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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 2001)
Students differ on rapper's purpose ■While some deplore Eminem's lyrics as being homophobic and jnisogynistic, others say he is protected by the First Amendment. BY ANDREW SHAW My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge That’ll stab you in the head whether you’re a fag or lez Or the homosex, hermaph ora trans-a-vest Pants or dress - hate fags? The answer’s yes” -An excerpt from Eminem’s “Criminal” on the “Marshall Mathers LP” Eminem's lyrics have raised eyebrows and tem pers across America, but the fame he has won from being one of the most vulgar artists to set sound to tape has also led to four Grammy nominations this year, including album of the year. He is also scheduled to perform with Elton John, an openly gay soft-pop performer, in one of music’s strangest pairings ever. The Grammy Awards show airs tonight on CBS at 7 p.m. Eminem has made a name for himself as an indecent rapper who uses the freedom of speech to construct rhymes depicting violence4gainst homo sexuals, women, his listeners, his wife and even Dr. Dre, the man responsible for all of Eminem’s suc cess. If Eminem is simply trying to make a statement about his freedom of expression, it gets lost behind the wall of gruesome violence and shameless obscenity for many. On the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, students grapple with the ideological conflict of decency vs. First Amendment rights. Tim Sieh, a senior political science major and free speech advocate, said Eminem “strikes a chord with lots of people” but still believes the Bill of Rights reserve a place for his unique form of expres sion. Other students, like sophomore elementary education major Erin Deichert, find Eminem's lyrics “have no point or meaning.” She said she believes that Eminem’s nomination for Album of the Year is “pathetic” and Mathers doesn’t deserve to receive the nod for the award because of his “degrading and pointless” lyrics. Alicia Cho, a sophomore business major, said Eminem’s “Marshall Mathers LP” contains “bad messages,” but also recognizes that “not a lot of people can rap like that.” , John Matzen, a junior accounting major, along with friends Sarah Williams and Clint Eckstein, finds Eminem’s career laughable. “He’s just as poppy as Britney Spears or •NSYNC,” Matzen said. “He is one step away from the people he makes fun of.” Williams, a junior political science major, said the Grammys are a popularity contest and that Eminem deserves his nominations because he is one of the more popular artists at this time. The Grammys are awarded annually to musi cians across all genres, and the winners are deter mined by their peers in the music industry, whereas the American Music Awards are awarded based on record sales. Williams quipped that Eminem is "a blonde Michael Jackson but not as talented because he can’t dance.” But people in the gay commu nity don't find anything funny about Eminem. Kris Gandara, a sen ior English and ' women’s studies major and mem ber of the Nebraska Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Civil Rights said Eminem "preaches hatred toward gays, lesbians and women.” Gandara, “disgusted” by his Grammy nominations, said it shows that the music indus try “is homo phobic as well.” Gandara said she is equally revolted by John’s agree ment to perform with Eminem during tonight’s ceremony. She said John is "contributing to his own oppres sion.” Eckstein dis agreed. The jun ior English major said he thinks "people take (Eminem’s lyrics) too seri ously.” He said Newsmakers Eminem raps onstage at hb performance in New Jersey Meadowlands Arena 0ct19,2000, in Secaucas, N J. Organizers for the 43rd Grammy Awards, to be held Feb.21,2001, in Los Angeles, reported that'gangsta* rap artists Dr. Dre and hb profog* Eminem will lead the Grammy nominees. fcimnem is a good marketer, and all ot the hype surrounding his music only results in "more press for him.'' Missoi Albert, an actuarial sciences graduate student, was the only student interviewed who said ne pianneu 10 waicn me urammys lonigni. ne saia Eminem’s unconventional approach to music is deserving of the nominations. “He is opening a way to a different form of expression,” Albert said. “(Eminem) is not confined to the traditional way of making music.” Gay community protests John, Eminem duet THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK - When gay college student Matthew Shepard was beaten to death three years ago, Elton John spoke eloquently about the need to eradicate hatred and discrimination against homosexuals. “When I fly over America on my broomstick, as I often do a lot, I get to feeling what a big coun • try this is - it's big enough for everyone,” he said at an anniversary observance of Shepard’s death in 1999. “And despite all the progress that has been made in rights and tolerance, we are still living in a world of hate.” IWo years later, John has outraged many in the gay community by saying he will take the stage at the Grammy Awards ceremony Wednesday with Eminem - the rapper whose album is riddled with derisive or violent references to "fags.” To activists’ added frustration, there also has been little interest among other celebrities - gay or straight - in condemning Eminem. "Overwhelmingly, artists have been very silent on this,” said Scott Seomin, spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). “We're hearing neutrality, and off the record, ‘Scott, I'm really horrified by Eminem’s lyrics, but I can’t risk speaking publicly against him.’” Worse, he said, musicians from Sheryl Crow to Wyclef Jean have described Eminem's album as one of their favorites. Even Melissa Etheridge, the lesbian singer and outspoken proponent of gay rights, has declined to criticize him, describing Eminem as talented while acknowledging that his words were hurtful. Etheridge declined to comment to The Associated Press. Eminem’s "The Marshall Mathers LP” has been nominated for the Grammys’ highest honor, album of the year, and he is also nominated in three rap categories. He said his lyrics should not be taken literally. “I think that Elton John -1 think he gets it,” Eminem said backstage during a concert last month. “Because the kids ... they are taking my music for what it’s worth, you know what I mean? They're taking it with a... grain of salt.” Eminem’s lyrics call gays “sick” and joke about stabbing them. Women’s groups also have criticized the rap per for violent lyrics: One song depicts the mur der of his wife, IGm, and another mentions raping his mother. Eminem's spokesman, Dennis Dennehy, said the music industry has not flogged Eminem Please see EMINEM on 6 Courtesy Art The traditional Japanese drummers KODO make their first Lied Center stop since 1997 tonight at 7:30 p.m. KODO brings heart of Japan Traditional drummers return to the Lied Center stage tonight PT PIU-T PIVIUV,* In Japan it means “heart beat,” the primal source of all rhythm. For the Japanese drum ensemble, their titled name KODO also means “children of the drum,” appropriate for KODO’s drumming style - light ly and with the heart of a child. KODO is bringing that style back to the Lied Center for Performing Arts tonight for a one-time performance at 7:30. KODO, which originated in 1981, makes this year its 20th anniversary using the ancient Japanese taiko drum to pre serve and reinterpret tradition al Japanese art. Spokesman Daniel Rosen said in a phone interview that although the ensemble respects their native tradition, they are very contemporary. “They are rooted in tradi tion, but they are certainly not bound by tradition,” Rosen said. Rosen said the group has a myriad of worldwide influ ences, combining vocals, dance and instrumentation that extends beyond drums, including the Japanese bam boo flute, African bells, slit drums and a Mongolian horse fiddle. The musical performance can be broken down into three layers, Rosen said: The “careful ly crafted" visual element, form, which is “equally as important as sound,” and the physical level, which “reverber ates through the entire body making it very different from other performances.” Based on Japan’s Sado island, KODO has been making a worldwide impression per forming more than 2,000 times in 37 countries. This tour covers 31 shows in 21 cities over a two month time frame, Rosen said. The troupe, which usually tours witn 14 to 18 performers at a time, will be bringing a team of 16, four women and 12 men, to the Lied for the first time since its performance in 1997. Of the 40 members of KODO, more than 20 are stage performers, Rosen said. The other 15 members have other duties such as management and public relations. Rosen said becoming a stage performer takes more than the ability to play a drum. “It isn’t enough to be a good taiko player to be a KODO per former," Rosen said. “The group functions a lot like a fam ily" The ability to gel with that family is a very important part of being a KODO member, Rosen said. The group spends a lot of time together, so cohe Please see KODO on 6 1 Eccentricity works in 'Shadow' BY SETH FELTON In 1921, German director Friedrich Mernau filmed the first and perhaps still best Dracula film, “Nosferatu.” Based on the book by the recently deceased Bram Stoker, people marveled at its realism. "Shadow of a Vampire" follows the director F.W. Mernau (John Malkovich) on his quest to make this film, a task he soon becomes obsessed with. He travels with his crew to Czechoslovakia, where they meet Max Schreck (Willem Dafoe), a bizarre method actor who plays the part of Nosferatu, das Wampyr.Soon things begin to go awry - crew members begin to disap pear, Mernau’s obsession grows, and Schreck’s behavior is becoming more erratic. Mernau will accept no interruptions despite these problems, partly because of his fanaticism and partly because of his financiers’ impatience. He accom modates production of the movie to the strange happenings, and the line between movie-making and documentary begins to blur. “Shadow” is a refreshing film for many rea ... it feels like entering a dream, like drawing back an ectoplasmic curtain and walking in on the subconscious. - sons; the main reason is that it refuses to be cate gorized or pigeonholed. It’s not a comedy because we don’t laugh much. It’s not a horror film because we’re never really scared. Perhaps it will be frus trating for some that it doesn’t fit a specific Hollywood category, but that’s part of what makes the film. It’s fiercely eclectic. The main emphasis of the film seehis to be both the artist’s preoccupation with his work and the wavering distinction between fiction and real ity. The director, E. Elias Merhige, uses an interest ing effect to achieve this distinction. Once Memau gets the camera, in those days an old turn-crank model, rolling, the audience sees what the camera sees. The lens focuses into a tighter circle around the action, and the color of modern cinema fades Please see SHADOW on 6 'Yi Yi' long but engaging Taiwan film BY CASEY JOHNSON “Yi Yi” is a charming albeit mercilessly long - two hours and 43 minutes - cinematic representation of a family experiencing a bevy of crises. The story revolves around the Jians - a typical middle class Taiwanese family living in Taipei. Min-Min Jian, played by Elaine Jin, is married to NJ Jian (WU Nienjen), who is partner in a software business and the main character in the film. His business has done well in the past but needs to go in a new direction if it is to survive. Shortly after Min-Min’s brother A-di, played by Chen Xisheng, is married, their mother suffers a severe stroke that leaves her comatose. The trauma of the ordeal causes Min-Min to have a mini breakdown shortly after the stroke, and she retreats into the mountains for spiritual heal ing. At the wedding, NJ runs into Sherry Chang-Breitner, played by Ke Suyun, whom he ran out on 20 years before. After seeing his former love, NJ begins to wonder what might have been if he had not left Sherry. With his wife gone and his company looking to sign with a software designer in Japan, NJ has the perfect opportunity to meet Sherry in Tokyo. After much ado with side plots involving other members of the family, this story line becomes the main focus of the film. The two do hook up, and the rest of the movie becomes very interesting even though the first three quarters of it is con fusing and very hard to follow. This is mostly because the film drags on for the first half as the characters and scenes are painstakingly developed with no rhyme or reason. Although the end result of the movie is rewarding, its length is almost overwhelming, especially with the added bur den of subtitles. On top of that, the subtitles are at times hard to read when the background color matches or resembles the color of the Please see YIYI on 6