Los Angeles is supposed to be the City of Stars, but once those stars fade, where do they go? Do they stay behind, forever attached to their final location, spooking guests who dare to enter their domain? Or do they just simply disappear? Each week, Daily Bruin columnist Eli Countryman will set out to discover […]
Category Archives: Arts Columns
Second Take: Pete Davidson’s facetious jokes about Ariana Grande downplay offensive behavior
Jokes about replacing birth control pills with Tic Tacs are jokes about rape. Pete Davidson’s comedy on this weekend’s episode of Saturday Night Live came off as anything but a lighthearted comment about his romantic relationship with Ariana Grande. As the latest jab in a long line of offensive comments surrounding his fiancee, Davidson’s joke […]
Second Take: Fans protest casting of Korean actress for problematic role in ‘Fantastic Beasts’
Typically, the news that a woman of color has been cast in a film franchise with historically limited representation of people of color would lead to praise. However, last week’s trailer for “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” revealed that Voldemort’s pet Nagini is actually a woman trapped as a snake. Moreover, the human version […]
Concert review: Florence and the Machine’s recent tour introduces a more stripped-down aesthetic
Florence Welch stepped out from between a crucifix and the Hollywood sign for her first of two Los Angeles shows of the “High as Hope” tour. The tour, titled after Florence and the Machine’s latest album, mainly featured newer songs. The show began with Welch softly singing the opening line, “The show was ending,” from […]
Restaurant review: The Milk Bar LA’s debut has unique offerings, but not enough to impress
The Milk Bar LA flagship garnered a line of curious customers that stretched far beyond its pastel pink storefront. The creamy confectionery establishment, which hails from New York City, boasts saccharine specialties including soft serve, truffles and slices of its so-called Crack Pie. Now the chain’s 15th nationwide installment, Milk Bar on Melrose Avenue opened […]
Concert review: The Carters’ ‘On the Run II Tour’ is an honest, moving tribute to true love
“On the Run II” is a spectacle with fireballs blazing and fireworks bursting, but Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s tour is foremost an ode to love. Since their “On the Run Tour” in 2014, the Carter family has grown by two children and three albums. With the emotional build-up of Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” and Jay-Z’s reflection in “4:44,” […]
Concert review: J Balvin’s ‘Vibras Tour’ thrives with extravagant visuals, exuberant energy
J Balvin’s second Los Angeles show kicked off with a few rules – dance, take photos, make friends with the dinosaurs walking the audience, and throw your lingerie onto the stage when you’re feeling frisky. The rules were incorporated into a whimsical opening film that encapsulated the essence of the Colombian artist’s playful persona with […]