Arts&Entertainment THE EMORY WHEEL
Tuesday, November , A&E Editor: Annelise Alexander (aalex22@emory.edu)
CAMPUS FOOD REVIEW
SPEAKER
French Filmmaker Speaks on Emotion By Fiona Zhao Contributing Writer Claire Denis, critically-acclaimed French film director, visited Emory University on Nov. 14 and 15 to introduce the screening of her most recent film “White Material” and discuss her filmmaking career in a Creativity Conversation. Praised as the best female filmmaker in contemporary French cinema, Denis has won numerous awards for her films, including “Chocolat” (1988), “I Can’t Sleep” (1994), “Beau Travail” (1999) and “35 Shots of Rum” (2008). Many of her films have been described as prismatic and elliptical, with long fragmented scenes focusing on visual and auditory elements rather than dialogue. Denis gave a brief speech to provide background to her film “White Material” (2009), which was followed by a Creativity Conversation in which she discussed the nuances of finding inspiration, scriptwriting and her personal aims in filmmaking. Denis first revealed that the inspiration for “White Material” did not emerge until she read a local news story regarding the political turmoil in post-colonial Africa, which focused on one individual who refused to evacuate despite repeated warnings. “[It] was not a film that I planned in any way,” she said. Denis said she began to wonder about this individual, “who maybe seemed blind to what’s happening because she believes that she is stronger than reality, and she believes that her stubbornness will be a shield to protect her.” This individual manifested into
See CLAIRE, Page 10
Austin Price/Photo Editor
The DUC ran a trial of a “Premium Night” from 8 to 10 p.m. last Wednesday, offering students high-quality food including steak at an additional cost. The meal offered a more upscale alternative to students’ typical meal at the DUC.
DUC Premieres ‘Premium’ Steak Surprise By Evan Mah Editor-in-Chief When I first came to Emory, my relationship with food was evolving. As a freshman, I was careless in a sprawling city, my appetite at the mercy of a cafeteria that closed at 8 p.m. and ran short of food an hour earlier. The Dobbs Market, more often called the DUC, was the unfortunate gooey center of my culinary
existence. Now, there is hope for future Emory undergraduates. Last week, the Dobbs University Center (DUC) tested new operating hours that kept the gates up until 10 p.m., instead of the usual 8 p.m. The kitchen also experimented with a “Premium Night,” during which students could have high-quality foods at the cost of one meal swipe, plus an additional $5.
I was skeptical when I heard “premium,” “DUC” and “additional $5” all in one sentence. And then when a DUC manager reportedly said that the food would be “higher quality than what you get at most restaurants,” I figured Pinocchio was running the entire operation. Come Premium Night last Wednesday, I walked into the DUC at 6 p.m. only to discover that the special meals would be served between 8
EMORY DANCE COMPANY
and 10 p.m. Maybe I missed a sign or email, but that was news to me. Two hours later, with my ticket in hand, I found a line of students waiting in front of the grill station. A DUC employee was asking students for their names and how they would like their steak cooked. Within 15 minutes, I had a 12 oz. N.Y. Strip covered in mushroom gravy and charred to a perfect medium-rare resting in front of me. The
verdict? Nom. Friends asked me whether the steak was worth the additional cost. As someone who once paid $80 for a bowl of soup, I sometimes question whether I’m the best person to make value judgments. But all things aside, yes — that steak was very much worth it, being as fine of a steak a meal swipe will ever get you.
See LATE, Page 10
MUSIC
Talented Student Musicians Dazzle By Coryn Julien Contributing Writer
Courtesy of Lori Teague
College senior Andre Lumpkin flips College freshman James LaRussa in “Of Kiltering,” a dance choreographed by Greg Catellier. The piece was just one of many in Emory Dance Company’s fall performance “Vault.”
EDC Adds Another Success to the ‘Vault’ By Annie McNutt Staff Writer So much more than a compilation of dances, Emory Dance Company’s fall performance “Vault” consisted of stomping, clapping and emphatic emotions conveyed in carefully constructed facial expressions — not your typical dance performance. Each piece in the compilation was choreographed by a member of Emory’s dance faulty, which was evident in the unique and different ele-
ments that each embodied. The opening dance, “Small Finale,” created by guest choreographer Monica Bill Barnes, began with students engaging in slow movements, then running around and stopping abruptly to add to the dramatic air. These abrupt movements were flawlessly juxtaposed by a soft, calm energy, which was in part created by the music. The second and most engaging performance of the night was “Of Kiltering,” choreographed by senior lecturer Gregory Catellier.
Containing only five dancers, the piece was simple yet intense. College sophomore Sarah Beach and College freshman James LaRussa, who at one point balanced a chair on his chin, were both outstanding. Beach moved with incredible fluidity and grace, while LaRussa was strong in each and every lift. He was also extremely talented at letting his body fall to the floor in a controlled way. The final dance “All is Well,” choreographed by senior lecturer George Staib, concluded with all the dancers
removing most of their clothing. This extremely unexpected choice contributed to the overall shock and awe, a seemingly intentional choice that was well executed. The dance started off with College junior Alex Lopez singing George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” The routine explored human emotions on a complex and intricate level. The dancers were smiling at times and frowning or very serious looking
See DESPITE, Page 10
The talented undergraduate music majors of Emory University’s Music Department lit up the stage Saturday night with engaging and masterful performances in a friendly battle to be named winner. The annual Concerto and Aria Competition featured 13 talented Emory students and a wide array of concerto pieces from the haunting tones of Sergei Rachmaninov to the exciting, bold notes of George Gershwin. Each performer played an entirely memorized movement from the concerto of their choice for the chance to perform with the Emory University Symphony Orchestra in March of 2013 or with the Emory Wind Ensemble in April 2013. All of the performers certainly had a presence on the brightly-lit stage of the Schwartz Center’s Emerson Concert Hall. The warm golden tones, lush red seating and the tall, rounded walls of the hall were an undeniably musical setting for the event. And the large, dramatic pipe organ reaching from floor to ceiling against the back wall caught a lightly chattering audience’s attention as they waited for the show to begin. There was a brief welcome and overview of the competition, but afterwards there would be no more speaking until the very end, when the audience was addressed in closing. Each sharply-dressed competitor entered the stage with nothing more than their instrument and an eager, slightly nervous smile. There was no introduction for any of the musicians; they simply began to play and let their music speak for them. College junior Hao Feng started the night off as he entered from stage left along with accompanying pianist Elena Cholakova. He seated
himself at the sleek black piano in the center of the stage and straightaway began to play. The powerful melody of Rachmaninov’s “Allegro scherzando” filled the hall as his fingers flew effortlessly along piano keys, presenting a strong challenge right at the beginning of the competition. His was only the start of a series of rousing piano performances. Carey Shi stirred the audience immediately with the loud, intense notes at the beginning of her rendition of Maurice Ravel’s “Adagio assai.” College senior Ally Costello closed her eyes and swayed in an almost trance-like state as she fluttered her fingers along the fluid, serene notes of “Adagio assai” as well. College sophomore Sophia Lu’s fingers moved so quickly and intensely along the piano keys in her performance of Camille Saint-Saens’ classic “Andante sostenuto” that at one point she lifted herself out of her seat as she played. Other instruments gained the spotlight as well. College senior Camilia Heninger demonstrated complex and seemingly flawless fingerings along the strings of her violin to Jean Sibelius’s virtuosic “Allegro moderato.” A gleaming silver trumpet blasted out the bold, triumphant notes of Aleksandra Pakhmutova’s “Concerto for Trumpet” as College senior Derrick Montgomery stood tall and proud center-stage. College sophomore Warren Ma’s performance of Charles Griffes’ “Poem for Flute and Orchestra” was alive with the light, flowing tones of the flute, and Dalton Corbin played his fingers quickly and skillfully along the body of his clarinet to Claude Debussy’s “Premiere Rhapsodie.” College juniors Vijay Balakrishnan
See THOMPSON, Page 10