On Feb. 22, students and faculty gathered in the CUB MPR to listen to the spoken word of Maria James-Thiaw, a 1996 Shippensburg University alumna. James-Thiaw is the founder of the Reclaim Artist Collective, which promotes art to marginalized groups.
I recently watched “The Hate U Give,” directed by George Tillman Jr. and starring Amandla Stenberg, who plays Starr Carter. It is based on a book by Angie Thomas and was released on Sept. 7, 2018. This movie caught my attention because it is about a teenage girl who deals with racism and police brutality. She witnesses her African American friend, Kahlil Harris, played by Algee Smith, being murdered by the police. The movie shows the double life of Starr; she lived in a poor neighborhood, but she went to a fancy prep school. Starr couldn’t be too “hood” in the prep school, but she couldn’t be too “white” at home.
The PAGE Center presented “The Vagina Monologues” in McFeely’s Cafe on Feb. 17 and 18. “The Vagina Monologues” is a play written by Eve Ensler based on real interviews she conducted with more than 200 women.
The Reflector, Shippensburg University’s on-campus literary journal, held its annual Post-Love Open Mic on Thursday, Feb. 16, in Stewart Hall. Attendees were encouraged to share their work about love, heartbreak and everything in between.
The heart of Harlem made its appearance in Shippensburg on Thursday, Feb. 9, in Stewart Hall for the annual “Live at Apollo” event hosted by Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) and Residence Hall Association (RHA). A celebration of black history and talent, this event featured various student performances in true Apollo fashion.
Since the Broadway shutdown, my musical intake has been pretty subpar. The last show I saw on Broadway was “Beetlejuice” in February 2020. And the last show I saw on tour was in December 2021. So, of course, I was thrilled to see “Anastasia” was making it to Luhrs, and seeing it live truly reminded me why I love musical theatre.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and in this household, that means doing skincare, eating chocolate and watching comfort shows. One of them happens to be “Jane the Virgin.”
1. “Valentine” by Laufey - Do you remember when you had your first valentine? Laufey is on cloud nine in this tune, singing, “‘Cause I think I’ve fallen in love this time / I blinked and suddenly I had a Valentine.” Her smooth, jazzy vocals make this a perfect love song to play for anyone you’re head over heels about!
The Doo Wop Project brought doo-wop classics and “DooWopified” hits to Luhrs Performing Arts Center Thursday night.
Shippensburg University has seen various art exhibitions come through its arts program. From unconventional ceramics to kitsch-based sculptures to bold performance pieces, SU is no stranger to provoking artworks. However, Kauffman Gallery’s newest exhibit “Contemporary Classics,” is a different breed of art than what small-town Shippensburg has previously experienced. The exhibit, which is comprised of various works from different artists, comes from the eminent New York group Gallery Henoch. These artists’ works focus on different varieties of photorealism and trompe l’oeil techniques to create a refined and truly memorable exhibit.
2022 gave us many things to be grateful for, and among them is how writers have captured the ability to convey aggressive women in TV and film. Past portrayals of violence in films like “American Psycho,” “The Shining,” and “Joker” have fostered the idea that aggression is exclusively a male trait. However, as women challenge male violence both on screen and in real life, new films and TV series have begun to reflect this unabashedly.
Coming out of a book slump can be difficult, especially if you have not read in a few months — or longer. You may not have the motivation to read, choose to do another hobby that does not take up as much energy, etc. Selecting the right book is crucial because going for the wrong one could just make you more prone to not reading. Picking up something exciting allows a reader to feel that spark again. “Caraval” by Stephanie Garber is that spark.
Season 2 of the anime series “Demon Slayer” has been released on Netflix. As a long-time fan of the series, I was ecstatic to find the preview for it on Netflix’s home screen.
Over the past few months, the evolution of artificial intelligence has been immense. In particular, the access and use of AI has been incredibly fascinating, yet concerning at the same time. On the one hand, people are able to create ideas and images at lightning-fast speeds and it has admittedly even led to some great meme-worthy posts on social media. However, the joke becomes less funny when people begin to realize that this type of technology not only becomes a security risk, but could also be dangerous for artists worldwide. AI Art is incredibly dangerous to the art community. Not only is art being stolen from the artists who create it, but AI Art takes away from what art is.
When I first saw the trailer for “The Menu,” it instantly went on my must-watch list. A cross between black comedy and suspense horror about the restaurant industry? Sign me up!
This movie is incredible and an unfathomable technical masterpiece. “Mad God” follows what can only be described as an arcane storyline; the main message and ideas are cryptic and leave the viewer to create their own conclusions.
Following the success of the 2019 cult classic “Knives Out,” the decision to make a sequel to the original film was certainly a bold one, though it fulfilled nearly every expectation. Rian Johnson’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” puffs out its chest as the second installation in the “Knives Out” universe, confirming there will be a series of colorful whodunits like it.
The Luhrs Performing Art Center 2022-23 season has been hit after hit. On Thursday, Jan. 12, the hits kept coming when the beloved British-American rock band, America, took the stage to play some of their familiar favorites.
In an industry that is reliant upon reboots, a successful person’s child could be considered a reprisal of their own achievements. People receiving more opportunities because of their surname has been a reoccurring tradition within any industry; now, it’s more abundant than ever. However, nepotism gives undue advantage to someone who may not necessarily merit such treatment.
