Friday, February 20

UCLA directing student plays with convention in Russian tragicomedy

A description from a Chinese poem helped inspire Charles S.C. Jin’s production of a classic Russian play. The story of a man drinking with the company of the moon and his shadow, evoking loneliness through just three images, influenced how his play could convey universal emotions through simple forms. Read more...

Photo: Charles S.C. Jin, a graduate directing student is directing a production of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” which will run from Friday through Tuesday at UCLA’s Little Theater. (Quanzhao “Ari” He/Daily Bruin)


Professor uses eco-fiction to highlight real ecological conditions

Johanna Drucker said a dream about squirrels feverishly knitting with pine needles and rats fashioning disco outfits inspired her newly released novel. Drucker, the Breslauer Professor of Bibliographical Studies in the department of information studies, released her latest novel “Downdrift” on Tuesday and will participate in the “Exploring the Eco-fiction Genre in Writing” panel discussion for the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series on April 26. Read more...

Photo: Professor Johanna Drucker released her new novel, “Downdrift,” on Tuesday. “Downdrift” chronicles the changes animals may have to experience to adapt to a shifting environment, causing them to take on more human qualities such as feelings of shame and jealousy. (Courtesy of Johanna Drucker)



Graduate student explores relationship between medium, artistic merit

Kit Kirby faced a dilemma while opening her own solo exhibition: She is uncomfortable with gallery spaces. The graduate student in design media arts said she thinks some people see art galleries as a way to sell artwork, which is a misconception since most pieces are already owned by a museum or art collector. Read more...

Photo: Kit Kirby, a graduate student in design media arts, is opening her solo exhibition titled “Art Troll.” “Art Troll,” which will take place Tuesday through Thursday at the Broad Art Center’s Graduate Gallery will feature both visual and performance art pieces. Kirby said she purposefully selected materials not typically found in galleries in an effort to change the way the public views fine art. (Farida Saleh/Daily Bruin)


Bookmarked: Dark Delicacies features limited selection, relies on cheap thrills

Los Angeles is home to a multitude of specialized bookstores, from those oriented towards horror and mysteries to others with more practical focuses, like cookbooks. Follow columnist Clea Wurster as she explores the many niche literary interests the city accommodates. Read more...

Photo: Daily Bruin columnist Clea Wurster visited the horror bookshop Dark Delicacies in this week’s edition of “Boomarked.” (Niveda Tennety/Daily Bruin)


HOOLIGAN’s “Sister Act” changes up show’s musical, design conventions

Erin Harris will trade a sequined dancing dress for a nun’s habit in HOOLIGAN Theatre Company’s production of “Sister Act.” Harris, a fourth-year economics student, plays Deloris Van Cartier, a nightclub dancer who is forced to abandon her love for performing and embrace life as a nun after witnessing her gangster boyfriend commit murder. Read more...

Photo: Erin Harris, a fourth-year economics student, will play Deloris Van Cartier in the Hooligan Theater Company’s upcoming production of “Sister Act.” Her character is a nightclub dancer who is forced into a nunnery after witnessing her gangster boyfriend commit murder. (Photo: Bilal Ismail Ahmed/Daily Bruin senior staff, Illustration: Hannah Burnett/Assistant photo editor)


Student creates alter ego to narrate personal meditations in poetic artwork

Cale Schoenberg expresses his life story through his alter ego, a charismatic yet troubled young man named Padawan. Schoenberg, a fourth-year philosophy student, developed the character who he said he used to created his written and visual art project called “Padwon.” In speaking about the project, Schoenberg refers to it as Padawan’s creation, although the experiences and artistic choices are actually his own. Read more...

Photo: Fourth-year philosophy student Cale Schoenberg created a hand-written, visual art piece titled “Padwon.” Schoenberg refers to the piece as the work of a fictional character named Padawan. The piece consists of 16 poems, which are all nailed to a wooden board in the shape of a human. The poems are also broken up into three sections titled “Here,” “Heaven” and “Hell,” which reflect the complexities of Padawan’s personality. (Joe Akira/Daily Bruin)