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(01/23/25 8:55pm)
We've all seen the Instagram–worthy photo sessions at the concert halls of the Metropolitan Opera House or the Academy of Music. It's the same with countless other institutes of fine arts; flocks of people dressed to the nines in sheer tights or suit jackets, posing their way through the night, the art of the PMA in the backdrop. One might think: What does this person know about art, much less classical music? Could they name one interesting observation about the Puccini that they apparently went to see? It doesn’t matter that this can't be answered—the very idea that someone could publicly enjoy art that they don’t understand (and here elitism rears its ugly head) seems to us tacky and embarrassing.
(01/25/25 8:14pm)
2024’s been an unbelievable year for hip hop, and there’s a good chance you already know this. Of course, it’s a colossal one for the culture, with Kendrick Lamar finally dragging rap out of the “Drake era,” but there’s been an endless outpouring of phenomenal records from every other corner of the genre too.
(02/17/25 1:07am)
There was a particular era of indie culture back in the late 2010’s that some might rather forget: Odd Future merch everywhere, an influx of “soft boy” fashion, and suburban youth all over America bumping this zany new boy band called BROCKHAMPTON. They sounded fresh as hell, but they might’ve been the kind of thing you had to just be there for. Over half a decade later, most of the artists that defined this period have moved on to other ventures—but as evidenced by Chasing Moving Trains, there’s one still hung up on it.
(12/06/24 4:39am)
I didn’t realize how little I knew about football until I was thrown into the media box at the Bucknell vs. Penn game.
(01/21/25 4:23pm)
I’m going to be honest, I almost fell for it too. Big Ridley Scott Haters almost got me.
(01/30/25 9:53pm)
Sampling has always been at the core of hip–hop. DJ Kool Herc knew it when he threw the first ever hip–hop party in 1973. Back then, sampling was already about who could find the most unique records and mix together the newest sounds. But by the '80s and '90s, production was a whole different game. Wu–Tang Clan started sampling kung–fu films, MF DOOM sampled Marvel villains, and Eric B. and Rakim put out "Seven Minutes of Madness," one of the craziest sampling compositions ever released.
(01/23/25 4:30am)
Nestled between the restaurants and shops along 40th street between Locust and Walnut, sits the Last Word Bookshop. Passersby can look through the big window in the front to see impressive stacks of books surrounding customers browsing around the different towering sections. It has become a popular spot among Penn students and community members alike, with people coming in at all times of day. You’ll see the shop busy early in the afternoons of a weekday or late at night—even past midnight—on weekends.
(12/06/24 4:57am)
In 2015, I entered Gershwin Theatre to see the musical Wicked. I was left captivated by the catchy music and the enthusiastic dances. Nine years after my first introduction to the Broadway show, I returned to one of my favorite musicals … in movie form.
(12/04/24 4:03pm)
Have you ever thought about just how much room we give up to cars? Approximately one-third of the land in America’s urban centers is eaten up by parking, and that’s not even counting the vehicles being actively driven. Not only are these gasoline-guzzling machines warming our planet and dirtying our air, they’re hogging precious urban space.
(01/22/25 3:21pm)
Content warning: This article contains mentions of rape and sexual harassment that can be disturbing and/or triggering for some readers.
(01/26/25 7:45pm)
I was raised in a typical suburban, Jewish family. Hebrew school once a week, Shabbat dinners Friday night, never setting foot in a synagogue if it wasn’t a high holiday, the usual. That fact isn’t usually that relevant to the movies I write about, but this week it is.
(12/06/24 4:34am)
In late fall, the two of us got on the train to our hometown—New York. As arts and culture reporters, and as 18–year residents of the greatest city in the world (sorry, Philadelphia), we were hungry to sink our teeth into the best the New York Film Festival had to offer. Official press badges in hand and pencils poised for note–taking, we filtered into Lincoln Center, and found ourselves watching a series of stories about what it means to retain identity during the rise of far–right influence.
(01/16/25 8:19pm)
As Hugues Mucyo (C’25) navigates his last year as an undergraduate, the former president of the Society of African Internationals at Penn takes the time to reflect on his journey as an international student. From the communities he has found to the home he left behind, much is left to discuss over the transatlantic differences and his efforts to bridge these cultural and historical divides.
(12/06/24 4:45am)
When ancient Roman gladiators entered the Colosseum, the first thing you’d notice was their uniforms. Far from sporting the simple plate bronze that we’ve come to associate with antiquity, elite gladiators were adorned with bright clothing, ornate plumage, and decorated helmets. Each fighter sported unique equipment that distinguished them from their opponents, helping to construct the identity of each individual fighter and making every match more interesting to watch. The gladiator’s attire served a vital role in accentuating the drama of his struggle. Rather than showing off the pure skill of its combatants, the ultimate aim of the gladiatorial games was to entertain a Roman audience, a task that a fighter’s clothing helped him accomplish effectively.
(12/05/24 3:46am)
For just $6 on Venmo, I scored the perfect scrapbook template to capture my "2024 recap". It was a small cardstock booklet of risograph illustrations, a printmaking technique in which 2D stencils are burned into paper. The designs featured elegant yet simple silhouettes of dynamic pottery in shades of violet–blue and taffy–pink, inspired by the artist’s summer spent at a pottery camp in China. The booklet channeled pastel and chill vibes, which I plan to fill with Polaroid photographs of friends and scenery from this year. I spent another $5 on another larger risograph: a print of a round succulent nestled in a lemonade–tinted pot.
(01/26/25 11:25pm)
Inside the gilded halls of the Detroit Opera House last year, one could see a white dude lead his AI girlfriend to suicide from the confines of his VR headset.
(01/16/25 8:29pm)
I sat in the Cinemark University City Penn 6 with my boyfriend waiting for our 9:40 p.m. screening of The Wild Robot to start. Our only other option this late was Smile 2, but we weren’t in the mood for anything too heavy. Our middling expectations for The Wild Robot were set by a decent 30–second teaser and the vague knowledge that Kit Connor (the heartthrob from Heartstopper) would be doing an American accent. We went into the film essentially blind, seeking mere childlike wonder and excitement.
(12/02/24 2:59am)
It’s a cold, late October evening as I hurry into the Kelly Writers House to catch the first of "Chef to Chef": a series of conversations between American chef, author, and Penn lecturer Gabrielle Hamilton and several prominent and interesting figures in the industry. Tonight, it’s Brooks Headley, former executive pastry chef at Michelin star restaurant Del Posto and owner of the vegetarian burger joint Superiority Burger, both located in New York City. The introductions are just being passed around as I slide into a bench. From where I’m seated, I can see Hamilton and Headley settled at the front, sipping glasses of wine and exchanging opening remarks with KWH Faculty Director Al Filreis.
(02/14/25 5:00am)
Teo Dragic (C ‘25) sits cross–legged on her bed, the walls surrounding us plastered with memories from her world. From mosaics of group photos, concert posters, playbills, a Fleabag script, and Bloomers promo, the art tells a vibrant story. Teo’s dedication to health, community, education, and performing arts leaves one to wonder how she balances everything. As we talk about the diverse communities she inhabits, she effortlessly shifts between topics, from urban outreach to artistic expression, reflecting the fluidity with which she navigates the world, all while making room for herself and others.
(11/25/24 4:50am)
It’s a balmy Sunday afternoon in Rittenhouse Square when Philadelphians, transplants, and Delco natives flood the park to see a spectacle—the Miles Teller Lookalike Contest.
