Arts

Arts

The tragedy of ‘Bros’

By Henry Chandonnet | October 12

It’s a crushing sight to see the first major-studio gay rom-com flop so publicly. “Bros” (2022) opened to a deeply underwhelming $4.8 million at the box office, cementing its fate as a failure in the public eye. Pundits and commentators alike have theorized on the shortcomings of the film, with creator Billy Eichner himself blaming that proverbial “homophobic weirdo.” So who’s to blame for this tragedy of queer media? The answer may be just about everyone.

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Columns

The Art of Good Soup: Are udon(e) yet?

By Ellie Lester and Cole Reese | October 12

This is a message for Shanghai Moon Restaurant in Medford, Mass. If you are not Shanghai Moon, or our Uber Eats driver, Diamond, keep scrolling. This does not concern you. 

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Local

Winkler's Weekly Symphony Guide: Modernism Triumphs

By Matthew Winkler | October 12

At last week’s Sept. 30 concert, an older woman approached me during intermission and told me how incensed she was by the program. To play not only a contemporary piece but also the modernist Shostakovich was simply too much! Luckily, “her Haydn,” as the woman would call Joseph Hadyn, closed the concert, saving her bourgeois sensibilities. I would have loved to see her reaction to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s third and most recent Oct. 6–8 set, which flaunted a daring line-up of only 20th and 21st century works. Additionally interesting was that all of the pieces were “program music,” meaning they all tried to represent a non-musical narrative or image.

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Arts

'Pearl': A farmer’s daughter goes for the kill 

By Ava Dettling | October 7

In “Pearl” (2022), the second installment of Ti West’s vintage horror trilogy, we get a look into the real “farmer’s daughter.” It is a prequel to “X” (2022), which follows a group of independent adult filmmakers in the 1970s who are staying on a Texas farm to finish their film, “Farmer’s Daughter.” The group is soon subject to the murderous and sexual urges of Pearl (Mia Goth), the old lady of the farm and a homicidal sex addict. Pearl deeply mourns her youth and sexual prime, and she has no problem taking it out on the unsuspecting filmmakers. While “X” is a gory and exploitative examination of youth and sexuality, “Pearl” takes on a more subtle approach. 

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Columns

Looking Through the Met: Gilded glamour

By Ryan Fairfield | October 7

The 2022 Met Gala was the first traditional Met Gala since 2019. The Gala was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, it was a smaller event held in September with a lack of some of the major, popular attendees. Needless to say, there was pressure on the Met to revive the gala and remind the public of what an essential fashion event it is.

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Local

Weekender: Latour shows Paradise Rock Club passion, love and gratitude

By Madeleine Aitken | October 6

Maude Latour’s song “Cyclone” (2022) ends with an overlapping chorus of the line “You know me well.” It felt like no mistake that that was the song she started her show at Paradise Rock Club with; by the time she got to the end of the track, she was singing those lyrics with immense passion, like she really meant it. 

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Arts

Joshua Bassett has finally found his voice with 'Sad Songs In A Hotel Room'

By Ryan Fairfield | October 6

Joshua Bassett has had a rumor- and drama-filled experience with fame since he gained popularity for starring as Ricky Bowen in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” (2019–).  Bassett was rumored to be dating co-star Olivia Rodrigo throughout the filming of the first season of “HSMTMTS,” with the pair even writing a song together, “Just for a Moment,” for the show. Fans came to the conclusion that Rodrigo and Bassett broke up after he was spotted with former Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter. Following the release of Olivia Rodrigo’s “drivers license,” which was assumed to be about her relationship with Bassett, he was bombarded with attacks across social media, with the attacks continuing with the release of her album, “SOUR” (2021).

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Columns

The Book Nook: 'Sofi and the Bone Song': A spellbinding tale of music, self-discovery and love

By Layla Noor Landrum | October 6

Adrienne Tooley’s “Sofi and the Bone Song” (2022) is a beautifully crafted and heartfelt standalone young adult fantasy novel released this year from Simon and Schuster. It follows the titular character, Sofi, who longs to be a Musik like her father — one of a select few musicians in the country with a license to write and perform original songs. Born into a kingdom plagued by an endless winter where magic isn’t sacred, but accessible to all, strict laws ensure that music remains an untouched and pure art form. Ever since she was young, Sofi has trained as a musician with the hopes of inheriting her father’s title, but on the day of auditions, something unexpected occurs. Lara, a girl who’s never played the lute before, enthralls judges with her performance and secures the title of Musik, stealing the only dream Sofi has ever had for her future. Suspecting Lara of the illegal use of magic and mourning the sudden death of her father, Sofi sets out to expose Lara’s crime, only to find herself beginning to question everything she knew about magic, her past and her dreams.

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Column

K-Weekly: BLACKPINK makes comeback after nearly two years

By Odessa Gaines | October 5

After a nearly two-year and greatly anticipated wait, BLACKPINK has finally made its musical comeback with its new album, “Born Pink” (2022). BLACKPINK, a four-member girl group made up of Rosé, Jisoo, Lisa and Jennie, first debuted on Aug. 8, 2016, with their single album “Square One” (2016) under YG Entertainment. 

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Columns

The Art of Good Soup: What's (so)up nerds?

By Cole Reese and Ellie Lester | October 5

Last semester, we wrote a column about soup. Some found it funny, others found it cringey and some of you downright despised it. We felt all three. And so of course, we're going to do it again.

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Arts

Maya Hawke gives listeners an intimate view of her life with 'MOSS'

By Ryan Fairfield | October 4

In the past year, Maya Hawke has solidified herself as one of television's rising stars with an incredible performance in season 4 of “Stranger Things” (2016–) and her hilarious role in Netflix’s “Do Revenge” (2022). Hawke’s characters tend to have a comedic side to them, and her nature in interviews and other public appearances shows the world her positive, cheerful side — a stark contrast to her music. In her music, most recently with the release of her second album “MOSS” (2022), Hawke delves deep into the intricacies of emotions and relationships, from relationships with family members and friends to her navigation of the world in her public versus her private life. 

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Columns

Queeries: Queer artist advances the future of LGBTQIA+ in Iran

By Saba S. | October 4

Mahsa Merci is an Iranian-born queer multidisciplinary artist. Merci uses various forms of visual media to challenge society’s traditional concepts of beauty. Her art specifically revolves around gender binaries and queer identities. Merci’s work is an extension of the suppressed role of LGBTQmembers of Iranian society and raises awareness of the discrimination and violence that occurs against sexual minorities in Iran.

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Local

Winkler's Weekly Symphony Guide: The classical meritocracy and 'A Toast!' to the BSO

By Matthew Winkler | October 3

The Boston Symphony Orchestra opens its 2022–23 season with a program that is emblematic of its philosophy and serves as a historically and musically diverse preview of what’s to come. The lineup includes seemingly disparate works that reach over three hundred years back into the Baroque with J.S. Bach’s “Keyboard Concerto in A” before rocketing into the here and now with Jessie Montgomery’s “Rounds” (2022), a work whose inception was only a few months ago following its premiere in March. 

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Arts

"The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" first five episodes expand upon the lore of J. R. R. Tolkien's world

By Ishaan Rajiv Rajabali | September 30

Twenty-one years ago, audiences around the world heard Cate Blanchett’s ethereal voice whisper “the world is changed,” with no idea how “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” and its sequels, would change the world of pop culture.They had no idea of the cinematic experience of epic proportions they were in for. It is only fitting then, that its prequel, the heavily anticipated “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” (2022–), begins the same way.

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TV

Let’s rehearse 'The Rehearsal' of a rehearsal   

By Andrés F. Arévalo | September 30

According to the Collins Dictionary,a rehearsal can be defined as a “session of exercise, drill, or practice, usually private, in preparation for a public performance, ceremony, etc.” Although it is a term usually reserved for performance art or public speaking, rehearsingcan also be seen in daily life such as thinking over an argument before a conversation. But, what if we could thoroughly rehearse for some of the most difficult and appalling moments of our lives?  

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Arts

Weekender: The issue of queer representation in 'My Policeman'

By Jack Clohisy | September 29

With the upcoming release of the feature film “My Policeman” (2022) set to screen in theaters nationwide starting Oct. 21, it’s only appropriate to dive into the novel the feature film is based upon, Harry Styles’ upcoming role in the production and the general dehumanization of queer characters in literature.

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Arts

Sweatshops in America and sustainability in fashion

By RaiAnn Bu | September 29

The slow fashion movement was first introduced in 2007 by journalist Kate Fletcher, who detailed fashion’s responsibility regarding transparent practices, production of environmentally sustainable items and fair conditions for workers. Since then, interest in sustainable fashion has increased in niche groups and gained more public interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated and emphasized pre-existing inequities in society’s structure. It brought wealth inequality, late stage capitalism, environmental disasters and racial discrimination — especially during the George Floyd protests — to the forefront.

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Arts

Performance, fashion and diversity take center stage at Vogue World

By Ryan Fairfield | September 29

Anna Wintour is one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. Wintour has led Vogue as its editor in chief since 1988 and in her 30-year reign has revolutionized the fashion industry. Whether it be putting together the iconic September issue or turning the Met Gala into the global fashion event it has become known as today, Wintour’s influence has been undeniable and shows no signs of stopping. Wintour's latest endeavor, Vogue World, is yet another example of her success and abilities in altering the fashion industry. 

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Arts

Rihanna to headline Super Bowl LVII halftime show

By Jack Clohisy | September 28

Rihanna fans, known collectively as the Rihanna Navy, were in luck on Sept. 25 when Rihanna announced via social media that she would be headlining the halftime show at Super Bowl LVII. The posts announcing the news garnered much attention. As of Sept. 27, her tweet has amassed over 1.8 million likes, and her Instagram post has reached 6.7 million likes — expectable numbers for a superstar such as Rihanna. The last time Rihanna performed live on television was at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards in 2018 when she performed alongside DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller with their top five-peaking hit “Wild Thoughts” (2017).  It’s also considerable to note that the last studio album release from Rihanna came more than half a decade ago with “ANTI” (2016). Since then, Rihanna has focused primarily on her other business ventures such as her cosmetics company Fenty Beauty and fashion line Savage X Fenty.

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Arts

“What We Do in the Shadows” makes the old feel new again in season 4

By Nate Hall | September 28

As far as comedies go, nothing on television right now is as creative as “What We Do in the Shadows” (2019–). Although the show treads familiar territory in season 4, it’s still a joy to watch as the characters we know and love are sent in new directions.

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