A Recesser Comes of Age. Sorta.

I came to Duke three years ago, a naïve, skinny freshman. Now, a little less of each, I prepare to take the helm of the monkey circus that is the Chronicle's arts and entertainment magazine: RECESS. I came to be involved at the Chronicle my first year because it combined three of my most dominant traits: movie superfreak, obnoxious know-it-all and hopeless egotist. It seems like things have worked out well.

So here we are, three years later and I couldn't be more excited about RECESS. In many ways I feel there is a cultural renewal at hand. Cable is reminding us once again of the creative power of television. The over-wrought pop of the late '90s has given way to a rebirth of indie music and new levels of musical expression. Technology is allowing younger, brasher film-makers to do things previously only reserved for the Hollywood elite. There are probably lots of cool painters painting... paintings too.

I hope that we at RECESS can in some small way take part in this renewal. Bringing you the best and the brightest in arts and entertainment from the Durham community and around the world, we will do our best to keep you in the know and on the cusp of the next hot scene.

Without further ado, let's kick off volume seven.