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Arts and Entertainment

A&E 12/3/19 9:08pm

Wrap up the year with the best of 2019 music

By Christina Tan

According to my Last.fm, I’ve listened to 2,767 albums this year — and there are still so many more to listen to. 2019 saw an enormous number of pivotal and groundbreaking releases. Here are 20 of my favorites, and why I think everyone should give them a listen.

A&E 12/3/19 9:07pm

“Frozen 2” delivers more emotional depth than original

By Morgan Gage

After “Frozen” took the world by storm in 2013, a sequel has been in discussion on social media among executives, columnists and fans alike. As the second highest grossing animated film of all time (recently dethroned by Disney’s CGI live-action remake of “The Lion King”) it was expected that Disney would attempt to capitalize on “Frozen”’s monumental success. 

A&E 12/3/19 9:06pm

“Knives Out” revamps the classic “whodunnit” with modernity and wit

By Michael VerMeulen

While they are plentiful in the world of literature, original works in the “whodunnit” subgenre are rare in film. With his newest film “Knives Out” though, filmmaker Rian Johnson has put the murder mystery genre up on the silver screen in extravagant fashion, crafting a delightful puzzle of a tale that both echoes and subverts the greats like Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

A&E 12/3/19 9:03pm

"Queen and Slim" aestheticizes Black trauma

By Taylor Crain

“Queen and Slim” had been on my mind since the film was announced. Written by Lena Waithe (“The Chi” and “Master of None”) and directed by Melina Matsoukas (“Formation”), “Queen and Slim” marketed itself as a film portraying The Great Black Love Story of our time by depicting police brutality from a Black perspective. It seemed too good to be true — and perhaps it was. 

A&E 12/3/19 9:01pm

Dhamaka delivers fun, fashion in sold-out show

By Grace Wei

An explosion of vivid beats and animated dancing emerged from the Dhamaka showcase that occurred Saturday, Nov. 23. This year’s sold-out Dhamaka showcase celebrated South Asian culture with an unforgettable night of dance and vocal performances by talented Rice students at the Rice Memorial Center. 

A&E 11/12/19 9:25pm

Houston Cinema Arts Festival coming to campus

By Katelyn Landry

The Houston Cinema Arts Festival will bring diverse programming, from foreign films to experimental cinema to Rice Media Center this weekend, Nov. 15-18. Eight screening events will include discussion from award-winning filmmakers, and each screening requires a $12 ticket. 

A&E 11/12/19 9:18pm

FKA twigs' sophomore album "MAGDALENE" is a masterpiece

By Christina Tan

The creative process of multi-genre singer, producer and dancer FKA twigs (Tahliah Barnett) is one of deliberation and perfection — a quality that has left fans waiting years for new music. Five years after her debut album, twigs delivers with her sophomore album “MAGDALENE,” a nine-track triumph released Nov. 8. 

A&E 11/12/19 9:14pm

Rice Village’s new food hall Politan Row opens to public

By Varun Kukunoor

Last weekend, long-awaited food hall Politan Row opened in Rice Village, expanding nearby restaurant options beyond tried-and-true Rice Village favorites. While most universities boast giant fast-food names like McDonald’s or Subway on their campuses, Rice’s unique culture allows student-run businesses and other smaller eateries to dominate the food scene outside of the serveries. 

A&E 11/5/19 9:35pm

Best of the Fest: The Austin Film Festival Showcases Indie Filmmaker Talent

By Biz Rasich

More than 180 films screened at this year’s Austin Film Festival, which ran from Oct. 24 to 31. Now in its 26th year, the festival is known for its focus on screenwriting and for its solid slate of Oscar-bait films. I waited in hour-long lines and chatted with retired couples, an Airbnb “entrepreneur” and a woman who had once been Woody Harrelson’s temporary bodyguard in order to watch a half-dozen feature films in three days. Here are the indie films that rose above the rest.

A&E 11/5/19 9:31pm

Caffeinated creativity: David Buehrer talks McNair Hall’s incoming coffee shop and his own entrepreneurial history

By Ariana Engles

Nestled away in the southwest side of the McNair Hall courtyard is a room full of construction, espresso and hope. This is where I met David Buehrer this past Saturday. When I arrived, Buehrer was bustling around the room, talking with his employees and prepping for Audrey’s, the coffee shop that will open in the Jones Graduate School of Business this coming spring.

A&E 10/29/19 9:50pm

Good Eats: The Houston Black Food Truck Festival

By Varun Kukunoor

From Jamaican jerk chicken to loaded grilled cheese, the Third Annual Houston Black Food Truck Festival confirmed my belief that a happy stomach leads to a happy life. Taking place every October, the festival rallies together the greatest mobile eats of the greater Houston area. 

A&E 10/29/19 9:48pm

A night of chills and thrills in the Haunted Hall

By Rishika Chidananda

Something dark and twisted appeared on campus last Friday. While students were hiding from the cold that unexpectedly swept through the city, a large circus-like tent materialized in the Rice Memorial Center Grand Hall. Unknown creatures were heard shuffling behind the tapered sheets, murmuring in incomprehensible voices.

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