Monday, May 12, 2008

El Greco, Velazquez, Ribalta drop jaws with detail

By John Ternovski, The Dartmouth Staff

“El Greco” means “The Greek” in Spanish, in case you didn’t know. The artist has come to be known by his Spanish designation — and largely for the work he completed in Spain — but he was born in Crete in 1541 as Domenicos Theotokopoulos. While wandering the galleries of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston’s “El Greco to Velazquez: Art During the Reign of Philip III,” I overheard a middle-aged woman sagely explain that she did some research beforehand and discovered that El Greco “was actually a Greek.” Her companions murmured in astonishment. More »

Summer blockbusters beat the heat

By A.J. Fox, The Dartmouth Senior Staff

Over the next few months, throngs of excitable young people will seek refuge from global warming inside the air-conditioned womb of the multiplex, where they will be treated to that particular brand of sensory assault known as “the summer movie.” Every summer, Hollywood lets loose a thundering stampede of enormous films, full of the hottest stars, the coolest special effects and the probable absence of little extras like plot. It’s rampant commercialism elevated to the level of delirious pop, and I mean that as a compliment. More »