Searching for supermen
Superhero films and shows have an uncanny ability to reflect the American public’s feelings about power or whatever the present paranoia happens to be. Read More…
Category Archives: A&E
Director offers a taste of cannibalism in horror film
When making a scary film, there are only so many directions you can take. Characters, formulas and monsters are recycled again and again through the narrow, dimly lit echo-chamber that has become the horror genre. So it’s refreshing when one surfaces that differs and lets the audience in on a Read More…
A glance at Oakland Art Murmur galleries
Warehouse 416 Warehouse 416 brings together Oakland artists and entrepreneurs in an open, creative space. At Friday’s opening party for “Town Business,” be on the lookout for photographer Lauren Crew, who specializes in gorgeous, intimate portraits, and Doug Rhodes, whose acrylic and mixed-media surrealist pieces draw inspiration from humanity’s ability to Read More…
A violently introspective look at video games
Violence and conflict have always been fundamental in video games. As video games became defined by win and loss states, violence and death followed suit. Twenty years ago, early ultra-violent titles such as “Doom” and “Wolfenstein 3D” took a heavy share of the market. Even classic nonshooter games such as Read More…
Bottom Notch duo is anything but
Signing to a record label can be a difficult decision for independent artists. Will the label constrain them? Is the tradeoff of gaining promotion worth the loss of independence? One record label that strives to eschew this problem is Pitchfork Records. The independent label has seven artists signed so far, Read More…
Films on farms, fatalities and the French
The fifth annual Oakland Underground Film Festival brought local and international films to Bay Area audiences. From documentaries to shorts to full-length features, OakUFF demonstrated what it means to be truly underground in an age when that title is so loosely applied. The festival provided local beer from Drake’s Brewing Read More…
Arctic Monkeys are cool as ice at Fox Theater
With his hair combed into an immaculate Teddy-boy coif and his hip popped to one side, Alex Turner mesmerized Oakland’s indie rock fans last Thursday night during the last of the Arctic Monkeys’ back-to-back gigs at the Fox Theater. Band’s latest triumph, AM, centered around Turner’s verbal dexterity and compelling Read More…
Blackjack and shades of burgundy at Macy’s men’s fashion event
Crystal beaded curtains, psychedelic lights and thrumming electronic music filled the third floor of the Macy’s men’s store Thursday night in San Francisco. Read More…
Addy Bhasin’s Picks of the Week
Portland-based, homespun folk band Blitzen Trapper releases their seventh album (aptly titled VII) Tuesday. Fans of the Americana quintet can look forward to more country-creased sounds that this time around are tinged with a darker R&B vibe. Read More…
Bruce Beasley: internationally known lord of the rings
Walking to UC Berkeley from the Downtown Berkeley BART station, onlookers have noticed a peculiar development. A cluster of interlocking rings marks the campus’s westernmost entrance. And it’s crawling with kids. The creator, Bruce Beasley, could not be more delighted. The sculptor is a rock star in the art world. Read More…