November 14, 2013 by 34th Street Magazine

November 14, 2013 34st.com

BMOC DOES EGO | MUSICAL MOVEMBER | LOWBROW VS. BUZZFEED

november 14 LOL

3 HIGHBROW

2013

the round–up, word on the street, penn ebay finds, overheards

4 EGO

ego of the week, vp etiquette

LOL

6 MUSIC

beards in music, album reviews, hidden gems

8 FILM & TV

netflix pick of week, battle of the fandoms, reviews

10 FEATURE

mainland chinese quakers

13 FOOD & DRINK

take a walk: quick food stops, dispatch: inside brazbq

LOL

15 ARTS

artist profile, interviews with penn alums, penn alums who did library shit

FROMtheEDITOR

WARMTH Oh biology, why can’t I grow a beard? At three o’clock yesterday afternoon, the door to the patio was open in Mark’s Café. It was 41° degrees outside, windchill not included. After two flyering shifts on the Walk, my toes were numb, and though usually I swear off energy drinks, I was surviving on two Red Bulls and leftover adrenaline from a great run I had when it was still warm out. We’ve put a November’s fortnight behind us, but Thanksgiving is fourteen sleeps away. I’m very pleased that I don’t have to wax my upper lip, but I’m also jealous of Movember (see the musicians doing it on pg. 6). Like good TV shows (Fandom pg. 8), these seemingly silly obsessions are versatile oases. They keep you busy in the cold, making midterm mountains into molehills. But there is something I like quite

a lot about the cold: it’s grounding, uniting. Under hats and scarves and parkas, we power through campus, finding warmth our common mission. In this week’s feature (pg. 10), Chinese students — both native and international — spoke about the difficulty of leaving one home for another, of whether, in swapping one passport for another, it becomes necessary to shave a lifelong identity and flush its fibers away. I imagine that, baring all to the elements, your cheeks would get pretty chilly. It’s a scary thought and naked–faced myself, I’d like to say I empathize, but that’s a battle much bigger than November. So, feeling kind of helpless, here’s what I’ll say: hold Street up. It’ll shield you from the wind.

Two issues left to get your name at the bottom of this page. New? No prob. Come say hi.

18 LOWBROW

lowbrow takes on buzzfeed

20 BACKPAGE

street's guide to shoutouts

Tonight @ 6:30 4015 'Nut, Second Floor

34TH STREET MAGAZINE Nina Wolpow, Editor–in–Chief Sam Brodey, Managing Editor Alex Hosenball, Online Managing Editor Chloe Bower, Design Editor Sarah Tse, Photo Editor Olivia Fingerhood, Assistant Design Margot Halpern, Assistant Design Zacchiaus McKee, Highbrow Alex Sternlicht, Highbrow Faryn Pearl, Ego Mariam Mahbob, Ego Marley Coyne, Food and Drink 2

3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E N O V E M B E R 1 4 , 2 01 3

Ryan Zahalka, Food and Drink Michelle Ma, Film and TV Michael Shostek, Film and TV Isabel Oliveres, Features Patrick Ford-Matz, Features Ariela Osuna, Music Cassandra Kyriazis, Music Gina DeCagna, Arts Madeleine Wattenbarger, Arts Zach Tomasavic, Lowbrow Michael Kandel, Lowbrow Gabe Morales, Print Copy Randi Kramer, Print Copy

Emma Soren, Online Copy Emily Marcus, Online Copy Patrick Del Valle, Social Media

Contacting 34th Street Magazine: If you have questions, comments, complaints or letters to the editor, email Nina Wolpow, Editor–in–Chief, at wolpow@34st.com. You can also call us at (215) 8986585. To place an ad, call (215) 898-6581.

COVER DESIGN: Margot Halpern BACKPAGE DESIGN: Byrne Fahey and Faryn Pearl

VISIT OUR WEB SITE: www.34st.com

Contributors: Katherine Hartman, Morgan Pearlman, Justin Sheen, Johnathan Wilson, Katherine McKay, Molly Collett, Casey Quackenbush, Lucy Hovanisyan, Clare Lombardo, Caroline Kee, Travis Mager, David Ney, Rosa Escandon

"All you need in your life is a peanut butter–filled toy" ©2013 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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THEROUNDUP Hurrah for the Red and the Blue! You certainly had an eventful Homecoming, didn’t you flowers? When you weren’t throwing toast and wearing your “I Met My Spouse at Penn” buttons, you were providing us with some juicy gossip that even the alumns would be excited to read. Fight on, Pennsylvania. Yes, countless seasons have come and gone since many of our returning alumni have graced the halls of dear ol’ Penn. Yet, alumni from A’s to Zete seem to have mistaken Homecoming for Snow Jams, seeing as they got snowed–in with their fraternity brothers this past weekend. At a Zete late night, a group of middle–aged Zete alums really blew away the partygoers—doing cocaine with two Thetas and one Alpha Phi. After doing a line, one of the Thetas remarked, “you’re so fucking old.” The Zete alums responded with a chuckle and continued to engage in their frostiest college pastime. But who said drugs inhibit success? Not the elderly brothers of St. Anthony’s Hall, who did coke out of hundred dollar bills at the frat’s homecoming brunch. It’s so reassuring to know we’ll graduate with our college memories and our drug habits. However, the Zete alumni weren’t the only ones who tried to blow up the scene this weekend. In a less successful attempt, the Philadelphia police tried to blow up THEOS Annual Thoodser. The police entered the buses that were scheduled to depart for the trendiest place in the Poconos, threatening to ID and arrest anyone under 21. Luckily, in the sceniest miracle since Hannukah, the police exited from the buses without IDing any of the intoxicated Thoodsians. We aren’t exactly sure why they left, but Highbrow speculates that they may have had actual crimes to solve. Speaking of criminals, the Philly police sleuthfully uncovered one in our midst. At the Chancellor day party, one ZBT bro took spitting game to a whole new level. Walking through the crowd, the rebellious bro spat on a cop, who was attempting to shut down the party. The boy was then handcuffed and arrested. Who knew ZBT boys could be such badasses? Speaking of badasses, one pre–pre–pre–pre–pre–prepubescent frosh, tried to get lucky with a very drunk Tridelt sister this weekend at the OZBT homecoming darty. The tween tried to seduce her by using the line, “I want to lick your clitoris.” The Tridelt was less than flattered and responded by kicking the young pimp in the balls. In the manliest manner, the boy fled from the scene in tears. Maybe she’ll be more enthusiatic after he graduates from middle school.

over heard PENN at

Sorority girl: I’ll wax anything for you. JAP in the Radian: No, we don’t have a broom… we have a cleaning lady. Drunk girl 1: Can I be a MILF yet? I’m 20 years old. Drunk girl 2: Nope, still trashy. Hipster on Locust: Gingers are the new Asians. WASP–y St. Elmo Alum: Why are there so many homos running around?

wordonthestreet EVERYBODY HAS A STORY RANDI KRAMER

The other day, I was reading in Van Pelt when a girl in my sorority walked by. I waved hello as she passed and she came back to chat. She delved into her gossip about this one girl’s drinking habits, another’s eating disorder and still someone else’s drug problem. We exchanged whispers of who got with whom at which party, and who saw them doing what. It was my third bored–in–VP gossip session just that day. And I was just as bad as she was. I won’t lie to you: I didn’t feel guilty afterwards. Sometimes when I hear the scandalous thing that that one scandalous girl did last weekend, my first reaction is… well, she obviously wanted everyone to know. I’m all for DFMOs and the occasional too–drunk night, but sometimes it seems like people do things in public just for the sake of doing them in public. That being said, we all too often forget that their need for attention probably has a story behind it, and it’s most likely a story we can’t even begin to imagine. The summer after my junior year of high school I took a personal essay writing class at NYU. The most important thing I learned in that class was that everyone has a story. It wasn’t just me. On day one, I took the subway downtown with my first attempt at a personal piece in hand, excited to share my hopefully heart–wrenching essay about my mom with the class. She had been adopted and reunited with her birth mother through Facebook but ultimately found that they were too different to form a relationship. I found this insightful, genuine and personal. The girl next to me wrote about her father physically abusing her. The boy from Seoul across the table explained how his parents decided they didn’t want him anymore when he was five. The bubbly blonde a few seats down read the most beautiful description I’ve ever heard about what it felt like to cut her wrists for the first time. As my essay was overshadowed by the poignancy of those of the students around me, I felt ashamed at the comparable superficiality of what I had written, but I also felt profoundly lucky. I have no idea how I would act if I were in their shoes. How many times have you found yourself saying, “You won’t believe what I did last night” at your Sunday morning recap brunch with your best friends? It’s okay: share your crazy story. Laugh at the stupid thing you did and let others laugh with you. But once, mid–laugh, I learned that the girl whose life I was finding entertainment in had been sexually abused as a child. I had been called out for my mindless gossip and I felt terrible. But, I had never even met this girl— why did I now know a deeply personal, devastating and intimate fact about her life? I felt uncomfortably privy and aware that I knew something I shouldn’t have, but I was glad I had been told. If nothing else, it reminded me that there’s always more to the story. N O V E M B E R 1 4 , 2 01 3 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E

EGO

EGOOF THE WEEK: THE MEN OF BMOC

The boys of AXO’s annual philanthropy event, Big Men On Campus, are back. This year, they’re taller, they’re hairier and, let the record show, they’re all afraid of Dhamaka. Street: What makes you a true BMOC? Ben Slocum: Chest hair. Uninhibited. Jason Maccabee: I’m not afraid to get naked. And I’m able to eat candy corn at any time of the year. Trevor Cassidy: Body language. Andrew Green: How you read other people, or how you present? Russell Abdo: It’s a lot of reading. TC: It’s both! It’s a conversation without words. Ben Andrew Whitenack: Well, I am really big in person. I’m 6’6” when I first wake up in the morning. Ainesh Ravi: Oh, wow. BAW: Gravity shrinks me down, though. AR: I’d say sociability for me? Harrison Cook: I’m probably

the most handsome contestant. Street: Why are you going to win BMOC? BS: I’m probably not. JM: That’s the spirit! TC: As long as I don’t come in last, I’m pretty down with that. BS: I bought my routine on Gilt. JM: For the record, Slocum’s drunk. AR: Just gonna go with dancing on this one. That’s all I got. HC: My girlfriend will dump me if I don’t. Street: Who’s your biggest competition? JM: Trevor! BS: Yeah, Trevor! RA: Trevor. AM: No, the Dhamaka guy! Ainesh!

AR: I have some moves. All: OHHHHHHH! AM: That’s not fair. He dances for a living! AG: Let’s accept it right now. We’re all going to lose that. We can’t dance as well as Dhamaka, so we have to be sexual or funny or something. Street: What’s your secret weapon for winning? HC: I’ll have all the goons from ATO there to cheer for me. If you refer to them as “goons” they’ll like that. AR: Um, I guess swag on stage. BAW: Swag on stage? Damn, I can’t compete with that. AM: I made an underwear calendar freshman year. I think I’m going to rerelease the photos. You’ll see a younger man—but don’t worry, he’s over 18. JM: A stuffed bathing suit.

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TC: I have a pretty luscious team of backup dancers. AS: That’s such a politically correct answer! That’s what the world wants to hear. JM: “I was lifted up by my backup dancers.” RA: Let the record show I took two of Trevor’s backup dancers from last year, when he won. Street: How would you define manhood in one word? TC: Anchorman. AM: Facial hair. BS: That’s two words. JM: That’s, like, double the word count. RA: If you say it really fast it can be one word, like, “fashuhair.” BS: Woah, shit just got real. Puberty. JM: I’m taking “Puberty.” BS: No, Ben Slocum said “puberty!” JM: No, fuck him—he’s drunk!

T C : Is there a word for if one ball is bigger than the other? HC: Sticktoitiveness. Stick– to–it–ive–ness. BAW: I’ll say confidence for mine. AG: Confidence. AR: I would go for “quick thinking” here, but I clearly don’t have that. HC: You can say “quickthinkingiveness.” AR: Alright, “quickthinkingiveness.” Street: Who’s your favorite Disney Princess and why? RA: Mulan! The obvious answer. TC: Jasmine. She’s, like, the first ethnic–ass princess. RA: Yeah, but Mulan did it

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EGO

better. BS: Who’s the new one? JM: I’ll take “Princess and the Frog.” BS: Damnit! That’s what I wanted. JM: Do you even know her name, though? TC: Her name’s Tiana. AG: Ariel. She’s fucking crazy. AM: Belle. She’s a classic. AR: Gonna go with Jasmine on this one. She’s Indian. She’s gorgeous. The long, flowing hair gets me. BAW: Princess Fiona, because she’s Cameron Diaz. She’s really great, and she’s cool with looking like a princess or an ogre. HC: Cinderella. She started from the bottom. Street: There are two types of people at Penn… BS: Those that buy from Pizza Rustica, and those that don’t. JM: People who lived in King’s Court, and people who didn’t. RA: People that are regulars at Evan’s Pizza, and people who aren’t. AM: The Blarney’s vs. Smokes crowd is a classic. HC: NARPs and athletic people. AR: I’ve never heard of “NARP” before. I used to do track though. BAW: I guess I’m a NARP right now, too. HC: Yeah, technically. AR: We’re has–beens. We’re washed up. Street: How will you prepare for BMOC? All: OHHH H H HHH! JM: I’ll need a bear cub. Where can I find a competitive bear club? BS: Diet Coke, Sweetgreen and HipCityVeg. JM: Let the re-

cord show that Slocum’s in SDT. Slocum Delta Tau. Put that in. TC: I’d probably marathon “Mob Wives” just to get the show’s competitive spirit. “Ya don’t want fuckin’ love comin out ya jugular. Ya gonna get your jaw wiped Maccabee!“ RA: I’ll prepare with a lot of picklebacks. It’s a shot of whiskey chased by pickle juice. AG: Lots of underground dance fighting. AR: I’m gonna get a gymnastics gym and work on my flips. If I can get that down. BAW: Damn. I’m intimidated. HC: If I say karaoke and squatting deep, will you print that? Street: What is one reason people should see BMOC? JM: Support the troops? AM: Women’s rights. TC: It’s for fucking charity. BS: Let’s start a list, guys. For America, women’s rights… get God in there. AG: Our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. TC: Everyone’s parents. AR: Well, it’s a good cause. A good cause and seeing 24 shirtless men dance. HC: You can hang out with the brothers of ATO. The goons. BAW: I don’t see any downside to it. It’ll be fun. It’s a good cause. We’re gonna make fools of ourselves.

VP DOS AND DON'TS

If you find yourself on a serious date with Van Pelt, there are a few rules you need to follow. It may not be as intimidating as Fisher Fine Arts, but VP definitely has its own etiquette.

2 3 4 5

Don’t dress to impress, but don’t dress like a slob either. Van Pelt is probably one of the most SABS–y locations on campus when you’re getting your studying on. Aim for “bum chic”—it shows that you prioritize your paper above all else, but that if your future so happens to be buying a pepperoni and cheese cup at Mark’s, you’ll be ready. No crunchy or smelly food. This one speaks for itself. If you’re dying to eat those Flaming Hot Cheetos, make your way to the basement where moderate levels of noise are tolerated. If you’re dying to eat your smelly Wawa sandwich, leave. Van Pelt doesn’t want your kind. Don't leave your shit for too long. There is an appropriate way to ask the stranger across from you at a desk to watch your stuff while you go to the bathroom, buy sushi or cry for a little while (or all of the above). But, if you stay gone for more than a normal length of time, don’t be caught off–guard if random stranger needs to leave and you end up as next year’s Public Safety’s theft sob–story. Don’t be that guy who holds up the backpack line. It happens every time. For whatever reason, Allied Barton security at Van Pelt must watch you unzip your backpack right before you exit. We have no idea why. Even so—speed things up and pre–unzip that shit. Bonus points if you can do it with one hand. Keep talking to a minimum. And on the sixth day, God created texting/e– mail/Facebook. For a reason. We understand if you have super important phonecall to attend to (i.e. interview, Mom, Jimmy John’s, etc.), but there’s no reason to let everyone else know. Take it outside. Take it to the bathroom. Take it the weird, little corner with the vending machines. Just whatever you do, take it somewhere else.

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KAT MCKAY N O V E M B E R 1 4 , 2 01 3 3 4 T H S T R E E T M A G A Z I N E

BEARDS In honor of No Shave November, we’ve singled out the most impressive beards in the music business.

MUSIC

DEVENDRA BANHART Devendra is a chameleon. One day he’s going on posh lunch dates with Natalie Portman, the next he's doing fetish–driven nude photo shoots with another dude for his side project “Megapuss.” But if there is one thing we know for sure about this Venezuelan heartthrob, it’s that he looks damn good with a beard. Long, short, curled into weird shapes, we really don’t care—as long as he keeps singing to us in that mesmerizing incoherent Spanglish thing he does. Download: “Carmensita”

ABEL TESFAYE Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd, is the man behind the most sexy, sultry, new–age R&B (or whatever we should call that perfect, sexy–time music he produces). While his beard is more of a modern curly crop, it's still way past Movember standards. He also manages to look just as groovy with or without the facial hair. Let’s be real though—it doesn’t matter what Abel Tesfaye looks like when we're listening to “The Morning.” Download: “The Morning”

JUSTIN VERNON Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and his beard make us feel like we are cuddling under a blanket by a campfire in the woods somewhere in Canada. The 32–year–old sings sweet nothings with wild, soft acoustic guitar—never failing to charm us with a smile through all that sexy scruff. All he needs is a big comfy sweater, hunting boots, and you have the sweetest guy on earth. Download: “Perth”

KYP MALONE Kyp Malone, the mysterious lead singer of TV on the Radio, can even pull off silver tips on his lengthy beard. It's unclear if this is because he’s still rocking out at age 40 or because he’s just awesome overall. If the silver streaks weren't enough, Kyp rocks the beard with an equally hip afro and his signature square frame glasses. The look is so put–together and frenetic that he could pass for “that one philosophy professor.” Overall, Kyp’s beard is really spectacular and hopefully he'll keep rocking it for another ten years. Download: “Halfway Home”

ZZ TOP It feels weird to talk about ZZ Top alongside men as sexy as Devendra, but these senior citizens are the original badass bearded rockers. These are real beards—as in over one foot in length beards. They get away with it because they’re legendary rockers from the ‘70s, but then again, who knows what they could be hiding under there? This classic bearded duo is sure to get you feeling dazed and confused. Download: “La Grange” 6

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CAROLINE KEE

MUSIC

HIDDEN GEMS

ALBUM REVIEWS

“ARTPOP” Lady Gaga

It’s feeding time and Mother Monster isn't holding back on her new release “Artpop.” The first song, “Auro," melds together electronica and banjo to lead into an instant club classic. While the first few songs on the album are traditional Gaga, “Jewels N’ Drugs” is a departure from her normally formulaic dance hits. Featuring TI, Too $hort and Twista, “Jewels & Drugs” is Gaga’s first collab with a hip–hop artist since 2008. The track is an artistic risk—and one that pays off, as it is possibly the best–executed song on the album. “Swine” and “Donatella” stick out in the lackluster second half of the album. Both have a very distinct EDM feel to them, with “Donatella” incorporating slower beats to highlight Gaga’s strong vocals. With a few surprising songs and risks that pay off, Lady Gaga has managed create a new experience once again. JOHNATHAN WILSON

Grade: A– Download: “Jewels N’ Drugs” Sounds best when: Weekending in Manhattan.

“MUG MUSEUM” Cate Le Bon With consistent light rhythm and bizarre instrumental shifts, Cate Le Bon’s "Mug Museum" recreates sonic energy from the 70s, largely drawing upon The Velvet Underground & Nico as musical inspiration. Many tracks off this new album rely on simple guitar riffs as the backdrop for aloof, wavering vocals about sadness and death. Songs such as “Mirror Me” allow the Welsh artist to sway with wistfulness those who are attracted to a flat, one–level tone. “Sisters” brings a psychedelic, progressive pop vibe to somber lyrics, while title track “Mug Museum” is a piano ballad featuring a call–and–response with the saxophone. Although Cate Le Bon is not bringing back Lou Reed, her vintage sound is perfect for those looking for a fresh face in the industry. LUCY HOVANISYAN

Grade: C+ Download: “Sisters” Sounds best when: Waking up hungover.

Rolling Stones: “’Till the Next Goodbye”

Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Long as I Can See the Light”

“’Till the Next Goodbye,” from The Rolling Stones’ 1974 album “It’s Only Rock ’n Roll,” opens with a strumming acoustic guitar and Mick Jagger’s half–speaking, half–singing question: “Honey, is there any place that you would like to eat?” Keith Richards joins Jagger in singing about the clandestine meetings of two lovers—their volume in sync with the ebb and flow of drums familiar in the Stones’ repertoire. The slow, melodic tune differs from many of their most popular songs and deserves a listen. iTunes Bestseller: “Beast of Burden”

CCR’s 1970 album “Cosmo’s Factory” featured hits like “Travelin’ Band” and “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” but one of the last singles to be released, “Long as I Can See the Light,” still proves to be one of the best. In it, a slow–but– steady beat introduces John Fogerty’s husky voice, which leads into a soulful tenor saxophone solo that steals the show. The bluesy combination sounds best on days when you need to keep in mind: “I’ll be coming home soon.” iTunes Bestseller: “Born on the Bayou”

The Beatles: “I’ll Follow the Sun”

BY LUCY HOVANISYAN AND CLARE LOMBARDO

“I’ll Follow the Sun” appeared on the album “Beatles for Sale” in 1964. Paul McCartney sings, “One day you’ll know I was the one, but tomorrow may rain so I’ll follow the sun.” Unlike “I’m a Loser” and “No Reply,” two other songs of unrequited love on the album, this song retains a hopeful tone with light acoustic strumming and Ringo Starr’s steady drumming. “I’ll Follow the Sun” shows a different side of The Beatles to fans of the band’s more popular songs. iTunes Bestseller: “Here Comes the Sun”

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FILM & TV

BATTLE OF THE FANDOMS: J.J. ABRAMS & SUPERNATURAL CREATURES EDITION Fandoms—groups of people who live and breathe their favorite books, movies and television shows—have a reputation for intensity. Each of these spooky sci–fi shows has a formidable fandom, but which ones are craziest? WINNER

"LOST" VS. "FRINGE" “Lost”: Considered the greatest television show of all time by its very devoted fans, J.J. Abrams’ sci–fi island epic stunned (and confused) audiences during its six–season run from 2004 to 2010. “Lost” started out with plane crash survivors and eventually developed to include time travel and spirit mythology— very cool. Anyway, fans are fans for life. There’s a Sawyer nickname generator online, board and video game adaptations, thousands of DHARMA Initiative t–shirts and a cult obsession with defending the sanctity of a show that ended in smoke. Literally, people baked smoke mon-

ster cakes for the series finale. “Lost” fans swear that nothing can, or will, ever come near the greatness of their show. It’s quasi–religious. “Fringe”: J.J. Abrams’ other attempt at spooky sci–fi, “Fringe,” ran from 2008 to 2013. It cast itself as a mythological serial with episode– by–episode mysteries and a dual universe. In spite of doing its own thing, “Fringe”’s ratings suffered towards the end of its five–season life. That was when its fandom stepped in: crazy Friday– night viewers who reacted so strongly to the threat of their show ending prematurely

that Fox execs renewed it for a final season in spite of having no real incentive to do so. It was a display of fandom organization and power that says something very impressive about the show. VERDICT: The fan base for “Lost”’s baby cousin is much smaller than that of Abrams' big hit. Because of this, and the trillions of products and chatboards about “Lost,” Abrams' first project beats out his second. We have to go back, guys.

"SUPERNATURAL" VS. "TEEN WOLF"

“Supernatural”: Demons, vampires, ghosts! Oh my! Nothing gets people going quite like a brother duo fighting mythical creatures while saving the innocent. “Supernatural” has proven that. With millions of viewers tuning in to KAT MCKAY watch the show, this fandom is one of the strongest ever to unite. Whether it is "shipping" (fandom slang for imagining relationships between two characters) Dean and Castiel (Destiel) or Sam and Dean (Wincest), the fandom wants to see something gay happen. Beyond the romance is the undeniable obsession with the show. The conspiracy theories about Sam and Dean’s mother, the tears when the brothers must part ways for a bit and the seeming obsession with the supernatural have kept the fandom strong and growing.

99 bottles of beer on the wall? that’s nothing.

“Teen Wolf ”: Maybe we should keep running when someone cries wolf because, HOT DAMN! These wolves

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are on fire. This fandom centers not around the mediocre but around the plethora of shirtless, sweaty, greased up and hairy–armed men. Between Tyler the cutie and Derek the hottie, Stiles the dork and Isaac the troubled one, the fandom is given constant eyegasms each week. One quick trip to Tumblr shows that there are too many fictional relationships to “ship." Throw into account the sudden disappearances, small–town town deaths and rampaging Alphas, and you'll get a fandom off its leash. VERDICT: Though the hunk–a– man offerings in “Teen Wolf” totally beat “Supernatural,” the longevity of “Supernatural” puts it ahead. With concentrated fictional relationships and pretty decent acting, “Supernatural” has found a way to amass a fandom that could (possibly) take on the Potterites or the Whovians. JOHNATHAN WILSON

FILM & TV

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of the week

"JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI"

There is no such thing as perfection in art, but 85– year–old Jiro Ono's sushi is the closest thing to it. In “Jiro Dreams of Sushi” (2011) we see scenes of repetitious sushi building set to the music of Tchaikovsky and Philip Glass and shot in meditative slow–motion in Jiro’s Michelin three–star restaurant. It may be tragic that Jiro’s craft of sushi–making will never reach pure perfection, but what the film shows is the beauty inherent in pursuing it. It’s normal to ask somewhere in the 82–minute movie’s runtime why Jiro has been perfecting each element of his sushi–making for 75 years. He’s sacrificed his college education, his time with his children—things that we normally associate with a complete, happy life. Why does Jiro work so relentlessly to perfect the art of sushi, even when he recognizes that there’s no such thing? But as we watch the film and start to question why Jiro has sacrificed so much for what seems so little, we feel compelled to listen to him talk about how each ingredient of the sushi has a peak time and what he has done to make sure that the peak time is the moment before a customer consumes it. We listen to a side–story where an apprentice of Jiro had cooked an egg over 200 times before Jiro deemed it worthy, and how the apprentice wept from joy because of it. These are all facets of Jiro’s pursuit of perfection and there is something emotional in these stories of absolute dedication. In a way, Jiro’s path parallels ours. Aren’t we all trying to pursue our own paths? Don’t we realize at times how fruitless our own goals for unachievable perfection are? But instead of taking these realizations negatively, what brings us back is the beauty in what we pursue. We each dream of our own ambitions, and it just so happens that Jiro dreams of sushi. JUSTIN SHEEN

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F E AT U R E

By Alex Hosenball

Treason is a serious charge. It refers to the highest crimes against a nation—say, supporting the secession of a territory or speaking out too publicly about the past. Consider becoming the citizen of another country and chances are no one will call you a traitor. They might criticize your lack of patriotism, but either way you can still maintain your American citizenship. If you’re Chinese, the situation is a little bit different, especially if you choose to leave home and venture west for college. At Penn, native Chinese students are a large, if quiet, presence on campus. Though they may be from a country considered America’s “rival,” some of these students are drawn to a life outside of China after studying abroad, wishing to continue their international experience after graduation. For that, they may need a U.S. (or other) passport, and for them, it involves a more difficult choice than many other international students face. Chinese citizens cannot take dual nationalities: according to Chinese law, if a citizen applies for and receives citizenship in any other nation (after a long naturalization period in the United States, for example), his Chinese passport immediately gets revoked and he becomes a citizen of his new country. Though the older generation of Chinese citizens may still hold their homeland in high regard, the current college–age generation doesn’t necessarily feel the same way. They opt to study abroad for college, even taking American internships over the summer

and possibly failing to return home for the better part of a year. Though some Chinese high schools compare to Western programs, offering AP and IB courses, others are suffocating—they force students to study subjects the government considers important and limit leadership, extracurricular activities and even budding relationships. Steven Xu*, an M&T sophomore, hails originally from Nanjing, China. His government–regimented high school curriculum was standard across many Chinese local schools, including classes on Maoism and Chinese politics. Once Steven made it to junior year, he had two choices: either take classes aimed at preparing him for the gaokao, a college entrance exam that excluded China’s prestigious “priority schools,” or begin the equally intense international application process. Steven applied to Penn because he found the atmosphere at Chinese universities to be similarly censored and stagnant. According to Steven, most native students “work really hard all through high school, then go to college [in China] and wait until graduation.” He didn’t want to have that kind of numbing college experience. Steven wants to become international: he wants to experience all the diversity that the world has to offer, rather than restrict

himself to traditional Chinese culture. Because the population of China is more homogenous than that of the United States, guarding national identity and culture is more of an issue

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than in the American melting pot—few U.S. citizens would try to maintain their “American” identity abroad. Where Steven’s stifling school experience encouraged him to come to Penn, not all Mainlanders (citizens of the People’s Republic of China, not Hong Kong or Taiwan) follow the same path. Christine Du, a College sophomore with Australian citizenship who graduated from the Shanghai American School, “never considered going to school in China.” Instead, she opted for schools in the United States, England and Australia because she had heard that the Chinese university system resembled “an extension of Chinese high school,” marred by unmalleable curriculums and censorship of critical material.

she says she has “learned how important faith and religion are to Jewish people.” “[Recently], during Shabbat, two of my floormates actually came to my room and asked me for help turning off their lights and the fridge.” She went on to explain: “They told me they’re glad at least one non–Jewish person is living on the floor.” Delving into this culture has made Lynda feel like it’s “one of the best decisions [she’s] made at Penn,” undoubtedly expanding her worldview compared with those native students who stick to more closed, Chinese groups. Regardless, newly international Chinese students often find themselves wanting to explore the United States and, in many cases, the world.

"He is not ready to transform into what he calls 'a real American,' assimilating to American culture and losing a sense of his Chinese self." Christine’s high school curriculum closely mirrored that of its Western equivalents, including AP and IB programs—though certain subjects like Tibet, Taiwan and Tiananmen (“The Three Ts”) remained taboo. “If you grew up in [an international Chinese school’s] environment, it helps you develop this awareness of other cultures. I’m not saying I’m not patriotic, but I have a much more critical perspective of my own culture and my own country,” she says. Of course, Christine’s situation differs drastically from Steven’s. She’s lived in China for most of her life but isn’t a Chinese citizen, so she can take whatever additional citizenship she desires. Despite this, Christine says that if she could take Chinese citizenship “[she] would, but they don’t allow it.” Ultimately, Christine still considers herself a “Chinese person who speaks English,” albeit one more easily able to take residence elsewhere than her native counterparts can. By virtue of this, she has become an international citizen. While high school may expose some Chinese students to broader perspectives, others come to Penn and experience diverse, international cultures for the first time. Lynda Yang, a Wharton sophomore from the southern city of Shenzhen, has immersed herself in one of Penn’s largest demographics—the Jewish community. She lives on the Jewish Cultural Studies floor of Rodin College House, and

Steven aims to move to the United States permanently to work in the tech industry or in finance— ideally in cities like San Francisco or New York. As a means to this end, Steven is willing to become international and exchange his Chinese passport for a U.S. one. He is not ready to transform into what he calls “a real American,” assimilating to American culture and losing a sense of his Chinese self. Though he may be part of a new generation, Steven recognizes that his family members are “very traditional Chinese people... They’re hard working, they love their country, they love their hometown [and] they want to stay there all the time.” With allegiance to his family as a priority, Steven wants to be able to visit them frequently, wherever he is living. He even would be willing to move them to the United States. Steven admits that he eventually wants to take American citizenship because he believes it has financial benefits. When asked why he would so easily revoke his Chinese citizenship, Steven hesitates: “It’s really hard, once you move here, to maintain a great passion for your home country—and I’m not confident that I’m that kind of person.” Lynda shares Steven’s vision: “My ideal job is to be able to go everywhere. I really like the life as a foreigner and an immigrant… I hope eventually I can base myself in the U.S. and visit emerging countries with developing economies.” While Lynda is interested in becoming an international citizen, she wouldn’t nec-

essarily give up citizenship to her home country because she “doesn’t see the point.” Even so, Lynda sounds optimistic. “I think it matters less on patriotism. I love my country, but I don’t think I have to prove it with citizenship.” Others, like College and Wharton sophomore Connie Kang (an associate photo editor of The Daily Pennsylvanian) are being pushed towards applying for U.S. citizenship by other factors. Connie’s parents are planning to immigrate first, as they “think the political situation in China right now is very doubtful.” Once they’re here, they believe she will have a chance to “take residence in the near future,” though not necessarily citizenship. Connie desperately wants to return to Shanghai herself, though she, too, knows that Shanghai’s economy is “on the bubble,” ready to succumb to a crisis at any point Unlike Lynda or Steven, Connie wants to return to China rather quickly—but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t become international in her own right. She founded Penn Chinese Theatre last year after a trip to see a similar show at Princeton. PCT isn’t “Peking Opera,” as some of Connie’s audience first believed; rather, Connie aims to introduce Penn students to contemporary Chinese theatre. Connie “feels very obligated to promote this culture on campus,” and she says that her friends who saw the show last semester thought it was worlds away from other theatre groups on campus. Connie may not have a desire to attain citizenship; she’s still facilitating cultural exchange between American students and herself, becoming international as a result. Although Connie wants to return to China more urgently than Lynda or Steven does, she has the same choice to make. Should the Chinese economy fall into a recession, she may be forced to find work elsewhere. From then on, it’s a question of allegiance to country or to quality of life; for example, take citizenship and tax breaks in the United States or remain in China and deal with visas or green cards.

The curtain goes up and the sing– song, occasionally jarring, tones of Chinese fill the air. Characters in modern, if traditional, dress walk around the stage, yelling, pleading and weaving a tale of woe—of two mistresses in 1940s Shanghai. This is the latest performance by the newly formed Penn Chinese Theatre, and a chunk of the audience won’t understand it. But at least the Chinese community has provided subtitles, lowering the language barrier temporarily and facilitating cultural exchange. After watching the show, the students are a little more international than when they entered. To varying degrees, Chinese students' time at Penn makes them more international than when they first arrived in Philadelphia. For many of them, their time abroad will significantly broaden their perspectives. It will give them ideas and plans to contribute back to China, allowing them to “stabilize” the economy and political situation, as Connie puts it. In the end, patriotism and national pride are not tied to citizenship but to the time spent in a country and to its value. Although Chinese law may prohibit dual nationalities, becoming international and being Chinese are not mutually exclusive. As a result of their experiences at Penn and beyond, some of these students will grow into leaders of both industry and government. From then on, China’s future may come to depend on these international perspectives. The Middle Kingdom hasn’t been the center of the world for some time, but with some help from its newly international citizens, it could play a leading role on the global stage. Alex Hosenball is a senior from Annandale, VA, studying in Communication and Chinese. He is Online Managing Editor of 34th Street Magazine.

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FILM & TV

REVIEW: “THE BOOK THIEF”

“The Book Thief ” tells a fictional story that brims with history. Based on the book written by Marcus Zusak, the film is the story of a girl growing up with adopted parents in Nazi Germany. Up–and– coming Canadian starlet Sophie Nélisse plays the main character, Liesel, Academy Award–winning actor Geoffery Rush plays her adoptive “papa” and Emily Watson comes alive as Liesel’s strict, but secretly soft, adoptive mother. Liesel remarkably finds solace during World War II by stealing books and sharing them with the hidden Jew in her family’s basement. Slowly, Max, the young man living

in her basement, becomes an older brother figure to Liesel, encouraging her to appreciate the power of the written and spoken word. Her recitation of the books and poetic description of outdoor life keeps Max alive and ignites her desire to write. Throughout the movie, the pair unexpectedly transitions from kind strangers into a deeply bonded family unit. Although the entire movie is narrated by the voice of Death and flooded with misfortune, there is an underlying tone of hope and appreciation of life. This optimism is apparent in the characters’ ability to laugh and tell stories even when huddled in bun-

kers during air bomb raids. The characters' love for one another is constantly shown through innocuous gestures such as papa referring to Liesel as “her majesty” or mama’s kind actions despite her harsh exterior. One can especially not help but find Nélisse especially endearing as Liesel; she carries the film through her indomitable spirit and her curious and soulful eyes. “The Book Thief ” illustrates the desire for humanity through the eyes of a caring and courageous teenage girl. Through the plot and the use of Death as the narrator, the film provokes the paradox of how life is simultaneously so ugly and so glorious. MORGAN PEARLMAN Grade: A– Rating & runtime: PG–13, 131 min. See if you liked: “Life is Beautiful”

REVIEW: “DALLAS BUYERS CLUB”

“Dallas Buyers Club” is an uncomfortably raw and realistic telling of the true story of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey), a Texas electrician diagnosed with HIV in 1986. Woodroof, who leads a life filled with bull riding, alcohol, cocaine, homophobia and unprotected sex, is told he has six months to live. With no drug available to treat HIV and having been excluded from AZT trials, Woodroof decides to take his healthcare into his own hands. He starts the Dallas Buyers Club, a distribution center for drugs he thought would help HIV–positive and AIDS patients but were unapproved and unavailable to people in the United States. With the help of business partner Rayon (Jared Leto) and their doctor (Jennifer Garner), Woodroof creates a very large business, which tries to save many lives. Don’t let the Garner and McConaughey combination fool you—this movie is no “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.” In two mature and challenging roles, they co–star beautifully. But the breakthrough star is most definitely Leto. Playing a transgender suffering from AIDS and cocaine addiction, his acting steals the show and screams for an Oscar nomination. The filmmakers of “Dallas Buyers Club” do not hold back; they make no effort to shelter or protect the audience. Nothing about this film is polite— nudity, drugs, blood and guns appear—though none of it is too much; it all feels very real and true to these characters and to their story. Not only is the film an exceptional piece in and of itself, but it is also an interesting look into the 1960s phenomenon of buyers clubs and the mostly unknown historical figure of Ron Woodroof. Grade: A Rating & runtime: R, 117 mins. See if you liked: “Milk”

KATHERINE HARTMAN

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FOOD & DRINK

TAKE A WALK: (TRUCK)STOPPING GOING FROM LEIDY LABS TO DRL?

GOING FROM THE LOWER QUAD GATE TO VAN PELT?

Sorry—no food truck can help you here. Just keep running.

MINUTES

Fresh Fruit Truck has your back. The fruit is fresh, smoothies are packed to the brim, and, most importantly, the lines move quickly and get you on your way. The delicious smoothies energize and refresh—and, most importantly, can be sucked down on the go. (Near 37th & Spruce streets.) Take your time and enjoy a cheap grilled chicken sandwich from Mr. Hemo himself. The lines get long, but for a nice lunch break, you get a big hero doused in that mystery white sauce. We may never know the true ingredients and maybe it’s better not to ask. (Near 37th & Spruce streets.)

MINUTES

For quick, hot and generic Chinese food, Le Anh does it better than the rest, is open early and late (weekends, too) and works fast. Most of the food tastes the same, so you don’t need to worry too much about what to order. (Near 36th & Spruce streets.)

If you don’t like Lucky’s then we don’t like you. The Mexican food tastes MINUTES something more like Indian food, but no one said that’s a bad thing. Sometimes the line stretches, but for under $4.00 you can gorge on a burrito (Guac is extra).

You can't skip over Magic Carpet. The cart's fresh cookies and long menu unfurl a whole new world. The wait can be long, but try out “El Gringo,” —vegetarian chili over rice—or just enjoy making Aladdin references, anyway. (Near 36th & Spruce streets.)

Great Deals for

Penn Students!

Your best bet is to stick to Williams Café, which has coffee, pastries and some of the friendliest baristas on campus. Drink specials are always intriguing and their service is always fast.

Treat yourself to Bui’s Lunch Truck. Go early or be prepared to wait; eiMINUTES ther way, your sandwich—we recommend the Hangover Special—will be well worth the wait. If you haven't discovered Bui's Sauce yet—that legendary orange–ish spicy mayo—well, do you even go here? (Near 38th & Spruce streets.)

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Lyns opens at 7 a.m. for the ideal roll–out–of–bed–and–try–to–beat– your–hangover bagel with egg, cheese and meats for under $3.00. Secret menu alert—order “The Lion.” (Near 36th & Spruce streets.)

mr. bui: please come to meeting. bring sauce.

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FOOD & DRINK

DISPATCH: INSIDE THE BRAZBQ FOOD TRUCK

Adriano Redante of BrazBQ adapts easygoing Brazilian rotisserie to fast–paced food truck service. BY RYAN ZAHALKA

2:07 P.M.:

At 33rd and Arch streets, the center of Drexel’s food truck mecca, a man (who introduces himself as Haamza, Adriano’s assistant) is helping Adriano carefully squeeze the BrazBQ truck into a recently vacated spot between the Mac Mart and Say Cheese food trucks.

2:10 P.M.:

We’re all shivering until Adriano fires up the charcoal bed, which sits underneath the rotisserie he built and installed on his own. He sets a whole, skinned pineapple, coated in cinnamon sugar, to roast.

2:14 P.M.:

Adriano pulls a hunk of top sirloin (called picanha) the size of a printer from the fridge. An inch– thick layer of fat blankets the dark–red meat.

2:15 P.M.:

After a minute of knife sharpening (a lot of fun in close quarters), Adriano slices the picanha into several large pieces. He bends two into crescent moons and slides them onto a long, three–pronged steel skewer. After seasoning with garlic, salt and pepper, the meat is set to turn on the charcoal rotisserie grill.

2:20 P.M.:

The first customer of the afternoon orders a Brazilian cheese steak. A giant portion of chimichurri–marinated sirloin chunks is thrown on the griddle, along with a heap of sautéed onions. It smells so good that even the shivering customer cracks a smile.

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2:25 P.M.:

2:52 P.M.:

2:35 P.M.:

3:04 P.M.:

A steady stream of customers starts and many of them also order the popular Brazilian cheese steak. Haamza springs into action, helping assemble the sandwiches while Adriano works the griddle. The prep cycle is about six minutes from start to end: cook sirloin, melt cheese, toast bun and assemble sandwich with lettuce, tomato and fresh chimichurri.

An order comes in for the “Big Burger.” Adriano pulls the roasting picanha from the rotisserie and slices several pieces onto the griddle. The outside is beautifully finished and the layer of fat is well–rendered, but the rare center is finished off by the griddle. A slice of ham, chunks of bacon and a fried egg join the roasted sirloin. The toasted bun can hardly hold it all, but Adriano piles it 2:32 P.M.: even higher with corn, potato Adriano slices a few pieces of sticks, fresh chimichurri and his pineapple for me to try. It’s ab- homemade green mayonnaise. solutely incredible. He laughs The customer leaves flabberat the expression on my face. gasted. A shy new customer struggles to pronounce “guarana.” Embarassed, he points to the can of Red Bull–like Brazilian soda on display. Adriano jokes with him about it and walks him through the pronunciation: “Gwa–ra–na. The soda’s actually named after a berry from the Amazon Rainforest.” “Oh cool. Ga–ra–na?” “Nonono, GWA. Ra. Na.”

The steady stream of customers slows to a trickle, but I’m reluctant to leave the warmth of the truck. Adriano whips me up an enormous Big Burger, on the house. I practically sprint to the nearest Drexel food court and scarf it down before it gets cold. So. Good.

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ARTS

CONTRAPPOSTO: THE BUTTON TAKING A STANCE ON

LOREN KOLE “Making things has always been a part of who I am. I am an image hoarder and used to hide catalogs in my closet when I was three and make collages. My kindergarten art teacher told my mom, ‘Loren lives in her own world, but it seems like a wonderful place.’”

Art and sex. Sex and art. One of those dynamic duos, they go together like X and Y (or XX and XY, even). Art has been a functioning sex addict since Botticelli’s babes flashed the Italian Renaissance; it pulled a Russell Brand when Egon Schiele drew porn–before– porn in 1920s Vienna. So it’s fitting that Penn’s sexual “Mission: Impossible” is in a work of art. What is somewhat remiss is that said artwork is tragically unsexy— Claes Oldenburg's iconic 1980s installation, “The Button." Perhaps five meters in diameter of whitewashed aluminium, the Locust icon is a clumsy, pallid structure. The only refuge from the pointless symmetry of this conventional structure is an

offset split that divides the button into one and two thirds of itself. The seam of this division is raised from the ground on which the sculpture rests, creating an idyllic sex nook for those of us who dream of hitting it under a large shelf. So prevalent is this urban legend that there is CCTV rolling under the sculpture and it’s not there filming a documentary on Penn’s squirrel population. But despite evident aesthetic flaws, “The Button” stands up where other works of art take a seat. Yes, Michelangelo’s David looks like a hot Italian Jesus—but, for God’s sake, you’re at the Accademia di Belle Arti! This is not the time or place to get sexy, you pervs. Set

apart by plinth or museum rope, many artworks suggest shenanigans; “The Button” facilitates them. Considering this work of art in relation to its surroundings poses the question: What’s the point of a public sculpture anyway? Were it merely cosmetic, “The Button” would be a conclusive failure. But there’s something more: really great art is an experience that is novel and specific to itself— and “The Button” pretty thoroughly checks this box. How else could you have Penn students making sex tapes on the pavement in front of Van Pelt? Beauty is more than skin deep: “The Button” is balls ugly, but it gets action. MOLLY COLLETT

Check out an interview with & video of artist Loren Kole online at 34st.com.

have u ever been undr the button

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ARTS

FAMOUS MUSEUM PEOPLE WHO WENT TO PENN

PENN GRADS IN ARTS AND BOOKS From Van Pelt to the Met, these Penn alums are making and taking care of art. BY GINA DECAGNA

ELYSA VOSHELL, C’01, LPS’09

WILLIAM BLUEHER, SAS’07

The Artists’ Book Extraordinaire Elysa Voshell loves to design, create and curate. She makes hand–made artists’ books on her own press, and she also works in printmaking, photography and installation. By day, she helps run Venice Arts, a Los Angeles nonprofit. She serves there as the associate director and she organizes five to seven exhibitions a year as a curator. By night, she’s in her studio, “letterpress printing and binding limited– edition books and prints on my vintage Vandercook Universal I cylinder press,” which she has named “Eleanor.”

Keeper of the Met’s Chamber of Secrets After earning his masters in English literature from Penn, William went on to become a librarian at debatably the greatest American art museum: the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. William spends a typical day absorbed in the collections of the Thomas J. Watson Library of the Met, a world–renowned research collection with over 800,000 volumes located just south of Met’s main stairs. He digitalizes physical books and artworks so that they can be more accessible for future use. And, though he works with the full spectrum of written cultural material— European, American, ancient Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Asian and Islamic art—he doesn’t neglect the actual artworks hosued in the Met. He gets “to pass through the Great Hall a few times a day, and I make it a point to explore new exhibitions at least once a week.”

The painter Benjamin West (1738–1820): President of the Royal Academy of Arts in London The historian and author Amandus Johnson (1877–1974): Founding curator of the American Swedish Historical Museum Architect Louis Kahn (1901–1974): Architect of the Yale University Art Gallery Artist and antiques expert Jonathan Leo Fairbanks (b. 1933): Founding curator of the American decorative arts and sculpture department at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Architect, urban designer and author Laurence S. Cutler and art dealer and collector Judy Goffman Cutler (b. 1940): Husband–and–wife team of Penn alums who co–founded the National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, R.I.

(corner of 36th and Haverford Ave) Grace Church is a multi-ethnic community of rich and poor, undergrads and PhDs, blue-collars and no-collars, Americans and internationals, all united by the good message of Jesus.

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Quick Questions: A favorite exhibition she curated? “Reading in Installments: Book Arts Meets Installation,” a show presented at Philadelphia’s Center for Emerging Visual Artists in 2009 that explored the ways people could interact with book art in an installation format. Why a handmade book and not a digital tablet? Artist books give people more of a tangible, sensory experience “unfolding over time as the reader turns the page.” Her favorite thing about arts in the Penn bubble? The natural, intimate community of creative support that exists when Penn students are constantly interacting with both peers and professors. Some of her closest friends are the ones she met in the fine arts studios, “back when they were housed in a blue, barnlike structure on the edge of campus called the Blauhaus.” Other favorite Penn spots? The print shop in the Morgan building or the darkrooms in Addams Hall. Her favorite thing about arts in the real world? Seeing the big (and deep) projects that can flourish when not restricted to a semester’s timeframe.

Quick Questions: Favorite Penn library? Fisher Fine Arts. Favorite non–Penn library? The New York Public Library— “it is unrivaled.” A piece of advice to an aspiring librarian in the arts and humanities? Try to get involved early—look for volunteer or internship opportunities to see if librarianship is something you’re really interested in.