Kennesaw State University’s Feature Magazine

March/April 2012//Volume 18.

letter from the editor

Staff

John Defoor Managing Editor

Steven WelchCreative Director

Richie EssenbergContent Editor

Ashley FrewColumns Editor

This March, four members of Talon, including myself, attended the College Media Convention in New York City. Talon, along with The Sentinel, Owl Radio & Share were able to mingle with some of the most talented players in media. We attended so many knowledge worthy sessions that enable us to make Student Media that much more efficient. We had the time of our lives in New York City and I found myself inspired by each person that went along with us for the trip. And I’d like to first and foremost thank our advisor, Ed Bonza, for that amazing opportunity. Secondly, I’d like to thank my brilliant Creative Director, Steven Welch as well as my Photo Editor, Travis Clark for implementing a new creative vision while we were away. I cannot express how grateful I am for my amazing and hardworking staff. Lastly, I’d like to thank you, the readers.

You are always IN ThE fOREfRONT Of MY MIND.

-Meghan De St. Aubin

Travis ClarkPhoto Editor

Daniel LumpkinSenior Staff Writer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Shane BarkleySenior Columnist

Marc Maron: Seriously Funny 3KSU Takes on NYC 7The Help 11Greetings From Portlandia 13Alternative News 17Dating to-Don’ts 19Dubstep 23Unstable 25I love you, now pass the remote 31Obama: I was ready for change 33Georgia: A state of immigrants? 35

Brenna CrowderSenior Columnist

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Seeing Maron perform at Atlanta’s intimate Laughing Skull Lounge (voted Atlanta’s best comedy venue three years running) was very different from standard standup shows. Instead of relying on exaggerated physicality or utilizing cartoonish voices to get cheap laughs, Maron sits on a stool and studies his audience intently. The way Maron holds the microphone, cupping his hand over the top, makes him look as if he is resting his hand on his chin, deep in thought. Maron looks more like a modern-day Plato or Socrates rather than a guy about to tell jokes.

Instead of putting time into new ways to complain about airline food or any the other cliché crutches comedians are supposed to use, Maron searches internally for material and he addresses his personal struggles, his insecurities, and his relationships with a brazen honesty. Other comedians, one would think, would distance themselves from this man’s method but instead Maron is embraced by his peers.

Beyond his live shows, Maron’s podcast WTF has created an environment for the most popular comedians to talk about their own struggles and personal battles. The simplest way to describe WTF is like overhearing the life stories of Conan O’Brien, Louis C.K., or Dmitri Martin with all of the intimate and brutal details that most people hide from the world. You almost have to ask yourself if it is some diabolically cruel plan orchestrated by the host. Are these generally private, well-known people aware that the conversation they are having with Maron is going to be made available to the public for free? Of course they are. WTF is one of the most popular comedy podcast on iTunes and some of the most controversial interviews (The Dane Cook episode, for example) have earned national praise. How does Maron get these men and women to open up so easily?

“What I do generally is I make myself pretty available,” Maron said. “I bring a lot of my experience and baggage and emotion to the interview. I think that the personal risk happens on my side first and then usually a

real conversation starts to happen as opposed to someone just being asked questions… it’s sort of surprising to me when an interviewer talks about himself.

“The expectation of an interview, generally, on the side of the person that is going to be interviewed is ‘this is going to be about me’ so when I make it about me it kind of changes the dynamic a little bit. As opposed to answering questions about themselves they are having a conversation about me and then they meet me half way with their own experience.

“I just think it’s important because they are usually intelligent people. Also, they have a certain sensitivity to the world because (comedians) spend a lot of time thinking about shit. A lot of us have had weird, difficult lives that usually are relatable.

“I think we all identify with it. That’s part of the thing that I don’t fully realize with WTF… I never really thought of it this way but these struggles that (comedians) have are very specific and we are able to put a very focused language around it because it is relative to getting onstage and telling a joke… That’s our job. But all of this stuff that (comedians) struggle with, it’s all human stuff, you know? That feeling of being crushed by fear? Being crushed by a relationship? Being unable to do something because of your own brain? Everyone deals with that. I think that one of the reasons it’s interesting to me.”

Maron also address that his audience at live shows and the fans of the podcast also share these common burdens.

“I notice that I have a very unique demographic. My demographic is based on a mindset not age. My demographic seems to be people who are overly sensitive, maybe a little self-critical, highly attuned to their own struggle and maybe a little overwhelmed and isolated. (Laughing) That’s sort of ageless, you know? That happens to people as soon as they realize who they are. My demographic is sensitive people who struggle with their own problems from ages fourteen to seventy.”

Killing the Clown Mentality

By Daniel Lumpkin

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Probably the most interesting aspect of WTF is Maron’s ability to get these talented performers to tell delve into their past with unbelievable honesty. This is usually the side of comedy that is unseen by the rest of the world. Most of the time an interview with a comedian is just method for a comedian to tell his jokes, costumed to appear as a conversation. Maron is passionate about showing entertainers as human beings, not just one-dimensional joke tellers.

“I’ve always thought that there is much more depth to (comedy) and it demands a certain respect. I like it when people see us as people and see comedians not just as clowns.

“Comedy is very important,” Maron said. “Especially now that comedy has become pretty popular again. People are coming out to shows and digging it... If (audiences) rely on that much relief from comedians or look to them for some insight, don’t you think (people) should get to know (the comedian) a little bit?

“In the past it has always been ‘Oh the comedians the sad guy’ and they don’t want to get to know them (on a personal level) because it will diminish (an audience’s) ability to like them as comedians. I just don’t think that’s true. There is a lot of talk on my show that (people) really get to see the person for who they are and the kinds of people that they are and most of them are interesting and smart and deal with things in a unique way.

“Comedy is a craft. It’s a thing that people get good at. Comedy has always been dismissed as ‘Hey, it’s the funny guy’ or ‘Were you a class clown?’ No! I was a guy that sacrificed twenty-five fucking years of my life to pursue this ridiculous art form and trying to figure out how to make it my own. I just think that comedians are trivialized a lot of times, which is ridiculous. I’ve always hated the fact that people on the outside say:

“That must be really hard to be a comic…”They aren’t talking about the sacrifice

that it takes of your life or your relationships or spending all that time out at night on the road. When someone says that, all they are really saying is:

“I’m afraid of standing in front of people…” It’s just the reverse of that. People

don’t really acknowledge really what it takes to become a known comic, a good comic, a unique comic. When they (express how difficult they think it would be to perform standup) they are really just talking about their own fear. They aren’t talking about what an amazing form of expression (comedy) is.”

Be sure to check out WTF with Marc Maron on iTunes or online. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

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The Help

Family RecollectionsBy: Kristen Hale

Few authors ever experience the phenomena of writing a story that sweeps the nation with its passion, hon-esty, and poignant message. Kathryn Stockett, author of the debut novel The Help has lived the whirlwind rise of superstardom as her book has topped the holy trinity of bestseller charts, including the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon best seller book lists. In 2011 the story was adapted into a movie starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Based during the Civil Rights Era, the story centers on Skeeter, a college graduate who questions the social order of the day, and Aibileen, the brave maid Skeeter enlists to tell the true story from the perspective of “the help.” Why is this story such a marvel? Perhaps for its daring portrayal of the ironic relationships that existed be-tween women and their help in Jackson, Mississippi during the 1960’s. Stockett drew from her childhood memories to recall the voices, characteristics and the ever-present tension between her family and the staff that served in her home. “My maid was like part of the family,“ Stockett admitted in an interview to Katie Couric. “I feel a little ashamed to admit that it wasn’t until I was 30 or 35 before I started to really question what my maid must have been thinking and feeling when she was taking care of our family.” Tracy Pate is another southern belle that hails from Mindinhall, MI, located 25 miles south of Jackson. She shared with Talon the similarities she found in the book and movie that resemble her own upbringing. “It was a lot like in the book and movie. I couldn’t believe how much I could relate. Except that, we treated our help like family. We didn’t mistreat them. And they treated us like their kids; they even spanked us. They weren’t looked down upon,” said Pate. MuchlikeSkeeter,thestory’sprotagonist,Pate’schildhoodwasfilledwithfondmemorieswithhermaids. “My favorite maid was named Helen, and she was a great cook. Everyday when I got home from school she would have homemade French fries for me. Everyday. She was the one who taught me how to make homemade cup-cakes,” Pate remembers.

Pate pauses, and after a moment she quietly adds, “She was so sweet. She always used to tell me I was pretty, even though I wasn’t. She used to brush my hair and tell me I was so pretty,” Pate sighs, the moment still living clearly in her memory. This memory is paralleled in the book when Aibileen teaches little Mae Mobley, the 3-year old she takes care of,aboutherself-confidence.“Youiskind,youissmart,youisimportant,”sherepeats,proddingMaeMobleytorepeat after her. This simple message is one that every child should hear, whether from a parent, teacher, or maid.However, not all recollections are pleasant. Pate recalls a painful memory that is similarly shared by Skeeter in the story. “One day I came home from school and Helen wasn’t there. I asked my mother where she was and she told me that Helen quit. I was heartbroken,” said Pate. “Its like one minute she was in my life everyday. And one day I came home from school and she wasn’t there.” Pate said. After a moment, she adds, “I’ve always questioned whether she really did quit.” Pate and Stockett both share more than once that the help “was part of the family”, which is one of the state-ments that stands out as most ironic. Why is this idea of family so boldly paradoxical? Perhaps because the help were allowed to, essentially, raise white children by loving, teaching, and disciplining them, yet were not allowed to use the same restroom as them. Why was this the social order of the day? Because the stringent “rules of the South,” both spoken and unspoken, deemed it so. Itisimportanttoingestthemessagesfoundinstorieslike“TheHelp”,whichhighlightthedifficultturnsourcountry has taken. This is where we learn from the generational mistakes made and hope that absorbing our nation’s history will aid in a mended future. The mistreatment of Jews by the Nazis, Native American Indians by colonists, and African Americans by slave owners and in the Jim Crow South should teach the next generation about the dan-gers of oppression and hate. Elements of disrespect should not exist as “part of the family,” but its stories must be told in order to breed compassion and love. In the words of Aibileen, “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.”

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Trying to explain Portlandia to someone who has never seen the sketch com-edy show that airs every friday on IfC is… Well, near impossible, really. how can you successfully capture the hilarity when trying to explain the feminist Bookstore Ladies? Or the importance of yelling “A-O RIVER!” when rafting? Or why putting a cut-out of a bird on any available surface simply improves everything? The best way to explain Portlandia is not by asking ‘What is Portlandia’ but rather understanding the people who created the series… fred Armison and Carrie Brownstein. Both Armison and Brownstein seem to have a work ethic that is almost industrial. They are so prolific with all of their projects one has to wonder if they ever sleep. Do Armison and Brownstein even know what sleep is? Before they came together to create one of the best shows on television, both were hard at work at their day jobs. Armison is a veteran performer on Sat-urday Night Live and probably best known for his dead-on impression of President Obama. When he is not yelling “Live from New York, It’s Saturday

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Night!” he is taking roles in films like Anchor-man: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Easy A, or The Smurfs. Before Armison broke into the scene he played in several indie bands and was even a drummer for The Blue Man Group.Like Armison, Brownstein maintained a heavy schedule due to the rise of her band, Sleater-Kin-ney. Then she made the controversial switch from musician to music journalist, writing for Believer Magazine and then NPR Music where she had her own blog. In 2010 she wrote her final post for NPR and started recording an album with her new band White flag. So, with both of their plates being piled high with other projects, how did they find the time to make Portlandia? “We just made it a priority,” Armison said. “We write the show… in the spring, and we [film] it all summer. for me, it was kind of easy. SNL is only 22 weeks out of the year. Even then, you can always take a little time out to write or whatever. It’s one of the reasons that I’m glad [the show] ex-ists because it forces us to make good use of our time.” Brownstein also added, “Both fred and I are busy, busy people, but we love it.” Maybe now the stereotype of musicians as laidback slackers can be put to rest because of Ar-mison and Brownstein. Clearly the two have more creative output in a single year than most writers or musicians can muster in a career. The common thread that both of Portlandia’s creators were mu-sicians is not lost in the series. “The way that we write the sketches,” Ar-mison said. “They’re sort of the same length as what a song would be. Even the endings and stuff, there is sort of a musical quality to it all.” “We just came of age with music being at the forefront of what inspired us and what drove us,” Brownstein said. “I think that was just the lens through which we really saw the world during our formative years. We love it. I think that will prob-ably always be a part of the show.”from Pitch To PraiseEven before the pilot episode premiered back in early 2011, the advertisements for the new show had critics and audiences buzzing. Is that

the Obama guy and the chick guitarist from that band? Who gave them a show? What’s it called? Portlandia..? Of all the cities they could have used as a setting for a comedy sketch show… Seriously? The entire design for the show sounded like a sketch in itself but audiences fell in love with the series. Armison explained that Portlandia all began with “just a cell phone call” and soon they were given the green-light to make the show, film-ing on location in one of the most unbelievably unique cities in the country. “It was just convenience,” Armison said. “It’s where Carrie lives. When we first started doing these pieces that’s just where we shot it on location, and then little by little, it became evident that it was a really good background and framework for the show. It was as simple as that. But that said, I don’t think it would have been the same if we had shot it in some other cities. I’m really grateful that it was Portland.”Although the show’s setting has evolved into an almost omnipresent character in itself, Brownstein is quick to point out that there is a difference be-tween real Pacific Northwest town in Oregon and the city in the show.“We’re fairly adamant… and Portlanders would agree, that there’s a distinction between Portland and Portlandia. Portlandia [is] a hyper, kind of a technicolor, grainy version of Portland. That’s one of the major distinctions I think.”Despite the fact that the majority of sketches in Portlandia seem to poke fun at the independent spirit of Portland, both Armison and Brownstein were very careful to do so in a loving way. Port-landia’s most enthusiastic fans are actually people from Portland. In the series’ opening credits, the city’s unofficial slogan “Keep Portland Weird” is proudly painted on a brick wall.“It’s less about Portland being weird and more about the fact that they would advertise something like that,” Armison said. “We don’t want to overdo it or get too negative with it. Gentle is probably the best way to go with things like that.“I think because I’m not from there I wouldn’t do anything mean about the place. It’s not right.

I think also, in general, it’s better for comedy. for me anyway, it’s better to approach things with a little more politeness. Also, we just generally have a love for that city. “Plus, I feel like people get it. It’s really nice. [Port-landers] just embrace the way that they are and not in any way where they’re wallowing in… self-pride.”Brownstein and Armison also made a point that her show was not out to ridicule what most of the world would refer to as “hipster” culture. “I find that there’s not a single character on the show that isn’t an aspect or permutation of me or fred,” Brownstein said. “I think that it’s a world that’s very familiar to us and certainly aspects of my personality that [in some way] exist… I think that’s why the show isn’t mean [to the hipster culture]. It’s not mean and they’re not caricatures because I feel like there is an affection and an un-derstanding and an attempt to make sense of these parts of ourselves.”“Some of [the show’s characters] might look like people we’ve seen on the street or something,” Armison said. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure. But once in a while, we’ll see a style where [we say] ‘Okay, that seems like a mustache or a beard or a hairstyle that’s going on right now’ and we’ll apply those things. But I don’t think our characters are doing… people we know.”They even argued that their most popular char-acters, like the feminist Bookstore Ladies, are the furthest thing from being hipsters.“We don’t think of it like skewering hipster,” Brownstein said. “I look at [characters] on the show and I just think those guys aren’t hipsters.“Even the feminist Bookstore Ladies aren’t really hipsters. They’re almost un-cool in a way,” Ar-mison added.The feminist Bookstore Ladies “Once I was just walking down the street [in Portland] and I saw this store called In Other Words and on the front there was a sign that said: The Nations Only (or first) non-profit feminist bookstore. I looked at that sign and thought ‘Wow, that is a lot to say in a sign’ then I went to Carrie’s

house and we were just thinking what we could do. I just thought ‘What if we are people who work there?” he also admitted that Candace (his feminist Bookstore character) is his favorite character to play.“I like doing the feminist Bookstore character be-cause we get to sit behind a register and say things, crazy things, all day.” Armison said.“We actually shoot at… the real store, In Other Words, and we’ve done benefits for them and they’re big fans of the show,” Brownstein said. “It’s certainly not an antagonistic portrayal or anything like that.”Working Together and The Live Show As Armison and Brownstein are finishing up the Portlandia: The Tour, a live version of the show that sold-out soon after tickets were available to the public, they still speak about each other and their television show with sincere respect and af-fection. “Selfishly for me, I get to play music with Carrie Brownstein,” Armison said. “So I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m totally playing an instrument while [Carrie] is playing.” “I feel the same way with fred. I just think we feel very lucky that there is a coalescence of things that we love,” Brownstein said. “The televi-sion show has a very earnest quality to it and I think it’s nice to be able to bring that sentiment into a live setting. Both of us love performing and we love the immediate reaction that you get in the live show that we don’t get... when we are shoot-ing. I think there is just a lot of enjoyment derived from these lives shows. It’s been really fun.”The future of Portlandia “I want it to go on for a little while,” he said. “Obviously nothing can go on forever but we are focused on doing the next season and doing this live show. There is plenty of other stuff to look forward to. It’s important for us for Portlandia to be good.”

Be sure to watch Portlandia on IfC every friday at 10 pm.

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There are several different types of people regarding the news: those who don’t watch it, those who watch the mainstream media (as in Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC), those who get their news from the Daily Show and Colbert Report, and those who have a complete and utter disdain and distrust for the mainstream media. The latter ascribes to alternative news forums, and will be referred to as the conspiracy theorist subculture. The reason why, is because these are generally the people who live by conspiracy theories. They are the Mulders of the world, and won’t give Scully and the skeptics the time of day. These distrusting individuals lurk on alternative news forums, predicting the next big event (that, by the way, never happens). These are the people who denounce government and affiliated officials as incompetent, but suspect them of implementing complex schemes in pursuit of secret global domination. These individuals accuse skeptics of being “disinformation agents” hired by the government to discredit their theories and hypotheses. These individuals are paranoid. These individuals are unique, and their subculture will be analyzed from an anthropological perspective.

This subculture is so huge the History Channel has built series to placate it, such as Ancient Aliens. Websites like www.abovetopsecret.com cater to the conspiracy theorist’s every need. In fact, Jared Loughner, assailant of Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and others, was believed to be a member of the aforementioned site. The topics there vary wildly, but there are some underlining themes. Politically, most users tend

to lean right or Libertarian, but distrust the government in general. It seems to everyone in this subculture that Ron Paul is some sort of messiah, speaking nothing but truth and bringing transparency to Washington. Paul is deified by conspiracy theorists. Fake moon landing theories are certainly not scarce, though one can only wonder why the government would fake such an event? Would there really be that much to gain?

Putting conspiracies involving the government and the Freemasons and Illuminati aside, we then have the alien conspiracies. While physicists like Stephen Hawking agree there is a statistical probability of alternate life forms in our seemingly infinite universe, it is unlikely that they have made contact with us or will any time soon. But don’t tell that to the conspiracy theorists. Roswell was the catalyst, and the existence and legitimacy of Area 51 perpetuated the whole idea. With topics titled “Hollow Moon Theory” and “Skull found on Apollo 11 Photograph”, one can help but be amused.

The conspiracy theorist subculture is a legitimate global and interconnected subculture. Topics range from cryptozoology to the New World Order and the Freemasons’ plans for global domination to aliens and the government lying about everything ever. It is always a good thing for one to keep an open mind, but one must beware; when a mind is kept too open it may be easy for anything to get in. Abovetopsecret.com’s slogan is “Deny Ignorance”. As a skeptic, but perhaps a morbid hopeful, deny ignorance; only accept proof, not twisted validation of one’s own hopes.

A look inside the Conspiracy Theorist Subculture

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Conjure up where you were a few weeks ago, precisely at 7:59 p.m. on a Monday night. Do you remember where you were? Probably hitting the “record” button on your DVR as you settled in to watch your guilty pleasure “The Bachelor” on ABC. Maybe you noshed on popcorn, dark chocolate, or even better, sipped on a glass of wine as you propped your feet up on the ottoman and engaged in two hours of reality TV-infused drama. Or perhaps you were one of those viewers who loves to hate the bachelor, the ladies, and all the shenanigans. Whether or not you like to admit it, you awarded yourself with two hours of viewing pleasure. For those of you who haven’t ever committed to the obsessive Monday night viewings, “The Bachelor” is a curious social experiment where one man dates a house full of 25 women. Each week consists of a mixture of group dates and one-on-one dates. At the end of each week, one woman is eliminated from the group.

This past season has been a particularly enlightening dating experiment. We have followed Ben Flajnik, who was previously rejected last season when he got down on one knee and proposed to Ashley Hebert. When she said no, he didn’t give up his hope for love. Following his journey over the course of this season has also led to some epic dating discoveries. We have watched 25 contestants get whittled down week by week, and it would be foolish if we did not take notice of the dating tactics that have not worked. So ladies (and gents!), if you are interested in some pointers, simply look to the lessons learned on this past season’s “The Bachelor.”

7 Dating Moves You Saw On “The Bachelor” That You Should Never Do:

1) Don’t propose to him on your first date. This is a cocktail for disaster, but apparently

some ladies think it might work. When ElysemMyers, a 24-year-old personal trainer, went on a date with Ben she joked that they should “just get married right here, right now.” His reaction of awkward silence and a quick change of conversation indicated that he didn’t find the idea too funny – or alluring. Ladies, you are not sending him some kind of subliminal message when you joke about marriage. If you think that talking about it will somehow make him want to marry you, you are sorely mistaken. If he wants to marry you, trust that he will let you know.

2) “Don’t date a guy who is dating 24 other women.”

This advice comes directly from the mouth of Jennifer Fritsch, the 28-year old accountant, in her exit interview with ABC (and whom Ben praised as being “the best kisser on this show”). Why did he send her home? The competition is tough, and let’s be honest, he has a bevy of attractive options. Before you fall head over heels for a guy, be sure that you are the only girl he is falling head over heels for as well.

3) Don’t lose the game In this instance, we are referring to the actual

baseball game played by “The Bachelor” ladies as they divided into two teams and dueled it out for Ben’s affections. While the game was a close one, the Red team won and jetted off to a “private” date with their leading man (how private is a date of five women and one man?) Ladies, if a guy asks you to play a sport (with him, or in his honor) it’s fair to say that he probably wants you to win, too. Game on!

4) Don’t make him a scrapbook of memories

that you hope to share together. When Blakeley Jones, the 34-year old cocktail

waitress, presented Ben with a scrapbook she made for him - while bawling, it is safe to say that this was the moment that Ben realized he did not reciprocate her ocean of feelings for him. Apparently guys do not want to see a picture book filled with potential memories of the future. Maybe it’s the pressure, maybe it’s too “touchy-feely,” or maybe it’s just plain creepy. If you want to make a scrapbook, give it to your mom.

5) Don’t coach him on how to kiss. America cringed as it watched Jamie Otis,

the 25-year-old registered nurse, as she eagerly strived to capture Ben’s attention by instructing him on how to kiss her. It was apparent that she wasn’t an incredibly skilled instructor, and their date ended in an uncomfortable silence. The results? He sent her packing her bags. Apparently guys don’t like to be told how to kiss. Ladies, remember this the next time you are writing out a manual. If his kiss doesn’t do it for you, cut your losses and move on. A private coaching session will only injure his pride.

6) Don’t be in love with someone else. In a shocking turn of events, Casey

Sheamer., the 26-year-old trading clerk, was sent home after the show’s producers accused her of being in love with someone else. Casey admitted that she was still in love with her ex-boyfriend, and Ben was quick to tell her that she should go home. He made it clear that it is hard to capture a woman’s heart if she has already given it away to someone else. Ladies, if you have baggage from a past relationship, do not date other people to help you get over it. It’s a slap in the face to the new guy who

wants to date you without competing with a shadow from your past.

7) Don’t gossip about other girls. It is rare to find a man that really wants to

hear you trash another lady; especially one he might be interested in. When Emily O’Brien, the 27-year-old PhD student, got into a catfight with Courtney Robertson, the 28-year-old model (this season’s villain, and – spoiler alert – also this season’s infamous winner), the drama was upped only when Emily shared her opinions on the matter with Ben. Since he was dating both women (and constantly considering marriage with them), he wasn’t too keen on hearing the down and dirty about the girl fight. And he clearly didn’t heed the warning. The takeaway? Edit your conversation with the guy you like and keep the talk focused on the two of you. Don’t spend your precious date hours talking about another girl, because that will only make him keep thinking about her… and while you are going on and on about her two-faced lying he will probably be reminiscing about her in that bikini.

Did any of these lessons learned help in Ben’s journey to finding “the One?” From the amount of heated press he and his leading lady, Courtney, are experiencing, he could have used a few pointers. Like Ben and his harem, many of us have acquired our dating advice by a tally of embarrassing experiences. However, count it as a benefit that your dating blunders haven’t been lived out in front of cameras for America to watch. If you don’t feel like you learned enough dating lessons this season, you can certainly tune in to watch “The Bachelorette” as it premieres May 14 on ABC. You can bet we will be watching. Pass the popcorn.

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Zach King is a 21-year-old student at Kennesaw State University who is double majoring in Jazz Performance Studies and International Business. He sits in his bedroom, each wall adorned with a different band poster. A shrine containing concert tickets hangs adjacent to his closet. To his right sits a studio that he built himself over the past two years. All of his equipment is supported by a table, and a flat screen television reflecting sound waves rests on the wall above. Adam Orfale works to capture the perfect camera angle before he begins videotaping the interview, as Chase Nixon holds the boom microphone above.

King is classically trained in guitar and frequently takes part in KSU Jazz concerts. With that being said, King explained why someone who is classically trained likes Electronic Dance Music (EDM). “I like good music, textural. I like to put my headphones on and it creates an atmosphere.” He has formed his own production company known as Moyo Productions, where he and other artists put out their own material. King uses Ableton software, which is a Digital Audio Work Station (DAW System).

King and the younger generation are now producing their own music within the genre of EDM. This style of music is widely growing in popularity in major cities, especially Atlanta. It is primarily played in clubs and underground venues not well known to the public. King says, “It is like a fish. They go unnoticed under water.” The music is made using different software systems to create an assortment of electronic beats with machines.

Charlie Spriggs, a 24-year-old Club DJ, sits in a McDonald’s booth. His jacket sleeves are rolled up with the neon collar of his shirt poking out. The matching green gauge earrings peek through the lobes of his ears. Spriggs has been DJing for about three years. The reason he does it is, “I want people to have a good time and for everyone to enjoy themselves. People want something other than what is going on right now.” He takes out his iPhone and plays a sample of his mixes, while a mother and her son occasionally stare at him because of the volume. Spriggs does not seem to care, because he is lost in the music. “It is the anticipation. You wait for it and it builds up emotion. When you get there, you can just let everything go.”

Founder and owner of KRE8SHUNS Mobile Dee Jay Service Tim Raley, has been playing venues since 1988. He thinks that history in a sense is repeating itself when it comes to the popularity

of EDM. “Early 70s Disco was just driving beats. Everything you listened to had the same pattern.” Raley went on to say that, “I noticed in about the late 80s and early 90s, it came back again and then it went away.” He believes that just like with clothing it is coming back in style.

Raley has developed a love for EDM, especially in the last year. “It is a different style of music. In most of it there is no particular verse or chorus. It is just all mixed up.” This distinguishes EDM from any other genre. There are hardly any vocals, and the songs are not composed of verses, choruses, or bridges. As for why it is suddenly becoming popular again Raley thinks that, “Computers coming into the DJ world is making things so much easier. A person can record their own stuff now without having studio time.”

A prime example of this that inspired the paper was a performance by an artist called Deadmau5. At the Grammys, the Canadian EDM musician played to a huge crowd of people dancing below, their hands swaying to the beat of the music. In front of him sat only his Apple computer. The main demographic Raley has observed that have really caught on to this music is, “The teenagers from 15 and 16 years old up to their early 20s. I see all races listening to dub step, but normally it is the younger crowd.”

In response to why he thinks we are hearing more Auto-Tune and Club/House type beats on the radio today, King spoke of the past and related it to the present.

“I think it comes from the 80s really. Back then they were trying to make it sound like a machine made it, especially in the club scene. Almost now with guys like Flying Lotus we are growing away from that. In a sense we have been able to achieve that and make it perfect . Now let’s see how we can make it like a human.”

If anyone has listened to the radio in the past year, it is clear that EDM is here to stay. As for the direction music is taking Spriggs says, “Music is definitely headed towards a more electronic style.” To sum up his thoughts, King further elaborated on Spriggs’. “Music is heading towards collaboration. Not only has it become integrated into rap, but hardcore music and heavy metal have now incorporated dub step. I think we’ll really get a treat in the future. We are not quite sure yet, but it’s definitely evolving.” Orfale shuts the camera off and Nixon folds up the boom microphone. The door closes to King’s room and the sounds of him strumming a guitar can be heard, as he begins working on his next project.

STORY AND PHOTO BY BEN POPLIN

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unstable A MEMOIR OF A BIPOLAR STUDENT

A GLANCE INTO THE REALITY OF LIVING

WITH MANICDEPRESSION

BY CHRIS POPE PHOTO BY STEVEN WELCH

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I sat in the waiting room of the psychiatric facility, feet tapping rap-idly. The lights were fluorescent, walls painted a dull color. Something was wrong, but I didn’t know what. That’s why I was there. Things were bad even when things were good. That guy’s tie looks ridiculous. I have to tap my feet in tempo with his, or else I feel an overwhelming anxiety. I’ve been bipolar, as I found out that day, for as long as I can remember. I was first diagnosed as depressed, but there was more to it. Finally came the bipolar diagnosis. Today, the condition is over-di-agnosed. According to Reuters, in a study conducted at Brown Univer-sity, 57 percent of patients diagnosed as bipolar turned out not to have the condition. But after reading the sheet of symptoms the doctor had printed for me, I felt like I was reading about myself.

BIPOLAR

Here is the problem with most people who are bipolar: they don’t realize they’re bipolar. What are referred to as manic phases, or the highs, don’tappeartobeproblematictothoseafflicted.When we’re manic, we think everything is per-fectly normal. In fact, we think everything is spectacular! I used to think I was a star, destined for greatness in some form or another. But here is the problem with stars: there are trillions of them. When I’m manic, I get these absurd feelings of grandiosity. Sure, I may be genuinely talented in some areas, but to what extent? At one point, I truly believed I was going to

“When we’re manic, we think everything is perfectly normal. In fact, we think everything is spectacular!”

ASSENSION INTO MADNESS

become the secretary of state and perhaps even presi-dent one day. Not in the ambitious, cute little kid “I wanna be president” kind of way, but in a “developing my platform and planning life events that would look good when I am eventually on the campaign trail” kind of way. I was going through a manic phase during registration for the Fall 2011 semester, and scheduled four upper-di-vision anthropology courses, an upper-division history course, and an introductory Russian course. Keep in mind, I’m doing this is all while working part time and writinganovelontheside.WhenIfinallycamedownabout a month into the semester, I hated myself. Luck-ily, I ascended into mania again at the end of the semes-ter, and researched and wrote 50 pages worth of papers in one week. For example, I researched and wrote an eight page paper on osteological evidence of paleopa-thology in the pre-Columbian American Southwest in

one sitting. This is why manic people don’t think they have a problem, but rather a gift. And it can be. But it is a gift that comes with strings attached.

the depths of depression

When the manic phase is over, after you have made countless impulsive purchases, made risky sexual decisions, and thought and acted like you were God incarnate for several weeks (or more, depending on the individual), your brain has a wayoffizzlingout.Themania,theoverwork-ing of your neurotransmitters for weeks on end, eventually leads to a deep, dark depression. This is whatmostpeopleseekhelpforbeforefindingouthe or she is bipolar. When I am manic, I do my schoolwork for several weeks in advance, because I know that when I will eventually become depressed. I won’t lift a pen, touch a keyboard, or even glance at a book. When I’m depressed, my only friends are those on TV. I spend an hour or two with Angel or Mal Reynolds and can only exchange laughs with Chandler Bing and Ted Mosby. I hate myself and think everyone else does too. The isolation is unhealthy, but it is the result of the shame and guilt of some of my manic words and actions. Not to mention, when depressed, I realize I’m no star. I realize I’m just a guy who doesn’t really know anything, and that anything I think I know is subjective. Unfortunately, for the bipolar, there is no objec-tive reality. Something true one month is false the next, simply because of the change in emotion. The sheer and utter hopelessness, lack of will and motivation of depression is crushing, but is also a means of protecting oneself. It is during the mixed episodes that one should worry.

“I hate myself and think everyone else does too. the isolation is unhealthy, but it is the result of the shame and guilt of some of my manic words and actions.”

both up and down

During a mixed episode, my mind is a thunderstorm. I have the perpetual racing thoughts of the mania combined with the heavy despair of the depression, and my body is a mosaic of painful memories of mixed episodes. Self-harm is common dur-ing these phases, because not only is one hopeless, but one also has the motivation to do something about it. I would be willing to bet that most bipolar suicide victims are in a mixed state when they make an attempt on their life. In the several instances I have attempted suicide, this is the emotional state I was in each time.

“Self-harm is common during these phases, because not only is one hopeless, but one also has the motivation to do something

about it.

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BIPOLAR

becoming stable

Any organization, be it Alcoholics Anonymous or a bipolar support group will tell you to take your road to recovery one day at a time. Right now, af-ter a trip to the hospital and a week in an inpatient facility, my synapses are being bombarded with anxiolytics, beta blockers, atypical antipsychot-ics, and other mood stabilizers. And I have hope. All I can do is offer you hope as well, and this piece of advice: if something feels wrong, it quite possibly is. Seek help. There’s nothing wrong with having a problem, and there’s certainly

nothing wrong with being who you are. Being bipolar is part of who I am, and I am just now coming to terms with that. If nothing else, I hope someone reading this who needs help builds the courage to seek itandthateveryoneouttherecanfindthemselves and feel comfortable in their own skin.

“If something feels wrong, it quite possibly is. Seek help. There’s nothing wrong with having a problem, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with being who you are.” What Do American Studies Grads Do?

Teaching & Public ServiceHuman Relations & Diversity Officer

Museum & Public History InterpretationJournalism & Public Relations

Now accepting applications for Fall 2012.

http://amst.hss.kennesaw.edu

Crossing Boundaries. Building Community. Engaging Culture.

Picture your future career with anMA in American Studies

Crossing Boundaries. Building Community. Engaging Culture.

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By: Brenna Crowder

Ah, love, that most elusive and frustrating emotion. Musicians sing about it, artists try to paint it, countless books, movies and magazines find their true purpose in decoding and celebrating that holy grail of sentiments.

You’d think with all that material at our fingertips, most of us would be a pint-sized better at it. Love, that is.

Generally, relationships start out okay. You’re “in like”, a fuzzy, rose-tinted soppiness not to be confused with “in love”, and suddenly every day is magic.

The two of you finish each other’s sentences, stare deeply into one another’s eyes and have riveting two-hour conversations about old sports injuries and your cat named Binky. Both of you consume far too much coffee. And he doesn’t even like coffee.

So a couple of months go by and you’ve marked his birthday on your calendar, he’s memorized your Starbuck’s order and you’ve both gotten used to the subtly irritating habits that might drive weaker couples apart. Not even his affinity for Star Trek is scaring you away.

But here’s the catch. You’re bored. You’re bored out of your ever-loving mind.

Make no mistake. You’re not bored with each

other. Oh, no. You’ve finally reached that level of relationship comfort that allows you to floss your teeth in the car while he scratches that special itch and sings along to Barbie Girl by Aqua.

But gone are the days when your heart fluttered with just the thought of your other half, when even chocolate tasted sweeter and crying babies reminded you of heavenly cherubs. By this time in the relationship he’s probably broken wind in front of you, and the magic has most assuredly lost some of its glitter.

So here you both are, sitting in glitterless, stinky boredom. And I bet the T.V. is on. And I bet you haven’t spoken a truly meaningful word to one another in approximately two and half hours, and that’s if he hasn’t already fallen into a potato chip-flavored, Netflix documentary-induced coma. And I bet this is almost a nightly ritual for you two.

Pick a rerun, any rerun, and you’ve just rung the death knell of relationship suicide.

Sound familiar? For the love of Cupid, put down the remote, and get up off your lazy booties.

Try to think back on those days when you spent hours huddled in coffee shops actually talking to one another. Recall times of old when you walked circles around the mall, over and over again, without any intention of buying a single

measly thing, and you were actually talking to one another. Recall those happy occasions when the two of you attended (insert any social event here) and, wait for it, actually talked to one another.

“Don’t forget to do the little things, and don’t forget to appreciate the little things too,” said steamy romance writer, Annie Rayburn, author of the novel Bittersweet Obsessions. “Always remember to say ‘I love you’, make it a habit. Be aware that small touches can mean a lot, a hug here, a kiss there, a gesture of appreciation can keep you in your partner’s mind and even trigger thoughts of more later on.”

Advice people oddly tend to forget the more comfortable they get with their partner.

The problem with comfort, with predictability in relationships, is that it ultimately can lead to the break down of communication. And for those of you who missed that integral lesson in Relationships 101, communication is the magic pixie dust that keeps lovebirds flying high above the ground.

Panic not. The solution is far simpler than that statistics final you’re still having nightmares about. The first step is to turn off the television set. See just how long the two of you can go without it. Just how awkward the silence is following the termination of the boob tube is inversely proportionate to the lack of adventure the two of you are about to remedy.

Find a hobby or an activity that the pair of you can do together, one that requires teamwork or mutual motivation. Start going to the gym and working out together. Not only will your new and improved bods make other people deliciously jealous, you’ll have a new and elusive confidence that you thought only existed in Calvin Cline ads.

Not big on breaking a sweat? Start going to painting classes together. Join a bowling league. Take ballroom dance lessons or karate. Buy a dog so you can take it for long walks on

the beach, strolling hand in hand beneath the sunset.

“Be your own person and have your own things you enjoy, but always have those things that you both enjoy together,” said Susan Carlisle, Harlequin Mills and Boone author of Heart Surgeon, Hero: Husband? and The Nurse He shouldn’t Notice. “Even the long term stuff comes down to each of you having to like yourselves, which makes you interesting and attractive to the other person.”

Whatever you do, talk, listen, communicate and grow as a team. And keep in mind communication isn’t all about the words coming out of your mouth. Communication is about a meeting of the minds, the peaceful understanding and concern that comes from two people consistently staying on the same page with one another.

Put down the remote and go have an adventure. You’ll be so glad you did.

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“I was ready for change”By: Meghan de St. Aubin

Rachel Goff graduated college in 2010 with hope. The kind of hope that was promised by a bright young presidential candidate that won over America. Goff was one of the many college students across America who became an advocate for hope and change; two things Barrack Obama stood behind. Goff felt confident in her choice on that crisp November afternoon. As she made her way to the polling booth, she had neverbeen more confident in her liberal viewpoints. Now almost four years later, she feels that she could not have been more wrong. At her kitchen table in downtown Decatur where she works as a newspaper editor, Goff reaches back into her memory of what was going through her mind in 2008. She says she was not very interested in politics, but as a journalism student she felt like it was important to be aware. “All my friends were liberal, so I thought that was the right choice. My parents are Republicans and obviously I wanted to go against them,” She smiles, shaking her head. “Now I’m not quite as naïve as I used to be.” Goff isn’t the only student who has found a new light on the current Obama administration. Ryan Schill, a graduate

student at KSU, recalls Obama not being liberal enough for his taste, however, he felt that Obama was much better than the other choice, Sen. John McCain. “Obama made a lot of promises…” Schill trails off. “I realize now he was more of a centrist than anything.” Schill argues that Obama has been very pragmatic about how he deals with both Republicans and Democrats. The end result, he says, ends up being compromises no one is happy with. For example, Obamacare, thehealth care bill, has caused a stir among both parties. Democrats, Schill says, feel as if he has not done enough, while Republicans aregoing against anything that has been done.It seems as though the enthusiasm among not just voters, but young voters is dipping. According to a Harvard University poll taken at the end of 2011, voters age 18-29 predict that Obama will not be re-elected in 2012. Considering Obama’s immense popularity when he was elected, Goff now feels that Obama had good intentions but he was not able to fulfill them. When asked point blank who she voted for, Goff smiles and looks away, appearing almost embarrassed of her answer, “Obama…” says Goff shaking her head, “I was ready for a change.”“Goff is not unlike many college students

and a recent graduate,” says Kerwin Swint, a Political Science professor at Kennesaw StateUniversity. “It’s not that voters have decided to become Republicans or anything, its just that the economy and the financial picture hasjust weighted everyone down a little bit. The enthusiasm is not asvgreat right now.” Swint taught at KSU during the last election and he could see the appeal Obama had to his students. “His young age and minority statuscertainly helped,” Swint says, “especially of young individuals who have come of age in a post racial climate.” It seems as though those students, like Schill, who saw the appeal of the young candidate, are now categorizing his faults with those of former President George W. Bush. Schill says that in some ways Obamawent completely against his anti-war approach. “I remember hearing a story about an American citizen who was also a practicing Muslim. He was claimed to have been working with terrorists. Obama ordered a kill strike on him,” Schill explains, also saying that Obama failed to complete due process. “Part of the reason I voted for Obama was because he said he was against certain forms of torture and he also promised to close Guantanamo Bay.” Presently, Guantanamo Bay is still holding detainees. Goff is beginning to wonder whether Obama was more of a novelty because he was considerably different than other candidates. She says now that the excitement has worn down 2008, this November will be less than amusing. Swint says that over the last couple of years he has mostly heard negative comments from his students. He says that most of thesecomments deal directly with some of the healthcare changes. “While Obama made his efforts student loan debt,” Goff says, “I don’t really see his healthcare system being that big of an accomplishment. It doesn’t seem like its what he promised.” When asked how Americans’ morale currently stood, Goff contemplated the question and carefully answered, “I think it’s better than it was in 2008, considering that was closer to when the recession started.”

She feels that the upcoming election is not about enthusiasm over Obama, but more about making a careful choice about which candidate will not ignore the people going through financial hardship. Goff says she currently does not plan to vote for Obama this November. She says that as far as she can tell, what he has done these past four years is not enough for her family, or herself. Schill, however, says he has flirted with the idea of voting for a Republican in 2012. Even still, he says he will most likely vote for Obama. Not because he necessarily believes in him, but because he is simply the lesser of two evils.

ObamA

33 34

The idea that the United States is “a nation of immigrants” is a big problem for some people. While the phrase came into being sometime during the 1960s, its impli-cation and meaning extends as far back to the foundations of this country and certain-ly resonates today. The immigration issue seems to make its way into nearly every other. Some argue about rights, others take an economic angle. Even more argue about what they often call “culture,” which usu-ally includes all of the above—race, religion, ethnicity, political philosophy. Many go so far as to characterize im-migration to the U.S. as an “invasion,” par-ticularly from the so-called “Third World.” Some immigration restrictionism is based on maintaining the equation America = white. Some are more outspoken about this equa-tion, others less so. This characteristically nativist sentiment is on the rise in the U.S. Other concerns about “the welfare state” and even national security are included in the national discourse about immigration. Georgia’s recently passed law, the bill known as HB87, made national headlines, and the state is not alone in legislating anti-immigrant bills on the state level. Since the passing of the bill, Georgia’s agricultural business has plummeted. It is so bad that Governor Nathan Deal pitched the idea of replacing the now absent workforce with prison labor. The passing of the bill seems to have had its intended consequences of running out many immigrants, but greatly affected Georgia’s economy at a time when the state is already struggling. There is no question that immigra-tion policy in the U.S. needs reform, but we must separate reform from meaning building two or three walls surrounding the entirety of the United States’ borders. “Controlling” immigration shouldn’t mean

militarizing the U.S.-Mexico border, mass deportation, and mass imprisonment in so-called “detention centers.” President Obama, contrary to popular belief, has maintained and even strength-ened all of these “control” measures. More people have been deported, as one ex-ample, under Obama in the past three years than the entirety of Bush’s eight years. Still, these actions are not enough for many. Which should make you wonder, what is? Some say they are concerned only about “illegal” immigration, and some oth-ers, like Kansas Secretary of State Kris Ko-bach, want to end all immigration. When we talk about “illegals” we dehumanize a great population of people. Groups like the Fed-eration for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) insist on using the term when refer-ring to more recent immigrants. If the prob-lem is only legality, then why is the term reserved especially for Mexican and other Latino populations? Georgia’s state senate is now consid-ering a bill, known as SB 458, that would exclude those who cannot prove legal sta-tus from attending all of Georgia’s public universities. Currently, this population pays out-of- state tuition to attend, effectively subsidizing other’s education. We have to ask why the state of Georgia would want to deny access to education to someone willing to pay for it. Why? Why would you bar someone who would eventually contribute more to the economy than someone who hasn’t gone to college? In economic terms, it simply makes no sense. Apparently the state thinks they did such a great service to Georgia with HB87 that they figure they’ll take us all the way back to 1950. Have your papers ready…all 23,000 plus KSU students.

GEORGIA A STATE OF IMMIGRANTS?By Richie Essenburg

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beyondgimmicksWHY ANDY KINDLER HATES DUMB COMEDY

Story by daniel lumpkinPhotos by Travis Clark37 38

GimmicksStandup, like most anything else, has good nights and bad nights. Maybe the comedian is a little jetlagged from his flight or had some bad sushi or any other common, everyday is-sue that would throw off a performer. These things happen. Everybody has bad nights in comedy. But then (ominous “dun-dun-dun”) there are the nights comedians have night-mares about, nights where an entire audience becomes a gang of indifference and ridicule. What happens to comedians when they are onstage and real-ize that the audience has no in-terest in laughing at the jokes?

The late friday evening show at the Laugh-ing Skull Lounge, usually an amazing place for comedy, was headlined by veteran comic Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond, and regular guest on Late Show with David Letterman) and should have been great. Un-fortunately for Kindler and the opening acts, the audience that night was led by a group of women celebrating (aka: throwing back shots like they didn’t know what a hangover was) a birthday. for some reason they thought that talking to each other during sets, taking pictures of each other on their

cell phones, and even taking off their shoes and resting their feet on stage was appropriate.

One of the openers did his best to ignore it but he did not survive very long. The next comedian tried confronting the women but that method failed as well, and he did not even finish his set. how do you embarrass someone that lacks dignity or inhibition? The last opener, Atlanta comic Mike Kaiser, did his best to win the audi-ence back but the packed club remained chatty and disinterested.

finally Andy Kindler came onstage. It would have been easy for the former Last Comic Stand-ing judge to use the failures of the first three comics as fodder for cheap laughs. Just throw the other guys under the bus, so to speak. This tactic is quite popular and sadly reliable in the comedy world. Instead, Kindler began the show criticizing the audience for being rude. Usually this is not a great way to start a comedy show, slamming the audience for being horrible at the simple task of sitting quietly and paying atten-tion. Right away, the audience viciously turned on Kindler like they had done to the other co-medians that night. Why would the success-ful, experienced comic choose to side himself against the crowd right at the beginning of a 45 minute set?

“If the audience is not listening or they are tun-ing out or they are not getting involved with what you are saying,” Kindler said. “It’s not a show.”

“I think a lot of people go to comedy shows because they don’t want to think. It’s not a matter of thinking. Audiences must be engaged in the show. Acts like Larry the Cableguy or Dane Cook are simpler to get and don’t require much effort on theaudience. Their popularity is based more on a one-dimensional lowest-common-denominator.”The lowest-common-denominator is a theme Kindler refers to when he is discussing comedy. for the past twenty years at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy festival (the biggest comedy festival in North Ameri-ca) Kindler delivers his famous “State of the Industry Address” where he mocks members of the industry that are ruining comedy.

“To take it further, the people that I make fun of, ex-cept Dane Cook, I go after people who I feel could be doing better work. Somebody who is not capable of being funny, it’s not fun to go after that person because they are really operating at the top of their game. Like Adam Sandler, I loved him when he was on Saturday Night Live so when he started making these wacky movies, I didn’t understand it. [Lazy comedy] is some-thing that should be talked about more.”

It is easy to see that Kindler has a true passion and respect for his craft. he implores people to truly ques-tion why a comic or a joke is funny. Kindler wants people to find the deeper value in comedy, one that goes beyond generating laughter.

“Standup comedy really is this relationship between you and the audience. I would hope people wouldn’t take me on a one-dimensional level and I think what I do doesn’t attract people who are going to want that. It’s what audiences like about Larry the Cableguy or Dane Cook. They are these predictable things.”

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GimmicksKindler went on to explain why popular comedians take this route after some type of arrival on a larger level.“I think what happens when people reach a certain level of success doing something, it’s very hard to turn the bus around. It’s very hard to continue to be yourself. Being gimmicky or one-dimensional to [get laughs], it’s both boring and I don’t do it very well. I’ve never been good at that but some people are. They get popular for something and then it is very hard to grow from there. Even Eddie Murphy said that after he got famous, it was terrible for his standup because he didn’t know what was funny anymore. People were just coming out

to just cheer him on. That’s not a good environment for standup. It’s something that people face all the time.“I’m lucky because when I was just starting out I did one show angry. The guy I was working with said that I should be more angry (as a comedian) so I tried being angry the next few shows and it failed miserably.“The hard part of standup is that it takes so long. for a couple of years I was conscious of the fact that I was holding a microphone and I would think Now I am looking to the left… Now I am looking to the right… The mind plays crazy tricks. I’m past all those things, hopefully.“[Comedy] gets misconstrued as hard work. I’m not a hard worker, you know. I write comedy when it comes to me

but I don’t sit down for eight hours a day writing comedy. It’s not as much as how hard you work as much as it is being open to wanting to grow through rough patches by constantly trying to be as honest with yourself as possible.”Throughout the set, Kindler would say “I’m going to pretend to need a drink of water just so I can see how much more time I have to spend with you people.” As the audience migrated in between their seats and the bar, Kindler soldiered on, spitting out material to a disengaged crowd. Then, at the forty-fifth minute, the time Andy Kindler had to reach in order to get paid that evening, he should have just dropped the microphone and walked away. honestly, two middle fingers as a departing salute would have been an appropriate way

to end the show. But Kindler did not leave the stage cursing the abysmal crowd. he did not even leave the stage. Andy Kindler finished his entire set, going on nearly a half hour longer than he was contractually obligated. Why? The same reason he wasn’t going to use the failures of the opening acts for laughs. Comedy is much more than just getting laughs. Using cheap tricks or only going to venues where the audience will love you isn’t true stand-up. It’s just a gimmick. Andy Kindler is a performer who takes his talents too seriously to ever stoop low enough for gimmicks, which is such a rare and refreshing take in comedy today. Check out Andy on Twitter (@AndyKindler) and his Comedy Special “I Wish I Was Bitter” on DVD.

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