Guided Magazine (Issue 3)

GUI DED

ISSUE 3 2017

CULTURED, TALENTED YOUTH

SOFT ASIAN BOYS // BEAUTY AMONGST GREENERY // RECOMMENDATIONS

GUIDED issue 3

Editor-In-Chief — Shelby Brown Sub-Editors — My-Thy Nguyen, Liv Martin, Emma Harris, Sydney Bradford Art Director — Savannah Casteaux

special thanks to Kreena Taluban* Emma Harris* Liv Martin* Cynthia Davis* Soft Asian Boys Marcellus Edwards Elodie Graf* Sydney Bradford* Savannah Casteaux* Kari Lau* Zoe Bridgewater Morgan Hearn* Bella Koschalk* Olivia Upton They/Us Magazine My-Thy Nguyen* Ashley Todd* Manasa Karthikeyan* Molly Mielke Amy Blundell *part of Guided Team

contact Instagram: @guidedmag Twitter: @guidedmag Tumblr: @guidedmag Pinterest: @guidedmag Redbubble: @guidedmag For questions, collaboration proposals, or general inquiries, please contact guidedmag@gmail.com, ran

by Shelby Brown.

For Instagram or other submission information, please contact Social Media Manager Liv Martin at livmartin321@gmail.com.

And, as always, you can find all of our content on www.guidedmag.com.

CONTENTS 1

3

7

EDITOR'S LETTER

JUST TALK, NO BINARIES

CLAUDIU HOROSCOPE

11

14

19

AN INTERVIEW WITH MOLLY MIELKE

ISSUE 3 RECOMMENDATIONS

PURPLE RAIN: AN ANALYSIS

21

25

33

MARCELLUS: A Q&A

SOFT ASIAN BOYS

THEÂ BLUES ARE STILL BLUE

EDITOR'S LETTER This issue features so much content from April to JuneJuly, from multiple interviews with a wide range of people, to GUIDED’s team and audience contributing their amazing visual and literary art, and the little things in-between to make up what we are.

We got the chance to interview four people: from creators of men's streetwear, a New Jersey male-ofcolor visual artist, an aspiring female California based fine artist, and a magazine specializing in femmes of color. There’s a little something to read about in everyone, no matter your interests. There’s some hopefulness, humor, inspiration, and impressiveness mentioned in each interview.

The past few summer months have been insanely busy, with hiring new people filling in many positions, HAVING new positions, and expanding our audience, social media and technical content, like our website and processes of things. Our growth in our last two issues- which were in May 2017 (our June 2017 Zine) and December 2016- to this one already has a big impact and difference in all ways, but the first way to identify that is from the looks and feel of it. With new Art Director Savannah Casteaux entering the game, the visuals and aesthetic of our content is already making a big, satisfying change.

We hope to influence your talents, make you pick up a new talent, and continue following our journey with showcasing new talents of hundreds of people, addressing issues, keeping you up to date with music and pop culture-- and hopefully, in this issue, you decide to come along with us.

Editor-in-Chief, Shelby Brown

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Will the sun and moon ever collide?

Such a Romeo and Juliet tragedy. Â For both to collide is to ruin everything it surrounds and damage all and each other.

The moon aches for the warmth of the sun as the sun would like to cool down with the moon's calmness.

Days that the sun is wild and chaotic, the moon is always there at night to give it a midnight therapy.

When the moon is down, the sun is always there to raise him up at the golden hour.

The sun and the moon is the perfect pair, but just not together. They were not meant to collide.

my-thy nguyen PAGE 2

JUST TALK, NO BINARIES an interview with they/us magazine We asked to interview the upcoming publication, They/Us Magazine, as they reach out to their audience of non-binary/femmes of color. Their neutral blue theme is throughout all their Instagram posts and made its way into their first issue, or "mini-book," released in April 2017.

GUIDED: Can you tell us about you and your cofounder, and why you created They/Us Magazine?

THEY/US: Yssy and I (Winter) are actually sisters that happen to both be young, non-binary people of color interested in the arts and with a background in film. Being femmes that didn’t necessarily feel like we fit into a binary of girls vs. boys, we knew we wanted to have an artist-run space that would include our own narrative— one that was centered on (but not limited to) femme voices of color. We personally always felt excluded from cis-girls-only type of artistic publications,

especially those run by white feminists that felt paying their artists wasn’t necessary even when they could afford it, that tokenizing artists of color was acceptable, that equating “girl power” and womanhood to vaginas and florals was the standard. Really, we just wanted a place/publication to connect with other femmes of color, to start a dialogue between ourselves, and to have a place to collaborate as artists on a level that exceeded just representing ourselves, but working together and getting each other paid for our labor.

G: Do you think your magazine has a specific style to it? Do you have a "theme" or set of ideas that are different but coincide with one another, to create the purpose of it?

T/U: As a young creative person, I think what GUIDED stands for and your intentions for the publication is really important and amazing; our PAGE 3

work as young artists, as you said, isn't always valued or given credit in the art world. That's why with They/Us we basically wanted to do the same-- to give ourselves a platform where we dictate what's considered "art" instead of having predominately white, cis, patriarchal institutions do so for us. When coming up with the concept for the first issue, we took these goals in mind and tried to think of a way to balance our purpose with our style. Instead of focusing on an explicit theme for each issue, we wanted to give artists more artistic freedom and focus our energy on the overall concept of communication in general to kind of tie in with the idea of communicating between femmes.

G: How do you hope to reach a bigger audience? Social media? Locally?

"THAT'S WHY WITH THEY/US WE BASICALLY WANTED TO DO THE SAME-- TO GIVE OURSELVES A PLATFORM WHERE WE DICTATE WHAT'S CONSIDERED "ART" INSTEAD OF HAVING PREDOMINATELY WHITE, CIS, PATRIARCHAL INSTITUTIONS DO SO FOR US."

T/U: Geographically speaking, Yssy and I live in a predominately cis/white city in the countryside without an art scene, so our hopes of expanding our audience in a place like this is very limited. Because of that, we've started to rely more on social media to get in touch with femme artists of color from around the world, similar to how you have been able to work with so many great creatives internationally for GUIDED. Hopefully in the future we'll be able to find more trans and non-binary artists of color to participate (and more people to support our work) through social media or even in real life-ultimately our goal is to expand our platform, and for the most part that requires the use of the internet to do so.

You can find THEY/US on Instagram @they_us_mag for more information.

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by cynthia davis

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PANIC ATTACK by bella koschalk

I hate myself so much sometimes, I hate my body and my anxiety. I take up space and oxygen that someone so much better could be using. I had another panic attack today. I hate them all with a deep frustrated hopelessness.

Today he took my notebook and read it. He followed me around the halls and asked me about the recording of my dream- the one where she pinned me against the wall in my closet and kissed me. He wanted to know if I was gay, if I really “make out with chicks.” Why does he care? What part of this does he think is okay? Sometimes I want to scream, but I think no one would hear me. Before today, he did not really bother me that much, he teased me about my clothes, he called me ‘goth girl,’ he made fun of my books, of my Sylvia Plath-picture ridden notebooks. I could take it then, it did not hurt so much.

But he took my journal and read it today and I feel like insects have crawled in and poisoned it. I feel myself shying away from opening it, as if some more insults will jump out and drown me.

He towered over me, he got too close. I felt the panic building, short breaths begging for the air that wasn’t coming fast enough. I was hyperventilating, my thoughts becoming the hopeless anxious ones- the ones that tell me I’ll never be okay again, that I’m dying, that I’m all alone and no one cares. I was so scared, fear overtaking me like a huge hot wave. I went to the bathroom and watched myself melt away in front of the mirror. My masks of happy fakeness, of smiles and politeness fading away with every wave of silent tears and anxious breaths. I sat against the black plastic wall of the very last stall and watched the white speckles dance, warbled by my tears. I wanted to be swallowed by that artificial universe, to never see him or the rest of them ever again. I slowed my breathing, tried to calm the panic. Long shaky breaths and silent sobs. I tried to think of a way out, but my mind wasn’t working; it kept turning back to how no one knows that I’m alone and crying. And no one cares. The loneliness is crushing me.

This is nothing like what she went through, I feel myself asking the world permission to feel violated, permission to panic and feel sick. This wasn’t that bad compared to everything else that could have happened. The guilt is making me feel even worse.

When I got home I lay on my bedroom floor under the bright overhead light. I felt like the universe was performing surgery on me, as I lay there- open and vulnerable. I have not calmed down perfectly yet, my stomach still has that lingering feeling. The feeling of vinegar fear and emptiness.

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CLAUDIU HOROSCOPE created/curated by elodie graf

SELF : You’re impulsive, strong willed and often have the initiative in starting things especially in pursuits that amuse or entertain you. An aries is very good at starting things….but not so good at finishing them. You don't show who you are at first glance, because you’re quite secretive and you don't trust people easily. You seek power through knowledge and you want others to see you as knowledgeable. Your chart suggests you like children and the “inner child” is still strong inside you, making you a bit impulsive but also very fun-loving and easy to have a good time with. Since your sun is in house 5, entertainment is a huge part of your life and if you don't take time off your daily work to unwind and have some fun, you will suffer, (either physically, mentally or emotionally).

EMOTION: Your moon is in pisces which means that you sometimes can let emotions get the better of you. As stated before, your aries nature is competitive and easily gets into arguments, especially with the people who know you best. However, your pisces moon means that most of the time you will be the one who ends up hurt and resentful after the argument. A good thing about pisces moon is that you are very intuitive and empathetic. You can feel for other people, which is a good thing as long as you don't get too emotionally immersed in other people’s problems, which can overwhelm you. When in emotional situations you may lose the control over how you express yourself.

LOVE: In your love life, you feel pulled in 1 million different directions. Commitment is not for you. Your moon indicates that you can love someone really deeply, but even so, your venus sign indicates that you can get bored or feel curious about other people really easily. But feeling is not the same as doing. Since your chart indicates you are a very practical minded person, and someone who can be very empathetic, so even if you do get bored, you might stay with the person because you don't want to hurt them (pisces) or because you want to stay in a convenient situation (taurus). Above all, you are an aries, and while aries don't have a very committed nature, if they truly love someone, they will show that by displaying their loyalty, the ultimate sacrifice.

MONEY: Your chart indicates you are lucky in money matters (generally) BUT you are a big gambler and your impulsive aries nature only enhances that. You might spend money too generously, especially for or because of other people.

WORK/AMBITION: In your workplace, you are an initiator, maybe even sometimes a leader, but you are more likely to prefer working alone, because you like doing things the way you want, and at your own pace. You are good at applying practical skills in your workplace. Remember not to compromise your own ambitions for other people.

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Sun (self) in house 5 (fun/gambling/children) in Aries: Aries: initiator/competitive/impulsive This placement of your sun suggests: You are a born gambler You are adventurous/ courageous You can have fun with kids, because your “inner child” is still living inside you You like kids You are an initiator (especially in activities that are purely for entertainment) You are incredibly competitive, especially while playing games You are very daring when it comes to games/gambling and also in general Ascendant (how you interact with the world) is in Scorpio: Although you are an Aries at heart, you don't show that immediately to strangers. Your outside shell is a Scorpio: secretive, intense and perceptive.

People who don't really know you either hate you or love you People notice you You are an expert in strategy, especially when interacting with others. You know what to say or do to get what you want.

You don't trust people easily and you value your privacy

PLANETS!

(r = retrograde) Mercury (planet of communication) in house 4 (family) in Pisces: Pisces emotional/intuitive You are very good at perceiving people /observing how they are because you are very intuitive (Pisces) Be careful about judging too quickly Your relationship with your mother is very important to you, and you learned a lot from her

Moon (emotion) in house 4 (family) in Pisces: Pisces: emotional/intuitive This placement of your moon suggests: Family and home are incredibly important to you (family you were born into and also the family you make) If your home is not calm and happy, you can become unhappy in general as well You find it very easy to empathise with people (feel for them), but be careful, because you might end up immersing yourself into other people’s problems and taking on the emotional weight yourself, which can be overwhelming You can be very hurt by insults/criticism/rejection, especially by those close to you It is easy for you to fall into self-pity

In general: your sun is in Aries, which means you will be quick to get into arguments, but only with people who you trust with your true self (Scorpio ascendant) but be careful, because your moon is in Pisces, which means you are more likely to be the one to walk away from an argument deeply hurt.

Venus (planet of relationships) in house 7 (house of relationships) in Gemini: Gemini: curious/different perspectives In your love life, you feel pulled in many different directions You are more likely to cheat, but this doesn't mean you don’t love the person you’re with. You are simply curious, and a Gemini- Venus can love 10 different people for 10 different reasons You get bored easily, and like variety in your love life BUT your house 7 is ruled by Taurus (practical, reliable), which means that even if you get bored, you will stay with someone for reasons such as stability, money, or comfort. you are not necessarily the dominant or the submissive in your relationship, you can switch perspectives (Gemini) based on the person you're with BUT you are an Aries, which indicates, that almost all of the time you will feel more comfortable being the dominant one PAGE 8

Mars (planet of willpower) in house 9 (house of education/philosophy) in Leo: Leo: pride/leadership/seek appreciation Focused; you don't waste your energy You have a will to know, and more importantly, for other people to see you as knowledgeable Jupiter (R) (planet of hope/fulfillment) in house 9 (education/philosophy) in Leo: Leo: pride/leadership/seek appreciation You get a sense of fulfillment from knowing things and being appreciated as a knowledgable person Since Jupiter is in retrograde, you will likely get this fulfillment later in life, and you probably didn't feel very fulfilled or smart during childhood Saturn (R) (limits/discipline) in house 10 (house of legacy/how you appear from afar): Virgo: perfectionist/improvement You like mental stimulation in your career You can get bored and dissatisfied easily if you don't feel you’re in your ideal job You’d like a career where you feel like you’re contributing something You are sometimes too hard on yourself in a bid for perfection in your career Uranus (R) (planet of individuality) in house 1 (self) in Scorpio: Scorpio: seeks truth/intense You hold stress in until you explode You can be quite extreme You really, really, feel the drive to be free because the chart suggests that in childhood you didn't feel the freedom to be yourself You seek inner truth, it is very important to you (you will find it later in life) The chart suggests that you feel more comfortable asserting yourself as an individual in the second half of your life Neptune (R) (planet of escape) in house 2 (skills, resources) in Sagittarius: Sagittarius: seeks freedom A skill you have is your very good intuition In money matters, you tend to be a bit disorganized and idealistic, but somehow everything seems to work out If there is a problem in terms of money/resources, you will want to escape it somehow, but the rest of your chart strongly implies that you are very likely to generally face your problems head on (Aries) Pluto (R) (planet of deep inner fear) in house 11 (house of goals/hopes and belonging in the world) in Libra: Libra: seeks equilibrium/good with relationships You try to compromise with the world and people around you in order for people to perceive you as perfect, or a good person, and in that, you sacrifice your ambitions This causes you extreme repression/dissatisfaction with yourself In terms of your hopes and dreams, you’re an “all or nothing” type of person. If you cant have it all you don't want any of it.

You have a deep fear that if you don't compromise so much, you will never belong anywhere in the eyes of others For this reason, you also sometimes avoid confrontation, even against your own interests Chiron (R) (asteroid of deep wounds) in house 6 (house of work/service) in Taurus (stability, practicality): As a child, you probably didn't like routine, (doing your homework, brushing your teeth, etc.) and liked to work and live by your own rhythms.

Your chart suggests you don't like jobs with a boring routine, (eg. office jobs, 9-5, Monday-Friday) You may have trouble getting along with co workers, and a feeling of not belonging where you work the placement of Chiron suggests you may have worries about your health sometimes, but you don't do much about it. you tend to be attached to people and things that keep you in your comfort zone, for this reason, you might not quit a job you don't like

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photo by ashley todd

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MOLLY MIELKE AN INTERVIEW

GUIDED: Who is Molly Mielke?

MIELKE: At my core, I am an artist. I express myself creatively through my work, primarily cinematography and photography. But I also love challenging the many facets of my creativity by doing fine art on the side, specifically right now I’m really into block printing and letterpress.

G: What projects do you have going on right now, if any?

M: I am currently working on a couple personal side projects but am mainly focused on getting ready to go to NYU in the fall to study film.

G: What is your favorite thing in the world right now?

M; Honestly, my favorite thing right now is just really focusing on myself as a whole being. This past year has been insane and I feel like I can finally breathe now that I’ve almost finished doing two years of high school in one. For me, that means having the free time for lots of creative engagement, yoga, nature, baths, animals, laughing and watching good films like that insane Netflix show “The OA." G: Your Instagram doesn't seem to be up and running, what happened?

We interviewed CA based artist, Molly Mielke, in hopes to know more about her work, personality, intentions and more.

(PHOTOS BY MOLLY MIELKE)

M: Social media has never been something that I have had a very healthy relationship with. I’ve been through alot, and I often used social media as a coping mechanism to seek validation, numb my emotions and compare myself to others. It tended to feed my inner demons and made me look at other people as competition, constantly setting a steadily heightening standard for myself and my work that I could never attain. The thing about social media is that if you view anothers’ presence as their whole being and compare yourself to that highly curated version of them, it is impossible to ever measure up. Too often we forget that there is so much more to us as a person than our “feeds," which display only the most favorable light.

It is the other parts that make us beautiful and human, and as I grew up, I began to notice the almost addictive, self-sabotaging quality of the way I was using social media. Finally, I decided it just wasn’t worth it and focused on channeling that energy into working through the issues I had been suppressing and choosing to better myself and my work. It was honestly one of the best choices I have ever made. I am fully aware that others may have very different relationships to the media they consume, but personally I have learned from plenty of experience my own limits and what does and doesn’t work for me.

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"AT MY CORE, I AM AN ARTIST." G: Are you a cat or dog person?

M: That is the hardest question ever. I think I like dogs more but I also feel like my personality is a cat.

G: When you're not doing professional work, what else are you doing?

M: I’m still a full-time student even though I don’t act like it because most of my classes are online. But other than that I spend most of my time dancing around to Charles Bradley, working my other jobs, biking about, learning about random things that interest me and reading.

G: What is your biggest goal for yourself right now?

M: My biggest goal right now is to just finish the last couple of weeks of school and then hustle to raise money for Tisch this coming fall.

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RECOMMENDATIONS SONGS: BOREDOM - TYLER, THE CREATOR / THE LESS I KNOW, THE BETTER - TAME IMPALA / SWEET TO ME SUMMER SALT / BARELY LEGAL - THE STOKES / LIABILITY - LORDE / WAY BACK - TLC / I'LL STAY FUNKADELIC / FRUSTRATIONS + SOLUTIONS - KILO KISH

BOOKS: FRANNY AND ZOOEY - J.D. SALINGER / BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S - TRUMAN CAPOTE / JUST KIDS - PATTI SMITH / THE ALCHEMIST - PAULO COELHO

TV SHOWS: SKINS / 90210 / THE GET DOWN / NARCOS

MOVIES: FIGHT CLUB / CLOSER / WHAT THE HEALTH / THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING / ARRIVAL

YOUTUBERS: LIZA KOSHY / DAVIS DOBRIK / ALINA ALIVE / MINNIE SMALL / CHRISTIAN AKRIDGE / JORDAN COX

PHOTOGRAPHERS: IRVING PENN / MARCELLUS EDWARDS / PETRA COLLINS / MAISIE COUSINS

all photos are by emma harris PAGE 14

BEAUTY AMONGST GREENERY IN THE MIDST OF GREENERY, YOU FIND BEAUTY. PHOTOS + CONCEPT BY KARI LAU / STYLED BY MICHELLE EVANGELISTA

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PURPLE RAIN: A TRACK-BYTRACK ANALYSIS by savannah casteaux

There has never been an album that has made me want to both dance and cry more than Prince’s Purple Rain. Considered his magnum opus, Purple Rain revolutionized pop music- in fact, it was the album that created the “Explicit Content” warning itself. With delectable electric guitar-driven hooks, bluntly provocative lyrics, and the infamous eponymous ballad that closes the curtains of the album, Prince’s 1984 soundtrack to the film of the same name reminds us exactly how incredible his genius was.

TAKE ME WITH U Sang as a duet with Apollonia Kotero, “Take Me With U” is filled with finger-cymbal and orchestral inspired melodies. This track is evocative of a traditional ‘80s love ballad- think of the Peaches & Herb variety. This track seems a bit unconventional compared to the rest of the album, due to the fact it was originally meant for Apollonia’s own album.

THE BEAUTIFUL ONES

Purple Rain was written as an accompanying soundtrack to Prince’s film debut, also entitled Purple Rain. In the film, Prince semibiographically plays the role of “the Kid,” the frontman of a Minneapolis-based band known as “the Revolution.” Desperate to achieve stardom and escape his abusive home life, the Kid must deal with his band’s internal struggles, his blossoming romance with young vocalist Apollonia, and his rivalry with a fellow band known as “the Time.” 33 years after its initial release, Purple Rain is seen as an irresistible, quintessential cult classic.

There's something so magnetic about it. It's the album that I have screamed along to during long, midnight car rides. It's the album that makes the most stoic people I know cry out of joy, pleasure, pain, acceptance. It's an album I've kissed to, I've mourned to. For a collection of music to hold a certain type of resonance with newer generations, decades after its initial release, there must be some sort of raw, unearthed power it holds within its lines. From tearful ballads like “Purple Rain” to the upbeat dance and psychedelic-funk tracks of “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” Purple Rain is worth a listen.

LET'S GO CRAZY “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life,” is the very first opening line to the groundbreaking album.

“Let’s Go Crazy” includes whirring synthesizers, guitars, and a drum beat too catchy not to dance to, with Prince eulogizing about rising above your station and resisting those that put you down. In other words: it’s the ultimate pump-up jam.

A slow love ballad, Prince’s trademark falsetto really shines on this track, and it’s the type of song that makes you want to slow dance with somebody in an empty parking lot. As Prince’s unrequited love grows stronger, the guitars get louder, the synth and drum beat get more intense, and Prince’s smooth voice turns into full-on wailing.

“The Beautiful Ones” has become such an iconic love ballad that both Mariah Carey and Beyonce have covered it in the past.

COMPUTER BLUE This song kicks off with a sapphic and suggestive conversation between two members of the Revolution, Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. Only one verse, the track was sung in the film as a ballad of agitation and envy for the relationship between Apollonia and his rival, Morris. In this piece, you can really see Prince’s guitar mastership shine as the drum beat kicks in and the funk-rock synth carries you through his seethingly jealous harmonizing.

DARLING NIKKI “I knew a girl named Nikki / I guess you could say she was a sex fiend.”

“Darling Nikki” is the very song that created the “Explicit Content” warning on albums after Tipper Gore (wife of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore) was appalled at the suggestive lyricism when she bought the album for her young daughter. The track is bluntly sexualno reading-between-the-lines required, with amorous references thrown in almost line by line. The track has a raw, almost animalistic feel when it comes to the scratch of the guitar, and remains one of PAGE 19 Prince’s most-covered songs.

WHEN DOVES CRY The track opens with one of the most famous guitar intros of all time, and is one of the only songs on the album that does not feature bass or a synthesizer. Inspired by his relationship with Vanity 6 member Susan Moonsie, the upbeat danceballad went on to be named by Spin magazine as the sixth greatest single of all time. “When Doves Cry” is like a gust of wind that knocks you off your feet and fights for your attention in twenty different ways- but that’s what makes it so inexorable, and what makes it my personal favorite track on the whole album.

BABY, I'M A STAR A track that is unfortunately too oft forgotten, this song showcases Prince’s uncanny ability to manufacture catchy hooks you can’t turn away from. An energetic, sanguine dance-pop jam, it feels as if it belongs in a movie-montage scene. “Baby I’m A Star” covers the Kid’s rise of stardom, and uses various backmasking and drum machine techniques that Prince and the Revolution helped pioneer.

"I'M NOT A WOMAN / I'M NOT A MAN / I AM SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND."

I WOULD DIE 4 U Prince has always been a figure known to smash gender roles, which you can see in the opening line: “I’m not a woman / I’m not a man / I am something that you’ll never understand.” Lyrically, it sees Prince acting as a messiah-esque figure (similar to “Let’s Go Crazy”) and is filled to the brim with religious references.

With the whopping, full sound and contemplative, romantic mood, “I Would Die 4 U” is the bop meticulously crafted for star-crossed lovers.

PURPLE RAIN Arguably the most famous Prince song of all time, the eponymous eight-minute ballad never fails to make me cry. The subject matter covers the Kid’s nostalgic, unrequited heartache and yearning for pure, genuine love. Prince explained the meaning of the song in an interview as: "When there's blood in the sky – red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain." The song is a heartening reminder that life is never black and white- with good comes the bad, and vice versa; when you let yourself feel awash in purple rain, you can come to terms with that. Never has a song been more evocative of the unmitigated capacity of Prince’s genius as this one, and you can really feel it shine when the desperate, gritty guitar fades out and the curtains to his masterpiece of an album draw to a final close.A track that is unfortunately too oft forgotten, this song showcases Prince’s uncanny ability to manufacture catchy hooks you can’t turn away from. An energetic, sanguine dance-pop jam, it feels as if it belongs in a movie-montage scene. “Baby I’m A Star” covers the Kid’s rise of stardom, and uses various backmasking and drum machine techniques that Prince and the Revolution helped pioneer.

art by manasa karthikeyan

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MARC E L L U S: A Q&A an interview with marcellus edwards

GUIDED: What do you hope to be remembered for?

MARCELLUS EDWARDS: I guess I’d want to be known for my art, no matter what medium it is. I really want to impact the availability of art programs in school systems too.

G: Describe your style in fashion, music, art?

ME: My style varies in all honesty, I usually allow colors and feelings dictate what I wear. I’ve recently been obsessed with shades of yellow, orange and red. You can kind of see that in my style. A lot of people say I dress like someone’s grandad, but it’s not intentional.

G: If you were on your own, what city would you live in and what would you be pursuing?

ME: I’m pretty sure I’d be in Brooklyn or Manhattan, living in somebody’s condo. I think I’d either be a filmmaker by the time but if not, then I’d be pursuing photojournalism, making awareness for the causes I believe in.

G: Do you hope to inspire others?

ME I hope to inspire others, especially artists around my age or even younger than me. I see myself changing a generation, opening the public eye to how important art us and what is it to be a young artist. If I don’t inspire anyone, then I’m not doing my job.

G: Do you think life and art coincide with one another?

ME: I literally live by this. Life and art definitely go hand in hand. Like the colors we wear on our clothing, see in our technology; in daily life. Those same colors can be found in the natural world around us, life and art are like siblings.

G: When you’re not dabbling in your passion, what else do you do?

ME: When I’m not taking pictures or editing film, I usually am at school, at some club meeting, or at work. I think that I am a very busy person, usually going from one thing to another. I don’t really like to waste time that I could be using to do something constructive.

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Heteronormativity incites prejudice against what are considered ‘sexual minorities’ and can deteriorate psychological well-being (when LGBTQ youth are already 3 times more likely to experience a mental disorder). As proposed by Janice Mary Habarth, “Heteronormativity sets up unconscious and automatic assumptions about heterosexuality as the norm and all other types of sexual experience as abnormal.”. The reality and reinforcement that being strictly heterosexual brings privilege and widespread acceptance is damaging to the psyche of anyone that identifies with a sexual minority. Considering sexual orientation as a multifaceted construct, it can be noted that those with strictly heterosexual preferences are not negatively influenced by heteronormativity but rather, attended to, represented, and validated. Validation may be one of the most important facets of any person. Whether it is validation from yourself, from a friend, or from the general public. Of course there are exceptions to the rule of “any person” but, without heteronormativity, would as many LGBT members question their worth because they feel wrong or strange?

Internalized prejudice is a recurring menace within the LGBTQ+ community - often stemming from negativity that members of the community have seen or heard in the world. The prejudice is not always hateful and can be very subtle. Even in relationships where the individuals feel comfortable with their preferences or identity, there is still the looming idea of heterosexuality. One example might be the question, “Who’s the man and who’s the woman in the relationship?” It’s a problematic one, not just because of the rude strangers who ask it.

But also, because of how it exists in the back of LGBT member’s minds. Individuals may only want a feminine/masculine duo in their relationships- due to the constant reinforcement of heterosexuality and gender roles- no matter their sexuality. This type of question comes from a mind that can only imagine heteronormative relationships. Which is why, when it invades the LGBT community, it can damage sexual expression and relationships.

A desire to uphold traditional ideologies naturally extends into media forms such as television. Although in recent years visibility has increased for LGBTQ+ community members in the media, “there is still a dearth of LGBT characters on network and cable television.” Due to the ideal of heterosexism, when a nonheterosexual individual or character is advertised they are historically deemed as socially stunted. This is thanks to the reinforcement of intolerance by societal standards. For example, when Ellen DeGeneres came out on the cover of Time magazine (“Yep, I’m Gay”) and later played a character on Ellen who came out, her career was stunted for some time following the reveal. The lack of non-heterosexual individuals being represented in the media and the negative outcome following past announcements of homosexuality is hurting the validation, representation, and awareness for LGBTQ+ members.

SYDNEY BRADFORD

HETERONORMATIVITY

The idea that an individual must have romantic and sexual interest in someone of the opposite sex is not only exclusive but, considered to be the “norm” for the world’s lovers. Hence, heteronormativity. A nasty concept that plagues our product advertisements, movies, and everyday conversation. Heteronormativity confines mindsets and troubles those who have otherwise interests. A fixed idea such as heterosexuality often oppresses those with a different sexuality. Through the “social guideline” of heteronormativity, hate crimes and general discrimination have erupted. Illiberality further restricts varying sexualities from being well known or represented. Equality may only be found through reinforcement of understanding and acceptance in order to banish any discrimination found in daily life or media portrayals.

As a means of solution, education and representation of sexual minorities are the first steps towards banishing any measure of superiority. Acceptance of ambiguity need also be spread in order to inspire large groups to have more open minds. In favor of a change, social media has developed into a platform for activism to thrive. Online groups and individual representatives have played a large part in awareness for the online community. Whether individuals use word of mouth to inform others of varying sexualities or make a move to eliminate heteronormativity in the media by contacting directors and producers, a brighter future is sure to follow. So long as individuals spread knowledge in a progressive and nonviolent manner, heteronormativity can transcend from an incessant social issue to an issue only known by history books.

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photos by sydney tate PAGE 23

photos by liv martin PAGE 24

SOFT ASIAN BOYS an interview

GUIDED: What is Soft Asian Boys?

SAB: Soft Asian Boys is a streetwear brand aimed at not only reclaiming the Asian aesthetic and culture that has been long been appropriated in fashion but also looks to deconstruct narrow, toxic ideas about masculinity. as men, we want to redefine masculinity - especially for Asian / Asian American men, who have long felt emasculated. Besides this, I also just wanna make dope clothes.

GUIDED: Why make a fashion line compared to graphics/accessories/etc?

SAB: There are a multitude of reasons, but mostly because I really like streetwear. furthermore, I felt like it was important for our message to reach a wider variety of people - by creating more products, we can reach a larger audience. Also, I really wouldn’t call SAB a fashion line, rather a streetwear brand - I actually am vehemently opposed to high fashion. I follow it and I respect the creative process but I really dislike the price point aspect of it.

GUIDED: Were there certain people/men that inspired your company?

SAB: Definitely! A good friend of mine - his name is Brian Donahue, helped me bounce around with the name. Initially we wanted to do a kind of reclamation / flip on "sadboys" because of Yung Lean and his shitty appropriation of japanese script, but we then realized that there was already a really dope company/brand/thing at RISD called "Sad Asian Girls".- afraid they aren’t currently active anymore but I think they are really really dope! The idea grew and grew until I realized why the hell not just take the leap and go for a full streetwear brand? I’d always wanted to do it. If not now, then when? So, I decided on "Soft Asian Boys." A softboy is basically a dude who is sensitive there are a bunch of hilarious memes out there about softboys also (and also about how being a softboy is also kinda problematic), but we thought it was not only cooler and more unique, but because I felt like it was very important to fight emasculation by ironically calling Asian boys soft- because obviously Asian dudes come in a shitload of different forms.

GUIDED: How do your clothes aim to challenge the "emasculation of Asian men"/"notions of toxic masculinity"?

SAB: At the moment our designs are rather simple, but have the character "哭" on most of our garments. not only is this our logo (and it’s pretty cute, as it looks like a lil dude crying), but it means "cry" in Chinese. We want this simple logo to encourage people to be honest with their feelings, especially when they are feeling low. The emasculation of Asian dudes is pretty rampant. As a result, I feel as if the "social capital" or any sort of "cool factor/card" that Asian dudes have gets overrun by this idea that we're all sexless eunuchs. While I don’t feel that way at all any longer at the age of 22, I remember feeling horribly emasculated in boarding school in the south- as one of the few Asian American men, I was a frequent victim of casual racism and also not so casual racism. Of course, this changed when I got to college and met incredible people that didn’t have these perceptions, and began to meet other Asian dudes who were really fucking cool.

Finally,in asian culture, I feel like it is highly encouraged for male figures to be very stoic, especially when it comes to sadness, or any sign of crying / weakness. shit is whack! In my opinion, being a "real man" or whatever is being able to be vulnerable with not only yourself but with other people. I want to push this message via our blog, and speak out on this as a brand to support my Asian brothers, and I am deeply committed to this. That being said, our brand is not only for Asian dudes, but for anyone that believes in our message and likes our clothes!”

GUIDED: How do you feel about the future of male fashion and do you see any positive changes in today's society towards acceptance to femininity in men?

SAB: “In regards to male fashion, I feel as if we are in a midst of an awesome revolution in which we are deconstructing any gender barriers in fashion as a whole (s/o to Jaden Smith).

- which is dope. That’s why I would never call SAB a "mens streetwear brand"... sure it says boys in it but our clothes are meant for all genders. As for femininity, I feel pretty awesome about it. As a guy who has for a long time struggled with feeling emasculated, it is fascinating to watch the world around me change. And while it might just be because I surround myself with woke ass homies, I really do feel as if the world’s perceptions and "rules" are being bent.”

GUIDED: Do you think pineapples on pizza is GOOD? SAB: Best question yet. I actually hated sweet things with salty things for a long time but as I got older I realized just how fire this shit is. Hell yes to pineapples, PAGE 25 hook me up with that Hawaiian!

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all photos courtesy of  michelle chan photography

you can find out more about soft asian boys at their website, www.softasianboys.com

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by morgan hearn This is my yellow. These are things that make me happy and when I'm happy I feel yellow. I took all of these as well.

Sunflowers, traveling, exploring new places, people coming together through love, my friends, and the beloved coffee.

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photos by  olivia upton PAGE 30

STRETCH MARKS / by amy blundell

There’s a row of products in the drug store, all of them claiming to get rid of my stretch marks. Those thin little lines, shades of purple, pink and white, they’re the foundations of businesses. Insecurities are being milked to get profit.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment at which I found my stretch marks forming. Adverts had taught me that they were ugly before I’d even seen one on myself, and I was almost paranoid. I slathered coconut oil on my thighs each night, I scrutinised myself to check there was nothing there. But I was fourteen and I grew, and so did the stretch marks. They reminded me of the reaching branches of a tree, moving gradually to face the sunlight, changing with texture as they aged. They branched out from my hips and the side of my chest, so harmless in their growth.

And I was stressed. Sat in shorts, I pressed my legs together, as if I was hiding something awful and disgusting, as if these receipts of my growth were something I ought to be ashamed of, some dark and evil secret. It’s so easy to form the seeds of self-criticism in a teenager. All the changes, all the new things to learn, you can shape us like clay, tell us what you need to sell your anti-stretch mark products.

As I went through a growth spurt, the skin stretched, the centre layer, or dermis, tore, and the marks showed through. You could feel them at the beginning, tiny ridges, a mountain range of insecurities I couldn’t quite make it over. The purples and pink are the blood vessels showing through, the which explains the early-bruise like shades that can show through. After a while, the blood vessels contract, the ridges flatten out, the layer of fat under the skin shows through, they turn to silver and gold. “My skin tore apart and there was gold underneath” sounds so much more romantic than any tagline for a moisturiser.

I’ve stopped being so diligent with the coconut oil now. I’ve found some form of peace with my body. I’ve accepted that stretch marks are not evil tendrils, they’re just something that happens. Fibres of dermis breaking aren’t anything that should worry or upset me. I’ll wear my shorts, I’ll walk past the products in the aisle, I’ll be fine. My skin tore apart and there was gold underneath. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.

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THE PERKS

by sydney tate

At peace.

I was sitting 50 miles an hour down a mountain with the windows down, recently passing a man perched atop the highest hill - fully submersed in his existence. We were going through the tunnels like a freight train and every interrelation in our bubble felt amplified and vivid. If I could capture that connection in a jar it would glow both day and night, guiding the rocky feelings that a busy week may bring.

I was leaning up from focus and locking looks with the kindest eyes, playing the most harmonious song in my memory. Typing in my room later with the sunny haze casting mobile rainbows on every white

wall - the heat has started to feel like more of a friend.

It is a strange, wonderful, and overwhelming feeling of flight that lasted an entire Summer. Then one night in October, and now for an upcoming year. The utter peace met under confidence is like no other. It is as if every decision brings a fond memory with uncontrollable laughter to follow. Each letter is hopeful of the next and altogether interested in where they will go.

Meeting new characters only deepens the definition of oneself. You learn what you dislike and how to empathize deeper so that you may be all-considering. Discovering someone else is exciting but, getting to know yourself is a greater joy that many miss out on. It is a different kind of journey where you learn to embody your thoughts and pleasures. Through discovery, a greater patience is found.

Greater passion, charm, and grasp. Knowing yourself is the deepest relationship possible. Being at peace can make a small town feel infinite.

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THE BLUES ARE STILL BLUE “"The Blues Are Still Blue" after one of my favorite Belle and Sebastian songs. It is a compilation of photos I took last summer while walking around my neighborhood at dusk. Whenever I take photographs, I try to capture a certain moment and feeling that you get when you are home.”

PHOTOS BY ZOE BRIDGEWATER

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photos by kreena taluban

Model: Jennifer Bako

Model: Juan Horry

"ONE YEAR AGO, I HAD THIS CRAZY IDEA TO START SOMETHING I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO START, AND WHAT TO INVOLVE. I HAD NO IDEA HOW TO CREATE A WEBSITE, PROFESSIONALLY AND SUFFICIENTLY CONTACT PEOPLE, OR EVEN FIND A PLACE TO START. I HAD SUCH A BROAD IDEA AND WITH THE TEAM AND AUDIENCE THAT'S BEEN ESTABLISHED, I THANK THEM FOR FULFILLING IT."

SHELBY BROWN, EIC