Over the summer, I worked at a coffee shop down in Greenwich Village. One day, I noticed my boss’s silver ring. We started talking and he told me about the silversmith who used to be next door to the coffee store. Everyone loved him, but gradually he became disillusioned with the Village, and eventually his
CONTINUE READING

 group called “Whale Thief” recently produced a film called Consti2tion, where protagonist Jamie must rewrite the expired Constitution because she lives in Thomas Jefferson’s old apartment.  The most noteworthy part of the film is the amount of time it took to make from conception to premiere – twenty four hours. Using their network of actors,
CONTINUE READING

ecently, indie band Pomplamoose released their financial records of their latest tour. They revealed that while they were making money, they’re not in the same tax bracket as Mitt Romney—not by a large margin. They spent $148,000 and earned back $136,000, meaning they actually lost about $12,000 on their tour—somewhat odd, considering most bands make
CONTINUE READING

he French poet Charles Baudelaire once remarked that “One should always be drunk.” Ambrose Bierce in his Devil’s Dictionary defined an abstainer as “a weak man who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.” In a 1956 interview with The Paris Review, William Faulkner summed up what seems to be the pervasive mode
CONTINUE READING

n Tuesday, December 16, members of the Painting Bohemia community hosted an event at Fordham University for students to come experience the works of Donald Glover a.k.a. Childish Gambino. After a presentation by Liam Paris and Molly Boyd, students listened to album, read the screenplay, and watched videos associated with Gambino’s project, Because the Internet. For
CONTINUE READING

Though the dangers and health effects of tobacco consumption are widely known, this does not stop New Yorkers from partaking in the habit. Under the Smoke-Free Act of 2002, Mayor Bloomberg adopted strict smoking laws in New York that banned smoking in public venues such as parks, beaches, and restaurants. The Smoke-Free Act also implemented
CONTINUE READING

treet photography is a relatively new art form, but one that has been rapidly growing in popularity over the last century. Advances in camera technology have made street photography an increasingly accessible form of art, and the growing diversity of the artists has lead to greater diversity in the art itself. During the first 60
CONTINUE READING

ats. Humans have obsessed over these animals for thousands of years. Egyptians sanctified them, some early modern Germans burned them and accused them of serving the devil, French aristocracy hailed them as elegant pets, while modern Tumblr users just think they’re cute, and post millions of photos of them a day. Certainly, people’s obsession with
CONTINUE READING

tanding on a big sparkly stage is a young woman wearing a fluorescent crystal covered dress. Upon first glance, she seems like just another pop star, performing at a concert. However, as the camera zooms out and the viewer sees the singer in full height, one might realize that her leg is also completely covered
CONTINUE READING

.T Barnum said it over half a century ago, but in regards to the over saturation of the entertainment business today (tons of actors, directors, rappers shoving mix-tapes into people’s pockets) These words have never been more important than they are right now. the most effective way for an artist to increase their longevity is
CONTINUE READING

This is part one of a two part series.  
CONTINUE READING

n October, high school students in Jefferson County, Colorado, shocked administrators and the school board by protesting proposed changes to the AP US history curriculum, as well as other decisions by the school board. Plans were to take out episodes of civil unrest in American History textbooks in order to promote a more patriotic view
CONTINUE READING

Flillabluster Baba Vanish Milk Isis Bucket Challenge ove can be a terrible curse, and I did love her. For the better part of two years, I was part of what I can only describe as a toxic relationship. I spent nearly every cent I made on her, spent all of my time with her. Whenever
CONTINUE READING

The “bohemian” has been divided into aesthetic and ideology.  My generation—individuals born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s—has been named generation Y, millennials, generation “me,” or more recently, generation self(ie).  Whatever you call us, we’re categorized as highly individualistic to a point of fault.  Whether or not I find these descriptions consistent with
CONTINUE READING

xtremely diverse since the 17th century, Williamsburg has hosted residences and businesses belonging to a myriad of European immigrants. A mecca for industry, the area was flooded after the construction of the Williamsburg bridge and later a series of public housing projects. Over the past century, a new type of immigrant flocked to Brooklyn—artists and
CONTINUE READING

How do you define cosplay and/or explain it to people? Sarah: I usually define it as dressing up as a character to the best of your ability or in your own style. Wei: I dress as fictional characters and go to anime conventions. Conner: Making or buying a costume to dress up as a fictional
CONTINUE READING

ome of the most beloved 90s trends have made a loud reemergence into high fashion. Many of the industry’s top brands have incorporated metallic, sheer, chokers, overalls, sneakers, baggier jeans and cinched pants into their lines. The past few seasons reintroduction of 90s motifs has paralleled an appropriation of urban, hip-hop fashion as well. Brands
CONTINUE READING

riginally from Charleville, France, Jean-Nicolas-Arthur Rimbaud was born in 1854 to mother Marie-Catherine-Vitalie Cuif and father Frédéric Rimbaud, an army officer of bourgeois standing. Rimbaud’s rebellious, vagabond lifestyle fueled by absinthe and hashish has excited generations of writers. Described by Victor Hugo as “an infant Shakespeare,” Rimbaud’s following has been enraptured by his scandalous behavior,
CONTINUE READING

ost people have heard of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Elmer Fudd. At the least, the classic line “That’s All Folks!”, said by Porky Pig, will bring back memories of watching Saturday morning cartoons. Despite the widespread international recognition of Looney Tunes, the name Charles Martin Jones, or Chuck Jones, is one that is lesser
CONTINUE READING

Bonnaroo is a four day long music festival help in Manchester, Tennessee. This event has one of the most diverse array of performers, including musicians from the genres of Indie, Hip Hop, gospel, rock, country, reggae and electronica all in one location. Most music festivals typically have artists from only a few similar branches of
CONTINUE READING

s a local resident of the Philadelphia suburbs, it is fairly strange that I had never attended the annual Made in America Concert before. The two day concert held every labor day weekend is Philadelphia’s only claim to music festival fame, and most residents of the tristate area can proudly count themselves amongst the thousands
CONTINUE READING

oodstock, the quintessential music festival experience, epitomizes the an alternative concert going experience. The first of its kind, the monumental event took place over a span of three days in August of 1969. It headlined dozens of iconic musicians of the hippie generation, including Janis Joplin, the Who, the Grateful Dead, Santana, and the legendary
CONTINUE READING

or many people, especially in New York City, a person’s clothing represents the authenticity of their style. A perfect outfit is the result of much searching and work. Stores who sell fast fashion, or racks of ready-made clothes cheaply made and ready for the upcoming season, threaten all of that. Culture tends to create certain
CONTINUE READING

n late 1985, the Japanese noise rock band Hanatarash performed what would be their last show in Japan for several years. They had earned a reputation for their extreme live shows and their experimentation with a genre they had created, “danger music.” Danger music is an extension of the avant-garde noise movement, in which musicians
CONTINUE READING

n a city like New York where trends spread like wildfire, health and fitness crazes are treated no differently. In recent years, going to the gym has transitioned from being a chore to a place of social gathering. The latest fitness crazes have been capitalized on by the top 1%, who set themselves apart with
CONTINUE READING

 musician’s on-stage persona is critical to how he or she wants to be perceived. Choosing how one acts or performs onstage is essential for bringing the music to life; it’s essential for fans and concert-goers to connect with who this person is on stage and what message is being conveyed. The birth of punk music and
CONTINUE READING

In his report on black poverty in the 1960’s, Daniel Patrick Moynihan put the onus of black poverty primarily on the shoulders of so-called matriarchy.  By his view, the deviance of many black households’ family structures from the national norm was the root cause of numerous other problems faced by black men and women in
CONTINUE READING

eminism is such a hot topic right now. From Beyonce’s most recent album released almost a year ago (that the world is still reeling from), to Lena Dunham’s show Girls making oh-so many waves, to Taylor Swift’s newfound feminist identity, everyone is well aware of the “f-word.” Swift has been especially down with feminism. Before,
CONTINUE READING

an Jak is a quiet café in central Moscow, located on its picturesque Boulevard Ring. It has a bright red storefront, a few tiny tables, and a very nice waitress named Julia, who always remembered your name. When I passed it every day on my way to school, I could never imagine it getting stormed
CONTINUE READING

he day after Valerie Solanas shot Andy Warhol the headline of the New York City tabloid The Daily News read, “Actress Shoots Andy Warhol.” This headline undermines the significance of Solanas’ life
CONTINUE READING

n November 25th after long deliberation, the Grand Jury investigating the now infamous case of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson’s shooting of unarmed black resident Michael Brown, decided not to indict. Since then, numerous protests ranging from nonviolent demonstrations of civil disobedience to destruction of property have unfolded. In New York City, an unorganized protest
CONTINUE READING

llen Ginsberg is a name that many people stumble across in one English class or another. My first encounter with Ginsberg was in my AP English Literature class in twelfth grade. My teacher had us read “Howl” and then discuss it in class. I had only two thoughts in my mind at the time. Naturally,
CONTINUE READING

he practice of tattooing has been around a long time. Where there is evidence of even the earliest civilization, there seems to also be some accompanying evidence for tattooing. Take the oldest preserved mummy on earth: Otzi—the devilishly handsome rogue who no doubt was breakin’ hearts and snappin’ the necks of any feeble deer that
CONTINUE READING

“Ho-Ho-Ho” chants, drunken frat boys, and hundreds of ‘Saint Nick’s’ roaming the streets of New York City. This is an accurate rundown of the yearly tradition dreaded by NYC residents known officially as “SantaCon,” which took place this past Saturday. SantaCon is a festivity where thousands dress up in Santa costumes to flood the New
CONTINUE READING

he construction of identity is a communal endeavor; we contribute to the identity of ourselves and those we encounter through our attitudes and historical biases.  Stuart Hall discusses identity as “an ever-unfinished conversation.”  Much of his work concerning identity relies on the construction of identity in the context of confrontation of difference.  He speaks to
CONTINUE READING

n recent years, China has been emerging as a major world leader through its massive population and economic growth. China’s extremely massive population has allowed it to grow economically at an alarming rate, which has put it on the fast track to becoming one of the wealthiest nations in the entire world. But this massive
CONTINUE READING

storia, Queens has recently developed into one of the largest Egyptian immigrant communities in New York City, hence the geographical title “Little Egypt”–one of the many affectionate nicknames ascribed to the neighborhood located at the end of the N and Q subway lines. As a small non-profit headquartered in this international hub, the Center for
CONTINUE READING

“I just didn’t like the politics that came with dating white or black girls… Asian chicks, people are always like ‘Eh.’ Like you’re dating an Asian chick and nobody cares. Also their parents tend to not care… if you’re successful. If you’re successful, they don’t give a shit. They’re like, ‘Oh, he makes movies? He’s
CONTINUE READING

id you know that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were both marijuana farmers? Or that the Declaration of Independence was written on paper made from hemp, a fiber made of marijuana? In fact, the first American flag was woven with marijuana fibers. Before its recreational use, many people do not know that marijuana was a
CONTINUE READING

Over the past decade, more and more studies have arisen arguing the positive and negative health effects of marijuana. Partially due to its recent legality, scientists have decided to study whether or not marijuana is actually less harmful of a substance than tobacco and alcohol. The degree of harm in which marijuana can have on
CONTINUE READING

n its 75-year history, Misty Copeland is only the third female African American soloist of the American Ballet Theater (ABT), and its only current African American soloist. Throughout her entire life as a dancer, she was constantly told that she had the wrong body for ballet. In an art that values history and perfection, Copeland
CONTINUE READING

taten Island, New York, has a kick-ass local music scene. With plenty of venues to play music on the island, it is no wonder that the local music scene has been able to flourish. When I was a teenager, I would spend plenty of weekends at a show or concert at a local venue, The
CONTINUE READING

omedy duo Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein have taken similar paths in life. From punk-rock beginnings to a comedic present; they have both managed to accomplish many noteworthy things that span different genres. Fred Armisen, born on December 4, 1966, grew up in Valley Stream, New York. His music career began in 1988 when he
CONTINUE READING

n my time on this country, I’ve been to and seen dozen of protests, for the most varied causes. Civic engagement seems to be quite the American tradition, and people take to the streets for many, many reasons, from Wendy’s underpaying its tomato workers, to the mammoth issue of anthropogenic climate change. Often, what I’d see
CONTINUE READING

oday Rei Kawakubo and her cultural juggernaut of a brand, Comme des Garçons (French for “Like the Boys”), are seen as stable fixtures inon the fashion establishment. Her shows are attended by all sorts of celebrities and VIPs, and she boasts loyal legions of fans, one of the most notable being John Waters, the “Pope
CONTINUE READING

rtists have been known to sacrifice much in pursuit of genius—money, stability, relationships, and sometimes even their lives are offered as collateral to the higher power of ingenuity. For many, the veracity of their art can be measured by how much of themselves they have exchanged for it, and how precious the cost. No longer
CONTINUE READING

very year, as December inches near, I am overjoyed with excitement about the soon to be celebration of Christmas festivities. Christmas, by far, is my favorite holiday. The joy and holiday spirit that seem to fill the air along Manhattan streets and within local households lifts my mood, and makes me feel cozy and warm
CONTINUE READING

ike most Americans, on your way to work this morning you probably stopped at a Dunkin Donuts-like establishment to pick up a coffee.  For most, this is routine; however, have you ever wondered about the person behind the counter taking your order or making your coffee? Questioning where they come from, what types of past
CONTINUE READING

 brief drive through Philadelphia can often seem like a veritable urban art museum; it is impossible to travel far through the old brownstones and run-down neighborhoods without encountering a gigantic piece of street art. Over 3,600 murals are scattered throughout the city today. All colorful, enormous, and impressive, they add life to the area, providing
CONTINUE READING

ver the past couple years, if you wanted to escape Fordham’s campus and see entertainment ranging from live music to abstract performance art, you really didn’t have a lot of options if you wanted to stick around the off-campus area. At best, you could get to a house party to watch a DJ, maybe two
CONTINUE READING