Culture

When The Marriage Pact came to Princeton (and matched a pair of twins)

“Fill out this survey to get matched with your other half,” it promised. The Prospect staff writer Cathleen Weng writes about how the Marriage Pact came to Princeton and how students received it.

“Fill out this survey to get matched with your other half,” it promised. The Prospect staff writer Cathleen Weng writes about how the Marriage Pact came to Princeton and how students received it.

“Fun City” podcast review: merging storytelling and gameplay

The Prospect’s TV & Shows Critic Molly Cutler delves into the world of fiction podcasts, examining how “Fun City” merges table-top games, improv comedy, acting, and storytelling to produce a show that is both entertaining and culturally engaging. “Fun City” may be set in a futuristic New York City and may get its intrigue from how the gameplay unfolds, but it also manages to richly connect with the many social conflicts of the world today.

The Prospect’s TV & Shows Critic Molly Cutler delves into the world of fiction podcasts, examining how “Fun City” merges table-top games, improv comedy, acting, and storytelling to produce a show that is both entertaining and culturally engaging. “Fun City” may be set in a futuristic New York City and may get its intrigue from how the gameplay unfolds, but it also manages to richly connect with the many social conflicts of the world today.

Reading Peter Singer's ‘Famine, Affluence, and Morality’ 50 years later

“Famine, Affluence, and Morality” confronts the reader with their own complacency regarding global suffering, and the passage of time has not led to a heartening perspective. Half a century later, the world is in the midst of a refugee crisis, wars and famines continue to afflict millions, and society is still rife with poverty and inequality.  A modern frame of reference provides a new understanding of what may be necessary to goad the world into action, but we’ll start by reexamining Singer’s reasoning regarding the affluents’ duty to help those in need. 

“Famine, Affluence, and Morality” confronts the reader with their own complacency regarding global suffering, and the passage of time has not led to a heartening perspective. Half a century later, the world is in the midst of a refugee crisis, wars and famines continue to afflict millions, and society is still rife with poverty and inequality.  A modern frame of reference provides a new understanding of what may be necessary to goad the world into action, but we’ll start by reexamining Singer’s reasoning regarding the affluents’ duty to help those in need.  

A memoir of the personal and the political: Obama’s fight for the ACA

Facing a divided political landscape, Obama traces his political battle towards a more unified and accessible healthcare system for Americans regardless of income, class, gender, age, or race — an issue that lies close to his personal life.  

Facing a divided political landscape, Obama traces his political battle towards a more unified and accessible healthcare system for Americans regardless of income, class, gender, age, or race — an issue that lies close to his personal life.  

For COVID-19-safe food, Campus Dining undergoes a shift

The return of over 2,000 students this spring has posed a tough task for Campus Dining, as dining halls had to be de-densified and service pared back to quickly process students through serveries. Senior writer Jack Allen speaks to Smitha Haneef, Assistant Vice President for University Services — as well as a few students — about how the University has handled the challenge. 

The return of over 2,000 students this spring has posed a tough task for Campus Dining, as dining halls had to be de-densified and service pared back to quickly process students through serveries. Senior writer Jack Allen speaks to Smitha Haneef, Assistant Vice President for University Services — as well as a few students — about how the University has handled the challenge.

The importance of humanity in 'Judas and the Black Messiah'

Complete with gorgeous cinematography and stellar performances, King expertly crafts the film narrative in a way that is extremely relevant to contemporary conversation, while stressing the importance of humanization. In a roundtable discussion with college journalists, the main actors of “Judas” each shared their experiences working on the film and why they believe it’s important to view the film now. 

Q&A with Janielle Dumapit ’23 on her EP and inspiration behind it

Janielle Dumapit ’23 released her extended play (EP), “Rose Colored Glasses,” on Jan. 30. Dumapit, a concentrator in the School of Public and International Affairs, wrote, performed, produced, and distributed the EP by herself. The Daily Princetonian sat down with her to discuss her songwriting process and the EP release.

Janielle Dumapit ’23 released her extended play (EP), “Rose Colored Glasses,” on Jan. 30. Dumapit, a concentrator in the School of Public and International Affairs, wrote, performed, produced, and distributed the EP by herself. The Daily Princetonian sat down with her to discuss her songwriting process and the EP release. 

Five ways to take care of yourself in 2021

2020 was a physically and emotionally taxing year for many of us. The importance of finding outlets to keep us sane and relaxed as the world seemingly explodes cannot be overstated. In the sixth installment of our recommendations series, staff members of The Prospect share various self care activities they have adopted — not only to survive but to thrive — in quarantine. Here are some ways to take care of yourself in 2021.

2020 was a physically and emotionally taxing year for many of us. The importance of finding outlets to keep us sane and relaxed as the world seemingly explodes cannot be overstated. In the sixth installment of our recommendations series, staff members of The Prospect share various self care activities they have adopted — not only to survive but to thrive — in quarantine. Here are some ways to take care of yourself in 2021.

Sexpert: Here's how to have safer sex during COVID-19.

The Sexpert returns, this time to advise students on how to approach safer sex on campus this spring.

The Sexpert returns, this time to advise students on how to approach safer sex on campus this spring.

Cultural resilience amidst diasporic fragmentation in the music of System of A Down

Officially formed in 1994, System of a Down is an Armenian-American heavy metal band founded in Yerevan’s (unofficial) twin-city capital of Glendale, California. With their international success, the group has bolstered a distinct Armenian musical heritage that has seeped into the ears of billions of foreign fans worldwide.

Why are we all on Le Creuset TikTok? A personal investigation

However, I am also a curious man, and I did want answers. Mainly, I wanted to know why Le Creuset had such great appeal on an app like TikTok.

Happy Holi-drinks: cocktail recipes to warm your winter nights

With the semester over and a longer-than-average winter break underway, students and families alike are in search of some winter cheer. Whether you’re surrounded by snow or sand this break, here are some winter cocktail suggestions (and family-friendly options) to celebrate the season!

Catching fire in darkness: Celebrating Diwali during a pandemic

I love Diwali for all of the light it forges in my house, for the seven lit candles which sit perfectly aligned on my fireplace for 10 days, for the sweets that cover every square inch of my kitchen counter, for all of the shoes I trip over as guests pile into my home. As an Indian American living in New Jersey, my parents have adapted the way Diwali is typically celebrated. 

Confronting ‘virtual’ dualities in the work of multimedia artist Lawrence Lek

On Nov. 5, multimedia artist Lawrence Lek gave a public talk hosted by the Princeton Art Museum to discuss the research interests and questions that guide his practice, focusing in particular on three films: “Sinofuturism (1839-2046 AD)“ (2016), “Geomancer” (2017), and “AIDOL” (2019). Lek is the 2020 Sarah Lee Elson International Artist-In-Residence.

Cellist Robin Park ’23 discusses COVID-19 and racial equity in music

Robin Park ’23, a sophomore at Princeton University, is a cellist from Princeton Junction, N.J. In our conversation, Robin and I touched on topics of music practice and performance, racial and economic equity in classical music, and the effects of the pandemic on the University’s academics and music-making. 

A senior's guide to course selection

Everyone’s process of finding courses is different. I won’t tell you exactly how I do my research, but I will suggest seven tips I’ve learned over the past four years that I think can help you with yours.

Stolen lullabies, illicit affairs: sound and storytelling in Taylor Swift’s ‘folklore’

Perhaps more surprising was not the fact that Swift wrote such a successful album in such a short amount of time, but that the album radically departed from her original upbeat sound.

COVID-19 and ‘code red’: understanding the pandemic’s toll on frontline health care workers

Rather than watching the case count on The New York Times or other news outlets, I track the number of cases by the times we are what my family calls “code red,” when we handle clothing with gloves and disinfectant and maintain distance until my mother, an anesthesiologist, has showered.

‘How to be Human’: The Humanities Sequence in quarantine

This summer, HUM professors and students expressed their desire to see the course engage more fully with the current moment; as the first semester nears its close, The Daily Princetonian looked into what’s been done so far. Three HUM professors told the ‘Prince’ how they planned for this remarkable semester to replicate the class, to build the community, and to react to the moment. Two current students grade them on their success. All considered what it means to be human and what the humanities still has to teach us, even — perhaps especially — in a moment of crisis. 

Introducing Intersections: The Daily Princetonian’s arts and culture newsletter

Today, we launched Intersections, a newsletter run by The Prospect section of The Daily Princetonian, dedicated to delivering arts and culture to your inbox. We round up articles from the week and share our recommendations for what to do this weekend.