Lulu H. Kirk
Latest Articles
Gibson Anything but 'Peripheral'
When Flynne Fisher—the protagonist of William Gibson’s new novel “The Peripheral”—agrees to cover for her brother Burton at his new job, she is under the impression that she is simply beta-testing a new video game. The reality is much more complicated.
Hear Me Out: Kendrick Lamar, 'i'
Although the intro proclaims that Kendrick is “not a rapper, he's a writer, he's an author,” the song doesn’t demonstrate Kendrick’s narrative prowess to the extent of his past work. It does, however, evidence Kendrick’s versatility.
Hear Me Out: Childish Gambino, "Sober"
Childish Gambino’s new single may be labeled as a rough cut, but “Sober” may actually be one of his smoothest tunes to date.
How Harvard Teaches Artists (Or Doesn't)
The College continues to increase the presence of the arts in its curriculum—including offering course credit for extracurricular arts organizations this year—but students and graduates worry that Harvard as an institution does not fully prepare them to pursue a career in creativity.
Study Reveals Early Malnutrition Affects Personality Formation
In a new study published last March in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Harvard researchers reveal that even a single incident of malnutrition in early childhood can have a profound effect on an individual’s adult personality. Individuals who had suffered from severe starvation as infants tended to be more neurotic and less adventurous, sociable, curious, and organized as adults.
Harvard.xxx: Bad for the Brand
Imagine trying to drunkenly access Harvard University's homepage after a long night of debauchery, only to find yourself staring instead at the homepage of an Ivy League-themed porn site, accessed via harvard.xxx. Keep dreaming—that internet fantasy won't be happening anytime soon.
A Whole "Host" of Problems
Much like the proverbial crow or magpie, Stephenie Meyer seems to be attracted to shiny things: the glittering vampires of “Twilight,” for example, or the shimmering parasitic aliens from “The Host.” Andrew Niccol’s film adaptation is visually stunning, but with its underdeveloped characters, awkward flashbacks, and voice-overs, it has little else to offer.
"Wonderstone" Falls Far from Incredible
“The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” has a strong enough beginning and ending that almost—but not quite—allow its audience to overlook the flat and hackneyed jokes that pepper the mediocre middle portion of the film.
Bowie Makes A Stunning, Unheroic Return
In his newest album, Bowie stays close to his artistic roots but does not simply imitate his past work, providing an engaging album that can stand both on its own and proudly alongside his previous albums. There is some faint hope that “The Next Day” will be not a conclusion but, rather the beginning of a new era.
Portrait of an Artist: Xanthe Gresham
Xanthe Gresham, a storyteller from the U.K. who has travelled the world spinning tales of goddesses and ancient myths, will be holding a storytelling workshop tomorrow (March 6) at Arts @ 29 Garden. She will also be performing selections from Persian Epic "The Shahnama" today (March 5) at the Sackler Museum.