Arts

The best man doesn't always win... The Daily investigates the biases inherent in the Academy Awards

The Academy Awards are considered recognitions of classic pictures, the best-of-the-best and pinnacles of filmmaking. The title "Oscar winner" carries great weight and prestige in the public mindset, and studios spend millions each year on Oscar campaigns. The best films, however, do not always win the awards; political and individual biases often sway voters into picking films based on criteria other than the quality of the movies themselves.

From the Office of the Tufts Daily

Dear Charlie Sheen (again),

Mitchell Geller | Makes it Rain

She showed up Friday afternoon. It was a cold day, that much I remember because of her large coat.

In latest album 'No Witch,' Cave Singers venture beyond folk with mixed results

Seattle has long been known for its rainy days and gray skies, but the importance of its musical identity has been growing since the 1980s. Indie folk, one of its newer outputs, has been moving into everyone's hearts for a while now, even spawning an annual folk concert known as the Seattle Folk Festival. Fleet Foxes is the current undisputed king of the scene right now, so what does "No Witch", the latest magnum opus by folk trio The Cave Singers, add to the folk momentum?

You and Q just may be meant for each other

Do you want to try a Genghis Khan? No, not that one: Tufts doesn't advocate eating leaders, no matter how ineffective or violent they may be. I am, of course, referring to Mongolian hot pot, as it is formally known, and the new restaurant in Chinatown that can introduce you to this culinary delight.

Turning something old into something new

In today's widespread and ever−evolving world of reality television, it is a miracle that producers continue to come up with new and unique ideas. Oftentimes, the latest forays into reality television are tried and true concepts, or they are mashups of other shows that have garnered success before.

Madeline Hall | The Tasteful and the Tasteless

The beauty of being someone relatively insignificant in the greater world of pop culture commentary is the distinctly low level of expectation for my critiques. Realistically, writing a cultural commentary column at Tufts does not earn the opportunity to go and report live at the 2011 Academy Awards. Instead, while watching from the safety of my room, I opted to wear my saggy high school sweatpants and an unsightly men's waffle shirt. In short, I donned apparel slightly less professional and glamorous than that designed by Christian Dior or Versace.

MFA documents medium's push for artistic legitimacy

"Modernist Photography 1910−1950," an exhibit currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, covers a critical time period, in which the growth of photography as an art medium was significant in its reflection of the rapid technological developments of the early 20th century.

Foundry On Elm offers typical gastropub fare, unique drinks in a cozy atmosphere

The complications of balancing innate dichotomies could be very real ones for an ambitious gastropub like Foundry On Elm. Contradictory forces are already manifest in the blend of "gastronomy" and, well, "pub," but this upscale tavern faces a bigger challenge than simply providing customers with delicious food and equally delicious beer.

Housemaid' delivers tense setting but thin characters

Melodrama tends to conjure up images of soaps — the iconic mood lighting, a gorgeous cast and confrontations rendered laughable by contrivance, poor acting or, more frequently, both. The genre is frequently shrugged off as the cinematic equivalent of the "airport novel," both deliciously entertaining and indulgent in its simplicity.

Tyra, and a few models, return for 16th 'ANTM' season

The 16th season of The CW's "America's Next Top Model" ("ANTM") kicked off last Wednesday, and this time around, the show is doing all it can to differentiate itself from previous cycles without losing its essence.

Jeff Beck fuses unique aesthetic with traditional rockabilly in Les Paul tribute

Jeff Beck is one of the guitar world's biggest chameleons. His solo albums and work with groups such as The Yardbirds show his aptitude for molding his personal style to a slew of different genres. Beck has covered everything from proto−metal to electronic fusion since he became famous in the '60s.

The Poison Tree' makes for thrilling debut novel

Karen Clarke is a woman who has everything to lose. Indeed, she seems to have a perfect, albeit boring, life as a talented, straight?A English major who has just graduated from university in London. But she is not fond of her boyfriend or her friends and her life seems to lack passion and vitality. As her college career comes to an end, she meets a free?spirited bohemian girl, Biba, who propels her into a new life.

AP Biology changes; effects uncertain for Tufts students

As part of a sweeping overhaul of its entire AP program, the College Board announced earlier this month that it has completed revisions to its Advanced Placement (AP) Biology program that will take effect during the 2012?13 academic year.

Weekender Feature | Tufts alum raises awareness through film

Last year, the Daily had the chance to chat with Will Tiao (LA '96) and discuss "Formosa Betrayed" (2009), a political thriller about the Taiwanese liberation that Tiao wrote, produced and starred in. Tonight at 8 p.m. in the Metcalf Hall Lounge, after enjoying a screening of "Formosa Betrayed" and a free Taiwanese dinner, Tufts students will also have the opportunity to talk to this jack-of-all-entertainment-trades about his film, his experience at Tufts, movie-making and relations between the United States and Taiwan.

Top Ten | The other Oscars

In preparation for the Academy Awards this weekend, we decided to give a little attention to some other noteworthy Oscars.

Ed Helms takes us to the heartland in 'Cedar Rapids,' with gut-busting results

Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), the hero of "Cedar Rapids," is described by his boss as "a kid who's gonna go places and just didn't." Fortunately for us, though, Lippe is forced to go places, traveling outside of his small town of Brown Valley, Wis., and checking his infallible Midwestern small-town values at the door.

Boston University brings accessible Chekhov performance to the stage

It is a shame for English speakers that Anton Chekhov wrote in Russian. He remains one of the most gifted playwrights the world has seen, but his language is often muddled and suffers a loss of meaning at the hands of even the most careful translator.

What's Up This Weekend

Looking to make your weekend artsy? Check out these events!

From the Office of the Tufts Daily