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Despite flaws, 'It' successfully adapts its source material

By Sydny Long | September 13, 2017

In 1990, an entire generation of children was emotionally scarred by Tim Curry’s performance in the miniseries “It.” Those too young to read Stephen King's work or too overwhelmed by the incredible length of his 1986 novel were terrified by Curry’s portrayal of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, one of King’s most enduring and horrifying creations.

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'Look What You Made Me Do': Taylor Swift's cry for sympathy, attention and cash

By Sydny Long | September 13, 2017

When Taylor Swift took the stage at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards and Kanye West snatched her microphone away to praise Beyoncé’s work, the media became obsessed with their feud. 

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'American Horror Story: Cult' premieres with politically charged episode

By Christine Yoon | September 13, 2017

“American Horror Story: Cult” is the series’ final chance to redeem itself after its awful last three seasons. Devoted fans of Seasons 1 and 2 stayed tuned in for “Cult,” a politically charged season in the wake of the 2016 election. 

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Jack Johnson joins political conversation on the uneven 'All the Light Above It Too'

By Sarah Derris | September 13, 2017

After much anticipation, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson released his new album, “All the Light Above It Too,” last Friday, Sept. 8, his first album since 2013.

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The retrospective 'Hitchhiker' is a fine addition to the Neil Young canon

By Alex Griffith | September 13, 2017

Neil Young is no stranger to unreleased albums, with apocryphal knowledge of would-have-been classics like “Homegrown” and “Chrome Dreams” lurking in the back of fans’ minds and scores of demos and recordings languishing in Young’s archives.

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Mutemath stay true to themselves on 'Play Dead'

By Aaron Paskin | September 13, 2017

You’ve got to hand it to Mutemath; they stick to their guns. The New Orleans alternative rock band has maintained a strong but niche fanbase for over ten years, and yet they have never once made an attempt to be anything other than themselves.

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'American Dream' may be LCD Soundsystem's strongest work to date

By Alex Griffith | September 6, 2017

Barely two weeks after LCD Soundsystem released their first song in more than five years, “Christmas Will Break Your Heart,” David Bowie, the idol of LCD mastermind and sole consistent member James Murphy, died. 

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'The Prince of Los Cocuyos' explores the complexities of childhood

By Kezia Matson | August 30, 2017

Three-fourths of the way into “The Prince of Los Cocuyos,” I put it down, feeling like it wasn’t leading anywhere. The memoir, chosen as the recommended reading for the Class of 2021 Common Experience, follows the childhood of poet and author Richard Blanco as he navigates his place in his household and city.

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The War on Drugs embraces influences on 'A Deeper Understanding'

By Aaron Paskin | August 30, 2017

Several artists throughout history have pushed to the frontier of musical innovation by inventing new genres, inspiring scores of musicians to emulate their sounds. Philadelphia alternative rock band The War on Drugs is not one of those artists, and not only do they know it, but they embrace it.

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August music roundup: Brand New, Grizzly Bear and more

By Will Atkinson | August 30, 2017

This summer brought a number of big album releases that Recess didn't get to cover, with new albums from Lana Del Rey and Arcade Fire, among others. In particular, the last month brought in a flurry of records from established acts and up-and-comers alike. Here's a sampling of what came out in August.

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Recess 2017 back-to-school playlist

By Recess Staff | August 23, 2017

As O-Week begins and the school year starts up again, Recess curated a playlist that will get you in the mood to enthusiastically tackle the fall semester and embrace everything Duke has to offer.

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A day in the life at DukeEngage Ahmedabad

By Jessica Williams | August 16, 2017

DukeEngage Ahmedabad almost didn’t happen. With unexpected visa complications delaying travel to India, by mid-June it looked like the program would end before its first year could even begin.

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'Landline' is a love letter to human messiness

By Jake Parker | August 16, 2017

“Landline,” the latest film from writer-director Gillian Robespierre, is set in a time when women dressed like Elaine from “Seinfeld” and people checked their messages via pay phone—in other words, New York City, 1995.

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Vignettes of a fat girl’s life

By Nina Wilder | August 9, 2017

The paper that adorns the examination room’s bench crinkles and bunches as I hoist myself onto its surface. I kick my legs absentmindedly and gaze at the medical posters on the wall, silently willing my heart to stop beating so painfully fast.

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Fall 2017 comedy shows we're excited about

By Dillon Fernando | August 2, 2017

There are several reasons to be upset right now. Whether it’s the world burning or school starting, here’s the solution: laugh a little.

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SDCC 2017: Rounding up Comic-Con's biggest trailers

By Christy Kuesel | July 26, 2017

San Diego Comic-Con: it's internationally known as nerd paradise, where a few lucky and devoted fans get inside information on their favorite franchises. The rest of us can merely wait for trailers and movie news to slowly trickle out from its source.

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Is the festival bubble bursting?

By Will Atkinson | July 19, 2017

One of the first sights a visitor to the Shaky Knees Music Fest sees upon rounding the corner into Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park—after, of course, the high-tech security lines, lest someone smuggle in some outside food or drink—is an oversized Popeye’s chicken leg, placed conspicuously amid the various food vendors in the middle of the park.

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Sofia Coppola’s ‘The Beguiled’ suffers from a lack of substance

By Nina Wilder | July 12, 2017

The career of actress, screenwriter and director Sofia Coppola has often been mired by accusations of nepotism and privilege, largely due to the dynastic filmmaking family from whence she was born.

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'Witness' and the disappointing evolution of Katy Perry

By Dillon Fernando | July 5, 2017

With her latest album “Witness,” Katy Perry promised her fans a new sound: “purposeful pop.” Every track would be socially aware and promote 360 degrees of liberation as far as politics, sexuality and negativity were concerned.

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Lorde grows up on 'Melodrama'

By Christy Kuesel | June 28, 2017

On June 16, it finally happened: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, known to the public as Lorde, dropped her second album, “Melodrama.” Fans everywhere eagerly awaited the release, as her debut album “Pure Heroine” came out almost four years ago in Sept.