Arts and Entertainment

The Wild Grain returns after an extended hiatus

Prior to this semester, if you asked anyone on campus, English major or not, if they had ever heard of The Wild Grain, you’d probably be met with a puzzled look. Co-editors-in-chief Essence Ratliff and Basma Bedawi are here to change that.

Fall in love with literature this February

While Valentine’s Day may be nearly over, it doesn’t mean the season of love, or reading about love, has to be. If you’re feeling literary this February, the Thresher has rounded up a list of must-reads for every hopeless romantic, relationship cynic and everyone in between.  

Explore Black history through these books

Almost 100 years ago, in February 1926, African-American historian Carter G. Woodson launched what eventually became Black History Month. Black history is American history and the lives and stories of African-Americans are too often sidelined when people tell the story of the United States. Literature is essential in sharing the Black experience, and the following works will serve as a good introduction for anyone wanting to start learning more about Black history this February.

‘Overwhelming joy’: ¡Ritmo! celebrates community, resiliency

Rice’s Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment hosted its annual cultural extravaganza, ¡Ritmo! on Saturday, Jan. 27. The event, themed “Lo Que No Me Mata, Me Alimenta,” translating to “What Doesn’t Kill Me, Nourishes Me,” aimed to celebrate the resilience of the Latine community.

Review: ‘Les Misérables’ is powerful, enthralling and not miserable

“Les Misérables,” a show centered around the 1832 June Rebellion in France that follows one man’s path from rags to riches and saving those along the way, arrived at Houston’s Hobby Center Jan. 24. The French club at Rice took full advantage of the visit, arranging guest lecturers to come speak about the French Revolution, as well as arranging a lunch with cast members for all students to attend.

Review: ‘Wall Of Eyes’ cements The Smile as more than just a side project

The Smile is a group composed of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Tom Skinner of jazz group Sons of Kemet. More than just a side project, The Smile has been a venue for some of Yorke and Greenwood’s most vital music in years, filling in the gaps since Radiohead’s most recent album was released in 2016. The band originally formed during COVID-19, allowing the musicians to continue recording new music and utilizing Greenwood’s fresh ideas, even when the other members of their band were unavailable. “Wall of Eyes” is The Smile’s sophomore album, following the acclaim of their debut and solidifying the group as a musical entity — not just a one-off.

Review: Disney’s ‘Percy Jackson’ is the adaption fans deserve

Readers’ obsession began with “The Lightning Thief,” the first installment in author Rick Riordan’s series about Greek gods and their demigod children, which was released in 2005. Over the decades, Riordan expanded the series to include Roman mythology, then Egyptian, then Norse. The “Riordanverse” grew immensely with its fans.

Review: ‘The Zone of Interest’ is a chilling portrait of evil

Films about the Holocaust face an impossible question: How are we meant to render such an atrocity? Countless filmmakers since the end of World War II have tried to answer this question, some – like Steven Spielberg in “Schindler’s List” – answering that we must try to voice its individual stories as much as possible, and others – like Claude Lanzmann in his 9 ½ hour documentary, “Shoah” – answering that it is ultimately impossible. 

Weekly scenes and screens

Review: “American Fiction” presents a refreshing blend of satire and drama

If you’ve been watching movies these few years, you’ve probably seen Jeffrey Wright. He was Commissioner Gordon in “The Batman,” reprised his role alongside Daniel Craig in “No Time To Die” and played smaller characters in two Wes Anderson movies. Across all these performances, he has been consistently excellent but always limited. Fortunately, “American Fiction” finally allows Wright to take center stage — an opportunity that he capitalizes on, providing a thoughtful and hilarious lead in first-time director Cord Jefferson’s dramedy.

Senior Spotlight: Abramson exhibits biology through art

To Liliana Abramson, art has the potential to be an avenue of education. A double major in Biology and Visual and Dramatic Arts, Abramson has long been interested in exploring the intersection of biology, research and art — an endeavor that recently captured the attention of the Houston Chronicle.

Tomás Morín’s ‘Where Are You From: Letters to My Son’ explores Brown identity in America

​​Writing to an audience that does not yet exist — some may think it’d be a bit tricky. In his latest book, “Where Are You From: Letters to My Son,” assistant professor of creative writing Tomás Q. Morín sets out to do just that, writing a series of letters to his, at the time, unborn son. Letters that, as Morín puts it, “offer advice and personal perspective on issues of love, growth and the future his son will have to face.” Morín discusses how he, as a person of color, inhabits the present day in America  — and what it means for the landscape his son will be born into.

‘Ferrari’ gives a high-octane account of automobile giant’s eccentricities

Michael Mann, best known for his distinctly American action thrillers “Heat” and “Collateral,” released his first ever film set entirely outside of the U.S. late last December. “Ferrari” is a historical biopic on the turbulent life of automobile mogul Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), founder of the eponymous car manufacturer. Mann brings out the best of his older films for “Ferrari” — the paranoid intensity of “The Insider” and the steely solitude of “Thief” — to craft one of his most riveting films to date. 

Review: ‘Hall & Nash 2’ showcases what makes Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine exciting

In 2016, underground rappers Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine were beginning to build a following, releasing albums filled with intense verses over ornate instrumentals. As a follow up to their collaborative release, “Hall & Nash,” named after the ’90s pro wrestling duo, the two linked up with The Alchemist, one of hip hop’s most exciting producers, to record a sequel. However, Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine soon signed with Shady Records leaving the finished album, originally scheduled for a 2017 release, shelved with some of the tracks used on other projects over the years. Now, the original album is finally out for public consumption.

Review: ‘Mean Girls’ is kitschy, camp, questionable

“Mean Girls” reminded us of an important truth: If you are going to make a musical, you need to hire actors who can sing and a choreographer with experience. It also proves, though, that bad films can often be great fun.  

Review: Dandelion Cafe brings brunch to campus

The second location of the Dandelion Cafe, a Houston-based restaurant, is now open in the O’Connor Building for Engineering & Science. Described by Good Morning America as having one of the best chicken and waffles in Houston, the cafe is known for its variety of brunch options. While the Rice location only offers a smaller selection of their normal menu items, the variety of non-servery options, comforting atmosphere and acceptance of Tetra is sure to make the Dandelion Cafe a hit on campus. 

Moody’s new exhibit examines ‘The Foreign in Us’

Hayv Kahraman’s solo exhibit, “The Foreign in Us,” debuted at the Moody Center for the Arts Jan. 12. Consisting of over 40 drawings and paintings, the newest exhibit tackles themes of identity and belonging, framed through Kahraman’s personal experience as a refugee grappling with themes of isolation, migration, colonization and fear.

Movies you missed over winter break

Every winter promises an interesting crop of movie releases and this one was no different. From animated masterpieces to remakes of beloved movies to future Oscar contenders, this winter break had something for every movie lover. The following films are five films you can’t miss. 

A&E’s best music of 2023

From record-breaking tours to smaller indie albums, 2023 was a year filled with great music. While chart-topping hits created a smaller impact than usual in the year’s musical landscape, many iconic and beloved artists released albums. The Thresher’s A&E writers recap ten of this year’s best album releases.

​​A&E’s best movies of 2023

Full stop, 2023 was the best year for film since the pandemic. From “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” breaking box office records, to the deluge of awards contenders that came out in the last months of the year, there was seemingly always something playing in theaters worth watching. The Thresher’s A&E writers recap ten of this year’s best film releases.