BEYOND THE COMMONS
Issue Number 4: January 2019
CONTENTS Issue No. 4: January 2019
ART Art Collection Art Feature: Alexis Cortez CITY SERIES: ALIVE Budapest, Hungary London, United Kingdom Toronto, Canada CREATIVE WRITING Creative Writing Collection The Overlooking of Women in Poetry Powerful Women in Classic Literature CULTURE How My Eating Disorder Still Haunts Me Resolutions LUNCH BREAK Lunch Break: Featuring Lindsey Rempalski MUSIC “Art”
Musician Feature: Christina Bahadri PHOTOGRAPHY Photography Collection Photography Feature: Danielle Ingles Photography Feature: Julia Santana Photography: Katerina Kallopoulos POLITICS Opinion: Discuss Politics, and Keep the Courtesy SOCIAL ISSUES A Problem Bigger Than Just Straws Fast Fashion, Garment Worker Exploitation, and Consumerism Women’s March Organizer Tamika Mallory Accused of Being Anti-Semitic
BEYOND THE COMMONS Editor in Chief: Sarah Harwell Editors: Art Editor: Krista Nguyen Art Co-editor: Mely Mendez Creative Writing Editor: Hannah Kozak Culture Editor: Destiny Hodges Music Editor: Joe Fayad Politics Editor: Laura Nguyen Photography Editor: Ava Pucilowski Social Issues Editor: Salem Suleiman 
EDITOR’S NOTE
TO A NEW YEAR Our fourth issue, our first issue of the new year, our first issue of new content, and my dream interview. Making this magazine, I had a vision and a mission to publish what is different, and to publish things that were out of the ordinary. Articles that left thoughts in your head lingering all day, and all forms of art that left an imprint in your mind. This new year, I dedicate this magazine back to that vision - back to what the true goal of this magazine is. The art of word is more important to me than most, and being able to speak one’s mind and be able to use letters strewn together to make someone think of things differently is powerful. Words speak volumes, and writing speaks volumes. This new year, I dedicate this year to why I started this magazine in the first place: to write, to publish intriguing art, and to be able to give people a voice. A voice to change the world, a voice to change opinions, a voice to be revolutionary.
ART To intrigue, to enlighten, to inspire. ART COLLECTIONS Federica Merante
Megan Paluba
Sandra Carrasco
Theresa Lin
Yaxkin Fuentes-Barrientos


Zoe Hart
Art Feature: Alexis Cortez
Alexis Cortez, or who is more often known by the name "luna" is a Visual Artist born out of Southern California. Although art has always been a constant practice in her life, only until recently has she began showcasing her art to the public. Due to art being a very personal practice for her-- she hopes to captivate her viewers through the figurative expression of the human body and the subtle connotations of her own personal connections as both an artist, a LGBTQ+ woman, and as well as her journey of dealing with Bipolar disorder. Within the "fruit series" you can see the connection of the dismal state of isolation due to depression and the beauty that can easily hide the true meaning behind the something that goes unlooked unless told. 
CITY SERIES: ALIVE For the love of where we’re from. Budapest, Hungary By: Cera Soma Last spring while I was studying abroad in Prague, a friend and I decided last minute that we should go to Budapest. We discussed it on the tram from campus to the dorm on Friday and Saturday morning we were back on the tram headed to the bus station. We were only there for one full day but we made the most of it. Budapest and I got off to a rough start at first, the bus was delayed and I found actual bed bugs in the hostel, but as soon as we got to a clean Airbnb and went out and explored, I fell in love. We didn't really have a plan so we were free to do whatever we felt like. We walked around between Buda and Pest, road in the funicular, climbed St. Stephen’s Basilica, and of course went to the baths. The city radiated a calm energy and everything was picturesque and idealistic. It was a city that begged to be photographed and I’m glad I brought my camera for the journey. The trip was short and sweet and I am counting the days until I can go back. The energy I got from being in Budapest made me stop and look more closely at things around me. I paused more and found pleasing photo compositions in the places we went, like on the stairs, in the bath house and the building our apartment was. It really re-energized my spirit and made photography fun for me again. Shot on 35mm.
London, United Kingdom By: Emily Saavedra the cold breeze hitting my cheeks, made my eyes all teary, because no other place had ever made me feel like i was home.
Toronto, Canada By: Hannah Kozak A city committed to diversity and kindness. I knew Toronto was a place I felt alive in when I realized how inclusive and welcoming its people were. Walking through an American street, it’s not uncommon to feel unsafe and as if something bad is going to happen. Toronto is a city with about 2.8 million people, but I do not feel like any of those 2.8 million people will hurt me. I cherish their warm embrace as I walk through the city alone, feeling powerful and unstoppable. The kind-faced people and their glittering eyes inspire me. Inspire me to be more thoughtful, more creative, more involved. One of my favorite spots is Kensington Market, a small neighborhood where they live off the idea of no matter where you’re from, you have a place to eat here. Thank you, Toronto, for giving me a place to belong, even from 317 miles away.
CREATIVE WRITING The art of word. CREATIVE WRITING COLLECTION Aleshina Daria they used to pin me on the wall of shame i had to frame myself to be displayed as art. i clenched my teeth and bit my tongue so many times i sharpened them; now phrases from my lips cut lines on throats. i became a golden statue. they squeeze their eyes looking at me just like they did when i was weird for them. now i’m a threat to be eliminated but little do they know that sparks can burn down cities and, oh boy, i’m full of them.
Delaney Davidson “October” With it’s clammy winds October gave me peace of mind Slowly moving Shallowly shifting October gave me joy The leaves started crisp Still pulsing with life The chaotic energy within slowly spread to the lush floor That energy spread up and into our souls Leaving us disproportionately volatile As the colors changed So did the color palette of my mind Change Reason Reality And sentiment Made me look at the world differently By the end I need to move on The days became lethargic And I needed to rest “East and West” I want you to hold me like a porcelain doll
Careful not to break me Feeling my cold body But warming me with yours I want you to kiss me nice and slow While the bass of the song digs into the room Forcing me to pick between the beat of your heart Or the beat of the song I want you to press your hips to mine I want you to gaze down into my eyes I want you to lift me up from this world I want to be yours But the things the separate us have engulfed what could’ve been My hands too cold for you to hold The song too loud to clearly hear Your eyes looking too far into the distance Nothing can keep this together So we’ll turn our backs to each other I’ll face west You face east And maybe one day someone will peer behind Elaine Young “Two Zero One Eight” Finally, the year has come to an end.
This year feels long for me because I realized in the past 356 days I have gone through a lot. As the curtain falls, and as the chapter come to an end, here is what I’ve learned and realized throughout the year. 1.
Everyone is like a piece of puzzle trying to fit in.
We are just like a piece of a picture puzzle. Trying to find a place we belong to, trying to fit in, and at the same time figuring out life. Just like how we put a piece of puzzle into the wrong empty spot where it clearly doesn’t fit, sometimes we try to squeeze ourselves into a place where we don’t belong because that is what others are doing. But that is not our place. The journey of figuring out where we belong and what we are best in is a long path. It is trial and error. Sometimes we have to try multiple times. Joining different groups and different kinds of people while trying to find where we really belong. It might be draining and tiring, but don’t give up and don’t give in. Continue searching until you find that perfect empty space. When you find that, the puzzle is complete and you will see the beautiful completed picture.
2. Don’t trust your feelings. Feelings suck. They are something you should never trust. Feelings sometimes lead us to a place where we doubt ourselves, feel like we are not good enough, and sometimes feelings also bring us down into that dark and deep hole of self-pity. We end up pitying ourselves, feeling so negative, and hating our life. So, instead of immersing yourself in your feelings, try changing the way you think. Stop looking at the world in such a negative and dark perspective. Yes, it might seems cheesy, but it really works. 3. Be Yourself.
The last lesson that I’m still slowly discovering and learning is to be yourself. It is hard sometimes to stop caring about what others might think about you because you are too used to being so overly sensitive and self-critical. The fear of not being accepted for who you are. We try to hide our real and true self beneath the mask. Stopping ourselves from saying out our thoughts, stopping ourselves from laughing out loudly, holding ourselves down from being real and being ourselves. Why? Fear of what others might think. Before the year ends, let me tell you this. Stop caring so much! Stop trying so hard to please others. You matter. Your thoughts matter. You really do. Erin Ingledew “A Woman Scorned” There is a double standard for a woman Who ultimately decides that her worth Is far greater than a man’s ego. Finally she is able to pick herself up, Piece by piece, Claim herself anew, and Walk with her head held high. Yet still, she is on the receiving end of curious glances Dripping in judgement. The wind carries the whispers of her name Floating off the lips of others As they share their unsolicited opinions. How dare she display her happiness? She left him in waiting
With hopes as false as the the sun in the night sky Thinking she would once again fill the void between his arms. Now she questions the deliberate space and time she carved to heal And wonders herself if she has moved on too fast for it to all be true. She remembers the era before she began to release the pain When she was learning to untangle herself from his grip and All the nights she spent wailing to the walls Asking why a man so careless as him Deserved to hold even a slice of her soul in between his fingers. Not one of those whispers noted how incredible her journey Of grounding Of healing Of rising had been. The whispers never praise her for finding her worth as a woman. But rather, as if by societal instinct Mourn their most important observation that He has not lifted his head, yet. Olivia Perez-Odess “Cherry Red� He painted my body with his tongue and I saw colors I never knew existed. After it was over, I stared at the blinds blocking the sunlight from seeping through. I watched the smoke from his cigarette
catch the sun in its swirls as I curled my matted down ringlets around my finger wishing them straight. My eyes started to feel heavier and heavier. I listened to the sound of him sucking on his death as the ceiling fan spun round and round. It was so simple yet it was everything and as I faded closer into sleep, I argued over the feeling that was igniting within me. I think, in that moment, I fell in love.
“Brown Thick Girl” I have thick thighs that burn when they rub together I have an ass that makes it hard to find the perfect pair of jeans a stomach that implies I’m pregnant when I’m just pregnant off of burritos and arms that wobble back and forth when I wave goodbye. But the smile on my face and the sound I make when I laugh is enough to make a good guy cum but my brown skin that some people may think is too brown and the stretch marks and blemishes and self-inflicted scars that show I have been through some shit makes me look used up and bitter. But I like my body. It tells a story and that story is that I am strong and powerful and beautiful and fat and lived in. I am not a mattress for you, I am a canvas for you to paint. Don’t
become a scar, become a wrinkle made from making me smile too much. Become a constellation on my heart. Leave an imprint that only I can see. Viviana Mendoza To the boys who grunt when they lift weights, The ones who add another ten pounds to the weight lifting bar in the hopes that this will make them men. To the boys who begin to reek of toxic masculinity as the sweat drips down their necks, To the boys who giggle when a girl finally builds up enough courage to enter the section of the gym that has invisible entrance requirement: this being a tiny penis and a huge ego. To the boys at the gym, Your muscles do not make you men. The Overlooking of Women in Poetry By: Cassidy Bessa Think back to your last English class. Maybe it was in high school, maybe it was last week. Who are the first poets you think about? Walt Whitman? W.B Yeats? T.S Eliot? Probably. Don’t you find it surprising that all of these poets we are taught so much about and consider to be ‘The Greats’ are all male? This is the point where you argue that nobody could possibly forget Sylvia Plath, the female poet who is every girl’s paragon. So, you’ve heard of one female poet, you may have even heard of Emily Dickinson or Maya Angelou. So, you think this is enough poetry by women and that women are not oppressed or silenced in the least with regards to poetry, and therefore my argument is flawed. However, how many of you have read the modern contemporary poetry of Claudia Rankine, Carolyn Forche or Natasha Trethewey? August is women’s month, and during this month, we must ALL try to appreciate how far women have come in the literary world. All of their triumphs seem to be overlooked
when Stephen King releases a new book. How about we all just take a step back and read some poetry or even a novel from the eyes of a woman? The only way that we can get away from stereotypical gender roles is to support women in their writing and be grateful that we live in a time where woman can write freely. Back in the day, the time that none of us like to think about, women had to write under pseudonyms as it was a ‘man’s job’ to be that of an intellectual. Women have an interesting perspective in their poetry; it’s not all about childbearing as we have been taught to expect. Women have a better perspective on things regarding gender roles that we only hear in a bias way on the news. Women write about more than just their struggles - many of them write in a way and about things that would astonish you and that you would never have thought of. Poetry of all kinds, be it male of female, have depth and power. Try reading women’s poetry this month and continue to support female writers, be they famous or not. Powerful Women in Classic Lit: The Brontë Sisters By: Hannah Kozak Women, historically, have never been at the forefront of literature. They were often thought to be less intelligent to their male counterparts and incapable of any higher level of thinking. Because of this, it is honestly a bit surprising there are a number of female writers within classical literature. Some of the most notable are the Brontë sisters. Emily, Charlotte, and Anne Brontë published works in the mid nineteenth century. All three sisters originally wrote under pen names, with Emily as Ellis Bell, Charlotte as Currer Bell, and Anne as Acton Bell. If you are familiar with any of their works, it is most likely Emily’s Wuthering Heights and/or Charlotte’s Jane Eyre.
Wuthering Heights follows two families, the Lintons and the Earnshaws, and their desperate hatred yet longing for one another. In her writing, Emily makes a point of making most details important. From the moors between Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange to the contrast of the physical appearance of the two families, every detail matters. Emily also touches upon the important topics around socioeconomic status and love/power. In Charlotte’s Jane Eyre, we see the protagonist, Jane Eyre, go through life working as a governess and falling in love. Jane undergoes a huge transformation throughout the novel, as we see her rise from her insecure childhood to have beaming self-confidence. Like her sister, Charlotte makes societal commentary around socioeconomic status, women empowerment, and even racism through her character Bertha Mason. The point is this: the woman’s perspective, story, and thoughts are crucial to classical literature. Classical literature is resilient because it displays recurring thoughts and feelings far beyond its time. Where would we be if that did not include women’s ideology as well? No man during the mid eighteenth century would want to talk about female empowerment or write about love in the same manner. Similarly, the Brontë sisters’ attention to detail is impeccable and showcased that women were capable of higher thinking and excellence. In simple terms, the Brontë sisters were trailblazers. They displayed the power of women and gave women a voice during a time where women may not have had a strong voice. If you have not read them already, I would highly recommend Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, or any other of the Brontë sisters’ works.
CULTURE Stay woke. How My Eating Disorder Still Haunts Me By: Delaney Davidson When I was a young child, my grandmother would pick me up after school every day. Our routine was almost always the same; we would go into town, have a snack, and then do homework. Every day after I had my snack, I would be pulled onto the scale to be weighed. It was an embarrassing, and at times, humiliating practice. After stepping off the scale, I would be lectured about the dangers of overeating and getting fat. Horrible and hurtful phrases such as “no man wants to date a fat girl,” and “you won’t have any friends if you’re fat,” were often thrown around with little regard for my feelings. One of the more disturbing facts about this is that this was happening to me from the ages of five and ten. I ended up spending most of my childhood overly concerned about how I looked and what I weighed. These obsessive habits continued to develop and grow until it was something I could no longer control. As a direct result of my childhood, I became anorexic around age 11. I continued to battle with my eating disorder until I was 18; even now it still pops its head up every once in a while. Around age 16, at the height of my eating disorder, my hair was falling out, I didn’t get my period, and I could barely look in the mirror. When puberty finally hit me freshman year of high school, it was horrible. Everything I knew about my body totally shifted. Being anorexic made me feel in control of my own body, and this sudden change in my appearance radically altered that. As a result of this change, I became very depressed and started using unhealthy coping mechanisms. To escape reality, I would fantasize about what it would be like to be in my 20s and live in New York City. In these fantasies, I was always successful, skinny, in love, and famous. These delusions put too much hope and emphasis on the future. I am now in my 20s and live in New York City, but the things I dreamed about, the things that
kept me going for so long, haven’t and most likely aren’t going to happen. In some ways I’m glad I gave myself hope, but at the same time, I wish I hadn’t cared so much about these fantasies. I wish I had been able to realize that overcoming my eating disorder would be challenging enough to live up to. When I got to college, I was so tired of having this battle within myself that I just gave up. I started eating regularly and made more of an effort to become healthier. It was still a journey learning how to accept myself and how I looked. But doing so made me a happier person overall; I could finally look in the mirror and smile. Moving forward was a big step for me and I was proud of myself for getting better. The impact of my eating disorder has affected every aspect of my life, and will likely continue to do so until the day I die. The anxiety I developed from being anorexic has never gone away, and it holds me back from being a truly happy and healthy person. Dating is hard, going on social media is hard, talking to someone on the street is hard. All because the phrases “no man wants to date a fat girl,” and “you won’t have any friends if you’re fat,” still ring in my ears. There are moments where I struggle more than others, but these days the things that set me off are very different. When I was younger, it was as simple as looking in a mirror or getting a compliment. Now, the things that set me off are more connected to how my body feels, not how it looks. It could be when I feel a roll of fat protruding from my back, or when my jeans just come out of the dryer and are a little tight on my thighs. These are the moments where I struggle to keep my cool and remain a healthy person. And sometimes I can’t keep my cool, and I get into an overly critical and hypersensitive mindset. At times it will last only for an hour, but when it’s bad it could last for a few days. It is in those hours and days that I consider becoming anorexic again. I think about how easy it would be to just skip some meals and work out a lot. But what accompanies those thoughts are others that are much more venomous. These cruel and dark thoughts are more directed at other people than myself. If I see someone thinner than me on Instagram, I assume that they are only skinny because they do drugs, or they work out to an unhealthy extent. These kinds of thoughts are not ones to normally cross my mind; I’m aware of how unfair and cruel they are. But when
I’m in this dark and toxic place, I feel the need to berate and bring other people down; I can’t stand that I feel so low. This looming toxic energy is directly connected to my eating disorder, so in some ways, I’ll never fully shake it. Which is why it’s so important to me to treat my body kindly and accept myself so that I don’t turn into this bitter and pessimistic person. The extended impact of my anorexia is kind of terrifying. I can honestly say, that I never thought that having an eating disorder would disrupt my life for so long. The far-reaching effects of eating disorders are frightening, which is why it is just as important to talk about the eating disorder itself. When I connected the dots and realized that I was still struggling with this issue, I was shattered. It made me question if I had even gotten better. But sometimes realizing that something is still holding you back makes you fight against it. Often times, admitting what you are feeling is half the battle. Releasing yourself from toxicity is hard, but frequently the hardest things are the best for you. Resolutions By: Jamie Batres There’s no doubt that a new year is a perfect time to curate a list of things you want to accomplish, but when it becomes a cycle of goal writing, attempting, and never thinking about them again, I have to ask. Is it worth it? Every year I find myself writing down goals for the new year in the same beat up journal– how I want to get to the gym more, take pictures more, travel more. And while these all sound plausible and obtainable in the moment, the more into the year I get, the more I stray away from them. The excitement of a new year is replaced with phrases like, “better luck next time,” or “next year will be my year.”
And you know what? That’s bullshit. Look, there’s no secret that 2018 was a shitshow for a lot of us, especially for the world as a whole. But there was also a lot of good that came out of that year, and it’s not fair for the negatives to overshadow them. Late 2018, I created a 3 column list with the titles “seasons,” “lessons,” and “blessings” written across the top. What I found was that although 2018 was filled with a lot of heartache and sadness (hint: lessons), the blessings column was packed. I saw 3 of my favorite artists in concert, I went to San Francisco Pride for the first time in five years since coming out as pansexual, I hosted a cozy kickback after a concert gone wrong with 4 of my best friends, and I met some incredible people that I know I’ll be friends with for the long haul. It was a really, really rough year, but it was filled with more blessings than I was ready to admit to. But I want 2019 to be better. There’s no way of telling what the year will bring, but I decided that instead of starting my new year’s resolutions with “go to the gym more,” I’d stop acting like I had to completely change who I was in order to make it in the new year. Instead, I wrote down more realistic, personal goals, like watching good movies, becoming more financially literate, going to places that I’ve always wanted to visit instead of just going somewhere for the Instagram location, taking more time for myself (which doesn’t always mean forcing myself to go to the gym, and can actually be staying home with friends and cooking food together), leaving my toxic job that’s caused me multiple mental breakdowns (thank you for that, now I know what not to stand for in the future), and finally, not allowing social media to be the end-all-be-all of my happiness. See, the difference between this list and those of past years was that 1) the others focused on wanting to become the “best” version of myself so that others could recognize it and 2) it didn’t require having to change my entire persona in order for me to be able to complete them. I want 2019 to be filled with real character development, not a facade of meaningless accomplishments. It’s time to stop wasting your own time, and that you can start doing now, regardless of what time of the year it is.
thanπ your luck− ∂tar∆
Lunch Break Featuring Lindsey Rempalski
Lunch Break is a monthly segment in which we interview icons, creatives, and influencers from marginalized groups. We ask them to take us to their favorite lunch spot to talk about their background, their creative process, and what it’s like being on the job. Lindsey Rempalski is a graphic design student at Chapman University and a YouTuber. Lindsey is from Orange County, California, and plans to pursue her career as a graphic designer. Her influence on YouTube as a designer has inspired many other artists, which is prevalent in her loyal fan base. She currently has 348k subscribers on YouTube, where she talks about her life as a student, fashion, beauty, her vegan lifestyle, and openly discusses her anxiety. Lindsey will be graduating Chapman University in  
the spring of 2019, and will be continuing her passion for design once she graduates.
BTC: You allow yourself to be soft while still being empowered and hard working. At what point did you realize that you can be both? LR: It’s kind of just the way I’ve always been. I’ve always been a sensitive and emotional person, I think it comes with being an artist. But I don’t think you have to hide that in order to be accepted or successful. I love seeing more and more people online be open about their struggles. BTC: Being a graphic designer, what is your main goal for audiences? LR: With my last merch collection, it was really from the heart, in terms of the cards that are on the merch, such as “letting go will set you free”, “thank your lucky stars”, and “good luck”. Although this collection was very much me making art for myself, I wanted it to be something that my audiences could relate to. It was just things that I would tell myself, memories, and things that made me feel empowered. I wanted other people to feel empowered by their emotions, softness, and just being themselves. BTC: Working for Too Faced and having an internship in London, what was your favorite part of being a designer during those times? LR: From my internship at Too Faced, I loved learning from the talented, boss women there. I also loved the office culture, they would talk about things going on in their life and it was the first time I realized an office doesn’t have to be boring. I also learned more cool tricks on the computer - like keyboard shortcuts and things like that. In London, it was a very different experience, it was a lot more corporate. I was the project manager of 17 people, which was the largest group of people I have ever managed, and was a big learning experience in terms of, “I can do that”. I learned a lot of different things; they were two completely different experiences. BTC: Many creatives claim that once you’re paid to do something you love, the love you have doing it stops. What’s your opinion on this, having experience in a work environment of something you love? LR: I get that all the time in terms of school projects that I get assigned in class that I’m not into. From the beginning, I won’t enjoy it and even by the end just don’t like the outcome of what I did. It just depends, if I’m super into the project, I’ll work super fast and ahead of time, but I think when you’re
being paid there’s even more motivation to do it because you don’t really have a choice. When I worked at Too Faced, I often made edits to people’s work and enjoyed it because I felt like part of a team. But for school, when you have to do a project you don’t like, it can be exhausting. BTC: I know that your love for graphic design was sparked when you did yearbook in high school. What was a turning point for you to decide to study graphic design? LR: I started yearbook in seventh grade and did it all the way through my senior year of high school. In seventh and eighth grade, I helped take photos and put the cover together on InDesign which was my first experience ever doing something like that. Back then, I realized “I like this, what is this?” I didn’t know there was a career path for graphic design, but I knew I liked fonts and looking at different letters, and I found things fascinating that a lot of people didn’t, and I realized that this was something cool. At Chapman’s Discover Day for new students, where you can learn about different majors, I attended the graphic design meeting and it convinced me to rescind my application, put together a portfolio, and reapply within that month, so I did. BTC: Attending Chapman, it’s known for producing creatives in design, film, and more. What’s the best part of being surrounded by people who are so inspiring? LR: I love it, I can’t imagine going to a school that isn’t like that. It is really inspiring and amazing to see what everyone creates. I have a lot of friends in the film program, people are always collaborating, and they are so invested in what they do. Being around people who love what they’re learning and doing everyday is a really different environment than being surrounded by students just trying to get through it. Especially being around my best friends, makes me want me to keep doing what I’m doing.
BTC: Your friend group is full of designers who all support each other. How important is it for you to have a support system as such? LR: I know I’m extremely lucky; it’s so rare we all found each other. It’s really lovely because we all understand the love and the pain that graphic design is, and we’ve all had classes together since we were freshmen, so we know each other’s styles. BTC: Is there any new projects coming up that you’re excited about? LR: Bits and pieces, I’ve been working on making enamel pins. New merch pieces are always on the forefront, I really wanna make stickers but it’s really hard to get them produced. Hopefully having more free time to make videos as well. Also, graduating! BTC: Thank you, Lindsey! Interview conducted by: Sarah Harwell Photography by: Ethan Vovan
MUSIC We hear you. “Art” By: Anna Dohnalova The only time I visualize things is while listening to instruments. Chopin and Mozart preferably, but I never turn down to Bach or Beethoven. Each song is it’s own significantly portrayed scenery. It is it’s own artwork. The intensity and depth of Mozart’s symphonies make you experience dazzling waves of extraordinary feelings you have never felt before. It’s like a touch of a hand except it touches your heart and it lingers. It lingers till when the song is over and you open your eyes. Everybody has an instrument that evokes that special feeling. For me, it is a piano and it will never change. That’s why I feel like Chopin is my 209 year old talented friend. Sometimes I wish I could call him after listening to his sonatas. His tender, sometimes heavy piano melodies create a whole range of color shadings that no one before him had imagined were there. I mean, how could they? Have you ever heard so many shades of blue? It’s sort of a melancholy, but not quite. Chopin said it himself. It should give the impression of gazing tenderly at a place which brings to the mind a thousand of dear memories. It is a very personal feeling, but you should not feel sad. Just captured in the right moment with the right instrument. They did not need words to describe. And that’s the beauty in that.
Musician Feature: Christina Bahadri BTC: Biggest influences? BC: There are many artists that inspire my creativity but I would say my biggest influences at the moment are Mitski and Julien Baker. I resonate most with artists who write more poetically so those lovely women have been on repeat! BTC: What genre would you describe your music as being? BC: I would describe my music genre as somewhere in between indie-alternative and bedroom pop. BTC: What’s your songwriting process like? BC: My songwriting process is messy to say the least. I tend to always write down absolutely everything that comes to mind. I’m a Taurus so I avoid expressing all emotions until they’ve built up so much internally that I need to write as some sort of therapy. Once the word vomit is scribbled on the pages, I form it into a poem and go from there. My writing is very stream of consciousness so I will also spit out any lyrics that come to mind while playing some guitar chords and if it fits I’ll write it down and add it! BTC: What impact or influences -if any- do you hope your music will have on others? BC: I want my music to make people feel, point-blank. There are so many artists who have had a massive impact on my life and all I could ever want is to be that for others. BTC: How frequently do you have gigs? CB: I have had a few gigs here and there. This year I am putting my energy towards doing frequent shows and sharing my craft with others, so stay tuned for the next date if you’re in Chicago! BTC: What’s your ultimate direction for yourself? BC: I would say the ultimate direction for myself is just to continue making music and travel! Some dreams I have are to tour with Mitski or play a Tiny Desk show.
PHOTOGRAPHY An instant out of time. PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION Ava Pucilowski
Model Credit: Estel Constante, Corrine Champion, Juliah Booth, Sara Petrisor, Willow Hewitt.
Cera Soma
Dani Mirae
Isidora Gonzalez Kukulis
Jessica Katzen
Laurel McBeath
Photography Feature: Danielle Ingles Danielle is a second year photography student studying at BCU in England. This body of work ( work in progress) explores the notions of the gendered gaze and how women are being presented through cinema and photography. She aims to present male perspectives of women by producing an ironic, ethereal zine but also subvert the male gaze by including quotes from women who have felt objectified.
Photography Feature: Julia Santana Buying my first DSLR camera at the age of 13 was definitely a pivotal moment that sprouted my passion and curiosity for photography, which had previously existed but was only expressed through the minuscule camera lens of an iPhone. After a few years of learning about the basics of photography through its digital form, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and experiment with one of photography's rawest and most natural forms, film, which has been my personal favorite ever since. I especially like shooting portraits of my friends and family and incorporating my Mexican-American roots through my artwork. I like to think of my photography as a reflection of the things I admire most in life: family, friends, music, and traveling. Photography has been the most explicit way that I choose to express my creative side and artistic ability. I try to take one of my cameras with me wherever I go because I find that the most beautiful and genuine photographs are born through spontaneity. One of the times I was most grateful that I brought along my camera with me was the day of the Women's March this year. The atmosphere was incredibly invigorating; thousands of people striding together in unison fighting for the equality that we so deserve. The passion in every single one of their faces was definitely something that could not be staged, nor replicated in any way. I had one moment to capture this authenticity, a thrill that ran so deep it would follow me in every picture I captured after. Photography has offered me consistency in my life when other parts may have been lacking. Even if people in my life come and go, or opportunities pass by, the euphoria that photography brings me never fades.  
Portraits from a recent photo essay highlighting the importance of Mexican culture, 2018
"Being Mexican to me is knowing and understanding that my ancestors were warriors. It runs through my blood, and has shaped me into being the strong, independent woman I am today." - Dina Zuzuarregui, pictured above.
Louie Velasquez, pictured above
My (super cool!) dad, pictured above
Untitled Photographs, 2017-2018
Photography Feature: Katerina Kallopoulos
Kat is a 15-year-old self-taught photographer residing in Warwick, New York. As a sophomore in high school, she started an instagram account to share her vision. She’s also a member of the Orange County NY Arts Council. Kat has been fortunate enough to have travelled all around the world. These experiences have allowed her to work with various landscapes, views, and different types of photography. Her favorite subject is capturing kids simply being kids. Sleepovers with friends have become photoshoots and produced some of her most treasured work.
POLITICS Are you with us? Opinion: Discuss Politics, and Keep the Courtesy By: Sabrina Moyes Today, politics saturates social media. Observing this sudden transformation has left many of us wondering what exactly social media is doing to the way that we affect the political system and moreover affect each other. The platform of social media apps like Twitter tend to polarize political views. Katy Steinmetz contends in her article, “Popularity on Social Media? Not cool,” that “tweets containing strong moral and emotional language,” or moral outrage, “are about 20% more likely to get retweeted.” The effect of this desperate need to manipulate social media for attention in our political discussions is part of a larger wave of polarized thinking. More neutral political accounts that don’t really call for that same level of moral outrage are left in the dust with minimal following, which means the far left and far right are left to scream over each other, despite the fact that many Americans belong to neither group. It is no wonder people have lost their cool in political discussion, especially on these social platforms. In essence, the middle ground has disappeared into thin air. The everyday political conversation has lost its civility. We dare not tread even the slight edges of controversial debate out of fear of upset. It is time to change; let’s bring civility back. The significance of political civility cannot be further stressed. Political discussion is a part of free speech, typified as one of the backbones of American democracy. How can Americans develop their own opinions if not given the option to hear out both sides? How can one become educated if
political debates are typically avoided due to their mostly uncomfortable qualities? The answer to leading the greater group of politically uneducated Americans out of the dark is to make it more socially acceptable to have diverse opinions. Making informed decisions for America entails profound discussion and understanding of current issues and those running for office: how can one feel comfortable to use their voice if we live in this polarized community of screaming at the opposition? Our freedom to speak our mind is at stake as the latest behavior threatens to destroy neutral ground and civil political discussion. Controversial topics do not have to be taboo. The simple solution to talking politics is to just be more polite. From an article by Daniel Alcott for the American Magazine, one can draw out three simple steps on how to debate politics with more civility. Step one is avoiding political discussion on social media altogether. This mitigates polarization. Step two entails engaging in debate for the right reasons. Debate should not occur for emotional reasons. Finally, step three is to embrace the struggle between what may seem to be at competing truths. F. Scott Fitzgerald says that “the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.� Our current conversations have gone askew. Let us bring them back by using our ability as humans to have humility. Try it out. Go forth, have a decent, respectful discussion. Leave room for the opposing voice and perhaps learn something new. We can work together to bring politics back into a calmer social atmosphere.
Works Cited 1. Alcott, Daniel. “Three steps to a more civil political debate.” America Magazine, n.d., http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeprM4zO X0OLCmr1Cep7NSsau4TbGWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGut1CzrbNNuePfge yx9Yvf5ucA&T=P&P=AN&S=R&D=rgm&K=131461080. Accessed 30 October 2018. 2. Steinmetz, Katy. “Popularity on Social Media? Not cool.” Time, n.d. 2018, http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.asp?EbscoContent=dGJyMMvl7ESeprM4zO X0OLCmr1Cep7NSsau4TK%2BWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGut1CzrbNNueP fgeyx9Yvf5ucA&T=P&P=AN&S=R&D=rgm&K=132004249. Accessed 30 October 2018.
SOCIAL ISSUES For the sake of society. A Problem Bigger than Just Straws By: Cassidy Bessa Is there anything better than a day at the beach? Or how about seeing sea creatures in their natural habitat? It’s a beautiful sight, however our vision may be skewed upon seeing how our ocean is littered by plastic waste. The impending ban on plastic straws and single use utensils shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. We have all seen the photographs and heard the lectures about how the things we don’t give a second thought about, are ruining our planet. The World Economic Forum predicts that if we keep using plastic in the way we are, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. The uproar about plastic straws happened when a local researcher filmed a turtle with a straw in its nose. It was estimated that Americans use around 500 million straws a day. People all around the world are changing from plastic straws to metal straws and to biodegradable paper straws in order to help their own conscience. However, this is only the first step in stopping our problem of plastic consumption. According to Business Insider, in 2015, our plastic consumption was at 300 million metric tons. Awareness about the dangers of plastic bags have been drilled into our brains for the last few years, but that doesn’t stop most people for asking for a plastic bag at checkout. What we don’t know is that less than 9% of all plastic gets recycled, regardless of which bin we throw it in. Recycling just seems too expensive, and throwing it into the ocean is free. None of us think twice when we buy a beverage in a plastic bottle, we’re told that it will be recycled when in fact 79% of it will be thrown into landfills and 12% will be incinerated which releases harmful chemicals into our atmosphere.
Plastic was invented 111 years ago, and it takes plastic up to 1000 years to decompose. That means that Coke you just threw away, will far outlive you. The only way forward from this plastic encroachment is to get rid of plastic all together. Before 1907, people were fine without the need for plastic as there were many substitutes. Awareness must also be spread to corporate companies who see it worth their while, monetary wise, to use plastic instead of something biodegradable. Glass would be a much better alternative, albeit more expensive. Glass is much easier to recycle and is not made from fossil fuels the way that plastic is. Tin cans are also moderately more sustainable as they only take 50 years to decompose and are also much easier to recycle. The plastic straws ban is a small way to start but hopefully this movement will take speed and encourage an eco-friendlier approach. Fast Fashion, Garment Worker Exploitation, and Consumerism By: Laura Anaya-Morga Like many, I had a closet full of clothes for every season, but for some reason I could never find something to wear. I knew I had too much but also felt like I was always missing a new piece of clothing, a new pair of shoes or some more accessories, and now I do not. It was not until I noticed people promoting sustainability when I began to wonder what I could do this year to live a more sustainable life. Then I watched the documentary The True Cost and everything changed. I fell deep into a hole of research regarding capitalism consumerism, and the dark side of the fashion industry; what I found was alarming. It starts with advertisements - advertising is a $250 billion industry in the United States and consumers typically feed into these advertisements subconsciously. People want cheap prices and want to fill their closets with new items every chance they get. Stores like H&M, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Forever 21 are restocking their items and bringing in new ones every single week and prices are constantly being changed to fit the rates of competition. Through marketing and advertising, we are at a point where consumers want more things but for cheaper than all of its competitors. The only way these low prices are achievable is if they are manufactured at a low cost, and the only way for companies to
produce clothes at such a low price is to switch to global outsourcing which translates to garment factories from around the world. This is where garment workers come in and pay for it in the most exploitative ways. Bangladesh is a country with a $28 billion garment industry, second behind China, but with very little to give to its workers. The workers in these factories are constantly forming unions to fight for better, livable wages than they currently have. One tragic day in 2013 an eight-story garment factory collapsed in Rana Plaza, killing over 1,100 people and inj
uring thousands more. This happened after workers had contacted their supervisors time and time again about cracks in the building and feeling unsafe in their work environment. This particular garment factory produced clothing for US and European retail stores such as Joe Fresh and The Children’s Place (The True Cost, 2015). This is not the first time where there has been an accident in garment factories; there has been numerous fires where people are unable to flee to safety due to barred
windows and buildings have also been reported as being structurally unsound. Capitalism already exploits workers living on a basic minimum wage in the United States, but in countries like Bangladesh, it exploits its workers even more, throwing them under the rug as if the public should not even care about what they have to endure. Living on around $2 a day is not enough for all the mothers working in these factories who have to provide for their families. Since that Rana Plaza tragedy, there has been numerous calls of action to help these workers, and in 2017, 4 years after the tragedy, “a report on supply chain transparency released by Human Rights Watch [found] only 17 of 72 apparel and footwear companies contacted by a coalition of labor and human rights groups and global unions [had] agreed to implement a transparency pledge by the end of [the] year” (“4 Years After Rana Plaza Tragedy, What's Changed For Bangladeshi Garment Workers?”, NPR). The exploitation of Garment Workers happens in our own backyards as well. The Garment Worker Center focuses on the mistreatment of workers specifically in Southern California; constantly protesting against Black Friday and large retail stores such as Ross and TJ Maxx. They host events called Sweatshop Saturday’s where they plan and execute marches against these large companies, demanding better wages for workers who are earning around $5 a day in a place where the minimum wage is about to reach $11. Groups like the Garment Worker Center are important because they give voice to those too afraid to speak up, such as immigrant women who fear deportation for voicing their injustices or even those who simply do not have anywhere else to go. However, the companies are not the only ones to blame - it seems that consumers are blind to what is happening around them when buying clothes. They swipe their cards as if it were free, and most of the time they do not think long and
hard about where their clothes come from. The only way for companies to actually help those employees that they are hurting, is for them to rise up and resist along with the protestors. There is so much that needs to change in the fashion industry. Capitalism is essentially killing its workers, and it’s all thanks to consumerism. Working in such dangerous conditions can be harmful to workers’ wellbeing. Although it seems like a hopeless cause because of the growth of the fashion industry, I have noticed a surge in environmental awareness and sustainability not only because of global warming and climate change, but also because people are becoming more aware of what is happening around them. For instance, using less plastic, producing less waste in their everyday lives, and also buying less goods. We are taking steps in the right direction and the most crucial step is to start the conversation about how to help. Fortunately, things are looking up. As time has gone by, sustainability has been on the rise; YouTubers, social media influencers and more have become more aware just as I have about the effects that the fast fashion industry has on the environment and society as a whole, as well as, the injustices garment workers face every day. As a result, I have challenged myself to not buy a single item of clothing for a whole year and also take steps towards buying from sustainable brands in 2020. I encourage everyone reading to take a step back and think about the clothes they own at the moment as well as join me in leading a better example for the future.
Women’s March Organizer Tamika Mallory Accused of Being Anti-Semitic By: Sarah Harwell Just days away from the third annual Women’s March, the leaders of the revolution have been accused of anti-Semitism, causing many loyal marchers and sponsorships to be revoked. Two organizers of the event, Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez have claimed that Jewish women have to be held responsible for the privileges that they uphold as being “white”. The whole purpose of the Women’s March is to strive for the equality of all people of all races, religions, and sexualities - this goal is deemed as irrelevant as they have
been continuously ignoring the marginalization of an entire group. A religion can have members from other marginalized groups, and is more than just an ethnicity. A religion is not an ethnicity. We also cannot forget that Jews are seen as marginalized because of the hate that they continuously experience in America; not long ago in Pittsburgh, 11 innocent individuals passed away because of this hate. There is a whole community of neo-Nazis brewing in our very own homeland, a group that hates an entire religion. To claim that Jews hold a privilege is ludicrous, and if they held any privilege, why is there so much hate held against them? Why did 11 individuals go into their place of worship, and die that afternoon? Why is the largest genocide in the world about Jews? The irony of calling Jewish women privileged, in an environment which equality is the main objective. Tamika Mallory told former organizer of the march, Vanessa Wruble, that Jewish women contain white supremacy because of the white-dominated population within the religion. She further argued that Jews held a large role in the African slave trade, which laments their supremacy in America. Through an easy search and sifting through data, it can be found that they did not play a large role in the African slave trade at all, and a very few percentage of slave owners were Jewish. Furthermore, Tamika Mallory claimed that Louis Farrakhan was “the greatest of all time”. Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, is known for making anti-Semitic remarks, and has written a series of books, The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews. The series is full of declarations of the responsibility of Jews in the transatlantic trade, and that there is “irrefutable evidence” of their role in it. Yet, the book series contains no hard evidence or data of this notion, and is deemed as pure anti-Semitism. This same concept is also reiterated by David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard. In videos created by Duke, he makes large accusations that the slave trade was not a Christian-led ordeal, but instead a Jewish one. With data from numerous sources, such as David Brion Davis, who found that there were “120 Jews among the 45,000 slaveholders owning twenty or more slaves and only twenty Jews among the 12,000 slaveholders owning fifty or more slaves,” this idea ceases to be true. Briefly, Mallory believes in the anti-Semitic propaganda that wrongfully blame Jews and their position in racism today. She is single-handedly marginalizing an entire religion with a cruel agenda.
As individuals march nationwide, I truly applaud those who fight for inequality and those who suffer from it. A movement is more than a person, and the person who leads it - it is a group of people who believe in their civil rights, and in this case, it is the equality of everyone from any gender, religion, race/ethnicity, or sexuality. The people make the movement, but it is  disappointing to see that the women who are behind such a cause have an offensive background.  
NEXT BEYOND THE COMMONS ISSUE Issue No. 5: February 2019
Thank you for reading! Instagram: @beyondthecommons Submit your work: submit.btc@gmail.com Inquiries: beyondthecommons@gmail.com
