A clever, shameless use of hype: Blair Witch 2

Ian Hutchinson - Entertainment Beat

You know the story: In 1994, three film students disappeared in the forest near Burkittsville, Md. A year later, their footage was found. The result was the 1999 film phenomenon known as the "Blair Witch Project."

The reaction to the film was mixed. Those expecting a neatly packaged, happily ever-after ending left very upset. However, those who looked for an unsettling film with an intriguing myth and depth walked away satisfied.

The challenge that "Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows" has to contend with is that half of America (critics and audiences alike who hated the first film) want to see BW2 fail. In BW2, Burkittsville is overrun by people obsessed with the original Blair Witch film. People try to cash in on the hype by selling everything from the Blair Witch stickfigures and rock piles to the remaining parts of murderer Rustin Parr's home. While some residents of Burkittsville think "The Blair Witch Project" was "just a movie," there are people who think the movie may have been real.

One such character is Jeff, a "psychologically sound" Burkittsville local, who acts as a tour guide on his own "Blair Witch Hunt." Joining him on an outing to the Burkittsville woods are Kim, a Goth with the gift of foresight; Erica, a Wiccan who wants to clear the name of Elly Kedward (the Blair witch); and Stephen and Tristan, a couple writing a book about the Blair witch.

Jeff and company set up camp and video cameras at the alleged remains of Rustin ParrÕs home after a day of touring. The group wakes up the next morning only to realize that five hours of their lives are unaccounted for.

No one remembers what happened at that time. Of course, one should expect this since they all got high and plastered the night before, but since they also woke up to find their possessions demolished and odd marks on their bodies, it could be considered an unusual circumstance. The only things they have left are the videotapes from that evening.

After that, things start to get more weird. They return to Jeff's home to piece together the events of the previous evening. Accusations are made, the line between hallucination and reality is blurred, and things basically degenerate from there.

BW2 makes excellent use of the existing myths of the Blair witch, incorporating the elements of Coffin Rock and Rustin Parr into the story. The film also remains character driven and leaves very little to special effects, allowing the frights to remain psychological as with the first film.

BW2 also makes clever, though shameless, use of the hype the original film created by incorporating real-life events that followed the aftermath of the first film.The fact that thousands of people flocked to the forests of Burkittsville after the release of the original film is actually documented.

The acting is also very good, if a tad reminiscent of the hostility in the original movie. Perhaps the only prominent flaw of the film is the staggered continuity between past and present. The events of BW2 are played out as a flashback, while the main characters are interrogated by the police in the present. The problem is that whenever the film returns to the present, it is annoyingly brief and pointless.

Overall, BW2 remains faithful to the original and stands well on its own. If you got lost in the first film, BW2 is just as likely to do the same. Those looking for a good Halloween creep-out will certainly be satisfied.

ASU honors James T. Broyhill

ASU News Bureau

Former United States Senator James T. Broyhill of Winston-Salem has been named an honorary alumnus of Appalachian State University.

The honorary designation was presented during an alumni awards banquet Oct. 20 held as part of the university's homecoming activities.

The honor recognizes the commitment Broyhill has made to the university's mission and vision, and his service to the university.

"I consider myself very fortunate to have had Jim Broyhill on the board of trustees during my tenure here at Appalachian," said Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski. "He has provided invaluable insight and leadership, helping chart the university's course into the 21st century and enhancing educational opportunities for our students."

Festival and the Alliance for Teaching Science project in the College of Broyhill's ties to Appalachian date back to 1913 when his parents, James Edgar and Satie Hunt Broyhill, were students at Watauga Academy, the forerunner to the university.

Broyhill has been actively involved in the university's An Appalachian Summer and the Alliance for Teaching Science project in the College of Arts and Sciences. He has served on Appalachian's Board of Trustees for eight years, including one year as chairman, and sits on the Appalachian State University Foundation Board of Directors.

Broyhill was born and raised in Lenoir. He was employed by the Broyhill Furniture Industries for 17 years and worked in sales, production and personnel.

He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1963 and served the state's ninth congressional district until 1986, when he was appointed to full an unexpired two-year term of the late U.S. Senator John East. He chaired the N.C. Economics Development Board from 1987-89 and was U.S. Secretary of Commerce from 1989-91.

Broyhill's papers from his years in office are housed in Appalachian's Belk Library. The collection includes legislative files, newspaper clippings, speeches, video and audio tapes, photographs and other materials.

Ian Hutchinson - Entertainment Beat

The Appalachian State University College Democrats and the campus chapter of the Green Party recently held a voter rally on Sanford Mall.

Last Friday, both student groups shared the issues of their parties with the student body. Several candidates running for office in Watauga County and the state were also in attendance.

The events of the rally included musical performances by The Apostles, T.H.H.E. Mood Cultivation Project, and various speakers throughout the event.

Kirsten Bowden, president of the College Democrats, helped organize the event as an attempt to "do something different" from previous years.

"Our issue is just getting out the vote, " said Bowden.

Al Wheeler, a Democrat running for North Carolina Senate, said, "We need a stronger voice in Raleigh" on issues including education, health care, environmental protection and road improvement.

"Our district is in desperate need of improvement," said Wheeler, concerning the affordability of homes in Watauga County and the roads surrounding the mountains.

In regard to educational issues, Wheeler is against school vouchers and in favor of smaller classroom size as well as programs like Smart Start.

One issue that was a recurring theme among candidates and students alike was the upcoming university bond vote. If the vote is successful, $3.1 billion will go to universities and community colleges for things such as renovations and new buildings.

"We're happy that students are excited about the bond," commented Bert Wood, a Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives.

Other candidates in attendance at the rally were Steve Combs (D) for Watauga County Board of Education and Dennis Grady (D) for Watauga County Commissioner.

The campus Green Party also made its voice heard, specifically in regard to the presidential race. Due to technicalities in North Carolina law, presidential write-in votes for Ralph Nader will not be counted in this state. According to members of the campus Green Party, there were petitions signed by more people than the state required to get Nader on the ballot.

Unfortunately, the petition missed the state's deadline and now any vote for Nader will not be counted. Members of the campus Green Party felt that this was a violation of their voting rights, so they are advocating to "write him in anyway."

"We're encouraging people to write in Nader even if it is a just a protest vote against the two-party system," said Rachel Brown of the campus Green Party. "The most important thing is for people to get out and vote."

If you would like more information on local, state and national candidates for the Democratic Party, you can visit www.wataugadems.com.

If you would like to get involved with the campus Green Party, they meet every Thursday at 5 p.m. in Room 219 of I.G. Greer.

Sean Oakley - Features Beat

Though society has entered into a technological age of computers and scientific explanations, folklore still plays a huge part in this culture.

Stories and myths from hundreds of years ago somehow find their way into the minds and imaginations of people even today. Unfortunately, the accompanying prejudices and misunderstandings also fill people's minds.

Today is Halloween. One of the first things people think about when it comes to Halloween is witches. In fact, they're probably just as much of a symbol of this holiday as are jack-o'-lanterns or skeletons.

The silhouette of a broom-riding woman against the light of a full moon seems harmless, but there is a history behind it. Every myth can be traced back to at least some truth.

There are real-life witches, though they are quite different from the stereotype this world has attached to them. Humanity has this wonderful way of attacking and criticizing anything it doesn't understand. Such is the case with witchcraft.

"The concept of witchcraft carries a lot of social and emotional baggage with it," said Dr. Gregory Reck. Reck is an anthropology professor who teaches a magic and witchcraft class. According to him, many of the misconceptions are rooted all the way back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

That was when the Catholic Church began targeting witches as easy scapegoats, attacking them in several documents. In the documents, witches were described as evil, as friends of Satan and as enemies of the Church and state. After the verbal and written attacks began persecution.

Though for Americans the most famous of these persecutions was the Salem Witch Trials, in Europe, the paranoia came on a much larger and more terrifying scale. In Italy, France and Germany, thousands of people were tortured and killed. The legacy created by such fear and ignorance has carried on until today.

"Because of the stereotypes of history, there is still a lot of prejudice towards people who call themselves witches. There is just a lot of misunderstanding," Reck said.

In the 20th century there was a large resurgence in witchcraft. Though some witches work by themselves, most are members of groups that practice together. These groups are called covens. According to Reck, most of these covens practice a craft called Wicca.

Wicca, a Gaelic word, means literally "to bend," as in the ability to bend or shape reality through magic. A Wiccan is a person who practices Wicca.

Ironically enough, despite the stereotypes, the majority of Wiccans follow a code which, though worded in different ways, basically means "do as you please, but harm no one," Reck said. And despite common belief, most witches practice magical abilities that are meant to be used in good ways.

According to Reck, most Wiccans believe they are practicing a form of a pre-Christian religion. They focus on human relationships with nature and also on fulfilling human potential. A Wiccan also believes in an energy that is older and more powerful than all of creation. Through rituals done in circles, Wiccans raise the energy so that good things can happen.

Yet there is no one book or Bible for Wicca. Therefore the covens are very diverse, each having its own take on the religion, according to Reck. Many contemporary covens have even added Native American characteristics to their practices.

Reck said that another interesting point is that, while most people relate witchcraft to Satanism, Wiccans don't even believe in Satan. They believe in a god and goddess who look over everything and can be found inside every human being. According to their beliefs, everything has a male and female side. From this belief, they get a dualistic nature that encompasses everything.

According to Reck, research on paganists has found that most were critics of what they saw as Western society. They believe that religion is not very spiritual and that many people are simply going through the motions. Many of them believe that the Western religions are sexist. This is because the Western concept of God is male, yet in the Wicca religion, the god and goddess are equally important.

Most of these complaints are widely expressed, but few do anything to try and change them. In this way, Wiccans are simply "practicing what they preach," instead of complaining, Reck said.

Grey Mountain Coven is a local coven that practices a form of paganism called "The Craft." They have been in the area for quite some time and their membership changes frequently as new people enter and others leave.

But unlike most of the covens across the country, they are trying to combat the stereotype by not being secretive. They routinely make presentations in Dr. Reck's class. For them, to be seclusive would only invite fearful ignorance to place more labels upon them, according to Reck.

Not all practitioners of witchcraft are turning people into toads or sacrificing animals in the name of Satan. Throughout time, attacks from people who do not understand Wicca have maimed the image of witches.

In an age of enlightened realization, why have those who worship different gods been excluded? Most history books in the United States portray the Salem Witch Hunts as barbaric paranoia, but unfortunately, the lessons of the past still do not always help people accept what they don't understand.