Thursday, February 5, 1998 Sonnet analysis truly absorbs reader BOOK: Although often too serious in nature, scholar’s insights inspire By Michael Gillette Daily Bruin Contributor From the first page of Helen Vendler’s new critical study "The Art of Shakespeare’s Sonnets" one can see that the renowned scholar has brought all of her formidable talents to bear on these remarkable and elusive works. Read more...

Wednesday, February 4, 1998 Professor-author subverts concept of ‘ethnic’ poetry BOOK/MUSIC: Director, authors, rappers, basketball star contribute to anthology By Megan Dickerson Daily Bruin Contributor The famous Apollo Theater closes in on Derrick Gilbert like a high school auditorium as he steps onstage. Read more...

Wednesday, February 4, 1998 Soundbites MUSIC: clara thomas, "clara thomas" (Mercury) The back of the album cover explains the group’s decision to record "the old-fashioned, analog way" rather pretentiously declaring "the album’s atmosphere runs counter to the tendency of modern, digitally recorded pop records that sound squeaky clean." It was bound to happen sooner or later … retro-tech cool. Read more...

Wednesday, February 4, 1998 Midnight madness FILM: Insomniacs take heart – L.A. movie theaters screen offbeat indies and campy classics after hours By Aimee Phan Daily Bruin Staff When someone goes to a midnight screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," it’s not just to sit and watch. Read more...

Wednesday, February 4, 1998 Refusing to ‘Yield,’ Pearl Jam struggles to regain popularity MUSIC: Grunge-rockers hope their fifth album re-establishes band’s top spot in rock music By Michael Nazarinia Daily Bruin Contributor The American Music Awards appropriately represented the current state of commercial music last week with country and rap taking most of the honors. Read more...

Tuesday, February 3, 1998 Audience not blind to smash hit MUSIC Two bands prove rock is not all pop at atypical gig in Riverside By Mike Prevatt Daily Bruin Senior Staff Seven years after rock was pegged as a negatively sentimented, Gen-X outlet, Third Eye Blind and Smashmouth reflect the yearning for good times and optimism, especially among the younger radio listeners and record buyers. Read more...

Tuesday, February 3, 1998 Not as Chekov envisioned THEATER Latest version of Russian’s masterpiece leaves audience confused By Michael Gillette Daily Bruin Contributor Up until the fourth act of the Artists’ Collective’s production of "The Cherry Orchard" at the Gascon Theater in Culver City, one simply bemoaned director Theresa Larkin’s decision to jettison the wonderfully absurd comic tone of Anton Chekov’s final masterpiece and opt instead for melodramatic "realism." When the play moves in the fourth act from 19th century Russia to modern day Mill Valley, Calif., however, the audience has plenty of other things to moan about. Read more...