Houseparties music preview

Never heard of some of the bands playing at Lawnparties this week? Yeah, us either, or at least we forgot them a while ago. That’s why ‘Street’ has turned to Adam Tanaka ’10 (and YouTube) for a preview of what you can expect on Sunday.

 

New Found Glory –

Wow. A has-been pop-punk band playing Lawnparties? Who’d-a-thunk. Well, at least this year we’ve got someone who’s been on the charts this millennium; last time I checked, Everclear didn’t qualify in that department. New Found Glory (who will be performing at Quad) might ring a bell for its obnoxious 2004 hit “All Downhill From Here;” or maybe because your 13-year old brother’s rocking out to its beats in his bedroom. “Rolling Stone” describes the band as “simple.” Popmatters.com says “it's difficult to find new things to say about bands like New Found Glory.” But a reviewer on Absolutepunk.net calls them the “first band [he] ever fell in love with,” full of “pop-punk goodness”! Either way, expect tattoos, “attitude,” loud guitars and really whiny singing. Yeah!

Howie Day –

“You and I collide…” If you recognise this lyric, remember a bland, vaguely likeable slice of pop/rock, and want to listen to a musician with the awesome name of “Howie Day” (is he looking for Bowie comparisons or what?) then Quad might be your safest bet. Or, join Carol Dreibelbis ’11 in boycotting him: She says Howie Day is “so bad I change the radio station when he comes on.” You go girl! Show some attitude!

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Eve 6 –

Oh my gosh. TWO has-been pop-punk bands playing Lawnparties?! Something strange is happening here… But at least New Found Glory is still releasing records. Because according to allmusic.com, Eve 6 was dropped by their label, RCA, in 2004, and “announced they would be calling it quits” that same year. So what they’re doing here is anybody’s guess. Anyway, Karen Azani ’11 will be at Colonial supporting them. She “really like[s] that song ‘Tonight.’ Or maybe ‘Night.’ Or ‘Here’s to the Night’? I mean, it has the word ‘night’ in it. It’s a good graduation song.” I think you should take her word for it.



Sister Hazel –

Sister Hazel, who will be playing at Cloister, has been described as an “acoustic jangle pop band.” However, after listening to a few of their songs, I would say that Sister Hazel don’t really sound anything like your typical jangle pop bands; certainly anyone trying to compare them to the Smiths or R.E.M. is deaf, or very stupid. The Eagles, Hootie and the Blowfish, and bland country rock are the more obvious influences here, with a hackneyed sound pitched halfway between pub rock and alt-rock. Sister Hazel does have a bald singer though, so it does have something in common with R.E.M.! Expect a rendition of their big single, “All For You” – not to be confused with Janet Jackson’s 2001 hit of the same name.



Gonzo’s Nose –

This band is called Gonzo’s Nose. It’s a cover band. With the trend of this year’s line up, they’ll probably be doing repeated renditions of “American Idiot,” with maybe a bit of Fall Out Boy thrown in to spice things up. Or maybe the band got lost at Charter on the way to a seven year old’s birthday party. Who knows, with a name like Gonzo’s Nose, we might be in for group renditions of “Baa Baa Black Sheep.”

Ruby Suns –

Oh my lord! A band that formed less than five years ago is coming to Lawnparties? Well, it must be playing Terrace then. Combining sweet, psychedelic pop sounds with world music — which seems to be all the rage right now — the New Zealand-based Ruby Suns has been described by pitchforkmedia.com, in typically verbose style, as “nibbling at the edges of unfamiliar sounds.” Someone I know calls them “really, really good.” I don’t know who to trust. But I’ll be there, because the cover of their latest album has lots of nice, happy, bright colors on it. And nice, happy, bright music is good for a sunny Sunday. Let’s just hope it’s sunny. If not, you can go shed emo tears with New Found Glory…

The Walkmen –

Positively grandparents compared to the Ruby Suns, the five-piece Walkmen will also be playing Terrace on Saturday. Apparently nothing to do with the late-80s portable tape player, The Walkmen play a brand of scruffy, guitar-heavy indie rock that’s been compared to The Strokes and Interpol. And with their pared-down, aggressive sound, that’s not surprising. What’s stranger is that someone once compared the band to U2. That person was very silly.

On the Hunt

After my nine month-long senior year high school relationship ended with zero orgasms to my name, I unofficially declared myself an Orgasm Hunter. I was determined to use my newfound freedom and confidence as a woman to find men with exceptional sexual prowess to finally release the sex goddess I’d always imagined was inside of me. Freshman year, I refused to have sex with anyone, but of all the guys I hooked up with only one managed to get me off, and that was with months of practice. I dated that guy, Adam, for all of sophomore year, and when we broke up, I was scared that it could be months or years before I found someone else who would be able to give me what I wanted again. Post break-up, my hookups were pretty frequent and consistent, but with the exception of one chemically enhanced fluke and more recently, my boyfriend Rob*, my only source of orgasms had been my vibrator.

This is not to say that most of the guys that I’ve hooked up with over the last three years are horrible in bed and don’t know what they’re doing. To be corny, an orgasm is not something that someone else gives to you — you have to, to a certain extent, take it for yourself. I firmly believe that I, like most women, will never have an orgasm purely through penetration; however, when it comes to cunnilingus, I now know that I’m not incapable. Just as a guy needs to have some basic technique or skills down in order to be “good” at giving head (or fingering, or having sex, or anything), none of it means anything if I’m not into it. During some of my first experiences with oral sex, I just closed my eyes tightly and hoped that it would work. I put so much pressure on myself; I would literally try to convince myself “this feels good, you should like this, ENJOY THIS, DAMNIT.” I soon discovered the power of fantasizing during oral sex, and it enhanced my experience considerably. (My favorite fantasy is an office scene; My employer can’t get any work done because he’s distracted by my inappropriate work dress, so he teaches me a lesson…) I’ve learned a lot about the things I like, the things I don’t like and how to explain what I want, but that doesn’t guarantee me an orgasm. After my breakup with Adam, I finally knew that I wasn’t a mutant, I knew it was possible, but it just wasn’t happening. The one time I came with Ethan* — a “revisit” from freshman year and jackass supreme — I was high and could literally feel my inhibitions melting away. I’d been thinking of sexual encounters like a science project with a natural progression: First came the kissing, then came the touching, then the shirt, then the bra and if he was lucky, off came the underwear. That night, I felt an urgency I’d never felt before, I found myself desperate to get naked and jump straight into things, but my sober brain said “no, it’s not time yet.” My altered state assured me that if I wanted to do something, I should do it, because it’s about pleasure. For the first time, instead of doing things they way I thought they should be done, I did things the way I felt they should be done, and it led to a fantastic orgasm. I hooked up with Ethan again days afterward, and once again, we were in the no cum zone. It wasn’t him and his technique, it was me and my ability (or inability) to let go with him.

What I’d learned about Rob through our quickly and intensely developed friendship very much encouraged my desire to become physical with him. Upon explaining to him that I’d met a guy who refuses to eat girls out, he simply replied, “that’s dumb.” When I explained to him how hard I was to please in bed, he assured me that his ex had been the same way and that it was just a matter of practice. When I asked him one cold December night what he was like in bed, he told me about how he likes to take his time, tease and be teased, and make sure that he makes his partner feel amazing. I literally pounced on him 30 minutes later, certain that I’d found the guy who was going to give me my next orgasm. That first night, we hooked up for eight (!) hours. It was almost 5 a.m. by the time his tongue found its way to my clit, and I could tell that he was exhausted. I just couldn’t enjoy myself knowing that, so I told him, “it’s okay, maybe some other time.” I didn’t have an orgasm that night but for the first time, I didn’t mind or care. It had still been the most sexual, sensual, pleasurable encounter I’d ever had up to that point. Months later I can still remember the way his hands felt on my waist, the electricity that coursed through my body as he teased me, and the sensation of his lips on my neck. Never had I felt so focused on what I was feeling, or so open to being pleasured for the sake of pleasure instead of reaching some distant goal. We hooked up again the next day, and I came in even less time than usual.

Sure, I was just looking for another orgasm when we started, but I ended up with much more. Besides the fact that we’ve been dating for months now, the experience made me realize that my problems were not physical, but emotional. I was having trouble having orgasms with men before simply because I didn’t feel safe or comfortable with them. I didn’t recognize it at the time, but now I firmly believe that that’s the real reason. Even after I’d learned to lay back and fantasize, I was still anxious about the men between my legs. Not only did I worry about whether I looked okay naked or if I tasted weird; I worried about whether they would become annoyed that I was taking so long to cum, that they saw oral sex as a chore, or that they may not be the nice guys I thought they were. I even worried about owing them something afterward, even if it wasn’t that great for me. With the men I felt little connection with, I couldn’t just sit back and enjoy. To be honest, I had always been only minimally physically attracted and severely emotionally disconnected from them. My lust never overcame my wandering thoughts.

I know this isn’t typical, and trust me, I’d love to be able to just have orgasms all over the place with anyone willing to offer them to me, but from my limited research it appears that I can only have orgasms with the guys with whom I end up in long term relationships. Perhaps my vagina has set up an intelligent internal selection process for me. Or maybe I just can’t let good cunnilingus go. In any case, it hasn’t steered me wrong yet. It’s taken me years to realize that despite my desire to be wild and play the field, random hookups just don’t work for me; perhaps with time and experience, that could change. I envy those girls who can cum at the drop of the hat with whomever whenever, but apparently (unfortunately?) that’s just not me.

Arzu Komili: What is a painting?

What is a painting? That is the question. The question first asked by Abstract Expressionists such as Rothko, de Kooning, and Pollock in mid-twentieth century America. And the question asked today, in the new millennium, by Arzu Komili, a senior in the Visual Arts Program at Princeton University. Arzu’s collection of paintings is unveiled today at 185 Nassau Street, exhibited throughout the week in the building’s entryway and inner room. They’re three-dimensional and explosive; they challenge the inherent qualities of painting such as form (flatness) and content (theme). 

Arzu explains: For my thesis show, I am undertaking a project that is much grander than my past aspirations, as I wish, not only to comment on the history of painting, but also of its presentation.

The talent illustrated by Arzu in her artwork mimics innovative artists of the past with similar ambitions.

Using both rooms in Lucas gallery, I plan to play them off against each other with the presentation of their contents. A duality will be established between "where" the paintings are located in both rooms.

Check it out. Lewis Center for the Arts, 185 Nassau Street, April 22^nd – 26^th. 10 am – 4:30 pm.

Second photo taken by Ed Greenblat, courtesy of Lewis Center for the Arts' website: from http://www.princeton.edu/arts/events/archive/paintings-arzu/

No Sex for a Week!

Alas, my independent work is calling my name, and due by the end of the week, so no Sex and the Street this week. It will be returning next Wednesday. In the meantime, I'm curious as to what kinds of topics YOU would like to see me explore here, so feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions/questions. Don't be shy; in my eyes, there's pretty much nothing that's too taboo to talk about.

xo, Ms. SatS

Transforming 185 Nassau into a Greenhouse: The Art of Jessie W. Thompson

The past few days have been extraordinarily busy for Jessie W. Thompson, a Molecular Biology major at Princeton. Saturday and Sunday were spent at 185 Nassau Street, hanging the collection of paintings that comprise her senior thesis in Visual Arts. Today, Jessie adjusted lighting and received the final word from her advisor. Saturday, Sunday and today were spent in anticipation of tomorrow, when her exhibition opens and the department critiques her work. Although it’s been difficult for Jessie, juggling her environmental microbiology thesis with her show at 185 Nassau, she looks forward to unveiling her artwork to the public.

 

The artwork in Jessie’s show combines representational drawing with abstract photography with particular focus on black and the silhouette in paint. Each piece touches upon the interplay of emotional extremes: joy and morbidity, love and loneliness, pain and ecstasy. Jessie explains, “I’d like folks to see this as a playful and joyous exposition of personal matters.”

 

A major theme of her installation evolves around the concept of a greenhouse, what Jessie finds to be “the most peaceful, pleasurable and thrilling of places.” In a greenhouse, humans and plants coexist; unlike the “cement-ridden habitats” of today’s urbanized world, a greenhouse sanctifies the nearly extinct tropics.

 

A statement from the artist: This collection of paintings and drawings has been gathered from places, moments, lights, leaves and imaginings I've come across in travels between classes and between continents. They reflect on the complex modern relationship between humans and the natural world, the emotion of quiet moments, the wondrous liquid colors of paint and ink, and the intricacies of nature.

 

Specifically, I would like to show you how a pen companionably scratches in memory, a few moments alone with a night full of lanterns, and a scent peculiar to the air of a greenhouse.

 

Jessie’s show will be held at 185 Nassau Street until April 19^th (10:00 am to 4:30 pm).

Runway to Street

It's not so difficult to resist wearing white before Memorial Day, when yellow and black are such simple and chic substitutes. This look from Elie Saab is easy to recreate, and is the perfect way to embrace summer, without overcommitting to it. 

1) Carnaby Carryall, J. Crew: $250

2)Beaded Metallic Floral Top, Forever 21: $24.80

3)Blythe Black Shorts, sixonesix.com.au:$39.95

4)Guess Pumps, rafaello-network.com: $221.00

This look from Etro is for the girl, whom I like to call Urban Bohemian; artistic and romantic, but also driven and practical. There are certainly many of these types on Princeton's campus, and though this look is a little expensive to emulate, the bold statement it makes is well worth the price. 

1) Olive Lace Trim Corduroy Jacket, giannascloset.com: $47.35, on sale

2) Diesel Balboa Bag, Urban Outfitters:$175

3) Gold Triple Hoop Drop Earrings, Shop.com: $198

4) Eyelet Mini Skirt, Wetseal: $19.50

5) Flower and Animal Print Chiffon Silk Long Scarf, forzieri.com:$55

6) Tan Paisley Shoe, demandshoes.com: $79

Though I thought Princeton had exhausted my tolerance for orange, Hermes has managed to spice it up again, using purple as an accent color. I love this Spring look; not only is it comfortable, but it is also extremely versatile-perfect for either a picnic or a night out. 

1) Crescent Doctor Bag, Urban Outfitters:$39.99

2)Bright Colored Hot Short, Wet Seal: $16.50

3)BCBG Women's Sandy High Heel Peep Toe, amazon.com:$99.99

4)Orange Polo, Hollister:$29.50

5) Faux Suede Braided Belt, fredflare.com: $10

6) Shirred Tunic Tee, Newport News:$29.00

Hanake Horror

What does one do when another person infringes on your own rights? If you think about it, your right to privacy is a vague cloud that is prescribed by a law or regulation pre-agreed to by a couple of men around a table a few hundred years ago. If we take away the consequences (punishment and death) born from the act of harassing others, is there really anything that is stopping us? We are not physically but morally restrained to not carry out the act of walking down that aisle in Firestone and bashing someone’s head open with the Encyclopedia Britannica. Think about it. Nothing is really stopping you, apart from your fear of the repercussions. From the perspective of the person who has the potential of being bashed on the head by a perpetrator (anyone in the same room in fact, could likely walk up to you now and slap you on the face), is it not a scary thought that YOUR right is actually under the dominion of others?

Among many other things, “Funny Games” by Michael Hanake (a remake of his 1997 Austrian movie of the same name) intends to provoke this realization within its viewers. Extending beyond that, the movie also explores and downright condemns the Hollywood horror genre and its manipulation of the viewer’s emotions to provide entertainment. Yes. This movie is all about manipulation. Before I get ahead of myself, let me introduce the players.

The premise is simple. A nuclear family comprised of doting parents, Ann (Naomi Watts) and George (Tim Roth) and their son, arrive in their vacation home, only to be disturbed by two clean-cut youths (the ever cherub-like-and-yet-still-creepy Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet) wearing crisp white golf attire and matching gloves. They terrorize the family, to the point that they may or may not survive the night (why should I tell you their fate and rob away your pleasure of suspenseful movie watching experience which is clearly the director’s intention?). No frills, but loads of thrills.

I personally did not enjoy this movie. Because of this, Hanake was successful in the presentation of the movie as a didactic commentary on the Hollywood horror genre that feeds on sado-masochistic enjoyment. It is very clear that Hanake’s intention is to manipulate the viewers to be thoroughly entertained (or forcing them to have to buy new pants later) and then place them in a situation where the viewers realize their own sadistic tendencies. The director then berates the viewers with guilt, by employing Michael Pitt’s character as a vehicle that questions the audience’s morality. Pitt’s antagonistic character directly addresses the camera in the middle of gruesome acts, asking the audience: “Do you want plausible plot structure or entertainment?” and then reverts back to interrogating his victims. This breaking of the fourth wall that happens intermittently causes an unsettling moral questioning of the audience’s attitude when viewing horrific scenes on the screen. Are we aroused? Do we cheer and hope that the fictional protagonist would survive to see another day?

Watch this film (or its original) once in your life to understand the mental processes of Michael Hanake. And then never watch it ever again. It is thoroughly worth it and equally disturbing.

P.S. – Watch his other film “Cache”, a film that illustrates the paranoia surrounding the omniscient presence of surveillance cameras in our modern society and the misuse of this power, which carries the potential to instill fear instead of the intended comfort in our lives.

Carlos Jiménez Cahua: A Senior Re-discovers his Roots through Photography

Carlos Jiménez Cahua, a senior Chemistry major receiving a certificate in Visual Arts, considers himself Peruvian although he was raised in America. He was born in Perú, and there he discovered the foundation of his senior thesis. His thesis not for Chemistry, but for Photography. Carlos’s interest in art began after taking an introductory class in black and white photo with Accra Sherp during his second year. Art, unlike Chemistry, has allowed Carlos to unleash his creative impulses. He explains, “science is so rigorous, but in art there are no right or wrong answers.” Carlos’s inclination toward photography motivated him to complete his junior independent work early, enabling him to study abroad in Florence, Italy, at the Studio Arts Center International. This past summer, after being awarded the Lucas Summer Fellowship by the University, Carlos returned to Lima where he photographed its distinctive landscapes.

A statement from the artist: Whereas the people of developed nations affect the form and therefore identity of the land, the people of Lima quite literally merely scratch the surface – their relationship to the land is not one of dominance but of acquiescence. It is only in two dimensions that they can affect the land. They conform to the surface.

 

An exhibition of his artwork will be held at 185 Nassau Street beginning today, April 8^th, until the 11^th alongside the artwork of his classmate, Roxanne Martinez.

 

I’m interested in man’s development on the earth – the way he shapes and sculpts the landscape. He must have a relationship with the land in order to alter it, and I feel that connection is more intimate than usual in a place like Lima. The people quite literally live atop the raw earth.

 

See Jennifer Greenstein Altmann’s February 11^th article: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S20/11/02C56/index.xml.

 

Or check out a video of Carlos’s work: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/multimedia/player.xml?videopath=/main/news/archive/S20/19/01M78/index.xml&auto_play=true&section=mm-featured.

Freshman Formals

Freshman Formals were at Quad on Saturday and everyone dragged themselves away from their Problems Sets and Essays to dress up and head on over. Outfits ranged from Vintage to BCBG (a popular choice). But by far the most common response that evening was "I don't know who designed my dress..." Oh well, they managed to look good anyways! 

Here are some of the people who made an appearance. 

Alex Scheeter'11 and Isabel Pike'11

Jaewon Monica Choi'11 and Jin Chuang'11

Qingzhen Wang'11 in a homemade gown and Nithiya'11 

(from left) So Yeon Kim'11, Elizabeth Deir'11, Meredith Stafford'11, Elinor Willis'11, and Sarah Simons'11 in Jessica McClintock

Khameer Kidia'11 and Phoenix Gonzalez'11 in Vintage

Shannon Togava Mener'11 in BCBGand Zvi Smith'09

Sydney Egan'11 in Banana Republic and Janice Tiao'11

John Zacharias and Emily Reynolds'11

Hannah Valdez'11 in Vintage 

Brooks Yang'11 in Hemline

Justine Dremon'11

Kay Zhang'11 and Adam Tanaka'11

Fareed's Top 5 Summer Movie Trailers

Movie lovers like me are stuck in the worst time of year. We are between the Oscar movie season and that delicious time full of popcorn and soda known as the summer movie season. To spread some cinematic cheer, I decided to share my top five summer movie trailers. Let the procrastination begin!

#5 Wall-E


I'm not usually the biggest Pixar fan since underneath their pristine animation usually lies some fairly hackneyed messages (case in point-" Ratatouille"). Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this delightful trailer that combines Pixar's state-of-the-art animation with the charm of a silent film. Here's one CGI extravaganza that I just might catch a movie theater.

#4 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


I've always had a soft spot for the "Last Crusade's" humor sparked prominently from Indiana's repartee with Sean Connery. It looks like Spielberg has made sure that this film cracks with that same wit. Plus, we get a shot of a leather jacket-sporting Shia LaBeouf (best part of Transformers?), and a glimpse of the weighty action sequences that perfectly fit Harrison Ford's advancing age.

#3 Iron Man


The often drug addled Robert Downey Jr. has never really had a chance to shine in a leading role. How ironic then that the troubled actor plays Iron Man, the one superhero that actually has an alcohol problem. Downey Jr. uses his smarmy charm to infuse me the self-professed "merchant of death" with an undeniable charisma. Whether the big-budget movie is half as good as this enticing trailer, remains to be seen.

#2 Speed Racer


The filmmakers behind the "Matrix" Wachowski Brothers are back. Their new movie looks to be one of the trippiest blockbusters in recent memory. With its dazzling neon-colored aesthetic, this ambitious flick looks like the fantasies of an ADHD kid come to life. Alienating? Sure. Do the Wachowskis have my 10 bucks? Absolutely.

#1 The Dark Knight


Sometimes a trailer comes along that reveals little but shows how perfectly everything has come together. "The Dark Knight" exemplifies such a teaser. From the way he moves to how he licks his lips, the late Heath Ledger as the Joker has clearly created a terrifying vision of the Batman's arch-nemesis. A superb trailer that puts a smile on my face every time I see it.

Do you all out there agree or disagree with my picks? Is there a trailer that you want people to see? Also, I will soon be interviewing Jeff "The Dude" Dowd for the Street. Dowd inspired the Coen Brothers to create the Dude for their movie "The Big Lebowski." If you all have any questions that you want me to ask, let me know.
Keep watching those previews,

-Fareed