Joe Jarvis

T.J. Stiles' "Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War" is one of a few scholarly works focused on the outlaw, but will remain the authoritative text far past our lifetimes. Whereas many historians are blessed with Dewey-decimalized minds that catalogue minutiae only to have everything fall apart at the writing desk, Stiles documents the visibility of the moon the night a James enemy was assassinated and subtly constructs a scene vivid enough to make a creative-writing instructor cream.

More important than his aesthetic prowess is Stiles' ability to understand such a mercurial individual in the context of his time, outside the romantic Robin Hood flourishes that--until now--have constituted the sole substance of Jamesian iconography. Examining how James manipulated the media into propagating his mythology, Stiles provides us not only with a cohesive understanding of one of our original celebrities, but a insight into the celebrity-manufacturing industry relevant enough to be applied to "American Idol."

T.J. Stiles will discuss "Jesse James" on September 28 at the Chicago Historical Society Civil War Symposium. The Symposium begins at 8:30am; Stiles speaks at 4:15pm. Clark Street at North Avenue. $30-40; advance registration required. (312)642-4600.

(2002-09-26)

Also by Joe Jarvis

Fight Club
Although the prospect of seeing Oscar de la Hoya permanently disfigured provides sufficient impetus for many to throw in for a pay-per-view, there are other reasons boxing has survived recent innumerable embarrassments.
(2002-09-18)

Hair line
The forthcoming "Vamp Human Hair-Trimmed" line is a take-off on the recent use of pony hair among prominent mainstream designers.
(2002-08-14)

STREET CIRCUS, PART 2
Andrew Butler is killing the activist stereotype. PETA members, wearing prison uniforms and monkey masks, squat in rows of chicken-wire cages outside the March of Dimes' Loop headquarters, beneath the banner "Stop Cruel Animal Tests. marchofcrimes.com." Butler and his 5-year-old daughter Shanti hand out pamphlets to chuckling passersby.
(2002-08-07)

IGNORANCE IS BLISS
Just inside the door of the Autonomous Zone—Chicago's haven for anti-authoritarian vegan polymarist cycling activists—a pugnacious clown idles away the time before he goes on stage by giving you shit for being so bourgeois as to buy Fluevogs and, perhaps only half-jokingly, trying to pass himself off as the doorperson to pocket the admission for tonight's Media Mayhem variety show.
(2002-08-01)

NONFICTION REVIEW
(2001-11-15)

FICTION REVIEW
(2001-10-18)

NOT MILK?
(2001-03-01)

REPAIR WORK
(2001-02-08)

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