Culture

Culture

Record & Review: The Afghan Whigs' "Do to the Beast"

Skylar Griego | November 25

In this day and age, no one likes to be labeled. People profusely protest being branded based on our sexuality, gender, race, or stylistic tastes. Since 1986, the Afghan Whigs have been the personification of this idea because of the music they make. The reunited band’s unusual music refuses to fit within one genre. Three years after the release of their last album, “1965,” the Afghan Whigs amicably split in 2001 due to complications preventing the members from continuing to produce music together. After the band accounced its reunion in 2012, fans have finally been rewarded for their loyalty with the release of the band’s first album in 16 years, “Do to the Beast.”

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Culture

Off the page, onto the field

Moriah Carty | November 25

Quidditch, the sport in the world of Harry Potter, is spreading from its roots in Europe to the United States. For many it is a dream come true. Farzad Sangari, director of the quidditch documentary, “Mudbloods,” said he was excited to turn a fictional game into a reality. The film was released worldwide Oct. 21. “Mudbloods” is not only his first full-length feature film but it is the first one to document the game.

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Culture

Five & Why: What Lobos love to read with Victoria Blythe

Skylar Griego | November 25

Sometimes the most valuable lessons can be learned from books. They have a way of getting through to us in a way that other things or people can’t. Victoria Blythe, a freshman history major, said she’s learned a lot from her favorite books.

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Culture

Coping with stress a mental health matter

Lauren Marvin and Ana Jayme | November 20

A murky, gray fog has surrounded UNM as the end of the fall semester looms, overwhelming even the toughest of college students. That makes this a good time for Mental Health Wellness Week, which occurs Nov. 16-22. Founded by national non-profit Freedom From Fear, the campaign is meant to educate communities on how to implement mental health strategies into their lives and to facilitate programs centered on mental health, according to the Mental Health Wellness Week’s website. Mental health is how people think, act and cope with life and the stressors and challenges that come with experiences, according to the website.

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Culture

Play review: Science and stage don't mix

Graham Gentz | November 20

So I walked out in the middle of “One-Act Science Comedic Showcase” at Explora. It’s not so much that it’s beyond awful, which it is. It’s not so much that you should never consider subjecting yourself to it, which you shouldn’t. Mostly, it’s that “One-Act Science Comedic Showcase” should never have been allowed to go up in the first place. Also, it’s a complete embarrassment that Explora is even asking people to pay money to see it.

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Culture

Transplant breathes new life

Meagen Twyeffort | November 19

The gun went off, Aaron Trumm shot up from his crouched position and sprinted with exhilaration rushing through his veins, his lungs expand to 90 percent capacity. Just one year after his lung transplant in July 2013, Trumm won the bronze award in the 100-meter dash at the Transplant Games of America in Houston, Texas.

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Culture

Book Review: 'Blood of Olympus' pleases fans

Skylar Griego | November 19

Warning: If you have not read of the other books in “The Heroes of Olympus” series prior to this one, this review contains spoilers from the past four installments of this series.

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Culture

Five & Why with Joseph Bartolotta

Skylar Griego | November 18

Life is yet another reason to add to the endless list of why people read books. Some people enjoy reading because they want to feel as if they are living the lives of the characters. This can be seen in the types of books Joseph Bartolotta, Lecturer III of English, said are his five favorites.

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Culture

Film festival heats up Albuquerque

Moriah Carty | November 18

As the weather around the state cooled down, things heated up in Albuquerque at the fifth annual Pornotopia. More than 500 people attended the film festival organized by the Self Serve Sexuality Resource Center. Titles such as “Lesbians of Enchantment,” “Fistbump,” “Putting the Sex Back into Sex Education” and “Bike Porn,” among others, filled the Pornotopia itinerary.

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Culture

Play review: Uncut 'Midsummer' drags

Graham Gentz | November 13

Albuquerque is really testing how much I like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Duke City Repertory Company produced the play this past March. The Vortex Theatre performed it in the plaza this summer, even after producing two other productions of it in the last four years. Even The Santa Fe Shakespeare Society performed a popular version of the play in 2012. “Midsummer” exists as two main plots that intersect: a group of lovers and a troupe of actors each escape to the seclusion of a forest, only to be both futzed with by nefarious fairies. Hijinks ensue.

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Culture

Celtic punk soon to invade Albuquerque

Mateo Rocha | November 13

For more than 18 years the Dropkick Murphys have composed and rattled audiences with their strong lyrics layered over a hybrid genre of Celtic punk. Despite the jovial sound of bagpipes, punk riffs and spirited chanting, the songs carry profound meanings that relate to the harsh realities of life. As Matt Kelly, drummer for the Murphys, puts it, “It is the dichotomy of Irish folk music.” The Murphys’ Celtic Punk Invasion tour is well on its way, invading North America, Latin America and Europe, and little ol’ Albuquerque has not been spared. The band will play at 8 p.m. today at the Sunshine Theatre with Blood or Whiskey and Bryan McPherson. Here is a Q&A session with Kelly on the band’s experiences and directives through the years:

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Culture

Sweater yourselves; winter is coming

Courtney Salinger | November 13

It’s the time of year when soft, warm, cozy fall sweaters take over most clothing stores. Their dark, smoldering and sometimes fun appeal attracts many fashion-savvy women. But what is it about fall sweaters that gets a fashionista’s heart racing? It’s all about the versatility. Fall sweaters are versatile in ways unimaginable. They can be worn over a dress, with a skirt and with leggings. The possibilities are endless; they are interchangeable. Fall sweaters usually consist of darker colors and thick, comfortable fabrics. They are great to wear because they keep one looking dashing and snug while adding a bit of class and flair to any ensemble.

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Culture

Flamenco group rebounds after fire guts studio

Moriah Carty | November 12

Not even a fire can put out the passion of New Mexico flamenco dancers.  The non-profit organization, National Institute of Flamenco, and dance company Yjastros held their biannual show at the National Hispanic Cultural Center last weekend after a fire of unknown cause destroyed the institute last December. Marisol Encinas, a fourth-generation flamenco dancer, said Yjastros performs “Vivimos” every spring and fall, but after the fire, the company was unable to hold their spring performance because they lost most of their costumes and practice space.

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Culture

Play review: Budding actors show promise in '¡Bocón!'

Graham Gentz | November 12

It’s easy to tell just by walking in that something different is happening in the theater space at Working Classroom. The actors stand frozen onstage, set amidst disquieting ambient music and a cityscape of newspapers permeating the background.

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Culture

Food column: Small kitchens demand the essential tools

Steve “Mo” Fye | November 12

Novice cooks dream of a kitchen stocked with high-end appliances, costly silverware and cooper-clad cookware, but few get the opportunity to use the tools. Is it possible to be a good cook without thousands of dollars of equipment? Cooks don’t need expensive gear to be able to cook good food.

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Culture

Salva rocks Red Party at the SUB

Meagen Twyeffort | November 11

Students raised their flashing glow sticks in the air and raved to the pulsing techno beat at the third annual Red Party. Hundreds gathered in the SUB ballroom on Thursday to enjoy music from internationally-known disc jockey Salva and local DJ Nathan New last Thursday.

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Culture

Breaking Bad fans flock to Albuquerque

Ana Jayme | November 11

With Walter White look-a-likes and hazmat suits galore, a pilgrimage of “Breaking Bad” fans made their way to Albuquerque for the inaugural Breaking Bad Fan Festival. Costume and trivia contests, panel discussion with the cast and crew along with a VIP-after party filled the two-day event held at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Tractor Brewery and Albuquerque Indoor Karting.

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Culture

Albuquerque boasts Chilean songwriter

Mateo Rocha | November 11

The spark of a passionate fire has been lit, and it yearns to ignite interest, emotion and cultural understanding through the power of music.

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Culture

Local planners aim to foster community

Mateo Rocha | November 6

Some may call it urban sprawl; others, urban development. But in Albuquerque there is a particular concept at the root of the growth of the city: social inclusion in community development. Urban ABQ is an online community discussion forum tackling the question of Albuquerque’s future. The forum created an online venue that publishes information and gives Albuquerque residents a voice in the development of their environment, including the UNM area. Urban planner Timothy Trujillo, founder of Urban ABQ, said he emphasizes the importance of considering the community in design plans for the city. There is rich cultural history in Albuquerque, and the integration of those concepts is imperative to the design and function of a growing community, he said.

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Culture

Student band shines bright in the nightlife

Mateo Rocha | November 6

It is the synchronization of vocals paired with the strum of guitar strings and the beat of a cajón, highlighted by the sharp yet measured tune of the brass that creates a Latin sound. Local music group Sol de La Noche embodies this very sound. The quintet is a Latin music combo composed of UNM students pursuing degrees in the College of Fine Arts. Senior music major Diego Manrique said he began the project independently with the prospect of growing artistically.