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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Photo illustration of multiple exposures of TikTok previews.

The meme culture that is making us go grey

Charlie Hickman and Isabelle Lubguban March 4, 2025

The first thing students like Justis Walker do when they wake up is open Instagram and start scrolling through Reels. Phones resting mere inches from their faces, images of dancing fruit and AI-generated...

A group of musicians play their violins during an stress-free English Department ensemble on the Voxman music building, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. The space is allocated for students who play any stringed instrument to practice with others.

Inside the UI’s new English Department string ensemble

Grant Darnell, Arts Reporter March 3, 2025

Senior Academic Advisor Christine Norquest recalled a conversation with her colleague Kate Torno regarding an English department advisee who happened to play the cello. When reminiscing on this...

A projector is seen in Iowa City on May 4, 2023.

Review | ‘The Monkey’ may be ridiculous, but the kills are sure to make you go bananas

Kyrsten White, Arts Reporter February 27, 2025

Gore, death, and revenge are three qualities typically found in the horror genre, and the 2025 adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Monkey” does not shy away from them. Many of King’s novels...

Iowa Oboe professor Dr. David Cyzak performs alongside vocalist Paul Cort during “American Facets,” a faculty recital at The University of Iowa School of Music – Voxman Building, in Iowa City on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event featured three sections of music accompanying piano, opera, and electronic music. The recital featured multiple multifaceted musicians, including pianist Alan Huckleberry, opera singer Paul Cort, electronic musician François Charles, composer Peter Bloesch, and music theorist Sam Young.

Review | David Cyzak’s ‘American Facets’ Oboe Concert captures the beauty of Iowa

Hannah Childers, Arts Reporter February 26, 2025

“‘The caged bird sings / with a fearful trill / of things unknown / but longed for still / and his tune is heard / on the distant hill / for the caged bird / sings of freedom,’” says Maya Angelou...

Penelope Lowenstein, guitarist and singer for the band Horsegirl, performs on the Grande Stage during day one of the Mo Pop Festival 2022 at Hart Plaza in Detroit on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

REVIEW | ‘Phonetics On and On’ is a warm, layered refuge

Haya Hussain, Arts Reporter February 25, 2025

Humans have become too accustomed to language. Our ears forget to listen to the musical and emotional intricacies holding words up. Horsegirl attempts to teach us this in its new album, “Phonetics...

Jan 5, 2025; Beverly Hills, CA, USA; Anthony Mackie at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Review | ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ is your standard Marvel sequel

Grant Darnell, Arts Reporter February 25, 2025

Throughout much of the runtime of “Captain America: Brave New World,” there was a feeling of unease in my stomach. It wasn’t that I wasn’t enjoying the film necessarily, but all too often I...

Alina Silwal poses for a portrait outside the Iowa Memorial Union on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Silwal's time at the University of Iowa has been shaped by cultural enrichment.

Modern trends colonize South Asian culture

Haya Hussain, Arts Reporter February 25, 2025

Henna is the new temporary body mod. Pashmina head scarves are a rave staple. Nose piercings are edgy and alternative. Gold is for girls with warm undertones. Every smoky eye comes with a sexy, black...

Jody Hovland and Ron Clark play Virginia Butley and Frank Butley, arguing with neighbors Franco Machado-Pesce and Jessica Murillo Kemp, playing Pablo Del Valle and Tania Del Valle during a performance of “Native Gardens” at Riverside Theatre on Friday, Feb. 22, 2025. The play about neighborly disputes and tolerance is directed by Kirsten Brooks and will be performed from Feb. 28 to March 16.

Behind the scenes of Riverside’s ‘Native Gardens’ from script to stage

Riley Dunn and Flynn Milligan February 25, 2025

Orchestrating a play is no easy task, especially when constructed on the professional level Riverside Theatre strives for. After weeks of work and development, the theater will open its 300th production,...

Customers enter The James Theater in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

Review | An age-old story takes on a new twist at The James

Laurel Preston, Arts Reporter February 23, 2025

Bewitching tendrils of pink and purple flowers swirled and curled around the dark background of The James Theater’s black box stage. Vivid green vines filled in spaces that were lacking beautiful...

Patrons gather for concessions outside a screening of “Bonjour Tristesse” during the Technicolor of Love series at Chauncey FilmScene in Iowa City on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. “Bonjour Tristesse” is the third of this four-film series, concluding with “Heaven Can Wait” next week.

FilmScene reminds us of the beauty of Technicolor films

Hannah Childers, Arts Reporter February 23, 2025

When thinking of Technicolor, the first thing that comes to mind is the famous scene in the 1939 musical, “The Wizard of Oz,” where Dorothy opens the door to Munchkin Land to enter the world of...

Contributed by Steven Doung.

Ask the Author | UI Alum Steven Duong on Iowa Writers’ Workshop, new poetry collection

Isabelle Lubguban, Arts Reporter February 20, 2025

Steven Duong is a fiction writer and poet from San Diego, California. His short fiction has made an appearance in The American Poetry Review, The New England Review, and Guernica.  Duong is currently...

'The Amazing Spider-Man' comics are among many sold at The Bugle, as seen Nov. 26, 2024, in Sheboygan, Wis.

Review | ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ is precisely that

Grant Darnell, Arts Reporter February 20, 2025

Despite being a massive fan of the character for most of my life, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to the release of “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.” I made plans to watch it, but...