Pulse Oregon Daily Emerald Thursday, February 24,2005 “The arts are an even better barometer of what is happening in our world than the stock market or the debates in congress. ” Hendrik Willem Van Loon | Author and Illustrator Arthur Miller's 1950s play "A View From the Bridge" explores themes of trust and loyalty, which Miller struggled with Kpl m p sgs? BY JOSH LINTEREUR DAILY EMERALD FREELANCE REPORTER Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Arthur Miller, who died Feb. 10, once told New York Times critic Mel Gussow he thought he'd be remembered most for having created "some good parts for actors." Pushed by Gussowto offer a more definitive statement on what separated him from his peers, Miller said, "My plays are dealing with essential § dilemmas of what it means to be human," Miller's penchantfor creating potent char ,11,;;; acters who probe the predicaments of the human condition was cemented overtime by two of his most well-known plays, , "Death of a Salesman" and "The Cru cible." In "A ViewFromthe Bridge,” which opens this Friday at the Robin son Theatre, Miller's notable dexterity reached similar heights. Set in a mid-1950s tenement of llllt Brooklyn, the play tells the story of |S|* an Italian longshoreman with *.■ '' . incestuous desires for his niece. ■ v - ■fli uHl desire quickly turns into jealousy, ■ causing him to betray his family BRIDGE, page 10 during the McCarthy era Photo ii i ustration by Bret Furtwangler ' $ -> 11 i| ■ In my opinion AMY LICHTY POP ROCKS Talentless twits get all the attention Magazines such as Us Weekly and television shows such as VH1's "It's Good to Be..show case the lives of celebrities, from the expensive couture jeans they wear shopping to how much they pay for their flawless skin. Celebrities such as Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Lindsay Lohan and the Hilton sisters are plastered all overthe pages of the tabloids every week and have be come such a huge part of pop culture that you can't even turn on the TV, radio or go into a gro cery store without being bombarded with some aspect of their "private" lives. What I don't un derstand is why society puts these talentless people on pedestals. I'll be brutally honest: I cannot stand Jessica LICHTY, page 9 PULSEMUSIC PULSEMUSIC American Hi-Fi, "Hearts on Parade": American Hi-Fi's third release, "Hearts on Parade," borders on cheesy but contains enough thoughtful lyrics and catchy rhythms to make it a keeper. Some moments create flashbacks of the bubbly '60s-style title track from the film "That Thing You Do!" while others have the quality of Weezer's first album. Romantic disdain and frustration is a common theme in the songs. "The Geeks Get the Girls," a cute tune about a perfect world where all the losers and freaks are the ladies' men, is soon to be the theme song for Ashton Kutcher's new MTV show "You've Got a Friend." "We Can't Be Friends" and "Where Did We Go Wrong?" are about breaking up, but the drumbeats and guitar and bass notes keep bumping along, which gives the songs an upbeat feel. "Some thing Real" is a bit slower, yet has a catchy back beat. More serious and poetic, it's a song that evokes the emotions of lost love. "Hearts on Parade" will remind you of carefree days full of surfing in the sun or gallivanting in the car with friends at night. Some songs will make you want to get up and dance, others will wantto make you sit back and listen, but each one has a rocking, rolling beat. American Hi-Fi is currently premiering its newtunes on its national Bowling For Soup tour, which continues until mid-April. The album hits stores March 29. — Natasha Chilingerian INSIDE PULSE 1 The Strand brings together a disparate group of businesses to create a hip night spot. installment of Cat Baldwin's "Heads up Penny." Local hair salons offer new styles for the upcoming spring season. Thursday Kelly Thibadeauxand David Brock Duo Sam Bond's Garage 9 p.m., $3 to $5 Cajun fiddle music Friday Americanistan Cafe Paradiso 8:30 p.m., $5 Mediterranean and Middle Eastern style music Saturday CultureClash WOW Hall 8 p.m., $12 advance, $15 at the door Native American hip-hop and reggae festival Sunday Academy Awards Ceremony Bijou Art Cinemas 5 p.m. ,$10 advance, $12atthedoor Event sponsoring Muscular Dystrophy Association and Darfur relief TOP 5 MOVIES 1: "Hitch" 2: "Constantine" 3: "Because of Winn-Dixie"" 4: "Son of the Mask" 5: "Million Dollar Baby" NEWYORKTIMES BEST-SELLERS 1: John Grisham, "The Broker" 2: Dan Brown, "The DaVinci Code" 3: Mitch Albom, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" 4: J.D.Robb, "Survivor in Death" 5: Michael Crichton, "State of Fear" BILLBOARDTOP 5 1:3 Doors Down, "Seventeen Days" 2: The Game, "The Documentary" 3: Green Day, "American Idiot" 4:BrianMcKnight, "Gemini" 5: Various Artists, "Totally Country Vol.4"