October Issue of Slick Magazine by HBHS Journalism

Slick. MAGAZINE

ADDICTED TO MUSIC

Contents

ON THE EDGE OF A CRAZY CLIFF

THE FLOOD OF CHANGE

FRANK OCEAN:BLONDE

DEDICATED TO SOULS

BACKLASH BLUES

KAVANAUGH TIMELINE

FIRST REFORMED FILM REVIEW

SECRETS OF THE IRON QUEEN

WHAT DISNEYLAND MEANS

YOUNG AMERICA

FRESHMEN SURVIVAL GUIDE

FUTURE VAMPIRE WEEKEND ALBUM

ATELOPHOBIA

THE CREATION OF A KILLER

IS TRUMP WORTHY OF OFFICE?

FAT SHAMING? I THINK NOT!

NINETIES FASHION

THE RISE OF K-R&B

WHAT FORTNITE DOES TO THE BRAIN

BEASTS OF BURGUNDY REVIEW

DARK INTERNET MEDIA

Hey You! Welcome back! We are so happy and proud to release our seventh issue of Slick Magazine. It has been such an amazing and enthralling process as our team of future and aspiring journalists have worked tirelessly to make groundbreaking and well-informed pieces. At the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, we recieved new additions to our editorial staff. We hope that as this school year continues, and as each issue is printed, we get to express the voices of the new generation. Here at HBHS Journalism, we have big plans and aspirations for our beloved Slick Magazine. This year, we decided to create monthly themes to inspire our journalists. This month’s theme was “The Catalyst.” Students were challenged to bring their attention to trends or forecast an event. Each journalist interpreted the theme to fit their own unique style. You can expect to see everything from political pieces to art analyses. We hope that Slick Magazine can represent a variety of voices and interests in our community. As you flip through the following pages, we hope that you are as happy reading it as we were making it. We are so proud to introduce our September/October edition of Huntington Beach High School’s Slick Magazine.

Candy Hart-Peratt

Dixie Chatt

Ally Brodmann

Gracie Briquelet

photography by: Grace Gillett

On the Edge Crazy Cliff of a By: Grace Gillett

“Mom. I just got into a car accident.” The bright girl who spent her days dancing around the house singing at the top of her lungs was gone. I had never been so filled with dread and terror before the accident. I felt that my life was pretty much perfect. Both my parents finally had stable jobs, I was just accepted into the show Cabaret, a show that my theater company would later take to Scotland. I finally had a good group of friends. Having the “perfect life,” I felt that I should not have anything to complain about and if something bad ever happened, it was my fault if I felt any remorse over the incident. I had just hit a car. The airbags were deployed and the front left side of my car was beyond repairable. As my feet touched the asphalt next to the car, I knew I would never be the same. My life was falling apart right in front of my eyes and I didn’t even know it.

I was trying to think critically and responsibly, but there are only a few things you can do and think while you are in shock. Once my mom came, she yelled at me to get out of the street. When I got to the sidewalk, I gave my mom a hug and started crying. I apologized for ruining the leggings that I was wearing and for the car. “Don’t apologize, these things just happen sometimes.” She lovingly and forgivingly assured me. “Go sit over there while I handle this.” I had to become self-sufficient. The day after my 10th birthday, my mom told my dad that he needed to clean up his act, so he left to better himself. Since I am the oldest, I had to help my mom take care of my brothers. Life for our family was rough, my brother and I were involved in extracurricular activities and all our money wasted on beer bottles, we had become a victim of the recession.

My mom got a third job and I started babysitting to help pay for movie tickets or dinner out with my friends. I had to become self-sufficient. The accident was the first time in years that I felt that I had absolutely no control of my life. I was a child again who needed my mother to help me do everything. As the tears started to pool on the ground the police officer came, cool and collected. He explained to me that since there was no serious injury it would not be necessary to write a report on the “incident.” My mom opened the door of her car and I sat inside. The warmth of the car felt like a hug from God reminding me that even though I may have made some mistakes he still and always will, love me.

As the tow truck towed my bronze PT Cruiser to our house, I started to shake as the event started to sink in. Once I got into my house, I asked my dad if I could stay home from school the next day. I wasn’t joking, but my parents sure thought I was. I took a shower, then went to bed. From then on, I always have to take an extra breath when turning left, especially when someone else is driving. I drive past those streets at least once a week. Almost like a memorial of my childhood. Looking back at some memories is hazy, but through the treachery, I would not have changed anything. It taught me that it is okay to be heartbroken when hurtful things happen. That just because some people could say that your life is “perfect,” that does not mean that it actually is. I am still learning today, how to accept my feelings and know that they are valid.

photography by: Grace Gillett

addicted to music. By: Angie Martinez

Without warning, music fills the void of our meaningless lives. One song can bring pleasure or sadness when endlessly repeated. The song ends; we’re grasping, desperately to feel the sensation once more. The feeling of wanting to dance, despite embarrassing yourself, the feeling of summer or perhaps the feeling of kissing someone under the drizzle of rain. Our lives are unnoticeably controlled by the tiny, plastic speaker in our ears. The impact of music passes over our heads. When it’s abruptly stripped away from us, everything essentially becomes different. We’re forced to live with the harshness of reality, no longer protected by the warmth of the music. The glorious soundwaves of music can make one’s creativity flow. Throughout time, music has always been helpful. In times of happiness or perhaps depression, music can always influence different types of people. Music has been proven to improve moods and help inspire creativity. It takes a certain kind of music to fully engage and transform a mood.

Music may not seem like something as materialistic as I’m describing it. Music does not hug you nor does it make you feel less alone. The meaning of music, for those like me who find themselves constantly in a trace, can understand the meaning of words with a basic beat in the background. When referring to addiction, most of us immediately think of drugs or alcohol. But behaviors such as gambling can also release dopamine. Music releases the same chemical which creates similar feelings from food, drugs and even sex. It’s been described as a “high” that the majority of us can feel. Taking away music can be like taking away a drug to some. I’ve spoken with various people of their so-called “music addiction,” always listening to similar problems. Recently, I spoke with a friend of mine, Charlotte Luthy. It had been more than two weeks since I had talked with her. Her voice was hesitant as she told me how she had been feeling.

Music has always been a key aspect of her life. Headphones constantly in her ears or falling asleep while listening to music, it’s always been there. From the start of high school to senior year, it’s been present in her daily commute. “I feel like I’m in this cycle of headaches. I’m constantly irritated and unmotivated,” she confessed to me, never looking me in the eyes. Her shoulders were slouched and I noticed the prominent bags beneath her eyes. Immediately becoming curious, I questioned her towards the subject. Continuing, she expressed the feelings of her recent and complex emotions. “There isn’t really a word to describe it,” she began playing with her earbuds, “I never feel enthusiastic anymore. I don’t feel like myself. People have started talking to me, however.” When hearing those last words, I felt confused. Coming to a sudden realization, it was an almost perfect silver-lining. She was no longer tethered to the wire in her ears. The absence of music had taken an extreme and difficult toll on her life, but she proceeded in saying, “I guess people have begun approaching me more. It’s weird. I’m not used to it.” Constantly having music blasting in her ears, it was a fence she had caged herself in. Without those metal bars, “protecting” her, she felt more open. Charlotte has always been a quiet person who never opened up. On the contrary, a classmate of mine is known as an extroverted person. A mop of bleached blonde hair, with dark roots growing, sits atop his head as he walks the hallways. His name is Jameson Jaksch and he’s usually seen with earbuds, blasting his favorite songs. When speaking to him about my article, he suggested I included someone that was the opposite of Charlotte.

He described someone who wasn’t introverted, or perhaps was known by many people. Right away, I noticed that his description fit him perfectly. He continued talking about his similar feelings to Charlotte. Instead of opening up and becoming more active in her social life, he mentioned how his side effects were different from Charlotte’s. “Personally, I close myself off when I’m not listening to music.” His back is hunched due to his height. I imagine him crouched down, knees to his chest, a glum expression on his face. I imagine the world going on with their daily activities but he cannot continue with the white wire controlling his life. Taking Charlotte’s ordeals, being addicted to music can be good or bad. Spending an endless amount of time listening to music and not being productive is clearly bad. Contrarily, if someone were to listen to music and spend the time doing something beneficial, it isn’t bad. Supposing, someone like Jameson, dominated by music, but socially active music is incredibly helpful. Trying to move along every day, music is the flow that carries the motivation to continue. Many people get confused when I first mention the idea of music addiction. They don’t seem to understand fully by the tilting of their heads or the furrowing of their eyebrows. “Is it a bad thing? Being addicted to music?” they continually ask me. Gathering the information, I’ve concluded that it all depends on the individual and the type of music they regularly listen. Music can be an amazing thing that will take control over one’s life. The temptation of music, dangling in front of the eyes of someone desperate, life can go wrong in many possible ways. But when it opens those same eyes, to be able to see the wonderful graces of life, it can make on do unbelievable things, good or bad.

By: Sarah Tran

Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Lana Condor, all are powerful Asian-American females, paving the way for younger girls like them through American society. Constance Wu is the lead actress in the newest movie drama/comedy Crazy Rich Asians (2018) which features an all Asian/ Asian-American cast and among them, supporting actress Awkwafina. In nearly 18 years for Asian-Americans, Awkwafina (also from movie Ocean’s 8) has announced that she will be taking over the night-time comedy show Saturday Night Live on October 6, 2018. Furthermore, Lana Condor is also an upcoming lead actress of her newest Netflix Original movie, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018). These three empowering women have built a remaining part of a bridge towards society so that they too can influence and include all females around the nation. Believing the impossible that is now extremely possible, the newest thriving spectrum for the face of change are Asian-American women. Crazy Rich Asians are the first film in over 20 years to appear in Hollywood that has centralized the focus of an Asian-American influence on society. Constance Wu, in her interviews with publications such as USA Today, highly “hope[s] Asian-American kids watch Crazy Rich Asians and realize that they can be the heroes of their own stories.” The film is more than a comedic romance and drama to entertain viewers, it symbolizes a new era in American culture.

So many of America’s population today involves the minority of Asian-American citizens, Crazy Rich Asians allows these people to not be ashamed of their culture and accept it as what it is and what it will always be. The film’s impact on society causes a movement that brings Asian-Americans justice and awareness to the American society. Awkwafina who is also featured as a supporting actress in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8 has taken her platform even further into revealing that she—an Asian-American actress, television personality, and rapper—has taken the handles of hosting Saturday Night Live. However, doesn’t this show do this all the time? Exactly. The impactful difference to all other take-over hosts that differ from Awkwafina is that she will be the first Asian-American woman to do so in nearly 20 years. She represents her culture and her youth by spreading the idea that this time, the 21st century, will be the growth of who can be able to also have a voice in this society. By utilizing her platform to be a vocal advocate for her culture, she identifies a milestone in her career, as it is extremely validating to be able to host Saturday Night Live to prove to the nation where she is and what she can become in her career. In many romantic films, viewers never expect to see an Asian-American woman as an actress playing the lead role of a film. The Netflix Original movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018), is a cheesy romantic-comedy about a young woman in high school on the quest for her true love and the turmoil she must face to find it.

photography by: Sarah Tran

the flood of CHANGE

This film defies all social norms usually portrayed in society from popularity to individuality. Lana Condor is this actress who even surprised herself when finding out that the main role is already portrayed in the view of an adolescent Asian-American girl. In her interview with Netflix, Condor expresses her thoughts on younger women like her to “never write [their goals] off because of the way that they look.” She signifies that receiving the lead role for the film was “such an empowering moment for [herself]” which sets Candor as an example of fulfilling self-worth for her viewers. Candor also asserts that “The opportunities are out there and [she’s] hoping that this film inspires Asian-American young girls,” to take their own stand for their future. She then expresses that girls “Can absolutely star in their own [movie].” Spreading her belief that it is never impossible to strive for an ambitious goal. To be able to find a standing ground and use it to the best of their advantages will never cease to amaze society, no matter what the topic is about.

The heavy flood of influence within American society today can be extremely difficult to manage and change. It takes every person involved in the movement for cultural diversity to spread awareness and believe in the cause they are pushing for. The strive for Asian-American lead roles in any place in society is something that should not be simply brushed off and ignored, it is a topic and revolution that matters to so many younger and older generations of society. To take an idea and lead it into greatness with a new face is truly a change that will go down in history, just like any life-changing historical events in America. From the many diverse women changing the way American society functions, there have been members who have stood up for their people and their culture to maintain rights they so truly deserve. There have been African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Native Americans, and so many more ethnicities—it is finally the turn for Asian/ Asian-Americans to fight for what they believe in. To fight for what they preach, in order to receive the recognition and equality they deserve, just like anyone else.

artwork by: Dixie Chatt

Frank Ocean’s

d n o l b ond: l b n o i t i b i h x E l ia

t n e t s i An Ex

rank Ocean’s Blonde has a complicated history. Blonde’s multiple delays due to Frank’s writer’s block contributed greatly to the dark nature of the album. After the massive amounts of fame Frank generated from Channel, Orange, it began to weigh down on him, and after a long string of tours and singles, he essentially went into hiding. For a while, no one heard anything from Frank, but after about a year, snippets of information came out on Frank’s Tumblr about his next project. All his fans had been eagerly awaiting news, and although the amount of information released from Frank was minimal, it said a lot. Frank mentioned his next album was heavily inspired by The Beach Boys and The Beatles, which made some fans excited, while others fearful. A couple months later, he released a fragment of a song titled “Memrise” on his Tumblr, which he said would be featured on his upcoming album. Ultimately, the song never made it on Blonde, but it is still very essential to the album. It was our first glimpse as to what the atmosphere of Blonde would generally sound like.

By: Jameson Jaksch

The percussion sounds like shoes cycling in a washing machine. The vocals in the last half of the song almost sound as if he’s weeping. The entire track sounds like being alone in a crowd or at the beach during sunset on the 4th of July. It is nostalgic and melancholic with its stripped down style. All seemed hopeful, and a lot of hype started to build for the album, until Frank, once again, went into hiding. For about a year, nobody heard a thing from him, and a lot of his fanbase joked that he had gone missing. Finally, in April of 2015, Frank announced his album would be released in July; however, this would prove false as the release date came and went without any explanation. After another year and a couple more teases, the album was finally released on August 20th, 2016.

I’d rather chip lose my mind ou Blonde has a very different flow and atmosphere when compared to any of Frank’s previous work. It’s obvious during the production of the album Frank was going through some sort of existential crisis, or possibly an identity crisis. Maybe even both. This shows in not only the lyrics but in the instrumentals as well; however, the evidence of a depression is clearly more apparent in the lyrics. The bizarre yet interesting thing about the arrangement of the instrumentals is how they perfectly accompany these lyrics. It feels as if one didn’t exist, neither would the other. A great example of this is in the album’s opening track “Nikes,” in which the keyboard swells, and the high pitched vocals remind me greatly of warm summer nights with friends, nights where we had not a care in the world.

The album fluctuates greatly with its theme and atmosphere. In some songs, it focuses heavily on youth and nostalgia, but in others, it focuses on growing old, mortality, and time. The great duality of life. We get a life to live and enjoy, but this life is also meant to be taken from us eventually. Duality might be this album’s biggest and most focused theme in actuality. Tracks like “Siegfried” ring true to this, a song in which Frank claims all these people look up to him and think of him untouchable -- a fantasy sometimes even Frank himself believes as revealed in “Futura Free,” when he sings, “I’m just a guy I’m not a God, sometimes I feel like I’m a God but I’m not a God.” In reality, he’s not as brave as some people percieve.

Another topic featured in this song and throughout the album as a whole is existence and mortality. Existentialism. In “Seigfried,” when Frank is looking out into the city, he realizes he could change his entire life, stop making music and sleep on the streets with the homeless. Something he sometimes wants to do to escape from all the fame and stress, though he realizes this prospect is a very difficult one for him to achieve. “Skyline To” is another sentimental cut on the album, which focuses mainly on nostalgia and time. He reflects on when he was younger and how infinite everything felt, but as the song goes on, he starts to realize he’s getting older, and things don’t really feel like they used to. “Summers not as long as it used to be, everyday counts like crazy” he sings, and this might be one of the most simple but true and heart-wrenching things I've ever heard. “Nights,” which is perhaps one of the most popular tracks from the album, is very important to it as well. The beat change featured halfway through the song also marks the halfway point of the album. Here there is definitely a change of tone. In the first half, it mainly focuses on relationships and youth, whereas the second half goes more into mortality, existence and heartbreak.

my pride than ut here. The song “Close To You” is one of my favorites in the second half. In this deep cut, Frank samples Stevie Wonder’s song of the same name. Frank adds his own spin though, where with Stevie’s version, the lyrics are upbeat and hopeful, Frank’s are moody, hopeless and depressing. The lyrics, “I run my hands through what’s left, but we’re getting older baby, don’t have much longer baby” weep with desperation; Frank knows it's over and knows there’s nothing he can do about it, except hold on to memories of what him and his lover had.

“Futura Free” has to be the most loaded and complex track on the entirety of this album. At first listen, the track might be a little out of place due to the nature of the almost freestyle-like performance, but I praise it and think it serves this track perfectly. The song acts as a finale, where Frank lets everything that has been plaguing him come out. At the same time though, it feels almost as if Frank is facing his biggest threat: himself. Frank talks about the simple things in life and how that’s truly all he wants. At the same time, he praises the music business and his fans, knowing that if it wasn’t for them he would still be working an awful job barely making minimum wage.

As the song’s instrumentals get heavier, so does the subject matter. The lyrics, “I’m going rapidly, fading drastically. Please give me immortality, or pull the zip down.” are my favorites on the entire album. Frank feels his life is going too fast for him to be able to keep up, he feels as if his fame is soon going to run out and everybody is going to forget about him. Because of the non permanence and briefness of life, he feels he should be granted immortality so he has time to do all the things he wants without limit. If I had to tell someone who’s never heard the album to listen to one song off of Blonde it would undoubtedly be “Futura Free.” It essentially packs every theme and topic throughout the album into one song. I can’t do this album justice by just talking about it because it truly is something you have to experience. Depending on the person you are and where you’re at mentally, this album could change your life. Do yourself a favor. Turn the lights off, put your headphones in, and drift off into another world that is Blonde.

photography by: Dixie Chatt

dedicated to You are a meaning that has been carried across generations. Something to cherish and something we hold tightly. You have been there since birth, before it and not at all, a dream we tell ourselves. Something to be marketed, twisted, improved, and broken. The basis for which we are, a symbol of our truest essence, the attributes we take and the people we could be. You make us who we are; you are our soul and you mean so many different things to us. Subconsciousness, passions, immortality, guilelessness, corruptibility and the root of our reality. In the face of death, you are our promise of salvation and damnation. You have been transferred between individuals, a collection of those before us, fractures of them placed in us. The reason why we act the way we do is you, the signals between our nerves. You are what carries our dreams to us in the night. You hide within our bodies; our collective energy is waiting to be released. Intangible emotion: a pure untouchable feeling. Our anger causes you to seethe, our sadness dims you, and our satisfaction lets you breathe. You make us do everything we would never conceive of desiring. A voice that murmurs in our ears when no one else is there. You represent the origin of our natural ambitions. The reservoir of aversion, appetite, demand, and, selfishness: you materialize us. We are one.

souls By: Carter Bernard

In the darkness of reality, we cling to an idea, that you signify something. You give us meaning and uniqueness. We feel ourselves trying to touch you, but the shell of our bodies prevents us. We want to see and feel you; we want to know you exist. Without you, what are we? Random? An accident? We can't believe it; we need you to be real. You are the reason we are this way; we can’t just be cruel, evil, and empty. We need you because if we don’t what does that mean for us? We need you, our soul, to be the reason. You, our soul, might not exist; you are flawed, beautiful, unique, corruptible, honest, and the idea that encourages us to move forward. That all may be valid, but you can’t mean anything without us. You provide the source of everything we are, yet without us you are nothing. We have no purpose but to exist. When the first signal ricocheted through our brains, we awakened. You were that signal, that instinct, and you still are. We may require you, but you belong to us, you are ours. We break our bodies and mind to be one with you, but we already are one with each other. You are our gracious gift, and we thank you for that.

artwork by: Grace Briquelet

l s k a c h a es u l B lo

z By: I

nel g A y

Listen carefully. Listen attentively to the infectious beat of the marches tied by pride. Left-right-left-right.Witness the people in the streets humming the beats of freedom. Leftright-left-right. Grand hymns taking away the overwhelming pain that is driving them insane. The people are not screaming; they are singing. Kissing the sky with their song, the people propose freedom, liberty, and social equality for all. Why won't they listen? No matter how loud our warriors demand, crooked politicians, companies, nor do ordinary people hear them. No matter how far they march, most people won’t listen. However, someone is listening. When someone recalls the Civil Rights Movement, the names Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks usually ring a bell. However, would anyone ever think of the names Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Odetta Holmes, and Sam Cooke? Or even these names accompanied by the words, an activist or the Civil Rights Movement? It was musical artists who plowed the message of the much needed social change into the mainstream. Presently, those soulful cries of freedom and injustice have inspired many modern artists, such as John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, U2, and Beyonce. Imagine being under the shoes of white supremacy slowly being crushed by social codes, racial restriction, and violence. Until finally, squish, the Jim Crow Law is passed. The only thing left is the residue of a broken down race. However, what one can learn from being reduced to rubble is that there is always a way to be rebuilt. As a race, that is what the African Americans did. The Jim Crow Laws appeared in the South soon after the American Civil War, during the end of Reconstruction. The Civil War may have prohibited slavery, but it did not prevent the southern states from placing laws that separated African and White Americans.

The new order enforced racial segregation, leading to more laws in which required the separation in schools and public transport. Ultimately, it reached the extreme of segregation in parks, cemeteries, theatres, and restaurants to prevent any interracial contact. Due to the racial division and oppression against African Americans, a fire began igniting. A blaze that had been building since the first slave realized that they deserved to be equal to the white man. This fierce fire exploded into a mass protest movement against the social and political prejudice these people had faced for far too long. This crusade is frequently known as the American Civil Rights movement. Well, how does music tie into it? During the Civil rights movement, music was used to maintain unity and raise spirits among the races. It was a way to spread the message and also to inspire, to keep shoving their way to peace and social freedoms. Activist and social rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. even described music as, “The soul of the movement,” in his book Why We Can’t Wait. When protesters grew weary during long gatherings, they relied on humming and singing to keep everyone content and united. Vocals were also frequently used to lower anxiety amongst the crowd throughout ceremonies. Initially, the soundtrack to their struggles was African spirituals and Christian hymns that slaves would sing during an enervate day’s work in the unforgiving sun. Soon however, various concepts evolved, leading to the inclusion of gospel, soul, folk, and jazz. With the inclusion of more popular genres of music, they began organizing concerts in order to fund the demonstration.

Ultimately, the crusade was successful with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This act stated any discrimination due to religion, race, or national origin was prohibited in the United States of America. Women were some of the strongest voices demanding freedom. Some of the most significant are Odetta Holmes and Aretha Franklin. On December 31, 1930, the woman who may have changed music during the Civil Rights Movement was born into a world of hate and segregation. Her voice became everyone’s; this woman was Odetta Holmes. Odetta’s music was favored by icons such as Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King and inspired fellow artists including Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and Joan Baez. She incorporated her folk roots with an influence of jazz, blues, and spirituals into her music. During a 1963 march in Washington, Odetta performed “Oh Freedom,” which is the song people recognize her for. Aretha demanded respect with every note hailed from her. When she released “Respect” it was evident that she meant what she thought. This anthem soon became a voice for the racial and gendered movements. In Franklin’s book, Aretha: From These Roots, she expresses the message, “It [reflected] the need of a nation, the need of the average man and woman in the street, the businessman, the mother, the fireman, the teacher-- everyone wants respect. It was also one of the battle cries of the civil rights movement. The took on monumental significance.” Freedom was apart of her and she became apart of it.

In October 1963, a youthful African man was arrested and thrown in jail after refusing to leave a “whites only” hotel which initially accepted his reservation. A few months later, the same person recorded, “A Change is Gonna Come,” a song about his experience. This man became one of the most active members in the civil rights movement. This man was singer/songwriter Sam Cooke. Cooke was a man who wrote about the world he saw. He absorbed the words and actions around him and transformed it into music. Cooke’s tenor voice lifted souls until he was killed in 1926; the midst of the Civil Rights Movement.

His career was long but his life was short. It was when he was a child that he began singing gospel professionally. However, when he began to outgrow it his success tremendously grew. Cooke branched out into R&B and pop, releasing his first single “You Send Me.” This song wrote his name across the top of the R&B and pop charts. This led to a windy road of talk show appearances, tours, and the good life of being a successful musician. Unfortunately, good things do not last forever. Cooke soon was face to face with the suffocating detriment of the south. His career could not help avoid it. Restaurants refused to serve him and his band. They traveled the road being hated, yet his audiences grew to be more and more white. Cooke’s shows became segregated to the point where police were present, walking their search dogs in the aisles of the black side of the audience. This angered him. This lead to a show at Ellis Auditorium and another divided audience. Cooke refused to play unless the crowd was mixed, and the venue refused. Two hours before the beginning of the show, he canceled. This created a ripple. Soon other artists took a similar stand. Going back to the day at the hotel. This experienced had awakened something inside him. A spear of anger ripped opened his soul and out poured a dream. The inspiration for “A Change is Gonna Come” actually came from one of Cooke’s dreams, and it was the only one of his songs that did. He felt it was the greatest thing he has ever written, and spent about a month perfecting it before he hit the studio. The song was so different from Cooke’s usual classics, but once it hit the music scene it changes the Civil Rights Movement forever.

Sometimes one must put their beliefs before one’s career, and the Civil Rights movement caused many to do that. One woman was changed forever. Ms. Nina Simone’s eyes wander across the pale faces looking up at her. It’s 1964 and the ivories are ready to be tickled. Introducing her most recent song, their expressions changed when she began singing the words, “Alabama’s gotten me so upset. Tennessee made me lose my rest. Everybody knows about Mississippi, Goddam!” This song, ‘Mississippi Goddam,” had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. However, this song had been brewing inside her since youth. Simone did not want to be a Jazz pianist. She yearned to be the first African American classical pianist gracing the world with her renditions of Bach and Beethoven. Simone attended Julliard, an extremely prestigious music academy, and prepared for the admissions process of the Curtis Institute of Music. Simone was unadmitted, but it was not until later she realized it was because she was of color. Thereafter, Simone began playing in bars. One day, her boss threatened to fire her if she did not also sing; hence the birth of her career. No amount of discrimination could turn her away, leading Simone to attract a largely white audience. She felt she did not belong. Until the Civil Rights Movement emerged, this provided her a chance to be her own kind of unique. Simone was furious, embracing the movement with a force of anger Simone wrote her anger into an exquisite song. Due to the content, “Mississippi Goddam” was blacklisted, and it was banned in the south. The people who supported her censored her, but she gained the love of the people striving to make a difference. Simone was a gifted and outspoken woman who wanted a new life for the minorities in America. Simone did not sell out, but she learned more about herself.

If it was not for the events that happened from the 1950s to the 1960s, life would be highly different. Now we have chart-topping musicians from all different social and ethnic backgrounds. As a musician, I play in the school programs with people of every type of background. It’s amazing how the faces of music can evolve in such a short amount of time. Yet, artists are still struggling when it comes to social causes. Many of our modern musicians are vocal about their views and continue to fight for them just like musicians from the civil rights era. One woman, born from a long line of slaves has become one of the voices of this musical generation. She has faced backlash, such as people calling her performances “racist,” describing her as “unapologetically black.” Beyoncé is a musician in recent years has shown both her African American empowerment and women empowerment. She incorporates these ideas and beliefs into her music and sold out shows. Beyonce’s words and visuals are poetic as they challenge the recurring racist, and sexist elements occurring in the U.S. People protested her Superbowl show: a tribute to the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles of minorities. Hear the heartbeat. Bump Bump Bump. Every heart has a rhythm, making us all similar. We are all human with the base of music running through our veins. The only thing stopping the harmony of the world is the recurring aspect of people thinking they are above others. There are current movements fighting for the social and political change. Black Lives Matter, Me Too, the Feminist Pro-Choice Movement, and the Anti-Islamophobia Movement, just to name a few modern equality campaigns. The reality is that we are all human. No matter skin color, ethnicity, race, religion, or background. The world is a melting pot and it is anyone’s for the taking.

artwork by: Grace Briquelet

Kavanaugh’s Nomination-C

An in-depth analysis on the Dr. Christine Blas

By: Grace B

July 9, 2018

July 30, 2018

Augu

Brett Kavanaugh is announced as the nominee for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by the Trump Administration.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein receives a letter from Christine Blasey Ford, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by Brett Kavanaugh in high school. Ford requests that the letter is not released publically.

Iowa S announ hearin

September 26, 2018

September 23, 2018

Julie Swetnick comes forward with a 3-page declaration, signed “under penalty of perjury,” that in high school, Kavanaugh would drink excessively and “engage in abusive behavior” towards girls. She adds that she has “a firm recollection of seeing boys lined up outside rooms at many of these parties waiting for their 'turn' with a girl inside the room. These boys included Mark Judge and Brett Kavanaugh.”

Deborah Ramirez comes forward and accuses Kavanaugh of exposing himself at a dorm party.

O a D C

September 27, 2018

September 28, 2018

Kavanaugh and Ford testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kavanaugh denies Ford’s allegation. Both of their hearings are very emotional.

The Senate Judiciary Committee advances Kavanaugh’s nomination. A one-week FBI investigation on the allegations against Kavanaugh is announced.

October 3, 2018

James Roche, Kavanaugh’s colleg from freshman year, is interviewed derson Cooper from CNN. Roche st he “knew [Kavanaugh] was lying b was his roommate” in regards to K drinking habits and use of sexual l

s Timeline: Confirmation

e Brett Kavanaugh and sey Ford case

Briquelet

ust 10, 2018

September 4-7, 2018

September 12, 2018

Senator, Chuck Grassley, nces that the confirmation ngs will begin September 4.

Kavanaugh testifies at his confirmation hearings before the Senate. The allegations from Ford are not yet mentioned.

Dianne Feinstein sends Ford’s letter to the FBI.

September 21, 2018

September 16, 2018

September 14, 2018

Over 75 women hold a press conference at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C to show their support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Ford allows her name to be released when she is interviewed by The Washington Post.

The New Yorker releases an article about the allegations, keeping Ford’s name anonymous.

ge roommate d by Antates that because he Kavanaugh’s language.

October 4, 2018

October 5, 2018

Information attained via investigation is released. Kavanaugh’s Georgetown Preparatory yearbook from 1983 is published online. On his personalized yearbook page, he references drinking and partying.

Senate holds cloture vote; he has enough support to be confirmed.

October 6, 2018 A final vote is held, and Kavanaugh is sworn in as Supreme Court Justice.

A FILM THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE By: Cole Clark

he initial moments of First Reformed are black. Titles appear, but the screen remains black. Then, near the top of the screen there is a ray of white light that could be reflecting from the projector. The shot continues and the theater brightens as the film fades into a lethargic dolly shot towards an unnamed church, the whimper of light now visible as the steeple’s cross. Titles read from left to right in the old Hollywood style, covering the entire screen. There is familiarity of well known actors’ names as the building comes closer into frame. Then, the first cut. Director Paul Schrader’s twentieth film is best described as a meditation on a man alone, a theme Schrader has dealt with before in his writing of films like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, both of which deal with men who feel isolated and lash out as a result.

In First Reformed, the violence is calmer, more connected to reality than Schrader’s recent work; it is in debt to the life story of Jake LaMotta, in which a man becomes obsessed with earning back the favor of the universe and travels to absurd lengths to regain it. In Raging Bull, LaMotta was driven by his desire to win, to be the respected boxer he knew he was. First Reformed flips perspectives and focuses on a man disillusioned with his life, job, and relationships. It takes the suicide of a polarizing friend to awaken his youthful musings on the hypocrisies of the Christian Church. For Schrader, this is a revelatory story that draws heavily from his own life and experience as a filmmaker over the last forty years.

Amanda Seyfried First Reformed \ Photo: A24 \2018

The photography of First Reformed is specific. Cinematographer Alexander Dynan, who worked on Schrader’s previous film Dog Eat Dog, shoots the film in Academy Ratio or 1.37:1. This gives the film its box-like quality seen in many classic Hollywood films, and while it’s not unheard of to shoot this way, it is unorthodox for a director who’s last two pictures were bloated Nicolas Cage action flicks. In comparison, First Reformed is a glimmer, a light peeking from behind a pile of lesser films. It is the opposite of minor; in fact it may be Schrader’s finest work, certainly of this century. Each frame presents itself as a blank canvas, ready to be splattered and painted over vigorously by Schrader and star Ethan Hawke’s talents. Hawke’s dynamic range turns a tense conversation into the turning point of the film while the camera watches in angst. Each shot, two dollies aside, camera resting in the corner, taking it all in, making the audience bystanders to the uncoupling of a man’s psyche and logic.

After two hours and an absurdly violent finish, First Reformed takes a last great risk in its ending. Reverend Toller’s (Ethan Hawke’s character) plan to kill those attending the First Reformed church’s 250th Anniversary Reconsecration using a suicide vest is thwarted by the arrival of a woman. Mary, played by Amanda Seyfried, was the wife of Toller’s friend whom he witnessed die. She senses something wrong and confronts Toller in his chambers, to his befuddlement. What to do? Go through with the plan to avenge the needless death of his friend and risk killing his widow or abandon it all and risk coming apart at the seams? She appears in the frame as if she has always been there, and suddenly Toller’s thoughts shift. All ideas of death leave his mind as he turns toward her and the two embrace. The camera follows Toller’s whirlwind of shattered expectations by spinning around the two at a quick pace, and for over a minute it moves, lulling us into their surprise instance of euphoria; in one moment, all of Toller’s plans have been erased, and his search for companionship has come to an end. Then, black.

“ IT’S THE MOVIE

Ethan Hawke First Reformed \ Photo: A24 \2018

I ALWAYS DIDN’T WANT TO MAKE. ” - Paul Schrader, 72

The camera is in mid-twirl, and the film is over and the music is gone. Credits appear, and First Reformed joins a growing list of recent films cutting off in the midst of their climaxes (see 2017’s Lady Bird). It’s a bold move, no doubt, but one that is becoming more and more commonplace in cinema; it takes something unexpected to stand out. Where Lady Bird concluded on the symbolic final breath before adulthood, First Reformed ends in its most crucial moment. Why, then, does Schrader terminate his most gloriously experimental film in decades prematurely?

First Reformed is so steeped in despair that a hopeful ending seems too much to ask for, yet Schrader allows a glimpse of one. Something within him is fighting this film, the darkness of his spirit conflicting with the last glimmers of life. In a conversation for the A24 podcast between filmmaker Sofia Coppola and Paul Schrader, Coppola asked Schrader if this was a film he always wanted to make. “It’s the movie I always didn’t want to make.”

Secrets of The Iron Queen By: Moses Sandoval photography by: Moses Sandoval

The famous and legendary Queen Mary was named after the Lady herself, the wife of King George, the V according to the Queen Mary website. However, legend has it that the ship’s name was unintended to be so. The board of directors at Cunard Ship Line wanted to name the ship, Queen Victoria, thus keeping it in the tradition of the Cunard ships having an “ia” suffix. The legend states the directors asked the king for his blessing of the ships proposed name. “We have decided to name our new ship after England's greatest Queen,” they had said. The king responded with, “My wife (Queen Mary) will be delighted that you are naming the ship after her.” However, they meant Queen Victoria, the king’s grandmother, but the name Mary stuck. The Queen Mary retired from sea as an active liner in 1967.However, the legendary ship is now more famous than she had ever been before, now an iconic Southern California Attraction, hotel and a venue for special events. While in her prime, the Queen Mary was able to transport 2.2 million passengers in times of peace, and during the Second World War, she was able to transport 810,000 Military personnel. Now, she rests in the harbor of Long Beach, California. An estimate of 50 million people have visited, and on Saturday, October 4th, 2018, I, Moses Sandoval, and my digital journalism crew will visit this legendary ship as well.

The Spooky Stuff As far as facts go, the Queen Mary is said to be one of the most haunted places in the world. Personally, after my trip, I didn’t feel “haunted.”I walked through her enormous engine room and felt no other presence, other than those of my crew. I honestly can’t say I genuinely believe in the horrors of the night such as ghosts. There is always that sense in maybe, just maybe, but it hasn’t been exposed by science. The haunted thing to me at least is just a way to bring in customers. The only time I felt a sense of fear was when I walked through one of the vast corridors of suites and heard a faint scream off in the distance. Granted, it could have been one of the passengers at the time, but even so, why would they have screamed? One night, while the chef on board was sleeping, a couple of soldiers who disliked the cooking decided to grab the chef and stuff him in the oven. In the end, he was cooked alive. As far as screams go, they must have been those of the young girl named Dana, as she watched her mother and two sisters being strangled to death by her father, and later being shot to death herself by him as well. Her father later killed himself as well. The poor Dana was found bloodied next to her father in the bathroom of room B-474. This room is open to the public today.

The first class pool is also a source of haunting. It’s scary enough due to the aesthetics of having cracked floor tiles and rusted walls. After giving it a quick peek through the doors, I felt bad for the condition of the pool. There is said to have been a young girl who drowned in the pool; people have said to be able to hear splashing in the empty pool, as well as two young ladies in 1930s swimming suits. If you see them, be sure to give them a wave. After hearing and reading some of the stories come to pass, I haven’t been able to look through some of the footage that I have accumulated on my time aboard. Mainly in my laziness, but also in fear of finding something paranormal in these videos. Although she is a famous ship of frights and scares, I felt complete ease, almost as if I were at home. It was probably due to the thought of her truthfully being unhaunted, and more of a hoax to bring believers of the paranormal through her iron exterior. Video blogs like those of Shane Dawson, Sam Golbach, and OmarGoshTV, tend to fume the flames of the “haunted” Queen Mary. Her Beautiful History On September 26, 1934, The RMS Queen Mary was launched and she graced the seas with colors of red, white, and black. Three years after her launch, she set a speed record, which she held for a good 14 years.

However, in the year 1939, she docked in the city of New York. This was the last time she would have been able to transport any civilian passenger for quite some time. As World War II began taking place, the Queen Mary began her transformation into a troopship. Her luxurious amenities were stripped, and they painted her a camouflaged grey color. The Queen Mary was the largest and fastest troopship sailing the seas and was capable of transporting about 16,000 fully armed troops at an average of 30 knots. She was rapidly dubbed the “Grey Ghost” due to her stealth and stark color. After World War II came to an end, the Queen Mary began a 10-month retrofitting process, which helped return the ship to her former glory. On July 21, 1947, the Queen Mary began resuming her regular passenger service across the Atlantic Ocean. She continued her service for nearly two more decades. The era of the Queen Mary came to an end, as the popularity of air travel inclined. By the year 1965, the entire fleet of the Cunard operated at a loss and it was decided that the legendary Queen Mary would be sold. On October 31, 1967, the Queen Mary began her final cruise and arrived in the city of Long Beach, California, on December 9 of that same year. She has since called Southern California her home. Now, the Queen Mary is a floating hotel, attraction, and event/wedding venue. She is home to three world-class restaurants and an icon in Southern California. All in all, this majestic ship is a real beauty.

photography by: Moses Sandoval

WhatDisneyland Means to People By: Sheldon Stires

Summer of 1955, women's heels sunk into the freshly poured pavement while they waited hours for the drinking fountains. Disneyland was just about to become a reality. People predicted the worst for Walt Disney's dream. Still 63 years later, Disneyland thrives and every year it just gets even more magical. Disneyland has become a cultural icon for most people who live in Southern California. Specifically being, the magical place where they can let go of any struggles they're having and simply have a good time. Over the years, Disneyland has become more than just a tourist destination. For many, Disney has become their home. A place where they can take a break from the harshness of the world. Without missing a day for five years, Jeff Reitz from Huntington Beach, California, comes to Disneyland as soon as the work day finishes. I sat down with a woman who has been going to the parks since the 60s to talk about how her life has changed because of Disneyland.

Her childhood was filled with endless visits to Disneyland and she grew up in the park. Her favorite pastime was waiting for Fantasmic and to see the crowd from around the Rivers of America waiting for the show to start. She's made many friends whom she has met at Disneyland who have become like family. The evolution of Frontierland has become her all-time favorite change. When she started going to the park, there were pack mules to ride and now you can ride a high-speed roller coaster. If anything, she has become thankful for all the time she has spent with her family and making memories with her kids and now her grandchildren. To this day, she is still very excited about going when she can and will continue to do so until she no longer can. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will never not come to Disney even though how much it has changed or even if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the change. This is home to me.â&#x20AC;?

photography by: Dixie Chatt

The unique atmosphere of Disneyland has become special to those who regularly visit. People have come from halfway across the world just to experience the magical realm that is Disneyland. Where else in the world can you fight with pirates, go through a castle, and scale Matterhorn mountain all in one day? Personally, I believe what keeps people coming back is the multiple memories that have been created. Thousands of people walk through the gates every day, yet to some people, Disneyland really is one of the most magical places on earth. Everyone seems to think that you have to be a child to enjoy Disneyland. If this were true, why would people keep coming back time and time again? People just tend to grow a personal connection to the park and many can see why.

Disney movies have been seen all over the world and are still continued to be seen by the following generations. Eventually becoming the primary stepping stone of Disneyland and over time, it has built value to people always bringing them back Disneyland, when looked at is really what started tourism in Southern California. Before it was built, Anaheim was a barren farmland with dirt roads and nothing to be seen for miles. When Disney first showed up, everything changed. People wanted to see what was inside and their curiosity still blossoms to this day. Even today, thousands of people still gaze upon Sleeping Beautyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Castle waiting for their journey to begin.

young America wALKING WITH EQUALITY By: Angelina Sotelo

photography by: Angelina Sotelo

The United States of America is a country of controversy, scandals, freedom, and civil right. She is a country of shining eyes and bruised skin, and whatever side of the political spectrum you identify with one thing is obvious: there is change that has to take place. America is the land of the free and home of the brave. Why is it that we, still in this year of 2018, are seeing a rise in parts of history the country has worked so hard to flee and disassociate with? Without argument, racism, anti-semitism, white supremacy, and corrupt government is alive and well within these states. Although they are on a slow declination, these inhumane ways and ideals need to finally stop. Yes, social equality is an improbable, far-fetched dream, but it can be pulled closer. The distance can lessen with only the minds of each person who is willing.

American rallies for these hate groups have become a reality once again, springing up and showing themselves to the world. In 2017 and again in 2018, “Unite the Right” rallies have taken place in Virginia and Washington, D.C., where white supremacists gather and march through the streets declaring their views. Free speech and expression will always be a strong and important principle held in the name of this country, but when situations get out of hand, and people begin getting affected in a damaging way, things need to be addressed immediately. Events like the death of anti-nazi protester, Heather Heyer, in the Charlottesville, Virginia rally need to be prevented from ever happening again. We can no longer let these incidents go on and not do anything to help the issue.

Nazi Germany was founded in 1933. A man came to power, manipulated a hopeless country, and used them to create one of the world’s most tragic genocides. Men, women, and children were slaughtered in broad daylight with hate as their cause of death. The Americans liberated their first concentration camp in 1945. The Holocaust is taught about in schools, shown to the children of this country as a massacre, and spoken about with low eyes and glum expressions. International Holocaust Remembrance Day, January 27th, is now a standing worldwide memorial day. The last of the Holocaust survivors are fading away and forced to witness a new surge of this era, peaking its way through the cage so many have sacrificed themselves to construct. The neo-nazi movement has resurrected from the corpse of the once-tolerated ideals of the past.

These unjust events are happening from border to border, at all times, from larger organized occurrences, to a substantial amount of hate crimes. The solution to the problem is simple in theory; however, it will not be easy. Our job is to advance as a people and move toward a distant goal of equality in all aspects. The “Unite the Right” Rally incident’s moral right or wrong is probably plain and simple to some people, but in many other events the line blurs and that is where people need to look deeper. The youth in this country is the answer. We are the people most capable of change. We have less tainted, less biased thinking. We are a diverse group of new thought, and potential power if we just know how to use it. This generation can compose the hands directing which way America steers its hull.

Although, that is not possible with the large absence teens and young adults have had in politics yielding their authority to whoever does choose to speak out. According to The National Public Radio, the voter turnout in the 2016 presidential election held strikingly low for Millennials with only 46% making an appearance compared to the Silent Generation (people born between 1925 and 1945), who in their time, showed a 72% voter percentage. Many disregard politics because of one thing: they think it merely does not concern them. The truth of the matter is that these events, these polls, these laws shape the very future we are building block by block.

The smallest of actions that could be taken is discussing matters with other people. This brings more people into the nationwide conversation and in turn, helps them grasp the situation and shepherd them on the course to identifying themselves in the matter. Gaining natural rights to be able to speak out as an individual has been a long and progressive road full of leaders directly giving themselves to us. We cannot let that deteriorate. We have to say for ourselves, for the people of the past and people of the future, that we will uphold the expression of the word humanity and that we will defend it in all power and see to it that we become a part of something larger than ourselves.

By just taking the time to thoroughly think through current events, we are creating a country of consciousness. Consciousness is ultimately the awakening of being aware of what is happening in the world around you, not only in the smaller realm, but also the broader image. In an age of technology at each turn of the head, it’s becoming increasingly harder to not be influenced by the bombardment of ads, propaganda, and the warped, alternate world that is the internet. By freeing the tethers of the government, parents, schools, and systems making your mind for you, you free yourself. To set aside your own mind to decide completely for yourself the way in which to think, the first step to developing as a people has already been taken.

In the same respects, one foot must follow the other. In order to make change, you must be conscious. The younger generation needs to be aware and gain the gift of knowing moral and ethical right and wrong. Liberating the mind brings another step of awareness toward finding a place within societal matters. The younger people in America are the next generation, but is it a generation that will challenge injustice and continue on the path to equality our leaders have given us the opportunity to fight for? Many of us have the means to affect society in one way or another. We have been dropped on third base by the luck of the draw. Run home. Understand your own opinions, talk to people about them, and if you are over 18, vote. Know for yourself what is true, say what you believe, and effect something much larger than yourself. With people at our side, with eyes fixed on what’s next, with present minds, and with steady hands, we are the future.

The next advance in finding a niche in worldly matters is taken by expressing opinions. Desmond Tutu, a human rights activist, famously explained that, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” If there is a clear and definite line to you between justice and injustice in a situation, taking action is the answer to slowing the side in the wrong. If people remain idle to what is going on around them, the outcome will be in favor of the oppressor at the sake of the oppressed.

photography by: Angelina Sotelo

we are the change

â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are the people most capable of change.â&#x20AC;?

we are the change

n e m h F res SURVIVAL GUIDE By: Lilly Vu

DO’s: - Know where you classes are located without needing a schedule. - Ask for help. - Actually do your homework. Teachers are here to help you. - Check canvas daily/stay ahead. - Do homework ahead of time. Don’t procrastinate because you’ll struggle. - Pace yourself and have a good time! - Always bring a charger + headphones. - Understand that your best friends can/will change as you go through high school. - Get all your homework turned in on time. - Sleep. Going to class with 3 hours of sleep and getting called while you’re dozing off is totes not lit. - Manage your time wisely, especially with extracurricular activities. - Stay organized, and, if you're not the best at it, ask for help so you know where everything is. - Figure out a plan of what you’re going to do after high school. - Have your personal morals and don’t fall under peer pressure.

DONT’s: - Get hooked on harmful substances. People won’t think you’re cool and trendy. - Stress too much. - Think too hard about silly things. - Get involved with the wrong crowd (drugs, drama, etc.). - Ditch class. - Become friends only with people older than you. - Be lazy. - Put off your work. - Make bad decisions. Think of the consequences you’d face. - Be annoying. - Procrastinate. - Date.

August 28, 2018 (day before school starts) Sigh. Today marks the day summer officially ends. The thought of starting high school made my eyes tear up like an edgy teen listening to “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. To ease my near-crippling depression, I began to drown my sorrows in YouTube, as I was too poor to get Netflix and fit in with my rich, white friends. Then suddenly, my last three brain cells came to a startling realization: I had a summer reading assignment. My heart starts pounding 10x’s faster than usual, nearly putting me into cardiac arrest. At that moment, all that came to my mind was, “Man, I really screwed myself over with this one … Alexa, play ‘In My Feelings.’” September 20, 2018 So far, I’m at an all time low. First period MUN is always exhausting. No one’s ever fully awake first period, therefore making it twice as hard to perfectly recite a speech without forgetting what you memorized. Everyday starts off with a highly intimidating lecture about what we’re doing wrong with some inspirational quotes from Mr. Haney along the way, such as the all-time classic, “You’re not stupid. You’re just dumb.” To put it simply, joining the MUN program was a huge mistake and I want to jump off a microwave. October 1, 2018 At last, the first 2 months of high school are over with. What a relief … only another 8 more months of freshman year to go.

On the bright side, I’ve made more friends along the way and can actually remember my class schedule now. MUN is slowly becoming more likable, mainly because we have a class group chat on WhatsApp with our senior teachers that has absolutely nothing to do with MUN. The group chat was what really brought us all closer together as friends. I mean, we all have the same goal … to be better than periods 2 and 4. Overall, these past 2 months have been pretty stressful, yet somewhat enjoyable at the same time. To be honest, I’m looking forward to the rest of the first semester and continuing the second semester to see what new adventures I will have in the months to come. Writing these entries and picking the best ones to feature in this month’s article is an amazing privilege to have and a wonderful outlet to process my thoughts. Due to the indispensable things I’ve learned about myself while writing these occasional snippets of my life, I want to tell my fellow freshmen good luck and we got this!

artwork by: Dixie Chatt

the future

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

album By: Natalie Han

,,,,

It has been four years since the critically acclaimed band, Vampire Weekend has released their last album, Modern Vampires of the City (2013), which was both praised by critics and listeners alike. Until recently, the band had been on hiatus and relatively quiet, seldom updating their social media. Now, the band has been religiously having “Seinfeld Sundays” which features Seinfeld-themed memes about the band, and have been playing gigs such as Lollapalooza in order to prep for their new album which is now said to be done and in the process of mastering.

The other members like Chris Baio were able to release his second album, Man of the World (2017), under the name Baio, along with drummer, Chris Tomson, debuting his album Youngish American (2017) for his solo project, Dams of the West. Ezra Koenig (singer) branched away from music and instead started a Beats 1 podcast called “Time Crisis” and created “Neo Yokio,” a Netflix original cartoon starring Jaden Smith.

During the hiatus, key member Rostam Batmanglij left the group to focus on his own solo career and has since then worked with names like Frank Ocean, Hamilton Leithauser, and Declan Mckenna and created his album, Half-Life (2017). Vampire Weekend can be compared to the alternative rock band, the Arctic Monkeys. Both bands were large in the alternative scene during the late 2000s, released albums in 2013 (AM in the case of the Arctic Monkeys), and then went on hiatus. This year, the Arctic Monkeys released their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, which had a new and more alluring sound than their past discography. When listening to the album, I was a bit disappointed and found the majority of the tracks forgettable. I was not alone and other listeners voiced their distaste in the direction the band was taking itself. This is a recurring theme for the Arctic Monkeys since they have pattern of changing their sound each album to evolve as a band. Vampire Weekend will undoubtedly go down this route as well to grow as a band and need to define it’s sound again after the departure of Rostam Batmanglij.

Throughout the years, the band has only released small hints about their upcoming album which is being dubbed Mitsubishi Macchiato. As a longtime listener of the band, my main fear for the new album is it being overhyped. The first show Vampire Weekend officially played at was in Ojai, California which officially marked the end of their hiatus. During the set, they unveiled their new song which is a collaboration with alternative R&B artist, Steve Lacy, called “Flower Moon.” The band only played a small sample of the song, but it nevertheless sounded promising. It is highly probable that there will be many collaborations in the new album which will be very exciting to listen to. Instead of waiting for another Modern Vampires of the City, fans should listen to their newest album with a fresh perspective and look for growth within the band. Many alternative bands from the 2000s have needed to grow and try out different sounds to stay relevant and it will be compelling to see what Vampire Weekend brings to the table.

By: Kayla Nguyen

Atelophobia is the fear of not being good enough; the fear of imperfection. Growing up, we were careless of what we ate or what we wore and we always did what we desired. As the world begins to change, we start sensing the need to better ourselves. The wanted changes in appearance and personality that we envision can have an impact on our social occurrences or educational efforts. In spite of the praises that our peers give us on how well we are doing or how amazing we look, the idea of “not being enough” is taped shut in our brains. We read and believe. We see and want. Will we ever learn to appreciate our self-value? The answer to that is unknown; it is up to us to slowly become comfortable in our frame. What caused us to ponder upon self-hatred? The most common sources of this fear include: social media/social issues, high standards, and body image, as said by an anonymous source on WordPress.

Social media plays a massive part in one’s daily life; unfortunately, it consumes our minds in a way that makes us lose confidence. Scrolling through the apps, we can’t seem to stop ourselves from stalking the lives of others when we could be enjoying our own. We routinely compare ourselves with unreasonable matters and choose to set our own standards.

The constant worrying behavior of how “perfect” we should be has corrupted our minds. The truth is, they show us what they want us to see, and presents photos with flattering filters and artsy angles. As a result, we compare ourselves to social standards and strive to keep up with it. “Perfectionism is a self-fulfilling prophecy of low self-esteem,” Teresa Newsome from Bustle noted. Whether you are not exceeding your expectations or delivering unacceptable academic performance, it still gradually lowers your self-confidence. Setting goals that are too high for one to complete can lead to dissatisfaction and disappointment if not met. “High expectations are at the core for perfectionists who set unrealistically high expectations for themselves. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy and an endless cycle of high expectations leading to low self-esteem and increased anxiety,” according to Bradley Foster of The HuffPost. In addition, parent expectations are some of the hardest to meet. “Why is it hard to be “good enough?” “I’m really hard on myself. I’m pressured because I am not smart enough. People also have to try to keep up with family expectations as well,” a fourteen-year-old female from HBHS answered defeatedly.

photography by: Kayla Nguyen

Atelophobia

“Perfectio nism is a s elf-fulfillin prophecy g of low sel f-esteem. ”

As proved by my interviewee, merely setting an improbable goal for yourself does not guarantee a positive result. We should progressively self-improve without stressing about being judged by others. When we set realistic expectations, step by step, we can surpass it.

others may think of them.” “Middle schoolers are often self-conscious about their body’s developments, with anxiety about how others view them,” Hank Pellissier from GreatSchools voiced. Therefore, causing them to have a lack of confidence in themselves.”

How does our concern about our body image have an effect in our community? Live Life Get Active, a private communal organization wrote: “The greater our discontent with how we measure up when compared to the societal or media supported norms, the more negative our body image, and the greater the risk for extreme weight or body control behaviors occur.” Day and night, we aspire to have an ant-sized waist, slim legs, full breasts, all with a low weight. The same applies to males with muscular, defined bodies or having a robust figure. All types of media: the internet, magazines, television, or books, displays representations of what is expected of us when in actuality it promotes unhealthy eating habits, significant changes in appearance, and cultural ideals. When asked this question, “At what age do you think kids start developing these thoughts and why?” a senior responded, “I believe that kids start acquiring feelings as if they are not good enough when they enter middle school. Middle school could be a major step in life for many in which they begin to be more attentive of what

How do people cope with this phobia? Sad to say, but there are many ways to deal with the fear of failure. Good or bad, these coping options have become a black hole. These methods vary from smoking, drinking, detrimental eating habits, avoiding the situation, and violent behavior. A strong attachment to these strategies can be life-changing. Why do people choose the negative way rather than the positive way? To answer that, many people take the worse route because they are in need of instant comfort. We feel as though we have no control over our mind, so instead we take that chance to harm ourselves physically or mentally. It helps us feel contained; we then all get a familiar feeling of relief. In the fullness of time will we come to the realization that it is actually more damaging in the long run. It is important to reach out for proper help, in order to heal ourselves and not hurt ourselves.

photography by: Kayla Nguyen

What are some things that we should keep in mind whenever we don’t feel “good enough”? You are not alone. No matter how you see it, everyone is struggling with being happy with themselves. We are so used to comparing ourselves to disguised photos; in reality, we only see the behind-thescenes of it. We are all flawed human beings, going through the same general obstacles. Focus on accepting rather than perfecting. Endlessly, we remind ourselves to “do this” or “do that.” We attempt to live a life of perfection, bashing ourselves for everything we do wrong. Instead, we should see the beauty within ourselves and see it as our strength. It’s going to take time. Remember that to get better, it takes time and patience. The most that we can do is to push ourselves because no one can help us more than we can help ourselves.

Love yourself. As Kurt Cobain once said, “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.” The most important reminder is to love yourself. Love yourself because there’s no one else like you in the world. No one has the same qualities that you do, so be proud of who you are because you are beautiful. Embrace your individuality and do what makes you feel true. With everything happening with social standards, take a step back and look on the positive side. You don’t have to change yourself to be a better you because you were given all of your qualities for a reason. It doesn’t matter where in life we are, what age, or what gender we should not be ashamed of who we are. As we start appreciating our bodies and learn to accept ourselves for who we are and what we may look like, will we finally understand the meaning of self love?

artwork by: Alexis Jacinta

* Trigger Warning: We would like to bestow our condolences to the families of victims. We do not support nor condone any form of violence. This article contains information about rape and other acts that can cause trauma.

The Creation of a Killer By: Alexis Jacinta

The creation of serial killers has one of the most notorious and stereotypical cliches of violent and malevolent, but what actually goes into building deviant murderers? Thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours have been spent on studying a killer’s brain and habits by neuroscientist professors at UC Irvine. Here is my personal take on what influenced the Charles Manson and Edmund Kemper killings. “Charlie, Cults, and Childhood” It is a commonly known fact that Charles Manson was a phenomenal liar and manipulator, and he frequently fibbed about the events in his childhood. Born Charles Milles Maddox, he was an accidental pregnancy by a dead-beat dad and an absentee mother.

In a psychological break down of Charles Manson, Dr. Kirk J. Honda, a psychotherapist and professor, informed his viewers of the childhood of Charles Manson. Dr. Honda discusses how Manson frequently lied about his mother being a prostitute, and although false, his mother did lure men out of bars to rob them. Along with being less than the ideal parent, Charlie’s mother would drunkenly beat him, abandoning him for days at a time with complete strangers, later trying to sell him for money or drugs. This violent parental guidance quickly ignited misbehavior and sadistic acts. Dr. Honda continues to explain that when Charlie didn’t receive any presents on Christmas, he rounded up all the neighborhood kids’ toys, and lit them on fire.

At a young age, Charlie was fascinated by guns and knives, or any deadly object. This interest was shown when Manson was a child, as he taunted a blade in his younger cousin’s face for mere entertainment. Manson’s mental well-being weakened after a priest from a local church raped him, further twisting his already damaged sexuality. Manson later developed an extreme sex drive and had sex with people of all genders. Continuing his habit of misbehaving due to traumatic experiences, of course, Manson enacted the same cruelty on weaker boys, assaulting them at razor point. After years of macabre and nerve-wracking events, Charles developed an extremely low self-esteem. Not only was he a troublemaker, but he was also illiterate and poorly educated, with an IQ of 109. This low self-esteem caused him to forever search for love and affection from others, which was most likely caused by the lack of affection from his mother. The journey of trying to find love from others landed him in the music industry, where he endlessly searched for fame and recognition. “Ed Kemper and his Killings” Edmund Kemper had the prototypical childhood of a serial killer: very abusive and deviant. As Kemper’s parents divorced at a young age, his perception of familial values was less than ordinary. His relationship with his mother was toxic, as she was severely emotionally abusive. Explained in Biography.com, it was stated that his mother would lock Ed in the basement while they slept, out of fear he would rape his younger sister.

His mother’s fear of Ed’s possible sexual acts most likely sprouted from his habit of decapitating and performing sexual rituals on his sister’s dolls. Kemper was also known for being a pyromaniac, as he often played with fire. Edmund frequently enjoyed killing small animals, he would stab, burn, and decapitate them. He later shot his grandmother, and proceeded to also kill his grandfather but only as collateral damage. “I just wanted to know what it felt like to kill grandma,” was all Kemper had to say in efforts to rationalize his actions. These killings sent him to Atascadero State Hospital, where he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and discovered he had an IQ of 145, classifying him as a genius. A few schizophrenia symptoms he experienced were hyper-aggression, apathy, and compulsive behavior. After he was released, his killing sprees became more intense and his murders became more perverted. He became a necrophiliac, keeping the corpses of his victims and performing devious acts on their bodies. Edmund, to no surprise, killed his mother and her best friend. The way he killed his mother was the most violent and disturbed of all his killings. He murdered her with a hammer while she slept and kept her decapitated head. Yet what he did last is what surprised me the most. He placed his mother’s vocal chords in the garbage disposal, subconsciously trying to take control over years of verbal abuse his mother had brought upon him.

“Living with the Monsters” My father, who was imprisoned for robbery and attempted murder of a police officer, experienced frequent encounters with both Manson and Kemper. As my father, Robert, was jailed in 1975, he met Manson while he was still extremely relevant. While imprisoned, my father really didn’t enjoy Charlie’s company. Yet surprisingly to contradict that, my dad was best friends with members of the Manson Family, Bobby Beausoleil and Steve “Clem” Grogan, so much even to the point that my father and his wife at the time became godparents to Grogan’s son. There is a very valid reason why my father didn’t get along with Manson. “He played people as much as he played his damn guitar,” my father recalls, insinuating how often Charlie used others for his own self-interest. Not only did my father dislike Manson for being a manipulator, but he was an extreme troublemaker in prison. Charles would scream racial slurs before lights out, just to anger the other inmates. Unlike Charlie, my father got along extremely well with Ed. My father felt that Ed was the only one in the whole prison he could have an intellectual conversation with. They met in Vacaville in 1975, shortly after Ed was imprisoned. Prison common talk of Ed and his actions would make most inmates break out in a cold sweat. “Understanding the Killers” A typical analysis of a murderer focuses on a singular aspect that generated that person to commit horrific and immoral acts without thinking holistically of the bigger picture. Anyone can quickly understand that those who kill, do it out of lack of power.

Their lack of control over their daily lives causes them to inflict that frustration onto others, physically dominating and controlling their most valuable possession: their life. Most psychologists get it wrong; it extends much past power and into the environment which has allowed them to kill. The generations and environments killers live in allow them to maintain more of that desired power. For Manson, living in the 70s boosted his cult attraction. He lived in the era of Nixon and the “screw the man” mentality. They were angry at “the man” and disobeyed him and his laws. The disobedience of laws rationalized and encouraged mischief, felony, and murder. Moving onto Kemper and his environment, the lack of medical knowledge failed him. Forty years ago, we had just started to understand the symptoms of PTSD and schizophrenia. Even there was no way of identifying his intentions, luckily we now have better and more efficient ways of dealing with possible violent outbursts. Learning about both men, I have come to my conclusions.. Manson, an indirect killer, planned his murders, keeping his hands as clean as possible. His violence had the goal only to receive a reaction from others, and he loved the attention from that. Ed Kemper was the polar opposite. Kemper killed trying to search for an emotional reaction from himself. He was a hands-on killer, as the more deviant his killings got, the more reaction he felt. Even though they had somewhat similar childhoods, and had different killing intentions, at the end of the day these men’s actions were inexcusable.

We the People We the People We the People We the People We the People We the People

Is Donald Trump Worthy of Office? By: Cooper Gilliard

It is hard to deny that our current president is one of the most critiqued presidents ever to take office. Since the 2016 election, some politicians have compared him to dictators. Liz Mair of U.S. News states that “When it comes to actual policy accomplishments tied to pledges he made on the campaign trail, Trump is actually doing pretty well.” He is not the best leader that we have ever had, but he has done many beneficial things. Trump fired James Comey, the former FBI director, thus putting himself on a pedestal while simultaneously taping a target on his chest. Comey was leading an investigation into the Clinton Email Scandal. The Democratic Party was appalled when Trump then concurred and fired the former FBI director. This is considered to be one of the most controversial things he has done.

Michael D. Shear and Matt Apuzzo state that “President Trump fired the director of the F.B.I., James B. Comey, abruptly terminating the top official leading a criminal investigation into whether Mr. Trump’s advisers colluded with the Russian government to steer the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.” This does set him out to seem manipulative. Some may also speculate if Hillary Clinton would have done the same thing had she won the election; not because she holds a grudge, but because she might see someone more fit to be FBI director under her terms. Additionally, Trump removed the former CIA director John Brennan’s security clearance after he was replaced by Mike Pompeo. This did not help his case either.

Former CIA director John Brennan’s security clearance was taken away, allegedly, because he spoke out against Trump. This essentially means that he is no longer able to access classified information that he would’ve had when he was head of the CIA. This is a more recent argument that shows a bit of Trump’s aggressive side. Brennan is no longer working for the CIA. Once you finish a job working for the CIA, you don’t generally hold onto your security clearance any longer. However, Trump’s timing on this could have been better. It’s no secret that John Brennan has issues with Trump. Expressing these thoughts brings into question whether Trump took his clearance away because he doesn’t need it anymore, or because he holds a grudge.

The CIA, alongside other government-run agencies, answers to the commander-in-chief. “The problem there isn’t so much with Trump as it is with United States law,” said Steven Crowder, an American-Canadian Political Commentator. Either way, as commander-in-chief, he has supreme control of all of the government-controlled agencies like the CIA. It’s within his constitutional rights to do so. Immigration is something American political parties have differing opinions on. However, some people may not consider all the facts. During the Republican primaries, Trump’s policy was a bit over the top. Anyone left or right has to accept the fact that the wall was flawed from the start.

photography by: Dixie Chatt

Our founding fathers put more ink into the electoral college and the presidential election system than anything else in the base of our government. While it might have prevented some of the illegal immigration, it would’ve been extremely expensive and Congress would’ve never approved it. While he is still trying to do so, the policy he is actually able to put into effect is as follows: He wants to deport undocumented workers that have been charged with a felony, while making sure that the ones coming in are entering through a legal process. This seems like a reasonable way to find common ground between both parties. The left has also expressed issues with the Electoral College and how such a system may have a bias and is un-democratic. Yes, Donald Trump lost the popular vote by a few million votes. Our founding fathers put more ink into the electoral college and the presidential election system than anything else in the base of our government. Since the beginning, it has acted as an effective failsafe. It’s the best way to project the voice of the people while also avoiding complete mob rule. Here we are in 2018. Our economy is not only the best in the world; it’s blooming incredibly under Trump’s economic plan. Jeff Cox of CNBC has stated “During his time in office, the economy has achieved feats most experts once thought impossible. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing at a 3 percent-plus rate.

The unemployment rate is near a 50-year low. Meanwhile, the stock market has jumped 27 percent amid a surge in corporate profits.” This blows the socialism argument out of the water. People who have come from either Canada or a European country who have a socialized health care system have backed the socialist movement here in the U.S. The idea is that a program like this can serve everyone, but it just doesn’t work. If you look at Canada alone, “they have the worst E.R. referral wait times in 11 developed countries,” according to CBC News. When all is said and done, Trump’s presidency has various pros and cons. Like many of his predecessors, if not all of them, he has opposition. How he responds to the people who oppose him is completely up to him, and he is protected by the first amendment. The problem arises when people stop believing that he has basic natural rights whether or not he is the commander-in-chief. In twenty years from now, we’ll look back at the Trump administration and the economy and the supreme court will be his legacy. Who knows what the next years hold for us, but if he is willing to give us a shot, we should be willing to do the same.

photography by: Lea Nguyen

fat shaming?

I think not! By: Lea Nguyen

In American culture, fat shaming is something that people should be aware of, but it is mostly about people who are being judged about what their body looks like, which is not acceptable. I had the experience of being both bullied and cyber-bullied, which has inspired me to dig deeper into that topic to educate the public that is unaware of the shameful agenda and the mental health effects on the victims. Most teenagers are often shamed for how they pose and what they post on social media to express themselves. People use merciless comments to disapprove on how other people dress in public. These words such as fat, pig, slob, and many more are commonly used by high school students and adults in this generation. To this day, society’s approval is based on curvy bodies with big breasts, small waists, and curvy thighs along with popularity instead of putting education and family on the top of their priority list. Over the years, negative words have been evolving around someone who tries to express themselves which is heartless and inhumane. In an article by The Huffington Post, “What It’s Really Like To Be Fat In A World That Hates Fat People,” by Laura Bogart, she expresses that “[social media and the fashion industry reveal] a granular level [of] insult and abuse.” In this generation, especially now in 2018, women and men are told to be fit and sexy whenever they post something on social media.

This can cause permanent damage to one’s self-esteem and cause insecurity with their own body such as feeling ashamed and ugly. Shaming someone’s appearance, whether online or in the person, is cruel and unnecessary. There are consequences for your actions. Even though some may think they can hide behind a screen and harass someone, have they ever had the time to stop and think what would happen to them at the opposite side of their screen? To this day, compared to two years ago, the Megan Meier Foundation has analyzed that suicide rates are rising to 123 teenagers a day around the world. They also state that 27.8% of kids are being bullied at school and 34% are being cyberbullied. Overall, 45% of teens had committed suicide; both male and female. Take the time to collaborate, how many of these deaths are from fat-shaming? What should we do?` Even though I cannot change everyone’s opinion, I urge you to be aware of what is going on in their point of view. What matters is that instances of bullying are happening everywhere in many countries and most of us will grow up knowing that we will be judged for our appearance. Later on, we will accept what is right and what is wrong, so before you comment or have any accusations towards a person, think about what you want to say before posting or saying a relentless comment.

90s Fashion The 90s were filled with so many impressionable fashion moments including Gucciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1995 Fall collection that consisted of stunning mixtures of velvet and satin to Gwen Stefani performing with her former band, No Doubt, in her iconic bondage pants and cropped tops. Many significant moments in fashion that took place in the 90s not only had a large impact then but continue to shape fashion today as well. Designers and the music industry created new and bold trends that became extremely popular. Because of this influence, designers made exemplary looks out of basic clothing articles.

By: Zoe Letterman

Throughout the 90s, many basic looks and pieces made their way to the upcoming fashion trends. Chanel made many runways that sparked attention and fit into the ideal 90s style. In their Spring/Summer 1995 collection, models were strutting down the runway in high rise bikinis accessorized with body jewelry, such as belly chains and silver chained belts to spice up their look. Their second Spring/Summer collection a year later was based around simple yet stunning crop tops and two-pieces. Calvin Kleinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1994 runway was centered around two ideas: layering and shimmering fabrics. They had models walking out with simple solid color pieces over one another, shirts under thin strapped dresses, long sleeves under short sleeves, and tanks tops over T-shirts.

photography by: Zoe Letterman

The 90s were greatly influenced by the various genres of music that took over mainstream media. Genres like Pop, R&B, and Grunge had the biggest impact on trends that took over runways, tv shows, and magazines. Each genre had their own specific style that set many oncoming trends for the recognizable 90s look. Pop had a large number of influential looks and trends set for the 90s and many pop icons started smaller trends that gained popularity and progressed to be something even more. For example, the girl group, The Spice Girls, all had the ideal 90s fashion taste. Each one had their own look that fit into pop culture perfectly, incorporating trends and popular brands into each and every one of their outfits. There was Posh Spice who had been known for maintaining a feminine fashion taste that consisted of mini dresses (being a closet staple) and pumps.

Baby Spice took the feminine look into a different direction, also wearing light mini skirts and dresses, but adding small accessories such as clips and pulling her long blonde hair into high pigtails. Her signature platform sneakers had gained popularity and people began following along with this look and purchased platform sneakers, making it a legendary 90s trend. Then, Scary Spice added a more creative touch to her look. She had mixed animals prints that were made of velvet and silk that had a great impression on her style. Last but not least, Sporty Spice had a soft athletic-type look; her signature look was a tube or halter top paired with track pants (track pants being a popular trend, whether it be tearaway or just simple stripes). In the notorious â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wannabeâ&#x20AC;? music video, the Spice Girls did not hold back. Baby Spice wore a white sparkly mini dress, of course not without her platforms and high pigtails.

Scary Spice wore a neon green tank top paired with matching green and black, plaid pants. Posh Spice wore a plain, black mini dress, and Sporty Spice wore an orange halter coordinated with orange and blue track pants. Gwen Stefani in her No Doubt era also had an immense affect on fashion, of course in her own unique way that expressed her femininity, yet also represented her strong self. She styled cropped tank tops with cargo and bondage pants as her go-to look. Making her own tank tops with her name and phrases printed on the front made from spray paint and stencils, she created such an admirable look for anyone willing to get their hands dirty and sport a charming and unique top. Eventually, she started getting more recognition and became more involved in magazine articles and ads. In the appreciated 90s magazine, YM, she was interviewed on her fashion tips.

In this, she mentioned her homemade pants in vibrant colors with lots of zippers, her big belts, and her love for crop tops. 90s R&B shaped much of streetwear that is still fluent today by taking â&#x20AC;&#x153;preppyâ&#x20AC;? brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Polo Ralph Lauren, and turning them into something more casual. They were commonly paired with baggier clothes- and famously- baggy overalls, whether they were worn with one strap unbuckled or matched with tube tops. Many male R&B groups were known to coordinate their clothes. For example, the group Blackstreet, who was fashion forward, had matching outfits of baggy white overalls and matching black hats. In addition, the rapper Lil Kim, had a specific R&B style, being a well known female artist and featuring in many R&B songs in the 90s. She was recognized for making daring fashion statements. For example, one of her most famous looks was a Chanel logo printed on her bangs worn with a low cut top, and paired with body jewelry. She was able to style mesmerizing outfits that were always color coordinated.

photography by: Zoe Letterman

Singers like Aaliyah had a bold fashion reputation in the R&B community. She was known for her crop tops, headband bandanas, and small sunglasses. Of course, she also took part in styling brands such as Tommy Hilfiger. Her late 90s ad for Tommy included big, baggy, half blue, half red jeans paired with tube tops with their logo on it. Aaliyah’s “One In a Million” music video, released in 1996, featured her in the most glamorous outfits. The first outfit seen is a shimmering silver chained top with big black pants. Then- she came in another shot wearing a black tie up cropped top with yet another pair of black bottoms. Eventually, Grunge took over and was widely appreciated and a loved fashion phase. It was a subtle, darker style. The whole premise was to keep what you were wearing, but add a hint of edge and mix patterns to make it slightly messy. Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, of course, lead this fashion movement becoming the face of Grunge. Courtney Love wore many simple, silk babydoll and floral maxi dresses, matched with dark tights or black fishnets. To top it off, she always wore dark smudged eyeliner and dark red lipstick. If she wasn’t wearing something close to that, she was wearing black lingerie dresses with cheetah print fur coats. Kurt kept the careless appeal that others soon followed - simple jeans and shirts with dark knit sweaters and flannels, that soon became a common trend.

Courtney Love’s band, Hole, was also greatly involved in the whole Grunge style. Each band member had the perfect look, similar to Courtney’s. They casually wore silk and collared dresses, tops styled down with sneakers and boots, and of course tights, like fishnets. On bass guitar, there was Melissa Auf der Maur who styled a green silk top on a silk skirt, and finished off with fishnets and red knee-high boots to the 1995 MTV music awards. In the memorable photos taken at the 1998 MTV movie awards of Gwen Stefani, Courtney Love, and Melissa Auf der Maur, Courtney was wearing a light purple mesh tube top covered in purple flowers with blonde, messy locks, Melissa was wearing a light brown silk mini dress and Gwen was sporting a fuzzy blue top with short blue hair pulled into two mini buns. As soon as this music genre and style blew up, designers like Marc Jacobs were inspired. In 1993, he came out with his Grunge Spring collection. This whole runway consisted of mix-matched of patterns, maxi skirts, and mini dresses. Kate Moss walked with a long plaid maxi skirt and a solid colored t-shirt with a black beanie. Jacobs managed to make these big plaid flannels, maxi dresses, clashes of patterns, and boots designer. The 90s was a decade dedicated to exploring the world of fashion. It accomplished this and much more, and- still impacts life in 2018 and will continue for many years to come.

By: Andrea Cervantes

Rise of K-R&B THE

Korean music has evolved from its traditional roots and in recent years, K-pop has exploded in popularity with groups like BTS and Twice, dominating the charts in not only Korea but worldwide. Like K-pop, the genre of K-R&B has blossomed and gained a massive following. K-R&B began as one of the first genres of music to ever break through the strict government that South Korea had during the 1990’s. This new and unfamiliar music was controversial and it frightened officials, but as time progressed, the artists managed to separate itself from the government’s hold and began to flourish. K-R&B has recently been influenced by American culture with hip-hop, jazz, and soul leaving an impact on the music that is being created today. Zico is one of the major artists that has left an impact on this industry, and he is known for being one of the many powerful mainstream Korean hip-hop rappers of this generation. Zico has touched the K-R&B scene throughout the process of his career. Starting off as an underground rapper, he soon expanded and joined the record label, KQ Entertainment, where he met the members of his future group, Block B.

While there, he worked on his solo work and collaborated with major artists such as Hyuna and Zion T. His collaborations are what eventually led him to make such an impact on the K-R&B industry because he was able to bring the unfamiliar sound of hip-hop to a Korean audience. One of his most popular songs, “Soulmate” (featuring IU), spoke of a couple who are considered to be soulmates which causes them to never want to be apart from one another. His song, “Bermuda Triangle” (featuring Crush and Dean), is another one of his hits that led him to fame. This song discusses the many goals that this group has achieved, believing that anyone who tries to surpass their accomplishments is going against their Bermuda Triangle. Crush is also known for being one of the many leaders in this generation of K-R&B. Crush first debuted under the record label, Amoeba Culture, and released his first album Crush on You in 2014.

From there, he collaborated with Zion T., Loco and many other artists. In his hit song, “Bittersweet,” he displays his smooth, distinct voice that presents the story of someone who feels trapped in an unstable relationship but cannot escape due to the absolute love he holds for the other person. His song “Dust” provides a fluid charm towards his music. The melody begins with a simple suave sound which is later transitioned into an intense, chilling rythme emphasizing the fact that he is in fact “dusting off” along with the music. Crush tends to branch out of his comfort zone, mixing in sounds from pop and hip-hop into his more recent music. This shift is seen in song, “Cereal” (featuring Zico), which features a playful pop melody with the lyrics describing a girl being so incredible and special that she is “limited edition” that no one else can compare to. Crush is able to express that the industry is unlimited to sound, making him impactful on K-R&B. Another famous artist in the alternative K-R&B scene is Dean. Dean influenced the sounds found in alternative hip-hop and incorporates it into his music, making him stand out in contrast to others. Dean first debuted in 2015 in the United States and later in South Korea where his popularity grew faster than anticipated. One of his many hits, “Pour Up” (featuring Zico), was able to garner in attention from the public and made him a figurehead in K-R&B. Dean also worked with many other artists including Heize to create songs such as “And July” and “Shut Up & Groove,” which mixes hip-hop and pop.

Dean expands from the typical R&B culture as heard in “Instagram.” The song discusses how he is tired of scrolling through Instagram just to see what his ex-girlfriend has been posting about her life after their departure, as he continues to “waste time like this inside [her] Instagram.” Dean experiments with different genres, unlike most artists which are why Dean has been able to dominate the industry. K-R&B has no limits to modern society; they are able to create an industry that doesn’t rely on the audience's approval, just the opinion of the artist themselves. This genre has been able to bloom into something greater than expected, giving a name to this unstoppable force that is K-R&B. As Korean music continues to expand worldwide, the genre of K-R&B continues to grow with it.

photography by: Zeke Gillett

What Fortnite Does to By: Zeke Gillett The Brain

Charles Hymas and Laurence Dodds from The Telegraph reported the game, Fortnite, is proven to have the same effects on the brain as some opioids. When it quickly burst into the gaming scene, every nineyear-old was downloading it. The news was covered head to toe with what the game could do to kids mentally. Hymas and Dodds state that, "[a] nine-year-old was reportedly admitted to rehab after becoming... addicted to Fortnite.” There have been many studies of hardcore gamers from ages thirteen through fifteen which show that gamers are more likely to misuse illegal substances such as amphetamines later in life. Fortnite is a gateway drug. When children get addicted, they never stop playing.

When they inevitably stop, they go into a “Fortnite rage.” A quick google search will show you three pages of people getting mad over a game that does not affect them in the real world. In an article written by Keith Stewart from Medium, Stewart interviewed a mother whose son threw his controller then went to kick his brother just because his turn on the game had ended. Hymas and Dodds continue by stating that the game is like a drug in how it affects the “award” system. It increases dopamine, which causes you to get a natural high. Typically, you get this type of pleasure by working out or doing something you enjoy.

“

With over 125 million players worldwide, who knows how many are addicted and how many are indicating signs of addiction.

People get mad when they have to turn the game off. While playing with friends, leaving them after a match is hard because gamers tell themselves, “One more game, I’ll win the next match.” Fortnite can make you insane; you drop into the same map into the same area everytime. Unlike many other shooter games, like Call of Duty, Battlefield, where each time is different. With the release of Fortnite Season 6, new items were added and more new people began to get addicted to the game. With over 125 million players worldwide, who knows how many are addicted and how many are indicating signs of addiction. The reason people get addicted is the fast-paced gameplay alongside the ongoing mystery of each new season. With each update, the game inserts some new asset to the map changing the preexisting format. Not saying that is the only thing that changes every season. Weapons, skins, music, and other cosmetic oddities are created. Multiplayer mode is fairly limited, but not in how many people you can fight against. Instead on how many friends you can play with, you can only play with four people at a time. When I played, I had five friends online and only three slots available.

“

The brain does so by producing dopamine, however, if you play for long periods of time, the dopamine receivers start to die and your high ends. So when you get on again, it takes longer to get that certain rush.

Playing on a computer can cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), which is made by pinching a nerve on the wrist it is very common for fourteen to eighteen-year-olds to be affected, but it can affect people younger. I believe CTS can be caused by playing games on the computer, but it could predominantly affect kids and teens playing video games. If you want to get more skins, which is separate from your role in the game, you will have to give Fortnite money. You are essentially paying for add-ons that give you no tactical advantage in any way. Minecraft has a similar feature, offering new textures for blocks and skins much like Fortnite. If someone downloads it, the creators should at least make a warning sign that says don’t play this game or you will get addicted. Then you will lose money by having to buy the season pass, which you get if you want to spend money on, and is a thing that you get every season that gives you new things. It is for aesthetics not only something that gives you an advantage.

Fortnite is a game that takes control of young minds, brainwashing them to acquire the addiction trait. The next generation will be mindless without video games telling them what to do every day.

Beasts of ALBUM Burgundy REVIEW By: Aydann Hambruch

It was two years ago when my life was changed forever. Before that, I did not really enjoy music and was looking for a style that I could sing and dance to -- something that fit my personality. This is when I first heard of the Squirrel Nut Zippers and their strange take on modern jazz. No matter what you like to listen to, you will find something enjoyable in Squirrel Nut Zippers’ new album, Beasts of Burgundy, which is an instant hit for many different types of music fans.

It’s really fun, we cover all the basics in there; there are stories woven all throughout the record.” This influence can be heard in the song, “Hey Shango,” which discusses a slave revolt in New Orleans, on January 8, 1811, where over five hundred slaves rebelled and nearly overtook New Orleans. The song “The Beasts of Burgundy,” also shows how New Orleans impacted The Squirrel Nut Zippers. It describes the annual Mardi Gras that take place in New Orleans.

Beasts of Burgundy is the first Squirrel Nut Zippers album with new content since Bedlam Ballroom, which was released at the end of the year 2000. With the announcement of the new album, band leader, James “Jimbo” Mathus, states, “It’s not a reunion, it’s a revival.” This could mean that there is more to come in the near future.

The Mardi Gras, or ‘Fat Tuesday, is the last day of the Carnival season as it always falls the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent”. More specifically, the song speaks of an imaginary group that misses out on partaking in the Mardi Gras.

Jimbo has also revealed that the songs in this album are heavily influenced by the history of New Orleans, but the main goal of this new album is to bring back America’s “weird element.” In an interview with Melissa Clarke for the American Highways, Jimbo declared, “The entire album is about the creepy, weird old New Orleans, in the days of the early shapings; it’s about the passions, the entertainment, the stories of its past.

I think this influence comes from the background of the artists that appear in the album because much of the current lineup was recruited from the New Orleans area. To confirm the idea that there is something for everyone in the new album, I asked my brother and father, along with my friend Aragorn, their opinion on the album.

artwork by: Grace Briquelet

Their music tastes include metal, jazz, ska, punk, and more. When asked his opinion on the album, my father stated, “It’s very descriptive, music-wise.” What he meant by this is that the music puts you in the perfect mood to not only hear, but feel the scene the songs describe. My brother, Riley, was asked which song he liked the most after listening to the album and his choice was the song “Axeman Jazz.” His response when asked why that was, he answered, “It would be a good song to make a punk cover of.” After knowing him my whole life, this shows that he really enjoyed the song. First, he doesn’t like jazz in general and second, he almost never suggests that songs should be covered, let alone a jazz song. Aragorn, who is an avid listener of rap and some jazz, after listening to the album has claimed that this was one of his favorite jazz albums and even stated that he might download this album. These three people listen to many genres of music but still were able to enjoy the funky style that the Squirrel Nut Zippers perform.

I believe that Beast of Burgundy is the best Squirrel Nut Zippers album released so far. The album opens with vocalist James Mathus welcoming the audience to explore the oddities of the carnival. The album smoothly transitions into the song “Karnival Joe” that is brilliantly set up by the previous song. “Karnival Joe” goes more into depth about certain characters that would have performed in a carnival such as the one the listeners have just been transported to in the song “Conglomeration of Curious.” The album transitions again to strange songs like “Something Wicked (Parts 1 and 2).” This instrumental song takes the listener into an eerie environment unlike anything heard of before. The major transformations that happen throughout the album may intrigue listeners that have never heard the Squirrel Nut Zippers style. Although members of my family and others were unfamiliar with the band, they were instantly enthralled in the unique sounds from the album. If you listen to the Squirrel Nut Zippers new album, Beasts of Burgundy, you too will find something you like.

By: Parker Baughman

As the atmosphere crisps to a pale orange and the annual autumnal festivities commence, people from all over are indulging in the more eerie side of entertainment to get into the spirit of the season. However, rewatching the identical spooky schlock films year after year may become stale and tiring for some, prompting the need for newer, more creative content. Content, of which, can be found not only in large-budgeted Hollywood works, but in the shadowed nooks and crannies of the vast platforms that comprise the internet. Works from these humbler creators, these puppet masters of miniature realities, are tenfold the quality that make up the horror genre in more popular media such as feeble and limited television. Often called alternate reality games, or internet horror experiences, these works form relationships with viewers, which leads these series to seem almost alive, and all the more horrific.

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared Though it is doubtful you haven’t heard of or witnessed the viral series, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, is a Youtube channel that has rightfully deserved wild praise. DHMIS, initially, comes across as a puppet-centered children’s show, save for the obvious foreboding name, aiming to educate the youth of topics like love, time, and healthy eating with colorful creatures left unnamed. As might be guessed, simply clicking on one of the many videos within the series, this initially pure message is corrupted as the episode slowly goes away, at times ending in the demise of one of the three titular characters. The puppets are tortured by each episode’s teacher character, who either drives them to fits of madness, cannibalism, cult initiation and yes, at times, their gruesome deaths. All of which is told through the outlet of joyously colored, seemingly innocent cloth and paper! Lovely.

photography by: Andrea Cervantes

DARK INTERNET MEDIA

@TheSunVanished A more interactive show is hosted on Twitter, allowing for a more journal-like experience. @TheSunVanished is the handle of an account that depicts an intergalactic invasion from the point of view of an unfortunate and unwitting citizen. The madness commences with the vanishing of the sun, leaving the world dark, and to the mercy of whatever mysterious hands play with the Earth as though it were a toy. On the run from the mind-controlling beams, affected individuals, and the menacing structures looming in the heavens, along with utilizing Twitter tweets and the other capabilities of the site, @TheSunVanished is a tale that is as much alive as it is tense. LOCAL58 - COMMUNITY TELEVISION Again on Youtube, LOCAL58 regularly uploads short films, as DHMIS did, but in the format of a peculiar community television network.

In a rather sporadic manner, the cryptic network displays lovely programming such as “Show for Children,” and the ever-helpful “Weather Service.”As it is surmised by these titles, the videos are anything but what would be deemed acceptable for most children’s television channels. Videos uploaded to the channel are, in essence, horror short films, the best example of which, in my opinion, is “You Are On The Fastest Available Route.” Without much to spoil, the fastest available route has a very unexpected destination for the passenger involved. All in all, LOCAL58 is one creator in particular that deserves a watch. Just not on the television. With platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and even Facebook, who are open to nearly everyone, those who would otherwise not have a creative outlet may share ideas, viewpoints, messages, and emotions are capable of creating Internet masterpieces to terrify generations to come. Even you can accomplish such things that these creators have done. There are thousands of variations in series, games, and experiences that may be created, and millions of more ways to frighten the daylights out of any poor soul who happens to witness it.

Candy Hart-Peratt editor-in-chief

Dixie Chatt design editor

Ally Brodmann managing editor

Gracie Briquelet art director

Grace Gillett social media director

Andrea Cervantes photography editor

Alexis Jacinta staff writer

Sheldon Stires staff writer

Sarah Tran staff writer

Cole Clark staff writer

Carter Bernard staff writer

Zoe Letterman staff writer

Moses Sandoval staff writer

Lea Nguyen staff writer

Isabel Scarpino staff writer

Natalie Han staff writer

Angie Martinez staff writer

Aydann Hambruch staff writer

Jameson Jaksch staff writer

Parker Baughman staff writer

Alexis-Marie Goytia staff writer

Zeke Gillett staff writer

Izzy Agnello staff writer

Lilly Vu staff writer

Cooper Gilliard staff writer

Kayla Nguyen staff writer

Angelina Sotelo staff writer

Keep in Touch ! i G t

@slick.magazine

hbhsdigitaljournalism@gmail.com

@HBHSdjournalism

Think you have what it takes?

Visit us in room A24 for info on guest writing opportunities !