‘Daisy Jones and The Six’ brings the ’70s back to life

Imagine the ’70s music scene: the Sunset Strip teeming with fame-obsessed youths and band members snorting coke off whatever they can find. This explosive environment makes or breaks artists, and “Daisy Jones and The Six” explores how far musicians can go before the drama of the industry catches up to them.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, “Daisy Jones and The Six” paints a messy picture of a fictional world-renowned band‘s rise to fame and the events that lead up to their dissolution. The miniseries switches between interviews of the aged band members unreliable glimpses of the past and scenes of how those events shaped who they became. The plot focuses on Los Angeles “it” girl Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) as her path collides with rising rock band, The Six, and her vocals and chemistry with lead singer Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) skyrocket them to success. Their success feels short-lived as Daisy and Billy’s attraction to one another slowly breaks their marriages and friendships apart.

While the series does a great job of immersing the audience in the glow and aesthetic of the ’70s, it never feels corny because of the focus placed on the band members’ relationships. In a time period that seems so far away, the characters remain human. Daisy and Billy have an electric dynamic, fighting the chemistry that lies underneath the constant arguing. They are incredibly flawed, sometimes extremely unlikable, and it reminds the audience that this era is coated with addiction and toxicity.

This series practically revolves around Daisy and Billy, leaving other characters underutilized. More scenes across the board would have given the audience more clarity of the overall group dynamic, because it often feels like Daisy and Billy are the sole members. Even in the music production scenes, you can barely see the other members playing their instruments, while the two leads get to sing for a majority of the episode. The other members of The Six, Billy’s wife Camilla and disco pioneer Simone have captivating subplots that are far more entertaining than Billy and Daisy screaming at one another, but their screen time is minimal. Guitarist Graham and keyboardist Karen’s blooming relationship is sweet and offers a break from the drama, while Camilla’s affair with bassist Eddie is so spicy it makes the main love story seem lackluster.

What is especially unique about the series is the soundtrack, which is marketed as an actual album created by the fictitious band. The band has their own Spotify profile, and their album “Aurora” is available for purchase on vinyl, featuring the photoshoot depicted in the show. This genius marketing plan makes the show one of the most immersive series of the year. The songs are electric, capturing a Fleetwood Mac-inspired sound with catchy lyrics that translate well to energetic concert scenes. Often television utilizes body doubles playing instruments instead of taking the time and money to train their actors, but the cast actually performs on each track, making the viewers feel like groupies listening to the season’s hottest band.

A fictitious band has never felt more real, and “Daisy Jones and The Six” is a messy coming of age drama filled with hedonism and pure unadulterated mayhem that pulls viewers into the limelight of a pop-rock band. All ten episodes are now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Sculpture and performance artist Senga Nengudi was awarded the 2023 Nasher Prize for her powerful and meaningful art, bringing attention to the talent of both women and the Black community, and her current exhibit is worth a visit.

Nengudi is the seventh laureate of the Nasher Prize, which honors outstanding contemporary sculpture art. Her passion and thoughtfulness can be seen in her works, which are currently displayed in the Nasher Sculpture Center in downtown Dallas until April 30, only a 20-minute drive from campus.

A prominent figure in the world of sculpture art for five decades, much of Nengudi’s art serves to portray the human body and its movement in unique methods. Her use of unconventional materials, such as plastic bags and pantyhose, allow for a modern, human touch, unlike most other sculpture art, which is usually made using metals or other moldable materials. While her art can be appreciated in many ways, it isn’t until you see it in person that you feel the careful intention in each of her works.

In her piece “R.S.V.P. Reverie Scribe,” Nengudi utilizes pantyhose stockings filled with sand to represent the weight of the human body. The contrast of the stockings against the dragging of sand evokes an empathetic response as viewers can almost physically feel what she is portraying. Past her work in sculpture, Nengudi also delves into performance art in collaboration with other artists. While only photos of her performances are present, written explanations offer more insight into the symbolism of her work.

The world of contemporary art is one of controversy, with some people regarding it as not “true” art. However, a look at Nengudi’s art shows that the genre requires thought and effort just like any other. Her strange use of materials may puzzle you at first, but with observation, the relationship between her art and physical feelings of the human body is slowly revealed.

Relating to Nengudi’s work and feeling it is a form of art in itself and offers a nice refresher from the stiffness of college life. For the best experience, consider visiting the Nasher Center yourself in the historic Dallas arts district, located near the Dallas Museum of Art and Crow Museum of Asian