Culture

News

UNM helps students navigate international study

Gerardo Archundia S. | November 19

Presentations, desserts and study abroad orientations were some of the events that took place during International Education Week last week at the University of New Mexico. Organized by the Global Education Office, the week aimed to teach students about other cultures and encourage them to study abroad and improve their professional skills. “We want to celebrate our international students that are here, and we want to help American students to go abroad and diversify their culture and language skills,” said Annette Mares-Duran, a Global Education Office advisor.

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Culture

Fusion Dance Club offers chance to de-stress

Ariel Lutnesky | November 19

If you’re feeling the need to relieve some stress as finals draw nearer, you might want to hop on over to the Fusion Dance Club and get those hips moving. The University of New Mexico’s Fusion Dance Club is all about combining hip-hop with other dance styles, according to Daniel Rodriguez, the club president and founder. “The club is mostly hip-hop-based, so we do dances, but the main goal was to bring together people from different backgrounds to dance,” Rodriguez said. “Coming to the University and not finding a club that had hip-hop really encouraged me to start one.”

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Culture

Upcoming Harry Potter Day continues a University tradition

Amy Byres | November 19

The Student Union Building Atrium will fill with muggles, witches and wizards Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as part of this year’s Harry Potter Day. “Each year we gather more and more folks. What was sort of a noontime stop by and see some decorations has quickly turned into the Student Union Building being turned into the Great Hall with candles hanging from the ceiling,” said Student Activities Specialist, Rudy Montoya of Ravenclaw. The SUB Atrium will be filled with many different activities for community members of the wizarding world to enjoy. This includes: a photo booth, trivia games, butterbeer and button decorating, according to Student Activities Center employee Anna Padilla of Hufflepuff.

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Culture

Review: Unsuccessful characters and action makes “Justice League” forgettable

Hector Valverde | November 16

It’s no secret that DC has been severely lagging behind Marvel in the cinematic universe department. DC’s films have gathered mostly mixed reviews not quite hitting a universally high critical consensus until this year’s “Wonder Woman.” Zack Snyder’s “Justice League” is the culmination of four years’ worth of universe building. While mostly harmless, the film never reaches the stellar heights of Marvel’s “The Avengers.” There’s very little chemistry between the characters, which is unfortunate, given the film hinges on a strong team dynamic for success. In fact, it was only Gal Godot that had an outstanding performance as Wonder Woman, mixing a genuine maternal charm with awesome ass-kicking action.

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Culture

Cherry Reel helps students experience filmmaking

Amy Byres | November 15

The 2017 Cherry Reel Film Festival is a one-of-a-kind production that gives student filmmakers an opportunity to share their work with the community. “Every year, you’ll never see the same film twice. It’s always something different. It’s amazing watching filmmakers be so proud of their work, and to watch them watch it on the big screen is amazing,” said Victoria Martinez-Varela, executive director of the ASUNM Southwest Film Center. The film center, located in the Student Union Building, began coordinating dates and setting up the event starting in September. Submission genres include: horror, sci-fi, comedy, experimental, documentary, animated short and music videos.

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Culture

Marigold Parade unites community/El desfile de cempasúchil une la comunidad

Gerardo Archundia S. and Dalton Padilla | November 14

With Spanish music sounding all over the South Valley, hundreds gathered in costume for the 25th Annual Marigold Parade celebrating the Day of the Dead on Nov. Con la música en español escuchandose en todo el Valle del Sur, cientos de personas se reunieron para el 25° desfile anual de cempasúchil, o el Marigold Parade en inglés, para celebrar el Día de los Muertos el 5 de noviembre.

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Culture

Review: Comic-con draws attention Indigenous culture

Nichole Harwood | November 13

This weekend kicked off the second year for the Indigenous Comic Con at the Isleta Resort & Casino, providing an exciting and educational experience for all those in attendance. As an avid comic-con attendee myself, I was thrilled to see the familiar art booths that lined the rooms filled with both original art and fan art. Paintings, prints and homemade jewelry filled the booths, with the artists often on site to sign their work. One such notable onsite artists was Arigon Starr, creator of the popular comic series “Super Indian,” featuring a hero of her own making.

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Culture

Review: “Murder on the Orient Express” is stellar adaptation of classic whodunnit novel

Hector Valverde | November 13

The film doesn’t stray far from its famous source material, the classic Agatha Christie murder mystery novel. But Kenneth Branagh’s smart direction and lead performance as Hercule Poirot had me gripped from start to finish. The film’s premise is as straightforward as its title suggests — someone has been murdered on a train, the Orient Express, during its journey from Jerusalem to Istanbul. When everyone onboard is a suspect, it’s up to the world’s greatest detective, Hercule Poirot, to sniff out the killer from the group of strangers.

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News

Drag contest celebrates LGBTQ culture

Rebecca Brusseau | November 12

The drag culture in New Mexico may be rather small, but the close-knit community got their chance to shine this weekend. On Nov. 11, the Queer Student Alliance held their 9th annual drag show in the University of New Mexico Student Union Building: “Drag in the USA.” The show aimed to celebrate talent within the community and for contestants to compete for the title of Miss USA. This event was hosted by Sabryna Williams, who is an assistant manager at the Albuquerque Social Club, New Mexico’s longest running LGBT bar. The show was sponsored by Self Serve, Boba Tea, Rude Boy Cookies and the LGBTQ Resource Center.

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Culture

Lobos show off variety of skills at talent competition

Amy Byres | November 12

Lobos got the chance to show off their unique skills onstage and compete for over $1,000 in prize money Friday at the tenth annual Lobo’s Got Talent show in the Student Union Building Ballrooms. The talent competition premiered a wide variety of acts including singers, dancers and artists from a variety of diverse backgrounds. Ryan Lindquist, interim director of Student Activities at the University of New Mexico, said Lobo’s Got Talent prides itself on not just being a singing show, but it encourages people to bring in all types of talents.

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Culture

Performance fills Popejoy with bubbles

Amy Byres | November 12

B-the Underwater Bubble Show awakened the inner child of many audience members Sunday afternoon at Popejoy Hall. Mr. B, the main character in this Cirque du Soleil-inspired show, transported the audience to a dreamlike land called Bubblelandia. Bubblelandia is a parallel universe where Mr. B escapes the pressures of adulthood through exceptional stage affects, bubble tornadoes, troupes of leaping acrobats, contortionists and bubble artists.

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Culture

Beards face off in playful contest

Alison Luttrell | November 12

In the midst of No-Shave November, bearded and moustached aficionados gathered to compete for the title of best facial hair at Duel Brewery Friday night. Gentlemen and gentlewomen strutted their facial manes in front of the judges and crowd. Competition was fierce, but only one could claim the prize. The contest, organized by Christopher Isonhood, consisted of seven categories, including: “natural beard under six inches,” “natural beard over six inches,” “natural moustache,” “styled moustache,” “women’s beard,” “women’s moustache” and of course the eclectic “styled beard.” Other categories were “baby beard,” which consisted of new growth under an inch, and the “partial beard,” which falls somewhere in the realm of Joe Dirt, sporadic and patchy.

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Culture

Photo Story: Muertos y Marigolds brightens the streets

April Torres | November 9

The Annual South Valley Muertos y Marigolds Parade on Sunday Nov. 5, 2017 started at El Centro Familiar and made its way to the Westside Community Center. Crowds waited throughout the South Valley in anticipation. Some participants and onlookers painted themselves with skull makeup and dressed up in various Day of the Dead motifs. The parade showcased decorated cars and bikes, along with music. After the parade was over, people headed to the Westside Community Center to enjoy music, food and shopping.

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Culture

Student org advocates for NM's wilderness

Ariel Lutnesky | November 8

A student club at the University of New Mexico is swinging the doors open to the outdoor spaces of the Land of Enchantment. The UNM Wilderness Alliance gets students off the couch and leads them on outdoor adventures of all sorts. Lauren Auer, the co-president of the club, said that the club has activities that range from hiking and backpacking to tree-planting and snowshoeing.

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Culture

UNM's little piece of history

Hannah Eisenberg | November 8

Few students know about the cultural, historical and environmental goldmine the University of New Mexico owns just outside the Taos valley — the ranch and 160 acres of adjacent land that once belonged to famous literary figure D.H. Lawrence. Lawrence is an English novelist and painter, best known for the boundary-breaking content of his infamous novel, “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.” Lawrence obtained the property in 1924 when his wife, Frieda, traded the manuscript of another one of his novels, “Sons and Lovers,” for the deed to the ranch. Together they spent roughly 11 months in Taos, and Lawrence passed away from tuberculosis a few years later. Frieda owned and frequented the ranch for another 25 years.

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Culture

"The Threepenny Opera" comes to UNM

Alison Luttrell | November 8

A story of crime, love and corruption, is coming to the Experimental Theatre on the University of New Mexico’s Main Campus for seven performances this November. Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s “The Threepenny Opera,” centers around Mack the Knife, a criminal who enrages Jonathan Jeremiah Peachum, who controls all of London’s beggars, by marrying his daughter Polly. Polly Peachum, played by UNM theatre major Cheyenne Bilbrey, is excited by danger, Bilbrey said. After being raised by one of the most powerful men in London, is ready to break away, Bilbrey said.

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Culture

Column: Is anime no longer a niche market?

Nichole Harwood | November 6

2017 saw the cinematic release of “Ghost in the Shell,” a movie that was centered around a very popular anime one that spawned multiple animated movies itself and an animated series beforehand. Growing up, I watched one of the anime adaptations, “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.” As a teenager, I enjoyed the series, it was never my favorite show, but I took enjoyed watching it well enough. When I heard of the 2017 cinematic movie, I was more intrigued than excited. After watching the trailer and reading the synopsis, I dismissed it entirely.

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Culture

Review: “Thor: Ragnarok" fun but lacking depth

Hector Valverde | November 5

I love Marvel Studios. I can always rely on them to deliver on a good time at the very least. But with the release of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Spiderman: Homecoming,” I started to worry that enjoyable but ultimately disposable movies is all that Marvel Studios is willing to offer. Their newest addition, “Thor: Ragnarok,” is a good enough offering of superhero fun, but it lacks staying power and emotional resonance.

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Culture

Local project at UNM libraries exhibits everyday New Mexicans

Ariel Lutnesky | November 5

The University of New Mexico libraries have added a few extra faces on the walls, smiling down at students and community members as part of a new exhibition by Humans of New Mexico. “The Humans of New Mexico project is an online platform where we collect oral histories from everyday New Mexicans,” said Rafael Martinez, the organization’s project director. “The goal is to go around the state and talk to ordinary people about their life, their experience, their stories and traditions and culture and what it’s like in their part of the state.”

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Culture

Review: New "Stranger Things" season continues to impress

Hector Valverede | November 1

Warning: some spoilers ahead... The first season of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” was a phenomenal throwback to the best decade ever, with a modern flourish that helped it stand out from classic 1980s flair. With great performances all around and a unique science-fiction intrigue, “Stranger Things” quickly cemented itself as a part of the golden age of television. The show’s second season retains most of that momentum with a few noticeable stumbles along the way.