Arts & Entertainment
The Truman Show and the fallacy of reality
As the new Arts & Entertainment editor, the best way I can break in this section is by discussing one of the most influential films I've ever seen: the 1998 classic The Truman Show directed by Peter Weir and written by Andrew Niccol. This is a film near and dear to my heart and one I guarantee you have at least heard of in passing.
Five must-have songs for your summer playlist
I took the liberty of sharing five songs that belong in everyone’s summer playlist. If you find one you haven’t heard of, give it a listen! These five were crafted by the higher powers to boost your serotonin. Sorry Lana, there’s no “Summertime Sadness” here.
Writer Spotlight: Matt Keller
“Gone”
Matt Keller is a graduating creative writing major. This piece was written in his senior year of high school, and although it has the same rough edges and inconsistencies common in his early writing, he wanted it put in print as a testament to his former self, to the writer within he wasn’t confident enough to let speak, and as proof that it’s never too late to try.
Art in all axes: The brilliance of multiply by Frances Sharples
Frances Sharples’s multiply: a queer multimedia chapbook turned art gallery, was displayed in the Multicultural Center for this year’s G.R.E.A.T Day. Sharples’s chapbook aimed to bring the idea of ‘queerness’ and all its connotation, not only to the poems contained within it but also to the fluidity of the art medium throughout.
Top 10 Taylor Swift albums (Frances’ version)
Swifties far and wide, I’ve pushed this article off for some time now, partly due to business and the bullying I’ve been subjected to by the former Arts and Entertainment Editor, Matthew Keller, for my proposed response to the age-old question, “How would you rank Taylor Swift’s discography?”
Lamron Lit Corner: The Great Gatsby and beating against the current
If there is one quote from the classic novel The Great Gatsby that continues to poke its head up in my life—begging for attention, for regard, for answers and questions, over and over for the last several years—it is this one:
Let’s be Frank: The controversy around Frank Ocean at Coachella
Frank Ocean’s Coachella performance on Sunday, Apr. 16, has ensued chaos among fans. Because Ocean has been slated to headline this year’s festival since 2020, the disappointment from fans was as high as their anticipation. An outbreak of enraged videos, tweets, and comments has infected the internet during the past week, and one could only image: What happened with the beloved artist?
Evil Dead Rise is a bloody good time
After a decade of inactivity, the Evil Dead franchise returns to theaters with Evil Dead Rise, directed by Irish film writer and director Lee Cronin. Cronin’s most recent film was The Hole in the Ground, released back in 2019, which was met with mixed reviews, though I personally found it to be a solid film. Seeing Cronin’s style in other works made me excited for his take on the Evil Dead lore.
Genesis’ We Can’t Dance and what makes a favorite album
As my time writing for The Lamron and specifically the Arts & Entertainment section comes to a close, it felt not only right but essential that I dedicate my final music article to my favorite album of all time, Genesis’ 1991 We Can’t Dance. Being Phil Collins’ final album with the band and the second to last Genesis original album, there was a lot for the group to do: find conclusion to a group that had started 22 years before in 1969, who had gained and lost a number of members, who had experimented and pushed the boundaries of every genre they worked in, and a group that acted as a launching pad for a number of incredibly successful solo careers. How could it all be boiled down to one last hurrah?
The Mandalorian season three review: A lackluster spectacle
*Major spoilers ahead*
As the award-winning, widely acclaimed Disney Plus series The Mandalorian comes to a close on its third season, many fans feel a nagging indifference to the well-beloved property. Though not lacking in visual spectacle or an intriguing storyline, the epic story’s acting and pacing have become less than noteworthy. This may shock some, but the once critically acclaimed “rebirth” of the Star Wars franchise has descended from its heights and taken up its place with many of the other recent projects from the franchise.
Sorry to Bother You (2018): A cinematic extravaganza
In 2018, cinema fans were treated to a true spectacle—the debut directorial release of Boots Riley: Sorry to Bother You. This surrealist black comedy focuses on issues surrounding poverty and the general economic status of those who live in the United States, taking a hyperbolic look at what these individuals’ lives entail centering on one Cassius Green. Though seeming somewhat straightforward, this is a film that will keep you guessing about what could possibly be coming next.
Top ten Taylor Swift albums (Carly’s Version)
As many hardcore Swifties and dedicated Arts and Entertainment readers may recall, my fellow Lamron staff member and dearest friend Matt Keller gave his official rankings of Taylor Swift’s albums in early March. Keller’s ranking was certainly well-informed and valid; however, in the spirit of ongoing scholarly conversation (and this truly is something to be studied), I have taken it upon myself to provide my own rankings of the beloved artist’s albums.
Recap of all things Evil Dead
From the Necronomicon to Ash Williams, the Evil Dead franchise is all things “Groovy.” The Evil Dead franchise, after 10 years away from the big screen, returns with Evil Dead Rise, which releases in theaters Apr. 21. In honor of the franchise's return, let’s take a look through the filmography of the iconic horror franchise.
Life in plastic: Barbie in the late-capitalist age
The advertising campaign for Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film has been shrouded in candy-coated mystery. In Jun. 2022, photos were released of Margot Robbie in the titular doll role, donning neon roller-blading gear alongside co-star Ryan Gosling, who plays Barbie’s companion Ken. Other photos showed Robbie in a hot pink cowboy outfit and behind the wheel of the Barbie Corvette. The photos produced speculation about the nature of the film, though its aesthetic was clear: Barbie would pay homage to every iteration of the doll’s legacy, with particular focus on her 80s-era fluorescence.
Trigun Stampede (2023): A Refreshing Revival
*Slight spoiler warning*
As the Spring 2023 anime season comes to a close, there is one show left on the minds of many—a reboot of a well-beloved late-1990s manga, Trigun, known as Trigun Stampede. Trigun was an action-packed story created and illustrated by Yasuhiro Nightow, released in Apr. 1995, and concluded in Jan. 1997, focusing on the escapades of a pacifist outlaw.
boygenius’s the record: the review
For the first time ever, the indie folk rock group boygenius has finally given the girls, gays, and they’s what we have been hungrily awaiting—an album, the record. boygenius, comprised of indie artists Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers, is well-known not only for the popularity of their 2018 EP, boygenius, but for the quality of each member’s solo music. Baker, Dacus, and Bridgers have each released independent music and toured since boygenius’s first release, making the release of a full album all the more exciting for their devoted fans.
Senior creative writing readings and how to support artists on campus
The final class requirement for those seeking a degree in English with a concentration in creative writing is ENGL 402: The Senior Seminar. While the bulk of the class focuses on what the next steps are in one’s writing journey, whether it be graduate school, freelancing, editing, or otherwise, the true climax of not only the seminar but one’s experience in Geneseo’s writing program is the senior reading. The writer is tasked with either picking one of their preexisting poems, short stories, or essays, or writing a brand new one, then presenting it to the campus in a formal reading.