What ROSI looks like in my head. "WAITLIST"
For all the first years (and anyone who suffers from ROSIphobia), here are some course selection tips and tricks I’ve learned throughout my years at U of T. Hopefully they’ll help you beat ROSI at her own game: (more…)
On the Radar is blogUT’s newest column to help you tap into U of T. Through a weekly compilation of blogs, soundbytes, videos, tweets, and quotes by U of T students, I want to encapsulate the student condition. And what better way to see what’s going on in students’ minds than to take a look at their social networks? Check out what’s buzzin’ at U of T with On the Radar!
This week on the web: (more…)
Bridesmaids Sketch by Punch in the Box
For tickets, click here
Karen Parker, UofT and Second City Alumnae, is one third of the all-female sketch comedy troupe “Punch in the Box”. She studied Theatre and English at UofT and is now winning the hearts of Canada one smile at a time. With sketches ranging from the quirks of social networking, male-female interaction and the African Lion Safari, Karen Parker’s troupe offers a refreshing perspective.
Ashley Botting, Leslie Seiler, Karen Parker – Punch In The Box
Check out BlogUT’s exclusive interview with Karen Parker herself:
1) Describe “Punch in the Box” and how your troupe is different from other comedy troupes.
Punch in the Box is an all female sketch comedy troupe. Ashley Botting, Karen Parker and Leslie Seiler are all Dora-nominated writers, and Canadian Comedy Award winners. They met while honing their writing and performing skills at Toronto’s legendary Second City Mainstage.
2) Are there any challenges faced by females in the field of comedy?
ANY? (That’s an understatement)
3) Comedy is a VERY difficult genre of performance arts. What is the hardest part about producing comedic material?
Finding the material is very easy, it’s all around you. You just have to be observant and have a different way of viewing the world. There’s no shortage of ideas. The hardest part is turning the idea into a scene that actually works.
4)As a comedienne, do you think pick up lines have “break the ice potential”? Or are they just bait for awkward silences followed by rejection?
They are fodder for great scenes and characters.
5)Is your comedic material based on real life events?
A lot of it is yes. We are very good friends so much of our material is based on our adventures and conversations.
We have a scene about African Lion Safari because we went last summer and had a riot.
And other stuff is just our perspectives on things, our own unique view of the world. And as they say “You write what you know”.
6)Pre show rituals?
Dancing like jackasses to “Party in the USA”
During my first year at U of T I learned a lot. I learned that if P then Q, and I also learned to never wear sweatpants on Bloor Street West. People always associate U of T with stress and Starbucks. The new “s” in town should be STYLE. U of T has such a diverse array of fashion hotspots that you get a different vibe from East to West.
Before coming to this school I was like “OMG I so need to buy adult clothes” … so I went to H&M and bought anything that screamed “I listen to obscure bands and don’t eat meat.” That was my first impression of U of T students (I’m from New College, which is at the heart of hipster central). However, after the first semester, I realized that there were SO many different environments here and there is still room for my own style. So I thought it would be fun to put to test the critical reasoning skills I gained in my first year and use them to map out 5 fashion hot-spots on campus.
Methodology: I don’t intend to stereotype by localizing the styles. Rather I created outfits based on observation, empiricism. I have established the following dichotomies according to my observations:
Victoria College (plaid skirt on map) : Rugby-inspired looks. Oxford meets Robert Pattinson. Hey, I ain’t complain’. The highlight of my day is bumping into a Vic boy with Raybans and a classic blazer. It gives me hope that one day I will find my very own Nick Jonas. Vic looks often include Keds, Boyfriend Blazers, Raybans, crests, Rugby stripes and a coffee mug, of course.
As a first-year I have to introduce myself to many people many times. I have highlighted a certain trend in this ritual. Before I open my mouth, people have already conceived the following perception of me:
- has a boyfriend
- is Spanish or Latin
- too intimidating to talk to
- likes POP music
- likes to part-AY!
- in her own world
Is it my hair, my cute heeled boots or is it my attitude? What about me exudes these characteristics? The funniest or most insulting to me is when after introducing myself I hear phrases like:
- “Really?”
- “I would have never guessed.”
- “Interesting I’m impressed.”
I like to think that I am a very unique person. I am not a compulsive liar (if I was I would mention my secret marriage to Lionel Messi). Then why do people think I’m lying or joking when I tell them: (more…)
Image from Associated Press: Kanye being Kanye. :'( Poor girl.
Dear Kanye West,
Who do you think you are? How dare you WRECK the poor girl’s special moment. Grammy-nominated Taylor Swift is one of our time’s greatest artists who does not need Auto-Tune to make her sound marketable. Even if she sounded like a horse (Miley Cyrus) she was voted by the people to win the award. The people and NOT you have the right to decide. So how dare you take the duty upon yourself to inform the world of what should have been done?
How does it feel Kanye? Not being the bigger person in a battle against a 19 year old girl! Do you feel proud? Do you feel FRESH?
How does it feel having the President of the United States lose respect for you?
What really grinds my gears, is the way you carry yourself like a narcissistic fool. I miss the old Kanye; the modest “College Dropout” whose goal in life was to make good music, not publicity.
I am sick of you, Kanye. You are annoying, untalented and personally I think that you would be NOWHERE without your sampled music! You are a wannabe — a wannabe King of Pop, a wannabe celebrity, a wannabe attention-seeker and a wannabe little boy wanting to be a man.
I am sick of your antics! So why don’t you bury your ugly haircut, your false perception of self and your digitally-enhanced music somewhere in a dark abyss, where it cannot be accessed by your ego.
XOXO
Sarah Munawar
If you haven’t already read it, here’s Kelly Clarkson’s angry blog to Kanye.
If you missed out on the Hart House Wide Open House, then you might as well move to Antarctica and have Morgan Freeman narrate your life (bad movie pun). The Open House was beautifully organized chaos. At the heart of its complexity and diverse nature there was a radiating source of beauty and vibrancy.
There was live music, food, free prizes, beautiful people and a BUTTON MAKING CLASS! What else can the human soul long for? Oh and did I mention they had an awesome mini club fair?
For those of you who missed the event, I shall try my hardest to embody its pulsating atmosphere in this article.
MOVE OVER Martha, Hart House is the new party hostess. With great free stuff, food, entertainment and activities the Hart House Wide Open House was a success!
Sit back and relax as I take you through the Open House:
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