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Show Signpost"Thursday , January 14, 1988 7 Weavers pay tribute to work of Indian artisans Mb,, Pi Wash your hands of Soaps Katy Frandsen Asst. Entertainment Editor Show me a person who claims to have never watched a soap opera, and I'll show you a person who is lying or is experiencing a memory lapse. Soap operas are fun and entertaining. They are also addicting. Some people watch a particular soap opera for many years because the characters in that particular program seem like members of the family to them. It's fun to know what is happening to their favorite characters. They justify watching the soap operas with these reasons: 1. I record the show on the VCR so I can watch it when it is convenient for me.The soap does not interrupt my life. 2. I watch while I eat dinner or do something else constructive; I don't simply vegetate. 3. Everyone needs to take a little time out to do something they enjoy. 4. I fast-forward the commercials, so t only takes about 45 minutes to watch, rather than an hour. Despite these convincing reasons, watching soap operas is still an embarrassing habit not many people will admit to keeping. It's like admitting you are bulemic or an alcoholic or worse. But watching daytime drama doesn't have to be a closet activity or something you do on the sly-right? Just visit the Union Building TVs at lunchtime. I can guarantee the TVs will not be on Channel 1 1 or on the news. The fact that other worthwhile shows take second place to soap operas is the sad part. In 1968, when man first walked on the moon, soap operas were interrupted to bring the "Special News Bulletin," and some viewers complained because a love scene between their two favorite characters had been interrupted. They thought the news bulletin should wait. So the question is asked, are television soap operas contributing to the educational delinquency of our society? Do the shows create television junkies to whom fantasy is more important than reality or more important than viewing an historical event? We have all made jokes about the fat housewife who sits at home and watches soap operas all day. But women are not the only ones susceptible to this addiction. What about the men who spend their lunch break in front of the television? Or the retired folks who spend their afternoon in front of it, or the preschoolers who switch the channel from the educational station to watch the show that grown-ups watch. We all know a college student who 'skips' class because they have to get home in time to catch their soap opera today. They are really afraid they might miss something. Those of you who do watch soap operas know that you could miss it (see SOAPS page 8) t . 5 Students' take a break after class to go to the Union Building and watch "Days of our Lives," a popular soap opera.Soaps are becoming a major pastime among college students. (Signpost photo: Matt Butler) Yun Hui Pak Arts & Entertainment Editor As part of the Weber State College Centennial Celebration, the Collett Art Gallery presents The Master Weavers of India. This exhibition, which will run through February 5, is under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution with support from the Browning Fine Arts Fund. A public reception is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m. with an accompaniment of light refreshments. The Master Weavers gives tribute to the artisans of India who still continue to hand loom fine fabrics which once were Dye-painting is performed by using a reed stylus. The artist paints his design on cloth which has previously been treated with different mordants (substances that react chemically with dye to produce various colors and fix them to the cloth) or resist (a substance, usually wax or clay, that prevents dye from penetrating the cloth). Dye is then painted with brush onto the cloth. At times the entire textile is immersed in a dye bath. An interesting technique is Block-printing in which artists stamp their designs onto the fabric with carved wooden block that have been dipped in dye or a mixture of mordant and dye. Resist-printing follows a similar procedure in which the printing blocks are dipped in A public reception with light refreshments is scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. mainly commissioned for temples and courts. In the process of weaving there are varied traditional techniques used either singly or in combination. Pigment painting is a process in which hand spun and handwoven cloth is stiffened with a glue like substance made from rice flour and gum arabic. This paste is then painted with mineral or plant pigments. Often, synthetic paints are used today. resist an stamped onto the cloth. When the fabric is immersed in a dye bath, a pale design is formed against a colored background. The craft of handloom weaving was threatened for many years by competition from textile mills but has been revived through recent support of the Indian government. The sample weavings of the exhibition are an important expression of culture. ttmmm J III -rr-rnr. II 55 i! 1 1 11 il&t !L , j |