Arts & Entertainment
The Arts & Entertainment section explores facts, news, and opinions on various media, including music, films, TV shows, books, podcasts, influencers, and more!
Lamron Literature: Middle Earth March II: The unattainable scope of The Silmarillion
J.R.R. Tolkien’s world is most recognized within the story of The Lord of the Rings, and while that has an easy explanation relating to the popularity and recognition of said trilogy, there would be no Lord of the Rings without the foundational stories found in Tolkien’s earlier mythology.
Geneseo Jam Kitchen
Geneseo’s music scene is livening up with the introduction of Geneseo Jam Kitchen, a promotional group comprised of local Livingston County musicians who will be booking diverse musical acts at the Geneseo Riviera and Wadsworth Homestead.
Middle Earth March #1: We’re going There and Back Again
We’re all hobbits in one way or another. For some, the call to adventure comes later in life than you may expect, and even then, you may find yourself searching for reasons not to go instead of doing what your heart desires. Others only wish to find a nice, comfortable “hole in the ground” to burrow in and live out the rest of their days without any grumbling old wizards who come knocking on your door.
“Hello There”: A Jedi’s Legacy
On May 25, 1977, award-winning Shakespearean actor, Sir Alec Guinness, brought Obi-Wan Kenobi to life. “Hello there,” his unassuming first line, established this legendary character in Star Wars history.
Why I changed my mind about Angelic 2 the Core
“Ascension millennium, ascension millennium,” opens the 2016 album Angelic 2 the Core, the magnum opus of former child actor, current activist and timeless musician Corey Feldman. While the rhythmic consonance of the retro dance beat evokes the theme of a millennium on the rise, the dissonance of the synthesizers and autotune imply a musical experience of declining enjoyment. When the verse arrives and all sense of rhythm is lost, even the most trained musical ears will struggle to find the art in the noise.
Swift Series: Why she disappeared
Entering the summer of 2017, Taylor Swift had not been seen for almost an entire year. She had been the topic of much conversation over the course of that year, facing a controversy after Kanye West name dropped her in an incredibly misogynistic song. Her image was potentially at an all-time low, with countless people commenting snake emojis all over her Instagram page and shaming her for the number of men she’d dated. Meanwhile, countless headlines pondered the same question over and over for months: Why did she disappear?
No disintegrations
When Boba Fett is seen onscreen for the first time in the 1980 blockbuster The Empire Strikes Back, his only line is a simple “As you wish” in response to Darth Vader’s ominous demand. With only four lines total in this movie, and none at all before his perceived death in Return of the Jedi, this mysterious new bounty hunter found wild popularity and fame among fans of the franchise.
Domestic violence, determination and the value of perseverance: a review of Maid
Maid is a Netflix Original Series that is based on the true story of Stephanie Land and her 2019 memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive. The show follows the main character, Alex, through the ups and downs of her journey to leave her abusive, alcoholic partner and make a better life for her and her daughter, Maddy. The show was released on Oct. 1, 2021 and is ten episodes long.
Taylor Swift Era #3: Jumping Genres
Our next stop on the trip through Taylor Swift’s discography may just be the most relevant of our time (unless there’s another surprise album drop). This week we’ll be looking at Red and 1989, discussing how Taylor took the leap between country and pop and how it worked so well she had no reason to look back. In my life this era was all about change too, and perhaps that’s why 1989 remains my favorite album Taylor has released.
Spotify vs. Apple Music
There is an ongoing battle between Spotify users and Apple Music users—many people are willing to argue over and over in favor of their preferred music streaming service. So, let’s finally settle this for once and for all. The secret is… they’re really not so different. In all the big ways, Apple Music and Spotify share the same price and features with only minute differences.
Lamron Lit Corner: The Absurd in The Metamorphosis
Let’s try this: you wake up one morning after having a string of odd dreams that are lost on you now, and when you look down at your body you realize it’s no longer your body, but that of a massive insect. What’s your first thought?
A Lasting Force
So announced the tagline for the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. Published eight years after the release of Return of the Jedi, the final movie in the original Star Wars trilogy, this novel promised ongoing adventure with the characters who had become household names in the late ’70s and early ‘80s—Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo. Since the box office and critical success of all three movies, Lucasfilm was eager to satisfy hungry fans of the franchise.
Encanto Review
Disney’s latest animated film, Encanto, directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, tells the story of a family who is granted a “miracle” following the devastating loss of Abuelo Pedro, as he attempted to flee with his family from their burning village. This miracle takes the shape of Casita, their magical home, which is undoubtedly alive and sentient, caring for and playing with the many children of the house throughout several generations.
Fearless & Speak Now: Taylor Swift’s musical journey for herself
When I was nine years old, I was gifted Fearless by Taylor Swift on CD for my birthday. The present had come after my younger sister and I spent many hours singing “Love Story” on our Wii karaoke game. After my babysitter played “White Horse” for me on her pink iPod shuffle one evening, I was hooked. I knew I had to hear more, and I formed a connection to Taylor Swift’s music that ultimately would last over a decade.
Laurel Hell review: Everything we’ve been waiting for
Ladies, gentlemen, and variations thereupon; sad folk of all ages. For years, we have waited for this moment with bated breath. We have checked the Twitter bots, read the gossip columns and fantasized about the random release of an album, Taylor Swift-style. Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for—Mitski has finally released her latest album, Laurel Hell.
Lamron Lit Corner: The Last Wish of a Witcher
Breaking out in the genre of fantasy literature is a grueling task, and I don’t believe many people would attempt to argue that point. In a genre that, whether or not deservedly, has been bogged down by expectations of tropes, to fight one’s way to the top not only in the area itself but in literature as a whole is next to impossible. Think of how many authors make it there, writing adult fantasy and standing out? Tolkien? Martin? What about the ones who remain in the shadows?
The Euphoria of representation: navigating taboo topics in mainstream media
Over winter break, when I was stuck inside with COVID-19, I noticed on social media that the second season of Euphoria was about to start up. I had never seen the show, and I decided to catch up so I would be able to see what all the hype was about. I was not disappointed. It’s important to note, however, that this is just a review of Season One, and my thoughts on how that functioned—I’ve been keeping up with Season Two, and I have many thoughts about the way it’s been playing out, but those will have to be for another article once the season wraps up.
Lamron Lit Corner: The weight of Great Expectations
To write a story that revolves around a young person changing into an adult so gradually that one doesn’t even realize anything has changed until one day, when they wake up and look into the mirror to find a stranger staring back at them, requires time and skill beyond that of many authors.
Taylor Swift Era #1: The start to something special
I could start off this article, or this series of articles, talking about the little girl who moved across the country in pursuit of a music career only to become the music career, or about the woman who transcended genres multiple times, setting the bar for each as she went, or how that woman went from tiptoeing around stigmas and reputations to being fearless of anyone who came at her, but I’m not going to (even though I kind of just did).
The Hunger Games: Junk-food Entertainment or Satisfying Social Commentary?
In 2008, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, rose to staggering popularity almost overnight. Well over 200,000 copies were sold in the first year, and over 800,000 in the first two years. Today, more than 64 million copies of the trilogy have been sold globally, and four movies were filmed based on the trilogy, grossing 2.9 billion dollars.