Category: Arts & Entertainment

The Music’s Over: A Celebration of the Big Band Era

A music craze originated nearly 90 years ago when Benny Goodman and His Orchestra performed at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles on Aug. 21, 1935. This was the first injection of a style known as big band swing jazz into American radio waves. However, what seemed so polished, so delicately defined, and that which […]

Ian Gualtiere ’27

Why We Need the Dark Side: The Politics of Star Wars

As many have written about and discussed over the years, the Star Wars franchise is a story (albeit long and winding) about politics. Like all good political narratives, there is drama, love, disagreement, deception, civil war, and countless limbs chopped off. As a political science major watching the Star Wars series for the first time, […]

Lucy Droege ’26

Living in the Limelight 

Rush Announces Fifty Something Tour Is it just me, or are there quite a few notable anniversaries currently happening? Last month Charles Schulz’s Peanuts turned 75, next summer, my parents (both members of the Class of 2000) will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and this week, The Cowl celebrates its 90th year of publication! Finally, […]

Sophia Caneira ’29

Edelweiss at 60: Celebrating The Sound of Music 

I have been eagerly anticipating writing this article celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic film, The Sound of Music (1965). The movie, which was released in the United States on March 2, 1965, was re-released in U.S. theaters Sept. 12–17, celebrating 60 years of the film and reviving its beauty in 4K.  The film […]

Isabelle Camoin ’26

What’s Displayed in Ruane?: A Bold Exploration of Christianity

Recently placed in the Ruane Center for the Humanities 105, three wonderfully large and impressive paintings will dominate the wall of the lecture room for the rest of the fall semester. In an attempt to respond to a long and celebrated tradition of Italian art, mingled with a heavy influence of Christian iconography, artist Bruce […]

Ian Gualtiere ’27 and Tom Marinelli ’26

Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein

A Faithful Adaptation, or a Whole New Cinematic Experience? Very few directors these days are known for their artistic style or consistency in themes across works. “The mark of the auteur,” as your film minor friend might say to you, has been lost on the modern-day director, as more and more of them feel the […]

Luca DeLucia ’28

“The World Will Be Alright”

A Paddington 2 Review What better way to get to know your roommate than to share your favorite childhood movies? For my roommate and me, Paul King’s Paddington 2 (2017) made the top of the list. Paddington 2 follows everyone’s favorite Peruvian, blue coat and red hat-wearing, marmalade-loving bear, named after London’s Paddington Station. The […]

Sophia Caneira ’29

My Chemical Romance

Three (More) Cheers for Sweet Revenge Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge was the second studio album produced by the American rock band My Chemical Romance. Upon its release, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge achieved both critical and commercial success and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America within a year of its […]

Andrew Auclair ’29

Prepare to Die: Dark Souls, The Unforgiving Game Series

In 2017, as a middle schooler, my friend introduced me to a game called Dark Souls III. My friend had already played it and was desperate for me to try it. I had played plenty of games by that point, but this one would prove to be the hardest yet. My first reaction? It looked […]

Thomas Marinelli ’26

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and the Legacy of Laura Palmer

“I always thought you knew it was me,” is perhaps the most haunting line in all of cinema,uttered by the character Leland Palmer (Ray Wise) in David Lynch’s surreal thriller Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). The film is a prequel to the series Twin Peaks (1990–1991) and follows the character Laura Palmer in […]

Sydney King ’26