Observer Department: Arts and Entertainment
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…
Prime video adapts Life is Strange as saga ends
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…
Interview with local drag queen Madam Zapple
This interview has been edited for clarity and readability. 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…
Tarot Talk Part 4: The Finale Completion, reflection, and the road ahead
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…
Tarot Talk Part 3: Beginning the final push, navigating the path to the exit
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…
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…
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.…
Storyteller Al Bostick visits NECC
Tarot Talk Part 2: Facing all academic pressures without feeling the need to sacrifice one’s self
As the calendar turns toward late March/early April, Northern Essex Community College (NECC) students have reached a critical juncture. The initial momentum of the spring semester is now being tested by an influx of mid-term exams, final project deadlines, and the fatigue that naturally accompanies this brutal, mid-semester grind. While…
NECC Theater earns top honors
In January, as much of the region was digging out from the biggest snowstorm in years, a group of Northern Essex Community College’s finest thespians and stage crew was loading up their recent production of “The Vagina Monologues.” On Jan. 27, they traveled to Albany, New York, for the Region…
