Winter Issue 2021 by Insight Magazine

insight m a g a

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W I N T E R 2 0 2 1 | VO L U M E 14 | I S S U E 2

MISCHIEVOUS DEVIANTS pg. 10 | ACOT pg. 24 | ALTERNATIVE ROCK GUIDE pg. 36

LETTER LETTER from the EDITOR EDITOR Winter has always been a favorite season of mine. The bitter cold has this sense of familiarity to it that I’ve come to appreciate, and the gloomy clouds feel profound as they are followed by sometimes peaceful, sometimes turbulent flurries of snow. Typically, I have savored the days that winter has forced us inside to escape the cold, instead getting warm with a favorite book or hot apple cider. This season, I’ve come to detest my own four walls as we have become all too familiar with them during the dreaded year of 2020. More than that, winter to me has always been a season of change. The leaves are absent and we come to miss the splintering hot summer days that we usually complain about. We write notes on December 31 in our journals telling ourselves that we will finally get around to doing that one

thing we had been meaning to. Certainly, 2021 is a battle to face as well, and maybe it is overly optimistic to believe that change is in the air. But, we can only hold onto hope and work from within, which is why I wanted this issue to represent something new. It is bold and fresh, with the Insight team motioning towards taking more risks in our stories, photos, and layouts alike. It attempts to dive more into the creative aspects of journalism, pulling from different inspirations across mediums, from other magazines to Pinterest boards to movies and music. It’s a change that has begun asking questions within me on where Insight’s future, past 2020, lays. Insight Magazine will always evolve, as its staff and place in the Reno landscape continues to change. It is my hope that this issue begins a stark mark in that timeline, one that will reveal the benefit of risk.

KAITLIN VENNEMAN

Insight Magazine Editor-in-Chief

STAFF STAFF

Staff Writer Intern

Staff Illustrator

KIRSTY LENON

OLIVIA SULLIVAN

CHRISTINE SCHWARTZ

KELLEN PARKER

Photo Editor Intern

Art Director Intern

Staff Writer

REILLY MOSS

Social Media Manager

IDALIA CONCHA

Copy Editor

Photo Editor

MADDIE HALL

SARAH STRANG

MARY YOUNG

RYAN ALMAZAN Art Director

Social Media Intern

contributors Lauren Turner, writer Emma Torvinen, writer Molly Carnell, writer Elliot Bailey, writer Nicole Salcedo, writer

Cover photo by Christine Schwartz

ABOUT THE MAGAZINE

CORRECTIONS

You hold in your hands the latest iteration of Insight Magazine. We hope that you will enjoy it. Not only is this issue the result of a tremendous amount of hard work, but it is also a representation of a student publication over a decade in the works (with origins as the Artemisia, the former yearbook of UNR dating back to the 1800s).

Insight Magazine works to correct any errors. If you find a mistake or misprint, please contact the editor at insighteditor@unr.edu.

Thank you for supporting us. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. If you're interested in getting involved with us, visit insightunr.com > Get Involved.

Insight Magazine is proud to have placed fifth in the category of People's Choice and eighth in the category of Feature Magazine at the. 2020 Associated College Press Journalism Convention.

CONT photo essays 08 10

In a Dream Mischievous Deviants

reviews 14 18 19 20 21

2020 Favorites Reno Coffee Co. Black Hole Body Piercing Chip Chrome & the Mono-Tones The Queen's Gambit

feature 24 28

INSIGHT

ACOT Bonnie Blair

ENTS 46

lifestyle 34 36 38

2020 Fashion Trends Rise of Online Thrift Stores Alternative Rock Guide

opinion 46 48 50 51

Food After COVID The Death of Sitcoms How lo-fi Affects the Vibe On FKA Twigs' Lawsuit

Photos by Mary Young, Kaitlin Venneman & Ryan Almazan

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Illustration by Reilly Moss

Our talented photo editor and intern had free reign in conceptualizing a photo essay for this issue. Take a look at Christine Schwartz’s edgy “Mischievious Deviants” and Mary Young’s delicate “In A Dream” photo essays.

PHOTO ESSAY 7

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N AA DREAM DREAM IN IN AA DREAM DREAM IN IN AA N

MODEL

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Mary Young

IN AA DREAM DREAM IN DREAM IN IN AA DRE DR DREAM Photos by Mary Young

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ANTS MISCHIEVOUS MISCHIEVOUSDEVIANTS DEVIANT ANTS

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TS MISCHIEVOUSDEVIANTS DEVIANTS M M S MISCHIEVOUS Photos by Christine Schwartz

MODELS

Tristan Kjoll Chosen Gbenjo

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Illustration by Andie Scarborough

This issue, Insight decided to highlight two bold local businesses, both brimming with creative ideas in their traditional fields. Alongside are reviews for the dynamic new album from band “The Neighbourhood” and a look into the impactful fashion of the fan-favorite Netflix original, “The Queen’s Gambit.” Plus, check out Insight staff’s favorite movies, TV shows, and albums from 2020!

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2020 insight

STAFF FAVORITES

Words by the Insight Staff Illustrations by Reilly Moss

KAITLIN VENNEMAN M OV I E

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In its ten year anniversary, I finally discovered the beauty that is “The Social Network.” A dramatic retelling of the origins of Facebook, this movie captivated me in ways I never expected, with an incredible score, gorgeous directing, and impeccable acting. These characteristics ended up making this my most rewatched movie of the year, and has left me constantly thinking about Andrew Garfield in that one scene.

The critically acclaimed tragicomedy, “Fleabag,” may not have come out in 2020. But, earlier this year is when I discovered it, and I am not lying when I say that I have since rewatched the show a dozen times. It is a true masterpiece, both challenging and comforting all at once. Also, “What We Do in the Shadows,” for being one of the funniest and most underrated shows I’ve seen.

A LB U M Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” came at the perfect time in my life. It was a collision of all my worries and fears, and inevitably helped me gain the confidence and control I needed to get through 2020. It’s something so beautiful, from its percussion, lyricism, and pure energy.

IDALIA CONCHA M OV I E Although it wasn’t released this year, I’ve recently discovered the movie “Beautiful Boy.” Starring Timothee Chalamet and Steve Carell, this screenplay tells the story of a crumbling father-son relationship that is in peril due to Nic’s (played by Timothee) meth addiction. As Nic faces this terrible addiction that threatens to destroy him, his father David (played by Steve) does everything in his power to try to take care of him and save him. The film is very raw, intimate, inspiring, and it definitely left me in shambles with my emotions all over the place.

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The Spanish thriller teen drama series “Elite” had to be one of my favorites this year. “Elite” revolves around three workingclass students who were granted a scholarship to attend a very prestigious private school called Las Encinas. Having to adapt to a new environment and deal with troublesome hardships caused by their wealthy classmates what could possibly go wrong.

Being released at the beginning of the year and right before quarantine hit, “YHLQMDLG” (Yo Hago Lo Que Me Da La Gana) by Bad Bunny was my absolute go-to. Being away from home I try to stay in touch with my latin roots and this album was definitely the one to help me stay in touch and branch out by listening to more hispanic artists and music. “YHLQMDLG” is outstanding and a record that pushes boundaries. I really didn’t resonate with this album nor did I connect with it, but it definitely gave me serotonin boost. Bad Bunny knocked it out of the park by creating an album that pays homage to reggaeton’s past and future.

OLIVIA SULLIVAN M OV I E

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“Palm Springs,” the movie about being caught in a never ending day, felt all too familiar when it first came out early 2020. Its witty humor and well crafted love story made this movie easy to watch when staying home was all any of us could do.

“Normal People,” and the newest season of “The Crown” are tied for my favorite shows to come out this year. Both shows essentially follow people dealing with their emotions, though perhaps not in the most healthy or productive ways. More than anything it was refreshing to see these people grapple with their feelings, it made them relatable–despite how different from me they are.

A LB U M Harry Styles’ “fine line,” though it came out in 2019, has been a staple for me this year. This album drags you through a full range of emotions, from start to finish, in the best way. Style’s ability to so perfectly capture human emotion and put it into words, is something that I doubt I will ever get tired of. Truly a masterpiece.

MADDIE HALL M OV I E I stumbled upon “Silver Linings Playbook” and it instantly became one of my favorite movies. This movie portrays the struggles of dealing with mental illness in a real yet humorous way. The simplicity of two imperfect people finding each other brings me a feeling of comfort. It also doesn’t hurt that Bradley Cooper is in it.

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“Schitts Creek” has been the perfect comedy to get me through 2020. The bold characters and witty humor have never failed to make me laugh out loud.

Miley Cyrus’s new album “Plastic Hearts” has been a staple ever since it came out in November. This album feels very honest as you can feel her range of emotions dealing with heartbreak throughout the entire album. Collaborating with rock icons like Joan Jett and Stevie Nicks, I think Miley has found her perfect genre.

KIRSTY LENON M OV I E

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“Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse”; While this movie did not come out this year my love for this movie has only continued to grow. To be able to feel like I could do anything and that even if it may not feel like it at the time, there is always someone there for you have been things I’ve had to hold onto during these uneasy times.

“New Girl”; While this show also didn’t come out in 2020, this show is always capable of making me laugh. The quirky personalities that the characters have, along with the silly things they do have reminded me of my friends when we have had to spend a long time apart during quarantine.

A LB U M Mac Miller’s “Circles” had me crying upon initial listen. It hurt knowing that these songs were the last I would hear from this great artist. Circles has a sense of optimism, despite the sorrow and I’m glad Mac has allowed me to carry that same sense of optimism throughout the year.

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RYAN ALMAZAN M OV I E While it was released in 2017, this year I discovered Kogonada’s “Columbus,” a measured, carefully-constructed, beautiful masterpiece that leans more into the visual side of filmmaking than it does the audio side. A film of movement and un-movement, “Columbus” is an amazing arthouse movie for those wanting to watch something heartfelt and introspective.

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Netflix’s “Grand Army” more than satisfies the craving for the dark-teen-drama-shaped hole left behind by a Euphoria-less 2020. While it’s not as aesthetically dazzling, it stands strong with multiple plot points against the backdrop of New York City. With a different and often more mature approach to storytelling, “Grand Army” is a series worth checking out.

"Zeros” by Declan McKenna is a breath of fresh air released this year, where McKenna pushes the boundaries of his sound while still retaining the political commentary that made his first album so great. The musical style calls back to the rock of the 60s and 80s while being interestingly modern, offering something unique and enticing.

REILLY MOSS M OV I E

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Although it came out in 2019, I recently watched “Ford v Ferrari” and was both entertained and moved by Matt Damon and Christian Bale’s performances. This movie fulfills auto-enthusiasts cravings with stellar auto action sequences and balances it with captivating human drama. This is a must see for those who have not already.

One of my favorite shows to come out in 2020 was “The Umbrella Academy.” The imaginative and compelling Netflix adaptation of Gerard Way’s comics, follows a dysfunctional family of adopted superheroes who must reunite to protect the world.

A LB U M Glass Animals’ most recent album “Dreamland,” is an introspective, emotional, and deeply personal account from frontman Dave Bayley. Featuring autobiographical lyrics mixed with pop culture references from the late 1990s and early 2000s, “Dreamland” is complex, nostalgic, and inspired. Some of my favorite songs from the album include “Heat Waves,” “Your Love (Déjà Vu),” and “Tangerine.”

MARY YOUNG M OV I E “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is one of the few movies that got me through 2020. It is about Scott Pilgrim, a bass guitarist for a garage-rock band. He starts dating the girl of his dreams, but must fight off an army of her seven evil ex’s. There are many reasons to love this movie. It fully encompasses the sensations and experience of being in a video game or a comic book, while having the most hilarious and interesting plot line. The cast was perfect, all of them being memorable.

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If you want to watch something that makes you vicariously live in New York City, own your own record store, and live in a Brooklyn apartment filled with vinyls, then you’ll want to watch “High Fidelity”. Rob Brooks, played by Zoë Kravitz, is the epitome of a rockstar child and can easily beat anyone’s music knowledge. The focus of the show is about her romantic miscalculations and an all relatable pain of coming to terms with a break up.

“Lost & Found” by Jorja Smith is one of my most favorite albums. Her unique R&B, soul and hip-hop sound documents her precocious wisdom and self-discovery of her early young adult life. What makes her stand out so much is her self-assurance, making all of her songs timeless.

KELLEN PARKER M OV I E While “Moonlight” was first released in 2016, I have watched this film numerous times during 2020. This movie touches upon the experiences of growing up as a homsexual within the black community. The plot takes place primarily in Miami Florida with beautiful cinematography shot by James Laxton. Moonlight features an amazing color story that not only is engagingly symbolic, but also is effective in transitioning the plot. The story is broken up into three parts: Little, Chiron and Black, each telling the story of the protagonist at different ages. This movie has easily secured a spot in my top ten favorite movies with its beautiful cinematography, representation and morale.

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First released in 2004, the comical “Drake and Josh” has been a TV show I have watched a plethora of times this year considering it is now available on Hulu. I first watched the San Diego, CA based TV show with my father as a young child. After rediscovering it in 2020, I soon realized why we enjoyed the show so much. From Miranda Cosgrove’s cynical little sister persona to Drake and Josh harboring a sheep in a bedroom this show is sure to give you a few good laughs.

Tame Impala’s “Slow Rush” was released on Valentine's day in 2020. This much anticipated album was sure to be a hit with its psychedelic combination of genres. The “Slow Rush” touches on themes of self confidence, letting go of the past and growth. Tame Impala's album has not only inspired me creativel, but has also been a part of some of my greatest memories from 2020.

CHRISTINE SCHWARTZ M OV I E

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While I find most movies on netflix or hulu, I tend to switch up the pace every now and then by checking out prime. The movie at the beginning of the category “Seven Psychopaths” immediately caught my attention. The film released in 2012 consists of several well known actors including; Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken and Colin farrell. A screenwriter in need of inspiration is motivated by his friends to write a story of the craziest psychopaths. Every character is uniquely psychotic, mentally ill and the best part is that it's put together in a comedic way. Dog napping, crime lords, blood spatter, burning bodies and a final showdown. You won't regret this movie as an addition to the list.

That's tough, I'd say I'm split between two: Kid Cudi’s “Man On The Moon III: The Chosen” and Glass Animals’ “Dreamland”. Both are a rollercoaster of emotions, positivity and autobiographical aspects that take you on a real adventure. On Cudi’s album, “Tequila Shots” and “4 Da Kidz” rank top 2 and on the Dreamland album I'd be sure to give a listen to “Tokyo Drifting,” “Tangerine,” and “Dreamland.” For my creatives or just anyone looking to vibe-out I would highly recommend shuffle playing both of these albums if you haven't already.

S H OW If you're in for a ride full of plot twists, suspension and witchcraft then head to Netflix to watch the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' for an adaptation of the show Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Dark, disturbing, intense, graphic but most of all very enjoyable. I find myself entranced by Sabrina and her confidence throughout the show and can guarantee after watching, that you too, will be in awe of her character and the show overall.

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RENO COFFEE CO. Words by Lauren Turner Photos by Mary Young & Kaitlin Venneman

eno Coffee Company is in the heart of Reno and loved by many local coffee fanatics. Located on 1300 S. Wells Avenue, the coffee company specializes in pour over coffee.

As you walk into the ‘70s style themed coffee shop, you will be greeted by a very friendly staff, a record stand, an alternative playlist, and potentially some local friends in the area. While scanning the room, to the right of you will be the stand where you can pick up a classic record with your coffee. In front of you will be the bar. You can sit up on the stools and keep conversation with the baristas, local friends in the area or even just get some work done on your laptop. The place is spacious and very accommodating. Behind that is a giant wall of flavors written in multicolored chalk that you could choose from. The baristas will also be there, always ready to take your order. From fruity, nutty and chocolatey, on a scale from light to dark roasts, Reno Coffee Company will have an abundance of coffee flavors for you to try. Everyone is sure to get something they like. The best part is, you can even get a bag or two to take home with you for mornings where you don’t feel like leaving your cozy home.

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My personal favorite is the flavor, “Jet Fuel.” It’s a dark to light brown roast blend, which is rich, bold and has an undertone of chocolate. Hence, on my adventurous mornings, I tend to order their “Chocolate Pour.” Made from “Jet Fuel” and Ghirardelli cocoa powder, this drink does not disappoint. It comes with cream as well, but I like substituting it for some oat milk. It tastes like a wonderful hot chocolate. Perfect for the season! The thing I like the most about Reno Coffee Company is the fact that it is solely coffee. They don’t add any crazy syrups. Instead, they’ll use agave for you. If you’re a person who needs milk, they use oat and hemp or creamer. Other than that, it is all from the bean. Not only does Reno Coffee Company have some of the best coffee in the city, but they also protect the planet. They serve their drinks in paper cups which you can recycle. Furthermore, even with the pandemic happening, if you sanitize your reusable cup, they will let you use that as well. Reno Coffee Company is a coffee shop and small business you have to try! I

B L AC K H O L E B O DY P I E R C I N G Words by Emma Torvinen Photo by Mary Young

lack Hole Body Piercing, is one of Reno’s most well known locations to get a piercing. It sits in Midtown, one of the most busy and bustling areas of the city. Black Hole began in 1992 in a record shop in Truckeewhere the owner wanted to offer piercings as well as music. Soon after, it moved to Reno, and Black Hole’s current owner, Angela Watson bought the business in 1994. In the ‘90s when Watson was learning to pierce, the industry was dominated by men. Black Hole only does piercings, unlike many other places. “I didn’t want to work in a tattoo shop environment, I wanted to create a safe space for myself to do piercings in,” Watson explained. At that time most piercings were something that took place as a secondary thought within other body art settings. At Black Hole, “[piercing] is the main focus of the business, so we really get to focus on the health and safety aspect of how we’re doing our process but also curating the jewelry collections,” Watson said. The effects of Covid-19 on Black Hole’s business have been interesting. They are doing a lot of ear, nipple, and navel (belly

button) piercings right now. “Navel piercings had kind of almost dropped off, we were hardly doing as many, and now they’re super popular because less people are doing things under the mask,” Watson said. Getting a piercing at Back Hole entails a short process, starting off with picking jewelry. They have a large selection and a counter specialist will work with you on budget and style. Everything is sterilized and prepared, but the experience of the actual piercing will differ depending on who pierces you. Aftercare is also really important at Black Hole, to make sure your piercing heals successfully. Watson is very passionate about her business; she expressed the importance of creating a safe environment, a good experience for clients, and keeping up with changes and trends in the industry. Her appreciation for not only the art of piercing itself, but also the people who get piercings is obvious. “I do think that people get pierced to separate themselves, to say ‘I’m different I have a little bit of a rebellious side, I’m gonna do this.’ Because you have to be brave to get pierced, it’s not painless,” Watson said. I

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CHIP CHROME & the MONO-TONES BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Words by Idalia Concha

Illustrations by Reilly Moss

orever known for “Sweater Weather,” Californian band, The Neighbourhood, have shed their old identities and established new personas with their new album “Chip Chrome & Mono-Tones.” Being known as an alt-rock band, The Neighbourhood, led by frontman Jesse Rutherford, has decided to take a step out of their comfort zone and experiment with a new sound of electrofunk, and several new sounds throughout the making of this album. Listening from beginning to end we are able to witness a multi-dimensional music experience. Despite the album being noncohesive, it definitely follows a theme that resembles a dystopian society. For example, many beats switch up from faster tempos to more slow and calming ones. The album name itself, “Chip Chrome & The MonoTones,” describes the overall sound of the album perfectly. The album consists of many electro-funk beats, yet also includes simple beats whilst having an emphasis on guitar and drums, contrary to vocals which provide a soft and soothing type of sound. Compared to previous albums, this album is noticeably different from others produced by The Neighbourhood; previous albums were made up of a more consistent sound and allowed the listeners to create a story while listening to it. This album varies in that aspect alone, considering the fact that it is very inconsistent as far as sound and what it talks about. Starting out it begins with a pop and electric sound but then completely switches to a sad and melancholy sound. Not only do we hear the various alterations of beats but we hear samples that were picked up from older music artists and different genres. As the album continues, we come across “Lost in Translation.” This song samples a verse from the musical group The Temptations

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and then quickly switches to a fast paced alternative pop beat. The following song “Devil’s Advocate,” sounds like what would be considered the typical alternative genre, yet surprises the listeners when it adds an electric beat from a guitar and keyboard. In this same song a funk beat is added in which gives the song a unique factor and differs from their previous work. The seventh track, “The Mono-Tones” talks about the “too much noise” going on in his head and how his voices are all over the place. Even though this song is barely over a minute long, this song seems to be one of the most important songs on the album as the whole album was based around the main idea of this song. The band also discovers the use of autotune, a small change but noticeable change to stretch the idea of exploring new sounds. After finishing the album you notice what feelings were given and created, you realize it demonstrated a multi-dimensional music experience. It was a very complex journey of sounds as it truly explored the majority of genres that the band has never branched out to create previously. The band then leaves the audience in anticipation as the outro song ends mysteriously with echoes, left with the question of what will come next from The Neighbourhood in the future and if it will be anything like “Chip Chrome & Mono-Tones.” “Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones” is truly an album that shows an extravagant amount of evolution with musical sound. The album itself shows an initiative to dare to be different from everything else. It proved that by producing the album the way Jesse Rutherford and his band wanted it to be, the sound definitely made people talk about it. The whole purpose of music is to make the audience feel something, in this case The Neighbourhood definitely did that by creating an album that is very eccentric and unorthodox. I

Chess is the New Words by Molly Carnell

hess isn't always competitive. Chess can also be beautiful." says Beth Harmon to a magazine reporter as she poses for a photograph while holding up one of a growing collection of trophies. When most people think of the game of chess, the word beautiful doesn’t typically come to mind. Certainly, neither do the words glamorous and cool. Yet, these words describe exactly what you get in the Netflix limited drama series “The Queen’s Gambit.” The show, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis set in the 1960s, explores the life of chess prodigy Beth Harmon. We’re first introduced to Beth when she wakes up in a bathtub in Paris and rushes, haphazardly and soaking wet, to dress and make it to the chess match that she is very much late to. It’s only further on in the story that we find out the importance of this particular match. First, we get the backstory of her journey to becoming a top chess player. The daughter of an unstable mother and absent father, she becomes an orphan early in life. While at the orphanage, Beth encounters a lonely janitor and convinces him to teach her the strange game that he’s playing. It’s not only her passion for chess that gets ignited while at the orphanage, but her penchant for the tranquilizers they feed to the children there. Throughout the series, Beth struggles to become the best player in the world. She battles not only the formidable reigning champion Vasily Borgov, aka “The Russian,” but her perfectionism, not being taken seriously in a male-dominated arena, struggling to form meaningful connections, and a drug and alcohol addiction. Actress Anya Taylor-Joy perfectly embodies all of Beth’s complexities and somehow manages to keep the audience

The Queen's Gambit Review

Illustrations by Reilly Moss empathetic to her. Other notable actors include Thomas Brodie-Sangster (the adorable kid in Love Actually), Harry Melling (Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter!), and Marielle Heller. Beth somehow makes chess cool. Part of the reason might be that she does so while being completely and utterly chic. With the money that she starts to rack up from chess competitions as a teenager, she transforms her wardrobe, and with it, her image. Her metamorphosis is best explained through the words of Beth’s former competitor, Henry Beltik, when he asks, “Excuse me, miss. What happened to that gawky kid who kicked my ass five years ago?” Having never fit in with girls her own age, Beth chooses cool black dresses and cigarette pants as opposed to pastel skirts, tight mock neck tops instead of soft cardigans, and a sharp bob rather than a bubbly ponytail. Elegance over prep. Through these choices, we see Beth transform from a scrawny nobody in hand-me-downs to someone who fits in with, and even intimidates, the giants of the chess world. When confronted with accusations that she may be “too glamorous” to play chess, Beth replies, "I would say it is much easier to play chess without the burden of an Adam's apple." Her pieces even reflect the world of chess in themselves. Beth can often be found in contrasting colors and checkered prints that indicate the squares of a chessboard in a subtle, nongarish way. In her final ensemble, Beth walks the streets of Moscow in a long button-down white coat and matching hat, personifying the queen piece herself. Not only did Beth make chess stylish, but she showed that women can dominate in a man’s world and find their way, even when faced with a multitude of opponents. And yes, I will be buying a chess set immediately. I

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Illustration by Andie Scarborough

What does it mean to be an artist? To own your craft and analyze the world around you through your eyes is a sharp talent that rapper ACOT possesses with his edgy style, and painter Bonnie Blair embodies through her circular landscape portraits of Nevada in our feature section.

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ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT ACOT

AC OT A C OT

the art of making organic music &

Words by Olivia Sullivan Photos courtesy of ACOT

remember it like it was yesterday, sitting in the back of my friend's car as we take yet another midnight drive around the streets of Reno. Four of us were packed into her tiny car, but we still made it work. We had been driving around aimlessly for about an hour, blasting music and talking about anything that came to mind. One of my friends took charge then and put on a song by a rapper I had never heard before, I remember her saying something along the lines of, “I have to play this song for you guys, you'll love it.” The song she played was called ‘Woman’ by a rapper called ACOT, or Average Cups of Tea, and though I didn't know it at the time, it would become our go to song of the year; a certified hit in the eyes of my friends and I. Little did I know that just a couple months later I would have the opportunity to talk to him myself. As a kid, ACOT was evidently surrounded by music, with his brother being a DJ and B-boy helping to form a certain familiarity with music that can't be faked. At just 14, he began taking an interest in creating music, even planning to create a parody rap group with a friend, but it wasn't until he hit 16 that he truly began. Young ACOT started seriously making music while living in Orange County, and at just 16 he set his mind to rapping and producing. It was then that he dedicated his time to working to create music he could be proud of. Now 23 years old, ACOT has more than proved his innate ability to do just what he set out to do; create organic music he can

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be proud of. His newest release, “Feed Me To The Dogs,” came out early November of this year. More than anything I've heard from him before, it is an album that truly speaks for itself. His witty lyrics and head turning beats were a welcome constant in every song. His ever evolving style also carried throughout the album. Each song carries light and humorous air, while still capturing ACOT’s grungier side. “I guess you could say I’m a punk Chicano,” he says when asked to explain his style, “I’m very tapped in with my culture. It affects my music a lot.” For any one of his followers on Instagram, or anyone who listens to his music, this is not surprising. Through the pictures he posts and in the music he releases, especially on the album “Feed Me To The Dogs,” you can see this style come out to play. It is evident with this album that he has mastered making this style uniquely his own. His writing process being a perfect testament to this. “I drink a beer while making a beat and once I make a beat that makes my head bob I instantly run into my house, grab a 6 pack, and run back into the garage. I get drunk and it all just flows out of me.” He writes in an extremely vulnerable and candid state, definitely contributing to his innate ability to create music that screams of his style and candid thoughts.

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AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T

A C AC O T OT Some of his biggest inspirations in the music industry are artists like Mitski, Method Man, and MF DOOM. Each artist contributed in some way to ACOT’s style as an artist, which comes out the most in his humorous yet poetic lyrics. Though it is important to note that when creating new music, ACOT claims he does not listen to outside music because he doesn't want to be too influenced by other musicians when creating his own work. ACOT knows his music isn't for everyone, and he is more than alright with that. “If you want typical radio music then you’re in the wrong place,” he says point blank. The music he creates is for him and whoever will give it a chance. “I don’t want to be rich and famous, I just want to be able to take care of my people and not have to have a boss ever again,” he candidly claims. His ability to remain unwaveringly true to his sound is what draws so many people to his work. With 245,568 monthly listeners on Spotify, and 14.4k followers on Instagram, it is clear that he is doing something very right. The growing number of people who are finding and enjoying his music just proves what we already vknow to be true.

It is evident, not only in his music, but through conversation that ACOT is simply a humble guy. He is what every artist should aspire to be: reminiscent of his past, and hopeful for the future. More than anything, it is clear to me that he just wants to create something he can be proud of at the end of the day, and have fun while doing it. He will continue to stay true to himself–no matter what. I

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AC O T AC O T AC O T AC O T “IF YOU WANT TYPICAL RADIO MUSIC, YOU'RE IN THE

WRONG PLACE."

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BONNIE BLAIR Words by Elliot Bailey Photos by Mary Young

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“I

t’s always been a part of my life, to some extent,” Bonnie Blair said about art, of which she has an Instagram account dedicated to posting, and is in her final year studying. Her instagram account, @bblair_art, features a variety of the artwork Bonnie produces, mainly focusing on her circular landscapes. She said that she has always been interested in art and created collages and the like as a child, but growing up in Elko, Nevada, where the biggest art draw they have is a cowboy poetry festival every January, made pursuing any sort of career pertaining to art difficult to envision. “There were always these two extremes for me, there’s Rembrant and there’s Da Vinci, and then there’s a cowboy, and I’m not Da Vinci and I’m not a cowboy,” Blair stated, reinforcing her original reluctance to envision herself as an artist. It took her being accepted into a nursing program to realize that continuing down that path did not feel right, and instead she switched to art history at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she began focusing on painting.

After taking art classes in high school and then taking a break from producing art, art history made the most sense to Blair as the next step. However, the university’s art courses require students to begin creating their own portfolios of cohesive work, which Blair said was daunting to her. How she chose to tackle that project, and what she has brought to the work she has done since taking those classes, is to review photographs she has taken, which are mostly landscapes and the sky, and paint based off of those. “I had been thinking about the landscape as a place of home, but since coming to UNR, that perspective has changed for me,” she said, “In Sociology, the place that you are comes to define your reality to some extent.” Blair said that cowboy poetry used to be the only art she saw that was viable, which didn’t work for her, so a change of pace in Reno and at the UNR broadened her ideas of art and what she can bring to the table in terms of creating art.

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“Through my art, I’m optimistic about the fact that we can intervene, and we can change the course.”

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In her most recent series, Blair has begun thinking how places offer different realities. “By moving,” she stated, “you choose to become a different person because when you get there, you don’t know what experiences you’re gonna have, but they’re gonna change you.” Upon noticing that circles kept reappearing in her art, and wanting to showcase how everything in a landscape is interconnected, Blair began painting her landscapes circular instead of flat. She says this is not the first time this has ever been done, but it makes sense and feels natural to her. The reason she switched her major from art to art history, Blair says, is because “by participating in creating art, you become part of a long tradition of art, and I felt responsible for knowing where I stand in that history and wanting to know how I fit.” Instead of just simply creating, she has chosen to think and study how and where, historically and culturally, her work fits into the tradition of art and painting. She also thinks about what her art means to the environment she is painting as she plans and works out her pieces.

A part of why art is so important to Blair, and why she says it should be important to others, is because “it’s really an opportunity to empathize with other people’s experiences,” which is one of the things she loves about art history. “What I think is so special about art is it can take you to a place you didn’t know existed; both in cultural history, and because it’s like a visual communication, it can really get down to people, to their cores.” In thinking about how and where her art fits into the history and culture of art, Blair says she’s still figuring it out, “modern art is really pluralized; there are people who are exploring hyperrealism and abstract art, and then some who are just pranking people. There’s so much going on, so it’s hard to definitively say ‘this is where I belong.’” While she is thinking about where she fits in broadly, Bonnie views her art, and wants others to view her art as environmentally concerned, and fitting in within that movement. “I think my art is optimistic environmental art,” she said. “Through my art, I’m optimistic about the fact that we can intervene, and we can change the course.” I

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Illustration by Reilly Moss

Fashion is the star of our lifestyle section this issue, with a look back onto the unique fashion trends of 2020 and the rise of thrifting on Instagram. After that, an alternative rock music guide that delves into the subgenres and inner workings of the vast term.

LIFESTYLE 33

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THE YEAR OF GREAT DISCOVERY Words by Olivia Sullivan

Photos by Kellen Parker

he year 2020 was definitely not the best year for us as a human race, however it was a great year for self discovery and fashion. The last 12 months have come with a whirlwind of events, driving us to all sorts of different activities meant to distract from the chaos going on outside. Out of the fog came a myriad of new trends, giving us all some much needed entertainment. In times as difficult as these, it is no surprise that we would yearn for something to take our minds to happier places. Thus the era of 2020 fashion trends and self discovery was born.

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Other trends that took flight this year were those centered around ingenuity and creativity; crafting. In 2019 we saw the redemption of the cowboy hat, this trend was carried on into this year as well, but in a new way. People began taking their old clothing, such as cowboy hats, and bras, and would bedazzle or paint on them. Upcycling is not a new trend, but the way in which is popularized is very significant to this year. Another craft people seemed drawn to was knitting and sewing. Harry Styles made a mark among many people earlier this year when he appeared on the TODAY Show wearing a unique patchwork cardigan, which retailed at about $2,000. With the

With the closing of hair salons, a lot of people found themselves dying and cutting their own hair this year. Though people might have complained about this at first, that soon changed once people realize how much creative control they suddenly had. So, when TikTok began shovelling out Harry Potter videos, mostly focusing around a character named Narcissa Malfoy and her unique hair, people ran to their nearest store to buy black and white hair dye. Though dyeing the under portion of hair had been a trend before this year, it truly gained its popularity the past months. People even began deviating from the usual black and white combo, instead opting brighter colors like pink or green. But as the year moved on, so did this trend. Quite suddenly, people started looking to older hair trends, such as the mullet. Though usually worn mostly by men, the mullet trend of 2020 was dominated by women. Even Miley Cyrus gave in to this trend, and in turn became a big inspiration for anyone else who wanted to try out the fun hairstyle. Along with the mullet came curtain bangs, a popular hairstyle in the 70’s. Women all over the country were now running to their nearest bathroom, grabbing a pair of scissors, and chopping away. Though not all of it came out looking perfect, that did not stop anyone from trying their hand at being a hairstylist this year.

From dyeing hair to online shopping, this year truly has thrown us for a loop when it comes to trends. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have aided in the sharing and creation of most of these trends. Because did you really do something if you dont post about it? In a time where seeing other human beings in person is rare, the answer is no.

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k no p e o w le d g e p s t e a le t o o t h at m k m at o t o c r o s t of r ele e n u h a n a s e d t e p oi n at i n g o s c o u h ld a bi d at m e of f ic t t hat t ne at h n' t a f ak i f or d h g tr i om a e l n c u se p e e d m nd t h g t h e f a t t e r n r e a t o r . T h i s t h a t o spo am a ny i s y e of t t r en n o u f or o o c r e n s , b e d i f f e r a r ; f r o u s c a r i t – s o t he c a r d pic r b e s t ked at e d dig e nt d ay h at mr dig ad s a a i , ma , ch in s t e r i n g s t o n . C r e e v e r y o n , J W up s o m a o r m m Wi a ls at i n ne c ne c A nd e on s, a uc h th a t k o e g n e o l r d 's h u c a j s ho l om c lay. reate ces, w ewel r ld t r y son, ppi l of t he e, b y t he n g. se n y h T he m t h i s je e s aw a l s o t he i r S c a nd w el bec a rk it a b u y a r d i g udde e w c r e am r l l. , n y t a de f e i n i t f o r t h , u s i n P e o pl e q u i t hem . n , je w l y a l l at ion s g ol i ng e te p e el r y t h e s A pp , l y c am s d s ho boo op u ep , an sa e p e me b e i n g d th I t e m p i n g a l a r t h i n d w e d b e d o pl e w a l a r g e b a s is y s om s l i k e l s o br y e a r s i t e s l z z le d e r e c r s u r g e ea r ou g f or i t em i c e . o e k o a f o e r t o th s h in w e a ne s D c los et s a n t on a n at ex a epop s), a nd g t h i n n l i ne t he , db r, w c et a g E p a t re s (s t sy e op pp us e be n a If o g a n d s t r a t ie r s c r e c i a t i s o n . T , a nd E le w a uc h a s u igh a o b see h m n a j u s t r t r en is s y b nt e d eb fo i ng t to t d s w e he n ac k w r t h r i f u r g e i e c a m t o y e a t r y i n g s h av t e no ex e ed it at er r we' 2020 to hold been v e s t . A nd h a v e n i t e m n l i ne ve s c om a s t n o s an g ju a to b e en i n g n t o s y i nd d “o st i n t ea nce s wel l e . i me , o u t ld p t r e n p r o d i t a l l . t o a m ome t h i c a t io n e o u f or Mo o pl c ol d f r e t uc h ne i n g t h o f t h i s ad d s t h a c t i v e e ' ' a swe h s i t n e mo ess a n c a me n ha rd a n a n ded c t w i l l g yea r, at er r y m l a s. b e a e a b o u d c o n f nd w e t i me s t h i n g o s e w i v e u s o s t o e , f ut i f s u j t wai u l. ou r o sion w nt t h r o t a nds ou r c r c a n h oy. W us a re it N e o w t to o u s e e o w t h n i nt e e c o nt g h o u u t a s a t i v i t y ne s t l y h t h e a t o i r wh a t n u g h , i e s t a n nue d t t h e y e l a r g e a nd w s a y t h a t f i a o d ew t ren seems pa ssi push r. I n t i ac tor o l l f u l ne t on s me ou r f ss t he dw t h i l l p r e i s ; a nd s el v s o f g e e op r up no t h i n I t h i n s t o le e a t k c om a g e J a t o do t h a t i s r n nu a but qui ry 1 te p s t . at ie nt I ly

MODEL

Karina Dominguez

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T he ri se of

INSTAGRAM INSTAGRAM THRIFT STORES

Words by Molly Carnell

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Photos courtesy of Sarah Svobada & Alyssa Mariano-Calalo

omething about thrift shopping is very akin to treasure hunting. There’s a rush when you find hidden gems that are one of a kind or nab something that you’ve always wanted for a fraction of its original price. Now, there’s a whole new way to get your thrift fix (that’s entirely quarantine approved). Instagram thrift stores are taking over the social platform. With these accounts, fashion enthusiasts hunt for great preowned finds, curate specific styles for their accounts and sell their discoveries to their followers. Shopping through these accounts is a completely unique experience. Often, accounts announce clothing “drops,” where a few pieces are posted at a time and people can either choose to bid on the item, with the price climbing for each bid, or “BIN” (short for “buy it now”) for a specific price. Other times, there is no bidding system and people buy the items for the price set by the curator. People are not only buying because they’re interested in a piece but because of the fear that someone else might nab it before them. A kind of adrenaline response happens when you find the perfect vintage cardigan and know that at any moment someone else could buy it - with it never to be seen again (this comes from personal experience). Beyond general thrift accounts, more curated, high-end accounts have opened a whole new opportunity for people to get their vintage fix. The owner of the Instagram vintage store By P Vintage, Alyssa Mariano-Calalo, recalls what led her to create her own store. “I’ve worked many retail jobs and I knew one day I wanted to be my own boss and create something entirely myself,” she said.

... ecochickthrift Bags for...

On her account, you’ll see unique finds, sexy slips and classic wardrobe staples (recall my ill-fated cardigan?). “Buying vintage fashion is fun and exciting because you’ll never know what gems you’ll pull from the past,” MarianoCalalo said. “Buying second hand not only helps reduce environmental impact, but you will be supporting small, welldeserving businesses.” Other than the unique buying experience and one of a kind finds, a significant reason for this way of selling and buying clothing is sustainability. With the fashion industry being responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions and 85% of textiles going to the dump each year, fast fashion is a massive contributor to global pollution. The owner of the Instagram thrift and consignment store Eco Chick Thrift, Sarah Svoboda, studied environmental studies and planning in college. She found that selling great preowned items was a great way to make money while supporting the planet. “There were so many times I would find something amazing; an upscale brand, rare find, [or] unique vintage piece but it wasn’t my size so I would leave it behind,” she said. “I started to think maybe I should be taking these home and posting them for someone else to see, love and buy.” Not only do these accounts offer exceptional fashion finds at bargain prices, but consumers can be confident about their environmental impacts. With the ease of buying and with sustainability becoming a trend in itself, these Instagram accounts are quickly becoming the thrift stores of the future.

... byp.vintage Latest fashion online...

“The thing I love most about thrifting is that I can find incredible pieces, without harming the environment,” Svoboda said. “It’s a place where your love for fashion and the environment aren’t mutually exclusive.” I

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ALT ROCK G

Words and Photos by Today, alternative music encompasses a Kaitlin Venneman wide range of musicians- and sometimes

can seem like too vast of a genre. What is alternative rock music? Is it interchangeable with indie? How does alternative music sound today?

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lternative music goes as far back as the ‘60s, with The Velvet Underground being an early example of against the grain music. Yet, it didn’t fully form it’s roots until the ‘80s, when bands took examples from punk rock and new age to revolutionize a sound forever synonymous with creativity and boldness. Going against the mainstream pop artists of the time, the genre was coined as “alternative,” and its place in music was cemented. Many early alternative artists found their crowd through local handmade zines or college radios. With the end of the ‘80s, came a huge explosion out of the shadows and into popularity, with the grunge boom. In the ‘90s, alternative thrived, splintering into sub-genres such as grunge. At this helm was Nirvana, emerging from urban Seattle to the top of the charts with their sophomore album-”Nevermind.” Major labels began scrambling to sign bands, and in doing so increased radio popularity immensely. Alternative was now in the mainstream, and in doing so redefined what was “alternative” about it in the first place. It was no longer a hidden genre, but one that extended across the globe, with Britpop emerging as a large genre as well in England. From there, many sub-genres continued to follow, with indie-rock taking over the parts of alternative that were still considered underground and used the internet to its advantage, making grassroots artists able to share their music or ideas with ease. Today, this is where the majority of alternative artists thrive, and as they continue to experiment, sub-genres will continue to increase along with it.

MODEL

Matthew L'Etoile

BRITPOP HIGHLIGHTS:

Blur, Oasis, Pulp, Suede

Known as the British equivalent of grunge, Britpop emerged in the mid-90s as a way to market alternative British bands. Yet, the genre became legitimate, with artists using british sounds of the past from the likes of The Beatles or The Smiths to create a new indie scene. At the frontlines were bands Blur and Oasis, who often competed with each other, eventually spawning “The Battle of Britpop,” in which each band released a song on the same day. Britpop soon declined with various bands breaking up and teenpop becoming a more prominent genre on the charts.

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SHOEGAZE HIGHLIGHTS:

Cocteau Twins, My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Dinosaur Jr.

Shoegaze began with the band My Bloody Valentine in the late ‘80s as a template, where artists would gaze down at their shoes as they used various sound pedals to alter their guitars sound, thus coining the term “shoegaze.” Distortion and reverb became a commonplace in this genre as bands joined elements of garage rock, psychedelic rock, and indie rock.

INDIE ROCK

HIGHLIGHTS:

Pavement, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The White Stripes

GRUNGE HIGHLIGHTS:

Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Mudhoney

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One of the most prominent alternative rock genres, grunge received huge commercial success in the ‘90s with the release of Nirvana’s “Nevermind.” With angsty lyrics and distorted guitar, this genre became its own in the Pacific Northwest, with many local bands signing to a record label known as Sub Pop. From there, the subculture grew immensely, as millions of fans began adorning flannels and ripped jeans in order to fit the “grunge” look that these bands popularized.

Initially, “indie rock” was used interchangeably with “alternative rock.” Post-punk bands like the Buzzcocks and noise rock bands like Sonic Youth were considered early examples of indie rock due to their lack of a relationship with a label, despite their other primary genres. Today, indie rock has become a genre of its own, spawning millions of independent artists who utilized many different styles and rejected any big-name labels. As technology has grown, so has indie rock, with many being able to share their music with much more ease through social media and music apps like Spotify.

RIOT GRRRL HIGHLIGHTS:

Sleater-Kinney, Heavens to Betsy, Bikini Kill, Bratmobile

Alongside the ‘90s came Kathleen Hanna, who evolutionized the feminist punk scene with her band Bikini Kill, one of the first bands considered as riot grrrl. Riot grrrl was more than just music, it was an entire underground culture that existed to empower women, and it came right out of the Pacific Northwest along with grunge. Many associate the revolution as starting third-wave feminism, and its strong-willed approach has paved the way for many current female rockers and activists alike.

MODEL

Kaitlin Venneman

GOTHIC ROCK HIGHLIGHTS:

Siouxsie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, The Cure, Joy Division

Utilizing synthesizers and guitars, goth rock tended to have a darker sound than many of its counterparts. One of the earlier sub-genres of alternative rock, goth rock emerged in the late ‘70s, with bands English band Bauhaus releasing a single titled, “Bela Lugosi's Dead.” From there, many listeners and musicians adapted a dark, edgy style and aesthetic that has lasted for decades since.

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As alternative rock has continued to develop through different sounds and artists, it has created a vast variety of additional subgenres, turning and rolling between levels of music. Perhaps that is what makes alternative rock so hard to pin down, it was invented by outcasts experimenting with the music they were given, attempting to find their own place against or amongst it. Alternative rock may be characterized by bold guitars or moody lyrics, but it will continue to break the mold of every artist before them. It exists to be outside of any one label, so it will never truly be a clear genre. I

Scan the code below with the Spotify app to check out Insight's official alt rock playlist:

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Illustration by Reilly Moss

Take a new perspective in our opinion section and learn from Insight writers about the relationship between COVID and food, the future of comedy television, the mood of Lofi music, and the impact of recent allegations made by musician FKA Twigs.

OPINION 45

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"Nothing tastes right, and I can’t eat:"

after

COVID Words and Photos by Ryan Almazan

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elpless. That’s the word I have to describe the way I feel right now. If you were in my position, you’d feel that way too.

I’ve done everything I needed to do. I cut down my contact with friends to a very select few. I stopped going to parties. I wore my mask when I should have. I still social distance and sanitize my hands. The only walls I’d seen were my dorm, the student union on the occasions that I wanted food, and my friends’ apartment where we maintained a respectable amount of limited physical contact. Yet, on the evening of November 17, I went to bed with a fever. This was followed by chills and slight difficulty breathing. I woke up in the morning with full-body muscle aches and an inability to think clearly — a mental fog. The next day I walked into the Student Health Center, physically exhausted and fatigued by my symptoms, to get tested for COVID-19. First, I thought it was the flu. I chastised myself for not getting the flu shot when I said I would. Then my sense of smell started to fade, along with my appetite, and I began to worry it was something more. By the end of the week, my parents picked me up and drove me back home to Vegas in a lastminute effort to let me isolate somewhere infinitely more familiar than the dull walls of Juniper Hall. The following Monday, I was sitting in bed with traditional Filipino rice porridge in front of me, wondering why it tasted so wrong and why I couldn’t stomach the idea of eating it. Beside me, my phone lit up. There was no Caller ID for the incoming call from a number with a 775 area code. I answered,

and the doctor on the other end delivered my positive result. I read the document that said that SARSCoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, had been detected in my nose swab. I finally knew why I was sick. My symptoms could’ve been a lot worse, but they weren’t. I am not lying in a hospital bed. In fact, the bulk of my symptoms are gone. After Thanksgiving, my fever had disappeared and I felt like I could smell again. But I hadn’t anticipated the weight of the mental fog you experience, nor had I expected how tough it would be to have such distorted taste. I’ve done everything I needed to do, but I’m here writing this at midnight on the first of December. I am up, hungry. I’m lucky that it’s not due to a lack of access. Instead, it’s because nothing tastes right. It’s all wrong. The sweet and savory flavors that I crave and try to consume have been replaced with something putrid and ugly. Every bite into almost anything is like sinking my teeth into raw, rotting meat that I have no other choice but to swallow lest I starve. Dramatic is absolutely the right word to label my attitude, and I’m justified. Onion and garlic taste metallic and sulfuric, as if someone sprinkled ash over any food that has even a hint of it. All kinds of meat are disgusting, even simple fried chicken fingers. Unfortunately for me, these three items are in about everything I have access to. As someone who’s Asian, this means the majority of the food I had growing up is in this category. Comfort food is all I want right now. That means chicken and rice, lugaw, and savory stews. I want to feel whole. The last time I enjoyed those meals was over three months

ago, before the fall 2020 semester began. But every time I try to eat, it’s like the food in front of me is an imposter — a fraud that has made every taste I know repulsive. Imagine having something right there, but your brain is telling you that you can’t have it even if you want it so bad. It’s demoralizing. I want to be able to eat and enjoy my food, not labor through it and repress the urge to vomit. I haven’t eaten much in the past few days. I brush my tongue several times a day because I gag at the taste that’s stuck on the back of my tongue. I want it to be gone, and I want my taste to be normal. But if you look at stories from others online, you’ll find that people have had the same problems as me since March and still recoil at their ex-favorite foods, nearly nine months later. They’ve lost unhealthy amounts of weight, and many of them now regularly pass out from a lack of nutrients. Even friends in Reno haven’t quite recovered their sense of taste. That’s why I now feel anger when I see people being irresponsible, more than the annoyance I used to feel. I did everything right, and I got COVID-19. I want to bite into a juicy burger and eat some fries casually, grubbing out on a Friday night and filling my body with delicious, greasy, unhealthy calories. I don’t think I will be able to anymore. I don’t know if I’ll be able to taste anything right ever again, but regular partiers get to drink with people they’ve never met and come out fine? This world is already unfair, but this is a slap in the face. When you look at the number of coronavirus cases, what goes through your mind? People, or the improbable and unlikely possibility that this is a fraud? Do you think about how the major polio outbreaks in the United States were considered devastating, but there’s 25,997.3% more cases of COVID-19 in 2020 than there were cases of polio in 1952 even though the population has just barely doubled since then? (According to archives from the The Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, there were 52,879 recorded cases of polio. This was the peak in the United States. At the time of writing, the New York Times reports over 13.7 million cases of COVID-19.) I leave you with a plea: please take COVID-19 seriously. I was lucky. Many are not. Many are suffering. Many are dead. My distorted sense of taste has been devastating on my quality of life, as dramatic as it sounds. And while I can be a very bitter and petty person, this might be one thing I truly would never, ever wish upon even my worst enemy. I

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death to

SITCOMS, SITCOMS, [o r t h e f o r m u l a]

Words by Kaitlin Venneman

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Illustration by Reilly Moss

here are many revelations that have occurred in 2020. The people that actually matter to us are more obvious, we have learned to stop doing pointless things, and have rediscovered entertainment in ways that we likely never expected to. Binge watching shows has become a small escape from the current reality, especially when it comes to comedy shows that can manage to cheer us up, even if just for an hour. But with hundreds of comedy shows airing at once and being more accessible than ever, I had to ask myself: Which ones are worth watching? To discover this, we must first ask what deems a comedy show worthy in the first place. In my perfect world, a worthy comedy show bears the following: it is smartly written, it is thoughtful about its place in the world, it opens a gateway of joy for me to consume during, and provides a journey of wonder beyond its walls. In essence, a comedy show is as strong as its ability to keep you thinking about it once you turn off the screen, whether through jokes that keep you smiling or situations that you continuously run through in your head. And ultimately, this comes down to the passion of the writers that bring it to the screen and whether the characters presented grow from their comedic downfalls. With these guidelines, I set on a quest to analyze the comedy shows I have consumed throughout my life. Perhaps my first introduction was the award-winning “Modern Family,” which I mostly continued watching out of nostalgia. Then there were classics with laugh tracks like “Friends,” “Cheers,” or “Seinfeld” that still had a hold on our parents' youth. Next came Greg Daniels and Michael Schur’s hits, “The Office” and “Parks and Recreation,” both of which are known for their giant fan bases and lovable characters. But as I skimmed through past episodes of these shows, I came upon a revelation of my own: it’s time for the traditional, cookie-cutter sitcoms to die, once and for all. A sitcom is short for “situational comedy,” and comes with three main sub-genres of characters: the nuclear family (“Modern Family”), friends living in apartments in a big city (“Friends” or “Seinfeld”), or quirky workplaces (“The Office” or “Parks and Recreation”). Each of the shows mentioned above fit into a stereotypical sub-genre, and often use common tropes to support them. But while they all had unique cultural impacts that can’t be denied, their format simply does not hold up today. Families are much more diverse, laugh-tracks are dead, and comedies as a whole require something more than just a giggle in order to be meaningful and worthwhile. Even more, characters can longer represent a stereotype or ideal that never learns from their flaws.

Perhaps the first show that I discovered that stood out from all traditional norms was BBC’s award-winner, “Fleabag.” A thirty-something woman coping with trauma from her deceased mom and best friend and healing through her witty humor initially seems like a depressing concept for comedy television. And yet, it’s considered a modern masterpiece, one worthy of the highest awards and acclaim. In short, this is because “Fleabag” exists as something much more than a surface level laugh. It’s there to heal you too, even if you never realized that you need healing in the first place. What’s more, the passion in its storytelling is clear, with lead actress Phoebe WallerBridge writing every single episode and Fleabag as a character truly evolving as she works through her trauma. Even the recent hit “Schitt’s Creek” has made waves with its more traditional sitcom formula as a rich family navigates losing all their fortune. It’s lead actors- father and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy created the show, with Dan Levy writing many of its episodes. Their characters are envisioned by them, and as a result are cared for much more than large writing teams churning out episodes just because that is what they are told to do. Someone like Alexis Rose, for example, begins as a dense socialite that cares about nobody but herself. As the show ends, however, she is completely changed, caring so deeply for those around her and thinking little about the life she once lived. There is thought put into every aspect, and it’s viewers can sense it as they watched the cast break records by sweeping every comedy category in the 2020 Emmy awards. The examples of comedy written by it’s lead actors are endless: “Barry” is almost entirely written by Bill Hader, “Ramy” is written by Ramy Youssef, “Insecure” is helmed by Issa Rae, and “What We Do in the Shadows” is under the watchful eye of creators Taika Watiti and Jemaine Clement from the original movie it’s based upon. Even long-running classics like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” or “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” are operated by its main actors. Each of these shows break genres in their own ways, and have become critically acclaimed over the past years as we watch its characters reach different forms of growth that many other sitcoms don’t consider. Formulaic sitcoms designed to be easy-watching and a continuous money maker for the networks that they live on are no longer relevant. That alone is the tricky part of comedy- it exists in the present, reflecting our current mindsets, moods, and troubles. And with thousands of shows being produced each year, it’s impossible to watch them allso finding ones that are meaningful and that give you room to grow with them is essential. I

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AFFECTS THE VIBE Words by Idalia Concha

A couple nights ago my friends and I were hanging out at their place just watching some casual TV when one of them disappeared into his room and called us over. Kevin had discovered that if you take the song “Better Off” by Ariana Grande on vinyl, lower the pitch, and raise the tempo range it makes the song deeper, soother, calming and overall, it makes “Better Off” sound lo-fi. Although making these adjustments did make Grande sound manly and a tad bit scary, it did so in a good way. Realizing what Kevin had done and discovered left us intrigued, fascinated and in awe. So, we all decided to continue our festivities in Kevin’s room and experiment a little more, but with different records, songs, and artists. Our friend Trevor was the first to notice the low-fi instrumentals in the song “Coastlines” by Wallows. Remaining intrigued and eager to learn more about why we reacted the way we did and why our mood and the vibe did a complete switch, Trevor began to explain and of course, we researched a bit ourselves. So, what is lo-fi music? Lo-fi is music or production quality that is typically imperfect, distorted or mellow, with limited frequency and a completely different sound from the original studio audio. And the quality of the sound found in lo-fi music is the crucial part in why the tone changes one’s mood or overall sound. This genre of music is low-quality on purpose. It is part of the beauty and aesthetic of lo-fi, but it also gives an effect of embracing and a sense of warmth. Going back to “Better Off,” without a doubt the studio version is top tier, but when it was transformed to lo-fi, I was amazed. I felt comfort, warmth, genuine and raw. In a way, I was at peace. The ability and simplicity of lo-fi’s music is to help listeners focus and feel calm. An element that comes into mind on what is considered low-fi is the calming aspect through the use of a low pitch. The low pitch aides in creating a relaxing environment, which is perfect for any last minute studying or assignments. It offers a sense of a break from all the craziness and frustration in which we can all relate due to the struggles of online classes. Another reason on how low-fi can influence our mood with a slow pitch is by providing a space for mindfulness. When I am working on an assignment, studying or just

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chilling out, I want a clear state of mind to get rid of any distractions that can halt my focus. When my mind is free of any distractions, I possess this ability that helps me gather my thoughts and comprehend information to finish my work while eliminating any intrusive thoughts. However, low pitch isn't the only tone that can evoke such emotions and feelings. A fast pitch can influence ourselves to have an uplifting and cheerful mood. When each low-fi song plays after each other with a high pitch, we are constantly provided with a feeling of rapid excitement. Similar to having a rush of dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter and hormone, to other songs. Although the ideal notion of lo-fi music is to strictly use beats and sounds, it does not mean that lo-fi is not lo-fi if the song includes lyrics. Typically lo-fi music is meant to help focus and study, therefore it is mainly instrumentals, but lo-fi music with lyrics evokes just the same energy and emotions as the ideal. Both instrumentals and lyrics have the ability and power to create strong emotions, connections and nostalgia. Lo-fi music helps put you at ease and in tune with your body and takes you to this serene and calm place within yourself. Lo-fi music is a genre I highly recommend everyone to listen to. Some popular artists include Joji, Chester Watson, Bishop Nehru, Potsu and Kupla, with my current favorite being “Letting Go” by Potsu. This genre of music is definitely one that allows you to reflect and create a deeper and personal attachment to the music. I

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ntil recently, I never really cared or wondered for lo-fi music. I know that it exists and I too have listened to it for studying and calming purposes, but I never considered why low-fi music is “lo-fi” and how much it affects oneself's mood and overall tone of a song or sound.

Illustration by Reilly Moss

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lo-fi HOW

FKA TWIGS TWIGS FKA

RECEIVES CRITICAL ACCLAIM, YET UNDERWHELMING SUPPORT IN HER LAWSUIT Words by Nicole Salcedo

Illustration by Reilly Moss

hen FKA Twigs came onto the scene in December of 2012, her genre-bending music caught the attention of many. Her style is often described as being haunting with an electronic influence. Genius, a music website dedicated to lyrics, compared her work to the likes of “Bjork, Portishead, The xx, Tricky, and Massive Attack.” Her collaborators Koreless and Skrillex liken her to “fire hydrant of ideas” and a “unicorn.” When Twigs first came out with EP1 and EP2, she received nods from Pitchfork, Spotify, BBC, and Billboard. Despite the critical acclaim that FKA Twigs has received in her short career, not much has been said about her lawsuit against her abuser and former boyfriend Shia LeBeouf. Shia LeBeouf and FKA Twigs met on the production of the film “Honey Boy,” which was written by LeBeouf and starred both him and Twigs. After working on the film, FKA Twigs and Shia LeBeouf developed a romantic relationship. The couple began dating in mid 2018, in which they were constantly seen with each other, however the couple enjoyed a very private relationship as they never photographed together. After nine months, the couple was reported to have split in May 2019. Due to the private nature of their relationship, not much was reported on their split. However, that all changed when FKA Twigs filed a lawsuit against Shia LeBeouf, accusing him of assault, sexual battery, and infliction of emotional distress. The lawsuit recounts the fits of rage that caused LeBeouf to violently attack her by throwing her against the car and strangling Twigs. When LeBeouf was not physically abusive, he would mentally abuse her by counting the number of kisses Twigs would give him. If she did not give him “enough” kisses, he would berate her. The abuse of LeBeouf

also produced health concerns, as the lawsuit claims that he knowingly gave Twigs an STD. Twigs describes the relationship as feeling “trapped” and being “profoundly disturbed and terrified.” Despite all the abuse that LeBeouf inflicted, Twigs initially did not want to file thelawsuit. Twigs and another one of LeBeouf’s victim’s Karolyn Pho, approached the situation by asking that LeBeouf receive treatment for mental health and substance abuse. In return, LeBeouf responded by downplaying the severity of the abuse and his condition. With no other choices, FKA Twigs proceeded with the lawsuit for the purpose of protecting other women from abuse by him. LeBeouf responded to the lawsuit in which he admitted to the abuse: "I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalization. I have been abusive to myself and everyone around me for years. I have a history of hurting the people closest to me. I’m ashamed of that history and am sorry to those I hurt. There is nothing I can really say." Despite LeBeouf admitting to the abuse, not much has been said about the lawsuit. There has been an underwhelming response from the industry and the public. It appears as though that the industry and public love Twigs’ Avant Garde music, yet her Avant Garde sound and race seem to be the reasons why nobody is showing solidarity for Twigs. When women came forward with their stories of abuse during the peak of the #MeToo Movement, there was an overwhelming and deserving amount of love and support for the survivors. However, I believe they received that support due to the fact that they were white women in mainstream media, which is why FKA Twigs, who is black and has a unique sound, is not receiving the same amount of support and solidarity. I want to clarify that the brave women that came forward with their stories do deserve all the love and support, but I argue that somebody like FKA Twigs deserves it as well. In the age of #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, I think FKA Twigs deserves more public solidarity and support. To say that the support and attention to her lawsuit (that her abuser admitted to) is upsetting and underwhelming, would be an understatement. If the industry and the world really cares about black people and survivors of abuse, I think a lot more should be done in order to convey those sentiments. I

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