DISTINCT
NICOLE MARINO
Editor in Chief Meredith Nash Sara Belcher
Dear Reader, Welcome to the “nostalgia” issue of Distinct Magazine. Most of us are in the time of our lives where we have a wide variety of memories to look back on, while still having a vast future. Some of these memories may be sweet, others toxic. We look back on childhood TV favorites, makeup trends, and old technology. But we also reflect on how certain relationships have negatively affected our lives, how to not let that toxic nostalgia consume you, and problematic parallels in politics. Nostalgia is important. It is how we find value in our everyday lives instead of taking each passing moment for granted. It is extremely important to remember and reflect on all that has happened to us, so we don’t repeat the same mistakes. But nostalgia can also be sour and hard to experience. Sometimes we may feel as though our lives will never be as happy as they were and that we have hit our peak. This is a reminder that that is not true — you will have fleeting moments of toxicity and sadness, but you will always make new memories. All in all, we like to use nostalgia as a way to hold on to the good in both appreciation and knowledge. We hope you can, too. We’ve become obsessed with our past obsessions lately, falling into this cycle of making the old new again and reminiscing on times that maybe weren’t the best. Rewatching your old favorite show because you’re feeling some type of way is fine — texting a toxic ex because you remembered one good day is not. Remember that there are certain things that are meant to be left in the past, and learn to grow from them. Reflection and memories are good, but remember to use them to help you make improvements, not to help you make excuses for how you are or once were. As always, these issues are never possible without the work of each and every one of our writers, editors, photographers, illustrators, and layout designers. This is the issue we’re most proud of to date — because there was so much effort, love, and passion put into these pages. To everyone who reads Distinct and makes this production possible: Thank you.
Fashion Editor Matilde Bechet Beauty Editor Meg Tippett Lifestyle Editor Rhiannon Coleman Health & Fitness Editor Carly Swanson Culture Editor Deanna Wetmore Visual Director Brielle Cruz Photography Editor Olivia Acuña Lookbook Coordinator Chanel Courant Design Sara Belcher Grace Nolan Anna Levitus Brielle Cruz Chanel Courant Matilde Bechet Fundraising Coordinator Kiersten McAdoo Social Media Director & Team Amber Raiken Selin Tuter Olivia Acuña Faculty Advisor Katie Marks Head of Copy Sydney Joyce Annika Kushner
IC Distinct Magazine Co-Editor in Chief
IC Distinct Magazine Co-Founder and Co-Editor in Chief
Copy Editors Matt Attanasio Nicole Brokaw Alexandria Logedo Emma Printz Deanna Wetmore Cover by Olivia Acuña
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CONTENTS Lookbook & Fashion Fashion Through the Decades Low-Rise Jeans Denim on Denim The Return of Heroin Chic
Nicole Marino Culture
Reagan vs. Trump Toxic Nostalgia ’90s Sitcoms Why Are We Remaking Old Technology? My Experience as an Exchange Student
Lifestyle
Disney Revamps How to Read Your Astrology Sign Chicken Soup for the College Soul Losing Your V-Card Old Video Game Consoles Traps
Heath & Fitness ’90s Workouts Bad Diet Fads Don’t Let It Consume You
Beauty
The “Perfect Body” ’90s Makeup
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&
LOOKBOOK
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FASHION
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THAT’S SO ’70S
Photography by: Brielle Cruz, Madison DeCory Styling by: Chanel Courant Models: Camille Barrett, Katherine Chan, Hannah Epstein, Zach Stewart, Selin Tuter, Madison Yourth
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’80S DAY-GLO
Photography: Olivia Acuña Styling by: Chanel Courant Models: Andrew Bain, Autumn Stevens, Cameron Fox Flamm
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*90s GrUnGe GaLs Photography by: Madison DeCory Styling by: Chanel Courant Models: Chanel Courant, Aviva Nachman, Nell Walker A
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i WaNt CaNdY.... A
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fLoWeR
pOwEr B
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fReAks N
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DoUbLe tRoUbLe
gEeKs
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Y2K MALLRATS Photography by: Brielle Cruz, Danielle Cipriano Styling by: Chanel Courant Models: Adrianna Clearman, Binnur Dogan, Noah Lindsay, Nathan Smith, Angel Sohu
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SAY NO TO LOW-RISE Written by: Anna Levitus Photography by: Samuel Carter
You thought you heard the last of low-rise jeans. Sadly, you were wrong. Low-rise jeans are a great example of a clothing item that is slowly making a comeback. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Low-rise jeans used to be the ”go-to” pair of pants in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Wearing your thong high above your waistline was actually a huge fashion trend that accompanied this style. You would see this fashion trend in magazines and even on the street. In a way, this style was worn to make a “rebellious” statement. Girls loved being able to show off their cute lace underwear to the world as if it was a tiny accessory. Celebrities like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears would wear these jeans on the red carpet with their stomachs completely exposed. Students would walk down the halls in these jeans in hopes of making the same statement to their classmates, all by following the famous low-rise jean trend. Many argue about this famous comeback. The lowrise jean trend had its perks, but over the years people have found reasons to bash this style, shifting to more comfortable and chic-looking jeans. Today, high-rise jeans are the “go-to” pair, and all I can say is, “Thank God.” The dispute over high-rise versus low-rise jeans is an ongoing debate. With the low-rise style, women usually choose to wear bulky, long sweaters because they don’t 14
get stuck at the top of their jeans. With high-rise, it can be annoying when you are wearing a long shirt and it gets all tangled up at the top of your jeans. The low-rise style also allows people to sit down without feeling as though their circulation is being cut off. Wearing high-rise jeans can allow you to accessorize with cute belts, but they can also sometimes cause discomfort in the stomach area because of their tightness. Although these are valid comments, opposite viewpoints on these two jean styles can come up in conversation. Multiple friends of mine have told me that low-rise jeans make them feel fat because they don’t cover their stomachs. It gives countless girls a so-called “muffin top.” After speaking with my friends, I found that some women enjoy wearing high-rise jeans in order to cover their stomachs and not show as much skin. There are a lot of girls who are insecure about certain parts about their body, stomachs being one of them. Personally, I prefer when my stomach is covered. It’s also an uncomfortable feeling if you bend over or sit down, only to reveal your underwear or butt crack. Constantly picking up your pants and worrying about them falling down can also be aggravating. Wearing your thong out is definitely no longer a trend. Since the last few years, body diversity has become more accepted. High-rise jeans allow girls to accentuate the
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curves of their body. At parties and concerts, large numbers of women prefer to wear crop tops. Low-rise jeans make it difficult to wear this article of clothing without your whole stomach showing, thus enhancing the popularity for high-rise jeans. Every girl has a different style of jeans she prefers to wear, whether they are ripped, skinny, jeggings, low-rise, or high-rise. Everyone should be allowed to wear want they want, but in my opinion, low-rise jeans are not a piece of clothing that should not be found in anyone’s closet.
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DOUBLE DENIM: THE HISTORIC TREND FASHION LOVES TO HATE Written by: Libby Cook Photography by: Sairam Reddy Potlapadu Denim on denim: the trend that refuses to cease, always managing to find its way back into mainstream fashion, sparking discussions between some who find it to be ridiculous and costume-like and others who view it as chic and timeless. We questioned the style choice of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears when they ironically sported the look from head to toe at the 2001 American Music Awards, and cringed when Versace recreated the look with even more bling for Katy Perry and Riff Raff at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. What is the story behind this trend that has stood the test of time from its birth in the ’80s to today? Why is this style so widely questioned and harshly criticized by most people? The style of denim, adored by celebrities for decades, has a history rooted deeply within the limelight, which is perhaps the reason why it never seems to fade from current trends. The birth of the “Canadian tuxedo” can be attributed to vocal
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performer Bing Crosby, who wore a custom Levi’s tuxedo made completely of denim to a concert in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1951. Since then, modern denim on denim seems to have completely rebranded itself; it has graced the wardrobes of powerhouse fashion influencers like Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Kanye West, and Rihanna. The jean monochrome statement is not favored by some, despite its presence in the celebrity world. People who share a distaste for it will likely comment. I remember when I was 16 years old and worshipped Bella Hadid’s Instagram page. One day, she posted a photo of herself “power walking” down a New York City street wearing paneled dark wash jeans topped with, possibly, the coolest denim jacket I had ever seen — it was knee length and spotted with strategically placed rips and tears that emanated that careless coolness that only she can produce. I had to recreate this style. The next day, I strode into school in my best version of the outfit with all the confidence an awkward braces- and backpack-wearing kid can have. This decision was a big mistake. The second my friends saw me, the cattle-wrangling cowgirl, the rodeo jokes came pouring over me. Perhaps to some people my outfit belonged in the wardrobe department of a classic western film (it was very poorly executed). Jeans are often associated with the history of western expansion and rural America, but denim on denim has become a staple for fashion enthusiasts. Danielle Bernstein, a fashion and beauty blogger, is an avid wearer of denim on denim. She launched her
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own collection of denim overalls called “Second Skin Overalls” in 2016. Bernstein’s brand was the easiest head-to-toe denim look to wear and own in fashion. Lovers of all-denim-everything adored the collection so much that sales helped Bernstein secure a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list the following year. The trend has fluctuated in both popularity and style throughout fashion history. It has spanned from the gender-neutral approach of the matching oversized denim jackets and high-waisted jeans of the ’80s and ’90s to the questionable yet iconic proportions of wide-legged jeans and microscopic denim mini-skirts, tops, and matching accessories of the early 2000s (shoutout to you, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie). Today,
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head-to-toe denim is still relevant in all washes of skinny jeans, skirts, custom jackets, cut-off shorts, cold-shoulder tops, and yes, even thigh-high boots. Double denim is a statement that can be adapted to meet any current trend. Its ability to conform to modern fashion makes it a trend for everyone to adopt and love, and those wearing double denim styles should able to do so without judgment. Whether you relish it, as I continue to today, or despise it, as my high school friends did years ago, it is safe to say that the trend will always remain an iconic North American style that will never wander too far from fashion’s critical eye.
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HEROIN CHIC AND THE CLUB KIDS MAKE A COMEBACK Written by: Amisha Kohli Illustrations by: Nathan Smith
From purple faux wool sweatshirts to ripped black jeans and bandanas, Ithaca College freshman Brendan Welts’ style embodies the contrasting eras of fashion that swept the 1990s: Heroin chic and Club Kids. “Androgyny meets flamboyance. Period,” Welts said when describing his style as a mix of both fashion eras. The artistry of his style is integral to Welts’ character. Welts knows how to turn heads and strip away the mundanity of any other casual day, pairing basics with electrifying colors and prints. “I dress however I want, whenever I want,” Welts said. “I don’t care, really. I do a mix of both. Some days we do more soft looks, some days we do more hard looks. Usually it’s a mix of both, though.” Welts’ style, according to him, is encapsulated by the following phrase: “versatile, polished architecture.” He doesn’t wear anything that isn’t a little bold, he said. As times progress, modernity continues to be met with history, and Welts is no stranger to letting certain trends and eras influence his style. An avid follower of runways, Welts noticed the fashion industry’s continuous mergers of the trends of heroin chic and Club Kids and took note. In 2019, various runways emulated the grungy, darker aesthetics of the heroin chic era and the vibrant flamboyance of the Club Kids. Eminent labels like Bottega Veneta and Prada are reclaiming the leather-filled outfits and combat boots of the mid-1990s. Designers like Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta are holding on to the extravagant ruffles and feathers that rose to popularity amongst Club Kids in the early 1990s. Heroin chic fashion gained prominence at the same time as the consumption of heroin increased. The use of this drug became fused into movies, music, and advertisements in western media outlets. Calvin Klein is accredited for the rise of this era with a 1993 advertisement starring model Kate Moss. The perfume ad featured images of Moss appearing waifish, her thin body the emphasis of
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the sultry, androgynous ad campaign that captivated the fashion industry. Drug use became more prevalent amongst those with higher socioeconomic statuses, and the industry profited from this image, glamorizing the sickly, size-zero figures that were a result of drug consumption. As heroin chic fashion reappears, however, the focus is less on body shape and drug usage and more on the rockstar aesthetic. Welts pays homage to this changing era with the aforementioned ripped-black jeans that he often pairs with faux leather, metallics, or plaids. “It’s something else, alright. It’s definitely not [for] a Monday, it’s definitely more [for] a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,” Welts said. Though his over-the-top looks are not usually reserved for special days, Mondays are far more casual for Welts. The heroin chic era was in sharp contrast to the looks served by members of a group called the Club Kids. The group, led by entertainers Michael Alig and James St. James from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, was welcomed for its ambivalence towards fashion, gender, and sex. Pieces were handmade, outrageous, and fabulous. Alig was considered the new Andy Warhol, the artist behind the pop art movement, and figures like RuPaul also began their experimentation with bright clothes, wigs, and makeup. The movement’s decline began as drugs became a greater part of the Club Kid lifestyle. The group disbanded after Alig and his roommate were convicted of the murder of member Andre “Angel” Melendez. Welts’ wardrobe has adopted the extravagance of the Club Kid style in his daily wear, as he often opts for pieces that make peers stop and turn. Staple pieces in Welts’ wardrobe include sequined sweatshirts, tinsel sweaters, and loud patterns. Welts isn’t one to diminish his style for anyone; he knows his fashion sense draws attention. Welts laughs off the times he was either complimented or judged by people at Ithaca College’s Campus Center.
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“It’s very playful, avant-garde, you know,” Welts said. “I live for it.” The momentum behind these styles has continued for the past two decades because these eras epitomize the glamour some people strive to embody. The heroin chic look worn by Moss was simple and laid back; it was an effortless look anyone could achieve. The Club Kids look promotes attainability by encouraging members to recycle clothes and personalize their own style. It also promotes inclusivity due do its non-binary trends. The fluidity of gender is making its mark in the fashion world as contemporary western views begin prioritizing style over gender. In her fall 2019 collection, designer Sandy Liang styled male models in skirts, while Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing dressed female models in suits during his Spring 2019 collection. The fashion industry is blurring the lines of femininity and masculinity, combining the shamelessness of both eras. Nineties fashion was unapologetically fierce, and people felt included. The scene captured the drama, the darkness, and the electricity that is fashion today. Newer forms of social media like Instagram and Twitter are now live streaming fashion shows, a benefit for fashion fans who can’t afford to attend these events. This new option allows viewers like Welts to immediately feel inspiration from the runway. “I watch them to be in the know and stay on top of trends,” he said, adding he’s seen Versace, Giorgio Armani, and Tom Ford so far this season. People like Welts combine clothing, accessories, and elements pieced together from heroin chic and the Club Kids in order to revive the high-spirited, show-stopping essence that both eras captured so well. “I don’t wear things that are typically masculine. I’m all for the ambiguity of gender,” he said, acknowledging Alexander McQueen’s designs as an influence. McQueen’s designs were often a lavish celebration of gender fluidity.
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NICOLE MARINO Written by: Sara Belcher Photography by: Olivia Acuña
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Nicole Marino is a senior environmental studies major and the witch behind the brand PositivelyMystic. PositivelyMystic is an online store focused on selling lasercut Ouija boards, pendulum boards, and other divination products. Marino markets her products to witches and those wishing to practice divination and other spiritual practices. According to her shop’s website, PositivelyMystic is “committed to high quality designs created in community spaces with environmentally responsible materials.”
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Sara Belcher: Can you give me just a quick overview of your shop? Nicole Marino: PositivelyMystic makes pendulum boards, Ouija boards, tarot card boxes, runes, some other things. It’s really focused in tools for spiritual growth and divination. SB: What’s the process you go through when you make a new board? NM: I do all of my design work in Adobe Illustrator. Sometimes I’ll draw stuff up on paper and scan it in and transfer it that way, or I’ll just draw it up in the program. And then it exports as a PDF, and I run it on a laser cutter. I use the laser cutter at the Ithaca Generator, which is a nonprofit makerspace in Press Bay Alley downtown. I’m on the board of directors right now there, so it’s very special to me. I think it’s a really incredible place and we need to get more people there. SB: What do you do at the makerspace in Press Bay Alley? NM: They have a ton of woodworking tools, welding — and they have laser cutters and printers. It’s a makerspace, and it’s really focused on community. They also have workshops. It’s just like a really fun, collaborative space. SB: What got you to expand your shop beyond Ouija boards? NM: They’re all in a similar realm. I don’t actively use Ouija boards as much anymore. I got a lot of customer requests — because you can use a Ouija board as a pendulum board. You can use a pendulum on it the same way, but there’s a huge stigma behind Ouija boards. Some people are really wary of them, so they see pendulum boards specifically as a safer form of divination or that they’re not using it to contact spirits. I just got a lot of customer requests and I just wanted to design new things. I also really love making the tarot card boxes. Those do really well. SB: What kind of sustainability practices do you
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implement in your business? NM: The wood that I use for a lot of my specialty pieces is locally sourced in Ithaca. I use tree slices that a woman around here cuts, dries, and processes. I did transition my packaging to use no plastics. That’s kind of where that’s at right now. SB: How has your work evolved since you started making and selling your boards? NM: This business started as a couple of box crates in my Terrace dorm room. I just had everything in milk crates. I’d get a few orders a month — and oh my god, I had such a hard time organizing it. Now I have somebody working for me. I’ve had a few people working for me since. I have really official packaging. I had somebody design my logo for me. I have a stamp — I just feel really official. It’s been really nice to have an employee, to have somebody help me out with stuff. I just hired somebody to do my social media, because that is not something that I love doing. But I’m excited that this summer to be able to refine my actual design work, because I just rushed into it and designed a bunch of stuff and didn’t touch it up at all. So I really would like to go back and do that. SB: So did you expand the offers in your shops from just Ouija boards to pendulum boards because of the requests or because you were interested in trying other products? NM: I expanded because I was getting a lot of requests from people. The first few times I got a customer request, so I would make it, and, with their permission, I put it up in my store for sale. Immediately it would do super well, so I’m like, “Oh my god, my customers know what they want.” So I did a lot of listening and a lot of work with other people. SB: Why did you choose Etsy as your distributor? NM: I had a small business in high school where I painted T-shirts, and I had done it on Etsy. So this shop was just a transition from that business. I just changed the name of
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the Etsy shop because it was already all set up for me. But I just set up a Squarespace, so now I have a website, and you can actually buy things online from my own url. It’s very exciting. SB: What are your thoughts on people’s concerns about Ouija boards? NM: Oh, I have a good story about this. I’ve done Wizarding Weekend in downtown Ithaca for three years, and my first year I learned a big lesson. I’d only been doing this for a few months, so I had no idea. I printed a big sign to go on the front of my booth on it, and me and my partner were working the booth. We would watch people walking on the sidewalk. They would look at our sign, and they would stop, and they would cross the street, and they would continue walking, staring at our sign the entire way. There would be people — they would stand about 15 feet away — they would stand there, they would stop, they would look at it, they would mouth the words “Ouija boards,” and then keep walking. They wouldn’t come near us. So there was a big crowd of people who were so put off by it, and I had no idea. I had no idea. SB: Because of the “Ouija board” sign? NM: Yeah. Because of Ouija boards. People are really freaked out by Ouija boards.
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SB: Can you talk about any of your other business ventures that you’ve done or are planning to do? NM: I’m working on a startup right now, which is super exciting. I competed at Ithaca College’s business demo day in the fall for it, and I’m competing again this spring. In the fall I won $2000, which included the Audience Choice Award and the Sustainability Award. The business is focused on — I can’t give away what it is, but it’s about menstrual hygiene, and it’s a product that would pair with menstrual cups. It’s very exciting. I went to Period Con in New York City at the end of January. It was great. I got to talk about periods for a whole weekend! There’s so many issues around periods that no one talks about. SB: Is menstrual hygiene something that you value?
NM: Yes! Not menstrual hygiene specifically, but menstrual activism. Yeah, advocating against period poverty would be a big one. And menstrual sustainability, too — and access. SB: Has PositivelyMystic only vendored at the Ithaca events so far? NM: I actually had a friend run a vendor booth for me down in Huntsville, Alabama, for a summer. Th at was fun. But yeah, other than that, it’s just been the three Wizarding Weekend years. SB: What plans do you have for the shop? NM: I have a lot of exciting plans for after graduation. I have never done any marketing or advertising, so I will finally get to harness my video editing skills to make some
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advertisements and run those. I’ve already signed up for a few vendor events, so I will be a vendor for a few things coming up. I’m hoping to be a vendor at the the Salem Psychic Fair and Witches’ Market in Salem, Massachusetts, for the entire month of October. It’s mostly for fun. I think I’ll make sales, but it’s mostly for fun. SB: Is the shop a main part of your post-grad plans, then? NM: I decided to take the time to just focus on this. So I will be doing some video editing work for a small business downtown, but I will be primarily working on this business. I’m also working on the startup right now, which I don’t think will have any revenue in the next year, probably. But, you know, this business, video editing work, and a work share at a farm to get some food — and I think I’ll be able to skim by for a year while I build up this business. But after that? I don’t know yet. … I want this startup to do well. I’ll probably work for someone eventually, but I don’t want to any time soon.
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CULTURE
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REAGAN VS. TRUMP:
REAGANOMICS, RACISM, AND THE RETURN TO THE 1950S Written by: Rhiannon Coleman
Ronald Reagan, U.S. President from 1981 until 1989 and resounding figure-head of the Republican party, has been touted around as the foremost successful Republican politician ever since his reign in the 1980s. All Republican politicians strive to be compared to the likes of Reagan, and President Donald Trump is no different. Both were known celebrities within show business prior to their presidential candidacy, both were noted for their old age at the time of their election, and both have supported increasingly similar policies, particularly concerning the economy. So what does this comparison mean to us? Why is Reagan remembered so fondly? Do either of them live up to their name? Ronald Reagan’s success comes from the major support given to him by evangelical Christians and poor white Americans who denounced higher taxes, crime, and overpopulation in cities at the time. These people craved the confidence that had been lost in the 1970s as a result of
the Vietnam War and tensions regarding communism. As a result, the “Reagan Revolution,” which included trickle-down economics, small government, big military, and a return to 1950s societal standards, excited many Americans. However, many of these policies did not pan out as profitably as the administration would have hoped, and other policies are only celebrated by the small few who benefitted from them. The idea of trickle-down economics centers on rewarding big corporations and wealthy individuals with tax cuts as a way of promoting large business investments that would then, hopefully, trickle down to the average American. However, the influx of tax cuts for the rich coupled with big government spending allocated for the military resulted in an extremely unbalanced budget and huge deficits. In the end, the only people who really reaped rewards from Reagan’s economic policy were those who already owned
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most of America’s money at the time, while the rest of the country experienced a drastic recession. In terms of social issues, Reagan is perhaps most notably remembered for his policies that greatly expanded the war on drugs originally declared by Nixon during his presidency. For years, the war on drugs has been celebrated as a hands-on approach to the growing concerns of drug use and crime in America. However, recently people have called attention to the racist motivations of Reagan’s drug use policies by citing statistics that show that African Americans were targeted and arrested at staggeringly higher rates than any other group. Borrowing from Nixon’s original policies, Reagan was able to turn the 50,000 drug convictions put forth by Nixon’s campaign to 400,000 by 1997. Ava DuVernay’s documentary “13th” highlights the ways in which the disproportionate number of black citizens in prisons is used to fuel the prison industrial system by using slave labor to support America’s most successful industries. But not only have Reagan’s most successful policies been debunked over the years for what they truly are — parts of a classist and racist agenda — but they are also catastrophic mistakes that are being repeated today. The similarities between Trump and Reagan’s policies are significant, especially concerning macroeconomics. The federal budget deficit has already dramatically increased as a result of Trump’s tax cuts for the wealthy and as a result of the $300 billion being put towards raising the spending caps for certain departments, specifically the military, which will receive $80 billion of that money in this fiscal year alone. Of course, one cannot be compared to Reagan without taking into account the ruinous effects of his
“TRUMP IS SUPPORTED BY THE SAME GROUPS THAT FORMERLY SUPPORTED THE LIKES OF REAGAN: EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS AND POOR WHITE AMERICANS.”
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social policies, as well. After all, Reagan’s election came after a time of intense social progression with movements such as the civil rights movement, anti-war sentiments, and the Free Love movement in the 1960s and 1970s. However, with Reagan’s interference, the decade following ended in policies that successfully targeted the black population and totally ignored the AIDS epidemic, a result of Reagan’s attempt to revert back to 1950s standards of living. Similarly, Trump is supported by the same groups that formerly supported the likes of Reagan: evangelical Christians and poor white Americans. Both of these groups are likely advocates for social policies that victimize and marginalize people of color and LGBTQ+ persons. In the years since Trump’s election, he has targeted the work of former president Barack Obama, a president celebrated for helping marginalized groups through practices such as lifting the ban on LGBTQ+ participation in the military and pardoning a number of drug offenders in the last few weeks of his time in office. However, we have already seen Trump successfully target transgender people with the newly passed transgender military ban and attack immigrant families with his demands for building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In the past few years alone, the country has taken drastic steps back in terms of social and economic progress. So where is the silver lining amongst all of this chaos? It is the fact that we, as informed and educated people, know better. We know that the misguided placing of Reagan on a pedestal only speaks to the racist and discriminatory attitudes of many Americans that support him then and support Trump today. We know that when Trump is compared to Reagan as a kind of compliment on behalf of his policies, it is really an insult to the years of progress this nation has been striving for under people like President Obama. The lesson is to stay informed and know the true history of how we got here and where we are now. Though people have repeated them millions of times, very few have truly understood the words of George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
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TOXIC NOSTALGIA:
BEING THE BEST AT REMEMBERING YOUR WORST FEELINGS Written By: Amber Raiken Photography By: Brielle Cruz
From relationships to our own body image, some things really have a way of sticking with us. Remembering my own past, I can’t help but think about how the worst friendships, filled with racist comments and misconceptions about my own identity, have shaped how I perceive myself today. Keeping that in mind, the negative views that we used to have of ourselves can slowly find a way to rise back up to the surface, no matter how much we try to push them down. By remembering our past, we are welcoming that feeling of nostalgia into our lives, and not the good kind. Toxic nostalgia involves dwelling on the memories that are hardiest and easiest to hold on to, and
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living in that nostalgia can lead to us ignore the problems in our lives that we need to acknowledge today. When I was in eighth grade, I was encouraged to have my first makeover, the kind of makeover that is romanticized in movies like “Mean Girls” and “Clueless.” Even though I was encouraged, my first “glow-up” didn’t happen until I hit high school. I had my hair dyed blonde, bought four new pairs of skinny jeans, invested in multi-colored crop tops from H&M, and bought makeup products that were worth over $250. People from my junior high school said I really “changed” and looked better than I ever had before. Because of how much “glow-ups” are glorified, some can’t help but dwell on when they will “glow up” and ignore the great qualities about themselves that exist right here and now. I enjoy living in this nostalgia of people praising me for becoming a “pretty girl,” which makes it easier to ignore that the desire to change because society advises you to is a problem within itself. However, for me, changing my hair and face was easy, while living with some other things about myself, such as my ethnic background, have definitely come with some hardships. I identify an Asian American, something that so many people around me have loved to make comments about. In middle school, my best friend would close her eyes and
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then pull them outward in an attempt to imitate me. Not knowing any better, I nodded along and watched my friends laugh at her joke. But looking back on that now, I can’t help but realize how toxic this behavior was, and because of my friend’s behavior, I’m constantly worried everywhere I go that I’m going to face racist behavior or racial slurs. Maybe my friend didn’t realize that she was being racist, but that didn’t make her behavior any less toxic for a young teenager to be around. As a minority in a predominately white institution, I’m overjoyed with how often people don’t make any racial comments toward me and don’t try to invalidate my American identity, even though I wasn’t born here. But no matter what environment I’m in, I cannot shake away my fear of being judged because of my race. I’m so angered by how much one comment from my past has affected so much about my perspective of the world. Looking back on both romantic relationships and friendships, I constantly remember how much my feelings have been debunked by my surroundings. When I was struggling through some of my worst anxiety attacks throughout high school, my best friend would hit me with, “Stop crying so much, it’s really annoying and making me not like you.” Because of this experience, I ask myself every day if I am being too annoying with this new friend or if I
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am coming on too strong in this relationship. Sometimes, I wish people would just tell me what I’m doing wrong so that I can be the friend that they want me to be, just like my best friend in high school did. Now I find myself ready for my new best friend to tell me to be different, and I know that I would jump through hoops to follow that command, which is quite toxic on my own part. Instead of me accepting myself for myself, I find that I am attached to everyone else’s need for me to change in order for me to be a more likable person, the kind of nostalgia that I know hasn’t exactly bettered my mental health along the way. Thinking about my past, which is filled with bad best friends, opinions on my race, and the “pretty girl” persona, I can’t help but think about how much this past has changed me for the better and for the worse. Living through nostalgia filled with toxicity has allowed me to become more aware of who the best people are to have in my life. However, because I’m so accustomed and attached to this nostalgia, I find myself living every day filled with paranoia and putting the happiness of others before my own. Regardless of the fact that me caring about someone else’s happiness before my own is often admired by my peers, the one thing they can’t see is the toxic relationships and experiences that have brought me to this point.
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STILL LAUGHING AT THAT ’90s SITCOM? Written By: Selin Tuter Photography By: Brielle Cruz and Madison DeCory I still remember the chat between my parents when they were discussing whether it would be appropriate for me to watch “Friends” yet. As always, my mom won, and I was suddenly a 6-year-old Turkish girl who just learned how to read, doing her best to keep up with the speed of the subtitles. I can comfortably say that I learned most of my English from “Friends” and other ’90s sitcoms alike. As I grew up, I was able to focus on the content more. It did not sit right. Nineties sitcoms are often favorites of those who miss the “good ol’ days,” the light-hearted jokes, and the good lessons they taught us. Looking back on it, though, they also reinforced some concepts that are harmful to certain groups of people. “Friends,” for example, is a show that I adore (and binge watch) to this day, but some episodes make me really uncomfortable. For example, Chandler was always very ashamed of his father identifying as a trans woman. He and the gang constantly joked about it throughout the 10 seasons of the show. Similarly, even though Ross’ ex-wife, Carol, identifies as a lesbian, the fact that she is married to another woman is constantly put under the spotlight, as if it is odd. Stereotyping members of the LGBTQ+
community is frequent on the show. Recall the episode where (spoilers ahead for those who have not seen the show) Ross and Rachel are looking to hire a nanny for Emma. The one contender that fits the position the most, and has the most qualifications, is someone who identifies as male. Ross is very uncomfortable with this situation and constantly questions the male nanny’s sexuality, enforcing gender norms that prevent people from working in some professions. Eventually, Rachel caves in, and they let the male nanny go. This episode straight-up normalizes gender and sexual stereotypes and offers them as conventional. Another show I grew up watching that, similar to “Friends,” enforces gender norms is “Everybody Loves Raymond.” Ray Romano’s popular sitcom depicting the daily lives of the Barone family often presented characters that fit gender norms. The Barones presented a classic American family, with annoying in-laws and messy children. Ray is the usual father character who is checked out and often leaves the household work to his wife. What disturbed me more, though, is Debra’s character (Ray’s wife). Debra is a housewife and practically the only reason that the household is running properly. She is portrayed
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as a bitter woman who often complains about her in-laws and husband yet is not independent enough to leave them. By enforcing the obedient housewife role, the character of Debra really scarred the progressive image of independent women. There were some shows that screamed progressiveness: Daria, from the MTV hit sitcom “Daria,” is a good example. Daria was a progressive boss b---- who took no crap from anyone in regards to being a woman. She did not follow society’s stereotypes, often challenging problematic norms. For example, unlike many of the other girls in the show, Daria makes no effort to look like a model when going to school. (Quick side note about
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that, though: Daria also judges other girls for their preferences, which is problematic in its own way.) The fact that this sitcom is different from the rest is important, as it shows that at least some shows stand against the problematic norms. So maybe my parents’ decision to let me watch “Friends” and other sitcoms was not the greatest idea, because it engraved ideas into my brain that took a lot of scrubbing to get out. Even with progressive shows like “Daria,” people who grew up watching these sitcoms were raised with cultural norms that are harmful to many groups. Next time you’re binging “Friends,” question whether that joke about Chandler being gay is really that funny or not.
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SOCIETY’S AGE-OLD OBSESSION WITH OLDER TECHNOLOGY Written by: Carly Weckel
From typewriters to Polaroid cameras to record players, it’s safe to say that old technology is definitely a new trend. Old technology has been reinvented time and time again to now be aesthetically pleasing and trending, all in the service of nostalgia. New technology is constantly being invented, but people always seem to sway back into older technology. Old technology is different, trendy, and tasteful, but where exactly does this obsession stem from? Technology has grown rapidly in the past couple of years, and as a society, we are so deeply engrossed in technology that the younger generations can’t picture their lives without it. While people of the older generation may look down upon this statement, what can one expect from a whole generation that had the newest iPhone thrown in their face since they were born? Technology is running the world, and we’re all just culprits in infusing it into our society. While we have all of these new advances, I can’t help but realize that many are passionate about older technology such as record players, VHS tapes, pagers, etc. The computers from the ’90s may look like huge dinosaurs jumbled with wires, but they were once some of the most advanced computers of our time, meaning they still hold technological significance. This makes our society seem delusional; despite all our new
developments, we’re still clutching onto our old devices. Whether this is purely for memorabilia or something more, I believe this fascination with old technology comes from being surrounded by new technology. We constantly see commercials about new phones, computers, watches, and all sorts of gadgets and gizmos. Every time we see a commercial for a company, we are asked to visit their Facebook and Instagram page. Realizing of the volume of new technology is catastrophic and claustrophobic. It’s no wonder people are obsessed with anything made before 1998; it’s a blast from the past and a look into more simpler times. I was born in ’98, so I can’t speak fully on the feeling of nostalgia people get from typewriters and record players, but I can say that I understand the people who do. I understand the culture behind such inventions, and I can see how they represent the simple times, the times when kids had to be home before the streetlights came on and the times when dinner at an actual dining table was a priority. It turns out that not only does old technology look aesthetically pleasing, but it stands for something bigger. Old technology is a part of people’s childhoods, just as much as my old laptop was a part of mine. It’s important to
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have an appreciation even for technology from before the 2000s because that technology shaped the technology that we have now.
Security
To feel nostalgic is breathtaking, but there may be a deeper reason as to why people fall for old technology: security. Nothing is truly safe on the internet, and anything posted on the internet doesn’t go away. A Polaroid camera gives you the pictures right when you take them. There’s no uploading; it’s yours to have. Any picture on the internet or even just on a computer can pose the possibility of someone abusing them. Email is one of the most popular ways of communication, especially in the professional world. Unfortunately, email isn’t always safe. People still use fax machines for security purposes. A fax machine works by sending information by frequency tones stemming from telephone wires. Considering anything on the internet or sent through the internet could be hacked and that you can become a victim of data theft, fax machines are much more secure. Do you remember landline phones? (Come on, it wasn’t that long ago!) Well, they turn out to sometimes be the safer option compared to cell phones. Landline phones generally hold a stronger connection than cell phones. Also, a landline phone sits in the same place for the majority of the time it is in your house, meaning you won’t lose it.
The Danger of Stalkers
So, what does this mean? Does it mean that people have this subconscious need for security to the point that we turn to older technology? This question seems outlandish because there are many incredible security systems, I’m talking about technology that’s very common. What about the tiny computer you hold in your hand every single day? That’s right, your phone. While this conspiracy may be fresh, it does make a bit of sense. Have you ever heard about the iPhone conspiracies? I hate to break this to you, but your iPhone is tracking your every movement and is keeping endless amounts of detailed data. Technology is becoming smarter and more invasive than ever before. But what if that data fell into the wrong hands, perhaps the hands of a stalker or a private investigator? The chance of someone fully stalking you through your iPhone may seem a bit unrealistic. I even had the thought, “Who would want to stalk me?” But it’s not an impossible situation.
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With social media, it’s so easy to be connected to anyone anywhere in the world, whether you wanna be or not. And you might be getting some serious “You” vibes from this if you’ve watched the Netflix hit series. The truth is, social media plays a huge role in our lives. Like I have already stated, we can be connected to anyone anywhere. There’s an uproar of online stalkers blatantly torturing people. Stalkers could find private information and use it against you. They could even threaten your life. While technology is helpful in so many amazing and innovative ways, technology like social media can be dangerous, and it’s a danger that seems to not be talked about enough. Not to mention the horror of hackers stealing your files that I mentioned above. Crimes like this are becoming easier, and it’s a struggle to eliminate them. So there many be a correlation between older technology and the subconscious want for security. In today’s world, new technology is constantly being shoved down our throats. But it’s so exciting to see how the world changes, so of course, everyone wants to try it out.
Conclusion
Technology has ruined people’s critical thinking skills. We have information at a click of a button, which is great, but it also warps people’s minds, making them think that they can’t retain information and they have to look it up. I’ll be the first to admit, I do love technology, but it’s no secret that technology isn’t always healthy, especially if it is overused. We do have to be careful with technology, especially with the internet, for the internet is not always a friendly place. Finding the correlation between the need for old technology and the impending need for security is a different concept to explore. With technology circling us, it’s no wonder we revert to vintage technology. It’s simpler and something you don’t see every day. There’s definitely an aesthetic around it, too. When old technology was considered new, the world wasn’t necessarily less dangerous, but modern technology has definitely made it easier for danger to be closer (behind your computer screen). Maybe we do feel the subconscious need for safety and maybe we don’t, and maybe the feeling is 50-50. But it goes to show that times are changing and it’s important for us to change with it and realize different ways to be safe. All and all, technology is enjoyable, but remember the difference between old and new.
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THE BIGGEST DECISION OF MY LIFE CAME AT THE AGE OF 16 Written by: Sairam Reddy Potlapadu Photography provided by: Sairam Reddy Potlapadu
A decision made at the right time is impactful. We make decisions in our everyday life, but there was a day when I had to make a massive decision: a decision which would impact my life as a whole. In India, I was joining a new high school for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, and the diploma coordinator told me that getting an IB diploma would not be as impactful in India as it would be in the United States. My dad took me out of the office and asked me, “Will you be able to live without me and your mom?” I said, “Yes, that’s what my passion for filmmaking is driving me to do.” He confirmed, I said “yes” several times, and there it was: I made the decision to come to film school in the United States of America in 15 minutes. Making what was probably the biggest decision of my life took me less time than deciding which movie I would watch for movie night. The process to get here was in itself a mountain to conquer. I first had to apply and be approved for a for a bank loan, which ultimately took me several weeks. I then had to go through some biometric testing, which was essentially an interview where I was asked why I wanted to go to the United States. The last question of the interview
was, “Are you intending to stay in the United States after graduation?” I said no. It was quite clear that the United States wanted my money, but they did not want me to make an income in their country. After coming to the United States, the first week was like a honeymoon. I traveled around, met my brother-in-law in Boston, went parasailing, and did all the adventurous stuff I could. Then the time came when I had to go to school myself. Orientations and getting used to everything was tiring. I spent my first month of college mostly in my dorm room. I missed home a lot and FaceTimed my parents every day. One day when I was speaking to my dad, he asked me why I was always in my dorm room and not making the most out of college by experiencing college life. He told me, “If this was the case, I would just have you here with me and not send you to the other side of the world.” He went on to say that he did not have the opportunity to study abroad and that I should make the best of mine. My dad encouraged me to explore new things, learn as much as possible, meet new people, and learn about cultures, languages, and their way of living. This pushed me to participate in the IC Swing Dance Club and ICTV. Today, I
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believe it was one of my best decisions to take part in these organizations. Meeting new people allowed me to learn more than just what my classes taught me. Though the first year wasn’t easy, it got better as time progressed. I was now used to the people, the food, the climate, and the United States. Traveling around the country was another experience where I observed the little changes in behavior from state to state. I have traveled to 6-7 states, and I’ve noticed that every state had its own “rules” and its own agendas. Every state was its own country and I viewed the United States as a world. Yes, the U.S. is indeed a world in itself. What fascinates me about this country is its diversity and individuality. I see many people who believe that they are not answerable to anyone. They work for themselves and their families and make their own decisions. This wasn’t the case in India. Every decision you make has an external pressure exerting on it. This external pressure was from
relatives, family friends, and the general public. People are too worried about what the world thinks about them in India, but that’s not the case here. This will be one of the things that I want to take away from this country when I return home. The diversity speaks for itself. I believe I cannot meet people from so many different countries in one place as I can in America. Yes, I have also been a victim of racism, but I couldn’t do anything about it and remained silent. That is my situation because I am here on a visa. On a lighter note, I would say coming to the U.S. for college has improved me as a person. The responsibility, the patience, the time-management, and the staying on my toes at all times would never have happened if I had stayed back in India. Being an international student also pushes me to take that extra step to be on the same level and compete with students here. My passion for filmmaking is driving me and it will continue to do so until I share my stories with the world.
Photo provided by: Bhargav Bhadaginchulu
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LIFESTYLE
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DISNEY’S REVAMPING REIGN Written by: Alissan Speidel Illustration by: Nathan Smith
Reboots and remakes are a dangerous game for directors; it’s a hit or miss situation, and only some dare to take up the challenge. However, in the past few years we’ve seen childhood staples revamped so generations can reminisce about the classic tales and characters, and so they can jump on the bandwagon of enjoyment. From 2017, when we were given the new “Beauty and the Beast,” to the monumental year of 2018 with “Incredibles 2” and “Mary Poppins Returns,” we are now looking forward to 2019 with the new “Lion King” and “Toy Story 4.” Disney’s original “Beauty and the Beast” was transformed from animation to a live-action movie that was all the rage in 2017. The remake of “Beauty and the Beast” keeps the same plot as the original, but brings it to life with attention to detail and fantastic special effects. The famous star Emma Watson embodies the beloved Disney princess Belle. “The ‘Beauty and the Beast’ remake was charming, however nothing can capture the spirit of the original classic,” said Katie Katz, a freshman at Ithaca College. Many people loved the animation in the original “Beauty and the Beast,” and this new version didn’t live up to their expectations or fill the shoes of the first movie made back in 1991. The only animated film to surpass $500 million at the domestic box office, “Incredibles 2,” took the U.S. by storm, according to Rotten Tomatoes. The reboot sequel drew in viewers from past generations who grew up with characters like Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack, and it was able to draw in new ones with its adrenaline rush of adventures and crimefighting. Frankie Walls, a freshman film, photography, and visual arts major, said, “‘Incredibles 2’ was a good remake. They took their time on the animation and kept the story line nicely.” The second time around we get a large glimpse into the children of the family. The plot flips as the kids
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became the heroes of their parents, saving them from danger. “Mary Poppins Returns,” also one of the array of Disney classic remakes, debuted in 2018. “I loved ‘Mary Poppins Returns.’ It kept small themes from the original that I grew up on, and it was fun for my whole family to enjoy something new that we all used to love,” said freshman Meg Handley. Along with Emily Blunt taking on the Mary Poppins role, we experience a lot of changes from the original, one of them being the new temperament of the father figure. He becomes more sympathetic as he comes to terms with being a widower of three kids. Disney has many childhood staples that now have an older generation of lovers and their kids coming into “The Happiest Place on Earth,” and it’s hard to top what everyone knows and loves. Another difficult aspect of remaking these classics is that the original movies are so great to rewatch. A new “The Lion King” is on the horizon for 2019. But how does one recraft an almost flawless childhood classic? Having to beat a score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes will be tough, but Disney has proven itself repeatedly in the past with successful remake after successful remake. And with popular celebrities such as Beyoncé, Seth Rogen, and Donald Glover playing key characters, this live-action film casts a wide net, giving it high interest even among older audiences. Anticipation is high surrounding the making of “Toy Story 4,” but can it live up to expectations? Disney crushed it last time: “Toy Story 3,” brought in a 98 percent rating. So stakes are high. “I’m not looking forward to ‘Toy Story 4’ because they have to be grabbing at straws for another storyline now,” freshman Emma Mittiga said. Since this is Disney’s fourth “Toy Story” movie, ideas must be dwindling. We hope Disney can keep the characters and
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plot alive in 2019. Why are we so hypnotized by seeing something we’ve already seen? Are we addicted to the excitement and enhancement of Disney, or is it simply habit to rewatch the classic plots we know and love? We are drawn to these films because we cling to the glory of old movies and the familiarity we experience when we watch them. Some people just really love the movies and are able to watch the characters over and over. Rewatching the movies brings a nostalgic feeling that we all love to experience when it comes to “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Some may just find it therapeutic to hear the songs and stories that come along with their childhood staples. Whatever the reason, we can
always count on Disney to provide us with something to cling to, whether old or new. Disney is taking the U.S. by storm with their remakes and reboots. Bringing families and friends together to enjoy the classics seems to be a reoccurring experience given to us by Disney and its employees. Can this company continue to satisfy their original viewers and those of the newer generations? Some would say Disney has yet to fail, but with stakes getting higher and higher as it revamps more of its classics, we can only hope it can continue to amaze us. Disney’s empire and reign as supreme in animation and children’s movies is far from its end.
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HOROSCOPE BASICS: BEHIND THE SCENES OF ASTROLOGY Written by: Sarah Carrillo
You open your phone and check out Instagram as per usual; there’s a post trying to tie the time when you were born to the engagement ring you should get. “Here’s Your Astrology Sign as a Pizza Slice.” You scoff and roll your eyes, but for some reason you’re interested. Classic cheese slice. Nice. Typically when I read my horoscope, I feel personally attacked. My sign is the sensitive, emotional Cancer that is intuitive, kind, and loyal. Cute, but nice try. If you’re like me, you want to get down to the truth about astrology and decipher the mystery between the stars and your personality. It all starts with your birth chart. Think of a birth chart as a screenshot of all the celestial stars, planets, and galaxy the exact moment you were born. First things first: Find out the exact time and location of your birth. Why? Well, at the time of your birth, the sun, the moon, and the planets were at a certain position in the sky. These are the fundamental parts of your horoscope: the sun, the moon, and the ascendant sign. Think of it in three different layers. The ascendant sign is the top layer that everyone dips a chip into without getting the full effect. Your sun sign is what’s underneath the top layer. Your moon sign is the cheesy gooeyness that brings it all together. Let’s break this down:
Ascendant Sign
This is based on the time of your birth and the constellation that was on the horizon. This sign deals with your outward expression of self and is a description of your outer surface characteristics. You might think that the one friend that guessed your horoscope was a Pisces (when you’re clearly a Leo) was wrong, but try again. The ascendant sign/rising sign is what people are typically faced with when they first meet you. 52
The Sun
Now let’s dig a little deeper. The sun is the basis of your horoscope and the main element of what you identify with. You can find out your sign by the day you were born. It tells you who you are, your ego, your personality, and your preferences. The signs follow the sun, which takes a month to transition to the new zodiac.
The Moon
Alright, let’s get deep and personal. The moon tells us about our emotional self and how we need to feel secure, safe, and nurtured. The sun tells us about our exterior, but think of the moon as what’s beneath the surface. The moon controls the ocean and the gravitational pull of the earth. Think of this sign as the guide to your decision-making. Determined by the place you were born, the moon can tell you about your most sensitive side. So you’re probably wondering how to figure out your own signs. All you have to do is google birth chart, plug in your birthdate, time, and place, and it’ll all be there. Since you’ve got the basics covered, deciphering your birth chart just got a lot easier. Now you can blame your moon sign for that one friend who has the same sign as you but is completely different. It’s up to you if you believe a certain constellation can determine what your compatibility is with others. I still think it’s pretty dreamy, but then again, maybe that’s just the passionate, caring Cancer that I am.
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CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE COLLEGE SOUL Written by: Meg Handley
“Chicken Soup for the Soul” are books that, for many of us, carry numerous memorable stories that followed us throughout growing up. Luckily, there is also a special edition that can relate to us now: “Chicken Soup for the College Soul.” Full of stories about decision-making, finding friends, and humorous mistakes, “Chicken Soup for the College Soul” is relatable to new and returning college students. All new students entering college come with a myriad of questions and concerns about every aspect of their new life. What will my new home be like? Will I make friends? How do I know I’m in the right place? For transfer students and freshman, the book shares stories of some of the “first times” you can expect at college. One story, for instance, shares the story of two roommates figuring out how to live together by learning about and working with the quirks of the other person. This is a huge worry for everyone entering a new dorm room, and for some, it’s the first time they’re sharing such a confined and personal space with another person. Reading about this situation in the “Chicken Soup” book provides comfort and reassurance about the basic battles of having a roommate. Ithaca College freshman Kaitlyn Katz was a huge fan of the books growing up. She said the stories acted almost like a big sibling to her. “I used them as how-to guides. I thought it was really special to see how real kids experienced growing up,” she said. She is just one example of how having stories to relate to through the “Chicken Soup” books can be really influential.
A common problem among students is not knowing when you’re taking on too much. With so many classes and new opportunities, it’s easy to commit to too many things and find yourself stressed out and overworked. Along with describing relatable experiences, the book also includes funny anecdotes that can provide a nice break in the stressful day of a college student. The book also contains an element of nostalgia. Though the book may be geared toward college students, at times it reminisces on good times from high school and before college. These stories add another element, showing that your past is so important in shaping who you are, especially as students transfer into college and are working toward the rest of their lives. Looking back at happy memories is just another way the anecdotes can bring comfort to college students in this transition to adulthood. Feeling alone can be a major problem for teenagers and young adults. The “Chicken Soup for the College Soul” book is an important reminder that everything you face growing up, especially in the college transition period, someone else has faced before. Someone else has been there, too.
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LOSING YOUR V-CARD: “WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF THAT’S SO CRINGE” Written by: Madison DeCory
“Losing Your V-Card” is a new series where our writers share their first time stories. We understand virginity is a concept created in a patriarchal society for heteronormative couples, and this series is not strictly dedicated to anyone’s first time having heterosexual sex. Whatever your definition of “sex” is, we’re here to hear your story about your first time. Submit your stories to us at icdistinctmag@gmail.com. *Characters names are replaced to protect privacy* The bed creaks and the mattress groans when I roll from my back to my side. My spine satisfies the slight movement with an audible crack that reverberates around the room. I cringe at the interruption of almost perfect silence. The white noise from the ceiling fan is the only thing audible in the void that is Jack’s bedroom, my partner beside me. Although my ears are focused, I can barely hear his quiet breath. Even in his sleep, this boy compels something in me to roll in his direction. I open my eyes to stare at his statuesque form posed like that of a marble demigod. I’m not sure if he is asleep, so I reach out to touch his skin. His back is smooth and naked, as one would expect from a human sculpture. His shoulders rise, just to fall again, as if the moon had hypnotized the tide of his breath. The rhythm echoes the tune of his pulse beating in time with the universe. He stirs at the recognition of my fingertips beckoning for him to roll over toward me. He reaches out through the darkness of the invisible space between us. The silence is officially interrupted by a considerably verbal mattress. A warm hand discovers my side. We wriggle toward one another, fumbling under the comforter, then kick it off in a final act of frustration. A lukewarm breeze from the ceiling fan tickles our exposed skin. Our bodies impatiently tangle together to form a twizzler. My heart is racing toward him. Then the hand on my side pushes me on my back to remind me that he’s not the gentle kind. Our humid mouths then desperately pursue connection.
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We mack loudly, leaving behind clingy globs of torrid spit on each other like hot glue. Chapped lips lick each other in the search for moisture. Our tongues avoid each other like an awkward reunion. We temper physical ferocity with mental caution. There exists unspoken rules that linger in the stagnant space around us. Heat bubbles to the surface of my skin, erupting into perspiration. I suck the draft from above us through my teeth, hold the air in my throat, then expel the residual breath onto Jack’s face. Our eyes have finally adjusted to his pitch-black bedroom. They peel themselves to witness the outline of Jack’s body hurriedly moving to straddle my waist. By now my mind has caught up with my body enough to participate, enough to judge. I feel like now is the time to say something sexy, right? The only noticeable sound in the room is the routine squeak of the bed frame to our uneven tempo. I’m breathing through my nose like I’m jogging at a 10-minute-mile pace. How will he know if I’m enjoying myself? How can I make this better for him? Is it too much to moan? I need to think of something quickly. His eyes lock with mine. The intimacy of his stare ignites an insecurity within me. What should I say? Is it too late to say, “You got this!” I can’t believe myself. YoU gOt thIs? You got this: YOU. GOT. THIS. Three words that scream: “virgin, virgin, little virginnnn!”Am I a Little League coach now? Did he score a touchdown? Did I hold two thumbs up when I said that? All the juicy exposition is ruined! I should excuse myself. I should go crawl under a bed. I’m going to shrivel up. I’m going to die of embarrassment. “You got this” just exited the cavern of my mouth. I kindly request the heavens above to end me. My brain can — Wait. What. the. actual. F---. Something of a syrupy consistency drips down my chest like a teardrop. … Did he just cum?
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PEOPLE ARE CHASING THEIR CHILDHOODS WITH RETRO GAMING CONSOLES Written by: James Baratta Illustration by: Nathan Smith
All true Gen Z gamers know the feeling associated with coming home on a Friday afternoon after a long day of school, flipping on whatever console they liked best, and playing video games until late at night, pausing only for dinner, and then returning to their previous endeavor. However, both Gen Z and millennial gamers are coming together to pursue a feeling of nostalgia through the use of timeless consoles of the 1990s. Although systems like the Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis, and the PlayStation 1 came out before 2000, they were the systems used by young gamers of the current generation at the beginning of their gaming journeys. Games like “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” “Super Mario 64” and “Metal Gear Solid” implemented simplistic, yet amusing mechanics that have now created a widespread itch of nostalgia. In December 2018, Sony re-released the PlayStation Classic at a starting retail price of $99, which has now dropped to $60. It is preloaded with 20 games, some of which are classics like “Tekken 3,” “Destruction Derby,” and “Final Fantasy VII.” Unlike the dwindling nostalgia rush provoked by Sony, Nintendo released its NES Classic Edition in June 2016, and it has an impressive Best Buy sales rank of 14.42, according to Thinknum. The console, which still sells for its retail price of $60, sold out popular retailers upon its debut onto the market. According to Business Insider, Nintendo sold over more than 2.3 million consoles in 2017. Since the demand for the NES Classic was so high, Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, said that production of the newer SNES Classic would continue through 2018. This console succeeds the older NES Classic and can now be bought for $108 at Target. It comes with 21 games. Nintendo seems to have been able to tap into its audience with its classic releases. Nintendo has existed since 1889 and created some of the most memorable video games of the 1990s. The methodology Nintendo developers have used for
decades has been gradually improved upon, since some of its most iconic games were released before 2000. The secret to manufacturing and selling these retro consoles is simplicity. Nintendo was ahead of the game and released its miniature NES Classic before other companies had even introduced the idea. Nintendo is a gargantuan company, and it took the reins on a project it knew would resonate with its consumer base, which explains why it sold so many units. Although Sony released its PlayStation Classic for a similar reason, Sony released it after Nintendo’s NES Classic. Nintendo had already blown the world’s gamers out of the water. The Atari Flashback 9 and the Sega Genesis Flashback were both released after Nintendo’s NES Classic, as well. The Atari Flashback has been around since 2005 and was popular during its debut. However, the latest Atari Flashback 9 is modeled after the Atari 2600 from 1977, too early for millennials or Gen Zs to connect to — they are unable to attach these models to the rich memories of their childhoods. The Atari Flashback 9 comes with 110 games. Although simplicity is the focal point in marketing retro consoles, remastered consoles are predominantly miniature versions of older models and are exceedingly more comfortable to use. They’ve been able to satiate the community’s nostalgic appetites with practical products that employ the success of gaming in the 1990s and early 2000s. Nintendo, along with other companies like Sony and Sega, has seen the potential in bringing back the appealing qualities of retro gaming. Retro consoles are reminiscent of a simpler time with general game mechanics that are stimulating to the previous generation of gamers. The reintroduction of a time when gaming was rich and simple is attributing worth to some of the products on the retro gaming market.
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TRAPS Written by: Ioanna Vargianiti Illustration by: Nathan Smith
Trigger warning: physical and verbal abuse
It is 3 p.m. on a sizzling hot August afternoon, and I am at the bay on a beach five hours away from the city of Athens with my father and his girlfriend. The Mediterranean sun is dissolving my skin as I smell the sweet salt of the water. Sea spray drifts onto my sunburnt, chubby, adolescent cheeks; no matter how refreshing it may feel, I wipe it away. The happy couple is slathered in tanning lotion, patiently waiting for their skin to corrode. They look absolutely ludicrous, like chickens ready for the deep fryer. Still, they both have this lukewarm, peaceful smile while holding each other’s lubricated hands. They snap out of it every so often to serenely mumble, “Isn’t it beautiful, love?” Then they search for confirmation in my wildly unentertained brown eyes. I loathe having to take my headphones off to follow this pattern, but I mutter a simple “Mhmm …” and shake my head in affirmation, so I can go back to blankly staring at page 23 of J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” and they can fall back into their hypnosis. Being a child of divorced parents since the age of 4, I know the drill by now; I have to spend at least two weeks of vacation time with my father, otherwise he’ll start to call my mom every day to rant about how I love her more than him. Deep down, I’m not going to say that I don’t see where he’s coming from. After all, I am about to start high school in the fall, and will be too preoccupied to see Papa. Later that night, I rigidly lie on my twin-sized bed, hemmed in a rusty RV, and flip through the channels of an ancient, ten-inch television, wondering why I cannot at least escape by falling asleep. My finger pauses as what appears to be a black and white film comes on. I have always had a soft spot for old cinema. A man and a woman sit in a room; she has the shiniest blonde hair I have ever seen, even if it appears light gray on the black and white TV. She blankly stares into the distance as a dark-haired, expressionless young man mouths, “We’re all in our private traps, clamped in them, and none of us can ever get out.” Why does warm salt water start to blur my vision? The woman observes, “Sometimes we deliberately step into those traps.” The man insists he was born into his, and that he doesn’t mind it anymore. But she, clearly annoyed, raises her eyebrows before answering, “Oh but you should, you should mind it.” The man smiles and shakes his head before blurting out, “Oh I do, I just say I don’t.” Finally drowsy, I shut the TV off with the remote, only to become aware of my heart beating, rapid and hard. 56
My dad cracks the door open slowly, unsure if I am asleep yet. I sit up on the bed, instantly able to tell he has already downed the third bottle of Scotch for the week. Smoke from the cigarette hanging in his left hand beneath the door briefly enters the room as Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou” plays distinctly from the stereo outside. I hesitantly lift my head to face him. His hazel green eyes are bewildered, and to my surprise, watered. I have never seen him cry before. “I just came to say goodnight, honey,” he says with a cracking voice before giving me a lingering kiss on my forehead; he slightly moistens it with his tears, and when he realizes, pulls away. We look at each other for the first time; we are complete strangers. “I love you, mouse,” he says, closing the door behind him. That summer was the last time I saw my father. And no, to resolve your question, there were no deaths in the household. My father always has been and always will be an extremely perplexing figure in my life. My vacation at the dull vacation house was cut short a few days later because of an immense row about me having a boyfriend at 15. Through his screams, I was able to make out that I am an ungrateful, spoiled brat and that the “free-spirit bullshit” my mother has cultivated upon me are at fault for that. The next day, I hopped on a bus back home; we didn’t speak during the drive to the bus stop. As I heard the nearly broken down engine of the fossil bus, I caught a last glimpse of him from the window. The scorching sun reflected on his eyes looking at me in profound chagrin; I do not know what the hell I did to deserve it, but all I know is that I never want to be looked at like that again. If we come to think about it, we know our parents too well: as they know us. We can tell if they’re in a good mood by the sound of dropped keys on the front table after a long day, by their footsteps in the staircase, and by the way they pick up the fork at the dinner table. However, when you’re growing up with a toxic parent, you dread the day they wake up on the wrong side of the bed because you know that the chances of you having to go through another one of their emotional attacks are just too high. On these days, you cannot help but ask yourself, “Why?” It is inevitable that when people put you down enough, you start to believe what they say. My father is not an easy man. He grew up in a slum neighborhood, and his father raised him to be a man, take care of his own business, and never cry. He was not
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the hardest working student, a star athlete, or a genius in science — no matter how much he wanted all those things. He did not get into college, and he worked multiple jobs before settling down to being a cop, a job he always described as filthy and strictly prohibited me from ever pursuing. However, there was a strange spark in his eyes every time he talked about an arrest, or the “junkies” and “parasites” he would take into custody, making the city a better, cleaner place. I do not think he loved violence, or that he actually cared about the cleanliness of the streets — my father was desperate to be in charge. And a daughter offered him exactly that: an automatic, built-in relationship in which he can have power. The frustration can be intolerable. Why isn’t anything you do ever good enough? Why is it the children’s job to overcompensate for our parents’ own failures or lack of ability to fulfill their own dreams? A toxic parent wants you to fulfill your dreams, as long as those dreams bear their stamp of approval. Your successes are merely acknowledged on an impersonal level, but serve your parents perfectly when it comes to boasting about them to their friends. After all, in their mind, a successful child is one that benefits the parent. Throughout my adolescent years, it was challenging to form solid and healthy relationships with the people who would enter my life. I feared that the minute I would start to put my own needs first and take care of myself, they would all walk away from me. I met a boy after that summer, and he promised he was going to take care of me. He wrote music about me and said that he saw stars in my eyes, until he started to hit me. During that time, I didn’t know if I should blame my father or myself. Last week, I realized I have forgotten the sound of my father’s voice, and my tears became fractious. My lips quiver at the thought of the days, months, and years that I will have to spend without him. I miss the moments we will never have: my first day of college and seeing him tear up at the airport, him grilling steaks at a barbecue party for me and my friends, the father-daughter dance in my wedding — all silly, highly romanticized versions of father-daughter relationships like the kinds seen in movies. You don’t even know if you want to have those moments, yet it hurts knowing that you can’t ever have them. I wonder how many times I will have to remind myself that he was not a good father. I built a trash can to throw every memory I have of him in. I’ve been promising myself I’ll take it out tomorrow
for the past three months, but tomorrow never comes. I know I am not the daughter he wanted me to be; I curse, I drink, I dwell in earthly pleasures, I have sex, and I am following a career in the arts. The little girl with hair pulled up, waiting for daddy to pick her up from ballet sessions, piano lessons, language classes, and everything else I was set out to do at the bare age of 4, 9, 13… no longer exists— and that’s okay. Today, I have come to realize that I am his daughter, but above all, I am a spirit, wild and free. During that freshman year of college, I took an acting course. One day, we did an in-class exercise in which we had to lie down, close our eyes, and find ourselves in a place we feel safe in. The instructor’s voice softly guides me; for a minute, I think about being back on that rusty RV. I can still feel the sweat gliding down my forehead. “Now think of someone you care about there with you, who cares about you, too.” I remember my father’s lips on my forehead, and his upset heartbeat, as my palms tighten. “Now share a secret with them that will change something.” I do not remember the last time I told him that I love him, but I do. “Lastly, say goodbye to this person for now, but know that you can bring them back to you at any given time.” I know he loves me too. When the session is over, I walk out. The winter sky in upstate New York is disappointing and grey, as usual — but today I do not care. Today I do not miss home. I put my headphones on and press shuffle; the soundtrack is not important. I stumble upon a stifled dandelion, slowly yielding in the middle of the pavement. It’s almost too beautiful to pick up. As my fingers meet its small, withering florets, the first drop of November rain lands on the top of my head. The people we love will always stay with us. They will always travel in our hearts and we in theirs — and there is absolutely nothing we can do about it. We can just try to make it more bearable by thinking about it as beauty … endless beauty. “Blue Bayou” comes on — this song is so mellow and melancholic. It’s like falling in love and waking up at a swing on the beach at the same time. My father always took care of me, and he still does, even from a distance. Love is something so fragile and so strong, above time frames and geometries — it’s just like this song, and when I press play I know he will always dance with me. A smile spreads between my now fully formed cheekbones; hope does not decay. I pick the dandelion up and blow it away.
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HEALTH & FITNESS
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’90S WORKOUTS FINDING THEIR WAY INTO TODAY’S EXERCISE FADS Written by: Jules Baumann
The ’90s ushered in an era of bright tights and fitness fads, many of which have stood the test of time. For some, the workout trends of the 1990s died as we entered the new millennium, but for people like me, there is an aerobics platform that has yet to be put into retirement. Yes, times have changed, and new routines come and go. However, even the cult-like SoulCycle had to come from somewhere: the’90s. There is something to be said for the foundation that this era laid for fitness. Aerobics, Pilates, and dance-centric routines were born then and still thrive today. Jazzercise has become Zumba, and 8 Minute Abs can now be found in the form of Instagram posts. Whether routines have evolved or have remained exactly as they were meant to be, it’s easy to see how iconic and important the ’90s were for fitness. Now, that’s not to say that there haven’t been some duds. You don’t need to be a fitness buff to know that you cannot get washboard abs or rock-hard buns in just eight minutes. Almost 30 years later, however, there are a number of workouts that are more than worth mentioning. They’re worth doing. A simple Youtube search of “buns of steel” yields clips of people in sweatbands, leotards, and matching white shoes. The “Buns of Steel” VHS tapes took households by storm with the hopes of turning something comparable to aluminum foil into solid steel. This tape, guided by Hall of Fame pole vaulter Greg Smithey, aims to lengthen and build all muscles, not just the buns. Feel your lower body burn as you get stronger and more confident. Consider how often you are sitting for hours on end in front of a computer and the sweet freedom of being able to stretch your legs afterwards. This light-hearted video goes the extra mile, making your muscles burn through the warm-up, targeted exercises, and cool down. The moves used to target and tone the glutes and legs remind me of barre or the celebrity-adored Tracy Anderson method. Both the old and the new fitness programs use targeted movements to hit multiple muscle groups, creating an elongated and strengthened lower body. “Buns of Steel” gives you the tools you need to perk your booty up so you can break it down. Notable for ’90s workouts is American treasure Richard Simmons. No, it’s not a fever dream, it’s “Sweatin’ to the Oldies 2!” Headlined by the Bob Ross of the fitness world, the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” enterprise and other hit exercise videos capture the hearts of viewers, even today. Richard Simmons packs a punch on the dance floor while simultaneously seeming to overflow with giddiness. As someone who struggled significantly with his weight, Simmons wanted to touch the hearts of every person looking to get off the couch and feel good about themselves. While the workouts are relatively low impact, they promote dancing and embracing yourself, all while getting a good aerobic, full-body workout. VHS workout tapes provided the convenience of being able to do an energizing workout right from the comfort of your living room. Beyond that, they changed the way that people continue to work out to this day. Youtube and Amazon Prime offer yoga tutorials, Pilates routines, HIIT circuits, and more, allowing you to have an effective at home workout (without the satisfaction of popping a VHS tape in the TV). Fitness classes gave a fresh perspective on all the ways you could get your heart rate up while you shape up. Barry’s Bootcamp, which started in the ’90s, is still alive and well today. SoulCycle grew out of spin classes. Though not every exercise routine created in the 1990s was spot-on, it did set the course for where the health and fitness industry is today. Making fitness fun, motivational, and fulfilling to the soul was a major accomplishment of this era, and I think it’s something that should be valued today. The ’90s taught us that the way we work our bodies shouldn’t be a chore and shouldn’t be routine. I don’t think it will ever be too late to strap on some ankle weights, bust out some moves, and break a sweat in honor of the ’90s.
SWEATIN’ TO THE ’90S A PLAYLIST
-“Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C&C Music Factory -“Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G. -“Ray of Light” by Madonna
-“The Rhythm of the Night” by Corona -“Just a Girl” by No Doubt -“Pump Up The Jam” by Technotronic -“Better Off Alone” by Alice Deejay
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-“Groove Is In the Heart” by Deee-lite -“What Is Love” by Haddaway -“Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz
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HISTORICALLY RIDICULOUS HEALTH FADS YOU SHOULD NEVER TRY Written by: Kristen Gregg Illustrations by: Nathan Smith
TW: Dieting, disordered eating, and unhealthy fads. This article outlines a timeline of popular, yet extremely unhealthy fad diets. This article’s intention is to point out the ridiculous trends followed to lose a few pounds, and we don’t encourage any of our readers to attempt any of these diets. Please remember, if you are thinking of dieting, please be cautious and remember to talk with your doctor before starting to ensure that you are getting enough calories per day. A lot of these diets severely limited calorie intake, which is not a healthy way to lose weight.
1820
Lord Byron, a famous British poet, was also a celebrity in the world of dieting. Because dieting usually has the connotation of being more popular among women than among men, it is interesting to see that one of its original icons was a man. In his diet, Byron suggested a drink of water mixed with apple cider vinegar, which was supposed to lower weight.
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1930
During a time period where smoking was “the thing” to do, the cigarette company Lucky Strike used a different, albeit incorrect, approach to appeal to consumers. The company’s campaign was called “Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet,” and there were depictions of slender women in their advertisements. They misled consumers into thinking smoking cigarettes would make them slim by resisting the temptation of eating sweets. This is due to nicotine rewiring the brain pathway for hunger to one that suppresses it.
This was the birth of the grapefruit diet, otherwise known as the “Hollywood Diet,” which some people continue to follow today. Different versions of the diet have different guidelines, but (in addition to other dietary alterations) most versions of the diet recommend eating a grapefruit with every meal. Though it has not been scientifically proven, people believe that because grapefruit is low in calories and sodium, eating it contributes to lowering weight, cholesterol levels, and chances of becoming diabetic.
1950
If fruit wasn’t for you, the cabbage soup diet was an alternative. It was marketed with the bold claim that the dieter would lose 10 to 17 pounds in just the first week because cabbage has almost no calories. Dieters were instructed to eat cabbage soup every day with differing food groups depending on the day. This diet was prescribed to patients to lose weight before having heart surgery, which led to nicknames like the Sacred Heart diet and the Spokane diet. 60
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1975
Another delicious-sounding alternative diet for weight loss was the cookie diet. The cookies were regular low-calorie cookies, but they contained a special mixture of proteins that naturally suppress hunger. They were originally made for patients in Siegal Medical Group so that they would stick to the reduced-calorie diet. These cookies are still being made today by Dr. Siegel’s company, called “Cookie Diet.”
1977
Instead of the cleanses that are popular today, milkshakes were the way to go in this era. SlimFast was created and sold as a drink that appeared like a milkshake and was mixed with low-fat milk. Dieters were to replace any two meals with the milkshakes, and also eat one regular meal and a few snacks.
1982
Women were encouraged to participate more in the world of fitness with the release of Jane Fonda’s first exercise video. Many of her videos were specifically of aerobics workouts and feature her quote, “Feel the burn!”
2007
Now drugs are often used to help with weight loss, as is true in the introduction of Alli. Alli is a nonprescription drug that is used along with low-calorie and low-fat diets. This drug has been controversial due to questions about whether it is safe to use. One of the the largest problems was the risk of liver toxicity, but by 2014, the drug was found to be less risky and the benefits outweighed the chances of the dangerous side effects. However, many people choose to not take it or continue taking it because of its gastrointestinal side effects.
Through the years, there have been many different types of health fads, from diets centered around a specific food to home exercise videos. While many of the previous diets worked to lose weight, they were not the safest. Many relied upon a calorie intake that was too low to be maintained and lacked healthy vitamins the body needed. They also did not consider differences in body type and tended to be a “solution-for-all.” As a result, these methods reinforced the ideal of having a skinny body. Despite the problematic diets of the past, there were positive fads that lead to the methods we have today. One of these positives is that the emergence of home exercise videos allowed women the chance to take part in fitness at a time when the gyms were dominated by men. The ideal body type is no longer that of being skinny, but that of being healthy. The world is starting to realize that everyone’s body is not the same and that beauty is defined by the holder, not the beholder. Now there is a variety of healthier and safer methods to control weight and diet depending on your body type, but looking back on this list can only make you wonder what the future holds in the world of health.
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EATING MY FEELINGS A Photo Series by: Olivia Acuña
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Artist Statement: When I started this photo series, I was reflecting on my relationship and our break up. I thought about the phrase “Don’t let it consume you.” Don’t let the relationship consume you; don’t forget who you are, and don’t let your sadness consume you. The emotions I convey in this series are extreme; extreme sadness, happiness, defeat and content — much like the confusing or conflicting feelings and phases you go through after a breakup. Although you can interpret this photo series in many ways, I envisioned the consumption and expelling of food as a symbol of self identity. In the end of the series she doesn’t let it consume her, she consumes and destroys it.
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BEAUTY
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REIMAGINING THE PERFECT BODY Written by: Justine Brady
The definition of “the perfect body” has constantly changed and evolved over time. From the Victorian era all the way to present time, women’s body shapes and sizes have been relabelled as beautiful or ugly, ideal or imperfect. Now society is starting to embrace the concept that there is no such thing as a perfect body type. Current events and social trends will always play a role in what people look like or aspire to look like. However, if we allow the beauty industry to mold and define what our view of beauty is, the concept of “the perfect body” will persist. Its definition will continue to change, but its ability to make women who don’t fit into it feel inferior, imperfect, or ugly will live on. As a society, we must demand that the beauty industry promote body positivity by representing all body types and creating products to help people express their beauty to the world. The perfect body type in the Victorian era was plump with a cinched waist because it showed wealth and power. Wealthy individuals typically displayed their affluence with large banquets and feasts. Corsets and large hooped skirts were popular, and curvy body types were idealized, modeled after Queen Victoria and her daughters. However, when artist Charles Dana Gibson began drawing women as taller and skinnier in the 1890s, a new body type known as the Gibson Girl emerged, defining the perfect body type as a slimmer figure with a tiny feminine waist. When the 1920s hit, the perfect body type was displayed in flapper culture. The women’s suffrage movement encouraged rejection of past body image stereotypes and instead challenged gender roles, causing women to opt for more boyish figures. Women embraced more carefree, empowering lifestyles, wearing heavier makeup, loose, hemmed dresses, and shorter hairstyles. Following the flapper era, “The Golden Age of Hollywood” encouraged women to adopt an hourglass figure. Women wanted to look like the curvy, famous pin-up girls and iconic public figures Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren, who were considered the epitome of beauty and femininity. As the social rights, civil rights, and anti-war movements began in the 1960s, the ideal body type shifted yet again from curvy to slim. Taller, skinnier models promoted a more slim look. The increase in drug use during the “hippie era” was also associated with weight loss, further
embedding the idealization of slimmer figures. In the 1980s, supermodels started to shape society’s depiction of the perfect body type. This ideal body type was athletic and toned. During this supermodel era, the beauty industry benefited from product sales in exercise videos, diet programs, makeup, hair products, and clothing because of the influence their depiction of the perfect body type had on women. Thin was back in and more extreme than ever before during the 1990s. One model, Kate Moss, promoted the “waif ” look, which meant looking homeless and ill. The beauty industry depicted the perfect body type as severely skinny, glorifying eating disorders. According to an article about eating disorders by CQ Researcher, the model Kate Dillon “was anorexic when she appeared in Vogue and Elle. She quit modeling in the mid-1990s when she was ordered to lose 20 pounds from her 125-pound frame.” Dillon said in the PBS documentary “Dying to Be Thin” that she “wanted freedom from this ideal, from these cultural ideals. I wanted freedom to be who I was.” Overweight people were shamed and told they were unhealthy, while society celebrated being skinny to the point of looking ill. The 2000s introduced social media, one of the biggest influences on how society views beauty. With the new ability to share images of people from all around the world, more diverse body types are being shared and celebrated. Although the beauty industry still tends to label extreme thinness as the ideal body type, other famous influencers like the Kardashians, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna have caused society to begin idolizing people with thin waists and curves. Women of all shapes and sizes are beginning to be represented and embraced by society. Models like Ashley Graham and Iskra Lawrence, along with companies such as Aerie, are spreading body positivity for all sizes and defying the idea of one perfect body type. Through social media, we as a society have the opportunity to stop letting industries manipulate us into thinking we must conform to their idea of the perfect body type. We have the chance to promote self-love and confidence for everyone around the world. We need to continue to demand representation for all body types in the media. We need to remember that every body type is beautiful in its own unique, imperfect way.
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’90S MAKEUP Written by: Meg Tippett Photography by: Emily Gould
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Nineties makeup has made a comeback in the 2010s. Neons, overalls, and glitter are staples in modern wardrobes and are even becoming popular within the world of beauty. The revival of bright ’90s makeup has infiltrated casual and runway looks and has created a statement of strong and noticeable femininity. Nineties looks are full of color and life, which fight back against the natural looks that society encourages women to wear. Some of the most popular looks from the ’90s were based around color. Brilliant eyeshadows based in teals and blues framed the eye and focused attention around the top of the face. These bold looks were generally applied around the entire eye, and faded out under the lash line. Now, in 2019, these looks have been modernized slightly and are more focused around the eyelid and crease under the brow bone. Historically, women have been encouraged by society and the workplace to wear naturallooking makeup. However, these bright colors yield power and femininity in a way that quiet, more natural looks cannot. Another bold statement from the ’90s that has re-entered the 2010s is a dark lip. Dark lip colors of burgundy and mahogany draw attention straight to the mouth. In order to properly wear a dark lip, it is necessary to use a clear or dark lip liner to outline the lips. Similar to the ’90s, dark lips are now worn during fancier events and outings. However, these lip looks have started to enter casual outfits and have become a staple of everyday looks. Women who wear these looks in work and casual settings use the power of a bold lip to draw attention to their mouths and faces. In addition to bold colors, one ’90s trend that has become increasingly popular is the use of glitter. Glitter was used in the ’90s in eyeshadow and as an accent on the face. Now glitter makeup has entered the casual lookbook, and people
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are beginning to include glitter in everyday looks. Glitter can be applied to the tops of cheekbones, eyelids, the middle of the lip, or on the body to accent the shoulders and chest. Shimmery looks can provide confidence by creating a dewy and refreshed appearance. Nineties makeup in the 2010s tends to encourage a courageous and generally “out-of-the-norm” makeup statement. Women are becoming more comfortable with makeup looks that are out of the box and go against the typical natural looks. As these trends become more common, bold statements will trample quiet eyeshadow and lip looks and grant women confidence to express themselves through the creative colors and styles of ’90s makeup.
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