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Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Arts

'Middletown' mundanity addresses humanity

‘Middletown’ mundanity addresses humanity

November 4, 2014

At a glance, Middletown looks to be the epitome of average. There’s John Dodge, the handyman; the town policeman who’s friendly with just...

Boston's newest cultural district arrives on Emerson's doorstep

Boston’s newest cultural district arrives on Emerson’s doorstep

November 4, 2014

Among the daily flow of traffic pouring through Boylston and Charles Streets stands a statue of Edgar Allen Poe in mid-stride, manuscripts flying out of...

In 'Song of the Shank,' Allen blends music and history

In ‘Song of the Shank,’ Allen blends music and history

November 4, 2014

During his minstrel career in the late 1800s, autistic savant Blind Tom was reportedly able to play three different songs in three different keys at three...

With Live Music Week, WERS embraces the locals

With Live Music Week, WERS embraces the locals

November 4, 2014

Live Music Week is WERS’ version of Mardi Gras, according to General Manager Jack Casey. The biannual fundraising week, which runs from Oct. 18-26,...

The Symptoms show signs of success

The Symptoms show signs of success

November 4, 2014

After graduating from high school in 2012, Ben Bersers-Lee was itching to get out of his suburban bubble of Lexington, Massachusetts and experience life...

Stephen King and the American Gothic

November 4, 2014

I feel a small flush of embarrassment whenever I admit my affection for horror fiction. As a teenager, it was a full-blown addiction: I devoured the work...

In new memoir, George Clinton gets funky

In new memoir, George Clinton gets funky

November 4, 2014

George Clinton is known for a few things about his performances throughout the 1970s: donning flamboyant costumes made of flags and diapers, tripping on...

Quinn Marcus shares her 'coming of gay' story

Quinn Marcus shares her ‘coming of gay’ story

November 4, 2014

Quinn Marcus grew up in the south, attended a high school full of close-minded classmates, and has known she was gay since age six. In Marcus’ attempt...

One City, one story: a 'common text work'

One City, one story: a ‘common text work’

November 4, 2014

In the first scene of Jennifer Haigh’s short story “Sublimation,” a mother and son sit down to watch Jeopardy!. As he sips on his drink,...

Doom’s Day: Laughs, Love, and Lava

September 25, 2014

Sometimes the best superhero is actually a supervillain. That’s the premise of an upcoming show, Doom’s Day, produced by Emerson Independent...

Mixtapes: the best ‘Thank You’

April 24, 2014

In eighth grade, my class was asked to write about a recent experience that meant a lot to us. I decided to write about my first concert -- Fall Out Boy's...

Rafael Yglesias: wading through a 'sea of regrets'

Rafael Yglesias: wading through a ‘sea of regrets’

April 24, 2014

At 47, Rafael Yglesias had written 10 novels, adapted four screenplays into movies, and worked with famous directors such as Peter Weir and Roman Polanski,...

The eerie music of Anne Malin

The eerie music of Anne Malin

April 17, 2014

In the woods of Interlochen, Mich., freshman Anne Malin Ringwalt discovered a bog while exploring the forested campus of her art school. Here, she had...

VMA students remember marathon with short films

VMA students remember marathon with short films

April 17, 2014

Visceral snapshots of last year’s Boston Marathon bombing were screened last Tuesday night, as audience members watched iconic moments, like the...

Dead right: Joel Stillerman, alum, helps foster AMC hits

Dead right: Joel Stillerman, alum, helps foster AMC hits

April 17, 2014

Joel Stillerman has a knack for knowing cool before it’s cool. He knew MTV was going to be cool back in the days of 24-hour music video programming....

A whole new world

A whole new world

April 10, 2014

While most students spend their summer vacation at a dead-end job or lounging at a pool, Mahesh Harwani, a senior marketing communication major, spent...

Being Benincasa

Being Benincasa

April 10, 2014

Sara Benincasa enrolled at Emerson in the fall of 1999. In her time at the college she was an honors student and performed a solo performance in the Cabaret...

Solitude and the American writer

April 10, 2014

Chad Harbach’s new anthology MFA vs NYC: The Two Cultures of American Fiction is creating quite a stir among literary circles. The anthology is an...

To learn about syrup, ask Whynott

To learn about syrup, ask Whynott

April 3, 2014

Douglas Whynott is quiet. He stands at about 6-foot-4 but he’s one of the most soft-spoken writing, literature, and publishing professors at Emerson....

Changing the tune of music criticism

April 3, 2014

Last week, Canadian musician and composer Owen Pallett wrote an essay for Slate that applauded Katy Perry’s “genius” pop hit “Teenage...