Arts

Arts

Australian Bell conveys activism through art

September 20

The controversial work of Richard Bell has been well-known for a long time in his native Australia, but he is still unknown to many Americans. Bell's art-cum-activism, now on view at the Tufts University Art Gallery, creates a dialogue around the still unaddressed plight of the Australian Aboriginal community. Until 1967, the Australian census counted Aboriginals not as citizens, but as "Flora and Fauna." Unfortunately, the stereotypes and racism arising out of this social imbalance are still very much ingrained in Australian society. Bell's work seeks to bring these injustices out from under the carpet and into the limelight. Daily Arts Editor Anna Majeski sat down with Mr. Bell to discuss his work, his history and how he uses his art as a vehicle for these issues:

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Arts

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

September 20

have never written a column before. You could say I am losing my column virginity and make some "American Pie" (1999) joke involving the forgotten career of Jason Biggs and a warm apple dessert, but I think it is best if we leave that to the sex columnists. For nine years — dating back to middle school — I have been involved in scholastic journalism. Now, with eight months left in my college career, I get to write in the first-person and have a goofy portrait of myself accompanying the text each week. For that, I am grateful.

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Arts

Intriguing remakes and promising, nostalgia-laden originals on the horizon for television this fall

September 20

Every fall, television networks spew out dozens of new programs, hoping that one will catch viewers' attention and become the breakout show of the year. Plenty of quality and original programs look to find a following as stations start premiering some of their most anticipated pilots.

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Arts

Whistler's 'The Bacchae' revels to tragic success

September 19

Darkness has fallen. Silence reigns in the tiny Charlestown Working Theater, and not even the nearby actors' breathing can be heard. Just as the sensory dearth begins to become unbearable, a soft glow radiates from a box in center stage. The chorus begins to dart, run and tumble, until — finally — the boxed light is mounted, a mask is put on with trembling fingers and frantic panting, and Dionysos begins to speak.

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Arts

Deschanel's performance carries Fox's cliched new romcom

September 19

There are only a few actresses in Hollywood who manage to transcend the various rules of attraction. More often than not, they are either aligned with what is known as "boy or girl sexy." Zooey Deschanel, the star of Fox's new sitcom, the "New Girl," somehow manages to fuse the two. With her quirky and charming humor, Deschanel attempts to save a fairly tired and cliched script.

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Arts

Chris Poldoian | Extra Butter

September 18

You know what the most awkward part is about Facebook photo−stalking — other than admitting to the entire Tufts population that you actually Facebook−stalk? The answer: pressing the left key when viewing the first photo. It is that chance click that sends you soaring into yester−year, to the days of pudgy, awkward adolescence. Yeah, it's weird. I imagine that's how most of us will feel now when we pop in any of our old movies starring Jonah Hill.

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Arts

Old favorites return to television this month

September 18

This month, many beloved television shows return to the airwaves after their summer hiatus. Fans will finally get to see if their favorite shows will continue to succeed or if they will take a turn for the worse.

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Arts

Laura Marling's latest explores dark, sophisticated themes

September 18

Laura Marling's third album, "A Creature I Don't Know," has been highly anticipated ever since she started recording it. After bringing innovative style and attitude to the singer−songwriter scene with her first two albums, Marling faced real pressure of following up with something just as good, if not better.

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Arts

Apollo 18' is one giant leap in the wrong direction for cinema

September 15

Gonzalo López-Gallego's "Apollo 18" (2011) has conquered new frontiers of flopping. Here is a movie of such astoundingly poor quality that it even misses the "so bad it's good" territory, settling instead into the realm of painful, absolute disaster.

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Arts

Favorites and winners: predictions for the Emmy Awards

September 15

This Sunday, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will be handing out the 63rd annual Emmy Awards. This year's nominees include many fan-favorite shows and critically acclaimed productions.

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Arts

Swardson exposes himself as 'Bucky Larson'

September 13

Comedian and actor Nick Swardson has been one of Hollywood's rising stars of comedy ever since he was taken under the wing of Adam Sandler and his merry troupe of goofballs. The Daily got an opportunity to speak with Nick via telephone about his starring role in "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star," which he co-wrote with Sandler and Happy Madison Productions coworker Allen Covert, as well as his whimsical experience playing an undersized porn star.

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Arts

The Debt' frees itself from the stereotypical espionage genre

September 13

Films can easily succumb to melodramatic scripts and overdone performances, especially when the focus is on unearthing truths from the past. "The Debt," however, treats its plot and truths with a certain care, keeping the drama in check and the performances on par with the script. The film's ultimate downfall lies in its inability to create a seamless transition between characters in the past and present.

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Arts

Fashion's Night Out Boston 2011 takes style to the streets

September 11

"Walk, walk, fashion baby." From New York to L.A., Paris to Milan, fashionistas around the world were out on the streets in style as they celebrated Fashion's Night Out (FNO) on Sept. 8. FNO is the one time of year where stores stay open late for a night of shopping, champagne and giveaways.

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Arts

Healthy food, fun theme make Veggie Galaxy a worthy addition to Boston's vegetarian fare

September 11

Imagine if a 1950s diner somehow became… healthy. Now imagine if this diner burst onto the culinary scene with a vegan bakery, homemade bread and a menu comprised entirely of vegetarian diner fare. Sound too good to be true?

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Arts

MFA hosts photography exhibit depicting Cuban life

September 11

Since Fidel Castro's rise to power during the 1960s, Cuba has retained an allure in many American minds as a forbidden destination. Havana in particular has garnered a reputation as a city of sinister romance and exotic culture. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's (MFA) exhibit, "Violet Isle: A Photographic Portrait of Cuba," boasts true−to−life works by Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb that dramatically trump Hollywood's unrealistic portrayals of Cuban life.

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Arts

Fall album releases offer something for every listener

September 11

Music fans have a lot to look forward to this autumn: September alone is seeing releases from several industry giants. Whether it's standard rock fare or the most daring avant−garde experiments, this coming season is primed to keep the most demanding musical tastes satisfied. Renowned artists ranging from metal/funk fusionists Primus to electronic pop rockers Neon Indian will be releasing new material to hungry fans.

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Arts

Shark Night 3D' bites off more than it can chew

September 7

Plunging into previously charted waters, "Shark Night 3D" (2011) resembles, at first glance, a hybrid of the classic "Jaws" (1975) and last summer's shockingly successful "Piranha 3D" (2010). "Jaws" delivered unadulterated fear that made beachgoers everywhere say 10 Hail Marys before wading onto a simple sandbar, whereas "Piranha 3D" embraced its intrinsic ridiculousness and carved out a niche as an excessively blood-soaked spoof/remake of a '70s B movie.

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Arts

Brevity meets versatility in Cymbals Eat Guitars' impressive sophomore album

September 7

Cymbals Eat Guitars was one of 2009's most promising newcomers. Their self-released debut, "Why There Are Mountains" (2009), quickly rose to prominence for its intricately structured songs, impressive instrumentalism and versatile vocal work. The group's latest release, "Lenses Alien," continues this trend, seeing the band expand its sound to encompass darker themes and more involved production.

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Arts

Posto serves delicious, upscale pies for a cost

September 7

Living near a college campus, it's not difficult to find a pizza joint. The portion of Boston Ave. that borders Tufts' campus alone has a handful — Pizza Days, Nick's House of Pizza and Helen's Roast Beef all serve up hot, greasy slices late into the night. But while cheeseburger pizza from Pizza Days may fill the void at two in the morning, it doesn't seem quite right to order when the sun is still up.

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Arts

Tha Carter IV' fails to live up to predecessors

September 5

From the mid to late 2000s, Lil Wayne represented an unstoppable force in hip-hop music. He released an extraordinary amount of material, including many critically acclaimed mixtapes and the Grammy Award-winning "Tha Carter III" (2008). No other rapper seemed as hungry or as talented as Lil Wayne.

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