Playlists
Contrapposto: Taking a Stance on the McDonald's Wall
This article was originally published as part of the joke issue on 12.5.2013 Like any reputable community eatery, the 40th Street McDonald’s has its share of kindly decorative flourishes: the quaint community gathering place, a terrace; the entertainment, a television; and the art, a series of digital prints lining the brightly tiled walls. The seven pieces—digital photographs printed on plastic, roughly 16” by 16”—heavily feature the photographic technique of bokeh. You probably remember bokeh from your Windows 2001 default desktop wallpapers: points of light are blurred or intentionally unfocused.
McCafé Review
This article was originally published as part of the joke issue on 12.5.2013 Promising that “sipping a McCafé drink is like taking a mini–vacation from your day,” McDonald’s latest “coffee” ad flaunts a winter wonderland popping out of a white chocolate mocha frappe, complete with a snow–crusted gondola gliding straight out of the cup.
B Roll: A Toy Story
This article was originally published as part of the joke issue on 12.5.2013 There was a time when people didn’t avoid trans fat, when “Super Size Me” wasn’t even an idea in Morgan Spurlock’s head and when my parents would do anything to shut me up.
HIMYM Recap: "The Rehearsal Dinner"
Finally, we have an episode in which the characters actually do something wedding–related rather than just casually mentioning it.
HIMYM Recap: "Bedtime Stories"
All the rhyming in the episode gave me a hurt in my head. “Bedtime Stories” was so boring, that I wanted to go to bed. Marshall and baby Marvin are on a bus to the Farhampton Inn. Where did they put the rental car?
Review: "The Armstrong Lie"
"The Armstrong Lie" is oddly disjointed, somewhat confusing and leaves us cold, only growing our previous collective feeling of betrayal by Lance Armstrong.
Review: "Frozen"
"Frozen" is Walt Disney’s latest animated movie, loosely based on Christian Andersen’s "The Snow Queen." This spin-off follows two Scandinavian sisters: Elsa and Anna, princesses of Arendelle.
Beats on the Street: 11.23.2013
Name: Josh Rojas Year: Junior Listening to: “Fire Woman”—Crush 40
Review: "Rails" at the Rotunda
What do a conductor’s hat, a broom, and a set of bowling pins all have in common? They make up half of the cast of “Rails,” a puppet pulp melodrama and the latest production of Philadelphia’s very own Transmissions Theatre. The company kicked off its 14-day tour of this dark comedy last weekend with two performances at the Rotunda.
Double Feature Review: "Ender's Game"
For both the casual moviegoer and the diehard literati, here are two different looks at the divisive new page–to–screen adaptation of everyone’s favorite childhood sci–fi book.
Shock Absorber: Ambient Paradise
Today we’re talking about work music. And I’m not talking about the Bruce Springsteen classics you and your dad blast out of yellow DeWalt speakers painting a doghouse in the yard (I don’t know if these moments really exist, but I saw it on a Lowes commercial once). No, by “work”, I mean the luxurious act of studying, for which the ear’s delicate palate prefers muted tones and hushed soundscape. If you’ve entered the cranially-demanding world of *~the humanities~* then you’re well aware that Jersey Highway ballads are not conducive to the creative process. I’ve never gotten the appeal of classical music as a work soundtrack, and am suspicious it’s just a go-to for people that don’t know better.
Review: "The Best Man Holiday"
“The Best Man Holiday” tries hard to make its audience laugh and cry, but fails at accomplishing either.
Review: "Nebraska"
"Nebraska" commences with Woody Grant, a senile, drunken old Montana man (fully-embodied by an exceptional Bruce Dern) being stopped by the police on his doomed mission to walk to Nebraska and collect the millions of dollars he supposedly won from a clear scam.
Review: "Delivery Man"
No trailer needed, Vince Vaughn’s name alone is enough to convince people to check out a new movie.
The Worst of Shoutouts Fall 2013
Not all Shoutouts are created equal.
Shoutouts Fall 2013 Part 3
To the realest fraternity out there: ain’t got no chapter house, ain’t got no endowment.
Shoutouts Fall 2013 Part 2
To the Wizard of Farts (WoF): your senior year has finally come, and with it a whole new rain of olfactory terror on Penn’s campus.
