The Cavalier Daily
Serving the University Community Since 1890

Arts & Entertainment


A&E

Inside the mind of Thomas Struth

Last week, photographer Thomas Struth participated in a discussion with Assoc. Architecture Prof. Nana Last, who is is currently writing a book about Struth, and Art Prof. William Wylie.


A&E

“50 Shades of Grey,” uncountable shades of terrible

Forget the fact that “50 Shades of Grey” is an awful piece of filmmaking and that I almost left within the first ten minutes. Forget that its script is laughable, its actors’ chemistry unbearably dull, and that its supposed sexiness is about as sexy as an itchy wool turtleneck.


A&E

Surprise release from Drake delivers respectable results

Last Thursday, Drake pulled a Beyoncé, tweeting a link to a project entitled “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.” It arrived with no singles, no marketing campaign and minimal immediate fanfare. This isn’t to say the LP-cum-mixtape went under the radar – that’s been unthinkable for Drake for half a decade now – but it’s certainly a far cry from the Canadian artist’s past releases. The difference goes beyond release style, however.


A&E

Inside the U.Va Drama Department’s “Vodka Variations”

Visiting one of the final dress rehearsals for the “Vodka Variations,” one immediately gets the sense that a play of this size has not been performed in a while. A spiral walkway acting as the major set piece coils around Culbreth Theatre, with just enough space for a live string quartet to sit in the middle.


A&E

Zoso performs at The Jefferson, almost mistaken for a Led Zeppelin show

Led Zeppelin is easily one of the most iconic bands in the history of rock ‘n roll. Not only are all four members considered among the best musicians of all time, but they successfully combined their talents to create a unique style of blues-influenced hard rock Tribute band and perennial Jefferson Theater visitor Zoso, named after Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page’s identifying symbol, replicated the atmosphere of a 1970s Led Zeppelin show.


A&E

Main Street Annex’s wild pre-Valentine’s showcase

Set inside Main Street Annex’s cozy, blacklight-illuminated venue, “Unlucky in Love” combined the themes of Valentine’s Day and Friday the 13th to offer a unique showcase of four bands: Dude ‘n B----, Paul Waggener and the Howling Grimness, The Upper Deckers, and headliner Drunk Luke and the Broken Bottles. The show kicked off with Jenny Rhubright and David Lee Archer performing in an alternative country duo they refer to as Dude ‘n B----, accompanied by two musicians from the upcoming Howling Grimness band.


A&E

Fifty Shades of Disappointment

Despite an attempt to reflect the edginess promised to fans in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the movie’s media campaign fell short of producing an enticing soundtrack.


A&E

History comes alive in “Sons of Liberty”

The year is 1765 and American colonists are growing weary of British oppression — no one more so than the charismatic Samuel Adams (Ben Barnes). Adams incurs the wrath of the British for failing to pay his taxes and unwittingly encouraging the townspeople to destroy the governor’s house.


A&E

Relationships as told by Taylor Swift

It is commonly agreed that Italian and French are languages of love, but in today’s pop culture world, Taylor Swift crafts the most relatable love language. The best part of this pop star’s music is that her songs aren’t just about her former flames — they’re about all of us.


A&E

2015 Grammy Awards -- more talent, less flash

This year’s Grammys were, as always, filled with many shock value moments. From Iggy Azalea’s highly scrutinized braid, to Beyoncé’s ethereal performance, to Kanye West almost “pulling a Kanye,” the music award show was as much a reality spectacle as it was a ceremony. The 2015 Grammys have been under intense scrutiny since the announcement of the nominees.


Latest Video

Latest Podcast

With Election Day looming overhead, students are faced with questions about how and why this election, and their vote, matters. Ella Nelsen and Blake Boudreaux, presidents of University Democrats and College Republicans, respectively, and fourth-year College students, delve into the changes that student advocacy and political involvement are facing this election season.