‘Attraction’ a hedonistic pleasure

In one of the opening scenes of The Rules of Attraction, Sean Bateman (James Van Der Beek) walks across the room at a party to approach Kelly (Kate Bosworth). The scene that follows can’t be described without blushing—this isn’t a star of "Dawson’s Creek" meeting a star of "Young Americans" in some sort of WB fantasyland. This is a crash course in the dark, satirical world of Bret Easton Ellis, author of American Psycho and other novels.Read more...

Transcription of the Avary interview

AT&T Teleconference Call: Roger Avary, co-writer of Pulp Fiction and director of Killing Zoe, talking to college press from around the country about his new film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ The Rules of Attraction, 3 p.m. CTS, Friday, Sept. 27. Read more...

TRUSTcompany shifts out of ‘Neutral’

Most Americans might recognize Alabama more as the birthplace of Forrest Gump than as a breeding ground for new rock bands. The members of TRUSTcompany do hail from Montgomery, Ala.—but unlike Gump crossing the nation in his magic shoes, TRUSTcompany will spend the next few months on a bus, touring the United States in the Pop Sux! Tour as a supporting act for Korn and Disturbed. Read more...

Young filmmakers charged with abusing homeless
‘Bums’ sue filmmakers for $100K

At $20 each, "Bumfights: A Cause for Concern, Volume I" sold thousands of copies over the Internet. The nearly one-hour videotape depicts homeless men purposely injuring themselves —and one another —in scenes reminiscent of MTV’s "Jackass." Read more...

Beck grows up, gets serious

The latest chapter in the odyssey of Beck Hansen opens with a grandiose declaration: "Put your hands on the wheel / Let the Golden Age begin." Read more...

Band slips up with fourth release: ‘Angels Come on Time’

When I was in seventh grade, I was in a band called Wonder Nun. I wasn’t much of a songwriter —I assumed the only way to write a song was to write rhyming lyrics. Over the years, I learned to appreciate good songwriters and that songs don’t need to rhyme to be effective. Read more...

Gritty photos captures frailty of artist’s life

Students and faculty gathered at Columbia’s Museum of Contemporary Photography on Friday Sept. 27, for a lunchtime gallery talk with emerging artist and photographer Tracey Baran. Read more...

Exhibit, radio play praise late artist

Five gold-plated men, sitting on couches in a half-circle, frozen in conversation.

Another suspended from the ceiling via his clenched teeth. Read more...

Tage Larsen, first African-American member of CSO

After nearly a decade in existence, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra hired its first African-American instrumentalist. Although he failed four previous auditions, trumpeter and cornetist Tage Larsen got the part of fourth utility trumpet on his fifth try. Larsen joined the CSO on July 1, after playing for two years with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He said the discipline he learned at a very young age playing trumpet helped him on his many auditions. Read more...

‘Dragon’ breathes new life into Lecter

The first (and final) installment in Thomas Harris’ trilogy of the inimitable forensic psychologist Hannibal Lecter, deftly portrayed by Anthony Hopkins, succeeds in embodying the essence of evil. Only this time the evil’s not in Lecter, but in the "Tooth Fairy." Read more...

NYC museum angers midtown neighbors

NEW YORK (AP) — The director of the newest museum in this culture-packed city is surveying the prizes of his permanent collection—leather straps, condom boxes and porn playing on large screens. Read more...

CNN’s ‘Headline News’ tries on new vernacular

ATLANTA (AP) — Is CNN Headline News down with it?

The cable network is trying, judging from an effort emanating from its executive suite to think young. Read more...

Music Around Town

Chicago band L’Spaerow will play at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Monday, Oct. 7. Christopher Broach, the band’s lead singer/guitarist has also been a member of Braid and the Firebird Band. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Maserati and Paper Lions will open. Tickets are $7 and are available at the Empty Bottle box office. Call (773) 276-3600 for more information. The Empty Bottle is a 21-and-over venue. Read more...