WSN040413

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 33

THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2013

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Tisch senior fuses art with statistical data

By MADELEINE OVERTURF

A new field of art that combines statistical data and creative presentation is on the rise, allowing viewers to connect with information in an innovative way.

“We are drowning in information, and we can’t keep up,” said R. Luke DuBois, assistant professor of integrated digital media at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU. “Just as data visualization helps us make sense of the ‘facts’ of our world, art made with data lets us look critically at those ‘facts.’”

Doug Kanter, a senior in the Tisch School of the Arts Interactive Telecommunications Program, has used this methodology with his project Databetes. Kanter has been battling diabetes for 26 years and is currently working on a software program for people with the disease. He is currently a semi-finalist in the Stern Entrepreneur Challenge, where he could win a $200,000 grant.

Available for computers and mobile devices, Databetes is inspired by Kanter’s 2011 artwork “Databetes 7729,” which visualizes all 7,729 of his blood sugar readings from November 2011. The app’s tools

By LESLEY GREENBERG

COURTESY OF DOUG KANTER

Kanter uses the stripes of the American flag to graph American casualties in the Iraq war. include a network of fellow diabetics as well as colorful visualizations that make blood sugar levels easy to read.

“Medical information has historically been horribly presented,” Kanter said. “I’m really interested in tools to help patients directly because we just don’t have access to

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: REPRESENTING THE ROMAS OF THE HOLOCAUST:

NYU visiting speakers discussed the importance of understanding the untold story of the Romas in Holocaust history.

KEVIN BURNS/WSN

ROMA on PG. 3

‘UPSTREAM’ PRESENTS CHALLENGING VIEWING EXPERIENCE: Director Shane Carruth’s newest film is definitely not for everyone, but can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.

COURTESY OF ERBP

City health dept. funds app for sex education

UPSTREAM on PG. 5

LARGE OIL COMPANIES CIRCUMVENT TAXES:

It has become apparent that there is no tax for the transportation of crude oil — a loophole in current legislation.

HOUSE on PG. 7

our doctors that often.”

Jer Thorp, who worked for The New York Times as a data artist in residence, agrees that new data visualizations are valuable to the average American.

“Most of the dialogue around data is being driven by corporate interests, and corporate desires don’t al-

ways align with the best interests of society,” Thorp said.

“Artists can bring a critical voice to the discussion.”

Kanter’s 2011 piece, “American Military Casualties in Iraq,” also explores the human experience through data. Pre-

DATA continued on PG. 4

The Bloomberg administration recently launched a free app called Teen in NYC Protection+, which provides information on health services for teens.

The app — funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene — focuses on keeping teens informed about sexual health.

“We want to make sure that no teen who’s sexually active doesn’t know they can go for services to protect themselves and stay healthy,” health department assistant commissioner Deborah Kaplan told CBS. The app has three sections: where to go, what to get and what to expect.

In the where to go section, teens can find a local clinic that offers sexual health services such as tests for HIV, STDs and pregnancy. They can input their

APP continued on PG. 3

‘Evil Dead’ breaks horror remake curse

By SHAWN FLANAGAN

It’s nearly impossible to ignore the impact the original “Evil Dead” had on the horror genre. But now, following the trend of nearly every other horror franchise from the ’70s and ’80s, “Evil Dead” has finally received the remake treatment.

The remake follows a storyline that is very similar to the 1981 film. David (Shiloh Fernandez) travels with his girlfriend Natalie (Elizabeth Blackmore) to his family’s cabin to join his sister Mia (Jane Levy) and her friends Eric (Lou Taylor Pucci) and Olivia (Jessica Lucas). Soon enough, the five venture into the basement where they find dozens of dead cats and a mysterious book bound with rusting barbs. Eric reads through the book on his own and in the process awakens

a demon that begins to feed on their souls.

One of the best aspects of the film is the smart decisions in the choice of characters. Mia is the first of the group to succumb to the possession of the demon. As she is a drug addict, it makes sense that at first the others pass her antics off as a relapse. Another clever choice is making Olivia a nurse in training. When the others suggest bringing Mia to a hospital, Olivia becomes offended that they think she is incapable of helping Mia, and therefore they all stay in the woods.

The nature of the relationship between siblings Mia and David works quite nicely. There is also a simple yet touching narrative of a lost

EVIL continued on PG. 5

COURTESY OF FILMDISTRICT

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NYC PILLOW FIGHT 2013 Washington Square Park | Saturday, April 6, 3 p.m.

Arm yourself with your softest Tempur Pedic, snag a couple of friends and head down to Washington Square Park for New York City’s eighth city-wide pillow fight. Even better, after you’ve warded off your fluffy foes, you can go home knowing that the surviving pillows will be donated to arts organizations and homeless shelters. For more information, visit pillowfightday.com.

MACY’S FLOWER SHOW Macy’s Herald Square | Now until Sunday, April 7 While the darling buds of May continue to wiggle their little heads out of the cold hard concrete, get a much-needed dose of full-blown flora and fauna at the Macy’s Flower Show. This year the theme is “The Painted Garden,” inspired by the flowers and gardens of Asia. Be sure to check out the centerpiece, a 10-foot-tall painted elephant covered in live blooms.

“TOPSY-TURVY: A CAMERA OBSCURA INSTALLATION” Madison Square Park Conservatory | Thursday, April 4 to Saturday, April 6 For this quirky public art project, filmmakers Sandra Gibson and Luis Recoder installed walk-in cameras within the park, which project images of trees, benches, etc. in the viewfinder upside-down. Down the rabbit hole, indeed.

NEW YORK TARTAN DAY PARADE Rockefeller Center, Sixth Avenue from 45th to 55th Streets | Saturday, April 6 If men in skirts is your thing, you’ve come to the right place. But the eccentric wardrobe choices don’t stop there: expect to see pipe bands, drum corps, bagpipers and, above all, lots of plaid at this annual Scottish-themed bonanza, which draws around 3,000 revelers every year.

Check out tartanweek.com and scotlang.org for more information.

SNAPSHOT

It’s a big city and a widespread university. Catch up with our daily updates on university and city/state news headlines other publications are covering.

CROSSWALKS POSE DANGER TO PEDESTRIANS According to a new NYU Langone Medical Center study, New York City crosswalks are some of the most dangerous places for city walkers. Langone researchers studied a sample of 1,400 pedestrians and cyclists treated at Bellevue Hospital Center after collisions.

– THE NEW YORK TIMES SOUTH FERRY South Ferry service will resume starting at 5 a.m. today, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The old South Ferry loop tracks had been out of public use since the new station opened in 2009, and out-of-service trains have continued to use the track. Meanwhile, repairs to the Sandy-ravaged, new South Ferry station could take up to three years to complete.

– DNAINFO WALK 5K FOR 9/11 The first 9/11 Memorial 5K Run/Walk and Family Day will take place on April 21, with the course running from Pier 57 to One World Trade Center. Jon Stewart is set to be the event’s honorary chairman.

– THE HUFFINGTON POST UNION CONFLICT INFLUENCES NBA ALL-STAR GAME Since it was announced that the 2015 NBA All-Star Game will take place in New York, the Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden have been vying for the honor of hosting. One party, the Communications Workers of America, adamantly votes for Barclay’s because the Garden’s owner James Dolan has a bad reputation with unions.

– NEW YORK DAILY NEWS ROBINSON CANO SIGNS WITH JAY-Z’S AGENCY Robinson Cano, second baseman for the New York Yankees, has dropped his former representation and joined Roc Nation Sports Teams, a newly launched section of Jay Z’s company, Roc Nation.

– THE NEW YORK TIMES

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MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

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APP continued from PG. 1

City releases sex education app targeting New York teens

address as well as the specific services and birth control methods they are looking for.

The what to get section provides specific information about different types of birth control, from the patch to the pill. The information includes how to use each method, whether it protects against STDs and if you need to see a health care provider to obtain it.

Lastly, the what to expect section features videos of pregnant teens and provides viewers an example of what it is like to visit a clinic. It also offers the option to share its content on Facebook.

Parents may be upset that their kids now have free access to all of this sexual health information, but this app is protected by New York State law. The app is considered an addition to the sexual health curriculum already provided in public schools, and the law states that teens have the legal right to receive sexual health services without the permission or knowledge of parents or guardians.

The app has not been as controversial as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s recent anti-teen pregnancy campaign of subway ads that feature crying babies and facts about teen pregnancy, and it remains unclear which method will be more effective.

Sally Guttmacher, a Steinhardt professor of public health, thinks the app is not harmful.

“You have to try a variety of strategies with teens, and this

COURTESY OF NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HYGIENE

Users can find preventative information on teen pregnancy. one seems reasonable, as it will reach some teens and make them think,” Guttmacher said.

“It looks like really useful information for sexually active teens to have.”

Niobe Way, a Steinhardt professor of applied psychology, stated that there are better ways than an app to educate youth about sexual health.

“The city should be dealing with the problem of teen pregnancy through improving the quality of schools so girls’ and boys’ minds are genuinely engaged,” Way said. “The app will not likely be a very effective way to prevent teen pregnancy.

However, providing health information to teenagers is always a good thing.”

Lesley Greenberg is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

NYPD appoints second African-American chief

By JACQUELINE HSIA

After serving with the 81st Precinct since 1986, on March 27 Philip Banks III was appointed as the new chief of the New York Police Department — the second African-American in NYPD history to be appointed.

Banks was promoted because of his commitment to the safety of the city, his ability to lead, but most prominently for his ability to connect with the community. He previously held the position of NYPD chief of community affairs.

According to nyc.gov, “Chief Banks will develop and implement policies [and] programs that help foster positive police/community relations in New York City’s many diverse communities.”

“We have to keep this city safe,” Banks said. “And when I say we, I don’t mean just the New York City Police Department. It’s not just an ‘us’ job. It’s everybody in New York City.”

Banks said he believes empowering the community to collaborate with the NYPD will further reduce New York City’s crime rates, which are already at historic lows.

But challenges still exist, particularly in the community’s relations with the NYPD — the controversy over stop-and-frisk, for example.

Banks said he believes it can be used correctly and that people do not usually see the policy as the problem.

Instead, people have issues with the politeness of the police and possible targeting of minority groups.

Banks said he was once stopped and frisked as a college student, and he stated that he disliked the encounter because of the police of-

ficers’ attitudes. While Banks sees the policy as a useful tool, he also does not want to see it alienate the NYPD from the community.

CBS reported that at the promotion ceremony, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said Banks is “an exceptional field commander, a skillful manager of police personnel and operations and a consummate builder of community relations.”

NYU students, who sometimes rely on the NYPD in addition to NYU security, express the need for a strong relationship with the police department.

Susan Lee, a freshman in Global Liberal Studies who was mugged outside of the Silver Center, said she was shaken up and petrified immediately after her experience and that the security officer offered more of a tough love comment rather than real consolation. However, when she called the police, two NYPD officers showed up immediately.

“I guess the most important part is that they tried really hard to make me feel better,” Lee said.

Even though the encounter did not quite give her the assurance she wanted at the time, now she feels relatively safe on campus, at least during the day.

In an interview with The New York Times, Banks recognized the responsibility of working to improve NYPD relations to make New York City safer.

“I’m in a big seat. It’s a big chair,” he said. “I’m 100 percent confident I can handle the assignment.”

Jacqueline Hsia is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

NYU launches video game institute

By TATIANA BAEZ

Students and video gamers can become one at NYU’s Media and Games Network, a Brooklyn facility that will bridge the gap between NYU and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU through different aspects of game studies.

Housed in the MetroTech Center and set to open in fall 2013, MAGNET will offer both teaching and research programs on topics such as games as an art form, game design, digital media design, computer science and engineering. It will include undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students from both NYU and NYU-Poly.

MAGNET will be the first space where faculty from NYU and NYU-Poly work together. The lead faculty — R. Luke DuBois, Christopher Hoadley, Katherine Isbister, Frank Lantz and Ken Perlin — work in fields related to gaming.

According to Lantz, a Tisch professor and the director of the NYU Game Center, each program in MAGNET will have its own curriculum. Sharing the space will allow professors to better cross-list classes and students to take related courses in the same facility. It will also give faculty an opportunity to create new classes co-developed by multiple programs.

“The goal of MAGNET is to foster a shared sense of community and purpose across a set of programs that are all interested in the relationship of culture and technology,” said Lantz.

Lantz also said that the courses from the

NYU Game Center to be offered at MAGNET “are designed to allow students to polish the craft of game creation while exploring the creative possibilities of this rapidly evolving cultural form and discovering their own unique creative voice.”

The space will feature power and data infrastructure for projects and shows, instructional technology in classrooms and specially-designed spaces for audio engineering,

COURTESY OF GENSLER

The first renditions of NYU’s new game institute in Brooklyn have been released.

motion capture and digital arts.

Isbister, a computer science and engineering professor at NYU-Poly and the NYU Game Center and the research director at NYU-Poly’s Center of Innovation for Technology and Entertainment Game Innovation Lab, hopes MAGNET brings people with similar interests together. “[MAGNET will allow students] to learn in the same space, bump into each other in the halls and hopefully dream up interesting new projects and collaborations as a result ... to act as a physical magnet does, pulling people together.”

The 40,000-square-foot space will also allow the NYU Game Center to expand. This year NYU admitted 20 people to the center’s master of fine arts program and plans to admit an additional 30 next year.

Gallatin freshman and game design minor Justin Snyder, who works at the NYU Game Center, said that MAGNET will be an opportunity to present gaming and game design in a more academic way.

“By bringing all of the programs doing game-focused work under one roof, NYU is diving headfirst into making something truly unique in terms of games in academia,” Snyder said. “Personally, I’m excited for what the future holds, and I look forward to seeing the space when it opens this summer.”

Tatiana Baez is university editor.

Email her at tbaez@nyunews.com.

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Speaker discusses lost culture

By KEVIN BURNS

The untold history of a forgotten people lies under garbage dumps and in unmarked fields behind remote villages across Eastern Europe.

The mass graves of the Roma Gypsies dot the remote countryside alongside those of hundreds of thousands of fallen Jews, a neglected reminder of the Holocaust.

Father Patrick Desbois, secretary to a French conference for bishops about relations with Judaism, shed light on this grisly tale last night at NYU’s La Maison Française with a lecture, followed by a question-and-answer session and short documentary on his work to construct a microhistory of the mass murders of the Roma, featuring interviews with Roma people.

Antonin Baudry, cultural counselor for the French embassy in the United States, introduced Desbois. He stressed the importance of the largely forsaken history.

“The mass murder of the Roma people is one of the most neglected stories of the Holocaust,” Baudry said.

Desbois has devoted his career to reconstructing this history. He said the Roma are one of the largest groups of forgotten victims of the Holocaust.

“Most of the history has not been written, anywhere,” Desbois said. “With most genocides we only remember the name of the killer, like they are a hero.”

Desbois’ aim is to take the focus off the killers and give the Roma their own microhistory.

“If we don’t establish clearly the story of their genocide, how can we advocate for their dignity today?” Desbois asked.

Desbois and his crew of French and Roma contributors located roughly 2,000 mass graves and about 800 execution sites in Eastern Europe.

Of all the sites they found, only one site in Ukraine was marked by a memorial.

The team also interviewed over 2,500 elderly Roma eyewitnesses in their native language of Romani.

Today the Roma are fighting hard for representation in the larger story of the Holocaust. There are no Romas on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Ellen Count, a crime writer who attended the event, was shocked to hear that the Roma are rarely represented in major Holocaust memorial events.

“It’s devastating,” Count said. “I don’t know how they justify that.”

Kevin Burns is a deputy university editor. Email him at kburns@nyunews.com.

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FEATURES

EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

DATA continued from PG. 1

Student innovates data visualization through art

sented as a modified American flag, the work breaks down Iraq war casualties by state with horizontal red lines representing the wounded and varying sizes of stars reflecting the number of fatalities.

Commercial designer John Rothenberg created ReConstitution2012, which analyzed the 2012 presidential debates. His goal was to have viewers subjectively interpret the debate rather than absorb it through political pundits.

“Data is being used to tell stories on the news, and our role was to kind of investigate the artistic possibilities of that,” Rothenberg said. “What happens when we try to add these absurd state-

ments to a presidential debate, and how does it feed back into our experience of the situation?”

Both Kanter and Rothenberg anticipate that data will continue to enter the two worlds as an innovative method of presenting facts and ideas. “[Data] is part of our daily existence,” Rothenberg said. “Data is a story that’s not going away.”

“The bar keeps going up on trying to create something that’s different and engaging but also allows you to learn something from the data,” Kanter said.

Madeleine Overturf is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Tisch freshman shares fashion tips on popular blog

By DEBORAH LUBANGA

Even though Tisch freshman Jeremy Stewart does not consider himself a high-end fashion blogger, there is no denying his flair for style and keen eye for detail.

In an effort to share his style tips and tricks with a larger audience, Stewart launched his fashion blog, The Art of Burgundy, in late February. Named after his favorite color, the blog focuses on what Stewart calls urban class, a style the Los Angeles native has developed since moving to New York City.

“I started my blog because people have always commented, for good or bad, on how I dress and I wanted to do something with that,” Stewart said. “I love style and I love talking about it with people, so the blog seemed like a natural thing to do.”

Each blog post highlights different urban class looks that can be found by browsing through the racks of stores

like Urban Outfitters and H&M. Stewart has drawn inspiration for these pairings from the closets of those around him and his own wardrobe.

He has called upon those NYU friends whose style he admires to offer their fashion insight and even be models for the blog.

“He didn’t tell me what to wear.

He trusted my sense of style enough to just let me know what he wanted to talk about, like skirts, sweaters or boots, and let me go from there — which was nice,” said Tisch freshman Alex Mutti, who has modeled women’s fashion on the blog.

Unlike other fashion blogs, The Art of Burgundy presents its style content in a distinct way. Fashion blogs are often littered with pictures that lack descriptions to aid readers in effectively recreating looks. Stewart’s daily posts, however, are accompanied by detailed descriptions on how and why various articles of clothing work together. Ad-

Passionate art comes to LaViola

By MARINA ZHENG

A new exhibit by Jennifer Riley at the Allegra LaViola Gallery is a reflection of the artist’s lucid imagination and a mind propelled forward by emotional responses.

Riley’s most recent endeavor, “Memory from Sight,” opened on March 27 and features paintings, pastels and ink drawings. It is accompanied by an essay written

by Stephanie Buchmann, a New York-based art critic, historian and curator. The essay describes Riley’s paintings in great detail, charting the gradual change from her past works to her newer pieces.

“The essay came from a discussion that we were having. My works come out of a language of modern geometric abstraction,” Riley said.

“I wanted my paintings to be verbs and to be more dynamic. This is the story [Buhmann] took away and developed into an essay.”

For the past 15 years, Riley has been creating geometrically abstract paintings by focusing primarily on the use of lines, planes and colors. In “Memory from Sight,” she takes these formal elements to innovative new heights by contributing spatial movements to her curving and slithering forms. To further heighten the sense of floating and tethered biomorphic shapes, Riley employs vivacious color palettes that bring her works to life.

Allegra LaViola, the owner of the gallery and curator of the exhibit, has worked with Riley for the past four years. LaViola noted an evolution in the artist’s work despite her consistent way of communicating with her audience. “[Her work] has definitely changed,” LaViola said. “Jennifer is a

ditionally, Stewart devotes an equal amount of time to discussing both men’s and women’s looks.

“Jeremy’s consciousness of fashion for men and women alike, and across all budgets, gives his blog a universality unseen in many other blogs today,” said Tisch freshman Emily Erickson, who follows the blog.

Even though Stewart does not envision a career within the fashion industry and prefers to pursue a career in acting instead, he plans to continue exploring and blogging about different styles and new ways to rock clothes.

“For now it is just a hobby that is developing into a passion,” Stewart said.

“Hopefully [followers] enjoy reading it and hopefully they can improve their own sense of style as well.”

Deborah Lubanga is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?

By UTPALA MENON Gallatin freshman Noah Baustin is best known as the mind behind Open Mic Rubin, a weekly Thursday night talent show at Rubin residence hall that he started last fall. From running the stage to working on a new rooftop garden in Brooklyn, The Greenpoint Growery, Baustin is kept busy with his multifarious undertakings. The contents of his bag reveal the creative techniques of a poet hard at work.

PHOTOGRAPHER/WSN

Riley’s exhibit captures stages of artistic creativity in vibrant color. master at always using the same language but developing each time and pushing forward to solve a different problem [like] the relationship between space and color and line.”

Riley begins all of her paintings by producing experimental ink or pastel drawings on paper based on fragments of her thoughts. The images she creates usually contain quivering lines that imply slight movements.

Then, she assesses her exploratory work and responds to what she sees, often crafting new drawings that result in more boldly grounded shapes and forms. However, the notions of change, flux and fluidity remain intact, and the results are complex and layered movements.

“I develop drawings into larger studies,” Riley said. “After responding to what I see, I develop the drawings further. I usually add and take away color and lines so they get either more dense or more clarified.”

Riley applies this thematic idea

of movement to subjects that are not usually associated with free-flowing lines. She draws her aesthetic inspirations from everything around her, whether they are cultural finds, nature or everyday life. Through her artwork, she evokes feelings of movement, traces of her influences and a whimsical feeling in her audience.

“You can really see Riley’s unconventional approach to composition through her paintings,” said CAS freshman Haley Steinberg, who attended the exhibition’s opening.

“The complexities of form and color use are obviously intentional. It is almost as if they appeared to the artist in concrete visions.”

“Memory From Sight” is open until April 27 at the Allegra LaViola Gallery, 179 E. Broadway.

Marina Zheng is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

A WRITING POCKETBOOK Baustin, who was once an aspiring mathematician, realized his passion for writing during his sophomore year in high school.

“I always read but stopped for a while in between,” Baustin said. “One teacher … got me reading and writing again.”

Within his notebook’s pages, Baustin drafts poems and pieces of creative writing like short fiction, his preferred style. Even when he was travelling to countries like New Zealand and Puerto Rico during his gap year, his notebook was always inside his bag. “Carrying notebooks when traveling is habitual for writers,” he said.

“It is the notebook that I record my life in.”

“EAST OF EDEN” BY JOHN STEINBECK One of the more conventional items in Baustin’s bag is John Steinbeck’s novel, “East of Eden.” As an aspiring writer,

Baustin has a vast admiration for the book. Along with “Hell’s Angels,” Steinbeck’s work remains one of his favorites to date. “[‘East of Eden’] is just an epic novel. I cannot explain why, but Steinbeck just writes so beautifully,” Baustin said. “It touches so much of what it means to grow up, the evolution of America and how it has changed.”

IPOD CLASSIC Baustin is also a self-proclaimed music junkie. His present playlist includes tracks such as “Angel” by Yonder Mountain String Band and Goat Radio. His progressive yet unconventional taste in music isn’t deterred by his love for classics.

“I’m probably obsessed with the Abbey Road album too,” Baustin said of his love for the Beatles and the album that inspired his poem, “I want you, She is so heavy.”

Whenever Baustin moderates Open Mic night, his literary enthusiasm is brought to light. The North Hampton native has also sparked creativity in his peers through the night’s poetry, monologues and performances by student musicians.

“My favorite part is watching the shyness of people when they first arrive,” Baustin said. “By the end of the night they can’t help but get up and perform.”

Utpala Menon is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

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ARTS

EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

‘Upstream’ offers confounding yet dazzling tale

By ALEX GREENBERGER

A pig runs out of a pen. Cut to an empty bus. Cut to a reverse shot of a couple lying on a pair of seats as they look at the empty bus.

This is how most of Shane Carruth’s increasingly challenging yet immensely cathartic “Upstream Color” can be.

For those who are willing to embark on a philosophical quest packed with body horror and deeply palpable romance, “Upstream Color” may be one of the most emotionally resonant films of the past decade, despite the fact that it only contains a half hour of dialogue.

Without the Cronenberg-inspired body horror, “Upstream Color” would be similar to “The Tree of Life.” Carruth’s sophisticated and impressionistic direction tells the story of a woman, Chrissy (Amy Seimetz), who has a parasite placed inside her against her will.

The intense film does not spoon-feed the viewer with its narrative, which is totally acceptable because “Upstream Color” is largely a formalist work.

The film is even somewhat entertaining in its stylish first half, which engages mostly with the science fiction genre.

Parasites, pigs, cells, body contortions and psychological tricks abound, and the viewer is left to piece all of it together.

In the fascinating second half, the film takes on a completely different mode, as Chrissy vanquishes the parasite, and she perchance meets and falls in love with Jeff (Carruth).

Stylistically, Carruth keeps the film tough and expressionistic. Tonally, however, the film is lighter and conceptually hefty, and “Upstream Color” is filled with these types of formal oppositions. At certain points, the narrative seems to take a recognizable trajectory, while at other points, it seems to veer into the realm of an advanced seminar for philosophy students.

Perhaps the contradictions in “Upstream Color” are the point of its meandering, elliptical plot, examining that point where science and feeling come together. If that is what Carruth means to articulate, then “Upstream Color” can be viewed as an explora-

tion of what it means to be human. The transcendent final half hour — entirely devoid of dialogue — portrays humans as part biology and part emotion.

Then again, maybe it doesn’t mean that at all. And that’s one of the great things about “Upstream Color.” Like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” we won’t understand it now, and we can’t guarantee we’ll understand it in 50 years either. But we can still feel it now, and that’s what matters for a film so abstract, brilliant and complex.

Alex Greenberger is entertainment editor. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.

Having become well-known for a number of artistic masterpieces, director Danny Boyle may not seem suited for blockbuster filmmaking. However, his new film “Trance” puts that notion to rest.

“Trance” tells the story of Simon (James McAvoy), an art auctioneer who, along with his gri-tty and messy entourage, pulls off a heist on the first day of an expensive art auction. However, a brutal head trauma causes him to forget the location of the painting.

Because he — and only he — knows where the painting is hidden, the painting’s location is lost deep in the space of Simon’s mind. The only hope of retrieving this information is through hypnosis.

Boyle gives this heavy material a charismatically indie feel, and leads an outstanding cast to some fantastic performan-ces. “Trance” is an artistic film, but it’s also a mindbending thriller — a trippy, charming and ultimately satisfying escapade ambiguously played out like the hypnosis it revolves around.

Much of the movie revolves

EVIL continued from PG. 1

‘Evil Dead’ remake piles on gore but lacks scares friendship between David and Eric that plays out without slapping the audience in the face and trying to be overly sentimental.

Now let’s talk about the gore. Yes, there is a lot of it. You will be cringing throughout the entire film, it does not hold back with its display of carnage. It’s definitely worth noting how much of this gore is makeup and practical special effects — something rarely seen in modern films, but was so crucial to the success of the original. But be warned: All the carnage you see onscreen is extremely convincing.

This film succeeds where almost every other remake has failed. The tight writing, for example, does not allow for a lot of stereotypical stupid character decisions. “Evil Dead” does not lack effective jump scares — expect to be caught off-guard several times. Also, the demon voice is great. It may be a complete rip-off from “The Exorcist,” but why fix something that isn’t broken? And, without saying too much, the film also has a refreshing sense of unpredictability.

However, there are many problems with “Evil Dead,” such as how the movie fails to be too scary. This is not a film that will keep you up at night. However, its biggest issue is its inability to find a concrete ending. There are two false endings before the actual ending, causing the movie to completely lose focus.

Ultimately, “Evil Dead” is a well-made horror film, and despite its flaws, a majority of moviegoers will not feel let down.

COURTESY OF ERBP

Amy Seimetz falls for Shane Carruth after battling invasive parasites.

Danny Boyle puts viewers under ‘Trance’ with new film

By ISHAN SETH

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around McAvoy, who has impressed in films like “X-Men: First Class” and “Atonement.”

But Simon is not the only character we delve into, as we also meet the deeply enigmatic hypnotist Elizabeth (Rosario Dawson) and gritty heist leader Franck (Vincent Cassel). Rotating and sorting through their greed, guilt and sex-filled past, these three characters feed off each other in ways that few films can pull off.

Oscar-winning cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle lives up to the stunning, high-caliber visuals he so artfully crafted in “Slumdog Millionaire” and “127 Hours.” He leaves room for interpretation with his signature technique of capturing the characters through windows and their own reflections.

Stages of reality and hypnosis are cunningly blurred, providing one example of the film’s impressive editing.

Many will find that “Trance” deviates from Boyle’s previous track record and delves into storytelling territory reminiscent of “Inception.” Although its scale is not as vast, “Trance” churns out a catharsis-themed world inside the mind. The writers, Joe Ahearne and John

Hodge, ask important questions about the mind, particularly about what it forgets and what it tends to replace.

“Trance” is a hidden gem of a thriller because, most importantly, it leaves you to think for yourself. Great art leaves room for interpretation. Boyle knows this, and his illustration of complex characters caught up in a sticky, unusual situation through a unique method is stunning, clever and charming.

“Trance” genuinely confuses and challenges the viewer — a very rare accomplishment in the movie landscape of today.

Ishan Seth is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF PATHÉ

Shawn Flanagan is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.

The Virgins flaunt new lineup at sold-out show

By YASMINE PANAH

It’s been five years since The Virgins achieved indie-pop/punk glory in the New York music scene and received many positive reviews for their self-titled debut album. They played at various festivals and opened for Iggy Pop and The Stooges, Patti Smith, Sonic Youth and The Strokes. They were one of the most promising acts of 2009 but had to go through some drastic changes before they could move on with their career. With an entirely new lineup and the absence of former lead singer Donald Cumming, they released their sophomore album “Strike Gently” this past March with Julian Casablancas’ Cult Records.

It’s not surprising, then, that they sold out Bowery Ballroom on Monday for one of the last stops of the Cult Records Tour. The show’s first opener, Luke Rathborne, surprised the audience with a performance that revealed a polished sound beyond his years. Then, after second opener Har Mar Superstar gradually lost more and more clothing over the course of his set — while still managing to belt out funky and soulful tunes — The Virgins finally took the stage.

The guys stepped onto the stage and looked like their usual too-coolfor-school selves, led by a seemingly

nervous Cumming, and started with “Fast Times.” The show took time kicking into gear but picked up after a few songs when they played “One Week of Danger” from the first album. The live cut took a faster and less funky approach than the recorded version but not necessarily in a bad way. After “One Week of Danger,” the performers gained more confidence and played most of the songs from “Strike Gently” while still dutifully playing the sexy dance beat “Rich Girls,” much to the excitement of the dancing crowd.

The killer guitar solos and catchy lyrics are highlights of “Flashbacks, Memories, and Dreams,” a song from the new album. “Prima Materia” also translated to the stage very well. The show closed with “Fernando Pando,” which featured just the frontman Cumming — a powerful juxtaposition to punctuate the set before the screaming crowd begged for an encore.

The Virgins’ performance proved that the band is moving away from the dance tracks of their first album toward contemplative pop-rock songs. The new Virgins are certainly not the same, but they’ve shown that they’re different in the best way possible.

Yasmine Panah is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.

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OPINION

EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF EDITORIAL

Online anonymity does not excuse disrespect

By IAN MARK

My column last week was about the word “nigger.” More specifically, it was about the use of the phrase “the n-word” and other euphemisms by mass media. I did my best to treat a very controversial topic fairly.

Reaction online was mostly negative.

Users of Reddit, a content-aggregator where people can post comments about links found around the web, wasted no time in trashing both the article and me. I was criticized for my race, age, for the school I attend, for commenting on topics that I wasn’t “allowed” to comment on, and for generally being a privileged, entitled idiot.

This is a common occurrence on the site that has earned a reputation for racism, misogyny and the socalled “hivemind,” referring to the groupthink that punishes those who express views with which the majority of Reddit disagrees with. Vitriol like this can be found all over the internet, from websites like Youtube to CNN.com. The protection offered by a glowing screen and an anonymous username empowers people to say things they would never say

in person. The disheartening part is that the responses to my article are moderate compared to many of the comments you see online. We’ve seen much worse, to the point that insults like the ones directed at me are considered normal. The internet has fostered a culture of casual and conversational hatred and belligerence.

Royce White is a professional basketball player. Or, rather, is trying to be one. He suffers from an anxiety disorder that makes it hard for him to fly around the country. He has made a habit of retweeting messages sent to him directly, often negative ones containing profanity. His reasoning? “These are real

people ... I think one person tweeting ‘Fuck you, go kill yourself’ is disturbing. But when you get into the hundreds of those tweets? The thousands of those tweets?”

The people we see online are the same people we see in the real world.

While it is rare to encounter open racism, sexism, homophobia or other bigotry in person, online it is commonplace due to the Internet’s anonymity. It is no longer acceptable in our society to be racist or sexist in person. Homophobia is on its way to that point. But online, there is no limit to what can be said. Children used to learn bigotry from their parents and elders in person. Thanks to evolving social norms, that happens less and less. But they are now learning it from strangers on a computer.

There must be accountability among Internet users, there must be an effort on the part of internet users to reduce their tolerance of online bigotry. If you wouldn’t put up with it in person, don’t put up with it online.

Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

ENVIRONMENTALISM

GOP presents misguided energy policy

By AUDREY WRIGHT

At the National Press Club Breakfast on March 18, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus stated, “our principles are sound … the way we communicate our principles isn’t resonating widely enough.” He urged the GOP to focus on revising their rhetoric, claiming that it was one of the main reasons for the Republican loss during the 2012 presidential election.

He’s right about one thing. The rhetoric of the right is deeply influential, especially among the Tea Party coalition. One of the most troubling examples of this power is in the Republican stance against environmental policy and disregard for scientific facts about global climate change. Mitt Romney reminded us of this in August at the Republican National Convention when he said, “President Obama promised to heal the planet. My promise is to help you and your family.”

The Republican Party and its deeppocketed supporters have an incredible amount to gain by denying science. For instance, oil companies would lose tremendously if we switched to alternative energy sourc-

SUBMITTING TO

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es like solar, wind and hydroelectric power that are better for the environment. So it is no surprise that they rely so heavily on rhetoric that wrongly points to environmental policy as the antithesis of economic prosperity. But most unsettling is that they have been tremendously successful in doing so.

The Tea Party coalition destroyed cap and trade legislation in 2010 by running rallies proclaiming that such legislation — which would make carbon emissions a new economic market variable and support reduction in America’s greenhouse gas emissions — would expand the reign of big government and increase unemployment in our country. This vague yet poignant spin actually influenced Americans to reject scientific facts about the dangers of global warming in support of a made-up ideology.

Somehow, the GOP has been able

to mandate that what is good for the oil companies is good for America as a whole. While I understand the importance of oil in our current economy, action towards alternative resources — resources that would alleviate our dependence on foreign oil and bring new jobs to America’s economy — cannot be defined as inherently harmful for the future of America. The GOP, however, has not only fabricated a position against progressive energy policy, but garnered tremendous support in the process.

The Republican Party continues to rely on this rhetoric — unsurprisingly, of course, as it allows its supporters to discount rational fact and end discussion before it can begin. Thus, in contrast to Priebus’ belief, their rhetoric is not to blame for their election loss in November, but rather their policies.

The party needs to realize that the American people aren’t asking for better communication. They are asking for social safety nets, regulation of corporations that have repeatedly proven themselves as conniving and greedy, and a habitable earth in fifty years.

Audrey Wright is a contributing writer.

Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

Oil companies use loopholes to avoid taxes

After Exxon Mobile’s Pegasus pipeline spilled 12,000 barrels of oil in central Arkansas last week, it brought to light a current tax loophole that oil and gas giants are abusing. A legal technicality states that the transportation of a certain type of crude oil — the oil used in Exxon’s pipeline and the same oil being used for the Keystone XL Pipeline — does not require a payment into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

Exxon, like all companies that transport oil, is required to pay eight cents into the OSLTF for every barrel they transport. However, the oil spilled is classified as tar sands, an unconventional oil, and is exempt from this tax. The corporation has refused to reveal the amount they pay to the fund, or the value of the tar sands crude oil they transport.

This loophole could be costing the OSLTF millions of dollars. The controversial Keystone Pipeline will reportedly transport around 590,000 barrels of this tar sands oil per day, tax-free. That alone is almost $50,000 a day that Big Oil will be pocketing instead of paying into the fund.

No one knows the exact amount of money that oil companies are saving from this loophole because they are not obligated to divulge that information.

For years, oil companies have been profiting from this loophole, skirting a tax that was intended to protect the communities that the companies pass through to transport their product. Exxon’s response agreeing to cover all cleanup costs is meant to appease the local community and divert attention from the loophole. Yet the law still exempts Exxon and other energy companies from liabilities related to this type of spill, even though tar sands crude oil inflicts the same costs and environmental hazards as any other type of oil. This demonstrates a lack of social conscience from large oil firms, as well as a governmental failure to protect its citizens.

Exemptions like these represent the worst part of our political system. They arise because oil companies save money, policymakers are paid by lobbyists not to worry about it and the public never hears about it. Americans distrust Congress because of these backroom deals. Closing this loophole and others like it would save the government money and send a message to the public that Congress truly wants to be by the people, for the people.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co–Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co–Chair), Nickhil Sethi, Matt Luo, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Jess Littman, Marcelo Cicconet

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