Second-year MFA student Sai Varadan is currently presenting his thesis in the Friedl Building’s Fredric Jameson Gallery. The Chronicle sat down with Varadan to talk about his life, work, journey to Duke and “The Child Within,” his thesis.
Overall, the Fountain Concerts are a unique and enjoyable part of Duke’s musical repertoire with unparalleled intimacy and a nice, laid-back vibe. Though the Biddle Music Building can be a bit of a hike for those not living on East, the performances are well worth the journey.
Had the film committed to going in either the thought-provoking or the amusement direction — or if the film had committed to doing both aspects stronger — it would have been better. As it stands, however, “Drop” is still an engaging movie built around a fascinating premise.
Fargeat's and Moore’s efforts in "The Substance" turn the film into a palpably sincere, raw representation of the inner thoughts of women working in the industry. The greatest takeaway from the film and Demi Moore’s journey is that there is no timer on success.
On March 24, the Intro to Bridge house course hosted American professional bridge player Zachary Grossack for a discussion Q&A and house course lesson.
Even though the show lacked excitement, the winners did not. I was ecstatic to see “Anora” sweeping the Oscars rather than the anticipated “Emilia Pérez.” This year’s show demonstrated that there is a chance for small yet deserving filmmakers to make a splash and dominate Hollywood’s biggest night.
With March Madness in full swing, movies are an excellent way to immerse yourself in Duke basketball spirit during the sad periods between live games. Here are a few films beloved by several Duke Men’s Basketball players and coaches, all mentioned by players and coaches on The Brotherhood Podcast.
“Nickel Boys” presents a history detached from the popular understanding of American society while serving as a powerful reminder that the oppression it documents was not that long ago. What’s more, the events and power structures it depicts are crucial to understanding how we got to where we are today.
While “A Real Pain” is a phenomenal film that also does a wonderful job of providing a fresh perspective on the Holocaust, it also finds itself stuck in the same rut as other Holocaust films.
Throughout the talk, Dr. Chang skillfully guided the audience through the issues surrounding photographs of North Korea, arguing that the best approaches directly engage with these constraints instead of trying to avoid them. Hopefully one day North Korea will open to the world again, but until then, in order to understand the country, we must understand the limitations we face in trying to do so.
Two to four times a week, for a total of about 60 times a semester, films from across genres, time periods and geography are screened for free in the Ruby’s Film Theatre. This is the work of Screen/Society, a Duke-sponsored program that has its roots in an informal graduate student film club formed in the late ‘80s.
Rebecca Wahls, Duke Theater Studies’ artist in residence and instructor of theater studies, reconfigured Bertold Brecht’s mid-20th century play “The Good Woman of Setzuan” for the modern day and the Duke stage with “GOOD.”
Overall, Gatto’s performance achieved the perfect balance of wit, humor and cleverness while showcasing quick jokes and an outgoing, vibrant personality that all attendees appreciated.
Ultimately, “The Phantom Menace” is a movie that spreads itself too thin, not committing itself to characters or politics, and thus, prioritizes reference over substance, symbol over meaning.
The Academy is considering requiring AI-usage disclosures for the 2026 awards to increase transparency and give voters more information to guide their decisions. This move could pave the way for future smear campaigns centered on films' AI use, either due to organic discourse or corporate maneuvering.
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” is a psychological thriller that challenges viewers to see the effects of power in flawed institutions. Similar to the sacred fig, Iranians must strangle all components of their country until it is fully deprived, so that they can be free.
Shakespeare’s plays have the rare ability to draw together comedy, romance and tragedy: the essential ingredients for a romcom that together form a foolproof formula for a wonderful film. Maybe Shakespeare, and Shakespeare-inspired works like “Ten Things I Hate About You,” will be the unlikely heroes of the romcom genre after all.
In a world where music is just a tap away, why bother with live performances at all? The truth is, live performances have become a lost art. We seem to have forgotten that music isn’t just something we’re meant to simply hear, it’s something we need to feel.
“When I Say Africa” is an eye-opener, as evidenced by the myriad of conversations between audience members and Mathers post-viewing. When going to Africa to “help,” maybe Duke students and faculty should support local organizations that intimately know the areas they are trying to help rather than focus on issues Duke believes are problems.
This trilogy has been a journey for listeners and a period of self-reflection for The Weeknd. As he closes off this chapter of his artistic identity, there is no doubt that the “After Hours Til Dawn” trilogy allowed him to fully explore all of the emotions and experiences that come with stardom.
