then (cue drum roll) there’s Josh Ritter.

I’m a big, big fan of Mr. Ritter. I was crazy excited to see him perform live, since he normally doesn’t come anywhere near Arkansas. (That’s a big plus of moving to Syracuse–lots of bands tour near me) He definitely didn’t disappoint.

Never have I seen a performer who gets as much joy out of their craft as Ritter does. (Super easy to believe him when he sang “I’m singing for the love of it” in “Snow is Gone”.) He beamed the entire show, even when performing serious songs like “Girl in the War.” It was really cool to witness his enthusiasm and passion for his music in person. It was definitely contagious because the audience, who had been really low-key until Ritter’s set, stood his entire set, and started dancing and jumping and really getting into the show.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed myself, the line-up of artists, and my day at the MASS MoCA.

Side note…did anyone else know that people from Idaho sound Southern when they speak?

Guys & Dolls: A Review

August 11, 2009

On a drizzly Sunday afternoon, Syracuse Opera’s chorus members presented everyone’s favorite musical about gambling, Guys & Dolls.

Considering that it was free and I wanted to put off school work, I decided to go. I thought it would be interesting to see an opera company’s version of the musical. I regret the decision.

For starters, the musical, which was supposed to be presented at the Thornden Park ampitheater, was moved to a middle school’s cafetorium (I really hate that word), whose acoustics, heat and small stage probably made a difference.

The orchestra, conducted beautifully by Douglas Kinney Frost, was on the floor beneath the stage while the cast sat in chairs that lined the back of the stage. There were five microphones at the front of the stage–clearly denoting that his was going to be more of a concert than a staged version.

I thought to myself ‘I can handle that. Opera singers should be great. The music itself will be wonderful and it won’t make me miss the staging.’ But let’s be honest: Guys & Dolls is NOTHING without staging.

There was no set change or dance number during “Havana” or during “The Crapshooter’s Ballet”, which is a shame since those scenes are iconic. The Hot Box girls were neither sexy nor campy: they were just tragic. (They brought pitchforks, a stuffed pig and a shovel on-stage during “A Bushel and a Peck”….all irony was lost and not in an ironic way.)

Now, let’s talk about the voices. For the most part, it was pretty good.

The men playing Nicely Nicely Johnson, Benny Southstreet and Rusty Charley (Zachary Martin, Matthew Green and Alfonso Annotto) harmonized beautifully and played well off of each other during “Horse Right Here,” “The Oldest Established,” and “Guys and Dolls,” and generally lived up to the expectation of those characters.

Nora Fleming, as Sarah, had zero stage presence, but she did have the chops to sing the role. However, this was undermined by Matthew Vavalle’s horrendous portrayal of Skye Masterson. The man sang every note flat, which completely ruined “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” and made “Luck Be a Lady” unbearable. It got to the point where I was praying that he wouldn’t sing the song and would just let the orchestra play.

And then there was Susan Pearce as General Matilda Cartwright. She wore camo. I’m still appalled at this huge misrepresentation of the character.

However, betwixt the bad, there were some stand-out performances. Michael Connor and Susan Basile stole the show as Nathan Detroit and Adelaide. They could sing, had stage presence and cared both about their characters and their relationship with each other. Their rendition of (my personal favorite) “Sue Me” was lovely and tense all at once. They definitely did the characters justice and almost made me forget about the other horrible things happening throughout the show. Almost.

But, my absolute favorite person was Richard McKee, playing the Narrator and Big Julie. His spot on, exaggerated New York accent, dry humor and dubious glances were perfect. He encapsulated everything that is Guys & Dolls in his far too few lines and made me snort with laughter on several occasions. He was the reason I stayed in my seat after intermission.

I understand that this was a public service that the Syracuse Opera provided for the community of Syracuse, which almost makes me feel bad for being critical. But not bad enough.

Evil Smoke Alarm

August 9, 2009

Since moving into my Syracuse, N.Y. apartment about a month ago, my smoke alarm has gone off at least once a day.

At first it only happened while cooking. Being from the South, cooking with butter and oil has been ingrained in me; but after the extraordinarily loud smoke alarm would go off as soon as the butter or oil hit the skillet, I quit using it. This means my food doesn’t taste as good, but at least there isn’t crazy beeping. Or so I thought.

Now the smoke alarm will just randomly go off. Middle of the day, stove turned off, all windows down so that there’s no way smoke is coming in from outside, it will beep. And beep. And beep. LOUDLY.

The only way to stop the beeping is to suffocate the vent by wrapping a thick hand towel around it. And even that takes awhile to actually work.

When the random setting off of the smoke alarm began last week, I started wracking my brain for possible reasons why this is happening. And then it hit me.

My smoke alarm is haunted.

So, if anyone knows how to extricate a ghost from a smoke alarm, let me know. Until then, I’m going to put a piece of duct tape over the vent.

My Petition for Kings

July 26, 2009

Dear NBC,

I’m a fan. Truly, I am.

But, I need to have some words with you. I am a HUGE fan of your recently cancelled series Kings. It’s intelligent, poetic, well-acted, well-directed, and (yes, I understand) very expensive to produce. But, despite the expense and the not-so-stellar ratings, I would like to petition for this show to be uncanceled. And I think you should listen to me.

This show is lovely. It’s one of the most compelling series I have ever seen. It’s thought provoking, literary, religious, and chilling.You can hardly ever go wrong with Ian McShane, who is perfect as King Silas Benjamin. Eammon Walker is uplifting, prophetic, and brilliant as Reverend Samuels/the voice of God. I would watch a show with just those two characters! But, we can’t forget Chris Egan, who makes you believe that he TRULY is that brave, honest, loyal, and loving. Or the rest of the cast for that matter, whose subtlety makes the show worth watching.

The series (only advertised as season….are there plans NBC?) finale was the perfect set-up for an impressive second season that would no doubt receive better ratings if marketed properly. Hopefully DVD sales in September will prove to you the promise and vitality of this show.

I am a fan of some other series I believe should be resurrected (or at least made into a film to give some closure) but I would abandon my need for those renewals/films if Kings were to be renewed. I understand that this is of absolutely no consequence to you or your decisions. However, I feel that I have to at least speak (read: type) my mind.

It would behoove you to cancel everything except Heroes, 30 Rock, SNL, and The Office and to renew Kings. Make the right decision. Bring back Kings for a second season!

Sincerely,

Bethany