Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine With our schools closed, many of us begin to find our schedules clearing up, leaving us with an unprecedented amount of free time. Each day seems to give way to the next, and it’s easy to get slightly anxious because nowadays the common conception is that we always need to be doing something. We’ve come to the rescue with an ongoing list of arts and entertainment gems. For the duration of the school closure, A&E will be continuously publishing a variety of recommendations of books, movies, TV shows, podcasts, albums, video games. Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman! by Richard Feynman By Ron Shvartsman, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine graphic by Jennifer Ren “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!” is an absolute joy to read. Comprising a myriad of largely unconnected anecdotes ranging from interactions with Einstein to learning frigideira instruments, “Surely You’re Joking” is not your typical autobiography. The author Richard Feynman, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist who grew up during the Great Depression, was one of the most incredible people of the 20th century. Feynman defied most conventional “scientist” stereotypes with his Queens accent and eccentric behavior. He ventured into Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine many fields, from designing the atomic bomb to deciphering Mayan hieroglyphics to playing bongos in jazz clubs. The joy and passion with which Feynman tells his stories (I can almost see him smiling!) is truly infectious. When reading these stories, I feel like I’m wearing x-ray goggles, suddenly seeing the many treasures hidden beneath the surface of our seemingly mundane world. Feynman’s casual and inviting voice sounds like that of a family friend, excited to share their stories and experiences. To put a face to the name, there are few things better than watching some interviews of Feynman from the 1970s and 1980s, as they perfectly encapsulate his magnetic personality. One of my favorite videos, which starts with a seemingly simple physics question, spirals wonderfully into a long improvisation on the nature of questions that start with “why.” Through his response — which includes the slippery properties of ice, a husband driving his wife to a hospital, and aliens puzzled by human behavior — one can see a glimpse of Feynman’s uniquely inquisitive mind, never satisfied with a single answer. “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman” would be a great read for anyone, regardless of whether he or she is interested in the sciences. It is as enjoyable for a young child as it is for a teenager or an adult. I highly recommend this book to those who know in their hearts that the world is incredible and are willing to let Feynman reveal its secrets. Richard Feynman: “Why?” https://tinyurl.com/c846sdo Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine By Annie Wang, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CO-EDITOR Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine graphic by Eric Zhong To be honest, when I first picked up this book, I was quite baffled. Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine Flipping through the pages, “Citizen: An American Lyric” seems to be a hybrid of poetry, essays, pictures and collages. All of the content is printed on this unusual, matte, coated paper, and the Arial font is agonizing to my eyes. Everything about it spelled strange, and I wasn’t expecting to love it. But I somehow devoured the book in one sitting. After reaching the back cover, I found myself turning the last page back and forth because I simply could not believe that I had reached the end of it — or that an ending exists for the book at all. In a few hours, Claudia Rankine entirely upended my initial perception of what a book can achieve. The book was published in October 2014, when nationwide demonstrations were held after the death of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. America was embroiled in controversies and debates on the topics of police brutality and discrimination towards African Americans. Rankine’s book addresses the same topics. From the FIFA World Cup and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships to Hurricane Katrina and the Stop-and-Frisk policy, Rankine walks the reader through a series of contemporary events that capture the daily acts of micro- aggression towards minorities. She also draws from her own experience as a Jamaican- American and tells her story in powerful prose. With that all being said, “Citizen: An American Lyric” is definitely one of many books that I’m grateful to have read despite having judged it by the cover at first. And while we’re all holed up at home, I think it will be 100 percent worth your while to check it out. You Could Prosper in a Few Years in the Field of Science by Various Artists By Harmonie Ramsden, CONTRIBUTING WRITER The CSD Music Labs and Long Haul Records began releasing music sung and produced by high-schoolers since 2015. Published in 2018, “You Could Prosper in a Few Years in the Field of Science,” is a well-made, creative album. Written by nineteen different artists, the tracks range from dark rap to cool instrumental to pop music, providing a youthful touch to a diverse range of music. This album, although it features many pop tracks, tends to stray from the status quo. “Glitz” by Crenaud is an ode to the disco-pop of the 1970s and 1980s with a heavy drum line and fun-filled lyrics, while “Human in a Giant’s World” utilizes bluesy tunes and Nchartier’s folk vocals. Wmacintyre shines in “Variety Show” and “Forgotten Apologies” with a mature voice and poetic lyrics, tying together the strong vocals of the tracks’ singers. The former discusses the loss of trust between friends, while the latter builds on the topic by exploring the unspoken words between the distanced friends. Relationships are built and broken quickly in Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine high schoolers’ lives, and songs like these pull from those youthful emotions and experiences. Songs that dive more into love include “Good Decision,” where a simple piano melody and minimal clutter let Bdelaney’s angelic voice shine on its own. With bright harmonies and a light vibrato, she sings about overthinking, and how sometimes letting people go is the better choice. “You Could Prosper in a Few Years in the Field of Science” follows the creativity of past albums released by the CSD Music Labs, with each song possessing its own unique style and vocalists. Each track is innovative and unexpected, with talent unexpected of people so young. Listeners not wanting run-of-the-mill music will find this album a treat, and I’m excited to hear what songs they create for their 2020 album, expected in May. Kid Krow by Conan Gray By Harmonie Ramsden, CONTRIBUTING WRITER Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine Arts & Entertainment Picks to Checkout During Quarantine graphic by Julie Liu At only 20 years old, Conan Gray has taken the world by storm with his relatable music and mellow singing voice. After releasing his EP “Sunset Season” in 2018, Gray moved on to create his most recent album “Kid Krow” which debuted on March 20. “Kid Krow” showcases intimate music as found in previous albums while diversifying the music with more pop-style tracks. It nostalgically carries listeners through Gray’s high school experiences, from friends to money problems to crushes. Gray makes an ode to his online and personal friends in “Comfort Crowd” and “Little League,” which discuss his childhood relationships, as well as in interludes “(Can We Be Friends?)” and “(Online Love).” These intimate songs are dedicated to those who have supported him on social media since the start of his career. Although Gray is known for more mellow music, pop songs “Wish You Were Sober” and “Maniac” stand out as hit singles-to- be, with the latter already at a ranking of 49 according to Headline Planet. With the impressive vocals, infectious bass line, and teen spirit, there is nothing missing on these tracks. The theme of teenage rebellion continues onto tunes like “Checkmate,” with Gray singing “Cry me a river ‘til you drown in the lake/’Cause you may think you’re winning, but checkmate.” Despite the pop vibe running through “Kid Krow,” Gray still sticks to his root genre with lyrical music like “Comfort Crowd” and “The Cut that Always Bleeds” that explore Gray’s vulnerable side and feature themes of friendship and heartbreak. Without a doubt, “Kid Krow” is not an album to miss. Each song features relatable emotions and poetic lyrics, and although the combination of pop songs and ballads seems somewhat mismatched, it is a great precursor to future music from an up-and-coming artist..