Author: Liam Otten

Growing up in rural Alaska, Chukwuma is caught between American friends and traditional Nigerian parents. So begins “Alaskaland,” one of eight films to be screened March 28-30 as part of Washington University’s annual African Film Festival. Other highlights will include “Tey,” an impressionistic celebration of life and death, and “Aya of Yop City,” adapted from the graphic novels of Marguerite Abouet.

At the far edge of the solar system lies the Oort Cloud, a vast collection of icy comets representing the furthest reaches of the sun’s gravitational influence. On Sunday, March 23, seven members of the St. Louis Symphony will perform “Oort Cloud,” an original composition by principal timpanist Shannon Wood, in WUSTL’s E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall.

Water. It is the source of life, the indispensible molecule, the elemental force that carves rivers, topples mountains, nurtures crops and extinguishes flame. In “Scattered,” Motionhouse Dance Theatre combines daring movement, mid-air acrobatics and state-of-the-art projection technology to capture the might, majesty and savagery of water.

Eric Lundgren’s debut novel, “The Facades,” has been praised by The New Yorker as “hardboiled existentialism.” Marni Ludwig’s debut collection of poetry, “Pinwheel,” was chosen by Jean Valentine for the 2012 New Issues Poetry Prize. On Thursday, March 6, these two recent alumni will return to campus for a free public reading.

Schubert borrowed from Beethoven. Public Enemy sampled Isaac Hayes. Ice Cube quoted Kool and the Gang while Brahms let drop with “Variations on a Theme from Haydn.” Hip-hop and classical music: perhaps not as different as you think. Old news to Wilner “Wil-B” Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester, a.k.a. Black Violin.

A great party is no easy feat. In “Chacun à son goût (To each his own),” the decadent young charmer Prince Orlofsky reveals the secrets to choreographing a successful evening. On Feb. 28, soprano Kelly Pappageorge and the Washington University Symphony orchestra will perform Strauss’ famous aria, along with music of Bernstein and Dvořák.

Charlie Robin, director of Edison Theatre, recommends the dancer-athletes of Diavolo. Diavolo is performing at the Touhill Center this Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1.

Finland is renowned for its architecture and design culture. Peter MacKeith has spent much of his career engaging that culture — living in Finland, teaching there, working in design practice and writing about the work of contemporary practitioners. On Feb. 14, MacKeith was presented with the insignia of Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

With his round glasses, amused diction and stiff, patrician carriage, Harold Ramis (AB ’66), was the coolest nerd in the room, a deadpan bomb-thrower, an ironist for the ages. You were never sure if he was joking. That was half the joke.

Arny Nader creates large sculptural installations that feel fantastic and whimsical yet grounded in utilitarian purpose. Last fall, Nadler won a $20,000 artist fellowship from the Regional Arts Commission of Greater St. Louis. We sat down to discuss growing up in Chicago, restructuring the undergraduate majors and the malleability of steel.