Arts

Columns

Brands who deserve your dollars: Nynne

By Colette Smith | October 13

This week’s brand, Nynne, is more upscale and expensive than the brands highlighted thus far, but the company’s approach to sustainability is unique since it outlines eight clear focus groups. This tactic makes the sustainability objective clearer for the company itself, but it also helps the brand be more transparent with consumers, because they will have a better understanding of how Nynne is approaching sustainability. 

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Arts

'Mayday': The girlbossification of escapism

By Miranda Feinberg | October 12

"Mayday" (2021), director Karen Cinnore’s dreamy new steampunked-up feminist escapist fantasy, follows main character Ana (Grace Van Patten) as she stumbles into a chaotic world of female rebellion and redemption. While the film creates an alternate land to which our protagonist can run (or swim), one that is clearly meant to empower and strengthen the protagonist, the film is somehow hollow at its core, as themes of power and control corrupt the freedom, connection, unity and escapism it is trying so hard to portray. While largely entertaining and emotive, the film undermines its message for the sake of plot and narrative foils, a move which greatly wounds the final production.

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Arts

'Dear Evan Hansen' tackles big issues, fails in the process

By Henry Chandonnet | October 12

Content warning: This article mentions suicide.

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Columns

On Demand: Does she cook or does she just watch 'Top Chef'?

By Raga Chilakamarri | October 12

I want to preface this week’s column by saying yes, I have seen Netflix’s talk-of-the town “Squid Game” (2021–), and yes, it did fracture my heart in many ways that I’d love to unpack. However, I also do believe that there are few worse things than a show spoilt, so for the sanctity and integrity of the series, I shall instead address a less devastating but still emotionally compounded competition: “Top Chef” (2006–).

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Arts

'The Many Saints of Newark' falls many miles short of David Chase’s old work

By Tuna Margalit | October 8

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for “The Many Saints of Newark” and “The Sopranos.”

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Arts

It's a 'Cole World': J. Cole brings beats to Boston

By Mackenzie Tatananni | October 8

Cole seems too big to be contained by the word “artist.” He is a producing, lyric-writing, Grammy award-winning music machine who has amassed a cult following since his first release, “Cole World: The Sideline Story”(2011). The album debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, and things have only gone up from there. His five subsequent albums would also top the charts (most of these debuting at No. 1). His most recent release, "The Off-Season" (2021), scored Cole his sixth consecutive No. 1 album in the country — so what better time to treat the fans to a concert?

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Columns

For the Culture: Pop culture flirts with intimacy

By Paul Osmond | October 8

Last year, I observed “the arrival of colorful knitwear with intricate patterns, landscapes and famous artwork” and predicted they would be paired with “’70s printed designs” in 2021. Although I have not seen as many Renaissance paintings knitted into clothing as I would have liked, there has blossomed a homely new connection between streetwear and knitwear. While streetwear was never against knitwear, it hardly employed the material — growing from skater culture, streetwear material primarily comprised denim and nylon. However, streetwear’s appreciation (and borderline obsession) with vintage clothing has burgeoned as the formerly “grandma” material has permeated the community.

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Music

Weekender: Nothing could ever stop Samia from showing up

By Jack Clohisy | October 7

In true indie-pop concert fashion, college students lined up outside of the Brighton Music Hall on Oct. 1 to get a glimpse of one of their Spotify discoveries first seen in person when Samia Najimy Finnerty, known mononymously as Samia, traveled to Boston for her fall tour.

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Columns

Dreaming of Sandman: Gods and free will

By Sadie Leite | October 7

College students may debate free will from time to time, out of academic curiosity or their own growing independence.  Volume 2 of Neil Gaiman’s “The Sandman,” “The Sandman: The Doll’s House” (1989–1990), could add a new perspective.

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Music

A reunion with Phoebe Bridgers

By Jack Clohisy | October 6

​​Over a year has passed since Phoebe Bridgers released her Grammy-nominated second LP "Punisher" (2020), and after the pandemic delayed most chances for Bridgers to perform live in front of her fans, she finally hit the road with her band on a reunion tour in September. Traveling nationwide, this is the first time Bridgers is able to perform her newest hits in front of audiences ready to break out their best screams for "I Know the End" and tears for the remainder of her catalogue.

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Columns

Brands who deserve our dollars: Naclo Apparel and Aliya Wanek

By Colette Smith | October 6

As temperatures start to drop and the leaves begin to turn, it is time to break out your fall wardrobe and, perhaps, look for some new additions for your closet. If this is the case, here are some fashionable fall options from Black-owned clothing brands.

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Arts

'Sex Education' Season 3 teases young love and heartache

By Jaden Shemesh | October 5

Content warning: This article mentions sexual assault.

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Columns

On Demand: 'Generation,' confusion, emotion and other things that end in -ion

By Raga Chilakamarri | October 5

I’ve only recently reconciled with the fact that I’m a member of Generation Z. Beyond being a Sagittarius born in the Year of the Dragon, I’m not quite sure where I expected to lay in the generational matrix; though, one viral tweet did confirm that I’m an honorary member of the Black Eyed Peas.

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Arts

60 artists, 3 days: An honest review of Governors Ball

By Maeve Hagerty | October 4

Three days in harsh sunlight, surrounded at any given time by hundreds — if not thousands — of people: glitter, neon polyester and discarded hard seltzer cans everywhere. The Governors Ball Music Festival 2021 was, simply put, a lot.

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Columns

K-Weekly: Why 'Loser=Lover' needs to be in your playlist

By Odessa Gaines | October 4

If you’re not familiar with the ever-growing world of K-pop, or international music in general, you may be looking at this section and wondering, what even is "Loser=Lover?" But never fear, dear reader, as I am here to shed some light on who TXT is and why you need to stream the group’s music.

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Arts

What to watch this spooky season

By Emmy Wenstrup | October 1

With spooky season fast approaching, many viewers may soon be tempted by the ever-popular horror genre. Filmmakers often use horror as a critical lens to examine what society itself may be afraid of, as Jordan Peele does with “Get Out” (2017) and Bong Joon-ho with “Parasite” (2019). In other cases, filmmakers take traditionally “scary” motifs and turn them into comedy, as Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement do with the series “What We Do In The Shadows” (2019–). As the month of October draws near, it’s time to look at appropriately themed content.

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Arts

‘I Am Batman’ #1 only partially fulfills its promise

By Carl Svahn | October 1

A Black Batman was inevitable. The idea of a man so wronged by a city and a system resonates with the Black experience in America. There are of course grounded Black superheroes at the Big Two (also see the Milestone heroes), but none of them have the inherent appeal or cultural power that Batman does. With a new Black Captain America in the MCU and a Black Superman project in the works at DC (alongside last year’s surge in race-based violence and national racial reckoning), there has never been a better time to let this idea spread its wings. John Ridley and Olivier Coipel’s "I Am Batman” #1 has all the hallmarks of something great, but its strange relationship with continuity and backstory holds it back.

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Columns

For the Culture: Why does hip-hop love Takashi Murakami?

By Paul Osmond | October 1

Ubiquitous in pop culture since the early 2000s, Japanese contemporary artistTakashi Murakami is familiar with co-relating high and low culture. Among other achievements, he founded the “superflat” theory, which draws on traditional “flattened” Japanese printing with anime and pop culture imagery. He is also famed for his strong collaborative relationship with high fashion label Louis Vuitton, with whom he produced several legendary pieces, and he frequently teams up with fellow fashion icon Virgil Abloh. Perhaps most incredibly, he has had his work exhibited at the Palace of Versailles in France. However, Murakami remains legendary in my mind for the special relationship he has formed with modern hip-hop.

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Columns

Dreaming of Sandman: The hero's grumpy start

By Sadie Leite | September 30

The comic book series "The Sandman" (1989–) by Neil Gaiman, is the story about stories written by a writer who loves all other stories. This column is a story about the story about all other stories.

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Television

'Reservation Dogs' is changing the representation game

By Emmy Wenstrup | September 29

The name Taika Waititi on any project makes it worth watching – the Māori actor/director/producer extraordinaire seems able to add his certain flair to anything and make it work, whether that be a satirical yet moving look at a brainwashed Hitler Youth in “Jojo Rabbit” (2019) or a vampire mockumentary in “What We Do in the Shadows” (2014). More recently, he has lent his star power as an executive producer and writer for “Reservation Dogs” (2021–), his second team-up with FX on Hulu after the success of his “What We Do in the Shadows” spin-off series. 

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