The Crimson

The only student-run newspaper at Florida Tech.

You are here: Home / Archives for Arts

Arts

Gleason showcases local arts in celebration of 50 years

by Leave a Comment

Evan Olsen interviewing Salem Murphy at the showcase.
Crimson // Jesse Villaverde

At a school like Florida Tech where STEM is highly valued, the highlight of local arts and new technology within community made its debut at its own auditorium.

Gleason Performing Arts Center held their first arts showcase on Oct. 4 presenting an array of space-themed paintings and the display of their new lighting system and LED screens.

The showcase also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the auditorium, with about 86 attendees at the event.

William O’Steen, the general manager, and Jeffrey Richardson, the assistant manager, created this showcase to not only show their new direction for Gleason but also to display their new equipment and abilities.

“We wanted to find an opportunity to thank the campus and community for taking part in the upgrades and improvements we have made,” Richardson said. “It was our way of inviting everyone to a free and inclusive event where we could show some of the types of events our building can support.”

According to Richardson, this was their first event that focused on their own creativity, with an attempt on utilizing their own production knowledge.

The front lobby was decorated with giant paintings from local artists Christopher Maslow and Mark Gilliam, as well as having a
lighting control booth for guests to interact with featuring colored spotlights.

Big LED screens were hinged on the front wall, presenting advertisements and graphics from Florida Tech College Players and Florida Tech Video Productions.

Before the main event, a special VIP event was held on stage for donors and the school’s administration to meet with Gleason staff and the keynote speaker, Salem Murphy.

Paintings of a galaxy cluster and a rocket were displayed at the showcase. Crimson // Jesse Villaverde.

The showcase opened up with Anja and The Band, an alternative/pop/rock group, for the first thirty minutes.

The performance was then followed by the keynote speaker, Salem Murphy, an actress and producer known for her role as the principal in season one of “Stranger Things,” as well as “Abe” and “Reckless.”

Murphy graduated from Florida Tech in 1986 in business and finance and was invited through the Office of Development for the showcase.

“I was honored to be part of the showcase,” Murphy said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to see all the ways in which Florida Tech has thrived throughout the years.”

Evan Olsen, assistant director of dining services, presented Murphy as the keynote speaker and interviewed her on stage.

“It was a great experience for me as an MC,” Olsen said. “It was my first time being a formal speaker outside of my dining services circle.”

Murphy explained her experience at Florida Tech, her personal growth and her journey in becoming an actress in the industry.

“Just to see how many wonderful things are happening here at Florida Tech is pretty cool,” Murphy said.

Olsen said that he would like Gleason to have more events like these geared towards the student body.

“After this event, I’d say there is an opportunity in doing showcase events of various talents, such as comedians and bands,” Olsen said. “Even though it’s utilized more for formal events, I would like the students to get more involved with Gleason.”

Richardson heard this type of feedback from the audience and is looking into making this showcase a recurring event.

“Much of the new equipment we use in our building is shown frequently at events around campus,” Richardson said. “We make every event we support on campus a way that we can show off some of the new creative equipment that we desire.”

Nerd News: The prodigal spider returns

by 2 Comments

On Aug. 20 it was announced that Spider-Man would be leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe and would return to being fully produced by Sony Pictures, this is when the nightmare started.

After a month of despair, on Sept. 28, I woke up from what felt like a bad dream.

The reenactment of the web-slinging war for the franchise.

Variety has reported that Spider-Man will remain in the MCU for at least his next solo film, being released on July 16, 2021, and a future marvel film.

For a brief history lesson, Spider-Man is owned by Sony (another history lesson for another day).

In 2015, Disney and Sony came to an agreement for Spider-Man to join the MCU in a co-producer partnership between the two companies.

Spider-Man would be featured in three team-up MCU movies and two solo films that would be creatively lead by Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige (In Feige We Trust).

Sony would monetarily produce the Spider-Man movies, and Disney would receive a modest five percent of first-dollar gross, as well as all merchandising revenue.

After three spectacular years of Spider-Man swinging around with the likes of Iron Man and Captain America, the initial deal between the two juggernaut companies was over and despite universal optimism, the deal seemed to be over, leaving thousands of MCU and Spider-Man fans alike distraught and heartbroken.

During negotiations for a new deal between Disney and Sony, it was reported initially by the Hollywood Reporter that Disney wanted more compensation for their work done in the solo Spider-Man films.

The initial reports stated that Disney wanted to split the cost and revenue 50/50 with Sony and that’s where talks stalled out.

Now I have a few thoughts on this dispute and what it felt like as a fan. It felt like complete garbage.

It always hurts when you get drastically reminded that money is everything and creativity and pleasing the paying fans is just an afterthought.

Spoiler warning ahead for Spider-Man: Far From Home and Avengers Endgame.

During this “nightmare” period I kept questioning everything thinking “Why would they set Spider-Man up to be the next Iron Man if they knew there was even a possibility that he could leave after the deal expired?”

It just made no sense that Feige and Marvel Studios would make him such an intricate part of the future of the MCU if there was even the slightest possibility of them losing him in the blink of an eye.

Obviously now that a deal has been made I can out those questions to rest.

I like to think that the incredible backlash from fans and even MCU actors like Jeremy Renner had a part in them finally striking a second deal.

This second deal is fundamentally different in structure and length. The new deal is just for two movies, as I previously mentioned, and this time Disney will receive 25 percent of the revenue, contribute roughly a quarter of the finances and keep their merchandising rights.

So who cracked? From this report, it seems like Disney did to some extent. Going to 50 percent to 25 percent is a difference of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Disney had every right to ask for significantly more compensation and financial stock in the character.

Spider-Man: Far From Home was the highest-grossing film in Sony Pictures history, raking in $1.1 billion worldwide.

This success, one could argue, is in large part because of Spider-Man’s integration into the MCU and making him more relevant than ever.

Disney knew that and wanted more.

Sony knew that and wanted Feige and the MCU. Nerdtastic rant time.

I can’t express how happy I was to hear that Tom Holland and SpiderMan wouldn’t be leaving the MCU.

I no longer have to curse the name of Sony and Disney, pretend like I’m interested in a Venom sequel or a Morbius film, want to cry thinking about how good the MCU could have been if he stayed or act as if the MCU would be fine going forward. All that is put to rest, and just as Tony Stark, I can rest now.

But not actually because this is only a two-movie deal and Feige when talking on the new deal said, “[Spider-Man] also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes, so as Sony continues to develop their own Spidey-verse you never know what surprises the future might hold.”

Could this new deal take a page of the Spider-Woman (Gwen Stacy) comics where her home universe is Earth-65 but she goes to Earth-616 to fight along with the likes of Peter Parker and Miles Morales frequently?

In this case, the MCU could be Spider-Man’s version of Earth-65 and a Sony “Spidey-verse” featuring Venom would be like Earth-616.

Are you seriously still reading this sweating piece of nerd juice?

Anyway, this is a time to celebrate, Spidey is back where he belongs (for now) and all is right with the world.

SOSA takes part in Orlando climate strike

by Leave a Comment

Protesters hold signs about climate change outside Orlando city hall.
Photo by Florida Tech SOSA.

This past week millions of people participated in the global climate strike.

A small fraction of those striking were Florida Tech students, demanding a change to protect and preserve the planet.

Nearly two weeks ago, Florida Tech’s Student Organization for Sustainability Action sent four of its chapter members to Orlando to attend a Friday’s For Future climate strike outside city hall.

“The energy was amazing, and seeing 200 people plus unite for a cause that they are equally, if not more, passionate about than I am was an unforgettable experience,” said Taylor Greene, SOSA president.

The Friday’s For Future is a movement started by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, which so far has activated weekly student strikes in 150 countries.

Participating Orlando organizations and activist groups included IDEAS for Us, the Sunrise Movement Orlando, Fridays For Future USA and Fleet Farming.

These groups encouraged participants to wear green and raise their recyclable homemade signage high in the sky, reflecting the climate action they would like to see in Florida.

Guest speakers included Florida democratic state representative Anna Eskamani as well as others raising awareness for climate change.

“One of the things that resonated the most with me was when I heard Anna Eskamani preach that she didn’t run for office to talk about what was impossible, rather to fight for what is possible,” Greene said. “That was something that really spoke to me and demonstrated that there are people out there trying to do good.”

Tagging along with Greene were fellow SOSA members Jack Weaver and Jeffrey King, both of whom are juniors majoring in ocean engineering and minoring in sustainability.

Both students described attending the strike as “being a part of history and fighting for something our generation believes in.”

“I think some people believe that climate change doesn’t affect us,” Weaver said. “But people are dying as a result all around the world.”

According to Weaver, climate change goes beyond affecting the animals, it has repercussions on a human level that the majority of society should care about.

While Florida Tech’s SOSA chapter and other environmentally conscious activists rallied in Orlando, the scene in New York City was amplified.

World leaders, corporate executives and activists gathered at the United Nations Climate Action Summit.

A collaborative effort was made to turn promises into reality in hopes of global warming and rising CO2 emissions.

Topics such as the benefits and use of renewable energies were debated as well as setting a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet, I’m one of the lucky ones,” Thunberg stated as she addressed presidents, prime ministers, and other diplomats. “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing.”

While there has been tremendous outrage and protests globally with frustration for the destruction of ecosystems, there has also been distress and efforts on a more local note.

For example, the same day as the strike in Orlando, there was also a rally and march held that night at the Eau Gallie Causeway hosted by young Brevard teens.

When she wasn’t marching along side community members with decorated signs covered from head to toe in green attire, Florida Tech senior and marine biology major Erin Casellas was trying to get signatures for the Florida Climate Pledge.

Casellas works as a campus ambassador for CLEO Institute, a Miami based non-profit that strives to educate and promote climate action.

By obtaining signatures Casellas was gaining support from those who want to protect Florida’s biodiversity.

“I think that a lot of people see how beautiful a place like Melbourne is, and we have these amazing ecosystems, but people don’t understand how fragile they are,” said Casellas when asked why some may not believe in climate change.

After a week full of awareness for the environment, the invaluable resources it provides us and the necessary action society needs to take for future generations, SOSA wanted to close their week of insightful environmental mandates and motives to “stand for what we stand on” with a tree planting ceremony on the Crawford Green.

Students planting the Gumbo Limbo tree in front of Crawford. Photo by Francesco Isaza.

A Florida Gumbo Limbo Tree, also known as the iconic south Florida tree, which is expected to grow up to 60-feet tall, was planted in a ceremonial atmosphere.

“Today, Friday, September 27, 2019, we set the roots for a better future,” Greene said as she introduced her final words of wisdom.

Perhaps the most simple and powerful statement came from a sustainability professor and faculty advisor for SOSA, Ken Lindeman left students with this lasting remark: “You got to come back and look at this tree in 10 years, this thing is going to be epic.”

A Casual Review – REMNANT: FROM THE ASHES: Souls-like with a unique twist of flavor

by Leave a Comment

Official game poster by Gunfire Games.

“Remnant: From the Ashes” is a game that focuses on being fun and engaging instead of making everything complicated and irrelevant.

Developed by Gunfire Games, the studio that is best known for its Darksider franchise, “Remnant” is a third-person shooter action game which takes place in the post-apocalyptic Earth.

It is also categorized as a “Souls-like” game by many players and reviewers, meaning it features similar mechanics to FromSoftware’s Souls series, notably the Dark Souls trilogy.

These games are known for their limited check points, dark settings, hidden stories and challenging difficulty.

While “Remnant” certainly took inspiration from the Souls series, it is still very different from most games that fall within the same category.

The player begins on ruined Earth, progressing to three other worlds as they navigate the game.

Each world has its own unique environment and enemies, which makes it very interesting to explore.

Gameplay wise, “Remnant” feels like most third-person shooter games, and the player also gets to use a melee weapon if they prefer.

However, most parts of the game play revolve around shooting.

The world of “Remnant” is procedurally generated when the player starts a new game, so each player’s world can be a little different from one another.

This also means that the players may face different bosses and get different rewards every run.

The difficulty of the game is not too challenging, but hard enough to make it feel exciting and action packed.

There are roughly 120 different enemy types in the game; each have their own strengths and weaknesses, making it important for the player to learn and remember the enemies’ patterns.

Another element that made “Remnant” a thrilling game is its three player co-op.

While it may be entertaining to play a game alone, it gets even better when there are two friends around.

Not only do the players get to progress faster with rewards and loot, but the rewards and loot are also shared among the players and are carried forward to each player’s own game.

In addition, the game adjusts the difficulty level by the number of players in the game, so it will never feel too hard or too easy during a co-op session.

While the game is not that impressive on a technical level, it has a lot of character building customization choices and replay value.

The multiplayer element of the game also works well, which reinforced its replayability.

An Experiment in Metal: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard ’s Infest the Rats’ Nest Album Review

by 1 Comment

Sonja Michaels | Staff Writer

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard performing at Brookyln Steel. Photo by Andrew Blackstein.

Australian rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard released their fifteenth studio album, “Infest the Rats’ Nest,” on Aug. 16 as an experimental look back upon old school metal and psychedelic rock.

The album’s style is pleasantly cluttered.

There is a lot going on in the sound space, and not a single instrument is left unattended to.

Effects are used tastefully to create a balance of clarity and distortion.

Some of the more refined sounds call back to psychedelic rock, adding a trippy flair to familiar metal roots.

Official album art by ATO.

Powerful bass lines from Joey Walker blend with full, thrash-inspired guitars, driven by consistent all-out drumming from Michael Cavanagh.

The second track, “Mars For The Rich,” is a standout.

For four and a half minutes, it is impossible not to at least nod along to the groove, and the last minute or so of the track is likely to get you drumming on the nearest surface.

Though the album is categorized as metal on iTunes and other music platforms, there are many genres providing influence.

While metal fans will undoubtedly enjoy thrashing guitar tracks and frontman Stu Mackenzie’s gritty vocals, there are experimental elements at play that could certainly draw in fans of psychedelic rock, punk, surf rock and experimental music as a whole.

Each guitar track calls back to metal bands like Motörhead and Black Sabbath, with guitar credited to Mackenzie, Walker and Cook Craig in the album notes.

The metal mentality of this album shines through on tracks like “Organ Farmer” and “Perihelion,” that sound is contrasted by the slower pace of “Superbug.”

This lengthy track provides a rest in the middle of the album; there are frequent instrumental breaks, with an outstanding one coming in at 2:20.

“Superbug” is a perfectly timed change of pace from fast-paced vocals and driving instrumentals, readying the listener’s palette to dive right back into five more tight tracks.

It is followed up with “Venusian 1,” a heavy metal blitz with a quick enough pace and feeling to give any ‘70s punk track a run for its money.

“Perihelion” feels like a natural continuation from “Venusian 1.” Its intro might lead you to believe that the song is not going to impress, but it is saved by some interesting backing vocals that come in right in time to save the song and push things forward into the closing tracks.

“Infest the Rats’ Nest” serves as a tribute to the metal of yesteryear, but with crystal clear production and experimental influences from a range of genres.

The music refuses to pull at your emotions or sympathize with you at all, but that is not its purpose; it is an energetic, down-and-dirty collection ready for you to lock your door, pile on your darkest makeup or most studded clothing and rock out for a little over 34 minutes.