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Rocky Horror Picture Show comes to
UIS
By Janee Mitchell
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
is a tradition of the Halloween season and may be introduced
into UIS as a new tradition. The film was screened for the UIS
community on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7p.m. and watched by over 40
viewers. Terri Jackson, coordinator of Minority Student Affairs
and Christopher Miller, vice chancellor of Student Affairs were
among those in attendance. The moviegoers were excited to view
the film and arrived bearing smiles and costumes much like the
ones seen in the film.
 According to the film’s website,
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” has been shown for 25 years. It
is not hard to see why the film that has become so popular
during the Halloween season has thrived for so many years. The
film has some dedicated fans, including a woman who travels
around acting out the scenes and encouraging audience
participation.
But aside from the popularity of
the film, one may get confused as to why it is shown so often.
The film, though titled “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, is not
a horror at all. In fact, the only thing scary about it is the
fact that people sit through the entire thing without leaving
disappointed.
The film featured a transsexual
from the town of transsexuals in Transylvania. The movie is
almost lacking in plot and may come across as a porno. Theresa
San Luis, OLAS member, said “it was an orgy of kinkiness and
weirdity that lasted a half hour too long. Now I know what
uninhibited means.”
Despite how horrible and weird
the film may have been, it is still a part of Halloween.
Besides, it’s not the plot that makes this film in important
part of the tradition; it is the audience’s interaction. SASSI
gave all the audience members props to participate in the film.
So instead of viewing the film, they were a part of the film,
although some people took this idea too far with obscene
language and dialogue that sometimes projected over the voices
of the actors.
The audience was given rice to
throw during the opening wedding scene, newspapers to cover
their heads during a water gun rainshower, glow sticks to wave
during a song which said “there’s a light”, rubber gloves to
snap in conjunction with the film’s major character Frank,
noisemakers during applause scenes, confetti, toilet paper,
toast and other interesting props.
It was this audience interaction
that made the film an enjoyable experience. The audience members
were verbally acting out scenes, participating in dances shown
in the movie and throwing their rice and other props.
The audience members were also
greeted by OLAS with skeletons and coffins filled with candy and
a spooky display of Halloween items. A poster was also displayed
explaining Dia De Los Muertos and its meaning. There was also a
raffle held for a Cher concert T-shirt.
Either Cher isn’t as popular
anymore or the audience members were only interested in the
movie, because only one person bought a raffle ticket, ensuring
an easy win. The raffle was held by people who volunteered to
help out with the event and they said next time there will just
be door prizes.
One audience member, who brought
her friends for the first time said, “See I told you it would be
fun,” and she said they should come all the time. This audience
member may get her wish. Jackson said “OLAS and SASSI will have
an annual showing and next year prizes will be given for the
most original costume.”
The Alchemist Review: A Continued Tradition
By Janee Mitchell
The Alchemist Review is UIS’
literary journal, which showcases the works of both students and
faculty. The journal is also open to alumni of the university
and staff as well. The Alchemist Review is a tradition here at
UIS.
In a written statement, the
English department said the journal is published every year in
April and has been a part of the UIS tradition for 30 years.
They also said that the completed works in the literary journal
will be introduced to the UIS community at the Verbal Arts
Festival.
The Verbal Arts Festival is
another tradition of UIS. According to a press release for the
event, the festival begins March 31 and ends on April 3. The
festival includes poetry readings, book signing, writing
workshops hosted by published writers and other events to keep
the interest of readers of all types.
The English department encourages
those interested in submitting their works to the Alchemist
Review to submit quality pieces; the best among the individuals
other writings. The department has already begun circulating
invitations for participation in the 2005 Alchemist Review.
In their invites, the UIS
community was encouraged to submit their original poetry,
essays, nonfiction and short fiction works. Students must keep
their works short to allow for space in the literary journal. In
their statement, the English department asks for submissions
that are less than 3000 words.
The English department has
already begun accepting submissions for the 2005 Alchemist
Review. The acceptance of the Alchemist Review submissions will
be continuing through November 21. Those wishing to mail in
submissions are asked to have them postmarked by Nov. 17 to
qualify for submission.
Submitting your work to the
Alchemist Review does not guarantee that it will be published.
However, the English department assures those who submit that
their works will be anonymously reviewed by a peer review panel.
Those chosen by the peer review panel will be published in the
Alchemist Review and introduced at the Verbal Arts Festival
Help Wanted:
Members sought for film series commitee
By Brian
Mackey
The Office of Student Life is
looking for three new members to serve on the Foreign &
Independent Film Series Committee.
Cynthia Thompson, director of
Student Life, issued the call in a campus-wide e-mail on October
22.
The committee decides which
films to screen and when, and is also responsible for promoting
the series.
This appears to be the first
time committee membership has been formally opened to the campus
community. Previously, decisions were made by an ad hoc group
of interested students and staff working in and around the
Office of Student Life.
That process has not always
worked smoothly. Earlier this semester, eyebrows were raised
over the decision to screen Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
As reported in October, Thompson defended the decision by saying
“Fahrenheit 9/11” had received favorable reviews as a film apart
from its political content.
Two of the openings are for
students while the third is reserved for a faculty member.
In her e-mail, Thompson asked
applicants to respond to three questions:
1) Why are you interested in
serving on this committee?
2) What experience do you have
related to foreign and independent film programming?
3) What are your goals for this
committee, should you be selected?
Thompson, Student Affairs
Representative Pat Robertson, and Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs L. Christopher Miller will select the new committee
members.
Responses are due by Friday,
November 5, and should be e-mailed to thompson.cynthia@uis.edu. |
