Arts

James Barasch | Barasch on Books

Often, a biography is a retrospective project, compiled when the person's life and actions can be viewed through the clarifying lens of history and the passage of time. But "The Man Without a Face: The Unlikely Rise of Vladimir Putin," by journalist MashaGessen, tells the life of one of today's most important political figures in the midst of a turbulent time in Russia.The result is a passionate and vivid yet potentially unbiased account of Mr. Putin's early life and ascent to global prominence.

21 Jump Street' offers hilariously fresh take on 1980s drama

Cinema has long had a tradition of recycling ideas, fashioning new works out of time?honored masterpieces and cultural phenomena. Often, remakes and re?imaginings are doomed to fail as critics and fans alike place such pieces under a microscope alongside their successful originators. "21 Jump Street," however, manages to effectively take the skeletal structure of its inspiration and infuse the story with freshness and hysterics.

Manet in Black' shows other side of renowned artist

The Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA) is hosting the "Manet in Black" exhibition in Gallery 153 until Oct. 28. This exhibit boasts an incredible collection of the Impressionist's rarely exhibited prints and drawings. An impressive number of pieces line the walls of the long Gallery 153 hallway, celebrating ?‰douardManet's achievements as a printmaker and draftsman rather than displaying his better?known paintings. The exhibit is an absolute must?see, especially for anyone interested in gaining a broader understanding of Manet's talents and achievements.

White Hills expands on space rock sound to mixed results in 'Frying on the Rock'

For a while, space rock act White Hills was really going somewhere. Since its debut album in 2005, the Brooklyn duo has released 11 studio albums, including its most recent endeavor through Thrill Jockey Records, "Frying on this Rock."

Smash' elegantly captures the drama of producing a Broadway musical

Rock, electronic dabbling yield gold on 'Comma'

Tufts senior Jon Fricchione's band October Surprise released its third album, "Comma" (2012) on March 10. The band formed in 2005 when Fricchione and Conor Garrison started playing music together during high school in Harvard, Mass. Phil Stapleton joined as bass guitarist in 2008 and performs with the band during live performances.

TUTV's 'In Motion' finally draws to a close

Nowadays, you don't have to go far to watch your favorite TV show - you just open your laptop and stream whatever you're in the mood for. This technological development has provided the perfect venue for Tufts University Television's (TUTV) productions. The most popular of these, the long?running college drama "In Motion," is set to return for its seventh and final season in the coming weeks, making it the perfect time to turn on the Mac and tune in to see just how talented Tufts' student body truly is.

Pro-Con: Carmichael

You're finally getting a meal with them. That friend you haven't seen since first semester of freshman year, that perfect 10 you met last week whose Facebook page clearly indicates they're your soulmate for life (whatever that means) or that professor you just can't quite click with but whose approval you desperately crave.

The Hunger Games' thrills die-hard fans, newcomers

The Jazz Club' brings sultry swing to Tufts

The Daily picks the best restaurants for this year's Restaurant Week

Niki Krieg | The Queen of Cibo

Next to Normal' juxtaposes fanfare with serious issues

With its heavy guitar riffs and taboo topics, "Next To Normal" (2009) is far from the Broadway camp of yesteryear. Composer Tom Kitt redefines the modern rock musical with folk undertones in his pop?infused score, topped off by the bitingly realistic lyrics of Brian Yorkey.

FIFA Street' loses spark in latest incarnation

EA Sports' "FIFA Street" was recently released on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, promising to mold itself in the image of other fantastic "street" games - including classics like "NBA Street" (2001) and "NFL Street" (2004). But the game falls short of expectations, leaving many to bemoan the end of such a strong series.

Mad Men' premiere subtly foreshadows drama to come in fifth season

Sexism, adultery, abject alcoholism - they're all back, and they're as scandalous as ever. After waiting nearly a year and a half for "Mad Men" to grace TV screens again, fans of television's most acclaimed drama can at last rejoice: Don Draper has indeed returned. But whether or not his return satisfied the ripe anticipation surrounding season five's premiere remains to be seen.

The Shins return triumphantly with dynamic, new 'Port of Morrow'

The Shins have been around for more than a decade, yet they have remained faithful to their stylized indie rock with a sound that fluctuates between upbeat and miserable, all the while remaining wonderfully melodic.

James Barasch | Barasch on Books

Over spring break I enjoyed reading Pulitzer Prize?winning Russian imperial biographer Robert K. Massie's reexamination of one of the greatest leaders of the early modern era. In his book, "Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman," which weighs in at 656 pages, Massie paints an interesting portrait of the Tsarina and her attempts to modernize Russia in the innovative, iconoclastic tradition of her 'Great' predecessor, Tsar Peter.

Thompson challenges perceptions of art in latest exhibit at MIT gallery

Twentieth?century artists transformed the subject of painting into a self?referential narrative in which painting itself became subject matter. Modernists reveled in the materiality of art, making brushwork, canvas and paint their field of exploration and point of departure. Artists of the 1970s became critical of the modernist perspective; they rejected the idea that any art could be completed in an isolated or entirely self?referential way. Postmodernists saw contemporary art as inevitably repeating the past and inextricably tied to the present.

Taco Loco brings Mexican cuisine to East Somerville

Whether it's the scent of cannolis wafting from the North End, the boisterous pubs in Southie or the abundance of Thai and Indian restaurants dotting Back Bay, one never goes hungry in Boston. The food is diverse, plentiful and often delicious, but chow?seekers from heavily Mexican?populated states like California or Texas often find their beloved burritos lacking. Without ragging on any particular locale, let it be acknowledged that Mexican restaurants in Boston are quite often subpar. Due to Boston's comparatively small native population, the food is often inauthentic or flavorless, and many have succumbed to despair.

Theater Review | 'Recent Tragic Events' gives a personal look at the aftermath of Sept. 11

Do you remember what you did on Sept. 11, 2001? Do you remember having the TV running nonstop the following days, watching the Twin Towers falling again and again while struggling to comprehend what had happened? How long does it take to resume a normal life after such a catastrophe?