Hello and welcome to another week of media recommendations from the Arts and Entertainment section! As February begins, we hope you can find the time to enjoy some of these upcoming releases in the arts, from film and television to books, music to live events. As always, the full list is provided below, but here are my personal picks for new media to consume in the upcoming week.
In the world of movies, studios are getting ready to release their Valentine’s-Day-themed films. There’s Heart Eyes, a horror-romance-comedy about a serial killer who kills exclusively couples. There’s Parthenope, which is about a woman with extraordinary beauty and the ability to attract admiration all around her. What I’m most excited for, though, is Love Hurts. This action-comedy film is about a somewhat dorky realtor with a criminal past, which inevitably returns to haunt him this Valentine’s Day. It promises to be equal parts comedy and thrill, making for an entertaining watch.
As for books, my personal pick would be Source Code: My Beginnings, a memoir by Bill Gates. Who wouldn’t be fascinated by the personal narrative of a world famous billionaire? Without delving into the history of Microsoft or the future of technology, Gates stays within the familiar realm of growing up and discovering oneself in this book. Source Code looks to be an insightful portrait into the rather relatable life of someone who, for better or worse, ultimately changed the world.
For upcoming albums, my strong recommendation would be to listen to Sharon Van Etten’s new project, Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory. Van Etten’s angelic voice returns on these tracks with a newfound sense of freedom and openness. Simultaneously strange and soothing, her music is the perfect sonic foundation for a busy February. In other exciting news, Tyga will be releasing a new rap album titled NSFW, and a collection of idiosyncratic jazz tracks can be found on James Brandon Lewis’s Apple Cores.
Finally, a group of opera singers from the Peabody Institute will deliver an exciting performance this week. Bringing the short chamber opera The Death of Alexander Scriabin to life, they will narrate a story about the Russian composer as he agonizes over a seven-day, apocalyptic ceremony. It should be an interesting watch, to say the least, and, most of all, it will put the talent of Peabody students and alumni on display. The event is free and registration is not required.
Without further ado, please enjoy our picks for media you should watch and watch for!
To watch...
Sweet Magnolias: season 4, produced by Sheryl J. Anderson, Dan Paulson and Sherryl Woods — Feb 6
Love Hurts, directed by Jonathan Eusebio — Feb. 7
Parthenope, directed by Paolo Sorrentino — Feb. 7
Bring Them Down, directed by Chris Andrews — Feb. 7
Heart Eyes, directed by Josh Ruben — Feb. 7
To read...
Source Code: My Beginnings, by Bill Gates — Feb. 4
Gliff, by Ali Smith — Feb. 4
Memorial Days, by Geraldine Brooks — Feb. 4
Soft Core, by Brittany Newell — Feb. 4
Isola, by Allegra Goodman — Feb. 4
To listen...
Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory, by Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory — Feb. 7
NSFW, by Tyga — Feb. 7
Cowards, by Squid — Feb. 7
Apple Cores, by James Brandon Lewis — Feb. 7
choke enough, by Oklou — Feb. 7
Live events...
Leonardo Da Vinci: An Untraceable Life, presented by Professor Stephen J. Campbell at Bird in Hand — Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The Death of Alexander Scriabin at Joe Byrd Hall — Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. The event is free and registration is not required.
Hans Zimmer Live at CFG Bank Arena — Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online and start at $178.
Baltimore Crankie Festival at Creative Alliance — Feb. 7– 9, times vary. Tickets are available for purchase and are $25 for general admission.
Hopkins Day at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum — Feb. 8 10 a.m. . Registration is required for this free event.
