voice the
the art of
the selfie In-Depth 4/5
The Voice
Volume XI, Issue VII
March 2014
Super Showroom Zooms Into Gretna Dart / Reporter With the business opening the 4th of February, 2014, the new showroom in Gretna has been getting quite the buzz. With General Manager, Rob Merwald, holding up his business in Gretna, customers have been lining the doors ready to purchase and check out cars that are being sold, ranging from trucks that are popular for high schoolers to vans and cars for their parents to drive. “This showroom is fairly new,” said Merwald. “We basically built it from the ground up. The majority of our vehicles are shown inside, with easy convenience given to our customers given the snow and cold weather conditions.” Over the course of a couple months, many of these showrooms have been built, some located in the Lincoln area and others in Omaha. The reason for this change being brought to Gretna is because of smart business boosts for the company. All to make it easier for their customers, of course. And the people have been adjusting to the change thoroughly. “In the 10 days we’ve been open, positive reviews so far,” said Merwald. “Though most people aren’t used to it. To me, it’s all about customer service. Just get them in, point them in the right direction, and do this in the cheapest way possible for them.” The staff and members of the showroom are typically laid back, and no one is high-pressured there. To appeal to each customer and make it easier to communicate with them, the staff has set up lounge rooms, children rooms, and TVs so people may come in and not feel pressured, as well as feel as “at home” as they can. “We had double the business I’d thought we’d have over that week of opening.” said Mereald. “We’ve been to Elkhorn and Fremont, both are huge cities. Gretna’s one of the smaller cities
we’ve visited.” Not only is business doing really well, but there is no worry or anxiety for competition against other dealerships. Yes, there are other companies to fued with, but Merwald thinks that in order to have a successful business, one should not compete for customers. He just wants to give the customers the truth the first time, and give them the right car and service as fast as possible, not fight with the other businesses in town. “I’ve been in the business for quite some time now, and I know all the tricks. If someone were to call a dealership, looking to spend let’s say $15,000, negotiating over the phone is different than in person. What they think they are spending on the car, they end up spending on the car and a bunch of other nonsense. 90% of car dealerships do this. That’s why I want to give the customer time to think about decisions, and make the right choice the first time.” For Merwald, it has been fun to interact with everyone in the town. He is pleased with the way this showroom is turning out, but still claims to have a lot of work to be done. “I have around 70 to 80 cars here in the showroom itself, and we’re currently looking for a place to keep the rest of the cars.” said Merwald. “I mostly sell used cars, but each car is cleaned thoroughly and taken care of to look just like new. I have a car actually that can go for around $92,000 at any other dealership, but here is worth only $9,000. And if we don’t have a car yet that you are looking for, I can usually replace it within 7 days tops. By the end of the month, our goals are to sell at least 50% of our inventory. It helps us stay in business, and helps get the people what they want as fast as they can get it.” Gretna is expanding, both in population and popularity. With this new addition of a car showroom, business here is expected to skyrocket. If it does, it could definitely help many people.
Sign Up and Take Off: The showroom itself, packed with cars of all years, sizes, and styles, contains tables to talk with a staff member when it comes down to the business part where people must make a large investment.
Privacy is Policy: Customers are allowed to talk to their salesmen in peace and without distraction. These barriers shown in the picture allow the perfect time to discuss business with anyone they would like to consult about a car.
Photos by Jacob Dart
:
Under One Roof This is a clear view of the main room where cars are sold. Customers are allowed to choose their desired car, and be lead out to the back for a spin in their possible new car before finalizing their sale.
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Showing Off the Showroom: Mr. Merwald, general manager of the new Gretna location, stands next to a car showcased in the front of the building and is eager and ready for all the great business that awaits him.
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Making it Homey: A lounge room was added to the showroom to give customers the time to relax, all while watching the game on T.V. Also, not shown, is a children’s room for bored kids while their parents seal the deal on a new car.
News
Revolution
“
” izing Your Stereotypical Show Choir
Big Brother Takes the Show Choir World By Storm With Their Nontraditional Show Schmidt / Copy Editor Forget the sparkly dresses, silver high heels and bow ties and suspenders. The Gretna High School Show Choir, Revolution, has moved from glitz and glamour to dark and mysterious. If one has very little knowledge of show choir, let it be known that it is usually stereotyped as flashy, energetic filled with jazz hands and step touches. Revolution’s show this year is very much different than the audience will ever see. “I saw a show in Burbank, California that was more of a story,” said Mr. Patrick Ribar, GHS Show Choir Director. “I wanted to do something similar this year and will definitely do a show like this again.” Revolution’s show this year titled, “Big Brother” has an overall theme of society losing its sense of humanity and the inability to enjoy the small things in life. The show is set in a society where the government, known as the “Collective” controls everything including any sort of emotion. The 25-minute show begins with senior, Zoe Bullard as a woman with a basket of flowers. Along come siblings on and off stage, seniors, Cody and Kelsey Jackson. They both are in awe of the women showing light in the darkened society. Throughout the show, a number of show choir members play rebellious characters fighting against the Collectives to retain freedom of emotion and sensitivity. Cody Jackson becomes part of the rebellion after the government takes his sister, Kelsey, to be a member of the collective.
“During the power struggle of the government,” said K. Jackson, “My character fights between fighting for what she knows is right, and giving in out of fear. She ultimately gives into the power of the Collective and joins their side until something knocks her out of it once her brother dies.” Even though the show ends with Cody unfortunately getting killed by the Collectives, GHS Revolution succeeds in inspiring and influencing audience members through the course of the unique story. Tears are shed, eyes are widened without the thought of blinking and mesmerized facial expressions fill the seats of the auditorium as GHS Revolution holds their last note on stage. “A lot of people are moved by what the show brought them,” said C. Jackson. “People come up to me and say they love coming to the show every week because we add and change things and it brings them to tears which is awesome.” For sophomore, Kassidy Vavra, being a member of Revolution her freshman year and transitioning to this year’s show left her a bit skeptical. The various types of facials and the mood from last year’s upbeat show to the dramatic show this year are polar opposites. “Last years show was just a typical two song, ballad, two song show,” said Vavra. “I like this year’s show better, but both shows have great memories from the two years I’ve been in them. It’s not just different because of the show, but also because the people that are in it and the way we approach it when performing and competing. We’re focusing on making an impact on people versus trying to win
A Fight For Individualism: Playing the sister in the show, senior Kelsey Jackson is taken by the Collective government and loses her ability to show emotion. This is Jackson’s third year on Gretna’s Revolution along with her brother, Cody.
awards.” Getting ready for each competition is quite the process. Templates are laid over each girl’s face, and junior, Alaina Kauffman and other parents airbrush dots and eyebrows on to create the futuristic look. All the guys have a red stripe airbrushed across their face and moms of the members gel the guys’ hair and put red paint in it. Kelsey Jackson has a red scarf across her costume along with a red stripe on her face to show she is a main character in the show. Bullard also has a red stripe across her face and Cody Jackson has red fringe on his costume to differentiate them from the rest of the members. While the dads stencil tattoos on the guys and moms do the Collective’s hair, this process take over an hour. The parents of the members are extremely involved this year and Revolution cannot thank them enough. Although the mere focus of GHS Revolution is to put on a great show and are impactful, Revolution attends competition almost every weekend during the season and has received numerous awards for their outstanding performances including their recent big win with 3rd place at the Elkhorn South competition. Cody Jackson was awarded best male soloist at the Westside, Ralston and Elkhorn South competition and senior, Lacy Sims was also recognized as best performer at Ralston’s competition. “We are a reshaping show choir,” said K. Jackson. “I love it because it tells an actual story, and while being dark, it reaches the audience in a way that no original show choir could. Making a lasting impact is the best part ever.”
Photos by Liz Schmidt A Light In the Darkness: With passion and grace,
senior Zoe Bullard belts out Revolution’s ballad number, “Let There Be.” This is Bullard’s second year in the GHS Show Choir and is thrilled to recieve this beautiful solo.
There is a Terrifying World Out There: With the realization that the governement has taken over society in the
show, the number, “Mad World” shows the members of the community coming together to fight against the Collective.
Suit Up Ladies and Gents, Finals Are About to be Broken Students Rise Up to the Legacy of Past Gretna Speech Team Success Across All of the Events
Kahler / Reporter Gretna has a long history of success, whether it has to do with academics, athletics or the arts, and speech is no exception. Lately the speech team at GHS has been doing very well at competitions and have been receiving awards for their outstanding achievements.
One-Girl Show: Performing a Humorous Interpretation script Summer Murray, junior, must switching between multiple characters to convey one story line.
News
“Winning an award is an uplifting experience,” said Alex Chase, junior. “When the team, as a whole, wins an award for Gretna, I feel good for having been able to contribute to the points and feel more a part of the team. When it comes to individual awards, just qualifying to win a medal is amazing but going up on stage and waiting to hear the placings is where the most suspense and excitement is.” The team recently competed at Marian and placed third overall. They also placed first overall with multiple individual medalists at the EMC Tournament. It takes much dedication and hard work to be a member of speech. It takes a great deal practice to be able to master these techniques such as these students have demonstrated in their winnings and recognitions. “I feel like if you want to succeed or make any progress in speech, it takes a lot of time and dedication,” said Chase.
“It requires not only practice with the speech coaches, but also a great deal of independent practice at home, but being on speech is amazing. Pretty much everyone on the team is super fun, the coaches are great, and competing is, overall, a wonderful experience.” Speech team has some tough competition. Creighton Prep and Marian
Speaking Success: The OID “The Werewolf and His
Problems”, starring Charlie Ames, junior, and Logan Langholdt, senior, has been a success during the season.
recently placed second and third at the Marian competition, which is why the team’s hard work and devotion is a necessity in an effort to strive even further. They have been to six competitions so far this year, and are preparing for more. “I think our biggest competition is Skutt, Creighton Prep, and Millard North,” said Rachel Schollaert, junior. “They have some really great performers. But they also start their speech season a lot sooner than we do, so when we first start competing they’ve already been doing it for a month or two. So at first they usually beat us pretty bad, but by Conference and Districts we’ve worked up to their level and it’s really evenly matched.” The Speech team at GHS works extremely hard for their accomplishments and has succeeded many times in doing so. They are looking forward to upcoming competitions in hopes of increasing their winnings even further.
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Staff Editorial: Happy B-Day Tinker
We Want Student Free Speech Rights “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” These are the famous words of Thomas Jefferson, the man behind the Declaration of Independence for the United States. The freedom of the press and the liberty for a public forum to exist is one of the most important rights humans have. It empowers us to get the truth out free from outside censorship or control. Mr. Jefferson was right when he said liberty depends on it, because there is no way to protect liberty without speech. However, in the eyes of the law, students are less than the average American citizen, we do not have the same rights or the same freedoms. There is a pot of gold on the end of this censorship rainbow, and it comes in the form of a soon to be forty-five year old court case, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. December of 1965. America is in a state of disarray. The Vietnam War, losing the Space Race, and racial tension define the problems going on in this country. There are demonstrations everywhere on government incompetence and fighting prejudices, but these were legal adults taking on these problems. John Tinker, Mary Beth Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt decided to stand up for what they believe in, and they were students. They disagreed with the direction the country was headed, so they were going to not even speak, but wear armbands in protest of the American lives being lost. However, the principals of the Des Moines school district had other ideas. They heard rumors that this was going to occur, so to stop it from happening they passed rules that banned armbands. The students wore them anyway; and when asked to take them off, they refused and were suspended until they decided to comply with the policy. Eventually they filed suit and lost in the District and Appeals courts, but the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, with the majority decision including this: "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.....(the schools administrations) must be able to show that the action was caused by something more than a mere desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint" - Justice Abe Fortas This landmark case gave students the right and the ability to stand up for what they believe in, and defend their personal opinions. While a student's actions can still not “materially and substantially interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school” by this decision our opinions are still defensible and allowed to be publicly shown. However, only seven states in the US: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts and Oregon
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follow this precedent, as the rest follow another that cast a blanket over the ability of student newspapers and students to express and print freely. In May of 1983 Cathy Kuhlmeier, Editor-in-Chief of The Spectrum student newspaper for Hazelwood East High School, decided they wanted to push the boundaries of what can be printed for their paper. They wanted to run stories on teen pregnancy and divorce, two radical ideas in this time period. When they submitted their paper to principal, simply out of tradition and courtesy, the principal demanded that those stories be pulled out. As there was not time to make changes to the paper before school ended, they printed a four-page paper instead of a six-page one, and Cathy Kuhlmeier, Leslie Smart and Leanne Tippett filed suit against the school district. Eventually the case was heard in front of the Supreme Court, and they ruled that: "The question whether the First Amendment requires a school to tolerate particular student speech—the question we addressed in Tinker—is different from the question whether the First Amendment requires a school affirmatively to promote particular student speech. The former question addresses educators' ability to silence students' personal expression that happens to occur on the school premises. The latter question concerns educators' authority over school sponsored publications, theatrical productions, and other expressive activities that students, parents, and members of the public might reasonably perceive to bear the imprimatur of the school." - Justice Byron White Essentially this decision says that the ability to censor student’s work is acceptable if it is in a school sponsored activity. This decision was met with a 5-3 vote in the Supreme Court, so it was hotly contested. The other forty-three states follow this precedent currently in the United States. The hope of The Voice staff and students across the country is that their individual states will follow the Tinker precedent in the future to have the freedom to express freely in what they do. Students in One Act, Show Choir, Musical, Yearbook, Drama, Speech and other activities are all technically under this umbrella. Every aspect of production in our school has the ability to be censored, whether it is or not. This is troubling news as many times, especially in newspaper, quotes or stories are censored, and it is not at the fault of our administration, but our state government for failing to uphold the precedent of a case that supports students rights. So, in remembrance of the 45th anniversary of Tinker, we at The Voice support a state where our ideas are censor-free and our liberty is untouched. The staff voted unanimously.
HAZELWOOD
Cartoon by Annie Sullivan
From the Principal’s Desk Administrative Response to last Staff Editorial on Drop & Add
Mr. Roger Miller/Principal
• As to the clash of personality point, after one day of class there is no way it can be known if a student and teacher have a difference that is enough to warrant a class change. • The next point of having the ability to change teachers in the same subject, classes would never be balanced. What this means we could end having 30 kids signed up for one teacher and 10 for another. Those are numbers that just don’t work out. • If the drop and add session was to be one and a half weeks long what are the teachers expected to do for that time period of class? They’ll be assigning work to kids who might leave and having to give extra work to kids who join. Doesn’t work for the teachers. • In the end, it does’nt matter when the deadline is because some students will still want to make a change after the deadline. • The system right now gives the parent and the kid all the power, as they can talk about it and make a decision when classes are picked or before the next term starts. • Finally, if we were to look at it by a case-by-case basis, how can we justify saying yes to one kid and no to another. How will the other kids feel?
The Voice
Editors: Jeff Glassburner/Editor in Chief Liz Schmidt/Copy Editor Lindsey LaMountain/News Editor Samantha Hannigan/Sports Editor Kylie Holman/OpEd Editor Charlie Ames/A&E Editor Jade Naber/Features Editor Amanda Nelson/InDepth Editor Staff Writers: Haley Booze Hope Cudly Jacob Dart Becca Human Nicholas Mefford Amanda Minckler Angel Perina Olivia Kahler-Gilloon Layne Staley Brenna Zollman
Opinion & Editorial
Complementary Social Media Twitter Pages Generate Good Feelings
#Gretna LaMountain/News Editor When the Twitter app recommends a tweet, you know it is something worth looking at. Lately, there has been a certain tweeter that has received multitudes of favorites, retweets, and responses. The generator is not named as a specific person but is an account labeled Gretna Compliments. For the past month, the buzz around the school has been who was complemented the night before. Luckily, this is not just an account for all the “popular” kids. People from all sorts of grades and social groups have been graced with a heartwarming comment or two. With almost 300 followers and a little over 200 tweets, this page seems to be bringing the school together one tweet at a time. Unfortunately, destructive accounts have to counteract the nice ones. There are numerous other twitter pages that
Art by Annie Sullivan
shed negative light on the students of GHS even though not all call out peers by name. These do not all quite reach 200 followers, but they are still making an impact. This social media fad is spreading throughout Nebraska high schools, though it may not be for the better. Virtually anyone can direct message or go to ask.fm to give a compliment, insult, or confession that can be posted. This can be a dangerous game to play. Only a select few actually know who are in control of these accounts, but some creators should be thanked while others just need to be shut down. Yes, the “idea” of the pages are for fun, but no one can really be sure of the impact words may have. It would be ideal for our school to be the one that only focuses on the positives of each other. High school is a rough place already in the walls of the building, it should not be worse whenever one looks at a computer or phone screen.
One Size Fits All? Not When it Comes to Education Public Education Does Not Cater to Individual Student Needs and Skills Mefford/Reporter
Ever since the early 1600’s, with the idea of an adult teaching the bible to a large group of children, the public schooling network has changed very little. And it shows. With the recent mass standardization of classrooms, many parents and students are wondering just how much good this current teaching method is. With new ideas and old problems colliding, many children and teachers have tried to cut away from the old model of school to find innovative ideas to teach tomorrow’s lawyers, scientists, and leaders. America has been built on the entire concept of the individual. From the ideals of capitalism to the power of democracy, one person is just as important as the whole. This idea seems odd, because our traditional schools seem to be obsessed with piling a group of diverse and unique children into an age-based, one size fits all system. Oftentimes it is not unexpected for these schools to follow the norm of education: standardized tests, letter grades, age-based grouping, etc. And while this seems good on paper, many critics of this “traditional” schooling constantly point out the many flaws that it holds. While they succeed in sending out students to do good for the whole, therein is one of the biggest problems. The idea of training students to be merely
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cogs in a machine, mechanically going from one task to another, is the only thing all the standardized tests and heavily structured curriculums do. Creativity and genuine curiosity, two things that are heavily important in childhood development, are oftentimes slowed or stunted with the large classroom lectures and tests that are given out, even at early ages. Perhaps if we were to put emphasis onto the single person, catering to everyone’s individual skill level instead of as an age group, we might see an improvement. It doesn’t have to be a system of one teacher per student. In fact, Gretna seems to be doing this well in some areas. In the fields of Math and to an extent later English, the system seems to be in the early stage of implementation. By having students be put into classes based on their skill level and motivation instead of purely by age, the education for all seems much improved. Those who already know material are given new challenges, while students who may need extra time to understand concepts can go at their own pace. I only wish that perhaps it was brought to all areas, such as earlier liberal sciences, hard sciences, and even electives. Too often schools steamroll over individual students, wanting to please the whole or be looked upon well due to good statistics. The most important time of the
human life is growing up. We develop. We learn. We form our very personalities and work styles that will define us later in life. Our potential for creativity and ingenuity is at its strongest, waiting to be unlocked. And yet, currently public schools do little to nothing about it. Students are constantly pushed towards going down a certain path of education, often worrying more about their grades as opposed to expanding our boundaries and taking risks to learn more. Too many times, hidden gems of talent are lost due to the incessant drive towards math and science. Not to say that these subjects are the bane of education, far from it. But they are given so much priority towards a “successful” life that many students overlook other classes and subjects that might help them have a full depth of understanding. For years, researchers have tried to come up with new ideas and plans to mix up the mundane routine of public education, with mixed results. Some, such as the idea of homeschooling and co-ops, are gaining popularity and success. Imagine a classroom where there is only a single student, and the entire curriculum is centered around him and only him. He can learn at his own pace, have as long, or as short, of school days as he wants; the personal classroom. The ideas of homeschooling center around this, with participants stating the perk of
learning at their own pace, whether that be genius level fast, or slow and steady. And while many would point out that these children are often socially held back, the truth could, for the majority, be far from it. With the use of co-ops, places where other homeschooled students gather, social interaction isn’t that far from today’s school environment. Other ideas for change aim at the idea of schooling itself. Some, in the form of the “flipped classroom” ideal, focus more on changing the face of schooling by swapping the homework and lectures around. Others, such as the relatively newer Progressive schooling, throw out the ideals of traditional schooling in favor of a more intimate style of teaching. The possibilities for change are endless, although they are just starting to gain traction. In the wake of recent acts such as Common Core Standards and the infamous No Child Left Behind, many are questioning just what they are putting their children through with schooling. And for good reason. The very foundations of public education are being brought under scrutiny, with questions being raised as to if it really is in the best interests of students and children to be put in such an environment. And with all the problems that litter our current method of teaching, it’s not hard to see where those people are coming from.
Opinion & Editorial
V5
#SelfieCentral Not Just Teenagers
Selfie History
Imagine a portrait of King Henry VII from the early 1500’s posing with a duck face. This may seem kind of strange to think about, but selfies have been around much longer than people think. The term selfie has been a popular thing to say when someone is taking a picture of themselves. Some think that selfies are a new phenomenon in the world of photography, but people do not actually know how far back they go. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a selfie as “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.” Some people wonder if this actually is a true definition of a selfie. It is also possible that a painting or self-portrait of someone could meet some of the standards. Two of the art teachers at Gretna High School had a different opinion about this. “I don’t think a portrait or painting can be considered a selfie because selfies are a slang word for the times, and a way to have fun,” said Mrs. Amy Oliver, art teacher. “Portraits are used for historical references, so the purpose behind each is different.” Portraits were used as a way to capture the way a person looked before cameras were made. Selfies are pictures that a person takes of themselves and can post on social media as a form of entertainment. That is where a difference in a selfie compared to a portrait might be; however, a self-portrait is a painting someone that is created by themselves. “In earlier times, when cameras were not made yet, some people would paint themselves while looking in a mirror if they didn’t have enough money to hire an artist to paint them,” said Mr. Michael Moore, art teacher. A self-portrait can be like a selfie in some ways. In a self-portrait, someone is painting a picture of themselves. In a selfie, they are taking a picture of themselves. These different types of art could be considered the same thing. This is because they have the same intention in mind, to capture themselves in a picture. The difference though, is that the two were popular in different time periods. Self-portraits were painted when cameras were not yet invented. Now that cameras have become very common, the popularity of selfies have become greater. Selfies are now a rage in social media. They are a way for people to have fun and express themselves in picture form. Selfies are sometimes thought of as a new trend or idea that has just recently become well known. Self-portraits have been around for a much longer time and are like a selfie in certain ways. People can take into consideration that maybe selfies have more history than they think.
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March, 2014
Minckler/Reporter
Nelson/In-Depth Editor
Staley/Reporter
#GroupPic
#GretnaSelfies Hashtag Crazy Even though there are over 79 million pictures, and counting, under the hashtag selfie, there are plenty of other hashtags that teenagers use to get their pictures seen by more people. There are the more popular ones like #selfiesunday or #me even though yes, people know it is in fact a selfie and it is Sunday and yes, you are in it. There are at least 50 tags including the word selfie that range from “selfienation” to “selfie101.” There are also selfie tags for everyday of the week, so it does not stay on just Sundays. There are also hashtags that get really popular for a few months, however, but get plenty of pictures and accounts dedicated to them like the selfie olympics. The selfie olympics included people taking selfies of them doing various activities such as canoeing in their bathroom, them dressed as a phone, or even them taking pictures with bread and no phone in sight. Any word can be used as a tag, so users can put tags that have nothing to do with their picture, but users are only able to post 30 tags with their photos, so that gives selfie takers room to tag but not go #craycray.
Teenagers are infamous for their various types of selfies taken, when actually, in SelfieCity’s research only 167 of 3200 selfies found were between the ages of 13 and 18. The same study shows the median for ages is 23.7. Now, I know people are thinking “that is not an adult” but, yeah technically, it is. Also, according to the study, the men’s average age is higher. So, fun fact, as men get older they become more self-centered. As selfies rise in popularity, this generation is not the only one seen snapping pictures with their front cameras. One of the more famous adult selfies is the one of the Pope Francis that went viral. As someone scrolls through the selfie tag they will see more and more adults show up. Selfies are still widely used by teenagers and there are only a few adults taking them, but slowly more are starting to post pictures. The rising use of selfies in adults could be because people are getting more self-centered, or it could be adults just want to get pictures with their kids. With the word becoming a part of the dictionary, it is not a surprise that more people are taking part in selfie taking. A side effect of adults taking selfies is the kids see their parents or other people taking selfies and they want to join in. Even toddlers are taking selfies and enjoying it. Everyone is taking pictures of themselves now, so do not say it is just teenagers.
What Selfies Say About You I am pretty positive that all of us have taken a selfie at one time or another. If you were to scroll through my camera roll, there would be an abundance of my various faces staring back at you, and that is not something I am proud of, given the fact that I have better things to do than take pictures of myself. I can only hope that I am not the only one to fall under this curse, or blessing, depending on the way you want to look at it. With the high volume of cell phones with built-in cameras, taking a selfie is more prevalent now than ever. A selfie is like a page in a diary; it shows the viewer what type of grub you enjoy, or how much fast food you eat in a week. The observer catches a glimpse into your life in and out of school. For instance, the bathroom selfie, or the “I’m breaking the rules by having my phone out during school. #rebel” picture by posing in front of a mirror. “I think they [people that take selfies] are narcissistic,” said Mrs. Katie Craig, Psychology teacher. “Sometimes, it’s the only thing to do like when you’re with someone. By yourself, it’s no positive message to me.” Craig may be right. Our generation can be a bit egotistical at times, always wanting to see themselves. There are many different reasons why a person takes a selfie, and how the viewer reacts to seeing it. “I know why girls take selfies,” said Josh Myers, freshman. “They want guys to like them or comment to get attention, or they want boys to talk to them. If they put a bunch of filters and make themselves pretty, guys from other schools see them and don’t even know what they really look like.” I can admit sometimes this is true. A selfie can distort your image just by putting a filter over it. Maybe, people do selfies to transform themselves into someone that they want to be, or gain some self esteem. “It makes you feel good about yourself,” said Maiah Thamm, freshman. “Having people comment and like your pictures. It increases self confidence.” There are always the ugly selfies along with the pretty ones. With airbrushed models on the pages of magazines, ugly selfies are a way to challenge those picture perfect beauty standards. “I only take them [ugly selfies] when I’m talking to good friends,” said Lauryn Eby, freshman. “It gets a laugh out of people, and it’s fun to get them back.” A selfie is a chance to capture a moment, or promote yourself. Whatever the case may be, I suggest spending a little less time with your camera and bit more with your friends.
In-Depth
V7
Teachers
Zollman / Reporter Imagine having to come back to school to learn once again. Reliving high school as an adult would be a nightmare for most teenagers, but some do it willingly in order to educate the future’s youth. Jumping through the hoops of high school while being on the other side of the classroom can not be easy. These brave souls are known as student teachers. Student teaching is a way to learn and find a preferred style of teaching. It is required for any college student looking for teaching certification, or someone trying to earn their Bachelor or Master degree in Education. It is an interesting way for both us and our future teachers to learn. Gretna High School currently has three student teachers shadowing our teachers; Mrs. Allison Brown, who is currently student teaching for Mr. Depue and Mrs. Ewer, Mr. Jake Jadlowski, who student teaches for Mr. Swanson and Mr. Heard, and Ms. Beth Schulte, who shadows Mr. Moore. Student teachers have their struggles while learning the ropes of teaching. When teaching five or six classes a day, organization is something that is not always an easily manageable task. “Right now, it is having to keep organization,” said Mrs. Brown. “There are lots of papers that students provide me.” Other student teachers struggle with the small age gap between them and students. It is not the easiest being only a couple years older than the students you are teaching. It sets up a block in the mind about how to act around the teacher. Should students act professionally or personally around the teacher?
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“I would say one of my biggest struggles is that I am young,” said Ms. Schulte. “It’s hard for the students to treat me like a teacher.” The biggest part of student teaching is the actual learning experience. A student teacher can learn many things from their time teaching and especially from the teachers they co-teach with. A couple words of wisdom from someone who has been doing a job for a longer time always leaves a lasting impression. “I’m learning lots of things from Mr. Depue and Mrs. Ewer,” said Mrs. Brown. “Especially building relationships, good relationships with students help learning grow in the classroom.” Behavior issues can strain sprouting that special relationship with students, however. Every class has that one class clown that does not always want to focus on the lesson and would rather make jokes or talk. That puts an extra strain on student teachers that do not quite know how to reprimand a student that is acting out. “Honestly the students at GHS are the best students I’ve had,” said Ms. Schulte. “When I was much younger, on
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one of one of my first student teaching jobs, students would follow me around out of class and look for personal stuff on me.” Teaching can easily be seen as a struggle. Dealing with unruly kids, having to keep track of late assignments, and learning how to balance personal life with teaching and organizing classes is definitely a full time job. However, for some it is what makes them thrive. Seeing somebody learn and grow from what they have been taught is quite a heart sweller. “I’ve learned that teaching is a very fun and rewarding experience,” said Mr. Jadlowski. Student teachers might be something to get used to for some students, but they do enhance learning.
Classroom
Through all their barriers and hoops to jump through, they still strive to help the students of GHS learn and grow. They are apart of a regular school day and perhaps, since they’re already familiar with the school, some of these student teachers will find a permanent home at GHS.
photo by Jacob Dart
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photo by Brenna Zollman
Beginnings
photo by Brenna Zollman
New
Ms. Amy Schulte is doing a commonly known pottery technique, often dubbed as “throwing”. She served her last day shadowing for Mr. Moore on February 28th.
HUMANS
Mr. Jake Jadlowski helps Devon Martinez, freshman, study up on Night by Elie Wiesel. Mr. Jadlowski is using helpful tips from Mr. Swanson and Mr. Heard, his respective teachers, to help Martinez grow in learning.
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Learning through teaching, Mrs. Allison Brown is currently student teaching for Mr. Depue and Mrs. Ewer. “I’m learning lots of things from Mr. Depue and Mrs. Ewer,” said Mrs. Brown. “Especially building relationships to help leaning go on in the classroom”
GRETNA
(below) “Don’t volunteer to help teachers.” -Zach Nylin, sophomore
photos by Becca Human
(above) “Two jobs, speech, musical, show choir, NHS officer, college classes, and cooking for the family… sometimes sleep is optional.” -Trace Mannewitz, senior
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March, 2013
(above) “We’ve been here too long!” -Mrs. Turpen, secretary and Mrs. Doolittle, secretary
(left) “Don’t be afraid to verge on the brink of crazy to try something new.” Zoe Bullard, senior
Feature
Unique Allergies Popping Up in Our Community Rare
Conditions
Hannigan / Sports Editor Coughing, sneezing, runny-nose, and a plugged up head. All common symptoms of seasonal allergies. A part from the regular allergies many people have an assortment of others. A common allergy among people would be a peanut allergy. Mr. Bill Heard’s son has this allergy as well. His son has to carry an epipen and watch what he eats. “We found out he had this allergy when he was younger,” said Heard. “My wife fed him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and he broke out.” Thankfully they have never had any horrible scares. As common as this allergy may be, Mrs. Jennifer Long’s daughter, Payton, has a more rare allergy. This allergy is so rare that her doctor said he has only seen five cases of this in the last twenty-five years. She is allergic to the cold. Long’s daughter breaks out in hives when in cold water or air.
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“The first time it happened she fainted and we were scared,” said Long. “We also noticed she was breaking out when playing in hose water and when playing on cold playground equipment so we took her to the doctor to get tested.” Long’s daughter is old enough now to monitor this herself, but was an issue when she was younger as she would have to stay inside during recess. She takes an antihistamine to help and even though she has never had any severe breakouts, this allergy can potentially be very dangerous. At GHS there are some students with interesting allergies as well. Jessica Weishahan, senior has an allergy to grass causing her to break out in hives and her legs start to itch. “I take Zytec daily and benadryl if it gets really itchy.” said Weishahn. “In the summer, I am diligent about wearing shoes and I bring a blanket with me.” Another case is Maddie Keith,
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Human / Reporter In a world with dwindling job opportunities and a lack of security about career prospects after college, students are hard-pressed to go into majors that will provide for them in the future. Majors related to business and medicine are promising fields, and therefore attract large numbers of applicants. Still, there are many who find themselves interested in going into art-related fields, such as visual arts, acting, writing, or music. “Right now, I’m planning on attending Savannah College of Art and Design, or SCAD,” said Rachel Schollaert, junior. “I’m torn between majoring in Video & Television Production and Performing Arts, or getting a minor in Dramatic Writing.” While going into acting or music performance might sound crazy at first, students going into these fields are not completely throwing their future off a cliff. In fact, there has never been a better time to go into the creative arts. Colleges
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sophomore who is allergic to bananas. They make her tongue itch. Megan Jespersen, junior is allergic to horses. They make her sneeze and cause her eyes to water blurring her vision. This allergy has been a part of the reason she had to stop riding horse at the age of ten. Even though there are some unusual allergies, none of them have as many as Allon Johnson, junior. “I’m allergic to wheat, dairy, shellfish, citric acid,” said Johnson. “Also, cat and dog dander, all trees and grass, bananas, pollen and dust mites.” Johnson did not get tested for these allergies until he was about 13 or 14 so he continued to eat and be around all of this when he was younger causing his body to become immune to these items. With as many different things as Johnson is allergic to, it is surprising he has never had a close call with any of these. “I do not take medication either,” said Johnson. “I use to for seasonal allergies
Creative Love
have better programs than ever for less traditional education routes, encouraging many to pursue what they really love. “In order to have the best shot [after college], I need an education that really focuses on the arts,” said Schollaert. “SCAD has a really high percentage of graduates working in jobs that fall under their major within a year after graduation. They also offer a lot of internships with major companies, so I think it’s a good place to start.” In general, arts-related fields are considered tougher to go into due to the lesser chance of finding a job after graduation. However, for students going into these majors, the focus is not on the money; it is about doing what they love. “What I really truly enjoy doing is speech and One Act and creative writing,” said Schollaert. “So even though it’ll be harder to succeed as an actress or a film director than a job with a higher demand, I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try.” High school graduates who choose
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to pursue the arts into college may have a less certain future in terms of job opportunity, but the experience gained and passion produced by these college programs often makes up for uncertainty. Katie Cooley, a 2012 GHS alumna, is one of these college students. “I am attending the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and I am a horn performance and English double major,” said Cooley. “I’m really grateful that I’m attending a university that has so many phenomenal opportunities to learn and grow and experience.” When it comes to thinking about life after college, some people shy away from art majors because of the lack of jobs. However, Cooley has encouraging words for those considering taking this step. “I’ve kind of come to this great realization: everything is going to be fine,” said Cooley. “At the end of the day, I know that I’m at college right now because I am passionate about the pursuit of art. That should always be the reason you choose
the
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but not anymore.” A side from the usual coughing, sneezing, runny nose, there are a multitude of different allergies causing different reactions. Weather the cold affects you or simply different food, there are always items to watch out for.
na Sullivan
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something. Do what makes you happy simply because you will be best at that.” The ultimate idea when choosing a career is to follow a path you love. Students should pursue what they truly believe their dreams to be. Success can come in a number of ways, and wealth does not necessarily mean happiness. Following what honestly makes one happy, whether this means a degree in medicine or a degree in creative writing, should be the focus when looking at the future. In the end, Cooley says, following her passion has payed off in too many ways to count. “If you are passionate about the arts, go for it,” said Cooley. “Do it. You have nothing to lose if you try. The four years you have as an undergraduate are extremely valuable because you can try so many different things. If you are passionate about what you love and find yourself scared about giving that up after high school, don’t! There’s always a way. Keep searching, keep pursuing, keep practicing. It’s worth it, I promise.”
Submitted photo
Pursuing a career in the arts can mean many different things. For Katie Cooley, GHS alumna, it means playing in orchestras such as the one pictured above in the UNL music program.
March, 2013
Feature
V9
Maximum Fitness With Minimal Effort During Winter How to Stay in Shape Without Trying Too Hard or Getting Frostbite Holman/ OpEd Editor The holidays are a time for family, food, and relaxation. Most people tend to grow docile when distracted by Christmas presents and New Years parties. Exercise is the last thing that comes to our minds when surrounded by holiday goodies. So it is not uncommon to come back from break with a few extra pounds. Combined with the dismal weather, no one wants to venture into the cold when there is a fireplace and leftover candycanes at home. New Year’s resolutions have faltered and moving in general, let alone working out, does not seem likely. The key to staying in shape during the sluggish winter months is being active and starting very small. Trying to go from couch potato to Mr. Muscles in a day will almost always result in failure. Start by doing small movements when doing daily activities. Do calf raises while waiting in line for lunch. Hold a plank for the duration of a commercial break. Instead of sitting on the couch while
watching TV, stretch and improve flexibility. Do jumping jacks while the shower starts to warm up. These little changes will increase blood flow and add up to the recommended thirty minutes to an hour of exercise per day. Exercising can be tedious and it is tough to stay motivated. If weight loss is a goal, save a dollar for every pound lost and splurge with the extra cash. Vow to not watch “The Bachelor” until stretching for thirty minutes. Change it up, and go to an indoor trampoline center to burn major calories. Make the Wifi password a fitness goal as a reminder. Get new workout gear for every milestone to motivate yourself. Every time a workout is missed, pay someone a dollar. These are all ways to stay on track and keep excuses to a minimum. A key component to getting in shape is the right mindset. If your internal monologue is going on about how much working out sucksand
how tired you are, it will be hard to stay motivated. Make a vision board full of your fitness goals. Try to keep out pictures from magazines. The goal is to be healthy, not to fit into a Hollywood stereotype. Do not think about celebrities or being a size two. Focus on lifestyle improvement and having a healthy body. Working out is a lot of effort. In the post-holiday haze sit-ups are not exactly ideal. However, staying healthy does not have to mean a complete lifestyle overhaul. These little changes will make beginning to work out easier. Start small and stay motivated. These tips will help eliminate post-holiday pounds without the struggle.
Seniors Allie Feighner and Sarah Zeleny and Junior MaryEllen Kramer practice their moves to stay in shape over the winter. Follow their lead to keep in shape as well. They are taking a yoga break during Lifetime Sports.
Living Life as a Champion: Giving Up is Never an Option Ames/ A&E Editor “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion’” (Muhammad Ali). These famous words are what inspires junior Kathleen Giebler in a sport that is not so ordinary: Olympic-style weightlifting. After a chronic back injury in middle school from years of playing soccer, Giebler was forced to regularly see a mobility specialist and trainer in her sophomore year of high school. Though the cause for these visits was not a pleasant one, the effect would introduce Giebler to a newfound passion. “I started lifting weights for soccer,” said Giebler. “My trainer saw my movements and told me that I’d be really good at weight lifting; I didn’t even think it was a sport.” Once Giebler was able, she began doing what she thought was her life: playing soccer… only to find out that she missed being in the gym. Refusing to quit, Giebler finished out her soccer season and took her trainer’s advice. “I tried it and I just happened to be good at it, so I ran with it,” said Giebler. Being an uncommon sport in the United States, Olympic-style weightlifting is not what it appears to be. Because of this, Giebler is often mistaken as a “powerlifter” or “bodybuilder”, two terms that both inaccurately describe her sport. While powerlifting and bodybuilding both involve weight training, the specific types of lifts distinguish all three competitive exercises. “When people hear I’m a weightlifter, the first thing they ask me is how much I bench,” said Giebler. “I don’t bench- the two main things I compete in are the ‘clean and jerk’, and the ‘snatch’.” Because of its misconception, Giebler had a hard time convincing her family of the sport’s legitimacy. They too made the mistake of judging it too early. “My mom thought it was bodybuilding- she thought I was going to be oiling up and getting tans,” said Giebler. “She finally came and watched one of my training sessions and ended
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up in the corner bawling. She told me how proud she was.” Although it is uncommon, Olympicstyle weightlifting demands an enormous amount of time and sacrifice. Giebler trains every day, and is restricted to a very specific diet. “I’m taking in about 5200 calories a day so that I can put on weight [for strength] before I start to cut,” said Giebler. “People tell me that I’m lucky that I can eat all day- I tell them it sucks because sometimes I’m not hungry, but I still have to eat. After awhile though, your body becomes used to it; food becomes fuel.” Regardless of the challenges her sport brings, Kathleen is optimistic about her future. She acknowledges her talent and is incredibly humble about it. “I think it’s a blessing from above,” said Giebler. “Before I started this, my life was headed on some different paths than what I’m on now. I was very insecure, very lost, and when this found me, I changed as a person… it’s all worth it for me.” Giebler’s talent has brought her extreme success, being ranked sixth in the nation in her weight class and age. She intends to improve with time, and has set short and long-term goals for herself. “I’m trying to get national standingsI want to be an Academic All-American my freshman year of college,” said Giebler. “I’m preparing to compete in the 2016 Olympic trials, knowing that I may not make the team. The point is to understand the experience so that I can achieve my long-term goal: going to the 2020 Olympics [Tokyo, Japan].” Giebler’s determination and love for athletics is what has brought her to be one of the top Olympic-style weightlifters in the country. Her work ethic is absolutely amazing, putting in on average three to four hours of training each week day, with the addition of six hours on Saturdays. She has proved that with enough strength, physically and mentally, she will not fall. “You have to love the sport, even when it doesn’t love you back,” said Giebler. “God gave me this gift; there’s no way that I would be the person I am right now if this hadn’t fallen into my path.”
Top photo: Kathleen Gibler holds up her trophy after a hard meet. Giebler was excited after her name was called after a long two hour meet. Giebler was filled with happiness and overwhelmed with joy. Left Photo: Giebler starts her “opener” or first lift of the meet, her snatch. She trusted her coaches to put the right amount of weight on her bar. She just tried to focus on her technique and skill.
Submitted Photos
March, 2014
Read: Fault in Our Stars An Explanation of Why I Am Not “Okay” Kylie Holman/OpEd Editor
T See: Divergent What started out as a popular dystopian novel is now being turned into a major motion picture. Divergent is a bestselling series by Veronica Roth, and the movie will hit theaters on March 21. The leading roles of Tris Prior and Four will be played by Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller. LAYNE STALEY
Do: Wicked Wicked is coming to Omaha from May 7 through May 25. Tickets are on sale now, ranging anywhere from about eighty dollars to almost four hundred. The musical was last seen in Omaha in 2011, and this year’s show is part of a tour throughout twenty cities, including New York and London. OLIVIA KAHLER
Hear: 5 Seconds After getting done with a 9 month tour stint opening up for One Direction, Aussie pop punk group 5 Seconds of Summer is set to release their first official EP on April 1st. Unlike their tour mates, 5 Seconds of Summer is far from the stereotypical cookie-cutter boy band pop. This four-piece band is perfect for fans of Blink-182 or Fall Out Boy, but also has a pop influenced sound, similar to Maroon 5. If you just can’t wait until April to listen to the band, you can go on YouTube and find their lead single, “She Looks So Perfect”. If that satisfies your music taste, the EP will available for purchase on ITunes.
een romance novels usually follow a predictable plotline: Boy meets girl. They deny their feelings and eventually realize they love each other. Someone makes a mistake. They spend miserable time alone, and then they meet on a bridge: apologizing, crying, and a happy ending pop, lock, and dropping it at Prom. Typical. Boring. “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green is anything but ordinary. It follows the love story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters. PLOT TWIST: Hazel has Stage 4 Thyroid cancer and Augustus is in remission from osteosarcoma with a prosthetic leg. This book strays far from the typical “sick lit” that has dominated romance novels. It works to de-stigmatize cheesy teenage love and life with cancer. One of the main themes in the novel that really resonated with me is Green’s portrayal of love. He does not make it all googly eyes and infatuation just because it is about teenagers. He emphasizes the significance of love despite the age of the people in it. I am tired of people saying that loving someone when you are 17 does not matter because you are 17. Adults typically tend to diminish the relevance of teenage relationships and our ability to know our feelings. We may be more emotionally impacted by this, but that does not make our feelings any less due to our age. Green has repeatedly made a point to affirm his belief that teenagers are just as capable as adults, and The Fault in Our Stars articulates his viewpoints perfectly. “Sick lit” is a category of literature that is extremely popular in fiction currently. These books
tend to glorify and romanticize the suffering of people with terminal illnesses. They are always about someone with a Horrible Condition with *insert time frame here* to Live Life to the Fullest. Then, they go on an Epic Adventure and Die Gracefully of said Horrible Condition. This does not display the grim facts about life with a terminal illness. I am not saying I want a medical textbook play-byplay of everything that happens, but I think that people with these illnesses deserve to have their conditions reflected in a factual light without being glamorized for profit. Green researched different types of cancers and talked to people with terminal illnesses to construe their lives as realistically as possible. His friendship with a young girl living with cancer, Esther Earl, contributed greatly to this novel. The Fault in Our Stars is also being adapted into a movie. Shailene Woodley will play Hazel and Ansel Elgort will play Augustus. It is set to premiere June 6th, 2014. I would recommend bringing plenty of tissues. Green assures that it closely follows the book and is anticipated to be a summer favorite. The story follows the harsh reality that accompanies cancer and Green’s writing style. The pages are filled with quotes that would make great philosophical Facebook posts. It is tragic and hilarious and contains compelling characters that seem incredibly real. Keep fluids and a light snack nearby, because you will not want to or be able to put this book down. The Fault in Our Stars is a must-read and will leave you wondering how to overcome emotional undoing at the hands of a paperback.
BRENNA ZOLLMAN
Eat: Pizza
Pieocracy is a restaurant in the outlet mall that will allow people to make their own pizzas with a variety of toppings. The pizzas are baked in an open flame oven in just three minutes. The customers will also be able to make their own custom salads. AMANDA MINCKLER
March, 2014
Arts & Entertainment
V11
The Lengthy Process of Books Becoming Motion Pictures
Movies! 40
Read the book, or watch the movie first?
Books! 55
Shaping Books into Movies Olivia Kahler/Reporter
I Hate Both! 5
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urning books into movies has been a long time tradition, and many people rave over the popular pieces of literature, but some seem to think that the movie only destroys the book’s image. However, various others believe that the movies simply show another’s overview on their favorite novels. Making a book into a movie can be a long and hard process, but it is up to the fans to decide if all that work was worthwhile or not. One page in a book is equal to about a page of script, or a minute of screentime. So, in order for the movie to be a reasonable length, a four hundred page book may need to be squished down to a hundred and fifty minutes, which can greatly impact the experience of the movie from its book. “I am okay with big books becoming movies, although they take a lot away from the books,” said Dawson Langholt, freshman. “It ruins major parts for the people that haven’t already read them. Sometimes they aren’t even accurate, I mean if they’re going to make a movie based on a book, they should at least be a little bit close.” Some authors really do not have much of a say in what their books are to be portrayed as when they hit the big screen. In order for a book to be made into a movie, the rights must be sold from the author to the producer. After a purchase has been made, there is no telling what the movie will look like. “I think that authors/ publishers should make contracts with the producers a bit more constrictive so they actually have to follow the plotline,” said Langholt. “It would increase the amount of viewers, especially on a popular book series. ”Making a
film is a long process, and it is hard work for a writer to publish their book as a film. Most do not even get the chance, and if they do, it is easily shot down. Most novels have to be wildly popular before a producer will even consider making it into a movie. “I like when books are turned into movies!” said Katelyn Eby, junior. “Whenever I’m reading a book, I imagine it in my head, and it’s cool to see how the movie is either the same or different from how I see it.” Some argue that it is because they are able to imagine the book themselves, their image of it is ruined once the movie is released, showing them that the pictures they painted in their minds are all wrong. Although, each person has their own insight of different books. “Everyone brings their own perceptions of the book with them to the theater,” said Blaine Christen, GHS English teacher. “It’s really a tall order for a movie to match those perceptions. Many times, movies fall way short of the book. I remember reading Jurassic Park and being satisfied with the movie; then reading Lost World and walking out of the theatre thinking what the heck was that?” Plenty of people assume that the book is always better than the movie, but each has their own opinion. For some, the movie could match exactly to what was drawn up in their heads, and to others, the movie is basically just a huge slap in the face. When reading a book, the reader dreams up their own movie. Each has their own scenarios, so it’s up to them to choose the film they think fits best, and whether the one they pick is shown on the big screen or not, they can always replay and perfect it in their own imagination.
*Information based on a survey of 100 random GHS students.
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Arts & Entertainment
March, 2014