Pulse Editor
Jacquelyn Lewis
jacquelynlewis@dcdlyemerald.com
Thursday, October 24,2002
OregcnDailyErrerald
On Tuesday
Don't eat me!
The Pulse editor
attempts to
create a culinary
masterpiece
Filtered
culture is
far from
liberty
For some stupid reason, mankind is
gallivanting around calling this period
in human existence “the information
age,” as if we are any less confused
about things now than we were when
we ate mites off of each others’ backs.
It’s damn hard to make sound decisions
or be sure of anything anymore, and
that’s the only thing that makes sense.
Unfortunately, culture is now being
delivered to us via giant corporations
with little concern for empowering
the polity. We live in a society that
looks for under
standing of its
fellow man not
through our own
compassion and
commiseration
or through his
feelings or
thoughts. In
stead, it judges
by that man’s
purchasing
decisions.
To para
phrase cultural
critic Thomas
Frank, many
people fancy themselves too savvy
to be duped by advertising, but ad
vertising works at such a deep level
that we often underestimate its pow
er for shaping consciousness and
identity.
Many Americans, overcome by the
inanity of commercial culture, fail to
see what real cultural exchange can
bring to a society.
Recently, Paul Wolf and his col
leagues presented a report —
“COINTELPRO: The Untold Ameri
can Story” — to the U.N. High Com
missioner for Human Rights. The re
port detailed the atrocities
committed by the FBI against social
and cultural movements during its
Counter Intelligence Programs
(COINTELPRO) regime known to
exist from 1956 through 1971.
FBI agents infiltrated hundreds of so
ciopolitical movements and organiza
tions. The agency worked tirelessly to
create factions within groups using vio
lence, disinformation and scare tactics
to quell movements around the coun
try. The report quotes a former COIN
TELPRO Internal Security Branch
Chief saying that one of the main goals
of these programs was “penetration of
specific channels of American life
where public opinion is molded,” and
to prevent it from having “influence
over the masses.” This lends legitima
cy to the idea that culture is the lens
through which we view and identify
with the rest of the world.
Programs like these possibly still
exist, but now the FBI has a little
more help. Commercial culture
serves as a preemptive assault on po
tential movements by dividing and
pacifying the public. Instead of cul
ture creating an active, passionate
. Turn to Bechard, page 10
Joseph
Bechard
Cultural
Obstetrician
My House or yours?
The basement club features film,
music and a forum for creativity
Aaron Shakra
Pulse Reporter
If it wasn’t for the bright red sign
outside 1136 West Fifth Ave., My
House would be as inconspicuous as
any other home in the neighborhood.
However, on a given night, there is
likely to be music, films and artists
lurking within its walls. And the
neighbors don’t even complain.
My House is the brainchild of Marc
Moscato and Jesse Garlick, and it’s lit
erally a basement. It opened in March
and has played host to a variety of un
derground and independent perform
ers. All ages are welcome at the events.
“It’s not really about partying — it’s
about art and culture,” Moscato said.
Next up on the schedule is “Lost &
Found: A Weekend of Found Films” on
Nov. 1 and 2. The films were shot in a
variety of formats: 8-millimeter, Super
8-millimeter, 16-millimeter and regular
old VHS. Some consist of loops and
stock footage sewn together—notably,
one entitled “Election Collectibles.”
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; each
show starts at 8 p.m. There will be
live music accompanying the films on
Friday. The suggested donation for
“Lost & Found” is $3. Money raised at
every My House show goes directly to
the artists. In the house’s short-but
busy history — 16 shows — no ad
mission price has exceeded $5.
Moscato, a University arts and ad
ministration graduate student, coordi
Turn to My House, page 8
Courtesy photo
The My House founders have embraced DIY principles to make a venue for independent and underground performers.
J
Cellist plays Bach in unlikely venues
Courtesy photo
Cellist Matt Haimovitz will be visiting E_ugene as part Qf his JBach "Listening Room" tour.
Matt Haimovitz opts to play
cello in intimate settings;
he will perform Friday night
at Sam Bond’s Garage
Helen Schumacher
Pulse Reporter
Bach will be coming to a bar
near you this Friday, when ac
claimed cellist Matt Haimovitz
performs the composer’s work at
Sam Bond’s Garage.
The Israeli-born musician is vis
iting Sam Bond’s as part of his
Bach “Listening Room” Tour. In
an effort to diverge from the for
mality of classical music,
Haimovitz is playing Bach’s first
three Suites for Cello Solo at tav
erns, jazz clubs and coffeehouses
instead of the symphony halls
where one might usually expect to
hear this type of music.
Haimovitz is touring to promote
his new album, “6 Suites for Cello
Solo,” which was released on Oxin
gale Records — an indie classical la
bel Haimovitz and his wife started.
Haimovitz said the “Listening
Room” tour gives classical music
fans an opportunity to experience
the music up-close and personal, as
well as giving those who aren’t fa
miliar with the genre a chance to
. listen without feeling self-conscious^.
“The music that I’m playing is
really very intimate, subtle mu
sic,” Haimovitz said. “I usually
play 2,000 or 3,000 seat concert
halls. In such spaces, it gets lost,
this music.”
He said Bach’s compositions are a
good doorway into classical music.
“Bach’s cello solos are some of
the most profound music. More
than that the show is a wonderful
way to be introduced to the music.
It has such a more human aspect
to it and is just as raw as anything
in the rock idiom,” he said.
The tour has even brought 31
year-old Haimovitz to the most
unlikely of places — the leg
endary New York City punk rock
club GBGB.
“It was an amazing place. I fell
in love with it,” he said. “It felt
right to present something that’s
never been done before.”
Haimovitz’s performance should
be a treat to classical music listen
ers sick of stuffy, formal concert
halls and an occasion for non-listen
ers to broaden their aural horizons
in a less-intimidating atmosphere.
The show is this Friday at 9:30
p.m. Tickets are $10.
Contact the Pulse reporter at
-helenschumachet@daiJyemerald.cQra.j