Christina Aguilera’s “Liberation” aims to paint a picture of female empowerment, but leaves listeners with a muddled image instead. Six years after the release of her pop-driven album “Lotus,” Aguilera hearkens back to the R&B and soul influence that characterizes her earlier work, also layering in more modern elements, such as trap beats reminiscent of […]
Category Archives: Arts
UCLA students collaborate with Broadway professionals in ‘Sweet Charity’
Reprise 2.0 will rise from its predecessor’s ashes with a production of “Sweet Charity,” pairing UCLA students with Broadway stars. Tony Awards winner Kathleen Marshall, director of “Anything Goes” and “The Pajama Game,” will direct the production, opening June 20 at the Freud Playhouse. The original Reprise, a theater company that ran from 1997 to […]
Student-created video game to raise questions about relationship between art, AI
Players of an upcoming video game can encounter a humanoid robot in a virtual art factory. Currently untitled, the game is a collaboration between Jingjie Chen and Jumo Yang, fourth-year and third-year design media arts students, respectively. Chen and Yang met in design media arts associate professor Eddo Stern’s world building class, and at the […]
Student inspires others by remixing male-dominated DJ sphere
An anonymous dancing student handed DJ Officer Gavin a note complimenting her performance during her 2018 Dance Marathon set. Gavin said she hopes to frame the unexpected and appreciative note one day. Maddie Gavin, a fourth-year cognitive science student otherwise known by the stage name Officer Gavin, has been DJing UCLA events for the past […]
Art student aims to use clothing line to comment on capitalism in America
Luke Jaffar decided to question capitalism by making a profit. At 22, the fourth-year art student manages his own streetwear clothing line that focuses on the concept of money and its role in American capitalist society. Since he began designing, Jaffar said he’s created about five or six designs for sale. Some of these designs […]
Photographer showcases graduates’ personalities to make shoots memorable
Taj Shaikh’s photography portfolio features graduating students playing with fidget spinners, shotgunning beers and posing nude. Shaikh began taking photos at UC Santa Barbara before moving to Los Angeles and snapping shots of her graduating UCLA friends. With her portfolio, she soon began posting on the UCLA Free & For Sale Facebook page in search […]
Student enhances vision for film by incorporating English, premedical experience
Derek Nguyen’s research into human eyes taught him that dilation of the pupils occurs from fear, excitement and sexual attraction. The knowledge he acquired culminated in his short film “Dilation,” which involves a vigilante who assassinates sexual predators. The fourth-year English student writes, produces and directs short films, commercials and music videos. However, Nguyen has […]