The Pulse - February 2023

Gracias, Profe Boyle

At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, the Harvey community was fortunate to gain many outstanding new teachers. One fantastic new teacher, in particular, is Spanish teacher Erinn Boyle, or how her students refer to her, Profe Boyle.

This year, I have had the privilege of taking Profe Boyle’s Spanish 4 class and have learned much more about the Spanish language and culture. In preparation for this article, The Pulse had the opportunity to interview Profe Boyle in order to get to know her further.

Profe Boyle grew up in many different parts of the country, including Chicago, where she was born, Arizona, Colorado, and other states throughout the country. While in college, Profe Boyle studied abroad in England, where she met her husband and moved to Spain, his home country, for six years. Profe Boyle attended the University of Northern Colorado, where she studied Biology and Education. She stated, “The school was known for teaching, and I always wanted to be a teacher.”

Outside of her life at Harvey, Profe Boyle has two sons, one being in college and the other a senior at the French American School in Mamaroneck. The family also owns a dog that they fostered while living in Houston.

When asked what interested her in becoming a Spanish teacher, Profe Boyle stated, “I learned Latin in high school, so I didn’t know what it was like to learn a language you can use… In college, when I started taking

By Dan Gasch

Spanish, I couldn’t believe how useful it was… It was also about how I could understand news that came from different points of view. That made me more interested in the benefits of learning a language.”

Before joining Harvey, Profe Boyle worked for various different schools, including River Oaks Baptist Grade School in Houston, Texas.

One experience in particular that Profe Boyle specifically enjoyed was when she studied abroad. She stated that the idea of going abroad was introduced to her when she was working as a camp counselor and met college students from Australia who were studying in the United States. Profe Boyle attended the University of Plymouth in England for an entire year, stating, “It was fantastic!”

After moving back to Westchester County, Profe Boyle took a year off from teaching before accepting a position at The Harvey School. Although she was grateful to have time to help her younger son acclimatize to his new environment and get her house in order, she soon became anxious. “You can only clean the house and go grocery shopping so many times,” she stated.

When she was ready to return to teaching, Profe Boyle found Harvey on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) website and applied for a spot as a Spanish teacher.

Outside of teaching Spanish, Profe Boyle has a passion for ceramics, which is something she has been doing since high school. In addition, she stated that she enjoys cooking and taking care of her family and house.

When asked what types of cuisines she likes to cook, Profe Boyle stated, “I like to cook Spanish food. I became a good cook when I lived in Spain…I would go to the fruit market two or three times a week and make fresh orange juice everyday… I learned how to make a lot of the foods that my husband’s family makes.”

Profe Boyle stated that her favorite thing about Harvey so far is the students and community feeling that the school has. The Harvey School has been very fortunate to gain Profe Boyle this year, and we wish her nothing but the best for the remainder of her first year (and years to come!) at The Harvey School.

Mr. Anelli: The Magnificent Mathematician Now at Harvey

In his first year at The Harvey School, Gino Anelli has already made an impact on the community as a new math teacher in the Upper School. Mr. Anelli teaches many first-year classes in Algebra and one class in Precalculus, but outside of those classes, students may not know him very well. On Jan. 5, The Pulse had the opportunity to interview Mr. Anelli so that Harvey can welcome him and get to know him better.

Mr. Anelli grew up in Ossining, New York, and he still lives there today. He has two older sisters as well, being the youngest in his family. He also has a small dog named Ziggy.

While discussing his educational background, Mr. Anelli told The Pulse that he went to college at SUNY New Paltz, earning his B.S. in mathematics. He then earned his M.A.T. in adolescence education from SUNY New Paltz as well, which allows him to teach mathematics for grades 7-12.

When asked if he wanted to become a math teacher in high school or college, Mr. Anelli knew that he wanted to focus on mathematics ever since the middle of high

By Benji Cutler

school. During that part of his learning career, he always felt comfortable with and enjoyed learning about math more than any other subject in school.

During his college years, Mr. Anelli began to turn toward education as his profession. At first, he was certain that he would become a college professor. However, after taking more education and mathematics courses in college, he gained more interest in adolescent education. Specifically, he always hoped to teach more advanced classes, such as algebra, compared to simpler courses in elementary and middle school.

While answering what made him so interested in math, Mr. Anelli shared his appreciation of how math is the root or baseline of many other subjects in school, such as physics and chemistry. He feels that having a general knowledge of math is a very powerful tool to have to understand many other topics.

When asked about his favorite subject of math specifically, Mr. Anelli told The Pulse that while in high school and college, he enjoyed learning Calculus the most. He felt that it was the top level of math, and

he always felt encouraged to do well in those classes. While teaching, he has most enjoyed coming back to and relearning Precalculus.

Some of the reasons why Mr. Anelli came to The Harvey School were its college feel and campus-like atmosphere, as well as the freedom that he gets in what he can teach. In addition, he finds the entire staff very supportive and knowledgeable in terms of helping him with issues in class. Mr. Anelli additionally enjoys the smaller class sizes, as they offer a brand-new dynamic and experience that allow him to interact with and help each student individually.

Profe Erinn Boyle and student Edwin Sanchez. Courtesy of the Harvey website.

Photo of Mr. Anelli teaching at Harvey, Courtesy of The Harvey School website Mr. Anelli article cont. on pg. 6

Editor-in-Chief/Layout

Emma Galgano

Sports Editor

Dan Gasch

Benji Cutler

Spencer Elkind

Bradley Lederer

Razi Tanksley

Jonah Weinstock

Hudson Zamacona

Faculty Advisor

Virginia Holmes

Dear Editor,

Who Is the GOAT?

For years, the debate about who is the better basketball player, Michael Jordan or Lebron James, is considered to be one of the toughest decisions. Jordan, who played from the 1980s till the early 2000s, is known as the greatest of all time (GOAT). But James, who played through the 2000s, is also known as an amazing player. I am here to state that Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the best basketball player of all time and that he is better than Lebron James.

Jordan played for the Bulls and the Wizards and won six NBA championships. The reason I think that Jordan is better is that he has never lost one of his six National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. Thus, his record in the finals 6-0.

Lebron, on the other hand, has been in 10 finals and only won four, making his record 410 in the finals. People can also make the debate that Jordan had weapons such as Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman. But Lebron, during the finals, has had Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, two all-stars, playing next to him.

Lebron has also played with many other Hall of Fame players from three different teams, such as Dwane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen. Lebron has jumped around teams in the league, being a part of the Cavaliers, Heat, and Lakers. While playing on two teams during his career, Jordan spent most of his career in Chicago playing for the Bulls, which proves he is a more loyal player. Jordan spent his last couple of seasons playing for the Washington Wizards, but he was an older player, scoring less because of age.

Although now Lebron holds the record for the highest scoring points, it can be argued that Lebron is playing in a soft era of basketball, with more fouls than when Jordan played.

Jordan is a one-time defensive player of the year in a time of basketball with fewer fouls, while Lebron has less competition and no defensive player of the year under his belt. Defense in the NBA has drastically changed over the years, and during the time when Jordan played, it was a more physically-played game than it is today.

According to The Sportster, “Jordan may not have been a friend or a good teammate, but he was a leader. He only cared about winning.” Also, as stated by How They Play, “Currently, Jordan holds a lead in all accolades minus Rookie of the Year, All-Star appearances, All-NBA Team, and Hall of Fame. He has a better Finals record as well as two more rings than LeBron.”

Clearly, Michael Jordan is better than Lebron James because of his accolades, leadership skills, and finals record. I hope I settled the debate in your mind about who is the GOAT!

Sincerely,

Bradley Lederer

Winter 2023 Pulse Staff

On Dec. 29, 2022, the Brazilian soccer legend who won three World Cups and became the sport’s first global icon, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known by his nickname Pelé, passed away.

According to CNN, Pelé was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo in late November for a respiratory infection and issues related to his already-diagnosed colon cancer. Since then, his health has progressively worsened, and he died from multiple organ failure due to the progression of colon cancer at the age of 82.

Pelé was born on Oct. 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Brazil. He was the first child of Dondinho and Celeste Arantes and was named after the American inventor Thomas Edison. But his parents decided to remove the “i”and name him “Edson.”

Pelé grew up in poverty, leading him to earn extra money by working in tea shops for several years. Despite these challenges, Pelé was resourceful and developed the fundamentals of soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.

As an adolescent, Pelé joined a youth soccer team coached by Waldemar de Brito, a former Brazilian national soccer team member. After witnessing Pelé’s extraordinary talent, De Brito eventually convinced Pelé’s family let the budding phenom to leave home and try out for the Santos professional soccer club when

Pelé’s Last Kick

By Emma Galgano

he was 15. After a year, Pelé was recruited to play for the Brazilian national team.

Pelé was officially introduced to the world during his stellar performance in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. At only 17, Pelé remarkably scored three goals in a 5-2 semifinal win over France, then netted two more in the finals, a 5-2 win over the host country.

He combined his kicking power and accuracy with a remarkable ability to anticipate other players’ moves. Although at times Pelé took penalty kicks, he stated that he often refrained from taking a penalty, as he saw it as a cowardly way to score.

Brazil was strategic in ensuring Pelé continued to play in home country by the government, who declared him a national treasure in order to prevent other club teams from making offers. Plus, Pelé was constantly promoted in the local media.

As reported by CBS Sports, the next two World Cups were challenging for Pelé, as he suffered multiple leg and groin injuries, causing him to sit on the bench for the remainder of the tournaments. Yet, Pelé returned greater than ever in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

He scored four goals in the tournament, including one in the finals, to help Brazil become victorious over Italy. Pelé finished his

World Cup career having scored 12 goals in 14 games, making him the one of the highest goal scorers in the tournament’s history.

Not only was Pelé a superstar on the field, but he was also a leader who valued the power of sportsmanship. His interaction with Bobby Moore following the Brazil versus England game at the 1970 World Cup is viewed as the embodiment of sportsmanship. The New York Times stated the image “captured the respect that two great players had for each other.”

According to Britannica, in 1974, Pelé announced his retirement. However, a year later, Pelé came out of semi-retirement and signed a three-year $7 million contract with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League.

During the Cosmos’ news conference to announce Pelé’s entrance to the team, their representative stated, “We had superstars in the United States but nothing at the level of Pelé. Everyone wanted to touch him, shake his hand, and get a photo with him.”

In 1977, Pelé officially retired after leading the Cosmos to the league championship. To this day, Pelé is often credited for significantly increasing public awareness and interest in soccer in the U.S.

As stated by Biography. com, Pelé ended his career with a total of 1,281 goals in 1,363 games,

Prayers for #3

By Dan Gasch

sionals determined that Hamlin required CPR on the field and was able to restore his heartbeat.

Although most doctors have avoided speculation about what exactly caused Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest, many have theorized that he may have suffered a rare injury known as zap Commortio Cordis. According to doctor Brain Suttererer, Commortio Cordis can occur “when you have a blunt trauma to the chest that occurs at exactly the right time in the cardiac electrical cycle your heart can be sent into cardiac arrest.”

On Jan. 2, a prime-time nationally-televised Monday Night Football game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was cut short after Bills Safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest. The medical emergency began when Hamlin made a strong open-field tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. After the play’s conclusion, Hamlin got up to his feet but quickly collapsed back to the turf.

After seeing the 24-year-old go down, medical personnel quickly rushed onto the field to aid Hamlin. The group of team and independent medical profes-

This injury is very rare and unlikely, because it requires such specific circumstances to occur. Sutterer went on to state, “not only do you have to have a high enough force, but it has to happen within milliseconds of the time window.”

Thankfully for Hamlin, medical professionals were able to quickly begin performing CPR on the field, which is essential to the survival chances of someone who goes into cardiac arrest.

During Tuesday morning’s airing of the ESPN show “Get Up,” Dr. Jennifer Haythe explained the importance of fast and effective CPR to someone

who has gone into cardiac arrest. She stated, “For every minute CPR is not administered, the chance of survival drops by 10%.” After his heartbeat was restored on the field, Hamlin was taken to the University of Cincinnati medical center.

Damar Hamlin’s injury has shown the humanity of fans, players, and others involved with the league in many ways. This has been exemplified by the massive contribution to Hamlin’s charity. The Chasing M’s foundation started as a community toy drive and was established in 2020 while Hamlin was playing at the University of Pittsburgh.

Originally, the nonprofit organization had a modest goal of raising $2,500, but after Hamlin’s injury, the charity began receiving donations on a much larger scale. As of Jan. 11, the Chasing M’s foundation has raised over $8.7 million and will now look to impact communities in a more substantial way.

The freak injury has had a significant impact on everyone involved and specifically people close to Hamlin. University of Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi, who coached Hamlin during his time at the school, stated, “Damar Hamlin is far more than just a football player. He’s a

making him the third-highest-scoring soccer player.

After he retired, Pelé was flooded with several awards, including the International Peace Award and being named the Athlete of the Century by the French sports publication L’Equipe. He received the same honor in 1999 from the International Olympic Committee.

Also, in 1993, Pelé was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. While being admitted, the Executive Director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Djorn Buchholz, stated, “Pelé’s impact on soccer globally, and specifically in the United States, is unparalleled.”

Pelé will go down in history as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. His influence on soccer will never be forgotten.

loving son, brother and friend. Damar is a hero to thousands of Pittsburgh kids.”

Another notable reaction was that of Bills star wide receiver Stefan Diggs. After the game was canceled, Diggs rushed to the hospital and was initially deterred by police. According to ESPN’s Coley Harvey, “He essentially expressed how much he needed to be here.” The officers then gave Diggs clearance.

On Monday, Jan. 9, Hamlin was flown to the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute. After two nights of extensive medical evaluation and testing, the Buffalo hospital doctors determined Hamlin could be safely discharged and continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills.

Hamlin has been able to make an incredible recovery to this point, and The Pulse sends hopes and prayers that he continues to rehabilitate and recover.

Pelé is carried off the field by his teammates after Brazil won the 1970 World Cup in Mexico City. Photo Courtesy of Associated Press.

Home of the Buffalo Bills, Orchard Park, moments before the Jan. 8 matchup with the New England Patriots

Courtesy of Timothy T Ludwig

The College Football Playoffs (CFB) is one of the most iconic scenes in all of college sports. In 2022, the college football playoffs were electric, with powerhouse teams such as the University of Georgia, the University of Michigan, Texas Christian University (TCU), and The Ohio State University.

The three playoff games in 2022 were called The Fiesta Bowl, where TCU faced Michigan, the Peach Bowl, where Georgia faced off against Ohio State, and the CFP championship game, TCU and Georgia.

During the Fiesta Bowl, the

Back-to-Back Bulldogs

By Bradley Lederer

TCU Horn Frogs had a great game against the Michigan Wolverines, beating them 51 to 45. That game was a competitive battle, with the underdog TCU coming out on top. Max Duggen, TCU QB, controlled the game using his scrambling and passing ability. Duggen rushed for 57 yards and threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns. On the opposing side, Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy had a dominant game, throwing for 343 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and rushing for 52 yards, but he could not seem to get the job done, as TCU’s defense played well, forcing him to throw two interceptions.

The Peach Bowl was a matchup between two high scoring powerhouse teams in the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes. These two teams had a game that went down to the wire and was a hard-fought battle.

Georgia’s QB Stetson Bennet played a great game, and threw for 398

yards and three touchdowns, which was a great offensive game from him. Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud also had a phenomenal game, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 34 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr., arguably one of the best receivers in all of college football, had an outstanding game, catching five passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He is not draft eligible this year, because he is only a sophomore but is projected to be a highly ranked receiver coming out of college.

The game was won by the Georgia Bulldogs by one point, with a final score of 41-42.

Before the season started, TCU was unranked and was not projected to make the CFP but ended up making it to the championship game, making it a great Cinderella story if they won in the finals. Unfortunately for them, they lost to Georgia in the CFP championship game by quite a large margin, with a score of 65-7. Georgia proved in that game why they were the favorites to win and why they were the best team in the country.

The Bulldogs capped off the 2022 season with a perfect 15-0 record

and winning back-to- back championships. QB Stetson Bennet threw for 304 passing yards and four touchdowns in his final game as a Bulldog. The 24-year-old is among one of the oldest QBs in college football and had to battle through adversity to get to the position he is in now.

With the 2022 CFP over, TCU first year coach Sonny Dykes led an under-the-raider team to the Championship game, and he has proven that he is a great college coach. Even though TCU did not get the final result they wanted, they have proved to the world that they are a real threat in the next coming years as a football program.

According to The Sporting News, Georgia’s chances of making the CFP are high again, being the projected No. 1 seed for the 2023 season. This year’s college football playoffs will be remembered and has been an exciting one to watch.

The Pulse Recommends.....

What is your favorite Valentine’s Day treat?

Ms. Holmes: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Dan: M&M Bar

Benji: Box of Chocolates

Favorite Valentine’s Day movie?

Hudson: “10 Things I Hate About You”

Emma “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”

Benji: “When Harry Met Sally”

Recommendation for a Valentine’s Day date?

Ms. Holmes: The Cheesecake Factory

Razi: Dine-in-movie

Spencer: East End restaurant in Greenwich CT

Most memorable Valentine’s Day gift

Spencer: Chocolate shaped like Darth Vader heads

Dan: Beats solo 3

Bradley: A heart chain

Photo of TCU and Georgia players and coaches. Courtesy of ESPN.

Reports

The Wonder Man of the Entertainment Industry

By Jonah Weinstock

The Pulse interviewed Billy Aronson on Dec. 14, 2022. Billy Aronson originated the concept of the Broadway musical “Rent” and also wrote episodes for “Sesame Street.” “Rent” is based on the 1986 opera “La Boheme.” The story is about poor young artists struggling to survive and create a life in Lower Manhattan’s East Village. “Sesame Street” is an educational children’s show where the main character Big Bird teaches children about numbers, colors, and the alphabet.

The Pulse: What inspired you to come up with the idea for the musical “Rent”?

Aronson: I’m a playwright. When I came to New York, I started writing as many plays as I could. There was a period in which I finished a new play. I gave it to all the theaters, and that took a while. You have to wait a long time until

they say something. They tell you whether they’re going to do it, not do it, or do a reading of it. I didn’t want to start writing another play, so I thought I would try something different. This was the mid 1980s, I guess. I lived in a tiny apartment at the time in Hell’s Kitchen. I had no privacy. I slept in this tiny room that was the living room on a pullout couch. My roommate would be there watching television, and I couldn’t be alone to think. So, I would walk up to the Metropolitan Opera and get standing room for the opera, because it was really cheap. I had all this space to look out and daydream. Although I didn’t know much about opera, I fell in love with it, because of the drama. It was a new way to experience drama, and I always loved music, and I’m very affected by music.

The Pulse: I understand you worked with the composer, Jonathan Larson for “Rent.” Could you tell us how you worked with him and what the process entailed?

Aronson: I needed to look for a composer, because I don’t write music. I went to this theater, Playwright’s Horizons, which was interested in my work. They recom-

mended two composers. I traded my materials with both composers, and Jonathan was really interested in this one idea that I had for my Boheme show. We liked each other’s stuff, and we got together and talked about how to approach it. Working together was tricky. Neither of us were used to collaborating in that way. We each liked to have things exactly our own way. That’s one of the things I loved about playwriting. If I got this quirky style, it’s going to be in that weird way that I’m doing it. If I have to stop in the middle because I have a problem, I stop in the middle and do something else. I move my own rate, and I do exactly what I feel like.

The Pulse: What was your involvement with writing episodes for “Sesame Street?”

Aronson: I’ve done a lot of children’s television. “Sesame Street” was minimal. There was a time where they were doing a series of Bert and Ernie sketches. I wrote a few of those, and they aired on “Sesame Street,” but I wasn’t a full-time writer for the show. I’ve written for a lot of shows, though, such as “The Wonder Pets,” “Beavis and Butthead,” and “Courage the Cowardly Dog.” I created a show for pre-K viewers on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) with my friend Jennifer Broxley called “Peg + Cat.” We got to control that show ourselves and make something really proud of it.

Nita Strauss: Hurricane

By Hudson Zamacona

A category 10 hurricane named Nita Strauss is ripping through the world, cranking up the volume, and the grain to play some heavy metal.

36-year-old Nita Strauss of Los Angeles, California is a guitarist who has played with iconic bands, and artists, making her one of the greatest female guitar players of our time.

Strauss was born into a music family, and according to metalcastle.net, first gained inspiration for the old 6-string from seeing a movie about Stevie Ray Vaughn. Her father, a bass player, taught her the first basic chords on the guitar.

Strauss’first-ever guitar was a Squier Strat Pack. Squier is Fender’s beginner-level guitar, and the Stratocaster is one of the most popular guitars that Fender makes and is one of the most popular guitars known in the world. When you think of an electric guitar, you’re probably thinking of the Stratocaster.

Strauss’ first big performance was playing at the halftime show at a Los Angeles Rams game

in 2018. She played “Dead Inside,” which she made back in 2018. Strauss and her relationship with the Los Angeles Rams earned her a Super Bowl ring, which few on the outside receive.

Strauss had the pleasure of shredding for Alice Cooper, is a band that originated in the 1970s and still plays today. If you want your jaw to drop, watch Alice Cooper performing “Poison” live with a three-minute intro solo performance by Strauss. As a guitar player, watching her play puts me on a wild trip.

Strauss’ style is heavy metal based, but she left Alice Cooper in 2022 to play for Demi Lovato. In previous years she played with The Iron Maidens and Femme Fatale.

Strauss released a new song called “The Wolf You Feed” with Alissa White-Gluz. This song is very aggressive, with Alissa’s beautiful voice jumping in for the chorus with Strauss’s sinisterly good guitar playing.

Aside from being the lead guitarist in all kinds of rock bands, and working with other artists, Nita

is also a successful solo artist.

According to Nita on Twitter, she states she played guitar for anyone who would have her, including rock, pop, funk, metal, covers, and originals, and on top of that, she would often perform two shows a night with different bands.

Nita’s guitar playing sounds similar to Eddie Van Halen’s but more modern. She finger taps, she bends, she knows harmonics, and she knows it all with perfection.

Nita is so successful and good at playing the guitar that she is a part of the Guitarists of the Decade for Guitar Center.

Nita has accomplished what many musicians spend decades dreaming of, including having a sponsorship. One of Nita’s accomplishments, aside from fame, is that she plays for Ibanez and has her own signature model electric guitar, the Ibanez Nita Strauss JIVA10 signature model in the deep space blonde colorway.

Strauss’s signature guitar is designed in her style. Her guitar features a “beaten path” inlay on

The Pulse: What educational skills are most important to you when you’re collaborating or working with a show?

Aronson: Usually, they tell you the educational part you have to teach is. PBS was looking for a math show. I enjoy math, and it’s for pre-K. It’s not going to stop me, since I know the math. What’s very hard is teaching it without stopping to preach. It’s got to happen naturally through a story. That’s the challenge of “Sesame Street” or whatever you’re writing for educational television. I like pointing out cool stuff about numbers or anything about science. The way people react and treat each other. For me, every story is educational in a way, because it points something out about life. This is what happens when you’re in love. This is a mistake that people made. This is a struggle that people have to live with. That’s what doing the math show is like.

The Pulse would like to thank Billy Aronson for taking the time to share his knowledge and experience with his creation/involvement with “Rent,” “Sesame Street,” and other endeavors

the ebony fretboard and a maple top sprayed down in the deep space blonde colorway. Strauss named her guitar JIVA, which when translated means soul.

For anyone looking to learn how to learn guitar, especially heavy metal, Strauss offers an online boot camp for $50, which will train you to play in her favorite style of metal.

Nita Strauss is a force to be reckoned with, and she knows how to play guitar at the top level. She refined her craft and has been working hard since a young age to perfect her dreams and make them a reality. Long live rock n roll!

Screen shot of Billy Aronson and Pulse writer Jonah Weinstock.

Screen shot taken by Jonah Weinstock.

Nita Stauss torturing the strings in the music video for the song “Summer Storm.” Photo credit: Steve Jennings.

Movies

The Movies of 2022: Surprise and Recovery

By Spencer Elkind

If 2021 was a year of recovery for Hollywood, 2022 would be a year of surprise. With the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic behind them, more and more people began to return to movie theaters, but the year was peppered with movies that became unexpect- ed successes while others were shocking failures. Regardless, the movie industry has finally recovered from the pandemic with the help of the movies released each month.

Beginning in January, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” continued to be a holdover success, ending its theatrical run having earned a massive $1.9 billion. As usual, for January, a horror film became this month’s biggest success, with “Scream” taking in $140 million against a $24 million budget.

February was marked by several moderate successes, with “Dog,” “Jackass Forever,” and “Death on the Nile” all collecting modest profits. The video game adaptation “Uncharted” collected $401 million despite mixed reviews, becoming February’s biggest success.

March crowned its biggest success almost immediately with the release of “The Batman.” The Matt Reeves-directed superhero thriller collected $770 million, dominating most of March, though straight-to-streaming films such as “The Adam Project” and “Turning Red” received some spotlight. The end of March came two surprise hits, one being the adventure comedy “The Lost City” and the second being “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which became the first film by A24 to gross $100 million.

April opened with “Morbius,” the latest Sony-

Marvel collaboration, collecting $150 million despite terrible reviews, later becoming the first film in history to bomb twice. Luckily “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” fared much better with $402 million, a profit that was matched by “Fantastic Beasts and the Secrets of Dumbeldore” a few weeks later. However, higher expectations and numerous controversies meant the latest entry in the Harry Potter universe was eventually consid- ered a failure.

The summer movie season opened in May with a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” grossed $950 million despite less- than-stellar reviews. However, the biggest surprise of 2022 came at the end of May, “Top Gun Maverick,” which received universal praise and, as of Dec. 12, has collected nearly $1.5 billion, being the biggest success of the year.

June brought about another major success with “Jurassic World Dominion” as the final chapter in the Jurassic franchise took in $1.01 billion. Oscar contender “Elvis” also saw some success with a $286 million gross, while “Top Gun Maverick” continued to collect profit. The biggest surprise of June came when “Light- year” only made $227 million, becoming the first box- office failure for Pixar and leading to questions of whether more family-oriented films could succeed at the box office.

However, those fears were immediately put to bed as “Minions, The Rise of Gru” opened July 1 and snatched up $940 million. Another early July success came with Mar- vel’s “Thor: Love and Thunder” grossing $760 million. Later in the month, movies

such as “Nope” and “DC: League of Super-Pets” also collected modest profits.

The months of August and September saw more suc- cess for movies such as “Bullet Train,” “Beast,” and “The Woman King.” However, nothing really took over, leading to a general drought of theatrical content. Many believe the cause of this was the fact that many movies now go straight to streaming, and theaters had finally burned through projects delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest news in the entertainment industry during this period came from behind-the scenes controversies, such as the cancellation of “Batgirl” and thedrama behind “Don’t Worry Darling.”

The drought continued into October as the star-studded “Amsterdam” became a gigantic failure, and the hybrid release of “Halloween Ends” enjoyed a modest $105 million success. Even “Black Adam,” the latest superhero film from the newly rebranded DC Studios, was bogged down by middling reviews and couldn’t break the drought, gross- ing $385 million and costing Warner Brothers almost $100 million in losses.

November finally brought the drought to an end with “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as the sequel to 2018’s smash hit snatched

$736 million and counting. Movies such as “Disenchanted” and “Enola Holmes 2” took over streaming charts while awards-driven films such as “Bones and All” and “The Fablemans” tried to carve out stakes in theaters. However, Disney’s good fortune end- ed with the total failure of the animated film “Strange World” over Thanksgiving weekend, when we also enjoyed a sneak peek at Netflix’ss original “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”

As we enter December, there’s only one movie on people’s minds, and that is “Avatar The Way of Water.” After 13 years, the sequel to the highest-grossing film of all time is set to make waves at the box office. Though it may not reach the nearly $3 billion of the previous movie, it has already made $1.4 billion and will all but certainly become the biggest success story of the year.

2022 clearly brought theaters back to a much more comfortable level of profit despite a decrease in content. Looking into 2023, we’ll see movies return in even greater numbers, such as new entries into the Marvel universe, final swan songs for DC, and additions to forgotten franchises that will continue to keep the box office thriving.

Music, especially the guitar, has always influenced Mr. Anelli’s career and life since he was about 12 years old, and music has been one of his biggest interests outside of school. Because of his experiences in performing in front of his school on the guitar, he built a strong stage presence in the classroom. When he isn’t in school, he is always trying to learn new things on the guitar and making new pieces of music. Specifically, he has always been inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica.

When asked about his goals for the future, Mr. Anelli wants to continue to learn new things in music, relearn old topics from high school and college, such as computer science and physics, and keep progressing on playing the guitar. At Harvey in particular, Mr. Anelli would like to “hone in [his] skills as a math teacher” and find a good rhythm in his classes.

A few students in Mr. Anelli’s Honors Precalculus class shared their opinions with The Pulse, and they only gave positive statements. Specifically, they all love Mr. Anelli’s engagement with his students and how he builds a fun and interactive class environment. Additionally, they feel that he always leaves room to make jokes and have a good time while still efficiently teaching the class new topics every day in a very easy-to-understand manner.

All in all, The Pulse wishes Mr. Anelli the best in his future at The Harvey School, and we greatly appreciate his time with us during the interview process. He has already accomplished great things in and out of the classroom, and we hope that he continues to thrive at Harvey and in the world.

Perhaps the most anticipated film of the decade so far, “Avatar The Way of Water” was the final major film of 2022. Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.

Mr. Anelli article cont. from pg.1

Boseman’s Legacy Lives On in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

By Benji Cutler

On Aug. 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman, known for his role as King T’Challa and Black Panther, sadly passed away. Marvel fans collectively agreed that Boseman was the definitive Black Panther, and that he should never be replaced.

When “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” was first announced, fans questioned how director Ryan Coogler would continue the legacy of Boseman and the Black Panther. However, on Nov. 11, 2022, when the film finally released in theaters, there was satisfaction and joy in the hearts of viewers.

In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the people of Wakanda mourn the death of King T’Challa and fight to protect Wakanda from outside forces searching for vibranium, their powerful resource. The film focuses on Queen Ramonda played by Angela Bassett, Shuri played by Letitia Wright, and Namor, the villain, played by Tenoch Huerta.

Right from the opening scene, emotions are high, both in the characters and in the audience. All the cast member put an incredible amount of spirit into their roles, with standouts being Bassett, Wright, and even Danai Gurira as Okoye. The film immediately gives you an odd feeling of empathy, but also the same grief that the characters and actors feel, with Boseman’s death being such a tragic loss to us all.

Soon after, we are introduced to Riri Williams, or Ironheart, played by Dominique Thorne. She plays a large role in the film’s plot and carries so much charm and great humor. We will be getting a full Disney+ series for her character in 2023, and after seeing this film, you will definitely want to see more of her character in the future.

Throughout this first act and the movie as a whole, Gurira, Wright, and Thorne share brilliant chemistry together and do not disappoint as the lead characters. The hole left behind by Boseman’s passing is immediately filled in a very emotional and powerful way. Shuri especially goes through some great character development as the film progresses.

Some additional elements that are completely nailed in the film include the outstanding score, composed by Ludwig Göransson, the epic production level, and the beautiful cinematography. These components made “Black Panther” stand out amongst the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and that level of brilliance stays consistent with its sequel.

In addition, the world building of Wakanda is spectacular, and it immediately brings you back into the stunning country. The set and costume designs in the film

may be an improvement over its predecessor, which is a true accomplishment. The film completely stands out from the rest of the MCU, with how visually appealing it is and with the amount of care that was clearly put into the production.

Throughout the entire film, the action sequences do not disappoint. The fight choreography is epic and entertaining, and the overall scale of each battle is felt with incredible camera work and powerful music.

A standout performance in the film that may surprise you while watching is Tenoch Huerta’s work as Namor. As the film explores his backstory, it’s very easy to understand his motives while still hating him. The intimidation and unsettling vibe that Huerta puts into his performance turns Namor into an incredibly threatening and unsettling villain that perfectly fits the tone and story of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

There are some flaws in the film that have bothered many viewers. The main issue that audiences have brought up is the runtime, clocking in at two hours and 41 minutes. There are some scenes and a specific plot line that may not grab your attention, like other parts of the film, but those portions go by quickly and will hardly affect your experience. There will always be engaging, emotional, and action-packed sequences that bring you right back into the film in a powerful way.

Overall, I thought that “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is brilliant, executed with so much care and precision by Coogler along with the entire cast and crew. The characters are phenomenal, led by Shuri and Namor, and the score, cinematography, production value, set design, and action all will surprise you in an extraordinary way. I would highly recommend that you watch this film in theaters to fully experience its brilliance and beauty, because “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is incredible.

A Forgotten Hero from a Forgotten War

By Razi Tanksley

In 1950, during the intense time of the Cold War, the U.S. joined forces with Great Britain and the United Nations (U.N.) to support South Korea against com-munist-backed North Korea. At home, the issue of segregation was atrociously rooted in society and affected millions of Black people living in the United States. Through this experience of racial discrimination and societal hardship, Black sol- diers overcame these adversities and rose to notable positions in the U.S. military.

The story of the movie “Devotion” follows the true path of one of these brave souls, Jesse Brown, who was the first Black aviator in the United States Navy. Director J.D. Dillard brings new life to Adam Makos’s 2015 biography “Devotion: An Epic Story of Heroism, Friendship and Sacrifice.” Differentiating from Makos’s work, Dillard digs deeper into the emotional context of Jesse Brown’s heroic story.

Starring Johnathan Majors and Glen Powell, who also serves as an executive producer, “Devotion” takes the dedicated work of many exceptional members of production to fully complete to a distinct point of excellence. Besides actors and workers behind the scenes, it also took leadership from them with in-depth knowledge of aerial fights to portray the intensity of those who fought in the skies.

That’s where people like adviser Mike Oliver, general manager of the Erickson Aircraft Collection, stepped in. His connection to the film came from how he could relate to Brown, as they both have grown up in that era, and he said in a behind-the-scenes interview that “being an African American, and all the controversy of him going into the Naval Academy to be a fighter pilot, when it was all white guys in there,” made Brown’s achievements all the more “impressive.’”

Another person who connected to the plot of the film was military journalist James Barber. In terms of how realistic the dogfights and exhilaration felt by the pilots, he noted that there was “far more footage of real airplanes than

anyone could have imagined. The technology used to film these planes didn’t exist just a few years ago, and it’s likely that none of these planes will be airworthy just a few years from now. It’s the exact right moment to make a movie like this, and director J.D. Dillard, son of a Blue Angel veteran, seems to be the exact right choice to make a movie that emphasizes this kind of aerial footage.”

To the audience, while there were some mixed feelings about specific details, many shared in an exhilarated and heartfelt attachment to the story. Viewers such as Collin Garbarino, who shared his review on Rotten Tomatoes, enjoyed how “Devotion’s” lead characters followed a memorable “male-buddies inbattle formula, but it manages to avoid cliche in creating a genuine relationship as Hudner and Brown grow to trust and respect each other as ‘wingmen.’”

Others shared views of film fanatic and Rotten Tomatoes reviewer, Erik Childless, about how when dealing with the main character’s battle against racial injustice, the film does “a fine job of avoiding the cliches in trying to tell a story of racial progression but feels so concentrated in doing it that it neglects to do the job of generating a real dynamic between its leads.”

New York Magazine’s Bilge Ebiri thought that there are “stretches of ‘Devotion’ where it doesn’t seem like all that much is happening, but then you look closer and you realize that just about everything is happening.”

In my opinion, “Devotion” is well worth viewing because of its compelling drama and storyline that will keep you engaged throughout.

Jonathan Majors and Glen Powell lead the cast of “Devotion”

Photo courtesy of Eli Adé / Columbia Pictures

Picture of Shuri as Black Panther. Photo courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter.