Quilts and Color: The Pilgrim/Roy Collection, which opened on Tuesday in the Gund Gallery in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston , is not what you might expect from a show on historical textiles. This exhibition of 58 bright patterned quilts is informed by color theory and the rich expertise of its collectors to offer an exhilarating new way to engage with quilts as an art form.
Swedish musician Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, has (so far) had a short but remarkable career. Five years ago, he was just a small-time house producer who was creating club records. Now, with huge hits like Levels (2011), Wake Me Up (2013) and Hey Brother (2013), hes almost a household name and stands at the forefront of the electronic music industry.
Wes Andersons most recent release, The Grand Budapest Hotel has been lauded as his masterpiece, so, naturally, he is more topical and hip than ever. But what makes a Wes Anderson movie so great? With this question in mind, the Daily Arts Department proudly presents: One Gazettes Quintessential Bulletin of Wesley Wales Anderson, narrated by Alec Baldwin. 10) A vaguely ethnic unknown: Preferably under 17, with interesting teeth and a bizarre and compelling backstory. Oh, and they should probably be able to act, too. 9) Meticulous fonts: Youll never be able to look at Futura without seeing it plastered on the side of a rose colored two-story school bus or projected, perfectly centered, on a grimy but charming apartment building. 8) Jokes that arent jokes: Its okay if you dont get them. No one does, really. Just look over at the kid with the handlebar mustache or the girl rocking serious bangs in the theater and laugh when they do. 7) A precocious adolescent with an unrequited love: They say heady things that adults dont understand, make tiny lists, have bizarre after-school business ventures, make unlikely friendships with crotchety and wounded adults and, ultimately, lust after somebody they will never get. 6) Timeless fashion: We dont mean figuratively. Like, literally, its impossible to tell whether that coat is from 1920 or if it was featured in Pradas 2014 spring collection. 5) Book within a book within a movie within a song within a cross-stitch embroidery: Christopher Nolan totally stole the idea for Inception (2010) from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). 4) Corduroy record player: You know, so you can play your Rolling Stones records on it to impress your immortal beloved: your boyfriends boyfriends dads biographer. 3) Thinly veiled real-world settings: Listen, Wes, we all know that The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) is set in Manhattan! You cant just change all the names of the buildings and streets and expect us to be impressed. 2) Apathetic toddler: This little tike will secretly smoke off-brand cigarettes and contemplate oblivion all while being changed by Angelica Houston. 1) Bill Murray: In Pabst Blue Ribbon shorts. Playing golf. Humming a French pop song. Drinking whiskey. Smoking a hand-rolled cigarette.
If you hear singing from the top of Nathan Tufts Park near the Powder House this weekend, do not be alarmed. If you climb to the top of the hill, you will find a group of Tufts students performing Shakespeare. Bare Bodkin's production of "Twelfth Night" will be opening Friday at 2 p.m. off campus. For those who are unfamiliar with "Twelfth Night," which was written at the turn of the 17th century by William Shakespeare, it is a comedy full of the hilarious misunderstanding and love triangles that arise when two siblings are shipwrecked on the mysterious shore of Illyria. While the piece is undoubtedly fun and whimsical on the surface, director Allison Benko, a junior, says she was also drawn to a more serious side of the piece while studying theater in London. "I saw that there was all this imagery of decay in ["Twelfth Night"] and that it wasn't just this comedy - it [also] has this big, strong bite," Benko said. Thus, in directing the Tufts production, Benko hopes to strike a balance between the lighter and darker sides of the play, which, under her interpretation, conveys a split message: seize the day, because we're all going to die. "It's a tremendously funny play, [so] I've tried to put in a ton of humor, too," she said. "But there is also this element of darkness." Musical elements help to weave together both sides of "Twelfth Night." In fact, one of Benko's goals for the production has been to use music as a way to explore some of the deeper themes that initially caught her interest. Yet though she always intended to experiment sonically, the musical aspects of the show have taken off beyond her expectations. Cast member Adele McAllister, who plays Feste, the jester or clown of "Twelfth Night," brought her music writing talents to the production with transformative results. The music included in the Bare Bodkin production will feature McAllister's original work. With a bit of experience already under her belt - she has adapted the works of J.R.R.Tolkien and Robert Burns to music - McAllister, a junior, was inspired by the songs given to Feste in "Twelfth Night" and started composing after receiving the part. "I really like setting poetry texts to music," she said. "I started writing stuff and [said], 'Oh, we can use this!' Beiko has given me a really wonderful opportunity to set Shakespeare to music. How could you ask for better words?" Benko said she could not be more pleased with McAllister's work and the abilities of her "absurdly musically talented" cast. "I really hit the jackpot," she said. The feeling is mutual. Tufts seniors Adam Bangser and Julia Lyons, who play lovers Sebastian and Olivia, are also excited about the musical side of "Twelfth Night." According to Bangser, the music "instills a sense of togetherness that you don't normally get in a straight play because ... we're in all the group numbers together." To Lyons, the songs are an integral part of the show's character. "The music also puts ['Twelfth Night'] in a specific time and place," she said. "Twelfth Night" will be performed three times at the top of the hill in Nathan Tufts Park. The performance times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., and audiences are encouraged to bring their own seating. In the case of one performance being cancelled due to rain, an extra show will be performed on April 12 at 2 p.m. in the park. If a second performance is rained out, an indoor performance will be given in Sophia Gordon Hall on the April 12 at 8 p.m. All shows will be free, non-ticketed events open to the public.
Once upon a time in the 1980s, there existed two well-loved characters a wacky scientist and his heartthrob teenage sidekick who starred in a trilogy of blockbuster movies involving time travel, high-school drama and hover boards. Almost 30 years have passed since then, but Back to The Future (1985) still remains a nostalgic trip. In recent decades, the stock characters of Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) have been parodied to various ends, the most recent of which is animated Adult Swim series Rick and Morty (2013-present). This newest project from Community (2009-present) creator Dan Harmon features two characters oddly familiar to the duo from the original Robert Zemeckis movie. It goes without saying that Rick and Morty is a parody of Back to the Future at its most basic level, yet the show is so much more than that. Although it utilizes the stock profiles of the mad scientist and his sidekick, the tropes are reduced to their very core and then transformed into their own individual personalities. Rick (Justin Roiland), the mad scientist, is an alcoholic with a cold exterior though perhaps somewhere deep on the inside he feels love. Morty (also Roiland) is an awkward 14-year-old that is probably as distant from Foxs character as can be, even if they look similar. What Rick and Morty manages to do best is to take these two absurd characters into even wackier adventures: Youre never really quite sure what is going to happen next. This unpredictability can, at times, make Rick and Morty a rip-roaringly funny show, as the show seems to take an almost a no-holds barred approach. Serious topics such as feminism, alcoholism and divorce are lampooned alongside more conventional sources of comedy, such as toilet humor and references to sexual acts. Some of the shows best moments come from a bizarre combination of lowbrow and highbrow humor; parodies of both Inception (2010) and Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) have been particular highlights. The show even pokes fun at television itself, like in a recent episode, Rixty Minutes an excellent and entirely self-referential installment. Whenever Rick and Morty becomes meta a concept that is starting to lose its originality in this postmodern era it manages to do so in a way that, for the most part, avoids groan-inducing moments. Rather, Rick and Morty accomplishes self-reference more indirectly. In Rixty Minutes, Rick gets bored of conventional Earth TV, so he invents a machine that allows the family to tune into the channels of every possible universe. When the channel surfing commences, Rick notes that television from other dimensions seems to have a much looser feel to it. The episode becomes more and more ridiculous, and we get a sense of the absurd, improvised nature of the short television bits. However, not all of Rick and Morty reaches the same high notes. Throughout much of the season, the show endeavors to maintain a status quo: It seems that no matter what happens in the episode much like other conventional cartoons everything will be fine when the credits roll. This is a mechanism that detracts from the overall quality, especially when you consider how unconventional the rest of the series is. This grievance, though, is being addressed more frequently, as actions from earlier episodes are starting to have real consequences. Rick and Morty is poised to leap headfirst into bold new territory, with two episodes remaining in the first season, and a second one in the works. It still hasnt hit perfection, but if it is able to make certain adjustments, it might be on the right road though where theyre going, they might not need roads.
Earlier this week, Stephen Colbert responded to the outrage that erupted after an out-of-context quote from his program was tweeted from Viacoms promotional Twitter account for The Colbert Report (2005-present). Using his trademark irony to mock his critics and distance himself from the tweet, which Colbert asserted was not approved by him, the host presented himself as in control of an issue blown out of proportion by blogs and broadcast news. The topic surfaced when the hashtag #CancelColbert gained momentum on Twitter last Thursday. A so-called hashtag activist named Suey Park attempted to frame Colbert as a racist following the tweet, which mocked the owner of the Washington Redskins and the football teams racist moniker. In a segment called Whos Attacking Me Now? Colbert responded to critics by sharing various news clips and listing all of the websites and magazines that helped #CancelColbert gain traction. Lampooning the idea of trying to cancel a television show for just a few out of context words, Colbert, identifying himself as an Irish-American, sarcastically urged his viewers to #CancelSwift a reference to author Jonathon Swifts satirical essay A Modest Proposal (1729), which suggested that the poor in Ireland might ease their economic woes by selling their babies as food. The dark forces trying to silence my message of core conservative principles mixed with youth-friendly product placement have been thwarted, Colbert declared to cheers from the audience as he sipped a Bud Lite Lime. Despite the uproar, it certainly looks like Colbert has, once again, silenced his detractors with his characteristic good humor and irony.
If you hear singing from the top of Nathan Tufts Park near the Powder House this weekend, do not be alarmed. If you climb to the top of the hill, you will find a group of Tufts students performing Shakespeare. Bare Bodkins production of Twelfth Night will be opening Friday at 2 p.m. off campus. For those who are unfamiliar with Twelfth Night, which was written at the turn of the 17th century by William Shakespeare, it is a comedy full of the hilarious misunderstanding and love triangles that arise when two siblings are shipwrecked on the mysterious shore of Illyria. While the piece is undoubtedly fun and whimsical on the surface, director Allison Benko, a junior, says she was also drawn to a more serious side of the piece while studying theater in London. I saw that there was all this imagery of decay in [Twelfth Night] and that it wasnt just this comedy it [also] has this big, strong bite, Benko said. Thus, in directing the Tufts production, Benko hopes to strike a balance between the lighter and darker sides of the play, which, under her interpretation, conveys a split message: seize the day, because were all going to die. Its a tremendously funny play, [so] Ive tried to put in a ton of humor, too, she said. But there is also this element of darkness. Musical elements help to weave together both sides of Twelfth Night. In fact, one of Benkos goals for the production has been to use music as a way to explore some of the deeper themes that initially caught her interest. Yet though she always intended to experiment sonically, the musical aspects of the show have taken off beyond her expectations. Cast member Adele McAllister, who plays Feste, the jester or clown of Twelfth Night, brought her music writing talents to the production with transformative results. The music included in the Bare Bodkin production will feature McAllisters original work. With a bit of experience already under her belt she has adapted the works of J.R.R.Tolkien and Robert Burns to music McAllister, a junior, was inspired by the songs given to Feste in Twelfth Night and started composing after receiving the part. I really like setting poetry texts to music, she said. I started writing stuff and [said], Oh, we can use this! Beiko has given me a really wonderful opportunity to set Shakespeare to music. How could you ask for better words? Benko said she could not be more pleased with McAllisters work and the abilities of her absurdly musically talented cast. I really hit the jackpot, she said. The feeling is mutual. Tufts seniors Adam Bangser and Julia Lyons, who play lovers Sebastian and Olivia, are also excited about the musical side of Twelfth Night. According to Bangser, the music instills a sense of togetherness that you dont normally get in a straight play because ... were in all the group numbers together. To Lyons, the songs are an integral part of the shows character. The music also puts [Twelfth Night] in a specific time and place, she said. Twelfth Night will be performed three times at the top of the hill in Nathan Tufts Park. The performance times are Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., and audiences are encouraged to bring their own seating. In the case of one performance being cancelled due to rain, an extra show will be performed on April 12 at 2 p.m. in the park. If a second performance is rained out, an indoor performance will be given in Sophia Gordon Hall on the April 12 at 8 p.m. All shows will be free, non-ticketed events open to the public.
Earlier this week, Stephen Colbert responded to the outrage that erupted after an out-of-context quote from his program was tweeted from Viacom's promotional Twitter account for "The Colbert Report" (2005-present). Using his trademark irony to mock his critics and distance himself from the tweet, which Colbert asserted was not approved by him, the host presented himself as in control of an issue blown out of proportion by blogs and broadcast news. The topic surfaced when the hashtag #CancelColbert gained momentum on Twitter last Thursday. A so-called hashtag activist named Suey Park attempted to frame Colbert as a racist following the tweet, which mocked the owner of the Washington Redskins and the football team's racist moniker. In a segment called "Who's Attacking Me Now?" Colbert responded to critics by sharing various news clips and listing all of the websites and magazines that helped #CancelColbert gain traction. Lampooning the idea of trying to cancel a television show for just a few out of context words, Colbert, identifying himself as an Irish-American, sarcastically urged his viewers to #CancelSwift - a reference to author Jonathon Swift's satirical essay "A Modest Proposal" (1729), which suggested that the poor in Ireland might ease their economic woes by selling their babies as food. "The dark forces trying to silence my message of core conservative principles mixed with youth-friendly product placement have been thwarted," Colbert declared to cheers from the audience as he sipped a Bud Lite Lime. Despite the uproar, it certainly looks like Colbert has, once again, silenced his detractors with his characteristic good humor and irony.
Wes Anderson's most recent release, "The Grand Budapest Hotel" has been lauded as his masterpiece, so, naturally, he is more topical and hip than ever. But what makes a Wes Anderson movie so great? With this question in mind, the Daily Arts Department proudly presents: "One Gazette's Quintessential Bulletin of Wesley Wales Anderson," narrated by Alec Baldwin. 10) A vaguely ethnic unknown: Preferably under 17, with interesting teeth and a bizarre and compelling backstory. Oh, and they should probably be able to act, too. 9) Meticulous fonts: You'll never be able to look at Futura without seeing it plastered on the side of a rose colored two-story school bus or projected, perfectly centered, on a grimy but charming apartment building. 8) Jokes that aren't jokes: It's okay if you don't get them. No one does, really. Just look over at the kid with the handlebar mustache or the girl rocking serious bangs in the theater and laugh when they do. 7) A precocious adolescent with an unrequited love: They say heady things that adults don't understand, make tiny lists, have bizarre after-school business ventures, make unlikely friendships with crotchety and wounded adults and, ultimately, lust after somebody they will never get. 6) Timeless fashion: We don't mean figuratively. Like, literally, it's impossible to tell whether that coat is from 1920 or if it was featured in Prada's 2014 spring collection. 5) Book within a book within a movie within a song within a cross-stitch embroidery: Christopher Nolan totally stole the idea for "Inception" (2010) from "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (2004). 4) Corduroy record player: You know, so you can play your Rolling Stones records on it to impress your immortal beloved: your boyfriend's boyfriend's dad's biographer. 3) Thinly veiled real-world settings: Listen, Wes, we all know that "The Royal Tenenbaums" (2001) is set in Manhattan! You can't just change all the names of the buildings and streets and expect us to be impressed. 2) Apathetic toddler: This little tike will secretly smoke off-brand cigarettes and contemplate oblivion all while being changed by Angelica Houston. 1) Bill Murray: In Pabst Blue Ribbon shorts. Playing golf. Humming a French pop song. Drinking whiskey. Smoking a hand-rolled cigarette.
Public art generally does not aim to incite controversy after all, these sorts of open-area murals and sculptures are usually installed to visually enhance their surroundings and engage the community. However, recently pieces on least two Boston-area campuses, including Tufts, have accomplished just that. At Wellesley College, a statue of a nearly naked sleepwalking man part of an exhibit at the schools Davis Museum frightened and angered students, some of whom even signed a petition calling for its removal. Here at Tufts, the rather infamous ostrich sculpture, or Autruche II, was recently removed due to incidents of vandalism that may have permanently damaged the piece. While these events have certainly garnered significant buzz, they speak to only one aspect of visual art and gallery space at both Tufts and other Boston-area schools. Indeed, the Tufts University Art Gallery is rather multifaceted in scope, endeavoring to make art at Tufts interdisciplinary and accessible to the entire Tufts community. With a unexpectedly impressive permanent collection, a staff dedicated to pursing innovative goals and a unique position in the Boston art scene, Tufts art gallery offers the university a surprisingly diverse cultural experience that goes beyond a single attention-grabbing sculpture.Logistical balancing act To casual observers it may appear that new exhibitions simply materialize in the gallery every few months, but these smooth transitions mask the lengthy and labor-intensive curatorial process required to bring a show to campus. At any point, were looking at planning two years worth of exhibitions, Amy Schlegel, the director of galleries and collections, said. Part of Schlegels responsibilities includes thinking about the big picture plan for the gallery. Amy will find the exhibitions, and once she finds an exhibition and locks it in, the rest of us have ... to actually bring it here and get it up in the gallery, Lissa Cramer, the exhibitions coordinator of the gallery, said. As such, the gallerys exhibitions reflect the work of not just Schlegel, but her whole department and oftentimes outside collaborators, such as Tufts professors and guest curators. This coordination, though, can involve more than just negotiating and cooperating with the curators themselves. We worked with the artist or the artists representative to work out conditions that we have to [comply with], said Cramer the of current exhibit on display in the gallery, Seeing Glacial Time: Climate Change in the Arctic. Is there a loan fee? How [do] we get it shipped here? [And] we have to work within a budget. Fitting together all of these moving parts is not an easy assignment, according to Cramer, so during the planning process Cramer, who acts as the project manager for this process, has a complex and tricky role. She is the point of communication between us and the artist, or us and the lender or us and the printer, said Schlegel. Theres a lot of back and forth. Its easy to understand why the gallery plans shows so far in advance. Coordinating with artists, lenders and owners can take months at a time, according to Cramer. The various stipulations and complications do not stop once the pieces arrive at Tufts. Gallery staff is still tasked with, among other things, designing the plan for the exhibition, generating label and wall text, finding just the right Plexiglas cover for particular pieces and perfecting the lighting. With all of these different elements in play at once, the whole process of bringing an exhibition to campus can feel like one long balancing act. We have all of these considerations [to work out], said Schlegel. Were constantly [in the process] of doing this.An interdisciplinary approach Once an exhibition is open, the gallery staff also collaborates with professors and students. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, art history faculty and majors do not necessarily top this list. Several professors from an assortment of departments choose to bring their classes to the gallery, utilizing artwork in new and varied ways. Generally, Schlegel and Cramer find that classes tend to visit the gallery when the exhibit has a direct tie to course material. Contemporary art classes, for example, are frequent visitors due to the high amount of contemporary art featured in shows. But what is rather unexpected about the Tufts Art Gallery is the interdisciplinary nature of these academic ties. Humanities classes are not the only ones that consider exhibitions to be a useful resource. This particular exhibition has been great to make connections with climate change environmental studies [courses] and with earth and ocean sciences ... [and] with an environmental chemistry course, Schlegel said. Although the connections to science or other fields of study might not be the most obvious, Schlegel views them as an important part of the gallerys role in the Tufts community. This is all about cultivating relationships with these faculty ... knowing what courses they tend to teach, said Schlegel. The tricky part is developing the exhibition idea ... without necessarily knowing yet what those faculty will be teaching when that exhibition is on view, so our timelines are a little out of synch. The gallery is committed to this interdisciplinary approach to visual art because of what Schlegel sees as its significant educational boon. Theres also an incredible educational power that art can play, said Schlegel. I think forming ... a different knowledge about the world through vision and becoming more informed and a better critical thinker by understanding that images convey meaning that they are coded [is important]. There are skills that can be taught and learned in deciphering these meanings.12
Those familiar with musician How To Dress Well know that his music tends to be very intimate the perfect soundtrack for a melancholy bedtime diary session or a solitary walk through city streets late at night. One might wonder how well this atmosphere would transfer over to a live show: will that intimacy be lost among a crowd of people? Yet last Thursday night at T.T. the Bears Place in Cambridge, How To Dress Well captured that aura perfectly, adding a number of new dance-influenced songs to his repertoire. The artist demonstrated he is capable of more than just somber ballads.
C?sar Ch?vez is perhaps the most famous Mexican-American civil rights activist in American history, but, sadly, many Americans know little about him. Ch?vezs movement to organize farm laborers in California during the 1960s and 1970s is an often-overlooked facet of American history. The activists story, however, hits the big screen with new film Cesar Chavez, directed by Diego Luna. The Mexican actor-turned-director known for his roles in Y Tu Mam? Tambi?n (2001) and Milk (2008) has unfortunately fallen short in his directorial debut. This biopic, the first English-language film he has directed, ultimately disappoints. Cesar Chavez fails to muster the same charisma and passion the civil rights activist so clearly possessed.
While promoting his new film, Cesar Chavez, director Diego Luna met with the Daily for a roundtable interview to discuss the new biopic, which premiered on March 28. The film tells the story of Cesar Chavez, a labor leader, advocate for agricultural workers and founder of the National Farm Workers Association in 1962.
When a seasoned musician releases his or her first self-titled album, it is usually a hint that the album is a statement about the artist's career and style. In the case of Colombian songstress Shakira, who has commanded serious respect in the pop arena for years, her self-titled album is a perfect snapshot of who she used to be, who is she is and, ultimately, who she hopes to be.
The bridge between video games and films is a tough one to cross. There have been few successful attempts to adapt the fun of a video game into the complete storyline of a movie with (both figurative and literal) three-dimensional characters and Need for Speed is no exception.
The bridge between video games and films is a tough one to cross. There have been few successful attempts to adapt the fun of a video game into the complete storyline of a movie with (both figurative and literal) three-dimensional characters and "Need for Speed" is no exception.
Plot twists may abound on television these days, but rarely do they make waves in the way a recent shocker on The Good Wife (2009-present) has done. (Beware, spoilers ahead!) The CBS legal dramas latest episode sent fans reeling when it killed off the shows male lead, Will Gardner, played by the ever-charismatic Josh Charles. While on trial, Wills client (Hunter Parrish), a man accused of murdering a college student, got hold of a policemans gun and promptly embarked on a shooting spree that left his lawyer dead. The Good Wife has already proven it is not afraid to shake things up, but this turn of events was wholly unexpected, packing a serious punch. In the wake of the episode, fans and critics alike have argued the merits of the decision was it a cheap move or a legitimate creative choice? While the debate rages on, viewers are left wondering where the show will go from here. Many had assumed that writers would eventually pair off for good Will and Alicia (Julianna Margulies), whose professional and romantic relationship has been a core tenant of the show. With Wills murder this is, of course, impossible, and some are concerned that the shows dynamic will be drastically different now that the compelling chemistry between the former colleagues has vanished. Still others are upset with the meaninglessness of the characters death and the less-than-loving note on which Will and Alicias relationship ended. These discussions have lit up Twitter and entertainment sites across the Internet, and series creators Robert and Michelle King have even reached out to fans in a letter explaining why they chose to kill off Will. Ultimately, the decision was made because Charles wished to leave the critically adored drama, and the shows creative team felt that this was the most powerful and effective way to send off the fan-favorite character. Whatever the controversy, the episode will certainly go down in television history as one of the most shocking twists of all time.
Its hard to imagine that in this day and age there are things that cannot be aired on television. However, as content becomes more bizarre and contentious, particularly in the world of cartoons, writers and directors have been forced to find an outlet that gives them exposure along with freedom, something not always available on traditional television networks. With the wide availability of open-source video sharing sites like YouTube, content is now as strange and niche as show creators want it to be. One of the more successful companies doing this work is called Cartoon Hangover. With just over one million subscribers on their YouTube channel, Cartoon Hangover has successfully produced a slew of animated shorts by artists from all over the world and the successful cartoon series Bravest Warriors (2012-present). Not only that, the channel has seen its first Kickstarter campaign-funded series called Bee and Puppycat, a show that premiered in 2013 as a short and gained a cult following seemingly overnight. The fanfare surrounding these shows and Cartoon Hangover itself speaks to the growing trend of series that are independently produced and promoted on Internet platforms. Though the channel and its spinoffs maintain intellectual and creative freedom, its easy to see the hand of larger corporations when looking back into the origins of Cartoon Hangover. Indeed, the impetus for the formation of the channel was the YouTube Original Channel Initiative. Through this program, Google, which owns the video sharing site, sought to subsidize the creation of original content and programming on YouTube, with the intention of building a base for Google TV, which today is all but inevitable. This program has brought countless celebrities and creative types to YouTube to deliver their ideas, collaborations and video projects directly to viewers. Cartoon Hangover is simply another cog in this massive matrix of innovators. Whats more, it seems that this grassroots movement has truly given artists and writers unhindered creative space to produce unique, intriguing work. Cartoon Hangover is, truly, a prime example of the benefits of open-source programming. The channel is able to gauge directly how their shows and shorts are faring with audiences, and they use this data to tailor their content to the desires of these viewers not network suits. And whats even more encouraging? The shows are actually good. With fairly unambiguous ties to its older brother Cartoon Network, Cartoon Hangover showcases the work of their current rock star Pendleton Ward, creator of Adventure Time (2010-present). Bravest Warriors, Cartoon Hangovers most developed and beloved series, is Wards brainchild, and his influence isnt hard to see. Much like Adventure Time, Bravest Warriors tells the story of best friends hanging out in a futuristic world with silly but enviable technology. Though the show focuses on four heroes and their exploits throughout the vast galaxy, the real center of Bravest Warriors are the characters goofy but ultimately heartfelt interactions. Ward, an escapist at heart, consistently develops universes where viewers watch their favorite characters enjoy the spoils of lighthearted fun. But on a deeper level, these characters deal with complex, unresolved and heart-wrenching subplots to which viewers can connect. Bee and Puppycat, though stylistically unique, is another holdover from the Adventure Time universe. It is created and written by Natasha Allegri, the mastermind behind the gender-bending episodes of Adventure Time that feature characters Fiona and Cake. Allegris show tells the story of a quirky, downtrodden young woman named Bee who teams up with a puppy-cat hybrid, traversing dimensions on supernatural missions. The similarities between Wards and Allegris work arent hard to see, but, each series offers viewers a different perspective, a distinct kind of humor and a unique journey in their respective realms. Whats more, Bee and Puppycat is undeniably more accessible for female viewers. Through the show, Allegri unabashedly strives to bring cool and weird girls to a larger audience validating the humor, heart and relevance of young women. Ultimately, Cartoon Hangover is a new and exciting place for cartoon programming. Granting independent artists the freedom to express their silliest ideas seems to be a rising trend, not only for animated content, but also for television across the board. If you havent already taken notice, now is the time great things are happening on Cartoon Hangover, so tune in!
Freshman Sophie Maki has a rather unique hobby: She runs a blog on Tumblr on vegan baking. When it comes to animal rights Maki isnt particularly political; she instead prefers culinary expertise to activism. Im not very confrontational, Maki said. I dont have to comment on these other people who are like, Bacon is the only way, vegans suck. Despite her diplomatic disposition, Maki claims that it was her desire to challenge herself that led her to becoming a vegan. A vegetarian since middle school, Maki says that choosing to adopt veganism was not a sudden decision, but rather a gradual transition as she cut out more and more animal-product foods from her diet. Once vegetarianism wasnt even a challenge anymore, I ... [thought], Well, I could easily do more, she said. According to the amateur chef, it is difficult to bake anything while living in a dorm; as many Tufts students know, dorm kitchens arent exactly equipped with Food Network-worthy appliances. But despite this difficulty, she has still managed to post some new recipes. In any case, for Maki, its the thrill of creating food from unconventional ingredients that really inspires her. Recently, shes moved on to gluten-free recipes and enjoys having friends guess what ingredients have been replaced for seemingly typical food items. Her brownies, for example, feature black beans; her blondies boast chickpeas. I feel like [that element of baking is] kind of hard, because you follow the recipe more exactly, she said. Youre always using weird substitutes ... Some people are using mashed bananas, some people are using flax seed.
Plot twists may abound on television these days, but rarely do they make waves in the way a recent shocker on "The Good Wife" (2009-present) has done. (Beware, spoilers ahead!) The CBS legal drama's latest episode sent fans reeling when it killed off the show's male lead, Will Gardner, played by the ever-charismatic Josh Charles. While on trial, Will's client (Hunter Parrish), a man accused of murdering a college student, got hold of a policeman's gun and promptly embarked on a shooting spree that left his lawyer dead. "The Good Wife" has already proven it is not afraid to shake things up, but this turn of events was wholly unexpected, packing a serious punch. In the wake of the episode, fans and critics alike have argued the merits of the decision - was it a cheap move or a legitimate creative choice? While the debate rages on, viewers are left wondering where the show will go from here. Many had assumed that writers would eventually pair off - for good - Will and Alicia (Julianna Margulies), whose professional and romantic relationship has been a core tenant of the show. With Will's murder this is, of course, impossible, and some are concerned that the show's dynamic will be drastically different now that the compelling chemistry between the former colleagues has vanished. Still others are upset with the meaninglessness of the character's death and the less-than-loving note on which Will and Alicia's relationship ended. These discussions have lit up Twitter and entertainment sites across the Internet, and series creators Robert and Michelle King have even reached out to fans in a letter explaining why they chose to kill off Will. Ultimately, the decision was made because Charles wished to leave the critically adored drama, and the show's creative team felt that this was the most powerful and effective way to send off the fan-favorite character. Whatever the controversy, the episode will certainly go down in television history as one of the most shocking twists of all time.
