The Five: Winter 2020 by DAMchic Magazine

THE FIVE

WINTER 2020

THE FIVE

Letter from the editor As art, fashion, music, activism and many other elements of culture interact, there is potential to create an impact and push our sensory perception of the world. Sensory experiences often allow us to foster community and be a part of something bigger than ourselves. In this issue, the DAMchic team found inspiration in the five senses and used their own them as a jumping-off point for each creative idea. Through the amplification and quieting of specific senses, creative directors, photographers, stylists and writers expanded their visions into uncharted territory. Our attention to fashion translated “touch” into pillowed down jackets, lilac-colored fur, and tech wear ponchos. “Taste” and “scent” were activated through floral bouquets and fresh food. “Hear” was amplified through the use of headphones as an accessory. “Sight” led us to views of snow-laden forests, skateparks and rooftop vistas. Although some senses are more apparent than others, each is equally as important, as they work in unison to create a specific representation and reflection of the human experience. As usual, executing “The Five” wasn’t easy, it took problemsolving when the Grand Canyon was “too far”, snow tires when it started to stick and asking a lot of creatives to show up and “just go for it.” By having humility and embracing uncertainty, we have created some of the most beautiful art yet, and as our community continues to grow, our impact grows with it. To the team, thank you for planning what you could and leaving the rest up to fate. I am so proud, impressed and excited by the diverse experiences, passion, and strength that each one of you brings to DAMchic. This has been the best journey with you all and luckily we’re not done yet.

OLIVIA HARBAND E DIT O R - IN - CHIE F

Olivia Harband

Photographer: Montana Murphy

THE TEAM

EDIT O R - I N - C H I E F O L IV IA HAR BAND

A S S IS TANT E D I T O R M EAGHAN E VANS

L E A D P H O T O GR AP H E R L OGAN HOWE LL

DES I GN E D I T O R MAR A WE E KS

IL L US T R AT O R L ANIKAI YATOMI

CO N T R IB UT I N G D I R E C T O R S OR ION BIBE E R OMAN COHE N L OGAN HOWE LL E M MA J OHNS TON Z AHR A J OS E PH CHLOE KE HN VICKI LIANG RYAN NE LS ON PAIGE PHILLIPS J E S US R E Y E S A MNE E T S INGH ALE XIS S UAZO J E S SICA THOMPS ON L ANIKAI YATOMI

FR EEL ANC E R S /S T Y L I S T S K E L S E Y B IGE LOW J O CAR S TE NS E N A B D ULB AS IT HAR UNA B ELLA J OHNS ON J AY CE E KALAMA JE FFR E Y WU ALI FUE RTE D R AKE N R E E VE S

PHOTOGR A PHER S RAMZY AL -MUL L A MOHAMED AL SAIF CAMERON BL ACK NYJAH GOBERT LYANNA HOANG JON HOPPER L OGAN HOW EL L JACOB L AGMAY JACOB L E MONTANA MURPHY CL AIRE NEL SON INÉS PL ANCHENAULT OW EN PREECE SCOT T SCHMID JADE W EBST ER

CLOTHI N G

ADIDAS ASOS CONVERSE DR.MART ENS EVERL ANE GOODW IL L ISSEY MIYAKE JUNYA WATANABE MIL K SKAT EBOARD ST ORE NIKE OAK + F ORT SUIT E ZERO T HRASHER R UNWAY FASHION EXCHANGE ZARA

LOCATI ON S

TRYST ING T REE GOL F COURSE CORVAL L IS SKAT EPARK MIL K SKAT EBOARD ST ORE SNEL L PHOT O ST UDIO MARY’S PEAK S E OUL MET ROPOL ITAN SUBWAY PNWR W IL L AMET T E RIVER BRIDGE THE FAIR-HAIRED DUMBBEL L

Photographer: Montana Murphy

M ODELS

NEL SON ACOSTA MADISON BADGL EY MOMOKO BAKER JASMINA BAJRACHARYA KAN BASSI JUL IA BROW N JOSHUA BUBA JISOO CHOI JONAT HAN CUEL L O DEST INY F RANKL IN JACOB GAT ES JAMARCUS GRANT AL EX GILT NER T EPPEI MORI-GIL L ES ABDUL BASIT HARUNA CAL EB HENDERER CAT ERINA JARDINI EMILY KARIUKI DARREN KIM NICHOL AS L IN CAN L ING ROSE ET IENNE L IONNEL NEZ MBOUSYA RAE MA SNIGDHA MAL L ADI CHANT I MAÑON DUF F Y KAYT LYN NGUYEN DEBORAH BENJAMIN NSIEN GRACIOUS ORIAKHI W YAT T ST EVER JESSICA T HOMPSON T ENGKE WANG SIMONE W IL SON KEVIN W IL L IS IMANI W OL ERY JOYCE ZHOU

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FAIRWAY

TOUCH OF VANG

MILK

LACUNA

SOUNDS OF STYLE

FRESH OFF THE STANDS

COLOR FORM

SIMMERING ROOTS

BRAVING THE ELEMENTS

DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T TOUCH MY HAIR

STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES

WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING

Basit Coat: Amazon Jeans: Levis

FAIRWAY Timelessness is one element that every designer hopes to master, but few coats have remained as omnipresent as the puffer jacket

By Paige Phillips and Abdulbasit Haruna Photographer: Cameron Black Models: Destiny Franklin, Abdulbasit Haruna, Joshua Buba

Destiny Coat: Adidas Slacks: Forever 21 7

This pillowy form has stood the test of time, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success in both haute couture and consumer fashion exemplifies aspects of accessibility and exclusivity. This design puffs everywhere from the great outdoors to inner-city rap videos. It was created in 1940 by Eddie Bauer as a lightweight but survival-grade jacket to be worn on morning fishing trips. Soon after, the quilting innovation was patented as a method of securing the down feathers in place and preventing them from falling to the bottom seam. At the very same time, American couture designer Charles James was designing a jacket for a different kind of wilderness, the runway. Jamesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jacket was made of white satin and its volume was used to emphasize feminine curves. In 2016, designers like Raf Simons and Philipp Plein contoured the traditional puffer aesthetic by incorporating fur-lined hoods and glossy fabric finishes. In the more attainable brand realm, The North Face and Goldwin are crafting cushioned creations in the $180 range. In addition, streetwear heavyweights such as Vetements and SSUR have incorporated puffers into highly coveted collections. Not only does this prove that puffers are here to stay, but it also confirms that there is new ground yet to be explored at every tier and style. And so it was established that for this winter season the puffer jacket will reign supreme in the outdoor and high fashion realms, as well as every area in between.

Joshua Coat: Goodwill Thermal Top: Zara 10 Pants: Zara

Destiny Coat: Amazon Slacks: Forever 21

Teppei in a black cotton tank and Hysteric Glamour pants. There is emphasis in the contrast between the fabric of the cotton tank and nylon pants.

Darren in a

Rae in a Rick

Miyakeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pleats Please

Miharayasuhiro

Owens cotton

label, that hasmicro-

rayon button up

tank top over

with a silky -sheer

an Aritzia

texture, paired with

folding skirt.

Momoko wears Issey

pleating technology for uniform pleats. The flared silhouette of the skirt is emphasized with vertical lines of gathered pleats with a Rick Owens cardigan.

black trousers.

Touch of Vang Writer, director and photographer: Lyanna Hoang Models: Darren Kim, Teppei Mori-Gilles, Momoko Baker, Rae Ma, Kan Bassi

The beginning of a new decade serves a signal to designers to creatively explore concepts of gender and sexuality through avant garde textures, forms and silhouettes.

Progress has constantly marked each decade in new understandings about gender and self-expression. The touch of vang translates in Vietnamese to the touch of gold and is meant to envelop the idea of Asian representation in this constant progress. With it being 2020, this serves as a tribute to Asian designers who paved the way and continue to push boundaries. When examining these designers, we see bold looks that represent an advancement in terms of gender fluidity and Asian representation in the industry. Rei Kawakubo is the creator of Comme des Garcons headquartered in Aoyama district, Tokyo. Kawakubo’s brand goes beyond Japanese streetwear onto the international stage. What Kawakubo has done has allowed for the innovation of younger designers like Junya Watanabe, in the way she crosses into the avant-garde with no desire for conforming to the expected. In the Man for Men collection, Wantanabe experiments with unique fabrics, tailoring and complex draping and pushing past traditional male silhouettes into a region of the genderless form. Bold contrasting textures and nostalgic prints each piece tell a cohesive story that is occasionally interrupted by pops of bright hues. “I make clothes for a woman who is not swayed by what her husband thinks,” said designer Rei Kawakubo, adding “Comme des Garcons is a gift to oneself, not something to appeal or to attract the opposite sex.” This creativity and exploration of new silhouettes is a concept seen in many other Asian designers like Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake where streetwear is met with avant-garde textures and silhouettes to push back against the system of normal ideas of sexuality.

Kan wears a silk Issey Miyake button

Issey Miyake’s Fall/Winter 2015 Menswear collection in Paris shows sheer fabrics and flared scarves that add depth to menswear. Oppositely, Yohji Yamamoto’s Fall/Winter 2019 Women’s fashion show showcased non-traditional female silhouettes, draping thick black fabric to create boxy shoulders. This exploration of breaking conventional gender boundaries offers this new decade a more progressive and liberating way of looking at fashion.

up and Junya Watanabe checkered pants. The slight flair of the pant legs creates a slimming and clean silhouette following the contour of the button up’s casual, slender fit.

Milk

Duffy, owner of Corvallis’ newest skate shop “Milk” shares his perspective on the skate culture and it’s ability to foster community

Director and Writer: Ryan Nelson Photographer: Jon Hopper

Models: Duffy, Wyatt Stever, Jacob Gates

The atmosphere of a skatepark is electric with creativity, as people from every walk of life come together to pursue a collective goal: to have a great time riding around on a unique deck and to look fly while doing so. Not only is skateboarding an exciting and creative hobby but more importantly, it provides an opportunity for people to connect with a community of like-minded individuals. It is this aspect of skate culture that recently inspired a Corvallis local to transform a small storefront into a public hub for anyone interested in skating. A skateboarder by the name of Duffy recently helped open a skate shop a few blocks from the Corvallis skatepark in order to provide decks, parts, and support to the local skating community. The shop, Milk, opened its doors to the public last summer and celebrated with a party offering free pizza and beer. After almost a year, it’s safe to say the shop has accomplished much of what Duffy originally set out to do. In an interview with DAMchic, Duffy elaborated on his intent behind the project, expressing his dedication to renewing the local skate scene to what he once experienced growing up. “When I was a kid because I grew up here before I moved away, there were two skate shops here in town and there was, like, a really good scene. And then some of those dudes got older or fell off or moved down the road or something, so I’m just trying to bring it back around,” Duffy said.“I feel like the scene’s kinda been hurting a bit, just because it doesn’t have someone there standing up for it or trying to get the park redone or get lights to put down there; it’s like no one’s really on top of it, so I really wanted a base for that.” As someone deeply impacted by the early 90s hip-hop and punk rock, Duffy radiates authenticity, and the warm ambiance of the shop is a humbling reflection of his personality. “I just like getting clothes for free from all the skate companies… I mean if I’m getting it free, I’ll wear whatever color shoes or anything. And I don’t mind it, I kinda like standing out or looking a little different from other people. You go downtown and everyone’s kinda got this Peak Sports look, like dark, neutral colors, and I’m like standing out like a sore thumb with red shoes or a red hat, it’s just such a trip.”

In recent times, skate brand clothing has become increasingly popular, particularly from major labels that had their start in the ‘90s or early 2000s, like Supreme and Palace. When asked about the influence of fashion in skate culture, Duffy had some unique insights on the topic. “I mean, fashion’s kinda come into skateboarding a lot, and just thinking about running a shop or starting a shop in 2003 or ‘04 and all the buying and stuff with boards and all that. And then within the next few years, skateboard fashion started to come out and you were doing clothing buying… Just to see it all grow in the past 15 years is crazy, and just within the last few years, it’s totally gone into the mainstream culture. And people are wearing it not even knowing it’s skate, you know? People hate on Supreme and this and that, but it’s like, they’re just doing their own thing. They’re still a shop, they support their riders. It’d be like if all of a sudden, people were lining up out here for the clothes; you don’t control that, someone made it seem cool.” Duffy’s fresh approach to the Corvallis scene could be the root of his success thus far, recently unveiling new shop decks and hoodies featuring graphics by famed skaters like Mark “Fos” Foster and Todd Bratrud. Uplifting a new community of skate enthusiasts has allowed Milk to firmly identify itself with the small-town, big character feel of downtown Corvallis.

“You know, I feel like clothing and fashion spans age gaps and all that, because, like, college kids get hyped on it, and I’m in my mid-30s. Maybe I need to grow up or somethin’.” said Duffy Amid laughter, it was clear everyone in the shop could relate to the timelessness that comes with skateboarding and fashion. “It was more about supporting the younger culture to come up. I always wanted to film these huge parts, but it’s like, we have a team, I’m getting out, getting them hyped to go skate, you know [I’m] still skating, but I’m there to film those guys or build up their careers essentially. Coming back, I see a lot of friends maybe get into drugs because they don’t have the support. Whereas, [in bigger cities], it’s like all these kids, even when they quit skating, they’re like starting some company. You kinda get that idea to do your own thing, and I feel like skateboarding builds a lot of that for people, to just go your own direction or do your own thing.”

Duffy Hoddie: Milk Skateboards Deck: Milk Skateboards

For Duffy, skating is much more than just riding around a park and hanging out with the homies; of course, that’s a major part of the appeal, but it’s the people and the support that make the atmosphere so authentic. At the start of a new decade, a radical wave of skateboarding style could reinvigorate the community of Corvallis, and that is precisely what Duffy intends to inspire.

The strange feeling of being alone in a foreign place Shot in Seoul, Korea

L A C U N A Director and Writer: Emma Johnston Photographer: InĂŠs Planchenault Model: Jisoo Choi

There is a unique comfort in anonymity

Why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t I forget you and start my life anew; Instead of having sweet dreams about you?

26 Illustrator: Lanikai Yatomi

Stopping by woods on a snowy evening Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other soundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost

The Sounds of Style Director: Zahra Joseph Writer: Jo Carstensen Photographer: Jacob Lagmay Models: Deborah Benjamin Nsien, Rose Etienne Lionnel, TengKe Wang, Can Ling, Jasmina Bajracharya

Music and fashion have long gone hand in hand, music presenting genres as fashion presents countless styles that we use to make a statement. Fostering creativity and self-expression, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that these two art forms often merge to create new products and trends. The most popular of these trends started in 2013 when down the Milan runway, came the legendary Frends x Dolce & Gabbana Swarvoski headphones ($8,895). Since then, headphones have become a leading fashion statement and continue to rise in popularity. Airpods, the biggest trending flex, are the most recent addition to fashionable music accessories. Released in 2016, the wireless headphones peaked in fame last March. The best part about headphones and earbuds becoming the newest addition to the accessory league is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been easier to continue that daily routine of pump-up tracks without ruining your look. From athleisure to post-grunge, headphones can take any outfit to the next level no matter the aesthetic. On an edgier day, pair headphones with a beanie, leather jacket, and a band tee or get inspiration from the student-athletes and pair headphones with a puffer jacket and a pair of fresh Nikes. Pull out those colored headphones for a hip hop look and feature low rise jeans or sweatpants and a crop top. One can even create a casual spring style with an unbuttoned light shirt over a t-shirt, just add white Converse and matching headphones. No matter which look you decide to rock, adding your favorite playlist is 2020s next best accessory.

Nelson Acosta and Kevin Willis

Jamarcus Grant and Nicholas Lin

C Color olor FForm orm By Jesus Reyes

Stylist: Kelsey Bigelow Photographer: Mohamed Alsaif Models: Jamarcus Grant, Kevin Willis, Nelson Acosta, Nicholas Lin

Simmering Roots Culture in America is delicately connected by a singular piece of twine. Twine woven from silky strings produced from the elements of divine cultural traditions.

Director and Writer: Jessica Thompson Photographer: Logan Howell Models: Kaytlyn Nguyen, Jessica Thompson, Snigdha Malladi, Joyce Zhou Clothing: ASOS

What do Sinigang, Marsala, Egg Flower Soup, and Phốởall have in common? An intermarriage of ethnic food that assists people in experiencing foreign cultures. Food and culture are so intimately connected, as ingredients elucidate a shared identity, breaking bread with the national metaphor we conceptualize as the American melting pot. How did these dishes reach our community table? Chinese immigrants introduced bok choy to North America in the 19th century. The taro root has origins in Malaysia but is currently cultivated in Hawaii, tropical Africa, and China. And the light green, feathery, coriander has been used as an herb for over 5,000 years. Many of these ingredients are shared across the food of many cultures. Culture in the U.S is spread so thin we don’t even know where to look for it anymore. We pick it out of the cracks of the yellow pages when we are too lazy to cook for dinner. Race in America, according to the U.S Census Bureau can be categorized into six categories: white, black, Asian, Amerindian/Alaska native, native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and mixed ethnicity. That’s it. Some like to say America and its institutions is a cauldron filled with 40

Kaytlyn Nguyen

an abundance of simmering cultures. However, many believe this is a concept used to create a sense of nationalism, the promise that all immigrants can be transformed into Americans. This could lead to cultural assimilation as defined by Milton Gordon in his book “Assimilation in American Life”, describes it as “the gradual process whereby cultural differences tend to disappear.” In “Against the Melting Pot”, Anjali Abraham said the problem with the melting pot metaphor is, “it prevents the propagation of culture; it limits creativity and openness; it lessens the fullness of what living in this country entails, and it diminishes the need for greater crosscultural understanding.” This could mean that America is not a melting pot but rather a bento box, all on the same plate but not intermixing. This division doesn’t celebrate diversity but rather attempts to under shadow it. As much as I try to be worldly, the fact of the matter is, I am a Filipino and white and I will never be anything different. As hard as I try I will never truly know what it is like to be Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, African, Muslim or all the other ethnicities far and in-between. All I can do is harness my respect and try my best to educate myself on other’s experiences. Too many times have I been called out for not looking ‘Filipino enough,’ whatever that may mean, I reply that ethnicity is not a physical characteristic. To my understanding, ethnicity is about knowing the traditional meals, practices, characteristics, languages and religions. To truly diversify we need to breakdown these conceptions that a person must be a certain way to feel that sense of belonging. Society needs new visions of assessment that are inclusive of race, ethnicity, class, and gender.

Joyce Zhou and Snigdha Malladi

There is power in cooperation, sharing, helping and reconciliation. Studying different lifestyles and cultures can teach us something about the range of human potential.

Jessica Thompson, Snigdha Malladi, Joyce Zhou and Kaytlyn Nguyen,

Braving the Elements Director, Writer and Photographer: Owen Preece Stylist: Kelsey Bigelow Models: Gracious Oriakhi, Caterina Jardini, Caleb Henderer

Beyond the specialty materials used in techwear garments, understanding how to style an outfit is equally important. Techwear ranges from baggy and shapeless to fitted to everywhere in between. Balancing your fit and keeping everything proportional is key.

Base

Start with a base layer. In moderate climates, this could be as simple as a long sleeve shirt and a good pair of hard-working pants; something that moves well. If you live in a colder place, technical fabrics like polyester blends are a good way to go.

Mid

Next is a mid-layer. Depending on the weather this could be the most visible layer or it could be mostly hidden under a shell jacket. For comfort in cold environments, utilize highly insulating gear such as a down jacket or a wool sweater. Sweaters lean more towards “casual mountain man” but if you are interested in the urban genre of techwear, I suggest finding a lightweight mid-layer as these garments are typically geared towards performance activities and will have a more futuristic feel. If you need an exterior layer, cover your core with a Gore-Tex shell. For wind and light rain, a windbreaker can add a high-tech feel as well as extra protection from the elements but keeps weight and bulk minimal.

In terms of shoe choice, making sure your shoe’s profile isn’t too large or too thin will balance your outfit without giving the appearance of disproportionate feet. Thicker, wider-cut pants allow room for larger silhouettes like boots or a mid-height sneaker but make shoes that don’t fill the pant leg (e.g. Nike Air Vapormax) look small. If runners and next-to-skin shoes are more your type, look at tapered pants or three quarter length pants. To finish off a techwear look, a technical bag makes room for your essentials and adds volume to thinner areas in your fit: chest, back, etc. Crossbody bags, waist packs, and rolltop backpacks are all viable options.

Shell

Gracious wears lightweight vest, three quarter pants, Salomon shoes and trail gaiters

44 Caterina wears insulated vest, nylon pants, and faux leather boots

Caterina wears Gore Tex poncho, nylon pants, and faux leather boots

Caleb wears down parka with Dickies pants and Danner boots Caleb wears down parka featuring insulated scarf

Don’t Touch My Hair Director and Writer: Roman Cohen Photographer: Claire Nelson Models: Chanti Mañon, Emily Kariuki, Ines Mbousya. Julia Brown Clothing: Fashion Runway Exchange Lipstick: Cheekbone Beauty

“It is about hair, but it’s about the fact hair is not just hair.” - Jamé Jackson, writer at The Blonde Misfit

The forced manipulation of Black and Native hair is still being used as a form of oppression in an effort to assimilate individuals from their cultural identity using eurocentric values. During this time of political divisiveness from within the confines of the social and political systems of the United States of America, we see cultural strength for Black and Native communities held in the form of hair. This shoot is a visual reflection of the excellence and resilience of Black and Native hair.

Stop and Smell the Roses

The trend of falsely portraying anxiety and depression threatens the well-being of more young people than ever before. Director: Chloe Kehn Writer: Jo Carstensen Photographer: Jacob Le Models: Alex Giltner, Simone Wilson, Madison Badgley

Mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression, once a faux pas topic of conversation are now the subject of Netflix originals, top hit songs, and #relatable tweets. This normalization has brought an increase in comfortable conversation, welcoming open-mindedness and tolerance that once would have been considered impossible. However, what started as a shift to acceptance is diverging into a sense of identity. As the “sad bois” newest successor the “e-boi” takes the stage, this pop-culture wave of depressed mentalities paired with slept-through therapy sessions may be doing the real harm. Since 2013, the diagnoses of major depression among high schoolaged students (12-17) have risen by a whopping 63%, closely followed by college-aged students (18-35) which have risen by 47%. A recent study by Oregon State’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences found that 32% of Oregon State students have reported experiencing major or moderate depression. The immense increase in these numbers has gotten people talking. In the past, psychological tension was seen as correlated with delinquent behaviors rather than the chemical imbalance that research has found them to be. But recently, the topic of mental illness has evolved and is being portrayed as mainstream as the flu. By weaving mental health awareness into this generation’s pop culture it’s possible that this safe space we’ve created has some positives. A big change is how these spaces have allowed more people to share their stories. Even celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Ellen DeGeneres have spoken up about their mental health struggles. Nicki Minaj in a recent interview with the Cosmopolitan shared her story about depression and her suicidal ideations. “It was just one dead end after another,” she said, “At one point, I was, like, ‘What would happen if I just didn’t wake up?’ That’s how I felt. Like, ‘Maybe I should just take my life?’” said Minaj.

Alex Giltner

Society embracing this topic of mental illness has also allowed light to be shed on the lack of support and resources. When the diagnosis of major depression skyrocketed and started gaining public awareness, it was closely followed by an increase in support of government funding. Oregon hopped on board with the prioritization of mental health services, as communities drafted awareness proclamations, state leaders discussed policy changes to better the criminal justice system, and last October, Gov. Kate Brown issued an executive order to form the Behavioral Health Advisory Council. Council members focus on improving access to effective behavioral health services by advising the governor on legislation. Another aspect of normalization has trickled down to Oregon’s public high schools. Chad Foley, a health teacher at Corvallis High School recognizes this, saying “I certainly have noticed a prevalence of mental illnesses amongst teenagers today.” He felt the school had done wellproviding students with resources, especially as they transitioned into high school. One way they’ve addressed this is by expanding class time and making health class a year-long course instead of just a semester. “In doing so, this has allowed us to dive deeper into our health units (e.g. expand the mental illness/health unit) as well as provide opportunities to bring in guest speakers,” Foley said.

Simone Wilson

Madison Badgley

Mental illness, now an essential topic in health classes, is teaching our students the reality. Another recent movement in schools to address this issue is to treat absences for mental health days the same as physical health days.“As long as the absence is excused by their parent or guardian, they are all treated the same way,” Foley said. This statement sets a clear example to students about how all types of struggles should be supported whether you can see them or not. While the positives to this destigmatization can’t be ignored, some alarming negatives to this social milieu are rising to the surface. Often like a badge of honor, young adults find common ground in being malnourished, sleep-deprived, sedentary and feeling isolated. When opening Twitter, the first post on the feed reads “When your anxiety and depression play up at the same time; ‘what is this, a crossover episode?’” Eva Brattain, a second-year education major at Oregon State was diagnosed with severe depression and moderate anxiety during high school. “There’s always jokes and memes on Instagram about being depressed and having seasonal depression,” she says. Today it seems that social media has become an echo chamber that reinforces these trends of feeling sad and depressed to a point where the words are now used interchangeably. The depression jokes that float around social media, though a potential coping mechanism, can add to the already confusing world of determining one’s personal mental health.

Loneliness and sadness, both natural emotions, have become the staple of the media’s depression. “It would sometimes make me question myself, also. Like, I know I have severe depression because it affects my daily life but sometimes I feel like I’m wrong or I’m overreacting,” Brattain confessed. When Brattain first started seeing these jokes, it was “during the time that I was really confused” about what her illness meant, feeling that what she was experiencing was not the same as the “depression” she was hearing about and seeing among her fellow students. Despite other signs that can characterize differentiating levels of the illness, like lack of concentration, weight loss, and prolonged apathy, focusing on only this one aspect of depression can discourage those experiencing severe mental illnesses from opening-up. Brattain commented on the presence of depression on social media saying “nobody’s gonna hype up that they have schizophrenia or heart disease. I’m not sure why it’s different.” The reasoning behind the appeal of emotional instability is still unclear but from “sadboi music hour” to heartbroken Instagram captions, it seems that we have romanticized feeling isolated, blurring the lines between spreading mental health awareness and appropriating trendy selfdestructive aesthetics.

@DAMchicMagazine

The Five: Winter 2020