April 6, 2017 34st.com
april 6
LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR
2017
LOL
I only have one thing that I really, really care about during my tenure as Editor–in–Chief: leaving the magazine off in better shape than when I first received it. Of course, I didn't know at the time what that would entail. I didn't realize it would mean restructuring to include four days of new online content. I had no clue it would involve cutting the Round Up. And of course, I never could have possibly dreamed that it meant a shift from Thursday to Wednesday print. 34th Street will be printed on Wednesday next semester. What does this mean? It means more publicity. It means more exposure. It gives the magazine a chance to breathe on its own, establish its own brand and have a presence on campus that it's never before had. Street won't be hidden in the confines of a print Daily Pennsylvanian anymore, it will have the chance to exist autonomously. Big changes aren't just in store for Street though. The print Daily Pennsylvanian will be offered Mondays and Thursdays, as opposed to four days a week. This focused shift towards a stronger, faster online presence means one thing: we're making good on our promise to be better. We're allowing print products the time and energy they need to truly be great while also driving our attention further towards what really matters: quality journalism and sharp reporting. My biggest goal is to leave Street having improved, having grown under me. I truly believe this will help the magazine, and I am unbelievably proud and excited to lead 34th Street through the transition.
3 HIGHBROW
hit it or quit it, overheards, 9 cricles of penn hell
4 WORD ON THE STREET queer and asian
5 EGO
eotw, CAPS
7 MUSIC
Women who changed music
8 VICE & VIRTUE
death by cosmetics, huntsman hell
LOL
LOL
LOL
LOL
10 FEATURE
pro–life feminism
12 TECH
quiet place, canvas app
14 F&TV
this is us, tv moms
16 ARTS
James Oliver Gallery, Excelano
18 LOWBROW LOL
wow
Orly Greenberg, Editor–in–Chief Dani Blum, Managing Editor Chloe Shakin, Audience Engagement Director Sofie Praestgaard, Design Director Corey Fader, Photo Director Remi Lederman, Features Editor David Murrell, Features Editor Emily Schwartz, Word on the Street Editor Nick Joyner, Film & TV Editor Elena Modesti, Highbrow Editor Michael Coyne, Ego Editor Zoe Albano-Oritt, Vice & Virtue Editor Talia Sterman, Music Editor Morgan Potts, Tech Editor Katie Marshall, Lowbrow Editor Jillian Karande, Music Beat Mark Paraskevas, Music Beat Angela Huang, Music Beat Jamie Gobreski, Music Beat 2
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STREET SUPPORTS TAKE BACK THE NIGHT.
TONIGHT, 6 P.M., BODEK LOUNGE IN HOUSTON.
STAND WITH SURVIVORS.
END THE SILENCE. Dalton Destefano, Film & TV Beat Michaela Reitano, Film & TV Beat Brooke DiGia, Film & TV Beat Annika Iyer, Ego Beat Julia Bell, Ego Beat Jackie Lawyer, Ego Beat Caroline Harris, Highbrow Beat Nick Castoria, Highbrow Beat Alix Steerman, Highrow Beat Claire Schmidt, Lowbrow Beat Andrea Begleiter, Lowbrow Beat Andreas Pavlou, Vice & Virtue Beat Gomian Konneh, Vice & Virtue Beat Aliya Chaudhry, Tech Beat Annabelle Williams, Tech Beat Colin Lodewick, Arts Beat Linda Lin, Arts Beat Staff Writers: Emily Rush, Haley Weiss, Lily Snider, Michelle Pereira, Shilpa Saravanan, Steph Barron, Bowman Cooper, Julie Levitan,
Emily Cieslak, Lauren Donato, Sabrina Qiao Zack Greenstein, Design Editor Carissa Zou, Design Editor Teagan Aguirre, Design Editor Gloria Yuen, Illustrator Anne Marie Grudem, Illustrator Autumn Powell, Photo Editor Brinda Ramesh, Photo Editor Young Lee, Video Editor Emily Hason, Video Editor Kyler McVay, Copy Director Paola Ruano, Copy Editor Erin Farrell, Copy Editor Lea Eisenstein, Copy Editor Perren Carillo, Copy Editor Sofia Price, Social Media Editor Cole Bauer, Social Media Editor
Maya Rosenberg, Social Media Editor Blake Brashear, Social Media Editor Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by Corey Fader, Autumn Powell, Brinda Ramesh and Dayzia Terry Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Orly Greenberg, Editor–in–Chief, at greenberg@dailypennsylvanian.com. You can also call us at (215) 422-4640. www.34st.com "People still like Beyonce, right?" ©2017 34th Street Magazine, The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc. No part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express, written consent of the editors (but I bet we will give you the a-okay). All rights reserved. 34th Street Magazine is published by The Daily Pennsylvanian, Inc., 4015 Walnut St., Philadelphia, Pa., 19104, every Thursday.
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HIGHBROW
CIRCLES OF HELL:
PENN EDITION
Welcome to Amy's inferno
ANDREA BEGLEITER Photo: Jheronimus Bosch/ Creative Commons
over heard PENN at
Girl who knows how to toe the line: He's hot but he's my TA. But if I tripped and fell on his dick, I wouldn't say no.
I
. LIMBO: WAITING FOR AN EXAM TO BE CURVED Is my 35 going to transcend the earthly realm to heaven and turn into an 80 or what?
II
. LUST: PDA IN VP I don’t know whose life is more depressing, them or me? “Howling darkness of helpless discomfort” seems about right.
III
. GLUTTONY: HOUSTON SUSHI BAR AT 12:15PM Crowds wallow in despair, victims to their gluttony. So desperate to satisfy their cravings they don’t acknowledge their neighbors. Waiting an eternity for a lukewarm teriyaki bowl. The only thing worse is trying to fight past the mob to get some edamame.
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. GREED: GOLDMAN SACHS INFO SESSION A “nation of lost souls” fights among themselves with resumes and marketable skills. It’s tough to make it out of this one alive. . WRATH: A MIDTERM THE MONDAY AFTER FLING THIS CAN’T BE LEGAL.
V
VI
. HERESY: WHEN THE PREACHER (YOU KNOW THE ONE) DECIDES TO VISIT CAMPUS Nothing gets you in the mood for class like getting called a “porno freak” while walking down Locust.
VII
. VIOLENCE: CLUB ELECTIONS It just can’t be that serious and yet somehow it always is.
HIT IT OR QUIT IT
VIII
.
FRAUD: OVERHEARING HUBBUB COFFEE CHATS Listening to someone talk about how as the “Executive Undersecretary” of their consulting club they get “legitimate professional experience” is painful for all. Boy, we know your only job is to organize three BYOs a semester.
IX
. TREACHERY: GETTING A BAD PARTICIPATION GRADE The deepest circle of hell. If you’re in here it means your TA is as bad as Judas. I mean, you actually showed up to recitation semi–conscious every other week. You even went on Canvas sometimes and downloaded the reading. Aren’t TA’s supposed to be on our side??
HIT IT: REAL NEWS QUIT IT: FAKE NEWS
Almost definitely a Whartonite: I just like really want to be involved in some sort of insider trading. Confused frosh: Zeta is a frat, not a sorority. I got MERTed there! First Girl in SDT Kitchen: How does Passover work? Second Girl: You can't eat anything that rises. First Girl: You can't eat dick?!?
HIT IT: SPEC QUIT IT: SCAM
HIT IT: FLASHCARDS & FLING In a time when we’ve derived terms for openly Even if you aren’t happy with this year’s Fling lineup, QUIT IT: FORGET EVERYTHING & FLING lying to the public as if it was no big deal, some you should still be happy we weren’t scammed out of Since Fling is the week before finals this year, it's right about now that many people realize they might have to sacrifice partying for studying. But we'd argue that studying is exactly what Fling was made for. Bring your flashcards to the darty and reward yourself with one shot for every card you get right. Need to write a paper? Download Google Docs and type away during your Uber to Pool Party. There’s a reason why PV and VP are so similar. Who says you can’t chase your dreams while chasing your drinks at the same time? We definitely don’t.
activists are fighting back to turn fake news back into real news. California has started an initiative to help people differentiate between real news and fake news. However, we should ask ourselves: was the news ever real? While we’d like to think so, we must consider some forgotten stories that lead us to believe the media has been hiding things from us for longer than we suspect. 1: Where is Owen Wilson? 2: How much corn was killed in the making of Trump’s toupee? 3: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
our money, like Emory, for thinking we’d booked Zedd and Tinashe when we’d really booked Fedd and Finashe (fake versions of the real thing). Sadly, the student event planning committee for Emory University in Atlanta thought they’d book their hometown homies, Migos, but had really been scammed by a con–artist. Now they are scrambling to find a replacement while also filing a lawsuit. If they don’t find someone else to perform, maybe they’ll be the first people to have a “silent disco” that requires you to BYO music and headphones. Handle with care because those things crumble just as fast as our lives during midterms. A P R I L 6 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E
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WORD ON THE STREET
word on the STREET During one of my first mixers after joining a sorority, a very drunk (and very predatory) frat boy called me a lesbian and tried to throw me out of the house after I pulled him off of my sorority sister. Another time, I was blatantly rejected from a party while they let in my friend. Both garishly dressed like provocative leprechauns for Saint Patrick’s day, the two of us only had one noticeable difference, that being our race— she is white, I am Asian. And that’s just the tip of the goddamn iceberg. The word “intersectionality” is thrown around a lot as a buzzword these days. It refers to the way institutions such as race, gender, sexuality and disability coincide with one another. And it affects a lot of the experiences I have, especially at Penn. Being in a classroom or in a GBM and seeing faces that are so unlike mine is so tragically normal, but the worst part of it is that these places never reveal any intention to change to include me. So if the system I am a part of constantly rejects so many fundamental dimensions of who I am, why am I a part of it? My identity was never something I’d contended with before coming to college. In my safe little haven of Diamond Bar, California, we were all the same. Same zip code, same interests, same backgrounds. My neighborhood was homogenous in every sense of the word: ethnically, socioeconomically, politically. Everyone looked like me, dressed like me, talked like me. Then, I got to Penn. Penn, this supposed pillar of progressivism, where the social scene is predominantly Greek, straight and white. Have you noticed that most groups within the cultural houses don’t—for lack of a better word—fraternize with the predominant social scene? I did, and assumed that it was a proactive segregation. Why couldn’t people like me at least try to fit in? 4
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I HAVE NO SAFE SPACE ANGELA HUANG And that’s when the self–hatred began. I desperately wanted to belong, but I felt ostracized. People told me at parties, unwarranted, that they had a “thing for Asians.” I saw girls put chopsticks in their hair and drape bathrobes on themselves as kimonos for “Asian” mixers. I was told that I had to be “lucky” to be the “token Asian” of a pledge class. That is how I learned that I was seen as a caricature, a quota, a minority accessory to white populations on campus. That is how I learned I would have to accept such shitty treatment. I
was a big, yellow splotch in a white space. I’m going to come out (get it?) and say it: I’m bisexual. There aren’t a lot of openly queer women at Penn, and I never asserted myself as one of them. My sexuality was tucked away not out of convenience, but out of safety. It had made some friends feel uncomfortable and had revealed the dark biases of some others. I’m still haunted by the times I’ve hooked up with girls at parties to be met with the jeers of entitled, ignorant boys and the judging looks of other girls. A safe space, according to Oxford Dictionary, is “a place or environment in which a person or category of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment or any other emotional or physical harm.” The idea of a “safe space”
Navigating being a queer woman of color in a straight, white space. doesn’t exist for me. I have to stay racially neutral in most situations—dating, applying for jobs and everything in between—to avoid being tokenized, fetishized, commodified or all three. Since coming out would result in definite disownment, my parents might never know that their daughter occasionally dates women: a huge no–no in Chinese culture. The intersection of being queer and being Asian is like otherness raised to the second power. I am doubly sexualized as the submissive Asian bi chick, ready for both your threesome and your weird anime fixation. So I joined a sorority as a reactionary device. I wanted to be a part of the overarching social scene at Penn. I glossed over my queerness and colored–ness through rush and during all the events that followed. Straightness was assumed: I talked only about the boys I was in love with and not all the girls. I ducked in hallways to speak Chinese to my parents: my ability to speak another language became a source of embarrassment, and occasionally a fun party trick. I’m not trying to bash these institutions. Being a part of these different organizations has afforded me so many different experiences, and I’m appreciative of that. Yet, it felt like I couldn’t join a formal community that I completely fit into, so I found my own. I’m so grateful for the friends that I’ve found in cultural centers, Greek life and everywhere in between. Even though there aren’t a lot of queer women of color that I know, there are a lot of people who will listen to my experiences as one. And to me, that means everything and remedies most. I’m still trying to define and navigate intersectionality for myself. I know I’m not the only one reconciling with these strange puzzle pieces that constitute this complex creature known as identity, these tricky parts that aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. It’s getting less and less scary to just be who I am, so much so that I’m almost proud to be me. All of me.
EGO
EGO OF THE WEEK: SASHA AND STEPHAN LECORPS Onda Latina dance troupe leaders talk body–rolls, creativity, and life as a twin.
Street: Describe the other twin. Stephan: Sasha—I’ll say ridiculous…He talks a lot of shit—not about people or anything mean like that, but like he’ll just say some stupid shit all the time and…obviously a lot of people find it funny. Sasha: Stephan is low–key. Stephan keeps a very like reserved image on the outside, but deep inside….he’s like me. He’ll say ridiculous stuff too, he just doesn’t say it out loud or in front of other people. He thinks it, or he’ll say it under his breath.
feeling in the shower! I’d definitely say a lot of R&B… baby–making music I guess, but not like— Stephan: —that sounded awkward— Sasha: —That sounded very awkward. Not like that— Stephan: —You see, ridiculous! (both laugh) Sasha: I’m just trying to get clean, that’s all. I’m just taking a shower… I sing different stuff—hip hop, R&B, soul music, jazz. My favorite artist is D’Angelo. I sing a lot of his songs in the shower. I’m a huge Miguel fan, Frank Ocean. Stephan: I stay strictly R&B. I Street: Who’s the better dancer? like Miguel, I like Frank Ocean, Stephan: Me. but I also like The Weekend, JusSasha: No, that’s me! tin Timberlake, this Canadian Stephan: If you ask each each group called The Vision. one of us we’re just going to say ourselves. Street: Go–to drunk food? Sasha: Can’t go wrong with McStreet: Better fashion sense? Donald’s—quarter pounder with Sasha: That’s me. some fries and a medium Sprite, Stephan: Yeah, Sasha dresses bet- and then you regret it in the ter than I do, but that’s because morning. he cares more. Stephan: I’ll say either 20 piece Sasha: You’re just a hater. McNuggets, or you go to WishStephan: So if you know us as bone and hit the dark meat and people, it kinda reflects in our the mac and cheese. dressing style. Sasha’s a little more out there, he’ll wear more like Street: If you had to pick a type of lighter colors, like flamboyant cheese to match your personality clothes. While me, I’m a little what would it be and why? more reserved…more neutral Sasha: Stephan is like cheddar stuff. I'm just trying to chill. or American...he’s safe. Stephan is reliable, trusted, practical, just Street: Cheetah girls or Spice like you know, safe choice. Get a girls? burger with cheddar or American. Stephan: I would say Cheetah Stephan: I’ll say American beGirls…I watched a little bit of cause Sasha’s fake. No I’m joking, Raven back in the day. hmm…I would say like a string Sasha: I would have to go with cheese, Spice Girls. Raven went off a Sasha: Oh my god! little bit, Raven’s a little coo–coo. Stephan: No, I’m kidding. I Adrienne is still one of my celeb- would say I dunno like…a blue rity crushes…but Spice Girls are cheese. It doesn’t look that intera classic. esting, but then when you bite Street: Do you sing in the show- into it all of a sudden it’s like, who er? If so, what? is this guy? Sasha: Depends on what I’m
BY MICHELLE PEREIRA
Street: Can you fit your fist in your mouth? Can you fit your fists in each others mouths? Both: No no no no no. Sasha: I never want to try that, either.
Sasha: There are the shepherds things like—you know I got an and there are the blind sheep…. internship at BCG, and do this and that, and they’re unhappy, Street: Which one are you? you know, we kinda notice it. Sasha: I think we’re both shep- Stephan: There are those who do herds. We see what people are do- all the readings in class and those ing and we’re like, ‘Why are you who don’t. Street: There are two types of peo- doing that?’ A lot of people do ple at Penn…
NAME: SASHA LECORPS
NAME: STEPHAN LECORPS
HOMETOWN: BALDWIN, NY
HOMETOWN: BALDWIN, NY
MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE, COGNITIVE SCIENCE
MAJOR: HEALTH AND SOCIETIES, BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR, CHEMISTRY
INVOLVEMENTS: ONDA LATINA, GRUPO QUISQUEYANO, CIPACTLI HONORS SOCIETY
INVOLVEMENTS: ONDA LATINA, AFTER SCHOOL ARTS PROGRAM, CIPACTLI HONORS SOCIETY, OSIRIS SENIOR SOCIETY
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EGO
LEAVING CAPS BEHIND
And opting for Skype instead. BY JULIA BELL When Kyra* is in class, her therapist is sleeping. When she sits down to eat dinner, her therapist is just beginning to wake up for the day. Although Kyra studies at Penn, her therapist lives in their shared hometown in Korea. Philadelphia is eleven hours behind Korean time, so when Kyra Skypes her therapist at 8:00 a.m., it’s 7:00 p.m. in Korea. Kyra and her therapist have been working together since 2011, when Kyra was still in high school. Now, she is a College junior, and they communicate mostly through Skype video calls and occasionally over the phone. Even though Skype isn’t an ideal way to communicate—the video is often blurry and glitchy—their relationship works. “You're not seeing someone at CAPS with the intention of
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sticking with them for however many years you need in order to feel better,” Kyra explains. Kyra is among an assortment of Penn students who seek therapy outside of the school–provided Counseling And Psychological Services (CAPS). Although CAPS is prominently promoted by Penn for anyone experiencing mental health concerns, some students decide to use other resources. On two separate occasions, Kyra sought help at CAPS. The first time, in 2012, the wait to see a clinician was almost a month long, and she did not attend the appointment. The second time, a CAPS practitioner referred her to another therapist in Center City, but Kyra found the transportation too daunting to continue going. “If I’m struggling going to class two minutes away from my
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room, how do you expect me to make my way all the way to 16th Street every week?” Kyra said. “If I can make my way there, I think it already proves I am better—which I was not.” Because CAPS uses a briefer model of therapy—generally a few sessions per semester—to accommodate for its high demand, students usually have to find other outlets for more sustained treatment. CAPS has a network of referrals that they use to place students with other doctors in Philadelphia for specialized or longer–term treatment. “Some people come and they may have had a therapist before. They are interested in a long– term relationship, maybe for several years,” Dr. Bill Alexander, the Director of CAPS, said. “And we say that they’re better off finding someone in the community.
Like Kyra, Elly* decided to continue seeing her therapist from high school when she enrolled in Penn this fall. She takes a forty minute–long train ride to her hometown for her monthly appointments. Elly also cited the benefit of continuing an established relationship with her therapist. “It’s really hard to develop a connection—it took me a year and a half to get there with Eileen,” Elly said, “so I didn’t want to abandon that when I had the option of taking a five dollar train ride and seeing someone who knew my history.” However, Melanie* didn't have a therapist from home who she could see in college. She went to a few sessions at CAPS, but decided to go someplace else after she didn’t get along well with the therapist she was assigned. “To be honest, I felt like she was very judgey,” she said of her CAPS practitioner. She now sees a different CAPS–recommended therapist in Center City, whom she is fond of. Although CAPS allows students to switch therapists,
Melanie was apprehensive after her initial bad experience. Private practices allow clients to sample many different therapists in short phone conversations to see which one is the best fit. “Every time you switch, you have to start over, basically,” she said, “and I didn’t want to have to recount things that were traumatizing to me, over and over again.” However, many students at Penn don’t have the ability to go outside the CAPS system. For students who would prefer that their parents don’t know they’re seeing a therapist, or do not have the financial resources to afford the copay, the only option is CAPS. According to Melanie, CAPS–referred therapists cost between $120 and $180 per session, which is obstructive for some students. Referrals are essential to make sure the CAPS waitlist is short for incoming students. Currently, it is eight days long—although Dr. Alexander says it traditionally gets longer as finals approaches. * indicates name has been changed
MUSIC
THE WOMEN WHO
In honor of the close of Women’s History Month, Street Beats is showcasing some of the women in history—herstory, if you will—who changed the music industry.
CHANGED MUSIC ARETHA FRANKLIN It’s hard not to R–E–S–P–E– C–T this woman for all her contributions to music. One of the biggest selling female artists of all time, Aretha Franklin started her career at age five, when she sang gospel tunes in her preacher father’s traveling revival show. Franklin then came into her own as a full–fledged gospel singer and sang chart–topping hits like “Chain of Fools” and, of course, “Respect.” Her powerhouse pipes have inspired many musicians, from Whitney Houston to Beyoncé, and landed her a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—she's the first female christened with the title.
folksy hits like “Big Yellow Taxi” and “Both Sides Now” and quickly became one of the most celebrated artists of her time. The highest ranking female guitarist on Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” Mitchell is known for her unique open guitar tunings that she developed so she could play them with her polio–weakened left hand. Her music demonstrates her full artistry: as the producer, writer and illustrator of her award–winning albums, Mitchell creates beautifully relatable art that's vulnerable and powerful all at once.
CLARA SCHUMANN
Remember Miley Stewart’s swan dress on Hannah Montana? That was inspired by alt–indie goddess Björk. Credited with bringing eclectic, artsy indie to the mainstream, Björk's made a career out of the weird. The Icelandic musician’s multidimensional approach to music manifests itself in the genre–bending nature of her art, and her otherworldly creativity knows no bounds. From creating new instruments with MIT engineers to creating app albums, Bjork’s avant garde yet pop style has widened the lens of the music industry.
The girl just wanted to have fun–damental rights: classical composer and pianist Clara Schumann’s talent and plight carved her legacy for years to come. Born in the 1800's as Clara Wieck, the classical musician was expected to stay home and play a woman’s role, not make music. Schumann had to sue her father in order to marry her husband, Robert Schumann. One of the first musicians to play the piano from memory, as well as one of the earliest acclaimed female composers, Schumann sadly quit composing at age 36 because “a woman must not desire to compose.” Still, her legacy (and gorgeous concertos) live on.
JONI MITCHELL
MADONNA
Ah, the '70s: hippies, flower power and great music. Joni Mitchell rose to popularity during the Vietnam War era with
The “Queen of Pop” is the most (in)famous musical icon in history. Historians compare her impact to that of the legendary
BJÖRK
Beatles and Elvis Presley. And with good reason—through scandal and skill, Madonna shattered the male–dominated 80s music scene. Raised as a devout Catholic, Madonna rebelled against her religious upbringing after her mother’s death. Her ties to religion inspired much of her music as well as her pseudonym. Through constant reinvention, exploration of taboo topics like sex, queerness and religion and sheer talent, Madonna became a global cultural icon and subverted expectations of women, hit by hit.
RIOT GRRRL BANDS From Bikini Kill to Bratmobile, the Riot Grrrl movement changed the face of feminism. Touted for being one of the
ANGELA HUANG
forbearers of modern–day third wave feminism, Riot Grrrl rock arose as a response to a still very male–dominated society. Groups of girls banded together to make punk music and zines that subverted gender roles and broke musical barriers.
SELENA Quintanilla, not Gomez. The Tejana pop star that suffered a tragic death left a lasting impact on the music world. Selena was a cultural figure that united the Latin population and introduced a new genre of music to the mainstream. A Mexican– American who never compromised her heritage, Selena represented the manifestation of the American dream and was dear to her people. Before her star could get brighter, the singer
was tragically shot—uniting the nation in tragedy. J. Lo owes her career to her, and Selena Gomez her namesake. MISSY ELLIOT Q: Is it worth it? A: Yes, let Missy work it. Emcee Missy Elliot paved the way for women in the testosterone–heavy world of hip–hop. From her poverty–stricken, abuse–ridden youth, Elliot's made power moves to become the most influential female rapper in history. Missy Elliot teamed up with longtime–friend Timbaland in the 90s to achieve this feat. Her music was always progressive in its incorporations of eclectic samples and unabashedly feminist, always witty and hard–hitting lyrics.
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VICE & VIRTUE
DEATH BY
COSMETICS Though the #nomakeup trend is alive and well today, it’s still rare to find people without a daily makeup routine or (at least) a three–step skincare regimen. New personal care products are put on the market every day, all with the promise of beautifying results. I almost never hesitate to try a new facial cleanser advertising clearer
skin or a new mascara promising longer, fuller lashes. We all want to look and feel our best, but at what cost? While beauty companies promise us fresh faces and de–frizzed hair, they neglect to tell us what ingredients actually give us these results. The United States has very little regulation of cosmetic products compared to other
countries. The European Union has banned and restricted the use of close to 1,400 chemicals in cosmetics and Canada has banned around 600, while the United States has only banned the use of 12. The last time major legislation was passed to regulate the ingredients used in cosmetics was in 1938. With current FDA regulation, cos-
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metic companies ensure their products’ own safety and are not required to report their safety information. This gives cosmetic companies the ability to cut corners when testing their products for harmful chemicals. As a result, many ingredients in personal care products have ties to cancer, organ toxicity and liver damage. Now that this information has been publicized, different resources have become available to consumers who have concerns about the toxins in their cosmetics. The Environmental Working Group has a database of information on hundreds of cosmetic companies and products with safety ratings for each. This is a useful resource for anyone interested in learning about the ingredients in their personal care products and the possible effects of those ingredients. As concern about cosmetic safety has grown, many companies have launched lines of organic makeup products. RMS Beauty and Ilia are both organic, toxin–free makeup brands that are sold at Sephora. Another option is BeautyCounter, which is a company devoted to the use of safe ingredients. The company has banned the use of over 1,500 chemicals in their products and even published a Never List of chemicals that
should be avoided in all cosmetics. BeautyCounter sells a wide variety of personal care products all with the promise of higher safety standards. Safecosmetics.org also has a handy info chart that tells you what ingredients to avoid when shopping for beauty products. So, the real question becomes: what do we do with all of this information? Most likely, nothing. It is extremely difficult to avoid all products with potentially “toxic” or “harmful” ingredients these days. Like hell if I’m going to stop highlighting my hair or polishing my nails, and I sure don’t plan on throwing away all the cosmetics I’ve ever purchased. When I searched my Redken Color Extend Shampoo on the EWG database, I learned it was considered a high–risk product, but I continue to wash my hair with it anyways. This information, though, brings awareness to the risks we take when we choose to use cosmetics with potentially harmful chemicals. If you feel so inclined, swap out your harmful products for all–natural ones. Or, continue on. I probably will. The choice is yours. MCKAY NORTON
VICE & VIRTUE
A GUIDE TO EASTERN MEDICINE IN PHILLY MARIA RILLO
Photo: Public Domain Pictures | cc 2.0
Locations and prices online at 34st.com
Because sometimes, SHS just doesn’t cut it.
Eastern Medicine encompasses everything from acupuncture and herbal medicines to special massage techniques and dietary therapy. Most of it is derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM for short), is built on a foundation of 2,500–5,000 years of Chinese medical practice and encompasses The practice is based on the Taoist philosophy and notion that the body’s energy circulates through channels called meridians. TCM has become wildly popular in the United States, tripling in the last 20 years due to its success in offering an effective alternative to Western pharmaceuticals. Additionally, TCM is often covered by insurance. If you’re looking for an alternative or supplement to SHS, here are some notable places in Philly:
Founder Aaron Cashman holds a Master's of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTCM) and is working on his Doctorate. Cashman specifically focuses on acupuncture, offering Five–Element Acupuncture, Trigger Point Acupuncture and Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture. Acupuncture is used to treat pain, stress, digestive issues and women’s wellness. Services also include other TCM: cupping, herbal medicine, nutritional and lifestyle recommendations., etc. As a certified yoga instructor, Chasman also works yoga and Tai Qi in with the patient.
WELL–POINT ORIENTAL MEDICINE
SIX FISHES
Run by three certified practitioners (one of whom is running two clinical trials at Penn), Well–Point Oriental Medicine offers a traditional range of TCM, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, massage techniques and psychological services. Their treatments are recommended for all of those who are experiencing digestive, respiratory, neurological, skin and emotional problems. Their acupuncture appointments start out much like regular doctor’s visits, asking about health history and taking vitals. Well–Point promises to ensure a safe space and services.
Offering two locations in Philly, Six Fishes was founded in 1991 by Cara Frank, an expert in Chinese medicine. Their mission is “to promote health and healing for people in every phase of life,” according to their site, and they believe that “Chinese medicine is a practical modality to treat disease, alleviate suffering and promote wellness.” Their services include private and semi–private acupuncture treatments, Chinese herbs and consultation, cupping, gua sha, facial rejuvenation, moxibustion, homeopathy, nutritional counseling and massage therapy.
PHILADELPHIA MIND BODY
SPONSORED ®
BEER OF THE WEEK: Allagash white BEER CLASSIFICATION: Belgian Witbier or White BEER HISTORY: Popular style from the 1400s, which raged in popularity in 1700s. Then style fell out popularity and bordered on extinction. Revived in 1966 by Pierre Celis, an eager milkman turned homebrewer FAMILIAR: Avery White Rascal, Ommegang Witte, Hoegardaan GREAT WITH: Corn & Crab Hushpuppies or Proscuitto & Fig Pizza FUN FACT: Signature ingredients in all Belgian Witbiers- coriander & orange peel, providing pretty sweet & spice compliment to the soft wheat flavor
Kirav Patel Senior in ZBT, Studying Finance
If your go-to drink is an Allagash White, you’re definitely not alone. Officially THE most popular beer at City Tap’s across Philadelphia and D.C. and winner of countless awards, Allagash White has a rapidly growing group of admirers spreading from coast to coast. Known for its refreshing, yet flavorful profile, Allagash White is an American take on a Belgium Witbier (“White Beer”) with a strong essence of curaçao orange peel and coriander. From start to finish, drinking Allagash White is an incredibly pleasant experience even if you are not a beer lover. It’s as drinkable as a corona lime with an even bolder fruit and spice profile. Next time you are out, order an Allagash White. Or try an Allagash Beermosa at City Tap, a delicious take on a morning favorite.You will see yourself downing drink after drink and might have a new favorite beer in the process. After all, there is a reason that everyone from Philadelphia to Los Angeles is falling in love with this beer. A P R I L 6 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E
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ast fall, Andrea Pascual (W’17) walked out of Harrison high–rise to head to class for the day. All along Locust Walk were chalked pro–life messages. “Human equality starts in the womb,” one read outside Van Pelt in big block letters. Andrea recalled one in particular that included a phone number, publicizing pro–life resources available in Philadelphia. The next day when she emerged from her dorm, the writing had been crossed out, partially washed away, illegible across the red bricks. Now it was covered with new pro–choice messages promoting Planned Parenthood. “That was so heartbreaking for me because it was just this total lack of dialogue,” Andrea said. “This was just completely trying to invalidate a stance different from your own.” With the November election of Donald Trump, who has threatened to defund Planned Parenthood, and the establishment of the student group Quakers for Life, divisions of pro–life versus pro–choice have re–emerged as a point of contention on campus. On a liberal campus like Penn’s, the vocal majority identify as pro–choice. And while some pro–life students feel comfortable voicing their convictions, others are hesitant, fearing the reactions of their peers and professors. In this atmosphere, it can be difficult to foster constructive dialogue––evidence of a bigger problem in how we characterize, treat and communicate with our peers. “I have spent four years on this campus and I’ve never talked about something like this with someone,” Andrea confessed.
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n her time at Penn, Andrea served as the President of the Newman Center, a community for Catholic students on campus. And while pro–life students call on different reasons to support their beliefs, Andrea’s faith has undoubtedly influenced her position. “What I first think about is pro–life in regards to not aborting babies and defending the lives of the innocent and the defenseless in that sense, and giving them the chance to live that they were afforded by God,” Andrea explained. Michael Moroz (C’20, W’20) also cited his religious beliefs as a foundation of his pro–life stance. “In Judaism there’s definitely an aversion to abortion except in certain circumstances like the life of the mother for 1 0 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E A P R I L 6 , 2 017
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example,” he said. “But I wouldn’t say that the argument for life is at all dependent on the religious arguments, there are a lot of secular arguments to be made.” These secular arguments can vary greatly from person to person. “I recognize not everyone believes that the Bible is true, not everyone believes in Christianity. My belief that abortion is immoral comes from really two things. Number one, a belief in human equality, and number two the scientific evidence,” said Quakers for Life founder Eric Hoover (W’19), who believes a fertilized embryo fulfills the basic biological criteria for life. “As far as my faith goes, yeah, I am a Christian, but even if I weren’t Christian, I would still be pro–life just because of the wealth of evidence that I believe to be on that side.” Andrea also strikes a balance between her conviction in Catholic pro–life philosophy and secularism, which for her resembles certain tenets more commonly associated with contemporary feminism. “I plan on working for a long time. I don’t plan on getting married in two months and staying at home and oh, I’m okay with accepting less than equal wage. No,” she emphasized. “That’s not me. I’m a strong educated woman as every woman here at Penn is.” That said, she still shied from using the word feminist. Like other pro–life women, Andrea has found that today’s feminism is not wholly inclusive of those who don’t identify as pro–choice. “Of course I’m for equal rights for men and women,” she said. “But, I think it’s a really interesting question to grapple with just because of the term and what it’s been distorted on so many sides to mean.” Some of the disconnect might come from the framing of pro–life as being antiwoman—a point where Andrea sees room for reconciliation between the two sides. To her, being pro–life and pro–women are not
mutually exclusive positions; rather, both pursue the same goal to serve and support women. “If pro–choice really claims to be prowomen and pro–women’s rights then they should be able to engage in that dialogue,” she said. “And I say that because at the end of the day, pro–life people believe that abortion is really harmful to women.” ***
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round the time of the election, Stephanie Spinosa (N’18) was sitting in an Ethics course in the Nursing school when the professor opened up the floor to the class to discuss the recent election of Donald Trump. “In my experience, if you’re pro–life people assumed, ‘oh you’re voting for Trump and you stand for all of these ideologies.’ It’s almost like the stereotyping that we [combat] on this campus,” Stephanie said. She recalled her professor finishing off the class by saying something to the effect of, “‘Of course, if anyone has any other different opinions, you’re more than welcome to share, but I’m assuming because you’re all nursing students at a progressive university that you won’t have views different than these.’” As a nursing student, Stephanie has found that the majority of peers and professors she interacts with assume that to be a good nurse, one has to be pro–choice. The fear is that pro–life nurses, when faced with a woman potentially seeking resources for an abortion, will experience a crisis of conscience, a conflict fellow Nursing student Hannah Victor (N’17, L’18) has also encountered. “You have a typical scenario: you have a patient who wants an abortion, you’re personally against abortion. In the United States, abortion is legal, right? So they are in a sense entitled to that. So, then what do you do? Where does your conscious hit up against your responsibilities to your patients, your duties to them and their health care?” Hannah questioned. “I haven’t really practically figured out how to navigate
that. Maybe that would mean not putting myself in that sort of situation.” Despite these potential conflicts, both Stephanie and Hannah have found their pro–life beliefs actually intertwine seamlessly with the vocation of nursing. “I picture my pro–life views as perfectly aligned with the nursing profession because one of the main ideologies in the nursing profession is, we’re here to respect and care for the human person and their health through all stages of life,” Stephanie said. “So, for me, why aren’t we caring for the child in utero as they’re developing? I just consider that part of the spectrum.” “I believe nursing is fundamentally a pro–life field. So in that sense it ties very well to my ethic, my worldview of valuing human beings,” Hannah concurred. “Being a nurse affirms my commitment to being pro–life.” For Hannah, being pro–life is not just a single stance on a single political issue, but a core part of her personal morality. “Being pro–life is kind of like a world view,” she explained. “When we love people we’re affirming some part of their core identity and their inherent value. And so if that’s what it means to be pro–life, it’s something that affects every single part of your life and the way you deal with every single person, not just the unborn.” Stephanie and Hannah’s expanded interpretations of pro–life ideology responds to how it is sometimes pigeonholed to concentrate solely on abortion. “I’ve often heard fellow nursing students say, ‘If you’re pro–life then you need to respect life throughout the stages,’ and I totally agree with that,” Stephanie said. “My whole pro–life stance isn’t just about the baby in the womb, but it’s making sure that the baby and the toddler get the care they need...and caring for the elderly toward the end of their life. The pro–life stance and perspective goes across the whole lifespan.” “I’ve seen pro–life people who don’t appear to care about the mom, not care about her life, her situation and that’s distressing to me,” Hannah said. However, catering to this broader pro– life conception is not the aim of Quakers for Life. While Eric agreed many of the different causes addressed by a pro–life morality are “noble and just,” but explained that the limited resources of the group are focused on their most urgent goal: “protecting human life from being intentionally killed.”
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everal months after Quakers for Life was established, another organization, Penn for Reproductive Justice (PFRJ), was created with the goal of advocating for reproductive rights. When asked to be interviewed for this story, PFRJ co–chair Esther Cohen (C’18) declined to comment, writing in an email, “I would prefer not to be interviewed for any article that gives voice to the antichoice movement.” Haley Weiss (C’18), who works for 34th Street as a staff writer and is the other co– chair of PFRJ said, “We know that Penn is a mostly liberal campus, at least socially, and I personally at least would never have seen the need to create a group that would support values or views that are shared by most of the people at Penn until there’s a counter–group.” The focus on reproductive rights is a rhetorical change from the branding of ‘pro–choice.’ In not explicitly labelling the group as pro–choice, Haley believes that those who may not personally identify as pro–choice should still be able to work towards the goal of reproductive justice. “I know plenty of people who are looking forward to getting actively involved with the things that we are going to get moving on that have said to me like, ‘Look I don’t ever think I could have an abortion if I got pregnant,’ and like that’s totally fine. I don’t even know if I could,” she confessed. Like any other political movement or position, there is diversity in thought amongst those who engage with the prolife belief, and it isn’t confined to members of a particular political party. For instance, Jennifer Hu (W’20) joined Penn Republicans this year but identifies as pro–choice. “Personally, I might not want to engage in [abortion], but I still want to have the choice if I need to,” she said. Vice President of Penn Democrats Ari Goldfine (C’19) similarly noted the range of opinions that exist in the organization. “We do have some kind of Bob Casey– type Democrats, you know like personally pro–life, maybe Catholic Democrats but who politically support reproductive justice,” she said. To Eric, one can’t condone pro-choice ideology politically and self–identify as pro–life. “In that case, we would consider you pro–choice,” he said. Still, finding students on campus who are willing to speak out as either personally or politically pro–life is difficult. Penn College Republicans Communications Chair Rich Murphy wrote in an emailed statement, “Often members can
feel uncomfortable expressing their views because of the stigma affixed to being pro– life on campus.” This ‘stigma’ manifests outside of the pro–choice, pro–life debate as well. Ashton Pollard (C’18), a political science major, is also pro–life and considers herself conservative when it comes to other areas of politics. In her various political science classes, she often finds the conservative viewpoint to be underrepresented. She’s grown used to being assigned readings that denounce Republicans without offering any counteropinion. “It’s actually made me more conservative because the liberal ideology has just been shoved down my throat so much that it’s just made me mad,” she said. “I’ve had professors that are like, ‘Well, I can assume you all think this,’ and I’m just like, ‘No, you can’t assume that.’”
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akota Jones (C’19) remembers when Eric first posted about his new anti–abortion organization in the Class of 2019 Facebook group. Within 40 minutes, “it was a tire fire,” he said. “I think 20 different people were jumping down his throat saying how awful it is to be pro–life without ever really actually engaging the issue,” Dakota detailed. Dakota also serves as the Consul for the Polybian Society, a division of Penn’s Government and Politics Association which serves to create an open, non–partisan forum for political discussion on campus. On February 2, the Polybian Society partnered with Quakers for Life and Penn for Reproductive Justice to host a symposium on abortion. “It’s really important to sort of have that discussion where everyone is presenting their ideas and presenting their views so, that way, we can understand what the other side is saying,” Dakota said. Prior to Polybian’s symposium, it’s unclear when the last formalized discussion or debate took place on campus. It may have been as many as seven years ago, according to Dr. Felicity Paxton, Director of the Penn Women’s Center. “That’s the last one I remember students coming to me and saying, can you help us envision this event,” she said. “Unfortunately, I think all of those students are long gone.” In spite of these efforts to foster dialogue, even Dr. Paxton recognizes the difficulty of integrating women who identify as pro– life into the Center’s community. “I think it would be disingenuous for me to suggest
that a student who got involved with our student groups here would encounter lots and lots of pro–life voices,” Dr. Paxton said. “I mean there’s nothing preventing those kinds of dialogues except reluctance on both sides, which is something that is, as staff, we can’t solve that.” The lack of publicized dialogue taking place on a campus might also point to a lack of private dialogue on this issue. “I personally, before this year, don’t know how comfortable I would’ve felt discussing these things with someone I didn’t know that well,” Haley said. There’s a chance having opposing groups on campus like Quakers for Life and PFRJ may change that. “We want to create more dialogue, we want to get people talking on the issue, we want to argue for the pro–life cause in a respectful, yet logical and coherent manner,” Eric said. Change may also come by re–framing the debate. “I know the pro–choice movement doesn’t like to be characterized as the pro–abortion movement but I think a lot of their dialogue, especially on campus is kind of gearing towards that. And I think if the dialogue were to change, it would allow for more open conversation,” Andrea said. In re–examining the dialogue, there comes a hope that more common ground between the two sides might be found. “We all want to preserve life, we all want people to be fulfilling, it’s just pro–choice and pro–life people have different ideas about how to bring those two things together,” Jennifer said. Alternatively, the deep ideological entrenchment surrounding the debate on abortion can hinder discussion even if people do seek conflicting dialogues. “If you fundamentally and truly belief that abortion is murder, you are not here to compromise. If you believe that attacks on abortion are attacks on women’s independence and our agency over our bodies and ourselves, you’re not looking to compromise either,” Ari said. “I think it’s just unfortunately a Penn epidemic that we don’t value open dialogue or we say we do but then you never see it,” Andrea said. “If you were just willing to sit down and listen to people’s testimony and listen to people explain why it is they believe what they believe, then you’re going to get somewhere.” “But right now,” she said, “no one’s getting anywhere.”
A P R I L 6 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 1 1
TECH
Photo: Picjumbo / CC 0
IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE GET
SCREENSHOT NOTIFICATIONS LILY SNIDER
Surviving the Horrific Potential of iOS 11 Another day, another software update, another terrifying rumor. Though Apple has yet to make any formal statements on the topic, there have been whispers across the internet: with iOS 11, people will be notified when you screenshot their messages. GASP. What might your life look like in a world where your shade is always exposed? How can you react to this expo-
sure? Street is here to get you through the best ways to face this potential new era of human evolution. Scene: You have just downloaded iOS 11 on your iPhone like the technologically savvy, young millennial that you are. Wow! The updates, man! The new, fresh–looking interface! Suddenly, your ex–boy hits you with the bi–monthly, “You up?” text. Your fingers instinc-
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tively move to both the lock and home button and you simultaneously hit them, screenshotting that shit. You’re about to send it out to your group chat—they won’t believe he’s still doing this, ugh—when another text comes through: “Did you just screenshot me????” Welcome to iOS 11. Welcome to a world where people know when you're doing that
shit you always do. How can you respond? How can you be yourself anymore? How can you continue doing that shit you always do? Perhaps you should first reflect on your motives for screenshotting so often in the first place. Sometimes, you just want to communicate the experience to your friends in the purest way possible—you want them to see exactly what you saw. Or, you need advice and a screenshot is the fastest way to solicit it. You never even thought of it as a violation of privacy; everyone does it. But now, everyone can see it. And ex–boy's privacy is suddenly feeling very violated. So, you have to face the conflict, and this time you have to do it screenshot–free. Option 1: Deny, deny, deny. His phone is broken, or has a virus, or he’s seeing things. There’s no possible way the text was screenshotted. Start calling yourself Shaggy and repeat: “It wasn’t me.” (Ed. note: Fuckboys who screenshot nudes on snapchat tend to use this strategy, so it's totally believable.) Option 2: Pull the accident card. It was a butt–dial! Except it was a butt–screenshot, you know? Your phone was in your pocket, and when you sat down, the pressure between ass and seat was perfectly distributed in such a way that the
screenshot buttons were hit. Oops! So sorry! Option 3: Hit him with a legitimate argument. I mean, we’ve all already known that when we send a text, it can always be screenshotted and circulated. But, your ex–boy still went ahead and sent a risky text. He knew what he was getting himself into. Just because now he can see that you screenshotted it, it doesn’t make it wrong for you to have done so. Sorry not sorry. Option 4: Throw out your iPhone, abandon the world of technology and move to the woods. Honestly, not a bad idea. You should probably do this even if you don’t get caught screenshotting a text. Option 5: Don't abandon the world of technology, and instead utilize the many options that our techy world provides for us. Promise yourself that you will never fall into this trap again. Switch to an Android, or use an iPod touch, camera or even laptop to take real pictures of your conversations. Nifty! Option 6: Swear off iMessage. Alert your friends, family and ex–lovers that you will now be exclusively communicating through email, WhatsApp (for the bold people who are down with constant read receipts) or carrier pigeon.
TECH
YOUR
INSTAGRAM FEED WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
Photo: Perzonseo Webbyra / CC 2.0
New updates include security codes and sensitivity screens Your Instagram feed will now feature more fuzzy photos—and this time, it's not just about image quality. Instagram will now blur out sensitive posts. Additionally, a content warning will appear on top of the image stating, “This photo contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing.” This screen can be removed by tapping “See Photo” at the bottom of the post. Instagram’s original posting restrictions will still be in effect, meaning the screen will be applied to posts that don’t violate these restrictions but are still considered sensitive. Users can report a post as sensitive, and Instagram’s team will review the post and decide whether to add the content warning. What does that mean for your Insta? Penn students discussed some of the ways people might react to this change. “I think there’s going to be issues with freedom of speech, but at the same time I think if something has been reported a lot, obviously there is an issue with it. So personally, I might be appreciative of the fact that I can not have to see things I might not want to see and it allows me to make that decision,” said Lamis Elsawah (E
’19). “There are people on Instagram who are really young…12–year–olds looking at images they probably shouldn’t be,” she added. According to The Verge and Refinery29, the sensitivity feature will mainly be concerned with violent content such as images depicting humanitarian crises or animal abuse. The Verge also reported that the content warnings will be effective immediately. Instagram has also added two–factor authentication, which will allow users to increase security to their account by requiring them to enter a code every time they log in from a new device. Instagram will text a six–digit security code to users whenever a new device tries to access their account. Instagram will also provide users with backup codes they can save or screenshot in the event they are unable to access their phones. Sanaa Ounis (C ’18) believes Instagram needs increased security measures. She remembered a time in high school when someone she knew had their account hacked. “It was so easy, like these random high schoolers were able to hack someone’s Instagram,” Sanaa said. “If all it takes is just your
password to log in some new device, than that’s something that’s needed because I’ve seen it happen a lot,” she added. Uswah Shabbir (W ’19) agreed with the move to add security but pointed out some of its downsides. “I feel like it might be a little annoying if I sign into my friend’s phone to post a picture. I’ve done that before when my phone’s broken or something. Sometimes, added security features can just be a nuisance…sometimes it can be an extra hassle,” she said.
According to The Verge, Instagram first indicated it would begin to implement two–factor authentication in February 2016. Facebook launched two–factor authentication in the form of Login Approvals in May 2011. “Our teams are focused on making Instagram a kind, welcoming place for everyone, and we’re just getting started,” stated Instagram co–founder and CEO Kevin Systrom in a blog post on March 23rd in which he announced these updates, discussing how they
were geared towards making Instagram a safer space. Penn students were skeptical about how likely it is that these changes will actually make Instagram safer for users. “Social media’s just impossible to make a safe environment because you can’t control what people are doing,” Sanaa explained. “You can’t really change human behavior like that,” she added.
ALIYA CHAUDHRY
Book your graduation dinner with us! Valet Parking Available
1303 DICKINSON STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147
215-468-3040
Serving Penn for over 80 years. Your parents fell in love here, now it’s your turn. Enjoy your meal with live opera performed by our waitstaff. A P R I L 6 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 1 3
NBC'S "THIS IS US": FILM & TV
THE SAD FUTURE OF SOAP OPERAS
Since its premiere back in September, NBC’s This Is Us has become one of the most popular shows on television. The show generated a tremendous amount of hype—mostly from teary fans still trying to catch their breath. Branded as the tender yet crushing feel– everything dramedy that you need in your life right now, This Is Us has played on this expectation of heart–wrenching sorrow. You're supposed to cry your eyes out when you watch—and not only are you going to love doing so, but you’re going to finish every episode begging for another beating. As a general fan of any show that can breathe life into my cynical, cold heart, I willingly subscribed to the pandemonium. I didn’t expect to be so disappointed. First, a little exposition. The show is mainly built around a gimmick that four of the main characters share
the same birthday. (*Spoiler Alert*) The first is Jack (played by Milo Ventimiglia), whose wife (Mandy Moore) goes into labor with triplets on his thirty–sixth birthday. Crushingly, one of the triplets is delivered stillborn, with twins Kevin and Kate surviving happily and healthily. When a third baby is abandoned on the doorstep of a fire station and subsequently brought to the hospital on the same day, Jack Pearson and his wife, Rebecca, believe it to be an act of fate. They ultimately adopt the abandoned baby as their third child. When we meet the third baby, Randall, in adulthood, he's just tracked down the biological father who abandoned him at a fire station, “probably because he couldn’t think of something more cliché.” While this show spends a great deal of energy concocting up plotlines that are
shocking and melodramatic, ily mantra. It goes as follows: this line about not being able to think of anything more Dad: “Deep breaths and... cliché perfectly sums up the First came—” action that occurs between Kid 1: “Me!” these inexplicably intertwined Dad: “And Dad said—” characters. This is Us is so satKid 1: “Gee!” urated with cornball moments Dad: "Then came—” that it makes you nauseous, Kid 2: “Me!” with the absolute worst exDad: “And Mom said—” ample being the Pearson famKid 2: “Wee!” Dad: “And then came—” Kid 3: “Me!” Dad: “That's three!”
vagabondboutique.com 37 N. 3rd St. Philadelphia, PA 1 4 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E A P R I L 6 , 2 017
Then they all beat their chests and shamelessly chant: “Big three!” This might have been excusable if this practice didn't extend into the triplets' adulthood. Creative decisions like this prevented the show from tapping into something great. Instead, the dialogue was kitschy and riddled with gimmicks that thwarted the show from becoming the realistic melodrama that it intended to be. For something so focused on histrionics, most of the problems are bandaged up with cloying lines like: “How can I be sad when I have a daughter like you?” The fam-
The show confuses emotional torture for good entertainment.
ily is portrayed to be idyllic and flawless, except none of the characters actually say anything meaningful or honest. When problems do arise that hint at legitimacy, nobody can actually respond in a substantive manner. It's basically a modern–day Full House, adapted to an audience that is no longer shocked or entertained by a child stealing from a candy shop. The drama has been ratcheted up to melodramatic proportions, and the sad symphonic music has been replaced with cheesy ukulele riffs (that are better left to YouTube tutorials). Ultimately, I believe this show has been so successful because it does pack the hardest punch to the heart that it can muster. It is built for a modern audience that is impatient and looking to be affected as quickly and harshly as possible. However, the show falters when the writers overblow this desire, confusing emotional torture for good entertainment. MICHAELA REITANO
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: MOMS IN TV THROUGH THE YEARS FILM & TV
Your favorite matriarchs
SABRINA QIAO
Mom, mommy, mother—no matter what you call her, you’ve probably had your ups and downs with her. With Mother’s Day coming up (kinda), it’s time to pay homage to the women in our life who have raised us up and dealt with us through our terrible adolescent angst. In TV especially, mothers have gone through quite a transformation through the years. Once only depicted as the nurturing homemakers, now some badass moms grace the screen: running households and taking no shit while they're at it. From nurturing to neurotic, here is a round–up of the most memorable TV mothers. Pay special attention to the gradual shift in representation of women in the household as the decades change.
JUNE CLEAVER, LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, 1950 June Cleaver is the quintessential mother figure, and she and her husband are often cited as the archetypal (perhaps stereotypical) suburban parents. June is always around to cook her family a hearty meal and make sure all the children are prepped and ready for school. Her free time is spent engaging in activities like needlepoint and baking. Here’s the mom who's sure to have fresh cookies waiting when the kids bring their friends over.
CLAIR HUXTABLE, THE COSBY SHOW, 80'S Clair Huxtable, the elegant wife and mother of the Huxtable gang, is as sassy as she is sophisticated. A lawyer by trade, Clair can hold her own in an argument against her husband, aided by her excellent memory and bilingualism. Despite her strength and commanding presence, she can be playful and silly. Clair is a wonderful and warm mother to her five children, and is a great representation of the “working mother” that became popular in the '80s.
JOYCE SUMMERS, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, 90'S A fan favorite of the cast members of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joyce Summer is the wonderful mother of Buffy, even when she disagrees with her daughter’s dangerous duties and life decisions. After her divorce, Joyce and Buffy moved to Sunnydale, California, where the series begins. Although she runs a gallery, Joyce is always around for a warm hug and a cup of hot cocoa. Due to absence of Buffy’s father, Joyce takes on the role of both figures for the most part, and, not only that, but she also basically adopts the Scooby Gang (the unofficial nickname of Buffy’s group of friends) as her own children.
JESSICA HUANG, FRESH OFF THE BOAT, 2010'S
A practical kind of gal, Jessica Huang believes in tough love and frugality. The matriarch of the Huang family, she and her husband Louis own a restaurant, and much of the show revolves around the parent’s reconciliation of their Eastern principals with many of the Western ideals and surroundings they are raising their children in. Not only does Jessica provide many of the one– liners and zingers of the show, she’s also the grounding figure of the household and the one who keeps her husband’s ideas from getting too far–fetched. A P R I L 6 , 2 017 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E 1 5
ARTS
Penn's first and premier spoken word group
AN INTERVIEW WITH The Excelano Project, founded in 2001, is Penn's first and premier spoken word group. The 15 student members speak on social justice and the world around us to evoke imagery, express their opinions or just state their observations. The group will present their show "Afterglow" at the Rainey Auditorium inside Penn Museum on March 31st at 6 p.m. and April 1st at 8 p.m. Street talked to two of the members, Pallavi Wakharkar (C'17) and Blake London (C'18), about their
THE EXCELANO PROJECT
experiences with the group and in the air. We want to capture the goals of The Excelano Proj- that feeling into a title and hopefully our poems will also ect. capture that feeling. ON THE INSPIRATIONS BEHIND THIS YEAR'S THEME ON THE CHALLENGES OR "AFTERGLOW" STRUGGLES THROUGHOUT THE PREPARATION PROCESS OF THIS SHOW Pallavi: We come up with the titles of our show through different voting sequences. And Pallavi: There's always a lot of we thought "Afterglow" was a scrambling, editing and memocool title because it represents rizing. We want each of our pothat remaining light at the end ems to be as complete as it can of the day, and how after the be. And we realize that no poem sunset there's still that glimmer can ever be truly complete,
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we just want to reach the full completeness. We really push each other to develop our language past the point of what's easy and more into the point of what's interesting, unique and novel in language. Blake: Poetry is always a process, so sometimes it's kinda hard to define what's the end, what's performable and where do I want to edit more. We throw a lot of group workshops to look at our poetry and cut a lot of things that maybe don't convey the image concisely. That's most of the struggle. And our director and president put a lot into making sure that everything flows the way it should. WHAT KEEPS THESE POETS PERFORMING WITH EXCELANO? Pallavi: I've been with the group since my freshman year. I think what keeps me coming back is the sense of family. No matter what happens, even if we disagree on certain things, it's all because we care so much. And I think that the connection we formed in this group by writing together and listening to each other's deepest feelings is really strong, which is something that I haven't been able to find in any other group...
We are all so invested in each other's poetry and each other... It's like a catharsis. Blake: Besides the whole family aspect, which is so real, it's also a group of like–minded people that are trying to push themselves. And it's a way of bonding through that, which is incredibly important to me. ON WHAT THE AUDIENCE MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM "AFTERGLOW" Pallavi: I hope that when the audience hears every poem, they are able to recognize something of themselves in it or relate in some way. I think poetry is about that universal human voice and universal human experience, so the goal is always to write something that's aesthetically beautiful but also beautiful in terms of resonance to other people. Blake: The resonance and also the lastingness of it...You know it's something cool when you hear a poem—you hear it and you think you heard it completely, but somehow there's something about it that's still in your mind later. That's something we want the audience to think about. Even it's not an instant reaction to the poem, but it's something that lingers.
ARTS
NOT YOUR AVERAGE
DOWNTOWN
The Latin student artist showcase at the James Oliver Gallery
Last Friday, in a contemporary loft nestled in the heart of Old City, a chic, fashion– forward crowd gathered to sip champagne and bid on student–produced artwork. The event, simply called “Art Party” featured drinks and music at the James Oliver Gallery downtown. Marcos Cabarcos (E'19), Emiliana Santandreu (C'19) and Paola Martorell (W'19) organized the event to raise funds for a Columbian nonprofit, Fundación 8 Abrazos. The foundation strives to support the emotional well–being of low–income children affected by leukemia and other forms of cancer. The gallery showcased seven student artists who work in different media from charcoal to photography. Student work was interspersed along the walls between pieces by locally based artists Ryan Beck, Miriam Singer and Jason Andrew Turner in the temporary Former Forever exhibition. Student artist Santiago Gomez Garcia (W'19) says his paintings are heavily influenced by surrealism. “To me, dreams are more than just visions that we forget during the day,” he says. He started recording the bits and pieces that he could recall from his dreams about six years ago. “They influence us more than we realize, letting us into our aspirations and demons every night.” Santiago is often drawn to memories with his family, and finds inspiration in his Mexican roots. He works
dimension, focus, freshness, color and momentum in life, and transforms these qualities into her artwork. “My imagination could be described as disturbing, even provocative,” Valente said. Her portfolio addresses pressing social issues from drug addiction to economic inequality. “I love investigating the tension between opposites to find a balance that might be unexpected," he says. "I also tap into my passion for history, physics and art to understand theories and concepts so that I can transform them.”
NATALIA SANCHEZ–NIGOLIAN
predominantly with oil on canvas, but has experimented with photography as well. A series of black and white photographs taken in Mexico City hang in the gallery, along with Garcia’s painting Shoe and a Rag which was inspired by the memory of learning how to shine shoes from his father. Arjun Doshi (C'19) is a sophomore whose landscape and wildlife photography features vibrant colors and depicts striking scenes from his travels to London, the Amazon and regions of Croatia. Doshi strives to keep his photos as organic as possible, steering away from excessive digital editing and focusing instead on the subtle art of capturing a moment. “I try not to tamper too much with the natural aesthetic,” said Doshi. Other featured artists include Costa Rican Paulina Destarac, who focuses on photographing natural landscapes. Outside of capturing the innate beauty of a sunset, Destarac hopes to achieve storytelling through the images she captures by fine–tuning to detail. Marcos Garcia was born in Mexico City and explored photography from a young age, beginning his pursuits with a self–purchased “cheap old Canon camera.” He credits his understanding of the craft’s subtleties to his teacher Ana Vera, who has been featured on the cover of National Geographic. Marcos Garcia emphasizes the value and freedom of pursuing his
passions. Once focused on a career in Mechanical Engineering, he feels at peace with his decision to change tracks and pursue a creative challenge. Brigitte Baella Olivieri (C'19) photographs her interest and draws inspiration spontaneously from the world around her. She manipulates images with Photoshop to distort reality. Olivieri’s project Nasty Women was inspired by famous photographer Barbara Kruger’s conceptual collages that comment on identity, sexuality and power dynamics. Tize Valente (C'19) finds
The seventh participant in the exhibition, André Rappaccioli (E'19), exhibits that there is an art in collecting art as well. He recalls that when he was young, he would watch artists show up to his home with their work, and listen to his father’s perceptions of each piece. “I think art is not only a means to self–expression, but also to cultural expression in general. So, when I came to Penn, I started collecting abstract pieces by Nicaraguan artists to keep connected to my culture.”
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LOWBROW
FRATERNITY CHOOSES OVERLY CONFUSING FAKE NAME FOR EVENT,
NO ONE COMES CLAIRE SCHMIDT Crazy Elephant Productions Limited Presents: 90s Downtown In a PR move that frustrated those in the Greek community who still delude themselves into believing downtowns are fun, an on–campus fraternity created a Facebook event for their downtown last Thursday
and used a name that was too confusing, causing no one to show up. “It was an unfortunate blend of circumstances,” said the social chair of the fraternity, who agreed to speak with Street on
the condition of anonymity. “We wanted to obscure our real name, but also make it clear that we were doing it so everyone thought we were cool, but I guess we went too far.” The fraternity used the name
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“Crazy Elephant Productions Limited” in their promotional materials for the downtown in the hopes that their real identity would be concealed, but the confusing nature of the name appears to convey that the group went a step too far. “Yeah, it was a problem,” said George Wasserman (W '18), a member of said fraternity. “Essentially no one came.
Everyone thought it was being hosted by like a production company or a circus act or a…I don’t know,” Wasserman said. Wasserman and his fellow brothers reflected their frustration that no one ended up coming, lamenting the waste of another great theme that could have found a way to appropriate another culture.
LOWBROW IS FAKE. BUT SHOUTOUTS ARE ALL TOO REAL. SUBMIT: 34ST.COM
LOWBROW
MAN ONLY HAS TWO PROFILE PICTURES, CANNOT BE
TRUSTED It was revealed yesterday that Dallas native Andy Wyman (C ‘18) has only two profile pictures on his Facebook account, prompting widespread outrage and intense suspicion. “I had no idea he only had two. I friended him when we were in a class together so I could get notes from him, but now I’m scared,” said Jackie Fleischer (C‘17). “It’s like...is he a ghost? TWO profile pictures? And the last one is from 2013! This is madness,” she added, before pulling out her phone and un–friending him immediately. A statement from the Division of Public Safety released this morning warned against Wyman and other students like him. “Social media is a danger-
ous place and must be treated as such. If you see a boy with only two profile pictures, or, say, a girl who has deleted all of her old profile pictures from high school to improve her online image, know that that person should NOT be trusted with any sensitive information. Use caution when approaching said persons, and report any extra suspicious behavior, like using a picture of a car or a baseball field as a profile picture, to the Division of Public Safety immediately.” Wyman could not be reached for comment for this article and could not be located on campus because his last profile picture was from four years ago, so no one knows what he actually looks like now.
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CLAIRE SCHMIDT
I should call the police, right?
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