Lady Lamb delivers emotional set to fans in Holyoke
The scariest parts of “It Chapter Two” are the unmet expectations
Doctor Gasp makes a spooky return to Mount Holyoke
Sounds Spooky... Songs to Sing on Halloween
“Rocky Horror” at Tower Theaters is an unforgettable “lively-action”experience"
“Joker” offers disconcerting perspective on problematic origin story
Student direction puts modern spin on “Pride and Prejudice”
Nostalgic music biopics take Hollywood by storm
The Lumineers evolve sound on haunting new album “III”
Netflix’s “The Dark Crystal” reboot lives up to the original
New music increases mainstream queer representation
Representation in mainstream media is crucial for developing and nurturing cultural identity. For a long time, pop music was restricted to how many times a song could be requested on the radio by listeners. However, with the invention of platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud, it is now possible to find niche music that applies to one’s own individual identity
Visiting dance Professor Ninoska M’Bewe Escobar talks West African dance, Alvin Ailey
Live action “Dora” explores a positive portrayal of South America
Winter is here: “Game of Thrones” season 8 premieres
BY NADIA BABAR ’19
After a painfully long, two-year wait, the final season of “Game of Thrones” premiered on April 14. The eight-season series is based on George R. R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” an epic high fantasy series first published in 1996, opening with the novel, “A Game of Thrones.” Set primarily on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, “Game of Thrones” follows seven families as they struggle for the Iron Throne. The television series premiered in 2011 and has since established itself as one of — if not the most — popular television series of this decade. Created by Dan Benioff and D. B. Weiss, Martin also serves as an executive producer for the series, which smashed HBO’s ratings record with the premiere of its eighth season on Sunday.
Jenny Lewis opens a new chapter with solo album
BY EMMA MARTIN ’20
Singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis has certainly been busy since her 2014 exit from indie band Rilo Kiley. Her 2014 solo album, “The Voyager,” was the product of five years’ work and reflection and preceded by the hit single and feminist anthem, “Just One of the Guys.” In 2016, she debuted with female rock trio “Nice as F*ck” alongside Erika Forster and Tennessee Thomas at a Bernie Sanders rally. The group released a self-titled LP of garage rock tunes that are a tougher backdrop for Lewis’ folksy twang. Lewis’ latest solo project, her album, “On the Line,” was released in late March and demonstrates that she is just as much a vanguard now as she was in 1998 as a standout lead singer and guitarist in a male-dominated genre
Billboard rejects “Old Town Road,” igniting genre controversy
BY EMILY ROLES FOTSO ’21
20-year-old Montero Lamar Hill, better known by his stage name, Lil Nas X, has had an eventful few months. It all started with the release of his nowfamous single, “Old Town Road,” in early December. The song was released during the rise of what many call the “Yeehaw Agenda,” a meme that blends cowboy aesthetics with mainstream humor, and bends genres to create what Hill himself calls “country trap.”
“When We Were Young and Unafraid”: Student-directed play rekindles the spirit of ’70s feminism
BY ELLA WHITE ’22
The play by Sarah Treem takes place in the 1970s, specifically in the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court’s decision on Roe v. Wade, and is set in a safe house for abused women looking to escape unhealthy relationships. Agnes, who runs the safe house with her daughter, Penny, takes in a woman named Mary Anne, who changes their monotonous lives when she encourages Penny to flirt and wear dresses, setting a precedent in the household
Hey Gamers: “Oxenfree” is flawed but a sign of good things to come
BY KIRAN PENMAN ’19
Ever since I had seen the trailers for “Oxenfree,” Night School Studio’s first release, I had been excited to play it. From what I had seen, it seemed pretty ambitious. In “Oxenfree,” you play as Alex, a teenager in her junior year of high school who takes her stepbrother, Jonas, to an overnight beach party. After some exploring, Alex and her friends manage to accidentally open a rift, unleashing a strange ghostly force onto the island. The player follows the friends’ journey to escape the island while slowly uncovering its mysteries. Overall, it all seemed pretty promising. So, with Night School Studio’s latest project, “Afterparty,” set for release later this year, I decided it was time to finally give “Oxenfree” a go
Hey Gamers: Three standouts from the BAFTA Game Awards
BY KIRAN PENMAN ’19
Last week, the British Academy Games Awards held their 15th ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. The show is dedicated to honoring the best of gaming each year across a variety of genres and platforms. To continue the celebration of 2019’s creative achievements in gaming, I’ve provided you with a little list of great independent mobile games featured at the awards show that you should definitely try out this week!