Arts

Columns

Attack of the B-Movies: Fading away into ‘Altered States’

By Ethan Essner | November 29

Cinema and hallucinogens: a match that’s a far cry from our typical pairings on television or theater screens. Yet, Ken Russell is one of those classic directors who doesn’t have any trouble submerging your head into pools of visual craziness. All the humdrum of any plot is thrown out the window and replaced with the utmost of sadistic experiences. His 1971 breakout masterpiece “The Devils” tackles sexual repression under the guise of the Roman Catholic church and is perhaps most infamous for splicing religious power and horniness with the ever-so sacred crucifix. Nearly ten years after “The Devils,” Russell coupled salvation with a magic mushroom trip in his 1980 film “Altered States.” This film possesses the off-kilter elements of a B-movie classic while also containing a remarkable lead performance from William Hurt.

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Arts

‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ gets it right

By Daniel Vos | November 28

“The Hunger Games” franchise returned with a new prequel installment, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (2023) on Nov. 17. For a young adult dystopia movie genre that has fallen on hard times since its prime in the 2010s, the new “Hunger Games” film offers a nostalgia-driven refresher on why the original series worked so well.

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Arts

‘Napoleon’ is an intricate, if confused, portrait of a legend and tyrant

By Zoya Amrit | November 28

“Napoleon” (2023) opens with an idea written in the shades of the French tricolor: “The people are driven by misery into revolution … and brought back to misery by revolution.” This cyclic statement on history is mirrored in the film, which begins with the public and ostentatious beheading of Marie Antoinette and ends with the quiet, whimpering death of Napoleon Bonaparte. The sequences in between depict revolution, battle, death, politics and the intricacies of a tumultuous relationship that carries through the film.

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Columns

Tok the Talk: Rachel Zegler and gender bias in the media

By Annika Pillai | November 28

“If it hadn’t been so successful, I think people would have thought it was really weird. It’s a really weird story. But I think once it becomes mainstream, it’s difficult for people to see how strange the story is.” These wise words were spoken by Robert Pattinson (Twilight heartthrob, though he would probably hate to admit that) in a recent interview with Wonderland magazine. In hindsight, his comments are amusing, and if anything, sensible. The Twilight franchise is known for its peculiar nature, and Pattinson has detailed how the books are like “reading [Myers’] sexual fantasy.” Gross.

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Arts

‘American Horror Story: Delicate’ is a sleek rebirth

By Jennifer May | November 21

On Sept. 20th, the 12th season of “American Horror Story” (2011–) premiered on FX, streaming on Hulu the next day. The new season, titled “Delicate,” marks a shift in the anthology, introducing new cast members Kim Kardashian and Cara Delevigne for the latest installment. “Delicate” is based on Danielle Valentine’s novel “Delicate Condition” (2023), and explores the anxiety of pregnancy through the paranoia of its lead character and the uncertainty of what is growing within her. With this season, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, co-creators and executive producers, are strongly leaning into a new style of AHS while retaining the camp humor classic to the show. 

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Arts

Fans fawn over new book ‘Iron Flame’ at release party

By Natalie Bricker | November 20

Everyone’s heard of “Fourth Wing” (2023) by now; the fantasy novel by Rebecca Yarros has gained much attention and praise on social media since its release this spring. The novel is fast-paced, creative, intelligent and endlessly entertaining. “Fourth Wing” is a must-read for any “Divergent” (2011) or Sarah J. Maas fans. The novel is packed with a badass heroine, dragons, romance, magic — everything readers need in a fantasy novel.

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Columns

Compost in the Daylight: The wishing tower

By Sadie Leite | November 20

Once upon a time, I traveled to a small country in Eastern Europe with two friends. We signed up for a road trip of sorts with a talkative tour guide and one other tourist: a middle-aged man who consistently cradled a small camera. Our first stop was a town with a wishing tower.

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Arts

Considering the legacy of Tufts Dance for their 40th-anniversary fall dance concert

By Odessa Gaines | November 17

This weekend, Tufts’ Department of Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies will be putting on their 40th anniversary dance concert. The concert, which will feature the work of students, alumni and faculty, is a showcase of the meaning of dance, and the guidance dance can offer to every individual throughout their lives. At Tufts, dance is an expression of legacy, connection and collaboration.

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Arts

With ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version),’ Swift proves her album will never go ‘out of style’

By Ryan Fairfield | November 17

Back in 2014, “1989” changed pop music and Taylor Swift’s career in unimaginable ways. The album marked Swift’s shift from country singer to fully-fledged pop star, and the album was both a critical and commercial success, earning her three Grammys, three No. 1 Hot 100 hits and a world tour that grossed over $250 million. Her re-recording of the album, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” (2023), a continuation of Swift’s efforts to reclaim her stolen work, is no different and has once again proven to be a huge success.

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Columns

Inside the MFA: What not to miss

By Claire Wood | November 17

It would be impossible to see all of the nearly 500,000 pieces at the Museum of Fine Arts in one visit. You can check items off your MFA bucket list over time, but you can only see and appreciate so many pieces in one visit.

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Arts

WEEKENDER: GlobeDocs Film Festival celebrates 9th year, Tufts student stars in featured documentary

By Matthew Winkler | November 16

The Boston Globe successfully ran their ninth-annual GlobeDocs Film Festival from October 25-29. GlobeDocs is a five-day film festival that features new, acclaimed documentary films, ranging from big-budget streaming hits such as “American Symphony” (2023) and“The Pigeon Tunnel” (2023) to smaller, independent films such as“The Highest Standard” (2023) and “The Philadelphia Eleven” (2023). 

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Arts

The Boston Symphony Orchestra reaches out to college students with the College Card

By Erin Zhu | November 16

In an age of pop music and streaming, the traditional narrative has been that classical music is now a relic of the past, appreciated by few and adored by a graying audience. However, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s “College Card” has spun this narrative on its head and has succeeded in drawing in students to Boston’s legendary Symphony Hall to watch the world-class performances that grace its stage.

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Columns

The Power of the Pen: The actors strike is over

By Odessa Gaines | November 16

The 2023 actors strike officially ended at 12:01 a.m on Nov. 9. PT. After 118 days, a deal was finally struck between SAG-AFTRA and major Hollywood studios. A unanimous agreement was made following negotiations on Nov. 8 that led to significant wins for the actors union. 

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Arts

Sofia Coppola’s poignant portrait of ‘Priscilla’ astounds

By Jennifer May | November 16

In a world distant from a glamorous life on tour, Priscilla Presley waits in the softly lit rooms of Graceland. For many years, Priscilla was a shadow of her adored husband. The world’s eyes were on him and her life was a mystery. In Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” (2023), her bittersweet life story is finally told through a quietly alluring film.  

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Theater

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ is a joy ride at Central Square Theater

By Nate Hall | November 15

Every year, around Halloween, audiences pack into theaters to see “The Rocky Horror Show” (1975). Richard O’Brien’s musical, beloved by generations of fans who attend both live performances and screenings of the film, is known for its cult following. Audiences often play an important role in the show, calling out lines and sometimes shouting ad-lib responses to performers. If you’ve ever seen “Rocky Horror,” you’ve witnessed this infectious energy. It’s no different at Central Square Theater’s production of “Rocky Horror,” running now through Nov. 26 in Cambridge.

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Columns

Confessions of a Cooking Fanatic: Thanksgiving for the project manager

By Elizabeth Foster | November 15

I must confess that while I adore cooking, I am a computer science major. I don’t see cooking as a future career. I do, however, see a career with enough of a work-life balance and extraneous funds for exploring cooking as a hobby. But I argue that there is much overlap between these two interests. As a software engineer, I am constantly breaking down big problems into smaller, more manageable problems. As a project manager, I perform the same tasks but further consider timelines and resource allocation. And as an amateur cook, I am breaking down the most notable meal of the year in the same way.

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Arts

The buildup to ‘Voir Dire,’ Earl Sweatshirt and the Alchemist’s long-awaited secret collaboration

By Elsa Madsen | November 14

Since 2019, the Alchemist has been taunting his followers with claims that he and Earl Sweatshirt existed on YouTube under a fake name and that the two had been releasing music right under the noses of listeners. Anticipation was high as eager fans awaited for the two to publicly release their collaboration. 

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Columns

Tok the Talk: TikTok’s influence on the fashion industry

By Annika Pillai | November 14

“Is that Shein?” I found myself asking that on a Sunday afternoon, holding an overpriced coffee in one hand and two shopping bags from the two previous thrift stores my friends and I had just hit up in the other. We had spontaneously decided to stop at a nearby Goodwill to try our luck one last time. I was right: Behind a vintage, very heavily worn camisole lay a Shein bolero (a fancy name for a cropped jacket). 

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Arts

Pop icon Kesha returns to the spotlight at MGM Music Hall with The Only Love Tour

By Chase Pantezzi | November 13

Kesha is one of the most recognizable stars of the last fifteen years. After her feature on Flo Rida’s “Right Round” (2009) and the release of her debut album “Animal” (2010), she skyrocketed to fame, defining the soundtrack of many Gen Z children. Kesha performed at the MGM Music Hall on Nov. 1 as a part of her “The Only Love Tour,” which the Daily attended.

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Columns

I Can’t Think Straight: Red, white and royal BS

By Cole Reese | November 13

Here’s the thing: Gay love is not easy. There’s no TV meet-cute where your hands accidentally touch as you reach for the same bag of kale in the grocery store. There’s Grindr, and Tinder, and an endless cycle of feeling bad about yourself because it feels like everyone is hotter than you and you’re never going to find that perfect movie romance. Maybe this is what straight people go through all the time. Honestly, it must suck to have so much idealized romance shoved in your face. That’s exactly what it felt like to watch Amazon’s “Red, White & Royal Blue” (2023) as a gay man.

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