BY JAHIYA CLARK ’20
Audiences across the nation had high expectations for the premiere of one the most anticipated Marvel films in years, “Black Panther.”While the film has been a box office success — according to Box Office Mojo the film has grossed over $462 million worldwide since its opening on Feb. 16 — “Black Panther” has also been a cultural success by --pushing the boundaries of how black people appear on screen.
BY EMMA MARTIN ’20
Mara Benjamin, professor and chair of the Jewish studies department, could be seen warmly greeting the steady stream of guests filing in to see Jewish folk music group, Pharaoh’s Daughter, on Friday evening in the McCulloch Auditorium. The space was packed as the group played music that incorporated sounds and languages from around the globe with percussion, flute, strings and electronica.
BY MIRANDA WHEELER ’19
Project: Theatre kicked off its annual production of “The Student Body” in Chapin Auditorium. This year’s theme, “Horror and Madness,” was widely interpreted by the performers to include topics such as nuclear war, living dolls, eating disorders, familial conflict and mental health.
BY DALE LEONHART ’19
Critically acclaimed Asian American contemporary playwright Chay Yew’s two-act documentary play, “Question 27, Question 28,” opened Mount Holyoke’s theatre arts spring season. The reading illuminated the stories of Japanese Americans who were victims of forced removal and evacuation on the West Coast in the 1940s under the orders of President Roosevelt.
BY ERIN CARBERRY ’19
Netflix released the third installment in the science fiction “Cloverfield” series following two short ads during the Super Bowl. In the 10 years since the first “Cloverfield” film and two years since its sequel, “10 Cloverfield Lane,” the seemingly rushed production of “The Cloverfield Paradox” is obvious. Set in the year 2028, when humanity has nearly depleted their energy supply and now rely on a particle accelerator called “the Shepard” for survival, “The Cloverfield Paradox” is a haphazard mash of other, more critically-acclaimed works. The film starts with the atmosphere of a lazily-crafted episode of “Black Mirror” but by the time the narrative shifts to the Cloverfield space station, it becomes a weaker version of “Alien” (complete with several recreations of its most iconic moments). Relying on jump-scares and on-screen violence, the film becomes entirely predictable and brings nothing new to the series or the genre.
BY ISAAC MICHAEL DONOVAN ’19
As both a person who struggles with mental illness and a film studies major, I have often found that depictions of mental illness in film fall short of portraying its actualities and the lives of those who experience it. However, the 1942 film “Now, Voyager,” starring Bette Davis (“The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex”), is one of the most accurate portrayals of mental illness I have seen to date. It is shocking to think that a classic Hollywood film could ever succeed in portraying mental illness — a taboo subject even today — and do so in a progressive way. Davis excels in capturing the struggles of mental illness and the long journey towards self-determination and self-understanding.
BY SARAH OLSEN ’18
Music took center stage Sunday night as the Grammys celebrated artists, producers, songwriters and other members of the music industry. The 60th show featured nine of the 84 awards being handed out on-air between memorable performances from popular artists, such as Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna.
BY AHLIA DUNN ’20
In the midst of the push for more diversity in Hollywood and #TimesUp, there has been an added pressure on Hollywood to give women of color the opportunities — and pay — that they deserve. According to the website Women and Hollywood, women accounted for “only 28 percent of all creators, directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors and directors of photography working on broadcast network, cable and streaming programs.” Here are some women of color in entertainment who are on top of their game and whose future you should be paying attention to.
Mount Holyoke’s acapella community held their Spring Showcase in Chapin Auditorium Friday night. The Victory Eights, M&Cs, Diversions and Nice Shoes came together to exhibit their signature styles, celebrate their history and promote upcoming auditions. The group’s respective sets included arrangements of Sara Bareilles’ “King of Anything”, George Gershwin’s “Summertime” from the opera Porgy & Bess and the V8s’ classic the “Mount Holyoke Drinking Song.”
“The End of the F***ing World” is part coming-of-age story, part “Pulp Fiction” tribute, with viewers following moody teenager Alyssa (Jessica Barden) and self-proclaimed psychopath James (Alex Lawther) as they try to outmaneuver the police — and their parents — after running away from home. Set to a retro soundtrack of American rock and doo-wop hits, the scrawny fugitives leave a path of destruction in their wake.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
