T H E
L I N N - B E N T O N
C O M M U N I T Y
C O L L E G E
All Things Fall VOL. 53 EDITION 6
NOV. 3, 2021
The Commuter Holds an Open Photography Contest
PHOTO: BRENDA AUTRY
A hidden forest trail bridge creates a picturesque image of fall surrounded by luscious colors of red, yellow, orange, and green. PHOTO: TRISH LUNCEFORD
Is this a painting or a photograph? Trish Lunceford plays with shadow work and creates an image of wonder. PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
PHOTO: RACHEL BISCOE
The soft amber glow of the setting sun sets a classic fall vibe.
Mushroom hunting is a popular pastime here in the Northwest, and Sabrina Dedek has captured some of the magic in the activity. Perhaps you’ll find a woodland sprite hiding under these mushrooms.
PHOTO: ISITMITCHELL
PHOTO: STAR SPARKS
A sord of Mallard ducks gathers waterside, with their hues of green and brown ever so vibrant. Check out winner
Star Sparks conveys the variety that is of pumpkins. Give Star.1869 a follow for more.
isitmitchell 's
Instagram for more of their work.
Inside this Edition
GRAPHICS FREEPIK.COM
DAY OF THE DEAD
SEE PAGE 3
COVID VACCINE DEBATE
SEE PAGE 4
THROUGH THE LENS
SEE PAGES 6-7
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CAMPUS NEWS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Wellness Wednesday Challenge by Choice STORY BY
LISA HOOGESTEGER
The Commuter is the weekly student-run newspaper for LBCC, financed by student fees and advertising. Opinions expressed in The Commuter do not necessarily reflect those of the LBCC administration, faculty and students of LBCC. Editorials, columns, letters, and cartoons reflect the opinions of the authors. LBCC is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Letters Welcome The Commuter encourages readers to use its “Opinion” pages to express their views on campus, community, regional and national issues. The Commuter attempts to print all submissions received, but reserves the right to edit for grammar, length, libel, privacy concerns and taste. Opinions expressed by letter submitters do not represent the views of the Commuter staff or the College. Deliver letters to: Address: The Commuter Forum 222 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, OR 97321 Web Address: LBCommuter.com Phone: 541-917-4451, 4452 or 4449 Email: commuter@linnbenton.edu Twitter @LBCommuter
Welcome to November! Remember this Monday is Daylight Saving Time so be sure to turn your clocks back an hour. You should also be sure to use that time wisely. I think about this related to an educational path, and lots of everyday experiences. Where can you challenge yourself to do the thing that’s kind of uncomfortable but has an upside too? What are you worried about? In your head about? Are there things you constantly ponder, like the ‘What if’s’? What about if you just did it and quit being in your head? What could you learn? Really, no one is looking. Everyone is in their own head and paying a lot less attention to you than you think. What kind of things are you in your head about? Going to an office hour with an instructor? Speaking up in class? Trying out a new LBCC student club? Going to a party where you don’t know anyone? Baking a cake from scratch? Doing yoga? Talking with that person in your writing class? Doing something that scares you? Going against the “usual” and predictable? To grow, we need to challenge ourselves, push a bit, get uncomfortable. You know like our muscles need stress to grow? It should be a little bit hard. That’s how you get stronger. A few quotes along these lines -
"Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt “A ship in a harbor is safe. But that’s not what ships are built for.” - John Shedd “There’s something liberating about not pretending. Dare to embarrass yourself. Risk.” – Drew Barrymore “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” – Goethe “Go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is." - Jimmy Carter “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” - Jim Rohn
PHOTO:FREEPIK.COM
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NOVEMBER 3, 2021
CAMPUS NEWS
3
Happy Day of the Dead! A Brief History About the Day of the Dead
STORY BY AVERY LEON-CASTILLO For Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), the IEDI (the Institution for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,) had a celebration over Zoom at LBCC. Hosting the event was Riley Coleman, Leo Butler, and Rosario Romero, who are all student leaders of IEDI, as well as LBCC Student Leadership Council member Victoria Aguas, and SLC Advisor Rob Camp. The celebration opened with vibrant and colorful slides presented by Romero, which showed us what Dia de los Muertos represents. She explains that it is “a celebration of life and death itself, the transition.” The main purpose is to remind the leaving that death is not to be feared, but simply a transition. It is said that on this day, the veil between the land of the living and the land of the dead is thin, so the dead come back to celebrate with their living family. Romero shares this holiday’s origins, and why it started in the first place. She explains that before the Spaniards conquered Mexico, it was populated by the Aztecs. They believed that death was a very important and natural part of life.
Dia de los Muertos began because they believed that when somebody dies, their soul travels to Chicunamictlan, also called “The Land of the Dead,” where they would go through nine challenging levels in order for their soul to rise up to Mictlán, another version of heaven. Families and friends build altars to leave food, tools, and things that the person [spirit] enjoyed while on earth. These are called ofrendas, translating to ‘offerings,’ and they are left there so that they [the spirits] may take it back with them to the afterlife. “In pre-Hispanic communities, it was common to preserve skulls as trophies that represented death and rebirth,” says Romero. Dia de los Muertos is not a Hispanic version of Halloween like so many think. It’s roots are embedded in connection with their dead loved ones whereas Halloween originated from the Pagan protection holiday, Samhain. The art associated with this holiday also has its own unique history. The image of the skulls that people take as a symbol for Day of the Dead didn’t have this connotation until the 20th century. Skulls in this era were used to depict politicians, and in 1910, a cartoonist called José Guadalupe Posada made a well known piece named
La Calavera Catrina. It depicts a female skeleton wearing an elegant dress and having makeup on. The drawing was made to describe how people in Mexico were adopting European culture instead of continuing their own. Now, this image is one of the most recognized symbols for Dia de los Muertos. On this holiday, it is popular to have face and body paint depicting skulls with lively colors and the colors all have meaning. Leo Butler explains that red represents blood; orange represents the sun; yellow represents the marigolds spread throughout homes and paths, in which to symbolize death itself; purple shows pain, or in other cultures, wealth and royalty; pink and white represent purity and celebration; and the color black symbolizes the Land of the Dead.
Not only do people celebrate by painting their skin, they also make treats like sugar skulls, “Dead Bread,” which is placed on altars as nourishment for the dead when they return; and sweet bread. These all have important pieces that symbolize Dia de los Muertos. ‘Dead Bread’ is bread that is baked with dough in the shape of bones or skulls. It is also known as sweet bread, or pan dulce. Marigolds, specifically Mexican Marigolds or Tagetes Lucida, are also an extremely important symbol for the holiday. Romero explains that the flower itself - petals, color, and shape - represent the Sun which in Mexican culture is considered a symbol for the cycle of life and death. A scent associated with death, Marigolds are also used to make paths to a deceased one’s grave or old home because the smell is so distinct, it is believed that it aids in getting people from the Land of the Dead safely back home to celebrate with their family. Dia de los Muertos is a day to celebrate your loved ones’ life and to honor their death. Many cultures celebrate one like it and they are all bound to grow and change as time goes on and traditions change. Be sure to learn more about the tradition, and be sure to join the IEDI next year for another celebration.
Collected Works of Our Collected Wordsmiths LBCC Releases 'A Unique Poetry Legacy' — A Showcase of Our College’s Student Poet Laureates STORY BY LEAH BIESACK All right, we’ll admit it — we have poetry fever right now. Last month, The Commuter had the pleasure of sitting down with LBCC’s current student poet laureate, Sophia Griffith, honored to hear about her projects and intentions for the poetry life of both our campus and extended community. The timing is nothing short of rhythmic, as it often is with poetry, that our college has just released a compilation of work from past student poet laureates of LBCC. A Unique Poetry Legacy gives insight on this historical position, as well as showcases our student poet laureates from 2008-2020. Along with an introduction from our past reigning minstrels, each has generously provided a few of their poems, making this publication an incredibly rich and diverse read.
Everyone thinks roadrunners are all about speed, but we’re clever as hell, too. Robin Havenick, the former poetry club faculty advisor, and an editor of this publication, encompasses the depth and heart of ‘A Unique Poetry Legacy’ in her introduction;”…at LBCC, the ancient power of poetry thrives. Poetry has given us a way to say to each other in community what can’t be said in any other way — to affirm our deepest selves, to witness, and to celebrate. Our laureates know this magical power of poetry, feel it, and honor it.” It’s a truly special thing for LBCC to have such an historical and important position of the arts on campus. What better way to honor our past leaders and their words than through this treasure of a compilation. Find a free downloadable ebook version of A Unique Poetry Legacy on the
library website.
Poetry Club virtually meets Mondays from 2pm - 4pm. All are
welcome! Follow the zoom (and also your heart, but first the zoom.)
A Warm Red Autumn A seasonally-inspired reading of poetry & prose in celebration of fall. Invited readers include community leaders, LBCC retirees, and poets.
Friday, November 5th 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Join in by Zoom: https://linnbenton.zoom.us/j/93761113940
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CAMPUS NEWS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
LBCOMMUTER.COM
COVID Vaccine Mandate Debate
The Braver Angels Host a Civil Discourse Event to Debate Whether LB Should Have a Vaccine Mandate STORY BY AVERY LEON-CASTILLO The year 2020 was difficult for a lot of us. There was a global pandemic in which, gobally, over 246 million people died of the COVID-19 virus. On May 14 of this year, the vaccine for the virus was approved to be administered to people 12 years and older. By the month of October, over 3.8 billion people worldwide have been vaccinated. The CDC reported that as of Friday, the global 7-day infection average is above 68 thousand. Last Tuesday, 501 nonprofit New York-based organization, Braver Angels, held a debate in conjunction with LBCC’s Civil Discourse Program over whether or not LB should mandate the COVID-19 vaccine. With 59 attendees, chairman of the debate Doug Sprei, a Communications and Campus Partnership Director at University of Rochester, calmly and collectively organized the passionate energy that filled the static air of the Zoom room, along with LB communications professor and Civil Discourse Program advisor, Mark Urista. There were six speakers overall; two assenting speeches and two dissenting speeches. They each had exactly four minutes to speak and
afterwards had an open forum for questions. The first speaker, whose view was for the mandate, was LB student Nicholas May who is also a member of the Civil Discourse Program. May suggests that “the mandate will help make our campus safer, put our minds at ease, and move the pandemic towards the backburner.” He said “pandemic fatigue is causing a lot of the stress around the virus, and getting people vaccinated as much and as soon as we can will put this [the pandemic] to rest.” Grace Georg, also a student, asks May if he is “including masks when
he speaks about ‘reaching a finish line’ or is he trying to no longer have a [mask] mandate?" In response, May explains how he hopes that masks would become less necessary, but socially if someone did feel ill, he’d hope they continued to use masks. The next speaker who was for the opposing side was LB student and member of the Civil Discourse Program, Cheyenne Rider. In her opening statement, Rider states, “being against a mandate doesn’t mean being against the vaccine,” and that “the vaccine is not the total solution and it has become an extremely political issue.” Rider feels that “the choice to
get vaccinated or not has now become an identity.” She also stated that she believes LB has already been doing a good job at protecting it’s students by continuing the mask mandate, improving air quality and the HVAC systems, and providing us with free COVID testing. Rider believes that “forcing us to get vaccinated will create a false sense of security and will put people with religious and medical exemptions at more risk.” She also emphasises on the importance of education around the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine’s availability for those who want it: “I believe that education and not force is the best way to encourage vaccination.” “I believe we should trust the science [behind vaccines], however, when it comes down to personal freedom, things get messy. This is America, and we have personal freedom,” said Rider. Overall, many points during the debate were brought up by both sides of the argument. Sprei aided in keeping the conversation on track and timely, as well as respectful. Stay tuned for an interview with chairman Doug Sprei.
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Come Get Some Lunch! Check out what LBCC's 2nd Year Culinary Students have to offer!
Hours:
Monday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tuesday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Thursday: 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Friday: CLOSED Saturday: CLOSED Sunday: CLOSED ONLY OPEN ON SCHOOL DAYS
Order Here:
LFFORMS.LINNBENTON.EDU/FORMS/ CULINARYORDERFORM
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CAMPUS NEWS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
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Halloween at the SLC! The Student Leadership Council Held Their Annual Halloween Festivities at the Albany Campus on October 29 PHOTO: AVERY LEON-CASTILLO
Victoria (left), Marissa, and Morgan laugh while viewing their official promotional video on LBLive. The SLC says; “Go! Download! LBLive!”
PHOTO: KRISTA FORTENBERRY
Ian and Levi face off in a battle of Witches in front of the SLC on Friday, October 29.
PHOTO: AVERY LEON-CASTILLO
After explaining and demonstrating the ‘smolder,’ Serenity Wilson laughs.
PHOTO: KRISTA FORTENBERRY PHOTO: RAY ROMBECK
Group-selfie with Ray (front), Magdalena, Victoria, Morgan, and Marissa
Ian posing for a portrait with a skull in his Witch outfit
PHOTO: KRISTA FORTENBERRY
Jolene’s costume is a rendition of the Beatles, specifically John Lennon complete with a beard and round glasses
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Marissa (left) and Victoria strike a pose.
Levi poses as a witch in the LB courtyard.
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Avery poses with the big Spider from the SLC on the last Friday of October. PHOTO: AVERY LEON-CASTILLO
Everybody walks away to spread Halloween cheer in their costumes: Morgan dressed as an Amish man, Marissa dressed as a Greek Goddess, Skylar Paul dressed as a sheriff, Victoria as Cleopatra, and LB’s very own; Rocky the Roadrunner.
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LOCAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Through the Lens
LB Photojournalists Capture Life’s Little Moments PHOTOS: LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS
ABOVE- Dayton breaks their post game huddle after defeating Amity 14-6 in overtime to clinch a league title and sixth seed heading into playoffs, at Amity High School, on Friday, Oct. 29. LEFT- Dayton head coach, Jacob Peterson celebrates after defeating Amity 14-6 at Amity High School. Peterson is in his second season leading the pirates and has high hopes heading into the state playoffs.
PHOTO: LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS
A star light trail overlooks the parking lot of Marys Peak, near Alsea, Oregon on Saturday, Oct. 30. NOAA issued a statement that Aurora Borealis could be visible on Halloween weekend as far south as Northern California, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
PHOTOS: KARI SHAW
Rose, owner of Dream Bound Creations, has been working with leather for 10 months and her business has been open for the last three months. She sells her creations via Instagram and will be starting custom orders in a few weeks. Check out her instagram: @ dreambound.creations. This day she was working her magic at the Witches Fair and Gathering in North Albany Grange Hall.
PHOTO: KOLBY FRANCE
Kinley Sizemore poses with used tires at Walmart on South Santiam Highway in south Lebanon. He has worked as a service technician at Walmart for eleven months, has worked with cars for twenty years, and attributes his knowledge to his father who was a mechanic. There is no such thing as a typical day for Kinley. He could be incredibly busy one day and slow the next.
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NOVEMBER 3, 2021
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
Back in April, Atticus Johnson was in an ATV accident and broke his back. He's still recovering, yet he still spends most of his days working. Unable to do most laborious jobs like climbing and falling trees, he now operates the heavy machinery.
High on the Hog serves Bar-B-Q food, made to order with a choice of sauces and sides. They also offer 3 choices of dessert including a homemade Banana Pudding.
Atticus Johnson, a lumberman for Greg Johnson Logging, has been working up in the forest falling trees since he was just 12 years old. Although a family business, he worked this day by himself, and often working up to 14 hours a day in the rain, snow, and cutting winds.
Trees on Marys Peak are backlit by the glow of Corvallis, Albany, and Philomath, while a satellite passes through the star-filled sky on Saturday, Oct. 30.
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PHOTO: BRADY MAGERS
PHOTO: BRADY MAGERS
PHOTO: LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS
LOCAL NEWS
PHOTO: SABRINA DEDEK
High on the Hog - a food cart in the Red Barn complex of North Albany. Morgan Meyers is an employee, he was inspired to work in the service industry by a close friend and to further understand the treatment of members of food service.
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LOCAL NEWS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
LBCOMMUTER.COM
Trekking for That Local Color Five Favorite Willamette Valley Fall Hikes
STORY BY BRENDA AUTRY Hiking in Oregon is something that can be enjoyed year round. Each season possesses its own special attributes that make hiking the same trails at different times of the year a whole new experience. Even though there are great things about every season, autumn is my favorite time to get outside. With plenty of sunny days, cooler temperatures and smaller crowds, there is a lot to enjoy about hiking in the fall. Oh, and did I mention those colors? With so many different species of trees native to our forests, the height of autumn turns otherwise ordinary forested trails into jaw dropping works of art. With thousands of miles of trails, it can be hard to choose which one to experience. Here are a few of my favorite trails within a couple hours drive of Albany.
Silver Falls State Park One of Oregon’s most famous - and most popular - hikes, the Trail of Ten Falls is a eight-mile loop trail about 40 minutes east of Salem. This trail passes ten incredible waterfalls and some of the most beautiful scenery in Oregon. During the months of October and early November, the trees along the trail blaze with hues of yellow, orange, and red, giving this already magical place an otherworldly feeling. If you don’t want to hike the entire trail, there are several shorter trails (as short as .5 miles) to choose from so that almost anyone can enjoy!
Clear Lake Loop Trail Just under two-hours from Albany along Hwy 126 in the Cascades you’ll find Clear Lake. This lake is popular in the summer months with fisherman, divers, kayakers and paddleboarders. When Sand Mountain erupted in 1,000 B.C., the lava flowed down into the cold waters of the McKenzie River where it stopped. The McKenzie quickly backed up behind the wall of lava and created Clear Lake. The burned forest was submerged under 120 feet of water, and can still be seen at the bottom of the lake today. I’ve been going to Clear Lake for paddle sports for years, but this year I discovered the Clear Lake Loop Trail. The easy 4.9 mile loop trail encircles Clear Lake, passing through dense forest, and lava rock fields. On a clear, sunny, fall day, the reds, oranges, and yellows of the trees against the sapphire backdrop of Clear Lake creates one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen. This is a must experience in the fall!
Sweet Creek Falls
McDowell Creek Falls
Near Mapleton on Hwy 126, this easy 2.2 mile hike is my favorite hike any time of year. With picturesque wooden bridges, damp dirt trails, and several small cascades leading up to the four-tiered majesty of Sweet Creek Falls, there is so much to love about this trail.
Just 16 miles east of Lebanon, this easy 1.8 mile loop trail is the perfect fall hike for families! With both stone and wooden steps to climb, tall bridges crossing right in front of huge cascades, and tons of little areas to explore, this hike is so much fun for kids.
During the summer when it’s warm outside, this trail is great for playing in the creek and exploring along the giant boulders that form bridges in several places. But there is no competing with the beauty that autumn brings to the forest here. The yellows and oranges against the backdrop of evergreens are absolutely bewitching. Go and see for yourself!
There are two large and several small waterfalls to see as you walk through the serene forested trails. In the fall, the trees surrounding the falls make for some of the most picturesque backdrops in the valley.
Alsea and Green Peak Falls This is another great family hike. Just over 30-minutes from Corvallis, this 4.2 mile out-andback trail follows the Alsea river between two incredible falls - Alsea and Green Peaks. Alsea Falls sits just a few feet from the parking lot and is a great place to cool off in the summer months. During the fall, the forest glows with oranges and yellows, and is especially beautiful in the late afternoon sun. But you don’t need sun to enjoy this one. With a thick canopy covering most of the trail, it is still quite nice on a wet day, and is actually my favorite rainy day hike in the valley.
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SPORTS
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
sports roundup:
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🏐Volleyball COMPILED BY LOGAN HANNIGAN-DOWNS
Roadrunners Continue Domination; Defeat Southwestern Oregon COOS BAY — Linn-Benton defeated Southwestern Oregon 3-0 on Friday, Oct. 29 to continue their domination of the NWAC South Region. Set scores were 25-14, 25-13, and 25-22.
LBCC Plays Villain on Rogue’s Final Home Game GRANTS PASS — LinnBenton defeated Rogue 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 30 to move to 23-2 overall and 13-0 in NWAC South play. LB is currently on a 16 game win streak. Set scores were 25-19, 25-20, and 25-17. Alicia Vandervoot-Walters led the team with 10 kills and one block, Shalyn Gray had eight kills and four digs. Taya Manibusan and Kennedy
Alicia Vandervoot-Walter led the beaks with 10 kills, Eva Buford added nine kills and two digs. Sydnie Johnson had a team high 16 assists and 12 digs, Jade Hayes added another 11 assists and Savannah Hutchins had 10 assists and seven digs.
Kantola each had seven kills as well. Sydnie Johnson had an impressive 21 assists and five digs, and Zaley Bennett added 13 more assists, three service aces, and five digs. The Roadrunners have clinched a playoff spot, and have not dropped a set in 52 days. To end the season LBCC will host Clackamas on Wednesday, Nov. 3, travel to Mt. Hood on Friday, Nov. 5, and finish off by hosting Lane on Tuesday Nov. 9.
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A&E
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
LBCOMMUTER.COM
5-Word Book
Reviews
CLICK HERE FOR CROSSWORD CLICK HERE FOR SUDOKU
BY LEAH BIESACK
Bullet in the Brain, Tobias Wolff Nothing short of staggering perfection.
Complete the grid so each row, column, and 3x3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit.
The Ones Who Wait, Ray Bradbury Eerie — above surface, and below. The Best We Could Do, Thi Bui Love letter of illustrated weight. GRAPHIC: NAOMI THOMAS
REVIEW BY
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait DUNE
STEVEN PRYOR
STARRING: Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa DIRECTOR: Denis Villenueve (Based on the novel by Frank Herbert) RATED: PG-13 MY RATING: ★★★★☆ AVAILABLE IN THEATERS AND ON HBO MAX (STREAMING TILL NOVEMBER 21)
@STEVENPRR2PRYOR
“Dune” is the latest adaptation of the landmark science fiction novel of the same name by Frank Herbert. Though the series has been adapted into other mediums before, director Denis Villenueve (“Arrival,” “Blade Runner 2049”) has easily crafted the best adaptation of the series to date, and the one fans of the book have been waiting for. The story takes place on the distant planet of Arrakis in the year 10,191. The planet contains a resource known as “spice melange,” which can power everything from enhanced physical and mental abilities to faster-thanlight travel. In this conflict, a young man named Paul (Timothee Chalamet), heir to the House of Atreides, is caught in a power struggle between the House of Harkonnen, led by their Baron (Stellan Skarsgard), and the Fremens, a native tribe who are among the few who can survive the planet’s conditions. As Paul forms an uneasy alliance with a Fremen known as Chani (Zendaya), the battle for spice begins
across a 155-minute epic that covers the first half of the original novel (the second half is set for release in October 2023). Despite the original novel influencing countless other science fiction books and films, the track record of its previous adaptations has been decidedly mixed. Both the previous film in 1984 by David Lynch and a made-for-TV miniseries from the early 2000s were limited by the time they came out, but have developed cult followings over time. In the 1970’s, Alejandro
Jodorowsky made an attempt to adapt the book, and though it ultimately never got produced, it was the subject of a documentary in 2013. Now, after being delayed from the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, the definitive adaptation of the book has finally arrived. On a budget of $165 million, the film creates a blend of CGI and practical special effects that show every bit of that money on screen. Whether you’re seeing it in theaters or
want a way to showcase the setup of your home theater, each frame is bursting with detail. A musical score by Hans Zimmer helps complement the world through its use of tribal motifs and classical orchestras. Whether you’re an avid fan of the book or reading it for the first time, this latest version of “Dune” is easily the best one to date, and highly recommended for viewing.
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A&E
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
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Carnage is Coming VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE
REVIEW BY
STEVEN PRYOR
STARRING: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Naomie Harris, and Michelle Williams DIRECTOR: Andy Serkis RATED: PG-13 MY RATING: ★★★★☆
@STEVENPRR2PRYOR
“Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is the sequel to the 2018 film “Venom,” and the second film to date in Sony’s franchise of “Spider-Man” spinoff films. Though not on the same level of magnitude as recent efforts from Marvel or DC, the film still proves to be an entertaining time on its own, and a worthwhile sequel for fans of the characters. Picking up where the first film left off, the film sees Eddie Brock and his symbiote alter ego Venom (Tom Hardy in a dual role) clashing with death row inmate Cletus Kassidy, who has partnered with the symbiote Carnage (Woody Harrelson in a dual role). As Carnage teams with his lover Shriek (Naomie Harris), the characters face off across a variety of backdrops in the San Francisco
Bay Area in a film that manages to refine key elements from the first film while also introducing many of its own thrills (Carnage’s awakening and subsequent prison break is a standout scene). Despite the first “Venom” being roundly panned upon its release in 2018, the film did make well over $856 million worldwide. Now, with Ruben Fleischer (“Zombieland”) handing the directing reins off to Andy Serkis (known for motion capture roles such as Gollum
in “The Lord of the Rings), the movie makes an entertaining 97 minutes of effects-driven action that helps showcase its title characters, while giving some connections to the main “Spider-Man” films (the details of which shall not be spoiled here). Serkis manages to keep the elements that worked in the first film while also infusing it with his own unique flavor. Harrelson’s performance as Carnage captures the manic spirit of his comic counterpart handily, making an
ideal companion to Hardy’s return as Venom. With the film providing another symbiotic host to the theatrical experience (having made over $200 million worldwide as of this writing), “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is a solid sequel among Sony’s “Spider-Man” spinoff films and is definitely worth checking out if you enjoyed the first.
Will Tenth Season Land a Perfect Ten? Newest Season of American Horror Story Makes for Mixed Feelings
REVIEW BY AVERY LEON-CASTILLO Many people have followed the anthology series, “American Horror Story,” for its past 10 year run. Directors Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck have been dedicated to keeping their series fresh, which has led to producing a tenth season of the show in 2020; “Double Feature: Red Tide and Death Valley.” Teasers were released, hints were given, and guesses about the starring cast were made. Posters descripting sharpened teeth, black pills, and alien faces were released. All of this made for many theories, and of course, much anticipation. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, FX had to stop the production until it was deemed safe enough to continue. They finally resumed filming in the Spring of 2021, and released the first two episodes of "Red Tide" on August 25. While the start to this season had fans quite a bit underwhelmed, the suspenseful and surprising twists at the end of the episodes kept viewers hooked. The Gardeners move from the big city of New York to Provincetown, Massachusetts ( ‘P-town,’ as it’s referenced throughout the series). They are a family of three, with one on the way. Harry, the main money maker, is an aspiring screenplay writer who originally moved his family to P-town because he wanted to go someplace where other writers went for inspiration. Doris, a budding interior designer, and their daughter Alma, a child viola prodigy at 11, moved alongside him. The vacation house the family is renting is a big, beautiful, wooden-made 19th century home which appears a bit haunted from the outside -- perfect for the theme of the entire show. Ryan Kiera Armstrong's character, Alma, mentions that “it looks haunted.” Harry, played by Finn Witrock, replies “every house in Provincetown is haunted, Sweetheart. It’s the ghosts of all the old whalers drowned at sea.”
The first episode is riddled with some overshadowing and, knowing the past seasons in this anthology series, is pretty predictable to most fans. As the show moves on, we meet many new characters played by our old favorites, such as Dr. Lark played by Billie Lourd, Belle played by Frances Conroy, and Austin Sommers played by Evan Peters. We also meet a character named Mick, played by the one and only Macaulay Caulkin. As we haven’t seen this guy for a hot minute, this surprise amplified the feature for most AHS fans. Not everyone agreed, however, citing it as an unnecessary addition that ultimately weakened the feature. In the six episodes of this release, each lasting between 35 and 50 minutes, the producers took us for a ride with unexpected twists and turns, along with a few tear-jerking scenes. For avid viewers, some moments were extremely predictable, but that doesn’t take much away from the overall experience. Fans have had a lot of chatter about this season, and just like every other season, there has been a substantial amount of theories. With the close of the last episode of the first feature on September 22, fans were anxious to begin the next feature. Many theories were circulating about how the two would connect. On that long-awaited release date of September 29, we were met with an even more underwhelming start than we’d been given with “Red Tide.” The premise of “Death Valley” was teased for us from posters depicting the stereotypical alien with the round head, small chin, large, black lifeless eyes, and the three fingered hands. It was a definite history-bender featuring presidents like Nixon, JFK, and Eisenhower. They also added common conspiracies about the deaths of the presidents, certain events, and areas like Area 51 but explained them away in this portion of the season, adding to the confusion and illusion. The first episode, “Take Me to Your Leader,” began in the 1950s. Audiences were already expecting villain favorite, Neil
McDonough, and were introduced to him as the 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. After a slightly jarring introduction to the alien aspect of the season, viewers were rushed back to the future, to 2021. There, we meet a group of four high school best friends; Kendall Carr (played by Kaia Gerber), Cal Cambon (played by Nico Greetham), Jamie Howard (played by Rachel Hilson), and Troy Lord (played by Issac Cole Powell). Deciding on a road trip and "glamping" adventure for their annual rekindling, they head to the Nevada desert. After a few days of fun, however, they come across a gruesome sight that leads to their "first encounter.” Because of its predictability, this episode left audiences confused and a bit unamused. The second episode, “Inside,” was a bit better, according to many fans. We got a more detailed review of what happened in the past that is correlating with the future. In the black and white view of the 1960’s, we watch Ike and Dick Nixon (played by Craig Sheffer) find out that current president, John F. Kennedy (played by Mike Vogel), has found out about a certain deal Ike had made years before and is threatening to expose it. The next day, the president was shot dead in his car. In the present day scene, the now impregnated friend group were abducted again from a health clinic after seeking out answers as to what was growing inside of them. They were taken to an all white room where they were met by Theta (played by
Angelica Ross) and many other pregnant people like them. The four confused friends also met Calico (played by Leslie Grossman), a former backup dancer and waitress. She had been abducted by the government, initially to become a researcher for those in charge of infamous Area 51, then later became a primary breeder. Overall, this portion of the season left fans confused about certain side-stories created that could not have been wrapped up in its four short episodes. While this struck some similar airs to season 8 of AHS, “Apocalypse,” an eight-episode season riddled with run-on storylines that left audiences blundering, fans disliked this current season much more. According to the plethora of fan bases for “American Horror Story,” season ten should have simply focused on making ten episodes in the “Red Tide” theme and save the “Death Valley” portion for a possible eleventh season. Though, many do feel that even six episodes of “Red Tide” were too much. Unlike its second feature, this one was dragged out when it could’ve called it quits after the satisfactory ending of episode five. Currently, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy are already teasing an eleventh season. Teasing might be a stretch -- they have merely been hinting at the possibility, as we haven’t gotten any details yet. There has been talk that Sarah Paulson, who starred as Tuberculosis Karen in “Red Tide” and Mamie Eisenhower in “Death Valley,” is planning on leaving the series. However, fans are starting to think (and hope) that because of the potential for another season, she will decide to stay. Many of us feel attached to Paulson as we did to Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange, who also appeared in earlier seasons and left before we were ready. The consensus is, the show wouldn’t be the same without such solid players. That said, many fans stay impartial to the starring roles and stand by the fact that having some fresh faces in the cast will make the show better, if not stay the same.