Arts

Columns

Las Letras Encubiertas: ‘Pensamientos estériles’

By Andrés F. Arévalo | March 3

In the last two years, a new name has forced itself into the contemporary Hispanic poetry canon and the world feminist literature, gaining speed and acclaim like nobody else: Luna Miguel. Originally born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, Miguel quickly jumped into the Spanish writing scene with her work as a journalist, editor and director in several publishing houses and magazines. However, she is most widely recognized for her poetry collections, gaining fame all throughout Latin America and Spain. Some of her collections include “Poetry is not dead” (2010), “Poesía masculina” (2021) and “Pensamientos estériles” (2011).

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Arts

WEEKENDER: The 2023 Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival showed nerdom at its roots

By Carl Svahn | March 2

If one were to stand next to the Somerville Theater on the night of Feb. 15, they would probably think the building was closed. No lights, no sounds and only the cold air blowing in their faces to provide any semblance of movement in the area. Yet just one door over in the theater’s own recently revamped Crystal Ballroom, the sci-fi community of the greater Boston area was throwing the party of the year. The chandelier-clad room was bathed in blue light and as a remote-controlled Mouse Droid prop rolled around the replica TARDIS in the center of the room, a dozen people lined up in a variety of “Doctor Who” (1963–) related outfits for a costume contest. This was how the Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, the second oldest independent genre film festival in the country, officially opened its 48th year.

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Arts

Strip and show me the meat! The secret substance of ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’

By Ava Dettling | March 2

The time has come: “Magic” Mike Lane is hanging up his G-string and packing away his body oils. No longer will he grind and flex — or so he says. In Steven Soderbergh’s latest installment, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” (2023), Soderbergh follows Mike (Channing Tatum) as he is drawn to the stage for his final striptease. What can I say? The man just can’t seem to keep his hips from gyrating.

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Columns

Queeries: Queer icons Ice Spice, Miley Cyrus and SZA top the charts

By Jack Clohisy and Saba S. | March 2

Queer music icons create positive representation in mainstream music while increasing visibility and topping the Billboard Hot 100.

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Arts

2023 Oscars predictions: Who will win in all 23 categories

By Nate Hall | March 1

As awards season comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the best Hollywood had to offer in 2022. Austin Butler amazed us. Ke Huy Quan made an incredible comeback. Angela Bassett did the thing. What do all of these stars have in common? They’re vying for recognition at this year’s Oscars, along with countless other actors, filmmakers and designers. Read on to see the Daily’s predictions in all 23 categories ahead of the 95th Academy Awards on March 12.

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Arts

‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ did very little (and that’s okay)

By Odessa Gaines | March 1

Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers for “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” (2023).

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Columns

Winkler’s Weekly Symphony Guide: Some thoughts on listening

By Matthew Winkler | March 1

It is no secret that classical music, or perhaps more broadly ‘art music,’ is generally an unpopular artform among young audiences. Many doomsayers point to the gray heads of audiences in symphony halls as proof of the death of classical music. The argument goes that without new, young classical fans, there will be no one to replace the current generation of fans when they pass away. I’m even guilty of making this argument. While these are valid concerns (the statistics tell a grim story), it is too pessimistic, melodramatic and disrespectful to the main base of elderly people to foretell the death of all classical music. I am not going to defend the artform, try to convert any skeptical readers or take some elitist stand professing the death of music. Young people have made their decision, and I will not try to argue for classical music for our generation, or even argue that there is anything wrong with our generation not liking classical music. Instead, I hope to share a few simple thoughts on listening. 

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Arts

'Creed III' belongs to Jonathan Majors and almost no one else

By Carl Svahn | February 28

It feels unfair to mention “Rocky” (1976) when discussing “Creed III” (2023). As the first film in the boxing franchise without the Italian Stallion in any capacity (minus a producing credit), it’s clear from the get-go that this is the beginning of the post-”Rocky” era for the, until now, aptly named “Rocky” series. It was an inevitable transition, and who better to lead it than Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) himself behind the director’s chair? Yet, for a film that is so clearly trying to move in its own path, it cannot help but continue to dwell in the past. “Creed III” feels like an unmade sequel to the first “Creed” (2015) — what “Creed II” (2018) would have been without Stallone or Russians — and except for an incredible performance from Jonathan Majors as the film’s antagonist, it falls just short of its predecessors.

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Arts

Return to the world of 'Willow'

By Alexis Enderle | February 28

First things first, watch the original movie “Willow” (1988). Starring Warwick Davis in the titular role alongside Val Kilmer as Madmartigan and Joanne Whalley as Sorsha, the film has a similar vibe to “The Princess Bride” (1987) as it tells a story of destiny, magic and love. With a story by George Lucas, the original film is certainly worth a watch. 

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Columns

Medford’s Carrie Bradshaw: Why is growing up so hard?

By Megan Reimer | February 28

Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why” (2002) played the other day on my Spotify shuffle. Immediately, I was transported back into my childhood bedroom, and I was 5 years old again. I was on Pandora listening to their pop radio station, and just like that, it was 2008 and things had never been so clear.

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Arts

A guide to the MIT List Visual Arts Center

By Elizabeth Barrett | February 27

A few minutes away from the Kendall/MIT Red Line stop and free to the public, the MIT List Visual Arts Center is an accessible and intimate space to see art in Greater Boston. 

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Arts

What makes a successful celebrity brand?

By Ryan Fairfield | February 27

Celebrities have always been used as marketing tools for companies. From Jennifer Garner splashing water on her face for a Neutrogena commercial to Shawn Mendes’ steamy photoshoot for a Calvin Klein campaign, celebrities grab our attention and draw much-desired eyes to a certain brand. In recent years, rather than using their publicity for another company, some celebrities and influencers have opted to create their own brands. 

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Columns

K-Weekly: PURPLE KISS is back! 

By Odessa Gaines | February 27

After about seven months of anticipation, PURPLE KISS finally came back with its fifth EP, “Cabin Fever,” on February 15, 2023. At only 16 minutes in run time, this EP serves as a fierce reminder that PURPLE KISS is one group that will always release a banger with a sound so addictive that you feel like you’ve ascended to heaven.

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Arts

Conversations with Professor Stephan Pennington, Part 1

By Jack Clohisy | February 24

The Tufts Daily had the privilege of speaking with Stephan Pennington, one of Tufts University’s associate professors in the music department. When Pennington, an activist, military veteran and lifelong scholar, was first asked which set of pronouns would be best to refer to him, he wanted to make it clear that while he can be referred to using “he/him/his” pronouns, and he also noted that he generally does not share his pronouns because he wants to normalize a space where individuals can both “share their pronouns or not share their pronouns,” if desired.

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Local

'Fairview':  Performing the white gaze in Boston

By Elizabeth Foster | February 24

Boston’s SpeakEasy Stage opened “Fairview” (2018), written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, on Friday, Feb. 17. Running through March 11, this production depicts the white gaze with a Pulitzer Prize-winning script and commanding cast.

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Columns

Las Letras Encubiertas: 'Caperucita se come al lobo'

By Andrés F. Arévalo | February 24

In hundreds of years of Latin American literature, the male-dominated canon has kept the character of women as an accessory and a servant, following sexist and conservative values instilled by the Catholic church.Even in this last decade, with Latin American conservatism having been discarded, and especially with the “Latin Lover” stereotype, women are judged and not allowed to have a perception and manifestation of their own sexuality.

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Arts

WEEKENDER: Arts section alums reflect on lessons learned amid flourishing careers in media

By Henry Chandonnet | February 23

Editor’s note: The Daily’s editorial department acknowledges that this article is premised on a conflict of interest. This article is a special feature for Daily Week that does not represent the Daily’s standard journalistic practices.

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Arts

A message from our assistant arts editors

By Megan Reimer, Ava Dettling, Matthew Winkler and Erin Zhu | February 23

To celebrate the Daily this week, the arts section’s new assistant editors describe their experience with the Daily and what it has meant to them.

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Local

Queeries: A thanks to the Daily

By Jack Clohisy and Saba S. | February 23

Welcome back to another week of Queeries! This week we’re talking about The Daily and the importance of queer voices. Being queer is a lifelong journey of breaking the boundaries that surround gender and sexuality, but being societal rule breakers is exhausting when it feels like your voice is not being heard. For us, the Daily has supported our voices and given us a space to not only banter with one another but also create an environment where we feel valued, included and empowered to succeed.

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Arts

'White Noise' is a cluttered postmodern mess

By Nate Hall | February 22

In 1985, postmodernist writer Don DeLillo gained widespread acclaim for “White Noise,” a novel about a professor and his family in Middle America whose lives are upturned by a toxic air contamination accident. The novel, which touches on themes of consumerism, academia and death, won the National Book Award for Fiction and has since become a postmodern classic. While the book’s success should’ve made it the perfect candidate for a movie adaptation, it was long considered “unfilmable” because of its complex plot. After nearly 20 years in development, “White Noise” has finally been given the Hollywood treatment by “Marriage Story” (2019) director Noah Baumbach. Did he make a cinematic masterpiece and prove everyone wrong? Not exactly.

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