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.
Since the very beginning, The Tufts Daily has acknowledged the importance and significance of engaging with the arts. Now, 45 years later, it is just as important to recognize how art and art appreciation does more than allow for Saturday movie nights and predictions for the awards season. The arts allow for social and political commentary to be delivered in a digestible and emotionally relevant manner. And as the Arts section, we make it our duty to deliver this commentary with every issue we release.
As it currently stands, the Arts section strives to dig deeper into the overall impact that art has on Tufts’ campus and in the greater Boston area. Arts goes beyond analyzing the new trends plaguing our screens, critiquing why and how we make those choices. For instance, a current column running this semester entitled “Confessions of a Shopaholic” does more than simply outline which styles are in and which are out. “Confessions” also looks into why we choose to wear, or not wear, certain styles. In a recent article, the column outlines how, despite social pressures deeming it otherwise, wearing merchandise for your favorite artist or piece of art is not something to be ashamed of. Rather, it shows the world who you are and how important a specific piece of art is to your life. Messages like this one remind the Daily’s readers to engage with the arts, regardless of what society may think.
The section has also followed the TikTok ban and its subsequent reversal. Written by Deputy Arts Editor and sophomore Annika Pillai, this two-part article series goes into depth about the U.S. government’s decision to ban TikTok in January. As outlined in the articles, TikTok is more than a place to mindlessly scroll. TikTok hosts a myriad of content creators, from musicians and comedians to scientists, stay-at-home moms and more. Regardless of your opinion on the platform, TikTok has been a hub for art creation and appreciation for several years. The decision to ban this app quickly put many creators and small businesses at risk of financial loss. However, after the decision was reversed and TikTok once again became available on app stores this month, creators and users rejoiced at its return. The Daily’s coverage of these events served as a statement to our readers that these governmental decisions can have severe impacts on our art consumption and creation as the age of social media reigns supreme.
The past several years, the Daily’s Arts section has also attempted to expand its coverage to include non-traditional forms of art and media not typically covered by the paper. This semester, a new article series, “Video essayists you should watch,” explores an art form often overlooked by traditional media: the long-form video essay. While video essays are not completely new to the general public, they typically attract specific audiences. From pop culture deep dives into the early 2000s and analyses of relationships in Disney Channel shows to breakdowns of video games and discussions of TV show lore, YouTube video essayists can and do cover anything under the sun. This new series gives readers a glimpse into different YouTubers and their content, highlighting video essays as valuable pieces of art.
In its current form, the Daily has aimed to cover local and on-campus live performances of theater, dance and music. However, writers at the Daily have resisted simply giving a play-by-play of the events that occur onstage, instead attempting to break down the themes and morals of the art being presented. This trend is evident in the Daily’s reviews of theatrical performances, which focus on how the playwrights, artists, scripts and designs contribute to an overall message. Recent reviews have deconstructed the gender politics and racial injustices within performances. Rather than explaining the entire story of “The Odyssey,” Arts writers instead evaluate the journey through a modern lens, with a strong emphasis on storytelling as a tool for conveying the human experience.
While the Daily is no stranger to reporting on pop culture events in the world, such as the famous Kendrick-Drake beef or Britney Spears’ exploited life, a vital part of the Daily is reporting on how art holds a mirror to life. Recently, more emphasis has been placed on creating content that delves deeper into telling overlooked stories. “‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’ is a brave response to authoritarianism” is a clear example of this. This article goes into depth on “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” a film whose director was sentenced to eight years in prison for his earlier work. While a highly acclaimed film, “The Seed” is likely not well known by many readers of the Daily. However, one Daily writer took it upon himself to highlight the importance of a film that gives a voice to the voiceless. If even one 800-word article encourages a single reader to step outside of their comfort zone, engage with art and listen to unique stories, the Daily is doing something right.
Many things have changed since 1980. Tuition has risen from about $8,000 to over $90,000. New student groups pop up every semester, and Tufts students continue to engage with the greater political climate. The Daily’s Arts section still turns out reviews with the hope of promoting the art scene in the local Boston area and on campus. The section strives to push its readers to engage with multiple forms of art, highlighting how the arts and the social climate contain a forest of stories, so dense and interwoven that one can spend forever dissecting, yet continue to find something unique and beautiful.
