For a space film, Gravity is fairly un-spacey. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star as astronauts who must struggle to survive when a space mission goes horribly wrong. Gravity doesn’t disappoint visually—director Alfonso Cuarón’s famous long takes seem particularly amiable to outer space—but the film repudiates much of the intellectual legwork done by previous sci-fi masterpieces. Insofar as Gravity’s message is being reduced to humanity finding itself in adversity, the film is as thematically sophisticated as a made-for-TV space horror. But such a criticism may mean little to some. As a straightforward action flick, Gravity is certainly meritorious, with some flashy technical bells and whistles thrown in.
Other News
Research in Brief: Prosthetic digital musical instruments
After three years developing their project, McGill Music PhD students Joseph Mallock and Ian Hattwick have designed and produced the first prosthetic digital instruments in the world.
Through the looking glass
The Montreal Comiccon, making its eighth debut this weekend at Palais des congrès, is an amalgamation of ‘geekdom’—a place where the various streams of geek culture coalesce into one exciting weekend. The representation of interests runs the gamut from Plain Jane board games to intricately detailed cosplaying, with the whole[Read More…]
Residents seek to save Parc Oxygène from development
On Sept. 3, residents of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough expressed their concerns for preserving of green space in the neighbourhood at a conference and question and answer session with the borough’s mayor, Luc Ferrandez. Debate on the topic centered around the preservation of Parc Oxygène, a privately -owned alleyway that has been serving as a park for over 20 years.
Vulnerability to alcoholism linked to the brain’s reward system
While long-term alcohol use has been known to have various effects on the brain, including memory impairment and nerve damage, a more recent study suggests there might be another effect to add to that long list. Those who are vulnerable to alcoholism also experience a larger dopamine (reward system) response when consuming a large drink, as found in a study conducted by Marco Leyton, a researcher at the Mental Illness and Addiction axis at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).
Editorial: PQ overstepping its bounds with ban on religious symbols
Last Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Parti Québécois (PQ) marked its one-year anniversary of minority governance. Over the past year the government has had various troubles, including, most prominently for this editorial board, the party’s complete duplicity on university tuition, first freezing tuition increases and then enacting harsh budget cuts. However, it seems as if the PQ has found itself a distraction from the year’s political missteps.
The science of chemical warfare
As members of the international community condemn the horrific chemical attacks on the suburbs of Damascus, Syria that began Aug. 18, the past few days have cast a spotlight on the mechanisms behind chemical warfare. The recent series of events in Syria have reopened an analysis as to what exactly makes chemical weapons so much more immoral than those employed in conventional artillery warfare.
Fall team previews: part II
Entering yet another season as the defending RSEQ champions, the Redmen (1-0-0) have something of a dynasty to uphold. Last year came right down to the wire as the team forfeited the first half of its otherwise undefeated season due to an ineligible player, but came roaring back to win the rest of its games. The icing on the cake was beating cross-town rivals Concordia in the final, securing a seventh consecutive RESQ title.
Fortier begins term as principal
On Sept. 5, Dr. Suzanne Fortier began her five-year term as McGill’s principal and vice chancellor, succeeding Principal Heather Munroe-Blum, whose term ended on June 30. Fortier is the 17th person—and the second woman— to fill the position.
The sounds of OAP
Over the past two weeks, you’ve probably run into nearly everyone you’ve ever met in Montreal at Open Air Pub (OAP), a beloved campus fixture that seems to define the beginning of each school year. Cheap food, plenty of beer, and live music keeps OAP secure in its status as the place to be every September for McGill students—and the lineup never disappoints. Featured below is a glimpse at some of the bands you’ve been listening to, just in case you feel like updating your playlist.
