If you have ever stared at a piece of art and wondered what exactly was going on, the exhibit Telling Stories, Secret Lives that officially opened at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre on Jan. 21 may be the very thing to help break down the barriers between artistic expression and audience understanding.

Usually, when you hear that a band is from Eastern Canada, thoughts of folk music, fiddles and Great Big Sea come to mind. But this isn’t the case for In-Flight Safety, a rising band which has more in common with Coldplay than Ashley MacIsaac.

Overall, I find the art in this exhibit to be based on the pastimes and pursuits of the stereotypical American male, which—when lent to the great state of Michigan as symbols—fall short of doing justice to both the state and the men alike.

What do fortune cookies, yellow shoes and female bowel movements have in common? Though seemingly dissimilar, all were featured in this year’s fourth annual Focus Film Festival. The theatre was nearly packed on Saturday night, even though the screening had been moved to the BioSciences Complex from its previous location, Etherington Auditorium, in order to provide more seating.

Just what in the hell has Tom Green been up to lately, anyway? His show’s no longer on loop on MTV, traumatizing viewers with nonsensical escapades like the cult-skit “The Canterbury Tales.”

New to the Queen’s community is a publication entitled Syndicus. Unlike other magazines and periodicals, Syndicus strives to unite the abilities of the arts and sciences in an exploration of social issues pertinent to all university students.

It all started when artist Cheryl-Ann Webster heard her 13-year-old daughter discuss her “saving box.” When asked what she was saving up for, she daughter calmly replied that her and her friends were all saving up for breast implants.

Leslie Feist is more than just a pretty voice.

It is no secret that reality television has become one of the lowest forms of entertainment on an already disrespected medium.
It is a genre defined by D-list celebrities and members of the public humiliating themselves on national broadcasts for cash prizes. But despite being intellectually despicable, it can also be inexplicably addictive.

CBS certainly does not monkey around with its programming.
Queen’s University alum Tom Cavanagh (Ed) is starring in the network’s new show Love Monkey, premiering Jan. 17 at 10 p.m. The dramedy, based on Kyle Smith’s novel of the same title, revolves around 30-something single record executive Tom Farrell (Cavanagh) as he attempts to cope with a demanding job and finding love in New York City, aided by a diverse group of close friends. Along for the ride is fellow Canadian Jason Priestley (Beverly Hills, 90210) and Judy Greer (Elizabethtown).

Live music is easy to come by in Kingston—thanks in part to the considerably-sized student population—but it’s difficult to find a band like the Jack Kerouac Knapsack Band.
It’s rare to find a band whose performances feature a welcome combination of excellent music, stellar stage presence, and, of course, frat-boy humour, which was exactly what the Jack Kerouac Knapsack Band provided for the boisterously enthusiastic crowd at Clark Hall Pub on Friday night.

Though it may seem an unlikely move for a club best known for its popular “Hump Night” on Wednesdays, last Thursday night Elixir made another attempt to establish itself as a viable live music venue with the performance of Great Lake Swimmers and Kingston local Stephanie Leah Gora.

Warm up this term with local live entertainment.

Biographical movies rarely work, especially because it’s virtually impossible for any person’s life to be condensed into a two-hour narrative. So when filmmakers attempt to do this, the result is typically a limp drama that mythologizes the subject and gives actors an opportunity to milk their weak imitations of celebrities in pursuit of award statues. That is why it is a surprise that Capote is such an effective film.

Hitting the stands in November, Ultraviolet: 10.1, the fall 2005 edition of the periodical campus literary publication, served up its trademark fare in a compilation of student poems and short stories coupled with original artwork.

A typical Sunday night for the average Queen’s student might involve trolling around on Facebook, working at a part-time job, or even doing a little homework. But for Elena Juatco, ArtSci ’07, such relaxing times were put on hold when she stepped into the title role in Ross Petty’s production of Snow White and the Group of Seven.

Speaking with the Journal via telephone from the geography company where he works as a cartographer, the guitar player for Elliott Brood—the name of the band, not a solo artist—is “kind of bored,” friendly and chatty.

Anyone who likes their musicals with a healthy dose of jazz hands won’t be disappointed with QMT’s new production of Urinetown.