fall 2018
by hoot
Maria Adetunji, Layla Alexander, Natalie Arenzon, Madison Aubey, Olivia Baker, Miarosa Cial
I found god in myself and I loved her I loved her fiercely. Ntozake Shange.
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Bettina Lichauco, Emily Mahan, Inga Mantillas, Darinelle Merced-Calderon, John Michael Wheatley, Lucy O’Conner, Sofia Perez, Rebecca Siq lella, Claire Emma Heewon Easton, Carolina Dalia Gonzalez, Sarah Hilligoss, Emily Kimura,
ueiros, Arielle Shternfeld, Natalie Tischler
salt and silk directo r Ar ielle Shter nfeld ph otogr aph er / s ty lis t Ar ielle Shter nfeld mod els Mitali Desai , Andrea Jensen, Gabr iella Kaspi makeu p Sofia Perez h air Sar ah Hilligoss assistant Maddy Aubey
writer John Michael Wheatley
yearstains no. 2 threadworn rug softens, still many-colored, the mood-weighted footfalls, pressing in to moss, (wears years down the dusting jewel-faced wool) fernbed quiets in floor-shaped woodlands. moss curls attest emerald slow rise mornings every-colored days, plate edges, sharp shattered, soft-fallen leaves of kisses leftover fallen silent, red blood shouting, quiet nestles underfoot. rough-scraped skin back and knee, sweat rainfalls and warmth cascade hotly, riverbed spines pour underfoot threadworn rug softens still the downfloating life-spent traces
illustrator Claire Emma Heewon Easton
selfstain bluely rush lake, shape of ventricle spooling current flesh-capped viscous life breathed, wall painting, clean-charming charge, daily scripting safety spirits every drop
s aved b y t he b e l l director Natalie Tischler pho togr aph er Natalie Tischler m odels Ronni Kyle and Malena Lecea m a keu p Bettina Lichauco assistan t Mia Ciallella c loth in g The Ser ies
illustrator Natalie Arenzon
how to be a bad bitch writer Lucy O’Conner
Whenever I’m confronted with a phrase in our modern-pop-culture that I can’t define, my first reaction is to turn to our most highly trusted source: Urban Dictionary. When I searched “bad bitch,” I found: “Female who knows what she wants and knows exactly how to get it. Female who is always ready for anything physically, emotionally, and also intellectually (one being book smart as well as street smart).” Beyond this definition alone, I have gathered that what defines a bad bitch is subjective to each individual’s perspective. Yet, there is a common thread in the characterization of a bad bitch: a bad bitch does whatever a bad bitch wants. Cardi B and Aretha Franklin, two women of color in the music and entertainment industries, as well as certified bad bitches, can serve as the ultimate role models on this topic and further extrapolate the definition established by Urban Dictionary. In the 1950’s when Soul music was emerging, African American men were dominating the stages and radio stations. There was a transition from the sacred to the secular on stage as many artists were coming from religious, gospel backgrounds and using their techniques to create a more sexual performance. Challenging the prescribed gender roles of the sexualized man, Aretha Franklin used the same tools to create a new sect of the genre that related to women everywhere. As an African American woman, she embodied sonic black feminism by presenting honest truth in her voice and performance. Aretha used the power of her voice with her intersectional identity, as an African American and a woman, to push back against the discrimination as an African American woman in the 20th century. While much of the genre of Soul was aspiring to be something better than yourself, Aretha was telling women that they had to find who they truly were and be confident in themselves. She poetically declares: “A woman’s only human, you should understand, she’s not just a plaything, she’s flesh and blood just like her man.” By equating the two sexes within the context of a relationship, she breaks down the power dynamics that limited women in the 50’s and 60’s. Aretha empowered women through her overarching motifs of sonic black feminism and empowered them to be confident in themselves. Today, the famed Cardi B raps to her millennial crowd. Cardi is most known for her progression from her career as a stripper and her performance on reality TV’s “Love and Hip Hop,” to her career as a rapper. She never changed who she was for anyone, despite the negative stereotypes society imposed on her as a woman who chose to become a stripper in order to get by. This same attitude is mirrored in her lyrics. Specifically: “Broke hoes do what they can. Good girls do what they told. Bad bitches do what they want.” She is outlining clear priorities within our society, culminating with the bad bitch. She idealizes the bad bitch, because who doesn’t want to do whatever they want? Good girls and broke hoes are clearly just trying to survive, while bad bitches get to thrive. Cardi expands upon Aretha’s motifs of empowerment by adding a new layer to the definition: recklessness. More specifically, intelligent recklessness. She proves that women are intelligent when they can realize that the boundaries set before them are only hurdles for them to overcome. By
showing a bad bitch’s commitment to doing what she wants, Cardi is telling her listeners to follow their desires and break down any barriers necessary in that pursuit. This is analogous to Aretha Franklin’s description of women as not simply some “plaything” because bad bitches have agency to do whatever they want. Undeniably, Cardi B and Aretha Franklin are bad bitches that transcend time. They are both contextually different through their music, but they are unified through their reckless breaking of the gender based boundaries in the music industry. Aretha shocked the world with her embracement of sexual tone that was typically only found on a male stage and Cardi has broken countless records as a female in the rap industry, a space men have historically dominated as well. They stayed true to themselves and their passions in order to craft a life for themselves that was authentically their own, embracing the life of being an original bad bitch. But why is the title of “Bad Bitch” so important? Well, if not the phrase itself, the definition is a step towards empowerment of all forms. When Cardi B tells you to do what you want, it is important to know that she means being recklessly powerful looks different for everyone. And that is the most important part of being a bad bitch: a bad bitch doesn’t copy exactly what they see in another person. We may look to these women for wisdom and advice in our pursuit of empowerment, but ultimately, we define it for ourselves. Furthermore, the term bad bitch has no gender. However, it is important to keep in mind the offensive and degrading historical use of the term “bitch” for the patriarchal agenda. While many choose to take “bitch” back, the impact of male power against women, in this case, can conflict with what the “bad bitch” status stands for. But that does not mean that men cannot embody the fundamental qualities of a bad bitch. The qualities that bad bitches embody take many forms, I see them everywhere: women studying for MCATs in the library, single-parenting and getting a degree, defying gender roles in STEM, and so much more. I see gender non-conforming and transgender individuals breaking into the film industry, redefining the gendered fashion industry, and doing everything that cisgender men and women can. I see people of color entering industries typically dictated by white men and redefining roles for African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and all races and ethnicities. These bad bitches aren’t sitting idly by, they are taking charge of the world they see themselves in, and the world they wish to see. I follow in the footsteps of many powerful women who never took no for an answer: my mother who used her humor to captivate audiences, even when she was the only woman in the writing room; my grandmother who triumphed past her cruel childhood to pursue an education and become one of the only female teachers at her high school, even when no one in her family had pursued a higher education; and my great-grandmother who picked up her family in Germany and transported them to the “Land of Opportunity” in the United States, even when there was so much uncertainty. These women are bad bitches because they broke down barriers through a reckless commitment to their goals and not letting others limit their pursuit of these goals. I urge you to be a bad bitch too. Go out into the world recklessly confident and empowered to accomplish your goals. And just like Aretha said, have a little “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” for yourself and never be defined by others’ standards!
how to make shakshuka with feta prep time: ~ 50 minutes 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes with juices, coarsely chopped 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, or to taste ž teaspoon salt, more as needed Ÿ teaspoon black pepper, more as needed 5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/4 cups) 6 large eggs chopped cilantro, for serving
how to make directo r Layla Alexander stylist Layla Alexander ph otogr aph er Inga Manticas mod els Yosan Alemu, Oreoluwa Solanke , Robyn Stewar t assistants Sah al Has s a n , Tol u A k i nye d e cloth ing s tu den t c lo s e t s
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion and bell pepper. Cook gently until very soft, about 20 minutes. Add garlic and cook until tender, 1 to 2 minutes; stir in cumin, paprika and cayenne, and cook 1 minute. Pour in tomatoes and season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; simmer until tomatoes have thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in crumbled feta.
Gently crack eggs into skillet over tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until eggs are just set, 7 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with hot sauce.