With the stress of finals right around the corner, Activities Commission’s spring concert couldn’t come soon enough. The alternative rock band MGMT headlined the show with Kuroma and the DJ duo The White Panda serving as openers. According to AC concerts coordinator junior Jenny Keller, Geneseo students purchased over 1,300 tickets out of the 2,140 total sold.
Read MoreStudent-produced “35 MM” personifies photos with music
In capturing “35MM: A Musical Exhibition” with a phrase, “a labor of love” might be the best description. The production is unique in both its intimacy and ambition. The cast is comprised of five musical theater lovers and accompanied by an equally small band of musicians.
Read MoreG.R.E.A.T. Day exhibits illustrate thriving student creativity
While a typical exhibit displayed in one of Geneseo’s galleries runs for several weeks, the two featured during the seventh annual Geneseo Recognizing Excellence, Achievement & Talent Day were presented for a fraction of that time.
Read MoreSocietal misconceptions reflected through inconsistent film portrayals
In December 2005, Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain was released into a handful of movie theaters. Despite the film’s relatively miniscule budget, it was heavily praised for its authentic depiction of a homosexual relationship and ended its theatrical run with over $83 million at the box office.
Read MoreIncidental Amusements
Beginning my senior year, I started working two jobs that required me to be in uniform. The entire concept of being required to wear something specific was initially confusing to me. I have grown so accustomed to wearing whatever I want – no matter how unflattering it may be. Yet, I must begrudgingly admit that I have learned to appreciate my uniforms.
Read MoreRochester's “Book of Mormon” combines topical humor with religious satire
Broadway musicals often tackle controversial and divisive topics, like segregation in “Hairspray” or the rise of Nazism in “Cabaret,” but the subject of religion has never been attempted with much success.
Read MoreUnique perspectives examine contemporary hip-hop culture
From filmmakers to acclaimed artists, the fourth annual Hip-Hop Symposium offered Geneseo students an opportunity to immerse themselves in contemporary hip-hop culture.
Read MoreSpotlight On: Sydney Axelrod, student dancer
While many students elect to work out at the gym or go for a run as a physical and emotional outlet, senior Sydney Axelrod opts to practice her ballet techniques in the Brodie Hall dance studio.
Read MoreThe Oscars 2013 Best Picture Breakdown
Assistant copy editor Ben Cosman contributed to this article
The Frontrunners
Argo: Following what some believe to be a snub of Ben Affleck for a Best Director nomination, Argo’s Oscar stock has soared in recent weeks as the film has picked up top prizes at the Producers Guild of America, the Screen Actors Guild of America and the Golden Globes awards. If there’s a single frontrunner headed into Oscar night, it is Affleck’s telling of the CIA mission to rescue United States diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis.
Lincoln: An Oscar juggernaut from the onset, Steven Spielberg’s biopic of the 16th president – played perfectly by Daniel Day-Lewis – is a leading contender for the top prize. Featuring an all-star cast and a crisp, intelligent script by Tony Kushner, Lincoln sets itself apart from the other films this year with a leading 12 nominations.
Silver Linings Playbook: After winning the Audience Award at the Toronto Film Festival, it became clear that Silver Linings Playbook would be a crowd favorite. While it opened quietly at the box office back in November, strong word-of-mouth has given it longevity. Though it doesn't have the momentum of Argo, the fact that its four principal actors are nominated across all the acting categories – the first film since 1981’s Reds to do so – suggests it shouldn’t be counted out.
The Possible Contenders
Life of Pi: Directed by Ang Lee and based on Yann Martel’s novel of the same name, Life of Pi was once thought to be “unfilmable.” Lee’s adaptation silences any skeptics and does the spectacular novel justice. The film is beautiful and technologically masterful, the first 3D picture truly worthy of an Oscar nomination – 11, to be exact, second only this year to Lincoln.
Zero Dark Thirty: Kathryn Bigelow’s critically acclaimed film had a lot of buzz before its release. All the controversy over the depiction of torture – and whether or not the movie validated it – caused high levels of intrigue amongst the public. Unfortunately, the controversy ultimately overtook the actual film and the buzz has since waned. The movie still has plenty of admirers, but its chances of winning Best Picture have drastically slimmed.
Les Misérables: Director Tom Hooper’s last film, The King’s Speech, swept the Oscars only two years ago. So, expectations were high for his follow-up, Les Misérables. With an all-star cast that sang live on set, it appeared it would be a sure-fire hit. While the film has grossed a hefty 146 million at the box office, it divided critics. Despite its polarizing reaction, those who enjoyed it are passionate about their enthusiasm. That could be enough to put it over the top.
Lucky to Be Nominated
Django Unchained: Quentin Tarantino’s highest grossing film, Django Unchained, scored five Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor. While Christoph Waltz has a solid chance at a win, the film’s Best Picture aspirations don’t go much further than a nomination. Its best shot is Best Original Screenplay, for which Tarantino already brought home a Golden Globe.
Beasts of the Southern Wild: When Beasts of the Southern Wild first premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, it instantly became the talk of the town. It won the Grand Jury Prize and got a lucrative distribution deal with Fox Searchlight. Its surprise nomination in Best Director for Benh Zeitlin, on top of 9-year-old Quvenzhané Wallis’ historic Best Actress nomination, suggests large support amongst the academy.
Amour: The only non-English speaking film nominated for Best Picture, Michael Haneke’s story of love at the end of life is a near lock for Best Foreign Film, but its Best Picture hopes are slight. Amour took home the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival and certainly hits hard for a small group of voters, but likely won’t have the wide appeal necessary for a win.
G-Spot Faceoff: Which is more satisfying—monogamy or sexual promiscuity?
The typical narrative of American society has been to fall in love, get married, have kids and grow old together. For many people, that is still the ideal path, but college represents an obvious latency from it. It provides an environment that encourages sexual exploration and “getting laid” as much as possible.
Read More“Cuckoo’s Nest” depicts mental illness with realism, intensity
When Randle P. McMurphy first arrives at the mental institution that he has been sentenced to live in, he can’t help but shriek with laughter at everything he sees. His cackles are infused with an apparent sense of superiority. He thinks living among the “crazies” will be a joke and an easy way to make money.
Read MoreFilm Review: Austrian awards contender Amour depicts loss with sincerity
When the nominations for the Academy Awards were announced on Jan. 10, it surprised no one to see the critically acclaimed Austrian film Amour earn a spot in the Best Foreign Language Film category. When it was revealed that the film also secured nominations for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture, heads began to turn.
Read MoreMovie Review: Django Unchained brings brazen auteur back to films screens nationwide
At this point in his career, many consider writer and director Quentin Tarantino to be a messiah of bold originality. His style of mashing up genres and filling scenes to the brim with obscure homages has inspired cult-like fervor amongst his fans.
Read MoreSchwab: “Hygiene hypothesis” derails germ obsession
As our knowledge of bacteria and germs expands, the methods of decimating these microscopic organisms has followed suit. Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers can be found everywhere on campus, from the hallways of the College Union to the rooms of Newton Lecture Hall.
Read MoreFilm Review: Performance, visuals propel Bond to new heights in Skyfall
Sean Connery personified the first incarnation of the suave, seductive James Bond in the 1962 film, Dr. No. Fifty years later, Bond is still thriving, with Daniel Craig now playing the famed role in the latest film in the series, Skyfall.
Read MoreThe G-Spot: Don't let the "honeymoon" fizzle
When exploring the topic of sex in a college setting, there are two distinctive categories: one-time hookups and intimacy in a monogamous relationship. While the former can occasionally have messy repercussions, the latter comes across complex issues more often. Many couples complain of falling into a rut after dating for some time. They’ll say that the spark is gone, and after sex the other appears completely apathetic or disinterested.
Read More“The sky’s the limit” for sophomore Ryan Moynihan
While most student-athletes see a name change on the front of their jerseys as they transition from high school to college, sophomore cross-country runner Ryan Moynihan had no such experience.
Read More“Parade” evokes controversial topics with rousing production
The year is 1913. Flags wave enthusiastically as the citizens of Atlanta, Ga. prepare for the annual Confederate Memorial Day Parade. As lively music plays and crowds celebrate, a young girl is quietly and brutally murdered.
Read MoreSchwab: Stigma surrounding HIV misinformed, outdated
Since the early 1980s when the human immunodeficiency virus first appeared inside United States borders, a wave of stigma has accompanied not only those afflicted with the cumbersome disease but also specific ethnic and social groups. These negative sentiments are completely unacceptable and harm society’s progress toward eradicating the virus.
Read MoreMovie Review: Cloud Atlas
A film that features Halle Berry as an elderly Korean man definitely deserves to be called, as Roger Ebert, movie critic for the Chicago Sun-Times put it, “one of the most ambitious films ever made.” Cloud Atlas is that and more.
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