NECC Observer

Arts & Entertainment

Tarot Talk Part 2: Navigation of mid-semester grind and the approaching midterms

By By J.T. Melanson, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Tarot Talk Part 2: Navigation of mid-semester grind and the approaching midterms

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‘Crow Show’ roosts in Lawrence: Art from NECC professors and students is part of Essex Art Center exhibit

By By Omaya massa torres Arts and Entertainment Editor

‘Crow Show’ roosts in Lawrence:  Art from NECC professors and students is part of Essex Art Center exhibit

Photo by Arts and Entertainment Editor Omayda Massa Torres

Nada Dhar next to her artwork “Crows at Midnight” (bottom artwork) in the “Crow Show” at the Essex Art Center in Lawrence on Oct. 17. See Page 16 for more photos from the exhibit’s opening reception.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, at Essex Art Center artists and community gathered for the opening reception of The Crow Show hosted by Lawrence artist Kate Delaney, showing their amazing crow art with featured artists Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer, Mor, and NECC’s own art professors Dianne Pappas, and Jenn Houle. Read More

Connecting the community through salsa

By Omayda Massa torres Arts and Entertainment Editor

Connecting the community through salsa

Photo by Arts and Etnterinaman Editor Omayda Massa Torres

Salsa instructor Mary De Jesus leads participants in a step by step dance lesson at the Dimitry building on the NECC Lawrence campus on Sept. 25.

The rhythm of salsa filled the air at the Northern Essex Community College Lawrence campus on Friday, Sept. 25, where beginners and advanced dancers alike came together to learn new steps, share cultural traditions, and dance the night away.  Read More

Tarot Talk Part 1: Settling in and finding your footing

By J.T. Melanson Arts & Entertainment Editor

Tarot Talk Part 1: Settling in and finding your footing

 As September transitions into October, the initial rush of the new academic year has officially settled. The crisp scent of fresh notebooks has faded into routine, syllabus week is but a distant memory, and Northern Essex Community College students are now facing the first real test of the term: maintaining steady momentum. Read More

The price of true crime entertainment

By Brianna Burgos, Web Editor

Ted Bundy, the Menendez brothers, JonBenét Ramsey, and the Murdaugh Family Murders are among the widely covered trial cases that have been transformed into entertainment through the rise of true crime. While the genre has been facing increased scrutiny over the issues of exploitation and sensationalism, audiences continue to consume the content at high levels. True crime dates ... Read More

Prime video adapts Life is Strange as saga ends

By Brianna Burgos, Web Editor

Prime video adapts Life is Strange as saga ends

Photo by courtesy of SquareEnix

When I first stepped into the world of Life is Strange, it was 2013 in Arcadia Bay, Oregon. It embraced 2012–2014 Tumblr aesthetics, Polaroid cameras and pop culture references. The nostalgia and the idea that every choice matters and can be undone hooked me immediately. For many Millennials and Gen Z fans, that style of interactive storytelling shaped a generation. After mor... Read More

Interview with local drag queen Madam Zapple

By Shaun Hood, Correspondent

Interview with local drag queen Madam Zapple

Maddam Zapple Photo by Nathan Phillips

Here at the Observer, we were recently fortunate enough to chat with a local drag queen, Madam Zapple. Madam Zapple can be found on Instagram at @madamzapple. Check out the interview below! Shaun Hood: How and when did you start off as a drag queen? Read More

Tarot Talk Part 4: The Finale Completion, reflection, and the road ahead

By J.T. Melanson, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Tarot Talk Part 4: The Finale Completion, reflection, and the road ahead

Photo by Arts & Entertainment Editor J.T. Melanson

The final exam period has concluded, all essays have been submitted and a palpable silence has settled over both Northern Essex Community College campuses. After weeks of sheer willpower and navigating the academic “fog,” it is time to transition from high-gear action back into a state of reflection. We have moved past the initial “Awakening” of January, survived the “Crossroad... Read More

Storyteller Al Bostick visits NECC

By Lidia Ramirez, Editor in Chief

Storyteller Al Bostick visits NECC

Photo by Editor-in-Chief Lidia Ramirez

Storyteller Al Bostick entertains a crowd in the Dimitry building on the Lawrence campus on April 7

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Tarot Talk Part 3: Beginning the final push, navigating the path to the exit

By J.T. Melanson, Arts and Entertainment Editor

Tarot Talk Part 3: Beginning the final push, navigating the path to the exit

Photo by J.T. Melanson

As the April sun begins to warm the walkways of the Lawrence and Haverhill campuses, the atmosphere at Northern Essex Community College is shifting. We’ve since moved past the initial “Awakening” of January and survived the “Crossroads” of March. Now, as the April/May finals approach, we’ve officially begun to walk the path towards the “Final Push.” This stage of the semester ... Read More