Author Archives: Emily Fister

Gaga: Weight Gain is Art

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Everybody wants a piece of pop culture prime rib. And what’s the hotly sought after meat these days? Well, it’s the queen of the fame game, Lady Gaga. After gaining 25 pounds a few weeks ago, the media circus lit up into full-fledged flashbulb frenzy. Mother Monster is now an ogre, as surface-level sources like Entertainment Tonight reported that surely she was not “born this way.” Her daring response is promoting the weight gain itself – and it’s an experiment in performance art politics. Continue reading →

pulp Magazine pops the student bubble

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pulp No matter how you take your OJ, pulp Magazine is a refreshing glass filled with the diverse talents of the London arts community. A zine based out of the Visual Arts Department at Western, pulp has earned itself a slot on popular downtown store shelves. With support from the likes of American Apparel and City Lights Book Shop, the ambitious magazine quenches readers’ thirst for local artistic expression.

Jacqueline Mok, a third year visual arts student, pioneered the zine as Editor-in-Chief in September. Known for her whimsical, child-like characters, Mok explores a variety of mediums with her art—from screen-printing to video installations.

After discovering the London beyond Richmond Row, this young artist became eager for a citywide community. “I wanted to encourage students to go out, and create opportunities for them to meet established artists,” says Mok, emphasizing that students are often oblivious to the dynamic arts scene.  Continue reading →

Arcade Fire and the Grammy culture shock

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@mitZinereader, If you tweet or tumble, you’ve stumbleupon-ed the “Who Is Arcade Fire??!!?” meme.

On Sunday night, Twitter imploded with the cries of mass culture misery: “The Grammys have something against famous people.” Arcade Fire stole Album of the Year from the “recovered” and deserving Eminem. Don’t forget about Katy Perry, who’s worked her fingers to the bone negotiating an OPI nail polish collection. How could she not win? And that Lady Antebellum song always plays in my dentist’s office on Q97.5. Come on, judges. This ain’t fair.

We’re in FIMS. We know that everything that is unfair is fair game on the Interwebz. Hashtags and YouTube parodies abound, the Montreal indie rock group has become both a meme and a movement within a mere week. It’s now a “you’re either with us or against us” attitude.  Continue reading →

Matt & Kim @ the Phoenix – “Welcome Home, Strangers.”

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The night began like a house party with a thousand strangers. Despite the laid-back expressions of the hipster crowd – last.fm users and organic tea drinkers alike – there was anticipation for an evening of chaos. And in true Hallowe’en spirit, Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre, decked out in ghoulish décor, was about to be shaken by the party’s two rambunctious hosts.

Matt Johnson was ready to party. mitZine's Emily Fister was very much game.

With a single fist raised from behind his Moog keyboard, Matt Johnson smiled. “Toronto, it’s Friday night. You have NOTHING to do tomorrow. Let’s tear this place down!”

Permission to get the party started: granted.

Brooklyn’s indie-pop heroes Matt & Kim are known for their intimate shows. From the band’s DIY beginnings to their recent mainstream accolade, I had the high expectation of a night to Tweet home about. Continue reading →