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Arts and Entertainment

A&E 2/25/25 11:47pm

With ChòpnBlok, Ope Amosu centers flavor and community

By Arman Saxena and Juliana Lightsey

Ope Amosu used to host small dinner parties out of his friend’s apartment by the Galleria, serving a menu of his own West African fusion recipes. His intention was to have a completely new guest list at each dinner, in order to get a diverse variety of feedback on his food – but people kept asking to come back.

A&E 2/25/25 11:45pm

A&E predicts the 97th Academy Awards

 

Christmas for cinephiles is near as the Academy Awards will be announced on Sunday, March 2 starting at 6 p.m. CST. From controversies to big snubs and surprises, this Oscar season has already been memorable. Here are our predictions for the 97th Academy Awards.

A&E 2/25/25 11:43pm

Rice Zine Fest creates collages

By Angelica Hernandez

Calming beats, the chatter of conversation and the smell of oranges hung in the air the evening of Sunday, Feb. 23, in Lovett College’s basement, dubbed ‘Lyle’s’. Magazines, scrapbook paper, art books and stickers were spread across a few tables, along with mandarin oranges. Throughout the night, students made collages and zines, noncommercial or homemade magazines, with supplies provided by Zine Fest organizers at Rice Zine Fest’s first event.

A&E 2/25/25 11:42pm

Analog artistry in FOTO 205

By Kristal Hanson

At a time when digital photography is instantaneous and ever-present, FOTO 205 offers something different — a return to the patience of film photography. Taught by Eli Greene, the course introduces students to film photography, darkroom techniques and the fundamental concepts behind the photographic medium.

A&E 2/18/25 10:43pm

Review: Drake and PartyNextDoor’s “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is lackluster damage control

By Charlie Cruz

Drake and PartyNextDoor’s “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” is an embarrassment — 73 minutes of recycled ideas, lazy songwriting, and some of the worst attempts at experimentation Drake has ever put on wax. It's a bloated mess of an album, proving that just because two artists have chemistry doesn’t mean they should make an entire project together. But the biggest issue isn’t just the lackluster music — it’s the fact that this album is Drake’s first release after his career-altering loss to Kendrick Lamar. Instead of delivering something impactful, he gives us limp attempts at reassurance and 21 half-hearted party songs.  

A&E 2/18/25 10:41pm

‘¡Ritmo!’ 2025 brings art, soul and celebration to campus

By Charlie Cruz

The Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice hosted its annual ¡Ritmo! showcase Feb. 3, filling the Grand Hall with music, dance, poetry and Latine culture. This year’s event, themed “Arte y Alma (Art and Soul),” brought students together by highlighting the connection between artistic expression and cultural identity.

A&E 2/18/25 10:40pm

Review: ‘Brave New World’ is the Marvel universe at its worst

By Jay Collura

With each passing year, I have begun to question my undying allegiance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I have seen every single film in theaters since 2011’s “Thor”; I was there at opening night for “Infinity War,” and inevitably, I will be seated front and center for, at the very least, “Fantastic Four” later this year.

A&E 2/18/25 10:39pm

Review: “Companion” is defined by its twist

By Jay Collura

Talking about “Companion” is nearly impossible without spoiling the movie. I know this to be true because the film’s own marketing spoils its first-act twist. If you enjoy horror-tinged thrillers, I recommend you stop reading and go see “Companion” - it’s nothing mind blowing, but it is a solid, if shallow, movie.

A&E 2/18/25 10:38pm

Review: “I’m Still Here” is a defiant and intimate portrait of a family under dictatorship

By Arman Saxena

Nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture, “I’m Still Here”, arrives with plenty of buzz, positioning director Walter Salles’ film squarely in the spotlight. It’s not exactly surprising: This is the same Salles who helmed “Central Station” and “The Motorcycle Diaries”, both lauded for blending socio-political commentary with humane, character-driven storytelling. In “I’m Still Here”, he returns to these strengths, exploring one of the darkest chapters of Brazilian history — its 1964-1985 military dictatorship — through the intimate lens of a single family. 

A&E 2/18/25 10:37pm

Spotlighting Black media

By Arman Saxena

This month is Black History Month — so what better time to engage with media highlighting members of the Black community in the United States and around the world? Here are some incredible works by Black artists that illustrate a small sliver of the diversity of the Black experience.

A&E 2/18/25 10:34pm

Spring Archi Market blooms

By Angelica Hernandez

Candy hearts, pastel crafts and the hum of excited chatter transformed Anderson Hall into a makeshift bazaar Feb. 10 for the 12th iteration of Archi Market, a student-run market where vendors sold items: hand-beaded jewelry to homemade iced coffee in celebration of Valentine’s Day.

A&E 2/4/25 11:23pm

Student-run “Sleepy Cyborg” brings abstract art to life

By Kristal Hanson

Tucked away in the basement of Sewall Hall is a small 10-by-12-foot gallery, with an extension in the sculpture courtyard nicknamed “the pit.” “Sleepy Cyborg,” a gallery initially started in 2009 under the name “Matchbox,” is run entirely by students, allowing student artists to experiment, curate and showcase their work outside of more formal programs.

A&E 2/4/25 11:03pm

Review: “Nickel Boys” is an intimate and potent masterpiece

By Arman Saxena

Oscar season might have crowned Brady Corbet as the new “great American director” for his ambitiously sprawling “The Brutalist,” but with Nickel Boys — his adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel — RaMell Ross stuns us all, staking a bold claim as a visionary, essential voice in American filmmaking. 

A&E 2/4/25 11:02pm

Oscar snubs and surprises

By Ridhi Dondeti , Jennifer Liu , Jay Collura and Arman Saxena

On Jan. 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for their annual much-anticipated Academy Awards. Like every year, this slate of nominees was full of snubs and surprises; here are some that the Thresher believed were especially notable.

A&E 1/28/25 11:30pm

Review: Central Cee’s “CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS” is polished but predictable

By Charlie Cruz

Central Cee’s “CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS” is both a testament to the UK rapper’s rapid ascent in the global rap scene and a reminder of his limitations. Serving as his first major-label release under Columbia Records, the album arrives with significant anticipation, following the success of tracks like “Sprinter” and “Doja.” While “CAN’T RUSH GREATNESS” delivers polished production, a handful of standout features and some unexpected surprises, it ultimately feels held back by repetitive flows and familiar themes.  

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