Arts - The Spectrum

ARTS

UB students weigh in on seeking political refuge in Canada

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Nov. 7, 2016

Dustin Perez has thought about fleeing to Canada after this year’s presidential election. A senior psychology and business major, Perez favors neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump. He doesn’t feel he would be welcomed in the country if Trump were elected because he is a minority, and doesn’t plan to vote for Clinton because he doesn’t “trust her words.” Whatever the result, Perez is not the only student who’s considered leaving. The idea of fleeing to Canada has been considered a means of coping with either candidate’s win and it is a possible option for UB students.

ARTS

Donald Trump is a real-life supervillain

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Nov. 7, 2016

While many have compared Donald Trump to a cartoon character, they should have said comic book character – in particular, Lex Luthor, supervillain and arch nemesis of Superman who in the comics launches a successful bid for the US presidency despite his past misdeeds.

Twitter, Facebook and other major social media networks have played a large role in reaching a younger audience.

ARTS

Social structure: UB students discuss where they get their election news

By MAX KALNITZ | Nov. 7, 2016

The 2016 election has been extremely reliant on the media to address candidate platforms as well as campaign slip-ups. From leaked emails showing government cover-ups to scandalous tapes released, each candidate has had his or her campaign and poll popularity affected by the media. Millennials and college students in general make up an important number of voters this year.

ARTS

The grapevine: Your weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Nov. 7, 2016

This week will not only feature a significant presidential election but loads of musical opportunities.

On Oct. 21, Lady Gaga released her newest studio album Joanne. The album features many alt-rockers including Beck and Josh Homme on guitar.

ARTS

Lady Gaga’s Joanne album ditches the decadence and loses its charm

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Nov. 1, 2016

In the three years since her last solo album, the extravagant Artpop, Lady Gaga has reinvented herself. Along with establishing her acting on television by winning a Golden Globe for her performance in “American Horror Story” – Gaga has been nominated for an Academy Award for her song “Til It Happens to You” and released an album of jazz standards with Tony Bennett.

ARTS

The grapevine: Your weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Nov. 1, 2016

Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Shea’s Performing Arts Center Music legend Elvis Costello is taking a quick stop through Buffalo. The English singer-songwriter is most famous for new wave albums such as My Aim Is True, This Year’s Model and Armed Forces. His pioneer punk rock/new-wave status not only led to success at award shows but has also led to his worldwide appreciation.

UB students prepare for this year's Haunted Union "hotel" theme.

ARTS

Behind the scenes of UB’s Haunted Union

By Miranda Albini | Oct. 30, 2016

The Haunted Union is a transformation of our everyday space into a spooky, terrifying maze. “It was actually scarier than I thought it would be,” said Austin Nagelhout, a sophomore media study major. “I thought since it was a low-budget school event it wouldn’t be that fun, but I really enjoyed it.”

(Left) Philip Kiernan, (right) Michael Basinski. Michael Basinski is retiring after 32 years as the curator of the poetry collection. In 2015 he was named the Director of the Special Collections and will maintain that title after his retirement.

ARTS

A new generation of poets

By MAX KALNITZ | Oct. 30, 2016

After working for 32 years and personally bringing in more than two and a half million dollars in grant money, Michael Basinski, curator of UB’s poetry collection, is retiring. UB has one of the largest collections of poetry in the nation, including original manuscripts and unpublished works by some of the world’s most renowned poets.

Tanner Miller, a freshman undecided major, is transitioning from female to male. After questioning his gender earlier this year, he decided the name Tanner and masculine pronouns better suit him.

ARTS

Tackling the transition: UB student Tanner Miller starts his transition from female to male

By MAX KALNITZ | Oct. 26, 2016

Tanner Miller was always attracted to women. But he didn’t like the term “lesbian” and didn’t know why. He never felt comfortable with his sexual orientation.

The Undergraduate Society of Feminists (SoFem) meets every Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in Clemens 103. They discuss personal stories and hold discussions about modern-day feminism and the values that they support.

ARTS

'Feminism' is not a dirty word: UB Undergraduate Society of Feminists work toward equality for all

By GRACE TRIMPER | Oct. 26, 2016

The Undergraduate Society of Feminists, or Undergrad SoFem for short, began meeting weekly at the beginning of the 2016 Fall Semester. They meet at 5:45 p.m. every Thursday to discuss important and often sensitive issues surrounding feminism in our society, including consent, sex education and even religion.

ARTS

The grapevine: Your weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Oct. 23, 2016

Brooklyn-based indie group Lucius will be playing at Babeville this week. Singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, whose lo-fi pop approach is very much compelling, head Lucius. The band is touring to promote their second album Good Grief, which was released in March to moderate acclaim. The album features infectious lyrics and instrumentation on songs like “Born Again Teen” and “Gone Insane.”

Members of Impulse Dance club during a weekly class. The club offers classes for experienced dancers as well as students who may not have danced in a while or never danced at all.

ARTS

Dance dynamics: UB club offers a variety of dance classes open to anyone

By Miranda Albini | Oct. 23, 2016

Marissa Smith always had a passion for dancing, but because she is a health and human sciences major, she couldn’t take academic dance classes at UB. Academic dance classes at UB are not open to students who are not dance or theater majors.

Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” is a Halloween classic. The 1993 film has attracted a cult following and is still loved by millennials today.

ARTS

The spooky silver screen: Best Halloween movies of all time

By LINDSAY GILDER | Oct. 20, 2016

With Halloween just around the corner, many are eager to celebrate one of the nation’s most popular holidays. Some students go to parties or dress up in costumes, but for those of us who like to celebrate in a more laid-back fashion, here’s a list of great flicks to get spooky with.

Johanan Mcdowell’s project “Red” is heavily influenced by Kanye West. The Brooklyn-born filmmaker is currently part of the “Lone Star” series - a project with MFA candidate Charles Carter.

ARTS

Film student Johanan McDowell discusses his ambitious new project 'Red'

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Oct. 20, 2016

For 11 months, Johanan McDowell was in an unmelodious hell of Kanye West’s design. From July 2015 to May 2016, the synth assault that opens West’s 2013 album Yeezus on the song “On Sight” was all that went through the film student’s head.

ARTS

The grapevine: Your weekly collection of Buffalo’s sonic selections

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Oct. 18, 2016

Buffalo has a bunch of concerts this week, which include John Mellencamp and The Record Company. Avoid clowning around and go hear some great music in the area.

Brendan Cox, Ryan Thompson and Evan Cox the creators of Partially Normal Clothing. They currently have hats and t-shirts for sale but plan to include hoodies in their upcoming fall lineup.

ARTS

UB student turns ambition into clothing company

By Miranda Albini | Oct. 13, 2016

Partially Normal Clothing Company started off as a joke, but soon turned into a business. UB student Brendan Cox, a junior economics major, his brother Evan Cox, and Ryan Thompson, an integrated marketing communications major at John Carroll University, were hanging out when they thought of starting their own business. The idea of starting a clothing company was a conversation over winter break that later turned into reality.

Chris Banks, also known as Young Scholar, sits outside of the Student Union.

ARTS

Buffalo rapper Young Scholar is a student of the game

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Oct. 12, 2016

Chris Banks, also known as Young Scholar, vividly remembers the boos and jeers that emerged from the crowd while he performed on tour in Philadelphia.

ARTS

Chinese surrealist author Can Xue comes to UB in latest Exhibit X series

By DAVID TUNIS-GARCIA | Oct. 12, 2016

Can Xue was born in China in 1953, right on the cusp of the Anti-Rightist Movement. Years later, her intellectual parents and family were persecuted and she was unable to complete her education. She was alienated and the feeling of isolation is what made Xue the Chinese surrealist writer she is today.

ARTS

The Grapevine

By BENJAMIN BLANCHET | Oct. 9, 2016

Whether you have a taste in conscious rap or death-metal, there’s something for everyone that’s only a short drive away. Stick around Queen City and kick back with a few friends at some of these marvelous musical offerings.

Troy Andrews, better known as Trombone Shorty, rocked the CFA Monday night. He and his band Orleans Avenue played for a sold out crowd of over 1100 people.

ARTS

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue rock UB Center for the Arts

Oct. 6, 2016

It’s rare to go to a concert and be inches away from the headlining act. But Trombone Shorty is a rare experience, as he parades through the audience and gives Buffalo a taste of the Mardi Gras spirit.