Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment

A&E 3/21/23 10:18pm

Review: ‘UGLY’ is a post-punk rebirth

By Arman Saxena

When I put on Slowthai’s newest project on a cozy Friday morning, I was not expecting to be met with a propulsive, anxious and fervidly aggressive electro-industrial track. Slowthai’s last album “Tyron” was a departure from the UK rapper’s grime and punk roots, alternating between boastful trap anthems and R&B-influenced introspection. With “UGLY,” the Northampton-born rapper has reinvented himself once again. 

A&E 3/21/23 10:16pm

Five of Houston’s indie theatre productions to watch

By Jay Collura

Tired of scrolling through Netflix for new shows to watch? Impatient for more theatre productions on campus? For your viewing pleasure, the Thresher has compiled five up-and-coming indie theatre shows produced by local venues, and all are likely to be hard acts to follow.

A&E 3/21/23 10:15pm

.SWOOSH: Nike bets on the Metaverse

By Jonathan Woo

Fashion has been making a comeback in the metaverse. Virtual characters can now don North Face puffers and Off-White hoodies in Snapchat Bitmojis, Jordans in the “NBA 2K” video game series and Fortnite unicorn back bling. There have long been ways to express yourself in online worlds (think skins in video games), but only recently with the emergence of blockchain technology have big fashion companies started to explore that space as well. One brand investing heavily in the metaverse market is Nike, and they recently hosted a community event at Houston’s The Better Generation sneaker shop showcasing .SWOOSH, Nike’s virtual creations division.

A&E 3/21/23 10:14pm

Rice’s newest statue founds a ‘Blank Slate’ for conversation

By Shreya Challa

​​There’s a new statue on campus, and it’s intentionally provocative. This is the first time that “A Blank Slate: Hope for a New America,” an interactive sculpture on a national tour, is being exhibited on a university campus.  The monument, created by Ghanaian artist Kwame Akoto-Bamfo to disrupt Confederate and segregated spaces, was first unveiled in Ghana in 2019 and has since been exhibited in numerous American cities, including Chicago, New York and Washington D.C. Rice University is its penultimate stop before Galveston, where it will be for Juneteenth. The monument was unveiled on March 4 and is currently located in front of the Provisional Campus Facilities tents on College Way. The exhibit has been sponsored by Rice’s Center for African and African American Studies, the School of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities and Hanszen College.

A&E 3/21/23 10:11pm

The environment meets multimedia theatrical performances in EcoStudio

By Ivy Li

Inside the Shepherd School’s Wortham Theater, environmental issues are regularly brought to life in the form of multimedia works. Wortham Theater is the stage for ENST 422: EcoStudio, a space transformed into a multimedia classroom by Kurt D. Stallmann, Director of the Rice Electroacoustic Music Labs. Stallmann and his co-instructor Joseph A. Campana, Rice English professor and poet, spent months discussing how to get students to collaborate and engage with environmental issues. The idea for the course was born from these discussions.

A&E 3/7/23 10:47pm

Review: ‘Good Riddance’ cements Abrams’ sad girl persona

By Hannah Son

Gracie Abrams’ title of bedroom pop princess isn’t up for grabs. After breaking out with “minor” and “This Is What It Feels Like,” Abrams settles into a comfortable tonal register in “Good Riddance.” Her debut studio album is her second project with producer and co-writer Aaron Dessner. Throughout the 12 tracks, the pair holds onto Abrams’ one-note sad girl persona in delicate string riffs and quiet confessions. “Good Riddance” succeeds most when Gracie gives us something to cry to. 

A&E 3/7/23 10:43pm

Predicting the 2023 Academy Awards

By Arman Saxena

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Oscar season. The 95th Academy Awards will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the third time and broadcasted on ABC on Sunday, March 12 at 7 p.m. CST. This was a year of fantastic blockbusters, indie word-of-mouth hits and passion projects from Hollywood legends. Without further ado, here’s what you can expect from this year’s Academy Awards. 

A&E 3/7/23 10:36pm

ThresHER’s Most Influential: A guide to women-created art

By Emelia Gauch

Spring break is within reach, and what better way to spend a week off during Women’s History Month than by consuming women-created media? To guide you in your period of cultural enlightenment, the Thresher compiled some of the most influential artists and creators across music, fashion and literature who identify as women. Since we’re nothing if not thorough, listen to our playlist of women artists as you check it out. 

A&E 3/7/23 10:34pm

Trailblazing directors to watch out for

By Arman Saxena

While the male-dominated structures of film industries around the world have worked against women becoming successful, female directors throughout history have created some of the greatest films in history despite the barriers they experienced. Today, the number of women-identifying filmmakers helming acclaimed films have grown thanks to growing support for, and acceptance of, women behind the camera. In that spirit, here is a list of trailblazing women-identifying directors to watch.

A&E 3/7/23 10:32pm

Snap a pic with these female photographers in HTX

By Spring Chenjp

Are you a senior looking for graduation photos to commemorate your last few months at Rice, in need of a LinkedIn headshot to replace that old high school photo or just want some Instagram-worthy golden hour pictures? These six photographers in the Houston area who identify as women are sure to have you covered this Women’s History Month.

A&E 2/28/23 11:18pm

Senior Spotlight: Multi-hyphenate Daniel Cho composes life after Rice

By Michelle Gachelin

From music composition to multivariable calculus, one prolific artist has excelled at it all. Daniel Cho, a double major in violin performance and composition at the Shepherd School of Music, began playing the violin around the age of five and won a competition for his first original composition at the age of nine. In addition to his impressive portfolio, Cho is minoring in business and is set to intern in Los Angeles this summer at Crowe, a global accounting firm, before returning to Rice to earn his Masters in Accounting. He hopes that his experience in finance will be another string on his bow to position himself in Los Angeles long term, where he can begin composing music for film soundtracks.

A&E 2/28/23 11:17pm

Review: Bluestone Lane makes a splash in Rice Village

By Michelle Gachelin , Riya Misra and Camille Kao

Australian-inspired, New York-based Bluestone Lane just opened its second Texas cafė in Rice Village, so naturally the Thresher put on our nicest Sunday brunch attire (featuring Riya’s best boxer shorts), grabbed our camera and headed over to check it out. With its seafoam-blue tiles and beach-themed decor, including numerous fake ferns, Bluestone’s interior is reminiscent of a middle-aged woman’s bathroom. Admittedly, the decor is more appropriate when considering that the cafė caters to working professionals with readily disposable incomes, hence the $9.50 charge for a berry smoothie. Although the menu prices were exorbitant, the food and coffee were incredible.

A&E 2/28/23 11:13pm

Review: ‘Cocaine Bear’ is delightfully gory with blow, blood and (obviously) bears

By Basma Bedawi

If you’re looking for a short movie that contains drugs, gore and drama, all without losing its comedic heart and absurdist elements, look no further than “Cocaine Bear,” a comedy-drama directed by Elizabeth Banks and, notably, Ray Liotta’s first posthumous release. The story is (very) loosely based on a real bear found dead in 1985 after ingesting millions of dollars worth of lost cocaine. Although that bear did not go on a killing rampage, “Cocaine Bear” takes many liberties from its origin, making its main creature desecrate Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, leaving few survivors by the end. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:13pm

Review: ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ is a brainless disappointment

By Hamza Saeed

Before beginning this review, I want to acknowledge that I am aware of the controversy surrounding this game. I want to make my position on the trans community explicitly clear. Transgender people have a right to exist and a right to live their life free of harassment from individuals that seek to demean and degrade them. I believe I speak for everyone at the Thresher when I say that I condemn the statements that J.K. Rowling has made. Simply put, you cannot say that you support and love trans women and then tweet out “Merry TERFmas”. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:12pm

Review: Run to ‘Moulin Rouge,’ a sparkling, red-hot spectacular

By Sara Davidson

“Moulin Rouge! The Musical” hit the Hobby Center this week, and it is worth a watch. The show is a jukebox musical featuring many popular and recognizable songs, and is based on the 2001 movie by the same name. I went into the show not knowing what to expect and left wishing that the show could go on for longer. Long story short, I loved it. 

A&E 2/28/23 11:07pm

Bull ride and barrel race at the Rodeo

By Hadley Medlock

Everyone say “yee-haw” because it’s that time of year again — the weather is finally back in the 80’s, midterm assignments have every Rice student in tears and the annual Houston Rodeo has come to town. Running from Feb. 28 to March 19 at NRG Park and attracting around two million visitors each year, even if you haven’t yet been to the Houston Rodeo you’ve probably heard about it. While this might not be your first rodeo, it may be your first in Houston, so here’s the Thresher’s guide to navigating the Houston Rodeo this year. 

Editor's Picks

Most Popular

The Rice Thresher