CMU School of Drama


Sunday, November 20, 2016

NFTRW Weekly Top Five

Here are the top five comment generating posts of the past week:

New exoskeleton takes injury-prevention to the max

newatlas.com: Earlier this year, California-based suitX announced what it claimed was the world's most affordable mobility exoskeleton, the Phoenix. Designed for disabled users, it utilizes motors to move their legs for them. Now, the company has unveiled a non-motorized product that could make a lot of other peoples' lives easier – it's time to meet MAX, or the Modular Agile Exoskeleton.

Give the Gift of DIY with These Kits and Tools

lifehacker.com: Sometimes, the best gift you can give is the ability to make something completely new. For the DIYer in your life, a solid new tool, starter kit, or organization tool will make them as happy as can be.

Two arrested during student-debt protest at University of Pittsburgh

Blogh: University of Pittsburgh police arrested two people Thursday night after a protest against student debt and president-elect Donald Trump on Pitt’s campus turned violent.

According to Pitt spokesperson Joe Miksch, the students were charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and trespassing after they “attempted to enter Litchfield Towers lobby after being asked by university police to not do so.”

Building a better corset – with 3D printing

newatlas.com: Scoliosis is often treated by having the patient wear a corset-like spinal brace, to help guide their curved spine back into proper alignment. Typically, in order to make these braces, a plaster mold of the wearer's torso must first be obtained. As with so many other things, however, 3D printing tech may now offer a better alternative.

How Broadway is fighting for diversity under Trump

Business Insider: With its work on behalf of Hillary Clinton, help for victims of the Orlando nightclub shootings, and the hit hip-hop musical "Hamilton," Broadway got quite political in 2016.

It might seem that the Great White Way was more involved in politics than ever before, but that's not exaclty so.

1 comment:

Jake Poser said...

I find it so funny that an article completely focused on diversity is snippets of an interview with two white people. However, what Laura and Zachary had to say was fantastic. I, similar to them, believe that theater and art in general has the power to change people. It had the power to lift us up and bring us back down to earth. Theater is an equalizer. But sometimes I find trouble in statements such as the ones I just made because I know that life isn't that simple. Many people don't see art as an equalizer, or as an avenue to make change. I feel so blessed to be a part of the theater community that supports me and others for who they are. And though our community feels large and expansive, it is not. So, how do we make this life-changing art form reach those and change the lives of people not apart of this community? That is our challenge, and task.
Mike Pence, Vice President Elect, recently saw the musical Hamilton in New York. His policies and beliefs don't align with many others who were in the theater that night. His policies and beliefs actually alienate and take away the rights of those who were performing before him. So how do we use our powerful art form to get it through peoples heads like Mike Pence? That is our challenge. I too believe that art has the power to make change, but if we want to make change with our art than our art too must change. We must make art that brings people together and makes them converse. We must make art that stirs the pot. We must make art that is uncomfortable for all involved. We must make art to make those who can't seem to understand start understanding.