Arts - The Tufts Daily

Arts

'Next to Normal' inspires striking combination of awe and discomfort

By Jocelyn Contreras | February 23

Theater is most exhilarating when the actors' emotions aren't confined to the stage. It's best when the audience is invited, or rather, forced into the story. The Tufts Department of Drama and Dance’s run of the musical “Next to Normal” does just that. It’s refreshing that at a school like Tufts, where the audience is no stranger to the discussion surrounding mental illness, that the production is still more than capable of stirring the feelings of all.

Columns

The ABC's of Literature: Liane Moriarty

By Natalie Girshman | February 23

First of all, let me establish one thing: I have little use for the term “chick lit.” It's a term that seems to induce instant eye rolls and condescending sighs from people, often “important male writers” with an aura of self-satisfaction who reason that the only really important issues ...

Arts

Strong performances from guest stars carry 'The Good Wife' in final season

By Lancy Downs | February 23

On Super Bowl Sunday, fans of “The Good Wife” (2009-present) were greeted with some bad news: the critically acclaimed CBS drama, a TV spot declared, would be airing its final episode this spring. Though announcing a series finale by way of Super Bowl commercial is highly unusual, the decision to ...

Arts

'Devil Daggers' is focused and well-crafted

By John J. Gallagher | February 23

Ever since Dante Alighieri found himself lost in a dark wood, the image of Hell as a blasted subterranean realm dedicated to the eternal torment of sinners has proven to be a mainstay of Western art. And just as visual art and literature have borrowed from Dante’s vision of damnation, so too have ...

TV

In third season, 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' squanders opportunities for character development

By Stina Stannik | February 22

Fox's “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” premiered in 2013 to solid reviews and success at the Golden Globes but has done little more than plug along since. Somewhere along the line, “Nine-Nine” became a comedy procedural: serviceable and at times genuinely funny but certainly not must-see TV. Viewers ...

Columns

Pop Filter: Requiem for a Nightmare

By Isaac Brown | February 22

Sometimes I get a flash of inspiration at three in the morning, and I can’t stop myself from punching note after note into the software until what I hear through my earphones matches what’s emanating from the overflowing file cabinets of my imagination. A few finely-crafted measures later, the roosters ...

Arts

'1984' comes to life at American Repertory Theater

By Josh Podolsky | February 22

The tragedy in San Bernardino has reignited the debate over the extent of privacy Americans are entitled to in their digital lives. While Apple refuses to assist in cracking open the gunman’s iPhone, the company’s transition on this matter from the paragon of information gathering to the defender ...

Arts

Kanye West’s newest album, 'The Life of Pablo,' is a gripping, yet inconsistent triumph

By Ascher Kulich | February 22

The release of Kanye West’s seventh studio album, “The Life of Pablo," has been mired in uncertainty ever since its initial announcement on March 1 last year.Dubbed a "gospel" album by West, "The Life of Pablo" went through many titles, including “So Help Me God," ...

Arts

Unconventional ‘Deadpool’ breathes new life into superhero genre

By Justin Krakoff | February 19

For those who have not paid attention, Hollywood is in the midst of a superhero boom, as seven major superhero films are scheduled for release in 2016 alone. With titles ranging from the cinematic “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” to the tumultuous “Captain America: Civil War” to the quite ...

Arts

Stylish Cambridge eatery Bambara offers satisfactory, unexceptional brunch experience

By Lancy Downs | February 19

Occasionally, to be a Tufts student is to feel that the only restaurants serving brunch are Sound Bites or Ball Square Cafe, and it is not at all uncommon to participate in a conversation about how delicious — or overrated — these establishments are. We shouldn’t let the Tufts bubble fool us, ...

Columns

Style Spotlight: Conrad Young

By Parker Selman | February 19

Conrad Young is a freshman in the SMFA/Tufts dual-degree program who sat down to talk with me about basic pieces, genderless fashion and Kanye West’s new line.PS: How would you describe your personal style?CY: I like to start with the basics: black jeans, white button downs, white t-shirts, mostly ...

Columns

Screen Time: On your marks, get set, bake

By Vidya Srinivasan | February 17

The three great loves of my life — in no particular order — are competitions, British baking and my grandma. Incorporate any of these elements into your show, and you’ll probably win my ardent and undying favor. Incorporate all three, and you’ll ruin me. Enter: "The Great British Bake Off" ...

Arts

Spotlight: Jehan Madhani

By Jonah Allon | February 17

Jehan Madhani, a dual-degree student studying animation at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) and majoring in English with a minor in Communication and Media Studies, developed a passion for both comedy and animation at a young age. She grew up watching Saturday Night Live every week and was ...

Arts

Tufts Drama and Dance’s production of 'Next to Normal' addresses stigma of mental illness

By John J. Gallagher | February 17

With book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, “Next to Normal” (2008) is a celebrated rock musical that tells the story of suburban mother Diana Goodman’s struggle with bipolar disorder. The production emphasizes that mental illness is rarely a solitary experience and explores its ...

Arts

Top 10 ways to prepare for the Oscars without watching the movies

By Cassidy Olsen | February 17

10. To celebrate the spirit of “Anomalisa” (2015), put on a Guy Fawkes mask and start talking about your feelings in a really roundabout way, freaking out your friends.

Arts

Rats are personified as neurotic New Yorkers in 'Animals'

By Eran Sabaner | February 17

It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the Duplass brothers have dominated the indie movie/Sundance scene lately. The Mumblecore genre, which they ultimately pioneered along with Joe Swanberg in which low-budget, sometimes improved work is emphasized, has become a festival favorite. The brothers ...

Arts

HBO teases ‘Game of Thrones’ season six – The Daily’s predictions for what’s to come

By John J. Gallagher | February 17

Writer's note: Warning! Spoilers for “Game of Thrones” season five to follow.HBO released a slew of new images last week from the upcoming sixth season of “Game of Thrones” (2011–present), just before a teaser for the new season leaked on Sunday, with anticipation now at a fever pitch ...

Music

St. Lucia's 'Matter' is unadulterated synthpop

By Cassidy Olsen | February 17

If you visited any independent coffee shops or juice bars in 2014, you are undoubtedly acquainted with “Elevate,” the infectious synthpop hit from South African indie musician St. Lucia. “Elevate” exemplifies the unique sound on St. Lucia’s debut album “When the Night” (2013): 80s synth, ...

Column

After Years: Chapter Two

By Stina Stannik | February 17

Editor’s note: This column is part of a fictional weekly serial.“...and if I find out you’ve given my name to any mailing lists, there WILL be hell to pay!”Finding her tirade’s target out of earshot, Cecilia stood on the curb for a moment, allowing herself the indulgence of a self-righteousness ...

Arts

Michael Bay's ‘13 Hours' dishes up conservative propaganda

By Lancy Downs | February 16

Hillary Clinton haters around the country are surely rejoicing: Michael Bay has made a movie just for them! Indeed, the director’s latest flick, “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” is unabashedly tailored to the conservative crowd, and, for Clinton detractors eager for another chance ...