“My bat mitzvah merch was a legendary, lime-green horror.” At the end of a bar or bat mitzvah, the guests usually leave with a gift that showcases the child’s initials, service date and usually a silly symbol referencing the theme of their party. My theme was green.
The first song in“The Band’s Visit” is called“Waiting” and introduces the residents of the quiet Israeli town of Bet Hatikvah as they live out their lives, just waiting for something exciting to happen.
If you’re anything like me, the thought of starting a long research paper or project is incredibly daunting. I never know how or where to compile evidence. However, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is a helpful resource for all manner of research projects. While paintings and artworks aren’t always reliable pieces of evidence for science-based projects, the MFA would probably prove helpful in research within the arts and humanities. If you happen to find yourself working on something that could use arts evidence, look no further than the MFA’s collections.
To many, the first Monday in May is just another Monday at the start of a new spring month. However, to the fashion world, the first Monday in May is a night of extravagance, elegance and one-of-a-kind looks. What makes this particular Monday night so special to the fashion world is it is the date of the Met Gala — commonly referred to as one of the “biggest nights in fashion” and one of the most photographed events in the world.
Considering how lively and diverse the Tufts a capella scene is, it’s a bit of a surprise that the riff-off on Nov. 17 was the school’s first. After all, the Beelzebubs served as the inspiration for the Treblemakers, the all-male a capella group featured in “Pitch Perfect.”
Even if you have been following along with this column for the past couple of months, the 2023 writers and actors strikes have been jam-packed with negotiations, agreements, picketings and more than I could not and cannot fully cover in 500 words. Even if I could, the turnaround of some of the events can make your head spin (picture me hours before my Nov. 9 column is about to run as I see the actors strike has come to a close.)
As the season of gift-giving begins, I urge you to consider giving the gift of good soup.
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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
