The Flare Magazine No. 6

The Flare Magazine Ki lg o re C o lle g e

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Sp r i n g 2 0 1 5

the

TIME HOP issue

Fashion

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Music

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Changing Roles

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Portfolios

The Flare Magazine 1100 Broadway Kilgore, Texas 75662 kc_flare@yahoo.com www.theflareonline.com © 2015 by Kilgore College Flare

Editor.........................................Sara Holmes Ad Manager............................Savanah Boyd Photographers: Jessica Carrington, E’Lexus Hodge, Sara Holmes, Tiffany Johnson, Lonnie Ross, Story Sasseen and Tory Van Blarcum.

Writers: Kathryn Agee, Leah Bryce, Hunter Lohr, David McCarty and Victoria Whitwell.

Photography Adviser...........O. Rufus Lovett Editorial Adviser....................Rachel Stallard Design Adviser..................Jamie Maldonado

F e at u r e s No. 6 - Spring 2015

1 Fashion 6 Back in Groove 12 15 Alamo Defender Changing Roles 18

At the Drop of a Hat

portfolio by Sara Holmes

editorial by Victoria Whitwell

the feature by Hunter Lohr

feature by Leah Bryce

editorial by Kathryn Agee and David McCarty

24 In Her Skin Forever Dependent 26 Burning Down House 30

portfolio by E’Lexus Hodge

portfolio by Tiffany Johnson

the editorial by Kathryn Agee

Printed by Hudson Graphics, Inc. Longview, Texas

Pg. 6

Pg. 12

Pg. 18

DISCLAIMER: Staff positions are held by Kilgore College communications students. Comments and views expressed in The Flare Magazine reflect the thoughts of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of other students, staff members, faculty members, administrative officers or the Board of Trustees.

At the Drop of a Hat Photographs by Sara Holmes

I was charged with creating a series of fashion photographs. Point of view, attitude, clothing, lighting and spontaneity are the variables I used to generate a sense of chance. The instructions for the models were simple: “jump.” I was delighted as each jump photograph became an unexpected unique image that could never be identically repeated.

The Flare Magazine • Portfolio • 1

The Flare Magazine • Photographs by Sara Holmes • 2

The Flare Magazine • Portfolio • 3

The Flare Magazine • Photographs by Sara Holmes • 4

The Flare Magazine • Portfolio • 5

The Flare Magazine • Time Hop • 6

F a s hion To d a y ’ s f a s h i o n b o r r o w s f r o m t h e p a s t

Photographs by Sara Holmes

The Flare Magazine • Editorial • 7

The Flare Magazine • Time Hop • 8

T

oday’s trends are the era of the generational medley. Nothing is new under the sun in 2015.

Fashion is no longer identified by a person’s sex. Women’s trends can be based off of masculine style while the metrosexual has influenced the fashion market. Prints have become universally gender-neutral and it is not uncommon to see a woman dressed in a pantsuit, or a man in bright colors with fitted wear as a staple in his wardrobe. Statement pieces dating as far back as the early 1900s have made a comeback and head to toe, hodgepodge fashion is taking over.

Dressing up or dressing down, there is a hat for that! What better way to keep ears warm and stay casually cute than to wear a beanie? The modern-day beanie became popular in the 1940s when frat boys sported them. Today’s beanies come in all styles and colors and are as popular with some women as with men.

Some fashionable beanies are oversized and worn with leather or jean jackets. Urban beanies give a close fit to the cranium.

A hat soaring in favor is the Panama or bucket hat. First worn in the 20th century, Panama hats now come in ’80s-inspired colors and ’90s-inspired washes.

The Bohemian accessory that makes any outfit fabulously feminine is the floppy hat. Alive with color palettes from the 1960s, these hats lend themselves well to the 2015 fashionistas who often

add trimmings of lace from the 1920s or paisley prints from the 1970s. A floppy hat looks perfectly mod with a bold lip.

Whether plump or thin, bold ’80s lip colors can brighten up any face. Make-up in today’s fashion world has endless possibilities. It’s all about enhancing natural beauty. Highlighting and contouring has been a large factor in make-up. Earth-toned eyeshadows with bold liners can make any eye pop for the day, while pairing dark eyeshadows with thick eyeliner creates a more daring evening look.

If there was ever a trend in eyebrows, this would be the year of talking about it. In contrast to the thin tweezed look that was popular from 1910 to 1940, dark, arched eyebrows dominate the current make-up scene. The trend is thick but very well-groomed.

The more defined, the better! Cosmetics are a great avenue for expressing one’s style, but every outfit needs the right top to set it off.

Western shirts from the ’60s, denim popular in the ’70s, and ’90s flannel button-down tops have all made quite the comeback.

The modern button-down has received designer upgrades with lace from the ’20s and tribal prints reminiscent of the ’90s.

Working on a budget has never been easier with thrift and consignment shops offering affordable clothes. One treasure a thrift shop usually comes through with is a cable knit sweater. With popular brands like Coogi, cable knit sweaters are an established item in the closets of most clothes aficionados. There is no better The Flare Magazine • Fashion • 9

The Flare Magazine • Time Hop • 10

time than now to rock such colorful knitwear.

One of the best ways to pay homage to the past is with a vintage tee. Band tees, a 1970s craze, are a perfect way to express one’s self. Music inspires fashion, so what could be more natural than a tee for communicating one’s passion for music. Vintage shirts are quite the fashion must-have for trendy folks.

No matter what type of shirt, the look isn’t complete without the right kind of bottoms. Leggings, tight pants, skinny jeans and pencil skirts comprise only a part of the list. Leggings arrived on the fashion market in the late 1980s. They are more available and versatile than any other type of bottoms. There are solid colors, prints, high-waisted, workout, sleep and even leggings disguised as blue-jeans. Flats were once the standard footwear for leggings but as the styles have evolved, so have the shoes. It is not unusual to see leggings complemented by high-tops, boots or tennis shoes.

For the people who need a more relaxed fit, the 1990s are making a comeback with joggers. Joggers make a statement of cool with their tight fit cuffs and wacky designs. It’s the acceptable public pajama bottoms.

A flattering fashion piece is the pencil skirt of the 1940s. Hiphugging pencil skirts enjoy a wide market with a surprising current demand for hemlines below the knee. Pencil skirts can be worn as part of a suit with a blazer. A more casual approach is a highwaisted pencil skirt with a matching crop top and an additional option of a jacket.

Nothing says edgy like the 1940s bomber jacket. This fashion piece can be worn zipped up for a sleek statement or kept open for a more dangerous approach.

As pantsuits became more popular in the ’70s, so did blazers.

Blazers come in all different colors and prints that can tie an entire ensemble together. Little details such as printed cuffs or unique buttons make the blazer classy and smart.

For a casual look, the jean jacket is the right add-on. Jean jackets from the ’90s have become exceedingly popular. Normally worn with all black apparel, jean jackets give a pop of color and texture. However, many people like to wear their jean jackets with their ’70s-inspired vintage tees.

Fur vests, a throwback from the early 1900s, have also come full circle. Unlike the 1920s, fur vests today are normally made of faux fur. Faux fur saves you money and preserves wildlife as well.

A layering piece that now comes with a twist is the trench coat.

Once limited in color in the ’20s, trench coat selections come in bright ‘80s-inspired colors. Polka dots, a print prevalent in the ’50s also adorn trench coats. No matter what color, the trench coat is still a sophisticated fashion piece, especially when paired with a dress.

Except for those women willing to push the envelope, most females were generally attired in dresses until the 1950-1960s.

From the sack dresses of the 1920s, to the cinched waists of the 1940s, to the wandering waistline of the 1950s, the influence of the eras is evident in the dresses now hanging on department store racks.

Not only did waistlines wander in the 1950s, but hemlines have also taken their travels. Mini, midi, maxi and everything in between has appeared on the fashion scene. 2015 is the liberation

of dresses. If she wants to don a long, floral “sack dress,” she may.

If she wants to model a short, curve-accentuating black dress, she may. The possibilities are endless in 2015.

Shoes are anyone’s game. Whether it’s ’90s-esque combat boots or oxford shoes from the early 1900s, shoes make a statement of their own. Birkenstocks, from the late ’60s, come in cork, rubber and plastic. They can be worn as sandals or with socks and are the comfort shoe of choice for most college students.

A brand founded in 1964, Nike has dominated the world with its athletic shoes. Nike’s subsidiary brand, Converse, also known as Chuck Taylors, is still a shoe of choice after almost 110 years of being on the market. Converse shoes come in almost any style, color and pattern and are a staple in most closets.

Funny Face (1957) put ballet flats on the fashion industry map.

Flats are available in almost any color or design. Shops have ballet flats with sides cut out or a saddle strap added.

Vestiges of trends from 1910 on are still visible in the fashion industry, and anyone is free to imprint his or her own stylish mark on the next pages of garment history.

Perhaps Charm fashion writer Dawn Whittington says it best: “In today’s world, there’s no excuse to not know how to dress... we have blogs, magazines, TV shows, and Pinterest. So just find something that says you and match it up with what you have in your closet...and your girlfriend’s closet, too! In all honesty, my biggest piece of advice is to not get caught up in the “mash-ups” and fads of fashion, rather wear the correct size, no matter what that number says...rip out the tag. Flatter your body with what you put on. Be confident in what you choose...and remember that your best accessory is your smile! Love how you feel in the fashions you wear.”

- By Victoria Whitwell

The Flare Magazine • Fashion • 11

The Flare Magazine • Music • 12

Back in The

Groove

Everything Old is New Again

Photograph by Sara Holmes

A

s an audience, we constantly hear incarnations of old music styles with new twists. Imagine the Top 40 hit “Call Me Maybe,” by Carly Rae Jepsen completely reconfigured and accompanied with ragtime music, or the middle-class anthem “Royals,” by Lorde stripped down and led by the croon of a lounge singer disturbingly dressed as a dreary clown. It sounds like an unlikely mash-up, but Postmodern Jukebox is re-imagining these musical arrangements and proving that music does not have to be bound by genre.

The Flare Magazine • Feature • 13

Style

W

hat do genres have to do with music today?

Everything, but, at the same time nothing. Bands today do not have a specific set of genre rules to stick to. It seems the more original you can be, the better. In some cases, music takes a step back in time. The music of Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, or Old Crow Medicine Show is all reminiscent of the early 1900s, although Mumford has recently dropped the banjo and other acoustic instruments for their newest album. They are a mixture of folk, bluegrass, pop and rock, all in one. Many bands even cross genres with just some elements of their music, like harmonies.

Bahamas and TEAM* illustrate how harmonies in indie music take influence from the surf and psychedelia era.

“Musically, lots of recycled styles and genres make comebacks all the time,” said TEAM*’s manager J.R. Denson. “I think music comes in cycles and each time something new gets added.”

The album “Pet Sounds” by The Beach Boys is chock full of beautiful, intricate harmonies as heard in “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows,” that can be easily put beside some of Bahamas’ songs, including “All the Time,” and TEAM* tunes such as “Alone in My Room,” “Stay,” and of course, their own cover of “God Only Knows.” At face value, you may hear a few of the harmonies, but if you take some time to properly immerse yourself in the songs, maybe even a few times over, there are very low or very high harmonies as well to accompany the main vocals, especially in the case of The Beach Boys. The old sound often transfers into country as well.

The Flare Magazine • Photograph by Sara Holmes • 14

“With regard to country music, I have noticed that many people prefer the sound of traditional country over the more produced Nashville sound,” said Jan Foster, manager of local performing artist Chris Colston.

How long will the ‘old is new again’ be back? It’s hard to tell, but it is definitely here and growing.

Censorship

A

huge controversy in the music world is that of censorship. Pre-1960s, foul language was not something most had to worry about hearing in their favorite music. There was a different standard as to what was acceptable in public. However, this did not stop anyone from speaking their thoughts in music.

“Censorship kills all progress. From progress and experimentation come new genres, new sounds, new technology, and it drives innovation. Unfortunately it’s unavoidable, and it’s up to artists to constantly challenge censorship and barriers to progress,” Denson said.

Songs may have lacked in the explicit, four-letter word department, but many were heavy on euphemisms and innuendo. Think back to some of your favorite oldies. Do some of them make no sense if you pay attention to the lyrics in a literal sense? That’s most likely the work of clever word play.

As the 1960s and ’70s rolled around, music tended to keep with lyrics that were often about drugs, sex, or some other taboo subject, and started to break the cursing barrier, sometimes in a very obvious, intentional way.

Alamo Rock ‘n’ roll had it in Clapton’s “Cocaine,” and even country had help from Charlie Daniels’ “Long Haired Country Boy,” with lyrics such as “I get stoned in the morning, I get drunk in the afternoon.”

As the ’70s transitioned into the ’80s, things became more explicit. Now songs, with help from the hip-hop community, have become more offensive with drug references and profanities more common. It has all become so common that you can barely turn on the radio without hearing an edited version of every song. An artist should never be told to restrain his work, for he would no longer have creativity, but people do have control over what they hear. That’s why there is usually both a clean version and an explicit version to such albums. The question people must ask themselves is if they are content with hearing tampered art. The messages and topics music contains have not really changed, but the way they are delivered has.

Medium

T

here is almost no way to talk about music trends without addressing the elephant in the room – vinyl.

Say what you will about it being a “fashion statement” (I’m looking at you, Neil Young), but its sales are skyrocketing, while sales on every other form of musical medium keep falling. According to Time Online, “more than 9.2 million vinyl records were sold in the U.S. last year, marking a 52 percent increase over the year before.“ “It’s a massive industry and revenue driver for bands,” Denson said. Foster added, “One thing I have noticed is that over the years, artists have gotten away from making full CDs of their music to sell and now release single EPs.” Continued on page 17

Defender

S

AN ANTONIO – Waves of sound float through the air, paused only by the small crackle of the needle against the vinyl. Piles upon piles of albums fill up the grand space, appearing to be a hoarder’s dream world. Anything from The Beach Boys to Etta James finds itself in the stacks of the old vinyls separated only by dust.

Near where the soft sounds of Ella Fitzgerald play from the spinning black disc, a man in a fiery scarlet Hawaiian shirt, topped with a sunhat, sits gently swaying to the beat of the harmony.

During his life, Will Day has followed his love for music throughout the state of Texas, until finally he ended up in San Antonio as the owner of Alamo Records. After years as a guitar teacher and seller, he discovered the vinyl sounds that represented the musical past and created a sense of nostalgia in him.

“When I was a sophomore in high school, I was in a band called Barbara and the Generations. We would work a couple hours most nights and would make $10-$15 a night, which doesn’t sound like much, but back in the 1970s it was,” Day said. “Then, after almost making a record deal, I went back to school and eventually college at the University of Texas at Austin, where I stopped doing music for a while.”

After leaving UT with a major in philosophy, Day found his way back into music, but this time teaching guitar lessons to local Victoria, Texas, residents.

One day, he realized that he was sending his students to guitar shops when he could make more money by both selling guitars and continuing to teach his lessons.

“I finally said, ‘Look, these guys that are selling these musical instruments aren’t any better than me,’ and so I found a way to get guitars to sell,” Day said. “After a while doing that, I dropped everything and left to go to the Valley where I lived in my car while I sold guitars at the flea market called Bargain Bizarre, which is where

Continued on the next page The Flare Magazine • Feature • 15

Alamo

Defender

Continued from page 15:

I started selling vinyls.”

Living his life as a nomad, Day traveled all over Texas, but only staying for a few years in each location. In the Valley, he discovered the beauty of vinyls and traded his guitar business for a record selling business.

Eventually, he migrated from the Valley to downtown San Antonio where he has remained for the past 25 years with his record store. In that time, according to Day, he expanded his musical taste from country to a variety of genres through the ages.

“I like a variety, some pop, like The Beatles and stuff like that, but I don’t really collect groups, just certain songs - If they are well done,” Day said. “I like music from the twenties, which was called flapper music, and comedy songs. I made a 40 CD set from some old records so I don’t actually have to handle them and put wear on them. I also The Flare Magazine • Alamo Defender • 16

like jump, shout and honk songs, which is post WWII music. Honk would be the saxophone, but not the big band sound.”

Although music is his life, he still hesitates to listen to modern music because of its dissonance and lack of meaning. Times like 1970s which were filled with artists such as The Beatles and James Taylor are his preference, which he calls the “singer-songwriter era.”

“If it doesn’t really have a melody or chord progression, then I don’t really consider it music,” Day said. “Take rap for example. Most of that is just spoken words to a beat and people griping and complaining about how bad America is, with gold jewelry and their hoes hanging all over them. This modern stuff like Usher and people like that, they don’t have melodies anymore. Everything is sort of a protest and most of it is theatrical or promotional.”

Often, he finds himself using his degree in philosophy and applying

Continued from page 15:

Extended play records or “EPs” are shorter forms of long play records or “LPs.” Instead of a normal 10-12 song record you get with an LP, you get about 5-8 songs on an EP, depending on the length of the songs or other variables.

Then there is the question of whether vinyl sounds better than digital. The answer to that differs among people since many factors can affect opinions. The quality headphones or speakers you listen with, the quality of the digital file or vinyl you own, and even whether you are listening in mono or stereo can change your listening experience. Some people are audiophiles who can hear the smallest of details present in a song, while some cannot tell a difference or do not care.

One important thing that the uproar of vinyl purchases brings is tangibility. With digital files, the bare minimum you get is the song with no artwork attached.

At most (thanks to certain albums on iTunes) you get the artwork, a digital copy of the album booklet and a couple of bonus songs. All of that is fine, but nothing beats finally holding the CD or album you’ve wanted in your hands and reading the lyric booklet along with the songs as they play.

The music industry has taken notice and is making limited edition versions of albums or bringing back cassette tapes as a rare piece of memorabilia. This can include colored vinyl, vinyl with a picture printed on it or even a record with special features like hidden songs, different track orders and engraved holograms in the case of Jack White’s newest album, “Lazaretto.” While these tactics haven’t won everyone over just yet, they do deliver that feeling of tangibility and the experience of having a physical object in hand.

Photograph by Tory Van Blarcum

it to the music he listens to. According to Day, music represents the internal harmony everyone possesses versus the external dissonance that surrounds everyone. All beauty is reflected in our true inner being and the reason why people choose their musical preference is because they are hearing themselves through the harmonies of what they’re listening to.

“There are certain things that we are born with of standards and of measurement, I call it pre-established harmony,” Day said. “We were born with it. I do believe that when we hear beautiful music or see beautiful art it reflects the harmony that we internally possess.

Visual art transcends into internal harmony. Only the people in rebellion from their internal harmony find themselves drawn to

chaos and ugliness.”

Music will constantly evolve, new genres are created and old genres will continue to resurface. Of course, the old genres are slightly tweaked when they make their way back around, but they’re still recognizable to many people’s ears. This is evident in the music we listen to today, which goes to prove that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

- By Hunter Lohr

- By Leah Bryce

The Flare Magazine • Back in the Groove • 17

Photograph by Sara Holmes

The Flare Magazine

Changing SPECIAL REPORT

Roles

Not long ago, the roles of men and women

were clearly defined. Men worked and financially supported the family, and women raised families and did household chores. The counter-culture movement began a seismic shift in gender roles.

Today’s

young

adults

redefine

the

old

ways.

F

eminism is a hot-button word in 2015.

opportunities. For example, welding offers job opportunities all

Frequently misinterpreted, it is often thrown

over the world for skilled welders, as well as good salaries for

around when women show assertion or

experience.”

power, or take on roles and jobs that are traditionally held by males.

“It’s

important

for

Saunders said the attitude toward females in the workplace “has changed over the last 70 years. It’s a slow process, but

females

to

since the first women stepped up during World War II to take

take male-oriented jobs because it breaks stereotypes and

over jobs when all the men left for the military, we haven’t been

misconceptions,” said KC student and feminist Mindy Coleman.

content to stay home for the most part. It’s a matter of more

“People often buy into the false idea that women aren’t physically

women joining the technological and scientific fields that are

or mentally capable of doing work that the male gender does.

traditionally male-driven.”

This is a misconception that needs to be abolished and by giving more women these jobs, we can do that.”

At KC, degrees traditionally obtained by females are overwhelmingly still obtained by female students. Spring 2015, the nursing program was 88.4 percent female and 11.6 male, early childhood programs were 87.5 percent female and 12.5 percent male, and the cosmetology program was 97.3 female and 2.7 percent male.

The data at KC holds true for men as well. The auto body repair program was 95.8 percent male and 4.2 percent female, welding was 93.3 percent male and 6.7 percent female, and the police academy was 94.1 percent male and 5.9 percent female.

“Male” programs (generally the more white collar programs) at KC have about as much female enrollment as they do male. The general business and management program was 49.3 percent female and 50.7 percent male, agricultural science was 44 percent female and 56 percent male, and mathematics was 43.8 percent female and 56.2 percent male.

KC welding technology student LeighAna Saunders is in the minority, being female in a male-dominated field. “In the welding industry, I think the percentage of women is something like six-10 percent,” she said. “Companies are looking for female welders. It sounds funny, but women are smaller and have smaller hands. We can get into tight spaces!”

Saunders chose the welding program because of “job prospects and salary statistics as well as interesting

The Flare Magazine • Changing Roles - Women • 20

Saunders was also in the U.S. Army for four years. Females Continued on page 22

A

s the world continues to change,

disciplinarian. Remember the classic, yet frightening saying your

so do the roles people take. Not

mother used: “Just wait till your father gets home.”

long

ago

divorce

was

nearly

Dads now push swings at the park or take the kids to

unheard of; people stuck together

Pixar films. From stay-at-home dads to divorced fathers with full

no matter what. Now, with the

custody of the children, the man’s role has evolved tremendously.

divorce rate rising, the economy

People like myself, who either grew up without a father or

changing and more women entering the workforce, the man’s

had a father who was rarely around, often said, “When I have a

role has changed significantly.

kid I will be the best father ever, and I will be there for my kids no

Just more than 50 years ago, the father was the

matter what.” The growing numbers of young men who lacked

breadwinner and the wife cared for the home and children.

a father figure in their formative years has effected a societal

Men worked from dawn till dusk and assumed the role of family

change.

Diptych by Jessica Carrington

KC Sociology instructor, Tina Rushing, recently discussed how gender roles have changed. During the 1980s and ‘90s custody was nearly always given to the mother of the child.

Known for being nurturing and having “mama bear” tendencies, it seemed to be a no-brainer. However, in the ‘70s, the “No Fault” divorce became legal without either party proving wrong doing. Rushing explained how this has led to more divorces and consequently more single people in America than ever before.

Single dads bear the burden of demonstrating their emotional attachments to their children. One example is Michael Brown.

With multiple tattoos and body piercings, the KC fine arts student doesn’t fit many people’s preconceived ideas of what a primary caregiver looks like. It’s only after engaging Brown in conversation does one discover what he calls his, “true calling in life.” Brown is dad to four children, ages 5 to 16. Three of them call his home their primary residence. Brown works, attends school and coaches his kids’ soccer teams. He also runs the household.

“Besides learning how to change diapers, my biggest challenge has been dealing with emotions and learning Continued on page 23

The Flare Magazine • Changing Roles - Men • 21

Continued from page 20:

in the military are more and more commonplace.

Kelly Agee has been a Mass Communication Specialist

an ability to be in charge and be a leader no matter what gender we are.”

3rd Class in the U.S. Navy for three years. She joined the Navy

Even the most famous and successful women are still

“so that I could be able to travel the world. I chose my rate,

judged by their gender instead of their experience. As soon

or job, because I have always loved everything that it entails,

as Hillary Clinton announced she would be running for U.S.

such as writing stories, recording video, broadcasting, radio,

President, she was immediately criticized for her gender instead

photography and public affairs.”

of her politics.

Agee said, “In my job, there are about 30 people in my

“It’s wonderful that Clinton has announced that she will

shop on my ship and eight are women. The most interesting

be running for president. It’s very exciting to see our country

thing I have learned being a female in the Navy is that you really

becoming more diverse,” Coleman said. “It’s really disappointing

are treated the same. You are expected to do the same work as

that anyone would doubt her capabilities based on the fact that

the males and yes, that includes being able to do hard manual

she is female.”

labor. You aren’t seen as a female or a male, but as a United

Agee agrees, “I think it is great that women want to run

States sailor. We are given a great opportunity in our lives and

for office, but I’m not a person that would vote for Hillary just because of her sex. I think that some people are criticizing her for being a woman, but it is 2015 and the world is changing and becoming a more acceptable place, which is great; so I believe a lot of people don’t like her because of her political stance as well.”

Feminism doesn’t mean that women are better than men.

Females want to be paid the same as their male counterparts, share equal responsibilities in the household and eradicate the fear of being sexually harassed at work.

“Doing any traditionally male job is a matter of determination,” Saunders said. “There have to be women who are willing to step up and open the doors.”

Women will continue to push boundaries and redefine what makes a job “male” or “female.” Anyone should be able to take the career path she chooses and is most skilled to do.

“It is important for women to pursue traditionally maleoriented jobs so they can inspire the younger generation of girls to pursue whatever they might want to do,” Agee said. “I think back in the day when women couldn’t have male jobs it was negative because women weren’t expected to be able to make money for themselves and be independent. I love how the world has changed and has allowed us to follow our dreams. A job shouldn’t be considered just for a male or female. Careers and jobs don’t have a sex.”

Photograph by Sara Holmes

The Flare Magazine • Changing Roles - Women • 22

- By Kathryn Agee

Continued from page 21:

organization skills,” Brown said.

Taking kids to art, dance and soccer can be difficult to juggle. Keeping track of where everyone is and when he or she needs to be picked up can be frantic, but being organized is key.

Brown regrets that his children have paid the price of his failed relationships.

“It’s not my kids’ fault that this happened,” he said. “We as a society have found it’s easier to run away from a problem instead of face it and that is what we do now.”

And while he may seem like a tough guy on the outside, just a few minutes of talking about his tattoos shows one where his heart is. For instance, the butterfly on his knuckle reminds him of his youngest daughter and the fragility of life. A turtle tattoo for his son reminds Brown to slow down and enjoy the journey.

“I’m rebuilding myself,” Brown said. “I’m just now figuring out who I am as a dad and a person. Your kids can teach you how to be a parent.”

KC admission counselor Alex Knox shares custody of his 5-year-old son Bryson with an ex-girlfriend.

“One main challenge I have faced is balancing my work life with being a father,” Knox said. His son stays with him during the summer months because work is not too hectic during this time. He worries about leaving him at daycare while he is at work, and if his son’s friends are being picked up before him.

Knox is also working on obtaining a master’s degree in counseling, so his hands are full at times. Knox, who’s closest family member is four hours away, is still new to the area.

Bryson lives with his mother four hours away in Wichita Falls. “I’ve missed a lot of things in his life,” Knox said.

One thing Knox has to consider as a single parent is his

Photograph by Lonnie Ross

child around,” he said. “You don’t want to get them too involved in your child’s life if it’s not going to become anything more serious down the road.“ “I believe it is a misconception that single fathers are not as effective caregivers as mothers,” he said. His son has never said anything to Knox that made him feel as if his mother was better or more suited for him. The “mother’s TLC” has changed over recent years and he has noticed more single dads. “Whatever the reason may be, we are quickly dispelling that myth.”

The world is changing and it’s important that we know and acknowledge this change. Fathers have come a long way in recent years and they are just now getting started. With society evolving, divorce rates higher than ever, and singles thriving in the cities, this situation will become even more prevalent in the future. Mr. Mom is here and slowly consuming the new era of fatherhood.

- By David McCarty

social life.

“When you’re dating or you find someone who’s becoming ‘more than friends,’ you have to be careful who you bring your

The Flare Magazine • Changing Roles - Men • 23

In Her Skin Photographs by E’Lexus Hodge

It is my fascination with the human form that has led to these self-form and figure interpretations.

Looking upon myself, I discovered endless possibilities revealing the simple beauty of the physical form, shape and texture of our bodies.

The Flare Magazine • Portfolio • 24

Forever Dependent Photographs by Tiffany Johnson

Autism is becoming a well known subject in our world today.

Perhaps many have misunderstandings of the struggles families face in their daily lives as they learn to cope with autism. Working with these children for years in the public school system has rewarded me with a high regard for these families. Their daily challenges will last a lifetime. Their children may never lead what society deems a normal life, but for them, this is their normal for a lifetime. I photographed three families to bring their struggles to the front lines of autism awareness.

The Flare Magazine • Portfolio • 27

Wouldn’t

it be nice?

Hindsight

g n i n r u B The

Down

House

the new generation household

The Flare Magazine • Photographs by Sara Holmes • 30

is 20/20. Our interpretation of the world ebbs and flows with age and experience. The Beach Boys song “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” seems like a straight-forward lovelorn ode to youthful romantic desires. However, after the experience of actually being in an adult, romantic relationship, the lyrics stating “We could be married, and then we’d be happy, oh wouldn’t it be nice?” come off as a sardonic, idealized view of a future that in reality will never be perfect. Millennials may have a better chance at making that once unattainable future a reality by testing the waters before marriage by cohabitating.

Cohabitation is when two people live together and have an emotionally or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term basis without getting married. In the past, men and women rarely lived together before marriage. It was considered immoral and taboo for men and women to cohabitate. Men were thought of as flaky and uncommitted if they didn’t take the step of proposing to a woman, and women were thought of as loose and impure if they lived with a man out of wedlock.

However, because of shifting attitudes in society, by the 1990s, couples living together went from being uncommon to up to 60 percent of couples cohabitating before marriage.

According to a 2013 report from the National Center of Health Statistics, 50 percent of women from age 15 to 44 said their first union was cohabitation rather than marriage.

Although social attitudes have become more lax over the years, cohabitating is still seen by some as unethical and

Photographs by Sara Holmes

even sinful. The issue of cohabitation is far more complex, extending far beyond people’s personal judgment.

For example the stress and everyday struggles of college life can be greatly alleviated by having a person to share financial and emotional burdens with. It is a relief to have a home to come to, with someone there for help and support in life. Many college students realize this when leaving their family home to attend school. KC theater student Annalise Powell has been living with her fiancé for a year and a half. “I’d only lived with girls before,” she said.

“Then I moved in with my fiancé and his best friend. Living with someone else, you learn things such as patience, boundaries, sharing, and respecting other people’s space.”

Some students choose to live with another person because, although they don’t want to be tied down, trying to be financially stable as a college student is tough. Sable Bass, KC psychology major, said her boyfriend “moved in after a few months because it was cheaper and easier for us to live together than for him to drive back and forth from his parents [house].”

With student loans, books, fees and transportation, it makes more sense to split the costs with someone else. “It did help me financially this year because he goes to school and works instead of making me pay all the bills alone,” Bass said. Learning how to balance the bills, depending on the person, can be an eye-opening experience. “I knew how to budget before I moved in, but he couldn’t,” said Crystal Akers, KC safety engineering student. “So, financially, living together didn’t help. He was a burden financially.”

It’s very common for people who have grown up with divorced parents to choose cohabitation after seeing the results of their parents’ marriage dissolve before their eyes. It makes students more cautious when choosing a partner to marry. They want to be absolutely, 100 percent certain that the person they will be married to is the person they will be staying with. “Many of our parents have been through divorces and would rather us wait,” Bass said. “It is a lot cheaper and easier to break up than to get divorced.”

According to a NOLO conducted survey in 2014, divorce can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $20,000. The costs from attorney’s fees, hidden taxes, court costs and refinancing costs can quickly add up to put a divorcing couple far into debt.

Because of more liberal viewpoints with each generation, young people feel less moral stigma when it comes to living with a partner. Akers’ mother and grandmother “didn’t disapprove” of her moving in with her partner, “but they weren’t happy about it. They believe you should be married first.” Students take an important and necessary step in life by asserting that their viewpoints are different from prior generations. Everyone growing up must establish their own beliefs independent from what they were raised around. “We live in a conservative, sheltered area,” Powell said. “My fiancè’s grandparents aren’t really happy about us moving in together. They’re Seventh Day Adventists and aren’t thrilled about it, but there comes a point in life when you have to do what’s best for you.”

The Flare Magazine • Editorial • 31

Relationships are bound to flower between college students who spend the majority of their days around each other. These new couples may want to test the waters by living together, and offering co-ed dorms at school could make it easier on the couples. KC does not currently have co-ed dorms. “I think they should have more dorms period,” Powell said. “It’s part of the college experience.” Bass, however, thinks that “people here are not mature enough to follow rules that are in place now. I think that with our student body it would only cause more problems to offer co-ed housing.”

Cohabitation can provide a way for two people to help each other out financially without having to be tied down by a marriage license. Millennials, because of increases in technological access and knowledge, are very tech-savvy and logically minded. They also happen to not be interested in long-term ideas and products, preferring to rent an apartment rather than invest in owning a house. College students who live in big cities ride bikes and walk because of convenience and affordability. This lack of commitment to material items has bled over, and now applies to how people maintain themselves in relationships as well. The expansion of a Tinder-obsessed worldview of disposable boyfriends and

girlfriends can cause some to not want to look for a longterm partner.

Young people today realize that trying to fit their lives into a cookie-cutter mold of outdated married life is not realistic. They can’t trust themselves or others to stick around forever, but still want to experience life and love with a partner while it does last. Striving to have cake and eat it too, and to make happy memories in the moment is the ideal, regardless of whether it leads to a long-term commitment or not. Some college students are absolutely determined not to live the life their parents and grandparents lived, being stuck in loveless and harmful matrimony. They not only accept and understand the paradoxical reality of love, but relish in it and make it work.

Philosopher George Santayana famously said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Millennials won’t forget the past when it comes to relationships, and only time will tell if the societal change will help or harm future generations. No matter what, cohabitation is no longer a taboo and will continue to be on the rise in the years to come.

- By Kathryn Agee

Photographs by Sara Holmes

The Flare Magazine • Burning Down the House • 32

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The Flare Magazine • 33

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