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Arts and Entertainment

A&E 3/25/25 10:19pm

Music, community to collide at ktru’s annual Outdoor Show

By Charlie Cruz

ktru’s 33rd annual musical festival, “Outdoor Show,” will take over the Central Quad on Saturday for a day of music, art and community. Organized by Rice’s student-run radio station, the event will feature local vendors, craft stations, student DJs and eight musical acts — concluding with indie-pop headliner band Laundry Day.

A&E 3/11/25 10:52pm

Hazelight’s ‘Split Fiction’ is a new co-op masterpiece

By Charlie Cruz

"Split Fiction" might just be the Game of the Year — assuming Rockstar doesn’t finally release "GTA VI." After Hazelight Studios’ smash hit "It Takes Two," expectations were high, and "Split Fiction" absolutely delivered. Already surpassing one million sales within two days, the game became an instant sensation, and notably deserves its acclaim. 

A&E 3/11/25 10:49pm

Review: “Ne Zha 2” takes risks – and they pay off

By Sarah Motteler

Earlier last week, “Ne Zha 2” became the first animated film to reach $2 billion in global ticket sales, making it the top grossing animated film of all time after surpassing last year’s “Inside Out 2”. A loose adaptation of the story of Chinese mythological figure Nezha as told by the 16th century novel “Investiture of the Gods”, the film follows Ne Zha, a young boy born with the power of the fiery Demon Pill, as he completes three trials to protect his hometown of Chengtang Pass and save the life of his friend Ao Bing. 

A&E 3/11/25 10:47pm

Spring Break Reading Recommendations

By Emelia Gauch

No matter if you’re curled up at home or relaxing on a beach, Spring Break is meant for R&R — resting and reading. If you want a compelling book to dive into this coming week, look no further than this list of five recommendations, all published within the last three years.

A&E 3/11/25 10:43pm

Spring break on a budget with these fun spots

By Angelica Hernandez

Though it might not feel that way for those with midterms and essays due this week, spring break is approaching quicker than you may think. If your bank account tells you you’d rather stay home, check out these affordable spring break options. 

A&E 3/11/25 10:40pm

Anwuli Chukwumah chases indigo

By Angelica Hernandez

Anwuli Chukwumah says her creative process is like scratching an itch. A double major in studio art and architecture, the Martel College senior creates with a wide variety of materials, including found objects, ceramics and drawings, often tied together by a distinctive shade of indigo blue.

A&E 3/4/25 11:09pm

Musical apocalypse hits Rice

By Angelica Hernandez

Music, screaming and laughs filled McMurtry College commons Feb. 27 to March 1, as Lovett Theatre and McMurtry Arts Committee brought to life the horror-comedy-musical: “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.”

A&E 3/4/25 11:08pm

Students react to Sarofim

By Charlie Cruz

For years, art students say they’ve worked within the constraints of the aging Sewall Hall and the “insufficient,” inaccessible Hamman Hall. But with the 80,000 square-foot Sarofim Hall set to open next semester, students are preparing to transition into a purpose-built space that finally feels like home.  

A&E 3/4/25 11:06pm

R&B legends electrify Toyota Center on Mary J. Blige’s “For My Fans” Tour

By Arman Saxena

A sold-out crowd at Toyota Center witnessed three R&B legends combine forces on Feb. 18, delivering a night that was equal parts nostalgia, powerhouse vocals and pure soul. Titled the “For My Fans” Tour, Mary J. Blige’s first major outing since her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction felt like a homecoming of sorts — not just for Blige, but for openers Mario and Ne-Yo, who brought their own timeless hits and crowd-pleasing flair to the stage.

A&E 3/4/25 11:03pm

‘Perforations’ celebrates fashion, art, sustainability

By Charlie Cruz

Inside Anderson Hall, student designers, models and artists gathered for “InThread” and “Archi-Arts,” two student-run showcases that blurred the line between fashion and visual art. This year’s shared theme, “Perforations,” explored transformation — through cut fabric, layered textures and fragmented materials.  

A&E 2/25/25 11:47pm

With ChòpnBlok, Ope Amosu centers flavor and community

By Arman Saxena and Juliana Lightsey

Ope Amosu used to host small dinner parties out of his friend’s apartment by the Galleria, serving a menu of his own West African fusion recipes. His intention was to have a completely new guest list at each dinner, in order to get a diverse variety of feedback on his food – but people kept asking to come back.

A&E 2/25/25 11:45pm

A&E predicts the 97th Academy Awards

 

Christmas for cinephiles is near as the Academy Awards will be announced on Sunday, March 2 starting at 6 p.m. CST. From controversies to big snubs and surprises, this Oscar season has already been memorable. Here are our predictions for the 97th Academy Awards.

A&E 2/25/25 11:43pm

Rice Zine Fest creates collages

By Angelica Hernandez

Calming beats, the chatter of conversation and the smell of oranges hung in the air the evening of Sunday, Feb. 23, in Lovett College’s basement, dubbed ‘Lyle’s’. Magazines, scrapbook paper, art books and stickers were spread across a few tables, along with mandarin oranges. Throughout the night, students made collages and zines, noncommercial or homemade magazines, with supplies provided by Zine Fest organizers at Rice Zine Fest’s first event.

A&E 2/25/25 11:42pm

Analog artistry in FOTO 205

By Kristal Hanson

At a time when digital photography is instantaneous and ever-present, FOTO 205 offers something different — a return to the patience of film photography. Taught by Eli Greene, the course introduces students to film photography, darkroom techniques and the fundamental concepts behind the photographic medium.

A&E 2/18/25 10:43pm

Review: Drake and PartyNextDoor’s “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is lackluster damage control

By Charlie Cruz

Drake and PartyNextDoor’s “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is an embarrassment — 73 minutes of recycled ideas, lazy songwriting, and some of the worst attempts at experimentation Drake has ever put on wax. It's a bloated mess of an album, proving that just because two artists have chemistry doesn’t mean they should make an entire project together. But the biggest issue isn’t just the lackluster music — it’s the fact that this album is Drake’s first release after his career-altering loss to Kendrick Lamar. Instead of delivering something impactful, he gives us limp attempts at reassurance and 21 half-hearted party songs.  

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