Le Bilingue 2023 05 May

LE BILINGUE

EcoleJeannineManuelParis’studentnewspaper

Letter from the editors

Dearreaders,Cherslecteurs,

Lesdernièressemainesd’écoleapprochentàgrandspas.Lesexamensfinauxsonten coursetnousvoussouhaitonsbonnechance,vousyêtespresque!

GunviolenceisasignificantissueintheUnitedStates,withthousandsofdeathsand injurieseveryyear.Infact,theUnitedStateshavealreadyfacedatleast190mass shootingsthisyear,meaningtherehavebeenmoremassshootingsthantherehavebeen daysin2023.

Chaquejour,lestueriesdemassedeviennentdeplusenplusfréquentes.Le6mai,trois personnesontététuéesàColumbus,dansl'Ohio.Plustarddanslajournée,cinq personnessontdécédéesàChico,enCalifornie.Ledimanche7mai,huitpersonnesont étéabattuesdansuncentrecommercialàAllen,auTexas.Ensipeudetemps,seize personnesontperdulavieàcausedesarmesàfeuauÉtats-Unis,sanscompterles dizaines,voirelescentainesd'autresvictimesdontnousnesommespasinformés.

Theconsequencesofgunviolencearefar-reaching,affectingnotonlyvictimsandtheir familiesbutalsocommunitiesandthecountryasawhole.Thisincludesphysicaland emotionaltrauma,economiccosts,andalossoftrustinpublicsafety.Toaddressthis issue,thereareseveralapproachesthatcanbetaken,includingincreasingregulationon thesaleandownershipoffirearms,improvingmentalhealthresources,andinvestingin violencepreventionprograms.Itisimportantforpolicymakersandindividualstocome togethertofindeffectivesolutionsandworktowardsreducinggunviolenceinthe UnitedStates.

Nousvoussouhaitonsunetrèsbonnelecture!

Sincerely,

TheeditorialteamofLeBilingue

Trump's Indictment - A Stormy Scandal

- Jacob G. F.

AvastarrayofchargeshavebeenleviedonTrumpinthepast,includingtwoimpeachments,onein2018 andtheotherin2021,butforthefirsttimeinhislongcareerhehasactuallybeenbroughttocourt.Inthis instance,Trumphasbeenaccusedofasmanyas34charges,allofwhichareconnectedtothestoryof StormyDaniels.Afamouspornstarturnedcelebrity,StormyDaniels,allegedlyhadanaffairwiththe controversialformerpresidentDonaldTrump,however,atthetimehewasbutalowlyprivatecitizen,even ifhewasamultimillionaireincontrolofcountlesscorporations.

Thiswasbackin2006,butthescandalreallyarosewhenTrumpranforpresidentin2016.Thenewsofthis cameasahilarioussurprisetoall,what,thisorangefacedmillionaireforpresident?Perhapsforeseeingthe badPRthathewouldreceiveifhisrompwithStormyDanielsgotout,heenchargedhislawyer,Michel Cohen,topayhermorethan$100,000inhushmoney.Thiswaskeptasecretforawhile,thescoffsfrom thechatteringclasseswerequashedbyTrump’smarginalvictoryin2016.Notonlywasthelaughingsmirk wipedoffstraightofTrump’scritics,butDanielssawheropportunitytoshareherstory.Indeed,many newsoutletsweredelightedattheopportunitytodigupsomedirtonthedivisivepresident,andtheWall StreetJournaltookStormy’sstoryandranwithit.Unfortunatelyforthepresident,notonlydidhelikely getaveryupsetwife,butthepaymentofthathushmoneybecameapointofinterestformanywhowanted toseethescandalisedpresidentgodown.TherewasalotoftalkaboutMichelCohen,themanthatmade thepaymenttoStormyDanielsinTrump’sname,andthefactthathemayhaveusedcampaignfundsto payher.Really,thisshouldberegardedasarookiemistake,especiallyasTrumphasbeenavoidingcharges allhislife,ithasprobablybecomesomethingofapastime.SixyearslaterandDistrictAttorneyAlvinBragg fromthestateofNewYorkopeneduptheoldbarrage,andvowedtobringTrumptojustice.

Trumps arrest - via Wikimedia Commons

Sortof.HehasindictedTrumpon34chargesandtheyareallfaintlyconnectedtothecampaignfunds scandal,butmanyhaveadmittedthatthisisweaktea,asitisbasedonameretechnicalityandcould theoreticallybeeasilyrebuked.Republicansaresimultaneouslyhorrifiedattheprospectofseeinghim behindbarsandecstaticatthechancetoturnhimintoamartyr,whereasDemocratsarebothgladfora chancetobringdowntheboisterousmenaceandupsetthathiscandidacymaybeatstake,seeingasheis muchmorebeatablethanotherpotentialcandidates,seethe2020election.ThisallhasledtoDonaldTrump beingindicted.Amidhisparanoidcallsforprotestsandexpostulations,Trumphadnochoicebuttojump aboardhisMAGA(MakeAmericaGreatAgain)planeandskulkallhiswaytoManhattan,wherehewould nodoubtmissthewondersofMar-a-LagowhileperchedatophispenthouseinTrumptower.OnApril4th, DonaldTrumpwasindicted,anachievementthatnootherpresidentinallofAmerica’shistorycanboast about.Sadlyforthosewhohopedforahumiliatingmugshotorthehandcuffingoftheselfproclaimed martyr,thecourtroomsceneplayedoutjustasmostexpected,dullandquick.ThatveryeveningTrumpwas backinhisbeachsideresortinFlorida,probablydrinkingamojitoandsiftingthroughhisnewtrumpcard collection.

Thetrialmaybeproceedingpainfullyslowly,butthequestionremains,whatwillhappenifTrumpis convicted?SurelyTrumphasconsideredthesituation,asthejuryofthiscasewillmostlikelynotbethe mostardentTrumpsupportersgiventhatthetrialwilltakeplaceinNewYork.Thethingis,Trumpisone ofthosepoliticianswhowilljustnotgoaway,andIampersonallyconvincedthatevenifhewasinprison, hewouldrunforpresident.Itisnotunprecedented,asEugeneV.Debsranforpresidentin1920from prison,andhegotalmostamillionvotes.Constitutionally,thereisnothingstoppingTrumpfromrunning prisonifhedoesgetconvicted,andhestillhasplentyofdiehardsupporterswillingtovoteforhimwherever hefindshimself.Thecasewilllikelydragoutforquitesometime,andthereareothercasespending,soitis veryunlikelythatwe’veseenthelastoftheobjectionableformerPresident.

via Wikimedia Commons

WW2 Book Recommendations

-Luisa G.

ThispastsemesterIhavebeenstudyingtheSecondWorldWarduringmyhistorylessons,whichisoneofif notthedeadliestwarsinhistoryandsomehowitdeeplyfascinatesme.Perhapsitisbecauseithappened ratherrecently?Orbecauseithasaffectedmanypeopleclosetous.Regardlessofthecase,Ican’thelpbut findmyselfintriguedbythehistoricalnovelsthatrecounttheeventsoftheSecondWorldWar.Endingonly 78yearsago,thiswarhasleftdebristhathasseepedintoourgenerationandchangedthecourseofourlives. Thehorrorsthathappenedhavescarredourpastforever,butashumans,wemusttrytoheal.Iknowthat dwellingonthepastwillnotchangetheevents,butIbelieveitisimportanttolearnfromourmistakesto improveourfuture.

Tohelpyoulearnaboutthewar(inafunwayIthink)andincelebrationofJewishHeritageMonth,Ihave compiledalistofsomeofmyfavouritehistoricalfictionnovelsthatdiveintotopicsabouttheHolocaustand WW2.

PS:Allthesebooksaresuitableforallcollegestudentstoreadandenjoy:).

TheBookThief–MarkusZusak 1

Startingoffstrongwithmyall-timefavouritebookontheplanet(notexaggerating): TheBookThief.IcannottalkenoughaboutthisbookandIbelieveitdeservesevery literaryawardinexistence.Ireadthisbookabout2yearsagoandthinkaboutitalmost everydayThisbookwillmakeyoulaugh,cry,love,hateandeverythinginbetween. Notonlyisthewritingutterlybeautiful,thecharactersloveableandthestoryline completelyheartwarming,butthebookalsohassomethingIhaveneverseenbeforein anyotherbook:narrationbydeath.

2.WhenHitlerStolePinkRabbit–JudithKerr

ThiswasoneofthefirstbooksIreadabouttheSecondWorldWarwhichreallysparked myinterestinthetopic.ThisstoryfocusesonayoungJewishgirlwhohastofleeBerlin duringtheNaziparty'srisetopowerunderHitlerin1932.Thebookhasmanytwists andturnsandwilltakeyou(thereader)onalongjourneyacrosscountrieslikeGermany, SwitzerlandandfinallyEnglandwherethefamilyisfinallyabletofeelsafefromNazi persecution.Thisstoryexplainsthecomplicatedendeavorsthatrefugeeshadtofacein WW2butisalsorelevanttorefugeestoday.Althoughthisbookdealswitheventsofthe past,Ithinkitisrelevanttodaytobeabletounderstandthelivesofthosewhoare displacedfromtheirhomesandmakeusempathisewiththem.

3.TheDiaryofAnneFrank

Thisbookisanemotionalrollercoaster,Ihavenootherwaytoexplainit.Itistold fromafirst-handperspectivebyAnneFrankwhowasaJewlivinginFrankfurt upontheoutbreakoftheSecondWorldWar.Toavoidbeingtakenawaybythe Nazis,AnneandherfamilyOttoFrank,MargotFrankandEdithFrankmoveinto hidingintheannexofahouseinAmsterdamwithanotherJewishfamily.There,she spentatotalof761daysuntilsheandherfamilywerediscoveredbyNaziofficials. Duringthistime,shelivedinfearbutwasalsoexperiencinggrowingintoa teenager.Sherecounts,inherdiaryentries,thetensionunderwhichshelivedand theattemptherfamilymadeatupholdingasomewhatnormallife.Intheannex, Annerecountstheeventsofherfirstperiod,herfirstkissandherfirsttimefallingin love.Thewayit’swrittenissosimilartothemajorityofteenagersgrowingupin thepresentwhichmakesthereadermorecaptivatedandfeelclosertoAnne.

4.TheBoyintheStripedPyjamas–JohnBoyne.

Thisbookprovidedmewithaninterestingperspectiveonwhatitwasliketobea GermanchildgrowingupduringtheSecondWorldWar.Thestoryfollowsa youngGermanboycalledBrunowhoisthesonofaNaziofficialandmovestolive outsideofAuschwitz.BrunomeetsaJewishboycalledSchmuelwhoisaprisonerin theconcentrationcampandtheysparkafriendship.Theirfriendshiphighlights childhoodinnocenceandtheabsurdityofracialsegregationandprejudice.It highlightshowweareallthesamedespiteouroutsideandculturaldifferences.The storyendstragically(youmightneedtissues),butisoverallsuchabeautifulstory whichIthinkanyonewouldenjoy.

5.Allthelightwecannotsee–AnthonyDoerr.

IreadthisbookaboutayearagoandIfoundittobeveryintelligentlywritten.It followsthestoryoftwodifferentcharacterswhoexperiencetheSecondWorldWar incompletelydifferentways.Oneoftheprotagonistsisayoungblindgirlwho escapestotheFrenchcountrysidewhenParisisinvadedbytheGermans. Simultaneously,thestoryofWernerisofayoungGermanboywhojoinsthe military.Towardstheendofthebook,thesecharactersencounterbrieflyandare abletohelponeanotherinbetweenallthechaos.Thestoryisveryheartwarming andwillkeepyouintriguedfrombeginningtoendsoIstronglyrecommendyou readit.

Jewish people and Chinese food

- Clementine S.

Because it’s May, or Jewish-American Heritage Month and Asian and PacificIslanderHeritageMonth,Ifigureditwould beagoodtimetotalkabitaboutthe intersection between Jewish and Asian cultures.Assomeonewhoispart-NewYork-Jew, Christmas day always meant havingChinesefood,whetherthatbeDim Sum at breakfast or Szechuan food for dinner. Jewish people's love of Chinese foodiswell-knownamongJewishpeople (and New Yorkers), and even welldocumented:therehavebeen2academic paperspublishedonthesubject,Saturday Night Live skits joking about it, books writtenaboutit.Episode15ofSeason5of Gilmore Girls comments on this, titled “JewsandChineseFood”.EvenSupreme CourtJusticeElenaKaganjokedaboutitat her Senate confirmation hearing after SenatorLindsayGrahamaskedabouther whereaboutsonChristmastowhichshe comedically replied, “You know like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant”.Althoughitmaybeafunny stereotype,itisverymuchatruecultural phenomenon,butwherediditcomefrom?

Chinesecuisineisamongthemostprolific, if not the most prolific, cuisine in the world.Asof2016,intheU.S.alone,there wereover45,000Chineserestaurants:this ismorethanthenumberofMcDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy’s restaurantscombinedaspointedoutby Jennifer8.LeeinherTedTalk“Whowas General Tso?”. An interesting aspect of Chinese food is that no matter what country you find it in, you will find “Chinese”disheswhicharenotactually partofauthenticChinesecuisine.Among thesearefriedgelatoinItaly,chopsueyin theUnitedStates,andarrozchaufainPeru. Despitenoneofthesedishesbeing“true” Chinese food, they demonstrate how integratedChinesecuisinehasbecomein many cultures, which is why it is no surprisethatitisn’tanydifferentforJewish culture(atleastintheUnitedStates).

via: anumuseum

via: anumuseum

Thisphenomenonwasfirstdocumentedin 1899whentheAmericanHebrewJournal criticizedJewishpeopleforeatinginnonkosher establishments, such as Chinese restaurants, which served ‘treyf’ (nonkosher)foodssuchasporkandshellfish. Thatbeingsaid,thepopularityofChinese foodonlycontinuedtogrow:by1936a newspaperreportedthattherewereatleast 18ChineserestaurantsintheLowerEast Side,apredominantlyJewishandChinese neighbourhoodinNewYorkCity.This popularity stems from a couple reasons: firstly,asJewishandChinesepeoplewere (and are) the two largest non-Christian immigrants groups in the United States, they seldom subjected each other to prejudice, therefore Chinese restaurants become somewhat of a ‘safe-haven’ for Jewishpeoplewantingtoconsumecuisine otherthanEastern-EuropeanorJewish-Deli foods.

Secondly,Chinesecuisineisonethatbarely containsdairyproducts,thereforebeinga saferkosheroptionforJewishpeople(asthe combinationofdairyandmeatproductsis strictly forbidden under kosher law). Thirdly,muchofthemeatintheseChinese restaurants were finely chopped and/or concealed in dumplings like wontons, thereforebecomingwhatwascalled‘safetreyf’,orfoodsthatweren’tobviouslytreyf whichthereforecouldbeconsumedunder theguiseofplausibledeniability.Lastly,as aforementioned, Jewish and Chinese immigrantswerethelargestnon-Christian immigrantgroups,andthushaddifferent religious schedules. On Sundays and ChristmasDay,Chineserestaurantswere amongtheveryfewopen,andasaresultit becamecustomaryforJewstoeatthere wheneveryoneelsewascelebratingwith theirfamilies.

This century-old tradition, however comical,remainstruetothisday-andisa niceexampleofpositivesolidaritybetween twooppressedgroups.

« They can finally see King Kong without waiting in line

They can eat in Chinatown and drink their sweet-ass wine

They can crank Barbra Streisand on the streets they cruise Christmastime for the Jews »

Achetez un sac Bag'Ette!

Bonjour à tous ! (English below)

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The Impact of Sports Stars

- Jacob G

OnApril15,1947,JackieRobinsonstartedatfirstbasefortheBrooklynDodgers,officially breakingthe“colorbarrier”whichhadbeenimplementedsince1887.Hisbraveandauthoritative nature,combinedwithhisoutstandingplay,madehimoneofthemostinfluentialathletesofall time.Lesswellknownisthatadecadeearlier,anotherbaseballplayerbythenameofHank GreenberghadfacedchallengesasaJewandsubsequentlyinspiredpridethroughhisHallofFamelevelachievements.Thoughhiscontributionstothegameofbaseballwerelessprofoundthan Robinson's,hestillbecamethefirstJewishplayertobeinductedintotheHallofFameandis regardedasoneofthebestplayersofhisgeneration.

Inthesummerof2002,a2.3mgiantbythenameof Yao Ming changed the complexion of basketball forever.TheChineseteenagerbecame,atthetime, the4thtallestNBAplayerever,andimmediately helpedincreasethepopularityofthesport.However, hehadhisfairshareofdoubtersincludingLakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal who completely disrespected the prodigy before their first game, telling reporters "Tell Yao Ming: Ching-chongyang-wah-ah-soh." This led to an extremely anticipatedmatchupbetweenthetwobigmen,one that Ming controlled from the opening tip. On O'Neal'sfirstthreeshotattempts,Mingruthlessly blockedallofthem.TomakemattersworseforShaq, Yaowouldmake3outofhisfirst4baskets,enroute toleadinghisteamtoa108-104win.Thismentality via Wikimedia Commons andskillwouldsetthetonethroughouttherestofhisHallofFamecareer,ashebustedthroughtwo stigmas-thenotionthatAsianplayersweresoftandthatplayersabove2.2mcouldnothaveagood careerintheNBA.HeisaninspirationtocurrentandformerinternationalplayerssuchasJeremy Lin,GiannisAntetokounmpo,andJoelEmbiid,andstillhasamassiveinfluenceonChinese basketballtothisday,holdingthepositionofpresidentoftheChineseBasketballAssociationsince 2017.

ThroughoutthehistoryofFrenchfootball,"LesBleus"havehadalonglistofamazingplayers, includingall-timegreatswhodealtwithcontroversysuchasZinedineZidane,MichelPlatiniand others.Nowadays,theteamisledby24-year-oldPSGstrikerKylianMbappewhohasalreadyplayed intwoWorldCupfinals(andwonone)andhasalreadyleftamarkonFrenchfootballandtheirfans. Afterplayingastrong,yetsecondaryroleinFrance's2018WorldCupwin,KylianMbappebecamea strongleaderforthe2022iterationinDoha,andwasthemainreasonwhytheynearlymounteda comebackagainstArgentinainthefinals(ahat-trickandahalftimespeechtoinvigoratehis teammatesafteraputridfirsthalf).In2022,"Kiki's"successmatchedhisjerseysalesashehadthe5th mostsalesoutofallthetopEuropeanplayers,provingthathispopularityandstatusasoneofthebest

via Wikimedia Commons

playersintheworldarestillrisingafteranincredible starttohiscareer.Additionally,hisAlgerianand Cameroonianrootsareaninspirationtopeopleof similarbackgroundsastheycanbeencouragedby hissuccessinFrenchsocietyeventhoughthereare stillproblemsofdiscriminationwithinthesystem.If hecancontinuetoimproveandwinthroughouthis career,hecouldbecomeoneofthemoreinfluential playersinthehistoryofFrenchfootballandfurther itslegacy.

Whenlookingbackatthehistoryofsports,there have been numerous athletes that have been influential for different reasons (Kevin Garnett openedthegatewayforhigh-schoolbasketballstars, andMuhammadAliwasahugeinfluenceforthe Muslimcommunity).However,sometimesthereare famousandinfluentialathletesthatmanypeople haveneverfullyheardof.Thatdoesn’tdiminishthe influenceoftheseathletesbutratherdemonstrates thatinfluentialityinsportsandinlifeingeneralcan beexpressedandproducedindifferentways.

“Always work hard, never give up, and fight until the end because it’s never really over until the whistle blows.” —Alex Morgan

"Snobbery" An essay on the superhero movies question

-Tristan R.

OnMarch12,2023,JamesFriendsteppedonstagetowinhisfirsteverOscarforbest cinematographyforhisworkon“AllQuietontheWesternFront”.Acoupleofdayslater,the personwhomightbeconsideredthegreatestcinematographerofalltime,RogerDeakins,declared thatthemoviehehadworkedonthatsameyear,“TheBatman”,shouldhavewontheaward,and blamedhisdefeaton‘snobbery’.Now,youmightthinkthathe’sjustasoreloser,jealousofnot havingwonthefamousgoldenstatue.Butfirstofall,calmdown,that’sRogerDeakinsyou’re talkingabout(andIdon’treallyneedtoaddtothat).Andsecond,thecritiqueoftheOscarsfornot consideringthequalityofsuperheromoviesispartofamuchgreaterdebate:thebiggestdebateof ourtimewhenitcomestocinema.MarvelandDCmovieshavebeendisregardedbymuchofthe artisticcommunity,suchasMartinScorsese,whomadeheadlineswithhisdeclarationthat“Marvel moviesaren’tcinema.”orevenQuentinTarantino,whosaidheunderstoodwhatScorsesemeant. Solet’saskourselves:istheartisticcommunity,andtheOscarsspecifically,righttobesocriticalof DCandMarvelmovies?

Tobegin,I’dliketoclearupsomethings.First,I’mnotgoingtotalkabout“TheBatman” specifically,butlookatthebroadermovementofsuperheromovies.Andsecondly,I’mnotgoingto talkaboutwhetherthemoviesaregoodornot.Becauseitdependsonthemovie,andit’sentirely subjective(buttrustme,you’reprobablygoingtobeabletoguesswhatmythoughtisonthe question).No,inthisessay,I’lldiscussifthosemoviesare‘great’.Indeed,Iseetwowaysofjudginga movie:how‘good’itis,andhow‘great’itis.Andpleasedon’tassumetheword“great”heresimply means‘verygood’;rather,Imeanhow‘big’amovieis,whatimpactithashadoncinema,forthatis muchmoreobjective.I’llgiveanexample.Take“2001:ASpaceOdyssey”(1968)byStanley Kubrick.Youcanloveitorhateit,orfeelcompletelyindifferenttoit,itdoesn’tmatter:itisagreat movie.Itsinfluenceoncinemaisincredible;ithashadanimpactonawholegenerationofactors, writers,anddirectors,and,inmanyways,hasaffectedthemoviesyouseetoday.

VIAImageandCoOnline

(which,let'sbehonest,isamuchnicerideathanthetruthwhichisthatit’sanawardbusiness grantingawardstothehighestbidder…).Andthoughonemightthinkthatitmightbeabitharsh tocriticiseMarvelandDCandbanishthemfromtheOscarsforwhatmightbeseenasapurely snobbishpointofview,isitreally?Imean,sure,theywon’twinOscars,butthey’llstillmake billionsofdollars.Arewereallygoingtoseethemasthevictimhere?Theymightnotbeseenas ‘great’moviesbutthereisnodoubtthattheyarepopular,certainly,mostpeopleseethemas‘good’ movies.

Andwhenweseeawardedmoviesfromthatperspective,Ithinkit’sobviouswhyMarvel andDCmoviesarenotgettingnominationsattheOscars.I’mnotsayingthattheyaren’t artisticallyrelevant.Absolutelynot.Whetherwelikeitornot,‘MarvelandDC’(I’mgettingtired ofwritingthissofromnowonI’lljustcallitMDC)movieswereawholeeraofmovies.From ChristopherNolan’s“TheDarkKnight”trilogytoAvengersEndgame,(andmaybeevenbefore TDKandalittleafterEndgame)MDCmoviesruledthecinematicworld.Yearafteryear,they werehugebox-officesuccesses:outofthe6biggestbox-officesuccessesofthe2010s,4were Marvelmovies.Ifyoutakethehighestgrossingmoviefromeachyear,from2007to2021,7outof 13ofthem,wereMDCmovies(andtwoothersarepartofthenewStarWarstrilogy,andanother oneisaTransformersmovie,whichI’mnotgoingtosayisthesameasanMDCmovie,butyou havetoadmittheyhavealotofcommonpoints).

Butwhenyouwonderhowthosemoviestransformedtheirmovementandhowthischange inthemovementaffectedcinemaitself,yousuddenlyrealisethat,well,notmuchhaschangedin MDCmovies.WhatsignificantmajortropeshavebeenexploredanddevelopedduringtheMCU ortheDCU?Apartfromthecharacterdevelopmentwhichcanbedefinedas‘theheroiskindof dark,questioningtheideathathe’sactuallyahero,whilethevillainisgettingmoremorally acceptable’,Icanthinkofnone.Andeventhatstartedinthe80s/90swiththeBatmanmoviesby Burton(andImeancomeon,theguymade2movieswhichweren’tjustforemotionallyfrail teenagers,let’strytorememberthem!)andcontinuedwithmoviessuchasTheDarkKnight trilogyormoviesfeaturingLoki.Andeverygenreofmovieshastogothroughthischange.Ifyou lookatgangstermovies,forexample,theyhadthesamekindofcharacterdevelopmentforalong periodoftime:theyfirstshowedglorifiedversionsofgangsters(“Scarface”;“TheGodfather”), thenmorehumanversions(“PulpFiction”;“Goodfellas”)andnowweseesomewhicharecomic characters(GuyRitchie’smovies).

There’sachangeinhowyoupresentyourmoviesandwhatquestionsyouaskyour audience.Andwhenmoviessuchas“TheIrishman”bytheevilantagonistofMDCmovies, Scorsese,comeoutandfailtotrulykeepupwiththechangesingangstermovies,itdoesn’twin anyOscars(andthereisnothingthattheartisticcommunitylikesmorethangivingawardsto Scorsese).Andthereforeweseethatintermsofhistory,itbecomesclearthatMDCmovieshave failedtotrulydevelopthemselves,andso,donotdeservetowinawards.

Lastly,sayingthatMDCmovieshavebeensnubbedoutofOscarmoviesisfactually incorrect.MDCmovieshavewon13Oscarsovertime,formoviessuchas“Joker”(2019)by ToddPhillipsor“Batman”(1989)byTimBurton.Andforthemajorityofthe9MDCmovies thatwonanOscar,itwasbecausetheytrulydevelopedthemovement,becausetheywere differentfromwhatwasmadebefore.“Superman”(1978)setthestage:theherowascharismatic,

TheDarkKnight”(2008)wastheheightofthisdarkerprotagonistagainstavillainwho askedinterestingquestions(opposedtothe‘Iwanttokilleveryoneforsomenonsensereason’ motivationoftenseenbeforeandevenafterward),andallofthatwithsomeamazingdirecting andacting.Even“Joker”(2019)wasoneofthefirstMDCmovieswhichwasn’treallya superheromovieandjustusedthecharactersandtheuniversefromtheDCUtoexplorenew themesandasknewquestions.Thefactis,whenMDCmoviesarecreative,bold,andoriginal, theartisticcommunitylovesthem.WhenlookingatMDCmovies,weseeasadfact.Today, superheroesarealmostall,not‘great’moviesandforsome,youhavetowonderifthey’reeven attemptingtomakeone.Lookat“Spider-Man:NoWayHome”.Themoviereliedsolelyonfan service,famousactors,anditspastglorytomakeabilliondollarsatthebox-office.Andguess what?Itmadetwobillion.Ithadbadvisualeffectsandwasjustplainnonsense(Imeanwhydid JamieFoxx’scharactersuddenlybecomemuscularandcharismatic?Thatdrasticallychangeshis character!).

Ofcourse,audiencesarebecomingincreasinglydisinterestedinMDCmovies,andMCU’s Phase4hasbeenverycriticised,evenbyfans.Buttheykeepmakingaprofitoutofthesemovies andsotheykeepmakingthem.Cinema,andartingeneral,usedtohaveasagoaltoshow somethingnew,toprovokedebates,toshocktheaudiences.WithMarvelandDC,we’relosing thatgoalandso,sadly,weloseabitofcinema.

Love Locks

Who knew hair could be so controversial?

-Laia B.

Althoughmany16thand17thcentury fadsmaynowseemutterlyostentatious, withinsomeliedeepermeanings.

The love lock, also referred to as a Bourbon lock, French lock, or heartbreaker,wasamen’shairtrendfrom about 1590 to 1650. This hairstyle consistedofalonglockofhairfromthe nape, often braided and tied with a ribbon, and was representative of the wearer’sromanticattachment.

Portraitsfeaturinglovelockshighlighted thewearer’skind-heartedness,showing his qualities as a suitor or lover, portrayingthesubjectasasoft,caring, andcompassionateperson,agoodchoice forahusband.

However,WilliamPrynnefiercelyrallied against this hairstyle, going as far as publishing a 63-page book denouncing lovelocks,describingthemas“Unlovely, Sinful, Unlawful, Fantastique, Dissolute, Singular,Incendiary,Ruffianly,Graceless, Whorish, Ungodly, Horred [Horrid], Strange,Outlandish,Impudent,Pernicious, Offensive, Ridiculous, Foolish, Childish, Unchristian, Hateful, Exorbitant, Contemptible, Sloathfull, Unmanly, Depraving, Vaine, and Unseemly,” accordingtoRichardCorsoninFashions inHair.”

Thishairstylecloselyresemblestoday’s(or the 90’s…) rattail, although when consideringgreasyteenageboysthisstyle should not be taken as a symbol of reciprocallove.

Has France's most televised pageant become obsolete?

- Carla S

Onayearlybasisforthepastcentury,Francehascometogethertoscrutinizethepageant'salluring contestants,accordingtoWesternbeautystandards,paradefortheMissFrancetitle.Inrecentyears, astheFrenchNationalBeautyPageanthascontinuedtocrownFrance’s‘mostbeautifulwoman’, audienceshavebeguntoquestiontheethicsofthesetelevisedperformances.

Nevertheless,behindthesespotlightshidesa discriminatory pageant, selecting its contestants on purely physical features, who,despitemonthsofintensepreparation consideredaswork,aren'tpaidforanypart of the process. In spite of their work throughout the election process, preparation,andcontest,thesefinancially exploited contestants aren't remunerated, whilethecompanyproducingtheevent obtainsanunparalleledprofit.Noonehas yettolendaparticulareyetothismatter, until the French association “Osez le Féminisme'' sued this renowned contest, exposing the sexist challenges the contestantshavetoendure,nottomention theobjectificationofwomenthatresults fromtheMissFrancecontest.

ThisfeministassociationfoundanadroitwaytosueMissFranceonthegroundsthatlaborlaws wereviolatedduetothediscriminatingcriteriafortheselectionofcontestants.Infact,thesewomen arechosenbasedonpurelysuperficialandstrictfeatures,suchasaheightminimumof1.70mto enterthiscontest,nophysicalalterationssuchastattoosorpiercings,aswellasbeingcelibate. Specifically,OsezleFeminisme’sspokesperson,thelawyerViolainedeFilippis-Abate,whohas defendedthecontestantsduringtheperiod,disclosesthefactthatthecompany"useswomento manufactureanextremelylucrativeaudiovisualprogramwhilefloutingthelaborlawthatprohibits anyformofdiscriminationrelatedtoage,gender,maritalstatus,andphysicalappearance."

AfirsthearinginDecember2021didnotallowforajudicialdecisiontobetakenbythecourtof lawconcerningthisfight.AfinaldecisionwasexpectedinNovember2022,however,thefourlabor courtadvisorsinchargeofthecasedidnotreachanagreementnoramajority,accordingto ViolainedeFilippis-Abate,andconsequently,thecasemustbepleadedagaininthefollowing months.OsezleFeminismisdeterminednottoabandonthefightbeforethiscontroversialeventis

completelyshutdown.

Astheassociation’sspokespersonasserts,“Themediapressurearoundthiscasehasalreadyallowedus toobtainsomeprogress".LastDecember,the29contendersforthecrownwerethusabletobenefit, forthefirsttime,fromathree-dayworkcontractof84€perday.However,it’simportanttonote thattheywereonlypaidforthelasttwodaysofrehearsals,whichgoestoshowongoingexploitation despiteminimalimprovement."Itisaverysmallstepforwardcomparedtothehoursofrehearsaland themillionsofeurosgeneratedwiththiscommercialprogramproducedbyamultinationalgroup", remarkedthelawyerinJune.Concerningtheprofileofthecontestants,certainimprovementshave beenmade,showingprogressonthehorizon:thenationalbeautycontestisnowopentowomenof legalage,withoutagelimit,butalsotothosewhoaremarried,mothers,ortransgender.

CompletinganinternshipwithMrs.DeFilippis-Abate,I’vehadthegreatluckandopportunityto followthisbattle,byherside,andwitnessthehardshipsittakestobringjusticetothistypeofissue today.Yetthefightremainsunfinished.

Shehadgrownusedtotheglances,tothepointwheretheynolongermatteredtoher.Ithad beenoneofthosethingsthathadtakenawhiletogetaccustomedto,thevarietyofthesecond looksaddingtotheperplexityoftheordeal.

Shewasn’tusedtotheattention,tostandingoutinacrowd,tobeingtheonewhowasdifferent. Asachild,inthecitywhereshehadgrownup,shehadbeenoneinmillions,heractions blendingwiththeonesofthosearoundher,herfeaturesaverageandfarfrompertinent.Yetin thiscity,thatremaineduntouchedbytheglobalizedoutsideworldshestuckoutlikeasore thumb.Itdidnotmatterthatshespoketheirlanguagenorthatintheoryherstyleand mannerismswereat,asurfacelevel,identicaltothoseoftheotherresidents.Instead,hergolden brownskinmarkedherout,labeledherasanaliencreature,andshippedheralongsideaboxof prejudices,somethingexotic,somethingbizarreyetatthesametimeexquisite.Itsubjectedherto theirassumptions,opinionsandglancesinmattersofseconds,beforeshehadevennoticedthem.

Althoughbynowmostofthecitizenshadalreadyseenheratleastonceitwouldstillhappenthat intheeveningsuponenteringarestauranttherewouldbeanewwaiter,adifferentsetofthe samejudgingeyes.Hewouldblinktwice,takinginhercopperbronzeskinthatglowedina naturaltanthatcouldnototherwisebeobtained.Hewouldstareforjustasecondtoolongand brisklyturnawaystaringdownathispaleskinthatseemedghost-likeincomparison,feeling deeplyunsettled,uncomfortableatthethoughtthatitwaspossibletolookotherwise.These thoughtswerenowthingsshefoundamusing,findingasmallprickofprideinbeingunique,but shecouldn’tdenytheshameitusedtobringherasayoungadult.Ithadbuggedherconstantly, reachingapointofinfuriationwhenshehadfirstarrivedinthecountryconfusedatthethought ofbeinganoticeableoutlier.

Muchhadchanged,however,sinceshefirstmovedhereinherearly20s.Ofcourse,the circumstanceswerenolongerthesame,thismovehadbeensomuchafterherfirstmovein whichshehadknownsolittle.Shehadbeenacompletegreenhorn,movingintoacitythat althoughwasmeanttobepopulousremainedsmallerthanaruralvillageinherhomecountry. Shehadusedherhighhopesandbrightambitionsastoolsinplaceofthemoneythatothersused totheiradvantage.

Atthatage,ithadtrulyseemedasthoughtheworldwasherstageandallthatremainedwasfor hertoseizeholdofit.Shehadcarriedherselfwithacertainfascinationandresiliencethat surprisedherevennow,screamingandfightingagainstthemutteredinsultsofstrangerswho clutchedtheirbagstightlyagainstthemselvesfearingwhat“herpeople”coulddo.Itwasnotonly theirridiculethatexasperatedherbutalsotheirignorance,mistakingherorigins forevery countryina10000kmradiusofArabicnationsandrollingtheireyesindisbeliefwhenshestated thatshewasAsianasifAsiawaslimitedtothreenationsastheyfoolishlybelieved.Althoughshe

hadalwaysbeenratherclever,itwasexpectedtoherbytheseconnoisseursoftheAsiancontinent tobebeyondgeniusortobeacompletefailurewerethisnotthecaseandsoshehadrunafter theseexpectationsasiftheseweretheticketstohersuccess,herhopesforahappylifetiedto everyachievementsheobtained.However,nowinher60sassheapproachedretirement,her goalsweredifferent,herhopeswerenolongertochaseafternewsuccessesbutinsteadto appreciatethefruitsofallshehaddone.

Theislandhasbeenhersolutiontothis,andeverymorningshesatinhertinykitchenlooking outatthebeautifulsceneryremindingherselfofhowshewasmorethantheysaw.Shewasno longeralawyer,havingquittheprofessionafewyearsago,soshewasdeterminedtospend whatevertimewaslefttoher,writing.Shebeganwitharticles,writingaboutherexperiencesin hercareerbutalsoaboutherfutilefightagainstmicroaggressionsandracismandherhopesfor thefuture,spreadingheroutreachtosocialmediaandtheyoung.Hergoalswasn’ttosolvethe problemsbutinsteadtomakesurethatthosewhowouldfollowherwouldalwayshavethefuel tofightandneverdulldownandsubmitagainstwhatwashappening.Perhapsshewasusedtoit, maybeitwastoolateforher,buttherewasstillhopefortheotherswhostillstoodinresilience.

Chen, Adele. SUPERMARCHÉ. 2021. Digital.