Salman Rushdie’s book creates a unique spin on old tales


With midterms in full swing, and work and responsibility raining down on everyone’s heads, Salman Rushdie’s Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights provides some welcome magic and entertainment. This is the newest book by the controversial author, who has dealt with brutal critics. Rushdie has also been through a fatwa, an Islamic religious ruling, […]

Melbourne offers many parks to escape from busy city life


As I write this, it’s Sunday morning — homework day — and the temperature has finally hit 76 degrees. Spring has, at last, reached Australia. Outside, the weather is not only bearable, but even enjoyable. Studying cooped up in the library is unjustifiable. When the weather is this nice, a tree becomes the perfect arm […]

Barre classes challenge flexibility, muscle strength


Located Downtown in the Santa Fe Building on 6th Street and Main Street, The Main Barre has an immediate cool factor. The street was bustling with city sounds and nighttime energy when I arrived at the building for my 7:15 p.m. class. I was buzzed in the door and made my way to the elevator, […]

Melbourne offers a vibrant and eclectic music scene


Melbourne is not only a tour stop frequented by big names like Kendrick Lamar, Neil Diamond,  Sam Smith and Kanye West, but also a hub for  musical talent. Famous musicians, including Jet, Olivia Newton-John and The Temper Trap, have their roots in this city. Music plays a large role in Melbourne culture, particularly with the […]

Sicario defies female stereotypes in movies


When I first saw the movie posters for Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario plastered around Los Angeles, I found myself completely disinterested. At the foreground of the poster stands a stern Emily Blunt, arms raised, finger on the trigger of a gun. Behind her, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin are poised, ready for action, moving toward […]

Electronic dance music enhanced by many sub-genres


Generally in music, the word “genre” narrowly isolates styles of music into very distinct categories. Conversely, an interesting. yet under-recognized, aspect of EDM is that “electronic” is not really a holistic term for the genre. In fact, most EDM artists and producers would argue that their music fits into a plethora of different genres far […]

New suspense genre falsely reflects modern day women


A new genre of books has emerged in the last couple of years. The incredible and exponential success of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and, more recently, Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train has spawned a new category of thriller novels. These novels are all alike in one way: They feature leading female characters who are […]