Arts - The Tufts Daily

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Arts

MFA showcases artistic discourse

September 5

The Monet/Lichtenstein exhibit now at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) through Sept. 25 examines the relationship between renowned Impressionist painter Claude Monet and Pop Art icon Roy Lichtenstein. The two artists belonged to different artistic generations and never met in person, but their work scales temporal difference by creating an artistic conversation that shrinks the decades separating their careers.

Arts

Summer blockbusters fail to sizzle

August 30

Struggling for speaking points with your new roommate? Try brushing up on the best and worst of this summer's flicks for the perfect icebreaker. After all, summer is synonymous with blockbusters and gut-busters.

Arts

Comparing Tufts to the silver screen

August 30

College life has been the subject of countless films and television shows. And while no two of these campuses are ever exactly alike, some of the movies and shows do a better job than others of accurately portraying the collegiate experience. However, students who have based their expectations on film and television will be in for some surprises. For incoming freshmen, here's a breakdown of how college life on the silver and small screens compares to life on the Hill.

Arts

Performing Jumbos turn freshman celebration into circus

August 30

Coming to a new school is overwhelming, and you might be wondering: how will I get my daily dose of culture when I have so much acclimating to do? Luckily, many of Tufts' performing arts groups will make an appearance during Orientation. Catch these talented troupes at First Night Celebration and at the O-Show.

Arts

Eugene Kim | Alleged but Not Convicted

May 20

Of all the lessons I learned while on the road as a semi-professional cup stacker, it was the importance of making good memories that mattered most. I broke a lot of hearts on the Bible Belt Cup Stacking circuit, and I had mine torn up once or twice. Our hedonistic lifestyle with no regard for UTIs or the future meant we were always doing awesome stuff. And what happened when we inevitably parted ways due to the harsh realities of our paths in life? We accepted it because no good thing lasts forever and we had enough Nutella'd and handcuffed memories to keep that fire going.

Arts

Madeline Hall | The Tasteful and the Tasteless

May 20

I once dated a kid who listened almost entirely to ambient music. Every time I entered his car, some variation of plinking, dinging bells over a dull whir of soft noise was emanating from his speakers, creating such an intensely boring aura that it was capable of knocking me out for days. He loved those ambient tunes more than any other kind of music I threw at him; folk could not sway him, Motown made his skin crawl and twee pop actually offended his ears. He was nothing if not devoted to the genre, and I admired that sense of dedication. I would therefore humor him some and would listen to the drowsy music until consciousness failed me.

Arts

Though a trek from Tufts, SoWa market offers refreshing summer fun for locals

May 20

When students first arrive at Tufts, there is a common list of locations that they can expect to see at some point during their four years. The Museum of Fine Arts, Faneuil Hall and Newbury Street are just a few of the common tourist spots that Boston boasts. But there is one experience that students are unlikely to have unless they spend their summer taking classes at Tufts or interning in the city. Beginning in May each year, the SoWa Open Market takes place on Sundays throughout the summer in South Boston and gives visitors one day each week filled with music, art, crafts and food from local Boston artists and vendors.

Arts

Summer promises string of flashy films, both new and franchised

May 20

Summer movie season is synonymous with big stars, huge action and explosive spectacles. Hollywood saves the biggest blockbusters for these upcoming months, presenting moviegoers with a swath of sequels and superheroes, and the Daily has a rundown of some of the season's most anticipated films.

Arts

From East to West Coast, a road trip of the best

May 20

If you're fortunate enough to be footloose and fancy-free for the next month (hey, it's called "funemployment" for a reason), then there's no time like the present to celebrate being young and carefree by going on a road trip. From exhibits to concerts to art festivals, there's a goldmine of artistic experiences lined up in the good old US of A. We've concocted a route that ensures the artsiest cross-country experience — and don't worry, we've spared you the International Gourd Art Festival.

Arts

Several new TV series will provide recent grads with something to do

May 20

Seniors, once you move back into your parents' basements, you're going to have a lot of free time on your hands. Instead of wasting it on applying for jobs (futile) or researching grad schools (why?), do something productive and check out this handful of television shows premiering over the summer:

Arts

From guilty pleasures to academic heavy lifting, the summer book season has it all

May 20

Ah, summer. Time to dust off those books that have been sitting on your nightstand all semester and read more than three pages before passing out at 1 a.m. Whether summer means leisurely days on the beach, long international flights to glamorous places or a lengthy commute on the T, a good book is your best friend. We took a look at many of this summer's literary releases and are here to tell you how you should be spending your time when you don't have to worry about Blackboard readings or response papers.

Arts

Boston theater: Shakespeare, bin Laden and soul searching, oh my!

May 20

As the sun begins to beat down on the city of Boston, why not escape the heat (and reduce your risk of developing melanoma in the future) in a cool, dark theater? This summer, Boston theater companies are tackling everything from Shakespearian classics to bold experimental pieces that promise to entertain at least as well as your favorite beach read. So hop on the T to check out what's playing — your skin and your sense of culture will thank you.

Arts

Mitchell Geller | Makes It Rain

May 20

They call it Commencement because they say it's the first day of the rest of our lives. I call that the ultimate in hokey. I'll concede that it sort of makes sense that the past two decades of non-stop schooling have been something like practice, but it's totally cheesy nonetheless.

Arts

Reunion albums, follow-ups mark this summer's music scene

May 20

Summer has always been a great time for music. Unless you live in California or another glorious climate, it marks the time when outdoor shows and festivals become possible again, and even for those who don't attend outdoor shows, summer usually presents any music fan with a slew of new, interesting releases from a variety of bands. Some of the most accomplished working musical artists wait until the warmer months to release their new material, and this year is no different, with offerings from a smorgasbord of different groups.