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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015
PAGE 5
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arts & features
HOROSCOPES
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Today is a 9
A solution to an old problem is becoming obvious. Tell friends you'll see them later. Get into studies. Allow for miracles.
Don't waste money on fantasies.
Understanding arrives.
Today is a 7
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
There's money coming in today and tomorrow. Something you try doesn't work. Don't gamble or risk untested methods. Try again and take it slow. Take care to conserve resources.
gemini (May 21-June 20)
Discuss practical aspects of a personal project. Prepare for a launch. Work may take precedence over party planning. Relax. Persuade someone talented to get involved.
Today is an 8
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Today is a /7
Write down your dreams. Conserve resources, without worrying about the money. It's not a good time to bet on a mirage. It's a great time to sell, though.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Today is a 7
Today and tomorrow are good party days. It could get expensive if you don't watch the budget. Avoid frills. You're inspired by words of love. Connect and share ideas and support. Work together to take on fierce competition.
Today is an 8
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Look at taking on more responsibility over the next few days. Challenge yourself. Your holdings are gaining value. Support your partner through a breakdown. Talk it over.
Today is a 9
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Have a place to land before you set out. Saving is better than spending now. Do the research to find the best deal. Get tickets in advance.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Today is a 7
Make long-range plans. Figure out your finances today and tomorrow. Set up a budget to realize a vision. Find what you want close to home.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
Today is an 8
Resolve a breakdown in a partnership before it has time to grow. It's a good time to get your message across. Don't rely on logic alone, while presenting clear data. Dreams provide symbolic answers.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19)
Today is a 7
There's plenty of work today and tomorrow. A communication could get garbled or delayed. Get assistance from an expert. Cite your sources. Sidestep obstacles by keeping your eyes peeled. Love calms your weary mind.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.18)
Today is an 8
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You may need to choose between making money and having fun. You're attractive, and attracted today and tomorrow. Talk your way around an obstacle.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
Today in a 7
Home is where your heart is today and tomorrow. You may find yourself cleaning someone else's mess. Don't overlook a loved one's needs, yet let the kids do their share.
Today is a 7
Researchers look at flirting styles, attraction
ALLISON CRIST
@AllisonCristUDK
Flirting has always been a way for people to communicate attraction, but does everyone have their own flirting style? According to new research by Jeffrey Hall, associate professor of communication studies, and co-author Chong Xing, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Communication Studies, the answer is yes. The research study also concluded that a person's flirting style matches how they show whether or not they're attracted to someone.
KANSAN: What sort of experiment did you have to do to study people flirting?
HALL: After preparing a subject pool of heterosexual singles, we first had them identify their flirting style through a questionnaire, and afterwards, each person was paired with a stranger. We observed 51 different pairs talk for about 10-12 minutes in a laid back environment with comfortable chairs and a coffee table. They were even provided with a set of conversation cards to facilitate an exchange if they couldn't on their own. Once they were done talking, we had them report their level of attraction toward their partner and we reviewed everything from there.
KANSAN: How many different types of flirting styles are there?
HALL: Five; traditional, playful, polite, physical, sincere. They are pretty much what they sound like, but there are more in-depth definitions available on my website.
KANSAN: What was the next step after observing the pairs? HALL: We coded the interactions for a set of flirting behaviors, and discovered both nonverbal and verbal ones. In the end, there were 36 verbal flirting behaviors, including nodding and smiling, which often co-occurred, along with making compliments, revealing personal information, teasing, and so on. Some of the nonverbal behaviors involved things like gazing directly at someone, having a higher or lower pitched voice, and crossing arms or legs.
KANSAN: What did you and your team find?
KANSAS: What did you and your peers do in the hall? These different behaviors indicated each person's physical attraction for each flirting style. In a very basic sense, people would convey their attraction and end up revealing their flirting style.
KANSAN: What was the most interesting thing you discovered throughout your research?
HALL: One thing was that sometimes you'll have behaviors that might be a turnoff for most people, but some flirting styles like it. For example, polite flirters will lean back rather than lean into the conversation, which might indicate disinterest, but that's not their intention. They are just trying to maintain a respectful stance.
Want to determine your own flirting style? Visit flirtingsstyles. dept.ku.edu to take a quiz and receive your personalized results.
Edited by Garrett Long
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ALI DOVER/KANSAN
Recent research by Jeffrey Hall, associate professor of communication studies, suggests that flirting can be understood by style, which varies from person to person.
CASEY CURRY/ASSOCIATED PRESS
Big Sean At The Redbury Hotel on Feb. 19 in Los Angeles. The rapper released his third album yesterday.
Big Sean delivers best work yet on Dark Sky Paradise'
CHRISTIAN HARDY
@HardyNFL
Album rating: 7/10
Detroit rapper Big Sean finally proves his rank among top rappers on his third studio album "Dark Sky Paradise," a pleasing contrast to his sophomore album "Hall of Fame," which flopped both musically and commercially.
A successful, well-received record has been a long time coming for Big Sean, who has been a part of the top six songs on the iTunes hip-hop charts seven times. Leading up to the album, he dropped some of his best bars on his noncommercial September EP, which included "I Don't F*** With You" and "Paradise," both of which appear on this album.
After a move from Kanye
West's G.O.D. Music to Jay-Z's Roc Nation last fall, Sean's ear for good production took a sharp turn for the better. Instead of rapping over basic, repeated production on his new album, Sean heads for the "dark sky" and gives a glimpse into his emotions on deep, thoughtful and sometimes dark beats.
For the first time, the Kanye West protégé has something lyrically worth listening to, which is something he has done very little of in the past. On previous records, his voice sometimes wavered in his rhymes, which could make them feel long-winded, something he avoids on "Dark Sky Paradise." The 26-year-old finally appears to be more mature and carries confidence in his rhyme-centered flow. He also attempts to find his
real footing in the rap game, or at least becomes conscious of his search for something more than just money. He zooms from how blessed he's been, to past struggles in relationships, to thankking God for his new girlfriend Ariana Grande.
With Sean confident on most of his rhymes throughout his third official record, it feels like he's finally become more than a mixtape-artist, and can hold his own on an album. However, he's still trying to find a feel for his place in the rap game, and you can hear it on this record, as he oscillates from his top rapper status to a man who is still trying to find exactly where he's going. With some self-awareness and fantastic production on this album, he's certainly taken a good stride in the right direction.
All Your Fault (ft. Kanye West and Travis $cott) —
This will be the track that will be played for years to come. The third track on the album features a sample of Ambrosia's 1978 hit "How Much I Feel" on the hook. West still uses a bit of his lately-vaunted autotune, but he makes up for it with his best true rap verse since the release of "Yezus" in 2013. Kanye's verse destroys the track, as he gives recognition to both Walt Disney and the Eric Garner tragedy. Big Sean is able to keep up for the most part. Sean's stronghandedness can especially be seen in the final "Watch the Throne"-like exchange between West and Sean, where Sean matches West verse-for-verse with impeccable flow.
BEST LINE: "Young Walt Disney, I'ma tell you truthfully/If you leave Mickey you gon' end up with a Goofy/I imagine thats what Chris told Karrueche" - Kanye West
One Man Can Change the World (ft. Kanye West and John Legend)—
Sean collaborates with two former counterparts from G.O.O.D. Music and sings his heart out over this piano track. While most of the album has a dark tone, this song feels like the sun is beginning to peek out behind the dark clouds as Sean reflects
over his past after opening up with advice from his grandmother — which the track revolves around. Sean uses that advice from his grandma, who endured far more struggles than he, to recognize that he's heading in the right direction and has a good head on his shoulders. Towards the end, the track features some smooth vocals from John Legend.
BEST LINE: "Look, think about it, close your eyes, dream about it/Tell your team about it, go make million dollar schemes about it/Success is on the way, I feel it in the distance"
Outro — This song puts a nice wrap on Sean's best record yet. It backs up the notion of Big Sean wavering on the idea of who he wants to be throughout the album, and it continues on the idea that the skies for the future have been cleared. Sean comes across extremely smooth on the track with a flow like a young Kanye West, and coalesces perfectly with the beat. It also comes full circle from the intro track "Dark Sky (Skyscrapers)", where he focuses on his past with advice from his dad.
BEST LINE: "Now baby, don't get too deep on me, I might have to pull back ... I guess women sometimes like a jigsaw, sometimes you get a lick, sometimes you get ripped off.
I Don't F*** With You (ft.
E-40) —
This is the sort of track you'd blare through your house after your parents leave for the night when you're in middle school. However, it does start with a pleasant (almost) soulful beat, but it goes south from there. It's a typical DJ Mustard production, which is good for certain artists, but it doesn't feel like that's what Sean is trying to do on this album. E-40 felt a little bizarre on this track as well. Sean's verse towards the end does help out the track, and is one of the better verses on the record, but it doesn't make up for the made-for-radio beat DJ Mustard put under the vocals.
Play No Games (feat. Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign)—
It isn't actually Big Sean's fault that this song is bad. It's the Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign disaster that essentially overwhelms this track. The topic this song tackles — "games" played in relationships — is better dealt with in other tracks by Sean himself. There's just a lot going on with the production from Key Wayne, and the hook from Chris Brown — with some contributions from Ty — interrupts the flow Sean has going. This track feels like a one-lane street with cars going both ways.
Edited by Victoria Kirk and Garrett Long
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