Arts

Columns

Confessions of a College Shopaholic: Let’s talk retail therapy

By Ryan Fairfield | April 14

We’ve all been there: Finals begin approaching, you’re drowning in essays and readings and suddenly, a notification pops up for a 20% off sale, or you see a really tempting Instagram ad. Or maybe you’re one of those students who scroll through online shops in the middle of class (I always sit in the back of class and — trust me — there’s always at least three people online shopping). Retail therapy, right? For many college students, shopping provides a momentary escape from the grind of student life, giving us a chance to feel better, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

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Arts

‘Dahomey’ is the synthesis of matter and memory

By Noah Goldstein | April 11

On Jan. 20, 1894, Béhanzin, the 11th ruler of Dahomey — the kingdom in the area today known as Benin — stood before his subjects, fully aware it would be for the last time. Soon he would surrender Dahomey to the French, bringing three years of conflict to a close. With that, another West African kingdom fell to the spoils of colonial expansion.

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Columns

Video essayists you should watch: Lola Sebastian

By Basil Hand | April 11

God has dealt me a cruel hand: I am a biology major who yearns for the arts and humanities. Unfortunately, my course schedule has really limited the amount of arts classes I’ve been able to take in my four years at Tufts. Instead of taking classes on classical literature or contemporary plays, I’ve been burdened with biological knowledge, such as the organization of the fly’s nervous system or the way cells repair DNA damage. Fortunately, I’ve found a YouTuber who delivers content worthy of a college English class and with the humor and aesthetic taste of the contemporary world. Enter Lola Sebastian.

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Arts

Confessions of a College Shopaholic: The dos and don’ts of starting college

By Ryan Fairfield | April 10

Welcome to the beginning of what will likely be the weirdest, most transformative, emotionally chaotic and occasionally magical four years of your life. You’re probably gearing up for your final summer at home right now — graduation parties, late nights and maybe even a Pinterest board full of ‘dorm aesthetic’ ideas. You’re making lists, buying way too many things from Target and possibly imagining what it’ll feel like to walk onto campus as a brand new Tufts student.

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Columns

Trunks Full of Treasures: Revive your wardrobe at Vivant Vintage

By Fiona Hinrichsen | April 10

As you embark on your journey at Tufts, be sure to stop by Vivant Vintage at its new location on Newbury Street. From operating a unique mobile boutique — a tricycle-pulled cart named “Le Pants King and The Traveling Spectacular” — Justin Pomerleau and his wife, Emmy Sawich, transformed their vision into reality with the opening of Vivant Vintage on Newbury Street on March 1. After spending several years preparing for this high-profile second location, their hard work has finally paid off.

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Arts

Welcome new filmmakers: Take a peek into the Film and Media Studies Program at Tufts

By Odessa Gaines | April 10

As you begin to embark on your journey into Tufts, you may be wondering: What do I even do while here?

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Arts

What happens to the truth when we start to censor art?

By Odessa Gaines | April 9

On March 27, the current president of the United States of America signed an executive order to begin overhauling the Smithsonian Institution. This order comes from an effort to curb what has been called “woke ideology.” Paired with a crackdown on Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity programs, these new executive orders have instilled a very remarkable trait in our current administration: the ability to erase and change history.

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Arts

Back on the charts: Lady Gaga’s disco revival

By Dominic Matos | April 9

If all the world’s a stage, what does one do after succeeding in every role, with nothing left to prove? It seems like for Lady Gaga, the last thing she would ever do is let the curtain fall. She just keeps going.

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Columns

Adventures of an A-Lister: ‘Hell of a Summer’ is full of laughs

By Odessa Gaines | April 8

It may only be April, but summer is here with Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk’s directorial debut “Hell of a Summer.” After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 10, 2023, the film is finally showing in theaters across the United States. Shockingly fun, “Hell of a Summer” follows a group of camp counselors returning to Camp Pineway led by 24-year-old Jason (Fred Hechinger). Jason, whom everyone is shocked to see return, struggles to connect with his team of teen counselors but plans to impress the camp owners enough to become the new “camp leader.” However, things quickly go downhill when a masked killer begins to murder the counselors one by one. Without cell phones, driveable vehicles and more than a single brain cell within the camp, the race for survival is on.

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Arts

‘Don’t Eat the Mangos’ explores relationships, sacrifice, liberation

By Odessa Gaines | April 7

Relationships are complicated. Those between family members are even more so. This is deeply the case for a family of five living in El Comandante, a small neighborhood in Puerto Rico in 2019. “Don’t Eat the Mangos” by playwright Ricardo Pérez González and directed by David Mendizábal follows the family’s relationships with and sacrifices for one another as secrets are uncovered at last. 

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Music

Ray Chen makes Boston Symphony Orchestra debut with Tchaikovsky’s ‘Violin Concerto in D Major’

By Erin Zhu | April 7

Acclaimed violinist Ray Chen made his Boston Symphony Orchestra debut on March 13, performing Tchaikovsky’s iconic “Violin Concerto in D Major” from March 13–16 alongside American conductor Teddy Abrams. 

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Columns

Confessions of a College Shopaholic: Why the ‘perfect’ anything doesn’t exist

By Ryan Fairfield | April 7

You’ve probably heard it before — innewsletters, ads, Instagram captions — it’s“The Perfect Tee,” “The Only Pair of Jeans You’ll Ever Need”or“We Finally Found the Perfect Pants.” And every time I read something like that, I roll my eyes. Not because I hate a staple — I love a good staple. But because there’s no such thing as a universal “perfect” anything in fashion. Not the perfect tee, not the perfect jeans, not even the perfect white sneaker.

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Arts

Boston Ballet’s ‘Winter Experience’ transforms audience’s perception of the traditional art form

By Katie Galligan | April 4

The serenity of a floating ballerina, the chaos of blue and green shapes, a game of charades and the unmatched energy of a large ensemble of dancers. The versatility of a single art form was on display at Boston Ballet’s “Winter Experience,” which concluded on Sunday after running from March 20–30 at the Citizens Opera House. 

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Columns

Coffee with Creatives: Spaghetti, meatballs and Fat Morgan

By Ava Dettling | April 4

Every band interview starts the same way. The movies “This Is Spinal Tap” (1984) and “Almost Famous” (2000) captured this dynamic, often casting the journalist as “the enemy.” Fortunately, this band was gracious enough to welcome their so-called adversary to an Italian dinner before their gig — providing a chance to learn about their origins, creative process and what lies ahead.

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Columns

Read, Write and Be Merry: ‘The Light We Lost’ and ‘The Love We Found’ by Jill Santopolo

By Merry Jiao | April 3

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for “The Light We Lost” and “The Love We Found” by Jill Santopolo. This past week has been rough, so hopefully, here’s a little bit of light to help brighten your guys’ day. “The Light We Lost” was (metaphorically) chucked in my face by ...

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Arts

The good and evil of Torn Ticket II’s ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

By Basil Hand | April 2

This past weekend, Torn Ticket II dabbled with mad science inside of Cohen Auditorium with their production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” The musical tells the cautionary tale of scientist Dr. Henry Jekyll and his quest to separate good from evil in man — this ultimately creates the monster, Mr. Hyde, inside himself. As he struggles and fails to keep Hyde in check, the pressures of society and love weigh on him until he finally snaps.

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Arts

Center Stage: The Institute

By Nate Hall | April 2

The beauty of the arts scene at Tufts is that it brings together students from a host of different backgrounds. This is certainly the case for The Institute, a sketch comedy group comprised of student actors, writers and filmmakers, some of whom join with no formal experience in comedy. This was certainly the case for Eran Avni-Singer, who auditionedhis freshman spring. One small project changed the trajectory of his college career: After making a short film for TUTV’s HorrorFest, he was recruited by the president of The Institute to audition for the group as a filmmaker.

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Columns

Confessions of a College Shopaholic: Influenced

By Ryan Fairfield | March 31

No one likes to admit they’ve fallen for influencer marketing, but let’s be honest — we all have. We see a product pop up on our feeds enough times, hear a celebrity talk about it in just the right way — and suddenly, we’re buying it. While some of these purchases end up being forgettable disappointments, every now and then, something actually delivers. As someone who is shamefully very easily influenced, here are a few things I was “influenced” to buy and thankfully do not regret.

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Arts

‘Severance’ is a mind-boggling thrill ride

By Nate Hall | March 28

There’s nothing on television quite like “Severance.” The dystopian thriller returned for its second season in January, capping off a nearly three-year hiatus that kept fans in suspense after its season 1 finale ended in a tantalizing cliffhanger. The first season wowed audiences with an ingenious premise, an instantly likable cast of characters and a few genuinely shocking twists. Surely season 2 couldn’t surpass its success, right?

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Arts

‘Death of a Unicorn’ questions its own morals

By Odessa Gaines | March 28

Do you brake for unicorns? Great, then you’re automatically better than Paul Rudd. 

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