Corinne Elliott
Journalist/Multimedia Storyteller
The Full Story:
"Bringing Vinyl Back"
About three years ago my intrigue with vinyl was captured when I was cleaning my late aunt’s basement. She had an old, broken down mammoth of a record player. It was too far gone to take home, but none the less it captured my attention. For Christmas, I got a record player (at Target no less) and out for trash the very next day by serendipity, was a box of 100 vinyls. That December, I combed through original collections of the Beatles, Elton John, and Billy Joel. It was pure magic. The pops, crackles and soft-warm sounds that come from vinyl were much more soothing than I ever thought. I became to know some of my favorite artists on a much more intimate level.
The revitalization of vinyls was started back in 2006 and has steadily increased in popularity. Even new artists like Jack White, Vampire Weekend, and the National have been turing their modern albums into a retro vinyls. Older artists too have been pressing more records for the demand. Anyone from Bob Dylan to Tyler the Creator are now selling records at your local Barnes and Noble or Best Buy.
Mechanicsburg manager of Record Smith, Dan Black, said since the opening of their store three years ago sales have doubled each year with LPs. “Even with newer heavy rock and indie music there is so much more you can hear with vinyl.”
According to Digital Trends website, they have reported that based on a 2012 sales figures, vinyl record album sales in the U.S has jumped 17.7 percent to almost 4.55 million units, while CD sales have steadily dropped.
So what prompted the winding of clocks back in time with music technology?
It starts with iTunes back in 2003. Apple was a genius in allowing their clients to pick and purchase only their favorite songs from albums. This picking and choosing of songs from artists was, at first, an appealing and cheap alternative to CDs. We find now that iTunes is no longer as cheap as we like so we head on over to Spotify and Pandora.
CDs are too expensive, but buying vintage records is still a thrifty alternative. Senior, Lindsey Henry said, “I buy old records from thrift stores or the local library book sale. It's a great deal and a treasure hunt at the same time! It's hard to buy them on the retail level, but you can find something really neat for a quarter or less sometimes.”
Aside from economics, perhaps this selective music choice has distanced ourselves from music artists. Plenty of students have hundreds of artists on their computer, but only know a song or two from each artist. Vinyl does not allow the pleasure in skipping a song like in a CD. You have one record with two sides.
Finally the sound. Unlike digital recording technology, the sound in records are captured by analog technology. Believe it or not, the limitations with capturing an accurate sound are actually more pleasing to the ear. Hence when people say that they like the sound on vinyl more they are talking about the warm attributes from the analog technology. According to the “How Stuff Works” website, “Some audiophiles say that vinyl albums perform better in the lower frequencies, meaning they provide a warm sound. They argue that compact discs aren't as accurate at reproducing sounds at this range.”
According to Henry, “There's a reason people still produce on LP. Radiohead, Keane, Florence and the Machine, Sondre Lerche to name a few.I like least how people of my generation misunderstand records. The MP3 will never have a better sound quality than a record. It just won't. The science behind the LP is amazing and yet, because it is outdated, it's seemingly lesser.”
Since listening to vinyl I have discovered so many new and old artists on a deeper level. It is nice to take a break from the digital age and put on a record.
"Being Elmo Film Review"
As a generation of children growing up with television, one of the most impressionable characters to us all was the beloved monster named Elmo.
Originally tossed aside by puppeteer, Richard Hunt; Elmo was given new life onSesame Street by Kevin Clash. In this 76-minute documentary, Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey follows the dreams and struggles of the man who eventually made Elmo into an international sensation.
From humble beginnings in Baltimore County, Clash knew at the age of nine he wanted to become a puppeteer. Through years of tedious effort and perseverance of original-puppet building and children’s shows Clash eventually got his chance for his dream job.
Jim Henson, who was Clash’s idol gave him that chance in 1984 when he began to work on the set of Sesame Street.
As a fan of Elmo and the Muppets myself, I was tickled to see the remarkable story of an average teen make his way to a dream career. Clash not only wanted to be a puppeteer, but he wanted to be an inspiration onto other children just as Jim Henson was to him.
“I knew Elmo should represent love,” Clash said in the documentary.
In this documentary you will see the love that not only Clash but other puppeteers took into making a simple piece of cloth into a real-life character.
This small window into the world of Henson’s mind, shows the time and dedication of the people who brought smiles, laughter and entertainment for old and young generations alike.
Clash who is now Sesame Street’s Senior Puppet Coordinator as well as Sesame Workshop’s Senior Creative Consultant carries on the torch for Jim Henson’s vision.
Elmo would love for you to see this Sundance Special Jury Prize winner film, presented by SAB Lost Films on September 15 and 16.
"Zeek's Coffeehouse"
Being their first venture, Doug and Beth Pendergist offer a unique blend at Zeek’s Coffeehouse. Opening up on February 6, this is the Pendergist’s first family-ran business. In search for the perfect cup of coffee, Doug and Beth have always been on the hunt for different roasts and beans of all flavors. All for the sake for a good cup of Joe. “Making and roasting coffee is something of an artwork that you really have to learn.”
The Pendergists moved here four years ago from Connecticut with their family, consisting of five children. One of which, Alexandria is a senior here at Messiah College. Finding different cups of coffee was something of a hobby for them and a constant search that lead into their decision for opening up their own business. Doug said that owning their own business has always been on their minds. “We looked at the roasting business and we looked at the machines. For whatever reason it just wasn’t the right time.”
Doug said that the family put the idea on hold until they saw an ad in craigslist, back in early december for an espresso cafe. After some negotiation from the previous owner, they bought the store located at 10 Tristan Road.
After much debate and rethinking about the name and look of their new cafe they finally decided on the name, Zeeks. Doug said that his youngest daughter, Abbey heard the name Zeeks on t.v. “The ironic thing is that my father-in-laws nickname was Zeek. It just made a lot of sense for us.”
After opening up, Doug and Beth searched out local vendors and small batch roasters for different varieties of coffee to make. They have not yet started roasting their own coffee yet, but it is something that is a goal for them, Doug said.
Zeeks not only is a place to grab a good cup of coffee, but local artwork as well as local bands can show off their talent there as well. Every friday night, Zeeks will have a group or small band play. “We want different groups, different sounds.”
The artwork that surrounds the walls of Zeeks are just as unique as the different bands that play there. “We really wanted to give just that coffeehouse atmosphere. Another thing we did was we brought in local artists to decorate the wall and create some space for them to show off their work to sell and to be seen.” Local artists like one of Messiah’s own, Aletheia Schmidt showcases her artwork at Zeeks as well.
Wanting to reach out to Messiah students, Zeeks is a place that is a hybrid. “We wanted to give people a coffeehouse atmosphere but also give them the opportunity to sit down and relax and hang out with friends.” Currently, Zeeks is looking into possibly having the falcon card being in use for Messiah students.
"Antigone Play Preview"
Tragedy, love and stubbornness; these are the perfect ingredients to make a good drama. Here at Messiah College, the Department of Theatre and Dance presents Sophocles’ Antigone. This old Greek story has a new modern twist as the setting is placed in a dystopia of agony and misfortune.
For those who do not know this Greek legend; according to the theatre department, “Antigone presents the story of the daughter of Oedipus in a battle about right and wrong. Antigone’s brothers have died attempting to win power of the kingdom. Their uncle, Creon, has decreed that one brother should receive a state burial while the other shall serve as an example to traitors. Antigone challenges her uncle’s decree in an age old battle over morality, death, and honor.”
Adapted and directed by Kristopher Yoder; this play not only echos the ancient Greek tragedy, but leaves the audience humbled by it’s modern take. Yoder writes, “Tragedy is inevitable- you know things are going to happen, people are going to die, but you can’t do anything to stop it. You can only watch, and experience.”
With Antigone’s will of giving both of her brothers equal respect and Creon’s determination to keep order and law; the contrast shows the unbending wills of each character. The show continues through April 12 and 13 at 8p.m. as well as the April 14 at 3 p.m. Tickets are priced at $7 for students and $11 for general admission. Sean Connelly, an actor of Antigone described it as, “It’s really entertaining. you get to see something that is thousands of years old being put on as though it is only twenty years old.”
"The Industry"
Going off on a little rabbit trail for those who do not know, the Hays Code of 1930 or also known as the Motion Picture Production Code was a set of rules and guidelines for film-makers. This code was proposed by William Hays and was followed by the major motion picture studios in fear of government control. Before censorship, racy films like “Morocco” and “Blue Angel” that included excessive amounts of sexuality as well as violence were a norm for the film industry. The change and push for the code was prompted by off-screen scandals as well as the church questioning Hollywood’s morals. The code was abandoned in 1968 and now the Motion Picture Association of America is now the moral decider.
So what happened to the Golden Age of decency and chivalry? Even in the “Golden Age” matters of sexuality and violence were not ignored, but rather tastefully discrete. Censorship is a double-edged sword that limits creativity and decides what the moral standards should be. The Hays Code was a helpful tool, but also played the part of a parental unit which did not allow the audience to make decisions for themselves.
In the 1970s when the big motion picture studios were suffering due to the competition of television they ditched Hays and brought in the MPAA. This too is another parental unit for the film industry and is a more relaxed code. It allows for the film industry to have more sex and violence to bring back the crowds that they have previously lost.
This is not to say however that each film-maker had violence and sex on their mind when crafting the film, only that the once forbidden topics were now on the table for film once again.
So have we become a culture that is desensitized to sex as well as accustomed to excessive violence? Probably. But these topics haven't just appeared in last century, they have been a part of culture since before film has even appeared. Film is just a visual reflection of our culture and now more than ever, easily accessible.
Should sex and violence be ignored in the film industry? I do not believe so. I think there are great films out there that have tastefully used these controversial topics in their films. Rather than becoming sensationalistic, these film-makers have made and proved a point. Trying to find a balance between storytelling and embellishment is something that every artist and film-maker struggles with.
Should we as a culture tolerate the more appalling and dehumanizing films? No. But at the same time each should follow their own morals to guide them with film.
The film-industry is a thriving business, and like any business wants to please their audience. Believe it or not, you make a vote every time you attend a movie or buy a film. Sex and violence is not something that is going to poof away from society. But by becoming a more aware audience member you cast a vote of what you want to watch in the movies.
So before you buy that ticket and eat that popcorn check the ratings and read the reviews. Make sure to see if it aligns with your value system, rather than compromising your ethics.