U.Va. drama department presents ‘Vinegar Tom’
Feminism has been a point of societal contention since the term itself was coined. An emerging political movement at the turn of the century, a flourishing cultural campaign in the 1960s and ‘70s, and now a controversial mindset viewed by some as unnecessary and outdated, feminism has traditionally been neglected by the male-dominated entertainment world. [...]
Read moreOld-school horror abounds in harrowing ‘Woman In Black’
Today’s horror films tend to be, for lack of a better word, disgusting. They pile on the gore and spare little thought for suspense and genuine scares. But every once in a while Hollywood produces a movie which knows how to effectively haunt audiences without using cheap tricks. The Woman in Black, an old-fashioned gothic [...]
Read moreDisastrous ‘method’ disappoints
David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method may be the most boring sex dramedy ever made. Apparently intended as a provocative portrait of the rocky relationships between early psychoanalysts Carl Jung, Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the film emerges instead as a strange blend of biopic conventions and bawdy humor. From scene to scene, the movie shifts [...]
Read moreFestival features top-notch chamber music
The University’s McIntire Department of Music wrapped up its Chamber Music Festival Sunday. Instead of sprinkling various chamber performances throughout the year, the department consolidated four performances into one week-long festival, making January an unusually eventful month for music. “The month of January is the slowest time usually for concerts so it’s the perfect opportunity [...]
Read moreLana Del Rey: ‘Born’ in the USA
If you hadn’t heard the name Lana Del Rey before last month, you’re probably in the majority. With her heavy-lidded eyes and bubble lips, the 1950s throwback queen resided in the realm of Pitchfork-esque obscurity until a month ago. Once you listen to her older discography it’s easy to see why. Her cultivated siren song [...]
Read moreLosing her marbles: Rising YouTube star gains followers
New Internet sensations circulate cyberspace everyday, but YouTube personality Jenna Marbles is different. Think of pretty much anything you’ve ever found funny about daily life, and Jenna has a YouTube video mocking it. In short, I’m obsessed with Jenna, and I’m not alone. Her Feb. 1 video “What Girls Do in the Morning” had more [...]
Read moreSkrillex drops ‘Bangarang’ beats
For electro-dance music fans, Sonny Moore, better known as Skrillex, beat Santa to the punch this Christmas. By releasing his most recent EP, Bangarang, Dec. 23, Skrillex didn’t drop presents from a reindeer-pulled sleigh, but instead dropped bombs of techno bass onto the ears of fans around the world. Bangarang showcases Skrillex’s incredible versatility, breaking [...]
Read moreEntering its sixth hilarious season, ‘30’ is still rocking
Unlike today’s cruder and less clever comedies, such as Whitney and Two and a Half Men, 30 Rock resists cheap humor and replaces it with quick wit, often making fun of the shameful ploys of other so-called “comedy” programs. Even now, at the beginning of its sixth season, the show has managed to remain popular [...]
Read moreSpotlight: Jane Hirshfield
Poet Jane Hirshfield recited her work in the Harrison Institute Auditorium at the University’s Special Collections Library Thursday as part of the Rea Visiting Writer program, an initiative sponsored by the Creative Writing Department. The Writing Program aims to bring acclaimed writers to Grounds for a week of intensive student workshops and public readings. Hirshfield [...]
Read moreColbert for president?
As the 2012 U.S. presidential primary season progresses, the eyes of the U.S. voting public are turning toward the usual array of political pundits, from Rachel Maddow to Sean Hannity. Among television’s talking heads, though, no news icon has taken on a more active role than Stephen Colbert. His satirical show, The Colbert Report, allowed [...]
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