Wednesday, April 22

Academic discussion turns intense in play’s portrayal of contemporary race relations

A traditional office hours discussion will escalate into an impassioned debate on the fundamentals of American society Tuesday. “The Niceties,” a play running through May 12 at the Geffen Playhouse, showcases this debate to illustrate the reverberations of racial injustice. Read more...

Photo: Jordan Boatman portrays Zoe in “The Niceties,” which runs at the Geffen Playhouse until May 12. Her character seeks advice from her professor, and the two disagree on her thesis, laying the framework for a much larger conversation about racial demographics and discrimination on both college campuses and society at large. (Courtesy of T. Charles Erickson)


Architects to speak on winning design of Taiwan Pop Music Center, creative process

Reiser+Umemoto, or RUR Architecture DPC, won an architecture design contest by including bridges in their plans for a music center. Jesse Reiser and Nanako Umemoto of RUR Architecture will hold a lecture in Perloff Hall on Wednesday discussing their two current architectural projects in Taiwan and teaching students about the process of creating architectural theory. Read more...

Photo: The Taipei Pop Music Center includes structures typical to architectural style in Taiwan, such as bridges and open plaza spaces below them. The plaza can also be converted to act as an outdoor concert venue at night. (Courtesy of Reiser+Umemoto)


Second Take: Recent wave of nostalgia-based marketing is compelling, but may be unsustainable

America’s burnin’ up with nostalgia. But all fevers have to break. In March, the Jonas Brothers made a move that possibly changed the course of American society by dropping “Sucker” – their first song since the band’s historic split in 2013. Read more...

Photo: The Jonas Brothers – comprised of Nick, Joe and Kevin – were well known Disney Channel singers before their split in 2013. But six years later, the trio reunited with the release of their single “Sucker.” (Creative Commons photo by Christopher Simon, via Wikipedia Commons)


Professor creates organization encouraging students of all majors to explore poetry

Every member of the UCLA community should read or hear a poem sometime between this April and June, said English adjunct assistant professor Reed Wilson. UCLApoem – Wilson’s brainchild – is a new student-run organization that will organize several poetry readings and events during spring quarter, with the goal of directing an annual UCLAPoetry Festival every spring quarter. Read more...

Photo: English professor Reed Wilson conceived UCLApoem, a student-run organization that aims to foster an appreciation of poetry across students of all academic backgrounds. UCLApoem will host multiple poetry readings and events throughout spring quarter, encouraging students no matter their prior experience with the subject. (Niveda Tennety/Daily Bruin)


Student-made film shines a light on escapism and its consequences

Peter Yang wants to give students food for thought about escapism in his film “Strange Fodder.” The fourth-year biochemistry student’s film project stars fourth-year sociology student Daniel Vallejo, who mentally enters a series of new realities after experiencing an unspecified traumatic event. Read more...

Photo: Fourth-year biochemistry student Peter Yang directed “Strange Fodder,” a film that is currently in pre-production. The film deals with escapism, following a protagonist who enters multiple realities after suffering a traumatic experience. (Courtesy of Peter Yang)


Documentary works to destigmatize mental health in Asian-American community

The model minority mindset establishes a certain demographic as more successful than others, said Wendy Wang. However, those labeled as such – like Asian-Americans – often find it difficult to discuss, she said. Read more...

Photo: UCLA students interned at the “Things I Never Said” project, which centers around opening a discussion about stigmas surrounding mental health in Asian-American communities. Director Wendy Wang said the need to create further education on this topic partially stems from the model minority myth. (Courtesy of Wendy Wang)


Concert review: Vulnerability takes center stage in Quinn XCII’s engaging, humanizing performance

Quinn XCII led fans to “Another Day in Paradise” at The Wiltern. The Saturday show was part of the electric pop musician’s “From Tour with Love” tour, titled after his second album, “From Michigan with Love,” which celebrates individualism and nostalgia. Read more...

Photo: Electric pop star Quinn XCII performed Saturday at The Wiltern for his “From Tour with Love” tour. His show provided a reflective space for audiences to feel vulnerable and recognize that they are not alone in facing mental health issues, along with other hurdles life presents. (Paigue Hua/Daily Bruin)