Taipei American School | 800 Chung Shan North Road, Section 6, Taipei, Taiwan | blueandgoldonline.org | VOLUME XXIII, ISS. 02 | November 22, 2016
Hitting the right note Jazz up your fall holiday with TAS student music ensembles
By Anya Lai Fall into autumn: TAS Jazz Ensemble at HKIS Festival.
[MR. HEBERER]
By Audrey Kong To start a festive autumn season, on November 22nd, the US Celebration of Chamber Music performance begins at 5:30pm. Over the course of two weeks, more than seven music groups will perform at the concerts taking place. Of all the groups that are performing, the US Jazz Band and the US Concert Orchestra are notable as in addition to the upcoming performances, both groups have taken part in noteworthy competitions and festivals and have had remarkable results. Around a week after the Celebration of Chamber Music, US Concert Choir, US String Orchestra, and US Symphonic Band will perform in the US Music Ensembles Concert on Thursday, December 1st, starting at 7:00pm. Just a day away, on Friday, December 2nd, the US Jazz Ensemble Supper Club will perform at 7:00pm as well. It’s a great way to spend the first Friday of December and hang out with friends and loosen up a few weeks before exams start. The US Jazz Ensemble Supper Club, directed by Mr. Heberer, will be performing a multitude of pieces that include:
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Jive Samba by Nat Adderley, A Child Is Born by Thad Jones, Blues Be King, It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington, The Way We Were and Spring Ain’t Here by Pat Metheny. The band will perform first as an entire ensemble and then in different combinations of smaller groups. There will also be several features during the course of the night. It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) will feature vocalist Thomas Hou, who will also be performing some other songs with smaller group combinations of the band. Blues Be King will be featuring guitarist Brandon Tsou (12) and trombonist Annabel Uhlman (11) will be featured in The Way We Were. Besides their upcoming performance, the Jazz band has been pretty busy with other festivals. Just a couple of weeks ago the Jazz band traveled to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong International School (HKIS) Jazz Festival. Andrew Xu (9) says, “[it was] one of the best opportunities to work with professional, full-time musicians. I’ll remember this trip for what I learned on my instrument, but also the fun times I had.” Apart from the festival, the band had downtime to bond with each other and just have fun. Ian Huang (9) says, “I feel like over the four days, having to live together with
all our bandmates, with the additional five students from Symphonic [band] and Wind [ensemble], everyone bonded from places like the yacht ride, and the one hour bus rides.” Overall, Mr. Heberer says that “as far as Jazz musicianship goes, we were the best group. Although the HKIS Festival was an educational festival, we would have brought back a first place trophy if it were a competition.” This feat is impressive as Mr. Heberer says, “this is the youngest Jazz band ever. I have more freshmen this year than I have ever had before”. Furthermore, congratulations to Julian Wittich (12) and Brandon Tsou (12) who got second place in the Taichung International Jazz Festival and were the only high school students there while many others were professional players. So check the performance out and further celebrate the US Jazz band’s accomplishments. At the end of this festive music season, US Concert Orchestra, US Wind Ensemble and US Opus will be performing on December 3 at the US Winter Concert, starting at 7:00pm. Concert Orchestra’s program for the night includes: The Magic Flute Overture by Mozart and Serenade for Strings by Dvorak.
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The Magic Flute Overture carries an interesting recurring theme of “3”. The overture starts with three chords, followed by a fast section, and then three chords again. Additionally, “3” in the title of the 3rd movement resembles a triangle which references a part of Mozart’s background. He was a Freemason (a charitable Christian organization) and the symbol of that was a triangle. Serenade for Strings is essentially a delightful piece that evokes a jovial mood. While the theme of “3” is reiterated throughout Mozart’s piece, Dvorak uses a tricky key signature of D flat in the second movement of Serenade for Strings. This artistic choice of key in D flat creates some difficulty for the players as they cannot use open strings. In addition to performing at the Winter Concert, the US Concert Orchestra recently scored high enough in a city competition to go to finals, which will take place in March 2017. Congratulations and fingers crossed for a perfect date for the finals since many of the orchestral players may be absent for IASAS Cultural Convention and AMIS. On top of that noteworthy achievement, the orchestra will be playing at a Veterans Hospital Performance on December 6th, just
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three days after the Winter Concert. The program for the Veterans Hospital Performance is similar to the pieces they will play at the Winter Concert. Concert Orchestra will be playing Dvorak and some other short pop music selections. As of right now, Ms. Pipkin believes that the orchestra still needs to better improve their intonation especially in the second movement of the waltz due to the tricky key signature. The second movement is particularly challenging for the first violins since there are a lot of flats. While intonation can be worked on, Ms. Pipkin says, “everyone always seems to have a good time and enjoy the music. In the end when everyone gets on stage, everyone gives a hundred percent”. As Mr. Heberer says, “TAS is probably one of the best places in the world to teach music, I don’t know a better music program amongst international schools. That’s why I’m still here after 21 years.” TAS has an international reputation for one of the best music programs in the world so don’t miss out on the multitude of performances that will be going on over the course of the two weeks starting on November 22nd.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Service initiatives transform voluntourism
CSI brings both dollars and change: students learn about Cambodia’s cultural heritage on service trip
By Shereen Lee For the first time in 11 years, the Cambodia Service Initiative’s (CSI) annual trip to Cambodia has been put on hiatus. “There are several reasons for this,” says advisor Dr. Smith. “But the biggest one is that we are taking a look at the TAS community and trying to tailor our program to what the students need and what they’re willing to do.” When Dr. Smith first took on an advisory role for the club five years ago, there had been well over 100 applications for the trip. However,
the club’s membership has dwindled slowly, and last year there were barely enough applications to fill the spots the club offered. “At that point, we needed to take a step back,” he says. Though fewer students are participating in the initiative than in the past, the students that remain are fiercely supportive of the mission. “The learning that CSI provides prior to the trip and throughout the rest of the year allows members to be culturally aware,” says club officer Sarah Chin (11). Several students cite the program’s service learning
[Mr. Smith]
initiatives as their primary reason for their devotion to the program. “We can see firsthand the changes we’re making in the community,” says club president Rachel Lee (12). The Initiative will continue to work toward their goals during this gap year by fundraising and donating to the communities they are supporting. In the long run, they hope to change not just Cambodia, but TAS as well. “I hope that we’ll be able to start a genuine and widespread dialogue about service,” says Dr. Smith. “We cannot delude ourselves into thinking
Where to eat for Thanksgiving It can be hard to find an All-American Thanksgiving dinner in Taipei without having to do dishes afterward. Here are some of The Blue & Gold’s top suggestions.
Ed’s Diner
Le Qun 2nd Rd. Taipei 104 $$ Ed’s Diner has long been renowned for their American barbecue meals, reminiscent of 4th of July summers. For Thanksgiving, the restaurant will offer slow-roasted turkey and pumpkin pie as limited-edition additions to their menu.
Pig & Pepper 15 Fuxing S Rd Sect 1, Lane 295, Taipei 106 $$$ This clean-cut but warm restaurant, known for its family-friendly environment, is nothing to sneeze at. For the ultimate American homestyle meal, try their holiday special, which starts at $540 per person.
Yiamas Greeka Taverna No. 3, Lane 181, Section 2, Anhe Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106 $$$$ This year, Yiamas Greeka Taverna will be featuring their amazingly delicious, succulent, and mouth-watering slow-roasted Turkey with ALL the fixings with the price of $769 per person!
that dropping money in a bucket will automatically solve anything.” Clubs like the Myanmar Service and Culture Club are already beginning to follow that method of thinking, attempting to incorporate service learning into their community service. “We’re attempting to take service one step further than usual,” says David Wang (10). “I think bringing attention to nations that are not getting the international attention they need is a very important aspect.” “Voluntourism,” too, has been criticized by activists for its dubious impact on resolving issues. Because
of the lack of skill in many who volunteer, sometimes it seems as if overseas community service trips do more harm than good. “We’re not sending experts,” Dr. Smith agrees, “we’re sending students.” But this is for good reason: a major goal of these service clubs is, ultimately, to provide an educational experience for students so they can do more in the future. “Effectively addressing a longstanding historical problem takes much more than showing up and hammering in nails,” he says. “Instead, we’re giving students a lifelong tool set.”
Got Turkey? By Catherine Lin At Taipei American School, Thanksgiving holidays look very different than in America, not only because of the passage of time, but also because of the cultural diversity in Tianmu and Taipei. For Melissa Cho (12), celebrating Thanksgiving with traditions like eating turkey or watching American football can make people value food and fun over Thanksgiving’s intent: to give thanks. She says, “I just feel like the actions have been ritualized that many of us lose the real purpose of Thanksgiving. In my family, we acknowledge this special day, spend some time to say a few things about what we’re thankful for over the past year, and say a few words of prayer.” Rachel Gould (10) has a typical American Thanksgiving every year, complete with a buffet-style turkey dinner. She thinks food is part of showing thankfulness. “We appreciate each other by having a nice dinner, and that’s what we’re thankful for, says Rachel. Justin Zhou (10) has not celebrated Thanksgiving since he moved to Taiwan from the United States. For him, Thanksgiving is all about the food. He says, “It’s the food that I really miss because a lot of American food in Taiwan is Asian-ized.” April Tsai (10) is another former celebrator of Thanksgiving since she moved to Taiwan. “If I could get my family in with it, I definitely would
celebrate it.” To her, marking American holidays such as Thanksgiving is part of being American. She says, “I am more American than my family. I used to go trick-or-treating around Tianmu during Halloween and put up a makeshift Christmas tree for Santa.” Unlike April, Julia Lin (11) does not miss celebrating Thanksgiving. “Celebrating Thanksgiving only makes sense in a certain cultural context. Very few people celebrate Thanksgiving in Taiwan. I remember that even trying to find a place that sold a whole turkey was difficult,” she says. “Thanksgiving is about gathering together to appreciate what they have, so the lack of people who celebrate Thanksgiving in Taiwan makes it less enjoyable.” In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower carried passengers over the Atlantic in search of freedom to practice their religion. This group, known as the Pilgrims, struggled to survive until native Americans taught them how to fend for themselves and grow corn. When their first corn harvest was done, the governor of the Pilgrims organized a feast with the native Americans-the event known as the first Thanksgiving. In the end, it is easy to be overwhelmed by your failures, feel stressed about academics, or be caught up in the pursuit of happiness and success. Thanksgiving is a good time to take a break from chasing what you want, and appreciate what you already have: friends, family, and food.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
iGEM brings innovation into focus By Shereen Lee
“We don’t just grow cool bacteria; we make a difference,” says Huiru Huang (12) as she stretches adhesives over a set of test tubes. “Lunchtime” is a distant dream for Huiru and other students in the Honors Advanced Synthetic Biology class as they hunch over lab benches, giving up their free periods for the sake of building molecular machines. Like athletes, the team spends three to four hours working in the lab to refine their skills, even during “off-seasons” when there are no large projects looming ahead. “I basically live in the lab now,” jokes Justin Yang (11). “It’s very convenient. It even has a microwave.” This year, Huiru Huang and Fiona Tsai (12) led the synthetic biology class in their project for the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) Giant Jamboree in Boston, where they presented their findings on treating cataracts, or clouding in the eye. Cataracts, the leading cause of blindness today, typically require expensive procedures and qualified surgeons. However, the class pored through scientific papers to find biological compounds that dissolve damaged clumps of proteins called crystallins. They then applied that knowledge to create functional eye drops that showed prevention and treatment effects in animal lenses. The Giant Jamboree honored them with medals such as the Best Education
and Engagement Awards, along with a gold medal and the Best Model, Best Parts award. This is Taipei American School’s third year competing: in 2015 they won the Grand Prize.
We’ve made something that’s actually commercially viable. “The judges are looking something that’s complete, creative. And I think that we’ve accomplished that even better than we have in past years,” faculty advisor Mr. Clapper says. The team hopes to pursue its project far beyond the reach of a simple school project. “We’ve made something that’s actually commercially viable. And from an entrepreneurial standpoint, that is really huge,” says Mr. Clapper. If the team decides to work with investors to develop their solutions for cataracts further, we could see the iGEM team’s products on pharmaceutical shelves in the near future. The iGEM team hopes to use their experience to inspire and impact society through education. From teaching basic biology concepts to explaining the nuances of their experiments, the
An exponential growth in interest: The synthetic biology class has expanded to over twenty students. [TAS IGEM WEBSITE]
team has already begun their mission at TAS by visiting other students, whether kindergarteners or 11th grade IB students. “I enjoyed watching reactions from students as they interacted with science, sometimes for the first time,” says Huiru. “It’s reminded me of the importance of education.” Their outreach has also extended to inviting researchers to speak to other TAS students in panels and bioethics meetings, as well as
introducing scientific concepts during events such as the Taipei Cataract Awareness Convention. “The ultimate goal is to integrate synthetic biology into people’s everyday lives,” says Justin. “Currently, people aren’t as comfortable with genetically engineered projects, but that can change if we prove that it’s efficient and safe.” Learning about biology in such an in-depth manner has more immediate
effects as well. “Synthetic biology has been an amazing opportunity for us to learn about interdisciplinary concepts, and it has so much potential to solve issues we’ve been battling for centuries,” Huiru says. Twenty minutes before the next period starts, the team finally puts down their pipettes. “Though tiring, working in the lab is great,” says Changsun. “It’s the beginning of a new way to improve the world.”
Basketball is back: NBA season preview By Andrew Lin and Daniel Wang Before the league went into the off-season, we saw the heartfelt story of Lebron James finally winning a championship for his home state of Ohio, in Game 7. The wait is finally over as posterizers, deep 3’s, and jawdropping basketball plays will be raging over the internet again. The NBA is back! Notable off-season moves: During the off-season, many players found new homes, drastically altering the NBA landscape. The most notable
and controversial move was Kevin Durant joining forces with All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors to form the scariest team in the league - at least on paper. Al Horford, former Atlanta Hawks center, moved north to join a young Boston Celtics team led by Isaiah Thomas while Dwight Howard signed with the Hawks to replace Horford. The Chicago Bulls also landed Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade this off-season in hopes of returning to the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. However, by
Returning champs: The Cavaliers look to repeat their historic win. [BOB DONAN/CUSTOM]
signing two players with career 3-point field goal percentages under 30% and adding them to a roster that already has limited shooting, floor spacing will be a major issue for the team. The New York Knicks acquired former all-stars in Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to form what Rose dubbed a “super team” with Carmelo Anthony and rising youngster Kristaps Porzingis. The Memphis Grizzlies made headlines by re-signing Mike Conley to the largest contract in NBA history at $153 million dollars over 5 years and adding versatile forward Chandler Parsons to its ranks. Other notable moves include the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs picked up Harrison Barnes and Paul Gasol respectively. Rookies to watch: With number 1 draft pick Ben Simmons sitting out the first few months of the season, the attention of the rookie field shifts to Joel Embiid, Brandon Ingram, Kris Dunn and Buddy Hield. With fellow 76ers Simmons and Nerlens Noel out for an extended amount of time, Embiid will be the focal point of a diabolically bad 76ers offense. Ingram is an intriguing prospect with exceptional physical tools, and it will be interesting to see what Ingram can do under new Los Angeles Lakers coach, Luke Walton. Dunn is the Minnesota Timberwolves’ new backup point guard behind Ricky Rubio, but he should theoretically thrive under new coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive schemes. Hield finds himself playing alongside Anthony Davis on the New Orleans Pelicans, but the high scoring guard will have to prove himself on a Pelicans team
that is currently stacked with shooting guards like E’Twaun Moore and Tyreke Evans. There is no sure-fire Rookie of the Year this year. Watch out: The biggest question for this season is not if the Warriors will play well with the new addition of Durant, but rather, just how good will the Warriors be next season? On paper, the Warriors may possibly be the greatest NBA team ever assembled and seem downright unstoppable with 4 All-NBA players including the reigning MVP. This question is extremely scary considering the Warriors had the best record in NBA history last year with 73 wins and 9 losses without Durant. With the addition of Durant and the formation of the newest superteam, the Warriors may well break their own winloss record. Another noteworthy story is the potential breakout seasons from Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell and Phoenix Suns shooting guard Devin Booker. Russell has been an absolute monster in the preseason; with Kobe Bryant gone, Russell is poised for a breakout season as the go-to option for the Lakers. Last season, sharpshooter Booker took advantage of a decimated Suns backcourt to make a statement to the league as the young guard became just the 4th youngest player in NBA history to reach 1000 points. With a guaranteed starting spot in the upcoming season, Booker should excel under the Suns’ fast paced offense and is a prime candidate to see a breakout season. Two teams that fans should also focus on are the Toronto Raptors and
the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Raptors are often overlooked compared to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but with Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan leading the charge once again, they should be the primary challenger to the Cavaliers in the East. In the West, the Timberwolves have formed a young, high-flying, and exciting core of Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Dunn and Rubio in hopes of returning to the playoffs. Under Coach Tom Thibodeau’s strict discipline, the Timberwolves should be an entertaining team in the season, regardless of whether they will qualify for the playoffs or not.
With the addition of Durant and the formation of the newest superteam, the Warriors may well break their own winloss record. This season is also the beginning of the post-Tim Duncan/Kobe Bryant/ Kevin Garnett era. Three legends, three icons, three future Hall of Famers are now no longer in the league. The quiet perfection of Tim Duncan, the killer instinct of Kobe Bryant, and the hardnosed trash talking intensity of Kevin Garnett will definitely be missed by basketball fans around the world. Are you ready for a whole new season, NBA fans? It’s going to be exciting!
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Stop rape The “refugee issue” is everyone’s issue culture now By Cherice Tsai
By Carolyn Wang Every 2 minutes, an American is sexually assaulted. As a generation, we are making huge advancements socially. We support LGBTQ groups and the Black Lives Matter movement. We raise awareness for mental diseases. Many in our generation are becoming more supportive and accepting. Yet, even as people are becoming more open to things and ideas, we are also undermining grave issues. Rape is one such case. The phrase “rape culture” is common, but what exactly is it? It is the growing culture where sexual assault is becoming the norm. It is when the seriousness of rape is downplayed. It encompasses a variety of things that span from just trivializing the importance of gender roles to the physical aspect of rape. As Ms. Chen, faculty co-sponsor of the club, Girl Up puts it, “It is a spectrum that ranges from the lowest tier of rape culture, like language that manifests unhealthy gender stereotypes, to the highest tier, which is sexual assault and violence.” How do you make a funny joke about rape? You don’t. Rape does not mean totally annihilating someone in a game of League of Legends. Rape is committing unlawful sexual activities against someone’s wishes which as a result is a violation of human rights. It is not a metaphor to be bandied about in everyday situations because if we normalize it in our language, we, as a society, are also normalizing it as an action. When you joke about rape, think about what you are doing, do you really mean what you are saying? You are beginning to enter the lowest tier of rape culture. “It’s like climbing a ladder. You joke about rape, people laugh, and you think that it’s okay. But pretty soon, with that mindset, you will begin to advance into the higher steps of the rape culture ladder you still think that it is okay.” says Janice Yang (11), president of Girl Up. No one says rape is okay. But by allowing an inappropriate joke about rape to pass, you are mindlessly feeding into the growing rape culture. #rapecultureiswhen is a growing popular hashtag on social media that raises awareness about rape culture. But social media also perpetuates rape culture. Inappropriate captions are being made. Does the posted picture have any relevance to the issue of rape? If not, please reconsider your post and the message you are sending out. In my opinion, I think it would best to not post pictures of your squad with the word rape in the caption, unless you are raising awareness about rape. Rape culture is not just about the trivialization on the consequences of rape. Small things can consume rape culture. Please be careful of your language and think before you speak, your words do have an effect on people. You can create the effect that rape is not a light issue and that rape is okay.
12 year old Ahmed lives in fear. For months, he has lived in a tent at a migrant camp in Calais, France. Earlier this year, his parents sent him alone to France from his village in Afghanistan to remove him from the danger posed by the major destabilizing forces in the area: the Taliban and the Islamic State. His brothers and parents are still in Afghanistan because his family could only afford to send one child away. He has been trying to get into the UK, but the police have stopped him again and again. Ahmed is just one of the 600 children who stay in Europe’s biggest slum, the Calais camp, and these children make up just a small number of refugees globally. There are currently 65.3 million forcibly displaced people in the world. This could make up the world’s 23rd largest country based on population, and the majority of these people are living without basic necessities. The dire refugee crisis requires strengthened support from governments and individuals alike. However, the term “refugee crisis” seems to do no more than describe a phenomenon, a problem that exists. It probably instigates no more an emotional or visceral response than one which you would get when you consider another word describing a life-threatening situation–war, for example. Whilst we all agree that it is a problem that refugees don’t have access to the most basic necessities, some of us probably do not care very much because the “refugee issue” seems so far away and irrelevant to us.
To better understand why we should care, we can turn to philosophical justifications which provide us better frames for thinking about the issue. Consider the hypothetical posed by philosopher Peter Singer: A child falls into a river and begins to drown. A man notices the drowning child and considers rescuing him at the expense of dirtying his brand new shoes. Under this scenario, Singer argues that the importance of saving a child outweighs the cost of getting one’s clothes muddy; thus most refuse to consider the condition of the shoes as an excuse for not saving the child. In the current state of affairs, we can draw a direct parallel between this hypothetical and the ongoing refugee crisis. The man who sees the drowning child is symbolic of the governments and individuals who are capable of helping. The drowning child is symbolic of the numerous refugees who need help. But what complicates the situation this time, is the governments’ concern that they invest resources into helping refugees at the expense of reducing their own national, political, economical, or social advancements. But just as we would frown upon the choice to prioritize shoes and a few minutes of time over a child’s life, we should frown upon the choice to prioritize national development over the lives of refugees. Even if there are extra layers adding to the scope and dimension of this issue, that doesn’t negate governments’ and individuals’ duty to help. Even if we can understand this hypothetical posed by Singer, it’s perhaps, still quite difficult for us to
Refugees are humans too: A person holds up a sign to show support for refugees. [THE COOPERATIVE CONNECTION]
empathize with refugees as a whole. Without actual experience, we can only intellectualize what’s happening. Perhaps this lack of a strong empathetic feeling is what’s limiting our motivation to help, but it shouldn’t remove us from our duty to alleviate the problem. In fact, German philosopher Immanuel Kant would argue we should not use empathy to guide our moral decisions. He would tell us to exercise our reasoning, the faculty that makes us distinct from other beings, in decision-making and in approaching all moral questions, including one such as the humanitarian crisis. Psychologist Paul Bloom extends on this idea. He suggests that in considering how to best distribute resources to help people, governments and individuals should use
reason as opposed to empathetic feeling to make decisions. If we exercised our empathy, we would favor helping those in our most immediate vicinity, not those in the most desperate need for help. To maximize the amount of assistance we can provide for those in need, governments need to use logic in their policy-making. Of course, the above are just two philosophical justifications for our need to support refugees. There are many other frameworks for considering this situation. But put most simply, refugees deserve our help because they are human, just like us. We need to exercise kindness on a much greater scale. If born in a different family, it could easily have been any one of us in the same situation.
Police brutality: justice or privilege? By Kelly Phil As our last line of defense and justice, police departments all over the country have worked to keep civilians safe in whatever way they can. Thinking over the true purpose of an officer, however, makes it even more painful to consider the acts of violence caused by members of the police over the course of our lives. Over the last five years, there have been multiple examples of police misconduct in the United States. There were five reported cases in 2014 alone, and more than five times as many cases were recorded in the last two years than in the last five. A common trend in all these attacks have been unprovoked violence against people the police deemed ‘suspicious’. Another disturbing trend is the prosecution of police officers who were involved in the attacks, many of whom were found innocent and released. As an issue deeply entrenched in race, it is no surprise that cases that involve the deaths of African Americans and other racial minorities have been uncontested by the law. From Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill homeless man police beat and killed, to Michael Brown and 12-year old Tamir Rice, it doesn’t take much to realize that police brutality has escalated out of control in many states. This isn’t to say that all members of the police engage in violence, nor is it to say that all police are racist, but clearly some changes in the US policing system is needed. This is made evident in a report done by MSNBC, 92% of police searches,
Stop the injustice: A person holds up a sign protesting against police brutality. [THNKSPEK]
86% of police stops, and nearly 93% of arrests made by police were of African American citizens. The statistics don’t make it hard to realize the existing racial discrimination in police systems across the country. The public outrage was on full display in Ferguson and Charlotte amongst others and have had various protests happen over months on end. It’s quite sad to watch the cycle happen over and over again. An innocent member of the community is abused, protests ensue, and an apology is released with no actual justice. The parents of Ramarley Graham, an African-American teen shot in the Bronx, states in an interview with the New York Daily News that
they don’t want empty apologies from an organization that has abused their community but rather charges against the officers who committed these atrocities to be approved. Although it may seem as if these issues are unique to the US, Taiwan has also faced various accounts of police brutality during protests. The Taipei Times reported the Huaguang community police to engage in multiple accounts of unprovoked violence during a student protest. Shen HsinHung, a student at the protest, was trying to help two other protesters who had been pushed to the ground by the police. When he was trying to get an officer’s assistance, the officer grabbed
and proceeded to kick and wound him. Clearly, the assault on innocent citizens because of their race as well as the lack of professionalism from police in both Taiwan and the US is a cycle that must be stopped one way or another. A clear solution to such an ongoing issue is hard to find. Many say that time is the only way the community’s wounds will heal and justice brought, but sometimes we can’t wait for change to happen. Policy changes need to happen. The people that run our governments need to understand what attacks such as these may have upon the community and in turn work to turn our departments a round and understand that this problem isn’t going to go away on it’s own.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Rodrigo Duterte: the solution or the problem? By Coco Lee Rodrigo Duterte, the president of Philippines, is not the suitable person for the office. Almost everyone has heard of the president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, and his brutality against drug dealers in the Philippines. President Duterte was elected to the Philippines’ highest office in July of this year, prior to this, he was the mayor of Davao City from 2013 until 2016. Duterte gained popularity in Philippines when he declared the War on Drugs, which is a campaign to reduce drug smuggling and punish drug dealers to reduce crime. Duterte eventually succeeded in earning his position by winning 40% of the votes–a massive number of 16 million votes with his closest rival 6.6 million votes behind. According to Trending News Portal, Duterte has succeeded in reducing crime rates in the Philippines by 49%, albeit using inhumane brutality. Despite these accomplishments, Rodrigo Duterte is not being ethical in “protecting” his country by killing 2000 citizens, many of whom have not
even been proven guilty of doing drugs. This government policy of terror is not going to last long and could potentially bring up more violence and chaos into the country as many of his actions go against basic human rights. He may be reducing crime rate in the short term, but as time passes, this could possibly bring up more crime from murder as he allows people to possess guns and permits them to shoot anyone suspected of drug dealing. From calling Obama “a son of a whore” to stating his statement of Philippines’ separation from the US to side with China and Russia, Duterte has created massive complication in the politics in Asia. Duterte also praised Hitler in his speech saying, “Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now, there is three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them.” He also gets his statistics wrong as Hitler slaughtered 6 million Jews. Furthermore, Duterte pointed his middle finger at Brussels when the European Nation urged him to do investigations to be carried about human rights abuse.
Duterte also disrespected victims of rape by saying, “I saw her face and I thought, ‘What a pity... they raped her, they all lined up. I was mad she was raped but she was so beautiful. I thought, the mayor (who is himself ) should have been first.” This is not the right person to lead a country and create peace. Duterte will cause bigger problems with his ignorant words that will put the country in struggle with other nations. As a strong violator of human rights, Rodrigo Duterte should not remain in presidency and he should apologize for all the nonsense he had said. At his final campaign rally in May 2016, Duterte said, “Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I’d kill you. I’ll dump all of you into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there.” Human rights are the basics in what every person deserves. To openly violate these rights proves Rodrigo Duterte should not be kept in office and lead a country.
The new leader of the Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte speaks to the residents of Davao City, where he once served as the city’s longtime mayor. [KEITH BACONGCO]
Black Lives Matter, to feminism, to the environment, impassioned activists are labeled as troublemakers who just need to calm down. Activists are continually silenced, told over and over again that passion detracts from the validity of their argument. However, The myth of calmness being rewarding is just that–a myth. In a 2013 Harvard Business School study, 75 participants were asked to say “I am excited” before giving a speech, while the other 75 said “I am calm”. The speakers who had said “I am
excited” were perceived as much more persuasive, confident, and competent by judges. Telling people they shouldn’t care about a situation could ruin the progress we’ve made. However, the issue is further complicated by the political charge it carries. Traditionally oppressed peoples–including LGBTQ individuals, those with disabilities, racial minorities, and women–can be the most heavily scrutinized. According to a Washington Post article by Janell Ross, these individuals have a narrower band
of what is considered as “acceptable”. That is, discrimination can heavily influence the power of individuals who are minorities, forcing them to walk on tripwire when speaking. The rise of a hyper-successful minority elite, including the likes of American president Barack Obama, does not reflect the grim realities of discrimination in the working class–because in order to achieve mainstream success, minorities must overcompensate the disadvantages they already have by quietly backing down when it comes to issues of oppression.
out-of-context if randomly raised in a regular conversation. The kind of issues raised by memes are sometimes too inconsequential to warrant a faceto-face conversation for; just right for a quick laugh and glance. With an audience of Facebook friends observing this tagging, memes offer individuals a kind of subtle self-promotion. In participating in this tagging craze, we allow others to see just how relatable we are to one another in a variety of embarrassing or annoying circumstances. We expose the weird eccentricities (in actuality not-so-weird, but rather common) we make fun of our friends for. So memes say something about our interactions online, but do they have social influence beyond this? With Pepe the Frog recently used, against the intentions of Pepe’s creator Matt Furie, as a hateful Anti-Semitic and racist symbol, some are beginning to question the harmlessness of memes. More than that, a core concern is that certain memes can become a negative social influence by trivializing relevant political ideas or someone’s words, and by placing them out of context. In doing so, they flatten the multidimensional
nature of different situations. About this, Dr. Lipsett says, “I think that’s the danger [of memes]. If you take anything out of context or shrink anything down, it becomes problematic and you lose a lot of the meaning. But with any form [of language] you have to consider how it opens the ideas up to a broader audience. For example, maybe some people might lose interest when offered a [verbal or written] explanation about a social issue, but might be able to engage through hashtags such as #fightFGM. Any time you’re dealing with an image, it’s more effective [with conveying ideas]. For example, I try to use memes in my class, because sometimes it helps students learn.” Although perhaps unsatisfying to know, memes, just like other forms of expression we use online (be it hashtags or emojis) cannot be a tool that offers only positive or negative social influence. Hashtags reduce ideas to short phrases, each emoji can convey only one of perhaps a mixture of complex emotions, and memes, similarly, condense ideas to a few words and an image. We can value memes for the fun they provide for us, but we should also be wary of what they lack,
The danger to social justice in keeping calm By Shereen Lee When World War II broke out, England created a slogan to rejuvenate their populace: “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Over sixty years later, it has resurfaced and gone viral, with hundreds of thousands of retail products and offshoots. Robert Walker explains in the New York Times that the “message of keeping calm has resonated with people all around the world”. But, while seemingly uncontroversial, this slogan has darker undertones for the 21st century: today, in issues from
If we take a look at the world around us, it’s easy to realize that there is a lot to be not-so-calm about. There is a reason why some people are so angry. But saying “calm down” suggests to marginalized groups that their message is important only when it’s convenient for someone else. So instead of “Keep Calm and Carry On”, we need a new motto: Don’t keep calm. Stand your ground. We need to do something about social justice issues today, and we need all the energy we can get.
What it MEMEs: the social implications
By Cherice Tsai Memes have recently regained popularity as an internet fad. Though it may seem as though memes are just stupid images we laugh at in an attempt to escape the stress of school and life, memes do much more than convey inconsequential ideas. Memes are images composed of either a short dialogue or phrase and are usually combined with an exaggerated, but relatable images. Memes reflect how the digital world has shaped our interactions online. In today’s world, the speed of the internet urges us to seek new and constant stimulation. The accessibility of all that is contained online makes it difficult for us to abstain from indulging in insubstantial but attention-catching content. When we search for entertainment given a limited amount of time, it’s no surprise that we are predisposed to seek what offers us the most immediate gratification. Memes do just that for us. Tagging your friends in memes is a quick way to connect over first world problems and daily struggles in a public space. Silly memes on Facebook provide us a platform to bond over issues which would otherwise appear
World of memes: Memes have returned to the internet world, but with consequences. [RED BUBBLE]
with their inability to encapsulate much at all when it comes to social or political issues at a larger scale. As Dr. Lipsett
summarizes, “[j]ust like anything else with language, it all comes down to how you use it.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
HERO OR VILLAIN?
To new beginnings: Kevin Durant dons his new-look Golden State Warriors jersey. [AFP]
The unfaithful star: A fan tapes the word “traitor” on the back of a Thunders uniform. [THE OKLAHOMAN]
Searching for the W By Barron Tsai Kevin Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors took the basketball world by storm. It was a massive, unprecedented decision. Sure, other superstars had left their NBA teams in the past—such as Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett leaving Seattle and Minnesota, respectively, or LeBron James leaving Cleveland for Miami. But those all-stars had limited support, and had carried their teams single-handedly for many years. In contrast, Durant left a team where he already had a superstar partner in Russell Westbrook and a sufficient supporting cast. He left a team that was arguably in championship contention—and that’s one of the reasons people are criticizing him. But why shouldn’t he have left? Critics across the NBA realm have been quick to demonize the Warriors, as they added Kevin Durant to a 73-win team. The Warriors already feature reigning league Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry, All-Star sharpshooter Klay Thompson, and All-Star forward Draymond Green. But look at it from another angle. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Wanda Durant, KD’s mother, said, “For 9 years, he refused to speak a word against that team—he loved those guys and that city.” Kevin Durant is 28 years old. A year after being drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, Durant witnessed the relocation of the struggling team to Oklahoma City. He spent 9 years in the service of the new Oklahoma City Thunder—9 frustrating
years that saw the Thunder make multiple playoff runs, but never once raising the Larry O’Brien trophy. 9 years of loyal, uncomplaining hard work. Yet, in those dysfunctional and lost opportunities, Durant’s frustration with the Thunder is understandable. The Oklahoma City front office, after the loss of star guard James Harden, didn’t attempt to add a new, established star. Instead, they just kept getting younger by trading Harden for multiple future draft picks. This lack of support and vision from his front office frustrated Durant. He was loyal throughout his whole career as a Thunder, but the incompetent management and team was not behind him. And it must be considered where he is at in his career right now. According to FiveThirtyEight’s CARMELO system, which projects how any given NBA player’s career will play out based on past data, the average NBA player peaks around 28-30 years of age and starts declining from there. Kevin Durant at 28, theoretically has 2 good years left in him and will start declining as he gets older. He was unable to raise the Larry O’Brien championship trophy with the Thunder, where he spent a majority of his prime. As he gradually approaches his decline, he needs to consider the odds of winning at OKC or at any of the 29 other NBA teams. Durant needs to join a team that he knows he can win with instead of extending his contract and committing to his old team that just could not get it done. Thus, he rightfully signed with the Warriors.
I understand that Thunder fans may feel mad, disappointed, and betrayed, but Kevin Durant already devoted 8 years of his life to the inception of this franchise. The general manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Sam Presti rightly called him “a founding father” of the franchise. Without him, the Thunder may have never reached title contention, stayed at the bottom of the win column, and continued to be an insignificant team that could not attract free agents. The fact that he could be a cornerstone for any team has given rise to one of the dominant arguments against him. Many see the signing as a representation of his disloyalty, but people need to realize that he is human too. He wants to be a winner and carve his own legacy as a chamipon. It is true that Durant could be seen as a future hall of famers and one of the best scorers of all time, but his greatness would be doubted without an NBA championship. Winning a title with the Warriors (odds 4-5 as of Oct. 24 according to Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook) would cement his place in history. With a net worth of $120 million, Kevin Durant did not leave his team for monetary interests. He did not do it out of spite for OKC, the city that “truly raised” him. Rather, he did it because he is human. He did it because he wanted to reach the ultimate goal of any athlete or NBA player—being a champion. After years of second place, it’s about time he goes after his dream.We need to support him. He is not a traitor, he is an inspiration.
Durant’s Double-Cross By Daniel Wang For modern day sports fanatics, following a team is far more than just a hobby—it has become an integral part of their identity. Fans become emotionally connected to a team and its players, making the recent betrayal of Kevin Durant all the more dishonorable. In May of last season, the Golden State Warriors faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors made history when they won the most games in a single season: 73. Their team is already made up of reigning MVP Stephen Curry, all-stars Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, and former all-star Andre Iguodala. Frankly, the Warriors were a superteam. The Thunders fought valiantly against the Warriors, but ultimately fell to one of the best teams in NBA history. However, on July 4th, 2016, following the postseason loss, he made a decision that shocked the world: He signed with the Golden State Warriors. Out of the 30 NBA teams to choose from, Durant chose the team that he was eliminated by just 2 months ago. Thus, the newest villain of the NBA was born. As expected, this signing led to Twitter bursting with surprised reactions, his jerseys burnt by fans, and the newest buzz for sports critics worldwide. The signing mirrored Lebron James’ move back in 2010, when he announced that he would join the Miami Heat after playing for his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, for seven seasons. Immediately following the decision, James was villainized
by fans worldwide for all the antics surrounding his highly anticipated decision which was created into a televised segment by ESPN. Durant may not have surrounded his decision with as much drama, but he did something that James would never have: Durant joined the team that he could not beat. In his free agency, Lebron refused to sign with the Boston Celtics, the team that constantly eliminated his Cavs from the playoffs. Durant, on the other hand, decided to join the Golden State Warriors, who had defeated his team in a bitter 2016 Western Conference Finals after being 3-1 down. In an NBA playoff series, the first team to win 4 games advances. Durant and the Thunder were one game away from advancing into the NBA Finals. They were 48 minutes away from eliminating one of the best teams in NBA history in the playoffs. Instead, they lost three games in a row and just like that, their championship aspirations were over. Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN sports analyst, argued that “the real issue is that Kevin Durant decided to go and join, the team that beat him rather than being hell bent on competing with them once again.” Similarly, often dubbed “the greatest player of all time”, Michael Jordan, said “There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team.’” Initially, I agreed with Stephen A. Smith about how leaving was not the issue. The issue was the fact that he
joined the team that beat him. However, after Westbrook resigned with the Thunder despite Durant leaving, this stressed the fact that Durant betrayed Oklahoma City and his team. Westbrook was also there when the Thunder choked away their chance for an NBA finals berth. He could have waited until next season, when his contract ends, to sign with a better team just like Durant did. But he did not. Don’t get me wrong, I understand Durant’s desire to to win and I respect the fact that he wants to win. I also understand that the NBA is a business and events like this happen. However, as a competitor and an athlete, I don’t understand how he could retain any self-respect after his act of cowardice. The NBA is a platform where the best basketball players are pitted against one another. If every athlete had the same mentality as Durant, there would be no competition, there would be no NBA. Players like Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Reggie Miller, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, and Kobe Bryant stayed loyal to their team throughout their career. When times got tough, when things were not going their way, they continued to push through for their fans and their team. Loyalty is one of the many reasons why these players will be the most respected in NBA history. Kevin Durant has none of that, and his decision shows that he never will. One word has been cemented in the minds of people around the world about Kevin Durant: traitor.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Korean Drama and Pop: unnecessary hype By Anya Lai At TAS, students often try to keep up with American culture; however, the trend of Korean drama and pop has taken over in the blink of an eye this year. As you walk into the cafeteria, the constant chatter about cute guys in Korean TV shows or boy bands is overwhelming. Critics say that the actors and singers whom fans obsess over have all gone through some sort of plastic surgery, and are only chosen for the part because of their looks. However, actors’ artificial looks are not the only factor that makes K-drama unbearable. Although there are many different popular K-Drama TV shows, K-Drama does not have a wide variety of plots: the entirety of K-drama is either “poor girl meets rich guy” plot, the “evil mother in law” plot, the “mean girl” plot, “I hate you, I love you” plot, or the “last minute amnesia” plot. Overdramatic kisses, crying, goodbye airport scenes, and
accidentally falling into the arms of the guy (who the main character will later fall in love with) are the basic building blocks of Korean drama. Imagine if your life was a Korean drama. Wrist grabbing, which is considered an aggressive and offensive act as it downgrades women’s status in society, would be more common than hand holding. You would never be with the love of your life since his evil mother hates your guts, and women are usually the poor ones who cannot help but fall in love with the rich guy. This cliche is all too fake for the 21st century. On the musical side, Korean Pop is just as cringeworthy as Korean drama. Many students at TAS immediately start obsessing over a boy band because the members are good looking, not because they sing well or their songs have a catchy tune. A common feature of boy bands is that every member of an idol group has the same hairstyle with the exception of different hair
color. Some mistake them as girls, as they do not sport typical Western short haircuts. This is not necessarily bad but in some Asian countries traditional culture is still very important and should be followed. Even some K-pop fans would condemn this fashion crime. Christine Lin (10) says, “They have bowl cuts and you can never see their eyebrows.” Furthermore, the members of female K-pop groups also look identical. Coco Lee (10) says, “The Korean beauty standard for females ia height of 165 cm and a weight of 42 kg” This expectation creates an image and beauty standard by using incredibly unrealistic measurements. Members in K-pop groups are also treated inhumanely. If they faint or throw up onstage, their managers don’t call the ambulance but instead bring them backstage and retouch their makeup. Also, the companies sometimes “force” singers to get plastic surgery.
3,2,1 cheese: The members of EXO, a K-Pop band, have similar hairstyles but different hair colors. [GOOGLE]
Don’t underestimate K-Pop By Grace Cho Although Korean popular culture often has a negative reputation around TAS’s student body, I believe that it does not deserve this reputation. In fact, it is awesome because it carries uplifting and positive messages, it helps Koreans band together over their native language (especially when they live outside of Korea), and, for nonKoreans and Koreans alike, it helps us learn about Korean history and even ourselves. If you are ever feeling down in the dumps, the lyrics and storylines of K-Pop songs or K-Dramas can be comforting. If you like serene or amiable songs, you might want to listen to OKDAL or AKMU. My friends and I often listen to these cute songs together and because of their positive lyrics, I rarely feel depressed or lonely. Of course, K-Drama is not an exception. K-Drama contains a
variety of storylines about love or school and there are even historical dramas and webtoon-based dramas. Fantasy genres let us enter a new world and flee from the exhausting stresses of our everyday lives. Each drama has its own unique concept. Korean is not offered as an academic course here at TAS even though there are many people who speak it or are interested in it. Sometimes people come up to me and speak in somewhat fluent Korean, which surprises me all the time. How did they learn it? They always answer that they learned it through K-Pop songs. K-Pop and K-Drama helps strengthen relationships. Although I am usually very timid around new people, when new students come up to me to talk about these products of Korean culture, it is easy for me to greet them in a friendlier way. K-Pop and K-Drama help to break the ice! Korean media also helps you learn about the world around you. “Through
The English Department is pleased to announce its first annual grade-level writing competitions! All 9th and 10th graders can submit two pieces of original work in any writing genre totaling up to five pages (double-spaced). Please submit one printed copy (with your student number, not your name!) to Ms. Yuen Yuen in the English Department by January 25th, 2017.
dramas, you can also know other countries’ history or traditions, though not too seriously because it also contains fictional aspects,” says Sherry Chai (10). Watching K-Drama is a chance for you to learn about novel aspects of Korea. Two of the more recent historical dramas are Moon Lover: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Love in the Moonlight. After watching these dramas, a lot of TAS students commented on how realistically Korea is depicted in these dramas. Of course, the plot does not line up exactly with Korean history, but much of it is grounded in actual history. Watching these dramas can also help you reflect upon yourself. Some characters might remind you of yourself and if they are portrayed or perceived in a negative way, then watching the show could potentially be helpful to you. Don’t be afraid or reluctant to step into another culture. Korean pop and drama, while foreign to many students, might be just what you’re looking for.
Sweet smiles: Love in the Moonlight is a Korean webtoon historical drama. [KBS]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
LET’S GET By Charlotte Lee Despite 2016 being a noteworthy year in politics and news, the TAS community has remained sheltered within its own bubble of safety, mostly oblivious to its surroundings. Time and time again, we have been told that we are privileged and luckier than we can possibly imagine. Other than some passionate individuals, it is surprising how many students are unaffected by the most tragic and ruinous events. It appears that as long as things are happening far away, they don’t exist or matter. Most students, including myself, are guilty of thinking this way, but it’s understandable considering the environment we grew up in. At school, we are isolated by American culture from a predominantly Asian society, and the mix between the two cultures results in a sense of detachment from both. Most of us have known a different sort hardship in comparison to others. There is no possible way to fully understand the extreme privilege we have grown up with, but it’s not hard to get the idea. Admittedly, it is a lot to ask for some teenagers to self-educate and care about everything that’s going on worldwide when it’s not necessarily going to change the situation itself. Nevertheless, we should all ask if we can be proud of the things we care about. Celebrity news and the NBA season get a lot of attention; if a fraction of that time could be opened up to caring about the world, it would make a difference. It’s important to know where your community stands in comparison to the rest of the world. This awareness will enable politically savvy citizens to make informed decisions and contribute to society, which would be a positive impact for the whole world.
Exposure to quality news is also particularly limited in this age: Buzzfeed, Facebook pop ups and Snapchat feature stories are some of the most easily accessed resources. Picking up a phone and mindlessly scrolling around when bored has made these social media forms the most common news sources. The problem is, this particular combination restricts the quality and variety of the news we are exposed to. As Buzzfeed and Snapchat are entertainment based platforms, their purpose is to amuse rather than inform. They mainly focus on creating pop culture quizzes and videos. Similarly, a Facebook video that has been repeatedly shared and liked is usually only a small part of a big situation, providing a snippet of action instead of a complete picture. Most of the news we receive and then attempt to process adds up to a short list of topics that require little to no background knowledge to understand. The way people view Trump versus Clinton is a prime example of this. World wide, viewers have seen their debates and headlines, especially about Trump. His bold statements are always being judged because not much historical and political background is required to understand a sexist or racist comment. On the other hand, policies and their potential outcomes are much harder to grasp. To an extent, the politics we choose to understand aren’t simple— they’re simplified. Whatever can’t be simplified is disregarded. If we ignored what we didn’t understand, what is left is merely a skeleton—bare and incapable of representing what is trul there. It would be encouraging to see our generation understand more about politics in a way that isn’t just black or white.
P O L I T I C A L
By Catherine Lin Last year, after Tsai Ing-Wen was elected, Ms. Sinclair bought a box of doughnuts at Mitsukoshi for her International Relations class. “It’s because a woman leader has been democratically elected for the first time in 5000 years of Chinese history,” she told them the next day. However, some students did not take the treat well. “There was a comment later on in my evaluation about how I was biased towards the DPP,” says Ms. Sinclair. “I wasn’t thinking about the KMT or the DPP. I was thinking about the 5000 years of history.” This event highlights the degree of sensitivity TAS students sometimes have towards mentioning current political issues in the classroom. Sometimes, students may construe even the act of bringing up politics as an indication of bias and conclude that their teacher has acted inappropriately. “By their very nature, classroom spaces are political spaces,” says Mr. Walker, psychology and AP World History teacher. This means that it is impossible for teachers not to show their political loyalties whatsoever. Ms. Sinclair agrees that bias is unavoidable. She says, “I’m certain that despite my best intentions, I can find bias in almost every sentence I say, in the verbs that I choose to use.” Distinguishing between making a connection to current events and advocating for a political view is difficult, especially when people have different opinions on where to draw the line. Ms. Sinclair determines whether a political opinion is appropriate to bring up by considering how widely accepted the opinion is. “If it’s an ethical question, then I think it’s
important to remain impartial.” She says, “I don’t see [expressing belief in the importance of human rights] as being a bias, or espousing my own political views, because that’s signed on by most countries.” For Mr. Walker, expressing a controversial opinion is sometimes necessary, such as when talking about why genocides continue to occur around the world. “There’s always change you would like to see in the world, and part of it comes from having conversations with young people,” he says. “That’s where you are met with a dilemma. Do you embrace the standpoint where you shouldn’t be objective? Or do you try to temper what you’re saying? So I think sometimes you have to say it to some extent, even if you’re offering up a controversial viewpoint.” Teachers face many challenges in accommodating everyone’s opinions on what constitutes the proper way to integrate current events into the curriculum while still showing how class topics are relevant to today’s world. However, the teachers agree that completely omitting political issues in an effort to remain objective would be a mistake. “When we’re doing ancient history, I’m thinking every class, ‘Why is this even relevant to what your future is?’ says Ms. Sinclair. “Civic engagement is the goal here. You want to have a wellinformed populace.” Mr. Walker agrees that students need to be taught how to reach informed opinions on political and social issues. He says, “It is important that students do learn to think for themselves, especially on very important topics. And the only way to do that is to welcome those topics into the classroom, to engage in those conversations.”
Chuck McCutcheon and the politics of a new American generation By Shereen Lee “Saying that an institution is rigged is invoking a crisis,” says journalist Chuck McCutcheon. This is especially true this November, as the world works itself into a frenzy over US presidential candidates’ provocative statements. “Rigged” and other political jargon words often incite extreme emotion in viewers, leaving spectators confused all the while about a candidate’s true policies. But, as Mr. McCutcheon explained at a Soochow University lecture in Taipei on October 5th, the media has the power to cut through the alarm bells politicians are ringing and clarify fearmongering rhetoric. On the other hand, constant changes in the journalism industry also shift the roles of news writers. The very nature of media and journalism is constantly shifting, especially in regard to current events. Millennials,
as well as older demographics, are beginning to turn to sources outside traditional journalism, with areas such as social media becoming platforms for political discourse. “I guiltily admit to getting the majority of my day-to-day news from my Facebook newsfeed, Tumblr, and my mother,” says former Blue and Gold editor-in-chief Rebecca Tseng, in her article titled “Scholastic Journalism Week Spotlight: Rebecca Tseng.” This is an increasingly widespread phenomenon: according to a Pew Research Center study, a third of American adults under 30 now regularly use social media as a primary source of information. The platform is not the only aspect of political journalism to change: the very nature of current events discussion in the US is shifting away from a traditional two-party debate. According to Mr. McCutcheon,
millennials are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the state of traditional political institutions. “If you’re younger than 21 or 22 years old in America, you have never seen Congress work effectively,” he says. This has manifested in a rise in identification with independent candidates: another Pew study reports half of millennials unaligned with either the Democratic and Republican party. As a result, anti-establishment politicians such as Gary Johnson and Jill Stein have faced surprising success, crowdfunding millions of dollars for their campaigns. These two factors combine to create a distinct political atmosphere, as social media fuels the rise of populists like Trump and Sanders. As Mr. McCutcheon says, “Populism has been around for centuries. What distinguishes it these days... is how
politicians such as Trump and Sanders have…[instilled] a sense of “it’s us against them” in followers – through Twitter, Facebook and other social media.” However, the dangers of social media as news sources are also becoming quickly apparent: while the refreshing nature of unfiltered social media posting is appealing to young voters, the way it transforms discussion of current events can be dangerous. Satirical news sources such as The Onion, which humorously twist current events coverage, may be taken as truth, causing misconceptions to run amok. Some writers devote their careers toward decoding and clarifying oneliners scripted by politicians: “In the all-pervasive Twitter age, journalists are constantly on guard against zingers,” Mr. McCutcheon says. Other news
outlets do not have such noble intent. “Politicians’ fiery, no-holds-barred rhetoric has drawn nonstop coverage from click- and viewer-hungry news outlets,” he says. Traditional media needs to be responsible and emulate the positive aspects of social media, Mr. McCutcheon concludes. To make journalism great again, so to speak, independent media sources need to strive for increased transparency and objectivity. Newspapers are beginning to separate their political alignments from their news sections: the Chicago Tribune, for example, has heavily criticized Gary Johnson in their headlines while endorsing him for the presidency in their editorials. And on our part, we, as millennials, have the power and the responsibility to be active in our criticism and involvement in the next waves of leadership.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Hate crimes engulf a divided United States By Amanda Huang From the infamous wall to making fun of a reporter with cerebral palsy or openly talking about violating women in the past, President-elect Donald Trump has been fueling his campaign by hatred for “the other” since he first announced his candidacy and the numbers show that people bought into it. Since Donald Trump was announced the President-elect, America has seen a surge in hate crimes and malicious deeds done in the name of “making America great again.” Several TAS alumni have experienced these hate crimes first hand. Right after the election, class of 2015’s Bethany Wang said that at Baylor University, a man shoved her close friend Natasha Nkhama off the sidewalk and said “No n*iggers allowed.” Another person who was close by defended her, to which the man said, “I’m just trying to make America great again.” Nearly 300 Baylor students stood together at #IWalkWithNatasha and showed their
love and support. Bethany says, “This was my first time actually taking action and protesting on something that was unfair and not okay so that was a cool experience. I also got to help plan it. I wrote and passed out nametags that had #IWalkWithNatasha on them and I went to campus at 1am to chalk the ground in front of the building she started the walk from. We actually thought there was only going to be 20 to 30 people walking, but then 300 people came. The police blocked off the entire road on campus so we could walk through.” This is only one instance of many hate crimes that are happening in the United States. According to BBC, in Philadelphia, a number of swastikas have been painted on buildings along with pro-Trump graffiti. In Wellsville, New York, at a softball dugout, someone painted a swastika with giant letters reading “Make America White Again.” Unfortunately, Trump supporters
aren’t the only ones inciting conflict. There has also been an uptick in crimes committed by disgruntled Clinton supporters. In California, a girl who expressed pro-Trump sentiments on social media was attacked at school the next day. In Chicago, a white man involved in a car accident was beaten up by a group of black people and video footage shows people shouting, “Don’t vote Trump!” This election revealed the venomous hatred that is prevalent throughout much of the United States. According to USA Today, the Southern Poverty Law Center has counted over 200 complaints of alleged hate crimes since Election Day. The level of animosity we are seeing across America right now is unparalleled to anything we’ve seen since Jim Crow and it’s disheartening to see that men and women who have fought and suffered for years on end for issues like racism, marriage equality, and progressive climate change policy now have their life’s work at stake. People are free to
express how they feel but it is time for America to come together as a country
and end the shameful deeds that are being perpetrated across the nation.
Painted with fear: Hate crimes soar across the nation in the wake of Trump’s victory. [Upstate New York]
B&G reporter returns with US news from the future By Julian Lee *Disclaimer: The following is a work of satire. The events mentioned are products of the author’s imagination. The date is Tuesday, November 3, 2020 and both the Democratic and Republican candidates are anxiously awaiting the results of the general election with their families. At this crucial time, the media flashes back to the events of four years prior, whispering: “Remember 2016?” While the atmosphere is still tense, the United States rests assured that no matter who is elected, the next presidential term cannot possibly be as tumultuous as the last one. Four years earlier, in the insane election to end all insane elections, Donald J. Trump shocked the world by emerging victorious by 306 electoral votes to Hillary Clinton’s 232. In an interview with Fox
News, he boasted about how “he had shown Crooked Hillary who’s boss” approximately three hundred times. He also called Barack Obama “that black Muslim guy” and referred to Queen Elizabeth II as “the old lady who never smiles.” Two months later, Trump set a new record for longest ever inaugural address, speaking for eleven consecutive hours in below-freezing temperatures. He began his speech by saying: “I mean, I’m gonna be, perhaps, the best president we have ever had; actually, I will be the best president, there’s no question about it. It’s unbelievable, the guy who came before me, he was so bad, and the stuff he did, well, those things were terrible things, absolutely terrible.” The next 10 hours and 59 minutes followed in roughly the same vein. In February 2017, Trump’s minions in Congress helped him to pass a new Border Security Act. The Act authorized Trump’s proposed wall on the Mexican border, which he had infamously promised Mexico would pay for. He thus went to ask President Nieto of Mexico, whom he described as his “bueno Taco Bell amigo”
for $50 billion to build said wall. Unsurprisingly, President Nieto did not appreciate being associated with an American fast food chain, and refused point blank. Furious, President Trump asked Congress for a declaration of war. Once more, Trump’s followers in Congress, who had named themselves the Donald Party, overwhelmed the Republicans and Democrats, beginning the Second Mexican-American War. Despite America’s overwhelming superiority in manpower and weaponry, however, Trump somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, thus disproving his claim that he was “going to be so good at the military.” Two days into the war, the United States surrendered after Trump directed the American army to attack their own city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He later admitted to Congress: “I thought New Mexico was part of Mexico.” While this scandal and other general buffoonery was going on, a massive wave of over 40 million American citizens emigrated to Canada, causing more Americans than Canadians to be in Canada. Among them were Hillary and Bill Clinton, who became valued
advisers to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and who facilitated major Canadian foreign policy coups like the purchase of Alaska from the USA for the bargain price of $199.99. During his presidency, Trump also forged a strong friendship with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. He implemented many of Putin’s ideas, creating a new secret police modeled after the Russian KGB which he promised would restore law and order to America. Further following Putin’s lead, the secret police was used to commit numerous human rights violations and abolish same-sex marriage. Waterboarding was revived, and the justices of the Supreme Court were ordered to overturn the Obergefell vs. Hodges decision that legalized samesex marriage under threat of torture. The Sedition Act of 2018 shut down every media outlet that criticized President Trump, including The Blue & Gold, leaving Fox News as the only remaining newspaper in circulation. In exchange for Putin’s excellent suggestions, it was rumored that Trump offered the Russian president advice on how to blow-dry his hair in their weekly conference calls, but analysts were
not able to observe any noticeable difference in Putin’s hairstyle. In 2018, President Trump instituted crackdowns on the Black Lives Matter movement with his neo-KGB, with hundreds of protesters kidnapped in Baltimore and several prominent leaders of the movement vanishing in suspicious circumstances. As a result, after the Los Angeles Lakers won the 201718 NBA Championship by starting Timofey Mozgov at the center position, they protested by refusing to travel to the White House to meet with President Trump. The final straw came during the Republican primary of 2019, when the president imposed a 50% import tax on Chinese products. Unfortunately, the iPhone 10, which featured a 2-foot long screen and no charging port, was included among these products. Faced with the prospect of their beloved Apple products doubling in price, Trump’s supporters abandoned him in droves. Trump lost the Republican primary to Paul Ryan in a landslide, ending a miserable four years for the American people.
The Trump House: President Trump’s tasteful renovations to the presidential residence. [BLOKE.IE]
A LOOK INTO THE LEGACY Behind the scenes of TAS cuisine By Anya Lai and Carolyn Wang
As we followed Mr. Shawn O’Neal, the head of the Food Services department, around the cafeteria kitchen, the aroma of chocolate chip cookies and stir fried ground pork filled our senses, and the lunch workers busily cooked, carried trays, and discussed what to do. The kitchen is where all the cafeteria food is stored and made. There are 42 people working behind the scenes to make the cafeteria food and these diligent workers spend 8 hours a day in the kitchen. Each day is fast paced, with every moment dedicated to getting the best food out to the students. Every school day, TAS students
gather at the lunch line to pick out what hot lunch they want to eat that day. There is always a myriad of choices: brown rice, white rice, western entrees, Chinese entrees, vegetables, seasonal fruit, and dessert. A large amount of work is needed for buying and making the foods students consume everyday, and the TAS chefs are hard at work while all of this is happening. In the kitchen, the stations are well organized. In the dishwasher area, all the trays and dishes are carefully washed and dried with machines. In the Chinese food area, a huge pan about the width of an arm sits on the stove waiting for stir-fry
lunches to be made. The bakery is where the pastries are made while the pizza and quesadilla area is where the dough is freshly kneaded everyday. Next to the pizza area is the fresh fruit and sandwich area, where these food options are also freshly prepared everyday. In the back of the kitchen is a walk-in refrigerator and freezer. All the foods are checked before they are brought out onto the serving line and several workers make sure everything is made and delivered on time. Mr. O’Neal supervises the whole Food Services department. He is responsible for ordering and cooking the food, as well as coming up with
new recipes. He either tries out the recipes at home himself or has some chefs try them. “If we don’t like it, chances are that no one else will like it,” he says. Having worked at TAS for 16 years, he makes sure the food is nutritious, affordable, and delicious. The Chinese and Western entrees, rice, salad bar ingredients, pizza, cookies, and more are made by the lunch ladies everyday. “95% of our items here are made from scratch,” says Mr. O’Neal. “Unlike a lot of places outside where you have [microwaved food]; we don’t do that.” The cafeteria gets their ingredients from a variety of places.
Each ingredient is carefully chosen. Mr. O’Neal says, “The chicken is domestic, but the beef [products] are shipped from overseas from places like Australia.” Although a lot of work has to be done each day, Mr. O’Neal says, “Every day passes so quickly and I love what I do. It’s always lots of fun. However, my biggest complaint is there is never enough time in a day. It just goes by so quickly.” The cafeteria food is made with the hard efforts of the cafeteria workers. Not only does it have to be nutritious, but it has to be produced at a reasonable cost and satisfy the hunger of the whole TAS community.
What happens to wasted food? By Amanda Huang
Last year, our school disposed of 3.69 tons of food waste and that number has since skyrocketed to 8.93 tons in April of this year. Over the past few years, TAS has been working towards focusing their waste reduction initiative on food waste specifically. Students are conditioned about the harms of food waste but we rarely know what actually happens to the food that is being assembled in the cafeteria every day. “Once it’s thrown out, they usually get processed before they end up in a dump or as pig feed,” says Jason Wang (12), Vice President of StuGov. This kind of waste is not the same as the trash we see in the trash cans after lunch. Besides the waste we see in the trash cans of the cafeteria everyday,
there is a different kind of trash that must be disposed of: raw product waste. Say, for example, TAS decides to order 20 kilos of carrots but only uses 16 kilos before they go bad. The remaining amount must be tossed out, and this kind of waste is monitored very closely by our Food Services department. Mr. O’Neal, Director of Food Services, says, “The food that is taken out to the serving lines and put it in the warmer wells everyday, whatever is left from there, our employees eat for lunch and whatever is left from there gets thrown out. We can’t have leftover food from the serving line out there reserved the next day.” If the food has already been
assembled, it will be eaten either by students, employees, or thrown away as trash. However, as long as something has not yet been put together and can be frozen, it can be stored away and used as spare for a separate date. The waste that the cafeteria is tracking would never be discussed in kilos because that does not really give them any solid information about how they are doing sales-wise. Instead, the amount must be expressed as a percentage. Mr. O’Neal says, “Normally what we do is we look at the dollar value of the items that are thrown out, and we look at what percentage of sales that accounts for and that basically determines whether that amount we throw out is reasonable or not. For
example, finished product waste can definitely be no more than 1% of the amount of food sold. Raw product waste is somewhere between the zone of 0.5% and 0.7%.” According to Mr. O’Neal, our cafeteria cooks in batches, meaning they will not make 400 taco salads all in one round, but will cook based on how many people they predict will come in. “You can look at the historical data and say well, we sold 200 portions of this and next time around, assuming everyone’s in school, it’ll probably be somewhere around that,” says Mr. O’Neal. Although students cannot really influence the amount of raw product waste and leftover food TAS ends up
throwing, the unfinished food we throw out is dependent on students. It is up to students to stay aware and cautious about the amount of food that they buy and eat. Jason says, “Some people throw away unfinished food because lunch is over and they don’t have time to finish, so I think a good way to prevent that is to just finish eating before doing anything else.” Another way StuGov is trying to address this issue is by creating short lessons on food waste based around “The Hungry Caterpillar” for lower schoolers. “We hope it will be able to instill this sense of being mindful with their food so that it won’t be a problem for them in the future,” says Jason.
COMMONS
TOP 5 SNACK BAR FOODS
ACCORDING TO SALES PER MONTH
Lunch with a side of labeling
CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE (5481)
By Shereen Lee and Catherine Lin
MILK (3906)
In the Legacy Commons, more than food is being labeled: people are labeled too. “If you’re excluded from a cafeteria table, you’re being excluded from a social group,” says Ian Huang (9). “No one will say out loud ‘you can’t sit with us’, but some people will think it and show it.” Emily Hsu (9) agrees that cliques can lead to social exclusion. She says, “Certain cliques have certain reputations sometimes. A person may feel discouraged from being friends with someone or feel peer pressure not to hang around certain people because of the groups they are part of.” Not only that, but those who are not seen as part of a clique can be looked down on. “There’s a stigma against being alone,” says Annabel Uhlman (11). This may be because people naturally divide themselves into groups and favor those who are in their own group. Scientist Henri Tajifel randomly divided people who have never met before into groups and discovered that within minutes, people tended to believe that their own was group better than the others, and began to be biased towards their group members. “Humans often require minimal conditions for discrimination between groups to occur. Most of these distinctions are arbitrary and are used only for the purpose of believing that our own group is superior,” says Eliot Wang (11). “It is impossible for everyone to stop labeling, but people who use these labels should be highly aware of this fact and not use it lightly in public.” At the same time, some students
consider stereotypes as useful ways to navigate everyday life. “Labeling cliques makes it easier to refer to other people. Different people may use different terms to label them,” Ian says. “We might not think of a specific name for a group but when we hear other people use it, we recognize the group and we might start using it ourselves.” Stereotypes aren’t just convenient ways to talk about groups: they can also be accurate. “I guess in some ways stereotypes are true,” says Theodora Tang (11). “Stereotypes of specific types of people come from what activities they do and typically their interactions with others.” But labelling has its downsides because stereotypes are incomplete. “I would stereotype myself as a ‘basketball person’, but I also don’t want to appear as that type of stereotypical jock who only balls and does nothing else,” says Chris Chang (10). “I just don’t think it represents who I am.” It is important to realize that sometimes, it is not the labeling which is harmful, but stereotyping. “If [students] start to attach stereotypes to names, then it becomes negative. It’s the name that sticks to the stereotype, not the stereotype to the name,” says Ian. Both groups and individuals are more complex than labels or stereotypes would suggest. “I think what’s important is that we don’t let the notion of cliques to become embedded into us,” says Emily. “Someone’s personality or character shouldn’t be defined by what clique they are in.”
BACON (3287)
CHICKEN NUGGETS (3031)
SCRAMBLED EGGS (2273)
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TAS Poets speak their minds By Christine Lin (12)
The Blue & Gold interviewed student poets at Taipei American School about why they write poetry, their doubts about sharing their poetry with the public, and how they have overcome their fears.
CLARENCE ABRENA
“The hardest part of writing poetry is just starting,” says Clarence Abrena (11). “Sometimes I’ll have this amazing, out-of-the-ordinary idea and I’ll just think about it for weeks. Then I’ll lose momentum and not know where to go.” Clarence started writing poetry
in middle school as a way for him to express himself. Although he does not favor poetry over other mediums of creative writing, he loves how “poetry is unrestricted.” He says, “inspiration can come at any moment.” One of his favorite poems that he has written is “My People”, a piece about Filipino culture. He says, “I wrote this in defense of my home country. The Philippines is often stereotyped because of its third-world status, but my people are aspirational.” Clarence wrote this poem as a celebration of Filipino aspirations and as a social commentary against racism. He wanted to combat the association the Philippines has with poverty and corruption. He says, “The Philippines is much more than exotic fruits and tourist beaches. Even in the midst of poverty, there are millions of aspirational Filipino kids who only want an education to support their
“My People” by Clarence Abrena families and chose their dreams.” Similar to Brandon, Clarence finds that English classes don’t translate his personal love for poetry. He describes poetry units as “rigid” because students “analyze one poem after another, just so [they] can translate its meaning into an essay.” He says, “What we don’t get out of English class is enough creativity. If we spent more time expressing our thoughts in the form of poetry, I think more students would appreciate the power and joy of crafting our ideas into poems.” For students who are insecure about writing their own poems, Clarence emphasizes that no one “can be wrong or make mistakes” when writing poetry. He says, “I don’t believe you can make mistakes when you develop as a poet. When a person writes poetry, what’s written on the page is a physical representation of their thoughts.”
However, as he grew older, he started tackling darker themes and writing about politics or world issues. “Over the years I matured mentally. I started writing about deeper topics and taking on deeper metaphors,” says Brandon. “Looking back, the poems I wrote in middle school were more shallow.” Brandon believes that “creative writing gets better with age”, and the events he has experienced has improved his poetry. Last year at the Iowa Young Writer’s Studio, Brandon wrote “Speaking Chow Mein vs. Pasta”, a poem about Asian-American stereotypes and culture. He also wrote “Share the Road”, a poem about contemporary American politics and current events, at the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop last summer. During these workshops, Brandon got the chance to work alongside other high school writers to generate material and give feedback. “The Kenyon Review and Iowa Young Writer’s workshops
were both life-changing experiences,” says Brandon. “Feedback is the most important part of the creative writing process. Criticism may hurt at first, but it pays off in the end.” Ultimately, Brandon started writing poetry because it was a chance for him to “express [himself ] in an unique way.” He says, “It’s my own private way of communicating to myself.” But although he loves the freedom poetry gives him, he does not like the restrictive way creative writing is often taught in schools. “[Creative writing in English class] is limiting because you usually do it to mimic the style of another author. While fun, exercises like writing a Shakespearean sonnet give students a bad image of creative writing,” says Brandon. “Creative writing is supposed to be ‘creative’, and there should be absolutely no limits to what one can do.” Brandon hopes more students will “craft and present [their] own voice” through poetry.
MELANIE ANDERSON-SALO
“Writing is my passageway into a world where my thoughts can run wild. It’s a safe place for me to be weird and express my feelings without the fear of someone stomping over them,” says Melanie Anderson-Salo (9). Although Melanie writes poetry about anything that comes to mind, she typically chooses topics related to her emotions,
His arms crossed, shielding his mind From any reasoning or association with my kind His face wiped clean of any scars, Yet each of his words, one by one, being drafted off to war His words like a million arrows tearing at my perforated heart But how I longed to tell him If way back when in the old, When all they cared about was Glory, God, and Gold Did my people ever lose hope? Under your foreign subjugation You watered the revolutionary seeds for my nation For us to fight for our freedom My people are a legion of hopefuls The young village girl who wakes up Crusty-eyed, not to the alarm of her clock, but the cluck of her chickens She races the sunrise along the dirt paths to school It’s ONLY 10 miles! Her feet blistered with dignity and edu cation All to build a future for her nation Her bright future was her own creation.
In the country, My people relentlessly clear the fields and sow the seeds and water the crops-with the sweat dripping from our nosesand reap our own harvests. With Apollo scorching the back of our necks My kind was ripened by the sun. In the city, Where my people erupt buildings of steel Whose skyrise peaks tickle the heavens but root themselves deep in a culture of determination
BRANDON TSOU
“Poetry is like a puzzle. You can’t directly give away what you’re writing about,” says Brandon Tsou (12). “The fact that there’s less space to work with is what makes poetry fun.” When Brandon started writing poetry in middle school, he initially focused on positive topics such as nature.
My classmate whispered something to me yesterday He said that “my kind” was something he wouldn’t even want to step on
relationships, or identity. “All of my poems are written when I feel the need to record a certain idea or feeling,” she says. “I simply let the words from my mind be transferred through my fingers onto the paper.” In 8th grade, Melanie would send poems and songs she wrote to a fellow classmate whom she was in a close relationship with. One of these poems, titled “What I wish you knew about me”, describes her feelings whenever she has a crush on someone. “[The poem] sums up what my real personality is like,” says Melanie. “We are no longer together, but the poem is still true to my mindset in any close friendship I have.” Her favorite line from the poem is “I want you to know I am crazy / That I dance in the rain without an umbrella” because it shows a “more vulnerable side to [her] personality not many people know about.” “It tells people that I will be free and I will not
conform,” she says. Similar to “What I wish you knew about me”, most of Melanie’s poems are “windows into who [she is]”--pieces of writing filled with “raw emotion”. As a result, she has felt hesitant about sharing her poetry with the public. She says, “I’ve always been a more open person but when I share my writing, I do have some doubts because a lot of people can judge or label me.” However, she encourages students to overcome this fear. Melanie says, “Be who you are. The people who hate on your poetry or make fun of you for it aren’t worth your time.” For students who are struggling with writing poetry, she emphasizes that “there is no correct way to write poetry”. “Everyone approaches the paper and pen with a different history, with a different sense of style, and with a different message to spread,” she says. “Poetry is a just a way of expressing opinions, thoughts, and feelings.”
We are not bugs you can just shrug off My classmate whispered something to me today He said my kind was something he wouldn’t want to step on So I knelt down low, My eyes locked with his, And with a heavy whisper, I said, “Damn right, you don’t want to step on my kind.” Speaking “Chow Mein” versus “Pasta” by Brandon Tsou Fried eggs, Sizzling sausages, Perfect potatoes, Cause teeth caked with plaque. Dentist’s command to cut vanilla ice cream, Or lusty, shimmering pop. Grandma, matured two oceans and a shore away, Black hair like black sesame seeds, Lips as lively as agar, Eyes like tapioca pearls. Always exclaimed, “Chinese food has more art.” I think like Mom here; Brownies, Brown sugar, And sourdough toast. What I wish you knew about me by Melanie Anderson-Salo I want you to know that I am crazy That I dance in the rain without an umbrella I want you to know that I am creative That I like to write poems and write stories based off of my life I want you to know that I am knowledgeable That I learn from my mistakes and I try to improve myself because of them I want you to know that I am unique That I will never be a copy and never copy anyone else because that’s boring I want you to know that I am courageous That I have done many things that not many others have dared to do I want you to know that I am stubborn That I will never back down and I will never give up my dreams I want you to know that I am determined That I will never give up if I’m trying to reach a goal I want you to know that I am trying to be creative That I am trying to use my knowledge I want you to realize that I’m trying to be Unique I want you to see that I’m using Courage And that I am very Stubborn For I am Determined To show you I am Crazily In love with you
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Tiger TV starts fresh with the next generation By Kelly Phil Whether you’ve watched one of their episodes in one of the screens surrounding the school lobby or if you’ve watched the Field Day video, at some point you have likely heard of Tiger TV. After all, the club is Taipei American School’s only TV network, and has a short but full history. Started by Mr.Openshaw and a few avid film students, Tiger TV had humble origins. Now, the club will be looking revive itself after the graduation of its original cast. Mr. Barrus, a sponsor of Tiger TV, says that “the club fizzled out” after the graduation of former presidents Brandon Lei and Duan Duan Hsieh. Tiger TV is up for a reboot. With the class of 2016 off to college, the future of the club has been placed in the hands of freshmen. In the beginning of the year, many Middle School Tiger TV veterans were shocked to hear that the club did not officially exist because of a lack of members. Thankfully, this year’s members did not let that stop them and decided to create their own interpretation of what Tiger TV should be in the process. Mr. Barrus describes this year’s group as a “enthusiastic young group of filmmakers looking to expand the types of content that Tiger TV contains.” With about 10 interested members, the club is looking to establish a hierarchy and assign roles
Tiger TV meeting: Club members discuss their next project, Jasmine Liou (Left), Annie Cho (Top Left), Ting Kuan Hsieh (Center), Anthony Hsu (Top Right), Jaden Yuen (Right) [KELLY PHIL]
in order to help with organization. The club has already covered this year’s Field Day and looks forward to covering Frolic, Spirit Week, and IASAS among others. According to the club’s planning document, Tiger TV’s members hope to accomplish
five goals this year in order to solidify their future: “[We look forward to] being recognized, producing for others, learning the basics of film, documenting the year for students, and establishing a proper club.”. Tiger TV seems to be focused
on producing promos and acting as a gateway between the student community and events that most students don’t have access to. Just last week, the club produced a promo during IASAS Model United Nations, an event that TAS hosted
over the course of three days. Members went as far as to film the conference with tripods while taking time out of their own busy schedules. By the end of the conference, most members had worked tirelessly to make their video a reality. This instance truly embodies the spirit of Tiger TV, in which students, passionate about their work, are willing to deal with personal sacrifices in order to make them happen. Not only that, many of the club’s members are also dedicated film students. Jasmine Liou (9), Anthony Hsu (9) and Jade Wong (9) are all part of film classes at TAS. Anthony is going to the Berlin Film Festival and credits Tiger TV as the reason he has such a passion for film. When asked about where this passion developed, Jasmine (9) says, “Tiger TV allowed me to expand on my previous interest for film.” At this point, the freshmen are in a position in which they can shape the club however way want to. Such leadership positions are rare for freshmen, but aren’t opportunities Tiger TV members will shy away from. From a hobby they started in middle school, these students have been able to expand their horizons to ultimately leave a mark for future Tiger TV and film students.
Athletics Council: Tiger Sports’ unsung heros By Charlotte Lee & Daniel Wang After a successful first season, with a majority of TAS teams medaling, it is time to say thanks to those who made the season a success. Congratulations to the club that works purely behind the scene: Athletics Council (AC). The Taipei American School Athletics Council is one of the overlooked clubs at our school. Students do not exactly know their impact, other than that they “help out with sports and stuff,” according to Claire J. (10). From the stands, the members of AC look like they just need to push a few buttons, but their importance is much greater than what it appears to be in the TAS community. The first job of the club (scorer) is the one that the TAS community sees around the school. Whenever there are sports games or events, whether in the gym or outdoors, they are the ones manning the scoreboard. Scoring games can be either busy or relaxing depending on the sport. In all her years scoring, Co-President Jenny Hsiao (12), says that “scoring volleyball is pretty chill, but basketball is very intense.” However, Games Head Audrey Kong (11) gives a taste of the complicated and various tasks that they need to do for basketball. “They need to constantly look at the refs and know hand signals. The stat keepers need to keep track of player points, team points, missed free throws, player and team fouls, and they have to remember to remind the coach when a player records 4 fouls”. There is obviously more to scoring
than just pushing a few buttons. The other half of the Athletics Council that less students know about is made up the students who run the grill, which is known for its delicious hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Seeing the easygoing workers have a good time listening to music while working always boosts game day vibe. However, the magic behind it all isn’t always as carefree as it seems. As only four to five members run the grill, there is always a lot to do. Co-president Andrea Wijaya (12) recounts that “Working at the grill... has been both busy and relaxing. It would always [varies], as some customers would go from waiting five minutes to even a whole hour for their order. Though at times I have gotten stressed from it, knowing that the team has my back has helped me through the busy services.” Despite all of the work the club does, Athletics Council appears to be underappreciated by a majority of the school. Perhaps it is because “there are times when people forget that we are not professionals at scoring or with food services, but we volunteer to help out and we do our best to ensure that we can please everyone” Andrea says. The members of the club are commonly disrespected from the TAS community as a whole. “One time a parent threw a mop at us and told us to mop the floor during the game. Sometimes basketball parents yell at us about the score when we’re correct and the team sometimes forgets to thank us after games,” says Audrey. Although outdoor sports such
Athletic Council Members: Club members pose for a group photo [CHARLOTTE LEE, DANIEL WANG]
as soccer or baseball may not require much effort to score, members spend a lot of time scoring for the athletes no matter what. Yet, outdoor teams tend not to thank the scorers like the gym sports. Audrey notes that “it would be nice if the teams thanked us at least once at the very end of the season”. The people behind the burger cashiers and scoring machines and aren’t as different from the shining athletes as they seem. It’s mostly about being part of a smaller and more unique community: a team. Andrea states that “being able to work with the people I do, not only from members of the grill but the club as a whole, has made my experience in Athletics Council worthwhile.” Similarly, Jenny acknowledges “the
amazing people that you get to meet” by joining the club. The members of Athletics Council genuinely love helping out the athletics program and being part of the club itself. Maybe it’s because the athletes are always the ones in the limelight when people think about the athletics program, but the athletics program would not even exist without the Athletics Council. Club sponsor and athletics director, Ms. Kawamoto, says that “Because there is a high cost to hire scorekeepers, timers, ball chasers, etc., it saves the athletic department a lot of time and resources to have the Athletics Council assist with our competitions in those capacities. Many times, our athletics council volunteers do not get the appreciation and recognition they deserve, and
they do not get thanked properly for working games and investing an extraordinary amount of time to provide support to our athletes and teams. They are sometimes on the receiving end of negative comments or scoldings from excited coaches, players and fans when there is an issue with the clock or scoreboard.” The members of Athletics Council are the backbone of the Athletics program. Without them, we would not get to watch our weekly games on Fridays. Without them, athletes would not have the opportunity to play the sport that they love. Without them, there would be no IASAS. The Athletics Council has a bigger impact on our community than any of us realize and it’s about time they got their recognition.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Student by day, horror writer by night By Amanda Huang While many seniors spent their summer compiling college lists, going on vacation, or doing internships, Daniel Chuang (12) was writing and getting his first book, Ghost Trappers, published. Growing up, Daniel has always had a fascination with horror movies and books; he feels like ghosts are one of the main components in this genre and loved incorporating them into his book. He says, “Ghost Trappers is about a family of paranormal investigators going against an evil spirit. In real life, paranormal investigators are the ones people usually go to for help when the are experiencing paranormal activities, as paranormal investigators know pretty much about paranormal activities, as well as ghosts and other entities.” He combined his love for ghosts and other paranormal components of these horror books and movies to begin creating his very own. It took him around three months to finish it once he started writing it. “I don’t really have writer’s block as ideas kept on flowing in whenever I just thought about my story. However, sometimes I kind of get stuck thinking
Ghost Trappers: Daniel Chuang (12) wrote and published a novel [A.HUANG]
about which idea should go in which parts of the story, so then I kind of need to organize the ideas first, and then put them in the right parts of the story,” says Daniel. He doesn’t really have an issue with conjuring new ideas and plot twists but
Ghost Trappers is about a family of paranormal investigators going against an evil spirit. he struggles sometimes with being able to express his ideas out in a good flow. He says, “I had this publishing company do the publication process, and I do have an editor who edited my work for me. I needed to do a few more revisions afterwards to make sure the entire book was perfect, and then I
spent another month getting the entire book published.” During his writing process, he also learned to limit some of the blood and gore in his story. Daniel says, “Even though Ghost Trappers is a horror novel, I managed to keep [the horror] to a level where nothing is too bloody or violent.” After the novel was published and printed, Daniel donated 200 copies of his book to World Vision. It is 200 NT per book and they created a donation account for anyone who wants to read it. Daniel hopes to one day be able to be published by big publications like Scholastic or Random House; he hopes to someday have his books adapted into movies. He says, “After getting Ghost Trappers published, I started to think that having a career in writing seems to be an interesting work and job to do. I am almost finished with a second book titled Game Terror. The ISBN for Game Terror had been received.” Look out for Daniel in the hallways and he might have an extra copy. As for right now, look out for his next book, Game Terror.
Countdown until the end of the world By Kelly Phil & Charlotte Lee In the age of sci-fi movies and dystopian fiction, the end of the world is something we have probably pondered. Contrary to popular belief, some scientists assert that this end is not as fantastical and far off as we all imagine. Many factors contribute to their arrival at this conclusion, especially the looming possibility of a nuclear war and rapid depletion of our natural environment. The doomsday clock is a metaphorical clock representing the time humankind has left until global catastrophe. When the clock strikes midnight, that is, supposedly, the end. Within its sinister and merciless evaluation of what seems to be constant global deterioration, there is a fascinating and admirable aspect of the science that goes into creating the countdown to our demise. According to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, periodic updates of “clock movement” are announced, then explained by how the change or continuation has come to be. As of 2016, it is “3 minutes to midnight” or 11:57pm. The Bulletin further explains “The probability of global catastrophe is very high, and the actions needed to reduce the risks of disaster must be taken very soon.... the Clock ticks. Global danger looms. Wise leaders should act—immediately.” The clock does not sugarcoat in the slightest. It unapologetically frightens its readers: “...climate change, global nuclear weapons modernizations, and outsized nuclear weapons arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity and world leaders
have failed to act with the speed or on the scale required to protect citizens from potential catastrophe. These failures of political leadership endanger every person on Earth...The clock ticks now at just three minutes to midnight because international leaders are failing to perform their most important duty—ensuring and preserving the health and vitality of human civilization.” To call “three minutes to midnight” unideal is an understatement. Although a “minute” on the doomsday clock does not translate definitively to any length of time in the real world, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists uses this undefined unit to claim that global catastrophe is not too far along the line. However, not all sources agree with the Doomsday Clock. Scott Brown, writer for Wired Magazine, bluntly targets the “clock-ness” of it all, and says, “What self-respecting nonquantum chronometer rides
Doomsday clock graph: 1947-2015
back and forth over the same patch of time for 50 years, anyway?” Other organizations also raise different points on why the clock is pointless. Michael D. Lemonick (Scientific American) claims that the clock simply measures worry, mocking that the clock basically says “Hey, how worried are you? I’m really worried. I’m like, a whole minute more worried than I was last year.” Humor aside, the credibility behind the Doomsday Clock science is somewhat shaky. According to the Doomsday Clock’s FAQ site the time the clock was set to at its inception was decided upon because “it looked good to my eye”. Without quarreling over details, it is easier to agree on the fact that danger simply does exist. The race to stop global warming seems to have turned into a game of hot potato, with countries passing the blame around without making an effort to change. An example of this would be the Paris Talks. In December of 2015,
[WIKIPEDIA]
the governments of 190 nations all around the world gathered in Paris to discuss the growing threat of climate change and create a new framework aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. The main goal of the Paris Talks were to solve the crisis before the global parts per million measure of CO2 in the atmosphere surpasses 400. According to a Guardian article written last year, if the CO2 amount in the atmosphere passes 400 parts per million, it is in consensus that global warming will be irreversible. The Paris Talks were a year ago and the world has officially passed the 400 ppm (parts per million) mark for CO2 as of the beginning of last month. Most of the scientific community agrees that now, global warming might be irreversible. A safe environment would have 350 ppm of CO2, a number that we are already well over. Although the effects of climate change has shown themselves through natural disasters, and rising
temperatures, amongst others, those changes will worsen if we don’t do anything about it. Nations submitted their own climate plans to the UN in the last few years, and therefore should be held accountable for whether or not they reach their goals. The problem with these plans doesn’t arise with whether they are achievable or not but whether the plans will be an adequate solution. The answer, currently, seems to be that even with these plans enacted, global warming will not be solved. The current projection will lead us to a 4 degree global temperature according to Climate Action Tracker on Vox magazine. If nations follow up on their pledges, there won’t be much of a difference with a 3 degree global temperature. The threshold we need to stop ourselves from crossing is 2 degrees. So either way, we seem to be on course for doomsday.
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
All aboard the Mandopop feels train 你，好不好
屋頂
This introspective, melancholy track by Eric 周 興哲 reflects on times spent with a girl who got away.
MANDOPOP FOR DUMMIES:
It is no secret that Taipei American School students like to keep in touch with their Taiwanese background and events that go on in the local community. Of course, no teenager can claim to appreciate Taiwanese culture without understanding its unique genre of music, Mandopop. Mandopop has a sizeable following at TAS, boosted by the popularity of iconic movies like 那些年 (You Are The Apple Of My Eye), 我的少女時 代 (Our Times), and the success of alumni singers like Wilber Pan and Lara Veronin. Mandopop is a relatively homogeneous type of music, mostly based out of Taiwan. That’s not to say that every track sounds exactly
小幸運
不為誰而作的歌
After the hit movie 我的少女 時代, this song rose to fame for its captivating chorus and sweet lyrics.
This song featuring the prolific JJ Lin’s beautiful vocals discusses gratitude for unsung heroes.
4 ICONIC SONGS By Julian Lee
This powerful classic duet by Jacky Wu and Landy Wen is a couples’ favorite at KTV parties.
the same, but it is true that the vast majority of well-known songs of the genre follow the same tried and tested blueprint. Mandarin hits are usually simple and acoustic, invariably beginning with a series of piano chords, perhaps interspersed with soulful strumming of a guitar or drums. Very rarely will one find electronic music or any of the other experimental features that Western artists add to their songs. With such a description, it might seem that Mandopop is a terrible genre, or at least one that would get boring quickly. However, that is not the case. Each and every song guides the listener through a sentimental rollercoaster, drawing the listener into a uniquely heartwrenching story. Since there are
very few added parts to clutter up the song, the voice of the singer is able to take center stage and connect more deeply with the listener. It’s really a rare style and hard to find in modern Western pop: the closest parallel would probably be Troy & Gabriella’s Breaking Free in the first High School Musical, with its brisk pace, expressive mood, and dramatic conclusion. Indeed, duets are some of the most successful pieces of the Mandopop genre, as the male and female parts often harmonize beautifully to convey the heartfelt emotions in the song. For example, Andrew Hu (12) enjoys Jacky Wu & Landy Wen’s performances of the iconic 屋頂, along with Jay Chou & Lara Veronin (TAS Class
of 2006)’s 珊瑚海. Both numbers are full of feeling, with powerful choruses. Movie soundtracks are also popular; Jesse Kao (12) recommends 那些年 and 小幸運, the themes from the blockbuster films 那些年and 我的少女時代 respectively. These songs generally have a reminiscent mood, reflecting on times spent with the one who got away. Their lyrics are sweet and romantic, providing a breath of fresh air in comparison to American songs that are often composed of meaningless phrases (“If the light is off, then it isn’t on” is an actual line from a Hilary Duff track...). With an ocean of songs to which angsty teenagers can relate just waiting to be explored, it’s no
wonder that Mandopop is rapidly building a cult following at TAS. Like a drug, students get hooked on Mandarin songs after their first exposure and become addicted. Daniel Wang (11) says that “I used to hate Mandarin songs, but now I listen to Eric周興哲’s 你,好不好 10 times every night.” Like Daniel, many fans have one specific song which they particularly relate to on an emotional level. When one truly observes the lyrics and melody of each Mandopop song, it becomes obvious that each song carries an incredible amount of genuine meaning and memories that is sometimes absent from Western music.
etflix: a history By Kelly Phil TV shows, otherwise known as the reason you don’t have 8 hours of sleep every night, have finally reached their peak. And although they have always been part of our lives, the mass production of TV shows have not been relevant until recently. Classics such as NBC’s Friends, HBO’s The Sopranos, and CBS’s How I Met Your Mother, amongst others laid the groundwork for the today’s TV show scene. In terms of ranking, it seems as though we are undergoing a golden age in TV shows. In a ranking made by IMDb that lists the top 100 shows over the past 20 years, over 55% of the shows ranked were from the past five years. Not only that, the opportunities that are open to producers are more widespread than ever. To understand this change, historical context needs to be put into perspective. The transition between the 90s, early 2000s, and current era, the TV show industry can be marked
by the sudden popularity of Netflix. When it was first created in 1997, Netflix was barely on the radar for most viewers. The company found it’s niche and rose in popularity in 2013, when the company turned its attention towards accessibility of products, something that was lacking at the time. With it’s humble origins, Netflix has become a global phenomenon and a method of providing watchers with a more accessible system that gives them access to practically anything they want to watch. With a 27.1 million user count in the United States alone, Netflix has skyrocketed in it’s popularity since the days when we didn’t even know what Netflix was. Since then, a multitude of shows were introduced with genres ranging from Superhero reboots like Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, The Flash, Supergirl, Arrow, and Daredevil, to documentary-style films. Many of these shows have received massive acclaim through Emmy nominations and awards such
as The Americans and Chef ’s Table, both of which won Emmys this year. And it’s not just Netflix. Hulu, Amazon, and other social media platforms have also provided viewers with Netflix-like services, also allowing viewers to quickly access that week’s new episode. The recent trend seems to be surrounding the Netflix Originals. House of Cards, and Orange is the New Black, amongst others have captivated the public’s interest. Current phenoms Stranger Things and Narcos are projected to be hits in the future and continue the rising popularity of TV shows. According to a report by CNBC News, House of Cards alone had an estimated 5 million people watch it’s season 4 premiere, while Orange is the New Black had 6.7 million people watch it’s season premiere. TV shows are back, and this time, it looks like they’re staying for good. For the sake of my lack of Saturday night plans, hopefully it stays that way.
Netflix and chill: The company Netflix has released many new shows and each one is on the rise in popularity. [GOOGLE]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Dating and Rejection: the horrors of the word “no” By Charlotte Lee As busy students that have repetitive daily routines, it’s the social aspect of life that keeps each day interesting. Sure, friends are great —a perfect balance of consistency, support and livelihood. However, even more risky and intriguing is romance. Although potential rejection must be a scary thought, unpredictability remains the most riveting element of romance. The dating culture at Taipei American School is a unique one —there is a wide array of opinions on what is right, when is right, and who is right. According to the Wall Street Journal, research on dating in heterosexual teens in urban western countries show that kids who have “high academic goals” are more likely to be “late bloomers” and begin dating around 14 for boys and 15 for girls. Seeing as TAS is a mecca for students with “high academic goals”, being The Wall Street Journal’s definition of a late bloomer is actually a norm at TAS. Academics remain the longstanding champion of all priorities. On the authority of several polled students, their parents claim they “don’t care” if they date as long as it doesn’t affect their academic performance. Justin Pei (11) says that his mom bluntly stated she will
allow him to date “if you’re like Julian (or have a 4.5 GPA).” However, it is interesting because parents probably are not as nonchalant about dating as they seem. The infamous network of parent gossip is proof of the parents’ concern. News travels fast in a tight knit community and covert relationships don’t remain so for long. With such a conservative dating culture at our school, it is no wonder that students face potential relationships with cautious attitudes. Therefore, rejection is common at TAS. While most girls at TAS have not been rejected before, some say they have come close once. However, they have rejected other people several times, ranging from once to a whopping nine different occasions. The boys, who have gotten the short end of the stick, usually have been rejected once or twice each. Out of everyone that was polled, it was the underclassmen that most often said they feared rejection. Their responses tended to indicate that fear of rejection is inevitable and natural. Perhaps it is being at the bottom of the food chain that contributes to their uneasiness. On the other end of the spectrum, the juniors were a little less intimidated by the idea of rejection.To a few lionhearted seniors, romantic
rejection is not a big deal at all. Some face it with disregard: without reserve, Avery Mann (12) asserts that “the only rejection I’m afraid of at this point in my life is from colleges”. Clearly, some seniors have become numb to the notion of romance. Maybe it’s the stress, maybe it’s the cumulative effect of four tiring years that has caused them to shift their perspectives. Others come to grips with it dauntlessly. According to Jesse Kao (12), if it comes down to it, he’s not embarrassed to ask a girl out; Jesse claims that rejection is not factored into the equation before he makes any decision. He states that “for me, rejection is not an excuse. If you tried your best it simply means you’re not fit to the girl’s standards. Don’t make [rejection] a limit. Think of it as a step towards your ‘one’. Fail, stand back, and fail again. That’s what makes life so interesting.” This positive philosophy approaches relationships with nothing to lose. It is hard to admit, but inside us all there is a little fear and vulnerability. Whether it be freshman or senior, love life or college, there is always a chance that you’ll hear the word “no”. Nonetheless, if the possibility of ‘yes’ is decidedly worth it, maybe leap of faith and some optimism wouldn’t hurt.
Rejection Statistics
Watch for these international film festival winners By Andrew Lin
Last year, the Honors Film and Documentary Class in TAS submitted two films to the 2016 THIMUN Qatar Northwestern Film Festival and one of the films submitted, called Our Art, Our Voices, won Best Picture in the festival. But what is a film festival and what happens at a film festival? Film festivals are events managed by different organizations and film societies that provide an opportunity for filmmakers to showcase their work to the public eye. Most film festivals are considered “open submissions,” which means that any filmmaker could submit a film and the festival would accept it and show it to the audience and critics that show up. In the past, film festivals were a means of reaching out to audiences around the world. Today, it has evolved to become the heart of film business, where studios and companies go to negotiate for the rights to films presented in the festival and where unknown filmmakers are given an opportunity to become famous. In most film festivals, awards are usually given out to the best films and are highly coveted by filmmakers. The Cannes Film Festival, held in France during May, is the most famous and the leading film festival around the world. This year, the highest award in the festival, the Palme d’Or, was given to the film I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach starring Dave Johns. The film focuses on Daniel Blake, an ill carpenter who applies but is rejected by the British welfare system, and his struggles to find work in Great Britain. Loach intended the film to criticize the British
Pride and joy: Ken Loach, director of I, Daniel Blake receives this year’s Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival. [CANNES FESTIVAL]
welfare system and film critics were highly impressed with Loach’s work. Held annually every February, the Berlin Film Festival is another one of the most famous film festivals in the world. Its highest prize, the Golden Bear, was awarded to the documentary film, Fire at Sea, directed by
Gianfranco Rosi. The film focuses on the struggles of the European migrant crisis and Rosi wanted to raise awareness for the situation that migrants have to go through. Film critics and reviewers have praised the film for its focus on migrants and its unique portrayal of the
contrast between the lives of migrants and the lives of ordinary Italians. In the Sundance Film Festival in Utah during January, the Grand Jury Prize for Dramatic films was given to The Birth of a Nation directed by Nate Parker, starring Parker himself as Nat Turner. The film revolves
around the story of Nat Turner and the circumstances leading to his slave revolt and the film was praised for its acting and cinematography. Another noteworthy film, Swiss Army Man, starring the Harry Potter franchise’s Daniel Radcliffe, won the Directing Prize; the film was praised for its acting and its bizarre storyline, where a marooned man attempts to survive using the powers of a washed up corpse. Both the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival were held in September and the two best films that emerged from both festivals was The Woman Who Left and La La Land respectively. The Woman Who Left details the story of a mother played by Charo Santos-Concio, who was recently released from prison, and her plot to exact revenge against the man who framed her for her crimes. The film won Venice’s Golden Lion award for the best film of the festival. La La Land was submitted to both the Venice and the Toronto Film Festivals where it competed with The Woman Who Left in Venice and won the People’s Choice Award in Toronto. La La Land is a romantic drama film starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone that was universally acclaimed by critics and other film directors alike for its originality and its musical elements. Actor and director Tom Hanks praised the film for its originality, stating that: “When you see something that is brand new, that you can’t imagine, and you think ‘well thank God this landed’, because I think a movie like La La Land would be anathema to studios. Number one, it is a musical and no one knows the songs.”
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the blue & gold november 22, 2015
Mulan 2018: make Mulan right By Melissa Cho Disney has officially scheduled a release date for the upcoming live action version of Mulan. Yep, you read that right. For those who are avid lovers of the iconic 1998 musical film, you can now weep with tears of joy, knowing that your favorite Chinese heroine is finally appearing on the big screen. Mulan is expected to hit theaters on November 2, 2018. We can only hope it will come as swift as a coursing river—and with all the force of a great typhoon. Walt Disney Pictures first expressed interest in recreating this classic film in the 2000s. Zhang Ziyi, known for her role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, was to star as the title role and Chuck Russell, most known for directing horror films like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, was to take on the role of director. Filming was originally set to start on October 2010, but a few days before filming, the production was postponed due to budget issues. Finally, in 2015, Disney reopened the project, and global casting for a Chinese female actress began in October 2016. Initially, fans were skeptical about whether the main character was going to be portrayed by an actual Asian American actress. After all, Hollywood is notorious for its “whitewashing” practices, where it casts white actors in historically non-white roles. Emma Stone played an Asian–American woman in the 2015 film Aloha. Scarlett Johansson is set to play a Japanese in the American film adaptation of the Japanese manga, Ghost in the Shell. In Marvel’s most recent film, Doctor Strange, Tilda Swinton, a Scottish actress, was heavily criticized for portraying a Celtic monk of Tibetan descent—and that’s not the first time Ms. Swinton has appeared in “yellow face.” There was even controversy about a supposed rumor that Jennifer Lawrence (star of the Hunger Games film franchise) was set to play Mulan. Now I’m all for a strong female actress to play Mulan—but whatever happened to authenticity and cultural appreciation?
It is completely understandable if Disney fans fear that the main character of this upcoming film is not Asian because it has happened before and it will probably happen again. Rest assured, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has promised Mulan aficionados that the main character is going to be played by an Asian– American actress.
dishonor on your cow!” Shame on you Hynek and Martin, shame on you— and your cow. The leaked script was initially posted anonymously in an article on Angry Asian Man, an internet blog founded by Korean-American blogger, Phil Yu. It revealed that the movie will not focus on Mulan’s personal journey to honor her family and save China,
because he sets eyes on Mulan...To top it all off, this man gets the honor of defeating the primary enemy of China, not Mulan. Way to steal a girl’s thunder.” Instead of portraying Mulan as a legendary heroine, the leaked script depicts Mulan as a damsel in distress. Cue the sarcastic golf clap for Hynek and Martin. If, and I pray that it does not
2010 Mulan failed to fly: Zhang Zi Yi (right) was originally set to play the part of Mulan in the 2010 project, which later got cancelled. [VIGNET.1.WIKIA & CHINA DAILY]
Let’s hope Disney keeps that promise. While it is tempting to think that Asian–Americans are finally getting more representation in Hollywood, we shouldn’t count our chickens before they are hatched. The leaked script, written by both playwrights and screenwriters Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin, suggests that Mulan’s love interest, Shang, is going to be replaced by a white, European character. Hello Asian PocahontasJohn Smith debacle! As our beloved, anthropomorphic red dragon Mushu would say, “Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family!...Dishonor on you,
which is a focus of the original (nonDisney) tale. Instead, the proposed script features a white European merchant, who sails to China, saves Mulan, and steals her heart. Although the blog was created by Phil Yu, an anonymous guest writer, disguised as ConcernedForMulan, wrote the article. This mysterious guest writer, also an Asian–American, was furious after reading the spec script titled The Legend of Mulan. The article says, “The man is a 30-something European trader who initially cares only for the pleasure of women and money. The only reason why he and his entourage decide to help the Chinese Imperial Army is
happen, Hynek and Martin’s proposed script gets adapted into a screenplay, how does the possible new version differ from the original animation? For one, instead of Mulan’s romantic interest, Shang, who is chinese (cough), appearing on the screen, some white 30 year old hijacks the original story-line. Let me get this straight: Mulan is a 16 year old teenager, and her supposed other half is around 30. I don’t know about you, but that gives me weird vibes. Also, Mulan won’t be getting most of the screen time. ConcernedForMulan reports that “more than half of [the script’s] pages are dedicated to this
[European] merchant who develops a mutual attraction with Mulan and fights to protect her in the ensuing battles.” Dear Lord, why is this script even being considered in the first place? If Disney gives Hynek and Martin’s script the green light, Disney will be shattering a lot of kids’ dreams. After hearing about the leaked script online, the internet blew up in flames. Die-hard Mulan fans tweeted their frustration and created online petitions featuring the hashtag #MakeMulanRight. Natalie Molnar, a concerned fan, set up an online petition when buzz about whitewashing in this upcoming film started. The petition already has 111,000 signatures. When interviewed by Marie Claire, Molnar says, “[Whitewashing] perpetuates a standard of beauty and goodness wherein whites are considered the ideal and norm despite that not only are Americans diverse, but the entire world is.” Although a source “close to the project” told Vanity Fair that Mulan will not feature a white male lead, given Hollywood’s laughable practice of inaccurately casting white actors, we can’t be completely sure whether this “source” is telling the truth. It is imperative that this new Disney version stays true to the authenticity of Mulan’s original storyline. Many instances in film, people of color are depicted as villains or minor characters. Disney needs to show that people of color can be heroes too. Casting a non-white actress as the title role in this film sends a message to people of all races that they too can make a difference. ConcernedForMulan says, “Mulan did not need a white man to help fight her battles and give her a kiss at the end. Mulan is the heroine that we want. Not some white dude.” Your move, Disney. #MakeMulanRight. If you have a comment or reaction to the upcoming Mulan movie or this article, The Blue & Gold would love to hear from you by e-mailing us at blueandgold@tas.tw. We will publish reactions on our website as we continue to track this developing story.
Say goodbye to 15th century technology By Anya Lai Leisure reading is slowly disappearing from students’ lives. This tragedy may be caused by a combination of the homework load given in school and the amount of extra-curricular activities. Many students don’t bother picking up a book to read, whether for fun or to find answers, as the internet can perform the same tasks much quicker. However, should society abandon books altogether and just look to the internet? When asked whether they would rather pick up a book or a phone, 22 out of 30 interviewed students at TAS chose a phone. 4 of these 22 students, however, said that if they had more
free time they would choose to read. Some said that reading on a phone would simply be easier, and the rest just replied, “phone, duh.” Justin Zhou (10) says, “I think the thing about technology is that if you are not connected you miss out on stuff. It’s hard at this age to isolate yourself from the world.” Teenagers want to keep up with social media, but modern day technology also has a negative side. Kevin Lin (12) says, “I like to read. I get really annoyed when people gathering outside use their phones instead of talking.” Not only have face-to-face interactions decreased, but increased use of technology for reading may damage your health. Peter Giordano, the middle school librarian, says,
“When we read our eyes don’t move in a linear way; they bounce around the page at a rapid pace. White space on a page is important because it gives the eyes a chance to rest and process information… it’s a kind of cognitive displacement.” Furthermore, Mr. Giordano says, “We remember less of what we read on screens. Also, because we’re always googling everything, we’re losing the ability to refer back and forth between texts.” A large reason behind why TAS students are reading less is because there is simply no time. According to Pew Net, a research center on internet, science, and technology, “91% of teens (aging from 13-17) go online frequently” and of those, “24% uses
the internet almost constantly.” This trend is clearly reflected in TAS students. On weekdays, 8 hours are spent in school, approximately 2 hours are spent on extracurricular activities, and more or less 5 hours are used on homework, leaving only 1 hour of free time should students have the suggested minimum of 8 hours of sleep daily. In this 1 hour, students would more likely choose to go on the internet. Irene Yeh (12) says “I think it is because you spend so much time on homework and you already read so much for homework that you just want to take a break.” Thus, although fewer students at TAS read paper books, we shouldn’t necessarily get rid of them.
The struggle is real: Christine L. (10) chooses between a book and a phone. [ANYA LAI]
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TUNE IN TUNE
By Amanda Huang
By Amanda Huang
the blue & gold november 22, 2016
This year, while Beyonce and Drake were dropping record-breaking albums, a myriad of talented new acts emerged. Here are a couple that are worth watching out for.
The Japanese House
The mastermind behind the captivating instrumentals and vocals of The Japanese House is a woman named Amber Bain. Bain is a genius at manipulating vocal layering to create different “voices” for different moods. (For example, “Still” sounds like it is sung by a boy while “Face Like Thunder” sounds distinctly more feminine.) Bain’s vocals, paired with beautiful lyrics, will undoubtedly make your heart wrench. As for the name, according to Vice, Bain stayed at a house in Devon when she was on vacation as a child and she later found out that it was called “The Japanese House” and belonged to British actress, Kate Winslet. The Wldlfe If you like songs with story-telling lyrics while also having catchy melodies, you’ll love The Wldlfe. Their debut EP “New” sounds best when listened to in order, and listeners can follow them through a story of getting over a significant other. The EP is sprinkled with simple but genuine lyrics like “you make me so so sad / I’m talking waterfalls” and “time keeps on moving on, it didn’t take long to forget about you / so I’m onto something new.” Valley and The Band CAMINO are two artists that have similar vibes. Lauv Despite using instrumentals very generously, singer, songwriter, and producer Lauv is able to let his vocals steal the show on each one of his tracks. Lauv tends to produce songs that are more gloomy and sad and his soothing voice makes it easier for him to produce melancholy music. Last year, he dropped his first EP “Lost in the Light”, containing “The Other”, “Reforget”, and “Come Back Home”. This year, he returned with “Breathe” and “The Story Never Ends”, which was featured on hit show Grey’s Anatomy. Lauv is the kind of artist you can go ahead and add to your Rainy Day Spotify playlists.
LANY LANY (short for Los Angeles New York) is a three-man alternative pop group, with lead vocals by Paul Jason Klein, a model turned musician. Their EP “Make Out” starts off with “ILYSB” and “Walk Away” and ends with a stripped version of “ILYSB” that is arguably better than the studio version. Their songs always have catchy lyrics with a narrative element and the instrumentals are noticeably good but never overpower the vocals. Their EP “kinda” was released earlier this year and again, the album does not lose steam through all six tracks. With lyrics like “talking under pink skies I think our hearts are starting to show / That it’s better you and I under pink skies”, this EP is a collection of genuine experience and emotions.
[AMBER BAIN]
[LANY]
MUNA MUNA (Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson) produces dark-pop music, with lyrics that tend to look at the less-talked about sides of love. In their EP “The Loudspeaker”, the three girls sing about forgiveness, rejection, and the like. “Loudspeaker” kicks off the EP and embodies the spirit of the band. The song is about breaking free from oppression: “So if I feel real good tonight / I’m gonna put it high on the loudspeaker / and if I feel like crying, I won’t hide it / I am a loudspeaker.” “So Special” goes on to talk about dealing with rejection and “Winterbreak” is a heartbreaking ballad about refusing to let go of a toxic relationship: “Oh, baby, I think we both know / this is the love that we won’t get right / still, if you said that you wanted / I know I’ll always have one more try.”
[THE WLDLFE]
[MUNA] [LAUV]
A Moon Shaped Pool’s dark allure By Shereen Lee
When the alt-rock band Radiohead began to disappear from the Internet on May 1, 2016, followers took notice. Initial changes to the band’s website were subtle: the graphics of the page were a little fainter, set to a lower opacity level than normal. But by the next day, the band’s Facebook, Twitter, and website were completely blank. That was when people began to speculate about the release of Radiohead’s ninth studio album, a record listeners had been anticipating for the past five years. And sure enough, the dramatic social media campaign culminated in release of their album A Moon Shaped Pool on May 8 of this
The album... melts into a production almost serene in its grief. year. The album is—surprisingly—their most accessible work to date. Radiohead has made cryptic musical arrangements
their signature over the years, A Moon Shaped Pool seems far more streamlined and melodic than previous collections. The unsettled nature of lead single “Burn the Witch” seems reminiscent of albums like Amnesiac, with angry energy supplemented by a vibrant, discordant orchestral arrangement scored by lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood. However, the album soon melts into a production almost serene in its grief in “Daydreaming”, where frontman Thom Yorke sings “It’s too late / the damage is done” with an eerie resignation. This trend persists through much of the album, where Yorke’s loose, distinctive vocals continue to shine. While their sound diverges from that of previous albums, Radiohead’s lyrics frequently revisit old subjects. The “outer space” motif, featured in earlier songs like “Subterranean Homesick Alien”, makes its way into A Moon Shaped Pool’s “Decks Dark”, where Yorke sings “Then into your life, there comes a darkness / There’s a spacecraft blocking out the sky”. These phrases take repetition and effort to decode, with imagery that fits in obliquely with each song topic. The band also spearheads activism with songs which return to politics. Reminiscent of previous albums like Hail to the Thief, where several songs were written in response to current events, these tracks cover greed, climate change, and more. The tracks continue to obscure their messages through
oblique imagery, while remaining emotionally evocative: Yorke holds an edge behind lazy melodies as he sings lyrics like “You may pour us away like soup / Like we’re pretty broken flowers / But we’ll take back what is ours” in “The Numbers”. There is a haunting finality to the way A Moon Shaped Pool brings in and combines so many elements of previous works: 7 of the 11 songs on the album had been written between 1994 and 2011, and their remastering deftly weaves between the creepiness of songs from Radiohead’s Amnesiac era and the lyrical opuses that made up OK Computer. Even though A Moon Shaped Pool will never match the melodic or lyrical innovation of Radiohead’s previous albums, the new album was never meant to serve that purpose. The band’s place in the music industry is no longer one of disruption. Instead, Radiohead has evolved to provide a perfect reflection on the realities of age and wisdom.
RR A A D D II O O H H EE A A D' D' SS
B E S T A L B U M S
A long anticipated production: Radiohead’s first album since 2011. [RADIOHEAD]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Hanks disappoints in an Inferno of mediocrity By Charlotte Lee
Inferno, starring Tom Hanks, is a mix of action, adventure, and thriller. Robert Langdon is a clever and passionate professor, racing to prevent a global airborne disease aimed to solve overpopulation from killing half of the people on Earth. The movie is the third installment of Dan Brown’s writing of the Robert Langdon series following The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons and ventures into several major and minor historical references. Although it takes place in exotic and unforgettable locations like Istanbul and Florence, the movie itself is slow, fairly complex and forgettably average. The first 60 minutes of the movie just fell short of painfully boring. Langdon wakes up in a hospital with holes in his memory, then is immediately attacked by an assassin pretending to be a police officer. This event happens too quickly, followed by a predictable escape accompanied by some confusing visions. The visions are later explained, but at first seem like a random and unsuccessful jab at horror. The second half of the movie was much more interesting because it defies some of the predictable plot conventions of most action movies. The plot twist finally gets things rolling and Langdon has a clearer goal. Everything suddenly fits together and makes sense, thanks to a slightly cheesy monologue by Harry Sims (played by Irrfan Khan). He is one of the more fun characters that adds dry humor through his matter-of-fact tone. As a trained killer with Bond-like energy
Hunting for answers: Professor Langdon and Dr. Sienna Brooks are another step closer to preventing the release of a global airborne disease. [© SONY PICTURES]
and a bit of sass, the British-Indian actor throws in some lightheartedness to the weary plot. One of the few unique aspects of this movie is its quick and casual historical references. Understanding the basic context and geography every time Langdon speaks is crucial to the movie plot. Not being able to do so would be quite frustrating—leaving
the audience in confusion, especially with their fast talking. From the viewpoint of an ordinary consumer, the special effects are subpar and make the movie unrealistic factor. People have their heads twisted around, and swollen eyes with extreme rashes. These additions get so exaggerated they are almost comical. Perhaps being based off of Dante’s 14th century idea
contributes to this, so don’t expect anything too skillfully bloodcurdling or realistic. There is some romance that could be further developed, especially because the one hour build up was basically worthless. However, the good ol’ crazy-scientist-killingfor-the-greater-good plot cliché was made unique by being set somewhere outside America.
To sum up, Inferno was not a movie to remember. It lacks emotional depth and it is only filled with panic and curiosity. Hanks’ performance is constrained by the slow moving plot and he is soemtimes too cheesy and smug. However, it gets pretty interesting in the end and has some fun moments.
Doctor Strange: strangely unsatisfying By Christine Lin (10)
Warning: this article contains spoilers. With its trailers and promotions creating much excitement, Doctor Strange does not completely disappoint but fails to meet expectations. Directed by Scott Derrickson, Marvel’s new movie follows the story of an arrogant but incredibly talented neurosurgeon who, after a devastating car accident, seeks a cure for his damaged hands. Doctor Stephen Strange, played by BBC’s Sherlock Holmes’ Benedict Cumberbatch, eventually discovers a hidden world of mysticism, magic, and alternate dimensions. He needs to put his ego aside in order to fully realize the potential of his power. As he navigates this world under the tutelage of a Celtic mystic, known only as the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), he discovers the darker side of this magical world and has to fight against a disciple-turnedvillain named Kaecilius. From the beginning, the movie’s plot proves to be very predictable. Strange’s character arc finds similarities with fellow Marvel characters like Thor and Tony Stark. He starts off
as a rich and proud man who serves only himself. As he goes on his mystic training (much like the one Bruce Wayne as Batman goes through), his teacher and peers need to teach him to put aside his arrogance to serve a greater cause. However, he becomes one of the most powerful sorcerers in the world after only undergoing a few months of training. He just so happens to be able to open the Eye of Agamotto, a gauntlet that holds the Infinity Stone and can manipulate time, because he is intelligent and “special.” All the while, there is Darth-Vader-esque antagonist who abandons the teachings of the Ancient One and, along with his cult of disciples, is convinced that bringing darkness to the Earth would save humanity from death. I am sure you have seen this character in many other movies. Now, this typical plot (which is adapted from the comic books) could work if only the screenplay had been more original and clear. Many cliche scenes and lines could have been more sophisticatedly incorporated into the plot, such as the classic “arrogant-guyblows-off-a-girl-and-girl-gets-hurtand-stops-caring.” Plus, the impressive cast is filled with acclaimed Oscarnominated actors (Cumberbatch, Ejiofor, Swinton, and McAdams) who
can deliver better performances if only they were given lines over which they could exert their skills. Since this is another Marvel film largely based on the mechanics of a fictional world, it is essential that the magical and scientific concepts are clearly explained. Yet, the moviemakers are trying to fit so many elements into the film that many of the matters such as mirror realms, the Eye of Agamotto, or the whole hidden world of magic are not fully explained. This then leads to much confusion for viewers who have not yet read the comic books. At the end of the movie, Strange needs to face off against the previously ambiguous, Thanos-like Dormammu in order to prevent Earth from being consumed by the ominous yet obscure Dark Dimension. How he defeats such a powerful foe, I shall not spoil here. The most redeeming quality of the film is its mesmerizing visual effects and color schemes. The first scene starts with a chase scene, but instead of plain running and gun-shooting, two masters are literally folding the streets and spinning the buildings. All the magical elements and spells look realistic and would be even more incredible in 3D and IMAX. With this movie, Marvel also fortunately succeeds in its never-failing humor.
Strange’s sarcastic personality and gags involving his Cape of Levitation keep the audience in constant laughter. Doctor Strange is not a bad movie. As a lover of Marvel movies, I truly want to give it a higher rating. Although the movie provided an adequate amount of entertainment, it has some major flaws that makes it fall short of expectations.
There are still many potential subjects to explore and the newly-revealed infinity stone of time will surely come into play later in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the end-screen credits hinting at Doctor Strange’s return in Thor: Ragnorak and a possible sequel, we can hopefully see a more flushedout plot in upcoming additions.
A hidden world discovered: Prepare to be dazzled by the mesmerizing CGI illusions and magic in the new Marvel film. [COMINGSOON.NET]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Stranger Things gets even stranger By Kelly Phil As a TV show that managed to include inter-dimensional travel and a paranormally-gifted girl with an obsession for frozen waffles, Stranger Things is the reason that my nailbiting habit spiralled out of control. By combining the eerie 1980s setting with sudden murders and disappearances in a sleepy Indiana town, Stranger Things was quickly able to capture both an American and international audience’s interest. With it’s debut on July 16, Stranger Things season 1 (which can be watched on Netflix) remains the third most watched Netflix show behind Fuller House and Orange is the New Black while averaging about 14 million viewers in its first 35 days on stream. For those who missed Season 1, here’s a small summary: Stranger Things follows the story of three friends, Mike,
Lucas, and Dustin, who are suddenly faced with the strange disappearance of their friend, Will. Although the rest of the town is convinced that Will is dead, the trio refuses to believe so after they find a strange girl with telekinetic abilities named El, who claims she knows that Will is still alive. The story itself might seem like your typical 80s horror movie, but seems to be more than just a cliche storyline. Stranger Things introduces a new approach to the modern horror movie that viewers are not used to seeing. Modern horror movies often rely heavily on gore as shown through The Purge. However, modern audiences seem to prefer movies that use suspense to keep the audience guessing over those that use bloodied faces and maimed bodies to sell their case. The Witch, for example, has earned massive acclaim for introducing a
story that is based on suspense, and not on what traditional horror films would entail. With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is clear that the movie has audience approval. Like The Witch, Stranger Things uses techniques that leave the audience guessing and wanting more. The show uses flashbacks especially through El to keep the audience in the dark about her past but revealing enough to leave us riveted. Personally, the scenes with El back in the testing facility and being expected to commit acts of violence in the name of her ‘Papa’ left me wanting more. Scenes like this were one of the main reasons I thought this show was a great addition to the horror genre. Also, the show isn’t one for simple and straight-forward storylines. Its complex nature is leaving viewers on edge for the release of Season 2. With unexplained cliffhangers from
the Season 1 finale and Reddit fan theories that cannot answer themselves, Season 2 has already been projected to surpass its first season success. Season 2 episode titles have been released along with the cast, both of which give the watcher insight into what the second season will be about. With newcomers Dacre Montgomery and Sadie Sink, the show seems to be adding a new element and storyline. The two actors will be portraying siblings, Billy and Max (respectively), who will be regulars on the series. Other than the new additions, the original cast of characters seems to be returning (except of course for Shannon Purser #ripbarb2016). Overall, if the second season turns out to be anything like the first, the producers of the show will have nothing to worry about.
Stranger Things: Let’s get hyped for season 2. [CREATIVE BLOQ]
Notorious—but not in a bad way! By Barron Tsai
Sometimes, all you want is some light TV playing in the background while you go about your life. American television network ABC’s new show, Notorious, throws you right into the action and keeps you engaged. The pilot opens with a black screen. Marian Hill’s “Got It,” an exciting, fast-paced song with sensual lyrics and melody plays. TV producer Julia George (Piper Scabaro) speed-walks out of the office where she just had quickie sex with her newly-appointed federal judge boyfriend. You can’t help but get excited for what’s to come. And the show sure doesn’t disappoint! The producers of Notorious based it on the real-life relationship between criminal defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, and Larry King Live!
news producer, Wendy Walker . In Notorious, Jake Gregorian (Daniel Sunjata) fulfills the role of the handsome, sharp, and charismatic criminal defense lawyer. Julia and Jake have a symbiotic relationship wherein they make a concerted effort to shape what the public thinks of Jake’s shady clients. Julia, in turn, gets to run exclusives for her show, Louise Herrick Live, hosted by Louise Herrick (Kate Jennings Grant). The big story in in the pilot episode is that millionaire tech wiz, Oscar Keaton (Kevin Zegers), one of Jake’s rich clients, has apparently mowed down some poor teenager in his pricey car. Julia has Louise ambush Jake on air with this news – and, of course, if you haven’t guessed already, Jake tipped Julia off beforehand. The show itself is exciting and fast-paced; by the end of the pilot,
viewers learn that Oscar’s wife, Sarah Keaton (Dilshad Vasaria) was the one actually driving the car... but just as the police go to arrest her, she winds up dead on her bathroom floor! Notorious’s writers definitely create good television plots that keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. Of course, the really scandalous stuff lies beneath the surface – such as the fact Jake and Sarah were lovers or Julia’s federal judge boyfriend is actually cheating on her. The sub-plots just add to the enjoyability of the main plot. It is worthwhile to note, however, that so many plot twists within a single 42 minute episode diminishes the “Woah!” punch of these twists. Of course, I understand that the show is trying to introduce as much of its plot and the characters as possible so that people get hooked into the show. But, it is my hope that the amount of plot
twists will significantly diminish in future episodes to increase their effect. The strongest part of the show isn’t the plot; it’s the the witty banter and chemistry between Jake and Julia.The two charming leads make this show truly enjoyable. Although their relationship seems semiromantic and they talk like they’re lovers, they have a strictly platonic partnership – at least at this point in the show. Of course, no show is without flaws, and while I didn’t dislike Julia, I didn’t find myself rooting for her either. She just seems unrelatable. In addition, while I found it enjoyable to watch – I can’t see myself getting invested long term yet. Perhaps, as the characters develop and achieve more depth, viewers will be able to gain insight into the shady world of media with Jake and Julia for a long, and enjoyable, time.
Eye candy: the stars of Notorious pose back to back. [YAHOO IMAGES]
The Mothers: an emotional rollercoaster By Christine Lin
“Grief was not a line, carrying you infinitely further from loss. You never knew when you would be slingshot backward into its grip.” Released on October 11th, The Mothers by Brit Bennett is a young adult novel that grapples with the “what ifs” of life, captivating the reader with a number of complex and intertwining storylines. Although I started reading the book with low expectations, The Mothers ended up being an emotional novel that pleasantly surprised me by delving into complicated topics, from the aftermath of suicide to the consequences of abortion. According to the synopsis
published on Google Books, “it is the last season of high school life for Nadia Turner, a rebellious, grief-stricken, 17-year-old beauty. Mourning her own mother’s recent suicide, she takes up with the local pastor’s son. They are young; it’s not serious. But the pregnancy that results from this teen romance – and the subsequent coverup – will have an impact that goes far beyond their youth.” Although the plot summary boils the novel down to a “teen romance” and an accidental pregnancy, The Mothers is so much more than that. In fact, a majority of the book revolves around Nadia’s relationship with Audrey, a girl she befriends after her mother’s suicide. While Nadia has to struggle with the loss of her mother, Aubrey has to wrestle with her choice to leave her mother and escape the abusive man her mother is dating. One line from the novel sums up the different, but
equally painful, conflict they have to face: “Her mother was dead, but what could be worse than knowing that your mother was alive somewhere but she wanted a man who hit her more than she wanted you? ...What did it feel like to be the one who left?” The Mothers also spends more time exploring the issues surrounding Nadia’s abortion than on the romantic aspect of her relationship with Luke Sheppard, the local pastor’s son. Neither Nadia nor Luke, the father of her aborted child, can move on from their teenage relationship and they remain stuck in between the past and the future. Their nameless child, simply referred to as “Baby”, haunts them for the rest of their lives, even as Nadia goes on to attend college and Luke marries another girl. Surprisingly, the abortion impacts Luke more than it does Nadia, allowing the book to explore the impact of
abortion on the father, something not often talked about. Ultimately, Bennett crafts a meaningful story with realistic, 3-dimensional characters. Each character has a deep backstory and small quirks that bring them to life. Bennett is also able to touch the reader with moving lines about grief, friendship, and love. Most importantly, her novel shows that in reality, life doesn’t always have a happy ending. We will all end up making choices we regret and we will have to live with our actions for the rest of our lives. The choices we make and the lasting consequences that result is something especially relevant to high school students at TAS making important life choices. If you are still hesitant about reading the novel, I encourage you to give it a try even if the plot does not immediately appeal to you.
The Mothers by Brit Bennett: an emotional Young Adult novel everyone should read. [GOOGLE IMAGES]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
Cafes worth the walk By Coco Lee and Christine Lin (10)
Humble Beginnings Cafe
Posse
No. 36-1, Section 7, Zhongshan N Rd, Shilin District (100~300 NT)
No. 36, Tianyu St, Shilin District(100~200 NT) Marshmallow Milk Tea: This
Boneless Chicken Leg with Rice: The chicken rice, which was recommended by one of the staff is fantastic. The skin is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The dish comes with a layer of fried egg (this cafe is big on fried eggs) on top with the yoke half cooked and stir fried cabbage. It is an amazing combination to eat for brunch. However, because the dish contains a lot of oil from the chicken and cabbage, the rice did get a little soggy over time. But if the dish is eaten within reasonable time, it will be very delicious.
beverage is recommended by the owner himself as he believes this is customers’ one of many favorite drinks. The tea has a cute design of a floating cat marshmallow on top and the milk tea goes very well with the sweetness of the melted marshmallow. Customers may enjoy the drink with a little secret on the bottom of the cup!
Rating: 5 / 5
Rating: 4 / 5
Senor Croque: This variation on a classic French dish basically results in a high-end grilled cheese sandwich - and it definitely matched our expectations. The display and smell caught our attention right away with the bright colors. On the exterior, a thick layer of cheese is topped with a sunny-side up egg. The toasts provided a perfect crunch while the minced beef, cheese, and egg added an extremely satisfying savory taste.
Chocolate Hazelnut Bagel: The bagel is very delicious as the heat and crispiness is preserved when it is served. With multiple toppings to choose from, the bagel can be enjoyed with different sauces and assorted fruits. Even though the bagel is very good, it does not seem to show its own uniqueness. It’s really just an ordinary white bagel.
Assam Ice Tea: As this ice tea is served as a complimentary beverage, the quality was not particularly bad but just not all that special. The tea has a decent taste and is understandably presented as part of a set, so it did not fail any expectations. Compared to the other dishes offered in the cafe, this option is mediocre. We would recommend considering the full-priced beverages for the most authentic experience of the cafe.
Waffles: These waffles are evidence of this cafe’s amazing decoration skills with their food. With the different toppings of fruits, ice cream, and melted marshmallow piled upon petite heart-shaped waffles, this dessert looks amazing to the eye and the stomach. Originally, the cafe lets you choose one topping for all four waffles. However, if you ask for the variety, the cafe will happily let you try all four types in one dish.
Rating: 2.5 / 5
Rating: 4 / 5
Rating: 5 / 5
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Bubble tea is not just a drink; it is a lifestyle By Audrey Kong The renowned Bubble Tea, is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in the 1980s in Taichung, Taiwan. Chun Shui Tang Teahouse is accredited for the creation of bubble tea, which was originally called “Pearl Milk Tea”. The drink has been adopted all over the world and bubble tea chains continue to multiply. However, each chain has their own style and taste. Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk and chewy tapioca pearls. There are a variety of drinks with a wide range of ingredients. Famous as the origin of bubble tea, Chun Shui Tang’s bubble tea has a rich flavour and the perfect combination of milk and tapioca pearls. There’s a faint taste of sugar’s natural sweetness that can be savoured throughout the drink. Chun Shui Tang states that there are no preservatives in their bubble tea and that the tea is made with saturated fat free creamer. The bubble tea comes in two sizes, small, around 75 nt, and medium, around 140 nt. The staff usually suggest customers to order the larger size because they provide togo cups for leftovers. Although it’s a little pricey, the unique taste from the origin place of bubble tea is definitely worth it. Furthermore, it is possible to order an extra small cup of plain pearls to add to the tea.
Rating: 4/5
CoCo
50 Lan
Chun Shui Tang
CoCo has a unique process for developing new and localized products. Every season, CoCo rotates its menu; 30 percent of the menu is composed of newly introducted products and around 10 to 20 percent of the menu will be unique to the area. CoCo’s classic Bubble Milk Tea, a recent hit in TAS club sales, has chewy boba and large cups. CoCo only has one cup size, which costs 35 nt. The bubble milk tea tastes better with fresh milk, which, again, costs extra. It is strongly recommended that the sugar level should be adjusted, especially if the amount of ice is adjusted as well. Without any changes to the ice or sugar level, CoCo’s classic Bubble Milk Tea tends to be extremely sweet.
Like many other bubble tea chains in Taiwan, 50 Lan has more than 100 different permutations and combinations of drinks one can think of. 50 Lan is less known internationally but is still nonetheless a great choice. The smaller bobas are particularly popular at 50 Lan and they are cooked well, although the proportion of the boba to milk tea can sometimes be a bit off. Moreover, the tea flavour isn’t as strong in 50 Lan’s cup of bubble milk tea and is bit too milky. However, the prices at 50 Lan are very reasonable as the regular size cup is 35 nt and the large size is 50nt.
Rating: 3/5 [BUZZFEED]
[JON VAN DALEN]
Rating: 4/5
[FOODOLOGY]
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the blue & gold november 22, 2016
‘Tis the season to get fit By Julian Lee
In a vibrant, modern city like Taipei, there is always an endless array of intriguing activities open to the public. Running events have recently become a hot trend, featuring fun, social media-friendly themes and different categories for all types of participants, ranging from the serious runners to those who only do it for their Instagram feed. The chilly weather and festive atmosphere of the Christmas season make this time an especially suitable one for these types of runs.
[OSIM SUNDOWN MARATHON]
[ELECTRIC RUN]
OSIM Sundown Marathon
Electric Run
The Sundown Marathon, with the catchy tagline “Sleep Can Wait,” will be held at the popular Dajia Riverside Park on January 14, 2017. The founders of the Sundown Marathon were inspired by the intoxicating atmosphere of night racing. Their website advertises the heightened sensation offered by running after sundown. With the night run, the Marathon offers participants the chance to find peace and focus completely on achieving their goal, whether it is a record-breaking time or simply achieving internal calm through exercise. The Sundown Marathon offers a 5KM, 10KM, half marathon or full marathon race, catering to all ages and abilities.
The Electric Run, to be held at Machangting Memorial Park on January 23, 2017, is a celebration of uniqueness and creativity. It is a mixture of the traditional running event and a mini-EDM festival, featuring different zones like the “Electro Rainforest” and “Powerhouse” set up with bold decor and thumping music. Merchandise available includes LED glow sticks and neon green wristbands, contributing to the Electric Run’s promise to be “the world’s brightest 5K.” After the 5km run, an open-air dance party with live DJs will finish off the event.
Zombie Run 2
[FACEBOOK]
After the excellent reception of the first Zombie Run held in 2013, the Zombie Run will return for a second time on December 17 at the Dajia Riverside Park. Participants have two intriguing “roles” to choose from. Zombies are tasked with stealing the lives of the humans over the course of the 3.5km run, and will have the opportunity to have their makeup done by professional makeup artists. On the other hand, humans will be supplied with three “lives,” represented by flags attached to red belts; their goal is to complete the race with at least one life intact.
DO YOU ACCEPT THE HARTZELL CHALLENGE? By Melissa Cho If anyone’s wondering who the strongest person at TAS is, the Hartzell Challenge will answer that question. It’s an insanely difficult challenge that requires extreme muscular strength to complete. Think you got what it takes? Here’s how it’s done. The nitty gritty details are as follows: Contestants carry a 52 kg barbell in each hand and travel 10 laps around the fitness center. The contender with the fastest time wins. Dr. Hartzell estimates that the average time of completing this challenge is 30 minutes. He recommends that contestants set the barbells down after each lap and rest, because these barbells are HEAVY, and we certainly don’t want anyone’s arms falling off. Let’s do the math. Each barbell is 52 kg. Melissa Cho (12), yes, this staff reporter, weighs 54 kg. Basically, you are lifting two Melissa Chos in each hand—imagine that. “The challenge won’t take more than a couple of minutes for most challengers,” Dr. Hartzell says, “they will have given up by then. Anyone who can do 10 laps all at once should be arrested and put in a zoo.” This isn’t the first time Dr. Hartzell has issued challenges similar to this before. The first Hartzell Challenge took place way before students like you were even born on the face of this earth. “[The challenges] were always very popular...because everyone wanted me to lose,” Dr. Hartzell says. “The most infamous challenge was covered in a school newspaper around 1990; that involved both running and lifting. The final event, the bench press, was done on the auditorium stage during an all-school meeting. Yes, I won the challenge. There were several Hartzell challenges in the 1990s—all of which
I won.” So for those who think they could easily beat our upper school principal and pass the challenge with flying colors, think again. Dr. Hartzell has been training for the last 50 years. He evens trains spiritually; “Reading [Marcel] Proust helps keep up my spiritual shape,” he says. How could
Mitchell or Mr. Wen.” He feels that there is one aspiring contender out there who will be the worthy successor of the title, “the strongest person at TAS,” from him. The challenge hasn’t started yet, but Dr. Hartzell already has some possible contenders in mind. With a small
the leverage that Mr. Mueller has, our athletic director?” He’s also brought up a couple of potential upper school student contenders. “Where’s Myles Silsby (12)?” Dr. Hartzell says, “I want him—I want you, Myles Silsby. Vincent [Chen] (12)? I want you, Vincent.” To those who have been
Easy peasy lemon squeezy: Dr. Hatzell lifts a human barbell, Terry Chung (12). [MELISSA CHO]
your training possibly top that? Don’t lose hope (yet)! You still have a chance. Although Dr. Hartzell hasn’t lost a single challenge for the past 30 years, he thinks winning is getting “routine” and “boring.” “I thought that it was about time to give the flower of our TAS youth (to me, anyone younger than 60 is young) a chance to dethrone me,” Dr. Hartzell says. “Now that I’m entering middle age, my training regimen isn’t very vigorous; mostly, I go to the fitness center and talk to Mr.
but intimate crowd of five witnesses at the fitness center, he boldly called out his greatest foe, middle school principal, Mr. O’Rourke. “I’m calling Mr. O’Rourke out!” Dr. Hartzell says. “Come on, Mr. O’Rourke. Bring it on.” Other teachers have been challenged as well. He says, “I think that Mr. Bauer [upper school chinese teacher] would definitely be a contender. How about the two fitness strength and conditioning people, Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Wen? How about
summoned by our principal, you’re expected to show up. And to those who go to the fitness center on a regular basis, Dr. Hartzell’s got his eyes on you. “Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of this [challenge] is that Vincent and I are summoned by Dr. Hartzell without a pink or yellow slip,” Myles says. Similarly, Vincent is pleasantly surprised by Hartzell putting him and Myles under the limelight. “I feel weird saying this but
I feel extremely honored to have been called out by our principal,” he says. “Myles and I are currently out with injuries. However, when we return to destroy this challenge, we only ask for one thing in return: [Dr. Hartzell], let’s train legs together.” Mr. O’Rourke also had a say in response to Dr. Hartzell’s challenge. “Dr Hartzell is a very insecure old man who constantly needs to prove himself against other people,” he says. “If it was not for the fact that he can actually lift heavier weights than me, I would take up this challenge and put him back into place...instead I am hoping that the massive high schoolers can act on my behalf and thrash Dr. Hartzell for my honor and the honor of TAS!” Any “massive high schoolers” out there? Congratulations, you’ve been endorsed by Mr. O’Rourke. If you’re passionate about defending Mr. O’Rourke’s honor, joining the Hartzell Challenge is not a bad idea. “Contestants have from [November 22] until Friday, December 9th to compete,” Dr. Hartzell says. “Surely, no one has to train or strain to defeat a decrepit, over-the-hill, 64 year old principal!” When asked how he plans to promote this event, he says, “I plan to trash talk to a few people— including Mr. O’Rourke, of course.” Mark your calendars, everyone. If you truly believe you are the chosen one to bear this glorious title, with the little amount of time you have to prepare and procrastinate for this challenge, I suggest that you start working out— now. Dr. Hartzell asks you, “Which paragons of youth and strength will challenge an ancient artifact to claim the title of TAS’s Strongest Person?” The Hartzell Challenge will soon unveil this mystery!