Access Magazine | Spring 2023

AUTUMN NICHOLAS

Mike Scott | Jazz studies student

| Photo by Joanna Chavez

Dearest reader(s)

I grew up listening to numerous musical genres. My parents’ iPod had everything from Mozart to The Beatles. The appreciation I have for music of any genre has only expanded and grown since then.

Music, performing arts and entertainment is too broad of a theme to be contained in one magazine. There are too many compelling stories to tell. However, we did our best in this issue to bring our readers a wide variety of interesting stories – K-pop to folklórico to a DJ plant seller. We really have a little bit of everything in this issue.

My Access journey started last semester when the issue focused on inflation and its impact on area businesses. As executive editor this semester, I wanted the topic to be a little more upbeat. This magazine would not

have been possible without the hard work our staff put in. It’s so meaningful to spend my last semester at San José State having produced this issue of Access.

I especially want to give a shout-out to my editing team. As a student-run publication, we strive for accuracy to correctly portray what it’s like to be an artist in the modern world. We hope it lends a voice to the unheard singer, moves the unseen dancer and paints a picture for the unnoticed artists everywhere.

Yours

Truly, Dylan Nichols Executive Editor

MyleneGibbs| psychology student |

Photo byJoannaChavez

K-POP Guide To K-POP

Guide and illustrations

by Tracy Escobedo

K-pop artists have taken over the music industry and if you have not heard at least one song yet. . . Have you been living under a rock?

Members from the Korean Entertainment Student Association (KESA) at San José State University gave us the latest information on the basics of K-pop to share with you!

Lightsticks!

With these constant outages in San José, we are definitely going to need flashlights. . . But what if we brightened up the room with TWICE’s brand new

“(Lightsticks are) light up devices that are uniquely designed to represent different groups. Fans will carry them during concerts and they will light up during the show. Lightsticks are an interactive way for

“I own 13 lightsticks and counting,” freshman business student Mya Hiatt said, who recently joined KESA last semester. “I like having one for every concert I attend and for those groups who I hope to see in concert in the future. I feel like lightsticks are an essential part of the K-pop concert experience but I know that many fans cannot afford to have lightsticks,” she said.

Terminology!

You might have heard the phrase “stan LOONA” before and it is meant to support the popular girl group LOONA. Though the group is boycotting against their company because of the mistreatment they’re facing, the phrase itself remains a timeless expression.

Here is a list of terms K-pop fans use, collected by KESA members themselves!

stan

a dedicated fan of an artist/group.

multi-stan

someone who likes multiple artists/groups.

biAs

an artist/member of a

Photocard trading!

a fan’s favorite member within K-pop groups.

someone in the K-pop group who will make you

trainee

someone who is training to become an idol.

the first time an artist

Random dance play

when fans form around an open space, play a compilation of popular parts within a song and meet in the center to dance…if they know the choreography.

It’s like a brand new era of baseball and Pokémon card trading. Albums include a photograph of the artist/group member as an inclusion. Fans have created a whole community to trade and sell photocards.

“I really enjoy it but I do warn others that it can be time consuming and expensive,” biology student Andrea Gong said, who has been a part of KESA for two years.

Photocards are a fun way for fans to share their love and appreciation for their favorite artists. They are put into card sleeves and stored in binders, toploaders, clear phone cases or photocard holders.

“I think the one thing that is important when trading through the mail is protecting the PC (photocard) with items such as sleeves, top loaders, cardboard, etc,” junior business major Crystal Huang said, who has

K-pop Community

SYNKRONIZES

Photo of Agape Tariku, Garrett Yuan, Vivian Tran and Kaili Kwong

One of the biggest internet phenomena, K-pop, unites millions of fans internationally through their obsession over idols and the appreciation of carefully constructed choreography.

Some K-pop stans actively dox and send death threats in the name of supporting their favorite idols.

“I am aware of them and sometimes they say certain things to idols that I don’t agree with like talking about things like their weight, their

dance team under Korean Entertainment Student Association (KESA) at SJSU.

“I really wanted to make another space for people who didn’t have a lot of experience,” Yuan said.

As the president of Synkronize, Yuan said he “appreciated” how dedicated, hardworking and passionate the K-pop community is.

The club routinely posts dance covers of groups, like Stray Kids and LOONA, on YouTube.

Sounds like a group of young people with a passion for dance. So why do K-pop fans get all the bad press?

Because people tend to see the internet as the home for the K-pop fanbase, the thriving K-pop community at San José State University surprises most students.

That being said, a small portion of fans express their “love” for the community through toxic and insensitive comments on Twitter.

Some online fans enjoy anonymity, which paired with fiery passion, creates an entirely different and unsavory experience.

“I don’t want to shit on my own community, but I completely understand why people might be hesitant to become friends with K-pop stans,” said sociology sophomore Agape Tariku.

She alluded to the fans that are invested to a worrying degree.

image,” said illustration sophomore Vivian Tran.

Extremists tend to stand out from an otherwise overlooked, dedicated community.

In 2021, dance and business sophomore Garret Yuan founded Synkronize Dance, a non-audition K-pop

“Someone will play a random song and then 10 people who have no idea who each other are will all go out and dance the same choreography,” he said.

Tran teaches choreography as a dance leader in Synkronize’s weekly workshops, while Tariku acts as the public relations assistant, managing the clubs social media presence.

“I think there’s always been a negative connotation of people who like boy bands. . . I remember people would constantly crap on girls who liked One Direction, so I feel like it’s repackaged now,” Tariku said.

Tariku discussed how some of the hate comes from both misogyny and a hesitancy to introduce Asian culture into the mainstream media.

It only takes one bad tweet to misrepresent

“We’re just people who like to dance,”

- Synkronize Secretary Kaili Kwong

Above: Members of Synkronize dancing outside of the Student Union at SJSU.

Photos and story by Irene Adeline Milanez

the entire K-pop community.

Tran, who frequently works with K-pop fans, never encountered one offline fan who sends death threats and doxxes.

The majority of K-pop enthusiasts simply enjoy the content that the artists put out.

“It might seem intense, but we’re just overly excited about them because a lot of their music is very emotional,” Tran said.

A large part of the community not only

resonates with the music, but also with the group dynamics of the bands along with their favorite idols’ personalities.

Talking about interests with others who share that same connection made it even more special.

“Being in person makes it a lot more tangible so people can connect easier. And I would say when people aren’t hiding behind a screen, it’s a lot harder for people to be negative,” Yuan said.

Synkronize is anything but a negative experience.

Members gathered in front of the Student Union Theater and took advantage of its reflective glass windows.

Many other dance clubs

Tariku said.

One girl confessed she had never participated in a group dance before.

But, once stretches ended everyone followed

set up in the courtyard, using the wide array of windows as mirrors.

The unspoken agreement among these clubs label the area as a “shared space” lowering the volume of speakers if necessary.

“K-pop takes inspiration from a lot of different kinds of dance. There’s ballet. There’s hip-hop. There’s all these kinds of dances and you just throw them all together. That’s K-pop,” said Sophomore English major Kaili Kwong.

With every passing minute the crowd for Synkronize grew larger.

Returning members excitedly chatted among themselves, while some newer members nervously waited for the session to begin.

“It starts friendships that I would never expect,”

Tran’s directions to a tee.

“I feel like our members are also very understanding people who communicate with each other. It’s not us telling them ‘this is what you do, do it,’” Kwong said.

Kwong, the secretary of Synkronize, competed in dance competitions and performing arts ever since they were eight years old.

Yuan and Garrett both started dancing in high school, and Tariku started dancing a year ago.

“We’re just people who like to dance,” Kwong said.

The dancer leaders worked hard to clear as many mistakes as possible, and by the end of the workshop, they filmed the final cover.

“Just be open minded. Honestly, don’t judge us, we just like music,” Tran said.

“I really wanted to make another space for people who didn’t have a lot of experience,”

- Synkronize President Garret Yuan

Above: Agape Tariku and Vivian Tran dancing to K-pop songs played in random order.

Top left: Kaili Kwong. Middle left: Agape Tariku. Bottom left: Vivian Tran. Top Right: Members of Synkronize dancing.

Above: Members of Synkronize holding up heart hands.

1

Look out for each other

Treat others the way you want to be treated. The golden rule of Sunday school, useful in the most hardcore music shows. Respect one another and treat others how you want to be treated. Don’t just start throwing punches. The goal of the pit is not to beat the shit out of each other, but to make sure everyone is having a bitchin’ time.

3 Pick People up!

Someone fall? HELP THEM UP! Does someone look distressed or like they’re genuinely not having a good time? HELP THEM OUT! “Pick people up” means more than in the literal sense. When people fall or seem in distress, you help them out to prevent them from getting trampled or seriously hurt. It’s simply the right thing to do.

by Sam Dietz

MOS H ETIQUETTE

2 Never go against the pit

A high-energy vortex of people who thrash, bash and smash is often created in the center of a mosh pit. Moshers run in a large circle that pulls people in and going against this force is unwise. You WILL get hurt. If you’re a thrasher, definitely join the fun and mosh to your heart’s content. Just be sure it’s in the same direction as everyone else.

4

Have a B!tchin’ Time

The overall goal of attending any music event is to have a good time, moshers and non-moshers alike. Don’t forget why you came to the show in the first place and have fun! It goes unsaid to care for your fellow human but care for yourself as well MOSH THAT SHIT OUT!

Illustration by Sam Dietz | Access Magazine

LIVE LAUGH THRASH ANTI-PARASITE SHREADS THE SCENE

by Joanna Chavez

The Salinas Valley is best known for being “the Salad Bowl of the World” with its rich agricultural landscape and crops. However, the valley is also home to a thriving music scene, with several local bands making waves in the underground music circuit. Among these bands is a hardcore group that has been turning heads with their raw and aggressive sound.

Anti-Parasite is a “hardcore boy band” of college students who share a love for music. It’s composed of vocalist Rafa Reyes, drummer Gabriel Reyes, bassist Jesse Hernandez, lead guitarist Jaime Salas and rhythm guitarist Mike Scott. The band officially formed after attending an art show with other local bands and sparked inspiration to create Anti-Parasite.

“Then afterward he came up to me and was like, ‘let’s do this band thing, let’s start a band,’” Gabriel Reyes said.

From that point on, the band began to practice and cover songs while finding their own distinct sound. They draw inspiration from a variety of music genres and artists like Muse, Dag Nasty, Gosh, Gojira and

Shoegaze. By incorporating various sound elements, each band member could concentrate on their own respective instrument and play with the band’s interest in mind.

“I have just always been like really loud noisy guitars,” Salas said. “I feel like I’ve been able to translate that to like the music that we’ve been writing.”

The interaction they have with audiences at their live shows has a huge impact on their ideas of what being hardcore is. Although the crowds’ mosh pits have a lot of rage, the respect and appreciation Anti-Parasite’s community members have for one

Story and photos

another balances it out.

“It’s honestly kind of surprising how diverse and friendly the scene is,” Scott said. “Just how open and welcoming the scene is and how safe it feels. It’s really cool.”

Anti-Parasite has managed to overcome the challenge of finding a community and loyal following for small bands, even without releasing any official music on streaming platforms. This was accomplished by using “meme-culture” and humor to promote the band and its members on social media.

“We’re memed a lot, we get semi-goofy on social media and then people follow us,” Gabriel Reyes

it out this year. That’s definitely our goal.”

The fears and anxiety band members experienced during the EP creative process have been little to none. Although it was a new experience, they said there was “no pressure” to record or play. As a result, the band has been fully able to immerse themselves in music they’re proud of.

“It was probably the easiest part,” Rafa Reyes said. “We just went in there, it felt nice, it was chill. We just kind of did our own thing.”

The next goal for the band involves branching out and performing at venues closer to the Bay Area. Rhythm guitarist Mike Scott is a jazz studies student at San José State University and he hopes to

said. “We’re just doing our thing and then people will happen to like it, you know?”

Anti-Parasite’s motto, “all oiled up and shit!” stemmed from a social media meme from one of the members. It’s now said and used during their live performances to represent how “grimy” and “hard” their sound is.

The band currently has a jam-packed schedule of live performances, school and work but when they’re not performing, their time’s dedicated to working on the band’s first untitled EP set to release late 2023. They described the album’s sound as being musically diverse, fast-paced, punchy and powerful.

“It’s pretty much already recorded but it’s still being mixed,” Scott said. “We’re shooting to have

leverage his musical background and connections to help the band book shows.

“I think it’s definitely a goal that everyone has to first of all play outside the Salinas area,” said Scott. “We really want to get into the Bay Area scene, but as far as San José goes, there’s just been no luck.”

Despite the challenges they have faced as a small band, Anti-Parasite remains committed and hopeful for the future. Their dream is to boost their band’s influence to a spot where they can make a name and career for themselves in the music industry.

“I feel like we’ve definitely found that spark that we needed,” Scott said. “So, I’m really excited to see where the band goes.”

“ ‘Hardcore’ is a community. It’s about going to the shows, feeling the lyrics, meeting people and being in that environment.”

-- Jaime Salas, Anti-Parasite’s lead guitarist

ANTI-PARASITE

“ALL OILED UP AND SHIT!!!”

Rhythm gutarist and SJSU

Bassist Jesse Hernandez.

Anti-Parasite in their “natural habitat.”

Lead vocalist Rafa Reyes and drummer Gabriel Reyes perform at a backyard concert with Anti-Parasite.

A photographer being held up by Anti-Parasite and crowdsurfing at the band’s show.

By Lesley Rodriguez

Carissa Adriano DJing at the Not a Rave event at Orifice.

| Photo by Lesley Rodriguez

IllustrationbyTracyEscobedo

Becoming Autumn Nicholas

As the country music capital of the world, Nashville is known for its rich history of storytelling through song. But one musician, Autumn Nicholas, is pushing the boundaries for what it means to be a country artist in a city steeped in tradition.

“I get to keep becoming over and over,” Nicholas said.

Growing up, the option to opt out of the traditional gender binary did not exist for Nicholas. To not get bracketed as solely a queer artist, they used to steer away from embracing their gender identity.

Fed up with the anxiety of how others perceived their gender identity, Nicholas found that embracing all perceptions led to a sense of peace. The artist goes by any pronouns and has a “take me as you will” approach to gender-nonconformity.

For Nicholas, music has always been about storytelling. It’s a “Pisces thing,” they said, to be able to tap into their emotions and channel them into song. That ability to tell a story has been constant throughout their journey.

Starting as a journalism student in college then transitioning to songwriting, Nicholas found that the ability to tackle difficult conversations on religion, politics and personal experiences into a cohesive narrative was what

surprised him.

Nicholas’ calm demeanor was evident when they spoke about their experiences. They’re not one to shy away from challenging the status quo, but they approach their challenges with a sense of clarity and thoughtfulness.

When discussing their gender identity, Nicholas acknowledged the challenges of being unplaceable, but they also embraced the freedom that came with it.

“I try to remain as laneless as possible,” Nicholas said.

In one of their first shows in Nashville, Nicholas received the comment, “God you have long, beautiful hair. Otherwise, I don’t know what we would do with you.”

Nicholas knew their hair had nothing to do with their music, so the next day they shaved their head completely bald. Something as simple as a shaved head and going by multiple pronouns garnered some ridicule against them. Nicholas attributed these comments to a lack of understanding and compassion.

Nicholas’ calm and thoughtful demeanor also belied the difficulties they’ve faced in a genre that has traditionally been dominated by white artists.

As a person of color, Nicholas has found a sense of belonging in Black Opry, an organization founded by Holly G to provide a space for Black artists to thrive in country music. Nicholas believes that representation is crucial, both in music and society as

“Our mission and what we do, just bringing artists together, creating

space, getting to know each other and creating support systems. Autumn has been a really big part of all of that.” G said.

Nicholas’ music is hard to categorize, and that’s exactly how they like it. They considered transcending genres, like gender identities, the most difficult part of their career. Despite its challenges, Nicholas saw it as a way to push themselves to the next level and keep finding their individualism.

One of their favorite parts of making music is the writing process, where they can create something that resonates with others. Vulnerability and collaboration are key for Nicholas. They believe in committing to one topic and exploring it fully, even if it means pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

“She’s able to help anyone craft a story,” Williams said.

Being able to take a song from its bones to perform it live, to witness how it resonates with others is the ultimate experience for Nicholas. The transfer of the songs’ ownership from the artists to the listener was extremely rewarding.

“The song is not mine anymore. Now it’s yours,” Nicholas said.

When asked where they see themselves musically in five years, Nicholas’ response was simple. Impact, not scale.

They’re not concerned with fame or fortune; they just want to make a difference. And with their ability to tell difficult stories and their unwavering commitment to representation, it’s clear that Nicholas is well on their way to doing just that.

film genre lyrics

folklorico

playlist studio

sjsu dancer

kpop

radio

song access

music soundtrack awards mosh magazine culture

What music genre are you? START

who would you love to hang out with?

What is your favorite feature about yourself?

lizzo bad bunny

EYES hair

Are you currently in love?

My friends say that i am...

YES! NO... funny! a baddie

reggaeton

ponte traviesa (be silly) with your lover and listen to “me porto bonito” by bad bunny!

k-pop

Give a second chance to cupid with fiftyfifty! listen to “cupid” by Fiftyfifty!

pop/rock

Go write your name in the sand with your bestie while listening to “flowers” by miley cyrus!

hip hop/rap

you know you’re a ten! Hope you are in the mood for “In ha mood “ by ice spice!

Lady’s 1st ‘spin’

Women making waves on the DJ scene

By Heather Allen

A different kind of magic is in the air at Momstera Lounge in downtown Campbell.

The lights are dimmed. The point of sale has been tucked away. The northfacing window shades are drawn.

Along the small sales floor, seven young women stand in a semicircle surrounded by snaking vines and the bright leaves of Stromanthe “magic star” plants and the large variegated leaves of a mature Monstera albo

The young women discuss Rhianna’s 2023 Super Bowl halftime show while they wait for their teacher, DJ Cutso, to finish setting his music mixer up on the sales counter and for the night’s lesson to finally begin.

These ladies are the 1st Class, an inaugural six-week DJ program that teaches women how to “bring the vibe” to any venue, make a name for themselves and get paid in the competitive and highly political nightlife scene.

The class, hosted by Ladies 1st DJ Club Bay Area, is the brainchild of husband and wife DJ duo Soulmates — Charlene Alcanices and Mike Alcanices — who brought the club together and later formed the class to fill a void that Charlene Alcanices saw in the entertainment industry.

“I saw a lot of inequality happening in the scene and how the promoters or other DJs would approach other female DJs and lack of pay or insinuating that female DJs don’t have the same talent as male DJs. Or they might ask for favors right in exchange for bookings. Those types of things,” said Charlene Alcanices, the owner of Momstera and founder of Ladies 1st DJ Club Bay

Area.

She opened her plant boutique in Campbell Avenue in the winter of 2022 after she spent a good part of the pandemic selling plants over Instagram and by appointment out of her garage. The name — Momstera — was her daughter’s idea. It combines the word “mom” with “monstera,” a popular

houseplant with large, serrated leaves.

Charlene Alcanices said she knew that she would infuse her female DJ community into her brick and mortar plant boutique healing lounge. Momstera is as much a healing lounge as it is a plant boutique. The lounge hosts a healing sound bath meditation called “Magic Hour” every fourth

1st Class DJs practice for their g raduation performance in the final session of the six-week DJing program for women.

| Photo by Alicia Alvarez

“I want it to be so common for a woman to be a DJ that she is no longer labeled as a ‘woman DJ,’ she’s just a DJ.”

-Mike Alcanices

Tuesday of the month.

“So this became headquarters for Ladies 1st after hours,” Charlene Alcanices said. “This is a space where female DJs can come together. It’s a safe space where we can play, ask questions, be vulnerable with each other about what we’re experiencing in the community and it’s really an opportunity for us to empower each other to go out and change the culture within the industry.”

That inequality is something that her husband Mike Alcanices, who is a music director for several nightclubs around town, is all too familiar with.

He said that the female DJ scene was very catty before they started Ladies 1st, but he and Charlene saw that as an opportunity. Instead of having to dress provocatively or give favors to promoters to get bookings or treating other women behind the decks as competition, the women of Ladies 1st come together to elevate each other.

And now they are teaching the next generation.

“It only works if you give it away,” Mike Alcanices said. “You have to think of the next generation because it would be unfair to let it die off when you die off from it. You have to be able to let somebody else take it.”

Charlene Alcanices and Mike Alcanices have high stakes in that next generation of lady DJs—their daughter, Jazz Alcanices, is in the 1st Class.

Jazz Alcanices said it’s been a transcendent experience for her learning to express herself in a new way.

Aside from learning from people who aren’t her parents, one of her favorite moments was shadowing 1st Class’ deckmaster Cutso in Oakland.

“It was just so amazing getting to have a group of girls, who are on the same frequency of high vibration and who appreciate the DJ,” Jazz Alcanices said.

Jazz Alcanices explains that going out with 1st Class and performing with other women has helped them understand and work around microaggressions and other confidence-shaking experiences, like how to stay safe after a gig.

“I feel like there’s a shared sense of tribe mentality or a shared sense of understanding with one another so it makes it feel more I guess, safe in that way and comfortable for us,” Jazz Alcanices said.

That tribe brought their high frequency vibes — and the beat — to 1st Class’ graduation night at 55 South in early March after spending six weeks learning how to mix tracks and match beats with various songs

playing at once.

Each of the seven women took a turn at the decks, spinning mixes of crowdpleasing throwbacks and modern hits to a packed house.

The classmates danced and cheered in the front row, losing themselves in the sounds of their tribe, cheering each other on.

Each was the other’s biggest fan.

The night finished as Charlene Alcanices took to the decks, closing out an all-female DJ night, giving a glimpse of Soulmates’ goal.

“I’ll feel like we’ve arrived at our goal when this is normal,” Mike Alcanices said. “I want it to be so common for a woman to be a DJ that she is no longer labeled as a ‘woman DJ,’ she’s just a DJ.”

When women can band together to support each other as DJs in a little plant boutique, it looks like that future may soon come into bloom.

DJ Changalanga spins her set on Class Graduation night at nightclub 55 South in downtown San Jose.

| Photo by Kathia Sanchez

Photo by Kathia Sanchez

Photo by Kathia Sanchez

Photo by Alicia Alvarez

Photo by Kathia Sanchez

Top left: The first Class, (back: left to right) DJs DJandJelly, Tara, BBCarolz, Darling Cool, Chalanga, Charl3y beats, (front: left to right) Nesrock, Chambo, Ashflow and Jazz.fm. Middle left: DJ BBCarolz mixes music during her DJ set at 1st Class Graduation Night at nightclub 55 South in downtown San José

Above left: DJ Darling Cool dancing along to DJ and Jelly‘s DJ

set. DJs Cutso, Nessrock and Mike Alcanices vibe in the background. Top right: DJ Jazz.fm spins her set on 1st Class Graduation night at nightclub 55 South in downtown San José. Above right: The storefront of Momstera where 1st Class sessions were held every week for six weeks.

Photo by Alicia Alvarez

this story”

“I always knew I wanted to tell

Jonathan Tanigaki (left) and Brent Yoshida stand in Petaluma’s fields during a photoshoot for the shortfilm Nisei, in which they play lead characters, John Miyasaki and Minoru Miyasaki. | Photo courtesy of Ronny Rose

- Darren Haruo Rae

“Nisei” screenwriter & director

Alumnus pays homage to family in short film “Nisei”

By Bryanna Bartlett

From a young age, Darren Haruo Rae knew he wanted to tell his grandfather’s story one day.

He grew up hearing tales from his grandfather, Minoru Miyasaki, a second-generation Japanese American who volunteered from an internment camp to join the U.S. army and serve in World War II.

Between 1942-45, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated and incarcerated in internment camps across the U.S. under Executive Order 9066, according to the National Archives.

Darren Haruo Rae’s grandfather and great uncle, along with several other Japanese Americans, voluntarily joined the 442nd Regimental Combat

Team while their families remained interned.

The 442nd, which was nicknamed as the Purple Heart Battalion, is recognized as the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the U.S. military’s history, according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

It was also mainly composed of second-generation, or “Nisei,” Japanese Americans.

“I had this idea in my head for years, even back when I was in college 10 years ago,” Darren Haruo Rae said.

After graduating from San José State in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Radio, TV and Film, it wasn’t until the coronavirus pandemic that he started screenwriting Minoru Miyasaki’s story.

“Everyone kind of stopped working and you’re just at home by yourself and it kind of made me reorient myself and think ‘Why did I get in this business? And what do I really want to do with it?’ ” he said. “It went back to the story.”

After a year of writing, a year of co-producing and a summer of filming in SJSU’s theater and in Petaluma, the 20-minute film was released in February. The film was co-produced by Roann Films, a company founded by Darren Haruo Rae and fellow SJSU alumni Nick Martinez and Jessica Olthof.

Olthof said the three have known each other for over a decade and they

Darren Haruo Rae’s father (left) and mother, Karen Miyasaki-Rae (center) look fondly at their son as they walk through the Nisei set in Petaluma in Summer 2022.

|

Photo courtesy of Ronny Rose

decided to shoot the film at SJSU in partnership with Spartan Film Studios – the program that brought them together.

Spartan Film Studios is a summer course composed of students, alumni and faculty who turn the University Theatre into a full-on production set.

“Having filmed it with (SJSU) students, it actually allowed us to kind of slow down,” Olthof said. “It gave us the whole summer to really prep this project instead of sort of rushing everything at the last minute, which is how a lot of low-budget film shoots go.”

Martinez expressed the same sentiment.

“When you’re producing, the main thing is always going to be, ‘Is it going to get done? Are you going to be on time? Are you going to be on a budget? Are you meeting the director’s vision?’ ” Martinez said. “So when you have students that do that, it’s nice, because you get to see the wonder in their eyes, and then they go, ‘Oh, wait, I really gotta get to work now.’ ”

Darren Haruo Rae said he was happy to bring his project to the Spartan Film Studios and collaborate with students, especially as the pandemic during 2020 and 2021 made the summer program impossible.

“So much of the teaching became (remote) that you had juniors and seniors, but they didn’t have the hands-on experience like they normally would from years before and so there was this gap in terms of like, passing knowledge down,” he said.

Darren Haruo Rae said the first thing he told the students was that he’d be forever grateful for their time

and efforts and he’d make it as valuable as he could – that included bringing on film professionals.

Those professionals included field experts in special effects, sound designing, key grip and lighting and photographers who gave lectures and hands-on training.

Apart from illuminating his grandfather’s and great uncle’s stories, Darren Haruo Rae said he hopes the film provides a window to a time period about which many young adults don’t know.

“My generation is the last generation that has a direct connection to (WWII),” he said.

Katie Sumiye Rae, Darren Haruo Rae’s sister who worked as an armorer on the set, said she hopes their grandfather’s story resonates with viewers.

“When I was in school, this was maybe a paragraph in our history books and so as more people become aware of it, I hope more people become interested and realize what has happened in our history,” Katie Sumiye Rae said.

“Something we don’t want to repeat again.”

Darren Haruo Rae said he believes it’s important to educate people in a way that isn’t talking down to them.

He said while the film is a narrative piece that sheds light on a tough subject, it’s less about the evil of the world and more about the triumph of good people.

“The point of this film is not

necessarily ‘Government bad’ or ‘The white man’s bad for doing this.’ It’s about how awesome my grandfather was, look how awesome this community was,” Darren Haruo Rae said. “What they went through was one of the worst times in modern day history, but I think spreading it as guilt is the wrong message here. Instead, look at these heroes.”

Karen Miyasaki-Rae, Darren Haruo Rae’s mother and daughter of Minoru Miyasaki, said she’s so proud of the film and she imagines her father, who died from cancer in 2011, would have been too.

“[My father] would just have been thrilled,” Miyasaki-Rae said. “He would just be grinning from ear to ear.”

Nisei premiered in the Cinejoy Virtual Film Festival from March 1-12, at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival in Hollister on April 12 and at the Beverly Hills Film Festival between April 19-23.

The short film won “Best Drama” and “Best Narrative Short” at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival and is expected to be shown next at the in-person Cinequest Film Festival in August.

A clapperboard could be seen on the Nisei set in Petaluma and SJSU’s Theatre between production takes in Summer 2022. | Photo courtesy of TJ Reid

Minoru (left) and John Miyasaki taking a portrait photo in their military uniforms. Photo courtesy of Darren Haruo Rae

TROKAS AND CORRIDOS

by Carlos Reyes

Clouds of smoke and the smell of burning rubber filled the air as a huge crowd formed around a cherry-red 1994 Chevrolet Silverado that skidded its way out of a truckfilled parking lot on a sunny Sunday morning. This would go on for several more hours, as hundreds of vibrant-colored trucks from all over California piled into Lake Cunningham for one of San José’s many weekend car meets.

Color and noise consumed the area. Neighboring car clubs and solo riders filled parking spots with their “Old Body Style” trucks, chrome rims glistening in the sunlight and corridos, a genre of Méxican regional music that relies on storytelling, blasting through their sound systems. Local street vendors filled the stomachs of attendants with a variety of Méxican antojitos drinks throughout the event.

At the center of it all sat Jalisco native Adan Lopez, die-hard truck enthusiast, founder of OBS NorCal and the organizer of one of the biggest OBS (Old Body Style) truck meets in the Bay Area.

“Since I was a kid, my dad used to own a body shop, so I grew up with cars,” Lopez said. “I was always around cars and that’s how I got into it. I love this community, the people are so friendly and it’s a passion of mine.”

The trucking scene in San José is a Méxican Americanled movement that has been growing a steady following within the past decade and is often seen as an offspring of the lowrider movement. Just like lowrider culture has grown synonymous with oldies songs by artists like Ritchie Valens and Paul Anka, truckers have also developed their own curated playlists consisting of corridos from vintage artists like Chalino Sánchez, to modern grupos, or music groups, like Fuerza Regida.

Adding on to the similarities with lowrider car clubs, slammed trucks can also be seen cruising across the 408’s busy streets with tinted windows rolled down and the occasional Méxican flag adorning the vehicle’s hood.

Just like the lowrider scene, truckers also show an

affinity towards embellishing their cars with Méxican American imagery, religious iconography and traditional Indigenous symbols.

“It’s huge man. A lot of people are into trucks, they just love to build them. Everything from putting on new wheels, swapping engines, adding new paint and installing a new sound system, there’s an endless list of what you can do in order to build a truck,” Lopez said.

Music has catapulted the hobby to new heights in cities like San José, who witnessed a dramatic increase in popularity thanks to local Méxican-American music groups like Marca MP who don’t shy away from mentioning trucks in their lyrics.

Méxican youth is at the forefront of the movement, with young fans drawing inspiration from their taste in music and love for trucks in order to produce ridiculous builds that not only catch the eye, but also hurt the pocket. With most builds ranging anywhere between $15,000 to $70,000, it comes as no surprise how passionate people are about their trucks.

“I WAS ALWAYS AROUND CARS AND THAT’S HOW I GOT INTO IT. I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE ARE SO FRIENDLY AND IT’S A PASSION OF MINE”

-ADAN LOPEZ

Kevin Lopez (left) with his father, Adan Lopez (right), the founder of OBS NorCal.

“I’ve been at it for like five years bro. It’s not even about the price, it’s just the process it takes bro. I’ve had this shit for a while, building slowly and slowly. To see it where it is now, it’s pretty dope. I really fuck with the truck,” Eduardo said, a participant at February’s meet.

While flashy trucks and corridos may take up the spotlight at most meets, street vendors help add another layer to the Méxican influence felt at these events. The presence of tacos de birria, stewed tacos, aguas frescas, fruit drinks, and raspados, shaved ice, help create a feeling of being back at home in your pueblito, or small village, that can very easily be lost amidst the buzzing nature of city life in the Bay Area. The trucking community pays this forward with an increase in sales for small business owners who are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and San José’s high cost of living.

“After the effects of the worldwide pandemic, these events have really helped families and small businesses keep moving forward. The rule of Méxicans not wanting to help other Méxicans has finally been broken, and is not at all as it seems. Every time I see people I know on the streets, I do my best to help,” Sandra Oliveros, a local aguas frescas seller who had set up shop at the meet, said.

San José’s “no cruising law” had tormented Méxican American communities ever since its creation in 1986. The law, which was intended to reduce traffic congestion and gang activity, prohibited the act of cruising, which was a popular pastime for many young Chicanos. The law gained a notoriety for its harsh enforcement, which often resulted in racial profiling and discrimination.

Although it didn’t always seem possible, trucking culture is growing in San José and shows no signs of slowing down. Nearly a year after San José’s final “No Cruising Zone” sign was removed from East Santa Clara Street, Méxican Americans have taken to the streets to parade their culture on four wheels and a new paint job.

Just like the city itself, the trucking scene in San José provides its people the opportunity to embrace their culture with a modern twist.

“Our roots and traditions are very beautiful, and it’s important that this new generation continues to show that. But now, it has to be done through a bi-cultural form. Two cultures. A Méxican one and an American one. This is a very beautiful fusion of the two,” Oliveros said.

A participant of February’s OBS truck meet cruising by.

A dog and his owner by their truck at February’s 2023 OBS meet.

TikTok’s Folklórico sweetheart

By Alicia Alvarez Graphics by Canva

Ballet folklórico has consumed the majority of Matisse Rainbolt’s life.

Rainbolt is a southern California resident and professional dancer, whose career began when she was only four years old. She recently came into the internet’s spotlight on social media for her cultural dance content.

Folklórico is Spanish for “folk,” which is a genre of dance representing various Méxican cultures with brightly colored traditional clothing and distinct music.

Rainbolt surrounds herself with the vibrant colors, flittering skirts and loud gritos, shouts, that come with the folklórico lifestyle. She began to share this aspect of her life online, turning heads and ramping up her image as a dancer in April of 2020.

Thanks to folklórico dancers like Rainbolt, the Méxican dance has a new-found popularity on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

“I posted one video with folklórico content and that video got a few thousand likes on it,” Rainbolt said. “I was like, ‘OK, since this is getting more likes than the trend videos I posted, maybe this is what people want to see and what I should be sharing.’ ”

She quickly shifted her focus and content around her Méxican heritage. Social media simply started out

as a hobby. Rainbolt began posting content to TikTok in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Soon, Rainbolt’s accounts had amassed around 1.6 million followers on TikTok and 96.6 thousand on Instagram.

Followers and likes aren’t what drive her passion though. Rainbolt, like many others, began dancing as soon as she could.

The driving force of keeping her culture alive and honoring her family stems from her love for her grandmother.

Rainbolt uses her platform to publicize Méxican culture and encourage all ages to begin to learn new traditions, and encourages those in the Latino community to reclaim their practices.

“I wanted to catch their attention so they would research more, not only for folklórico but for clothing from their own cultures,” she said. “I want to encourage people to research their own cultures because I think it’s important that we don’t let those traditions die too.”

Rainbolt said she hopes to inspire many Latinos, young and old, to return to their roots through dance.

“You’re not going to be great

right away . . . especially people who start when they’re older, like us, (who) get frustrated when they see people our age and aren’t at their level yet,” she said. “But that’s the thing, they’re not there yet.”

Rainbolt

encourages people to take the leap, buy the shoes and start moving that skirt; folklórico is a difficult dance to learn, but don’t be discouraged.

Combining grand skirt movements and intricate footwork is already difficult enough. Now add in

different nuances to the style of each region in México and it can seem impossible to learn.

Rainbolt said she hopes to remind her audience that what’s important

isn’t how good you are but how much you enjoy it.

Many dance studios have taken advantage of the new popularity of folklórico and have begun posting videos of performances and practices.

Studios such as Ballet Folklórico de Los Angeles and Técnica Arte y Folklore have posted videos with folklóricorelated hashtags and have amassed over 20 thousand followers as of March 2023.

That interest from the public is exactly what Rainbolt said she had hoped for.

“I’m not just wanting people to have an interest in my culture but to find their own culture as well and to explore that,” she said.

Rainbolt uses her platform to promote cultural education and sharing, not just Méxican folklórico.

Rainbolt educates her audience through video in hopes that a passion and interest sparks within them. She entices her audience with her beautiful skirt work and genuine personality. Her audience isn’t the only thing that appreciates her. Various other creators collaborate with her.

Joey Velázquez, a personal trainer and folklórico dancer, often

accompanies Rainbolt to photo shoots and recordings to dance together. The two are friends and enjoy creating beautiful imagery together. His content consists of folklórico, fitness and vintage themes.

Companies such as Hoja de Maíz, a tailoring company that creates various garments for Méxican traditions, have gained traction with the help of Rainbolt.

It often posts behind-the-scenes content of creating these garments under the username @hojademaiz. Rainbolt often struts in various dresses and practice skirts made by Hoja de Maíz in her videos.

Rainbolt has created an online community of Latinos and those who appreciate the culture. This dance is no longer confined to studios and holiday performances.

Now folklórico is popping up everywhere – quinceañeras, weddings, parties – everyone wants to see the colorful skirts twirl.

She recently performed at Disneyland California Adventure in its Plaza de la Familia for the “Viva Navidad” parade.

Rainbolt currently teaches her own folklórico classes at her company, Step-by-Step Folklórico, offering both online and in-person lessons that cater to each students’ level.

Whether or not you love folklórico, it is impossible to hold back a smile while watching Rainbolt dance with her infectious joy.

Folklórico: Méxican Culture in Motion

Laura Frias (left) and Antonio Cervantes (right) outside the ballet Folklórico Mexicano Fuego Nuevo y Academia de Danza studio wearing folklórico outfits that represent the state of Veracruz, México.

Story and photos

by Kathia Sanchez

*Editors note; Italicized quotes are translated from Spanish.

Culture is an important part of where you come from. It is important to keep traditions alive and project the understanding of that culture onto others.

“Folklórico is enriched by a culture but for many states of México, they are all different. Many people don’t know that, they think it’s just a dance. Each state has its typical dresses, its dance style, it has its history and where it came from. All of this is very nice to teach people so that they don’t lose their culture and also for other cultures that are not Méxican to get to know us better because many times they have ideas of us in a different way, that México is different, and not really. México is really very beautiful, especially starting with folklórico,” Laura Frias said.

Ballet Folklórico Mexicano Fuego Nuevo y Academia de Danza is a dance academy focused on teaching a fusion between ballet, jazz and folklórico. Their goal is to build a community and keep the tradition of Méxican folk dance alive. The academy has been open for almost 18 years and was started by two friends, José Luis Juárez and Miguel Ángel Martínez. Both are directors and main choreographers of the academy.

Juárez found his love for folklórico by accident when he was living in México. He said that it never grabbed his attention, but once he started dancing it was something “internal,” without him realizing it he “wrapped” himself into what dance is. His

passion for dance got so strong that he “never stopped” dancing.

Martínez always had a love and appreciation for the dance.

“Seeing other groups dance, seeing the costumes, seeing how people applauded them, the fact of seeing a person on stage as people admire

everything goes as smoothly as possible.

“This has prevented me from fully enjoying being a dancer,” Martínez said.

Despite the responsibilities, he said that his emotions towards the dance are the same.

him, it was something that caught my attention,” Martínez said.

He enjoys his job and loves to dance but now he has more responsibilities compared to when he was just a dancer.

He gets on the stage and is always aware of what is going on in every aspect of the performance such as lighting, costumes and making sure

A group is only as strong as the connection they have with each other. Events are hosted by the team to raise funds to attend festivals they were invited to, both in the country and abroad.

“Coexistence has made the group become more united,” Juárez said.

Folklórico is a traditional folk Méxican dance that became an

The students of ballet Folklórico Mexicano Fuego Nuevo y Academia de Danza practicing and using training skirts at dance practice.

“I am very proud to be in this ballet, to be M é xican, to be able to represent my culture and to experience it. It is something very beautiful,”

-Laura Frias, Fuego Nuevo student

important part of Méxican culture after the Méxican Revolution around the late 1910s, according to Rafaela Castro who wrote the article Ballet Folklόrico. The dance is characterized by its vibrant and bright colors, specific dance steps and style of clothing. Different regions in México have their own unique representation of these characterizations. Traditions are maintained by teaching the next generation the important aspects of the culture and dance.

Advanced student Laura Frias has been dancing with the group for about 12 years. She was born in Jalisco, México and resides in San José. Folklórico is important to her because dancing is a way for her to keep her culture “alive.” She is appreciative of the dance because it “teaches you many things personally, and it teaches you how to grow as a person in many areas of your life,” Frias said.

“Here we always say that it is like our second family. We call Fuego Nuevo a family because apart from us knowing each other for years, we have gone through a lot of experiences together,” Frias said.

Frias adds that folklórico is a big part of her life. She will continue to participate in the group and help in as many ways as possible to help the academy and students grow.

“I am very proud to belong to this ballet, to be Méxican, to be able to represent my culture and to experience it. It is something very beautiful,” Frias said.

Antonio Cervantes has always had a passion for folklórico since he was very young. He is one of the oldest members of the group. He joined the group when the academy had only been open for four months which

makes him an advanced student.

He has seen generations of dance members, those who have left and those who have stayed for a long period of time.

“The friendship and connection between everyone is very good. It is difficult to say that it is complicated to connect because everyone is very friendly all the time,” Cervantes said.

It is important to Cervantes to show what art and culture can do and what type of feelings it can evoke.

“You get into the dance and start to feel that adrenaline, you feel a great emotion,” Maria De Los Angeles Mata said.

Mata is in her 60’s and has realized her dream of dancing folklórico with a dance group. She has been “dreaming” of doing this for more than 20 years. Mata has been in the group for four months and is a beginner student. She currently resides in San José but is originally from México. Mata has always loved dancing and has had the desire to learn her cultural dance.

What attracts her to dance is “the emotion of feeling it, of dancing, of doing it, of projecting it, because it

is not the same when you think about it and desire it than when you are already doing it,” Mata said.

The group is very appreciative towards each other and their directors.

“The coaches are very professional, very outstanding, they love their profession as well as are very dedicated to it and they have really taught us so much,” Frias said. “Personally, they have taught me a lot and I am not talking about just the dance, I am talking about how to socialize with your team members, they give me advice that I can apply in my everyday life. They have taught us to love our culture more.”

Mata described her directors as very “focused.” She adds that they respect the group a lot and she feels that projection of adrenaline.

“We are a family, because the fact that we are together for a long time, you start growing sentimental emotions different to maybe a person you just met or even the love of family that on some occasions, we frequently do not see, well we see and talk more to the members here,” Juárez said.

Members of the Ballet Folklórico Mexicano Fuego Nuevo y Academia de Danza after dance practice wearing shirts with their dance academy logo.

SOUR&SWEET

Art exhibit explores the cute & twisted

“Sour Pink Lemonade” by artist Amy Sol

“Sweet Melon” by artist Amy Sol

Photocollageby

Story

by Alexandra Romero

Seeing an idea in your head and bringing it into fruition can be rewarding.

Such was the case for Jennifer Ahn, co-owner of Empire Seven Studio, an art production firm, who said Empire Seven Studio curated their art at the “SOUR & SWEET” art exhibition show in 2022.

Empire Seven Studio curated this exhibition as a way to have a kind of anti-valentine show without explicitly calling it that.

“We wanted to work with artists that we haven’t worked with in a while. Or new artists in the Bay Area,” Ahn said.

Empire Seven Studios made the decision to keep “SOUR & SWEET” in the west coast region because of the coronavirus pandemic and the high cost of shipping. The resolution allowed artists the opportunity to showcase their creative works.

Lacey Bryant, a San Francisco artist who paints large scale murals, had various works displayed at the exhibition. Bryant said she does scenic paintings, and has made art for California’s Great America and sculpts for parades in San Francisco.

Empire Seven Studio hosted its first art exhibition of the year and opening reception on Feb. 11 in downtown

San José. More than 20 different artists were featured in this exhibition, each bringing a unique perspective to the theme of something sweet, cute, sour and twisted.

“We try to book shows two years out so the invitation and all that, we started that last year. We installed them Monday. And then the paperwork, pricing sheet, putting them on the website, that took a few days after that. So maybe in a week but curation was last year,” Ahn said.

“People are just excited because they think it’s a good flow of different types of mediums. The roster is majority women and we have a few men so we feel like it’s really good, we try to work with both. I think when it comes to picking artists, we don’t go in thinking we want a certain type of (gender or genre), we try to keep it open, we like that we elevate women artists because I think a lot of times women artists can get put in the back burner,” Ahn said.

Artist recognition can be difficult if they’re just starting out, exhibitions like “SOUR & SWEET” can help boost the audience outreach. It also allows artists to explore other forms

and photos

Paper Sweetly is a local San José artist that uses quilling techniques to create stunning works of art that can be placed in canvases or be worn as earrings.

A Dose of Love was created by Lunii Linda on an acrylic canvas.

of art mediums and test new ideas.

“Most of the series that are displayed here, I did working with the idea of minimalism. Minimal brush strokes, kind of working with patterns. Sort of in between working with time,” Bryant said.

While each of her paintings that are displayed in the exhibition have the same brush stroke techniques and follow the concept of nature, they all incorporate different elements. They find ways to flow and create hidden faces and silhouettes among the swirls and patterns. They can require a closer look to better appreciate the value of the painting.

Bryant said while the paintings in the exhibition are from a different series, “an individual painting can take about a year or two to produce. Those were all done a few

years ago.”

This is not the first time that Bryant has displayed her work at Empire Seven Studio. She has also previously created murals for San José Walls.

San José Walls works in a partnership with Guadalupe River Park Conservancy as a way to create public art that will inspire and attract the community. It is known as the “Bay Area’s Longest Public Art Corridor,” according to SJ Wall’s website.

Bryant said her next goal is to produce more work in 3D.

“I have done a lot of doll houses and dioramas in the past so it’s been a while,” Bryant said.

Other local vendors and businesses were also given the opportunity to come sell their merchandise.

Andre George, a “SOUR & SWEET” vendor, helped host the event and came to sell his artwork. He makes air fresheners based on real cars.

George said he used to do digital designing when he was younger and was eventually able to expand his hobby once he started receiving more requests.

George says he is also part of SJ Makers, which is a community-based market space that helps local businesses and artists come together to support one another.

SJ Makers has various events throughout the year that don’t focus on simply one theme. They try to create events that will attract old and new audiences to these events.

Some of the events, ranging from community events to art shows to give backs, SJ Makers participate in are either for fun or to help support the local artists, according to SJ Makers Instagram.

What George likes most about these events is that it allows community members the chance to interact with each other more.

“Everyone is socializing or interacting, you get a lot of people that live around here so they can meet each other and just form connections,” George said.

If you have yet to visit the art exhibition, don’t worry. Empire Seven Studios and SJ Makers will be hosting more events in the future. This exhibition is just one of many planned for the year.

Empire Seven Studio is an art gallery located in Downtown San Jose on North 7th Street.

Close the curtains on these elitist, unjust award shows!

By Bojana Cvijic Contributing Writer Graphics by

Award shows have always been a major event for me.

I can remember wrapping long blankets around my body and using a shampoo bottle as a stand-in for an Oscar statue, hoping one day I’d be on that stage industries, the grandeur illusions of award shows have completely worn off. Award shows suck, and yet here I am still continuing to tune in every time.

There’s a new term in the zeitgeist of buzzwords on the internet, and it’s called “hate watch.” It’s something you can’t stand to watch, but find yourself tuning in anyhow and talking about it even though you can’t stand it.

I personally find award show season to be my hate

watch season. I know I’m going to be disappointed one way or another, but I still find myself live tweeting every award show even if I have better things to do.

Award shows, specifically the “big four” which includes the Academy Awards for film, the Emmys for TV, the Tonys for theater production and the Grammys for musical achievements have all disappointed me greatly in my lifetime.

Starting with the biggest one in my life, the Oscars.

I’ve always been a movie fan, everything about the process of creating a film has had a huge impact on my life and seeing the excellent work artists produce is one of the great joys of my life.

is ruined by the academy almost every year.

with the diversity issue which

continues to run rampant in the Oscars.

While things have progressed since the Hashtag #OscarsSoWhite began in 2016, the year where all 20 Oscar acting nominations were white. There is still a long way to go before any barriers are broken with the ceremony.

Michelle Yeoh, best known for her performances in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Tomorrow

Never Dies became the first Asian woman and second woman of color, after Halle Berry’s win in 2002, to win best actress at the Oscars.

Halle Berry, after 21 years, continues to be

to have won the award.

The Best Director award has only had three women win in the category, all of whom were white.

It seems to me that no matter how much the public creates backlash and voices their collective concern for the Academy Awards to break barriers, it doesn’t seem to happen. One step forward, 10 steps back.

I don’t see being the “first” as something to be happy for, while it is an achievement, it’s a bittersweet one. How has it taken this long for another woman of color to win best actress? How has another Black woman not won the award again since Berry?

The diversity issue also

Canva

It’s time we completely break down the doors of the award season world and create something that is actually inclusive and nowhere near as elitist, instead of looking at it from a capitalistic, individualized, “that’s going to be me one day” lens.

Emmys and Grammys, with the latter continuing to award white mediocrity success, while leaving Black excellence in the background.

Beyoncé at the Grammys this year became the most-nominated female artist in the award show’s history, with a record breaking 28 wins, but when you see what those wins are, you’ll realize there’s more to these nominations.

Despite her being the most awarded artist in the history of the show, she has yet to take home album or record of the year, winning song of the year only once in 2010 for Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).

It’s an interesting fact to think about when you realize that the last Black woman to win album of the year was Lauryn Hill in 1999 for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Popular artist Lizzo won record of the year on Feb. 5 for About Damn Time, becoming the first Black woman to win in this category since Whitney Houston in 1994.

Beyoncé on the other hand, had to watch Harry Styles take the album of the year award home for Harry’s House, an album that I’m sure many Target employees would be glad to see burn.

Apart from the diversity

problem in all of these award shows, including the Tonys and Emmys, another problem these award ceremonies face is the fact that to win the award, you have to campaign for it.

Oscar campaigns are where studios and producers start elaborate processes to sweeten up academy voters to vote for their respective films that have been nominated for an Oscar.

The academy is an incredibly secretive and large body of voters who are all part of the film industry, and choose what is considered to be the best of the best of the year.

However, what is actually the best of the best if you’re using money and incentives to make sure your movie wins?

In 2015, smaller movie studios shelled out around

$3 million to incentivize voters towards their movies, according to a Jan. 20, 2016 Variety magazine article.

Major studio figures were expected to spend $10 million, according to Variety.

RACIST

In connection to big Oscar award campaigns, infamous and disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein was notoriously known for his abrasive campaigns for his movies to win, the most notorious being 1998’s Shakespeare in Love, where he strong armed the cast into a frenzied campaign for the awards, according to a Dec. 9, 2017 Vanity Fair article. Weinstein who is the most thanked person in Oscar awards speeches, only behind God, is now best known for his sexual abuse

allegations, was found guilty of rape and is serving 23 years in prison, according to a Feb. 24, 2020 Guardian article.

These are the people Hollywood tries to protect and reward. The system that these award shows serve is something much greater than trying to break barriers and make a more diverse space.

It’s time we look deeply at award shows and why we give it so much reverence and respect.

Art as a whole deserves to be celebrated and rewarded, but not in the way we do it now.

It’s time we completely break down the doors of the award season world and create something that is actually inclusive and nowhere near as elitist, instead of looking at it from a capitalistic, individualized, “that’s going to be me one d ay” lens.

As a movie, TV and music buff, I’m still probably going to tune to these award shows, only continuing to hope that one day we will have a completely different world with completely different ceremonies.

Game On! Best Gaming Soundtrack Hits!

Saints Row 2022 #3

By Jeremy Martin | Contributing Writer

Whether it be original composed instrumentals or an entire soundtrack made of existing songs, the two mediums come together as seamlessly as peanut butter and jelly. Some of the most memerable video games to me are those that have sountracks made of preexisting songs, as these tend to be among some of my favorite games to this very day. With that being said, here are my top three modern favorite video game soundtracks.

Open world video games like Saints Row and Grand Theft Auto tend to really shine with their soundtracks. However, two songs that stand out to me would have to be Party Up by DMX and BANG! by Trippie Redd. These two songs offer up-beat and gritty sounds that capture the attitude of today’s modern hip-hop and the overall party animal nature of the Saints gang in their efforts throughout the main story, adding a degree of personality and the enveloped world building.

#1 Grand theft auto vice city

Tony Hawk’s pro skater 1+2 Remake #2

There is no way I could make a list of my favorite video game soundtracks without mentioning the Tony Hawk franchise. Known for its inventive music, the Tony Hawk franchise has delivered some of the best and most memorable soundtracks in video game history. The soundtrack includes music from artists like Goldfinger, Papa Roach and Machine Gun Kelly.

Some of my favorite songs in the soundtrack would have to be Bloody Valentine by Machine Gun Kelly and Blood Brothers by Papa Roach. These tracks deliver an aggressive and “in your face” alternative rock ‘n’ roll attitude that captures the tone of the Tony Hawk games perfectly.

Coming in at No. 1, the definitive edition of Grand Theft Auto Vice City is my all-time favorite soundtrack in modern video games. There are a wide variety of songs from different artists across the video game’s nine different radio stations. I believe it’s these hits that really define Vice City and capture the overall feel and attitude of the ’80s. Outstanding and catchy new wave sounding songs like Video Killed The Radio Star by The Buggles, 99 Luftballons by Nena, Africa by Toto, Waiting For a Girl Like You by Foreigner and Keep on Loving You by REO Speedwagon are just a few songs that stand out on this outstandingly seamless soundtrack of ’80s hits. I mean, seriously, ladies and gentlemen … Rock ‘n’ Roll. That simple line is exactly what players will think and feel when listening to Vice City’s lengthy list of ’80s smash hits that would make anyone say, “I want my MTV!”

The upbeat and heavily synthesized sounds of various ’80s songs are perfect to drive around in Vice City’s Florida-based landscape.

Jeremy Martin is a senior staff writer on the Spartan Daily. His video game column, Jeremy’s Campaign, runs once a week.

Irene

Diana Stover | Adviser

Tammy Tran | communicative disorders and sciences student. | Photo by Joanna Chavez