Stories by Kayla Upadhyaya
Step Into the Salon: Are MC Skat Kat and Paula Abdul a match made in heaven?
- Virgin
BY JACOB AXELRAD
Arts Editors Jacob Axelrad and Kayla Upadhyaya debate the merit of Paula Abdul’s music video for the late-eighties hit “Opposites Attract.”
'Perks' is a modern-day monument to teenagedom
- Summit
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is not a perfect movie, but its flaws are oddly fitting, because “Perks” never tries to give a gloss to its portrayal of growing up. It’s a story about dysfunction and introversion and its messiness is appropriate, even beautiful.
Kayla Upadhyaya: TV's mommy issues
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
Why are we so much quicker to pass judgement on these mothers and wives over the corrupt — in some cases, downright evil — men they’re married to?
Single Review: Ke$ha gets lazy with 'Die Young'
- RCA
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
“Die Young” is a little too safe, a little too sugary. It’s the same noisy Ke$ha anthem we’ve been hearing on Top 40 radio since her rise in 2010.
Trailer Review: Offensive 'Impossible' capitalizes on tragedy
- Warner Bros
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
“The Impossible” would perhaps be less alarming if its aim were to truly capture the turmoil of those days through the eyes of the communities torn apart by the disaster. But mostly, it looks like it’s just about white people defeating odds.
Nerdy, sexy 'Pitch Perfect' dances circles around 'Glee'
- Universal
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
No, “Pitch Perfect” does not offer a realistic depiction of college life. It offers something better: a glitzed-up remix of college life. Instead of getting preachy, it’s a dependably nerdy and surprisingly sexy self-parody that’s hilarious in its hyperbole.
'Nashville' breaks out of southern stereotype
- ABC
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
ABC’s new family soap “Nashville” uses a divisive device — country music — to unfurl its story, but it’s full of little surprises that hint at its capacity to be the year’s unexpected runaway hit.
Step into the Salon: Do you scream for 'Scream'?
- Dimension
BY JACOB AXELRAD
Two Daily Arts editors debate the icon status of Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s original installment of the “Scream” series.
Kayla Upadhyaya: Are spoilers really that rotten?
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
Spoiler alert: You can still have stakes without secrecy. Television is about the storytelling and the process, not isolated plot developments. The things that really matter aren’t even spoilable.
Personal Statement: You will never put a ring on it, so don't try
- Illustration by Megan Mulholland
BY KAYLA UPADHYAYA
I don’t want to get married. I’ve been telling people this since I was about 12, though the thought was in the back of my mind before then.Whenever I tell people I don’t want to get married, I’m met with one of two responses: They either react as if I’ve just informed them that I have a nuclear bomb in my purse or they laugh and say I’ll change my mind.
