2020 // The Observer

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Scene

Scene’s Best Albums of 2020

Claire Rafford, Mariah Rush, Jake Winningham, Dessi Gomez, Ryan Israel, Aidan O'Malley, Colleen Fischer, Matthew Kellenberg, Maeve Filbin and Charlie Kenney | Monday, December 14, 2020

Scene writers made their lists; they checked them twice. The albums from January were reexamined; the soundtrack to the summer was played in December. Everyone’s votes were tallied and the final ticket of 20 records — those which we most cherished, fell deepest into and held closest to our hearts and ears in 2020 —

Scene

Scene on the Screen 2020

Jake Winningham, Ryan Israel, Aidan O'Malley and Nick Brigati | Friday, December 11, 2020

For the latest installment in Scene’s end of the year wrap-up, our writers turn their attention to the best 2020 had to offer on screens both big and small. From documentary triumphs to international television hits, these are some of the highlights from a great year for film and TV. “I May Destroy You” By

Viewpoint

Dear 2021

Gabriel Niforatos | Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Dear 2021, I’m writing you a bit early this year, so forgive me. You cannot blame me for wanting you to come with all haste. It would be a yawning redundancy to recount the distresses of 2020 to you. Few, if any, could have predicted the extent to which the entire globe would be riveted

Scene

Trophy Hunter: 2015 Re-Oscars

Jake Winningham | Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Earlier this week, I wrote a Viewpoint column where I argued for the Academy Awards to be given out five years after the fact. Here, I put that theory into practice as I take the nominees from five years ago — the 2015 ceremony, honoring the best movies of 2014 — and reassert, repick and

Scene

Phil Elverum is at his most personal on ‘Microphones in 2020’

Patrick Witteman | Thursday, August 27, 2020

Phil Elverum, the front (and only) man of The Microphones, has spent the last two decades pioneering the lo-fi, indie-folk genre. He painted a sonic picture of the Pacific Northwest on projects like “The Glow Pt. 2” and “Mount Eerie,” catapulting lo-fi to the forefront of indie music. Before reclaiming The Microphones moniker he used

Scene

Protomartyr’s ‘Ultimate Success Today:’ A perfect statement for the present

Patrick Witteman | Thursday, August 20, 2020

Protomartyr has never shied away from tackling issues that plague American society. The Detroit post-punk group’s first few albums explored the Flint water crisis, the opioid epidemic, war and political unrest –– among other topical American struggles. The band’s new album, “Ultimate Success Today,” comes at a difficult time in our shared history –– new

Scene

Primary colors: An aesthetic study of the 2020 Democrats

Jim Moster | Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Behind every work of art hides an artist, a method and a motive. For example, Vincent van Gogh painted “Starry Night” using oil on canvas in order to … well, to what? Wikipedia suggests he wanted to capture the beauty outside his asylum room’s window. Sorry, Wikipedia, but motives are inherently opaque. Even van Gogh

Scene

The Trophy Hunter: Final 2020 Oscar Ballot

Jake Winningham | Friday, February 7, 2020

With the 92nd Academy Awards rapidly approaching, it’s time for me to complete my Trophy Hunter series with a final Oscar ballot. This is the first time that I’ve been able to watch all 53 nominated feature films and shorts prior to Sunday’s ceremony, and I’ve decided to celebrate with a full rundown of each

Viewpoint

Consume news responsibly in 2020

Mary Bernard | Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Social media is an intrinsic part of news consumption today. As The Observer’s Social Media Editor (and now, one of the Assistant Managing Editors), this reality is not lost on me. Last semester, 15% of our online viewership came directly from clicking a link on social media, and that number continues to increase. My team

Viewpoint

Are you ready for 2020?

Jin Kim | Monday, February 4, 2019

We’re barely a month into 2019, but judging from the news cycle in recent days you’d think it was 2020. Indeed, with ambitious Democrats lining up to announce their bids for the White House, 2019 is starting to look a lot like the new 2020. But if it feels way too early to be talking