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Monday, March 31, 2025 — Houston, TX

Arts and Entertainment

A&E 3/5/24 10:23pm

A&E predicts the 2024 Academy Awards

By Basma Bedawi , Jay Collura and Arman Saxena

It’s March already, meaning it is time to examine the Academy Awards, an event sure to be full of awkward moments, baffling losses and confounding decisions, once again hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for some reason. However, the 96th Academy Awards Ceremony has something special going for it — this past year was an excellent one for film. It will be difficult in many categories for the Academy to make a bad choice, though there certainly are some categories the Thresher A&E section feels strongly about. Here are our picks for who will win at the 96th Annual Oscars and who actually deserves it.

A&E 3/5/24 10:16pm

Review: ‘Dune: Part Two’ is a visual and narrative spectacle

By Jacob Pellegrino

There have been a number of attempts to do justice to Frank Herbert’s massively influential novel, “Dune,” over the years. The most famous of these attempts include a David Lynch adaptation, notably edited in post to the point where the director himself allegedly asked for his name to be removed from the final product, and an attempt by director Alejandro Jodorowsky to make an over 10-hour version in the ’70s. Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” and “Dune: Part Two” finally succeed in conveying the vastness and wonder of Arrakis by giving one of cinema’s modern auteurs control over a property that he had already designed storyboards for as a teenager.

A&E 3/5/24 10:12pm

Saddle up for the Houston Rodeo

By Kristal Hanson

Grab your cowboy boots and saddle up — the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back for 20 days of action. From Feb. 27 to March 17, the rodeo will transform NRG Park into a yee hawin’ haven of competition, food and music. All it takes is a short ride on the Metro to pop that Rice bubble and experience what Houston has to offer. 

A&E 2/27/24 11:01pm

Chaus launches new art gallery

By Chiara Moretti

Coffeehouse unveiled new art lining the walls of their cafe space on Feb. 18, featuring student artists and photographers. The project is helmed by keepers of coffee Caroline Leung and Kate Hilton, who lead a committee called “Espresso Yourself” that aims to highlight student creativity and art.

A&E 2/27/24 10:47pm

With ‘Practices of Attention,’ Rice students explore capitalist ruins

By Arman Saxena

Anyone who has walked through Sewall Hall in the past couple months has inevitably seen the words “ARTS 477: Practices of Attention in Capitalist Ruins” written in big, bold lettering on flyers displayed throughout the building. The class is part of a larger project associated with the Moody Project Wall piece “Practices of Attention” envisioned by Angela Chen, a lecturer of art in Rice’s Department of Art.

A&E 2/27/24 10:46pm

Review: ‘The Taste of Things’ explores the culinary world

By Jay Collura

In recent years, food has become increasingly commodified and diminished, at least in on-screen depictions. The allure of perfectly curated dishes on TikTok and other social media apps has desensitized us to the simple pleasures of good food — when everything looks picture perfect, nothing feels particularly special. 

A&E 2/23/24 9:03pm

Soul Night combines resilience and creativity to celebrate Black community

By Juliana Lightsey

A one-night-only cultural showcase, Soul Night reflects the artistry and creative lexicon of Rice’s Black Student Association. This year’s showcase is award show-themed, combining music, dance, spoken word and fashion in the form of a narrative musical. The show takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Hamman Hall. Tickets are $10 and include a pre-show dinner at 5 p.m.

A&E 2/20/24 10:04pm

Black Art at Rice: Doyin Aderele talks writing, magical realism

By Shreya Challa

Drawing inspiration from her Nigerian heritage and ancient Yoruba culture, Doyin Aderele is currently working on her senior seminar project, an African fantasy novel that she has been developing for a year. Aderele, a senior at Sid Richardson College, has been studying creative writing since her freshman year at Rice and mostly writes fiction, focusing on fantasy and magical realism. 

A&E 2/20/24 10:03pm

Check out these Black-owned businesses around Houston

By Chiara Moretti

From restaurants to hair salons, Houston is rich in celebrating Black culture through businesses. Visiting some of these Black-owned businesses may be the best way to celebrate the diversity Houston has to offer. Though Black History month may almost be over, these businesses are open year-round. 

A&E 2/20/24 10:02pm

Review: ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ is less than the sum of its parts

By Sarah Motteler

“Lisa Frankenstein” is a horror/comedy directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody of “Jennifer’s Body” fame. While the film is aesthetic to the max, has interesting cinematography and includes some satisfying performances, it fails to live up to Cody’s previous works. The protagonist is foundationally unlikable, the tonal shifts will give you whiplash and its focus on references of other, better movies just reminds you that you could (and really should) be watching something else.

A&E 2/20/24 10:01pm

Campus coffee showdown

By Parker Blumentritt

With the addition of the Dandelion Cafe this semester, Rice’s on-campus coffee shop population just gained a new member. With this increase in options, we decided  to compare campus’s four coffee shops to see which is the best spot for a caffeinated pick-me-up. To keep the rankings as equal as possible, the same drink was ordered from all four shops: an iced vanilla latte with whole milk. Each coffeeshop is being judged on four categories to help inform your choice of coffee establishment. 

A&E 2/20/24 10:00pm

Stuart Weitzman talks about his step into success

By Juliana Lightsey

There’s an iconic photograph of Aretha Franklin accepting her award for Favorite Soul Album at the 1983 American Music Awards. In it, the singer beams as she clutches her award in one hand and holds up a pair of glittering high heels in the other. Emblazoned on the insole of the shoes are the words “Stuart Weitzman,” a name that Franklin thanked in her acceptance speech alongside her producers and colleagues. 

A&E 2/14/24 1:36pm

Impress your first date with these Valentine’s Day flicks

By Arman Saxena

It’s Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re pulling your hair out trying to choose the perfect movie for a date night or wondering how you want to spend your single night in, we got you. From romantic to hilarious to just plain strange, the Thresher’s A&E staff have the perfect film picks for your Valentine’s Day.

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