C Magazine Vol. 9 Edition 5

BUTTERFLY EFFECT P.6

ARTS & CULTURE

JUNE 2021

C MAGAZINE

C MAGAZINE June 2021 • Volume 9, Edition 5

Dear readers, With summer right around the corner, we are delighted to bring you the last issue of C Magazine this semester, led by our newly appointed 2021-2022 leadership team. We could not be more grateful for the tireless effort of the previous leadership team, who did a magnificent job guiding us and inspiring us on days when we had lost motivation. We will miss them very much, but we hope to make them proud and to preserve their legacy of excellence.

Starting off with the cover, Marina Buendia, Tessa Ehrlich and Sasha Lehrer spread their wings and showcase their eclectic styles as a preview to this issue’s visual spread “Butterfly Effect.” On pg. 6, Brooke Glasson has designed a bold and bright display of these Paly seniors who have developed their own sense of style and want to encourage others to do the same. We would also like to note that this photoshoot was done within CDC guidelines.

As her last gift to the magazine, the brilliant Alexa Gwyn poured her passion into crafting a story that unravels the barriers of surfing for people of different ethnicities, sexualities and genders. “No Longer the Sport of Kings” takes a look at these barriers and explores the concept of surf localism, a topic that is unfamiliar to most.

As we edge closer and closer to summer break and the talk around bikini bodies escalates, we have dedicated an article to body positivity with “Love Every Body.” This story, written by Rachel Ellisen, Erik Feng, Ella Rosenblum and Sukhman Sahota, takes a look at the impacts of society on body image and confidence. It also features some powerful stories surrounding

self-love.

For one last dedication to our senior artists, this magazine unveils the art they have meticulously handcrafted throughout their time at Paly. With “Senior Profiles” put together by Kimi Lillios, Caitlyn Oda and Casey Walters, readers will get an inside look into where these seniors’ artistic talents will take them on their journeys to college and beyond.

Transitioning from the future to the past, we throw it back to the ‘90s when film photography was all the rage. “Developing Memories” highlights the recent growth in popularity of this photography style and writers Reya Hadaya and Samantha Feldmeier showcase tips and tricks on how to take the perfect film photo. This story also includes precious moments in time that were captured on film by a variety of Paly students.

In the music section, our very own Atticus Scherer takes a stab at the topic of country music in a perspective piece that aims to shine a positive light on a genre that so many teens view with disdain. With mentions of Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, you will surely be in for a treat with what Scherer has to say to his peers who may be apprehensive towards the genre.

As the first issue of C Magazine with the 2021-2022 leadership team reaches your doorstep, we hope that it brings you as much joy to read as it did for us to put it together. We look forward to seeing you all again in the fall!

Happy Reading, Sophia Baginskis, Emma Joing, Julia Ragno and Marilyn Yin Editors-in-Chief

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES find these stories and more at cmagazine.org

Diving Into Dizis

By Dunya Mostaghimi

C-Mag Recommends: Mutual Aid Organizations

By Ella Rosenblum

Perspective: Are You On The Bus?

By Brooke Glasson

thanks to our

sponsors

Alison Marsden Alison Mutz Ann Polanski Anne & Billy Spier April Scazzola Betsy Koester Casey Ragno Chris Lillios & Jinny Rhee Christine Hmelar Cindy Wu Daily Essentials David Scherer David Wolter Deb Whitman Debbie Ellisen Debra Cen Donna Do Dorothy Nguyen Doug Wolter Elaine Cao Emma Stefanutti Erica & Daniel Galles Gloria Tapson Harry & Harriet Oda Hershminder Sahota Hong Liu & Max Cheng Janet Bloed Janet Ellisen Jasleen Sahota Jenifer Turnbull Jennifer Bittinger Jennifer Mutz Jennifer Wu Jennifer & Don Ragno Jessica Gao Jill Randall Joanie Haney John Ragno Josh Gelman Julien Chow Kar Yee Fransham

Karen Townsend Karen Wolter Kate Glasson Kathy Mach Kobad Bugwadia Lisa Maund Liz Brooks Mahin & Houshang Behrouz Marjan LaRue Mark McAuley Marty Ragno Mathew Signorello-Katz Max Cheng Melina Lillios Michael Romano Michelle Vonderhaar Michelle Yin Mojo Trials Moon & Hwa Rhee Nana & Dzed Baginskis Nancy Warner Olivia Han Oscar Scherer Palo Alto Education Palo Alto Humane Society Pat Ellisen Phyllis Mutz Queenie Huang Shantel & David Ferdman Stan & Rochelle Ferdman Stan Turnbull Susan & Warren Gelman Theresa McCann Tiffany Chang Tony Lillios Tony Lin Vi Richert Victor Wang Wendy Gwyn William Hadaya Ziwa Ahmed

staff Editors-in-Chief

Creative Director

Sophia Baginskis, Emma Joing, Julia Ragno, Marilyn Yin

Brooke Glasson

Managing Editors Eunice Cho, Rachel Ellisen, Sami Lee, Emma Turnbull

Creative Adviser Jack Haney

Online Editor-in-Chief Reya Hadaya

Art Director Kellyn Scheel

Digital Design Editor Audrey Guo

Business Managers Aidan Do, Natalie Hmelar

Social Media Manager Ella Rosenblum Staff Writers Leslie Aboytes, Owen Bittinger, Emily Cheng, Faith Chow, Samantha Feldmeier, Erik Feng, Alexa Gwyn, Colin Lai, Kimi Lillios, Megha Madhabhushi, Dunya Mostaghimi, Sam Mutz, Caitlyn Oda, Bridget Packer, Ellie Rowell, Sukhman Sahota, Atticus Scherer, Libby Spier, Rachael Vonderhaar, Casey Walters, Colleen Wang Illustrators Wallie Butler, Brooke Glasson, Audrey Guo, Emma Joing, Eva Mankos, Kellyn Scheel

Cover Photo by Alexa Gwyn, Design by Brooke Glasson

Adviser

Table of Contents Photo by Alexa Gwyn

Brian Wilson

Publication Policy C Magazine, an arts and culture magazine published by the students in Palo Alto High School’s Magazine Journalism class, is a designated open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership. C Magazine is distributed to its readers and the student body at no cost.

Printing & Distribution C Magazine is printed 5 times a year in November, December, February, April and June by Folger Graphics in Hayward, CA and mailed to every student’s home by the Paly Parent Teacher Student Association. All C Magazine stories are available on cmagazine.org.

Letters to the Editors The C Magazine staff welcomes letters to the editors but reserve the right to edit all submissions for length, grammar, potential libel, invasion of privacy and obscenity. Send all letters to eicscmagazine@ gmail.com or to 50 Embarcadero Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Advertising The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts, providing they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience. For more information about advertising with C Magazine, please contact business managers Aidan Do and Natalie Hmelar at businesscmagazine@gmail.com.

No Longer The Sport of Kings pg. 20

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contents arts

Butterfly Effect

6

Mother’s Day

8

Senior Profiles

11

Developing Memories

14

culture Senior Advice

18

No Longer The Sport of Kings

20

Love Every Body

27

A Day by the Pool

32

Farm to Community

34

On the Clock

36

music Music on the Mind

38

An Introductory Course to Country Music

40

Better Than Revenge Senior Playlist

43 46

5

6

.

7

This Mother’s Day, the Paly community celebrates their wonderful mothers and the love they give unconditionally

Laura and Olivia (Freshman) What is your favorite memory of your mom?

“We went to game five of the NBA championship in 2017. That was the night the Warriors won. It was just the two of us and a really fun time.”

Roxanne and Dominic (Junior) 8

What have you learned from your mom?

“She has helped and supported me with any struggles I’ve had with my mental health. I have learned from her to be respectful and loving to everyone.”

Cindy and Anne (Freshman)

Irene and Karisa (Senior) Katherine and Max (Junior) 9

What do you love most about your mom?

“I love my mom’s positivity, support and great sense of humor.”

Hanisi and Sebastian (Junior)

Ms. Evans (Teacher) and her sons

10

Photos by ALEXA GWYN, JACK HANEY and SAMANTHA LEE Design by SOPHIA BAGINSKIS, EMMA JOING, JULIA RAGNO and MARILYN YIN • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

SENIOR Profiles Featuring a collection of seniors who plan to pursue creative fields in college

Joey Edmonds

DESIGNING

GAMES What is a game design of an app that you really admire?

“ Creative Major: Game Design and Animation Photos courtesy of Joey Edmonds

VIRTUAL

MUSICALS How would you characterize this year’s experience compared to previous years?

“

I have a particular love for open world games and sandbox games like Minecraft, Genshin Impact and Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but I also really admire classic games and side scrollers like Mario, Cuphead and Megaman.”

Zoe McCrea Creative Major: Drama

I honestly enjoyed this year in theatre because I felt like I could spend a lot more time working on my skills. Although online shows were very stressful and difficult to put together, it was very rewarding. It was something I never knew that I could do but I’m really glad I have this skill now! I felt like being online I was more dedicated to my roles and put way more energy into the shows.”

Text and design by KIMI LILLIOS, CAITLYN ODA and CASEY WALTERS

Photos courtesy of Paly Theatre

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Declan Greicius

BAND

PRINTS

“ Top photo courtesy of Declan Greicius. Bottom photo by Brooke Glasson

UNEXPECTED

AESTHETICS

Creative Major: Studio Art

What is your favorite art piece?

One of my favorite art projects was making a poster for my old band, OBTBTB. I drew the poster on a piece of printer paper during Ms. Park’s humanities class, and my bandmates and I went to FedEx Office and printed out 300 copies for about $50. We then handed them out at school to promote one of our upcoming performances. It was a very on-the-fly experience that we totally had to improvise and self-finance.”

Emma Wu

Have you ever had an absolute disaster while creating your art?

“

I’ve gone to sporting events and thought my photos were amazing only to find out there was a lens shake or I missed the decisive moment because I was too slow. However, sometimes I can take those really bad photos and make them into something new on Photoshop or come to understand a new style.”

Photos courtesy of Emma Wu

Creative Major: Graphic Design or Film Production 12

Aaron Kim

NEW

ROUTINES Creative Major: Painting

“

How do you push yourself creatively?

I try to be as attentive and observant as I can because the more I take in daily, the more inspiration I’ll have to create.

I developed a routine this year where I take my sketchbook with me to Backyard Brew on California Avenue every weekend. There are always friendly people talking and nice music playing, which I enjoy, and I feel like the overall environment is conducive to creativity.”

Photos courtesy of Aaron Kim

MUSIC

MISHAPS

Akash Ganguly

Creative Major: Music

Have you ever had an absolute disaster while performing?

Photos courtesy Brooke Glasson

“

On the first full moon of July, we have to perform a solo to show appreciation. One time, I completely blanked out and played the same piece four times. A lot of the crowd was made up of non-tabla players, so I was able to mask it, but my teacher definitely realized. I still get embarrassed thinking about it.”

Featuring Akash playing the tabla

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DEVELOPING

Film Phot MEMORIES

Photo by Matilde McQuarrie, junior Pentax IQZoom140

The rise in popularity of film photography amongst youth

Photo by Anushe Irani, junior Canon AE-1

I

n the midst of a memorable moment, develop, the feeling of finally receiving her you pull out your camera and snap a photos is priceless. “It’s almost like I’m relivphoto. Instead of seeing the picture you ing the moment,” Hwang said. just captured pop up on a screen, you have Predictability is often a deterrent for film to wait a few days to see the results. This photography. “It can be disappointing when sounds like a thing of the past, right? Well, some of the film is grainy or unfocused bewith the recent return of cause, by the time you film cameras, this expefind out the picture is rience is something that “Taking a shot and forgetting bad, it’s too late to take many Paly students not about that specific moment another one,” Hwang only encounter but seek until you get it developed is said. “However, I think out. that film is worth the like opening a present.”

Paly senior Hailey cost because the pictures Sasha Lehrer are cool and a great way Hwang started shootPaly senior to share memories with ing film in July of 2020.

“My sister had been friends.” using disposable cameras for years, so I dePaly senior Sasha Lehrer is fond of film cided to pick one up at CVS to document photography because she appreciates seeing memories,” Hwang said. photos she forgot she had taken after getting For people who are just starting to use her film developed. “Taking a shot and forfilm, Hwang recommends using disposable getting about that specific moment until you cameras, single-use film cameras that can get it developed is like opening a present,” take 20-30 pictures before its roll of film is Lehrer said. “The time you have to wait bedeveloped. “Disposables are awesome be- fore seeing your film photos can be irritating cause there is no commitment after you fin- but ends up being worth it because all good ish a roll,” Hwang said. things are worth waiting for.”

After Hwang waits eagerly for her film to There are some disadvantages to this old-

Text by SAMANTHA FELDMEIER and REYA HADAYA • Design by REYA HADAYA

tography Photos by Tessa Ehrlich, senior Fuji disposable camera

er technology, such as the cost of equipment.

“With new and advanced digital cameras, you can get insanely detailed photos,” Lehrer said. “It is much cheaper because you only have to pay for the camera upfront, rather than paying to get it developed every 20-30 photos you take.”

For a more cost-efficient approach, Lehrer recommends investing in a reusable camera that allows for long-term use, rather than a disposable camera.

Along with Lehrer, Paly junior Dana Toussieh relishes the wait for her film to develop. “This waiting process takes away the perfectionist aspect to photography, which often prompts us to take hundreds of pictures of the same thing,” Toussieh said. “[This is] something that often happens with digital cameras.”

The inability to immediately see the outcome of a photo can be both a blessing and a curse. “A potential downside to shooting on film is that if the lighting isn’t good, pictures can develop fully dark,” Toussieh said.

“I have learned that pictures often [yield the best] result when taken with flash on film cameras.”

Paly junior Owen Rice believes that the efPhotos by Hailey Hwang, senior fort one puts into shootFuji disposable camera ing film makes it all the more special. “[Film photography and digital photography] both have their stylistic advantages, but I think that the physical and mechanical work you have to put into shooting film makes each photo you take a little more meaningful,” Rice said.

If you use a reusable camera like Rice, understanding its mechanisms is key. “My biggest tip would be to make sure that you’re putting the film roll in properly if you use a reusable camera so the film doesn’t get destroyed by light exposure,” Rice said.

Rice believes that film photography is a learning experience, and as you continue practicing, your skill grows. “Each step of figuring out how to shoot film teaches you something,” Rice said. “The best advice is 15 that you’ll get better the more you shoot film and try different things.”

Film Photography

Visit Mike’s Cameras for all things film related.

“Mike’s Cameras rocks,” Paly senior Tessa Ehrlich said.

Photos by Owen Rice, junior Canon AE-1

Research your camera before using it.

“Use the internet to help you figure stuff out. There are some great YouTube videos out there that can help,” Paly junior Owen Rice said.

Take most of your photos with the flash on.

“It is better for your photos to be over exposed than under exposed. If the film is too dark then the photo is lost,” Paly junior Anushe Irani said.

Photos by Kimi Lillios, senior Canon AE-1

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Best film camera for beginners: Fuji disposable camera Best reusable film camera: Canon AE-1

Text by LESLIE ABOYTES and FAITH CHOW • Design and art by KELLYN SCHEEL

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NO LONGER THE SPORT OF

KINGS While barriers to entry still exist, the elitist nature of surfing has become more accessible and diverse with the help of influential leaders and their organizations

B

Nick Reed; City Surf Participant

“City Surf is like a way out of my world.”

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- ANGELY LOPEZ

obbing amongst the other neoprene-covered figures in the lineup, 16-year-old Nick Reed sits atop a foam board, immersed in the still unfamiliar, freezing cold sweep of the North Pacific Ocean.

A rolling wave builds up, and Reed starts to paddle, fiercely stroking the water. After finding his balance, one leg pops out into a kneel, arms stretched out like Kate Winslet on the bow of the Titanic. In one fell swoop, Reed is on two feet, and for a moment, he is flying. After resurfacing, 10 sets of arms are thrown up in celebration. You can hear the faint hollers past the crashing of the waves. With his heart pounding, Reed paddles back out and can’t help but crack a big smile.

“I like learning a new talent, and the thrill I get out of it,” Reed said. “I made a few new friends too; in this surf class there’s a lot of nice kids, and I always look forward to coming again.”

City Surf Project (CSP) is a nonprofit organization that brings surfing to underprivileged communities in San Francisco. Founded in 2015 by Johnny Irwin and Hunter Chiles, CSP has exposed thousands of youth to the ocean and to surfing, including teens Angely Lopez and Carolina Irizarry.

“For me, City Surf is like a way out of my world,” Lopez said. “I found that surfing helped me to get away from the stress in my life.”

Something commonly talked about among surfers is its ability to heal, and while kids at CSP may join because it sounds like a fun afternoon ac-

Text, design and photos by ALEXA GWYN

tivity, they soon discover that surfing goes far beyond just something you pick up and do with friends. “I’ve learned how to meditate because of surfing,” Irizarry said. “I feel like that’s coming up a lot in society; learning how to control your emotions. A lot of surfers are super big on talking about that.”

Both Lopez and Irizarry found their experience so influential that they continued with CSP through its Summer Instructor Leadership Training program (SILT). Lopez has increased her social emotional learning through her interactions with the younger surfers at CSP and has become a model for representation out in the ocean. “It’s rare to see Hispanics or other ethnicities out in the ocean,” Lopez said. “When I do see them, it’s when we do the SILT program, because it varies from ages and ethnicities.”

Tre’von Boykin was one of CSP’s first members back in 2015. Boykin returned after college as a surf instructor to help kids find joy in the ocean just like he did. “It’s always fun to tell people that I surf,” Boykin said.

“Because nobody expects a person of color to be a surfer anyways.”

While CSP is a small bright corner of the planet that has been exposing youth of all backgrounds to surfing, the rest of the world is only slowly catching on.

After surfing went mainstream in the 1950s and ‘60s, a huge influx of surfers—predominately straight, white and male—caught the “new and trending” train to the coast. Suddenly, like many other things in history, surf-

“It’s always fun to tell people that I surf, because nobody expects a person of color to be a surfer.”

- TRE’VON BOYKIN 21

ing lost the connection to its roots.

Andrew Huang, Paly alumnus and current member of the surf team at the University of Southern California has been surfing for eight years. For Huang, being an Asian surfer lends itself to a different experience in the water. “It’s kind of weird when I’m the only Asian guy in the water,” Huang said. “You almost get imposter syndrome, even though the race or ratio of white people [to people of color] doesn’t have any effect on how well you surf.”

As surfing stereotypes started popping up, those who didn’t fit the mold squeezed into it anyway. This is true for Julie Cox, a former pro longboarder for the women’s World Surf League.

“When I was in my 20s and trying to get sponsored by different brands, there were certain brands that wouldn’t like the fact that I or some of my friends were gay, so I definitely had to hide it from the sponsors,” Cox said. “[We had to] pretend

22

that we were straight so that we could get sponsored because they were projecting this image of trying to appeal to men.”

Since then, Cox has taken that mold and smashed it. She recently opened the Traveler Surf Club & Coastal Outpost in three California locations, including Pacifica and Santa Cruz. Owning Traveler has allowed Cox to create her own reality as a surfer and helped amplify the need for inclusivity and diversity for other aspiring surfers. “We’re mostly women-operated, and I think having females behind the counter creates a more open and inclusive environment,” Cox said. “So when a girl comes in and has a question, they’re not gonna feel intimidated.”

Beyond issues of gender representation, worldviews have been expanding to capture all intersectional identities.

Outcries of injustice have been echoing across social media feeds and are evolving into daily practices. Diversity, representation, justice, accessibil-

ity—these are all terms currently found in corporate policies, brands, sports and conversations. Ben Bolanos, Paly teacher and avid surfer, is among the individuals on the frontline leading many of these conversations in California. “I think our culture is changing; your generation and my generation are becoming much more aware of these issues and bringing them into the light,” Bolanos said. “We are generating a lot of movement for more diversity in general and for brown and black representation in outdoor activities.”

Bolanos, a City Surf Project volunteer, is also a member of many other companies looking to promote diversity in outdoor spaces, including Latinx Surf Club and Latino Outdoors. He has also attended events hosted by Traveler Surf Club where Cox and her wife invite companies like Latinx Surf Club to speak and network.

“There’s not as many role models of different races and ethnicities surfing; it’s really important to show images of different races and ethnicities [surfing]

to inspire all communities because it’s so often been a straight white male sport,” Cox said. “I want people to know that surfing is for everyone, whether they’re good at it or not; the ocean is for everyone.”

Something that other places have, which creates an empowering community, is representation in the lineup.

“Hawaiian lineups are so much more diverse,” Huang said. “It was really cool seeing people who looked like me surf, but also people who looked like me and surfed really freaking well, way better than I did. It’s different from the narrative you see in California, you know?”

CSP is rewriting that narrative one surf session at a time; this ambitious new club is making strides and changing lives.

“I’m really thankful that I got the chance to go surfing that one day; it changed my entire life,” Lopez said. “I didn’t know what to do other than school, and City Surf taught me how to live life and [helped me realize] what I want to be as an adult.”

Since March of 2020 when

“I want people to know that surfing is for everyone, whether they’re good at it or not; the ocean is for everyone.”

C OV I D - 1 9 hit, the California coast has seen a huge influx of surfers of all ages and backgrounds.

With extra time, people saw the open ocean and took to learning a new skill. “I think there’s a lot of loneliness and a need to be part of something bigger,” Bolanos said. “It’s fulfilling or at least gives you a moment of tranquility and joy, and I think that’s really important.”

Yet, welcoming new people into a sport without setting people up for conflict remains a balancing act that threatens this longstanding sport. With more surfers pouring into the most popular breaks in California, many of them beginners, rules and etiquette went out the window. “There is surf etiquette because

- JULIE COX

surfing is dangerous,” Bolanos said.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could run into something, and you could get really hurt. I’ve gotten hit by a board and by people before.”

Of course, with any movement there is always a resistance. In surfing, this resistance is embodied by localism. Surf localism is a phenomenon where surfers become extremely territorial about the breaks in their area and actively discourage others from surfing there. When surfing was first born in Polynesia, the

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share and it’s kind of sad, but I try not to put my energy into that because you can’t really prove something with your words. You’re not really out there to talk, you’re out there to surf.”

Localism isn’t just about keeping the beginners out; there is also rampant localism against experienced surfers.

Huang has had a lot of run-ins with locals who assume Carolina Irizarry; City Surf Student Instructor his level of surfing ability before he has even caught a wave. “A lot of people will look at an Asian surfer, or an African American surfer, and think, ‘oh, they probably can’t surf very well,’” Huang said. “The general opinion is there because people of color haven’t been involved in surfing in California for as long, and when people see them, they think that they can’t surf very well.”

Chris Butler is a longtime surfer and, before moving to Hawaii in January of 2012, made a regular commute down to Santa Cruz from Stanford to surf. Similar to Huang, Butler has felt unwanted by California locals as an African American surfer and a non-local, especially when he first started surfing Santa Cruz in the early 2000s.

“One time, as we were walking down Angely Lopez; City Surf Student Instructor the street, a car full of people drove by and saw us, slowed down and started yelling racial slurs at us before our surf session,” Butler said. waves were reserved for royalty; some called it “the sport of Although he was taken aback by kings.” the event, Butler decided there was one path he could folAs historical monarchies dissolved, it was the locals who low that would help him heal. “We came back the following took to claiming the crown jewels. Regardless of location, week and that felt empowering because we didn’t let it keep age, race, gender or sexuality, localism has been thriving for us from surfing that spot,” Butler said. “Whereas most people centuries. David Evans, Paly senior and member of the Paly would say, ‘whoa, we’re not welcome here,’ for me personally, Surf Club has seen it first-hand. “It’s scary and a lot of peo- I thought, ‘I’m coming back as much as I can, as often as I ple might yell at you,” Evans said. “Locals can be really bad, can, and they are going to see my ugly face in this surf spot.’” especially in Santa Cruz.”

After befriending Peter Mel and his father John, Butler Although localism is not explicitly racist or sexist, if you started gaining recognition and confidence in the lineup. “My paddle out into a break where you’re not welcome, you be- surfing improved to the point where people would have to come a target, and anything distinguishable about you be- say, ‘wow, he’s a good surfer,’ not ‘he’s a good black surfer,’” comes fair game. “There are so many stories I could tell where Butler said. we would be sitting out there and male surfers would smirk on Surf localism is a spectrum. Some of it can be attributed us, say sexist jokes, or just say things like ‘y’all need to get to self-proclaimed tough guys wanting to have a go at someout of the water,’” Irizarry said. “There’s a lot of ocean to one because their coffee was watery that morning, but some

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anger comes from the frustrating cycle of newcomers who disregard etiquette and turn a calm morning into a party wave fun-fest. “I think there is a level that comes into it, where [locals] are fearful of getting hurt or hurting somebody else and they definitely [get mad] that way,” Bolanos said. “As long as you’re safe, it’s okay. If not, that’s when you get yelled at. There’s [another] way to do it though. You just let people know quietly, not to humiliate them out there, because you want people to enjoy the surf, and it seems some people don’t get that.”

In order to continue welcoming a diverse group of people into the surfing community, while still being able to find solitude and tranquility on a wave, there must be balance.

Every surfer in the lineup has to help uphold the community, both through respect and patience. “There are unspoken rules and etiquette,” Cox said. “It’s important to be respectful of what the etiquette might be and learning as much as you can about it will help make [surf-

ing] a more fun experience.”

“Don’t drop in on people when you’re out in the water,” Butler said.

“Be a constant ambassador of Aloha and share good vibes.”

Respect is as important as patience.

There was a time when every surfer was just starting out and felt that first rush. “ Yo u can get pounded dozens of times in a row but the first feeling of standing up is really foreign and it’s like nothing else in the world,” Evans said.

That first feeling of standing up is something special to all new surfers. “I could see almost a foot into the water, and oh my gosh, it was just like something you’d have seen out of a movie,” Irizarry said.

“I popped up and then I fell like three seconds later, but it was

“Don’t drop in on people when you’re out in the water. Be a constant ambassador of Aloha and share good vibes.”

- CHRIS BUTLER

amazing,” Lopez said. “I was in control and I was so happy.”

Surfing is unique in that it takes a lot of mental strength and grit to keep going. The learning curve is so steep that it requires a village to encourage one another to stick with it. But once you make it over the first hump, you unlock a world so indescribable you feel almost omnipotent.

“There’s this idea,” Bolanos said.

“There’s this energy coming from thousands of miles away that goes into the water. It then transports thousands of more miles until it hits the shore.

And then you get to ride that ‘something’ that was created thousands of miles away. And what you’re really experiencing is the last breath of that wave. The energy is being released… and it’s dying. So, in many ways, you’re entering the spiritual dimension of riding the wave’s last breath, and it’s almost an honor to do that. It’s a sacred moment that you’re taking on this last breath of this wave. It’s traveled thousands of miles for your joy, but you’re also honoring it too.”

Emily Yates; City Surf Volunteer

TEA IT UP Family owned tea shop in Menlo Park

933 El Camino Real

body

Love

Every Text by RACHEL ELLISEN, ERIK FENG and ELLA ROSENBLUM Design by SUKHMAN SAHOTA • Art by WALLIE BULTER

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As we approach pool party season, Paly students confront and redefine confidence amidst societal pressure

W

ith summer right around the corner, the push for bikini bodies floods through the media, just as it does every year. Big corporations have found a way to extract money out of people across the country — by capitalizing on appearance.

In recent years, there has been increased awareness of the body positivity movement, an all-inclusive movement that focuses on empowering individuals and combating the idea of a “perfect body image.”

The body positivity movement manifests itself in different ways for different people. Paly junior Josh Butler recognizes that body image goes beyond weight or physical appearance. “Body positivity for me is less of a physical health thing and more of a mental thing,” Butler said. “If you honestly believe you are

healthy and you feel great, then that is Butler hopes the movement will inwhat matters.” spire people to stop basing their actions The body positivity movement on external or societal validation. “If brings up the point that the “perfect” you decide to get healthier, I hope it’s body displayed based on good in magazines mental health and on social “Body positivity in general about yourself media is unis something that is and your situaachievable, that you are different for everybody. tion leading to a nevchasing rather It is hard to fully grasp than something er-ending cycle of fad diets what [others] are thinking pointless like and unhealthy society’s view and experiencing.” on what your weight loss products. body should This movelook like,” ButJosh Butler, ment aims to ler said.

Junior direct the conBody love versation about and body confilosing weight away from physical ap- dence can be extremely rewarding for pearance and guide it towards improv- some supporters of the body positivity ing health and happiness for an indi- movement. However, many individuals vidual, specifically mental health. find that loving their body is not a real-

“Even at a young age, many kids see what they are ‘supposed’ to look like whether it’s from a commercial, a picture, or even their friends or family telling them.”

Hana Foster, Freshman

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“[The body positivity movement] can make somebody feel significantly better and [let them] know that maybe they’re not alone or that people are going to accept them, no matter what they look like.”

Theresa Hart, Sophomore

istic goal.

A new helpful strategy the movement emphasizes, called re-framing, is basing self-worth on other aspects of an individual, like hobbies, talents and intellect.

Edward Zhang, Paly senior, has struggled with weight-related bullying and finds re-framing to be a helpful strategy. “Whether people say [hurtful comments] as a joke or with malicious intent, I just acknowledge it and move on,” Zhang said. “I know I am doing my utmost to be healthy, and my larger size is not my only defining characteristic.”

Body-neutrality, like re-framing, is another tenet that has recently become a part of the movement. It is aimed at encouraging individuals to accept their bodies for what they are and be grateful for their body’s functionality.

Some athletes who spend hours in the gym gradually focus more on their

physical appearance. However, Butler goals. Instead, he focuses on training for enjoys training to improve his skills for his sport and not his appearance. football season while focusing on funcWhile participating in sports can tionality. help promote body positivity for some, “Through others have had sports, I know negative experi“Social norms should that sometimes ences with aththe most aes- deviate to be more letics. thetically pleas- inclusive of people of all Paly sophoing bodies are more Theresa not the most body sizes.”

Hart is a memfunctional,” ber of the Paly Butler said. team and Edward Zhang, dance “Therefore, I has been dancSenior ing since she don’t really feel any pressure was three-years towards the idea of ‘the perfect body.’ -old. “There is this ‘dancer image,’ But to say I’m completely unaware and which is very skinny, tall and muscular, inattentive to what my body looks like and I do not fit into it,” Hart said. compared to my peers or others on soWhile she has never been criticized cial media would be false.” by teachers or peers within her dance Butler is conscious of the dangers of company, she has often felt out of place. comparison and doesn’t let it change his “When I would go to conventions and

29

places where a lot of dancers were toChanging society’s view of the “right gether, it was very obvious that I was body” for any sport will require respect an outlier,” Hart said. “I looked like an and representation. “It’s always nice to outlier.” see other people who look like me in Hart notices that the “dancer im- dance,” Hart said. “It’s not just about age” has been subconsciously adopt- being represented; it’s being respected ed by many for what you’re of her dancer representing.”

“It’s always nice to see peers. “When Like Hart, people hear Paly freshman other people who look like dancers, they Hana Foster me in dance. It’s not just have an idea encountered about being represented; confusing feedof what somebody looks back about her it’s being respected for like,” Hart body that was what you’re representing.” also rooted in said.

“That can hurt your sports. self-esteem, esAfter parTheresa Hart, pecially when ticipating in Sophomore people say you a season of shouldn’t be a softball over dancer. I get told that if I was taller and the summer, she noticeably lost weight bulkier, I would probably be good at due to the daily exercise. “When I visfootball. Comments like that are really ited cousins or friends, I received many awkward.” more compliments about the way I

30

looked than usual,” Foster said. “It was nice to hear, but I wondered why I was being treated better after changing. It made me put more pressure on myself to look slimmer.”

While the struggle with body image is universally shared among all demographics, Foster says that young people can be especially vulnerable. “Even at a young age, many kids see what they are ‘supposed’ to look like, whether it’s from a commercial, a picture, or even their friends or family telling them,” Foster said. “These first impressions can last for a long time and can affect their lives in the future.”

Young people easily pick up the negative messages in a world surrounding their bodies, so positive messages are crucial.

Hart says that the body positivity movement is especially needed for the younger demographic. “It’s more important that we share these messages of body positivity with teenagers,” Hart

said. “It can make somebody feel significantly better and [let them] know that maybe they’re not alone or that people are going to accept them, no matter what they look like.”

Hart wishes she had more positive messages about body image as a child.

“I’ve always been on the bigger side, and I was ruthlessly bullied from ages eight to ten,” Hart said. “That, combined with the lack of representation around me in the dance world, made me feel even more isolated.”

When she became older and more mature, Hart was able to change her perspective on what she saw around her. “When I went to these massive conventions, as much as I saw a lot of skinny people, I also saw other people who looked like me and it made me feel a lot better because they were just as talented as dancers.”

Foster found that her struggle with body image also started at a young age.

“I would wear a hoodie to school every

day, ashamed of what I looked like,” ter said. “If I ever want to try to look Foster said. “I didn’t think I would ever different, it will be my choice and not be ‘pretty’ if I wasn’t a certain weight.” anyone else’s.”

By the end of middle school, Fos As the weather gets warmer, ter began to shift bathing suits and “Through sports, I know shorter clothing her mindset away from what other that sometimes the most can easily ampeople thought plify insecuriaesthetically pleasing and focus on ties. Yet, Foster what made her bodies are not the most hopes that teens happy. “I would who support the functional.” ditch the hoodie movement can every now and uplift one anoththen to wear er.

Josh Butler, dresses, skirts, “Being posiJunior and anything that tive about your I liked,” Foster and other peosaid. “Doing whatever I wanted with ple’s bodies can be one of the most immyself totally changed what I believed portant mindsets to have,” Foster said. about bodies.”

“It can take a very long time to realize The body positivity movement this, but I hope everyone will notice that helped Foster take ownership of her no one other than you should deterbody instead of lending it to other peo- mine whether you look beautiful or not. ple’s criticisms. “I have now learned No matter what [you] look like.” that I look beautiful in any shape,” Fos-

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A

Dayby the Pool

Discover poolside books and music for under the summer sun

Playlist Circles - Post Malone Party in the U.S.A. - Miley Cyrus Blueprint - Stray Kids Cigarette Daydreams - Cage the Elephant august - Taylor Swift Space Cadet - Beabadoobee Sugar - BROCKHAMPTON Sour Patch Kids - Bryce Vine Demasiado - Bandalos Chinos Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift Forever Young - BLACKPINK Boogie - BROCKHAMPTON You Lie All The Time - Beabadoobee Pretty Girl hi! - UMI Dynamite - BTS

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Life of Pi

The Great Gatsby

“Life of Pi” covers the major events of the life of a young boy named Pi. The book starts with a quick overview of Pi’s early years in life, later focusing on his adventures trapped on a boat with a ferocious Tiger dubbed “Richard Parker.”

Throughout Pi’s journey, you see the harsh conditions that shape his life, making it a quintessential coming of age story.

“The Great Gatsby” takes place during the summer of 1922 and focuses on a young man, Nick Carraway, who has moved to Long Island. One day in said summer, Nick gets invited to a lavish party hosted by his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby. The Great Gatsby is a captivating story with a dark overall message making it a great summer read.

MOVIE NIGHT Turkish TV Shows In case you have been living under a rock – or more likely, quarantining – you may not have heard that Istanbul is the new Hollywood. Turkish TV shows, known as dizis, have developed a large international fan base primarily in the Middle East, Latin America and South Asia. Viewers are attracted to seeing their favorite film tropes, character archetypes and traditional storylines under a different disguise. For example, in their romantic dramas, the content remains family-friendly and avoids the promiscuity seen in American shows, making these love stories more relatable and enjoyable to watch for viewers.

Watching dizis also not only exposes you to High School Musical 2 a different language, Hopefully this recommendation is but the obvious, but “High School Musical 2” is the second movie musical in the Disney Channel series following the lives of high schoolers working at a country club resort over the summer.

Between the “Fabulous” songs and the drama, this is a must watch!

beautiful customs and values of the Turkish culture. The new cultural setting of the shows depicts characters struggling against different societal norms uniquely emphasizing family, religion and tradition over the individual.

This is incredibly refreshing after watching non-foreign shows that repeat the same conflicts over unchanging Western values. Losing track of time and reality while watching a dizi on YouTube is incredibly common, especially for novice viewers. I recommend starting a show this summer, as opposed to finals Dirty Dancing season, when there is plenty of The ultimate coming of daylight to burn. age film, “Dirty Dancing,” Iyi eğlencelfollows the story of young er (have Baby who is forced to spend fun)! the summer at a resort. After meeting the resort dance instructor Johnny–an older, adventure seeking man–her summer turns around. With its forbidden love story, corny dialogue and memorable dancing scenes, this movie is sure to delight!

Text and design by OWEN BITTINGER, DUNYA MOSTAGHIMI and COLLEEN WANG • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL “The Great Gatsby” by Urban Street Art is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

“Crooked Little Vein and Life of Pi” by Rich Lem is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

33

I

t’s a Saturday afternoon when a buyer gets a “ping” on her cellphone. A text reminds her to retrieve her order of organic strawberries and radishes within the next few hours. After a trip to a local pickup station and back, she has everything she needs for tonight’s dinner.

Nicole Wang, a financial analyst at Stanford, knows this dance of preordering, memorizing pickup schedules and bringing home local produce like the back of her hand. Since Palo Alto went into lockdown last March, she’s been a frequent participant in the ongoing phenomenon of group buying.

“I saw friends [who participated in group buying] talk about restaurant meals or really fresh fish,” Wang said. “It made me very interested and I wanted to try.”

Known as “tuan gou” in China, group buying is a process where products are bought in bulk, resold to individuals and retrieved at a local level. Since this all occurs on the same day, the food arrives extremely fresh. Unlike traditional delivery services, there isn’t long distance shipping or door-to-door delivery, meaning high quality food can be shared with the community at a reduced

price.

In fact, the practice of group buying first took off in the Bay Area as a form of contactless delivery—a way to purchase groceries without wandering through a crowded supermarket.

“There are less people in the middle, so I felt like there was less risk of the virus,” Wang said.

However, a new form of human contact was what initially attracted buyers like Wang. As the weeks went by, she bonded with her group organizers while placing orders and with other buyers while comparing items.

“There’s a relationship between the restaurants, supermarkets and each individual,” Wang said. “But ‘tuan gou’ changes the distribution chain, and the relationship changes from between restaurants and supermarkets to between individuals and individuals.”

The “beauty of tuan gou”—as group buying organizers have called it—isn’t limited to just buyers. It also benefits the farms that source the food.

Daisy and Abby Zhou are two sisters from Palo Alto who facilitate a “tuan gou” group. They first started getting involved before the pandemic to let their kids practice running a business, but as COVID-19 began shutting down restaurants and supermarkets, they realized what they were doing could help many people. [Editor’s note: Daisy and Abby Zhou’s quotes have been translated from Mandarin Chinese.]

“The farms were very nervous when the pandemic started and many of them came to us,” Abby Zhou said. “Supermarkets stopped receiving produce from them during the lockdown, so their fruits and vegetables would just rot in the ground. The problem was that everyone needed vegetables, but they were scared to go to the grocery store.”

That’s where people like Daisy and Abby Zhou come in.

“The farms aren’t able to do the detailed work [of distributing to individual customers],” Daisy Zhou said. With group buying, the process is smoother on both ends.

“People place their orders, and then we order from the farms,” Abby Zhou said. “After the farms send the food to

Text by EMILY CHENG, AUDREY GUO and BRIDGET PACKER Photos by EMILY CHENG and GIVING FRUITS Art and design by EMILY CHENG and AUDREY GUO us in boxes, we organize it by pound.”

Not even hours later, the food is already in the customer’s hands. But other than guaranteeing the freshness of their produce, the Zhous also make sure to sell only what tastes best.

“We try everything ourselves first,” Daisy Zhou said.

“There are farms who want their crops to grow faster so they’ll use fertilizer. We don’t choose those.”

Jean-Pierre Mouloudj, Paly senior and founder of the nonprofit club Giving Fruits, has seen firsthand how Palo Alto has benefited from group buying.

“When people bought from us, we had a small margin that we could donate to good causes,” Mouloudj said. “At the time, I heard from several hospital workers that it was hard to get meals because they were either too big or too small. We were thinking we could donate to food trucks to make meals for them.”

Like Nicole Wang, Mouloudj has also noticed the social advantage to group buying.

“At the beginning of quarantine, we weren’t talking to anyone face to face,” Mouloudj said. “Because I was able to do Giving Fruits [throughout the school year], my people skills just skyrocketed.”

As he has to maintain constant communication with both farms and customers, Mouloudj has gained newfound appreciation for farmers who source the food.

“If you go to Safeway, all you see is a pile of apples,” Mouloudj said. “But when working with Giving Fruits, you can see the boxes are a little bit dirty, and you know that someone had to get down on the ground and put every single fruit in the box. Someone is doing backbreaking work for it.”

He also feels grateful for Palo Alto residents, who have been uniquely receptive to group buying.

“We tried integrating Giving Fruits in different cities, but it didn’t work,” Mouloudj said. “Palo Alto is the main reason this is working—people here are more willing to spend a little extra money to get something while having it benefit someone else.”

Following in the footsteps of group organizers and people like Mouloudj, others have taken group buying even further.

Jenny Zhang is the CEO of smart locker company BoxNearby; by renting out lockers with integrated technology, BoxNearby allows customers to pick up their deliveries securely and contact-free. In order to keep up with the group buying craze, Zhang has started partnering with local farmers and businesses as well.

“COVID-19 shut us down and we found out that it was difficult for everyone to buy groceries, so we tried group buying,” Zhang said.

Although BoxNearby is still centered around their smart lockers, group buying has attracted a new wave of customers to the company.

“They said, ‘Oh, it’s so convenient. I don’t need to go to the store because everything is here,’” Zhang said. “‘Besides, everything is fresh.’”

Zhang’s operation is also simpler than other food delivery services, which hire drivers to deliver home by home.

But while group buying is a better option for some (those living in apartments, for example), it asks customers to drive to pick up groceries, which can pose a challenge for some.

“One customer told us, ‘I have three small kids, I cannot come out to pick things up,’” Zhang said.

For Zhang, that only means expanding her company to meet the needs of more people—advancing neighborhood delivery, incorporating sustainable boxes and improving BoxNearby’s website are a few ideas in the works. After more people are vaccinated, she hopes to implement these changes and help group buying grow in the Bay Area.

“I go through my neighborhood and I talk to [people],” Zhang said. “Meanwhile, they’re getting yummy things and everyone is smiling. It makes your whole community come together.”

53

ON THE

CL CK

Paly students take on summer one paycheck at a time, gaining experience and new friends along the way

H

ave you ever wondered what it would be like to pursue your dream career? Paly sophomore Kyle Park started his at age 15!

Bored like many other students during the pandemic, Park was on a mission to find something he was passionate about. His interest in digital art inspired him to research digital art opportunities. Park surfed the internet and found a space where he could improve his digital pixel art skills: Minecraft.

Park discovered that he could create his own texture packs.

Texture packs change Minecraft’s visual appearance to fit the aesthetic desired by the user.

These texture packs act like mods that change

36

the in-game blocks and items, animals Park had trouble creating some of the and creatures as well as the different en- animals and creatures in the game so he vironments present in Minecraft. asked for help.

After uploading a couple of packs “I had the art aspect down,” Park online, Park’s art caught the immediate said. “But, I didn’t really know what I attention of many Minecraft users. Park was doing. So, I received help from one received a message from an employee of the other workers with whom I have at Razzleberries, an been partnering with online company that for a while. He introAs long as I’m getting designs textures and duced me to Block these models and texmodels for Minecraft, Bench and showed tures out by a certain who recruited him for me the ropes of how a job creating texture to effectively make deadline, my working packs. Park began hours can be whatever I models and make working the following them look realistic.” want.” week.

Currently, Park is Currently, Park working on improving Kyle Park, sophomore and his co-workers his pixel art and looks communicate virtuforward to completally about their upcoming projects and ing his most recent Razzleberries projpublishing information. With every- ect. He aims to continue his work for thing online, Park can work whenever Minecraft throughout college. he wants without restraint.

Rather than having his mind on the Park loves the flexibility of this mod- money, Park loves his job because he el. “They know I have school,” Park can grow and learn new skills. Park besaid. “As long as I’m getting these mod- lieves he can grow his career by building els and textures out by a certain dead- upon his current job, a job he picked up line, my working hours can be what- through boredom and interest. ever I want.” Although Park has been drawing and animating for many years, he had minimal experience in the digital art world which created challenges.

“

Kyle Park, Programmer

Text by EUNICE CHO, NATALIE HMELAR and COLIN LAI • Design by SOPHIA BAGINSKIS • Art by EMMA JOING

Sabrina Chan, Barista

L

ooking to make some money during the pandemic, senior Sabrina Chan started working at a boba shop. She appreciates her job because she has the opportunity to interact with both co-workers and customers. She enjoys having small conversations with them.

Chan works as a cashier and barista at Kung Fu Tea in downtown Palo Alto. She began working there after learning they were opening a store in Palo Alto and reaching out on so-

cial media. ways Friday night crowds,” Chan Kung Fu Tea, like many stores said. that center around interaction with Chan used to work Friday night customers, had to be altered due shifts but switched to working on the to the pandemic. weekends because Chan realized the “You just sing along and she was drained job would come work, and the time goes after a full school with risks but deday. The weekby pretty fast.” cided to take it ends are no less with her friend. busy, however, Sabrina Chan, senior “Honestly, my and each shift friend and I were lasts six hours. both kind of scared,” Chan said.

Chan’s work experience has been “But the precautions were pretty overwhelmingly positive, thanks to good, both inside and outside the her managers and the social compostore.” nent of her job. Her managers give While maintaining safety, Chan’s her the freedom to choose the music work environment is simultaneously played in the store, and she generexhausting and enjoyable. “Since ally plays throwback hits. “You just Kung Fu Tea is on University, a lot sing along and work, and the time of people come in, and there’s al- goes by pretty fast.”

Paige Santana, Cashier

J

unior Paige Santana has the familiar faces of Paly students piling unique opportunity of work- through the door or the construction ing as a cashier at her fami- workers sporting neon orange vests, ly-owned restaurant in downtown you’ll find every kind of person here Palo Alto, the Peninsula Creamery. in the summer,” Santana said.

This neat vintage diner is located The Palo Alto Creamery is one on the busy corner of High Street of Palo Alto’s most prominent lunch and Channing Avenue. Santana spots, which can make working spends her Saturdays scooping ice there a hectic experience. “At some cream and blending milkshakes. points it can be stressful when there “There’s never a are a lot of people “I enjoy getting to make inside during our dull Saturday,” Santana said. lunch rush,” Sanmoney while still being “Most of our tana said. surrounded by family customers are Last summer, and friends.” locals that have there were many been coming in COVID-19 safety Paige Santana, junior my whole life. I precautions that never get bored made work feel during any of my shifts.” drastically unnatural. “There were Santana feels that there is never a a lot more precautions we took to lackluster moment during her shifts; ensure the safety of our customers,” every moment at work is thrilling Santana said. once summer starts to dull.

However, even with added Santana claims that summer is COVID-19 challenges, working their busiest season. “Whether it’s over the summer keeps Santana

motivated. “Having a responsibility such as a job kept me from staying in bed all day,” Santana said.

The family owned nature of the restaurant creates a personable and friendly environment to work in; the work culture is more tightly knit, friendlier and more personable in comparison to corporate chain dining establishments.

“I enjoy getting to make money while still being surrounded by family and friends,” Santana said.

37

MUSIC ON THE Mind Diving into how listening to music affects our brains and how students observe these effects

P

icture this situation: it’s getting to be late on a school night, and the pile of homework you have to complete just won’t finish itself. As the night goes on, boredom turns into despair as you try to figure out exactly how you’re going to get the work done before it’s too late.

This isn’t an uncommon situation for students at Paly, and junior Mathew Signorello-Katz has devised a solution that may seem peculiar but has proven to be effective.

“I was hit by a terrible case of writer’s block,” Signorello-Katz said. Like many students, Signorello-Katz had procrastinated and left much of his AP Seminar paper until the night before it was due. Luckily for Signorello-Katz, he had the unbelievable power of some good tunes on his side.

38

“I turned on the 70’s Greatest Hits channel on Spotify, and my productivity skyrocketed,” Signorello-Katz said.

Signorello-Katz is certainly not the only person to experience motivation and productivity boosts through music.

There are many feelings that we get through music that are not only common, but can be explained by science.

In a survey conducted amongst Paly students regarding the observed effects of listening to music, 100% of survey partakers said one of the benefits of listening to music was an improved mood. This finding is not unique to Paly students.

Dr. Malcom Slaney, a Stanford professor in the Department of Music with a focus on audio perception, can confirm what Paly students notice about music’s effects on their emotions. “ T h e whole point of music is to manipulate, in a positive sense, emotions,” Slaney

said.

Although music stimulates many parts of the brain, the emotional effect of music can be attributed to the limbic system.

The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for emotion, longterm memory, hearing and more. When we listen to music, the limbic system reacts with feelings of joy, sadness or excitement.

In addition to elevating our emotional state, music also possesses the ability to dampen or even entirely block out our negative feelings. When we listen to music, the amygdala – a part of the limbic system linked to fear, anxiety and aggression – is temporarily inhibited.

So why doesn’t listening to words evoke the same pleasure? The answer lies in the fact that our brains perceive music differently than we do language.

“Words are great for the semantic message, like describing how to put together a car,” Slaney said. “But music is something that affects the emotional system.”

This fundamental difference between music and language is part of what makes music so valuable to us humans.

“It communicates things that are hard to do with words,” Slaney said.

“I mean, you can do poetry; you can describe things, but music affects the limbic system very directly and people

“I turned on the 70’s greatest hits [...] and my productivity skyrocketed.”

Mathew Signorello-Katz

Text and design by EUNICE CHO, AIDAN DO and SAMANTHA LEE • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL and BROOKE GLASSON

55%

23%

100%

feel that music makes them more

listen to music because they

Feel That listening to music

productive when studying

‘Can’t stand the silence’

reduces their stress

that music boosts productivity when studying.

In fact, the utilization of music to increase productivity is nothing new.

This motivation derived from listening to music can again be attributed to dopamine.

“Your emotional state controls your productivity,” Slaney said.

One of the most surprising findings from the survey was that 23.3% feel that their main motivator for listening to music was that they, “can’t stand the silence.” It can be difficult to comprehend these feelings

if you haven’t experienced them firsthand, yet there is clear scientific reasoning behind the phenomenon. “[Music] is a useful sensory signal,” Slaney said. “Nothing is ever really silent, so having music is a controlled noise some people find [music] as a useful background.”

With a plethora of applications, listening to music remains to be a daily ritual for many Paly students in pursuit of increasing their productivity, bettering their mood and helping to destress. Listening to music is by no means a cure all for the woes of the world, yet the benefits that music brings to the listener span far and wide.

Whether serving as a source of motivation for a writer sprinting to a deadline or as a universal language of sorts, music remains to be a source of happiness, productivity and a way to fill the silence.

It is clear that music can be better than speech in many ways. Music will always serve a very important purpose by helping us write through the night like in Signorello-Katz’s case, or expressing our deepest unexplainable emotions.

“Fundamentally, music is more about emotional response compared to speech,” Slaney said. “And that’s an important part of being human.”

can understand that without knowing language.”

Aside from evoking a range of emotions, music has also been shown to reduce stress and boost positivity. Paly students can attest to this fact. In the same survey conducted among Paly students, it was found that music allows 82.9% of students to think positively and 100% of students to feel less stress.

As we listen to music, our brains release dopamine, the chemical responsible for positive changes in one’s mood.

This release of dopamine helps us cope with stress, giving music therapeutic properties for students.

There is little doubt that music is a critical element in many students’ daily lives and that it has an impact on dayto-day activities such as studying. The survey found that 85.4% of students believe that music acts as a catalyst for motivation. Additionally, 54.7% noted

“The whole point of music is to manipulate, in a positive sense, emotions.”

Dr. Malcolm Slaney

39

An Introductory Course to

COUNTRY MUSIC for the Angsty Teen

A reason to listen to country music and a little history to enhance your appreciation

C

ountry music: what does a queer, quasi satanist have to say about that? Well, I am here in defense of country music, a style that has been shunned by many of my peers, my guilty musical pleasure. I hope I will be able to lodge a crowbar into your mind and pry it open a little bit so that I feel less alone in my appreciation of this art.

When I was younger, my parents showed me the Muppet Show. These witty programs fostered my love for mainly show tunes, but also introduced me to country artists like Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

As I grew older and began to form an identity, country music didn’t fit into the persona I had concocted. My peers only had reference to country music as a genre that was conservative, redneck, hillbilly, you get it. I associated country music with things contrary to my glamour, and so, like the people around me, I renounced it. I was the one saying “I like all kinds of music, EXCEPT country music.”

I never understood what I was missing.

In the past two years, in my arsonist way, I have ignited a brand new fire with country music. I was chatting with my mother dearest, roughly two years ago, about music and she was telling me about how my late grandfather really liked country and folk music; I was inspired to do some research of my own. I found the song “Delta Dawn” by Tanya Tucker an absolute classic. That one song sent me down a rabbit hole to songs like “Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Kris Kristofferson, “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard and “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell. I

was hooked.

When the average person thinks of country music, they think of twangy banjo, Hank Williams esque, honky tonk kind of music. Or they think of the country music of a 21st century white man that centers around trucks and women with misogynistic undertones. The only positive connotations of country music they have is that one Carrie Underwood song, “Before He Cheats” and Dolly Parton. But this genre has so much more to offer.

For your consideration, I present the Outlaw country movement. In the ‘70s, country artists that were tired of the conservative constraints of the Nashville scene went to Texas and rebranded themselves. Among the biggest names in this movement were Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. From those three, and the lesser known Tompall Glaser, came the first country album to ever go platinum, “Wanted! The Outlaws.”

Though the lyrics might be outdated in some of the songs, the unparalleled energies of these artists propelled the Outlaw movement into the mainstream. A highlight from that era is the Willie Nelson album “Red Headed Stranger,” filled with songs perfect for a relaxing summer day, soaking in the sun.

In the ‘80s, the greatest country music supergroup was formed. Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings were joined by one of the most talented songwriters of all time, Kris Kristofferson, and possibly the biggest name in country music of all time, Johnny Cash. They formed “The Highwaymen,” and even though they were all middle aged men, they produced two outstanding albums.

I feel that people underappreciate the impact that this type of music has had on social activism and movements.

From Bob Dylan’s anti-war songs to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson’s songs and activism for indigenous rights, these songs and artists were influential in many movements using

Scan this spotify tag to check out the playlist!

a genre of music that is no longer seen as progressive.

I will say that the country music of today has a lot of valid criticisms; it is and has been a genre dominated by white men that have recently lost a lot of that Outlaw sound and attitude. I could go in depth about the gendered and racial issues in country music, both recent and old, but I want people to know that there are enjoyable country songs that are accommodating and accessible to all.

I also do believe that there is hope for this genre and that it hasn’t been completely taken over by conservative men.

I mean, look at all of the artists that have been inspired by country music with it imbued into their own pop or rock style.

My personal favorite artist of all time, Stevie Nicks, found her love of music through singing with her grandfather who was an unsuccessful country singer. Taylor Swift has roots in country music and Miley Cirus’ father is Billy Ray Cyrus, a well-known country star.

There has always been a bit of diversity in the country music industry with artists like Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn tackling gender norms that are still prevalent today. Take Lynn’s song “Rated X” about the stigma surrounding divorce or Parton’s “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That” that both overtly sexualizes a man whilst and at the same time displaying Parton’s independence.

Another pioneer of diversity in country music is Linda Martell. Martell was the first Black woman to sing at the Grand Ole Opry in the 1960s, after her brief success and charting country song “Color Him Father” while signed to the record label Plantation Records; yes that was a record label at the time. She soon faded into obscurity after her record label dropped her and the racist industry of her time drove her out.

Text and design by ATTICUS SCHERER

Even though recent country music has become increasingly masculine and stiffened, there are still some notable artists that are continuing to diversify the genre.

Orville Peck for one, the queer masked country artist has had his fair share of hits. On the other hand, Lil Nas X’s song “Old Town Road’’ was a smash hit back in 2019, while I question whether it is country music or not, it was a landmark for diversity in country music. It is still a fairly large hit despite the backlash that was recieved from conservatives when Nas X came out as gay soon after the song blew up.

Another Black female country artist that is newer on the scene, Mickey Guyton, has been gaining recognition and finding her foothold in the industry. In 2020, she became the first Black woman to perform solo at the Country Music Awards, and while her style of music fits with the newer sound of country music, her lyrics feel like they have meaning that is lost in many other current artists.

Country music has always told a story. From the mainstream Nashville scene, to progressive anthems in Texas and California, to a unifier for conservatives, the embedded stories have been what made these songs so special.

I do feel that the storytelling has become lackluster, but I haven’t given up hope. There are so many country songs out there that too many people in my generation have disregarded. I say NO MORE; leave your preconceived notions of country music out of my stratosphere. I am not saying that you have to love or appreciate it all, there is some country music that the evangelicals can take with them to the pearly gates, but don’t discount the genre as a whole.

There is country music for everyone and even if you hate the playlist I put together for this perspective then fine, I’m glad you at least gave it a chance. Premise of the story, don’t knock it till you try it.

Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

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Better Than Revenge The impact of Taylor Swift’s fearless decision to re-record her music

Text and design by MEGHA MADHABHUSHI, LIBBY SPIER and EMMA TURNBULL • Art by EVA MANKOS

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W

ith top hits like “You Belong With Me” and “Shake it Off” as well as hidden gems like “Starlight,” singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has won the hearts of a variety of music listeners through her passionate lyrics, dazzling vocals and powerful personality.

Currently, Swift is re-recording her first six studio albums: “Taylor Swift,” “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” “1989” and “Reputation” because she lacks the rights to her original lyrics and music.

“It’s really a form of empowerment, especially since her music is something that is cherished by so many people,” sophomore and Swift fan Johannah Seah said. “And obviously to any artist, your own music and your own work is very personal to you.”

At the young age of 14, Swift signed to a notorious record company, Big Machine Record Label. As an inexperienced and young member of the music industry, she was not aware of how the contract she signed would affect her career in the future. Over the next 14 years, Swift released six albums to immense success under the label and grew to be one of the top artists in the world.

In 2018, after Swift’s contract ended, she made the decision to leave Big Machine for a different record company, Republic Records; she wanted to own her masters, the original recordings and lyrics of her songs, which she did not possess under her contract at Big Machine Record Label. In 2019, Big

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Machine was purchased by manag- would come from the albums’ success. er, music producer and record ex“I totally understand that choice from ecutive Scooter Braun, giving him the artist’s perspective, for her to want ownership and control over Swift’s that ownership of [her music],” Rao first six studio album masters. said. “Especially now that she’s such a After Swift was denied her mas- huge international star, to have [ownters when she left Big Machine, she ership], not just for the money but also attempted to negotiate with Braun to because she did write it and it is hers.” obtain them. This led to a public feud The album absolutely dominated between Braun and Swift, resulting in charts, reaching Billboard’s coveted pothe selling of the masters to an invest- sition of number one on their ‘Top 200 ment fund for $300 million, a sale that Albums’ chart in the U.S.. There is no Swift was blocked from participating in. doubt that Swift has made a name for “I learned that under [the invest- herself in the music industry, so her ment fund’s] terms Scooter Braun will immense success with “Fearless (Taycontinue to profit lor’s Version)” is off my old musical no surprise. catalog for many “Anything she years,” Swift said puts out breaks on Twitter. “I was records immehopeful and open diately; it even to the possibility of breaks her own a partnership with previous re[the investment cords,” junior fund], but ScootMerwa Maer’s participation rof said. “She’s is a non-startsomeone who, er for me.” even if you’re In August of not a fan or you 2019, Swift andon’t like her, you nounced her intenstill know who Johannah Seah, sophomore tions to re-record she is and you her albums, which listen to her mushe was permitted to start in Novem- sic because she’s that big.” ber of 2020 through her old contract Despite the flurry of media attenwith Big Machine. On April 9, 2021, tion that “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” Swift released her first re-recorded al- has brought Swift, the original intent bum, “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” of the album was also to shed light The process of re-recording mu- on a common issue in the music insic is difficult and time consuming, dustry that is not always recognized. which highlights the importance “[That’s the] kind of thing that that owning her music has to Swift. happens in the entertainment indus“It definitely took a lot of time and try, that a lot of people end up profiteffort to re-record all of [the songs] and ing off of other people’s work,” sophto, after so many years, train her voice omore Evie Coulson said. “It’s a really to sing all of those how she wanted good thing that [Taylor Swift’s issue to,” junior and established singer-song- with owning her songs] became a pubwriter Neela Rao said. “There’s been lic situation because people were actusome controversy, and some people ally aware of what was happening.” are like, ‘she didn’t have to do that; As one of this generation’s most she should have just come out with well known artists, Swift is admired something new’ but it’s not that easy.” by many, including other musicians.

It’s clear to fans of Swift that her Her actions set the precedent for othdecision to re-record centered around er artists that it is possible and accepther desire to possess her own cre- able to take ownership of their music. ative work, rather than the money that “It’s showing other artists who

“She changes the power dynamic [to where] she’s not the one who’s helpless; she actually has the power to make something her own.”

may have had their music stolen As fans reminisce by listening to the from them or their music sold by re-recorded version of their favorite their producers that they can also childhood album, they have noticed have that chance to re-record [and that Swift’s passion in her vocals has claim their music back],” Seah said. enhanced. When comparing the origiSupporters of Swift admire her nal “Fearless” album to the re-recorded passion for sending messages through version, the most significant difference her music, especially as a female art- noticed is the level of maturity in both ist working in a male-dominated in- Swift’s voice and her life experiences. dustry. Because of this, it is important “She has learned so much and lived to note that the effort she made by so much longer, that she has these more re-recording her albums sets an ex- complex emotions and she can sing ample for young women everywhere. them into existence,” Seah said. “When “One of her biggest messages that you’re 18 years old, you don’t feel as she shares is that oftentimes women in much as when you’re 30 years old bethe [music] industry aren’t really heard,” cause you still have so much to learn.” senior Grace Lindstrom said. “For her to Another example of Swift’s growth, retaliate and re-record her own music, which may go undetected by new listhat’s super powerful and enforces all of teners, is small, yet meaningful lyrthe messages she’s trying to tell girls.” ic changes in the re-recorded songs.

Over her 17 years in the music in“In ‘White Horse,’ she actually dustry, Swift has been a trailblazer when has this part where she says ‘I’m not a it comes to crossing genres, but she is princess, and this ain’t our fairy tale’ often a victim of backlash because of instead of a fairy tale,” Seah said. this. She has been in the public spot- “It’s a very small change, but I found light her entire career, facing criticism it satisfying to see that she can have for things such as her romantic rela- a new perspective on it to the point tionships as well as her genre choices. where she can change small words and “She has gone through a lot of re- make it more nuanced in that way.” taliation from the “Fearless (Taylor’s media, and from Version)” has thrived those... who are as a symbol of self beating her down, empowerment for and through that Swift and nostalstruggle she really gia for fans. Swift’s has come to see [that future re-recorded she] can have power albums will likely over [her] own muhave the same effect, sic and life,” Seah topping charts and said. “She changes sending shockwaves the power dynamic through the mu[to where] she’s not sic industry as with Grace Lindstrom, senior the one who’s helpmost of her releases. less; she actually has “It’s a common the power to make something her own.” saying that Taylor Swift is the music “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is industry,” Nguyen said. “I am a pernot just a symbol of self empower- sonal supporter of that philosophy. ment and retaliation, but also brings It is so rare to get an artist who is not fans nostalgia through modern ver- only a good vocalist, but also has a sions of their favorite 2008 songs. deep connection to [their] music.” “[All my friends] listened to Fearless While some may argue that Swift’s dewhen it first came out,” senior and long- cision to re-record her music was based time Swift fan Charlize Nguyen said. on vengeance and motivated by finan“Now we’re listening to it again, our se- cial gain, Swift expresses that just ownnior year, and it’s crazy; it feels like the ing her music is better than any revenge. conclusion of our adolescence in a way.”

“It’s super powerful and enforces all of the messages she’s trying to tell girls.”

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Senior Playlist Libby Spier

A collection of music essential to the C-Mag seniors’ Paly years

Pursuit Of Happiness - Kid Cudi, MGMT & Ratatat Stacy’s Mom - Fountains of Wayne Better Than Revenge - Taylor Swift Remember The Name - Ed Sheeran ft. Eminem & 50 cent

Leslie Aboytes

Sure Thing - Miguel Still Beating - Mac DeMarco IRIS - Ashes To Amber

Alexa Gwyn

What A Man - Jessica Mauboy Here Comes Love - The California Honeydrops All That and More - Rainbow Kitten Surprise Flow with It (You Got Me Feeling Like) - St. Paul & The Broken Bones

Dunya Mostaghimi

Just Wanna Be With You - The Cast of High School Musical 3 Hotel California - Eagles Enchanted - Taylor Swift drivers license - Olivia Rodrigo

Sukhman Sahota

Crossfire / So Into You - Nai Palm Iris Road Teahouse - Sunset Rollercoaster Determinate - Lemonade Mouth Castaway - Yuna ft. Tyler, the Creator

Rachael Vonderhaar

Famous Friends - Chris Young & Kane Brown Cruise - Florida Georgia Line Gabrielle - Brett Eldredge

Kimi Lillios

I Feel Good About This - The Mowgli’s Lost Boys - Ocean Park Standoff Cleaner Air - Yeek Empty - Kevin Abstract

Sam Mutz

Poof - Pi’erre Bourne Painted Yellow Lines - Dispatch Heavenly Father - Isaiah Rashad Pyramids - Frank Ocean

Ellie Rowell

YOU’RE THE ONE - KAYTRANADA & Syd Our City - (Taylor Swift x M83) That’s Not Me Intoxicated (remix) - DeanMcTaggart suburban wonderland - BETWEEN FRIENDS

Faith Chow

Still Into You - Paramore right here - keshi Leave The Door Open - Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic Levitating - Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby

Atticus Scherer

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground - Willie Nelson Angel - Fleetwood Mac Fireflies (Live) - Fleetwood Mac This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads

Bridget Packer

Doses and Mimosas - Cherub Latch - Disclosure & Sam Smith Fight the Feeling - Mac Miller ft. Kendrick Lamar & Iman Omari Magic In The Hamptons - Social House ft. Lil Yachty

Emily Cheng

Boats & Birds - Gregory and the Hawk The Seed - AURORA Imagine - John Lennon Finally Free - Julie and the Phantoms Cast

Samantha Feldmeier

Weekend - Clubhouse The Less I Know The Better - Tame Impala parachute - John K You’re Not the Only One - Third World ft. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley

Text by ATTICUS SCHERER and ELLIE ROWELL • Design by SAM MUTZ

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