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Let’s Get Political
So you wanna talk about the issues in these final weeks before the presidential election? One place to start is with a viewing of The Corporation, a Canadian documentary that analyzes the history and impact of corporations on our world economy and society at large. The film’s screening at the Pilot Light on Oct. 24 is a collaboration of old-school EarthFirst! activist John Johnson, who just moved back to town, and James Henry, who has been involved with everything from the now-defunct Knoxville Film and Video Co-op to renters’ rights. They have formed Friendly Fire Films Inc.
A screening of Outfoxed, a documentary about Rupert Murdoch and his network’s reputation for shoddy news coverage, launched the group’s initial four-film series that Henry hopes will spark dialogue about issues of national importance.
“We want to politicize the community and create an environment for change,” Henry says. “These screenings will also hopefully bring groups and individuals together to create more discussion and to affect change on the local level.”
The Corporation is a particularly significant choice in relation to the impending presidential election.
“In my opinion, both parties are too much in bed with corporate America,” Henry states. “This is the main message of third-party dissent, and I think it should be taken to heart. I don’t think that should translate to ‘Vote Nader,’ but I think he has had some good criticism that is being overlooked, especially in the debates.”
The Corporation wasn’t screened at Regal Cinema’s Downtown West Cinema Art, a frequent destination for low-budget or otherwise limited-run documentaries. Henry and Johnson are buying their films on DVD from EvilTwinBooking.com, a Philadelphia-based distributor of “socially conscious independent films and performance artists.” They’ll send half the proceeds to the filmmakers and the rest to KFAR 90.1 FM, the unlicensed pirate radio station that was raided Sept. 15 by the FCC and federal marshals and taken off the air. (KFAR maintains an online broadcast at kfar.org.) Henry has been supporting KFAR and is working on a documentary about the station.
Future screenings include The 4th World War, a film that studies ongoing political conflicts in many parts of the world, on Nov. 7, and The Miami Model, a documentary on the protests that occurred when the Free Trade Area of the Americas met in Miami on Nov. 21, 2003.
The Corporation will be shown twice Sunday: a non-smoking show at 7 p.m. and a smoking-allowed show at 10 p.m. Admission is a suggested $5 donation.
Lost Gear
If you happened to find some harmonicas and a briefcase full of song lists and sheet music along Chapman Highway or the Cumberland Avenue Strip, Michael Crawley would like his gear back. A victim of his own multi-tasking and hurried preparation for a DetroitDaddies gig at Charlie Peppers, Crawley left open the tailgate of his truck, allowing the pieces of equipment to slip ‘n’ slide away. The band cancelled the show and spent some time looking for the lost gear. In the meantime, Crawley’s later gig with the MacDaddies was saved through the generosity of his pal and blues hero Blue Barry Faust, who lent harps from his collection.
Rockin’ the House
One of the Strip’s few restaurants offering creative vegetarian dishes is now dishing out a musical elixir to accompany your tofu and microbrews. Restaurateur Randy Burleson recently revamped the Sunspot by expanding into the adjacent space, formerly Cup-a-Joe, giving the bar more elbow room and a smoking section. The bonus room features a small stage that will occasionally host musical acts. Indie rock band Dixie Dirt, rarely seen outside the Pilot Light or Barley’s, is rumored to be Sunspot’s house band. Could this be the return of life to the Strip we’ve been waiting for?
Go.
Thursday: Visit the animals in their native costumes at Boo! at the Zoo, then wear your cowboy boots to Barley’s to hear Mary McBride belt out some tunes.
Friday: Indulge in some existential angst watching Our Town at Erin Presbyterian Church. Remember that life is good; go see Hector Qirko at 4620.
Saturday: Seek peace and quiet out of town.
Sunday: Drop in on a free-form musical reading of Jack Kerouac’s epic poem “Mexico City Blues” at Urban Bar. Or eat fish and drink cheap beer at The Spot to raise money for the Bijou Theatre.
Monday: Give a shout-out to bluesman Mem Shannon at Preservation Pub.
Tuesday: 10 Years plays at Blue Cats. Say you knew them when.
Wednesday: A total lunar eclipse starts at 8 p.m. and peaks at 11 p.m. Pop popcorn.
—Paige M. Travis, Molly Kincaid
October 21, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 43
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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