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‘Victoria’

  The 1898 “Victoria” may not be the first book that comes to the mind of most readers hearing the name “Knut Hamsun.” In fact, it may not even be the second. Nonetheless, it remains one of the most important novels in the study of Nordic modernism. Published at the turn of the century, “Victoria” is heavily characterized by the frequent use of inner monologues, its realist reflection of social gaps, and the light touch of the visual descriptions of the Norwegian countryside that highlights the interactions between characters. 

‘Sexy Villain’ syndrome: Remi Wolf at The Roadrunner on Oct. 9

Wearing a baggy Harvard T-shirt and plaid cargo pants, Remi Wolf looks like the coolest girl in Tatte thrown into a psychedelic coloring book. She stands on stage surrounded by huge colorful flowers and trees, an energetic band, an abundance of whimsical visuals and lights, and an eager crowd of teens and 20-somethings hanging on to her every move.

‘Triangle of Sadness’

“Triangle of Sadness” is the newest addition to the last three months of independent and horror film success. On May 5, 2022, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, but it was released on Oct. 7 in the United States. It is already having a significant impact on arthouse theaters. In the independent Nashville theater I saw it in this past weekend, the house was packed. However, the production did not manage to make it on many screens in major theaters, leading to a paltry box office total of $4.8 million on a $15.6 million budget. The film was directed by Ruben Ostlund and produced by Erik Hemmendorff and Phillippe Bober. 

Double dose of dopeness

For students like me, Black and Brown, we grew up embracing Black music whether that meant Gospel, hip-hop, rap, or R&B. Personally, my twin and I enjoyed hip-hop from the 90s, listening to artists like Lauryn Hill, Sista Souljah, and Arrested Development. Unfortunately, most rap and hip-hop artists engage in exploitation and dehumanization, particularly of Black and Brown women. Generally, finding uplifting, positive, and powerful music has been quite a journey for us. Luckily, early last spring semester, my twin and I discovered this group who happened to be Black twin artists. Aint Afraid is a rising musical duo performing hip-hop, spoken word, and R&B. The 22-year old Mulsim twin sisters, Sakinah and  WiZdumb — who are often referred to as Straingth and WiZdumb — were born in Baltimore, though they have spent most of their lives in Detroit. 

‘Ramy’

On Sept. 14, the producers of Hulu hit series “Ramy” announced the return of a third season, which will hit the streaming service on Sept. 30. The debut of the show dates back to spring of 2019, and the show was later renewed for season two in May of the next year. The filming process of the second season was interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and, cleverly, the producers of “Ramy” incorporated scenes of video call shots to tie the real-life crisis into the storyline. 

HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’

HBO’s “The White Lotus” is giving Netflix a run for their money. On Sept. 12, the limited series dominated at the 2022 Emmy Awards. According to Variety, HBO took home a total of 38 Emmys, 10 of those wins being from “The White Lotus.” Netflix took home the silver medal in the streaming service Olympics with a total of 26 Emmys, down from the 44 they picked up last year thanks to shows like “The Crown” and “The Queen’s Gambit.”   

‘Barbarian’

Zach Cregger’s “Barbarian” is an unexpectedly strong addition to the relatively dead landscape of cinema we have been experiencing for the last few months. Other than “Nope,” which was moderately successful, there haven’t been any major releases since early May. This summer’s box office total ends at a paltry $3.4 billion — and summer totals have been below $4 billion only once from 2007-2019. Theaters are closing all over the country, driven partly by a dearth in movie releases coupled with decreased turnout. September has been no exception. This past Labor Day weekend, traditionally a decent weekend for films, had two of its largest domestic box office totals coming from “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” both old releases. “Spiderman” released last December and “Top Gun” last May. Evidently, the release of a film like “Barbarian” came at the perfect time. “Barbarian” tells the story of Tess Marshall, portrayed by Georgina Campbell, who is a documentary researcher traveling to Detroit for a few days for a job interview. The film begins with her being excited in a car in front of her Airbnb, located in a run-down area of the city. From the start, her plan goes awry. She learns that the rental property was double-booked, and the other tenant, Keith, played by Bill Skarsgård, is already in the house. After persuasion from Keith, who appears concerned for her, she makes the worst decision anyone can make in a horror film: trusting strangers. What happens after this point is not suitable to include in a review, lest I risk spoiling the film. 

Harry Styles can be perfect, but the high prices are causing headaches

For most of the year, New York’s Eighth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan looks the same. Travelers bustle in and out of Penn Station, food vendors line the street selling everything from shawarma to ice cream to hot dogs. But for the last month, a new feature illuminated Eightth Avenue — a layer of brightly colored feathers has lined the streets. Over the last month, these feathers have acted almost as an unintentional Hansel and Gretel breadcrumb trail towards Madison Square Garden, shed from the 70s-style feather boas of thousands of fans who have come to see Harry Styles.

Horoscopes 9-13-2022

Happy. Not so happy. Happy. Not so happy. Itu2019s Mercury retrograde, everyone! This is a time when communication can get messy. Be extra mindful of what you say, remember to STOP AND THINK. You may be feeling more impulsive in your speech, as a Mercury retrograde in Libra acts as its opposite polarity. On top of this retrograde, weu2019re riding out the energy from the full moon in Pisces this week. Pack some extra tissues and go for a long walk.

‘One Piece: Red’

On Aug. 6, “One Piece: Red” made its theatrical debut in Japan. According to Japanese manga press Mantanweb, the film has made over 11 billion yen and sold over 8.2 million tickets as of Aug. 28 since its debut, making it one of the highest-grossing films in Japanese cinematic history. 

Luck is what you make it

Skydance Animation released its very first feature animated film “Luck” on Aug. 10. The story follows Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada), a freshly turned 18-year-old girl who has aged out of the foster care system. This means she has to say her goodbyes to her roommate, friend, and fellow orphan Hazel (Adelynn Spoon); move into her own apartment; and start a new job. Sam does all of those things, but mostly, she wants to help Hazel, who is constantly collecting “luck,” like a paper crane and a Japanese waving cat, in a box. Sam thinks if she can find a lucky penny to complete Hazel’s collection, then she would find Hazel a permanent family. Unfortunately for Sam, she is the “unluckiest person she knows” and everything that could go wrong in her life, does. However, she is full of optimism and life, as she is voiced by Eva Noblezada, who is often seen on Broadway, including Miss Saigon and Hadestown. 

‘Who do you love the most, Emily or me?’

Confirmed to release a third season in the near future, a TLC favorite, “I Love a Mama’s Boy” brings back more unhinged standoffs and heated debates. The show follows multiple pairs of couples, aging from late twenties to early thirties, who are about to enter the next stages of their lives – marriage or lifelong commitments. In front of them, however, lies a controlling mother who attempts to interfere with the majority of their great life decisions and a dependent MAMA’s BOY. In short, “I Love a Mama’s Boy” is a perfect guilty pleasure for a Thursday night to satisfy your demand for uncomfortable family dramas.  

Presenting, ‘The Pocket Girls’ by Lizzie Hilliard: The story of the original musical

Elizabeth Hilliard ’22 is a singer and songwriter, and now she has officially added writer, creator, and actress to her accomplishments. Elizabeth, who goes by Lizzie, created and wrote the musical “The Pocket Girls,” which tells the story of two sets of sisters and the experiences they have in a small cottage. The musical explores femininity and sisterhood and the bonds they all create. It is a coming of age story inspired by books like “Little Women,” “The Secret Garden,” and “Anne of Green Gables.” While Lizzie has been exposed to music from a young age, she has been writing and creating her own music for over ten years.

‘Conversations with Friends:’ a slow show for the socially anxious

Here we are again — another one of Irish author Sally Rooney’s restrained, emotionally-knotty novels has been adapted into a miniseries. This time it’s her debut book, “Conversations with Friends,” published in 2017. The 12-episode adaptation, which dropped on Hulu on May 15, stars Alison Oliver and Joe Alwyn as leading characters Frances and Nick, respectively.

‘The Great Pottery Throwdown’

  I am thrilled to announce that  we as a society no longer have a  need for “The Great British Bake  Off.” Instead, we can focus all of  our energy on the vastly superior  “Great Pottery Throwdown.”

Racial and environmental: interconnected justices

One of the highlighted events in the Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts — Community Talk & Art Build for Indigenous Futures — took place Saturday, April 20 and was hosted by Brandeis Climate Justice. The panel that started the event featured guest speakers Prof. Evangelina Macias (WGS) and Jean-Luc Pierite, the president of the Board of the North American Indian Center of Boston. The panel was facilitated by Marissa Small ’22, a student of Art History. 

Welcome Home: Threads of Therapeutic Theater

Amber Bartlett ’22 wanted to incorporate her life experiences into her senior thesis – and she did just that. The show that she created and performed in, “Welcome Home: Threads of Therapeutic Theater,” was shown as part of the Brandeis Department of Theater Arts’ Senior Festival. The festival, which lasted from April 29 until May 1, also included performances by Rosie Sentman ’22, who had a performance of “The Opposite of People,” an adaptation of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, and Elizabeth Hilliard ’22, who created an original musical called “The Pocket Girls.”

The Arts will lift us higher

The Festival of the Creative Arts was founded in 1952 by Leonard Bernstein, who not only was a member of the Brandeis faculty, but also a renowned musician. He was a composer, pianist, educator, author, and humanitarian. He is probably best known for his work in musical theater, particularly in “West Side Story.” However, more so than his knowledge and great achievements, he strived to make the arts visible and accessible to all, hence the Festival of the Creative Arts. He called it “a moment of inquiry for the whole world when civilization looks at itself, seeking a key to the future.” 

Something Rotten

Weekly horoscopes

Aries: This is a big week in astrology, Aries! For the first time in over 150 years, this Tuesday, Jupiter is joining Neptune in Pisces. Now with Jupiter (the planet of intellectual ideas and luck) and Neptune (the planet of dreams and illusions) meeting in dreamy Pisces in your 12th house (which rules spirituality and the subconscious), you are in for a dreamy week guaranteed! If you’ve been waiting for a spiritual awakening, this might be it. Keep an eye out for any spiritual messages or “coincidences” this week. With Venus and Mars joining the party in Pisces later this week, you may find yourself much more introspective than usual. Take this energy and roll with it! Maybe you’ll even learn some new things about yourself along the way.