The profile that I chose for this week is from the Times of London and can (hopefully) be found here: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7117242.ece
I chose this for a variety of reasons, though number one, is probably my great love for the Rolling Stones and for Exile on Main Street. The re-release and with actual tracks from the session from the session that have never been played before makes this 1971 album topical for today. Some of the descriptions for the songs struck me such as describing "Rocks Off" as 'hell-for-leather' which I thought was particularly incisive. I think the interviews with the three main band members were distributed throughout the piece quite well and helped to form a very coherent narrative.
The piece also did a good job utilizing parts of the interviews to poke holes in the Stones' established mythos such as Keith Richards always being on drugs, to the point where it affected his work and Charlie Watts not having any kind of drug problem. The piece also does a great job of establishing a sense of time and history. Through descriptions of the tax situation, you can begin to feel the period in the career of the Stones that this happened. The discussion of Allen Klein's theft of their money also manages to sound more timely and using their descriptions of the situation with him makes it sound more pressing than simply writing about it from a third-person standpoint would have. The writer could perhaps given Exile on Main Street a better sense of where it fits in the full career of the Stones but overall, I think it is a good piece and it shows a lot of the irreverent humor but also fine writing that I associate with British papers. The piece serves to re-introduce one to the Rolling Stones as simply musicians and Exile on Main Street as a still visceral album rather than a bunch of old dudes trotted out as "icons" and the album is some sort of canonical work. It made me want to buy the re-issue and I like to this that I am kind of a hard customer.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Profile Process Writing
Writing this profile piece was pretty difficult for me, and definitely more difficult than writing the earlier and more personal piece. To begin with, I felt like the interviews I was getting at the Union were not taking me anywhere and I was getting very little beyond “This is the Union. It’s a great place to eat and everyone likes it”. I also was never the focus during any of my interviews which really the interviewer never should be but what I mean is that I would be talking to someone who worked at the Union and then they would run away to help someone or do their job, then return ten minutes later and I’d have to start all over again. I found out that this was a really difficult way to work. A lot of my questions, I also felt were awkward for the people or ones that they really hadn’t thought about before and I felt like that had no understanding of why I was asking them. I tried to explain why and I still felt like they were just humoring me sometimes and I would get dropped at the first sign that the Union got busy.
Trying to fit the quotations into the piece too was also difficult as I learned that I was a decently poor judge of what seemed to be an important quote and trying to fashion a narrative of what appeared to me to be sufficiently disjointed interviews and observations was really difficult. I still have a lot of work to do and while I think the Union is still a good place to profile, I think I may need to change the focus though because I sometimes felt like I was forcing it. Hopefully with some more work, some more interviews and maybe an interview with someone of higher authority, which I have tried to get but so far not been successful would help me get a more unified profile and something that could be really good.
Trying to fit the quotations into the piece too was also difficult as I learned that I was a decently poor judge of what seemed to be an important quote and trying to fashion a narrative of what appeared to me to be sufficiently disjointed interviews and observations was really difficult. I still have a lot of work to do and while I think the Union is still a good place to profile, I think I may need to change the focus though because I sometimes felt like I was forcing it. Hopefully with some more work, some more interviews and maybe an interview with someone of higher authority, which I have tried to get but so far not been successful would help me get a more unified profile and something that could be really good.
Response to Munirah's Profile
Munirah, I think you have the makings of what could be a really great profile here. First off, I guess, have you been able to talk to the proprietor or anyone who works at the Dairy Mart for an interview? The descriptions that you have are really good and I think if you expand upon them, such as talking to the “grandfatherly, old man” or the “men who ride up on bikes”, this would be seriously great. What are their stories? What brings them to the Dairy Mart? Maybe go back a few more times and find out who the regulars are and talk to them. Maybe even see who from K College goes there and talks to them and find out they feel the Dairy Mart both fits into the community and serves it. This will be a really interesting piece because it is not the usual place that people would go to profile but it is somewhere that is essential for the community providing people with gas, convenience foods, alcohol and lottery tickets. Good luck!
Response to Anna's Profile
Wow, this piece didn’t go where I thought it would initially go from your comments in class at all and I think you did a really good job. Not knowing Victor, I became really invested in the story that you were telling. Your descriptions of him gave me such a vivid impression of his physical presence and I really began to think that this could be a good piece for like the Lux Esto magazine as an example of how alumni can continue to give back to K after graduation. You did a really good job of weaving music and gardening together, maybe there would be some way to see if you could catch him singing on the job or something like that? That would be a great moment for your piece. The ending to your piece seemed a little tacked on, I think what you have there is great background and information but it really isn’t an ending. Perhaps, bring it back to the Bach, because they you would have Bach in the beginning, middle and end of the piece. Have you listened to his album yourself? Maybe include a bit more description of it or a little review of it yourself. Great piece though and I look forward to the final draft!
Response to Claire's Profile
First off, good job in showing why this is something that we should care about. I was simply much more entertained than I would have imagined for an article that is ostensibly about organic and sustainable gardening. Your descriptions of Ben Cooper were really humorous and helped give a knowing, but light, tone to the piece and I also thought that you had a really insightful way of getting information out about the type of people that are involved in D.I.R.T. because at least for myself, I didn’t know until very recently that anything like this was going on around here nor did I know where the garden was, which you usefully included.
I also enjoyed how you made yourself part of the narrative as you wrote “I asked…”. Perhaps, it would be neat if you had dialogue with some of the members youself or strengthened your presence within the text, it could be very interesting if you became a larger character in your profile. How would sustainable gardening and D.I.R.T. affect you? Were you able to follow any crops that may already have been grown in previous gardens? That would be interesting to see if you could trace any of that. Overall, great piece and I look forward to the final work.
I also enjoyed how you made yourself part of the narrative as you wrote “I asked…”. Perhaps, it would be neat if you had dialogue with some of the members youself or strengthened your presence within the text, it could be very interesting if you became a larger character in your profile. How would sustainable gardening and D.I.R.T. affect you? Were you able to follow any crops that may already have been grown in previous gardens? That would be interesting to see if you could trace any of that. Overall, great piece and I look forward to the final work.
Response to Marina's Profile
Beautiful opening paragraph! The diction that you use really shows your understanding and history with dance. You use the terminology such as “pirouettes” and how descriptions of ballet and how it can cause dancers to approach their own bodies. Amy Rodgers’ point about the dominance of male choreographers, at least in classical ballet, was something that I had never thought about and it is a really fascinating point. Maybe expand off of that quote more? I’m not sure if I fully get the dialogue between feminism and ballet or the lack of it? Is Amy facilitating this dialogue or just saying that there would be a use for it? Also how does film compare and contrast with ballet as two forms of media? I don’t think Hitchcock personally had much to do with film but other filmmakers certainly utilized ballet or even filmed them like Michael Powell. Maybe question her about these? It’d be really nice to close with another dance image, especially one from perhaps Amy Rodgers’ favorite role that she danced. Overall, this is a really strong piece and one can really gather your investment in the subject. Good job!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Union Piece
It’s a quiet Tuesday evening and the sunset can clearly been seen shining in through the tinted windows of the Union in downtown Kalamazoo. From the bar, it is very visible how the light shines on to the stage and it becomes clear in one’s mind, the significance of the Union in Kalamazoo. The Union is a place where big-town elegance and cosmopolitan charm is presented to Kalamazoo in the form of a bistro and performance space. Part of the Union’s name is called “Cabaret and Grille” and these word choices clearly place the Union apart from many of the other restaurants around Kalamazoo.
Sharon, a bartender at the Union for the past four years, describes the place as one that “unites different parts of the ‘Zoo together to have an enjoyable evening and be out with friends or family”. Indeed, the crowds that gather at the Union draw from a very mixed, crowd, running the gamut from older, middle-class couples to young, affluent-looking singles. What is it that would draw such a diverse, including gender and race, cross-section of the Kalamazoo/Portage community together? A customer, Lesley King, who described herself as ‘a regular visitor’ summed it up thusly: “People come to the Union because it is a place that they feel welcome and [where] they see what Kalamazoo has to offer”. What Ms. King is describing here is how the Union presents many of Western Michigan University’s artists who perhaps would not be seen off of the university campus by many of Kalamazoo’s denizens. During an event such as the monthly art hops, the Union, with its central location on Kalamazoo’s outdoor walking mall, becomes a nexus for passing traffic and a vital hub of Kalamazoo’s artistic community. The Union presents a performance space for artists, whether they are musicians or chefs to show their wares in front of an appreciative audience.
“I’ve been coming to the Union for the past few years because they make me feel less like just another customer and sometimes, they treat me almost like a friend”. Ms. King who describes her love for the Union’s burgers as “Something perverse” finds herself drawn to the restaurant precisely because of the mix of class and candor that the Union provides. The waitstaff bustles around, maneuvering past tables with an agility that is eye-opening for those of us who have never worked in dining before and yet these waiters and waitresses are still able to notice and pay attention to the customer who requests another glass of wine or some ranch with their appetizer. This is a skill that the relatively upscale dining establishment must nurture and it is one that the Union holds in spades. According to Sharon, “The Union has customers who come in at least once a week, often times, two, because they so value their experience here”.
This customer loyalty can only be granted after great service and over a long time. Indeed, over my few visits, I believe that I noticed a few familiar faces, particularly in the singles crowd that is primarily concentrated around the bar. One of these singles, a man named Steve described the dating scene around the Union as “A bit upscale, [it] sort of brings a big city atmosphere to what kind seem like a small town dating scene for the after college crowd”. The Union does strike one as the type of place, that while enjoyable for those not yet legally able to drink, those who would have the best time are the 21 and up crowd. There is not the type of party atmosphere seen in a normal restaurant and bar such as Harvey’s or the sports bar type atmosphere of Wayside but rather a jazzier and more refined ethos surrounding the Union. They seek to present an urbane public space in which to present Western Michigan University’s Gold Company singers along with other cabaret type acts. This allows them to draw an extraordinarily diverse crowd of people to both their events and daily to dine. On any random visit, one find a nosily rambunctious crowd of senior citizens drinking margaritas to a group of college students excitedly celebrating the end of their exams over an appetizer of flatbread pizza. This diversity in ages and class is a definite positive in any downtown area such as Kalamazoo and helps to present a microcosm of the multitudes included with Kalamazoo and Portage society.
Ms. King also fascinatingly uttered that “The Union can also provide a space for people to go when they want to escape their problems or their economic worries and relax, enjoy a drink and listen to some great music”. This is, without a doubt, something that is quite visible from the atmosphere and purpose of the Union. The Kalamazoo/Portage metropolitan area was very hard by the current economic crisis and places like the Union, which provide good food; lots of companionship and entertainment at affordable prices are bound to be both popular and important for the well-being of the citizenry. The entertainment in particular is great for providing an escapist reality for people to grasp. Much of the musical arts draw on older forms of music such as jazz, funk and show tunes (not many Lady Gaga or Kei$ha covers here) and this, like an old-style supper club, brings back the memories of the good old days. This is combined with the fact that there is no extra charge for the collegiate entertainment or bands that appear at the Union, which serves to make this a very attractive destination for the cost-conscious consumer and also a great alternative to paying for a jazz concert at the Chenery or Monaco Bay.
The entertainment here is comparable to anything that could be found at another venue in Kalamazoo and touring bands such as the fantastic FunkTion appear without cost to the costumer. This combination of affordableness, class and escapism allows the Union to continue to shine amongst the competitive Kalamazoo dining and entertainment scene and there are no signs of this abetting. The Union showcases a fine evening spent out in downtown Kalamazoo without opening the purse too much or needing to go to formal. Check it out.
Sharon, a bartender at the Union for the past four years, describes the place as one that “unites different parts of the ‘Zoo together to have an enjoyable evening and be out with friends or family”. Indeed, the crowds that gather at the Union draw from a very mixed, crowd, running the gamut from older, middle-class couples to young, affluent-looking singles. What is it that would draw such a diverse, including gender and race, cross-section of the Kalamazoo/Portage community together? A customer, Lesley King, who described herself as ‘a regular visitor’ summed it up thusly: “People come to the Union because it is a place that they feel welcome and [where] they see what Kalamazoo has to offer”. What Ms. King is describing here is how the Union presents many of Western Michigan University’s artists who perhaps would not be seen off of the university campus by many of Kalamazoo’s denizens. During an event such as the monthly art hops, the Union, with its central location on Kalamazoo’s outdoor walking mall, becomes a nexus for passing traffic and a vital hub of Kalamazoo’s artistic community. The Union presents a performance space for artists, whether they are musicians or chefs to show their wares in front of an appreciative audience.
“I’ve been coming to the Union for the past few years because they make me feel less like just another customer and sometimes, they treat me almost like a friend”. Ms. King who describes her love for the Union’s burgers as “Something perverse” finds herself drawn to the restaurant precisely because of the mix of class and candor that the Union provides. The waitstaff bustles around, maneuvering past tables with an agility that is eye-opening for those of us who have never worked in dining before and yet these waiters and waitresses are still able to notice and pay attention to the customer who requests another glass of wine or some ranch with their appetizer. This is a skill that the relatively upscale dining establishment must nurture and it is one that the Union holds in spades. According to Sharon, “The Union has customers who come in at least once a week, often times, two, because they so value their experience here”.
This customer loyalty can only be granted after great service and over a long time. Indeed, over my few visits, I believe that I noticed a few familiar faces, particularly in the singles crowd that is primarily concentrated around the bar. One of these singles, a man named Steve described the dating scene around the Union as “A bit upscale, [it] sort of brings a big city atmosphere to what kind seem like a small town dating scene for the after college crowd”. The Union does strike one as the type of place, that while enjoyable for those not yet legally able to drink, those who would have the best time are the 21 and up crowd. There is not the type of party atmosphere seen in a normal restaurant and bar such as Harvey’s or the sports bar type atmosphere of Wayside but rather a jazzier and more refined ethos surrounding the Union. They seek to present an urbane public space in which to present Western Michigan University’s Gold Company singers along with other cabaret type acts. This allows them to draw an extraordinarily diverse crowd of people to both their events and daily to dine. On any random visit, one find a nosily rambunctious crowd of senior citizens drinking margaritas to a group of college students excitedly celebrating the end of their exams over an appetizer of flatbread pizza. This diversity in ages and class is a definite positive in any downtown area such as Kalamazoo and helps to present a microcosm of the multitudes included with Kalamazoo and Portage society.
Ms. King also fascinatingly uttered that “The Union can also provide a space for people to go when they want to escape their problems or their economic worries and relax, enjoy a drink and listen to some great music”. This is, without a doubt, something that is quite visible from the atmosphere and purpose of the Union. The Kalamazoo/Portage metropolitan area was very hard by the current economic crisis and places like the Union, which provide good food; lots of companionship and entertainment at affordable prices are bound to be both popular and important for the well-being of the citizenry. The entertainment in particular is great for providing an escapist reality for people to grasp. Much of the musical arts draw on older forms of music such as jazz, funk and show tunes (not many Lady Gaga or Kei$ha covers here) and this, like an old-style supper club, brings back the memories of the good old days. This is combined with the fact that there is no extra charge for the collegiate entertainment or bands that appear at the Union, which serves to make this a very attractive destination for the cost-conscious consumer and also a great alternative to paying for a jazz concert at the Chenery or Monaco Bay.
The entertainment here is comparable to anything that could be found at another venue in Kalamazoo and touring bands such as the fantastic FunkTion appear without cost to the costumer. This combination of affordableness, class and escapism allows the Union to continue to shine amongst the competitive Kalamazoo dining and entertainment scene and there are no signs of this abetting. The Union showcases a fine evening spent out in downtown Kalamazoo without opening the purse too much or needing to go to formal. Check it out.
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