Peggy Ahwesh and Keith Sanborn’s free and liberating (as well as liberated) 37-minute adaptation of Georges Bataille’s untranslated story “Le morte”–made in 1989 and now receiving its belated Chicago premiere–is the most exciting and accomplished experimental film I’ve seen in ages. It charts the adventures of a nearly naked heroine who leaves the corpse of […]
Tag: Vol. 20 No. 27
Issue of Apr. 18 – 24, 1991
Posted inNews & Politics
Reading: The Curse of Columbus
In Kirkpatrick Sale’s eyes, the explorer’s story is one not of adventure and progress but of genocide, environmental degradation, and spiritual malaise.
Posted inArts & Culture
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Violinist Nigel Kennedy’s unorthodox appearance (punk hair and high-tops) and irreverent approach to the classical literature (outrageous tempi, unexpected phrasing) have cemented his reputation as the reigning enfant terrible of concert music; this program, presented by Chamber Music Chicago, certainly won’t dent his image. Kennedy will conduct the 34-piece Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in Vivaldi’s […]
Posted inMusic
Full circle: Bud Freeman, 1906-1991
“There are four basic precepts you must observe if you wish to score with the world. One, use Wall St. Cologne–in this way you will score with women. Two, use Yardley’s Shaving Cream–in this way, clean-shaven, you will score with the general public. Three, change your socks daily–here you score with earthworms and all the […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Cityscape: What Can We Do With Block 37?
Who’s responsible for this $34 million sandbox? What can be done to redeem it? Can we prevent it from happening again?
Posted inNews & Politics
News of the Weird
Lead Story Police in Des Moines, Washington, captured two teenaged bank robbers in January. Several citizens reported seeing two kids cruising very slowly back and forth in front of the bank in a run-down car and then going inside. As the kids leapt into their car to get away, they discovered the battery was dead. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Henry Threadgill & Very Very Circus
What’s at a circus? Excitement, exotica, daring exploits, color, humor, a variety of events all happening at one time. Since those are the very qualities of Henry Threadgill’s new band, he’s named it Very Very Circus. Surely it’s the only jazz septet in History with two, count ’em two, tubas; the other players are two […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Tavern Tunes
After 23 years, Lonnie Simmons is still taking requests at Biasetti’s.
Posted inNews & Politics
Trib Reporter vs. AIDS Researcher: The Feud Goes On/Name It, It’s Yours
Trib Reporter vs. AIDS Researcher: The Feud Goes On The Chicago Tribune made an interesting decision last month on how to handle Virus Hunting, the new book by America’s most prominent AIDS researcher, Dr. Robert Gallo. A few scientists were asked to review the book, and they all said no. So the Sunday Books section–after […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Postmodern Dissertation
SOCK MONKEYS at Link’s Hall April 12, 13, 19, and 20 Deborah Jowitt, dance writer for the Village Voice, said at a symposium at Northwestern University a few weeks ago, “Artistic revolutions begin by throwing out the baby, the bathwater, the soap, the sponge, the towel, and the tub. As time goes on, the artists […]
Posted inFilm
Feudal Attraction
JU DOU *** (A must-see) Directed by Zhang Yimou, in collaboration with Yang Fengliang Written by Liu Heng With Gong Li, Li Baotian, Li Wei, Zhang Yi, and Zheng Jian. Like most people reading this, I know next to nothing about the history of China, which is thousands of years older than the U.S. and […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Solti’s Last Stand
It is Thursday night and I am in my seat in the middle of row A. It is the last subscription concert with Sir Georg at the helm of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It is Solti’s last stand. My seat is considered the worst in the hall, but I sit there every Thursday night. It […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Our Little Secret
To the editors: The house hunting article in the March 29, 1991, issue of the Reader was one of the most honest, best displays of journalism we have seen for a long time. Having relocated to the East Beverly neighborhood after a number of stops throughout the midwest has brought our family in tune with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Art From pain
ANOTHER TIME Steppenwolf Theatre “Another job that you hope at last / Will make your future forget your past,” goes a line in Cole Porter’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” The lyric applies specifically to performers trying to cover up a past failure with a new hit, but it also applies more generally; for […]
Posted inNews & Politics
Heavy Negativity
To the editors: Since I generally find your paper very informative and well-written I was surprised that you printed James Krohe’s article on suburban houses [March 29]. Although I live in a suburb, I am quite sympathetic with Mr. Krohe’s criticisms of suburban architecture and of suburban taste and dreams as evidenced in real estate […]