COLLEGE
HILL
11Multiplying Providence
Simone Landon
ARTS F A L L 2010
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Emily Fishman
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Natasha Pradhan Blake Beaver, Maija Ekay, Mary-Evelyn Farrior, Emily Fishman, Maddy McKay, Eli Schmitt, Liat Werber, Ra-
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16 Doris Burke and Salmon Emily Segal, Dayna Tortorici
Malcolm Burnley and Belle Cushing
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Here at Cereal Marshmallows Our Goal is to Deliver you the absolute best
and Crunchiest marshmallows available and I believe that is just what we
have. I searched the World Over Japan, China Mexico, Netherlands, Ger-
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Marshmallow I ordered everything you could imagine and tried to get manu-
facturers to make it for me to no avail. I ended up with a pile of soft Yucky
marshmallows big enough to fill a Dozen Trash bags Then Right here in the
64"*GPVOEUIFQFSGFDU.BSTINBMMPXPOMZ1SPCMFNXBT*IBEUPPSEFSPWFS
10,000 pounds WOW and Marshmallows are LIGHT this is a SEMI Truck
full well a big step but nonetheless one we made and now we sell out every 4
months or so I’m sure you will love these marshmallows
THEINDY.ORG 2
News
KFC Tries Ass-vertisement 8IJMF UIF QSPNPUJPO CFHBO PO -PVJTWJMMFT 4QBMEJOH 6OJWFSTJUZ DBNQVT
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website proudly claims the chain is bringing the opportunity to exchange one’s rear
The chain-formerly-known-as Kentucky Fried Chicken has recently adopted a FOEGPSBTUJQFOEUPUISFFNPSF64DBNQVTFT*OBEEJUJPOUPDBTIBOEGSFFTXFBU
booty-centric marketing tactic that will finally provide buns for its infamous san[s pants, the participants will receive a supply of KFC gift certificates to ensure that
bread] ‘wich. The “creative on-clothing ad campaign,” as it’s described on the com- those sweats fit nice and tight.
pany’s official website, involves paying college girls $500 to wear red sweatpants Despite hundreds of “likes” on KFC’s Facebook page from enthusiastic support-
with “Double Down”—the chain’s 540-calorie fried chicken, cheese, and bacon be- ers, the blatantly chauvinist marketing strategy has been met with outrage from
hemoth—emblazoned on the seat. National Organization for Women president Terry O’Neill, who objected to the use
According to spokesman Rick Maynard, KFC borrowed this promotional tech- of “women’s bodies to sell fundamentally unhealthy products.” O’Neill also noted
nique from “some apparel companies and sororities” to target its prized young that women make the majority meal-related decisions in their families, insinuating
male demographic after a 7 percent drop in 2nd quarter sales—though I’m pretty that KFC’s darling campaign may ultimately bite them right in their corpulent cor-
certain that most adolescent males actually think the “Juicy” on sweatpants refers porate ass. -SL
to the wearer’s rear, not the couture.
TETRIS:
3 S E P T E M B E R 30 2 010 T H E C O L L E G E H I L L I N D E P E N D E N T
News
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reg Asbed B’85, without threat of employer retaliation. campaign and new codes of conduct. The email to the Independent that, “[We] have
co-coordinator Tomato pickers are paid by the piece. benefits of worker-company negotiation met and spoken with CIW representa-
of the Coalition Each picker receives 50 cents per 32 have proven to outweigh the costs. tives on several occasions.” On Septem-
of Immokalee pounds of tomatoes picked, a rate that Now the focus has shifted to super- ber 9, the National Economic and Social
Workers’ (CIW) has only increased by ten cents since markets. According to Asbed, “Stop & Rights Initiative (NESRI) published a
Campaign for 1980. The most efficient workers can Shop could be the straw that breaks the public rebuke of Ahold, questioning the
Fair Food, says pick one ton of tomatoes on a good day, camel’s back.” An agreement with Stop & company’s claim that it is “committed to
that CIW is earning 50 dollars for approximately 10 Shop could inspire other supermarkets take part in discussions and join organi-
about to make labor history. “The stan- hours of picking. However, a ten-hour to get on board with CIW and make CIW zations that work toward improvements
dards and changes we have been trying day assumes ideal conditions—physi- agreements the norm in the food indus- across the entire food industry.” NESRI
to establish are on the verge of becom- cal fitness, and no rain or dew on the try. On August 6 CIW representatives argues that the two meetings between
ing the norm. We’re at the tipping point tomatoes. In the most extreme cases, visited the Quincy, MA corporate head- CIW and Ahold, one in Amsterdam and
right now.” Immokalee is a labor re- crew leaders have kept their pickers in RVBSUFSTPG"IPME64"
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serve in Southwest Florida. It is home perpetual debt by deducting fees from company of Stop & Shop. Representa- CIW agrees—the only step forward dur-
to the state’s largest farmworker com- their meager earnings for housing, food, tives attempted to deliver nearly 1,000 ing the first meeting in Amesterdam was
munity, composed mostly of Latino, alcohol, and drugs. postcards urging Ahold to join with the promise of a second meeting in the
Haitian and Mayan-Indian immigrants. Transparency in the food supply chain CIW. The CIW reps were asked to leave States. According to Asbed, “At the [sec-
Because Florida produces 90 percent is hindered because consumers, distribu- the stack of postcards on the sidewalk. ond] meeting all they did was ask to hear
PG UIF UPNBUPFT DPOTVNFE JO UIF 64 tors, and growers are well removed from The head of security came to collect the about our campaign.”
between October and May, it sets the the source of produce. Supermarkets postcards, but had no comment on Stop Cathy Albisa, executive director of
standard for agricultural policy in the often repackage the tomatoes they pur- & Shop’s stance. NESRI, believes that Ahold is “dragging
country. A shift towards humanitar- chase, labeling them with the store’s its feet on farmworker justice in its sup-
ian practices in the region, enforced by name. Consumers have no way of know- ply chain and attempting to co-opt the
companies at the top of the food sup- ing if the tomatoes they purchase are good name of CIW to cover its tracks.”
ply chain, could inspire policy change coming from a humane grower. On the The corporate term ‘slow melt’ refers to
throughout the industry. supply end, each tomato grower hires T H E CO R P O R AT E P E R S P E C- the practice of keeping an organization
According to Asbed, CIW’s penny-a- pickers through a crew leader, eliminat- TIVE like CIW in negotiations for as long as
pound policy, which calls on companies ing the need for growers to interact with Ahold lists responsible sourcing—the possible before reaching an agreement,
to pay an extra penny for every pound the workers who pick their produce. practice of seeking out and evaluating in order to minimize monetary losses.
of tomatoes they buy to augment wages Kate Hadley B’12 worked with the potential suppliers—as one of its key Weiner denies that Stop & Shop is stall-
for farmworkers, “will become the in- Student/Farmworker Alliance in Immo- objectives. The company website states ing. She states, “We are deeply concerned
dustry standard. This will be a funda- kalee this spring, in direct collaboration that “We take steps to insure that our about the claims that have been made re-
mental change in Florida that will move with CIW. She stresses that slavery is an suppliers respect the rights of their garding such workers, which is why [we]
up the East Coast.” extension of an already degraded work- workers and provide safe working con- suspended all tomato purchases from
CIW is led and organized by Florida ing environment. Germino agrees: “We ditions.” Earlier this year, however, CIW the Immokalee region.”
farmworkers. The coalition appeals to [CIW] have set the bar at ending forced discovered that Ahold was selling toma- 6OUJMUIF'MPSJEBUPNBUPTFBTPOJTJO
fast-food companies, food distributors labor. The way to do this is to eradicate toes in its grocery stores that had been full swing next month, there will be little
for corporate and university cafeterias, the sweatshop conditions that make it purchased from Six L’s, one of the Immo- evidence by which to measure the impact
and supermarkets. Because these com- possible.” kalee growers associated with the most of Ahold’s efforts to investigate its sup-
panies purchase produce in bulk, they recent slavery prosecution in Florida. ply chain. However, NESRI points out
can demand the lowest possible prices Supermarkets are especially vulner- that Ahold’s purchasing suspension also
from their suppliers. This puts pres- able to consumer pressure because they applies to growers with reputations for
sure on workers’ wages. In extreme market themselves as trustworthy and being ethical. This negates the possibility
cases, workers are subjected to forced TACO B E L L’ S E X A M P L E responsible community businesses. of providing market incentive for ethical
labor. CIW has uncovered and brought CIW has forged agreements with the Hadley explains, “It is customers and practices.
to court eight instances of modern-day country’s four leading fast-food chains consumers who are asking Stop & Shop On August 24 Sodexo became the
slavery in the past decade. The federal and three leading foodservice providers to do the right thing. People really want last of the nation’s big-three foodser-
government defines slavery as using in the past five years—Taco Bell, Burger this supermarket that they know and vice companies to come to an agreement
force, fraud, or coercion to keep indi- King, McDonalds, Subway, Compass love to make changes.” with CIW, following Compass Group in
viduals at work. Laura Germino B’84 is Group, Aramark, and Sodexo. Hadley draws a distinction between September 2009 and Aramark this past
Asbed’s wife and coordinator of CIW’s *O :VN #SBOET
UIF QBSFOU companies that simply cease to do busi- April. The company has vowed that it
anti-slavery campaign. She has faith in company of Taco Bell, signed an agree- ness with inhumane growers and those will strive to purchase only from humane
CIW’s top-down approach: “Corporate ment with CIW, bringing an end to a that take active measures to develop growers. According to Hadley, working
buyers can use their market power for four-year national boycott. CIW held ral- codes of conduct with farmworkers. with CIW is the only way to insure prog-
good. The same way they can say, ‘We lies across the country leading up to the “Companies have to be in dialogue with ress on the human rights front. A CIW-
XBOU B UPNBUP UIBU JT 9 TIBEF PG SFE agreement, and student groups started workers if they want to know what’s assisted code of conduct is superior to an
and Y shape.’ They can enforce human the “Boot the Bell” campaign to get Taco happening in the supply chain,” Hadley independent one, says Hadley, because
rights the same way.” Bell eateries off college campuses. Evi- insists. “Because they’re not working “Any sort of code won’t have teeth un-
dence of consumer interest in humane with farmworkers, none of their claims less farmworkers are sitting at the table
buying practices encouraged other fast- are verifiable in the first place.” and are part of the dialogue. They are the
food companies to forge agreements. Ahold argues that it is currently con- ones on the ground.”
Germino explains that from the perspec- ducting its own independent investiga- Meanwhile, Asbed wonders about
R O OT C AU S E S tive of these companies, “It’s not just tion of the growers with which it does Stop & Shop’s stubbornness. “Supermar-
Farmworkers in most states have no profits that they are worried about, it’s business. The Ahold website explains kets are acting as if none of this stuff
right to organize, no overtime pay, and their brand image.” that all contracts with produce suppli- we have done with other companies has
are excluded from state health and safe- Asbed loves analogies. He compares ers contain the Ahold Standards of En- happened.” But he’s still hopeful, espe-
ty laws. The National Labor Relations CIW’s succession of victories to plan- gagement, which establish “clear mini- cially if CIW can rally local consumer
Act, part of post-New Deal legislation, etary accretion—the self-propelling and mum standards regarding issues such as support. “Eventually they will.”
protects workers’ right to organize accelerating process that forms planets. working conditions.” Asbed just shrugs.
unions and strikes in the private sector. “The first rock is Taco Bell, which starts “CIW doesn’t know anything about the
But the act excludes all domestic work- growing and increasing in mass.” Over [Ahold] independent reviews because A little bird told EMMA WHITFORD
ers and farmworkers. California and the course of the past decade it has tak- they’re not transparent at all.” B’12 UIBU #SPXO 6OJWFSTJUZ VTFT 4UPQ
Ohio are currently the only states that en less and less convincing to get com- Faith Weiner, the Public Affairs Direc- & Shop’s Peapod Delivery Service. That’s
protect farmworkers’ right to unionize panies onboard with the penny-a-pound tor for Stop & Shop, pointed out in an all.
THEINDY.ORG 4
Opinions
11 p.m., customers start to come in and shop, fill government debt. Yes, surely printing money it thought that excessive debt would create
their grocery basket with basic items—baby for- to finance government spending will end a run on the Franc. This didn’t work out too
mula, bread, eggs—and continue to shop and mill XFMMKVTUBTLUIF;JNCBCXFBOT'PSUIPTFPG well for them. Behind every bad idea is a
around the store until midnight when government you who are not familiar with our nation’s seemingly sound rationalization. In our case,
electronic benefits cards get activated, and then central bank, the Fed injects money into it’s that growing the national debt by a few
the checkout starts and occurs. And our sales for the economy by crediting banks’ accounts trillion dollars and risking higher interest
those first few hours on the first of the month are with money that doesn’t exist. For example, rates will be worse than suffering through
substantially and significantly higher. if I have a heaping pile of toxic mortgaged- years of massive unemployment and the to-
This is what the modern bread line looks backed securities and an account with the tal evaporation of the American Dream. If
like. Electronic benefit cards (i.e. food- Fed (as all major banks do), they take the we are set on resigning ourselves to an abys-
stamps) have replaced the breadlines of worthless assets from me, and credit my ac- mal “new normal” and the end of the age of
yore. Gone are the images of hordes of men, count with increasingly worthless dollars to American prosperity, then we should at least
hat in hand, wrapped around a Manhattan be spent at will. The mavens of finance of the put up a decent fight, instead of simply roll-
city block. Gone are the resolute Dust Bowl Weimar Republic at least had to use real pa- ing over.
women that symbolized both poverty and per. Over the last twenty years, the average
the strength of the American spirit during On the one hand, we have real people feel- real wage has remained stagnant. The ad-
the Great Depression. Instead, our huddled ing real pain across the country, and on the vent of Walmart has allowed most people to
masses flit silently in and out of Walmart other, we have the Fed printing trillions of buy stuff more cheaply, so each dollar goes
in the dead of night: out of sight and out of dollars to buy worthless assets. An unelected farther, and the illusion of growing wealth
mind. There are no cameras rolling in Rapid branch of government prints money to keep was able to endure. That fiction has been ex-
City, Midland, Spokane or Tuscaloosa. Mil- bailing out the banks and an elected branch posed. The standard of living for most Amer-
lions collect their pittance, and disappear of government guts foodstamps to pay for a icans had been increasing on the backs of
back into the night. bailout for teachers’ unions. The federal gov- the people who now have their jobs. America
Mr. Simon paints the picture of the Amer- ernment gladly prints money so JP Morgan spent much of the aughts borrowing money
ican economy on the micro-level. Here’s the won’t have to take a loss, but won’t borrow from the Chinese to then buy Chinese ex-
macro-level situation: the official unemploy- money to help put Americans back to work. ports, while the backbone of the Ameri-
ment has hovered just south of 10 percent Makes perfect sense. can middle-class was silently disappearing.
since the recession officially “ended” in June The course of action that seems most Washington shouldn’t commit this country
2009 (recessions officially end when GDP likely is massive currency devaluation. Politi- to a Japanese-style lost decade of high un-
growth is positive for two consecutive quar- cians and economists have convinced them- employment and stagnant growth in the
ters, not when there are palpable or con- selves that if the dollar is relatively cheaper name of appeasing the almighty debt clock.
crete signs to workers or citizens that the to other currencies, American exports be- The dollar is the world’s reserve currency
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ɥ F 6OJUFE come more attractive, businesses start hiring and treasuries are the world’s safest assets.
States owes its creditors nearly $14 trillion again, and all will be well. What exactly does America is still the only superpower, and we
dollars (this number is more like $18-19 tril- UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT FYQPSU /PU FMFDUSPOJDT need to start acting like it, instead of letting
lion when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s (Japan). Not cheap plastic baubles (China). ourselves be held hostage by charlatans and
debts are included), interest rates are at Not solar panels (China). Not high-speed demagogues. Where there is a political will,
.25%, treasury yields are at an all-time low, trains (China). Thus the great hope for the there’s a way.
the stock market had its best September in a SFDPWFSZPGUIF64FDPOPNZJTGPSVTUPFY
decade, and the Republicans are on the cusp port more corn, wheat and soybeans to the Never before has BRIAN JUDGE B’11 felt
more apt.
5 S E P T E M B E R 30 2010 T H E C O L L E G E H I L L I N D E P E N D E N T
Metro
DEPL ET E D WAT E R S
CURRENT TIDINGS
Atmospheric Association (NOAA), is ten Another third-generation Rhode Is-
percent of what it should be, its lowest land fisherman, Brian O’Hara, sold all
level ever. NOAA has responded to the Conservation and Management A c t , fully capable of catching groundfish, in his permits and left the industry, unwill-
overfishing crisis by implementing radi- Gibson said. other words, are not legally permitted ing to cooperate with the May 1 regula-
cal conservation measures, including the The catch-share system is an efficient to do so. Those frozen out of the sectors tions. The worst-case scenario for any-
first-ever catch limits for groundfish, method for rebuilding groundfish stock will flock to other species, which may be- one invested in Rhode Island fishing is
pushing many Rhode Islander fisherman while guaranteeing certain fishermen come overfished. Cherenzia has given up that valuable permits like O’Hara’s get
out of a commercial fishing industry al- annual returns. “It’s a social, economic, his useless groundfish permit and is now snatched up by big out-of-state vessels.
ready compromised by the foreign im- and ecological breakthrough,” says Pe- limited to fishing in state waters, which Galilee is currently the twentieth larg-
port market. ter Shelley, Vice President of the Con- extend only three miles from the coast. est port in the country and third largest
servation Law Foundation (CLF). “Even To make ends meet he’s given up “non- in New England, behind only Glouces-
T H E CO S T O F CO N S E RVAT I O N though without question it has caused a necessities” like boat insurance and he ter and New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Beginning May 1, NOAA dictated annual lot a lot of pain, it’s long-term structural dives for steamers (soft-shell clams). Should Rhode Island permits migrate to
catch limits (ACLs) on fifteen species of shift that gets at issues that has plagued The sector program, subsidized by Massachusetts or Maine, Bob Ballou says
groundfish in New England—most of this fishery for decades.” NOAA (at least for now), is not unlike Galilee would be like a “ghost town.” In
which they deemed overfished or in the a large-scale bank bailout, in which the order to combat this possibility, NOAA
process of being overfished. The new S TAY I N G A F LOAT government keeps the biggest players allotted Rhode Island one million dollars
regulations apply to federal waters and The opposition to the catch-share pro- afloat after they’ve contributed to a col- to establish a state permit bank for fluke
affect all New England commercial fish- gram is led in part by those who feel left lapse within their industry. The smaller (summer flounder) which would buy up
ing ports, including Rhode Island’s main out. As Galilee small-boat fisherman Bob boats, like Cherenzia’s, are left to rust, available permits and sell them to local
port in Galilee. NOAA also ushered in Cherenzia puts it, the program rewards like so many inactive boats docked today fishermen.
a new “catch-share” program in which UIFiIBWFTwPWFSUIFiIBWFOPUTw6OEFS in Galilee. For now, however, New England fish-
boats form cooperatives and pool their the new system, fishing permits grant Most fishermen, however, less angry ermen are lobbying for fairer treatment
resources. fishermen high or low catch quotas based with the collectivist catch-share system by NOAA, and the government is listen-
The catch-share system is specifically on who caught the most groundfish or the infusion of public money than JOH 0O .POEBZ
64 4FDSFUBSZ PG $PN
designed to combat overfishing. If a from 2001-2006. In turn, the permits they are at the “privatization” of the merce Gary Locke, Massachusetts Gov-
fisherman in a given catch-share sector which grant the highest catch-share, or ocean, now divided into sectors, within ernor Deval Patrick, and Massachusetts
catches too many fish, he can trade them percentage of its sector’s annual catch which more divisions are couched. Third Congressman Barney Frank listened
to another member of the sector instead quota, are worth the most money, often generation fisherman Brian Loftes says to fisherman complaints about over-
of throwing back dead fish or getting up to a million dollars. Because ground- the very idea of determining a boat’s regulation in a closed-door meeting. All
fined. fish stocks during this five-year period catch before it hits the water messes up three sided publicly with the fishermen.
Fishermen opposed to the regula- were low due to overfishing, many fish- a fisherman’s psyche. “In the ’80s and “We need action on the catch-limits and
tion say NOAA’s program is freezing out ermen held on to their groundfishing ’90s, things were good. We had twice as we need it now, “ Patrick said. Appear-
smaller vessels and shrinking the indus- permits, but didn’t use them. Now, be- many boats, four or five fish houses [dis- ing alongside him, Locke promised to
try by exaggerating overfishing. NOAA cause those permit-holders chose not to USJCVUPST>JUXBTCBMMTUPUIFXBMMw/PX
end unfair penalization practices under
and the New England Fisheries Manage- invest in groundfish, their permits are “all kinds of guys are depressed, on anti- his watch. Five months after its big vic-
ment Council (NEFMC), which devised nearly valueless —not worth selling and depressants,” says Loftes, who in 2009 tory, NOAA is now being investigated for
the program’s specifics, argue that con- not worth using. worked on a documentary, Truth, about administering nineteen “questionable”
servation and regeneration of certain Before May 1, fishing permits grant- the perils of government regulation in penalties on New England fishermen
species are the only way to save fisher- ed each boat a certain number of ‘days the fishing industry. “They’re so disgust- over the past decade.
men from their own excess. at sea’ per year during which they could ed, they’re walking around like mindless
The NEFMC set the framework for fish. Days-at-sea bred a reckless ‘race sheep down there.” SIMON VAN ZUYLENWOOD B’11
the current regulations to ensure that to fish’ atmosphere in which fishermen Fuka also questions NOAA’s mo- feels strongly that in the ’80s and ’90s,
New England wouldn’t end up like were forced to brave dangerous weather tives in advocating annual catch limits things were good.
THEINDY.ORG 6
Metro
S UCCESS
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C I R C U L AT I a rm
Fre
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by Tory Elmore
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Illustration by
Tarah Knaresboro “One of the challenges we faced was the apple market, for instance, this is a
A B U D D I N G I N I T I AT I V E the pace—we didn’t expect the program serious issue. As the program grows it
he Duck & Bunny is a quaint From humble beginnings, the program to take off so quickly,” said FFRI’s Ex- could begin to favor larger competitors.
creperie/teahouse tucked has quickly garnered success. The first ecutive Director, Noah Fulmer. “We’ve “I regularly provide produce for Brown
away on Wickenden Street. 79 weeks of the Market Mobile program had to work hard to make things more Dining Services and East Side Market. I
Among other drool-inducing saw a $500,000 of locally-produced food efficient. We weren’t expecting to have have the product to provide [for] larger
selections, the summer menu pass through the system. In the first to come up with solutions—warehouse businesses, but on Market Mobile I’m
boasts “Triple Berry Cupcakes half of 2010 alone, the “off-season” as space, number of volunteers—so soon.” just being outsold by bigger guys.”
with Lemon Buttercream” and “Fresh the FFRI website calls it, Market Mobile There are a host of economic constraints Not everyone’s complaints are finan-
Strawberry and Sweet Mascarpone Blin- farms sold as much as during the entire on a small initiative like the Market cial.
tzes.” Foods with names like that come 2009 pilot year, totaling about $225,000. Mobile. It’s not financially feasible to “It’s an awesome program,” said Mark
with expectations of tastiness that can Projected totals for this year are almost structure delivery routes around small Phillips of Absalona Greenhouse, “I just
only be met with fresh ingredients. The $700,000, with close to $20,000 in sales businesses. Only after larger businesses, regret that I don’t get to meet the people
restaurant purchases fruit from local coming in each week. like the Renaissance Boston Waterfront I’m selling to.”
farms like Schartner Farms, 22 miles Initially, Farm Fresh RI only served Hotel, signed on, was it practical to serve
north of Providence in Exeter, RI, or the Providence area. Now, the program smaller buyers along the Rt. 95 corridor. T R U C K S O N T H E H O R I ZO N
Barden Family Orchard in North Scitu- also distributes to Newport, East and Some large businesses demand more In a food economy laced with green-
ate, RI, 11 miles west. West Bay, Narragansett, Pawtucket, and product than smaller farms can produce. veiled marketing campaigns from mom-
Though it seems like a simple arrange- even Boston. In January of 2010, a new If a restaurant needs 150 tomatoes but a and-pops and multinationals alike, the
ment, transfer from point A to point B warehouse space opened in Pawtucket producer can only provide 75, the owner integrity of social entrepreneurship has
once posed a serious problem. Between at Hope Artiste Village, the site of Farm may be tempted to reach out to a larger been rightfully questioned. Though food
getting in touch, coordinating delivery Fresh RI’s Wintertime Farmers Market. distributor, even if it means sacrificing distribution is no glamorous undertak-
and billing farms on an individual basis, The space has dedicated cold, freezer, local ingredients. ing, Market Mobile’s success suggests
many businesses turn to multinational, and dry storage for Market Mobile. "O*PXB4UBUF6OJWFSTJUZTUVEZGPVOE that non-profits solving economic prob-
corporate distruibutors like Dole be- Though the startup grants that fund- that actual food costs were lower per lems have the potential to do good.
cause they want to buy a variety of goods ed Market Mobile in its fledgling months pound for locally produced foods than “The goal of the Market Mobile is to
wholesale from a single vendor, keeping have been exhausted, the program keeps those from a national distributor. How- meet the needs of farmers and consum-
transactions quick and cheap. fifteen percent of revenue to stay afloat ever, when the study factored in time ers, to make sure farmers can sell all of
Solving the farm-to-business distri- (up from ten percent when the program spent finding products, communication their foods,” Fulmer said. “We knew
bution dilemma was one of the many still had grant money). with vendors, and lead time between or- from the start that this wasn’t a mon-
visions of Farm Fresh Rhode Island, a Despite the decrease in outside fund- der and delivery, national vendors had ey-making business [for Farm Fresh]—
non-profit organization dedicated to ing, Market Mobile continues to meet the edge. But the study also showed that it’s not going to make anyone [at Farm
supporting local agriculture. With the progressive business goals. It has built consumers are willing to spend more on Fresh] a millionaire.”
Market Mobile, the organization’s brain- an efficient system that saves producers food when they knows it is locally grown. For Fulmer, increased availability of
child, they may have found the solution. and consumers time and money, brings The Market Mobile website features pro- local foods means more jobs. “The mon-
Now almost two years running, FFRI’s fresher foods to underserved Rhode Is- files of it’s producers and buyers and tal- ey [businesses] spend is being recycled
Market Mobile is a statewide farm-to- land communities, and supports local lies its top-selling items and producers back into the Rhode Island economy,”
business distribution system that has farmers that can supply the wholesale each month. This raises consumer aware- said Fulmer. The sales from 2010 alone
connected 30 farms in Rhode Island to marketplace of schools, grocers, and res- ness of which businesses are buying lo- produced the equivalent of fifteen new
over 65 chefs, grocers, hospitals, and taurants. Above all, the program has bol- cally, potentially offsetting higher costs local jobs, and the use of a single truck
schools in Rhode Island and Massachu- stered sales and consumption of locally of local foods with advertising. cuts fuel costs and carbon emissions for
setts. grown products. Though it has tried to overcome prob- deliveries.
Every week, from Friday to Sunday, “Shipping produce is costly,” said Ray lems with local food distribution, not ev- Fulmer sees a bright future for Mar-
Farm Fresh Rhode Island confers with Aubin, general manager of Confreda eryone is satisfied with Market Mobile. ket Mobile. Fulmer predicts that total
local producers to make a list of seasonal Greenhouses and Farms. “We participate “The first year of the program, I grew a annual sales will expand to two and a
foods to post online. Producers log on to in the [Market Mobile] program because ton of cherry tomatoes, expecting Mar- half million dollars by 2014, a feat that
the Market Mobile website to list food without it, we just can’t serve so many ket Mobile to be able to sell them. Then would require daily deliveries and a few
availability, quantities, and prices. On restaurants, especially smaller ones, eco- they told me they didn’t need them… hundred additional acres of food produc-
Mondays, chefs, grocers, and other local nomically. It’s a matter of reach.” some bigger growers had a steadier sup- tion. “In order to meet our goals, we are
businesses log on to pre-registered ac- Market Mobile serves some favor- ply,” said Art Mello, owner of Mello’s committed to making schools and cor-
DPVOUTUPQMBDFPSEFSTUIFZDBOQJDLTQF ites of Providence residents, from cof- Farm Stand. “I thought the program was ner stores a priority for growth,” Fulmer
cific foods from the farms of their choice. fee houses like Blue State to four-star supposed to help everyone, not just the said. “Hospitals have been showing a
Farmers receive orders via email Tuesday restaurants like Al Forno. The Brown larger producers. It doesn’t seem fair.” lot of interest, too. It makes sense that
morning and harvest on Wednesday. On 6OJWFSTJUZ'BDVMUZ$MVCBOE3*4%EJOJOH Mello was also dissatisfied with the health care folks would be interested in
Thursday morning, they drop orders off both boast Market Mobile ingredients, treatment of his produce. our program. Healthy food goes a long
at the delivery hub in Pawtucket, where as does RI Hospital and Jack’s Snacks—a “I sold some squash at the end of the way.”
buyers can choose to pick their orders bakery for dogs in Cranston. In Boston, season last year. They stored it in an area “I think we have something here that
up or receive a delivery from the Market Clover Fast Food, a five dollar sandwich that was unheated, and squash can’t be could be a model for other communi-
Mobile delivery truck. Farm Fresh pays truck, and Ten Tables, a restaurant with cooled. It compromised the quality of my ties,” said Fulmer. “Local farms can be
farmers upfront and invoices customers no entrées under twenty dollars, both product,” he added. the connection that makes communities
later. use the service. Allan Hill, co-owner of Hill Orchards healthy and sustainable, we just have to
For farmers, Market Mobile means said, “It’s a good program,” but also men- take advantage of the resources.”
that one weekly trip to Pawtucket can R OA D B LO C K S tioned that “when it started I was mak-
bring their produce to dozens of busi- The road to success was largely unpaved ing more money from it than I am now, TORY ELMORE B’13 is a walk-in re-
nesses. For business owners, it means for the Market Mobile. Despite its un- probably because it has more growers frigerator.
one delivery and one bill for fresh food precedented success, the program strug- now.”
from over two dozen local farms. gles to keep up. In markets with many producers, like
THEINDY.ORG 8
Features
A N U N FOR SE E N L EG AC Y
HIV Testing, Then & Now by Kate Bell
Illustration by Charis Loke
Place Trace
Features
A Geo-Historical Ac
of Providence
Illustration by Rob
by Simone Landon
ert Sandler
count
w hen Roger Wil-
liams crossed
the Seekonk River
away from Plym-
outh Colony and out
of the reach of Mas-
sachusetts extradition
orders, he did not mourn his dissenter’s
fate. He did not liken his circumstance to
that of the Israelites, cast to wander in
the desert before reaching the Promised
Land. Instead, he identified his beef with
(perhaps reflecting colonists’ shifting
understanding of power to the more ter-
restrial).
Religious pilgrims’ fantasies of or-
dained exile in the New World evolved
easily to expansionist self-justification
JO UIF OFX 6OJUFE 4UBUFT *U XBT B IPQ
skip, and jump from Williams and the
Puritans’ divine providence to pro-ex-
pansionist journalist John L. O’Sullivan’s
insistence on American “divine destiny”
in 1839, to making said destiny Manifest
and that’s for the best. But if things go
wrong, the misfortune must be attribut-
ed to the mysterious workings of God’s
will. Providence is a fairly convenient
base belief for those attempting to found
communities with as yet unpredictable
results in foreign territory.
The colloquial uses of “providence”
also betray this ambivalence. Accord-
ing to the Oxford English Dictionary,
providence can be used to mean thrift
and frugality in regards for the future—
Providence-as-site no longer means
simply divine foresight or even destiny.
Providence now means Luxury.
Not all Providences are markedly
rich—in New Providence, Iowa, for ex-
ample, the median household income
was $39,000 in 2000. But it is exactly
these small-town Providences that serve
as inspiration of the developers of the
planned communities. The Village of
Providence (within the Hunstville, Ala-
bama city limits) bills itself as lost Amer-
the pro-Church-of-England colonists— with the annexation of Texas in 1845. something the Puritans would have ican small-town charm revived in a con-
which motivated his expulsion—as a There are now places called Provi- sanctioned. It can also mean foresight, temporary city, perfect for those seeking
matter of Divine Providence. dence in 23 of the 50 states. Most of provision, or a person’s God-allotted “the comforts and conveniences of a
Williams could claim the patch of land he these Providences are tiny, usually un- fate. Specifically in New England, “a modern neighborhood with the values
soon purchased from the Narragansett incorporated towns of fewer than 2,000 providence” denoted “that which is di- and traditions of yesterday,” according
Native Americans as his promised land. residents. Providence also lends its name sastrous but which is at the same time to to its real estate literature. (Providence,
He duly called his new home Providence, (if not its divine essence) to a neighbor- be regarded and submitted to as the act AL also makes explicit reference to the
an overt reference to his belief that God hood in Mesa, Arizona, and a mountain of God.” first American city of Providence—it has
was on his side. range in the Mojave National Reserve in streets named Thayer, Hope, and Meet-
Williams wasn’t alone in self-sanc- southern California. VICE PONDER ing, though these don’t correspond geo-
tioning geographic occupation via ref- The nominal link between expansion- 6OBCMFUPFTDBQFJUTFDDMFTJBTUJDBMDPOOP graphically to the same streets here.)
erence to divine power. Providence ap- ism and Providence deteriorated, how- tations, Providence as a place name has Developers market simplicity and
pears to be a favored ecclesiastical and ever, as the West was won. Providence meant more than geography and more, neighborliness (providential Christian
colonial concept of Britons and their even, than destiny. It represents an ex-
does not exist in either Alaska or Hawaii. values) as tenets of their planned com-
descendents—or of those who chose It is also missing from Montana, the Da-pectation of a certain kind of destiny—a munities, all while charging for access
to travel and found it prudent to carry kotas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Nevada. successful one, directed by a benevolent to such idylls. From the simulated home
God’s will with them. There are Provi- Nor can Providence be found in the God. And while providential success to tour on its web site, “comforts and con-
dences throughout the Anglophone southwestern states for which the idea Roger Williams might have meant secur- veniences” of Providence Village life in-
world, established by colonizers, would- ing a bit of land along with his religious
of Manifest Destiny was first articulated clude neoclassical columns, grand pia-
be colonizers, explorers, and, as we came in order to justify their conquest from freedom, for later providential pioneers nos, and canopied beds. The Providence,
to call them in this country, homestead- Mexico. Either the mapmakers felt God’s it meant territorial and material gain Florida, website asks readers to check
ers. first, with a bonus halo of divine sanc-
absence in their endeavors, or such insis- a price range box (the lowest value is
Their shared name evokes a shared tent bluster became unnecessary. tion to cover the moral rear. $300,000) when submitting inquiries on
idea: to find a place providential, one Whether by act of God or man, Provi- its contact form. Lighted tennis courts
must consider one’s own presence there P R OV E D N I C E dences were in the money. Post-Wil- and a 24-hour guarded entrance come
no less than an act of God. 0OF NJHIU DSZ iDPJODJEFODFw CVU UIF liams, Providence, Rhode Island gained standard. Providence Village, Texas,
properties of American Exceptionalist wealth through the slave trade (another shows off its lush lawns and a swimming
COV E N P R I D E belief twinned with Christian-articulat- vocation murkily justified via Christi- pool with waterslide—all in the middle
Wherever British ships sailed, Provi- FEFYQBOTJPOJTNJO1SPWJEFODF T
64"
anity). Providence, Ohio (now a ghost of the desert.
dence went with them. Thanks to colo- was more than just a trend. “What’s in town) was founded as a fur trading post These Providences demonstrate a
nialism, today you can visit several Ca- a name,” in the case of Providence, is a and grew rich on the gambling money of drift from the thrift of the providen-
ribbean Providences. Modern-day Isla de theological punch. travelers headed west. Isla de Providen- tial Puritans to the luxury of suede-
Providencia, off the coast of Nicaragua, Providence in the way Roger Williams cia supposedly still hides chests of pirate ensconced condo interiors. And while
was occupied by the Providence Island and other settlers meant it is short- treasure from its buccaneer days. this might seem a corruption of Roger
Company before it passed to Spanish hand for Divine Providence, a concept Contemporary Providences aren’t Williams’s faith, providence as Manifest
(now Colombian) territory. It was once a that dates back to the birth of Western lacking in wealth either. New Providence Destiny, the pinning of God’s will to fi-
pirate hideout and is now a scuba-diving monotheism. Though the exact theologi- in the Bahamas has been a luxury tourist nancial success—none of these are alien
destination. cal definitions of Divine Providence vary destination since the 1960s. Its capital, to certain geographic aspirations.
New Providence is the largest island depending on your preferred Judeo- Nassau, was once a pirate stronghold, The founders of today’s Providences
in the Bahamas. (In some tricky, canni- Christian sect, according to most, there and now hosts cruise ship tourism-driv- probably don’t literally believe their cul-
CBMJTUJDNBOFVWFSJOH
UIF64/BWZVTFE are two types: “general providence,” en casinos. A “Princess” brand luxury de-sacs are informed by a divine hand.
UIF HVOCPBU 644 Providence to attack whereby a benevolent God keeps an eye hotel shares the suburb of Providence, Yet McMansion builders that proclaim
and capture the island from the British on the natural order of the universe, and Guyana, with a newly built world-class “freedom, family and beauty” as their
during the Revolutionary War.) “special providence,” in which God di- cricket stadium. motivators—as the Providence Village
Elsewhere, the less-suitably-named rectly intervenes in people’s lives. Stateside, Providences continue to developers do—are continuing the prov-
Providence Atoll in the Seychelles con- It is this second kind of “special prov- spring up around the country—and nor idential legacy. These new Providences
sists of two inhospitable islands. idence” that undergirds ideas of Ameri- are they named by accident. These new may be nominal allusions to the divine
But nowhere are there more Provi- can Exceptionalism and Manifest Des- Providences are master-planned com- rather than literal evocations, but they
dences than in this country. tiny. It is also what allowed someone like munities, aimed at wealthy homebuy- demonstrate an American sense of en-
Just 13 years after Roger Williams’s Williams to believe God acted specifically ers. And while (sub)urban development titlement regarding land that dates back
holy venture into Rhode Island, Puritans on his behalf to secure land in what is isn’t exactly analogous to 19th century to Roger Williams. Go on, they suggest,
exiled from Virginia took the same rosy now the Ocean State. homesteader settlements, Providences God knows you deserve it.
view in founding Providence, Maryland. Viewed this way, “providence” acts in Texas, Las Vegas, Florida, and Ala-
The city is now Annapolis—renamed as a sort of dual optimism/fatalism— bama share the moniker’s historic asso- SIMONE LANDON B’10.5 on Corn
in 1694 for Princess Anne of England one believes that God has one’s back, ciations with righteousness and money. Dip Eve.
THEINDY.ORG 12
Arts
T HE A E S T H E T IC OF
COL L A B OR AT ION
JF & SON Democratizes The Fashion Industry
by Emily Fishman
W
with the Independent, Finkelstein says (Spring, Pre-Fall, Fall, or Resort) and thus, ‘fashion-forward’? Could it per-
hen the term ‘eco-fash- “The big experiment is to take the stu- must determine its market (Contempo- haps be the sheer size of the company
ion’ gets tossed around, dio model of making clothes and see if rary, Advanced Contemporary, Designer, with one tiny store, under-cover collabo-
it automatically conjures we can bring that to an actual working Couture) so as to be distributed and rations with larger companies, and two
up fears of dull eggplant production system.” The studio model of merchandised correctly. This system of home-based leaders that creates an aura
hues, rumpled organic cot- production—usually used for sampling classification dates back to the late 19th of elitism on which the fashion industry
tons, and neo-hippie macramé accents. and specialized products—opposes the and early 20th century when interna- thrives? Or is it just a matter of time
For a while, this connotation was not hierarchical factory model in which one tional retailers had to make a long trip until this model also fails, when dreams
far from the truth. But in the past few unskilled laborer passes zipper after zip- to Paris for fashion and seasons had to of expansion turn into the inability to
years, the disparity between sustainable per to the next under the direction of a be planned according to itineraries. The monitor production or maintain stan-
designers and the old industry favorites designer or production manager. Instead categories remain in place today despite dards? It seems as though balancing the
has been diminishing. Companies like of mass-producing identical garments, the advances in technology and the goals of sustainable practices, a close col-
Bodkin, Behnaz Sarafpour, and Edun, the studio produces pieces on an individ- popular shift in everyday dress to an all- laboration between the creative and pro-
founded by rocker-turned-human- ualized level and thus necessitates par- inclusive, mix-and-match aesthetic. JF & duction process, and a progression from
rights-martyr Bono and his wife, are at ticipation and flexibility among skilled SON actively rejects systematization as the arbitrary codes of the mainstream
the forefront of the war for sustainabil- workers. “Oftentimes,” explains Finkel- the process moves fluidly from the stu- fashion industry might just be too much
ity in the fashion business. Sustainable stein, “this whole outsourcing thing, and dios to the storefront, and even to the e- for one company to take on.
practices in the garment industry en- designers being further and further re- commerce site. Flexibility is the name of
compass any and potentially every step moved from how their things are being the game as everything from experimen- YO U C A N D O I T TO O
of the manufacturing process. Switching made and even sold, means you can turn tal textile samples to materials for new The people at JF & SON encounter cre-
from chemical to natural dyes, sourc- a blind eye to it all.” With salaries over projects to accessory prototypes con- ative energy on every level of the pro-
ing organic fabrics, and ensuring fair three times the living wage and health stantly rotates through the hands of dif- cess, from the design to the produc-
wages and safe working environments care for all, the workers at the Noida stu- ferent team members. As they shed the tion, and back to the merchandizing of
for workers all signify a more sustain- dio are, as Finklelstein calls them “cre- rigid, dictatorial structure of the fashion the store. Finkelstein describes that it
able or environmentally conscious mode ative participants rather than workers.” industry, filled with middlemen and ex- could not be done any other way. “When
of production. These bigger lines may It just so happens that the logic of tra costs, JF & SON is able to keep prices you work closely with people, at least
be the famous faces of these emerging their structural goals fits directly into from skyrocketing. A dress for $163, a in our case, it becomes really clear that
practices, but the backbone supporting the aesthetic goals of JF & SON. “Katie blouse for $88, these (believe it or not) people have their own creative skills—
them and revolutionizing the industry and I are modernist in the sense that we comparatively low prices start to explain even the people who are sewing… It just
from the bottom up is JF & SON, a small believe that the process takes priority why they were able to open a store and makes sense. You want people to get in-
New York-based textile and apparel de- over the final product. The final product thrive during a financial recession that volved.” The ultimate goal is, in essence,
sign team. will be powerful if the process is power- crippled the industry at large. That, or to spread the responsibility and render
ful. It’s our belief that we have an aes- the Finkelstein family home furnishings departmentalized production a collab-
B U S I N E S S A S ( U N ) U S UA L thetic in mind, but we invite a lot of par- company that makes novelty washcloths orative process. The company does not
JF & SON has been concerned with both ticipation and collaboration, so whatever for Ross Dress For Less. waste time and money on extensive PR
environmental and workers’ rights is- thing we have in mind gets reworked and and proliferation of the brand’s image.
sues since partners Jesse Finkelstein diluted and changed and altered. And at H AV E YO U R C LOT H E S AND *UT VMUJNBUF HPBM JT WFSZ QIZTJDBM UP HP
B’05 and Katie King founded the compa- the end of the day we’re responsible for E AT T H E M TO O? beyond the self-satisfaction of branding
ny in 2007 as a vertically integrated tex- curating it, but it’s an aesthetic that re- All of this talk about vertical integration and making money, “to open up more
tile project. After giving up on working ally is born out of collaboration.” Wheth- and freedom from the tyranny of fashion studios in more places, to open up more
in New York’s garment district due both er the aesthetic of collaboration or the raises a series of questions that compare stores. To become a company that gets
the rapidly closing studios and rising mode of collaborative production came JF & SON to none other than the ver- more people really actively involved in
prices, the two decided that the only way first, neither would function were it not tically-integrated, anti-fashion guinea the designing and the creation of the
they could stay afloat while staying con- for the other. pig American Apparel. What makes JF clothes, like getting the customers to ac-
nected to the process was to start their & SON different? In other words, why tively participate in the designing of the
own studio overseas. It is in their facili- M A K E W H AT YO U K N OW, B U Y will JF & SON work when rumors hint goods.”
ties in Noida, India (just outside of New W H AT YO U K N OW at American Apparel’s impending bank-
Delhi) and, as of this summer, China, The company’s mission is not limited to ruptcy? Is it the fact that production is
where JF & SON strives to control every their own operation. JF & SON is not overseas which maintains a large divide EMILY FISHMAN B’11 spent the past
aspect of the process while also relying simply carving out its own niche sepa- between the consumers and the products two summers working at JF & SON.
on local skills and materials. Finkelstein rate from the rest of the fashion indus- consumed? Is it the aesthetic produced
and King travel to each facility once ev- try, it is leading the restructuring of the by the incorporation of and reliance on
ery two months and Skype conference entire manufacturing process. With a local Indian and Chinese skill that main-
with their manager every day. In India, revolutionary twinkle in his eye, Finkel- tains the clothing’s status as exotic and,
the process involves mostly beading and stein relates his project to the current
dyeing artisanship by the 50 plus em- demands of the food industry. “People
ployees, while the China studio focuses want to know where their food comes
more on impeccable pattern making from. There is a similar deepness going
and complex production. The company on with clothing… Anything that pro-
markets these different skill sets to out- vides people with greater information
side companies who then hire them for about how their stuff is being made and
textile development projects for outside who’s making it [is] empowering. People
companies (Gary Graham, Opening Cer- design things, but they forget about the
emony, Loden Dagger, and aforemen- other part of design, which is how they
tioned Edun and Bodkin are among their actualize those things and the process by
clientele). It also designs and produces which they are actualized.”
an in-house line that is sold at the label’s The closer the designers get to the
SoHo boutique. production process, the less limited JF
Maintaining control of the manu- & SON is to adhere to the traditional
facturing process affords the designers organizational structure of the fashion
creative freedom and opens every step industry. Normally, a company has to
of the design and production process finish all designs months in advance in
up to collaboration. In an interview order to comply with the correct season
T H E
13 S E P T E M B E R 30 2010 T H E C O L L E G E H I L L I N D E P E N D E N T
Arts
I N D Y
that Affleck is flawless as bank robber Doug MacRay in The Town, which Affleck phetic Hispanic security guard, and various janitors, lawyers, and firefighters all
directed and co-wrote. get screen-time, even though they are outside of the satanic elevator at 333 Lo-
Doug has spent his entire life in Boston’s tough Charlestown neighborhood cust Street (the devil’s in the details). Structurally the film maintains a quick pace
(supposedly home to the most bank robbers per capita of anywhere in the country), by alternating between people in the elevator getting maimed (bitten, slashed,
as have three pals who team up with him on heists. Together they work under the hanged, twisted) and people outside the elevator freaking out (and also occasion-
crime lord, Fergie (Pete Postlethwaite), for whom Doug’s imprisoned father once ally getting maimed).
worked. Fergie operates out of his Charlestown florist shop, where Doug and com- For a PG-13 rated horror movie (a curse for the Fangoria crowd), Devil offers
pany receive elaborate robbery plans and return with duffel bags full of cash. up an array of wacky wounds. Shard of glass perforate necks, heads are torequed
In the first scene, the foursome storms into a Cambridge bank wearing Hallow- EFHSFFT
GBDFTBSFTDPSDIFE
CPEJFTQMVNNFUEPXOFMFWBUPSTIBGUT EVI
BOE
een masks and full-body costumes. They take cash and a hostage—the bank man- ultimately, a child is thrown through the windshield of a car. But despite this
ager—and drive her across town. When they drop her off, they keep her driver’s farrago of destroyed bodies, the movie strikes a shrill moral chord. Like some
license, noticing that the woman, Claire Keesey (Rebecca Hall), lives just blocks amalgamation of the Saw movies (where characters are faced with literally tortur-
from them in Charlestown. ous moral dilemmas) and Crash (Haggis, not Cronenberg), Devil is ultimately a
Doug trails Claire, making small talk with her after he finds her sobbing in a parable about taking responsibility for your actions, apologizing, and being on
laundromat. She mentions what happened at the bank, and Doug tries to gauge the look out for Satan. The almost sanctimonious message of the film makes the
what information she has told the FBI. He can’t resist flirting with her, and she scares less enjoyable, in the way that it is impossible for a Lifetime movie about
DBOUSFTJTUIJTDIBSNUIFZQSPDFFEUPHPPOTFWFSBMEBUFT*UTBOJNQSPCBCMFSP
G O E S
teen pregnancy to be sexy.
mance, what with Doug belonging to a world of crime, poverty, and drugs, and For a movie with Shymalan’s name on it, the ending isn’t very twisty, per-
Claire being a yuppie (which she’s repeatedly called in the movie) who chooses to haps because Christianity and predictability go good together, but perhaps also
live in Charlestown to stay true to her politics—she volunteers in the community because as with all “trapped-in-a-location”-location movies, if all the characters
garden and with neighborhood kids. EPOUEJF
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Probable or not, they fall for each other, though Claire still has no clue about
Doug’s crimes. Claire opens up to him about the trauma of being taken hostage and -EJS
seeing her co-worker brutally bashed in the head with the butt of a machine gun.
Doug, like any good friend, says he’s sorry to hear what she’s been through. She
replies, “It’s not your fault.”
Across town, agent Frawley of the FBI (Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”) is heading up
the investigation. He’s blunt and quick to say what’s on his mind. He has identified Legend of the Guardians:
The OwlsDirector:
of Ga’Hoole
all four robbers, but groans that regardless of his suspicions “we’ll never get 24-
hour surveillance, unless one of these idiots converts to Islam.” Despite Frawley’s
intuition, the robbers covered their tracks well and the FBI can’t get a warrant.
Typical movies in the crime/action genre preempt any chance at genuine sus- Zack Snyder
QFOTFCFDBVTFUIFQSPUBHPOJTUJTJOWJODJCMFIJTDMPTFDBMMTBSFOUSFBMMZUISJMMJOHCF
cause he’s never in convincing danger. Conversely, alternative takes on the genre If you believe that commodities are marketed based on demand, then Legend of
commit so fully to pessimistic realism that it’s obvious the hero is going to falter. the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole is a grim indicator of the state of our cinematic
T O
The Town stays tense by not committing to either standard. appetite. Or rather: Who decided that what we need, right now, is a RealD© amal-
The heists, almost Ocean’s Eleven-like in extravagance, and the dynamic police gamation of tropes from Avatar, LoTR, and Star Wars featuring British owls? The
chases play to the former. But the movie leans toward realism in other respects, TIPSUBOTXFSUPUIJTSIFUPSJDBMRVFTUJPOJT;BDL4OZEFS
UIFEJSFDUPSCFIJOE300
casting Boston rapper Slaine and an amateur named Owen Burke as the other two and Watchmen. What, you ask, is this man doing directing a (surprisingly brutal)
robbers in the foursome. Burke, a Charlestown resident, had just finished a stint in children’s feature? Again, short answer: making a mess.
prison when he went to an open casting call and scored the role of Dez. I have long contended that going to the movies is a pleasurable experience as
The Town’s unpredictability keeps the adrenaline up for its entire two hours— regards form as much as content—which is to say I’m satisfied to sit in a dark room
achieving its only goal. The film doesn’t send any thematic or sociological message, with loud noise and bright images. Owls of Ga’Hoole (What’s this?—an island?—I
managing to say little about the potential for cross-cultural love between someone dunno.) presents the rare exception to this paradigm tolerance. In part, the mov-
like Doug and someone like Claire. The Town just wants to provide intelligent escap- ie is hard to watch because the 3D visuals are, at best, invasive. The ceaseless
ism—to fit as much excitement as it can into two hours—and it pulls it off.
-ZJR
fights scenes are an incoherent mish-mash of feathers flying and owls shouting in
upper-class British accents. The plot, a mise-en-abyme
T H E
mish-mash of a bedtime story turned hero’s jour-
ney offers so little that is original (or even real-
ly intelligible), it’s surprising that someone
got screenwriting credit. The requisite an-
noying banter between the CGI owls (no,
actually, the only characters in the movie,
besides some Lion King-esque snakes and
wart-hogs are British CGI owls) is really an-
noying.
The film, based on a series of children’s
novels by Kathryn Lasky, promises to spawn
sequel after asinine sequel. The future is bleak.
M O V I E S
Jean-Michel Basquiat:
oversaturated Zodiac) works because it is exactly the opposite of being on Facebook.
It’s a slow-paced melodrama, not some kind of frenetic postmodern commentary. If
Fincher had chosen denim blue and stark white as the film’s color palette, it would
T HE E T H E R E A L
C I T YSC A PE
A sonic take on our town
by Natasha Pradhan
Photographs by Betsey Biggs
C
hristina Kubisch, a pioneer in sound art, recently Originally, the headphones were not intended to make a di-
injected Providence with an innovative aural experi- rect statement, simply allowing listeners to interact with invis-
ence, by way of headphones that ring the sounds of ible currents in a raw, sensory fashion. But the immediacy of this
electric currents. Kubisch invited a group of us—art- experience, once digested beyond the aesthetic allure of making
ists, students, and teachers from various media arts music from magnetic fields, can be somewhat troubling. As the
programs at Brown and RISD—to take her invention headphones make plain, we are almost constantly and inescap-
out on the town this week to listen to
the normally-inaudible electromagnetically-in-
duced sounds of Providence, and experience famil-
iar spaces with a shifted consciousness.
Radically altering our sense of hearing, Kubisch’s
headphones make a different creature out of the hu-
man—one that responds to the aesthetic qualities
of the hums and rhythms pulsing through our quo-
tidian environment. Substantial in size and snug
around the head, the headphones are constructed
out of original electronics from the ’80s. While
studying at the Conservatory in Milan in the late
’70s, Kubisch discovered the potential of tuning
into electromagnetic induction almost by accident.
She overheard the sounds caught by a telephone
amplifier and, during the decades that followed,
built the special headphones she uses in her walks
today. Nowadays, Kubisch says she does not know
a city until she is familiar with the music emanat-
ed by its trams, security systems, cash machines,
cameras, internet connections, street lamps, neon
signs, and navigation facilities. Her favorite sounds
JODMVEF#SBUJTMBWBTUSBNT
XIJDITIFMJLFOFEUPBDIPJSUIFTFDV ably immersed in the artifice of electrical energy.
rity system at the Centre Pompidou’s library in Paris, which pro- Although the cityscape offers many sound-bearing contrap-
EVDFTBNVUFETUBDDBUPOPUFGPSFBDIQBTTFSCZBOE5PLZPTVSCBO tions, the headphones can also pick up natural electricity if a pure
landscape, which she calls “paradise” to the electromagnetically enough environment emerges. Kubisch spoke very fondly of a
tuned ear. power outage during a thunderstorm when she reached for her
The aural aesthetic of Providence, according to Kubisch, is headphones (which are never very far away) and was able to hear
“puritan.” Lacking the technological saturation of New York City
or Tokyo, and with an urban area that is largely unlinked to the
Internet, the greater part of downtown Providence sounds flat.
That is not to say that there are not pleasing fields to eavesdrop.
Kubisch excitedly drew us to the buses paused at Kennedy Pla-
za and highlighted the fact that each bus has a unique electro-
magnetic personality. Inside the bus terminal, the now-archaic
television screens broadcasting busses’ whereabouts seduced the
headphone-wearing listener to draw nearer and twist in every
which direction to fully engage with the fields around the screens.
The lottery ticket vending machines just below, too, reverberated
highly intriguing notes. As a group, we attracted much attention
at the Providence Place mall: oblivious to the fellow strollers and
merchandise around us, we pranced around to make music with
the placement of our own bodies. Each security system at every
store entrance had its own rhythm, some jarring and others cap-
tivating. The fluorescents shining on Clinique’s line of skin-col- the subtle sounds of nature’s electric currents.
ored cosmetics were especially seductive by sound. International enthusiasm for this project has brought Kubisch
Though beautiful, the world overheard from Kubisch’s head- and her headphones all around Europe, Asia, and North America.
phones is surprising, and perhaps even worrisome. Kubisch not- She often leads public walks and has initiated the construction
ed the drastic increase of electric noise in the urban landscape of sound maps of the cities with which she is sonically intimate.
over the past decades. When she first employed the coil technol- Kubisch alluded to a desire to escape from her hotel room the
ogy, she sent her own electric currents to the amplifiers to make night following our workshop in order to spend a little more time
sounds and made a deliberate attempt to cut out the minor elec- getting to know Providence.
tric ambience noise that seeped into the headphones. Placing the
headphones around her ears years later in 1999, Kubisch realized NATASHA PR ADHAN B’11 is “paradise” to the electromag-
that there was more than enough sound material in the electri- netically-tuned ear.
cally saturated landscape itself.
THEINDY.ORG 16
Metabolics
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER...
There the fish would grow to their full proposal, citing potential harmful effects
The advent size before being shipped to markets on the fishing industry and infringement
U N C H A R T E R E D T E R R I TO RY
Scientific research so far has turned up
of genetically all over the world. Only sterile females on the market for conventional fished no significant health risks, nor major
differences between genetically modi-
would be produced, thanks to a process salmon. Critics also fear the possible
PRGL´HG called triploidy, whereby the organism propagation of allergies from potential fied salmon and the real deal. However,
has three Y chromosomes instead of two. allergens present in the introduced gene tenuous words such as ‘unlikely,’ ‘seem,’
salmon This would ensure that the bred salmon or in the feed used in salmon harvest- and ‘uncertainty’ pepper the scientific
will be incapable of reproducing if they ing. They are also concerned about the conclusions, allowing room for doubt
by Belle Cushing were to escape into the wild or even har- infiltration of one of these mutant fish in the future. Although scientists may
S
vested groups. into the wild, which could provoke un- confirm for the moment that no signifi-
eared or poached, topped If the concept seems shocking, re- fair competition between the superfish cant risks are present, there is no telling
with corn salsa or over member that for the past twenty years, and normal salmon, who would quickly what sort of long-term effects may arise
lentils, sashimi style or technology has influenced not only how be outeaten and outgrown. Though the PODFUIJTUFDIOPMPHZIBTUBLFOSPPUJUJT
in a maki roll: no matter we grow and raise our food, but the ac- sterility of the triploid fish would osten- impossible to completely regulate health
which way you serve it, tual food itself. Scientists have tinkered sibly guarantee against cross-breeding, and environmental effects of such a syn-
there’s something fishy with soybeans, corn, and even oysters in the decimal point percentage chance of thetic product.
going on with salmon attempts to make versions that are dis- creating a non-sterile salmon is enough A 60-day consultation period began
these days. ease resistant or more nutritionally ben- to cause concern. It only takes one for- on September 19. Should approval be
AquaBounty, a company based out of eficial. eign fish to wipe out or alter a popula- given, the next issue is labeling. Grocery
Waltham, MA, has presented a product tion entirely. shoppers have the right to know what
called AquAdvantage, a remixed ver- SO MUCH SALMON , SO LITTLE The taste factor seems to have been kind of fish (or fish-like substance) they
sion of Atlantic salmon, to the Food and TIME ignored in the FDA’s complicated and are bringing home for dinner. But if no
Drug Administration (FDA). If it gets ap- In this case, AcquAdvantage insists that extensive research endeavors. In fact, in significant differences between a geneti-
proved, AquAdvantage will be the first the faster growth rate of the genetically a 180-page document issued by the FDA cally modified Atlantic salmon and na-
FDA approved genetically altered animal modified salmon is a more efficient use describing the production methods and ture’s own product are found, companies
to end up on our dinner plates. of capital by reducing feed costs as well testing behind the debate, taste is not would be under no obligation to specify
as creating jobs. It has been marketed mentioned once. the presence of transgenic salmon on the
FRANKENFISH as a ‘sustainable’ process—a somewhat Chefs and foodlovers are not ignoring packaging.
According to the plan put forth by Aqu- ironic argument considering environ- the question of taste. Nino El Gheryany, With arguments on both sides, the
aBounty, the new salmon—or “franken- mentalist groups are often the ones sushi chef at Shark restaurant in Provi- debate largely comes down to ethics. Do
fish” as it has been dubbed by critics—is against such radical food alterations. The dence has worked with fish for 22 years. we have the right to trademark an organ-
created when growth hormone from the company champions a reportedly lower He rejects the idea of genetically altered ism? Do you want your dinner to be the
Pacific Chinook salmon is inserted into carbon footprint, as production facilities salmon, or any kind of fish, on the ba- end result of a science project? Is Aqu-
Atlantic salmon eggs. This added gene, can be built at on-land sites, reducing sis that an accelerated growth time aBounty the modern Prometheus, mess-
combined with hormone regulators from transportation. In theory, the process is would surely be detrimental to qual- ing with technology as Dr. Frankenstein
another fish, the ocean pout, allows for able to be monitored, thus creating a re- ity and taste. Other chefs ranging from did, unleashing effects impossible to
rapid and continuous growth. The re- liable food source for the future. But one the Cheesecake Factory chain to haute- foresee? As our scientific potential in-
sult is a fish that grows to market size must consider the kind of a system we cuisine restaurants in Las Vegas also creases, and more and more possibilities
in about half the conventional tim—ap- are trying to sustain—a human-created expressed concerns over customer pref- become realities, we have to come to a
proximately 30 months for farmed salm- infrastructure of laboratory production, erence and a commitment to natural, decision about when—and if—it will all
on and between one to six years for wild or the natural cycles of growth that the honest food. As AquAdvantage salmon stop.
salmon. Earth has to offer. have not actually been eaten yet, we are
The eggs would be grown in a facility Meanwhile, fishermen and foodies left wondering how much of a difference BELLE CUSHING B’13 is saying no to
on Prince Edward Island in Canada and around the country are protesting the there will be. GMO.
then shipped to a land base in Panama.
APOCALYPSE
It happened overnight. One night, I half out the window, my legs straddling
went to bed with my Lover, and the next the ledge.
morning, my Lover was gone.
My Dear, where are you? I heard my
by Thirii Myint At first I wasn’t worried, because my Landlady calling. She was tapping on my
Lover was like that sometimes. At first bedroom door.
I thought: my Lover is making tea in the
Illustration by Michael Lapadula kitchen, and I went back to sleep. Sorry, I said to the Apocalypse.
& Andrew Seiden
I dreamed of a riot that morning. I Don’t be sorry, the Apocalypse said, I was
One day the Apocalypse came and wait- there would be free love. People could do dreamed there was a riot in the old riot- just leaving. I’m going to see the riots.
ed politely on the front porch. There it with whoever they wanted, wherever proof building across the street and some
were two places to sit on the front porch: they wanted to, and it wouldn’t matter teenagers were tearing down the cement The Apocalypse had my Lover’s face.
a black bench facing the door and a blue to anyone because we were all going to tower while others watched. Their faces
bench fitted with paisley print pillows. die. lit up by bonfires in the street, I thought
The Apocalypse preferred to stand. I saw myself—my younger self—sitting
I worried that my Lover wanted to die. on the rubble, pulling others up. I want-
There was no doorbell so the Apocalypse ed to get away. The city was burning and When we were done, my Lover left the
had to use the door knocker. It was an You can do it with whoever you want the old building looked sad without its ladies’ room first and I took my time
old-fashioned door knocker, bronze, right now, I said. I don’t mind. tower. scrubbing the sink and the mirror with
shaped like a lamp. The Apocalypse a wet paper towel until everything spar-
knocked. Waited. I want you, my Lover said. When I woke up, I went to my window kled. I looked at my face in the clean
to check if the building was still there. It NJSSPS
BOE UIPVHIU -PPL BU UIJT GBDF
My room was by the front porch on the Okay, I said. We went into the nearest was. The tower erect. It was as pink as a nipple.
first floor, so I saw the Apocalypse stand- library and met in the ladies’ room on
ing by the door. If my window screen the third floor. I locked the door, push- I thought: How clever of me to dream up I met my Lover downstairs on the main
wasn’t broken, I could have lifted it up ing in the little button on the doorknob. a riot in a riot-proof building. Wait till I level browsing through the mystery sec-
and shook hands with the Apocalypse. I giggled. UFMMNZ-PWFS tion.
Hi there, nice to meet you. Instead, I
pretended not to see anyone. Be quiet, my Lover said, we’re in a li- -PWFS*DBMMFE
XBMLJOHJOUPUIFLJUDIFO
I don’t like mystery novels, I said to my
brary. *ESFBNFEPGUIF"QPDBMZQTF Lover.
I thought to myself: The Apocalypse is
here. I hope no one answers the door. The doorknob looks like a nipple, I said. But my Lover did not answer because my My Lover didn’t say anything.
Lover was gone.
Then I remembered: I’m the only boarder My Lover giggled. They’re so predictable, I said.
here. Who’s there to answer the door? My Landlady came out of her room and
Stop that, I said. said, I’m very sorry, my Dear. She took My Lover closed a book and put it back
But my Landlady answered the door. my face in her hands, and I held my head on the shelf.
I’m sorry, my Lover said, and lifted me very still, so the dream wouldn’t shake
I thought to stop her. I heard her door onto the sink. loose and fall out my ears. Let’s go, my Lover said.
open across the hall, heard her footsteps
going past my room. I thought to say: We left the library hand in hand, but my
4UPQ-BOEMBEZ*UTUIF"QPDBMZQTF Lover’s hand was slack in mine.
The Apocalypse knocked on my door.
But my porch window was open, and the The Apocalypse and my Landlady were I didn’t have a door knocker like the You know what I would do if the Apoca-
Apocalypse would’ve heard me before having tea in the kitchen. one on the front door, so the knocking lypse came? I said.
my Landlady did. sounded dull, a bit more like tapping.
It was past lunchtime and I was hungry, No, my Lover said.
My Landlady opened the door. but I didn’t want to introduce myself to +VTUPOFTFDPOE*DBMMFE
the Apocalypse, so I sat in my room and Guess, I said.
0INZTIFTBJE ate breath mints. I pushed the broken mesh screen on my
window until it snapped in two, and— I don’t know, my Lover said.
The Apocalypse said, You leave the door I thought to myself: when they are done QPQESPQQFE POUP UIF GSPOU QPSDI *
unlocked. This was not a question. The with tea, the Apocalypse is going to come climbed out after it. I would climb to the top of that riot-proof
Apocalypse sounded surprised. over and knock on my door. tower across from my house, I said, and
Excuse me, the Apocalypse said, step- hide.
.Z-BOEMBEZTBJE
:PVSFSFBMMZIFSF I thought to run away. If my window ping over the broken screen.
screen wasn’t broken, I could lift it up, You wouldn’t be safe there, my Love said.
Yes, the Apocalypse said, can I come in? climb out onto the front porch and just I didn’t know what to say. I was half in, It’s the Apocalypse.
MJLFUIBUQPPG*ECFHPOF
My Landlady didn’t say anything. The
Apocalypse pushed past her and entered Maybe I’d run to the River and
the house. I heard the front door close. sit by the water. Where the
road curves back into the city,
The Apocalypse was right outside my the River is widest, and sitting
bedroom. there at the water’s edge, I’d
feel small, and near-death, and
filled with longing I wouldn’t
know what to do with.