Culture

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.

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Movies

Review: Five flicks and clicks help keep Halloween spirit alive

Hector Valverede | October 30

It’s been a dry month for movies this October, with no really great additions coming into the horror catalogue. So, what will you watch as the spookiest month of the year wraps up? Personally, I’m a bit tired of cycling through the horror classics, so here's a few unique suggestions to keep the Halloween spirit fresh: “Fright Night” (2011, on Amazon Prime) When a shady new neighbor, moves next door to him, Charlie Brewster suspects him of being a vampire. The 2011 remake of “Fright Night” is one of my favorite underrated horror films.

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News

Lecture highlights deceased congressman's accomplishments

Nichole Harwood | October 30

Guests filled the chairs eagerly as they awaited an open-to-the-public lecture by Chief Judge M. Christina Armijo Oct. 26 at the The University of New Mexico’s School of Law for the 2017 U.S. Sen. Dennis Chavez Endowed Lectureship in honor of Chavez’s legacy. Chavez became a congressman when there were not many people in Congress that could advocate for minority communities, and he was also the pioneer in the laws that started right before the Civil Rights Era, former Dean and Professor of Law Kevin Washburn said during his opening remarks for the lecture. “He gave these communities more of a voice, and he was really committed to that...Society doesn’t change, unless people are working real hard to make it change. It doesn’t change easily, and so you need leaders to make that change. So hopefully what we do is inspire members of this community to make a change,” he said.

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Culture

Zia Marching Band Fiesta showcases bands from across New Mexico

Timber Mabes | October 30

The University of New Mexico’s football season is coming to an end, and with that comes the often overlooked end to the marching band season. Band members from across New Mexico and surrounding states are still putting their hearts into their performances, including those who marched this weekend at the Zia Marching Band Fiesta. The Fiesta was the final marching competition of the season and one of the final University of New Mexico Spirit Marching Band performances of the 2017-2018 school year.

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Culture

Photo Story: Annual Lantern Fest lights up the sky

April Torres and Garett Julian | October 30

The Annual Lantern Fest took place on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017. Crowds gathered at Sandia Speedway Park to enjoy quality time together under the spectacle of hundreds of lanterns.

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News

Jack-o-lantern Pie recipe makes for fun holiday treat

Ludella Awad | October 29

Halloween is coming soon, a time when kids are knocking on doors, begging for candy to get their annual overdose of sugar, but we can offer them a healthy, tasty alternative with less sugar instead. Here is a healthy, spicy, tasty and not-too-sugary treat that can be made for a Halloween party or just for fun during the season.

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Music

Sex and Relationships Issue: Five songs that sum up every stage in a relationship

Kyle Land | October 27

As any respectable rom-com will tell you, relationships and music were made for each other. With every moment of your emotional adventure there is a song crafted to fit your exact mood, whether you find yourself in the loving embrace of your partner or neck deep in a tub of depression ice cream. Here’s a list of songs for all the highs and lows that come with love — hopefully you can use these for any emotional situation you find yourself in.

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News

Sex and Relationships Issue: Tacos y Reproductive Justice hopes to get people talking

Ariel Lutnesky | October 25

On Monday night, students and community members gathered to talk about reproductive rights and history over free tacos at the Kiva Auditorium during Tacos y Reproductive Justice. The event was put together through a partnership between UNM’s Student Alliance for Reproductive Justice and Young Women United in celebration of SARJ’s Sex Week, a week-long educational event that started Monday and finishes Friday, Oct. 27. Tacos y Reproductive Justice primarily focused on reproductive rights for women of color, as it is a major issue that YWU focuses on.