Arts & Entertainment
Connecting the community through salsa
Photo by Arts and Etnterinaman Editor Omayda Massa Torres
Salsa instructor Mary De Jesus leads participants in a step by step dance lesson at the Dimitry building on the NECC Lawrence campus on Sept. 25.
The rhythm of salsa filled the air at the Northern Essex Community College Lawrence campus on Friday, Sept. 25, where beginners and advanced dancers alike came together to learn new steps, share cultural traditions, and dance the night away. Read More
Tarot Talk Part 1: Settling in and finding your footing
As September transitions into October, the initial rush of the new academic year has officially settled. The crisp scent of fresh notebooks has faded into routine, syllabus week is but a distant memory, and Northern Essex Community College students are now facing the first real test of the term: maintaining steady momentum. Read More
The price of true crime entertainment
Ted Bundy, the Menendez brothers, JonBenét Ramsey, and the Murdaugh Family Murders are among the widely covered trial cases that have been transformed into entertainment through the rise of true crime. While the genre has been facing increased scrutiny over the issues of exploitation and sensationalism, audiences continue to consume the content at high levels. True crime dates ... Read More
Prime video adapts Life is Strange as saga ends
Photo by courtesy of SquareEnix
When I first stepped into the world of Life is Strange, it was 2013 in Arcadia Bay, Oregon. It embraced 2012–2014 Tumblr aesthetics, Polaroid cameras and pop culture references. The nostalgia and the idea that every choice matters and can be undone hooked me immediately. For many Millennials and Gen Z fans, that style of interactive storytelling shaped a generation. After mor... Read More
Interview with local drag queen Madam Zapple
Maddam Zapple Photo by Nathan Phillips
Here at the Observer, we were recently fortunate enough to chat with a local drag queen, Madam Zapple. Madam Zapple can be found on Instagram at @madamzapple. Check out the interview below! Shaun Hood: How and when did you start off as a drag queen? Read More
Tarot Talk Part 4: The Finale Completion, reflection, and the road ahead
Photo by Arts & Entertainment Editor J.T. Melanson
The final exam period has concluded, all essays have been submitted and a palpable silence has settled over both Northern Essex Community College campuses. After weeks of sheer willpower and navigating the academic “fog,” it is time to transition from high-gear action back into a state of reflection. We have moved past the initial “Awakening” of January, survived the “Crossroad... Read More
Storyteller Al Bostick visits NECC
Photo by Editor-in-Chief Lidia Ramirez
Storyteller Al Bostick entertains a crowd in the Dimitry building on the Lawrence campus on April 7
Tarot Talk Part 3: Beginning the final push, navigating the path to the exit
Photo by J.T. Melanson
As the April sun begins to warm the walkways of the Lawrence and Haverhill campuses, the atmosphere at Northern Essex Community College is shifting. We’ve since moved past the initial “Awakening” of January and survived the “Crossroads” of March. Now, as the April/May finals approach, we’ve officially begun to walk the path towards the “Final Push.” This stage of the semester ... Read More
A24 redefines film for millennials and Gen Z
When viewers are looking for a movie and come across an auteur-driven film, theminimalist A24 logo often appears on the screen. For Millennials and Gen Zers alike, that logo is the recognizable brand for new and old generations of cinephiles. A24 is an independent award-winning global entertainment company, known for defying traditional Hollywood rules with its elevated horror... Read More
NECC Theater to present ‘Angels in America’
A Pulitzer Prize-winning landmark of American theater is coming to NECC this spring, bringing with it a powerful and deeply human story that remains just as relevant today as when it first premiered. From April 30 through May 3 NECC theater will present Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches. Set during the height of the 1980s AIDS crisis, the play follows the inter... Read More