RECESS | CULTURE

'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' reimagines Hollywood at the close of the '60s

By Nina Wilder and Kerry Rork | August 7, 2019

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” the latest film from writer and director Quentin Tarantino, premiered in July. The movie follows Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) as he navigates the ups and downs of a Hollywood career in 1969, as well as the looming presence of the Manson Family cult in Los Angeles. Editor Nina Wilder and Campus Arts Editor Kerry Rork chatted about their thoughts on Tarantino’s new film and the events that inspired it. Warning: spoilers below.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Paul McCartney transforms Dodger Stadium for last performance of Freshen Up Tour

By Kerry Rork | August 4, 2019

On July 13, Paul McCartney took the stage once again, wearing his classic white button down and black jacket (later removed  as McCartney joked, “This is the one costume change of the night”), for the last performance of the 2019 Freshen Up Tour.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Submit a question to Recess' new advice column, Tea Time

By Alice Dai and Nina Wilder | July 31, 2019

For our first column, we're taking questions related to the transition between summer and school, like your lingering doubts about an office affair or the anxieties driven by your return to Durham. Sounds like a problem you could use help with? Use the submission form below, and ask Alice.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Thom Yorke takes a rare look into his past on new album ‘Anima’

By Aaron Paskin | July 9, 2019

What’s most shocking about “Anima,” Thom Yorke’s third solo album, is that it really doesn’t try anything new.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Western Stars’ is a triumph of songwriting and arrangement

By Aaron Slutkin | June 24, 2019

Bruce Springsteen has always been a journeyman, but these last five years have been different.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Bastille’s ‘Doom Days’ reveals a band stuck on autopilot

By Aaron Paskin | June 22, 2019

The problem with “Doom Days” is that Bastille seems to have forgotten that playing to your strengths and taking risks are not mutually exclusive, and the result is a collection of almost entirely uninteresting songs.

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RECESS | CULTURE

A walk through The Met's ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’

By Sarah Derris | June 6, 2019

Each spring, the Metropolitan Museum’s annual Met Gala showcases some of the most noteworthy and daring looks in fashion, and the theme typically aligns with the Costume Institute’s annual exhibition. Accordingly, this year’s theme was camp.

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RECESS | CULTURE

How ‘Psycho’ transformed both the film industry and the horror genre

By Kerry Rork | June 5, 2019

Imagine the date is June 16, 1960 — the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s newest  film, “Psycho.” 

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RECESS | CULTURE

Marvel closes out an iconic era of filmmaking with ‘Avengers: Endgame’

By Eva Hong | June 4, 2019

Yep, I went to see “Avengers: Endgame,” despite my feigned disdain whenever my friends — some of them film-school movie buffs, like me — express their love for Marvel movies.

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RECESS | CULTURE

The National shines on new album 'I Am Easy To Find'

By Jack Rubenstein | June 3, 2019

Orchestral arrangements, addictive riffs, needed guest performances and thunderous performances by Berninger make the band’s eighth album, “I Am Easy To Find,” its most daring record to date, proving The National can make interesting music that appeals to a wider audience.

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RECESS | CULTURE

'Booksmart' is a heartfelt teen comedy for a generation of dreamers

By Alizeh Sheikh | June 2, 2019

“Booksmart” sounds like any other teen movie, but its Damien Chazelle-esque visual ambition (including one fantasy musical scene) and its all-encompassing commitment to character are what strip it from tradition. 

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RECESS | LOCAL

Staying in Durham for the summer? Here are 7 things to do in the Bull City

By Abby Kingsley | June 1, 2019

Staying at Duke for the summer? Spend some time exploring the city we call home — I promise, Durham does extend beyond 9th Street.

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RECESS | CAMPUS

Story+ program uses archival research to rethink storytelling

By Selena Qian | June 1, 2019

On May 16, Duke students in the Story+ program began their two-day bootcamp to train in various humanities research methods.

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RECESS | CAMPUS

New green space between the Nasher and the Ruby 'will bring art outdoors'

By Miranda Gershoni | May 31, 2019

When the Nasher Museum of Art opened in 2005, its founders envisioned an outdoor space to accompany the art within its walls. In a $1.5 million project scheduled to inaugurate next fall, this vision will finally come to fruition, with an outdoor space and sculpture garden connecting the Nasher and the Rubenstein Arts Center.

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RECESS | STAFF NOTE

In the darkness

By Nina Wilder | May 31, 2019

Nothing holds more importance in a cinema than a film, certainly not the patron nor his concerns or woes; quite literally, everything else surrenders to the shadows.

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RECESS | CULTURE

The second season of 'Reel to Reel' is here

By Nina Wilder and Will Atkinson | May 25, 2019

After a long break, we're back with the newest episode of “Reel to Reel,” Recess’s pop culture podcast.

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RECESS | CULTURE

Vampire Weekend makes a satisfying return with the sprawling ‘Father of the Bride’

By Will Atkinson | May 10, 2019

It’s been a busy six years for Ezra Koenig. The one thing missing? Another Vampire Weekend album.

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RECESS | STAFF NOTE

Bull City arts

By Christy Kuesel | April 24, 2019

It’s the end of an era, friends. I walked into 301 Flowers my first week of college, and I’m walking out four years later, still unable to sum up my Duke experience. So I’ll talk about Durham instead.

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RECESS | CULTURE

'The religious heart of France': Duke professors react to Notre-Dame burning

By Kerry Rork | April 24, 2019

Built in a French Gothic style and consecrated to the Virgin Mary, the Notre-Dame Cathedral was completed in 1345. This cathedral has survived the scenes of battles like during the French Revolution, inspired novels like Victor Hugo’s "Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and galvanized religious individuals for centuries. 

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RECESS | CULTURE

Full Frame 2019: 'Mossville: When Great Trees Fall' tackles environmental racism

By Eva Hong | April 23, 2019

“Welcome to beautiful downtown Mossville. Population: one.”