Teen Art Out Nr. 5 by Art Out Magazine

TEAM

Teen Art Out nr 5

ISSN 2284 – 6549 ISSN–L = 2284 – 6549

Our editorial team Editor in chief: Cosmina Simona Mihalca Editors: Mihai Carneciu Andreea Boboc Andreea Albulescu Bianca Caministeanu Stefan Pascanu Photo credits: Dragos Dumitrache Artwork: Georgiana Tarlungeanu Cover design: Ruxandra Marin Cover graphics: Dragos Dumitrache Layout Design: Catalin Oltei

We reserve the right to select the submissions received before publishing.

Contact: www.artout.ro redactie@artout.ro

Table of Contents

EDITORIAL...................................................4 TEEN EVENTS Tuborg GREENFEST Review...........................6 INTER VIEW Sweet Savage interview.............................10 TEEN ART Georgiana Tarlungeanu.............................12 NATIVE LAND Going Nowhere Fast...................................22 The Land of Denial.....................................25 Film Review That Dust That We Will Return To.............................26 Utopia.......................................................29 TEEN SPIRIT Deciding to be Someone.............................30

EDITORIAL

Native Land S

ummer has passed and here we are, presenting you with a brand new issue, one dedicated to “Native Land”. It has been a rather long break, for everyone. So, as we come back from our holiday we turn back to our country, our motherland, with its good and bad. The inspiration for this theme comes from Finnish band Korpiklaani’s song “Native Land”. Maybe that is not quite so patriotic of me, but I like to believe that everyone has his roots and very own and personal relationship with his country. And if there is something we, Romanians, need to learn is how to cherish, respect and protect our country and people. I, for one, am really neither patriotic nor traditional. I tend to agree with what other people think of our country. Each and every time I see foreigners I ask myself why they would come here. They must know something we do not. Or is it really the other way around? I cannot really tell. But if there is one thing, Romania is a beautiful and rich country and it is just what we are stuck with, as hopeless as it may seem.

Dragos Dumitrache

â&#x20AC;&#x153;O my native land, stand proud, facing the future You were never broken down, banished into the nightâ&#x20AC;? (Korpiklaani â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Native Land) With this issue everyone tries to present a different side of our native land, seen through his own spectrum. Whether it is a story about how we would like it to be, a hard reality piece or just a letter to it, it is a feeling that takes different forms but that remains with the same core. For now or forever, this is where we live, grow, and learn, relation. Is it perfect? Definitely not. But everyone can do his part. Let us begin. Speak up! That is the first step. Be heard, be present, be active. Have an opinion!

Cosmina Simona Mihalca Editor-in-chief

TEEN EVENTS

Tuborg 2012 est 2012 GreenFest Tuborg GreenF Power city the city rock the by rock ed by Powered From 29 June to 1 July 2012, Bucharest welcomed so many great artists in this amazing festival called “Tuborg GreenFest”. As inspiring as its ecological reason and side is, everyone enjoyed 3 days of the best of rock. 3 days of rock, beer and fun? Can you wish for something more? (maybe colder weather… but still)

Day I Mostly a day of Romanian rock, this was the warm-up. Despite the low turn-out the bands put on amazing shows. Of course, the organizers chose not to set up golden and normal circle, which I say was a good thing. Let’s start from the beginning: Old Green. It’s never easy being the one to open, especially when you don’t really have audience. Still, they performed nice and clean. I do have to say that there was a fan of theirs in the audience. Someone actually knew their lyrics.

Luna Amara:

They were my favorites. The sound was amazing and I liked their songs, and, most of all, the atmosphere. People started jumping around, head banging, screaming. What better music for a wild pogo? All I can say now is “Salvati, salvati Rosia Montana!” (Save, save Rosia Montana), as the song says.

Timpuri Noi:the

spirits were calmer this time; people stood and enjoyed the music. They invited us to their next concerts and announced that they have a song from the new record but they are not gonna sing it, as we can download it with torrents.

Celelalte Cuvinte:

The end of Romanian Rock Day. Now this was a crowd. People came for them and loved every minute of it. By this

time, the weather was a bit more merciful with us. Of course “Daca vrei” was the highlight of the show and everyone was swinging slowly with their arms in the air.

Heaven Shall Burn:

The German band put on an outstanding show. Can you headbang? Because the audience sure could, as well as do mosh pits, wall of death or crowdsurf.

All in all, it was a good day. My impression was that almost everyone who came did that only because they had paid for a 3-day ticket. But if you paid for it, why not come?

Day II

The biggest disappointment of the day was of course Godsmack canceling their long expected concert. I can’t say whether that’s the reason Golden Circle was half empty. Still, it was a great day.

After the first day, we were still aching for more metal, and we got our wish.

Sweet Savage:

Founding members of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, they still remain true to their music and impress with the same metal sound. For the Irish, the torrid Romanian weather was awful, as they mentioned more than once during the concert. But, off with their shirts and here we go. Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties, but all was well. Of course, they could not

leave without inviting us to their home to party. Great music and even better scenic presence.

What was undoubtedly the most amazing thing about them was the fact that they came after the show at golden, saluted everyone, took pictures, signed tickets. They were the only one who did this and I really appreciate it.

To read more about them, see the interview Teen Art Out did.

Saxon:

There was something different about them. Maybe the fact that they were wearing long sleeves, maybe the more reserved attitude. Despite everything, their show was flawless. Even they noticed that there was way too much space in Golden Circle. Their setlist was composed of their biggest hits, at one point even letting us choose between “Crusader” and “Wheels of Steel”.

Lacuna Coil:

Back in Romania after last year’s concert at Sibiu, they were back to amaze us. I gotta admit, I was eagerly waiting to see what she was wearing. To my surprise, the band had a uniform ;)). I was expecting a great live show, but unfortunately 45 minutes were not enough. Cristina (the female singer of the band) tried her best to wake up the public, who weren’t there for them. For me one, Lacuna Coil was the headliner of the day. After a 30 minutes sound check, when they do come on the stage, their microphones are not properly working. I wish I could have heard more of her voice, or at least louder and a bit stronger.

Nonetheless, “Heaven’s a lie”, “Our truth” ,”I won’t tell you” or even “Trip the darkness” from their last album were a hit with the public who screamed and was present.

Soulfly:

”Un, dos, tres!” Now everyone: pogo! The wilderness begins. This was metal madness. Everything was covered in dust, beer was being spilt all over. The public was great. Hearing them scream “Ole, ole, ole, Soulfly” was a surprise for me, but a good one. There is nothing more you can say. Pure awesomeness.

Black Label Society:

Do I have to say anything more than Zakk Wylde? From the skulls on the microphones to the feathers he was wearing as a crown, he knows how to make an entrance. There is absolutely no way for someone not to appreciate his solos. The Romexpo parking lot really became a jungle!

Machine Head:

I believe the term you’re looking for is OMG! Crank up the volume and let loose! Though I was not a fan of theirs, I was spellbound! The music was the utmost form of metal madness. Mosh pit here, Mosh pit there, mosh pit everywhere. The public really was in the best shape possible. Rob Flynn really connected with the public and actually put a message through. „Music can make you feel something in a world that doesn’’t want you to feel anything!”

Day III

This was undoubtedly the day everyone was waiting for. I know I was. Surprisingly as it may seem, day 3 actually meant Within Temptation and Evanescence for me. Everyone told me not to have big expectations of Axl and friends… I mean Guns N’ Roses.

Ugly Kid Joe:

“You are few, but stron”. Under the cruel sun, the public started early. I don’t understand why a band like this would only sing for half an hour. Right from the start, Whit Crane jumped from the stage to shake hands with the crowd. And just when I thought “wow” he walked through the crowd at golden. After that, he went through the security space between golden and normal to shake hands with those at normal, too. And all that while singing perfectly. I mean wow. You don’t see that too often. The rest of the concert was electrifying as well, as he jumped from the stage on stereos and back again and was in a constant move. Of course, the songs impressed the public who was very eager to see them.

Within Temptation:

Once upon a time Within Temptation was my favorite band, so I might be a little biased here. I absolutely loved their show. I don’t know how Sharon does it. At one point I was tired from jumping and singing and she just kept on going for the whole show.

TEEN EVENTS From the moment they started singing I was all goose bumps.

Of course, we watched the screening of “Mother Maiden”, a short movie to get us into the atmosphere. After that, song after song the public was so touched and excited. I even saw a girl crying next to me. Between the songs from their last album, they also played “What have you done”, “Stand my ground”, whose chorus was sang so loudly by everyone, “Ice Queen” and “Mother Earth”. From time to time Sharon would go off-stage and we were holding our breaths maybe she would change her outfit, but that didn’t happen. Maybe some other time we’ll see her do that, as a headliner or at a Within Temptation concert. However, at some point Sharon picked up a Bulgarian flag and held it up high. Instantly, everyone started booing. I am not sure whether she realized that, but luckily enough she was saved by a band mate who got her the Romanian flag.

What more is it to be said? We all knew they had amazing songs, which sounded even better live. The band sent an amazing vibe and got everyone moving, jumping, and singing. And of course, they had incredible scenic presence.

The Cult:

This is the one band that did not impress. Good music, but most people left and went for a beer, or just in search of a place in the shadow. It was hard rock, but my feeling was that everyone was just waiting for Evanescence to come up. Not my style of music, though.

Evanescence: Did someone say Evanes-

cence? I guess Romania heard and everyone came to see them. Because the public was indeed there for them. They started off powerfully with “What have you done”, the single from their new album. Right after that, from the first notes the public went insane “I’m going under”. Amy Lee has a personality that fills the room, or every space around her. From the moment she walks in, the stage is her, without her trying. Very theatrical in her singing, she makes us part of her performance. A few songs later, a piano is brought up on the stage. After the audience stopped screaming, she started singing “Lithium”. After two more songs, the piano was taken to make room for Amy to walk dramatically.

Everyone was with the hands up in the air, enjoying the show. I would have still wished for some more interaction with the public. She is amazing to look at, but all she said was “Thank you” and if we were really lucky we’d get a “Thank you very much”. During the whole show she went only very few times to the sides to at least look at the rest of her fans. At least she got the Romanian flag and hung it on the drums. That was nice of her.

Now it’s time for another big hit, “Call me when you’re sober”. But wait, after that it’s time for the piano again and now “My immortal”. That song just sends shivers down my spine.

And just as everyone expected, the last song was “Bring me to life”. Oh, how could we scream! After the final note, Amy put down her microphone and just ran off the stage. The boys followed her shortly. I was sure they’d come for an encore, as they didn’t even bow to the public or salute or anything, but not a chance. I just found that peculiar but I’m sure there was a good reason behind it. I mean I have seen videos of Evanescence and Amy was the most communicative entertainer and did not run like this. All in all, and despite the lack of interaction, Evanescence was the band that got the public to be the liveliest and most active. I do believe that most people came for Evanescence.

Guns N´ Roses:

Between everyone telling me how bad they are now and how much Axl was going to be late, I was pretty sure not to expect anything big. Yet, after only half an hour, they came on stage. What do you know? It is possible. Needless to say, it’s all about the show. Lights, pyrotechnics, ramps, you name it, they have it. And then Axl comes up on stage and even walks and runs and jumps. So, it’s a “Chinese Democracy”. And of course, “Welcome to the jungle”. I’m like yeay, this is great, wow. But no one seems to want to sing, jump, or raise their hands. Of course, everyone was tired, but it was f*ing Guns N’ Roses! I actually saw a lot of people who were more interested in the score of the Euro Cup Finale than the show.

Axl’s voice is not what it used to be. Guns N’s Roses is not what it used to be. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great show. Hard to say how amazing a show it would be, if we were to lose all the expensive “extras” that are exactly the salt and pepper of the show.

ty glasses to get back a badge. Had a beer been the reward for bringing lots of empty glasses, I believe people would have been even more enthusiastic. I like the fact that security guards distributed water, even if only to the people at golden. Lots and lots of bottles of water meant a lot for us, poor souls standing hours in the sun.

The songs went on. When Axl wasn’t singing he was in a little black room built only for him on the stage. I mean, there are others on the stage who can sing. And they did. Everyone got his chance to his solo and his very own song. Look at DJ Ashba, for instance. While some people appreciate how much he looks and acts like Slash, I just see it all as a cheap copycat. Okay,

I would have liked a meet and greet. Of course no one can expect a band to come and give 15,000 autographs, but they could have organized something. The setlist was amazing and it really made for an outstanding festival.

The public was amazing on the well-known songs like „Sweet Child O’ Mine”, “November Rain” or “Don’t cry”. I was surprised to listen to a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” with Axl on piano.

Simona Mihalca

He did talk to the public as he introduced the songs, and especially before “Used to love her”, song characterized as very personal and emotional. Another high moment of the evening was “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”, pure magic, if I may say.

In the last half an hour the public finally started to be active. The last cry if I might say. The show that lasted well over three hours ended with “Paradise City”, in a rain of confetti, a glory of such a big concert. What a way to end three glorious days of the purest and best rock. As I haven’t seen them before, this might actually be a once in a lifetime concert. I don’t know how soon I’ll get to be part of a bigger show. I am not really a big Guns fan, but I do realize that they are titans of music, and have amazing songs.

Overall:

I think that the golden circle and normal circle were badly organized, as golden was never actually full.

It is a bit funny that it is called “GreenFest” but it takes place in so much dust and nothing green about it. However, I saw lots of people who collected emp-

Dragos Dumitrache

INTER VIEW

Sweet Savage -interviewThis summer, during Tuborg Greenfest I got to meet Sweet Savage. Great band, even better people. I even got to interview Ray Haller. So here it goes. Simona Mihalca: How’s it like in Romania?

Ray Haller: I love it here, the beautiful country and people. We’ve been treated like royalty.

SM: What got you started into music? Why metal?

RH: I just liked the noise, power and excitement SM: What’s the best audience you’ve ever had? RH: It must be the one in Romania. Definitely the most beautiful.

SM: What do you do before going up on the stage? Do you have any superstitions? RH: None I can think of.

SM: What’s it like to start working with new members in the band? Is the energy within the same?

RH: New member always bring new energy, a different approach and attitude. That makes it bigger and better. SM: Do you still keep in touch with Metallica?

RH: Actually yes; we speak every couple of months. SM: How hard was it to get used to touring? Does it affect with your family life?

RH: It’s no problem. Every day is Saturday night on tour. I’m single, I’ve never been married, so it’s very easy on that plan. SM: Do you prefer small gigs or big festivals?

RH: I love both. There are advantages and disadvantages of both. On one hand, festivals have lots of people, lights and great food and free beer. Everything is big and organized, but you are far from the public. Yet club gigs are more intimate and you get the real reaction and know if you did a good job. SM: What’s the best thing about being a singer?

RH: There’s really no advantage to being a singer. You’re just one of 4. Everyone in Sweet Savage has equal importance. It’s a democracy. In many ways it’s a disadvantage since you don’t get to party all night because you worry about your voice. SM: What makes sweet savage be Sweet Savage?

RH: We’re true and honest to our music. We’re exciting. People can see us and that what we play is what we feel. All the songs we write are from the heart. SM: Do you have any new plans for the future?

RH: We will continue touring all over Europe, back to America, just play and play...I just love playing. There will be a new album next year, for next summer. I don’t know who we’re going to tour with, in October – November. We are hopefully coming back to Romania. But we’ll just take things as they come, no stress.

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Thank you!

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TEEN ART My name is Georgiana Tarlungeanu and I’m a student in the 12th grade at “George Cosbuc” Bilingual Highschool, in Bucharest. I have to admit that drawing has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. Back then, I used to draw with chalk in front of the block and of course, on the walls of my bedroom whenever I felt inspired. Even though there were some times when drawing was the last thing I wanted to do, the desire to create something new and impressive came back again and again. I can say that I have experienced almost all types of expressing though drawing, starting from oil on canvas, pencil to nib, tempera and pastel. Here are a few of my best ones:

Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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TEEN ART

Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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TEEN ART

Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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TEEN ART Georgiana Tarlungeanu

Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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TEEN ART

Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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Georgiana Tarlungeanu

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NATIVE LAND

Going

nowhere

I won’t think about all the things that could go wrong. I’ve been thinking about standing on the razor’s edge… But you can’t judge me now, it’s way too late. In a minute we’ll be gone. To say that I’m done with all the pain might be too much for now, but you know, it’s going to be the change of a lifetime. And nothing can bring me back to kiss the soil on which I was born. Maybe we weren’t built to last, you and I. Maybe the bond was supposed to be broken from the beginning, the cord that kept me here all this time. And now, only in the eleventh hour will I squeeze the remnants of the memories I’ve had here. That street, do I remember how I walked on that street day after day, with the same people in front of me? See that little store there? It’s the place where I used to buy little things to make my day happier. And see that patch of grass that’s greener? It’s been like this since I know myself and I know it’s not going to change. Unlike me. I’m lighting the fire of life with my memories, my pain and my sufferance; my feelings and my longings. It’s high time they left me, but it’s the last try… It’s weird to be blabbering on a piece of paper about feelings only I can feel. Or maybe it’s the last hope that there are more in this world like me that want to leave their nest because

fast

they have a reason to live, a reason to create, a reason to be free. I see. I see how it would be to leave it all behind. But am I capable of doing it without any remorse? It’s my native land after all. It’s crazy to hear myself smiling just thinking about the remote possibility of staying. Staying and changing the world from here. But no, some just don’t see what I missed, and oh, how many things are there to be missed! I wish I could turn back time and change myself, but it’s a little bit too late for that. So I’m just gonna pretend everything’s going to be alright. “Promise that you won’t ever forget me” How could I? But it’s better if we stay apart. We are not… compatible. Will I be able to alleviate my home sickness? Will I choose to run away, coming back to the grounds I’m too familiar with? Will I hold on to my dreams ? But look... That bright light shining down on me, caressing my hair and invading my eyes. That bright light sinking in the air I breathe and in the thoughts I think. That beam of colorful joy is where I am heading. I feel the warmth hitting my body like shrapnel after an explosion and I dive into another world, leaving behind my… native land. Mihai Carneciu

Dragos Dumitrache

NATIVE LAND

Dragos Dumitrache

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LAND DENIAL

THE OF E

verybody loves travelling. You see exotic places, enjoy the warm sun and forget about every little problem that you have on your mind. Travelling to foreign lands can expand your view on life and make you see things from different perspectives, but sometimes, you find yourself stuck in a land where everything works perfectly fine, if you say just one simple word : ‘‘ No ’’.

elcome to ‘‘ The Land of Denial ! ’’. A place where optimists deny that things may go wrong and pessimists deny that they may succeed .

enial is at times, a strong word, usually referred to a person who can’t accept an idea or can’t face the truth about something because it’s too unbearable, even if there is constant evidence that demonstrates the exact opposite.

owadays, this concept has evolved in such a way that, people who use denial in real life have developed an unique ability to frequently say ‘‘ No ’’ rather than ‘‘ Yes ’’, to any activity that is unfamiliar to them.

case similar to this, happened to a friend of mine (let’s call her Noemi),who I’ve known since we both attended a summer photo competition, where I quickly discovered how straightforward and independent she was. I have always thought of Noemi as the ambitious - type of girl, which fit well enough with her goal of becoming an actress. At first,Noemi was thrilled about this idea, but after some proper training, she realised that in order to achieve her dream, she had to escape her comfort

zone and prepare for many challenges, some in which she needed to use all of her imagination. Soon, she became scared. Noemi just didn’t have enough faith in her and was terrified to embarrass herself and disappoint all of her close ones . So, she gradually became a pessimist and started declining a lot of job offers, who seemed too much of a bother , saying ‘‘ No ’’ as often as she said ‘‘ Hello ’’ or ‘‘ Goodbye ’’ .Yet, whenever I tried to encourage her, Noemi always looked down saying : ‘‘ It’s okay, I know I’m not good at this, you don’t have to make me feel worse than I am ’’. Hearing Noemi complain about her acting, I realised something : denial is a powerful thing. Denial, slowly makes us doubt of our abilities because it’s a form of repression.

t’s always easier to say ‘‘ No ’’ because saying ‘‘ Yes’’ means making a change. It’s true that you may not know what this change can bring in the future, but it’s better to take a risk and allow yourself to experience new things because this way, you learn more about yourself and what you enjoy or not .

f you happen, by any chance, to pass by this land, don’t forget to be patient. The trick is to replace denial with hope and try to talk with someone close, about the very things that you are running from. You may be surprised how much you’ll discover about yourself in the process.

Bianca Caministeanu

NATIVE LAND

That dust

that we will

return to A Film Chronicle by Stefan Pascanu

One will always remember his or her (one’s) birthplace, the first land walked on by his or her feet, the first gulp of air breathed, and the first beam of sun opening the young eyes. No matter how old you are, you are defined by that place where you were born, either if you have good or less good memories in connection with it. Everything can be chosen in life, except for the motherland, the blood in your veins and the destiny you have. For that reason, I chose three films, each of them with a slightly different message about the main theme presented above. The first one, “Wild Strawberries” (n.r. Smultronstället, 1957), directed by the Swedish director Ingmar Bergman is about rediscovering yourself through the past. A well known doctor making a road trip to receive an honorific award for his lifetime career is beginning to experience feelings of guilt, remorse and pity after visiting and remembering the environment where he was born and raised.

That demonstrates that no matter how much you’ve changed, the core of your existence never alters, the soul and the love for the early days of life remain vivid in your personality and inside your mind. In comparison with this film, in the other two productions, an external factor appears between the character and his motherland, but it doesn’t succeed in separating them.

The next film’s name is the translation for an Indian name, given to the main character, Lt. John Dunbar, by the tribe of native-Americans found by him in the wilderness of Dakota, during the American Civil War. You guessed it right; the actor who impersonates the main character is Kevin Costner in the masterpiece he directed in 1990, which won no less than 7 Oscar awards. “Dances with Wolves” was an astonishing visual film that exploited the true human nature captured in its primordial environment, the wilderness. Considered a hero in the first part of the film, Lt. Dunbar slowly befriended some Indian neighbors and moved to “the other side”. Unfortunately, when the American soldiers came back for him, they considered him a traitor; therefore he was forced to refugee in the mountains with his wife. So what is the moral of this work of art? That no matter how much the people betray you, you should never forget your native land or abandon it. It’s quite a unique film because of its main idea, but also because of the moral it offers, which is the same for our next presented production.

NATIVE LAND The third part of this chronicle is different from all the others. I shall present you an important piece of history, in the form of a movie resume. Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci in 1976, “Novecento” is an underrated film that could have hit all the important billboards of its industry if only it was a little bit more commercial. But with its story comes along its beauty. Two children, coming from different social classes, grow up in the same environment, one a “prince” and the other a “beggar”, the two boys understand each other very well and are best friends throughout the huge political and ideological fight in the first half of the nineteenth’s century. And although this fight could have been won only by one side, they remain together also as they grow old, united by their childhood and their land of birth, as their friendship withstands a crucial time test.

A story full of emotion and betrayal, this film shows the true value of a man’s soul and, the same as the other two stories; it teaches us an important lesson about our origins, about our roots. How can a review like this end? I can only say that I did my best to present three aspects of the bond with our motherland, one involving an emotional and sorrowful flashback in Bergman’s movie “Smultronstället”, the second one telling the story of the solidarity and love between a man and his land in Kevin Costner’s “Dances with Wolves” and the last one combining with a grandiose effect the first two lessons in a fragment of Italian history in “Novecento”.

UTOPIA

Have you ever thought of a perfect world? No?! Well, I did.

I know that such thing as a Utopia does not exist because people are so different and they cannot think and act the same. Whenever someone has a different opinion than the others, it ends up with an argument or a fight. It is just human nature. We are all unique. In Utopia, things like racism, discrimination and crimes do not exist. It is a perfect world, where harmony rules. People have real friends, and they live happily. There is no global warming, pollution or endangered species. And that can happen even though the nature law is the same – animals eat plants and humans eat animals, all in order to survive. I have a clear image of Utopia in my mind: an enormous planet, full of forests and seas, deserts, mountains and cities. Of course, everyone lives in his own house, in which the garbage is automatically recycled every week. There are also hotels, shops and advanced technology, but they do not harm the environment. Actually, life in Utopia is close to the life we live now. Only that in Utopia there are no murders/ overpopulation/ homelessness/ famine etc. Utopia is perfect.

Although it’s just a sweet and unrealizable dream, creating a Utopia might be the only way to save this world. Unfortunately, we are confronted to so many problems which are very hard to solve. Even if we can’t make a perfect world, it’s worth trying to at least improve something in our behavior: to be less reckless and to pay more attention to the others, instead thinking so much of ourselves. It could be the first step to make Earth a better place for us to live in. Andra Albulescu

Dragos Dumitrache

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TEEN SPIRIT

Deciding to be

SOMEONE

“How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something, but to be someone.” – Coco Chanel

As many will probably ask, what is the purpose of that quote there. Is meant to sound interesting? Maybe. Is there just because I love fashion? Probably. People are complex, they have unique personalities, constantly changing, constantly feeling. We don’t stay the same, we take everything we get and transform it into parts of us. Passion drives us at this age, we are young and fierce, we think we can have it all if we know how to play it right. If NOW we can’t have everything, when can we? I use to believe in destiny, that everything happens for a reason, I believe that people get where they are supposed to be. Does that mean we don’t have any power of decision, that everything is set for us just to take it? Today I’ve heard the most interesting answer to that question, and I wanted to share. In front of Destiny we are powerless. Only the people around us can change our lives with their own decisions.

We are led to believe that true friends would be there for us, supporting us when and if we need them. But what happens when they don’t get over themselves, jealousy and repressed feelings stand in the way of them being there for you. In reality how many people will stay by your side when you decide to do something for your everything when they don’t have theirs? We make mistakes, we hurt people, we come back to apologies and then hurt them some more, because along with feelings, there comes insecurities and vulnerability. We let them hurt us, and it’s okay, it makes us humans. Some of us decide to dwell in the past, holding grudges over people, thinking that this way they can move on and let go of all the feelings. They say that when you are hurt everything is permitted. But please tell me, how can you hate or try to hate someone you love, someone that has a history with you. I personally think that hate does not exist, it’s just a lame excuse for weak people to blame someone. In life we have two choices: we either fight for what we want, or we let go. So how many do one loses when they become strong?

A. T.

Dragos Dumitrache