The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 8

September 29, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 7 Arts & Entertainment OFFSHORE CALENDAR Gus Dapperton’s latest singles Bachata Tuesday ONLINE Sept. 29 | 11:00 p.m. Visit website to learn more Flaky Scones & Biscuits Made Easy Sept. 29 | 7:30 p.m. RSVP Online Chaunte Wayans: Live Stand- Up Comedy Sept. 30 | 9:00 p.m. RSVP Online StoryStudio Writers Festival 2020 Oct. 1 | 9:00 a.m. RSVP Online P&P Live! Misty Copeland’s “Bunheads” with Jocelyn Noveck Oct. 2 | 6:00 p.m. RSVP Online Nature Drawing Intensive Oct. 3 | Noon RSVP Online Online Baking Workshop: Caramel Apple Pie From Scratch! Oct. 4 | 1:30 p.m. RSVP Online Make Your Own Terrarium Oct. 4 | 2:00 p.m. RSVP Online Intro to Improv: You Are a Storyteller Oct. 5 | 8:30 p.m. RSVP Online I became a casual fan of Gus Dapperton a few months ago when I started listening to more dream and bedroom pop music. He’s a unique artist in the genre with an interesting vocal tone and a tendency to lean towards ambient, electronic production. His 2019 album “Where Polly People Go to Read” is a fuzzy listen that contains some great songs — most notably “My Favorite Fish,” “Fill Me Up Anthem” and “Nomadicon.” I thoroughly enjoyed his style, but the majority of his songs, I end up forgetting about. I’m happy I didn’t end up writing him off, though. His latest songs are anything but forgettable. In April, Gus Dapperton released “First Aid,” the first taste of his upcoming album “Orca,” which was released Sept. 18. When I first heard it, it was immediately my favorite song by him. It’s a gorgeous, somber track that’s very unlike Gus Dapperton’s previous releases. I could hear him going in a more emotional direction and it sounded great on him. The next single, “Post Humourous,” did not disappoint either. Quite the contrary; it topped “First Aid” for me after the first listen, which was no easy feat. Similarly to “First Aid,” it’s a beautiful song with sad undertones. It starts off in a dejected tone, but quickly picks up with the help of a happy, twinkling guitar. Its nostalgic, euphoric chorus is probably the best his discography has to offer. Dapperton also released “Medicine,” a journey of a song, which contains a dramatic crescendo as it approaches the final chorus. It is an attention-grabbing, personal and well-written chorus. I flip flop between this song and “Post Humourous” in regards to which I like more, but they’re both so excellent that it doesn’t really matter. I will say “Post Humourous” is more of a casual listen while “Medicine” will pull at your heartstrings with no mercy. Earlier this month, Dapperton dropped “Bluebird,” the last single before the release of his full album. Somehow, it’s also a smashing listen. It’s the most relaxed, smile-inducing single of the bunch. It’s definitely a song you can play at any time during any mood and vibe out. I will say that the lyrics are a tad difficult to discern, but it isn’t too much of a bother. I love all four of his latest releases more than I ever thought I would. If they’re an accurate representation of “Orca,” you shouldn’t miss out on this album. Be sure to check it out wherever you stream music. PHOTO OBTAINED FROM GUS DAPPERTON Dapperton’s newsest single “Orca” By: Nicole Shaker Contributing Writer Freaky features: Anti-horror & parodies By: Nyla Whyte Contributing Writer With the spooky season fast approaching, we’re all slowly getting into the spirit. What a better way to set the tone for your Halloween than with a good scare -- through your screen, that is. Horror films often get a bad rap, as some people simply don’t see the appeal of choosing to be scared. However, there are many horror flicks that go beyond gashes and gore -- you just have to know where to look. There’saveryinterestingsubsetofhorror movies that present themselves as traditional horrors, but are actually active commentaries on the genre. These are known as anti-horror horror films. They often go hand in hand with parody horror movies, which take advantage of the easy link between horror and comedy. If you want some laughter in your slasher or a closer look at the mechanics of a horror film, check out these movie suggestions for your spooky season. Cabin in the Woods (2011) This movie is one of the best recent examples of an anti-horror horror film. The movie follows its main characters, who each represent a classic horror movie character trope. Scientists in a lab are secretly orchestrating their every move to manufacture the perfect horror story for the sake of appeasing their angry “gods.” This film is smart, layered and a definite must- see. You can find it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution! These ‘gods’ are revealed to be stand-ins for movie audiences who are often critical of horror films that don’t meet their exact expectations. Scream (1996-2022) This hit movie is another film that balances elements of true horror and horror commentary. The killers bring up more than once how their strategic killings play out so perfectly that they’d make a great horror movie. They even go so far as to suggest that they might go on another tirade one day because, in the words of the character Stu Macher, “Let’s face it baby, these days you gotta have a sequel.” The “Scream” movies exaggerate self awareness, making the films really engaging for viewers. The “Scream” series also recently announced it would be releasing a new film, “Scream 5” in 2022. This spooky season would be a great time to get caught up and get excited for the new releases. “Scream” is available on Amazon Prime Video and for free on Tubi. The Scary Movie Series (2000-2013) This series parodies many of the major staples of the horror genre. These films don’t take themselves as seriously as their blockbusting counterparts, and since most of the gorey scenes are played for laughs, they are a great choice for those looking for a less intense horror experience. These movies are available across multiple platforms including Tubi, Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. A Haunted House (2013) This movie is packed with references and comedic jabs at iconic horror flicks. It regularly mimics the found footage horror trope and adds a laugh factor to what would be ordinary jumpscare shots. The characters and their dramatic attempts at resolving their supernatural issues are hysterical. You can watch “AHaunted House” on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. It’s also worth noting that there’s often unintentional humor in horror movies. Whether it be low quality special effects, unconvincing acting or characters making ridiculous decisions, for better or for worse, comedy and horror go hand in hand in these films. These concepts come up quite often in animal or monster based films. If you’re into more goofy horror movies, be sure to check out movies like “Sharknado,” “Lavalantula”, and my personal favorite, “Lake Placid” on the Syfy channel. PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY F. SHABAN Watch the Cabin in the Woods on 4k Ultra HD for the ultimate freaky feature experience