OCTOBER 2013
Contents Letter from the Editors
3
Masthead
4
BEhind the Scenes
5
Trending
6
Health & Style Legends of the Fall
7
Beauty Nightmares
8
Bold Lip Top Knot
9
Healthier than Hewitt
10
Features Insomia Students
11
Centerpiece
12
J.D. Salinger’s Life and Legend
Self-Publishing
16 17
Politics & Opinion Ageist Politics
18
DSpar: Wonder Woman Uncloaked
Male Birth Control
19
I’d Tap That: Dating Apps
20
Arts & Entertainment Not So Superwoman
21
Seeing Sound Differently
22
Oh My God
23
Netflix is the New Cable Dance on TV
24 26
New York City Living Anna Nicole Opera
27
Kooks and Spooks
28
Bites Beyond the Bubble
29
Photo Essay
30
THE BULLETIN -
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A Letter from the Editors Fall is here: the perfect time for curling up with a warm drink and a good read. When you inevitably ditch your 300-page anthropology reading, we hope you’ll pick up the Bulletin instead. We’re excited to start off the year bringing you articles that are smart and savvy, delivering content that you really want to read. Although there are new faces at the helm, we look forward to continuing the Bulletin’s tradition of being the voice of Barnard’s campus.
In this issue, we’ve taken a break from our latest (Idris Elba-based) Netflix binge to explore the shifting role of online-TV in the world of pop culture. We’ve been inspired by President Spar’s reflections on her new book in light of her own life, and we’ve also learned a thing or two about the perils of Nair. So whether you’re a freshman settling in to campus or a senior beginning to say goodbye, we hope you make the Bulletin as much a part of your Barnard experience as complaining about how busy you are, having second dinner at Late Night, and lying about how often you leave campus.
Bulletin Love,
Gillian and Maitland
THE BULLETIN -
$ - OCTOBER 2013
Maitland Quitmeyer '14 Gillian Osswald '14 Editors in Chief Mora Grehl '15 Layout Director
Rhea Schmid '15 Art Director MANAGING EDITOR HANNAH MILLER '15 ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR Allison Cohen '14
ART ASSISTANT Isabel Fransisco '16 PUBLIC RELATIONS Amanda Brown '15 SOCIAL MEDIA Natalia Quintero Ochoa '15
FEATURES Kayla Desroehes '14 Sarah Schreiber '16
DESIGN COORDINATORS Lily Kaplan '16 Jordana Roat '16
POLITICS & OPINION Gloria Noel '14
LAYOUT ASSISTANTS Gabby Ittah '14 Ilana SChulder '15 Lizzie Rogers '16 Sofia Geck '17 REmy Park '17 Divya Sundaram '17
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Rebecca Deczynski '16 NEW YORK CITY LIVING Rachel Dunphy '16 HEALTH & STYLE Adrienne Nel '16 HEAD COPY EDITOR Eloise Giegerich '16 COPY EDITORS Melanie Shapiro '15 Laura Garrison '15 Isabella Alimonti '15 Molly Mitlak '16
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/ - OCTOBER 2013
Joyus Featherwieght Statement Earrings Nike Flex Trainer 3
These hoop earrings are so light that you’ll forget you’re wearing them.
These sneakers keep your feet comfortable without sacrificing style.
MIA 2 Clarisonic Facial Sonic Cleansing Brush Cute and effective, it is a
James Franco's new book,
worthwhile investment
"Actors Anonymous"
for all skin types.
Probably the most awesome book
RIRI Hearts MAC LIPSTICK Rihanna teams up with MAC to produce some fab new lipsticks for fall.
Topshop Boxer Jumper Stay warm and whimsical with this adorable jumper.
THE BULLETIN -
4 - OCTOBER 2013
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
you will waste time on this year.
Legends
of the Fall By Maitland Quitmeyer
W
ith an Indian summer keeping temperatures high and Barnard students holding tightly on to warm-weather gear, only a brave few can be seen on campus with black tights and booties, desperate to begin the best of all fashion seasons: fall. While we dreamily wait for the leaves to fall, check out some of these hot fall trends for brisk autumn days:
Midi, midi: Minis and maxis step aside; there’s a new skirt length in town. From patterned midi pencil skirts to romantic tea-length dresses, this trend is perfect for work, class, or even an evening out. Trot out this deceptively alluring shape with your favorite pair of tough booties for the perfect blend of retro- and modern-chic.
Leather looks: A wardrobe without at least one leather item is simply not a complete wardrobe this fall. Play up your downtown edge with boxy leather tops, quilted shorts, or even a full skirt. Combine tough black leather with a chunky cable knit for an outfit with equal parts hard and soft. And if you haven’t yet invested in a black leather jacket, now is the time. With options for every budget, this is one staple that every cool city girl needs.
Green machine: While burgundy is still kicking around as a hot fall color, inject a dose of green for a trendy update. From dark olive tones to vibrant Kelly green shades, this is the perfect hue to brighten up your everyday blacks and greys. Throw on a green wool scarf to perk up a coat from last season to keep looking fresh.
Plaid on plaid: Take this fall staple to the next level by mixing prints, pairing a large-scale plaid with a small-scale stripe or tweed. For a particularly on-trend
Photograph by the Art Board Model: Salma Echahly
ensemble, try a pant-and-jacket suit set in a bold tartan print. In basic browns and blacks, or even navy and green, plaid is the perfect pattern for your back-to-class needs.
THE BULLETIN -
2 - OCTOBER 2013
by Anna Batchelor
I
t’s a fact of life that raven-haired women have to deal with some unwanted, not-so-peachy fuzz above the lip. Most girls figure out how to deal with the situation appropriately sometime during middle school. Let’s face it: having a more substantial mustache than all the boys in your sixth-grade class is definitely not cute. I am usually pretty impressed with those lovely ladies who are able to avoid the “Charlie Chaplin” look without having to spend fifteen dollars at the beauty salon every two weeks, but most alternatives involve some risky business. This beauty disaster comes from a good friend of mine who, understandably, wishes to remain anonymous—so let’s call her Jane. Jane (and, yes, she is actually my friend; I’m not just trying to outsource my own embarrassment) was all set to go on a date when she noticed a shadow of the worst variety above her lip. In all likelihood the boy would not have noticed the hair at all, but Jane wasn’t thinking rationally and decided there was nothing more important than removing her subtle ‘stashe that very instant. What ensued, however, was a disaster. Word to the wise: Bikini-Line Nair and Facial Nair are not interchangeable. That gives you a pretty good picture of what went down between the moment Jane noticed her moustache and the moment her date arrived. Fact is, the hair down there is a lot coarser than lip hair; Jane understood this but, being the sweet, naïve thing that she is, just assumed that if she left the Bikini-Line Nair on her lip for half the recommended time she would successfully shed her shadow and avoid a hairy situation. She thought wrong. Oops.
So what can you do instead of using highly potent chemical hair removers like Bikini-Line Nair on your face? Just a thought: Facial Nair might work a little bit better. Also, for those of us who are wary of chemicals in general, Sally Hansen has a great product called “Hair Remover Wax Strip Kit for Face,” which is my personal go-to. It’s pretty cheap and it will last you about six months. Tweezing is also an option, though a tedious one. And hey, if you don’t want to worry about all this idiocy, rock the lip as it is. More power to you! Ladies, we all know what it’s like to have hair where we don’t want it. Just be smart about how you deal with it. The skin on your face is delicate so be careful, and please, don’t be like Jane and give yourself a chemical burn. No date is worth it! THE BULLETIN -
( - OCTOBER 2013
Illustration by Allison Cohen
After about three minutes Jane’s lip felt like it was being seared by red-hot metal. When she scrubbed off the Nair, Jane was horrified to see the result of her impromptu substitution. In less than five minutes Jane had given herself a chemical burn. Hey, at least she no longer had a mustache! Rather than having a little fuzz, Jane (who did not end up going on the date) had to flaunt a bright red peeling lip for two weeks. Thanks, Nair.
Bold Lip / Top Knot by Samantha Meisels
B
Photographs by Samantha Miesels
arnard women are known for strutting around campus like it’s their personal collegiate runway, not only acting cool and confident, but looking the part as well… well, most of the time. With social lives, extra-curriculars, classes, and work, we barely have time to wait in the Hewitt sandwich line. So how are we supposed to get up in the morning and spend hours trying to look like Gia Coppola? It’s just not possible! I’ve interviewed ladies all over campus to discover what their secrets are: what can you do to make yourself feel good and look good… even if you have an 8:40 class. The clock struck eleven as I sat on the third floor of the Diana Center, plastered to my computer and fiercely typing away. Since I knew it was going to be a late night, I needed to think in advance: I wouldn’t have enough time in the morning to dress to impress, so what was I going to do? I needed that one thing to pull my outfit together. The search began. I texted my roommate in a panic, “What’s your go-to morning routine?” She immediately responded with a solution: “A spritz of perfume is the way to go. At least you know you’ll smell great!” In the cafeteria the next morning I turned to my friends and asked them about their go-to morning routines. One girl chuckled and said, “Can coffee be considered one? That’s all I really need in the morning—loads and loads of coffee.” Hey, whatever gets you through the day! Energy is the boldest accessory, “in addition to earrings,” another friend added, “definitely earrings.” Then someone else divulged, “For me it is eyeliner, I need my eyes to look alert and alive even when I’m sporting leggings and an oversized knit.” “For me, it is definitely mascara—with Betty Boop lashes I feel confident and feminine, and it literally takes 5 seconds,” another student said, glancing up from her calculus textbook. The
answers were flying at me. “Does sunscreen count?” “A bright Stila lip stain!” “Lotion, lotion, lotion! Ashy elbows are the worst…” The process continued, and I stumbled upon more great advice. One classmate voiced that when her hair isn’t cooperating she “pulls it into a high bun and is ready to seize the day.” Another said, “I may throw my hair in hot rollers for 10 minutes if I have enough time. If I don’t, my hair is up in a bun.” But hair is not the only concern: for some ladies it’s all about the accessories. “In the morning I have a mantra: necklace, bracelet, ring—I just don’t feel dressed without them.” Hair, check. Jewelry, check. What about skin? “I roll out of bed and the first thing I do is wash my face. Then I put on some lotion and my Clinique BB cream. It has everything I need: sunscreen, moisturizer, and a light tint to cover my blemishes. I then stroke my cheekbones with a light pink blush and voila! I look fresh and ready for the day.” Her neighbor affirmed this routine, “Never, ever, ever without foundation. I just want to hide everything, from the dark circles under my eyes to the pesky pimple on my nose, then I am all set.” I now know the tips and tricks that let Barnard women look flawless and fabulous everyday, even while living busy lives. Don’t have your own morning go-to? Don’t worry. From what I have heard, there is always room for inspiration.
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Healthier than Hewitt By Aiko Suyemoto
I
f you’re looking for some fresh options that are satisfy your hunger without being tempted by the like baked salmon and lemon chicken. It is definitely better for you (and your waistline) than Hewitt pastries at Liz’s Place. Low in fat and high in pro- worth the walk! Dining Hall, many of the cafés and markets near tein, Greek yogurt makes for a decadent treat, and
campus are serving up healthy and convenient dishes with your favorite toppings it only feels like you’re And don’t forget Strokos on Amsterdam and 113th worth trying.
indulging. The “Strawberry Mango” menu option in- Street. Start your day right with a yogurt parfait or cludes strawberry, mango, sliced almonds, coconut, homemade oatmeal. For lunch, treat yourself to a
The smoothie and juice bar at Nussbaum and Wu and strawberry sauce. Its blend of textures and tastes warm panini from one of the healthy selections on at 112th Street and Broadway boasts a plethora of makes it especially delicious, and with a whopping the wide-ranging sandwich menu, like the Classic fresh fruits and vegetables with which you can build 17 grams of protein and only 200 calories, it is the Grilled Chicken. If you’re really in a hurry, opt for your ideal drink. Choose from one of the smoothies perfect healthy alternative to late-night ice cream.
one of the convenient pre-packaged salads that are a
on the menu, such as “The Diet,” which consists of
good size for a reasonable price.
strawberries, bananas, and pineapple, or custom- If you’re looking for something a little more subize your own. Made simply with fruit and ice, the stantial, Apple Tree Deli and Market on Amsterdam You don’t have to sacrifice time or money for healthy smoothies are not overly sweet; they are especially and 120th features a vast array of organic foods. At food, as the Morningside neighborhood is home to yummy with added nonfat milk or yogurt. If you their stand-out salad bar you can either select off an abundance of good-for-you options that are quick need an energy boost or help recovering from the the menu or build your own. Select from the $.50, and relatively inexpensive. So next time you’re hunprevious night of non-stop “studying,” this is the $1.00, or $1.50 toppings—including fresh salmon, gry, forego Hewitt and head to one of these delicious place to go. The small size is a generous portion at goat cheese, shredded mozzarella, and chickpeas— eateries instead.You will feel recharged and satisfied a reasonable price– around five dollars– and it defi- and embrace your inner Rachel Ray. When you’re with a delicious, guilt-free snack or meal. nitely makes for an excellent snack when you’re in craving some home cooking, Appletree also has an a rush.
entrée section that serves delicious, healthy meals
Pinkberry on Broadway between 111th and 112th
THE BULLETIN -
" - OCTOBER 2013
Illustration by Kyoko Yamamoto
now features a Greek yogurt bar where you can
Insomnia Students by Nina Sabado
,W¡V WKH OLWWOH WKLQJV DW ÀUVW Simple decisions stump you—hunched in front of your desk for a solid thirty minutes, you wonder whether you should finish your philosophy readings
recommend that students should study throughout the
enough sleep can be done. “After living the typical stu-
semester and set up study sessions in the evening, which
dent life of going to bed at 1 or 2 am and then dragging
is when the brain is at its optimum level of alertness
myself out of bed at 10 am or later the next morning,
and concentration. “Any prolonged sleep deprivation,�
I decided to try something different,� says Kacie Dragan, an RA at 110th. “By junior year,
or get started on your chemistry problems.
and now senior year, I tend to get to
You crave the Chipotle all the way at 110th
sleep by 10:30 pm on weeknights and
Street, even after you’ve finished eating at
wake up around 6 am. It was a gradual
your nearest dining hall. There’s a cold you
transition, but as I began to see more
just can’t shake, and it’s making your already
benefits to getting up early— greater
torturous Friday classes another circle of
productivity, better eating habits, the
hell. The weirdest things make you cry. You
peacefulness of Morningside Heights
stumble over thin air.
early in the morning— the more I
These might be the symptoms of
wanted to stick to the schedule.�
being a student at Barnard College or Colum-
The Huffington Post offers
bia University, but then again, they might be
college students a list of tips to help
something a little more insidious. Prevention
improve their sleep habits. These tips
magazine presents these symptoms as “5 Signs
include exercising regularly, avoid-
You’re Sleep Deprived.�
ing caffeine after 2 pm, developing a
Among friends and classmates,
regular sleep schedule, and stopping
it seems as though sleep deprivation is part
the use of electronics right before bed.
of the college experience. In fact, in certain
Interested students can also follow @
circles, it can mean bragging rights to func-
sleepnwellness on Twitter or check
tion with the least amount of sleep. What
out other online resources like www.
students don’t realize, however, is that being
sleep-deprivation.com.
over-tired can lead to more than just “symptoms of being a college student.� Moodiness, a lack of energy, stress, difficulty retaining new information, and
Illustration by Allison Cohen
a lack of concentration, can all lead to a dramatic drop in academic grades and GPAs. But how much sleep is enough sleep? A study conducted by the Harris Health Sleep Disorders Center suggests that college-aged students should get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. They further
Dr. Philip Alapat says, “will affect your mood, energy
After reading this article, you look at the
level and ability to focus, concentrate and learn, which
time— 11:36pm.Yesterday, you would have considered
directly affects your academic performance.�
it early, but now you decide to turn in. By practicing
Let’s face it. We college students generally
better sleep habits, you might be able to nip the less
get much less sleep than we should. We function under
innocuous symptoms of a lack of sleep in the bud. It’s
the assumption that in college we can only choose two
the little things at first, after all.
out of the three: good grades, a social life, and sleep. But there are students who are proof that getting
THE BULLETIN Â -Â
 -  OCTOBER 2013
Out of sight not out of m JD Salinger’s Life
By Han
T
he Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger, broke the mold of the cookie cutter society of the 1950s, characterized by the likes of Lawrence Welk and June Cleaver. To this day, over 250,000 copies of The Catcher in the Rye are sold each year. But it is not just Holden’s story that transcends time and
resonates into modern day – it is also J.D. Salinger’s. A new documentary titled Salinger looks into the life of the reclusive and mysterious author who died in 2010. The film recounts Salinger’s wild success following the release of The Catcher in the Rye and his other major works, including Franny and Zooey. Salinger’s fish-out-of-water characters won over millions of
mind: & LEGEND
readers, yet, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with his readership, Salinger faded out of the picture. He published his last work in 1965. He gave his last interview in 1980.He didn’t answer fan mail. He moved to an isolated house in Cornish, New Hampshire. For thirty years, devoted fans traveled hundreds of miles to his home, hoping to catch a glimpse of him and, as one fan in the documentary said, have deep, philosophical discussions about his book and its meaning. For thirty years, the author shunned the culture that worshipped him. As a recent NewYork Times article puts it, this new documentary is “that culture’s revenge.”
nnah Corrie
But why is it that we need revenge? Why do we care? What is it about authors that fascinate us, that makes us want to know every detail of their lives, and that makes us angry when they refuse to comply? In Salinger’s case, it was partially his fault. He fed the machine that he was trying to escape. In adopting a reclusive persona, he propagated intrigue and set the stage for a storm of speculation; rumor had it that Salinger practiced Scientology and drank his own urine. Perhaps, if he had been smoother about handling the press and the fans, he could have appeased them without letting himself be consumed. As the documentary shows, his reclusive nature was only part of the hype that surrounded him. After all, society should have forgotten about J.D. Salinger. His refusal to interact with the world should have sent a clear message. While Salinger was out of society, Holden Caulfield was very much a part of it. The Catcher in the Rye continued to circulate through the world, and as it did, Salinger continued to deeply influence the masses on a daily basis. The Catcher in the Rye’s influence has been connected to the murders of John Lennon
en Field r u a L y b phs Photogra
Model: Katie Giritilian
and Rebecca Schaeffer, and the attempted assassination of Ronald Reagan. In each of these cases, Holden’s disdain for
superficiality and culture appear to have been used as a rational for murder. While Salinger lay dormant for many years, his story kept refueling itself, leading to a fire of publicity despite his isolation. When we look at the lives of other authors who experienced fame similar to Salinger’s, it is easy to understand why he was quick to shun society. Pop culture is a glitter-encrusted, stylish monster. It will not hesitate to devour you. We have seen this with writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, who could be called the complete opposite of J.D. Salinger. Fitzgerald, a heavy drinker, was desperate to be a part of society and was enamored with the glamor of extravagant parties. The society that had once embraced him and his work eventually turned into sharks that attacked his later contributions to literature. Interestingly, the younger Salinger very much admired Fitzgerald and had desired to be his modern day counterpart. That aspiration apparently faded once Salinger realized how hard it was to be in society’s spotlight. He did not want to suffer the same fate as Fitzgerald, who died at an early age still trying to find favor in the world of popular culture. As a society, we tend to endow our authors with mystical properties. To us, they are gatekeepers who open up new worlds, seers who let us travel to other times and places. But in reality, they are human. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye impacted readers beyond expectation. The documentary reveals how Holden’s thoughts and emotions were similar to those of the society that read of him, but didn’t talk about him. Once the novel was published, thousands of people felt as if someone had finally “got it.” Because of this, Salinger became greatly admired, almost to the point of being revered. Yet the portrait the documentary paints of Salinger is not a particularly flattering one. He was neurotic and controlling, had love affairs with teenage girls, and, after his service in World War II, he was haunted by gruesome flashbacks; he said that he could never quite get the smell of burning flesh out of his nose. Salinger was a strange, sad man. He was certainly brilliant and should be deeply admired for his contributions to literature, but he should not have been elevated to the level of celebrity. All those people who went to see him, searching for answers and looking for some grounding in reality to validate their love for his work were searching in the wrong place. It was not to Salinger they should have looked to find meaning in his stories. It was to themselves.
THE BULLETIN -
& - OCTOBER 2013
DSPAR: Wonder Woman Uncloaked By Avery Schroeder
I
t’s a Monday morning and President Debora Spar,
sitting
across
to the standards of beauty, and win first place “DIY” Mom-of-the-Year.
from me in a perfectly tailored suit and nude pointy-toe heels, radiates
Wonder Women also takes a close look at how past conceptions of
confidence and sophistication. Perched behind her desk, she matter-of-
feminism have informed current female perspectives and expectations. Spar
factly crosses her legs, clasps her hands together on top of her desk, and
asserts that feminism of the 1960s stagnated women more than it liberated
opens the conversation by asking about my own experience at Barnard. During
them; its concurrent push for the female CEO and the angel of the hearth ideal
my time in Spar’s office, bells chime from her computer indicating an influx of
imposed an automatic, insurmountable level of perfection. Unfortunately, it is
emails but her attention never wavers from my questions and our conversation.
difficult and confusing for most of us to let go of the obsessive perfectionist
With the release of her new book Wonder Women: Sex, Power, and The
within. President Spar offers that perhaps there isn’t a collective group that can
Quest for Perfection, Spar has become incredibly relevant and important to the
change society’s ideology but instead that individual women can induce change
sphere of feminist discourse. Her resounding point that the “superwoman” fic-
by heeding her advice and beginning a conversation that rejects perfection.
tion is indeed a fiction has opened up the doors for young women to question
President Spar hopes that Barnard women, along with her extended
their approaches to and general definitions of success. But President Spar, upon
readership, will work to avoid the trampled, fruitless path towards perfection.
first glance, appears to be a woman who does have it all. We have witnessed her
Spar leaves us with a challenge to acknowledge our passions, approach them
juggle a demanding career and a loving family – and look great doing it.
with confidence, and make our way for opportunities to become the best we
During my time with Spar, we talked of role models, defining feminism today, and her hope for the book’s impact on the women who read it. Spar
can be without conforming to restrictive social conventions. Can we have it all? No. And that fact should not devastate women – it should free them.
is down to earth, passionate about what she does, and cares a great deal about making an impact. She emphasized that she started writing Wonder Women while still at Harvard, and the book “evolved slowly.” Wonder Women contains personal anecdotes from her own experiences in an effort to better define the corruption inherent to the social conventions imposed on women in today’s society. Spar’s message in Wonder Woman calls for collective action to dismantle current social
second best” but instead to understand that “perfection isn’t an attainable goal.” This controversial message of ditching the quest for perfection is, above all, necessary for future women’s progress. Is it not true, though, that we bent over backwards to get into Barnard? That we aren’t still pulling our hair out to make Dean’s List, become the president of every club on campus, and juggle jobs and internships? The quest for perfection runs deep in our veins and we want it more than anything. So why can’t we be Wonder Woman? Because, Spar says, Wonder Woman is a female super-heroine – she is more than human and we are only human. President Spar’s message calls women of many different generations to realize the futility of the “have it all” ideal. Even President Spar confessed that she couldn’t and still cannot simultaneously be as devoted to her career, be the perfect wife, adhere THE BULLETIN -
) - OCTOBER 2013
Photograph by Rhea Schmid
selves without the added pressures of multifaceted perfection: “not to settle for
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own all of the images on this page
confines in an effort to encourage women to become the best version of them-
Lily Zalon: Publishing in the Modern World by Meghan Tuttle
“I
Illustration by Neda Kashani
got bored I didn’t have anything to do. I didn’t like high school,� said Lilly Zalon, the Barnard College sophomore who published a book at sixteen. “There were a lot of people telling me that it was never going to happen and that it was ridiculous, so I was like, wanna bet?� Dear Mr. Potter is an unconventional book, from its teenage editor to its representation of the fan-creator interaction normally characteristic of blogs and YouTube stars. Zalon started the project on Tumblr, hoping to use her large following to compile stories about how the Harry Potter series has impacted people’s lives and, as she said, “created a generation.� As statements, letters, pictures, drawings and videos avalanched to over 15,000 submissions, her plan to print a few intimate copies of the book in spiral-bound format became more ambitious, and she began to seek professional outlets. “We sent the idea to a lot of publishers,� said Zalon. “They said, ‘This isn’t the sort of book that we publish. We don’t publish coffee table books.’� Even after the finished book was a success, it could not find its path in the traditional publishing system. “We actually have gotten it in the hands of big publishers,� such as Scribner and Bloomsbury, “but it just
doesn’t seem to be something that [fits the system]. It’s just too niche.â€? Now she realizes that publishing houses would not have been able to accomplish the original objectives of the book, both as a charity project and as an organic interaction between book and fans. Zalon wanted to raise money for the Harry Potter Alliance, a charity inspired by the Harry Potter series to help improve child literacy, and a publishing company would have taken too many royalties to make this donation feasible. Working independently, Zalon was able to narrow down the main cost of production to professional graphic designing. Zalon edited the book along with twenty or so other teenagers and had it printed through her father’s business connections. By publishing independently, Zalon could control the project, keeping in close contact with the fans on her blog as well as the Harry Potter Alliance. Surprisingly, she said that her book has a higher rating on goodreads. com than classics like The Grapes ofWrath, a feat she attributes to the enormous investment of fans in the book. Would it have been a better book if it had been professionally published and edited? “There are typos‌ in some ways it looks like it was put together by a bunch of sixteen-
THE BULLETIN Â -Â
 -  OCTOBER 2013
year-olds,â€? Zalon said. “But then again, it was supposed to look like it was put together by a bunch of sixteen-year-old fans.â€? A publisher, she says, would have not allowed it to be unpolished, whether or not this was the goal. All things considered, Zalon says that she would want to use a traditional publishing house if she were to write a book in the future. “I want to have editors accept or reject me,â€? she said. “It’s not as if I believe that someone can say yes or no, but‌â€? She stands by validation as a vital criterion of art, struggling to voice that almost reflexive anxiety regarding the possibility of unlimited, unregulated publishing. Though it’s clear that an artist writes for herself, it’s the struggle for validation that separates a book from an Internet rant. Recent technological innovations have created a revolution in access to printing and publishing. Amazon eBooks can be downloaded within five minutes and made available to a world audience within a day, and improved print-on-demand presses eliminate the risk of printing without selling; Penguin also recently launched a self-publishing branch. Zalon may still have faith in the traditional publishing system, but in the future we may see more and more authors opt to release their books themselves.
Ageist Politics T
une into C-Span on any given day and what will you see? Black suits, white men, and gray hair. Politicians below 40 are few and far between, blocked by an older generation. In 1984 during a debate between President Ronald Regan and Former Vice President Walter F. Mondale, Regan said, “If it was not for the elders correcting the mistakes of the young, there would be no state.� This quote reflects the old adage: with age comes wisdom. And who else would we want running our country other than the wise?Yet as we move towards a more progressive future, when it comes to politics, can we expect that old age will always be in? The average age of a Senator is 62 and the average age of a Representative is 57. As the population changes, however, so should the faces and ages, of our political leaders. As America grows increasingly diverse and technologically advanced, it is essential to look at younger generations who are more representative of this transition. Millennials are the most ethnically and racially diverse group in the nation’s history as well as the most politically progressive. We see this here at Barnard, where the most popular majors are in the social sciences, including political science. The newly formed Social Justice House is dedicated to educating students about the problems and solutions related to contemporary social issues and helping them learn to make a difference by interacting with their peers, local activists, and policy makers. Unfortunately, despite obvious passion and interest, there is one thing millenials lack, one key factor that is essential in the world of politics: experience. Professional experience and a perceived level of maturity are essentially what maintain the status quo in politics. Many of the oldest and longest serving members of Congress hold key committee or leadership positions, which in turn allow them to sell their incum-
THE BULLETIN Â -Â
 -  OCTOBER 2013
bency when it comes time for re-election. So how are these young, talented, and strategically placed youth supposed to find the support they need to make a political difference? Political Action Committees (PACs) are organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. Most PACs represent business, labor, or ideological interests, but a newly formed PAC, LaunchProgress, founded by Poy Winichakul and Luke Squier, believes that youth need to be able to get their foot in the door to politics.Winichakul explains, “The current political infrastructure that generally re-elects an increasingly small subsection of the population will not produce representatives that can effectively serve our needs. LaunchProgress is breaking this unsustainable cycle.â€? As the only national organization targeting young, progressive, passionate public servants, ages 18 to 35 for local and state office, LaunchProgress hopes to lead the country into a future where politicians reflect the changing culture of America. Winichakul goes on to say, “We [LaunchProgress] are investing in young people who believe in bringing our diverse America together, people who believe in representing our collective interests, people who have their pulse on the nation’s problems, and people who will bring a fresh perspective to solving those problems.â€? A significant number of young people have a desire to go into politics and LaunchProgress is offering the space to do so. The political landscape is becoming less about those with stronger rĂŠsumĂŠs and more about those who are concerned with serving the public and helping the people. As Barnard students we are used to asserting our voices, and organizations like LaunchProgress are giving us the platform. The political shift is happening now, and we are an essential part of that future.
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
by Andrea Adomako
Male Birth Control By Anisa Aull
M
ost people are unaware
female birth control also has positive
that the decision to select
side effects,� points out Rebecca, a
women as the point of in-
Barnard senior.
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
tervention in the reproductive process
At present there are two
was somewhat arbitrary. However,
main lines of research on male con-
over time this idea has become deeply
traception. The first is a hormonal
entrenched in the medical commu-
treatment. The idea is to introduce a
nity; women are the continued focus
synthetic form of testosterone, elimi-
of most contraceptive research. Male
nating the natural production of this
contraceptives have been popping
hormone, which in turn inhibits nor-
up in various forms since the 1970s,
mal sperm development. Some ver-
always “in trials� or “five years away!�
sions of this method can cause over-
Selling birth control to
all hormonal imbalances that result in
men involves a new set of challenges.
side effects. Another drawback is that
Women accept the inconveniences of
hormonal therapy is more or less suc-
daily pills, irritating side effects, risk of
cessful depending on genetic factors,
blood clots, and invasive IUD place-
according to the National Institutes
ment because pregnancy for women
of Health. The second line of re-
is medical. The design of a “male pill�
search focuses on killing sperm post-
must be devoid of all of these compli-
production. Reversible Inhibition of
cations because, as Science Magazine
Sperm Under Guidance (RISUG) is
points out “With men, there’s no
a technique developed by research-
counterbalancing risk of pregnancy,
ers in India. It involves the injection
so the tolerance for side effects drops
of a polymer into the vas deferens
of virility,� says Olivia (BC ’14), al-
masculine. In addition, history has
to zero.� In order to be marketable, the
(the channel connecting the testicles
luding to the idea that the success
coded the act of using contracep-
male pill must be convenient, cheap,
to the penis). The polymer adheres
of
tion such as the pill as a “female�
non-invasion,
side-effect
to the walls of this channel and kills
would depend on a sociological
activity.
free, reversible, and as effective as
sperm on contact. A single injection
as well as a scientific shift. In her
“The development of new contra-
female methods. This creates a con-
of this polymer can last for up to 10
book, The Male Pill: A Biography of
ceptives for men thus requires the
siderable challenge for the scientific
years and can be flushed out with an
a Technology in the Making, Nelly
destabilization of conventional-
community, especially since funding
equally simple injection. RISUG has
Oudshoorn discusses how “the in-
ized performances of masculinity.�
for this type of research is in part de-
been patented in the United States un-
tertwining of the male sexual and
Therefore, on top of developing a
termined by the economic viability of
der the name Vasagel and is starting
reproductive body� is an essential
treatment that is medically safe and
the product being developed.
clinical trials in 2014. The challenges
part of the most highly-valued
commercially viable, male contra-
of new male contraceptives, however,
brand of masculinity in our cul-
ceptives also have to be culturally
go beyond the realm of science.
ture. Contraceptives that separate
accepted by both men and women.
virtually
“I think it’s important for men to have the same choice as
male-focused
contraception
women. Though, it might be more
“I feel like in some ways
these two functions challenge cur-
complicated to popularize because
masculinity is wrapped up in the idea
rent conceptions of what it is to be
THE BULLETIN Â -Â
 -  OCTOBER 2013
Oudshoorn
continues,
I’d Tap That: Dating Apps
“It’s
BY SHADÉ QUINTANILLA difficult to find someone who
MySchool, Grouper are attempting to reach out to a
her major. She says, “I don’t have a lot of time to go out
you’re compatible with at Co-
similar crowd. DateMySchool, in particular, specifically
and meet people, so online dating is a lot easier because
lumbia, even [more so] in New
marketed to the general Colum- bia University com-
you can pick who you want to go out with and set up a
munity in 2012
date.” Although she has yet to form a serious relationship
York City,” admits online dater and Barnard student Val-
by filling up campus with
with some of the men she has met through OkCupid and
advertisements
DateMySchool, Emily is achieving her goal of getting out
billboards
entina* (BC’14). “The environment can be very antisocial between strangers. Strangers don’t
in the dating scene and meeting new people.
interact as much here as
for their web-
in, say, a small town in
site. But, are
Danielle (CC ’14) has explored other dating
students
websites through her paid subscription with Match.com,
on cam-
as well as accounts with OKCupid, PlentyOfFish, Skout,
pus ac-
DateMySchool and other dating websites. She initially be-
tually
gan using online dating sites when she was having trouble
Connecticut.” Many people like Valentina are experiencing difficulty finding someone that sparks their interest. Enter social media.
meeting people back in her hometown, but she continued
By simply downloading a smart
using the sites when she returned to campus. “I wasn’t
phone app or creating an account on
actively pursuing dates, but I also wasn’t meeting people
a dating website, these people can make
through clubs and activities so I wanted a way to set the
their presence known in the online dating
scene,” says Noujaim. During her online dating experience, she has
world.
had a few good dates, but she believes that the online
The American Sociological As-
dating process can be superficial and objectifying. She
sociation reports that over the past thirteen
says, “I can tell from certain messages that some-
years, online dating has become the second most
times guys don’t even read a word on my profile
popular way of meeting partners for heterosexual
besides ‘female’ – they only look at pictures.”
couples and the most popular outlet for same-sex
Online dating has become increasingly
where she created a fake profile for 24 hours
popular among college-aged students as evidenced by the
using a picture of a model. “I put zero infor-
growth of websites and apps that market to daters in this
mation in her profile except ‘student and makeup artist’
age group. Take the app Tinder. Like Mark Zuckerberg,
using these apps and
and I got 45 messages in those 24 hours asking for my
who initially marketed Facebook to elite colleges, Sean
websites? And, are these students actu-
number, or for a date, or telling me that I had ‘beautiful
Rad, one of the creators of the app, marketed Tinder
ally finding what they are looking for, whether it be a
to a group of the top party colleges in the country. By
one-night hookup or a relationship?
eyes.’” Although dating websites and apps may not
originally filling up Tinder with images of female models
Emily* (BC ’14), an architecture major
always be successful at helping people find a relationship,
in bikinis and photos of attractive men, the app had more
and freelance model, admits to using the websites Date-
the Internet still seems to be one of the key sources for
than 1,000 users within a week of its launch.
MySchool and OkCupid to help her find dates. She looks
finding love—Danielle met her boyfriend through the
to online dating because of the demanding schedule of
website Reddit.
Websites and apps like OkCupid, Date-
*Names marked with an asterisk have been changed.
THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
She even admits to conducting an experiment
couples.
By Divya Sundaram
I
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
n the aftermath of successful superhero blockbusters like Marvel’s The Avengers, Iron Man, and Thor, as well as DC Comics’ Man of Steel and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy, there’s only one thing that’s missing—a movie with a superheroine. While male comic fans have been able to idealize the likes of Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man, we girls have had to content ourselves with secondary characters such as Black Widow and Catwoman, who have hardly had enough screen time to accomplish the ass-kicking we know they’re capable of unleashing. A girl power superhero movie may not actualize until film executives realize two things: there is a substantial audience for a femme-filled superhero film, and superheroines are more than just sex symbols. A common stereotype is that only pasty middle-aged men read comics, which is untrue, as anyone who has been to Comic Con can attest. Comics and superheroes appeal to a variety of people from little kids who watch the movies to adult men and women who grew up reading the comics. In the past few years, Marvel has included the following heroes in films: Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Wolverine, among others. This pool of superheroes has several factors in common: they’re all straight, male, and white. The target demographic is clear. After the success of films like The Avengers, which is currently the third highest grossing film of all time, film executives have taken a formulaic approach to the superhero genre of films in the hopes of re-creating that success. There is a lot of uncertainty in producing a female superhero film, and film execs are unwilling to risk their money when male superhero movies are a guaranteed jackpot. Another reason that production companies might hesitate to create a film starring a female superhero is the fact that in the past, and even to some extent today, superheroines have often been portrayed as nothing more than sex symbols. Black Widow for instance is often portrayed as a seductive spy in her slinky, skin-tight suit, and in The Avengers she fails to become a substantive character compared to her male counterparts. That superheroines often don form-fitting, revealing costumes only reinforces the sex symbol stereotype. As evidenced
THE BULLETIN -
by Jennifer Lawrence’s acclaimed role as Katniss Everdeen in 2012’s film adaptation of the The Hunger Games, superheroines can be strategists, fighters, leaders, and peacekeepers. They just happen to look damn good when they’re fighting crime. The demand for the female superhero movie is there; many people are questioning why there hasn’t been a Wonder Woman film or a Black Widow film yet. The fact is that it’s a difficult task, and many film executives just aren’t up for it. But if Marvel or DC Comics ever get the guts to make concrete plans for a female superhero movie, the world has made it clear that they’re clamoring for it. And let’s face it: a superheroine movie is bound to be more exciting, because girls are way tougher than guys—they can fight crime in heels.
- OCTOBER 2013
NEW
AT THE
MUSEUM
OF
MODERN ART
Seeing Sound W
ifferently by Avery Schroeder
hat is ‘ART’ if sound is ‘ART’? temporary artistic genre it is affording popular culture an alternative experience and display of art, which revolutionizes both creative convention and societal perception of what art can be. The exhibit space is silent except for the sounds coming from the works of art, and all other participants were either in a state of reflection or busy sharing their bafflement via social media outlets. “Soundings: A Contemporary Score” is a challenging exhibit in that it forces one to think outside of his/her perceptive
reality; to experience the act of listening without distraction in an untainted space (no noise pollution). Through such challenge, I found “A Contemporary Score” to be fascinating and unequivocally cool. The Museum of Modern Art has so much to offer; you don’t have to be an art history major, an artist, or a frequent reader of the NYTimes Sunday Arts section to appreciate the art, the annex Design Store, or a cappuccino in the Sculpture Garden.
Illustration by Judy Gong
While for many a museum goer art can be understood as visual expressions of an artist, an historical, or a cultural memento, the new exhibit on Sound Art at the MoMA, “Soundings: A Contemporary Score”, undermines this general notion at each turn. By positing sight and sound on an equal playing field, the exhibit requires participants to hear and “see” sound in new ways. The works of art that cultivate the exhibit approach sound through various modes of visual platforms (blurred music scores), audible sounds (the sound a marble makes on a turnstile), and even inaudible sounds (how sound is understood by deaf artists); which aim to challenge conventions of artistic representation. The pieces in the exhibition all seek to expose such an experiential challenge by heightening the importance of the aural through a stark contrast with the visual. One example is a space covered in foam triangles that reverberate an LED triggered soundtrack attached to an abstract painting; another, a dark room filled with sounds of violins that oscillate up and down between six different sized speakers. Sound Art, as a genre, is relatively new to the contemporary art scene, and its purpose is to encourage participation by calling viewers (and listeners) to see, hear, and understand sounds, media, and other visual models in different ways. Unlike traditional art portrayals focused on visual convention, contemporary artists like those who create Sound Art have encouraged their audiences to experience art in unmediated ways. As defined by the MoMA exhibition, Sound Art is a field of art that glorifies the age of technology we live in by exposing it to us in an avant garde way. Above all, as a con-
THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
OH MY GOD J a c q u e l i n e
X u
ouie CK is by no means a distinguished looking gentleman; he appears almost
is less relatable because he’s too brutally honest. In Louie, however, the audience feels
always in a black or navy T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. Yet his nondescript appear-
sorry for the lead because we see his thought process; we see Louie reacting to the world
ance is part of the commonplace charm for which his audience applauds him. CK
around him, and see his hopes and dreams pan out with black and white montages with
seems to understand the struggles of life, especially with his new stand-up special Oh My
jazzy music in the background.
God, which CK produced and funded himself. By allowing people to download the show
Likewise, Oh My God is different from CK’s other comedy specials not be-
for just $5, CK bypassed the need for a distributor and placed himself entirely at the
cause he stopped making jokes about raising his kids and contemporary romantic rela-
mercy of his fans. Even with his $1 million in royalties, CK remains as relatable as ever.
tionships, but because his material reaches farther into what makes us human. In both
Yet CK wasn’t always this confident; he did his first ever stand-up segment
Chewed Up and Live at the Beacon Theatre, CK places the focus on his own life as a reflection
in 1984 at an open mic in Boston, and was so discouraged that he stayed away from
of human nature, talking about how he hates deer enough to kill a fawn without hesita-
comedy for another two years. Much of CK’s early work is hidden in the woodwork;
tion or ate cold Cinnabon at an airport once. The audience laughs because he says the
he was a writer for the Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien,
things that they’re all too afraid to say, and his success is due to his ability to take the
The Dana Carvey Show and The Chris Rock Show. CK also wrote and directed Pootie Tang,
risk. He focuses on situations that are representative of who we are as people and things
from which he was fired after filming. Ironically, the film is now a cult classic despite
that people do every day without realizing it. He points out, for instance, that humans
negative reviews. Thankfully, CK’s comedic genius is more openly appreciated today.
are privileged to be able to die of natural causes in a death bed while the rest of the food
His sitcom Louie on FX is on its 5th season, and his last stand-up special Live at the Beacon
chain needs to hunt down and kill their prey and then proceeds to act out a day in the life
Theatre grossed a crowd of 2,500. Throughout his career, it seems as though CK’s humor
of human who has to hunt down their food.
hasn’t changed. Rather it has been refined to be more direct and empathetic towards its
The content in Oh My God is thus much more powerful; CK forces us to
audience. Lucky Louie, though tinged with the hyperrealism and honesty that makes CK’s
realize the absurdity in how we conduct ourselves, whether it be in the dating scene or
humor so recognizable, is framed with an annoying laugh track and a main character that
posting on Facebook and forces us to be unapologetic about who we are.
"The audience laughs because he says the things that they're all too afraid to say so, and his success is due to his ability to take the risk" THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
Disclaimer: The Bulletin does not own any images on this page
L
b y
Netflix
is
I
have a cable cord stapled along the wall of my room in Hewitt. Although it is inconspicuous and painted the same odd yellow of the rest of the wall, I noticed the cord immediately. Frankly, I was taken aback by the assumption that I’d want cable access in my dorm room. Thanks but no thanks, Barnard: I’ve got Netflix. Unlike when I was younger and glued to Family Central, The WB and VH1 every night, I no longer have the time nor the patience for network television. On the rare occasion that I have a spare hour to watch my favorite actors play make-believe, I use my computer. My laptop and that wonderful thing called the Internet allow me to watch what I want, when I want, without commercials. In my life, procrastination regularly comes in the form of television. So, embarrassingly enough, I know a fair amount about the world of online viewing. I either download files to my computer (pirating is bad, shame on us all) or I go to one of the many subscription websites to get my fix. Paid providers of on-demand streaming media like Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon Instant Video, HBO GO, ShowtimeAnytime are on the rise. For those of us fortunate enough to have access (many of them are rather pricey), these sites are becoming the basic cable of Generation-Y. Although there are multiple of these subscription websites, Netflix is quickly rising above the rest. As of 2013, Netflix is no longer just the go-to for old seasons of network television and recently released movies. Thanks to some ingenious expansions, Netflix now also provides its viewers with original content. Breakout web exclusives like House of Cards and
THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
the
new
Ca
by Anna Batchelor this summer’s Orange is the New Black have convinced quite a few TV-enthusiasts to trade in their monthly cable subscriptions for Netflix accounts. One of
And I’m not alone. Many Barnard students regularly turn to Netflix when they are aching for a TV fix. Adrienne Nel describes Netflix as “the new pastime in college life.” According to Nel, “if students aren’t going out and about ... then they are staying in and having a ‘Netflix night.’”
“Rather than having to wait a week between each episode, Netflix enthusiasts can indulge in what has become known as ‘binge watching.’ I for one watched all thirteen episodes of Orange is the New Black in two days and killed House of Cards in three”. the best things about the Netflix web-series that competing subscription sites can’t offer is instant access to every episode in the season at once. Rather than having to wait a week between each episode, Netflix enthusiasts can indulge in what has become known as binge watching. I for one watched all thirteen episodes of Orange is the New Black in two days and killed House of Cards in three.
THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
There is a reason so many busy, time-budgeted Barnard students prefer Netflix to going to the movies or paying for basic cable. Shelby Jennings (BC’16) broke it down: “As a student who barely has time to go to the grocery store, I would much rather settle with watching some random movie on Netflix in my down time than paying for or putting in extra effort to get access to [cable].” And it’s only going to get better. The popularity of the web exclusive series like OITNB and HoC has prompted Netflix to create more original content for 2014. Marco Polo, a historical drama; Narco, a series about a Columbian drug lord; and Sense 8, a sci-fi drama, will all be released on Netflix in the upcoming year. I can hardly wait.
Illustration by Kyoko Yamamoto
able
Dance Like Nobody’s Watching by Sheli Paige Frank
“S
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
econd is the first to lose.” “You save those tears for your pillow.” Rapt audiences watch in shock as Abby Lee Miller berates her nine-year-old dancers, pushing them past tears before engaging in even more inappropriate fights with their parents. Shows like Breaking Pointe, Dancing with the Stars, Dance Moms, So You Think You Can Dance, and Bunheads try to show viewers actual dances within a form of TV, be it competition, reality, or drama. Yet the most successful dance shows are very clearly the ones with the most drama—not the most dancing. Though Dance Moms has maintained a steady following its marketing involves a greater emphasis on the mothers of the performers and their competition than the actual dance process itself. More screen time is devoted to dramatic replays of a child forgetting a dance on stage and the tears and overreactions that follow than on the child learning the routine. All the fans accept that Maddie is dance teacher Abby’s favorite, but few forums discuss exactly why Maddie’s dancing is superior to her rival’s, and instead focus on who has the worst mother. So why does Dancing with the Stars get viewers interested in the celebrities, rather than the dancing itself? Why is American Idol so successful, while SoYou ThinkYou Can Dance is floundering? It all goes back to the limited audience for dance. Dance as an art form requires a great amount of training, and there is only so much the average non-dancer can appreciate. That is not to say dance is elitist, but dance shows seem to focus on the “wow factor” of new ways people can move their bodies, and, after a while, the
movements can all look the same. Also, a great deal has to do with dance’s place in popular culture. American Idol creates stars: winners and finalists move on to careers in film and musical, while dancers have fewer opportunities and tend not to reach idol status, thus losing fan followings. Who knows what happened to Nick Lazzarini, season one winner of So You Think You Can Dance? Or Benji Schwimmer, winner of season two? Both went on to be very successful in the dance world, but the public’s interest in them was substantially less than that of their American Idol counterparts. Dance shows do not have the same opportunities to keep a fan following, as their winners fade out of the public eye after their win. To keep up with singing shows, dance shows tend to require the hook of a known celebrity, cute children, or drama. At first Bunheads appeared to be an exception to this rule. A dance version of Glee, it featured an already all-star cast, led by Sutton Foster, and successfully combined full dances with an innovative ABC drama. The show developed a small, devoted fan base, but lasted only one season, due to the lack of support from ABC. As with SoYou ThinkYou Can Dance, viewers seemed to have a more difficult time relating to dancers than they did to singers. Anyone can sing (though not necessarily well), but without training one cannot truly understand dance, or participate as either a performer or a spectator. As it turns out, Abby’s mantra,“Everyone’s replaceable,” is just as true for dance shows as it is for dancers.
Dance shows do not have the same opportunities to keep a fan following, as their winners fade out of the public eye after their win. To keep up with singing shows, dance shows tend to require the hook of a known celebrity, cute children, or drama.
THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
Anna Nicole: The Opera
By Jacqueline Xu
K
nown for her bodacious bosom and tendency to expose herself pub-
toriously exposed bosom, the chorus around her chants, “All power to breasts
licly, Anna Nicole Smith, born Vickie Lynn Hogan, seems an unlikely
and titties/boobs, mams, pillows, tatas, ecstasy,” building an aria of breast-
tragic heroine.Yet upon closer inspection, it seems she may have a place
worship until Anna Nicole emerges on a stripper’s pole with her new chest.Yet
beside Manon and Violetta. Married and pregnant by 17 and separated from her
through the chanting of the chorus and the roars of laughter Turnage manages
husband by 18, Smith soon turned to stripping and posing for Playboy as a source
to get in the essential truths. Stern, Smith’s lawyer and eventual love interest,
of income. Her bowling ball implants and Southern charm attracted J. Howard
is heard over the din singing “I love you, Anna,” one vote of sentiment in the sea
Marshall II, an oil tycoon 62 years her senior. Her story is at once tinged by
of wry humor.
scandal and glossed with glamour, and Anna Nicole, the original opera that made Sarah Joy Miller, playing the title role, is also no joke. Before star-
its US premiere at BAM this September, reflected that perfectly.
ring as Anna Nicole, Miller played Violette of La Traviata and Gilda in Rigoletto.
Illustration by Ilana Schulder
The stage is at once highbrow and artfully tacky. Red curtains are
Miller’s breathy Southern accent plays out perfectly with the operatic hissy fits
lighted to look hot pink and the entire cast is dressed in gaudy pastel colors. The
that Anna Nicole throws onstage. As J. Howard Marshall pleads with her to talk
production is also expletiv-filled, with a swarm of newscasters as the judgmental
to him in her baby voice, she purrs, “Buy me a ranch.” In the show’s final scene,
commentators on Smith’s life. Though the opera’s language and themes are quite
as Anna Nicole is being zipped into her black body bag for good, Miller reprises
gritty, Anna Nicole is also extremely traditional in other ways. Its heroine, though
her first line of the opera: “I want to blow you all–a kiss.” The conclusion is both
recently deceased, is the perfect example of a modern diva. Though the contem-
tragic and hilarious, perhaps the main selling point of the opera. By spurning
porary subject matter makes the show reminiscent of a Broadway musical, Mark
some of the conventions of opera, the production brings Anna Nicole’s life into
Anthony Turnage’s composition proves otherwise. The show sounds like one epic
perspective, allowing us to value the beauty of her story while laying the scan-
ode, with minor notes running into each other and creating a sort of structured
dal of reality by the wayside.
cacophony. As young Anna Nicole is obscured behind a screen to receive her no-
Its heroine, though recently deceased, is the perfect example of a modern diva. THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
Kooks and Spooks: Greenwich Village Halloween Parade By Nina Sabado
E
very year, New York City lets out its inner child
to produce the event on a larger scale. The Greenwich
budget due to Sandy. Moreover, this year, sponsors are
as more than 60,000 people parade up Sixth Av-
Village Parade attracted a larger participation because
demanding a cancellation insurance, which only serves
enue, in probably the most elaborate procession
of this production, becoming a non-profit organization
to strain the parade’s already tight budget further.
the City’s scariest, funniest and most creative costumes
in 1976 that sought to produce the parade on its own.
The parade was created to celebrate the
held on Halloween. The Annual Greenwich Village Hal-
Not even tragic events on 9/11 could have
richness of both the culture and imagination of New
loween Parade is a large-scale participatory spectacle
dampened New York City’s ever-indomitable nature. It
York City, and the organizers of the Annual Village
that seeks to celebrate the vibrant and multi-faceted life
was the Village Parade’s “greatest honor” to be allowed
Halloween Parade turned to the very New Yorkers
of New York City.
to continue the 2001 festivities only 7 weeks after the
they wished to embody in the parade’s quest to earn
The parade benefits from New Yorkers, old
events, as then-Mayor Giuliani thought the festivities
an additional $50,000. On the first day, the Kickstarter
and new alike, who were drawn to the center of the
would be a healing event for New York. Hundreds of
campaign raised nearly $4,000 from approximately 80
visual and performing arts, of costumes and fashion,
millions of viewers worldwide watched as a giant Phoe-
different backers.
of both print and electronic media. The creativity and
nix puppet rising out of the ashes made its way around
Although New York is fighting tooth and
diversity are what the parade chooses to honor in the
the streets of downtown New York, both tangible evi-
nail to keep its beloved tradition, there are still wor-
explosion of color, sound and movement that happens
dence of an enduring city, and a promise to its citizens
ries that the campaign won’t be able to reach its goal by
every Halloween. The usual half-hearted bedsheet
of a better day.
the deadline of October 21. “I hear stories that people
ghosts are set aside in favor of an absurd conglomera-
But the parade might be in danger for its
don’t contribute to Kickstarter campaigns until close to
tion of unrelated shapes and forms strutting down city
40th Anniversary. This time last year, Hurricane Sandy
the end, but I’m nervous,” Jeanne Fleming, the parade’s
streets.
left its mark on lower Manhattan—the parade’s stomp-
artistic director, commented to NewYork Bisiness.
The now-iconic parade began as a simple
ing grounds. Parade organizers were forced to cancel
This year, the theme is “Revival! Hallelujah
walk from house to house by Greenwich Village puppe-
the festivities a mere 12 hours before it was sched-
Halloween! Bring Halloween back to NYC.” “Bringing
teer Ralph Lee in 1974 for his children and neighbors.
uled to start. Now, the event is facing a major funding
the parade back is about bringing downtown back,” ex-
After its second year, Theater for the New City chose
shortfall this year as it lost more than half its operating
plained Fleming, “This is the best night for business in Greenwich Village and SoHo because everybody does
The Greenwich VillageHalloween Parade will be held on Thursday, October 31 at 7 pm. People wishing to join the Parade need to be in costume and should enter the line-up on 6th Avenue from the east and south between Canal Street and Spring Street between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
really well on Halloween.”
BITES BEYOND THE BUBBLE
Gaia Italian Café 251 E Houston Street
by Savannah Kuper
N
estled alongside the bustle of East Houston Street on the Lower East Side this charming subterranean Italian café radiates with warmth and the culinary excellence of Chef Gaia Bagnasacco. Inside, the space is small but intimate with its rustic brick walls, closely lined glass tables, Italian ornament, and amiable staff.
The kitchen is separated from the dining area by the front counter, a refrigerated glass case glowing with beds of viridsescent mixed greens and hearty pasta salads, and a rolling baker’s rack hot with the day’s bread. All orders are placed at the counter, and as you wait for your food, you either have the pleasure of watching the kitchen at its creative works or leafing through some of the magazines that can be found under your table. Great for lunch or dinner, Gaia’s menu strikes a balance between meat and vegetable based options.While Gaia offers a select variety of hot dishes and salads, the draw for most regulars is the panini. Served on crisp and slightly charred house-made flatbread, the sandwiches burst with invigorating blends of flavor.
Photo Illustration by the Art Board
The Sano sandwich is one of the café’s highlights, with its thin layer of herbed frittata, delicate pesto, and vividly green bed of arugula. For meat lovers, the Milanese is a refreshing, light take on an Italian breaded chicken sandwich. Chef Bagnasacco, who immigrated from Italy, puts a high premium on authenticity, importing most of the café’s ingredients. The mozzarella di bufala, one of the store’s several imports that arrives every Thursday night, is a revelation– the perfect pairing for all the tomato and pesto based dishes. Gaia is not your typical Italian cuisine; the dishes are lighter, more vegetable-based, and unique. The restaurant is a perfect lunch spot for students because of its quaint atmosphere and shockingly inexpensive fare. In a city where paninis routinely go for over $10 a piece, Gaia’s $5 paninis are a treasure. And if hotter meals are what you seek, the homemade spinach and ricotta gnocchi is only two dollars more. The portions are satisfying and unforgettable. On the way out, be sure to grab a few rainbow cookies or a Nutella pastry. And if you take a moment to chat with Chef Bagnasacco, you may just get one for free. THE BULLETIN -
- OCTOBER 2013