After plans to assemble were temporarily cancelled due to a financial wrinkle, organizers were pleased that this year’s Slutwalk went off without a hitch. Participants gathered in the hesitant rays of the sun before the march to listen to speeches from various community activists. Continue reading
On January 31st of this year, a Japanese tabloid magazine published pictures of 20-year-old Minami Minegishi, member of popular all-girl group AKB48, leaving the apartment building of a member of a local Japanese boy band. Because AKB48 prides itself on an overly cute (or kawaii) mystique, the group’s supposedly innocent reputation could be tarnished by the publication of scandalous pictures of one of their lead singers which hint at both a one-night stand and a walk of shame. Continue reading
Like many other MIT students, I’m looking for real work experience, because, let’s be realistic here, my undergrad degree in media studies isn’t going to put me at a competitive advantage in today’s world. So, when I heard about the MasterCard internship I was intrigued to say the least. Until I realized what I had to do to apply and how the selection process was going to work. Continue reading
It starts with a black screen. Sirens and the clattering of debris make use of the state of the art sound system.
September 11, 2001.
An emergency responder speaks to a woman trapped on a floor above the impact. They talk back and forth in their 2001 voices. Context is given as her words beat against the screen that is still black, inside your head, and the walls of the theatre that already feel too close. Continue reading
In his article for the December edition of OPENWIDE, Samir Kashyap coins the term convergenre. This portmanteau describes the convergences that have occurred relatively recently among a number of different genres. After providing some examples of this trend, he questions the suitability of genre-based boundaries by asking, “at what point does it become difficult or even unnecessary to define music?” This piece builds upon such a notion by discussing the construction of genre, and by proffering that even so-called “classical” music plays a role in convergenre as well. Continue reading
Last week, men’s rights activists (MRAs) achieved some marginal media exposure when the Twitter hashtag “INeedMasculismBecause,” initially a prank set about by users of the well-trafficked imageboard 4chan, was co-opted in earnest by a number of individuals professing our culture’s widespread subjugation of men. Thankfully, it seems not all publicity is good publicity when it comes to the imaginary war on masculinity; shortly after the hashtag gained steam, it was hijacked and repurposed by masses of users eager to lampoon the often misogynist tenets of the men’s rights movement. Within hours, satirical tweets dwarfed the zealous ululations of male persecution. Perhaps most striking was the challenge in differentiating some of the more hyperbolic sardonic comments from their equally hyperbolic legitimate counterparts.
Photo by Angela Mullins/Metro
If you’ve been all wrapped up in the spectacular USC election action lately, you may have missed out on the bout of Trudeaumania that hit the Spoke this past Wednesday. Justin Trudeau, one of nine various candidates running for leadership of the Liberal Party, spoke to students and members of the London community about re-connection, bouncing back from cynicism, and re-engaging themselves in the politics of the true north strong and free. Continue reading
Was 2012 the year of Barack Obama, Usain Bolt, PSY, or Kony 2012? This past year’s headlines were filled with both uplifting and tragic news, but there are other reasons to celebrate: never in the history of the world has there been less hunger, disease, poverty, or inequality. The developing world’s economies are growing, global life expectancy is rising, and AIDS and malaria are declining. Thanks to globalization and relative global peace, 2012 can literally be measured as the best year ever – and not just because Jersey Shore ended. Now let’s turn back the clock and check out the headlines. Continue reading
Google doodles are one of the best things about living in our time: one of the biggest technology and information companies out there (Google) pays people to design and program pretty pictures that are not only good-looking but interactive, too. Sometimes, like the Zamboni doodle from last week which you can play with by clicking the graphic above, they are so involved that they could entertain us for hours! Continue reading
10. Skating in Victoria Park
If we manage to get a few days below freezing this new semester, skating in Vic Park is a MUST for any Londoner. You can rent skates on site, and grab a delicious hot chocolate at Williams after you’ve finished. Rink hours at 10 AM – 10 PM, weather dependent, and closed for resurfacing fro, 5:30-6:30. Plus, skating is free, which is a bonus for broke students. Continue reading
