Rise and shine! The second half of the semester is here. I hope you enjoyed your break, although I know most of us still had to do work here and there. That’s Hopkins. C’est la vie. In any case, I hope you caught up on all the shows, films, books and music you put off for midterm exams and essays, because the entertainment industry stops for no one.
We’ll do our best to help you stay up to date, find the content you’re actually interested in and move on to the next week. That’s how this works — we tell you what to pay attention to, and you pretend like you have time to watch, read, listen and attend it all.
I’d recommend you pay particular attention to the live events this week, as all of them are Hopkins-affiliated, and all of them could be solutions to your mid-semester blues. If you are even vaguely familiar with Classical literature, the talk given by Emily Wilson on her new translation of Homer’s The Iliad is an incredible opportunity. It’s one thing on this list I’m certain I will be attending.
Without further ado, here are the Arts & Entertainment section’s picks for the week:
To watch…
No Pressure, directed by Bartosz Prokopowicz — March 27
No Pressure is an upcoming Polish romantic comedy film produced by Netflix. The plot follows a big city-chef named Oliwia who falls for a handsome, mysterious farmer while working to save her grandmother’s farm.
We Were the Lucky Ones, directed by Thomas Kail — March 28
Based on George Hunter’s New York Times bestselling novel, this historical drama follows the true story of a Jewish family separated at the start of World War II. The miniseries premieres on Hulu this Thursday.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, directed by Adam Wingard — March 29
In the upcoming continuation of the incredibly successful 2021 film Godzilla x Kong — and the fifth film of the MonsterVerse franchise — Wingard takes the series back to its origins, detailing the untold origins of the Titans and Skull Island.
To read…
Like Happiness, by Ursula Villarreal-Moura — March 26
After being contacted for an interview in hopes of corroborating evidence against the famous Author M. Domínguez, who is being accused of sexual assault, Tatum Vega is forced to come to terms with their past relationship, which she has tried so hard to forget.
There's Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension, by Hanif Abdurraqib — March 26
In this biographical memoir, Hanif Abdurraqib recalls his childhood growing up in Columbus, Ohio during the 1990s, the golden era of basketball, which included players such as the legendary LeBron James.
The Princess of Las Vegas, by Chris Bohjalian — March 26
A Princess Diana impersonator and her estranged sister get caught up in the criminal underground of the Las Vegas strip in this highly original tale of identity obsession and high-tech mobsters.
To listen…
Act II: Cowboy Carter, by Beyoncé — March 29
The pop icon singer will release her eighth studio album on Friday, which (as is obvious with the name) will likely incorporate country music and themes. The latest single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” is a somewhat derivatively foot-stomping country hit.
HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1, by J-Hope — March 29
Korean rapper J-Hope’s newest project is a soundtrack album for his documentary film HOPE ON THE STREET. It will be released in two versions: VER.1 PRELUDE and VER.2 INTERLUDE.
Heaven :x: Hell, by Sum 41 — March 29
The upcoming project will be the Canadian rock band Sum 41’s eighth studio album. It will reportedly be split into two discs, the first titled Heaven, featuring the pop punk style of their earlier projects, and the second titled Hell will focus on the band’s more recent heavy metal sound.
Live events…
Peabody Percussion Collective at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center — March 27 at 12:30 p.m.
A multifaceted performance organized by Robert van Sice, artistic director and professor of percussion at Peabody Institute. Tickets are required and are available online, and the performance will be livestreamed.
Emily Wilson on Homer's "The Iliad" in Room 110, Maryland Hall — March 27 at 5 p.m.
Internationally acclaimed translator Emily Wilson will visit Hopkins to discuss her new translation of Homer’s The Iliad. The event is free (registration is required) and will include an open Q&A (please navigate through the link to submit your questions in advance).
Peabody Conductors' Orchestra and Old Bay Ensemble: Music for New Media Concert at Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall — March 30 at 7:30 p.m.
The Music For New Media Department at Peabody, which studies film and video game scoring, presents a concert performed by the Peabody Conductors’ Orchestra and Old Bay New Music Ensemble. Tickets are free for all.
