Blanchard gallery exhibits student photography
BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21
Themes spanning from personal identity to family structures were explored in the Blanchard Student Art Gallery during its latest exhibit, “Frame the Invisible.” The exhibit, which ran from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5, featured the final projects of the students in Digital Photography 1, an introductory photography course taught by Professor Amanda Herman that focused on photography basics through digital technologies.
Review of “Pocket Camp”
BY CHLOE JENSEN ’20
After much anticipation, Nintendo released the newest version of the popular game “Animal Crossing,” called “Pocket Camp,” for iPhone and Android players on Nov. 21. While Animal Crossing’s revival is a nostalgic moment for those who played it on GameCube or Wii, it has also gained a younger following of avid phone gamers. According to the research firm SensorTowers, the new mobile game has been downloaded more than 15 million times since its release. “Pocket Camp” is more accessible than previous games, which required the purchase of both a game and a gaming system. Though “Pocket Camp” has fewer features than the original games, it manages to evoke just enough fun to make playing a worthwhile experience.
Reboots and remakes: laziness in Hollywood
BY SARAH OLSEN ’18
“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Mummy” and “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” are just a few examples of this year’s releases that are reboots or remakes of previous films. Rebooting a beloved franchise or remaking a favorite classic has been a Hollywood money-making scheme for years, but it’s time to stop.
Regina Spektor performs solo set in Northampton
BY EMILY BLOMQUIST ’18
“I love Paris in the rain! I love Northampton in the rain!” sang singer-songwriter Regina Spektor in Smith College’s John M. Greene Hall last Tuesday night. Northampton is just one stop of many on the native Muscovite’s fall 2017 U.S. tour dubbed a “A Very Special Solo Performance.”
Dance concert moves performers and students
BY AHLIA DUNN ’20
Last week, the Mount Holyoke dance department held their annual faculty dance concert in the Kendall Sports and Dance Complex. The show featured student performances choreographed by faculty from Mount Holyoke and some of the Five Colleges. The show’s program describes the Five College dance department and the event as a “collaboration founded on a commitment to honor, respect and support the individual perspectives on dance characteristic of each campus.”
Mother Nature spotlighted at open mic
BY SARAH OLSEN ’18
The Thirsty Mind stage was in the spotlight Sunday as students celebrated Mother Nature with an open mic event. Hosted by the Mount Holyoke College International Student Organizing Committee (ISOC), the event, titled “Mother Nature,” featured students performing music and poetry that explored the topic.
BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21
In the days leading up to Halloween the campus was quiet as students, curled up in blankets and munched on Eggos, preparing for the second season of “Stranger Things.” The long-awaited season managed to be as fast-paced and mind-boggling as its predecessor, staying true to the show’s retro style and lovable characters while taking the drama to new heights. This resulted in a stellar season that was worth the wait. According to Variety, the first episode was viewed 15.8 million times within the first three days after its release, and there were 7.2 million posts about the season on Facebook and Twitter.
Orchestra offers double performance of Monsters Ball
BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21
Abbey Chapel was decorated with skeleton bones, cobwebs and spiders last Saturday for the annual Monsters Ball. The outer space-themed concert, put on by the Mount Holyoke Orchestra, was, featured celestial music and the orchestra’s conductor, Tian Hui Ng, wore an astronaut suit. Members of the orchestra and many audience members also dressed up for Saturday’s two performances, The Kids’ Monsters Ball and Monsters Ball.
The Killers are “Wonderful, Wonderful,” in new album
Jazz Concert honors Ella Fitzgerald
BY OLIVIA MARBLE ’21
During Family and Friends weekend, Chapin Auditorium hosted a crowd of parents and students for “Ella’s Swell-a!,” a concert put on by the Mount Holyoke Jazz Society in honor of Ella Fitzgerald and what would have been her 100th birthday. The concert featured the Mount Holyoke College Jazz Ensembles with Big Band, Vocal and Chamber Jazz. The ensembles played a variety of songs, including recognizable Fitzgerald hits “What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?” and “Summertime.”
K-Pop group’s new album disappoints
BY RACHEL KIM ’21
The Korean pop group BTS, or Beyond the Scene, has been topping charts, winning awards and making history worldwide since their debut as a seven-member South Korean boy band in 2013. Hailed for their explosive choreography, inventive music videos and lyrics that criticize society, it’s no surprise that BTS is the new face of today’s international K-pop craze. According to Gaon music chart, the group’s latest album, “Love Yourself: Her,” released on Sept. 18, 2017, sold an impressive 1.2 million albums in South Korea. Despite its commercial success, in comparison to BTS’ previous albums, “Love Yourself: Her” is a disappointing diversion from the group’s original sound and spirit.
Demi Lovato is “Simply Complicated” in new documentary
BY SARAH OLSEN ’18
“I went on like a bender for like two months where I was using daily. There was one night where I used a bunch of coke and I popped a few Xanax bars and I started to choke a little bit, my heart started racing, and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, I might be overdosing right now.’”
Hollywood Walk of Shame: A Few Bad Men
Victory Eights celebrate 75th anniversary with music and memories
BY AHLIA DUNN
Current members and alums of the Mount Holyoke a cappella group, the Victory Eights, gathered for a concert in Chapin Auditorium on Saturday to celebrate the group’s 75th anniversary. The V8s are the oldest historically all-female collegiate a cappella group in the nation. Saturday’s event reunited current members with members from the 80s, 90s and 2000s.
Theater Department creates a monster with FRANKENSTEIN
BY SARAH OLSEN '18
The Mount Holyoke College department of theatre arts has craeated a spectacular monster with its production of FRANKENSTEIN. Directed by Noah Tuleja, the play is Jonathan Yukich’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s famous novel. The production reanimates the torturous relationship between Dr. Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the Creature, with standout performances by Julia Cole ’19 and Tamia Williams ’19.
Economics Society hosts a screening of the film “The Big Short”
Saturday Night Live’s Season 43 premieres
BY CAMERON CAPELLO '21
“Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
Arguably television’s most recognizable catch-phrase, Saturday Night Live has been making people laugh for decades, and this weekend was no exception. During their Season 43 premiere, hosted by Ryan Gosling, SNL touched on current events, including the NFL, alien invasions and Donald Trump.
“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” another successful mission
Museum Sightlines Tour explores dreams with art
BY CAMERON CAPELLO ’21
This weekend the Mount Holyoke Art Museum displayed a collection of pieces depicting the confusing yet entrancing state of dreams. The tour, “Dream States: Exploring the Subconscious,” was curated by Katia Kiefaber ’17 and showcased four pieces, each representing a different meaning of the word “dream.”