“The subject matter that they're dealing with at this time, and for all four of these artists to be young Black artists and to be given a platform for them to speak to the kinds of things they're speaking to, I think is a really powerful thing,” Christopher Massenburg, CPA's program director, said.
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Eleven months after a cold message on LinkedIn, Jocelyn Quinn became a published author with her first book, "Off The Record."
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“I think that everybody is so obsessed with it because, one, there's so much drama behind the song and everybody loves drama,” senior Taylor Edmonds said. “And then two, it's a beautiful song. And three, people love hearing the sad deep emotional songs, especially if they can connect to it because of their own sad emotional experiences that they've gone through.”
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Marc Callahan, director of UNC Opera, said the group’s fall performance opened the door to the countless possibilities opera has to reach new audiences and experiment with different digital installations in the future.
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Food TikTok is known for continuously sparking viral crazes that anyone can try. From folded tortilla wraps to air fryers to whipped coffee, college students have mastered quick food hacks — proving good food can come from even the smallest of dorm rooms.
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Students predict that spring 2021 could be the year of puffer jackets, neutral colors and thrifted fashion.
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With the Ackland Art Museum reopening on Jan. 27, visitors will soon be able to see works in-person such as "holding space for nobility," a memorial to Breonna Taylor.
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Some student performance groups are set to resume in-person rehearsals this semester, such as Tar Heel Voices, University Bands and Blank Canvas Dance Company. They are all making sure to follow COVID-19 guidelines to ensure maximum safety of participants. Each group has a contingency plan in place should the University move to a fully remote format once again, including one that could prevent Blank Canvas from holding a livestreamed showcase.
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“Behind every sea shanty there's a story,” rising junior Maggie Helmke said. UNC students are sharing their thoughts on the newest TikTok trend, which has users sharing sea shanties.
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Alex Kresovich, a UNC doctoral student, observes the link between adolescents' perceptions of mental health topics in music. Kresovich believes popular artists can be powerful role models and spread mental health awareness.
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While Pixar's "Soul" gave lessons about the meaning and treasures of life, it also prompted polarizing dialogue about Black representation in the film and entertainment industry among viewers and critics.
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"Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical" hit small screens nationwide Jan. 1 after garnering vast popularity from what started as a TikTok trend. The musical’s star-studded cast spans from popular TikTok creators like JJ Neimann (@jjneimann) to high-profile stars like Tituss Burgess, a Broadway and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" alumnus who plays Remy, the “rat of all our dreams.” Almost cartoonish in nature, the musical’s filter-esque effects play into the silly and lighthearted nature of the whole digital affair.
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Students are decking the residence halls, off-campus houses and apartments this year after COVID-19 concerns and inflexible work schedules have prevented them from returning home for the holidays. Still, students are finding ways to keep their holiday cheer.
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The press release stated that "Black Nativity Durham" is a “soulful, gospel, celebration about the birth of Jesus Christ” that was originally written by Langston Hughes and adapted by Wendell Tabb, who also directs and co-produces the show, along with Xavier Cason.
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National Pawn, with 20 statewide locations over the past 33 years, recently donated over 100 musical instruments to Musical Empowerment, a Carrboro-based nonprofit. The organization is dedicated to creating equitable access to music education, pairing underserved children with collegiate mentors who volunteer weekly music lessons at no cost.
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The band features two members of the UNC community.
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With theater depending on in-person interaction, theater companies in 2020 had to be even more creative to make sure the show would go on virtually. Each group produced performances a little differently. Some were on Zoom, others on Skype, some prerecorded, and some livestreamed on Twitch or YouTube.
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Many UNC creatives are enlisting the internet to engage with their fans. Livestreams on Zoom, Facebook and Instagram Live are connecting Chapel Hill performers to fans at a social distance.
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Racial injustices and police brutality in 2020 sparked a new wave of music that addressed these issues. Students created a playlist of these songs from this year’s racial reckoning.
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Although 2020 has presented many challenges, several UNC arts community members feel that the changes imposed by the pandemic have increased connectivity and meaning in the art world.
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