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Wednesday, April 30, 2025 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment

A&E 12/3/24 11:13pm

“GNX” is Kendrick Lamar’s victory lap

By Charlie Cruz

Kendrick Lamar's newest album, “GNX,” is great — but is it a classic? Released without warning on a quiet Friday morning, the album's unexpected drop has sparked conversations across the globe. With no rollout, no teasers and no lead singles, Kendrick let the music speak for itself, delivering a project that feels like a love letter to West Coast hip-hop-crafted with the unique vision and depth only he can provide. 

A&E 12/3/24 11:09pm

Annual gingerbread house competition sparks creativity

By Shreya Challa

Rice Program Council held their annual gingerbread house building competition Nov. 20. This year, the theme was ‘Lights, Camera, Gingerbread!’ with teams recreating scenes from iconic films, from Rapunzel’s tower to the Pirates of the Caribbean ship.

A&E 12/3/24 11:08pm

The Texas Renaissance Festival enchants students

By Max Hess

Nine gnomes, six knights, four wizards and a blacksmith wait patiently for a turkey leg. Your eyes seem to deceive you: Is the scene before you real, or is it a fairy tale-inspired mirage? This is only the beginning of the wild and zany world that is the Texas Renaissance Festival. 

A&E 11/19/24 10:58pm

Flicks to enjoy with friends and family this Thanksgiving

By Arman Saxena

Many film fans discuss their favorite Christmas movies, Valentine’s Day movies and even Election Day movies, but Thanksgiving cinema is too often forgotten. Here at the Thresher, we want to acknowledge some of the best movies to see while enjoying a potluck, cooking for a Friendsgiving or spending a warm moment with loved ones this Thanksgiving break.

A&E 11/19/24 10:57pm

Review: On ‘Shawn,’ Mendes is worth getting lost with

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

With the release of his self-titled album “Shawn,” Shawn Mendes proves that men with abs can sing folk. The album, Mendes’ fifth, represents a marked shift from his previous work and is well worth a listen. To sell his more mature sound, he’s grown out stubble this time, though the shirt has stayed off (thankfully). 

A&E 11/19/24 10:54pm

Fall Chamber Music Festival shines

By Angelica Hernandez

Serenades and sonatas rang through the hall as the Shepherd School of Music hosted its annual Fall Chamber Music Festival this past weekend. Students took the stage in small groups, performing on clarinet, piano and more.  

A&E 11/12/24 10:29pm

Artsy courses offered this spring semester

By Chi Pham

Another course registration period has come upon us, but no worries: To help you consider your options, the Thresher has compiled a list of new, unique courses offered this spring semester. 

A&E 11/12/24 10:17pm

“Songs of a Lost World” feels like The Cure’s farewell

By Arman Saxena

Having released their last proper album in 2008 — the largely panned “4:13 Dream” — few would’ve expected the legendary ’80s British alternative rock band The Cure to release an album that feels like a late-career peak. But that’s exactly what “Songs of a Lost World” is - a rebirth, even though it's simultaneously a somber meditation on death. 

A&E 11/12/24 10:16pm

Review: “LOST IN HEAVEN” stays true to Chase Atlantic’s successful formula

By Spring Chenjp

Students could have kept their Halloween night spooky with the midnight release of Australian alt-pop band Chase Atlantic’s fourth album “LOST IN HEAVEN”, heavy with dark, pulsating melodies overlaying darker themes. Tackling vulnerable subjects such as drug abuse and mental health with catchy grooves is a much-repeated Chase Atlantic move, but “LOST IN HEAVEN” does it well.

A&E 11/12/24 10:13pm

Review: ‘Anora’ marries comedy, class consciousness

By Arman Saxena

“Anora” isn’t a traditional romantic comedy, though parts of it may play like one: its protagonist is an erotic dancer, its meet-cute is in a strip club, and the central couple’s romance takes them on a whirlwind of sex, money and drugs. Still, the scenes of the couple dancing in the neon-lit streets of Vegas are some of the most romantic of the year thus far. 

A&E 11/12/24 10:12pm

Altered Origins architecture festival breaks boundaries

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

A one-of-a-kind festival was hosted by Rice’s School of Architecture Oct. 22 to 26, in collaboration with the department of anthropology, Houston Climate Justice Museum and Moody Center for the Arts. The festival, titled “Altered Origins: Emergencies, Experiments and Environment,” included workshops, conversations and performances challenging the norms of architecture. 

A&E 11/12/24 10:11pm

Festival season: These fall film picks bring drama, intimacy

By Arman Saxena

With the Houston Cinema Arts Festival right around the corner, we’re in the midst of fall film festival season. Many of the biggest film festivals in the world — such as Venice and New York —  have already happened, and some of their most acclaimed selections are being released in the next couple of months. Check out these movies, which are some of the best of the fall festival season.

A&E 11/5/24 11:24pm

Lovett journeys ‘Into the Woods’

By Chiara Moretti

Lovett Theater returns from an eight-year hiatus with its performance of “Into the Woods” this weekend. There will be three performances in Lovett College commons from Nov. 7 to Nov. 9, each starting at 8 p.m., as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 9. The show is free for all Rice students.

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