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THE BROWN DAILY HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

VOLUME CLII, ISSUE 63

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‘Stranger Than Paradise’ explores art through history RISD Museum brings together 14 pieces exploring relationship between man, nature By CINDY ZENG SENIOR STAFF WRITER

GUS REED / HERALD

President Christina Paxson P’19 and the Interim Vice President for Institutional Diversity and Assistant Provost for Global Engagement Shontay Delalue addressed the community in an effort to promote peace and inclusion.

Community gathering focuses on unity Event seeks to create empathetic environment following series of national tragedies By JACKSON WELLS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Office of the Chaplains and Religious Life hosted a community gathering Monday afternoon on the Main Green to buttress the essentiality and necessity of compassion, inclusion and justice during the school year. Janet Cooper Nelson, chaplain of

the University, said that the event was partly in response to the difficulties the world is currently facing, such as devastating natural disasters, expressions of bigotry in Charlottesville, the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and the war in Syria. “It’s very important to the chaplains that we acknowledge the substance and the depth of the content that students are bringing to their studies, as well as the challenges in the world that need our attention,” Cooper Nelson told The Herald. While this is a spiritual matter, it is also a matter of ethics, morality and community, she added.

In her opening statement, Cooper Nelson put particular emphasis on the necessity of empathy. She alluded to the significance Sept. 11 has in the United States and the power it holds in bringing people together. But the event was not a memorial for an earlier time, she said. “Our hearts seek to keep time with one another, to find a quality of mindfulness, even prayer, to risk real empathy, to be aligned with the concerns and the needs of this time,” Cooper Nelson said. After Cooper Nelson spoke, faculty, staff members, students and administrators read different works that revolved » See GATHERING, page 3

Upon initial regard, the contemporary art exhibition, “Stranger than Paradise,” appears as a baffling mixture of contemporary and ancient art. With works from the Rhode Island School of Design alums, professors and more, this collection of 14 items from the RISD Museum’s permanent holdings opened last July and explores the relationship between humans and nature over time. Assembled by Dominic Molon, the Richard Brown Baker curator of contemporary art at the RISD Museum, the show features an eclectic selection of pieces that range from a Greek wine jug dating back to 610 BCE to works by recent RISD graduates like Sophia Narrett. The collection “developed from, as often collection presentations do, objects that I’d been wanting to have on view in the galleries for some time,” Molon said. When a space opened up for the exhibition, he and John Smith, director of the museum, discussed a presentation that had themes of nature. “He suggested kind of looking back into history and combining more contemporary works with works from different historical

periods,” Molon added. Within the exhibit, one of the most noticeable objects is a work by Michael Smith, a sculptor who lives in Providence. It features a “pigeon form encased in a resin within the structure that is taken from a door found here in Providence, but cut very deeply to resemble a landscape or a seascape,” Molon said. It is simultaneously surreal and disquieting, and presents a much more “abstracted idea of humankind and nature,” Molon added. In contrast, a painting by Wilhelm Frederik van Royen entitled “The Young Hunter” dates back to 1706 and features an image of a young man surrounded by the bounty of his hunt. The contrast between the pieces in the collection that are traditionally pastoral and familiar against pieces like Smith’s creates a tension between the works akin to the tension between humankind and nature. This is a central theme that the exhibition seeks to explore. “Something that was very important for me when I got here, is to be very proactive about getting the work of recent RISD alumni into the collection. … I think we’ve missed the boat in the past on artists who do come out of RISD who make a huge impact in the art world and don’t have a very major work of theirs up in the collection,” Molon said. Sophia Narrett, with her stitchbased sculpture, and Tomory Dodge, with his painting of a deconstructed » See RISD, page 2

Susan Moffitt named new director of Taubman Center Moffitt aims to focus on cost of living, value of democracy, price of security in United States By EDUARD MUÑOZ-SUÑÉ SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Susan Moffitt, associate professor of international and public affairs and political science, began her threeyear role as director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy July 1. The search for a new director of the Taubman Center started well in advance of the term end of the previous director, James Morone, professor of public policy, political science and urban studies. Dean of the Faculty Kevin McLaughlin and Edward Steinfeld, director of the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs,

INSIDE

conducted the internal search and ultimately made the final hiring decision. Roles like that of the Taubman director are “great positions because someone can really leave a mark,” Steinfeld said. Directors have the opportunity to maintain “vibrant research programs” and leave a “personal imprint as a leader.” As a director, Moffitt said she will focus on three themes: the cost of living, the value of democracy and the price of security. In the summer of 2015, the Taubman Center became a part of the Watson Institute. The merger gave the Taubman Center important exposure to international issues and scholarship, Moffitt said. She hopes to continue “the process of bringing together the global focus of Watson with the study of American politics and policy” at the Taubman Center,

she said. “We can better understand American politics and policy through a global lens,” Moffitt added. Steinfeld praised Moffitt as “a scholar of bureaucracy” with “interests in gender and public policy,” as well as public provisions and equity. Moffitt has already proven her ability to take on large-scale projects. According to a University press release, Moffitt is currently in the second year of a three-year, $4.9 million project that examines the effects of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, a set of K-12 academic standards that aims to combat education inequality in the United States. Steinfeld said he is confident in Moffitt’s abilities to further develop the Taubman Center’s scholarly reach. “I am sure she will push things further down the evolutionary path,” he added.

COURTESY OF SUSAN MOFFITT

Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science Susan Moffitt replaced James Morone, who finished his tenure July 1.

WEATHER

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

NEWS Sunday brawl outside of Whiskey Republic led to five men stabbed, one hit by car, possible closing

ARTS & CULTURE “Patti Cake$” follows New Jersey rapper, tastefully portrays downtrodden neighborhood

COMMENTARY Krishnamurthy ’19: Sugarcoating national tragedies lessens their political, emotional impact

COMMENTARY Vilsan ’19: The rapidly growing tech world doesn’t mean need for humanities students is lost

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» RISD, from page 1 tree post-storm, constitute the two RISD alum pieces in the collection. Angela Dufresne, a professor at RISD, is also featured in the collection with her painting “Man and Kid” that shows a young man, caked in blood, emerging from the woods with a goat thrown over his shoulder. Narrett’s work coupled well with the work of another artist, Wifredo Lam. “I had those works, in mind, together. Sophia’s was an incredibly labor-intensive stitch piece that takes all these highly eroticized and sexualized unions and congregations of people in this very verdant tropical setting,” Molon said. “Wifredo Lam has also this sensual sort of nature to it but the figures are much more abstracted and eroticized.” “One of the tensions in our work is that sometimes it’s hard to gauge what public perception is going to be of the show,” said Matthew Berry, a marketing specialist who worked on promoting the exhibition. “We work to find ways in which our exhibitions and our collection can be made relatable to people, how they speak to current events,” he added. “Visitors have expressed a little confusion about the show, so I refer them to what is written about it, but it is a bit of an eclectic mix,” said Bob Pratae, a security staff member who has worked at the RISD Museum for 18 years. “I found it a bit of an odd mixture of work but I understand where the curator is coming from with looking at how art has been interpreted.”

ANITA SHEIH / HERALD

RISD graduates Tomory Dodge and Sophia Narrett have pieces featured in the exhibit. The collection contains art that dates back to 610 BCE along with contemporary sculptures and transformations of everyday objects, including a sculpture by local Providence artist Michael Smith.

NEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 • PAGE 3

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RIPTA holds community meeting to discuss new bus routes New routes will move buses out of Kennedy Plaza, specifics of plan yet to be determined By BELLA ROBERTS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Two weeks ago, Mayor Jorge Elorza unveiled the Kennedy Plaza revitalization plan — a project to develop park and community space in Kennedy Plaza, which will require the redrawing of some public transit routes in downtown Providence. The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority responded last night by hosting an open house to get public input as it plans its future bus routes.

» GATHERING, from page 1 around the theme of empathy. President Christina Paxson P’19 read a poem called “Third Heaven” by Peter Cooley, which was written in memory of Hurricane Katrina. She said she changed her selections for reading over the weekend in response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Chelse-Amoy Steele ’18 shared a personal reflection in which she spoke of racism’s presence in contemporary American society, noting that the only ways to combat racism are to not give up the fight and to have empathy. “Now is

Kennedy Plaza is not the only project requiring route redrawing downtown. There are multiple projects the city is currently engaged in that will also affect downtown transit routes: the Downtown Transit Connector and the Providence Intermodal Transportation Center, a rebuild of the Providence Amtrak Station with room for buses. RIPTA sought input on these projects during the meeting. “For RIPTA, these (projects) provide great opportunity for us to modify our service,” said Barbara Polichetti, director of public affairs for RIPTA. Some of the changes will include more direct service to new locations, reduction of travel times, a high-frequency transit corridor from the train station to Rhode

Island Hospital and a decrease in the use of Kennedy Plaza as a transportation hub. Exactly how routes will be redrawn is still under discussion, and RIPTA is seeking public input as it undergoes the planning process. “The main goal of today is to get an idea of where people’s priorities lie in terms of our service,” RIPTA Associate Director of Planning Greg Nordin said. To do that, RIPTA posted proposed route options on boards around the room and asked attendees to vote on their preferred route options. The final routes will take into account these votes but will not be drawn solely based on them. “We’re looking at how our service operates, if there are opportunities for new locations with our existing

the time that we must act with timeless empathy and the deepest compassion towards the community around us and to ourselves,” she said. Elizabeth Hoover, assistant professor of American studies, read an excerpt from “Lines from a Mined Mind” by John Trudell. She chose the piece to emphasize Trudell’s message that humans need to be empathetic toward one another. Along with the readings, musical pieces were performed during the program. Irene Tang ’19 played Bach’s Sonata No. 3 in C Major on the violin and the Jabberwocks concluded the program

by singing “Alleluia” by Richard Marx. The diverse array of speakers at the event chose their own material to read. “We invited people who we thought would have some thoughtfulness to bring to the day,” Cooper Nelson told The Herald. Cooper Nelson said she hopes those at the event received insight on the importance of unity. “Having empathy, for another as well as for the world, is not something that comes without work,” Cooper Nelson said. “I’m hoping that each of us … is hoping to offer something peaceful and lovely.”

service and where people would like to see that occur,” Nordin said. All of the proposed routes are based on thorough analyses, said Greg Strangeways, a consultant for RIPTA from Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates. He said all the routes being discussed were created through market analyses, existing usage and information on transfers. “There is going to be a lot more service, overall, no matter what people pick,” Strangeways said. “Residents and jobs will have more transit closer to them, and many more people will get a one seat ride, where they don’t have to transfer.” Strangeways also mentioned that part of RIPTA’s rerouting is meant to help the city reduce the transportation

footprint at Kennedy Plaza because of its upcoming restructuring. “All of the service will be there, but the buses won’t have to wait there while they get back on schedule. The city wants to reuse the space and balance the transit service,” Strangeways said. He added that transportation options at the Plaza will still exist in a more streamlined capacity. “Our goal is to look at all of these opportunities and look at them in the light of what our passengers want,” Polichetti said. Despite changes in routes, RIPTA is committed to maintaining services for all of its passengers, she added. Changes will begin to take effect as early as winter 2018, but the project will not be fully completed for four to five years, Nordin said.

CREDIT

Chaplain of the University Janet Cooper Nelson encouraged the community to embrace empathy and unity as the academic year begins.

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Whiskey Republic called to close after nearby brawl Six men hospitalized following violence outside local sports bar Sunday morning By GWEN EVERETT METRO EDITOR

Providence Board of Licenses called for the immediate closing of Whiskey Republic on Monday after a brawl outside of the bar turned violent, the Providence Journal reported. The Board, which dispenses and oversees liquor licenses, will hold a hearing today at 1 p.m. to discuss Whiskey’s license. Early Sunday morning, six men were rushed to area hospitals — five of them stabbed, one hit by a car — after an apparently grisly altercation outside of the bar. Police were called to the scene, just outside the Fox Point sports bar frequented by Brown and other college students,

at 2:22 a.m., arriving to find three of the stabbed men and the man hit by the car all on Bridge Street, the Providence Journal reported. Police later identified two other men involved, after learning that they had checked themselves into nearby hospitals. Providence Police Lt. Luis San Lucas told the Journal that the men’s injuries are of varying severity: Some men are stable and some are in more serious conditions. It remains unclear if the incident began outside or inside the bar, but San Lucas told the Journal that his force only witnessed and dealt with the incident outside. As of now, San Lucas does not know if anyone has been charged, but will continue to investigate the incident. They plan to make a recommendation based on their findings to the Board of Licenses by the time of today’s meeting, according to Heather Kilkenny, an administrator for the Board of Licenses, who spoke to the Journal.

HERALD FILE PHOTO

The Whiskey Republic, where five men were stabbed and one hit by a car on Sunday morning, is often frequented by college students. Providence Police Lt. San Lucas says he will continue to investigate the incident.

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NEW COURSE offered by the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic & Psychological Sciences CLPS 0010 - Mind, Brain and Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Approach MWF 1-1:50, Metcalf Auditorium FIRST-YEARS WELCOME FULFILLS PSYCHOLOGY PRE-MED REQUIREMENT This course will provide an interdisciplinary approach to the science of the mind through the lens of psychology, cognitive science, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral neuroscience, computational modeling and linguistics, as uniquely represented by our department. It will focus on questions that drive the field, current state-of-the-art, and successful techniques and approaches. Questions addressed will include: What is the nature of the human mind? How do we get input from the world? How do we communicate? How do we change as infants and adults through experience? How do we make decisions and judgments? How do minds meet other minds in a social world?

TODAY

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 • PAGE 5

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poster perfect

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Pizza: Spinach and Feta, Bacon Chicken Ranch JOSIAH’S

BLUE ROOM

Lasagna Bowl, Bacon Burger, Quesadilla Station

Roasted Red Pepper and Smoked Gouda, Vegetable Mango Curry

DINING HALLS SHARPE REFECTORY LUNCH

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VERNEY-WOOLLEY LUNCH

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sudoku

SARA RUNKEL / HERALD

The annual poster sale took place Monday on Wriston quad, featuring posters of popular movies, musicians, art and other designs. Students flocked to the event to get decorations before items ran out.

Q U O T E O F T H E D AY

crossword

“Wifredo Lam has also this sensual sort of nature to it, but the figures are much more abstracted and

”

eroticized.

— Dominic Molon, Richard Brown Baker curator of contemporary art

See RISD on page 1. CORRECTION Due to an editing error, a previous version of the article “Activists, elected officials protest Trump’s DACA decision” (Sept. 11, 2017) said that Yaruska Ordinola told the crowd she was initially afraid when she heard about Trump’s decision because she believed she would “lose everything…” In fact, she told that to The Herald. The Herald regrets the error.

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Help Save a Life! Blood Drive 11:00 A.M. Hillel

Brown in Ireland Info Session 12:00 P.M. J.W.W. Room 440

NYU Law School Info Session 12:00 P.M. CareerLAB

Gilman Scholarship Info Session 4:00 P.M. J.W.W. Room 440

TOMORROW Israel/Palestine — the Exception and the Rule 12:00 P.M. Watson, McKinney Room

Wellness at Brown! Healing Yoga 12:00 P.M. Hillel

Careers on Campus 101 4:00 P.M. Alumnae Hall Auditorium

Brown Salsa Club Fall Lessons 6:00 P.M. Alumnae Hall, Crystal Room

COMMENTARY PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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COMMENTARY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 • PAGE 7

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Enough with myths ANUJ KRISHNAMURTHY opinions editor I’m not a particularly devout person. I don’t subscribe to any cults or fringe subcultures. (In the interest of transparency, I do follow Kylie Jenner on Instagram.) And I’ve never really wondered what happens to us after we kick the proverbial bucket. But if there ever is an apocalypse that reduces human civilization to smithereens, I’m pretty sure it’s going to look like the past few weeks: the unprecedented convergence of hurricanes in the Gulf, wildfires in California, and an earthquake in Mexico. Taken together, these disasters have claimed the lives of at least 60 people, left tens of thousands displaced and could siphon close to $300 billion from the American economy. Yet, for our nation’s professional mythmakers, this dystopia was actually cause for celebration. President Trump claimed that the disasters demonstrate “the best in America’s character — strength, charity and resilience.” Slideshows of heroic volunteers and emergency workers have proliferated on the internet. Even pets, left behind by evacuating families, have been able to bask under the limelight: It was widely reported last week that Southwest

Airlines flew 80 cats and dogs from Houston to San Diego to be adopted. Cobbling together some optimism in the face of devastation is an admirable thing. The courage of our policemen and firefighters; the extraordinary selflessness of ordinary

coating the true horrors of disaster will spell our undoing. Harvey and Irma, after all, are not only stories of resilience and sacrifice; they are also tales of abject failure. In fact, every daring rescue made in the aftermath, every evacuee flying out of Florida, every vessel of the storied,

of climate inaction. More broadly, a sanitized, sentimentalized version of natural disaster does us no good. When we deliberately downplay the trauma and suffering with romanticized heroism, we undermine our own ability to proactively confront the causes and conse-

In the long run, our national habit of making myths out of even the most hellish of circumstances — out of simmering rubble and watery ruins — while willfully sugarcoating the true horrors of disaster will spell our undoing.

rescuers; the local organizing of immigrants — all these are worth celebrating and deserve our sincerest gratitude. But, in the long run, our national habit of making myths out of even the most hellish of circumstances — out of rubble and watery ruins — while willfully sugar-

all-volunteer Cajun Navy constitute failures of our society — our people’s collective negligence to heed the warnings of climate scientists; our policymakers’ failure to obey the evidence, not personal whim; and, worst of all, our entire culture’s failure to consider the human costs

quences of environmental crisis. We know that climate change — which many in our government and civil society have denounced as alarmist fiction‚ drastically increases the likelihood and severity of extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires. We know that we need smarter ur-

ban planning regulations to discourage development on exposed coastlines. We know we need to invest in infrastructure and better emergency planning to mitigate the effects of extreme weather in the future. But none of what we know can be meaningfully put into action if we’re too busy cheering the moments of valor and neighborliness and forget to question why that valor and neighborliness were necessary in the first place. On the whole, I’m glad disaster brought out the “best in America’s character;” I just wish we had been better, sooner, so that our best didn’t have to take the form of dangerous rescues and makeshift shelters. It’s become clear, now, that how we idealize our humanity during crises has proven to be a grave liability. Up until a few days ago, as droughts ravage sub-Saharan Africa and water advances on the low-lying shores of Bangladesh, the most destructive effects of climate change have spared the United States. But the reality of climate change is starting to encroach on our little idyll, in the once-impregnable upper latitudes of the northern hemisphere. We can no longer afford to get caught manufacturing myths for online virality, letting them blind us to the truth.

Anuj Krishnamurthy ’19 can be reached at anuj_krishnamurthy@brown.edu.

Robots or not? FABIANA VILSAN staff columnist The queue in front of me in the pharmacy was moving impressively fast, customers walking off with a handful of change less than a minute after placing their orders. As I glided forward, I couldn’t help but appreciate the efficiency. I speedily arrived to the front of the line, only to discover that the pharmacist who had been filling out my prescriptions since I was old enough to look over the counter had been replaced by a five-foot machine that took orders twice as fast and spit out exact change without so much as a “hmm.” And this wasn’t the first time this summer I’d come face to face with a machine where a worker used to be. Whether I was placing an order at McDonald’s or checking in my luggage at the airport, human assistance was becoming all but obsolete. As technology makes its way into every nook and cranny of our day-to-day lives and artificial intelligence can be found in headlines everywhere, many students are wondering if they should be changing their majors or considering the tech industry. How can we, as students in the humanities, be sure our jobs are safe, when machines seem to be capable of anything these days? And is my job next? Thankfully, no. As it turns out, the communications, critical thinking and creative skills that a well-rounded, humanities-based education provides are much-needed tools in the 21st century economy, and humanities students shouldn’t feel the need to compromise on their passions. Admittedly, the fear of technology becoming

the be-all and end-all of future careers is prominent among students who have not chosen a tech-related path. With Silicon Valley increasingly driving the economy and technology becoming irreplaceable in office buildings across America, students who are simply not interested in computer science — but are willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into pre-professional or advanced education — are bound to have misgivings about their chosen path. And a superficial browse through the world wide web does nothing to assuage these worries. With

terial taught in liberal arts colleges today is relevant to the future.” How can you not worry? The reality is that skills taught in liberal arts colleges are still valuable in the work force. Sure, some jobs are on their way out, and it doesn’t hurt to be somewhat technologically adept even if you’re not planning a career in the digital world. But us non-robots (and even tech virgins) have a saving grace: creativity. According to Wired Magazine, a study on the impact of robots on jobs across 17 countries found that while technology reduces the hours of the av-

The key here is to understand that the humanities are not at odds; they are complementary.

screaming headlines promising robots will do your jobs without asking for healthcare benefits, it’s no wonder people are concerned. Deloitte estimates that, in the next 10 years, close to 40 percent of jobs in the legal sector could be automated. After all that money spent on a legal education, those numbers are sure to send a shiver down the spines of prospective law students. But even if a robot doesn’t physically replace your job, it can often feel like you’re still in danger of being pushed out or overlooked if you didn’t jump on those CS classes in college. Billionaire Vinod Khosla says, “Little of the ma-

erage low-skilled worker, it doesn’t reduce the hours of the average human. In its current state, technology is doing more to boost job opportunities than it is to diminish them. And when it comes to students passionately pursuing careers outside of the technological sphere, creativity and critical thinking will equip you for fruitful careers despite your digital handicap. One article in the New York Times with the comforting title, “Don’t Panic, Liberal Arts Majors. The Tech World Wants You,” expresses that sentiment exactly. The skills taught in humanities are far from becoming unneces-

sary in the tech world. A broad humanities education, in fact, gives students diverse insights into a variety of fields — history, politics and economics, to name a few. This intellectual versatility translates into the professional world quite neatly. For example, being able to communicate a vision, whether you’re talking to clients or a future employer, that is informed by a multidimensional education is a skill that shouldn’t be underestimated. So, even if you’re considering a career in the tech world without embracing the tech, you’re in luck. Of course, if you’re a humanities student, it does help to have some exposure to CS. It is also the responsibility of society to make sure those who find their work on the cusp of automation can develop the skills necessary to reorient and reimagine their careers, rather than passively accepting replacement. As a international relations concentrator myself, I’ve opted to take introductory CS courses not because I want to work in Silicon Valley, but because a smidgen of tech skills can open up opportunities. The key here is to understand that humanities and technology are not at odds; they are complementary. As the economy continues to shift and grow, we — as students and as professionals — have a chance to redefine our futures. We shouldn’t be worried about being replaced. Instead, we should be interested in how we can apply our own passions, interests and capabilities in an evolving world. In short, humanities majors can let out a sigh of relief. Don’t fear being pushed to the margins; look forward to carving out your own place in your chosen career.

Fabiana Vilsan ’19 can be reached at fabiana_vilsan@brown.edu.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

‘Patti Cake$’ emotionally, thoughtfully follows aspiring rapper ‘Patti Cake$’ highlights struggles of restlessness, rundown neighborhoods in beautiful detail By ETHEL RENIA A&C EDITOR

Cable Car Cinema, a Providence film theater and coffee shop frequented by students seeking independent and international cinematic entertainment, has been a staple of the Providence indie scene for decades. But the films that the Cable Car shows range from film festival darlings to newly unearthed jewels. “Patti Cake$,” the breakthrough film of this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is one such film. The movie features Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Patti Cake$, a.k.a. Killer P, and her poignant quest for glory. Hers is a relentless struggle to break free from the daily realities of her downtrodden New Jersey hometown. She dreams of making it as a rap star, and her dreams uplift her, giving her a purpose, while also holding her back in a state of brewing restlessness throughout the film. The film does not paint a pretty picture of her surroundings. Patti seems stuck on the wrong side of the Hudson River, overlooking the Manhattan skyline that feels as inaccessible as having throngs of fans shouting her name. Her ordinary hometown lends to Patti’s life

an untenable flatness that is propitious for big dreams. The film’s beauty is in the details: The way the camera catches the small things in Patti’s life make the story touching. The pace of the first half of the story is slow. The viewer is left squirming in her seat, feeling keen empathy for each of the characters who are hopping from one foot to another, ready to bolt into something bigger than the trapping monotony of their lives. Accompanying the restlessness that the film conveys come other more subtle themes that deal with the continued rejection Patti faces. At 23, Patti, an obese white woman, does not ‘look’ the part of the aspiring rapper. Her close friend and collaborator Jheri, a happygo-lucky try-hard of Indian origin, also does not fit in with the aspiring rap crowd of their hometown. The viewer fears for Patti that the world she longs for seems barred to her by virtue of who she is and what she looks like. The rap world’s rejection of Patti, combined with her mother’s projection of her own failures, push Patti even further from her dreams. The movie draws an uncomfortable parallel between Patti’s life and her mother’s. Her mother, Barb, was also once an inspiring artist. She was held back by an unwanted pregnancy and reduced to reliving her glory days at the local bar’s karaoke machine. Patti is often at odds with Barb, alternating between disgust and truly tender

JASMINE RUIZ / HERALD

Cable Car Cinema is currently playing the breakthrough film of this year’s Sundance Film Festival. “Patti Cake$” features a white female obese rapper struggling to make it in the rap industry. moments. Her consistent fear of ending up in her mother’s shoes weaves into the multitude of tensions, fears and dreams that make up the general restless mood of the film. For a solid hour or so, Patti meanders down a path toward an impossible dream. She finally finds her place among others who don’t ‘look the part.’ This includes the elusive figure of Tyrone, a black antichrist with clothes and a fake blue eye a la Marilyn Manson; Jheri, who endeavors to release the

group’s E.P. at the local strip club; and her beloved grandmother, Nan, who suffers from a pill addiction and can only move in a wheelchair. Patti’s life gains traction as she works two jobs and begins to record with her new group. Her mother’s dismissal of her music slides off her shoulders, and Patti begins working for something in earnest, leaving the viewer with an ominous feeling that the pieces of her life are being set up only to be shot down. Though the film does not escape

the trope of a main character who is dealt a seemingly insurmountable blow only to gain overarching success, “Patti Cake$” gives its characters a happy ending befitting of the tender nature of the film. The real victory is not found in the success of a final rap battle. The truly magical moment comes as the film ties together the entire plot in an emotional moment that honors Patti’s talent, her dreams, her mother’s dreams and the downtrodden landscape in New Jersey that fostered it all.

Campus sees several incidents of larceny over summer months By GWEN EVERETT METRO EDITOR

Throughout June, July and August, the Department of Public Safety recorded 25 crimes, according to records accessed by The Herald through the Clery Act. Most crimes were classified as larceny, though the deparment also recorded three instances of breaking and entering. Crimes were concentrated around College Hill, with many thefts taking place in dormitories. DPS did record one theft at 222 Richmond Street at the Alpert Medical School. GWEN EVERETT / HERALD