Melodrama: November 2021 Issue

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Allyson Konz

DEPUTY EDITOR

Kate Lawless ART DIRECTOR Channing Smith

WUD PRESIDENT Lily Miller

WUD PUBLICATIONS COMMITTE DIRECTOR

Evanka Annyapu

WUD PUBLICATIONS COMMITTE ADVISOR

Robin Schmoldt

ART CURATOR Keely Bradish

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

Annika Ide

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

Kate Colby

Maria Daneko

FASHION DIRECTOR

Sarah Troy

FASHION EDITOR

Corbin Woessner

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Shelby Evans

CULTURE EDITOR

Gabrielle Gronewold

ARTS EDITOR

Arella Warren

SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING DIRECTOR

Jade Christensen

SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR

Talia Abbe

WRITERS

Abigail Crneckiy • Arella Warren • Kora Quinn • Jessica Katz • Olivia Peters

• Meghan Savaglia • Mason Braasch • Jamie Randall

• Shelby Evans • Jane Houseal • Kate Lawless

• Rachel Hale • Amanda Liebmann • Gabrielle Gronewold • Elizabeth Karnowski • Manon Bushong • Talia Abbe • Karissa Kroll

MODELS

Kate Lawless • Seth Degier

• Zach Lipo Zovic • Audrey O’Neill • Celia O’Neil • Godly the Ruler • Manon Bushong • Corbin Woessner •Lizbeth Huertas • Yoonjin Lee

ART

Keely Bradish • Channing Smith • Allyson Konz

• Arella Warren • Jade Christensen • Emma Gray

• Riley August • Maya Hofmann • Kate Madigan • Jessica Tennenbaum

PHOTOGRAPHY

Annika Ide • Channing Smith

• Hunter Kiehl • Anna Janke • Hannah Huber • Molly Jacobs

• Seth DeGier • Audrey O’Neill • Bela Orzechowski • Jessica Tennenbaum

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIFESTYLE

6 Emotion has no gender

Deconstructing the stigma around men’s mental health

16 America’s Mental Health Crisis

Despite calls for broader mental health resources, therapy is still inaccessible for many

31 The Balancing Act

Taking oral contraceptives does not mean compromising your mental health

41

CULTURE ARTS

The Dark Side of “Good Vibes Only”

How the pressure to stay positive can deter mental health

42 You Are What You See

Color impacts how you see the world and how you feel about the world

46 Love or Labor?

Emotional labor is a feminist issue

5 The Moon, the Mind and You

Jungian psychology can help you connect your subconscious to the natural world

48 Other Love Stories

An exploration of the romanticization of youth and friendship in coming-of-age movies

50

Mouths Against Air and Glass

Fictional characters inspire us in the same way as off-screen role models

52 A Change in Venue

Venues and artists are adapting to an environment without live music experiences.

10

Confessions of a Lifelong Fangirl

The joys & pains of being in a fandom

12

At Home Bartending

Easy, inexpensive cocktails to spice up your happy hour

28

Falling For You

A collection of love stories

37 You’re Not Alone

How are college students adapting to an isolated college experience?

14

A Brush of Bold

How to get a wearable, easy 90’s grunge look

44

From Us to You

The Moda community’s best tips from therapy

25

Dressing for your Mood

How our everyday mood affects our fashion choices

26

Fashion’s Most Dramatic Shows

A look back at the most dramatic fashion events in modern history

32

All That Glitters

Moda’s guide to this winter’s fashion trends

FEATURED 19 Uplift 34 Deep End

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

As fall turns its last corner in Wisconsin, it can be hard to feel optimistic about colder weather and shorter days. I think this holds especially true this year as so many of us have relied on outdoor spaces to safely connect with one another. However, it’s critical that during this time of transition, we check in with ourselves and prioritize our individual wellbeing. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year, making it all the more important to be intune with our emotional health.

In light of this, we drew inspiration from Lorde’s second studio album, Melodrama, for our November issue. Melodrama is an indulgence of the emotions, drama and nostalgia inside of us and a reflection of how we perceive and experience said themes. Our staff thought this was the perfect month to do just that: indulge and reflect, examine emotional constructs in our society and what it means to be a young adult in 2020.

We asked our staff to consider the role of those themes in their lives or in the world at large. Contributing Writer Meghan Savaglia reflected on the nostalgia of fandoms and how they live on today, Editorial Assistant Jessica Katz interviewed couples from all walks of life and asked for them to share their love stories, and Contributing Writer Abigail Crneckiy wrote about love stories in film that go beyond the binary of boy-meets-girl.

Other writers explored emotional boundaries within the respect of mental health. Staff Writer Elizabeth Karnowski wrote about deconstructing the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, Contributing Writer Amanda Liebmann wrote about toxic positivity and why the expectation to always be happy can invalidate other natural feelings and Contributing Writer Jane Houseal argued that taking oral contraceptives should not mean sacrificing your mental health.

Both of our featured shoots for Melodrama focused on showing a range of emotion. Our Fashion Shoot, Uplift, is a visual representation of growth and what it means to pull yourself out of a funk. Likewise, the Creative Shoot, Deep End, features dramatic, expressive and vivacious makeup.

This month, we hope that our readers can reflect on their own emotional wellbeing and take the necessary steps to take care of themselves. Too often we get caught up in deadlines and juggle our responsibilities without pausing and checking in on ourselves. This is the perfect time of year to recenter your focus on yourself and identify what you need in order to be successful, and of course, happy.

ALLYSON KONZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Moon, the Mind and You

JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY CAN HELP YOU CONNECT YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS TO THE NATURAL WORLD.

Written and Illustrated by Arella Warren, Arts Editor

A wise man once said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”1 This man was Carl Jung, one of the earliest proponents of the unconscious mind in contemporary psychology. Jung was also an advocate for the so-called “occult,” believing that the turnings of the Moon play a critical role in our lives. He likened the conscious mind to the “bright side of the moon,” yet Jung’s true focus was on the shadow side, or the unconscious part of the self.2

The unconscious mind contains the majority of our automatic and intuitive processes, including memories, dreams, reactions, and subconscious inclinations. When we ignore these “shadows,” they disrupt our lives and emotional well-being in unexpected ways.3

Finding that people could use artistic means to get in touch with their unconscious tendencies, Jung developed a technique called Active Imagination. This is a creative, therapeutic process meant to bring subconscious imagery into the light, whereby you quiet the mind and allow subconscious thoughts and feelings to surface.4 Be it a memory, a dream symbol or a gut reaction, you’ll want to observe every detail associated with your experience so that you can translate it onto paper afterward. The purpose is to capture those subconscious inclinations otherwise hidden from the waking mind.

This simple act of transforming your subconscious into a physical reality through visual means has immense value.

1N. Burton, “Jung: The Man and His Symbols,” Psychology Today, April 8, 2012.

2 J. Howlin, “Consciousness: The Bright Side of the Moon,” Santa Cruz Psychologist Blog, Feb. 16, 2013.

3 Ibid.

4“Carl Jung’s Active Imagination Technique,” Medium, Aug. 28, 2018.

It is proven to guide healing and help you to identify and integrate otherwise hidden cognitions into waking life, as it “utilizes imagery to facilitate the identification of feelings and inner communication with ourselves.”5 Furthermore, visual journaling is a highly effective technique for coping with trauma and allowing for new forms of self-expression, especially when tied in with the cycles of the Natural World.6

People often dissociate from their feelings because they internalize and compartmentalize their experiences. We aren’t taught how to externalize our feelings and reestablish the connection between mind, body and nature. We see the implications of this through our system’s various unconscious processes, such as our circadian sleep cycle, which is linked directly to the Lunar cycle and may cause us to act in erratic ways if ignored.7

But “lunacy” doesn’t have to be something we bury deep down in the “shadows.” Emotions should never be buried deep inside, as those repressions will only haunt us and cause us disconnection later in life. Feeling is something to be proud of — and knowing how to properly manage and express those feelings is even more critical.

By tapping into those “shadow” thoughts through various forms of subconscious reflection and visual arts, we can tap into our natural Circadian-Lunar cycles, and heal alongside the Natural World while expressing our highest actualization of the self.

■

5J. Desmond, “Re-Assemblage of Self: Visual Art Journaling For Clients With Cumulative Trauma,” Digital Commons Lesley Uni versity, May 18, 2019.

6J. Cormell and T. Ivey, “Nature Journaling,” Science Scope, 2012.

7 Ibid.

Emotion Has No Gender

DECONSTRUCTING THE STIGMA AROUND MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH

By Elizabeth Karnowski, Culture Staff Writer Photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer

Modeled by Godwill (Godly the Ruler) Makeup by Riley August

As feminism works to create equality between all sexes and gender identities, authentic expressions of gender and emotion from men are still widely discouraged by societal expectations.

Those who identify as male are often held to a standard of stoic strength, causing men to suppress their emotions in efforts to fit this expectation. “While women report feeling emotions more intensely, there is no evidence to support the idea that women are actually more emotional than men. Men are just socialized to be less expressive.1

Allowing men to express their feelings needs to be normalized as the first step to addressing the stigma around addressing their mental health. In order for society to accomplish this, toxic masculinity needs to perish in order to lessen the hierarchy around being the “manliest man.”

→

1 Yaling Deng, Lei Chang, Meng Yang, Meng Huo, and Renlai Zhou, “Gender Differences in Emotional Response: Inconsistency between Experience and Expressivity”, Plos One, June 30, 2016.

The gender

equality feminism fights for is nothing if we don’t also emphasize and diminish the negative stereotypes

expectations placed on male-identifying people.

and

Another way to refer to toxic masculinity is the term traditional masculinity. The results of toxic or traditional masculinity can be antifemininity, taking unnecessary risks, engaging in violence and avoidance of appearing weak.2 A 2018 study found that when men were asked if they believe society puts pressure on them in an unhealthy way, 60% agreed.3 As a society, we carry internalized sexist views that are often overlooked. Our internalized patriarchy puts men on an emotional pedestal, thus heightening the pressure on them to present as independent of emotion.

Men don’t always show the signs we associate with a specific emotion. For example, many people would say that signs of depression include sadness and hopelessness. Instead, men may appear angry or aggressive instead of sad, making it easier to miss the stereotypical signs of depression. Data from a 2015 report tracked suicide rates among people with and without mental health conditions. The study found that of the people with preexisting mental health issues that committed suicide, 84% were men, and of the people without preexisting mental health issues, 69% were men.4 There is a clear gender disparity here raising concern for the emotional space given to men.

At large, men are not encouraged to go to therapy because they are told by society that it is unmasculine to have mental health struggles. Men are socialized to be rugged and independent, often thinking if there’s an issue, they have to fix it on their own or it will simply vanish.5

2 Arash Emamzadeh, “New Findings on Toxic Masculinity”, Psychology Today, March 19, 2019.

3 Ella Koeze and Anna Maria Barry-Jester, “What Do Men Think It Means To Be A Man?”, FiveThirtyEight, June 20, 2018.

4 Nicole Greene, “Why We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health”, Women’s Health, June 29, 2018.

5 Batya Swift Yasgur, “How Can Men Be En couraged to Seek Help for Mental Health?”, Psychiatry Advisor, June 30, 2017.

Men who think they must do everything on their own are more likely to reject help from mental health professionals. Therapists are trained to help people unlearn tendencies like this, as well as help clients cope with their mistakes in a healthy way.6 Seeing a therapist doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t good on your own, in many cases it means you want to be a better, healthier person.

For men, there are “too many unnatural ‘macho’ expectations and too little emphasis on nurturing skills”.7 These macho expectations are hurting men tremendously as they are unable to experience and feel the things they feel.

The gender equality feminism fights for is nothing if we don’t also emphasize and diminish the negative stereotypes and expectations placed on male-identifying people. Emotional wellbeing is a right for everyone and these values should be reflected in our support for men. ■

6 John Kim, “Why I Think All Men Need Therapy”, Psychology Today, January 30, 3017.

7 Ella Koeze and Anna Maria Barry-Jester, “What Do Men Think It Means To Be A Man?”, FiveThirtyEight, June 20, 2018.

CONFESSIONS OF A

THE JOYS AND PAINS OF BEING IN A FANDOM

By Meghan Savaglia, Contributing Writer Photographed by Anna Janke, Contributing Photographer

Modeled by Audrey O’Neill and Celia O’Neil

When I was 13, I joined Twitter under the username “Phenomeniall_1D.” I had never been exposed to social networks — my parents, who are now more Twitter savvy than me, only held barren Facebook accounts. I had been entranced, like so many other girls all around the world, by One Direction. This was the first time I joined an online fan community, and I soon became equally entranced by the community itself.

The way I see fandoms completely changed from that day forward, because there is no such thing as casual fans in online discourse. There is no such thing as passive enjoyment when you involve yourself in fandom.

And therein lies the difference — a difference quite hard to explain, admittedly — between some users of social media, and most other users. Most folks on socials have a passive, fairly localized involvement, that primarily involves their school, friends, and city. But my experience, and the experience of many, exists entirely outside of this local usage of social media.

Online fandom is truly and deliberately separate from these “normal” spheres of your life, and for a reason. Being a fangirl, especially at the most formative years of your life, can feel embarrassing, and isolating. But why is this true, when there is immense joy in simply discussing things you love with people who understand, even if they might be across the globe?

Let’s paint a picture: You are in 7th grade. You feel generally uncomfortable with your life, your parents, your social life and school. There is a miserableness to your existence that you may not realize until many years from now. Somehow, you persist through this miserable cloud of teenage angst and choose to carry on.

To do this, you discover something very far away, that you can grasp onto, that makes you smile. It might be a band, a book, or a TV show. It’s easy to latch onto it — there is no shame in enjoying something you can’t even directly interact with, so you consume as much information as you can about this one thing.

But it is difficult to explain. Nobody really understands just how much this means to you; that it occupies your mind day in and day out. There seems to be a difficult to pass wall that comes down hard as soon as you cement yourself into a position as a “fangirl.” You cross a distinct line that separates you from a casual fan, to much more than that. Suddenly, it’s embarrassing. You’re labeled as obsessed and you realize nobody you know really cares about this as much as you do. But the impersonal yet personal connections you’ve reaped from the internet somehow balance this in-real-life disconnect.

And therein lies why fandom on the internet almost exists in a separate sphere than what might be the “normal” use. But what really is fandom? On a macro-level, it’s pretty understandable. It’s what creates conventions like Comic Con, keeps artists and actors with money in their pockets, and represents a large group of people interested in the same thing. But on a micro-level, what fandom does may be harder to fathom. And it comes down, essentially, to the platform.

Social media platforms for the purpose of fan discourse have come in and out of popularity. “Stan Twitter” as we know it now has actually existed since around 2012 (“Beliebers” and “Directioners” ruled the roost), but the arrival of K-Pop fans onto the platform has completely changed Twitter’s fan communities. Tumblr was the original home for fandom (see: Superwholock), and Instagram has taken a distant third. But the content that is produced on these platforms is what keeps fans engaged. Whether it be fanart, photo or video editing, fanfiction, or even cosplay, the active engagement with what you love is what keeps other fans around. This is where passive enjoyment ends and fandom begins.

There is joy in seeing new perspectives on things, in seeing unrealistic scenarios, i.e. “head canons,” played out in fan art and fiction, in sharing a constant inside joke with other fans. You live for updates on the littlest things, for interviews, for content new and old, for all of this.

I’ve been involved with fandoms across every reach of social media ever since that first Twitter account in 7th grade. One Direction, Sherlock, Harry Potter, Taylor Swift, 5 Seconds of Summer — and that’s just naming the big ones. Fandom has changed my life and the way I interact with others. It’s been a coping mechanism, a source of joy, and what has made me the person I am today. For a long time, I was indeed embarrassed. I have vivid memories of using Etsy gift cards to buy a galaxy print hoodie with the 5SOS logo, and only wearing it once after some giggles from my tablemate in English class. The pride I have in my experiences with fandom now is sometimes surprising even to me.

But I thrive in the fan community, maybe even more than I did in middle school. During the second semester of my freshman year at Madison, I started a One Direction club. I printed flyers, promoted on UW Facebook pages, and even collected RSVPs. I was more nervous about the fact that I didn’t feel any shame about publicly expressing my interests than I was about the club itself. Unfortunately, I planned the meeting on the day the university was sent home for COVID and spring break, so my turnout wasn’t nearly what I’d hoped. But I believe if it weren’t for the, ahem, extenuating circumstances, my turnout would have been pretty damn good.

What was once a source of both shame and joy has become solely the latter. I relish in being a part of something bigger than me, and embrace the feelings of euphoria, love, and thrill I derive from being simply involved with my fandoms. The lifestyle of fandom for me and so many across the world might be something of perplexity to many, but to us, it is simply something that makes us happy.

■

I relish in being a part of something bigger than me, and embrace the feelings of euphoria, love, and thrill I derive from being simply involved with my fandoms.

At Home Bartending

EASY, INEXPENSIVE COCKTAILS TO SPICE UP YOUR HAPPY HOUR

By Shelby Evans, Lifestyle Editor Photographed by Hannah Huber, Contributing Photographer Lavender Lemonade

Learning how to drink hard liquor beyond a 2:1 vodka to lemonade ratio is a confusing transition to make in your early 20’s. Nearing the end of college graduation and afterwards, drinking becomes more than just a “get drunk” activity. When making cocktails at home, it may seem extravagant to buy all the ingredients to make your favorite restaurant cocktails. But it is possible to learn how to make fancy cocktails that are easy and even inexpensive, allowing you to enjoy drinking.

The same mentality exists for staying sober. If you are with you friends, or enjoying a zoom happy hour the decisions don’t have to be water or pop. It is possible and easy to make mixed drinks worthy of a restaurant at home that are free of alcohol.

Lavender syrup:

I chose to make two drinks that feature lavender syrup and while it sound’s fancy it is incredibly easy! The food coloring is just for fun, and is not necessary!

Ingredients:

Dried lavender (lavender can be bought at Madison Community pharmacy for $3.05 an ounce)

Granulated sugar Water Red and blue food coloring

Directions:

1. Add 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of water and 1 tbsp of lavender in a pot. Add two drops of red food coloring and two drops of blue in a pot.

2. Bring to a boil stirring regularly. Once at a boil reduce heat and stir until sugar is dissolved.

3. Remove from heat and let sit for 30 minutes.

4. Drain lavender seeds from syrup, store in a container in the fridge.

Lavender lemonade:

This is one of my favorite drinks of all time. It’s sweet, floral, and refreshing! I didn’t get fancy with this recipe because you don’t need to! You can be sophisticated and lazy.

Ingredients:

Lavender Syrup

Lemonade (I used Simply Lemonade but you can use any kind you prefer)

Directions:

1. Add 1 TBSP to every ½ cup of lemonade over ice.

French 75

2. Mix together and enjoy.

Dirty Shirley:

One day while I was bartending a woman asked for this drink, I asked if she meant a Shirley temple. She laughed and said, “exactly, but add vodka.” I had never thought about making one of my favorite childhood drinks boozy, and it has since become a favorite of mine to make.

Ingredients:

7Up (Sprite or ginger ale can also be acceptable)

Grenadine

Vodka

Directions:

1. Fill a 12 oz glass full of ice.

2. Add 1 shot (about 1.5 oz) of your vodka of choice

3. You can omit this step if you’d like a traditional, Non-alcoholic Shirley Temple.

4. Fill the rest of the glass with sprite (about 6 oz)

5. Add a ½ tablespoon of grenadine. You can also add to taste if you’d like it more or less sweet.

6. Mix the drink with a straw or spoon and enjoy!

French 75:

This is a classy cocktail that my mom introduced me to. I’ve put my own spin on it by using the lavender syrup instead of the traditional simple syrup.

Ingredients:

Lavender syrup

Prosecco Gin (I used Prairie Organic gin, but you can use whichever gin you prefer)

Fresh Lemon

Directions:

1. In a glass of ice pour 1 oz of gin, 1 tbsp of lavender syrup, and 1 tbsp of lemon juice.

2. Stir together.

3. Pour into a champagne glass the mixture, leave the ice behind.

4. Top with the prosecco or brut.

A Brush of Bold

By Jamie Randall, Lifestyle Staff Writer Illustrated by Keely Bradish, Arts Curator

Makeup is an exciting way to spice up a daily routine — whether it’s just putting on mascara, or doing a full face beat.There are so many ways to find inspiration for different makeup looks, whether it’s from past years, new TV series, social media and more! One makeup style that has become more popular recently is a 90’s inspired, bold makeup look that is perfect for everyday life.1

This “bolder” makeup style has many components to it. Some people would even use the term “grunge,” and just like 90s fashion, this edgy, yet easy look is back in style. Here’s Moda’s guide to the products that will help you create the perfect 90s makeup vibe:

One easy way to make a statement is with a dark lip, especially around the fall and winter time. Burgundys, dark purples or even dark brown nudes are classic, yet cool trends for lips this fall. An especially 90s twist on the bold lip is using darker lip liner to outline your lips and make your pout pop.

Even 90s trends originate from somewhere else. One consistent style that was adapted from the 80s to the 90s to now is blue or metallic eyeshadow. Using cool-toned, smokey blue colors to accentuate the eyes is a subtle, yet sexy way to make your eyes stand out, especially for our blue-eyed beauties!

Grunge eyeliner is also a way to get a bolder look, without dealing with the fallout from an eyeshadow pan. The idea is not to look like a raccoon, so to prevent that, carefully smudge and then blend out your liner on the top and bottom areas of the eyes. Pencil eyeliner works best!

You may be most familiar with glitter or metallic looks from HBO’s Euphoria, but if you’re looking to replicate that high-glam look without needing to buy stickon jewels, try using a chunky glitter or swipe-on eyeshadow to make your eyes sparkle with minimal effort. Try using blues, purples and pinks to add a pop of color to that shiny aesthetic.

Unlike the cottagecore, e-girl aesthetics that ruled Tik Tok this summer, 90s grunge looks call for minimal blush and simple face makeup. No need to blend out your bronzer, contour and blush. Instead, lightly dust your cheeks with a light pink blush to give yourself a bit of color and let your natural beauty do the rest! Your skin will thank you for giving it a rest.

Gen Z is forging their own path in the world of makeup and sharing their inspiration all over social media. There are so many artists and influencers that have created their own makeup lines, encouraging this new generation to find their most authentic selves and express it through art and makeup. Trends always come back, and 90s fashion and makeup are having a moment that we can all take part in to feel beautiful. ■

1 “20 ‘90s-Inspired Makeup Trends to Try Now,” Skincare, cosmetics, hair care, hair color, hair styling and men’s line: L’Oreal Paris.

America’s Mental Health Crisis:

Between the stressors that school, work and life present, more than 43.8 million adults report struggling with mental health in a given year. However, out of those with reported mental illnesses, only 43% receive counseling.1 Despite calls for more discussion on therapy accessibility, barriers like societal stigmatization, finances and logistics hold Americans back from the mental health resources they need, with marginalized communities facing the highest risk.

Despite the progress America has made in recent years, mental health is still highly stigmatized in many communities. Getting help for mental illness should be the same process as going to the doctor for a physical injury, yet nearly a third of Americans have worried about the judgment they would face from others if they sought out mental health services. Additionally, 21%, have even lied to avoid telling people they were seeking mental health services.2 In households or communities that don’t believe in modern therapy options, asking for help is rarely an option.

This stigma also exists within ourselves, internalized as the belief that it is weak to ask for help or that we are a burden for allowing others to support us. Referred to as the silent epidemic, America’s mental health crisis is not put at the forefront of health priorities, yet it affects millions, with 1 in 25 U.S. adults experience a serious mental illness3 and up to one in five U.S. kids showing signs of a mental health disorder in a given year.4

In general, there is a lack of education regarding mental illness, with many states only requiring one semester of health education in public schools.5 Furthermore, these classes are often taught by physical education teachers who may not be trained in health and mental illness education. This lack of education makes misleading information about mental illnesses even more harmful.

1 “Mental Health By the Numbers,” NAMI, 2020, https://www.nami.org/mhstats.

2 Paul Wood, “New Study Reveals Lack of Access as Root Cause for Mental Health Crisis in America,” National Council, 2018.

3 “Mental Health By the Numbers,” NAMI, 2019.

4 “Children’s Mental Health Report,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 12, 2019.

5 Take Care Staff, “Is Health Education in America Comprehensive?,” WRVO Public Media, 2018.

MENTAL

THERAPY IS STILL INACCESSIBLE

By Rachel Hale, Culture Editorial Assistant Illustrated by Maya Hofmann

The large virtual platforms that exist across social media can serve as breeding grounds for this misinformation to spread, with some users romanticizing mental illnesses like anxiety, depression and eating disorders as a trend. Furthermore, bigname fashion brands, such as Urban Outfitters and Forever 21, have taken mental illnesses up as an aesthetic more than a few times, depicting mental illness in an inaccurate and damaging way.6 These forms of media and advertisement are highly influential, especially to a young audience, and contribute to harmful mental illness stereotypes, making many who could benefit from therapy too afraid to ask for help.

For those who do seek help, obstacles regarding cost, logistics, and availability stand in the way of a clear path to therapy. With some hourly sessions going for upwards of $65 to $250 a pop, therapy is unaffordable for many.7 The therapist’s experience, session length and location of the therapy are all factors that can affect pricing. Furthermore, restrictions on choosing a therapist within an insurance network, meeting a deductible or getting a referral can be a long process.

Even if a patient can afford therapy, they may not be able to physically travel to an office. If therapy isn’t accessible within 70 miles, a working parent or busy employee may not have the time in their day to drive three towns over for a therapy session. Others may not have access to a car or to timely public transport in their area. These factors of cost and logistics, when combined with low availability, provide a hard struggle.

With such a high demand for mental health care, patients can wait weeks, months and even years before getting an appointment slot with a therapist or specialist. A workplace shortage of professionals means that there are not enough providers to meet the needs of the public, with under-trained new staff sometimes substituting serious, professional care.9

Even when appointments are made, many are skipped negatively affecting those unable to be scheduled. According to former National Council for Behavioral Health President and CEO Linda Rosenberg, for every one day of wait time, “you lose 1% of the patients — so if you have a 21-day wait, 21% of the patients seeking care just will give up and not show up.”10

Many who need therapy are not able to afford health care, racking up the cost significantly with skyrocketing outof-pocket pricing. A study on access and cost barriers to mental health care found that 47% of respondents who needed therapy named finances or not having health insurance as their primary reason for not getting help. The same study found that 37% of working-age adults with severe mental illness were uninsured for at least part of the year.8

6 The WALK Magazine, “Mental Illness Is Not a Fashion Statement,” The WALK Magazine, 2018.

7 Therapy FAQs, “How Much Does Therapy Cost?,” GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog, March 21, 2019.

8 Kathleen Rowan, Donna D McAlpine, and Lynn A Blewett, “Access and Cost Barriers to Mental Health Care, by Insurance Status, 1999-2010,” Health affairs (Project Hope) (U.S. National Li

In marginalized communities, such as BIPOC and LGBTQ+, therapy is inaccessible at a higher rate due to factors like stigmatization, systemic socioeconomic trends, language barriers and a lack of diversity among providers. While most minority groups have a similar percentage of mental health disorders as white people, minorities are affected by mental illness at a longer and more serious rate. Members of these communities may also experience a higher rate of stigmatization, making them less likely to report mental illness or symptoms of mental illnesses than those in other communities. A study on mental health care among minorities found that a Black person living in a county with all Black people was 85% less likely to be diagnosed with depression than a Black person living in a county with no other Black residents, indicating that racial and ethnic community norms can impact the way mental health help is viewed.11 →

brary of Medicine, October 2013).

9 Cindy Dampier, “Mental Health Care Appoint ments Often Come with a Long Wait. 3 Ways to Cope While Help Is Delayed,” chicagotribune. com (Chicago Tribune, December 12, 2018). 10 Ibid.

11DT. Takeuchi J. Abe-Kim et al., “The Associa tion of Racial and Ethnic Social Networks with Mental Health Service Utilization Across Minority Groups in the USA,” Journal of Racial and Ethnic

For those who do seek help, obstacles regarding cost, logistics, and availability stand in the way of a clear path to therapy.

This is present within other marginalized communities as well. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are twice as likely to suffer from a mental health disorder than heterosexual adults are. In the same vein, transgender adults are four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition.12 Furthermore, a lack of representation among therapists can make therapy feel like a less welcoming space for members of marginalized groups. While 86% of the U.S. psychology workforce is white, only 4% is Black.13 Despite being vulnerable populations, mental health is the least accessible to marginalized groups, putting them further into a cycle of harm.

Across college campuses, mental health resources should be a necessity, with the number of students visiting counseling centers increasing by about 30% on average annually from 2009 to 2015.14 However, services still fall short for many, with common issues including subjecting students to long wait times, a shortage of experienced workers and having a general lack of information about how to receive help. While the International Association of Counseling Services recommends having at least one therapist for every 1,000 to 1,500 students15, the average university falls short, having only one counselor for every 1,737 students.16 A graduate student at Stanford explained that in her time at the university there was no on-campus therapy available at their mental health center, and off-campus options presented transportation and availability issues. In a struggle that is not uncommon, she has seen students needing to choose between groceries and therapy co-pays.17

Across the country, a student at New York University was only able to find an affordable therapist in the city after the NYU Student Health Center insurance coordinator helped her find options. However, she notes that she

Health Disparities, Springer International Publish ing, January 1, 1970.

12 “LGBTQI,” NAMI, 2020.

13 Luona Lin, Karen Stamm, and Peggy Christidis, “How Diverse Is the Psychology Workforce?,” American Psychological Association, 2018.

14 “Center for Collegiate Mental Health Annual Re port,” Center for Collegiate Mental Health Annual Report, Penn State University, 2015.

15 “Staff to Student Ratios,” International Ac creditation of Counseling Services, International Accreditation of Counseling Services, October 16, 2019.

16 David R. Reetz et al., “The Association for Uni versity and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey,” The Association for University and College Counseling Center, 2016.

17 Leehi Yona, “The Mental Health Resources Crisis at Stanford,” The Stanford Daily, January 31, 2020.

wouldn’t have known it was an option if it wasn’t directly mentioned to her, as there wasn’t a mention of this service’s existence anywhere on the SHC website.18 This lack of transparency is an issue across college campuses, where receiving therapy is often a long and laborious process. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened these issues, with millions of students affected by state licensure laws regarding where therapists can practice. With many students choosing to complete the fall semester online, access to therapy is less of a promise now than ever.19

America’s mental health crisis has gone without attention for far too long. If we are going to start to address the need for broader mental health resources, we must make therapy more accessible to everyone. New up and coming online and virtual therapy options offer an alternative to in-person help, which can mitigate issues of transportation and location. Services like Talkspace and Lantern are working to make virtual therapy a reality, providing a variety of licensed professionals digitally.20

Creating more affordable and accessible options for therapy on college campuses and beyond would greatly benefit those who suffer from mental illness, and society as a whole. Many of the people who would benefit from therapy are part of the same communities to which it is highly unavailable; in order to address America’s looming mental health crisis, we must start by making therapy more accessible. ■

18 Helen Wajda, “The Inaccessibility of the Stu dent Health Center,” Washington Square News, January 27, 2020.

19 Lauren Lumpkin, “College Students Count on Their Schools for Mental-Health Help, but Now Many Can’t Get It,” The Washington Post, June 7, 2020.

20

“Mental Health Resources,” Healthline (Health line Media, July 14, 2017).

U P L I F T

Directed by Sarah Troy, Fashion Director

Photographed by Annika Ide, Photography Director & Jessica Tenenbaum, Staff Photographer Modeled by Yoonjin Lee Makeup by Sarah Troy

Dressing for your Mood

HOW OUR EVERYDAY MOODS AFFECT OUR OUTFIT CHOICES

By Karissa Kroll, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Jessica Tenenbaum

There are styles for every time, place and occasion, but what is often overlooked is how our outfits may vary based on our mood. Some days you may wake up with the motivation to look cute, but other days you aren’t looking to put any effort into your clothes. There are certain outfits that can best match how you feel according to the mood you happen to wake up in.

On days when you feel like you could take on the world; the “boss woman” outfit is a go-to. There are several women who stand in important positions in which their outfits must reflect their professionalism. For example, members of the royal family, such as Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton have an important role to fulfill and nearly always wear business attire to look the part. To achieve a CEO-worthy look, style a blazer with a pair of dress pants, or a sleek button up with a dress skirt and black heels. Wearing minimal busy accessories aside from a pair of chic, black sunglasses along with a sophisticated tote bag can accentuate the outfit even more.1 The “boss woman” look will make you feel like you are ready to take on the day and handle anything that is thrown at you.

When things aren’t going your way and as a result your mood is suffering, it can be hard to figure out what to wear. Regardless of why you might not be feeling your best, looking your best will surely help to boost your mood. What makes someone feel the best about themselves varies from person to person, but you might wear your favorite pair of jeans or your cutest top that you know will draw in compliments and make you feel noticed. A flattering dress can also make you feel confident, and bold accessories, flashy materials, or a stylish heel can spice up an outfit even further, giving your attitude a boost.2

1 Taylah Brewer, “How to Wear Business Attire for Women”

2 Alyssa Coscarelli, “Looking Ahead: What

An extremely common outfit among college students is the “don’t talk to me right now” outfit. This is the look you wear when you can’t be bothered to put together an outfit that takes effort. Whether you are swamped with school, work or have errands to run, an oversized hoodie or crew neck with a pair of baggy sweats or cozy leggings is a classic look for this mood. Despite the comfort of this outfit, with a pair of chunky white sneakers or a matching sweatsuit, it can still look fashionable. This model off-duty look is seen frequently among paparazzi photos. Even the most popular celebrities such as Hailey Bieber or Emily Ratajkowski are sometimes “caught” in their cosiest sweats when they aren’t wishing to be photographed.3

On a rare occasion, you wake up feeling spontaneous and creative. This is the perfect moment for the “feelin’ myself” outfit. This look allows you to take the opportunity to try out a new style, or that piece in the back of your closet that you love but haven’t felt bold enough to wear. Maybe you wear the zebra print pants that you saw on an Instagram influencer or the crazy sweater you bought thrifting that could risk drawing some odd stares.4 This look is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and wearing something you normally wouldn’t.

For someone who loves to go on a cute picnic, or have a charcuterie board and wine night with their friends, we have the “flirty and feminine” outfit. This look isn’t for everyone, but is a classic and fun to wear when you ultimately want to feel girly. For this outfit, you

Does One Wear to Go Out in 2020?” 2020

3 Christian Allaire, “The Celebrity-Approved Guide to Wearing Sweats”. 2020

4 Net-A-Porter, “Shop Maximalism With An Editor”

and florals are common among this look.

5

What we wear can be a clear way of expressing how we feel. Day to day, there are countless moods that we experience. Your outfit can enhance a good mood or weigh you down when it doesn’t correlate with how you’re feeling. It’s most important to wear what makes you feel comfortable and happy so you feel confident.

■

5 Romantic/Girly Style Type: How to Wear Fashion

By Talia Abbe, Special Events Coordinator • Illustrated by Jade Christensen, Social Media and Marketing Director

The key aspect of runway shows is the clothes themselves,but fashion shows are rarely just about the clothes. Instead, these shows are a whole experience. Various famous designers such as Alexander McQueen, Ralph Lauren, Gareth Pugh, Karl Lagerfield and Marc Jacobs have sent their models down the runway to put on a show stopping experience. Theatrical runway shows are the perfect combination of performance and art, ultimately helping keep the audience engaged and one to remember. Here are 7 of the most dramatic fashion shows to hit the runway:

Alexander McQueen Spring 2005

One designer that never fails to put on a show is British fashion designer, Alexander McQueen. In his Spring 2005 show It’s Only a Game, McQueen put all of his models on a giant chess board having them mimic the chess pieces.1 The models were placed in several rows and once the last model was on stage, a giant chess board was projected onto the runway. From there, the models then moved around the board, playing out an entire game of chess, which ended in a checkmate between the two rival sides. It’s Only a Game was one of McQueen’s greatest triumphs.2

Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2006

Another one of McQueen’s noteworthy fashion shows was for his Fall/Winter 2006 Collection. McQueen provided a marvelous end to his show by having mysterious white smoke come out of an empty glass pyramid accompanied by a state-of-the-art hologram created by video maker Bailie Walsh. The smoke spun in midair, slowly shaping itself into model Kate Moss who was in a show stopping white dress. The gown was made of a pale cascade of multiple organza ruffles. Moss danced around for only a few seconds, then disappeared into thin air to complete his show with a bang. The rest of the models really brought out his Scottish roots as they walked in their Victorian crinolines, headdresses, feathered gowns, and pieces made from brocades that may have been dragged down from ancient wall hangings.3

1 Andrews, Jessica C. “The Most Dramatic Fashion-Show Stunts of All Time.” Vanity Fair, Vanity Fair, 23 Sept. 2014.

2 School of Fashion July 25, 2012, et al. “Why Don’t You... Watch the Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2005 Runway Show!” Fashion School Daily, 25 July 2012.

3 Mower, Sarah. “Alexander McQueen Fall

Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2015

American fashion designer Ralph Lauren announced his Women’s Polo Spring/ Summer 2015 Collection by projecting his show on a water screen above Central Park.4 To start the show, a fountain began shooting out of the lake and a hidden projector streamed holographic images of the models. The models appeared like an optical illusion that were projected in front of New York City’s landscape. There was a casual light on the highend collection of working on a sportier, more affordable priced polo. The first look captured his goal, as the model was dressed in fitted cargo pants and an amethyst-colored silk scarf accessorized with hanging gem earrings. He mixed a sporty, safari theme with bright organza and silk charmeuse.5

Gareth Pugh Spring/Summer 2015 English fashion designer Gareth Pugh took an unconventional route in displaying the clothes for his Spring/ Summer 2015 runway show. Instead of using models, Pugh wanted to create an “immersive live experience” using a three part production which included live dancers and even a smoke tornado.6 This show featured three short films that combined Pugh’s designs with dancers who were choreographed by Wayne McGregor. Pugh’s collection was deep and dark, emulating a dark side of Pagan mythology. The show’s fashion pieces included corn dolly hats, steer skulls made from papermache, little flowers of chiffon and much more.7

Karl Lagerfeld Fendi Spring/Summer 2007 German design powerhouse Karl Lagerfeld went down in history for Fendi’s 2007 Spring/Summer runway show that took place on the Great Wall of China. The models walked down a portion of the 1,500 mile structure in fur jackets, 50’s style dresses and logoed bags. He used high-tech materials like black silicone, silver leather made into athletic mesh and holographic paillettes. There was a metal micro dress with a bow tie at the neck and a iridescent puff sleeve. 500 guests attended this show that cost nearly 2006 Ready-to-Wear Collection.” Vogue, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2015.

4 Ibid.

5 Phelps, Nicole. “Polo Ralph Lauren Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear Collection.” Vogue, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2015.

6 Ibid.

7 Vesnin, Arseny. “Gareth Pugh Spring/ Summer 2015 Collection.” Designcollector, Designcollector, 14 Nov. 2014.

$10 million to produce. The show came to a close with the signature Fendi “F” logo projected onto the mountains surrounding the Great Wall.8

Karl Lagerfeld Chanel Spring 2008

Continuing his line of captivating fashion shows, Karl Lagerfeld created a 75 foot monument of the Chanel Jacket in the Grand Palais for his Spring 2008 Haute Couture fashion show.9 The idea of this was to use the jacket symbolically as the models entered the runaway through a flap in the jacket.10

This collection reiterated the power of the timeless jacket, as the giant jacket was cast in concrete to express the immutability of the Chanel brand. This jacket, originally created by Coco Chanel herself, is still popular decades after it was first introduced to the world of fashion.

Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2012

American fashion designer Marc Jacobs continued his eye capturing fashion shows by using carousels for his Spring/Summer 2012 Louis Vuitton presentation at Louvre’s Cour Carree in Paris, France. Jacob’s created a slow moving white, elegant carousel to compliment the collections gold tiaras spotted on the models, making them look like royalty. The models were dressed in beaded white dresses, puffy skirts and stiletto heels, making this an extremely classy and feminine show. The merry-go-round continued spinning, but the one constant with this show was that Kate Moss was the last girl standing on the runway.11

Runway shows are about more than just showing off clothes or art, but also about the experience for the audience as a whole. Designers want to create an unforgettable experience for their viewers, showcasing the clothes in a way that will imprint on its audience. These seven fashion shows will forever go down in history as some of the most memorable, dramatic runway representations.12

■

8 Ibid.

9Ibid.

10 Mower, Sarah. “Chanel Spring 2008 Couture Collection.” Vogue, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2015.

11Ibid.

12 Ibid.

FALLING

By Jessica Katz, Lifestyle Editorial Assisstant

Photographed by Hunter Kiehl, Staff Photographer

Modeled by Seth DeGier and Zach Lipo Zovic

I

remember falling in love for the first time. I fell hard. And although I caught feelings quickly, I knew my love was genuine. Whenever I’d look at him, I got butterflies. He made my heart happy, and the feeling was magical. Yet love, and falling in love, is incredibly difficult to put into words.

I spoke with four couples of different ages and sexualities and had the pleasure of hearing their love stories, what love meant to each of them. I learned that love has no boundaries — it comes naturally, and when you feel it, you never want to let go.

Kora & Jeremy ~1.5 Years

Kora and Jeremy met the summer before they both started college. Kora was working as a hostess at an Italian restaurant when Jeremy and his parents stopped by. Kora must’ve caught his eye, as later that night, Jeremy called the restaurant to speak to Kora and ask her out on a date.

Kora started catching feelings when she learned about Jeremy’s dream to become a composer.

“He’s super passionate about [music], and I kind of love that,”

said Kora. “Because I want to be an author; that’s my dream. So we’re both super passionate about writing, in our own ways.”

Kora had said, ‘I love you’ to previous boyfriends in high school, but she would describe Jeremy as her first real love.

“I told him some things about me that I’ve never told anyone before,” said Kora. “And I had just met him, but I felt so comfortable immediately. And of course, it wasn’t something he could relate to, but he was able to listen and have some really thoughtful things to say.”

“I was reading a book the other day,” said Kora. “And in the book, the characters were in love, but everything was so dramatized and everything they said was so colorful. … To me, that felt really unrealistic. Because in the beginning, it was very much like that. Now, it’s more-so safety and comfort.”

David & Fleurette 23 Years

It was New Year’s Eve. Fleurette and her girlfriends attended a party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chica go. A little before midnight, Fleurette suggested she and her friends head to the dance floor. →

“I turned around and I saw him, and he was, like, the cutest guy,” said Fleurette. “So I walked up to him … and that’s how we met. … The very next day, he called me, so I knew he didn’t play games. And I really liked that.”

Their connection was instant. Every day, David would make an effort to call and see Fleurette — they talked con stantly. Even within the first week, he sent her a bouquet of roses.

Fleurette explained, “He was so sweet and genuine. I just knew right away that he was the one.”

David proposed 9 months later, after asking Fleurette’s father for permission to marry his daughter. He set the scene, scattering roses around her bedroom.

“He was very nervous, it was cute,” said Fleuette. “I was so excited, and my ring was so pretty, so I immediately ran down, crying, to tell my parents the good news.”

To Fleurette, love is comfortable, se cure, euphoric. She fell in love with Da vid because she just knew he was the right person for her.

After around 20 years of marriage, she notices a difference in their love. As they’ve matured, raising two children and a dog, so has their relationship.

“We’re able to take care of each oth er,” said Fleurette. “With stress from work or anything, we’re there for each other. And I know he’ll always be there for me.”

Kate & Nick

4 Years

Kate and Nick officially met their sophomore year of high school.

“We started hanging out in friend groups, but it was really a ploy for me and Kate to spend time [together], a nice time for me to get to know her and plant the seeds,” said Nick.

Quickly, they both caught feelings. After a few weeks, Nick asked Kate to be his girlfriend. And within the first few months of their relationship, they had both fallen in love.

“The same way I feel now is the way I felt then, just a more youthful version,” said Nick.

“It’s still the same feeling, in the sense of deep affection I have for him,” said Kate. “But it’s matured. … When we’re going to college or graduate, we actually get to plan that life together.”

To Nick, Kate has a sweetness and radiates this real warmth that drew him in initially. To Kate, Nick is a constant source of support and kindness.

Kate explained, “We play off each other really well. … So, we annoy each other in the perfect way. If I’m being quiet, he’ll tell a bunch of stupid, silly jokes, even if I’m not in the mood, until I’m laughing again.”

Nick describes being in love as always wanting the best for one another. To him, Kate is like family. They’ve transitioned from high school to college, and they continue to grow together.

Kate describes love as “a deep connection of mutual beneficialness.”

“When I’m around him, I feel so happy, so warm, so loved, and it’s great for me,” said Kate. “But there’s also, he could ask for anything and I’d want to climb a mountain for him.”

Seth & Zach

~7 Months

Seth and Zach followed a more modern love story — in January, they met on Tinder. They hung out once, but with the start of quarantine, they began to talk more and more. By midMarch, the conversation advanced from text to Facetime.

“We started Facetiming almost every single night, and we would talk for like three to five hours every night,” explained Seth. “He eventually pulled his guitar out. … Every night he would sing to me and he would play his guitar.”

After months of constant communication, Seth finally visited Zach in his hometown in late-June. On June 28, Seth made a move and asked Zach to officially be his boyfriend. Zach immediately said yes.

Seth said, “the moment I realized that I liked him was about a couple of nights into us Facetiming. We actually stayed up from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., like we pulled

an all-nighter because we completely lost track of time. And after I hung up, I was like I don’t think I’ve ever talked to someone for that long, and I definitely like him.”

To Seth, love involves feelings of safety and complete comfortability. He knows he’s in love when he wants to show off his partner and openly be proud of the relationship.

“He came over to my apartment, and we were just talking back and forth,” said Seth. “He made a joke. We kept going back and forth, and we were just laughing for like five minutes straight. And after that, I was like … I love him.”■

The Balancing Act

TAKING ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES DOES NOT MEAN COMPROMISING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

By Jane Houseal, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Keely Bradish, Arts Curator

Earlier this year, a TikTok trend illuminated the pressing emotional tribulations many individuals experience when taking hormonal birth control. Young people on birth control would post pictures of them smiling and glowing before birth control, and then switch to show clips of them crying after starting birth control. Though the trend is recent, this concept is not new. If you or someone you know uses hormonal birth control, then you too may be familiar with the deep, emotional side effects birth control can cause.

Research shows that there is a direct correlation between birth control and depression. One Danish study found that 15 to 19-year-old females taking oral combination birth control pills were diagnosed with depression at a 70% higher rate than non-users. Another study claims that using oral contraceptives increased women’s rate of taking antidepressants by 23%. Among teens using the same contraceptives, the findings were even more severe: the rate nearly doubled.1

While these statistics are real, they are dramatically highlighted in the media, creating fear-based narratives that cause people to forego birth control altogether.2 Not everyone has negative

1 Carmen Heredia Rodriguez, “Large Danish Study Links Contraceptive Use To Risk Of Depression,” Kaiser Health News, Septem ber 28, 2016,

2 Julia Belluz, “You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Hormonal Birth Control. But Here’s How to Evaluate the Risks,” Vox, Vox, June 23, 2015.

experiences with birth control as it varies from person to person and therefore birth control experiences shouldn’t be stigmatized.

Despite the proven link between birth control and mental health effects, this is not the only experience for people who want to go on birth control. You don’t have to sacrifice your mental health for your physical health. In reaction to the before and after birth control trend on TikTok, several empowering OBGYN doctors hopped on the app to tell young people that suffering emotionally or risking getting pregnant are not the only options. There is a wide variety of birth control methods, including a vast amount of oral contraceptives.3

One OBGYN doctor, Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, uses her TikTok platform to urge young people to talk to their doctor if they are struggling. “If your birth control is making you miserable, tell your doctor!” She says in one of her videos, “If you’re having side effects, let us know! We can help you find a better option.” 4 Many doctors share the same advice as her — you do not have to suffer in order to take control of your reproductive health.

One reason so many young people are stuck with a birth control plan that causes them emotional distress is the lack of progressive sex education in the U.S. The gap between sex education

3 Jennifer Lincoln, TikTok, January 28, 2020.

4 Ibid.

6

students should receive and what they do receive is severe. A 2014 CDC School Health Profiles found that fewer than half of high schools teach all 16 topics recommended by the CDC as essential components of sex education.5 In addition, states are not required under federal law to teach sexual education to a certain standard. Due to this, there is a great disparity throughout the U.S. on what is taught in sexual education courses.6 This failure to educate teenagers equally and completely on reproductive and sexual health leaves students without the knowledge to make informed decisions about birth control. It is impossible for someone to pick the best option for them if they do not know the all the options.

No one should have to choose between enduring emotional agony and taking control of their reproductive health. While it is true that many people do tolerate their emotional struggles in order to take oral contraceptives, it does not have to be that way. There are other options and professionals who can help you live without the burden of bad birth control. It is crucial that you are your own biggest advocate so that you can seek out a birth control plan that is right for you. Talking to your doctor can make all the difference, so trust your intuition and champion your sexual health!

■

5 Planned Parenthood, “State of Sex Education in USA: Health Education in Schools,” Planned Parenthood, accessed October 14, 2020.

“Sex and HIV Education,” Guttmacher Institute, October 12, 2020.

ALL THAT G L I T T E R

HOW TO STAY TRENDY THIS WINTER WITH THESE DRAMATIC FASHION TRENDS

By Manon Bushong, Contributing Writer Photographed by Seth DeGier, Contributing Photographer Modeled by Manon Bushong and Corbin Woessner

While winter fashion trends tend to incorporate muted colors, this is hardly an excuse for a season of dressing plainly. In the upcoming winter fashion season, there are numerous extravagant trends to look out for. Incorporating these into your outfit rotation is a great way to feel good and prevent you from falling into a repetitive winter wardrobe.

Statement Coats

In the midst of a bitter Wisconsin winter, it can be difficult to consistently dress fashionably. When the temperature dips below freezing, most students shift their priority from putting together a trendy outfit to dressing for comfort and warmth. While it can feel as though you have to make a choice between the two styles, a great way to feel fashionable this winter is by sporting a chic, statement coat. Oversized puffer coats made a big appearance last winter, and will certainly remain relevant in the upcoming winter season. Patchwork prints or vibrant patterns, extravagant zippers, or different silhouettes are all ways to take this fashionable and functional piece to the next level.

Oversized Blazer

Another upcoming trend this winter is the oversized blazer. Whether it be with a sequin winter dress, jeans or a turtleneck, this piece will make any outfit instantly chic. Pair your blazer with layered jewelry and statement earrings to add depth to your outfit. If you’re looking to add color into your outfit rotation, look for a blazer with a festive pattern, vibrant shade, or even experiment with different textiles such as denim, linen and vinyl.

Balloon Sleeves

From Victorian-inspired dresses to avantgard blouses, there is no denying that balloon sleeves were huge this summer. It’s safe to say this trend will continue on into the winter, presenting itself in an even more dramatic fashion than ever before. Recent designers, such as Chanel and Comme Des Garcons,

have debuted theatrical silhouettes with extremely pronounced sleeves.1 Specifically in runway looks, balloon sleeves completely own the outfit, making a massive statement.

Dramatic Pants

Dramatic pants are the next big trend for the 2020 winter. Jeans with handpainted designs, zebra print flare pants, colorful corduroys, and color block patchwork pants are all examples of unique ways to incorporate this trend into your winter style. Leather pants are also trending globally, being photographed on celebrities such as Sophie Turner and Meghan Markle.2 While this winter trend is far from new, there are dozens of innovative silhouettes and ways to style these classic pants this winter season.

Funky Sweaters

For the 2020 winter fashion season, trending sweaters are far from basic. Extremely chunky sweaters, almost appearing crocheted, have become a fashion statement favorite. Additionally, “ugly” sweaters have become trendy far beyond the holiday seasons. Sweater vests, argyle patterns, and floral prints that you would often find an abundance of in your grandmother’s closet are making their way back into fashion. Additionally, the cardigan was certainly an “it” piece last season and will surely continue to reign over sweater trends this year.

There is far from a shortage of over the top clothing trends hitting the streets this winter. Many of these 2020 fashion trends encourage stepping out of your comfort zone and rocking extravagant and daring outfits. From festive outerwear to dramatic pants, incorporating this season’s looks into your wardrobe is sure to warm you up this winter. ■

1 Pithers, Ellie, et al. “The 11 Biggest Autumn/Winter 2020 Trends.” British Vogue, 2020.

2 Bailey, Alyssa. “Here’s a Rare Look at How Meghan Markle Dresses Off-Duty for a Fall Double Date.” ELLE, ELLE, 2020,

DEEP

Photographed by Audrey O’Neill, Assistant Photography Director and Bela Orzechowski, Staff Photographer Directed by Kate Colby, Creative Director and Sam Starks, Creative Assistant Makeup by Katie Hayes Talia Abbe, Special Events Coordinator Modeled by Lizbeth Huertas

The Dark Side of “Good Vibes Only”

Amanda Liebmann, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Kate Madigan

success. Maenpaa shared, “When we give ourselves permission to hold multiple seemingly conflicting truths in our minds at the same time, we can eliminate the tension between them and give room to all of our emotions—both positive and negative.”3

It has been found that people are most successful in situations where they think realistically.4 An excessive amount of positive thinking can create the false belief that you are going to succeed at everything. This puts people at a higher risk of making impulse decisions without checking other options or possible outcomes.5

We have all come across cheerful slogans, whether it’s on social media, advertisements or even fun graphics on t-shirts. Spreading positivity is great but becomes dangerous when the positivity is oversimplified and over-pushed. Well-meaning messages can minimize space for all other natural emotion.

Toxic positivity occurs when happiness is overgeneralized and forced onto people in an excessive amount, becoming unhealthy.1 When people are expected to stay optimistic in all situations, it invalidates human emotions and experience. An overload of positivity does not allow space for natural feelings and leads people to deny or suppress their experience.

A major sign that you have been exposed to toxic positivity is when you feel guilty for the way you feel. It is not only unrealistic to always be happy, but it is also unnatural. Flaws and emotions are what make us human; getting jealous, angry, greedy and annoyed is all a part of the human experience. When you feel guilty about the way that you feel, you start to shame yourself and the negative emotions deepen. This leads to a negative spiral with no end. In fact, the “avoidance or suppression of emotional discomfort leads to increased anxiety, depression, and overall worsening of mental health.”2

Today, quarantining for the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health necessity, yet it has put many people into a state of isolation and grieving. In this troubling time, it’s hard to escape meaningless remarks that everything will be fine. It’s the “good vibes only” narrative that causes us to feel suffocated by not letting us have bad days. In disguise, these positive remarks are telling us how to feel.

Author and clinical social worker Jenny Maenpaa shares that finding a happy medium in our experience is what elicits the most emotional

1Samara Quintero and Jamie Long, “Toxic Positivity: The Dark Side of Positive Vibes,” The Psychology Group, October 8, 2020

To overcome toxic positivity, it is essential to realize that failure is part of success (and ultimately life). When speaking about his successes, Micheal Jordan said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career...I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”6

A key to success can also be setting boundaries. Boundaries allow us to conserve our emotional energy and stay uninvolved in the negative energy around us.7 When the “good vibes only” is too much, it’s okay to put the overcompensating statements away and relish in your own personal experience.

“Good vibes only,” isn’t going to work for everyone, and although it may be well-intended, it denies natural human emotion. If we truly want to be beacons of light, the best place to start is creating a welcoming space for the full range of human emotions and experiences. ■

3 Claire Gillespie, “What is Toxic Positivity—and Why Are Ex perts Saying It’s Dangerous Right Now.” Health, May 22, 2020.

4 Shawn Lim “Why Positive Thinking Is Not Always the Key to Success,” Stunning Motivation, August 27, 2020

5 Ibid

6 Rob LoCascio, “Why the Most Successful People Fail Most Often,” Inc, August 23, 2016

7 Jennifer Chesak, “The No BS Guide to Setting Healthy Bound aries in Real Life,” Healthline, December 10, 2018

HOW THE PRESSURE TO STAY POSITIVE CAN DETER MENTAL HEALTH

You Are What You

COLOR NOT ONLY IMPACTS HOW YOU SEE THE WORLD, BUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WORLD

By Gabrielle Gronewold, Culture Editor Illustarted by Keely Bradish, Arts Curator

Does putting on a red dress make you feel powerful? Does watching the clouds in a blue sky make you feel at ease? How is it that colors have such a profound effect on the way we feel?

Color preferences are based on cultural and personal experiences. In fact, your color preferences may stem from cultural meaning and perception rather than free-will. Research shows that color preference is adaptive, meaning people gravitate towards colors that will cause them to either reproduce or succeed and stray away from colors that may cause harm. Positively associated experiences, like a clear blue sky, will trigger the brain favorably, causing someone to believe that color is inherently better and will bring them prosperity.1

Color can trigger many associations in our minds. Red is an arousing color, orange is energetic, yellow brings hope, green represents freshness, blue calmness and so on.2 The way we feel about a color upon viewing it can also lead to behavioral changes. Blue-colored street lights can lead to reduced crime rates and warm-colored placebo pills have been found more effective than cool-colored pills.3

Although this may seem like a bunch of exaggerations, the marketing world has bought in on color psychology and cashes in on our emotions and mood every day. Fields such as marketing and graphic design segment and emphasize that color triggers emotions and can ultimately influence purchasing behavior.

The colors that a company uses to brand themselves has a direct impact on how a consumer perceives and trusts the brand.4 Consider McDonald’s: Red is a color commonly used to trigger stimulation, appetite, hunger and attention. Yellow triggers feelings of happiness and friendliness. Not only is the Mcdonalds logo extremely recognizable, but quickly elicits those

1 Douglas Fields, “Why We Prefer Certain Colors,” Psychology Today, April 1, 2011.

2 Banu Manav, “Color-emotion associations and color preferences: A case study for residents,” Wiley, February 26, 2007.

3 Kendra Cherry. “Color Psychology: Does it Affect How You Feel,” Very Well Mind, May 28, 2020.

4 Lauren Labrecque, “Exciting red and competent blue: the impor tance of color in marketing.” Springer Link, January 28, 2011.

targeted emotions to a potential customer.5 Research has found that the correct use of color increases brand recognition by 83%, increases visual awareness by 93% and 85% of consumers make buying decisions based on color.6

If companies are manipulating our psyche to profit, why aren’t we also using it to take care of ourselves? By knowing the impacts of color on our mood, we as individuals can easily seek out and reap the benefits of mood changing color.

Ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and Chinese, used chromotherapy, which utilizes colors to heal. In chromotherapy, red is used to increase circulation, blue soothes illnesses and pain and orange has healing effects on the lungs. Today, chromotherapy is still used as holistic medicine.7 Knowing that color can both impact our mood and have healing benefits on our bodies can allow us to do simple things in our daily lives to feel better. This could be as simple as wearing a yellow shirt to feel a little more optimistic or painting our bedrooms a shade of blue to feel more at peace.

Using color psychology to our benefit is more important than ever. Jaehee Jung, a professor at the University of Delaware shared that during COVID-19, “We have to be our own cheerleaders. Clothing can put us in a mode to make us feel more confident, having a positive mood that can also lead us to be more effective accomplishing our tasks.”8 I’m all for an all-black outfit, but if a green top will make me calmer and more accomplished, I might just take the bait.

The world is a colorful place, full of positively and negatively charged shades. Although it may seem minuscule, the colors around you do have an impact on how you feel and behave giving you all the reason to take ownership of your own color psychology.

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5 Jessica Brown, “The surprising reason why the McDonald’s sign is red and yellow,” Indy100, September 13, 2017.

6 ‘The Psychology of Colors in Marketing and Branding,” Color Psychology.

7

Samina Azeemi. “A Critical Analysis of Chromotherapy and Its Scientific Evolution,” Hindawi, September 30, 2015.

8 Gretchen Brown, “I’m Wearing Bright Colors Again and It’s the Pandemics Fault,” Rewire, October 9, 2020.

From Us to You

Introduction by Kate Lawless, Deputy Editor Quotes shared by the Moda Community Illustrated by Channing Smith, Art Director

There are many articles about mental illness, both in our publication and others. In the last decade, we have seen a shift away from the stigmatization of talking about mental health to a growing movement where people can share their experiences and emotions, whether that be in person or online. While mental illness is nothing new, we are at a point in history where resources and tools are becoming more understood and accessible. Diagnoses on college campuses are increasing every year as more and more people are coming forward and asking for help.1 This article is your sign to do so too.

This month, we asked our staff to anonymously share the best advice they have gotten from their therapists that they think will help other people who are struggling. Going to therapy is a normal part of caring for one’s mental health and we want to destigmatize this act of self-care. Viewing therapy as a form of health care instead of something trivial or unnecessary is an important step every person should consider taking.We hope these quotes can give our readers a little comfort in knowing that everyone faces challenges and that there are people who are thinking of you and willing to listen.

As always, we encourage you to reach out to family and friends if you are struggling with your mental health. We especially encourage you to seek professional help using hotlines, university services, local support groups, online support communities and therapists, if possible. Your life and your happiness matters and we hope that Moda, and this article will remind you that you are a loved member of our campus community.

1 Steven Reinberg, “More College Students Seeking Mental Health Care,” Consumer HealthDay, October 25, 2018.

There are no positive or negative emotions. Just responses to the world around you. You aren’t a bad person for feeling sad, frustrated or angry. • When something bad happens or you’ve hit a rough patch, it’s okay to just sit back and say “this sucks.” You don’t have to immediately jump into action to fix anything, sometimes you just have to sit with the sucky feeling in order to really be able to heal from it. • If you ever become worried about girls “staring at you” or “looking you up and down” because you believe they are judging you or making fun of you, switch your mindset to, “they are staring because they like my outfit”, or “because I am beautiful”! It really helped to not only get rid of the anxiety that comes with an unfortunely normal aspect of life, but helped to see myself differently too! • Love is a good thing. You aren’t a bad or stupid person for loving someone. The way they hurt you was not your fault. • Read Victor Frankl’s book, “Man’s Search for Meaning.” Its message is profound. • When anxiety, depression, etc. feels like it’s getting the best of you, it’s helpful to have a “toolbox” on hand to ensure you have remedies to rely on. This way, you don’t feel like there are no solutions to turn to. Tools you include could be CBD oil, a hot bath, meditation, or it could even be as simple as a reminder to call a friend or loved one. • You make the best choices possible with the information you have at the time. • Don’t be so mean to yourself. You’ve got to build a better relationship with yourself before trying to perfect relationships with those around you. • You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You can stay home, go out, choose who you hang out with, etc. Your life is yours! Live it for you! ■

Love or Labor?

EMOTIONAL LABOR IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

Written by Kate Lawless, Deputy Editor Illustrated by Allyson Konz, Editor-in-Chief

You may not have heard of emotional labor, but you’ve definitely done it.

Sociologist Arlie Hochschild originally coined the term in reference to women in service jobs who were forced to take emotional abuse with a smile in order to manage the emotional experience of customers.1 This remains a difficult topic to define because of the unseen, hard-tomeasure aspect of emotion. Most experts on the subject explain emotional labor as the expected, yet thankless work that people do for others — often by concealing or controlling their true emotions to prioritize other’s feelings.

While psychologists may not agree on one single, exact definition, they do agree that emotional labor is a feminist issue. One of the most cited examples of emotional labor is managing a household, a typically female area of work. This work involves cooking, cleaning, shopping as well as managing money, school and schedules. Additionally, it involves 24/7 responsiveness to the emotional needs of children and spouses. This is not just love, it is real and important labor.

1 Moore, Tracy, and Tracy Moore “The Stu pid-Easy Guide to Emotional Labor.” MEL Magazine, October 4, 2018.

But what does emotional labor look like in young adulthood, or in relationships outside of a heternormative marriage structure? It can be making time for a friend’s emotional dumping every day or being in a relationship with a partner who does not emotionally support you but expects you to do it for them. Emotional labor also looks like your male coworkers coming to you about problems in the workplace because they assume women will make time for them. Simply put, it is whenever you have gone out of your way to care for people when it was not your responsibility, and you were certainly not thanked for it.2

Emotional labor is expected from women starting at a very young age. Theorists have suggested this is because girls are biologically predisposed to, and then later socialized, to internalize their own negative emotions and display empathy to others in early childhood.3 From elementary school and on, girls are expected to fulfill traditional binary gender roles by acting happy even when they’re

2 Ibid.

3 Tara M Chaplin and Amelia Aldao , “Gender Differences in Emotion Expres sion in Children: A ...” (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, December 10, 2012).

not at the expense of giving boys space, time and energy to explore their own emotions externally.

This pattern continues as boys become socialized to be less expressive, especially during adolescence. They are taught that women are people to be trusted, who will always make time to listen to their feelings. Other boys, in contrast, function as potential bullies who will police the expression of any negative emotions from their male counterparts, leaving all emotional support to be carried out by mothers and female friends.

Author Peggy Orenstein writes, “While it’s wonderful to know they have someone to talk to— and I’m sure mothers, in particular, savor the role—teaching boys that women are responsible for emotional labor, for processing men’s emotional lives in ways that would be emasculating for them to do themselves, comes at a price for both sexes.”4

This sexist line of thought has consequences as boys grow into men and struggle to identify and 4 Story by Peggy Orenstein, “The Misedu cation of the American Boy,” The Atlantic (Atlantic Media Company, December 20, 2019).

express their emotions in healthy ways, leaving them inadequately prepared to form healthy longlasting adult relationships.5 They may be unable to feel emotionally close to their male friends, but expect their female friends, girlfriends, wives or mothers to be available to listen to them vent at all times. Unfortunately, this attitude not only affects families and friends but also has serious consequences for the workplace.

Emotional labor is one of the reasons that women earn less money than men. Women are most often found in careers that require patience, empathy and work behind the scenes to ensure cooperation. Nursing, teaching, and social work are female-dominated fields for a variety of reasons, but they are all underpaid considering their emotional toll. Because this emotional labor in the workplace is expected of them naturally at home, they are not compensated for it at work.6 Instead, the usually male counterparts who decide their salaries do not consider this

5 Ibid.

6 Guy, Mary Ellen, and Meredith A. New man. “Women’s Jobs, Men’s Jobs: Sex Segregation and Emotional Labor.” Public Administration Review 64, no. 3 (2004)

to be a skill, because they expect women to be doing this for free all of the time anyway. But make no mistake, the ability to do emotional labor day-in and day-out is a skill set with value. Managing emotional relationships is difficult, yet the ability to work together and listen to one another is the backbone of all societal progress.

To combat these issues, it is important to self-reflect on the expectations you have of others and on what boundaries you can set to protect your time and mental health. In relationships, platonic and romantic, partners should ask before emotionally dumping and should never assume that they are entitled to the emotional labor of the other person. It is especially not the female partner’s responsibility to set a boundary after one has been crossed. Instead, people should be monitoring how much support they expect from others without reciprocating, or asking if the other person is comfortable with a line of conversation.

There is a big difference between being an empathetic friend and doing emotional labor. Empathy

is a wonderful trait that bonds us to one another through shared acknowledgment of life’s highs and lows. Emotional labor, on the other hand, is consistent, nonreciprocated and isolating.

When you feel like you have sacrificed your own time, energy and mental and emotional health, it is important to step back and prioritize your own happiness. You do not have to answer every call, take on every selfless task or internalize your own feelings to make space for others to externalize. Men, and other women who inadvertently support these sexist standards for expression, need to allow women to express their experiences and not always prioritize the needs of

There is a big difference between being an empathetic friend and doing emotional labor.

others. Men need to confide in one another and trust that their male friends will care for them in the way that they usually expect from women. Self-reflection on gendered expectations from your friends and family can be difficult but it’s empowering. We need to find our way back to reciprocated empathy so that loving someone no longer feels like a form of labor.

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Other Love Stories

AN EXPLORATION OF THE ROMANTICIZATION OF YOUTH AND FRIENDSHIP IN COMING-OF-AGE MOVIES.

Written by Abigail Crneckiy, Contributing Writer Illustrated by Emma Gray, Assistant Arts Curator

When you hear the word “romance,” you probably imagine a stereotypical, dramatized love story based on a Nicholas Sparks book. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good, cheesy romance. But what about narratives that are bigger than boy-meets-girl? What about the romanticization of growing up? Of following your passions? Of friendship? These themes shape our lives, yet so few movies explore these other romantic experiences. However, there are some films that take an unconventional approach to exploring love in all its forms. These themes of childhood, passion and friendship are embodied in four wonderful, coming-of-age movies which give us a look into the great loves we experience everyday.

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER (2012)

A classic coming-of-age, this film follows the life of Charlie, a shy freshman battling loneliness and depression in the aftermath of his best friend’s suicide. Charlie manages to find a place in high school after he befriends two eccentric seniors, Sam and Patrick. Though these two pull Charlie out of his shell, his mental health fluxuates as he deals with past traumas. This story also explores Charlie’s endearing and complicated love for his friend, Sam, and the taxing effects of sexual assault on relationships.

Steven Chbosky, author of the novel and director of the film, does a great job rejecting classic stereotypes in this story. Notably, he separates Charlie’s growth from his shyness, abandoning the ro manticization of extroversion. The film also rejects traditional ro mance lines, instead developing the love between the group of friends. Throughout the film, we see many dysfunctional and failed relationships due to abuse, disdain, and homophobia, but the char acters are able to recognize and move past these things due to the support of their friends. Furthermore, this story does away with the glorification of sexual “firsts.” Often, teen movies portray char acters who long for their “first time” to be special, but “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” proves that this doesn’t have to be the case. Charlie’s experiences show us that growing up is hard, and no one has the perfect story, but having the right people around us makes all the difference.

GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997)

This story lets us into the life of Will Hunting, a genius 20-yearold boy whose troubled life has kept him from pursuing a proper education. While working as a janitor at M.I.T., he solves an advanced math problem and attracts the attention of Professor Lambeau. Lambeau recognizes that Will’s intellect is going to waste and decides to take him under his wing. After Will gets into some trouble, Lambeau ushers him into therapy to rectify his past. In time, the begrudging Will becomes more comfortable with his therapist, Sean, and develops a relationship with a Harvard student, Skylar. But the fate of his new relationships suffer as he struggles to reconcile his troubled past with a better future.

This story features a major conflict between the pressure of finding “success” and pursuing what you care about. In “Good Will Hunting,” Lambeau puts immense pressure on his students to be successful and romanticizes intellectual and material accomplishments. However, this is met with backlash from Will and Sean as they are less interested in being “important” and more interested in being happy. The film prioritizes following your passions, but doing so sensibly. It shows the importance of opening up to others and letting them help you. Sometimes we need that extra support to follow our passions, like Sean gives to Will, so we can reach our greatest potential.

MOONRISE KINGDOM (2012)

Set in the 1960s, this film features a pair of young lovebirds who run off together in search of independence and belonging. Sam Shakusky, an orphan, is unwanted by his foster parents and disliked by his fellow Khaki Scouts, while Suzy Bishop is the product of a dysfunctional marriage and has no friends. Both labelled by society as “disturbed,” they learn to find understanding and acceptance in each other. This prompts an epic love tale of two children forced to play grown up, reading to each other, listening to music, and even sharing their first kiss.

Through Suzy and Sam’s adventure, director Wes Anderson pulls us back into our own childhood. We probably weren’t forced to flee across a mysterious island like Suzy and Sam, but I’m guessing that most of us longed for more agency and were sure our first love was our true love. It is this childlike naivete that inspires us to make something of ourselves. We romanticize our budding independence and whirlwinds of emotions, which sometimes leads to disaster — but at least we tried. Growing up is a learning experience full of successes and failures, and “Moonrise Kingdom” artfully exhibits the naive yet well-intentioned attempts we all make while growing up.

DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989)

This story opens at Welton, a traditional, all-boys preparatory school where a group of teenage boys are suffocating under high parental expectations. That is until Mr. Keating, the new English teacher, employs unorthodox methods to inspire the boys to engage in life in a more meaningful way. After Keating encourages them to “suck the marrow out of life” and pursue their passions, the boys covertly revive the Dead Poets Society, a club that Keating was involved in back when he was their age. Throughout the film, we see the boys growing in their boldness and rethinking their priorities, but not without pushback from people around them. In a heart wrenching turn of events, this narrative emphasizes the way social obligations and expectations may lead to our demise, and the importance of having confidence in our true selves.

“Dead Poets Society” brilliantly accentuates the significance of defying conformity and pursuing your own desires. Instead of solidifying the traditional path that their parents planned out for them, Keating shows the boys of the Dead Poets Society the romance and intrigue of a life filled with passion, and supports them in an emotional way. The film also exhibits the beauty of good friendship — specifically, strong male bonds that offer emotional support. These themes are primarily embodied in Todd, who starts out timid and stressed. But due to persistent encouragement from the others, Todd becomes a leader who stands up for those he cares about and defies the expectations that previously constrained him. In essence, “Dead Poets Society” teaches us the importance of falling in love with ourselves.

These four films shine light on powerful and beautiful aspects of our lives that typical romance movies miss. While watching these films, we are forced to consider what our priorities are, what has shaped us into who we are today, and who we could become tomorrow. These stories encourage us to love friends, family, and ourselves and our true passions as deeply as we would love a soulmate.

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MOUTHS AGAINST AIR AND GLASS

REFLECTIONS ON A MELODRAMATIC AESTHETIC

I:

Matte red mouth Against pressed impressions. It’s all bold confidence When she wears tight Rose skin.

Slick cornsilk curls, Inward she’s tipped. Really can’t miss it: Tears in those raw Olive eyes.

II:

It is true, she was beautiful, And who knew it better than oneself? No one had to tell her What she already believed of herself.

Mouth like a morning frost, Flesh like an amber sea. Nature seemed to love her, But of course, no more than she.

Butterflies took rest on her shoulder, Flowers were braided into her hair. One morning she found her reflection, And of everything else she became unaware.

As she knelt and admired her nose, From behind, her dear friends crept. She bent to lick her own mouth, And that is when they leapt.

Into the lagoon she went, A shriek as shrill as sunrise. They roared and jumped and sighed, “We got you, we did, surprise!”

A laugh she did not offer, For they of all people had betrayed her. Soaking, crying and splashing, she cried, “Look what you’ve done, you traitor!”

The air caught her hair and blew it away, Her eyes became water, her mouth turned uneven. They watched, horrified, and soon came to realize, Mother Earth took back what she once had given.

III:

You know, Mom always

Said you were at that age: Rebellion and reactions, All pent up angst and rage. Yet when I looked at you, I witnessed something else. I would turn to Dad and say, “She’s going to be a revolution, If nothing else.”

I don’t think I was wrong, Even standing over your bed. You fought like no other, I still can’t even believe None of it went to your head. My little sister, I always Thought you were so wise. I’ll be right over here for When you open your eyes.

IV: God!

Craving hangs from my mouth. I only put on fur and heels today. Still, the wolf’s halfway down my back. If I turn, they see everything.

So?

My head aches from last night. Nothing matters, no one cares. Pool, music, cig, and long sighs. That’s living, I would know it.

Okay. So maybe I’m always lying. Where did I leave those anyway? I’m not happy, I’ll admit it. But only here, on a roof, Half dressed and hungover.

Written by Kora Quinn, Culture Staff Writer

Photographed by Annika Ide, Photography Director Modeled by Kate Lawless, Deputy Editor

A CHANGE IN VENUE

Lawrence performs at the High Noon Saloon in September of 2018

There’s something about sharing the space with a voice you’ve come to know so well that can cause people to lose themselves in the moment.

Written by Olivia Peters, Arts Staff Writer

Photos contributed by Channing Smith, Art Director

I recently saw a Tik Tok describing those moments when life doesn’t feel quite real, such as leaving a concert in search of your car. I thought about this Tik Tok for the rest of the day and how true it is that a post-concert daze offers a largerthan-life feeling.

For many, a concert is a highly anticipated date on the calendar, especially if you’ve shelled out for tickets to a recognizable name. There’s something about sharing the space with a voice you’ve come to know so well that can cause people to lose themselves in the moment.

Something can also be said of the community at a concert. Packed like sardines, touching on most sides, singing unabashedly: it’s intimate. You’re surrounded, but unwatched because all eyes are forward. For once, you can just be as you want to be without worrying about appearances. Yet, you’re still with

hundreds of people who share your love of the artist. You’re strangers, bonded together for one night.

Now enter: Covid-19, mass shootings and the multitude of other scary things that can occur in crowds. These things have called for a change in concert life. But is the intensive emotional experience of a concert obtainable in a virtual world?

Concert halls and small venues are suffering financially. It’s not certain that they’ll make it to a post-Covid-19 world. In Madison, the Sylvee was selling merchandise and gift cards in party packs to try to create a revenue stream; but fundraising can only go so far as the event space remains unavailable to the public. To stay alive long-term, venues and artists are forced to explore new options, changing the old notions of “normal” for fans everywhere. →

VENUES AND ARTISTS ARE ADAPTING TO AN ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCES.

Recently, drive-in concerts have been popping up across the country1 Socially-distanced outdoor events are being attempted, but trouble arises when safety guidelines are ignored. Most musical experiences have turned completely to digital delivery.

Lollapalooza announced a free, weekend-long virtual event in place of the annual festival this year. There will be over 150 performances and appearances to stream.2 However nice this sounds, it doesn’t exactly replicate the experience of an inperson music festival.

One band, Glass Animals, is putting on a ticketed, live stream concert where they plan to imitate the community aspect of the concert experience. Lead singer Dave Bayley framed their intentions in an interview with New Musical Express Magazine: “You can do things on the internet that you can’t do in real life. It is a new type of performance space. Just like you’d perform and interact differently in a tiny club to how you’d perform in a stadium… you have to interact differently on the web.”3

It seems like Dave has the right idea in mind, there is a need for innovation in the digital concert space. The online experience is still developing, and there isn’t a real substitute for in-person concerts.

At the end of the day, it’s being a part of a musical moment in history with people who appreciate it in the same way you do that really makes a concert. You can help your favorite artists and venues by supporting the new endeavors they are trying out to keep their connection with you. Digital intimacy isn’t something that is easily achieved, but it’s something that we’re going to have to figure out together in order to resurrect the experiences we cherish.■

1 R. Marya, “Smaller music venues face ‘the great unknown’ before live shows can resume at full capacity.” Fortune. July 26, 2020.

2 F. Basbas, “Lollapalooza confirms cancellation and announces virtual show - lineup revealed.” Bandwagon. July 28, 2020.

3 T. Skinner, “Glass Animals announce special ‘Live In The Internet’ perfor mance.” New Musical Express. Septem ber 22, 2020.

You can do things on the internet that you can’t do in real life. It is a new type of performance space.

you’d perform and interact differently in a tiny club to how you’d perform in a stadium ...you have to interact differently on the web.

Bayley of Glass Animals

You’re Not Alone

HOW ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS ADAPTING TO AN ISOLATED COLLEGE EXPERIENCE?

By Mason Braasch, Staff Writer Illustrated by Riley August

I have had a crazy 2020. I moved away from my family, went through a devastating breakup, tested positive for COVID-19 and experienced drama within my living situation. It has been one of the most challenging periods of time in my life. Throughout all of these challenges, I have not only been going through a spectrum of strong emotions, but I have been dealing with it all while trapped inside my room, alone.

Almost every college student has a story that is reminiscent of mine. To say the very least, 2020 has been a very unique and emotional experience for everyone. This way of life is hard. Not being able to socialize with peers, learn within an actual classroom, or fulfill your dreams of a “college experience” is overwhelmingly upsetting. So, how are students doing it?

Uma Parhar, a sophomore at the University of WisconsinMadison described that when she’s feeling trapped and overwhelmed by the confines of her room, she simply takes a walk. This is a common answer among students, as the outdoors is really the only place anyone is allowed to go. Whether it be hammocking by the lake, playing a game of frisbee outside, or simply taking a few moments to breathe in the fresh air, it seems that many students are depending on the outdoors for peace this year more than ever before.

It is especially hard to be a freshman this year, as COVID-19 restrictions make it difficult to meet anyone new. Freshman Shashwot Tripathy and Aiden Regen described that jumping on any and every opportunity to meet new people has been especially important. That mindset has led them both to have many social experiences they maybe wouldn’t have had without these restrictions.

While they may not be quarantined in tiny dorm rooms, this year’s seniors are experiencing challenges of their own. Senior Payton Camili described that while she and her friends have been trying to make the best of their final year of college, it has been challenging letting go of their expectations of what senior year is supposed to look like.

“I thought as a senior I would finally have everything figured out,” Camilli said, “but nothing is certain anymore and it’s tough because we don’t have the same sense of community to get through it because we’re avoiding other students.”

Others have actually grown to love this way of life. Sophomore Khushboo Gupta described that online school has taught her a lot about herself.

“I never realized how much I needed alone time until I was forced to have it,” she said.

While it may not be the ideal situation, isolation has forced many people to face the ways that they deal with their mental health. While I believe that the best way to cure a case of COVID-19 burnout is having a Taylor Swift dance party in my living room, the loneliness, stress, anxiety, and longing that come along with this year can sometimes need more serious solutions. Despite the curveballs that this school year continues to throw, students are finding ways to adapt that help them make the most out of it. So take a walk, whip out your journal, talk to someone you love, or do anything that brings you peace; just remember to prioritize the things that make you happy in this crazy, difficult and isolated time.

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