Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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i—^■■'t ■ -r-™- '. «-■/ Special to TSJ E < JAM EGCXIK “Sex and the City” writer Candace Bushnell spoke Wednesday in the Russell House Ballroom. I Singer, songwriter produces music for all listeners Anthony Faulkner "Faith" ★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ Stacy Gregg FOR THE GAMECOCK International recording artist Anthony Faulkner seems to do it all. As a musician, he plays acoustic guitar and piano. As a singer and songwriter, he works up an impressive resume with other recording artists. He toured Europe with a 700-voice choir and toured Ghana with celebrated gospel pioneers. As an actor, he appeared on sitcoms such as “Moesha,” “The Shield” and “Malcolm in the Middle” and did voiceovers for Radio Disney.But perhaps his best work is the U.S. release of “Faith,” his most recent CD. Previously released in London, the CD is a musical journey through his life. In a recent interview with WUSC, Faulkner said the songs are not only written and produced by him but are also a personal testament for different stages in his life.When asked about his song “I Trust You,” Faulkner said it was written when he was unemployed and didn’t know how he could support himself. Perhaps the most appealing characteristic about the CD is that Faulkner manages to make it appealing to any type of listener. The sound crosses genre lines, making it appealing to anyone who listens to folk, R&B, gospel, jazz and pop, while the acoustic guitar offers a country twang. “Life is rough,” as Faulkner said, and it is truly refreshing to hear a CD that is positive, inspirational and not too harsh on the senses. It is definitely a must-have for the collection of any true music lover. To purchase “Faith,” check out Web sites such as Amazon and CD Baby. Tracks may be downloaded and/or purchased through his site, www.anthonyfaulkner.com. Anthony Faulkner’s music is also featured Saturday mornings from 7 to 9 a.m. on WUSC. _l_ Comments on this story? E-mail Special to T\\ ft GAMECOCK ‘City’ gal talks sex, inspires students Creator; writer of hit 'Sex and the City’ preaches self-reliance Christi Lawhon FOR THE GAMECOCK 1 More than 600 USC students packed into the Russell House Ballroom on Wednesday night to hear Candace Bushnell, author of “Sex and the City,” share insights about the award winning show, modern women and dating in an event organized by Carolina Productions. “I knew that if I could do anvfhincr T wanted to show women that we can go out and have g really good time and we don’t need men,” Bushnell said to a cheering audience.Bushnell began writing the “Sex and the City” column for the New York Observer in the 1980s. Because New York had been experiencing an influx of young single women starting careers and looking for men, Bushnell offered these women advice based on her and her girlfriends’ experiences. Her column contradicted the assumption that if you Were single in your 30s, something must be wrong with you, she said. “There was an article in Newsweek in the early ‘90s that was titled ‘A Woman Getting Married in her 30s has a Better Chance of Getting Blown Up in a Bomb,’” Bushnell said. “No, society has ever been that kind to single women.” Bushnell passed on some advice to the audience. “Girls, don’t ever move in with a man, because if you do he will never marry you,” she said.Despite the stereotype of being only for women, girls encourage men to read the book or watch re-runs of the jhow. “If more guys watched ‘Sex and the City,’ then the world would be a better place,” said Tiffany Terrell, a second-year exercise science student. ine stuaent audience varied in age, gender, race and marital status. “It came down to friendship and gave hope to people that it’s fine to be single even after 35,” said Santi Thompson, a graduate student in history and library science. “Instead of focusing on finding a soul-mate it focused on finding real friends.” The book “Sex and the City” was compiled from the column in 1994 and was picked up by HBO in 1998. Bushnell said she created Carrie Bradshaw, who later became Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in the TV show, as her alter ego because she wanted to keep a good relationship witji her parents. Bushnell entertained the audience with stories from her life and her “Mr. Big.” She met Big when she was 35 and instantly fell in love. Their relationship closely parallels that of Parkers character and her Big during the show’s first and second seasons. He broke her heart and married someone else five, months later, and Bushnell never viewed men quite the same. “I was shocked about my dream of a Mr. Big being shattered,” Bushnell said. “Because women believe that there will be a man that comes along and rescues them in the end, and I had to confront the fact that it wasn’t true.” When she was with Big, Bushnell said she felt more interesting, more attractive and better than when he was not around. After much reflection, jhe came to the conclusion that people are attracted to the people who have qualities that they want to develop in themselves. “I don’t want to date Mr. Big or marry Mr. Big. I want to be Mr. Big,” Bushnell said. Around that time, she met her husband. “I remember looking at him and thinking that is the expression that you will see on a man’s face once or twice in your BUSHHCU • II I IMI II I ■■—I II ■ IIHI—— M—— IW— Hill! Mill lifc HI I ll—l ■■■« —I I Special to THE GAMECOCK Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx star in “Jarhead,” portraying desert military life during the Gulf War. -fc. —■» Gyllenhaal’s new flick makes ‘Jar’ring image Military film targets complexities of young ‘jarhead’ life at war in desert “Jarhead” ★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ Leslie Dennis FOR THE GAMECOCK Based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford’s memoir, “Jarhead” takes place during the 1991 Gulf War. Unlike many war movies that are blood-soaked and saturated with combat situations, “Jarhead” lacks action sequences and mass bloodshed. Instead it focuses on wnai nappens wnen men trained to fight never get the chance. Throughout the film, Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) refuses to reveal any part of his life before the military and closes the door on that chapter of his life. However, he has no problem openly and plainly sharing with the audience the horrors . and humor of military life. Fromj perpetual masturbation, accidental sex video of another soldier’s wife, Swofford does not withhold any details of the military man’s boredom induced state. The film begins with a black screen and voice-over and suddenly switches to the harsh light inside a barracks where a drill sergeant screams obscenities at trainees. Swofford is one of the trainees and likes to reply to his superior officer with a sarcastic answer that always earns him a couple dozen push-ups or whacks on the i_i Swofford immediately regrets enlisting in the Marines and claims he “got lost” on his way to college, but when Staff Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) recruits him for a sniper unit, Swofford finds his niche and begins to enjoy what he does. When Swofford and his fellow soldiers find out they are being deployed overseas, they are ecstatic, ready to kill once they get to the 112 degree desert, all that awaits them is hydration, drills and rehydration. The rest of “Jarhead” is made up of characters and anecdotes, not high-volume explosions and brutal bloodbaths. The explosions are internal, bubbling from within the soldiers under the intense heat and ennui of idleness. Foxx is a perfect choice, balancing control and J * 1 * _ ’ • L I_!.. J wim iiuiuauiiy aiiu heart. Because Foxx’s role is supporting, he smartly stands back and allows other actors to shine while also strongly asserting his presence on screen. Along with “Proof” and the upcoming “Brokeback Mountain,” Gyllenhaal cements himself as one of Hollywood’s great young actors with his portrayal of Swofford. Gyllenhaal not only shapes up physically for '.IQRURQI)' A II