SPRING // 2021
ISOLATION FUELED
My MUSIC
THE FOOD GUIDE 9 places to eat this summer
REVOLUTION TOO
WHITE
TO FUNCTION: diversity in the film industry
Queer, Latinx + Killing it:
Harvey
Guillén
the actor stakes his claim to fame
LO GO S LO GO
LO GO S LO GO
LO GO S LO GO
LO GO S LO GO
LO GO S
LO GO
LO GO S
LO GO
GO S
OG OS
OG OS
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
S
S
S
CO N N N CO TS E ON TS TE O S T C T C N T T EN N TE O N NT CO S S E O T T N CO S N EN N N N CO TS E T T C T N C N T S T E T CO S S O EN N T N O C N TS TE EN N C C S O T T N CO S N N C TS TE O EN N TS TE T C T N O C N TE E TE O S N T N O C N T T N C N S EN N N N CO T TS TE O C TS TE O S N NT CO TS TE N N CO TS TE ON N N T C N T T E TE CO S S EN N T N O C N T T CO S S E O T T N T C N N C TS E EN N S T O CO T N O CO S E N TE T N N CO TS E N NT CO TS TE N N NT CO TS TE TS E TS N C N N N CO TS E TE O T N C N T T CO S EN N N N TS TE O S C N NT CO TS TE N C TS TE O N N N CO TS E TE O N N CO N NT CO TS TE N NT CO TS TE TS E N NT N N CO TS E N N CO TS CO TS TE N NT CO TS TE N NT C N C TS E N N CO TS E TE O N N NT CO TS TE N NT CO TS TS E N N CO TS E N N CO TS TE N NT CO TS TE N C TS E N N C TE O
28
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Harvey Guillén’s Latinx background inspired him to pursue a career as an actor. His hard work as a Citrus Singer and theater major assisted him in achieving his dream. Guillén shares his trials and triumphs on the forefront of the fight for inclusivity in the media.
09
THE FOOD GUIDE
Mekhela Ghebrehiwet shares her favorite stops while exploring diverse, minorityowned restaurants. From Soul Food to Salvadoran Food, there’s something for everyone.
39
DIVERSITY IN FILM Opinion:
Oscars 2021 may not be #sowhite, but the film industry is. Studies show that representation matters, and there just isn’t enough of it.
writing editing video photography audio art/design production
Creatives wanted. Join Citrus College’s award-winning lifestyle magazine, Logos.
fall 2021
COMM 280 CRN 23798:
Magazine Production www.logosmagazinecc.com
contents
16
14
05
Music is constantly evolving, and the means of consuming it and seeking new songs can lead to a slump. The pandemic reinvigorated one listener’s passion in the process.
With comic book adaptations inundating our media landscape, fans are interested in exploring the source material. The first step is simpler than you think.
06
(RE)DISCOVERING MUSIC
ENTER THE COMIC UNIVERSE
EDITOR’S NOTE
CONTRIBUTORS
23 INK + HEART Lucy Argaez illustrates her journey to find her ideal tattoo shop. She learns the significance of choosing the right artist with the right motivation to fulfill her expectations of a healing process that artfully reflects overcoming pain during the pandemic.
cover: illustration by Vidal Espina. page 01, left: photo by Lane Dorsey courtesy of Harvey Guillén. right: photo by Ishika Muchhal. this page, top, left: photo by Justin George. top, right: photo by Liz Alcarez. bottom: video still courtesy of Logan Zhao of Ing Tattoo in Arcadia.
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 03
O TE N O TE N O TE
E O TE
N S R’
ED
IT O O TE
ED N S R’
ED
IT O O TE
ED N S R’
ED
IT
IT O O TE
ED N
O TE
S ED
IT O
R’ IT O O TE
ED N
O TE
ED
O TE
ED
TE
IT O
R’
S
page 05: top, left: photo by Lane Dorsey courtesy of Harvey Guillén. top, middle: photo by Justin George top, right: photo by Vidal Espina. bottom, left: photo by Liz Alcarez. bottom, middle: photo by Ishika Muchhal. bottom, right: photo by Liz Alcarez
IT O
N S R’ IT O ED
E
N R’ S ED IT O
O TE N S O TE N S N O TE N S R’
IT O ED
O TE N S R’ IT O ED
ED IT O R’ S ED IT O R’ S
O TE N R’ S R’ R’ S R’
IT O ED
O TE N S R’ IT O ED
N O TE
ED I O TE O TE
ED IT O R’ S IT O
O TE N S R’ IT O ED
N O TE
R’ S
R’ S IT O
@logosmagazinecc
ED
IT O ED
O TE
N
S
R’
IT O ED IT O
ED
@_logosmagazine
ED
ED IT O
S R’
S
R’
IT O
ED
©2021 Logos Magazine All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
/logosmagazinecc
ED O TE
N
N
Logos is produced by communications students and is distributed once per semester. Views expressed herein do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College or the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees.
logos@ccclarion.com
IT O
R’ IT O ED
O TE
Patrick Schmiedt
Contact: Logos Magazine 1000 W. Foothill Blvd VA236 Glendora, CA 91741 626.914.8586 logosmagazinecc.com
N
O TE N O TE N S
N S R’
IT O ED
ADVISER
O TE
Liz Alcarez Nerissa Chee Drew Connelly Justin George Mekhela Ghebrehiwet Brandon Jatico Ishika Muchhal Vicman Thome
O TE
ED IT O
CONTRIBUTORS
ED IT O
R’ S
R’ S
N
Lucy Argaez
N
O TE
ASSISTANT EDITOR
ED IT O R’ S
ED IT O R’ S ED IT O R’ S
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Alana Daly O’Brien
N
O TE N
O TE N O TE
ED IT O R’ S
Vidal Espina
N
EDITOR IN CHIEF / ART DIRECTOR
ED IT
ED IT O
ED IT O R’ ED IT O R’ S SPRING // 2021
O TE ED IT O R’ S
N
O TE N
O TE N
O TE
R’ S
N
R’
S
S
N
N
O TE
O TE
ED IT O
R’ S
IT O
R’
ED
IT O ED
O TE
N
O TE
R’
S
N
S
IT O
R’
IT O
R’
R’
S
S
N O TE
N O TE
ED
IT O
ED
IT O
R’
S
R’ S
N
N
O TE
O TE
ED
IT O
ED
IT O
O TE
S R’ N ’S
O TE N
O TE
ED
IT O
R’ S IT O ED
O TE
During this time of lockdown, many social issues came to the light and in sharp focus. Racial inequality, gender inequality, sexuality inequality and socio-economic inequality took center stage even though some wished we could push it back into the dark. As the economy opens up and the world awakens from its slumber, our stories reflect this feeling of revelation — a veritable uncovering ourselves from the sleepy shadows of our bed covers — touched by the things we saw in the light while we were in the dark. Ishika shares her opinion piece on the film industry’s struggle with representation and its long road ahead to reach equality. Coincidentally, it pairs nicely with our feature story of Guillén as he reveals his journey of living, and acting, proudly. As Guillén touched on the influence of his culture in his life, our writer Mekhela provides an amazing local food guide focused on revealing the different cultures located in our own backyard. Brandon shows us the world of comics alongside suggestions for beginners and experts. We also get a little personal with two essays. Justin takes us on his journey falling in and out of love with music. His story offers interesting ways we can find new music to incorporate into the soundtrack of our lives. We also take a trip with Lucy to an unexpected, minority-owned and operated tattoo shop. She came across this gem in the midst of struggling to get her first tattoo in the middle of a pandemic. It has been my pleasure in bringing Logos Magazine back to its roots as a premiere lifestyle magazine for the Citrus community. I hope you take these stories with you as you reenter the world.
N
N O TE
ED
O TE N
S
R’
ED
N S
ED IT O R’ S
ED IT O R’ S ED IT O R’ S ED IT O
O TE O TE N S
N O TE S
R’
O TE
For this issue of the magazine, we focused on the idea of living outside of the shadows and revealing what may be lying in front of our eyes. It’s quite apropos considering that we are coming out of lockdown due to COVID. At times, the past year of our lives has felt like we were living in the dark, isolated recesses of our own homes.
O
N
N
O TE N
O TE N O TE N O TE N R’ S N S R’ R’
IT O
D
TO
R’
O
O TE
E
ED I
ED IT O R’ S
ED IT O R’ S
ED IT O
IT O
D
A
t the beginning of this semester, Alana pitched a feature story on Harvey Guillén, an alum of Citrus College who stars in the television series “What We Do in the Shadows.” The story was green-lit, and although I wouldn’t be the one writing the story, I figured I’d at least watch the first episode as research. Perhaps my two years at university ruined the ability to enjoy a show, or a movie, without analyzing it through the lens of critical theory, art history and the media’s effect on society. Or maybe my mind is still ignited by the politically charged years that we are living in. Either way, I could not focus on the exceptional comedic timing, the sometimes dark sense of humor infused in the mundane or that I was simply watching a vampire comedy. “What We Do in the Shadows” is more than a show; it’s more than a statement. It’s many questions, like: How can so many social issues be infused in a program? What kind of talent is needed to bring these issues into the entertainment forum and disguise them in fiction and comedy? Better yet, who are these people? One answer is: These people are the brown people, the round people, the marginalized. They come from a community of untapped talent. They are overlooked, under-represented, often exploited and definitely underrated. Essentially, they live in the shadows. Yet they bring a unique lived experience that is crucial to the fabric of humanity.
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 05
contributors
BRANDON JATICO After graduating Citrus College in 2020 with an associate degree in biology, Brandon Jatico returned to Citrus to study communications and journalism. He became the feature and multimedia editor for the Citrus College Clarion this spring and is a staff reporter for Logos Magazine. A resident of Azusa, Brandon likes to read and play guitar or piano in his free time. His first published works as a journalist can be read at the Clarion website. He plans to transfer to a four-year university to continue studying biology with a focus in genetics. Brandon can be reached at brandonjatico@gmail.com.
ALANA DALY O’BRIEN // EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alana Daly O’Brien is a communications major pursuing an associate degree to transfer. She will graduate in spring 2022 after having attended Citrus College on and off for 10 years. Alana began in the Logos newsroom in 2017 as a copy editor and is the current editor in chief of the Citrus College Clarion. As someone who experienced debilitating anxiety writing in-class essays in high school, she was surprised when former Logos adviser Meg O’Neil reached out asking her to join the team because of her talent during her first communications class. Alana’s favorite aspect of the newsroom is assisting reporters in creating their best work through the editing process and watching their confidence grow as they learn. She also enjoys writing feature stories on diverse voices in the community. She plans to pursue a career as an editor or in public relations after receiving her bachelor’s degree.
ISHIKA MUCHHAL Ishika Muchhal is an actor, singer, dancer, writer and organizer. Pursuing her BFA in Acting at CalArts and learning at Citrus during her gap year, Ishika’s art and writing are always influenced by social issues. Her written work has been published in various newspapers and magazines, both digital and print. She has performed in plays, musicals, films and more. Some highlights are performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland and playing Gloucester in King Lear, performed at A Noise Within. Ishika is also involved in volunteer work, student government, EDI initiatives, event planning and policy advocacy. More at: www.ishikamuchhal.com
06 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
contributors
MEKHELA GHEBREHIWET A California native, but an east coast lover at heart. When she is not writing, Mekhela spends most of her time traveling, reading, cooking, museum hopping, listening to old vinyl records and chasing food trucks. She lives by a lake and enjoys kayaking and weekend hikes with her dog and husband. A true-life book addict, you can usually catch her browsing independently owned bookstores and vinyl shops. Sundays are for listening to vinyls and writing or roller skating by the ocean. With a degree in both communications and journalism, interviewing people always feels more like talking to friends than to strangers. As Arts and Entertainment Editor and Social Media Manager for the Clarion, Logos’ sister publication, she has her hands full getting entertaining stories out, but still makes time to explore what’s outside and around her.
DREW CONNELLY Drew Connelly currently attends Citrus College as a communications major. He designs Logos and the Citrus College Clarion. Drew enjoys music, playing with his dogs, going shopping, hanging out with friends, going to the beach, and taking hikes.
LIZ ALCAREZ // PHOTO EDITOR Liz Alcarez is a full-time Citrus College student, photo editor and designer for Logos Magazine. As a communications major and environmental photographer, she finds herself doing lots of reading, writing and spending time behind a lens. As a native of San Gabriel Valley, she has spent much of her adult life exploring the art scenes of neighboring cities Los Angeles and Pasadena. She hopes that those cultures can be brought to smaller cities and aspires to facilitate future art events within her own community. Liz is a music enthusiast with goals to work as a public relations specialist and touring photographer for bands, hoping to always be near her passions. When she isn’t designing pages or doing photoshoots, she likes to spend time outside, cooking and helping friends with their own creative projects.
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 07
contributors
JUSTIN GEORGE Justin George is a first-year student at Citrus College studying communications. He joined the Clarion as a freelancer in fall 2020 shortly after graduating from high school, and now proudly serves as the news editor. This is his first time writing for Logos, and he hopes it won’t be his last. He looks forward to experimenting with new ways of storytelling such as video and photojournalism in his time at Citrus. In the next year, Justin plans to transfer to a four-year university to complete a bachelor’s degree in communications and find another subject to minor in. In his free time, Justin enjoys playing guitar, listening to music and taking long drives.
NERISSA CHEE Nerissa Chee is the art editor for the Clarion and a designer for Logos. She has been designing Logos for two semesters now and this is her first semester designing for the Clarion. Nerissa will be graduating from Citrus College with associate degrees in communication studies and language arts. She will transfer to a 4-year university in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications/media studies. On days when she is not a student, she enjoys snowboarding, going on coffee crawls, and walking through the clearance section at Target.
LUCY ARGAEZ // ASSISTING EDITOR Lucy Argaez is going on three years of student reporting. She is the current managing editor of the Citrus College Clarion and assisting editor of Logos Magazine. She has worked in newsroom management positions at both the high school and college level, winning journalism awards at both levels. Lucy plans on transferring to a school with a study abroad program to fulfil her dream of writing abroad. When she is not working for the Clarion or Logos, she can be found gaming with her younger brother and talking to her cat Rio. Lucy will spend the summer tutoring high school students and mentoring high school student journalists.
VIDAL ESPINA // EDITOR IN CHIEF + ART DIRECTOR In 2016, Vidal Espina was part of Logos’ relaunch after the magazine’s seven year hiatus; first as a staff writer and eventually as creative director. It was during his time at Logos that Vidal became enamored with the different opportunities in storytelling from traditional print and photography, to podcasting, video and virtual reality. Later that year, he graduated from Citrus College with an associate degree in communications and transferred to the University of California, San Diego, to obtain a bachelor’s degree with honors in visual art - media with a minor in speculative design. His time at UCSD opened up the art world in ways he could have never imagined. The program, and its close relationship with conceptual art and critical art theory, revealed the importance of historical storytelling through the visual art form while informing and pushing new, innovative ways of practicing art. As the world isolated and job prospects dwindled, Vidal chose to return to Citrus to complete a degree in journalism, giving him the opportunity to once again join the Logos team — this time as editor in chief. He has taken on a threefold challenge riding the fine line of traditional art design in magazines and conceptual, artistic printmaking, while creating a vehicle for the staff and their work to shine. Vidal will be graduating in June with his journalism degree and will be developing his thesis project for graduate school focusing on redefining the perspective and social structures of dress, identity and historical representation through the lens of speculative design. His time in academia will serve as a basis for his career in art direction and media design, ideally in magazine publication.
VICMAN THOME *not pictured
08 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
DISCOVER DIFFERENT C U LT U R E S TEXT: MEKHELA GHEBREHIWET // DESIGN: VICMAN THOME
T
he best part of getting to know a new culture is experiencing their food. Food is a language everyone speaks and it’s a way you can communicate with someone’s background without having to know and understand their language. Supporting minority-owned businesses helps the culture by investing back into them.
Be part of something cool and give back to the community’s multicultural background. A list has been compiled with nine local culinary foodie spots and their best dishes you can order for takeout. Since Citrus is a melting pot of students and their cultures, it’s cool to get to know our neighbors by eating in our own backyard. SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 09
top left: Szechuan eggplant. top right: Deep fried oyster mushrooms seasoned with basil and chopped jalapeños. bottom, left to right: “chicken” fried rice (plant-based chicken substitute), sautéed green beans, and vegetable chow mein. food by House of Fortune Vegetarian // photos by Vidal Espina
soul food: pomona
ethiopian food: covina
J&J BBQ AND FISH
G&S CAFE AND ETHIOPIAN CUISINE
751 Indian Hill Blvd. Pomona, CA 91767 (909) 865-6700
Adrian E. Miller, the author of “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time” said soul food was transported across the United States by African American migrants who left during the Great Migration. J&J’s BBQ & Fish was founded in 2008 by owners Joe Draper and Johnny Walker. Famous for their dishes such as fried chicken, BBQ ribs, collard greens, catfish, peach cobbler and sweet potato pie, Draper’s personal blend of herbs and spices give every dish on the menu a unique flavor. J&J’s BBQ & Fish is a superb spot to pick up some slow cooked BBQ and delicious side dishes. They even have a Sunday brunch option so you can try a little bit of everything. Recommended order: 2 meat BBQ combo with rib tips and chicken or red snapper fish combo, with mac and cheese and greens for the 2 sides, and a side of yams.
page 09: illustration by Vicman Thome
10 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
1068 N. Citrus Ave. Covina, CA 91722 (626) 332-0585
Ethiopian food is mostly vegetables and spicy meats served on top of injera. Ethiopian people eat with their hands and use pieces of injera, a spongy flatbread, to pick up their food. G&S Café and Ethiopian Cuisine opened just a few years ago but has already become a local favorite. With traditional decor and a little market selling small goods, this place has a traditional and friendly ambience. The awaze tibs, a spicy beef or lamb stir fry stew made with a red pepper blend, onions, garlic, jalapenos, ginger, cinnamon and more, is delicious and the perfect amount of spice. The vegetarian platter is also very tasty and flavorful. With many vegan options as well, be sure to partake in an ethiopian coffee ceremony with friends and family. Recommended order: awaze tibs (grilled beef marinated in awaze, kibe, jalapenos and onions) or vegetarian platter (a combination of 8 vegetarian side dishes such as lentils, cabbage and beets).
culture
chinese food: chino hills
HOUSE OF FORTUNE VEGETARIAN 13788 Roswell Ave. #101 Chino, CA 91710 (909) 517-2988
Immigrating to California in the 1800s during the Gold Rush, the finger-licking cuisine of the Chinese came with them. Chinese food has since spread across the states from the southern province of Guangdong, the origin of Chinese immigration. House of Fortune Vegetarian was established in 2018 and the business is thriving. This family-owned business chooses to follow a plant-based diet and to spread those roots to its hungry customers. Their veggie orange chicken is the hottest thing on their menu. It’s a must try and very appetizing. Recommended order: orange chicken, szechuan eggplant and fried rice.
indian food: covina
cuban food: west covina
mexican food: azusa
INDIA FRESH
MEDIA NOCHE CUBAN CUISINE 423 N. Vincent Ave. Covina, CA 91722 (626) 699-1225
TACO NAZO
India traded spices around Europe and Asia, and Indian food has greatly transformed cuisines around the world— especially in Europe. Staple Indian dishes contain lentils, vegetables, spices and naan, an oven-baked flatbread. India Fresh opened in 2009 and not only serves fresh food, but also has a great selection of other items like organic groceries. India Fresh is an overall splendid place to grab fresh Indian food with the best customer service. The garlic naan is delicious and great with everything, especially their lunch and dinner specials.
Havana was a major trading port in the colonial era. Cuban cuisine is a combination of Spanish, African, Caribbean and Taino foods. Media Noche Cuban Cuisine is an authentic Cuban restaurant taking taste buds on a journey to Havana. The most popular dish in Cuban cuisine is ropa vieja, a shredded beef slowly cooked in tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers and wine. This dish is accompanied with rice, beans and sweet plantains. This Latin American spot has an allyou-can-eat buffet and Sunday brunch, so a taste of everything can satisfy the taste buds of many. Media Noche Cuban Cuisine is known for their media noche sandwich, ropa vieja and arroz con pollo.
Since 1978, Taco Nazo has been known for their fish tacos. Each location is individually owned and operated, but all have the same intentions: to remain the pioneers of the fish taco. Delivering high quality authentic Mexican food mixed with fresh seafood influenced by the Ensenada region of Mexico, it’s hard to resist eating tacos for dinner five times a week. Fish tacos, ceviche and especially the potato tacos are bound to satisfy the hunger of many. Taco Nazo’s spicy chile güeritos are served with every entrée and are a delicious addition to everything on the menu.
553 N. Azusa Ave. Covina, CA 91722 (626) 974-6666
Recommended order: lunch or dinner special; the food is in front of you so you can pick what to eat based on what looks the most tasty, and options are different every day. Also try the tandoori special that comes with 2 vegetable entrees, rice, raita and naan.
Recommended order: ropa vieja or media noche sandwich (ham marinated pork, swiss cheese, pickles).
163 N. Azusa Ave. Azusa, CA 91702 (626) 969-3664
Recommended order: fish tacos and potato tacos.
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 11
culture
el salvadoran food: covina
PUPUSAS Y MAS 136 E. Arrow Hwy. Covina, CA 91722 (626) 979-4334 During a Civil War in the ‘80s, Salvadoran people fled their country, spreading their pupusas throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.= Salvadoran food has Spanish roots. Pupusas are the national dish of El Salvador, and the masa, a corn-based dough, can be filled with many ingredients such as beans, cheese, pork, chicken or loroco. Fried on a griddle, it is served with a pickled cabbage slaw called curtido and tomato sauce. Pupusas Y Mas has been open since 2015, and is a great place for a low-key Sunday morning breakfast. Aside from eating pupusas, try the yuca y chicharrón and plátanos y frijoles. Recommended order: 2 pupusas (revuelta, loroco and cheese or bean and cheese) and plantains with cream and beans. top: Two papusas, squash with cheese and loroco (edible flower) with cheese, dressed with cortido (fermented cabbage relish) and mild red sauce. bottom, left: Arguably the best part of a papusa is when the cheese escapes the dough and fries itself on the griddle. It brings a salty, crunchy texture to the gooey cheese inside the papusa. bottom, right: Cortido is favored for not only its flavor but also for cutting the richness of its cheese stuffed partner. food by Papusas Y Mas // photos by Vidal Espina
12 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
culture
peruvian food: west covina
japanese food: covina
MISKY MISKY
ZUMO ZUZHI BURRITO 1404 N. Azusa Ave. Covina, CA 91722 (626) 257-3218
Julio and Cecilia Tawata migrated to Los Angeles from Lima, Peru in the ‘80s. Upon moving to L.A., the husband-and-wife duo quickly opened Mr. Pollo. Upon its success, they wanted to open a full-service restaurant where they could serve Peruvian seafood dishes from their hometown such as fresh ceviche. “Misky” is the Quechua word for “delicious,” making their full-service restaurant’s name Misky Misky “delicious delicious.” Misky Misky opened in 2014 and has been serving the freshest seafood ever since. Besides their fresh seafood, their hot plates such as their lomo saltado are delicious as well.
Sushi was originally derived from China between the 5th and 3rd century B.C., but the concept of modern-day sushi was created in Japan around the 1800s by Hanaya Yohei. Zumo Zuzhi has been taking Asian fusion sushi to a new level since 2014 by making their famous sushi burritos. They are known for their Mija & Mijo burrito and the Arco Iris burrito. With plenty of vegan options such as the Super V, they have enough options for all foodies.
125 N. Fairway Ln. West Covina, CA 91791 (626) 966-0600
Recommended order: ceviche mixto (fish of the day, shrimp, mussels, scallops and squid with red onions, aji limo & cilantro) and lomo saltado (wok-fried filet mignon cooked with aji amarillo, tomatoes, red onions, and french fries, served with seasoned white rice).
Recommended order: mija & mijo burrito (imitation crab, shrimp tempura, crunchy flake and sweet sauce) or super V burrito (vegan spicy tuna aka jackfruit, avocado, cucumber, pickled cabbage and sweet sauce).
top: The Mija & Mijo Burrito. Made for the California sushi roll fanatic. It has the same flavors of a California sushi roll except it’s super-sized. middle: The Super V is just like it’s non-vegetarian counterpart in size and shape. However, the jackfruit meat substitute feels like you’re eating spicy tuna. You won’t feel like you’re missing the fish with this flavor profile. bottom: The vegan sesame rice bowl. Deep fried soy bits rest on a bed of white rice and topped with a sesame soy sauce. food by Zumo Zuzhi // photos by Vidal Espina
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 13
STEPPING INTO THE WORLD OF COMICS TEXT: BRANDON JATICO // DESIGN: VIDAL ESPINA
A
fter watching Marvel Netflix’s “Daredevil,” Citrus College business major Ben Anguiano found himself wanting to read comics again. He isn’t alone. With the growing interest in comic book media, many people have begun searching for its source material. Jason Harris, manager of the Claremont comic book store A Shop Called Quest, has seen this firsthand. “We always see a rise in sales when something related to movies or TV shows with comics,” Harris said. “Perfect example is ‘WandaVision.’ We couldn’t keep up with the demand of Scarlet Witch and Vision comics.” Finding a starting point can be intimidat-
Finding a first issue nowadays is rare. Issues for comics range from anywhere to 1-1,000. The ongoing Batman series “Detective Comics” reached issue number 1,036 on May 25, 2021. Anguiano’s question of where to start was clear. He found the answer by asking the right people the right question. Anguiano asked the employee at the store where to start if he wanted to read Daredevil. “He started telling me what the current run was and where to begin with that, and even recommended some of the more wellknown stories that were already done,” Anguiano said. Comic store owners and their employees
M
U
ST
RE
A
D
8
ing, as these characters’ stories have been going on for decades-- something Anguiano experienced when he tried to read again. “I was buying comics when I was a kid, just looking at all the pictures of Spider-Man, but now that I’ve gotten back into it as an adult I had no idea where to go to see what the current story arc was,” Anguiano said. This confusion is common, and Peter Mellini, owner of Nostalgic Books and Comics in San Gabriel, has an idea why. “I think most people are conditioned to think they can only start reading comics (at) issue one, and a lot of big titles with the large issue numbers scares them off,” Mellini said in an email.
14 |
comics for newbies and experts alike.
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
SAGA
MONTRESS
HELLBLAZER by Simon Spurrier
culture top: Cases of comic books are organized and eagerly await customers at the shop’s store front. bottom: A reader holds Issue 10 of an Avengers comic photos by Liz Alcarez at A Shop Called Quest in Claremont
have been reading for some time. Harris said he began reading at an early age, and Mellini said he’s been reading for close to 30 years. Comic books have been around longer than they’ve been alive, but their experience gave them the solution. “Obviously the best way to start something is from the beginning, but when it comes to mainstream comics there are always jumping on points,” Mellini said. “Sometimes it’s when a new writer and artist take over; sometimes it’s just the start of a new story.” Comic books offer creative stories ranging from those for all ages to more mature stories that deal with complex and real-world issues. There are all sorts of artistic styles that movies can’t replicate. Mellini said he loves the MCU, and some of their movie plots work better than the source material. “But in a lot of cases, these movies are just scratching the surface of the bigger stories that were told in the comics,” Mellini said. “Comics are an art form; the ability to tell a story for decades, with multiple different writers and artists, is just an experience that can’t be duplicated on the screen.” Comics offer expansive universes that many have shown to love and connect with beyond Marvel and DC. There’s something for everyone. Visiting a comic shop instead of a major retailer supports businesses that can give much more to the customer. A Shop Called Quest, Nostalgic Books and Comics and many others with this personal touch were hurt by COVID-19. Extra support helps not only the stores, but the writers and artists that make the books while indulging in a rich universe and culture. L
DAREDEVIL by Chip Zdarsky
AVENGERS by Jonathan Hickman
X-MEN: GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS
BATMAN WHITE KNIGHT
SUPERMAN RED SON SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 15
Retur Satu
A Music Lover’s
rn to urn Justin had lost his love for music. When the world was on pause, new methods of searching for music reignited that passion.
feature
My first memories with music are distant, but fond. As a toddler I would dig through piles of CDs in my attic, bringing them with me on car rides so I could kick the back of my mother’s seat to the rhythms.
“ TEXT: JUSTIN GEORGE // DESIGN: LIZ ALCAREZ
J
ust over a year ago, I attended the last concert I would for a long time. It was a small house show in Los Angeles, where a mosh pit of sweaty high-schoolers mobbed around a noisy amature band that was on the verge of a noise complaint. Back then, small shows were held religiously on the weekends, but were never considered a hazard to public health until the news of the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded and music venues began closing, putting everyone’s social lives on pause. Music lovers like me were confined to home to discover and listen to music alone. No longer could I drive around with friends with a pop hit blaring through the speakers, or have music discussions during passing period at school; music had become a solitary activity. The pandemic has completely revolutionized the way we consume music, and now I’m able to appreciate it better than I ever have before. I was in my senior year at a music-centric high school before the pandemic began. Each day began on a commuter train, where
18 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
I’d pop in a set of cheap earbuds and listen to “best of” playlists while I hurriedly finished assignments on my computer an hour before they were due, ignoring the beautiful mountains outside the train window. At lunch, my friends talked about popular music while a bluetooth speaker played some tunes. After the academic school day, I rushed off to my music classes where I’d learn about, listen to and play music as classwork for about two hours. By the time the day was done and I was on the train home, I was overwhelmed with my workload and didn’t want anything to do with music because it felt like work. The burnout from school had negatively influenced my feelings toward music, and as a result I reached a point where I wasn’t enjoying listening to music at all— yet I called myself a music lover. Many people have a special encounter with music in their lifetime at one point or another: a child tapping at a piano for the first time, or a newlywed couple sharing their first dance to
feature
pages 14-15: Vinyl records from Justin George’s collection. above: Justin sits at home surrounded by his vast music collection of vintage vinyl records and modern CDs. photos by Justin George
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 19
feature
a special song. My first memories with music are distant, but fond. As a toddler I would dig through piles of CDs in my attic, bringing them with me on car rides so I could kick the back of my mother’s seat to the rhythms. In sixth grade, I started learning how to play music when my teacher showed me how easy playing the bass is. Once my parents trusted me to go to concerts alone, live music became a bonding activity between me and my friends. Music has the ability to inspire universal feelings of togetherness, comfort, curiosity, joy, grief and other emotions in all of us. The fact that I had reached a point in my life where I was dreading music was upsetting, and rekindling my love for it would be no easy task. In the early days of the pandemic, the public anxiety was high and I was checking the news at all hours. Work, school and home life had been turned upside-down, and I didn’t have the capacity to process it all. It pained me to think that concerts may be a thing of the past. Rather than dwell in an abyss of dread, I decided to revert to my old listening habits, approaching music with the mindset of a first-time listener. I revisited longtime favorite albums of mine, such as Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue,” a jazz album full of recognizable improvised trumpet melodies and rich bass lines, which were some of the first I learned to play. Another album I returned
above: Justin displays some of his favorites out of his collection. He has everything from vintage vinyl records in their original sleeves to more versatile CDs. photos by Justin George
20 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
JUSTIN’S RECS
THE INTERNET Hive Mind Elements of funk, R&B and dance music featuring driving bass lines and gentle voice melodies to get you moving.
to was The Beatles’ self-titled album, also known as the “White Album”: the first album I wanted to spend money on as a child. I reconnected with the special importance the music once had to me, and for a while it almost felt like traveling back to simpler times in my life. The music comforted me and alleviated some of the anxiety around the pandemic, and I’ve appreciated it better than I ever could have if I were still listening on the train ride to school. Soon after the first weeks of the pandemic, I started to accept that I wouldn’t be going back to school for some time. As much as I missed socializing with friends, listening to music without the burnout from school was liberating. I began looking for new music to listen to, which is difficult without the help of friends but was made easier with the help of the internet. My go-tos were Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” and “Release Radar” playlists, which recommend music based on previous listening. The selections are familiar like an old favorite comfort food, but I have the most fun discovering music that’s radically different from what I’d usually appreciate. I’ve taken to Reddit, where I can read and participate in discussions about music and discover what’s in other users’ catalogs. Some of the music
I’ve come across probably would’ve remained buried in internet obscurity had nobody been inclined to post about it. Much of the music is posted on Bandcamp or SoundCloud, which allow artists to self-release their music and maintain followings. It also allows fans to stalk other fans and see what they are listening to. It’s sneaky and a bit creepy, but I’ve found some of my favorite musical treasures by digging deep. I would’ve never found music this unique through friends or at concerts due to the awkwardness of asking somebody to reveal the depths of their music catalog, but through the internet I can fearlessly probe into others’ tastes. Like many love stories, my relationship with music grew stale after a while. It took many hours of quality time listening to music alone to rekindle my love for music— hours I never would have spent this way if it hadn’t been for the disruption of almost all other activities. As campuses open, I will likely be commuting to school again when in-person lectures resume. I will once again be listening to music, finishing work and keeping my days busy, but I will never let my appreciation for music be compromised by those things. The way I consume music has been thoroughly changed for the better. L
MEN I TRUST Oncle Jazz Described by NPR as “electropop,” this band’s sound features an ethereal mix of guitars and vocals with heavy reverb, as well as funky drum and bass work.
THE MICROPHONES It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water An unpredictable mix of folk, rock, ambient and noise, topped with sometimes-fluctuating, sometimes-flowing vocal melodies and experimental loops.
ALGIERS The Underside Of Power A compelling blend of rock and soul with a gospel twist and piercing, passionate vocals.
THUNDERCAT It Is What It Is A cocktail of gentle vocals, beats that will make you dance, wild bass runs and electronic instrumentation gives each song a unique and exciting energy.
CLARION citrus college
All the news you need from the Citrus College community.
STAY CONNECTED
www.ccclarion.com @ccclarion /ccclarion
@ citruscollegeclarion
Getting Ing’d
UP
TATTOOS IN A COVID WORLD
feature
My discovery of a tattoo shop that creates not only the perfect tattoo designs, but advocates for the healing process of tattooing.
TEXT: LUCY ARGAEZ // DESIGN: LIZ ALCAREZ
W W
hen I went searching for Ing Tattoo I had gotten lost. I was searching for a shop that would allow me into their shop and their world. I called, emailed, texted and set up appointments with 25 shops before I found the place that felt meant to be. I drove up and down Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia twice before I realized I had passed the shop. A small unassuming sign that says “Tattoo” hung over the shop’s entrance. However, it was overpowered by the surrounding signs of other building occupants. The tattoo shop was under a music school and next to a baseball card shop and strangely enough, this made sense to me. When I walked into the shop it felt like I had stepped into a different world. The shop was bigger than I had expected it to be from the outside. The front of the shop was covered in paintings and awards for men’s physique and tattooing. In the waiting area, artist portfolios filled the coffee table in front of the couch. Walking through a curtain of painted KOI fish, I found the tattoo and design area. After getting through some of the hardest months in my life, struggling with taking care of my brother and now my grandfather, dealing with my general education courses, losing my job and stressing about money, I felt like that struggle that I went through trying to figure it all out should be celebrated. I felt brand new, like the person that I was in April 2020 had melted away and
24 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
left the person I had always wanted to become. I wanted to get a tattoo in celebration that represented growth. I wanted it to represent all the changes I went through and the strength that it took to change. “A lot of people treat tattoo like a healing process; more than one person has told me that this is (their) therapy during our tattoo session,” Esther Zhao, an artist at Ing Tattoo, said in a phone interview. “This is something I really treasure, providing a safe space for people to express themselves o listen to them and be a part of that healing process.” This spoke to me because it was exactly how I felt about the tattoo that I wanted to get. I felt like I had found the people that would be able to make that idea possible. Jude Guo said that the shop started out in his garage after two years of apprenticeship at other shops. Guo decorated his garage and turned it into a mini studio. He tattooed friends and others referred to him. After saving what he had earned tattooing, he had enough to open the first Ing tattoo shop in El Monte in 2015. The shop grew from a job to a passion for tattooing; and just like his passion, his business grew from something Guo had done in his garage to his own shop in Arcadia. The first artist to work with Jude was Esther Zhao, who had met him when the first shop opened. Zhao met Guo through a friend who had previously gotten a tattoo from him. “It’s funny — she (Zhao’s friend) said, ‘You should check this guy
feature
out. He’s really good, and he’s also very cute,’” Esther Zhao said to me. She kept Guo’s contact information and decided to go to his shop. Esther Zhao had originally gone to the shop for an internship as a business major and intended to help out with the accounts, but after being at the shop for a while she fell in love with tattooing. She has worked with Guo ever since. The other artist who worked with Guo since the first shop opening in El Monte is Logan Zhao. They were friends before Zhao had begun tattooing. Elaine Gong is a current apprentice at the shop. “Jude was the person who had gotten Logan into tattooing; they had started tattooing their friends and people they knew in the beginning, and they are still tattooing together today,” Gong said to me, translating for Logan Zhao. The current artists residing in the shop along with Esther Zhao and Logan Zhao are Eva Liu, Jesse Sun, Jimi Huang and Lingnzi. The artists at the shop have
helped each other’s skill set grow. The artists competed in several tattoo expos, and even competed in New York at the NYC Empire State Tattoo Expo in 2019. “Everyone in the shop gets along pretty well,” Gong said to me. “We are all friends, so this shop is like a family.” Guo said he has been a professional tattoo artist for six years. He also said that in his spare time he is an actor, model, fitness icon and singer. He was also named among the top ten tattoo artists and TikTok influencers in Los Angeles in 2020 by inBeat. “I originally started the TikTok for fun,” Guo said to me. “I post a lot of the tattoos I do, tattoo removals and bodybuilding stuff on there.” Guo said that his hobbies are all the things he has grown to be passionate about. It was only fitting that a person who has so many hobbies and so many versions of themselves would be the person I would want to design my tattoo. The process of getting a tattoo at their
page 99: photo illustration by Liz Alcarez top, left: Logan Zhao’s tattoo station ready for the next client. right: Natural light floods Jude Guo’s tattoo station on a quiet day at the shop. lower, left: A shelf of tattoo ink is meticulously displayed in Jude’s office. photos by Liz Alcarez at Ing Tattoo in Arcadia
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 25
feature
shop is to first call or reach out to an artist depending on the work you want done. Then, they will design an original tattoo catered to what you are looking for. All that would need to be done next would be to set up an appointment or appointments and begin placing and tattooing the design. The shop stayed closed during the first three months of the outbreak in 2020, only allowing friends to come into the shop for tattoos. The shop is not currently accepting walk-in appointments. They are only tattooing returning customers and friends. The shop will open up to more tattoo lovers when COVID-19 guidelines allow for it. Guo says that as the tiers of COVID-19 change, so will the admittance of walk-in customers. “The process of tattooing has not really changed; we still sanitize the same way and are very careful with our machinery,” Guo said to me. Another shop in the area, Blackbird Tattoo, is also not taking walk-in appointments. They agree that the process of getting a tattoo with the restrictions and guidelines has not changed from before the pandemic. “It’s been easier to have all of the work for a tattoo figured out ahead of time; the only thing that has changed about the way we tattoo has been wearing a mask while working,” Blackbird Tattoo owner Brandon Swartz said. After visiting Ing Tattoo, I decided to wait until I can be tattooed by artists at the shop. I want to get a tattoo from the people who pride themselves on designing tattoos their customers would love and cherish. I want to get a tattoo that is representative of the struggles I have gone through, and I believe these are the artists that can make it happen. “Making a permanent mark on human skin and watching it heal and watching it go through the different phases of a persons’ life, how the skin ages or changes, the tattoo changes as well,” Esther Zhao said. “That is what makes tattooing so special: it is a healing process.” L Three film stills of Logan Zhao tattooing a client for Ing Tattoo’s promotional video for social media. video courtesy of Logan Zhao of Ing Tattoo
26 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
LO
LO
LO
LO
LO
LO
LO
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
LO GO S
GO S
GO S
GO S
GO S
GO S
GO S
GO S
feature
Harvey Guillén models his virtual red carpet look at the 2021 GLAAD awards on April 8. photos courtesy of Harvey Guillén
28 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
feature
,
Harvey Guillén breaks barriers as the first queer Latinx actor nominated for a Critic’s Choice Award
TEXT: ALANA DALY O’BRIEN // DESIGN: NERISSA CHEE
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 29
feature
Guillén’s Latinx background inspired him to pursue a career as an actor. His hard work as a Citrus Singer and theater major assisted him in achieving his dream.
CC
itrus College alumnus Harvey Guillén worked hard to move past his time on the Spanish MetroPCS commercials.
“Mom, I won a GLAAD award!” “Oh, que bueno,” his mother replied calmly. She paused. “Y los de MetroPCS?” “No, mom; I’m not doing that anymore,” he said. “That was for, like, three years and I’m done with that.” “OK,” she sighed, resigned. In the past year, Guillén has earned a Critic’s Choice Award nomination and a GLAAD Award for his work as Guillermo de la Cruz on the Emmy nominated FX series “What We Do in the Shadows.” His career took off after studying and performing as a Citrus Singer from 2003 to 2005.
30 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
“Anything he does, he is so memorable in,” Citrus Singers director Douglas Austin said. “So whether it’s a lead or a medium sized role, he makes it a starring role, he makes it a memorable role. He doesn’t pull focus, he doesn’t do anything to take the spotlight from someone else, but he knows how to make it his when the opportunity comes.” Guillén knew he wanted to be an actor when he was 6 years old. He grew up mostly in Rosemead and San Gabriel, but his family moved around a lot for his father’s construction job. As the oldest son of Mexican immigrants, he was responsible for taking care of his younger siblings while his parents worked long hours to make ends meet. “What was considered a chore in another household in America is considered your
culture in Latinx because it is expected of you,” he said. Guillén developed a positive attitude to distract his siblings from their family’s struggles. As adults, he asked his sister how aware she was of their family’s difficulties. She said she knew he was trying his best because he would always have a smile, he was always optimistic and he never let it show that they might be in trouble.
top right: Harvey takes a shot of the monitor showing season two promotional images for “What We Do in the Shadows.” top left: Childhood photos. bottom left: While at Citrus College, Harvey, center, performs as the lead in the musical “How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” at the Haugh Performing Arts Center in Glendora. photos courtesy of Harvey Guillén
“That was me acting,” Guillén said. He also learned the value of hard work from his parents, who had to work hard because they weren’t products of nepotism. “Latinx people have to start from scratch,” he said. “What that entails is that a lot of
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 31
feature
You’re Latinx and you’re queer, and you’re round. It’s all these elements that you traditionally don’t see in a place that you see my character. So I find pride in that, that in some small way I’ve begun changing the narrative of what Hollywood sees (in) people of color, people of size, people who are queer.
“
Harvey points at a billboard for his hit show “What We Do in the Shadows” in Los Angeles. photo courtesy of Harvey Guillén
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 33
feature
above: Kayvan Novak (Nandor) holds Harvey (Guillermo) above his head on a flying rig in two behind the scenes shots from “What We Do in the Shadows.” left: Harvey takes a selfie with Haley Joel Osment (Topher) on the set of season two of “What We Do in the Shadows.” photos courtesy of Harvey Guillén
parents have to be out of the household and work long hours just to keep a roof over their kids’ head.” Guillén’s mother had a steadfast rule in the house. “Once you (walked) through that threshold, you spoke Spanish,” he said. “You ate Mexican food. You watched Spanish TV, Spanish news. So there were two worlds that I lived in.” Guillén remembers being inspired while watching old Mexican films in black and white and telenovelas with his father. Together they watched comedian and singer “Catinflas” Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, “Chespirito” Roberto Gómez Bolaños and María Félix in Mexican Hollywood classics of the ‘40s and ‘50s. “I feel like watching ‘El Chavo del Ocho’ … his comic timing, the setup with jokes was so fun,” Guillén said. “And I always knew that it made my dad laugh, so if you set up a joke with those beats in comedy, it’s like a rhythm — a ballet; so I feel like I did get trained watching those.” While watching the diverse cast of characters in the children’s telenovela “Carrusel,” Guillén said he saw opportunities and a future for himself. That sort of representation was not reflected in American media at the time. He began to recognize the importance of seeing himself on the screen after saving up for another TV so he could watch the trending American shows that his friends discussed in school. “I guess I always looked for myself in the screen, but I never found myself because as a Latinx kid … Brown, round, and proud: that’s what I was, and those were not displayed in my television,” Guillén said. Despite this disheartening prospect, Guillén was determined to pursue acting after high school. When he left Southern Utah Universi-
34 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
feature
ty’s Shakespearean theater program, one of the friends he made in Rosemead introduced Guillén to Citrus College in 2003. After proving his talent by singing on-the-spot to multiple people in the theater department, his voice earned him an exemption to join Citrus Singers after they had already filled all the spots for men. He joined the program because he was intent on taking an acting class that was already full. “I jumped into this world without even knowing what it consisted of, and I’m glad I did because it taught me discipline and to — you know — be on time, know your stuff,” he said. “And I got to join (Cherie Brown’s) acting class!”
embrace everything that you envision (as the director),” Austin said. During Guillén’s time at Citrus, Austin said he was not the norm; visually, energy-wise, personality-wise and comedically, Guillén stood out from the beginning. Although Guillén received negative feedback along his journey, he never let anyone discourage him from his hopes and dreams.
Once you (walked) through that threshold, you spoke Spanish. You ate Mexican food. You watched Spanish TV, Spanish news. So there were two worlds that I lived in.
John Vaughan, dean of visual and performing arts, worked with Guillen as a choreographer during his time at Citrus. He said Guillén’s charisma, energy and positivity was on full display as a student. Vaughan and Austin ran the musical theater department and worked extensively with Guillén.
“
Austin also described Guillén as charismatic, noting that he is not surprised at his success because he was practical and dedicated to every aspect of the Citrus Singers program. Whether he is singing in “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist” or in a fight scene staking vampires on “What We Do in the Shadows,” Guillén practiced the skills he learned at Citrus throughout his career. “He’s creative, he takes direction well. … he was a joy to work with because not only does he bring a lot to the table, but he wants to
One of his first commercial jobs was as José Alfredo, the comedic Metro PCS spokesperson that interrupted telenovelas at the most inopportune moments. His character would dress up as a viking, football player or wear full battle armor alongside Ricardo MamoodVega. “He is super funny, super talented and super driven,” Vaughan said. “There was no stopping him; he was going places.”
Guillén briefly studied at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy after graduating. He compared the first year at AMDA to his first year at Citrus, and after his three years of training at Citrus he felt ready for auditions. He said that since that was “frowned upon” at AMDA, he secretly went to auditions he found in Backstage West Magazine.
Two days before Christmas, he was offered a 13-month contract to perform in musicals at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Despite being told he wasn’t ready, Guillén followed his gut in accepting the offer and left AMDA early. “It was such a life-changing experience — I had to learn Japanese; the
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 35
feature
show was in Japanese, which I didn’t know when I got the part,” he said. Attacking challenges head-on like this was not a new experience for Guillén. He was often told that he had many factors that would limit his success. “‘Oh, you’re short and stout, that’s a strike,’” he said, quoting the hurdles he faced on his journey. “‘Oh, you’re queer? Don’t tell anyone, that’s going to affect you. Oh, you’re Mexican? Well, you’re only going to play gangbangers and you’re gonna clean toilets (on TV).” Undeterred, he persisted and defied industry expectations. From 2017 to 2020, his subversive humor made him stand out as the Fillorian cartographer Benedict in “The Magicians.” He appreciated this role in particular because of the creators’ effort to have a diverse cast that avoided stereotypes. “They built a world where people looked different and it was OK and it was never the topic of ‘They’re the villain’ or ‘They’re the mean ones,’ because it was across the board; everyone looked different,” he said. Today, he is most recognized for his leading role as Guillermo in the Emmy-nominated vampire mockumentary “What We Do in the Shadows.” Guillén said he relates to this role the most, though initially he had a problem with being the familiar to Nandor the Relentless and needed to speak with the show’s directors. “Because for so long, you’ve been told to hide in the dark, to take what you can, to not be overambitious, and those days are gone,” he said. “They end today, because we’re living in a new world. The screen that you see in front of you, whether it’s a movie or in television, should reflect the world you live in.”
Guillén was told his character is the smartest, he just doesn’t know how powerful he is yet because he allowed someone else to tell him who he is. By season two, he said his character “is coming into his own as a badass.” He has a devoted fanbase, and people tell him how thankful they are to see him representing those that don’t fit the cookie-cutter ideal. “You’re Latinx and you’re queer, and you’re round,” he said. “It’s all these elements that you traditionally don’t see in a place that you see my character. So I find pride in that, that in some small way I’ve begun changing the narrative of what Hollywood sees (in) people of color, people of size, people who are queer.” Guillén said he walks a tightrope when acting because of all the interest and speculation about Guillermo’s sexuality. Since his character has been a devoted familiar for 10 years, he hasn’t had the opportunity to date, though Guillén admitted he’s hinted at the subject. “I can tell you … I am really excited and honored to be part of a cast where the characters — all the characters — are queer, in some sense of the word, you know?” he said. “Whether it be pansexual or bisexual, every one of the characters in this household are in some way queer.” Through all the nominations and praise from Guillén’s family and friends, his mother keeps him humble. To her, the pinnacle of his success was as a spokesperson for MetroPCS. “You would have thought I won an Academy Award,” he said. “Whenever I’d see her on the weekends, she’d be having tea with her neighbor and she’d (introduce me): ‘Es mi hijo, de MetroPCS.’” L
36 |
SPRING 2021 | LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
STARRING HARVEY GUILLÉN ‘what we do in the shadows’ 2019-2020 Harvey Guillén plays Guillermo de la Cruz, the familiar to vampire Nandor, in the Emmy nominated FX mockumentary show following four vampires living together in Staten Island. Created by New Zealander Jemaine Clement, the show is based on the successful 2014 Taika Waititi movie of the same name.
.
‘werewolves within’ 2021 This horror comedy is an IFC Films adaptation of the video game by Ubisoft. Directed by Josh Ruben, this whodunit follows Sam Richardson as a park ranger investigating murders in his eerie small town. Premieres June 25 in theaters and July 2 on demand.
‘zoey’s extraordinary playlist’ 2021 Harvey Guillén plays George alongside leading actors Jane Levy and Skylar Astin in the NBC hit musical dramedy. Levy plays Zoey, a young woman who can hear people’s thoughts as songs with musical numbers. This 2020 Emmy winner for outstanding choreography features versatile actors displaying their talents as dancers and singers.
‘the magicians’ 2017-2020 Harvey Guillén plays a Fillorian map maker in the SyFy adaptation of the book series by Lev Grossman. Created and written for TV by Sera Gamble and John McNamara, the series follows the lives of six graduate students attending a magic school called Brakebills. The group travels to the Narnia-like world of Fillory to defeat a powerful six-fingered adversary terrorizing the school.
Harvey is ready with a stake in a promotional image for season two of “What We Do in the Shadows.” photos courtesy of Harvey Guillén
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 37
LOGOS CALLING THE WRITERS, DESIGNERS, & PHOTOGRAPHERS OF CITRUS Join the staff of Logos Magazine for the fall 2021 semester to share Citrus campus culture. Magazine Production COMM 280A CRN #:23798
opinion
The film industry is still From the creative team to the screen, women and people of color have been chronically excluded from the film industry
SPRING 2021 | LOGOS | 39
FILM EXECUTIVES OF THE TOP HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS IN 2020 Source: UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2021
LEAD ACTORS IN FILMS, BY RACE AND GENDER 2011-2020 Source: UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2021 89.5%
84.9%
74.4%
83.3% 74.7%
87.1%
86.1% 80.2%
74.2%
69.2%
CHAIRS AND CEOs
86.4%
71.0%
73.4% 68.8%
59.0%
91% White 30.8% 25.6%
10.5%
SENIOR EXECUTIVES 93% White
55.9%
60.3% WHITE 50.5% MALE
41.0%
82% male
72.4%
67.1%
2011
25.3% 15.1%
16.7%
2012
2013
25.8%
29.0%
31.2%
44.1%
47.8% FEMALE 39.7% MINORITY
32.9% 26.6%
27.6%
2018
2019
19.8% 12.9%
13.6%
13.9%
2014
2015
2016
2017
2020
Hollywood: home to magic, movies, entertainment and very few women and people of color. TEXT: ISHIKA MUCHHAL // DESIGN: VIDAL ESPINA
80% male
UNIT HEADS 86% White
59% male
Representation for people of color and women is lacking in every area of the film industry. Behzad Dabu, a South Asian actor known for “How to Get Away with Murder,” has been a bold advocate for representation. “Representation is still not close to even being in the realm of equitability,” Dabu said. This is not just an issue for those in the industry. It impacts everyone. In 2019, a PBS study found that young adults see representation as empowering, and the lack of it can bring a person’s self-esteem down. Not seeing yourself represented feels like looking into a mirror, but there’s no reflection. The trend of underrepresentation is visible from the numbers alone. Every year, UCLA releases a Hollywood Diversity Report detailing how diverse films and TV shows were that year. In a jump from 2019, the report on films made in 2020 shows that this is the first year when female and BIPOC actors have approached representation proportional to their U.S. population demographic. Was 2020’s diversity an anomaly because of the pandemic? 54.6% of films were released through streaming services because of theater closures. “Indeed, it appears as if there were streaming films that ranked among the top 200 films in 2020 that might not have made the cut in a more
4 OUT OF 10 LEAD ACTORS IN FILM ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR IN 2020 Source: UCLA Hollywood Diversity Report 2021
1929
The Oscars started.
1940
12th Oscars. Hattie McDaniel is the first person of color to win an Oscar for a supporting role.
TIMELINE OF THE ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES’ FIRSTS IN DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY. Source: Academy Film Archive, oscars.org
40 |
SPRING 2021 LOGOSMAGAZINECC.COM
FILM CRITICS ACROSS THE TOP 100 FILMS OF 2017 Source: USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative “Critics Choice?”
RACE/ETHNICITY
GENDER
18%
82%
Underrepresented
Not underrepresented
typical year,” the UCLA report said. Only time will tell whether this uptick in diversity will last. The public wants to see diverse films. The UCLA report showed that films with 40% or more diverse cast members were the highest grossing films at the box office. Diversity in film is like dominos. Films with diverse producers are more likely to have an underrepresented director. Those directors are more likely to work with writers from minorities. Those writers are more likely to tell stories that feature diverse casts. Those diverse casts are more likely to make audiences feel seen. Those audiences are more likely to watch and recommend those movies, thus making more money at the box office. Having more diversity literally pays. “When we see things cast homogeneously, we say, ‘You’re doing that in spite of the fact that it’s not good for your wallet,’” Dabu said. So what is stopping them from getting made and recognized? It comes down to leadership, money, reviews and votes. White men still dominate the top Hollywood offices. How can we expect movies to be diverse if the people who greenlight them are not? The report also said that films produced, directed
36 Oscars. Sidney Poitier is the first person of color to win for a lead role. th
22.2%
77.8%
Female
Male
and/or written by women and people of color are chronically underfunded. A USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s report “Critic’s Choice?” found that movie critics for the top 100 films in 2017 were mostly — wait for it — white and male. Voting bodies are not diverse either. Out of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s 87 voting members, NONE are black. The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences has gone through a long journey with its evident lack of diversity. After the 2015 #oscarssowhite backlash, the academy took reactionary measures by doubling the number of women and people of color. In September, the academy announced their Academy Aperture 2025 plan. Starting in 2024, films will have to meet two of the four inclusion standards to be eligible for best picture: on-screen representation, themes and narratives; creative leadership and project team; industry access and opportunities; and audience development. But diversifying films is more than a statistic. It means
1974
1964
The majority of film critics in 2017 were white and male.
authenticity and relatability, not tokenism, stereotypes, “white savior” narratives and misrepresentation. The only way to stop perpetuating stereotypes is to diversify stories and storytellers. Quoting USC Annenberg studies, Dabu spoke about how most people don’t have friends outside of their race and most people of color are cast in roles seen as threats. Media representation leads to offscreen perception. “The media representation and what’s happening in society is directly connected,” he said. Artists can only be recognized for roles that exist. As Viola Davis said in her 2015 Emmy acceptance speech, “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.” Women and people of color deserve to be the main character. L
2020 2009
46th Oscars. Julia Phillips is the first female producer to win for best picture.
81st Oscars. “Slumdog Millionaire” is the first film with a non-white cast to win best picture.
1977
2010
49 Oscars. Lina Wertmuller is the first woman to be nominated for best director. th
82nd Oscars. Kathryn Bigelow is the first woman to win for directing.
92nd Oscars. “Parasite” is the first non-English film to win best picture.
2021
93rd Oscars. Chloé Zhao is the first woman of color to win for best directing. Riz Ahmed is the first Pakistani actor and Steven Yeun is the first Asian American actor to be nominated for best actor. Youn Yuh-jung is the first South Korean actress to win for best supporting actress.
pages 39-41: illustrations and graphics by Vidal Espina