Arts & Culture

Even amidst a double standard of scrutiny, this dangerous narrative must be condemned    By RUMA POUDELL — arts@theaggie.org   American rapper and fashion designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has come under fire for a recent string of antisemitic and racist comments and actions. These include instances such as the time Ye wore […]

The practice provides a way to think without overthinking it    By ANA BACH — arts@theaggie.org   Modern society has made considerable strides toward breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental health. Though we still have a long way to go, it has become more socially acceptable to open up about mental health struggles and advocate […]

There’s no better way to start 2023 than with a healthy new hobby   By VIVI KIM — arts@theaggie.org   “The Man Who Was Thursday” by G.K. Chesterton (1908) Genre: literary fiction, mystery Taking place in 20th-century London, the story follows a series of characters’ unfolding mysteries. Gabriel Syme is a poet and detective who […]

Despite interest in multilingualism, Netflix’s newest international foray fails to make an impact    By ADHITHI ANHJALI — arts@theaggie.org   From the creators of “Dark,” a surprise German hit that arguably opened Netflix’s door to more international media, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar return with “1899.” Best described as opaque, dreary and guarded, the […]

From Vivaldi to Mariah Carey, this selection is sure to get you through the colder months    By SARAH HAN — arts@theaggie.org   “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams (1963) Ringing in the list is Andy Williams’ quintessential song for the holidays. Certainly, the holiday season is one of the […]

How the instruments play an important role in community-building   By RUMA POUDELL — arts@theaggie.org   In Western culture, drums are often connoted for their use in bands and other musical organizations. But within many South Asian communities, various drums play a much more intimate role, often responsible for bringing people together in different ways. […]

The Arts Desk’s weekly picks for music, movies and more   By Adhithi Anjali — arts@theaggie.org   Book: “Vita Nostra: A Novel” by Maryna and Serhiy Dyachenko, trans. Julia Meitov Hersey (2007) The Dyachenkos, a pair of married authors from Ukraine, warp conceptions of time and space by sending readers through the unsettling study at […]

Snobbish characters, disarmingly bold satire and endless culinary humor: Mark Mylod’s recipe for the perfect dark horror-comedy   By VIVI KIM — arts@theaggie.org   “The Menu,” starring Ralph Fiennes as an intimidating high-profile chef and Anya Taylor-Joy as his unimpressed customer, is a playfully dark commentary on class and restaurant culture. A majority of the […]

A step-by-step guide for making the most of your art-viewing experience   By SARAH HAN — arts@theaggie.org   Whether it is a sculpture or a painting, visual art comes in various forms. Regardless of the medium, many viewers overlook the specific and elusive parts of art; therefore, a step-by-step guide on how to view art […]

A deep dive into one of many incredible resources of the UC Davis Arts Department   By ANA BACH — arts@theaggie.org   On Nov. 17, I had the opportunity to check out one installation of the recurring Visiting Artist Lecture Series at the Manetti Shrem Museum.  The lecture was given by Christina Quarles, an artist […]

Breaking down the “obsessed prodigy” trope in popular films and television shows    By VIVI KIM — arts@theaggie.org   Out of all the popular character tropes seen in movies and television shows, one that never fails to paint an intriguing protagonist is that of the “obsessed artist.” This character typically exhibits some exceptional skill or […]

The Art Desk’s weekly picks for movies, books, television and music   By SARAH HAN — arts@theaggie.org   Song: “Blue” by Elina (2020) In honor of rising stars, I thought I’d highlight Elina, a Swedish singer who has co-written songs for Maroon 5, Hilary Duff and Zara Larsson. Out of her songs, “Blue” is particularly […]