The Descendants:
Starring: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, and Amara Miller
Direction: Alexander Payne
Summary: Matt King (George Clooney) is going through a point in his life where everything seems to be falling apart. Being a descendant of Hawaii’s royal bloodline, Matt and his relatives must sell a plot of land that has been in his family for generations. Matt is given the job of the executor of the family trust, and therefore has to make the decision on who to sell the land to. With this decision weighing on his shoulders, he is put under more stress when his wife, Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie), has a water-skiing accident, setting her into a permanent coma, therefore having to be taken off of life support. With his wife’s condition, Matt is forced to look after his two daughters, Alexandra (Shailene Woodley) who is seventeen and Scottie (Amara Miller) who is ten. Having been the “back-up” parent, Matt is now faced with the difficulty of raising them by himself, with no help or guidance. If he didn’t have enough problems already, Matt’s world comes crashing down when his daughter Alexandra tells him that Elizabeth has been cheating on him with “some other guy” (Matthew Lillard). Learning of his wife’s unfaithfulness, Matt realizes he has to juggle his emotions. Part of him wants to go and find the guy who messed up his marriage, yet part of him knows he must be a good influence for his ten year old daughter, making sure she doesn’t find out about the affair so she will always remember her mother in a good light.
The film delves into a traumatic story, which is told in a lighthearted manner. The connections made on scene are spectacular, allowing the audience to feel as though the story was very believable. Clooney also made an outstanding performance as the father of two young daughters as he tries to balance the chaos in his life. As he and his two daughters sit on the couch watching television in the ending scene, the scene becomes real, conveying that resting with family after a “long day” is a part of normal, everyday life.
Scene to Look Out For: Clooney puts on a great show when he confronts the man that his wife was seeing. In real life, the situation would be very awkward, which is exactly how it goes. Making such a troublesome situation come to life on screen is what makes the film relatable to audiences.
Why You Should See It: This film has a unique tone – one that enables the audience to relate to the chaos of life, even if it is not as traumatic as Matt King’s. Serious, yet lighthearted, the movie draws people in, being able to relate to the characters who are very much real.
Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Actor in a Leading Role: George Clooney
Directing: Alexander Payne
Film Editing: Kevin Tent
Writing (Adapted Screenplay): Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash

My Week With Marilyn:
Starring: Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, and Kenneth Branagh
Direction: Simon Curtis
Summary: Michelle Williams takes audiences by storm with her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week With Marilyn. This story starts off with a young man named Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who is passionate about making his way into the film business. His family being close friends with the famous Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) helps Clark to land a job as the third assistant director for the film The Prince and the Showgirl. Exciting as it was to be working on a film with Olivier, Clark is even more astounded when he is told Marilyn Monroe is to play opposite of Olivier. Having just been married to Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott), Monroe arrives with her husband to England in hopes that this film will show the world that she is a true actress, and not just a sex object. Yet when filming begins, personalities clash.
Monroe takes her time to get into character, and in order for her to become that character, she needs to understand who they are as a person. Olivier on the other hand does not grasp her ways and just wants to get filming underway. As the third assistant director, Clark is in charge of managing Monroe. Being taken in by Monroe’s beauty, Clark agrees to be on her side of the her and Olivier’s argument.
As the production goes on, Miller needs to leave England for business, leaving Monroe there by herself. Disheveled by his departure, Monroe turns to Clark for friendship and comfort, beginning Clark’s infamous “week with Marilyn.” As the two get to know one another, Clark finds himself falling for Monroe, who just wants someone to treat her like a normal person and love her for who she truly is. Throughout the film, Williams portrays Marilyn through her flirtatious ways for which she is famous for. However, Williams also takes a dive into the real Marilyn, the one whom faced many problems and fears throughout her life of not being good enough for anyone. The bond that she and Clark make is one of loving friendship, which Clark would hold onto forever.
Scenes To Look Out For: When Monroe plays hooky from filming, she and Clark spend the day together exploring England and enjoying life. This scene exhibits Monroe’s laid back manner, unlike the scene in which she is so vulnerable and depressed that she cannot even get out of bed.These two scenes in particular show the drastic contrasts between Monroe’s carefree spirit and the depression she experienced.
Why You Should See It: My Week With Marilyn is a very likable film, showing the world Monroe through Clark’s eyes. Williams’ performance as Marilyn allows you to see a side of Monroe that was not often seen in the media. Branagh also gives a spectacular portrayal of Olivier, exhibiting the challenge it was to work with Marilyn and the anger that came with it.
Oscar Nominations:
Actress in Leading Role: Michelle Williams
Actor in Supporting Role: Kenneth Branagh

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo:
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, and Christopher Plummer
Direction: David Fincher
Summary: Based on the first novel of the bestselling trilogy by Stieg Larsson, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011) is not the first attempt to make this series into a theatrical phenomenon. In 2009 Noomi Rapace starred in Sweden’s version of the trilogy. Now, Hollywood has taken a keen liking to the trilogy’s heroine, Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara). A new kind of heroine, Salander is a brilliant computer hacker, who can find out information about anyone. Although she may dress in grunge, wear all black, has multiple tattoos and body piercings, and sports a mohawk, she knows exactly who she is and is not planning to change for anyone. As the film begins we meet Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), a journalist who is under scrutiny by the media for writing an investigative article in the newspaper on a politician. When the article, which reveals wrongdoings of the politician, is printed, Blomkvist must face the consequences for not having resources to back up his statements. To get out of the public eye, Blomkvist takes a job as an investigator for a wealthy, retired business man, Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer). Vanger explains to Blomkvist that his grand-niece had disappeared when she was a teenager, 40 years prior. Vanger believes that her kidnapper/killer is still out there and wants Blomkvist to find out what happened to the killer and his niece. In order to solve the mystery, Blomkvist hires Salander as an assistant. Together, they investigate the crime, linking it to many others, only to find out that the killer is a member of the girl’s own family. Trying to keep one another sane in such an insane investigation, both Blomkvist and Salander find refuge as they begin to form a relationship beyond investigative partners. Eventually they discover what had happened to the girl, giving audiences a very intense scene of suspense and danger that is mind-blowing.
Scene to Look Out For: As both Blomkvist and Salander are investing the crimes that they have linked to the disappearance of Vanger’s grand-niece, the stakes start to rise. When Blomkvist decides to confront the girls’ killer, he is taken by surprise when he too becomes a possible victim of the murderer. Full of suspense and intrigue, this scene, all the way up to a car chase between the killer and Salander, will have you holding your breath.
Why You Should See It: Craig and Mara have incredible chemistry on screen. Every aspect of their personalities and their relationship feels real to the audience, making it a captivating film and holding hopes that producers will encourage a sequel.
Oscar Nominations:
Actress in a Leading Role: Rooney Mara
Cinematography: Jeff Cronenweth
Film Editing: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
Sound Editing: Ren Klyce
Sound Mixing: David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, and Bo Persson

The Artist:
Starring: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, and John Goodman
Direction: Michel Hazanavicius
Summary: It is 1927 and George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is a handsome, fun-loving, A-list celebrity in silent films. Most of his films include his adorable dog Uggie, who is also his off screen pet and pal. Together they make a great team, performing tricks and showing a very loving bond. Valentin has it all, a beautiful wife, a grand house, and adoring fans. After the opening of his most recent film, he is outside playing it up for his admirers when one of them, Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), accidentally drops her purse and bumps into him. When they look at one another, there is an instant connection, yet they both just play it off as nothing. The next day Miller goes to the studio to see if she can land a job of her own. Soon enough, she is picked as a dancer for Valentin’s next film, and as they work closely together, the two begin to fall in love.
As Miller’s career begins to bud, talking pictures make their way into the Hollywood studios. Miller willingly stars in one and her career takes off, becoming the new A-list celebrity of talking pictures. Valentin on the other hand does not believe talking pictures will come of anything. He is too proud of his silent films, and therefore rejects the offer to be cast in any talkies. However, talkies keep coming, and as the make their way into the hearts of the people, he and silent films are simply forgotten. Soon enough, the grand life that Valentin had starts to fall apart. He is unhappy in his marriage, and his wife eventually leaves him. He is too proud to star in a talkie, therefore he has no job offers and no money. He begins to lose everything, his house, his belongings, his sanity. As his life is turning to shambles, Miller’s is blossoming. She is the new “it” girl in town and knows it. Yet, she still loves Valentin and deeply wants to help him. He however does not want any sympathy, for he was once a great actor. Although he wants no pity from others, Valentin pities himself. One day he becomes mad with anger and lights his old films on fire, causing his apartment to burn with him inside. Thankfully for his dog, Uggie goes out and finds a police man to save Valentin. Miller hears of the fire and goes to Valentin. Although they still have their differences, Valentin eventually forgets his pride and let’s Miller help him find a way back into the business he loves.
Scene to Look Out For: One of the most intense scenes in the film is when Miller is driving around frantically trying to find Valentin, while he is at his apartment about to make a big mistake. All you need to know is that it ends with a “BANG!”
Why You Should See It: The Artist is very unique to Hollywood. Silent, black and white films used to be a craze of the past, however this film shows just how easily styles come back. Overall this film is a dazzling revelation, bringing back words on the screen to represent the dialogue in the picture. Not a single moment in the film held a flaw. It kept the audience guessing, adding playfulness and surprises. Even the dog, Uggie, gave an outstanding performance as Valentin’s sidekick. Not only is he adorable, but he does many tricks throughout the film and even saves Valentin’s life. Being that none of the actors spoke in this film, they all had to convey most of their messages with their faces and body language, which can be a difficult task. Such a film can only receive praise!
Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Actor in a Leading Role: Jean Dujardin
Actress in a Supporting Role: Berenice Bejo
Cinematography: Guillaume Schiffman
Art Direction: Laurence Bennet and Robert Gould
Costume Design: Mark Bridges
Directing: Michel Hazanavicius
Film Editing: Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
Music (Original Score): Ludovic Bource
Writing (Original Screenplay): Michel Hazanavicius

War Horse:
Starring: Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, and David Thewlisf
Direction: Stephen Spielberg
Summary: War Horse is the story of Joey, a stallion who was bought by the impoverished Narcott family. Originally Joey was bought to be a plow horse. The Narcott’s were in need of a horse who could help them fertilize their field so that they could pay their rent to Lyons (David Thewlisf). However, Joey was a very skittish horse who was not trained. It was not until fifteen year old Albert Narcott (Jeremy Irvine) took an interest in training the stallion that Joey came round. Throughout the beginning of the film the audience sees the relationship between Albert and Joey progress, eventually to the point where they become one another’s best friend. Although Joey is doing his job on the field, weather circumstances ruin the crop that the Narcott family were depending on to save their home. With World War II breaking out, Albert’s father, Ted, (Peter Mullan) realizes that he needs to sell Joey to the army in order to get the money he needs for rent. Without telling Albert, Ted goes into town and sells Joey to a Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleston). With Joey now in the army, the story of War Horse begins.
Throughout the film, Joey is faced with many different obstacles of war. His own journey starts in the Calvary with Captain Nicholls, but within the first battle they fight against the Germans, Nicholls is killed. After this, Joey makes an appearance in many people’s lives, effecting those of two young German soldiers, who run away from battle. When they are executed by a firing squad for desertion, Joey is found in the barn of a Frenchman (Niels Arestrup) and his granddaughter Emilie (Celine Buckens).
Emilie, takes a liking to Joey and treats him well, until German soldiers come and invade their home, taking almost everything, including Joey. Eventually Joey runs free through no-man’s-land, racing through trenches, mud, explosions, and barbed wire fences. Getting caught in the barbed wire, Joey cannot run anymore, and instead lays down in the middle of a battlefield. Together, an English solider and a German soldier come together to free Joey of the barbed wire, showing audiences that peace can exist even in the midst of war.  Audiences then find that Albert himself had joined the war. Events after this are very emotional as audiences watch the horrors of war right before their eyes. Yet, the story ends happily, with the war ending, Joey and Albert being reunited, and the two riding home of into the sunset.
Scene to Look Out For: Joey and Albert’s story is a very touching one because audiences get to see it evolve throughout the whole film. Therefore, the scene in which they are reunited is a very emotional one. It shows just how strong of a bond they had and that true friendship, no matter if it is between a human and a horse, can last a lifetime.
Why You Should See It: One of the best parts of this film is the cinematography. Each scene has incredible depth, definition, and lighting. You will instantly be drawn into the details of each scene. Another great aspect of the movie was the relationships made with Joey. It is neat to see through a horses perspective and how he is treated in all different parts of the war. Although it was a sad film with much destruction and many deaths, it was very well done.
Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Cinematography: Janusz Kaminski
Art Direction: Rick Carter and Lee Sandales
Music (Original Score): John Williams
Sound Editing: Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom
Sound Mixing: Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, and Stuart Wilson

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Though Portal 2 came out almost a year ago, the game may have been forgotten with all the holiday releases that came out at the same time (Battlefield 3, Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3, Skyrim, Arkham City).  These games were all great, but while they expanded on what had already worked in previous games, Portal 2 did more.  It got you going in the beginning, and then started adding new elements to the game that made it a lot more complicated.  Not only did you have to remember the mechanics of the portals from the first game, but all the new toys from the second as well.  The first Portal is fantastic but it feels smaller and pales in comparison to the second.
The first Portal is essentially a tutorial.  The game shows you how to do everything and then by the last level you feel like a pro.  The single player in Portal 2 is similar as it trains you to use the new mechanics and goes through a long campaign featuring an excellent story, voice acting and art design.  Not many people would complain about spending money on the single player because it is that good.  But Valve decided to include a co-op campaign, much to the delight of fans.
Now instead of having someone help you by peering over your shoulder, they too can join in on the puzzles.  In co-op you can play as Atlas or P-Body, two robots that do not speak and give off a Laurel and Hardy vibe.  The campaign itself is amazing and the levels are well designed.  You and a friend enter each level eagerly waiting to check out the mechanics of the next puzzle.  The process almost always involves surveying your surroundings and then bouncing suggestions off of your partner until the goal was met.  The best of this is reaching that “Ah ha” moment where you figure everything out and then execute it.  You need to work together, not against each other and in that sense it is one of the ultimate team games.  If you are looking to build on a relationship, play the Portal 2 co-op and you will honestly get to know a person better.  If you are a guy trying to get your girlfriend into gaming, this is a great place to start.
While many people complained about the Portal game store their gripes seemed silly compared to what other game companies do.  The store allows you to buy hats for your co-op characters and players said that Valve was nickel-and-diming them.  Here is the thing about these hats: you do not have to buy them to enhance your game.  Now if Valve had just released the game and then started charging for additional levels then the gripes would seem reasonable.  But the hats are purely cosmetic and have no effect on game play. Valve actually put out some updates in October which added a whole new set of levels for the co-op campaign.  They put in challenges like “least amount of portals used” and “least amount of time” on a level.  You can also put your time up against people on Steam.  This was all free and compared to the other big games of the year Portal 2 looks a lot better.
Battlefield and Call of Duty charge for extra content and Arkham Asylum has a ton of DLC (downloadable content) that would have been ready when the game launched. Instead they gave it out to different retailers so that depending on where you bought the game you would get a different piece of DLC.  The cheapest way to get it all would probably be to wait for the game of the year edition.  Valve co-founder Gabe Newell said, “Piracy is almost always a service problem and not a pricing problem.”  He wants games to be affordable and fair to the customer and for the most part Valve has done that with Portal 2 being a shining example.  The game is innovative and will not be coming out again every year with what is essentially a map pack.

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What do you think of when you hear the word “dragon”? A giant monster that lives to destroy castles and kidnap young maidens or a wise and long-lived species that is misunderstood? There have been many different interpretations of these fantastic flying lizards either as harbingers of destruction or humanity’s loyal guardian.  E.E. Knight, however, has created a world of dragons that is both similar and different from these conceptions.
The Age of Fire series tells the story of three dragon hatchlings who lose their parents to dwarf raiders and must learn how to survive and adapt to a world they know little to nothing about. What is really fascinating about these dragons is that while they are very intelligent and are capable of speaking various languages, they are still animals driven by instinct as much as thought. They have developed a society and culture that is incredibly interesting, despite the fact that the dragon race has begun to die out.
The three main characters themselves are interesting and their stories span from the moment they hatch to adulthood and their struggles to establish themselves despite their disabilities. Auron, for example, must learn to survive without scales to protect him. Wistala must overcome her peaceful nature to hunt and punish those who wronged her family, and the Copper, abandoned by his parents and crippled by his brother, must overcome his past and establish himself in the world of dragons.
The world the dragons are thrust into is very intriguing though it has the typical fantasy layout of separate countries of various cultures and races such as humans, dwarfs, and elves. While it is not as in-depth as Tolkien’s “Lord of the Ring” books, it is enough to give you the idea that this is a world where dragons are constantly losing territory to the hominid races and must find a way that their species can survive. All in all, it is an excellent read for both dragon and fantasy lovers. All six books are available at the local book store.

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Begun in 2003 with the publication of Eragon, Christopher Paolini at last concluded his Inheritance Cycle with the fourth installment, Inheritance, published November 8, 2011.
The series begins when Eragon, a fifteen-year-old boy in Alagaesia, who finds a blue stone in the Spine mountain range near his hometown of Carvahall.  This blue stone later hatches into a baby blue dragon, whom he names Saphira, and with her, Eragon becomes a Dragon Rider, beginning his epic quest to defeat the kingdom’s tyrannical ruler, Galbatorix.
It was upon the publication of the third book in the series, Brisingr, that devoted Paolini fans discovered that their beloved series, which was supposed to be a trilogy, had become a saga.  Readers would then have to wait three years for the tale to conclude.
After waiting so long for the last installment, expectations for Inheritance were high.  Speculation as to the rider of the green dragon egg, found in book three, ran rampant.
Overall, Inheritance lived up to the expectations.  Certainly it was more pleasant than spending all of one’s time in the elven homeland doing yoga, as readers did in Eldest, described in excruciating detail.
At a whopping 849 pages, Inheritance is by far the heftiest of the four books (Brisingr trails behind it with 748 pages), but it had a lot to cover.
Paolini managed to include several plot twists in the last book, some of which were unexpected and some of which were so predictable that they barely qualify as twists at all.
The most disappointing revelation is the rider of the green dragon, which hatched at last at the end of Inheritance; some readers suspected the Rider’s identity since the second book.  Paolini might have done well to make this Rider a little less predictable.
One thing that Paolini does have in his favor is his ability to tie in all the loose ends that he left waving at the end of Brisingr.  Some of these threads have been dangling in front of readers since the first book, and finally they all are woven in to create a complete tapestry.
Details that even avid fans forgot were brought to the surface in Inheritance and created some interesting story points that provided closure that would have been lacking otherwise.
Continuing his writing style from the second book, Paolini divided his time among Eragon; his cousin, Roran Stronghammer; and Nasuada, leader of the Varden.  Surprisingly, this somewhat disjointed organization offers a welcome dimension to the story, as well as providing a level of suspense for readers.
The greatest requirement for the end of such a massive tale is that Galbatorix must be defeated.  Paolini’s treatment of the king’s ultimate end is dramatic and unexpected, but overall well-written.
Despite the clichés, and the faux plot twists, Paolini’s conclusion to the Inheritance Cycle is a coherent, mature work that is a worthy ending to a series that has previously disappointed its fans.  While it was a worthwhile read, Paolini’s supporters can at last breathe a sigh of relief.

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The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards was shown on Sunday, January 15, 2012. Hosted by British comedian Ricky Gervais, the awards show had its share of surprises, upsets, and expected winners.
The quirky, silent, art house film “The Artist” was the biggest winner of the night, nabbing three awards, including “Best Picture – Comedy or Musical,” “Best Actor – Comedy or Musical” (Jean Dugardin), and “Best Original Score.” “The Descendants,” a comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family, was the second biggest winner, winning for “Best Picture – Drama” and “Best Actor – Drama” (George Clooney).
Meryl Streep, who has often been called one of the best actresses of our time, won for “Best Actress – Drama” for her powerful role as Cold War-era British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” When she came on stage to accept her award, the actress cursed about how she forgot her reading glasses and that she would have to try to remember her speech by heart. This is Streep’s eighth Golden Globe win.
Celebrated director Martin Scorsese pulled an upset when he beat out fellow heavyweight directors Woody Allen and Alexander Payne for “Best Director” for his film “Hugo.”
Octavia Spencer won the “Best Supporting Actress – Comedy or Musical” award for her acclaimed role as a sassy Civil Rights-era maid in “The Help.” During her acceptance speech, she honored Civil Rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., saying, “I think Dr. King said it best: ‘All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.’”
When Michelle Williams took the stage to accept the award for “Best Actress – Comedy or Musical” for her role in “My Week With Marilyn,” she honored her daughter, Matilda, who she had with the late actor Heath Ledger. She mentioned that her daughter’s spirit inspired her to go to work every day, and even joked that while filming the movie she read bedtime stories to Matilda in a “Marilyn Monroe-sounding voice.”
Other winners include Woody Allen for “Best Screenplay” for his film “Midnight In Paris”; Christopher Plummer for “Best Supporting Actor” for “The Beginners”; and “The Adventures of Tintin” for “Best Animated Feature Film.”
Morgan Freeman received the coveted Cecil B. Demille Lifetime Achievement Award for his incredible work in acting.
Big winners for the television categories included “Homeland,” “Modern Family,” and “American Horror Story.”
Of course, the Golden Globes Awards are often considered foreshadowing of what will happen at the Oscars, so the films that received awards will most likely receive a few Oscars as well.

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The Millersville Music Department and the Department of Latino Studies hosted an exceptional cellist on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Emilio Colón, of Puerto Rico, performed with passion and a fiery spirit. Colón’s grace and ability to produce intricate, beautiful notes proved that the evening was not about him – it was all about the music.
Colón is a faculty member of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, the second youngest in the school’s history, and has established himself as one of the leading pedagogues known throughout the world.
Fanfare Magazine calls him a “virtuoso with taste.”  Every movement had a purpose and every facial expression connected Colón to his cello, which was built in 1844.
Colón performed five pieces.  Pianist Xun Pan accompanied the first three works, one being “Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major” by César Franck.  The four-movement piece elicited strong applause from the audience, who were unable to wait until the end of the piece to praise Colón’s performance.
The second half of the program began with Bach’s “Unaccompanied Suite No. 1 in G Major,” which Colón described as “each suite being like a chapter of a novel.”  Colón demonstrated not only his ease with the cello, but also made playful conversation with the audience between each piece.  His friendly demeanor and bright personality created a relaxing atmosphere for the audience; they were enticed by his performance and his sociable personality.
The collaboration with Millersville faculty on the final piece by Gabriel Fauré, “Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 15” displayed the unparalleled friendships described by Colón, who referred to his fellow colleagues as his friends.  The connection between the faculty and Colón framed their performance in an intimate and comfortable manner.
Joined by violinist Dr. Vera Volchansky, violist Dr. Madeleine Darmiento, and Dr. Anita Renfroe on piano, Colón strongly connected with each instrument.  From glancing to the violin and stretching his back to properly unite with the pianist, Colón demonstrated what it means to play with a quartet.  Each performer fused together to create a stunning presentation.  The music came easily to them and their teamwork was apparent in their comfortable, yet professional, disposition.
Colón described his experience in Lancaster as having “the joy of meeting new musical partners.”  The bond shared with Millersville faculty members was emphasized in their seamless performance.  Colón’s gracious demeanor and love of music and friendship created a connection to the audience members as well.  There is no better friendship than those connected by the joy and grace of music.

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The Sykes Gallery has been promoting art in our culture here at Millersville since its opening.  The present exhibition is certainly no alteration to this mission. Studio Farm is a collection of work by former student, and local artist, Dorothy Frey.  During her time here at the ‘Ville she majored in studio art and found herself indulging in many drawing, painting, and ceramics courses.  Like many students today, Frey was drawn to the University because of the opportunities the institution provided her to explore future options.
Through developing relationships with the faculty at Millersville, she was able to take her education more seriously, which soon motivated her to become a college professor.  Frey commented, “College was not about a career or job for me, instead it was time to think, have the experience of learning through trial and error, testing oneself to achieve goals, and develop identity and a world view.”
She often finds herself drawing from her Lancaster County heritage when she looks for inspiration.  The exhibition, titled Studio Farm, is also the name of her family farm, which has been a part of her heritage for many generations.  Frey and her husband do much of their creative work around the acres.
Frey tries to work from direct observation, intuition and memory with her paintings and sketches.  With such bonding ties to this place, Frey mentions, “My mind is often hinged between reflecting on the past and transitioning towards the future.” Her representation of this “in-between space” is strongly symbolized by multiple view points, roiling trees, and atmospheric color; when in collaboration create for the viewer a sense of time and place in the work.
There are a total of 21 pieces; the largest titled Belling the Cat, took several weeks to complete. Frey went on to comment that some paintings she may set aside for years before they are “complete,” depicting the unwavering commitment and extensive process that artists embrace.
Through this collection Frey wanted to present a unique message to her audience. She responded, “Find time to do what feeds you, and approach what you do with sincerity.”  Frey was very enthusiastic to inspire students to be opportunistic and become risk takers with their work.  She also encouraged aspiring artists to draw inspiration from personal experiences, and surround themselves with company that supports the intensive lifestyle of being an artist.
Frey commented on establishing a professional presence in the larger art community, saying, “Studio time, marketing, networking and self-promotion require dedication and consistency and takes years to create a consistent body of work.” Her collection, however, is a beautiful portrayal of many years of discipline and time that should certainly inspire artists in our community to strive for their dreams.
Studio Farm will be exhibited in Sykes Gallery until February 15 on the first floor of Breidenstein, closing with a ‘meet the artist’ reception at 5 P.M.

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The story of Snow White is a famous one. Derived from many European countries, the tale became well known by the Brothers Grimm. However, it was not until Walt Disney created his first feature film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, that the Princess came to be known throughout the world.
Although Snow White is one of the Disney Princesses, it has been a long time since she has made an impact on audiences, especially since the movie first appeared in theaters in 1937. Recently, however, Snow White has made a comeback, returning as the new fad of Hollywood. Multiple movies and TV shows have been emerging lately, focusing on Snow White. “Mirror Mirror”, set to be released on March 16, 2012, is a light-hearted version of Snow White, starring Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen, Lily Collins as Snow White, and Armie Hammer as the Prince. Although it is to follow the original story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the film will show a more lighthearted side of the tale, showing the Queen’s desires to marry the Prince herself, yet trying to rid the Kingdom of Snow White at the same time.
Another Snow White based film expected in theaters June 1, 2012, is “Snow White and the Huntsman”. Unlike “Mirror Mirror”, this version of Snow White is anticipated to be darker drama, including lots of action. This film will provide the legendary tale with a twist. The Queen, (Charlize Theron) upon learning of the fair Snow White (Kristen Stewart), orders the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) to kill her. However, when the Huntsman finds Snow White in the woods, instead of killing her, he becomes her protector. Together they go on a journey to conquer the Queen.
Not only is Snow White becoming an up-and-coming star in Hollywood, but all fairytale characters in general are as well. The TV show “Once Upon a Time”, which focuses its plot around the evil Queen (Lana Parrilla) wanting to do away with Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin), then setting a curse on the whole village to stop all happy endings. Because all happy endings are gone, these fairytale characters now have to endure real life happenings, therefore living in our world.
Before the Queen had set a curse on the whole village, Snow White and the Prince (Josh Dallas) have a baby girl, and save her in time before the curse hits the castle. Years later, when the daughter is grown up, she is supposed to return to the town, and save the people from the curse. On arriving at the town, Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) meets a boy who believes the people living in this town are real fairytale characters. The show not only focuses on Snow White, but brings in many other fairytale characters, including Cinderella, Rumpelstilskin, Red Riding Hood, Jiminy Cricket, and many others.
Another up and coming show which concentrates on fairytale characters is “Grimm”. This show gives the tales of the Grimm Brothers a dark twist. Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) is a homicide detective who is a descendent of hunters known as “Grimms.” Being a Grimm, Nick’s job is to keep humans safe from the mystical creatures living in our world. All of the supernatural characters are the ones we known from fairytales and the Brothers Grimm stories.
With the rise of Snow White and other fairytale characters, many other phenomenas, such as the vampire craze, begin to die down. For years now vampires have been a huge trend in pop culture and media. Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is a great example of this. What started out as a small publication, the book quickly gained many readers.
The obsession with Team Edward and Team Jacob was already set by the time Hollywood got their hands on the rights to the film. Yet once the films were scheduled, Vampires rapidly became one of the largest obsessions, coming close to Harry Potter. But as many know, one phenomena in Hollywood does not stick around for too long, especially when something new and creative is brought into the picture. So now that Snow White and fairytale characters are dominating pop culture, vampires are slowly fading out.
TV series such as The Vampire Diaries and True Blood are bound to slip away as fairytale characters become stronger. Once the last of the Twilight movies retires from theaters, there could be a possible end to the vampire craze that many knew all too well. There are those who will try to hold onto the vampire fad, but Hollywood is moving fast into a new phenomenon, and we can’t expect them to slow down anytime soon.

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Everyone has a story to tell, from tales of a real experience to a world created by the imagination. The Internet has become a popular tool to share these stories with the world. With every blog or article, writers of various levels of experience share their views and ideas with lightning speed. Unlike print media, Internet storytelling has the ability to not just include writing and pictures, but sound and even video.
However, with such a creative tool in the hands of almost anyone, how can you find something new and different from the sea of data? One man by the name of Andrew Hussie has taken the concept of comic-style storytelling and adapted it into an internet publication that has resulted in something that has never been seen before.
Back in 2006, Andrew Hussie created a website called MS Paint Adventures. This website consists of various web comics which parody text-based adventure video games in design and style. According to Andrew, the comic is supposed to simulate playing one of these games so the story is influenced by different commands written at the bottom of the page. What is unique about Andrew’s creation is that these commands are reader driven. Meaning that when people want the characters in the story to do something, it will be incorporated into the comic’s story. This allows the story to constantly evolve and change, either elevating the humor or introducing a plot twist. Each suggestion was looked over by Andrew as he drew the outcome of the commands.
Although, this type of reader involvement is far from perfect. Two of Andrew’s initial comics “Jailbreak” and “Bardquest” were examples of this due to the fact that too many suggestions came in that Andrew was incapable to keep up with them and keep the story coherent. “Bardquest” in particular suffered from too many multiple paths the story could go.  While those stories remain incomplete, Andrew moved on and refined his rules on reader involvement. For one, he said that he would be more selective in his selection of reader suggestions on commands along with getting rid of the idea of multiple paths. This refined system resulted in his third comic, “Problem Sleuth” being completed on April 7th, 2009. While “Problem Sleuth” had a rocky beginning of three detectives trying to escape their offices, the story later grew into a full exploration of their fictional world introducing a large number of characters.  Its success was thanks to not just Andrew but reader participation.
As of April 13, 2009, Andrew began his currently ongoing comic, Homestuck. The plot consists of four adolescents as they become involved in a game designed to recreate the universe. The story’s scale is enormous, incorporating time travel, and the vast world of this unique game. Andrew has stated on his website that most of this comic’s plot and elements have already been preplanned, along with the commands leading the story in the direction he prefers.
While this has limited the amount fans can have on the story as a whole, it does not mean they cannot contribute. What separates Homestuck from comics before it is that it has incorporated both music, composed by fans, and merchandise that can be found on the website http://www.whatpumpkin.com. Homestuck has also included flash videos into the story, projects that are collaborations between Andrew and readers.
Fans of classic video games will also appreciate the short video game-like pages where the reader can take control of a character and explore their environment. All of these collaborative elements have been used to great effect in this comic, separating it from other web-based comics.
MS Paint Adventures is estimated to be the longest comic on the Internet, with over 6,000 pages between its four respective series and only continues to increase. Just as the comic stories themselves evolve, so does Andrew’s method of involving the fans of his work and how many different people can work together and create something. Andrew’s direction after Homestuck is still to be determined, but his ideas have gathered a large amount of fans that will continue to support him and his site. For more information, check out http://www.mspaintadventures.com.

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