Arts

The Arts

You Might Be Ready To Forget 2020. This Short Film with ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Reminds Why You Shouldn’t

Produced by a diverse group of filmmakers assembled by 1504, a studio based in Birmingham, Ala., For The Sake Of Old Times pairs the performance of “Auld Lang Syne” with archival footage from 2020, particularly of the summer’s racial justice protests. Continue Reading You Might Be Ready To Forget 2020. This Short Film with ‘Auld Lang Syne’ Reminds Why You Shouldn’t

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Annye Anderson poses for a picture

‘Brother Robert’ Book Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

Blues legend Robert Johnson has been mythologized as a backwoods loner, his talent the result of selling his soul to the devil. Wrong and wrong again, according to Johnson’s younger stepsister, who lives in Amherst, Mass. She tells his true story in Brother Robert: Growing Up with Robert Johnson, a memoir about growing up with her brother she published in June. Continue Reading ‘Brother Robert’ Book Reveals True Story Of Growing Up With Blues Legend Robert Johnson

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A scene from Priya's Mask, a new comic book and animated film that tackles the challenges around the pandemic. It's the latest installment of the Indian superhero series Priya.

India’s Female Superhero And Her Flying Tiger Are Out To Fight The Pandemic

Priya’s Mask is the latest installation in Priya, the hit comic book series targeted to Indian children. This time, Priya and her flying tiger Sahas befriend a little girl named Meena to show the sacrifices made by frontline health-care workers — and why it’s important to be courageous and compassionate during the pandemic. Continue Reading India’s Female Superhero And Her Flying Tiger Are Out To Fight The Pandemic

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Jon Batiste performs during the National CARES Mentoring Movement's 2nd Annual for the Love of Our Children Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Jan. 30, 2017 in New York City. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for for National CARES Mentoring Movement

In ‘Soul,’ Jon Batiste’s New Orleans-Inspired Jazz Music Helps Bring Pixar’s First Black Lead To Life

Pixar’s new animated film Soul is the story of Joe Gardner, a middle school school music teacher with big dreams about performing jazz onstage. “Music is all I think about, from the moment I wake up in the morning to the moment I fall asleep at night,” he says. “I was born to play.” Continue Reading In ‘Soul,’ Jon Batiste’s New Orleans-Inspired Jazz Music Helps Bring Pixar’s First Black Lead To Life

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Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw starred in Love Story — a romantic tearjerker that became the highest grossing movie of 1970. Since then, it has inspired countless ugly cries — and plenty of parodies, too. Paramount Pictures

Successful, Sentimental And Satirized, ‘Love Story’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago, a simple but tragic love story became a global sensation that stunned the entertainment industry. Love Story, the romantic tearjerker starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw, broke box office records and the book it was based on was a bestseller that was translated into more than 30 languages. Continue Reading Successful, Sentimental And Satirized, ‘Love Story’ Celebrates 50th Anniversary

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Photo of host Sueann Ramella and guest Ted Tremper talking virtually for a recording of Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella.

‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 10 – Part 2: Ted Tremper On Finding Humor And Accepting Failure

In part two of this episode of “Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella,” comedy writer Ted Tremper talks about how jokes impact thoughts and beliefs in an accessible way. And he discusses how he implements rules from his mother and advice from his father in his daily life. Continue Reading ‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 10 – Part 2: Ted Tremper On Finding Humor And Accepting Failure

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A Sugar & Spice Holiday, starring Jacky Lai and Tony Giroux, is Lifetime's first Chinese American Christmas romantic comedy. CREDIT: Kailey Schwerman/Courtesy of Lifetime 2020

Holiday Rom-Coms Go Beyond Diversity To Center New Christmas Stars

Rare were the Christmas rom-coms with Asian, queer, Latinx or disabled characters. When Black characters started to show up, they generally played sidekicks — or they starred in family holiday movies, not the kind of Christmas rom-coms where Mom’s always there to help with a thorny relationship dilemma, the cider is forever mulled and not a single problem can’t be solved by declaring love under the mistletoe. Continue Reading Holiday Rom-Coms Go Beyond Diversity To Center New Christmas Stars

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Photo of Ted Tremper, a guest on Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella

‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 9 – Part 1: Comedy Writer Ted Tremper On Finding Humor In Tragedy

In part one of this episode of “Traverse Talks with Sueann Ramella,” comedy writer Ted Tremper talks about growing up in the Northwest as the overweight-funny kid. He says his mom’s untimely death while he was in college shaped much of his outlook on life and his career. Tremper has written for “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,”” I Love You, America” with Sarah Silverman, and has written his own episodic comedy called “Shrink.” Continue Reading ‘Traverse Talks’ Episode 9 – Part 1: Comedy Writer Ted Tremper On Finding Humor In Tragedy

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