Culture

'Thor: Ragnarok' is a zany, hilarious joyride

Early in "Thor: Ragnarok," the third film entry of the Norse god's solo adventures, Loki (disguised as Odin) is watching a play featuring fake Thor, Loki and Odin. It's an exact recreation of Loki's fake death scene in "Thor: The Dark World," rendered hilarious here by surprising celebrity cameos. Director Taika Waititi is sending a clear message: this is not like the underwhelming, super-serious movies that came before. In fact, it's exactly the opposite.

'Murder on the Orient Express' goes off track

"Murder on the Orient Express" is dated, in a sense that goes beyond its 1934 setting and director/star Kenneth Branagh's exaggerated facial hair.

'Mindhunter' goes inside the minds of the damned

What is evil? Like any philosophical argument, the question of what evil is, how it manifests itself and how it is best dealt with can descend quickly into abstraction. That said, no matter your views on good and evil, it can be objectively agreed upon that within the darkest corners of our society there exist men and women who personify the concept. Men like Adolf Hitler confound us with their propensity for committing evil. ISIS, the North Korean government and white nationalist terrorists are boogeymen haunting the newsrooms of CNN and MSNBC.

Taylor Swift reclaims her 'Reputation'

Last Friday, the world stood still for Taylor Swift fans as she released her highly anticipated album "Reputation." Upon first listening to the album, it's clear that "Reputation" is a vengeful masterpiece and a vast difference from her earlier work on albums like "1989" and "Fearless." While her songs' subject matters haven't really changed, Swift finds ways to innovate her sound while remaining true to herself.

Literary throwback sparks nostalgia in students

Students gathered in the new wing of Armstrong Thursday to relive a part of their childhood. The conference room boasted tables full of craft materials and beloved 90s-kid book series, while the distinct soundtrack of Smash Mouth and "...Baby One More Time"-era Britney filled the air.

Humans of Oxford: Maeve Collins: Following Familiar Footsteps

Maeve Collins isn't the first. Every time she takes a step on campus, she knows her parents, cousins and uncles have taken the exact same walk as her.

A night of celebrating culture with okonomiyaki

Would-be studiers looked on in awe last Friday as the Armstrong Community Kitchen was taken over by a gaggle of motivated Miamians -- chopping cabbage, slicing shrimp and whisking batter in a flurry of culinary activity.

'Gathering Blue': A multi-layered mix of metaphors

The Center for Performing Arts' main stage has created the image of a dystopian society through stone scenery accented with bits of grass and a ripped canvas ceiling.

African Students Union hosts 'Taste of Africa'

McGuffey Hall became the setting for music, dancing and a feast of traditional African food this Saturday evening as the African Students Union hosted its annual Taste of Africa event. Held every year before Thanksgiving break, the event is meant to share African culture with the Miami community.

Redhawk Radio hosts second annual 'Cold Snap'

Four up-and-coming artists each climbed onto the tiny stage at Kofenya Friday night for RedHawk Radio's second annual "Cold Snap." These talents collided at the Uptown coffee staple to produce an eclectic atmosphere perfect for a night of artsy ballads.

Humans of Oxford: Joey Royer and Joseph Ivan: Playing the same tune

Freshmen Joey Royer and Joseph Ivan have more in common than their first names.

'The Wrong Crowd' hits the right chords

Pumpkin Palooza: A taste test of pumpkin spice treats and eats

It invades our lives every autumn. As a chill enters the air and the leaves turn vibrant red and golden brown, it creeps into our grocery stores, pops up unannounced in the most obscure aisles of our local Walmarts, inserts itself insidiously into every corner of society until it can't be escaped, no matter how hard one might try.

Stage Left's 'Cry-Baby: The Musical' will make you laugh until you cry

Miami's only on-campus student-run theatre organization, Stage Left, will be putting on its fall musical, "Cry-Baby," this weekend at the Wilks Theater in the Armstrong Student Center. With 21 cast members, this will be one of the largest musicals Stage Left has produced in its history, and the biggest production to go up in the Wilks Theater to date.

Indian Student Association prepares for Diwali show

On a weeknight when most students are studying, relaxing or hanging out with friends, members of the Indian Students Organization, or ISA, are devoting their time to dance practice. They spend hours perfecting their timing, coordination and dance moves in preparation for their annual Diwali show.

Humans of Oxford: The girl who let go

She takes down any pictures of him hanging on her dorm room wall and tucks them away in a neat pile where she can't find them.

Sprinkles: A not-so-sweet treat

When Lauren Martyn first met him, she thought he was too short. He didn't look like he could do anything special, and he wasn't particularly pretty either.

Wing-Eating contest for a cause

In the open space of Armstrong's East wing, Delta Tau Delta members had set up 12 tables with two plastic plates, two red solo cups and a small stack of napkins each. A table in the middle held the main feature of the event: two metal serving dishes full of hot wings.

Late night happenings in Insomnia Cookies

Just off the rainy Oxford streets, warm, inviting and smelling of freshly baked treats, is Insomnia Cookies. The jingle that plays each time the door opens mixes with the mellow tones of soft rock in the background, creating a welcoming environment for its night-owl patrons. For the employees, however, the scene isn't always as inviting.

Spooky Spaghetti

My best pasta combinations always start the same way: I'm in dire need of a grocery run. That's what happened when I opened my fridge and found half a package of bacon and a parsnip. But about 20 minutes later, twirling up a forkful of noodles, I discovered the serendipitous perfection of the mildly sweet parsnip, mixed with salty, savory bacon and an almost unreasonable amount of grated parmesan.