Marvel’s Phase Four has introduced countless new elements to its Cinematic Universe. What was once simply a world of superheroes, now includes a multitude of creatures, planets and timelines. We received a new Captain America, met the Time Variance Authority and the Multiverse and now the Eternals.
This week’s column is dedicated to my love for those shoes that are ugly enough that they are cool. Think Birkenstocks, dad sneakers and now, the new addition to the list: Asportuguesas shoes. Asportuguesas started their shoe design process with the explicit intention to create sustainable footwear. They achieve this by using sustainable materials and a small, manual production process.
By now the “break-up album” is a genre in itself. These albums have been smash successes, namely because they contextualize the human need to grieve lost relationships. Still, this form of album can often become overplayed, using the same musical tropes or lyrical structures to comment on the same idea. It’s when an artist brings a new sound to the traditional form, and reinvents the ideals of the genre, that one truly takes interest. That’s all true of Snail Mail’s most recent project, “Valentine.”Snail Mail combines the traditional breakup trope with a new indie-rock sound, making the sound engaging and innovative.
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. A devastating plague has wiped out most of the Earth’s population, and the key to our survival lies in the hands of an unlikely and ill-equipped group of survivors. Now, make that plague one that kills everything with a Y chromosome and make the group consist of the last cisgender human man on earth, his pet monkey (also male), his insecure yet lethal bodyguard and the rogue lesbian geneticist who might be able to save humanity’s future. Now that’s an idea. This is the set up for Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s seminal indie comic, "Y: The Last Man" (2002–08), and while the long-awaited TV adaptation keeps this engrossing premise, it adds elements that turn one of the best post-apocalyptic stories of the last two decades into a miserable snooze fest of a show.
Like most people, I’ve daydreamed about my likelihood of surviving in apocalyptic or suddenly traumatic situations like "The Hunger Games" (2008–10), zombie attacks or being marooned on an island. While I lack any evolutionary faith in myself to successfully perform DIY outdoors survival, as a member of Tufts Wilderness Orientation, I’m sure I could finagle my way around a tarp, if given the proper rope, stakes and moral support.
Kristen Stewart and her latest subject, Princess Diana, are so much more than mere cultural icons.
Content warning: This article describes struggles with mental health, addiction and death at a young age.
So, I just dyed my hair for the fourth time, and in the process, I began to think about how many musicians have dyed hair. Now, as a Black man with locs, I immediately think of rapper Lil Uzi Vert, who is known for his colorful hair. But there are other musicians with all types of hair textures who dye their hair just as frequently — Billie Eilish is known for her green roots and black ends, Bad Bunny has particularly fascinating hairstyles with an often-bleached widows-peak and I think I remember seeing Katy Perry with blue hair a few years ago. So colored hair is nothing new in music, but it also extends far beyond the industry.
The genre of horror has experienced tremendous change over the last several years, whether it be with social commentary horrors like “Get Out” (2017) or campy horror comedies like “Jennifer’s Body” (2009). Still, maybe there’s something to say for classic forms of horror, be it ghastly jump-scares or extreme psychological manipulation. These are certainly elements found in“Last Night in Soho” (2021). Though the film does nothing truly new or outside-the-box, it's an all-around enjoyable time. In using the prototypical tropes of a psychological thriller, “Last Night in Soho” grabs the viewer and doesn’t let them go. In a horror movie, that’s all one can ask for.
Content warning: This article mentions familial abuse.
HEADLINES: Brands who deserve your dollars: Elvis & Kresse
You’ve probably never heard of Christopher Chance, the Human Target. Don’t worry though, it just means he’s good at his job. As a private detective who poses as his vulnerable clients to find their enemies, Chance is felt through the DC universe more in his actions than his persona.He’s a quiet, unrecognized, soulful man from DC’s detective-focused past who most readers could never pinpoint next to the major players like Superman or Batman. In short, he’s the perfect next target for a Tom King 12-issue miniseries, and with the help of artist Greg Smallwood, "Human Target" #1 hits dead center.
Elton John’s newest album, “The Lockdown Sessions,” is a series of collaborations with artists both of recent fame and longtime careers. Released on Oct. 22, the album comes in the midst of his delayed Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and following his release of “Jewel Box” (2020). The songs are catchy and don’t stick to one genre, but bring new light to John’s continuous talent.
A mockumentary-style sitcom focusing on the day-to-day life of four vampire roommates is bound to be rife with comedic potential, but in its most recent season, which ended on Oct. 28, “What We Do in the Shadows” (2019–) strikes an unexpected balance between nonsensical shenanigans and tender ponderings on the meaning of life.
The world of K-pop, like most other fields of music, art and life, is unfortunately dominated by male groups and artists, but the women of K-pop never fail to remind us that they earned their right to be there just as much as anyone else. They have been turning out bops since the beginning of K-pop, and every year gives us something new to jam out to. One of the biggest and most well-known groups is Twice.
True crime has become a cultural phenomenon, whether it be the smash successes of podcasts like “Crime Junkie” (2017–) or “My Favorite Murder” (2016–), or even the rising view-counts on YouTube crime series such as “Buzzfeed: Unsolved”(2016–). “Only Murders in the Building” (2021–) attempts to comment on this rising cultural sentiment, using comedy to portray the solving of a true crime mystery itself. Using standard sitcom tropes and often-overplayed generational humor, the show in no way reinvents the wheel. Still, it takes a lot of energy to critique the quaint dad-humor of the series. Rather, it’s much easier to sit back, get wrapped up in the mystery, and allow the world to pass you by.
An uninvited guest graced the Paris Fashion Week Louis Vuitton Show alongside the runway models on Oct. 5. Clad with a banner reading “Overconsumption = Extinction,” climate activist Marie Cohuet, 26, set the issue of the fashion industry's directly contributing to the contemporary climate crisis — quite literally — under the spotlight. The choice to target this label in particular can be explained by the affiliation with its parent organization, LVMH, the world’s largest luxury goods conglomerate. The corporation controls brands such as Celine, Fendi and Tiffany & Co., making its influence within the fashion section virtually incomparable. On her Twitter page, Cohuet described LVMH’s authority in the manufacturing of global fashion trends, and she indicted the corporation for perpetuating an inter-class "désir de surconsommer," or “desire to overconsume.”
On Nov. 27, 2020, popular YouTuber David Dobrik showed off his newly purchased flamethrower in a TikTok that has since gained over 14.9 million views. While the ensuing chaos is entertaining nonetheless, viewers may also recognize a familiar track in the background. This song is no other than “Mayonaka no Door / Stay With Me” (1979) by Miki Matsubara. Matsubara’s hit has since gained traction as part of a larger trend involving people of Japanese descent filming their parents’ reaction to hearing the song. As a result of its internet fame, catchy vocals and unique international origins, the pop tune, despite having been released over 30 years ago, took the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s global viral chart last December.
Neil Gaiman’s gates of Hell are disturbingly grey against a blood-red sky. They're among the first of many striking images in the fourth volume of “The Sandman” series, “The Sandman: Season of Mists” (1990–91).The comic book medium is effective because stories are told with words and images, and both the writing and art throughout the series are excellent. But in "Season of Mists" in particular, there is much art that stands out.
Less than a year after the release of "Chemtrails Over The Country Club" (2021), Lana Del Rey returns with her eighth studio album, "Blue Banisters" (2021). Just two years ago, Del Rey released her widely-acclaimed "Norman Fucking Rockwell!" (2019), and now, Del Rey shows she still has much to offer.
