Arts

Arts

Tufts University Art Galleries’ new exhibit explores the transformative power of sound

By Raffaella Vogt | January 22

I believe a world without sound is just as bad as a world without art. Why not mix the two to make our world a better place amid the chaos of it all? Music allows humans to explore the depths of perception, existence and identity. In theAidekman Arts Center’s Tufts University Art Galleries, there exists a haven for the arts where artists can host their work for members of the Tufts community.

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Arts

Stand-up comedian Mekki Leeper takes the stage at Tufts

By Fiona Hinrichsen | January 22

On Friday, the Tufts University Social Collective hosted a winter comedy show in Cohen Auditorium featuring comediansMekki Leeper and Zoe Zakson. This is TUSC’s first comedy show since 2021, and they definitely did not disappoint with witty jokes about STEM majors, liberal arts schools and the struggles of growing up with strict parents.

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Columns

Center Stage: The Ladies of Essence

By Nate Hall | January 22

Established in 1994, the Ladies of Essence describe themselves asTufts’ only all-female a cappella group specializing in music of the African diaspora. Offstage, theLadies are a tight-knit community of music lovers, and onstage, they will wow you with their renditions of R&B, soul, gospel and hip-hop songs.At the inauguralRiff-Off hosted by TUSC in November 2023, the Ladiestriumphed over eight other campus a cappella groups. This past fall, for good measure, they won the competition again.

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Arts

TikTok’s looming ban promises devastating consequences

By Annika Pillai | January 17

TikTok has been facing a looming ban for perhaps the last four years, seemingly managing to escape unscathed every time. However, its final fate may be decided very soon. In April 2024, President Joe Biden signed a law setting a one-year deadline for TikTok’s Chinese-based owner, ByteDance, to sell the U.S.-based portion of the app to a non-Chinese entity. Today, the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of this law, hearing oral arguments from TikTok’s lawyers and the Department of Justice.

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Columns

Read, Write and Be Merry: ‘Someone Else’s Shoes’ by Jojo Moyes

By Merry Jiao | January 17

Every time I walk into a bookstore, there are basically four authors I always zero in on: Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes. They each occupy a different niche in my brain, and for our first week of the new semester, we’ll tackle one of my most recent favorite books: “Someone Else’s Shoes” by Jojo Moyes.

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Arts

Best albums you missed in 2024

By Nate Hall | January 15

2024 was a great year for music. Breakout stars Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter dominated the pop scene, while Beyoncé, Post Malone and Shaboozey rocked the country charts, and Kendrick Lamar emerged victorious in his long-running feud with Drake. However, in an industry that often prioritizes celebrity over sheer musical talent, some of the year’s finest albums emerged outside of the cultural mainstream. Let’s take a look at some of the best albums you might have missed in 2024 from artists that didn’t top the charts or win awards but deserve your attention nonetheless.

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Arts

The year ahead in arts

By Ryan Fairfield | January 15

2024 was certainly an exciting year in the world of arts and entertainment. Whether you gave in to the energy of “Brat”and had yourself a brat summer, started playing tennis after watching “Challengers” or purchased a pair of Adidas Sambas after seeing them everywhere, there is no denying the cultural and artistic impact of 2024. However, as we celebrate the dawn of a new year, there are plenty of new releases and art moments to look forward to in 2025.

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Arts

All the movies you can’t miss in 2025

By Odessa Gaines | January 15

Hollywood brought us many things in 2024, from musicals to biopics to comedy duos, and 2025 looks to be a similarly packed year. Today, we look forward to what remakes, sequels and new scripts will be finally hitting our screens over the next 12 months.

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Arts

‘Gladiator II’: A brave sequel in the shadows of its original

By Bharat Singh | December 10

Disclaimer: This review contains spoilers for “Gladiator II.”“I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet,” Djimon Hounsou’s character, Juba, muttered in an empty Colosseum as the closing line of Ridley Scott’s 2000 masterpiece “Gladiator.” To the backdrop of Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer’s riveting “Now We Are Free” track, a lone soldier’s arm gently ruffles through a wheat field lit by soft golden rays — a moment etched in cinematic history.

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Arts

‘A Man on the Inside’ explores community, aging with humor and love

By Odessa Gaines | December 10

Netflix dropped all eight episodes of their new original series “A Man on the Inside,” starring Ted Danson, on Nov. 21. The show follows Charles, played by Danson, a year after the death of his wife. Now a retired engineering professor with a grown daughter, Charles spends most of his time alone. However, when he finds an ad from a private investigator looking for a spy, he soon finds himself undercover at the Pacific View Retirement Community home looking to expose a thief among the staff and residents.

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Columns

Read, Write and Be Merry: ‘The Most Fun We Ever Had’ by Claire Lombardo

By Merry Jiao | December 10

How does our parents’ relationship define what we look for in a partner? How does being the youngest child of four impact our self-perception? Who gets to define a home and a family? These are some of the questions this book attempts to illustrate and answer.

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Arts

Tuning up to lead: Interviewing Nathan Cole

By Amelia Colafati | December 10

Nathan Cole’s concertmaster solo at the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s recent performance of Kevin Puts’ “The Brightness of Light” involved him tuning his violin loudly and intentionally amateurishly. While not a show of technical virtuosity like many other concertmaster solos, in some sense this one was particularly apt: Cole, recently selected as the BSO’s concertmaster, is tuning up the orchestra and himself in preparation for his tenure.

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Arts

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GNX’ moves on from spring feud, returns to West Coast style

By Josué Pérez | December 9

Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, “GNX,” on Nov. 22 with essentially no notice. A surprising but not unexpected drop, Lamar delivers a distinctly West Coast-style project. However, the feud with Drake cannot be ignored in the discussion of this album.

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Arts

Adventures of an A-Lister: Letterboxd, green witches, midnight rats

By Odessa Gaines | December 9

At the start of the summer, several of my film friends discovered that not only did I not have Letterboxd, but I also did not have an AMC Theatres A-List membership. I tried to explain to them that I had no clue what Letterboxd was and I did not see enough movies to merit an A-List pass, but my explanations fell on deaf ears. Instead, here I am several months later, with a column about AMC and a Letterboxd account finally made. So, with the end of the semester approaching, I have to ask myself: Was it worth it?

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Arts

In Photos: Porter Square Books turns the page with new expansion

By Stella Jeong | December 9

In November, Porter Square Books celebrated the official grand reopening of its Cambridge location — an expanded space 1,000 feet away from the previous shop. At 1815 Massachusetts Ave., the new location inside the Lesley University mall enabled the independent bookstore to expand its shelf capacity and offer more cafe seating. Page & Leaf Cafe makes its debut in the new space. Take a look inside the expanded world of Porter Square Books.

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Arts

Inside the Vietnamese dinner doubling as an experimental art exhibition

By Fiona Hinrichsen | December 6

On Friday, Nov. 23, An Ha, a third-year combined-degree student at SMFA, hosted a home-cooked Vietnamese dinner in the SMFA Library in collaboration with the Clay Club. 

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Arts

Best fashion trends of 2024

By Spring LaRose | December 6

Fashion has been slowly degenerating since the 1970s. Today’s world is a wasteland of sweatpants, spandex and graphic T-shirts. While the future of clothing culture may look grim, the present is not wholly without merit. There have been glimmers of hope in the 2024 trend cycle, signs that maybe, just maybe, something greater than stay-at-home athleisure awaits the generations to come. 

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Arts

Read, Write and Be Merry: ‘Eleanor & Park’ by Rainbow Rowell

By Merry Jiao | December 6

This book is probably the cutest story I’ve ever read. It’s so simple and so straightforward, yet manages to capture the adorable giddy moments of a blossoming relationship.

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Arts

‘The Brutalist’ is an epic tale of dreams built on shaky foundations

By Noah Goldstein | December 5

While many understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, few realize the same applies to the town of Doylestown, Pa. Situated just 40 miles north of Philadelphia, Doylestown might seem unassuming at first glance. For director Brady Corbet, however, it serves as a microcosm of post-World War II America, providing the backdrop for his ambitious third feature, “The Brutalist” (2024).

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Arts

‘Wicked’ is reimagined on the big screen

By Odessa Gaines | December 5

On Nov. 22, the long-awaited film adaptation of “Wicked” finally hit theaters. After holding space for “Defying Gravity” and basking in the musical theater glow, “Wicked” is sure to become one of the most memorable movie musicals of the modern day. Complete with fan-favorite cameos, massive ensemble dances and colors that burst out of the screen, paired with a packed cast, impressive vocals and stunning cinematography, “Wicked” is a film for the books.

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