Flea, the founding and long-lasting member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, just released his first solo album ‘Honora’. Andrea Miloshevska PO’ 28 discusses the unexpected and refined jazz soundscapes, the bassist’s rediscovery of his childhood love for be-bop and the trumpet, and the heartfelt meaning of self-knowledge and discovery, at the heart of the record.
Columns
Stories Retold: What makes stories stick? Five authors take on fiction
What is it about great stories that compels us to tell them over and over again? Ava Chambers PO ’28 examines five essential elements of compelling stories from five fiction authors: Donna Tartt, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tennessee Williams, Vladimir Nabokov and Chinua Achebe.
Poem of ecstasy: Sakaguchi Ango and ‘Discourse on Decadence’
How does the individual interact with their culture’s moral decrees, and what happens when they decide to tear themselves loose from it? Leslie Tong PO ‘29 discusses Sakaguchi Ango’s Discourse on Decadence and how it relates to the historical context in which it was written.
The Daily Palette: The lasting effects of ‘Atomic Dragons’
Exploring the Cold War and its effects now, Meiya Rollins PO ’29 reflects on the exhibition “Atomic Dragons” at the Pitzer Art Galleries. From her previous readings in her curation class, she was instantly tethered to Judtih Dancoff’s work. Judith Dancoff narrates her own experiences of her father working on the Manhattan Project with Oppenheimer. Rollins describes the letters between Dancoff’s father and Oppenheimer in the piece, “The Dancoff Factor,” where they are a “window into their relationship with each other and their work. It was work that slowly killed them, but quickly destroyed the lives of so many.”
Animated Film Features: ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie’ not the smoothest launch
In a departure from the usual anime movie fare, Columnist Joon Kim PO ’26 blasts off into the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond as he takes a look at Illumination and Nintendo’s newest endeavor: the long-awaited sequel to the original “Super Mario Bros Movie” from 2023. He appreciates the creative set pieces and various homages to the video games in “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,” yet finds that the cavalcade of references ultimately distract from the otherwise barebones plot.
Stories Retold: Can Artificial Intelligence create authentic translations?
How is Artificial Intelligence (AI) being implemented into literary translation? Ava Chambers ’28 discusses the recent implementation of AI in the translation process, impacting affordability and efficiency, but also raising questions about quality and valuation of translation jobs. Nevertheless, translation is an invaluable part of sharing stories that cannot be entirely supplanted.
5Cs After Dark: Hot, horny, and hesitant
Does your “situationship” have a fear of commitment? Arianna Kaplan SC ’27 and Siena Giacoma PZ ’27 have definitely been in your shoes, so they’re tackling everything from dating labels to casual flings this week in their column, “5Cs After Dark.”
Noise from the Underground: Kim Gordon turns to trap with new album ‘PLAY ME’
Since the beginning of her music career with Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon has been an influential figure for the alternative rock scene. At 72, she refuses to give into the forces of mainstream music and releases her third solo industrial trap record ‘PLAY ME’. Andrea Miloshevska PO’28 explores the album’s unexpected highs and lows.
Rooted and Restless: Who gets to choose their name?
Rochelle Lu SC ‘28 describes her journey of changing her name from the original Chinese, to a romanized rendition, to a fully anglicized version. She explains her relationship to her multiple names and the social pressures surrounding these names.
The poem of ecstasy: Nagai Kafuu, virginity and desire
Leslie Tong ‘29 discusses the japanese novel “Jigoku no Hana” and its exploration of concepts such as virginity and desire. She weaves a complex tapestry describing how societal constructs can restrict one’s sexual expression.