April 16, 2003
rhe Clackamas Print
Prize-winning author comes to campus
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Robb
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California at Irvine, where he earned a/ “The Adventures of Kavalierand Clay”
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The Clackamas Print
Clackamas Community College is
set to host an evening with Michael
Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author
of “The Amazing Adventures of
Kavalier & Clay.”
The event, scheduled to take place
in the Gregory Forum, marks Chabon’s
first visit to CCC, an event organized by
the English department and paid for by
donations and fund-raising for the arts.
Bom in 1963 in Washington, D.C.,
Chabon grew up in Columbia, Md. He
studied at the University of Pittsburgh
before attending the University of
y
Master’s degree in creative writmg;
Chabon’s thesis his Master’s, a novel
about a young man coming to grips
with his sexuality, was later published
in 1988. “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh”
earned rave reviews from critics and
readers alike, and eventually became a
bestseller.
“It’s a very good choice of speakers
to bring here,” said David Mount,
English instructor and enthusiastic fan
of Chabon’s. “He’s very accomplished,
with impeccable credentials,” said
Mount. “But he’s also pretty down-to-
earth and funny, able to talk to and
relate with students.”
Mount uses Chabon’s latest book
as the text for his Comics & Literature
class, which is being offered for the first
time this spring. “Kavalier and Clay” is
the fictional story of two Jewish cousins
who create comic books during the ‘30s
and ‘40s, a time often referred to as the
“Golden Age” of comics, when
Superman was ruler of the comic king
dom, and the world was ravaged by the
war and genocide of Nazi Germany.
Clay and Kavalier do their part for
the war effort, fighting the Nazis on the
page with their costumed creation The
Escapist. Clay’s clever writing melds
well with Kavaliers intense artwork and
his natural tendency towards showman
ship. The result is a brilliant and power-
/A Mighty Wind' blows into theaters
Shadra Beesley
Editor-In-Chief
A landmark event is happening in
the lives of Christopher Guest fans
everywhere: the director’s new
movie, “A Mighty Wind,” comes to
theaters today. .
The cast in Guest’s latest work of
art is a delightful combination of the
casts from “Waiting for Guffman”
and “Best in Show.” The story
revolves around a group of traveling
folk singers, lead by Jonathan
Steinbloom (Balaban) on a tribute
tour dedicated to his deceased father.
Mark Falling, 18, attended a pre
screening of “A Mighty Wind” in
March. “Only a person with an IQ
above 100 would get it,” he said.
“Some parts were quite funny.”
The random, sarcastic humor that
exists only in movies by Guest and
co-writer Eugene Levy exhibits a
very unique quality due to the fact
that the movies do not have scripts.
Guest and Levy write a story, create
the characters and let the actors take
it from there.There are no rehearsals;
the movies are improvised.
Guest’s work is well known by a
large cult following, but sometimes
overlooked in the mainstream movie
market. He is best known for his
most recent film “Best in Show,”
released in 2000. The mockumen
tary gives a glimpse into the lives of
several quirky purebred dog owners
who prepare for and participate in
the annual Mayflower dog show.
Starring well-known actors includ
ing Guest, Levy, Michael McKean,
Parker Posey, Fred Willard, Jennifer
Coolidge and Catherine O’Hara, the
movie also gives plenty of screen
time to talented lesser-known actors
like John Michael Higgins, Michael
Hitchcock, and Jane Lynch.
Guest’s 1997 release “Waiting
for Guffman” is a hilarious film
about the making of a musical to
commemorate the 150th anniversary
of the city of Blaine, Missouri. The
“play within a film” contains the
same tongue-in-cheek documentary
style and loosly parodies “Waiting
for Godot.” Posey, O’Hara, Willard,
Guest, Levy, Linda Cash, and Bob
Balaban portray the main characters,
and share the stage with Matt
Keeslar and Lewis Arquette. While
McKean did not appear in the film,
he lent his talents through music; he
wrote all of the music and lyrics for
the numbers in “Red, White, and
Blaine,” the play Corky St. Claire
(Guest) produces for the city’s
sesquicentennial.
Guest’s first screenplay, “This is
Spinal Tap,” came out in 1984 and
was directed by Rob Reiner. “Tap” is
often held responsible for the birth
of the mockumentary style. The film
follows British rock band “Spinal
Tap” through 15 drummers and sev
eral “complete catastrophes” on a
tour of their musical career. Co-stars
Guest and McKean explore the
world of loud ‘80s rock through
carefully crafted musical numbers
such as “Sex Farm” and “Lick My
Love Pump.”
As if to try his hand at another style
of film, Guest directed “Almost
Heroes” in 1998. Starring Chris
Farley, his role as a trail guide in the
prairie caper/buddy movie was one
of his last. “Almost Heroes” does
CHRISTOPHER GUEST
Mockumentary director
plays folk musician.
not follow the style of Christopher
Guest’s other directoral pursuits due
to the fact that it contains cliché
humor and follows a script. The
improvisational mockumentary style
does justice to the genius that is
Guest like no other film style can.
“A Mighty Wind” is playing in
several theaters in the Portland
metro area. It is rated PG-13 for “sex
related humor,” according to
Hollywood.com.
South Ridge
Center
Standard Submarines
HALF
i2”$5.39
6”$3.75
Energetic Punk/Rap Show:
Who: Kottonmouth Kings,
Zebrahead, and Riddlin’ Kids
-This highly energetic show will
host bands who play better live
than on cd. You will have a
great deal more respect for all
of these bands after witnessing
their live performances.
When:
Friday April 25 9 p.m.
$20 through Fasttixx
Swing Dancing:
Who:Anyone who likes to dance
When:
Saturday April 19 7-11 p.m.
(Lesson is from 7-8 p.m.
Open dance from 8-11p.m.)
Where:
The Abernathy Grange in
Oregon City (right of 213)
$3 in advance or at the door
-For more info, contact
Elisha Totten at (503)-317-1238
HALO on the Big Screen
When:
Sasquatch Music Festival:
Who: Coldplay, Flaming Lips,
Call us at (503) 655-9070 /
FULL
Epic EVeNtS
Roseland Theater
(corner of 6th and Burnside)
1630 Beavercreek Road Suite J Oregon City, OR
ORDERS TO GO:
MICHAEL CHABON
Pulitzer Prize winner will
come to campus April 29.
fill bit of comic gold. Chabon’s trca
treat
__
.. characters
.
ment ______
of these odd
is nothing
short of superb, interspersing the dia
logue with characterisic wit while never
taking away from their dignity.
Mount anticipates that Chabon’s
broad appeal will help spark interest in
the event. With Chabon writing the next
Spiderman movie, on top of his already
cinematized 1995 book “The Wonder
Boys,” he has built a firm standing in
pop culture and the more conservative
literary circles.
Michael Chabon will visit CCC
April 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for
"general admission $7 for students. For
more info, call the English department
at (503) 657-6958, ext. 2284.
Where:
The Real Freshness is at Pogy’s Subs
Beavercreek Rd. Les Schwab
Fresh Baked Bread Daily
ÿ lllllllll M
Never made from frozen dough
Meat sliced fresh for order
/
Located in South Ridge Center
» «z. hhihi <imii i
1 • Ham, Salami, & Pepperoni 2 • Ham & Salami 3 • Cotto Salami or Bologna 4 • Ham & Turkey
5 • Ail Cheese
6 • Turkey & Salami 7 • Pastram
8 • Pepperoni
9 • Ham
10 • Salami
11 • Turkey
12 • Pastrami, Swiss, Kraut
13 • Pastrami & Salami
Jurassic 5, Modest Mouse,
Jason Mraz, Pedro The Lion,
The Coral and many more.
-More than 30 fantastic bands
of all styles will play on three
different stages at the most
spectacular venue ever.
Every day at 10:30 p.m. also on
Sat. and Sun. 9 a.m. - noon
$4 (what a deal and a half)
-Dream no more gamers! XBox’s
HALO (similar to Goldeneye) is
featured on on the BIG SCREEN
with full surround sound. WOW!
Where: Sandy Cinema 8
Frogz (a wild performance)
When:
★ Memorial Day Weekend*
Saturday May 24 all day (Gates
open at 11 a.m.)
$50 through Ticketmaster
Where:
The Gorge Amphitheatre in
George Washington.
(approx. 5-6 hours from CCC)
Camping is available
When:plays April 16 - June 1
Wed.,Thurs.,Fri. 7:30 pm
Sat. 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Where: The Imago Theatre
Ticket prices vary.
All seats reserved.
-For more info, call the Imago
Theatre at (503)-231-9581or
Ticketswest at (503)-224-8499.
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GREEN BERET?
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» So if you’re a high school graduate, between 18
and 30, interested in finding out how you can become
part of an elite group of proud professionals, call
Milwaukee Recruiting Station at 503-659-1525 or stop
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AN ARMY OF ONE