RISE: Our Generation by RISE magazine

mission statement Students of the Ramaz Upper School created all of the featured articles, photographs, and artwork you will find here. Our goal is to present the way each of our participants is inspired by the rich culture of the city. We encourage individuality with regard to every facet of artistic and intellectual expression.

The Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein Upper School of Ramaz 60 East 78th Street New York, NY 10075

Welcome to the first issue of Volume III of RISE magazine, entitled

our generation

Who are we as a generation? What makes us unique? What excites us? How do we relate to each other? How do we appreciate music, art, and film? Experience the tension between analogue and digital as you turn the pages and see how the Millennials relate to the world. front & back cover photos by Noa Attias â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18

This publication was generously sponsored by the Ramaz Parents Council in recognition and appreciation of the amazing work that our children produce 3

RISE Volume III Issue I

editorial board Editor-in-Chief Producer Social Media Editor

brainstorm board Artist Writer and Photographer Artist and Photographer Writer and Photographer Writer and Photographer Writer and Photographer Writer and Photographer

Faculty Advisor Faculty Advisor

contributors Writer Writer and Model Writer Writer and Photographer Artist Photographer Writer Photographer Writer Artist Writer and Photographer

models

background photo by Noa Attias â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18

TABLE OF CONTENTS editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note..................9 calendar......................12 art...........................14 student spotlights............16 fashion.......................22 photo-shoots..................24 interview

roxanne assoulin...................32

film............................34 the changing LES...............36 influential decades.............38 music..........................40 literature....................46 our generation makeup.........48 food..........................52

talent board..................58

Noa Attias â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;18

psychology....................54

EDITORS’ NOTE

Dear readers,

a taste of what you’ll find in this issue & more

Who

are we as a generation? What makes us unique? What excites us? How do we relate to each other? How do we experience music, art, and film?

First on your “must-see-list” is a collection of the top upcoming activities in the Winter Calendar (pg.12 ). Then head over to our Student Spotlights where artist Arielle Hadad ‘17 speaks about relating to art, and Hyatt Arnoff ‘18 discusses the We, the “Millennials,” are the product of a multi- importance of body positivity (pg. 16). tude of previous generations, each with their own trends and styles, struggles, and experiences. As Our Generation is influenced by the tension beindividuals today, we are encouraged to be in- tween analogue and digital: for example, we spired by the past, to embrace those elements appreciate the tangibility of collages, but also that resonate with us, and to exhibit them cre- like the immediacy of Snapchat. Experience the atively as part of our own unique personalities comical play between analogue and digital and (see the effect of past decades through electrify- between circles of grain and square pixels in the ing artwork on page 38.) photoshoot spread on page 24. Concurrently, because of the technological advancements that our generation has grown up with, we remain a distinct group. The Internet and Social Media have uniquely shaped our lives, providing us with instantly accessible information, the interconnection of people, and an endless source of entertainment. As a result, we have become more independent and insular beings, and yet we are extremely collaborative— constantly being influenced by others— even with those physically remote from us. We should remember to take advantage of the special time we were born into and not allow the technology to constrain us. Instead, we should enable the modern advancements to stimulate us, connect us, and transcend us beyond our daily realms to further explore our curiosities. We have the freedom and flexibility to express our creativity in so many varying forms: the possibilities of Our Generation are limitless!

Check out the Little Lists (pg. 50) for some happy throwbacks and don’t miss our interview with jewelry designer Roxanna Assoulin about her new company (pg. 32 ). Be sure to see the Our Generation inspired makeup tutorial (pg. 48) and listen to our favorite albums (pg. 41)! Finally, the RISE fixture: Talent Board (pg.58), comes to finish off the issue with photography and writing through the eyes of Our Generation.

Best,

Tamar Sidi ‘17 Editor-in-Chief

THE BRAINSTORM BOARD

WINTER CALENDAR

top activity picks to look out for this March by Rachel Russo ‘17 photo by Noa Attias ‘18 MON

TUES

WED

THURS 1

2 art Art On Paper @ Pier 36

6 things to do “Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design” @ the Jewish Museum

9 things to do The Antiquarian Book Fair @ Park Avenue Armory

15 music Green Day and Against Me @ the Barclays Center

16 music The Red Hot Chili Peppers @ St. George Theatre

20 things to do walk the Highline

22 music Idan Raichel @ the City Winery

27 film Film Festival of New Directors @ the MOMA and Lincoln Center

29 things to do Affordable Art Fair @ the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea

30 Photography Show @ Pier 94

FRI

SAT

SUN

3 4 art art Clio Art Fair “Mark Leckey: Contain@ 508 W 26th street ers and Their Drivers” @MoMA PS1

5 art The Armory Show @ Piers 92 & 94

10 art “Fast Forward: Painting from the 1980s” @ the Whitney Museum of American Art

12 things to do The Orchid Show @ New York Botanical Garden

17 film Drone Film Festival

19 things to do Museum of the Moving Image

24 things to do Kenny Scharf, TotemOh @ East River Waterfront Esplanade

“Dans L’atelier” @ Petit Palais This exhibit, “In the Studio: The Artist Photographed from Ingres to Jeff Koons,” at the Petit Palais in Paris featured over 400 photographs, paintings, sculptures, and videos, documenting the studios of numerous artists. The exhibit bridged the gap between the artist and the audience by letting people into the workspaces of artists to further understand their creative processes. The exhibit is arranged chronologically from the 19th century to the 21st. To begin, spectators dive into the 19th century paintings and documented journals that explain the artists’ work spaces and their “art clothes.” Many of these artists were very interested in showing their work spaces and invested a lot of their time in turning their ateliers into relics or museums. One photograph depicts a studio that was slathered with Arabian tapestry, while another showed one overflowing with arms and guns. I found Andre Breton’s studio particularly interesting, he chose to decorate his workplace with African and Oceanic masks. As the spectator gets closer to the 20th century, one can actually see the studios as a place that was used for more than painting or working. The atelier became a real place of personality and self-expression for the artists. One photograph depicts the minimalistic workspace of Mondrian, and another the dark, industrial-like studio of Giacometti. The exhibition also displayed important factors of the artists lives: their family, best friends, and muses. Throughout the exhibit the audience experiences how the studios evolved in correspondence to the requirements of their time period and the artist’s changing perception of life through their stylistic choices. This exhibit provides a different way to see the artist; instead of looking for them in their own artwork, the audience sees their personality in their workplace.

writing by Noa Attias ‘18 artwork by Olivia Schwartz ‘17

ART

“L’exposition Barbie” @ Les Arts Decoratifs Barbie, a doll famous for its design and fashion sense is commemorated and showcased in this fantastic exhibit. Over 700 dolls from Mattel’s archives were brought to life, being displayed alongside works from famous artists. This exhibit showed that Barbie is far more than just a toy. Barbie challenged societal norms and embraced the “I can do anything attitude” of a more contemporary woman during a time when women were limited in pursuing more masculine professions. However, Barbie remains a controversial doll because of her idealization of the “perfect” woman. Barbie was a monumental transition from the traditional baby and paper dolls of 18th century influences. While watching her daughter, Barbara, play with paper dolls, Ruth Handler thought to create a three dimensional doll with a larger selection of clothing and accessories. Barbie, named after Ruth’s daughter, has graduated high school and university, occupying pretty much any job invented. All in all, I was fascinated by how the exhibit tracked Barbie’s evolution and success as a cultural icon by displaying different types of barbie silhouettes, actual dolls, sketches, and articles of clothing. Over time, Barbie has remained a relevant icon, which the exhibit attributes to her success in reflecting the ideas of the time period and staying fashionable. Barbie has influenced artists like Andy Warhol, and has been used as a fashion muse for designers such as Paco Rabanne and Channel, who have designed clothing for her. Upon leaving the exhibit, I walked through a hallway covered in Barbie’s clothing hanging from the walls, it was almost a collage. This last image allows the viewer to appreciate the magnitude of Barbie’s role as a commercialized pop icon for the past and our generation. Noa Attias ‘18

student spotlight a discussion with artist

ARIELLE HADAD â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17

RISE Magazine: How does one build a relationship with art? Arielle Hadad: Building a relationship with art requires a lot less work than people think. You don’t have to drag yourself to museums and force yourself to stare at artwork if that’s something that doesn’t resonate with you. Whether we realize it or not, art is present in our everyday lives. It surrounds us in nature, films, advertisements, music, and even the clothing that we wear. Spending a few extra minutes in your day to stop and appreciate the art that exists around you already forms an engagement between you and the art world. Take the time to discover what type of art catches your eye. A relationship is a two way street: art plays its role by existing in front of us, and it is our job to allow ourselves to be impacted by it. RM: Why should teens appreciate art? AH: I have always believed that people who create art or appreciate art are able to see things differently. Through engaging in the art world, you develop mental skills that serve to be useful in everyday life. You subconsciously begin to instill creativity into everything that you do. I think an appreciation for art is something that’s really important for teenagers to have, given that they are starting to explore what it is they love. Art plays a crucial role in many professions including, but not limited to, architecture, history, engineering, publishing, business, and sociology. Being able to contribute creativity and knowledge of art to one of these areas will serve as a huge benefit for teenagers in their futures. RM: Which New York artists of Our Generation most excite you? AH: One of my current favorite New York artists is Kehinde Wiley. I have been a huge fan of his work since I was first introduced to him in “The Artist’s Project,” (an online series featuring short clips of artist’s experiencing the Met.) Within his work, Wiley depicts colored men and women– including popular hip-hop artists– in these huge, heroic-like portraits. What I think is really special about Wiley and his work is the way in which he merges the past and present. He glorifies average people by making them the center of his work, forming a connection with the day-to-day people of our generation. Yet, by romanticizing these people and painting them in such royal poses, Wiley is able to hold onto a bit of the past. Seeing the way in which Kehinde Wiley morphs these two worlds into one is something that I have always admired about his work. RM: Why do you feel such a special connection to art? AH: Creating my own art and learning about the works of others has always been a huge part of my life. As a teenager, I am constantly surrounded by the rules and restrictions of my teachers and parents. There is always some higher authority over me, constantly reminding me of what I’m not allowed to do. For me, art has always been an escape. It’s something that grants me full control over my ideas and the way in which I choose to portray them. When I create artwork, I don’t seek anyone’s approval or confide to anybody’s definition of right or wrong. I don’t need to depend on anyone to create art. It’s something that I can call my own. This sense of freedom and independence that art is capable of offering has always been something very important to me.

RM: What art do you think Our Generation is primarily intrigued by as a whole? AH: Given the advancement of technology in our generation, I think people are mainly drawn to artwork popularized by social media. Take graffiti and murals for example – once people began taking pictures in front of these works of art and posting them to their Instagrams and Facebooks – they became exceedingly popular. I think the work of street artists such as Shepard Fairey, Mr. Brainwash, Alec Monopoly, and Banksy really appeal to this generation because of how accessible they are. You don’t need to walk into a museum to see this kind of art. It’s something that people can just run up to and take a picture of. I also think this generation is very drawn to artwork and fashion, which has been influenced by the music industry. Album cover art and celebrity clothing lines have become increasingly popular recently. Just look at Kanye West, Rihanna, and Justin Bieber – people go crazy over their tour merchandise and shoe collections. RM: How do you think Our Generation will advance in art? AH: Recently, I have been visiting galleries and museums that allow people to interact with art through technology. Often, touch screen devices are provided to people in order to zoom in and examine all the angles of a piece. At the Cooper Hewitt museum I visited, I received an electronic pen, which allowed me to ‘save’ the works of art that I liked so that I could look at them at the end of my visit. I think this concept of bringing technology into museums is a smart idea that helps people learn more about the work that they are seeing. RM: What is the function of ‘talent’ in art making? AH: To be talented at drawing or painting is important in the sense that it usually leads to ‘nice looking art’. If an artist has a talented hand, his or her skill will shine through in their work. However, there’s a lot more to art than just being able to create a pretty picture. There are thousands and thousands of artists around the world who are capable of doing that. To me, what really makes an artist stand out is their creativity, use of imagination, and willingness to experiment and take risks. It is these things that make an artist truly talented rather than how precise and perfect they are creating an image. RM: What is art? AH: I don’t think one can define art by a single word or phrase. Putting a label on art would be restricting it to a single definition. Art is something that is abstract and can exist in many different forms. Anything can be art. Everything is art. Art can be made by someone’s two hands or it can be something natural and in pure form. It could be a single painting or it could be a whole room. Art is an expression of the people that create it. It is a form of therapy and an outlet for emotion. It is a tool used to inspire and educate others. Art is what you want it to be.

student spotlight how to be body-positive with

HYATT ARNOFF ‘18 ‘18

A Generation of Body Positivity: Empowering oneself through fashion and positivity

I’ve never written for RISE before, but after hearing about this issue’s theme, so many ideas of what I could contribute swirled through my brain. Body positivity has come a long way and even though it still has a ways to go, our generation has been the first in a while to deal with the issue of body shaming head on. You see, we are the generation of change, we are redefining beauty standards everyday. We have models now that range from a size 0 to a size 22, models with different skin tones, models with bucked teeth and other features that wouldn’t ordinarily fit into the conventional beauty standards. We are the generation that has started celebrating bodies for what they are. We are the generation of the @effyourbeautystandards brand and many other plus size fashion blogs. We are the generation that put a song all about body love, “All About That Bass,” on the pop charts. We are the generation of change. However, being body positive is still not always easy— trust me, I know. Being worried about showing too much or too little, or wondering if a certain style will fit right, are struggles everyone faces. It is easy to be fooled— especially now, with photo-shopping tools right at our fingertips— by the so-called image of perfection. In actuality, people most commonly look better, healthier, and happier in their unedited pictures. 10-15% of Americans suffer from some kind of eating disorder. That’s roughly 30-45 million people who are so unhappy with themselves that they are willing to hurt, starve, or exhaust themselves, just to feel better about how they look. Body positivity has to come from within, you have to reach a point where you can say, “I am happy.” Body positivity is about loving what you got, fight the challenge everyday if you have to. I know on the outside I look like this totally confident person, but on the inside I don’t always feel that way. I think this is why fashion is so important, it encourages positivity. When I put on clothing and say to myself, “wow I look good!” I just feel amazing. Clothing definitely has the power to do that. Find your own style and clothing that you think looks good on you! If I could give you one piece of advice regarding body positivity and self-confidence, it would be that you are the only critic of yourself, don’t let others dictate what it means to be beautiful. Real beauty radiates out from within, and with a little more confidence, we can all embrace the beauty that is already within us all. With love, Hyatt

“Fashion Forward, Three Centuries of Fashion” The “Fashion Forward, Three Centuries of Fashion” exhibit at the museum of Les Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France, brought some of the most diverse and elegant collections in the world and displayed them in their historical context. It encompassed a complete overview of fashion history from 1715 to 2016 and included approximately 300 pieces of 18th century men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing in chronological order. The exhibit provided me with a fresh way to look at fashion’s evolution, exploring the relationship between the clothes and those who wore them in their respective time periods. At Les Arts Décoratifs, they call fashion “the art of living” and treat it as a medium of art. This exhibit was a great way for others to understand and see fashion as more than just a way to express yourself, but as a reflection of history. Noa Attias ‘18 photo by Gabrielle Amar ‘17

FASHION

Israeli Designer Designs Dresses with 3D Printing Noa Raviv, a graduate of Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Israel, creates dresses using 3D printing technology. The Honors Modern Israel class taught to seniors at Ramaz was lucky enough to hear Noa speak. Noa explained how computers don’t always behave with instruction. If you tell a computer to do something that it doesn’t understand, it will create a “broken pattern” which can sometimes be very fascinating. Noa was inspired by the fact that even the simplest “mistakes” created pieces that were totally different designs she hadn’t originally intended to create. When she spoke, she placed an immense influence on the originality that the pieces represented: mistakes cannot be recreated. She also explained how even though the forms that the software creates are incredibly chaotic, they also have a distinct order in their repetition of lines. Her work has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and her dresses are sold at a boutique in Los Angeles, and are priced between $2,000 and $3,000. Noa wishes her work and designs will inspire more creative thought in the world, specifically to the younger generations. Noa Raviv’s pieces demonstrate our generation’s futuristic view of fashion. Our generation is very fashion based with fads and styles changing daily. Noa incorporates her futuristic view by adding 3D printing to her work, a software that only got its start a few years ago and is a significant piece of our generation. You can find her designs at www.NoaRaviv.com Netanel Kamel ‘18

The New York City Subway highlights the universality of our generation. Whether it’s big personalities or clothing pieces that catch the eye, the subway is a culmination of everything– much like our generation. Director: Sarah Issever ‘18 Photographer: Lily Shams ‘17 Models: Lia Michel ‘19, Amanda Koptyev ‘19, and Talia Justin ‘19

SPOTTED

The Spotted photo-shoot was inspired by the influential Pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein’s first paintings were based on imagery from comic strips and advertisements. He mimicked the crude printing process of newspaper reproduction through his art by creating his characters with very small red or blue dots. Pop Art has played a major role in our generation and we explore it further in this shoot. Photographers: Libby Silber ‘17 and Tamar Sidi ‘17 Models: Netanel Kamel ‘18, Ido Denti ‘18, and Drew Korn ‘18 Painter: Arielle Hadad ‘17

the interview no. 1

Sonia Dushey â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17 speaks with jewelry designer

ROXANNE ASSOULIN about her creative process and the iconic Spectrum Bracelets

WEBSITE: ROXANNEASSOULIN.COM/PRODUCTS INSTAGRAM: @ROXANNEASSOULIN

Sonia Dushey: How did you get into jewelry design? Roxanne Assoulin: In the beginning, I wanted to do clothing. But I was ultimately drawn to jewelry because of the instant gratification I felt while creating: I could make the pieces completely by myself and it was fun! Whenever I saw something I liked, for instance a leather wrap bracelet I saw in Europe, I would just make it. I don’t think you choose a profession, I think you fall into a profession, you trip into it.

SD: How does it feel to see celebrities or people on the streets wearing your designs? RA: It feels really good, but interestingly it feels even better to see everyday people walking down the street with it — that’s when I get excited. I love everyone who wears our pieces, they become our friends. That is why I love e-commerce so much, because it creates this connection with people, you really know who the buyers are. I love that people love it, that is what makes me happy.

SD: What inspired you to start your new Roxanne label company? In the new company, what inspired you to create the spectrum bracelets? RA: I had a bunch of tiles lying around for probably about 25 years, and I always used them for color reference. One day one of my designers was asking me for colors and I was playing around with them, when I put them all in a row, I said “we should make a bracelet like this.” One of my designers drew up the Spectrum design, and we made it! It came in and looked really good, and we all got excited.

SD: What has been your biggest challenge with the business? RA: There are many challenges. Creativity often comes and goes. Some days I’ll block off an entire day of design, and just sit with a blank head staring at a wall. Of course running the business is always a challenge: collaborating, working the numbers, and keeping it going even when times are not so great.

SD: Was it hard at the beginning to start your own company? RA: Well I had two beginnings: 30 years ago it was really hard, but this beginning was different. I already knew people and had friends in the fashion industry that I could ask for opinions from: Leandra Medine, The Manrepeller, and John Targon were especially helpful. When John was designing the Baja East fashion show, he didn’t have any jewelry for it, so I showed him the Spectrum Bracelets and he ended up loving them! We made them for his show, even before we made our e-commerce line. But I didn’t pound the pavement, I did have a lot of fear. There is always a voice in our heads telling us we’re not good enough, but that’s the stuff you have to quiet down. SD: How is your jewelry unique? RA: I think it’s happy and joyful jewelry, it makes people smile and it feels like art to me. It’s comfortable to wear and one way for people who don’t normally wear color to enjoy it. We all need a little more happy in our lives.

SD: Which designers, artists, fashion icons, or trends do you find most inspirational? RA: The fashion designer Rosie Assoulin (who is also my daughter in-law!) is definitely a big inspiration. I like street fashion because I love sneakers. I like cool stuff, stuff that’s unexpected or that has an element of surprise. I like stuff that feels better than it looks: there’s a luxury to it. I am very much a uniform person. SD: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned over the years? What piece of advice can you give to us high-schoolers who will soon be going out into the “real world?” RA: The biggest advice to those going into a creative field is to “just plug away at it.” Don’t do it if you’re looking for fame or money because you will lose the creativity. With anything you do, do for the sake of doing. I started making jewelry because I wanted to wear it. Be easy on yourself, and don’t be afraid. Perfectionism and procrastination are the enemies of productivity, so don’t let them get in your way.

“The Stanford Prison Experiment ” The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) is a fascinating film that will force you to rethink society. This film is based on a real experiment performed by the psychologist Professor Philip Zimbardo. In this infamous experiment, Zimbardo recruited Stanford University students to be either “prisoners” or “guards.” The decision process itself was simple, a coin toss decided their fate. These students didn’t realize the severity of the experiment, they had simply agreed to be part of it for the monetary benefits. Zimbardo created a prison in a basement hallway of Stanford University’s School of Psychology and placed cameras in the “prison” to be able to observe the experiment. The participants signed a contract, which stated that the guards weren’t allowed to touch the prisoners, and that they would all be able to leave the experiment whenever they pleased. The guards ended up abusing their authority and power, often depriving the prisoners of their needs. This went from being a summer job for the participants to a brutal and impactful experiment for all. The abuse of the prisoners was so severe that the criminals organized a rebellion and the experiment had to be shut down after 6 days, even though it had been scheduled to be 2 weeks long. The experiment came across as incredibly real, all participants were altered psychologically, and believed that they truly were their roles. The criminals were being bullied and abused so realistically that they forgot their human rights. While watching this film, it was extremely difficult to believe that this was an event that truly occurred. How was this professor able take advantage of the students like this? I remember cringing throughout the movie. You almost forget the fact that these students participated voluntarily. The abuse of power plays a big role the film’s intense nature. It is remarkable that this experiment was even allowed to take place and I encourage everyone to watch this thought-provoking movie. Rachel Russo‘17 photo by Corrine Azizian‘18

FILM The Best Movies on Netflix Classics: -Grease -The Great Gatsby -Breakfast at Tiffanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s -Gentlemen Prefer Blondes -Hello, Dolly! -Cleopatra -To Kill a Mockingbird Documentaries: -Iris -Man on Wire -Mademoiselle C -The Seven Dwarfs of Auschwitz -Miss Representation -Supersize Me -Believe Art Films: -Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-qiang -Because I was a Painter -The First Monday in May -Beautiful Losers -Frida -Wasteland *be sure to check out the Netflix original series Abstract! Independent Films: -Dope -Boyhood -Dazed and Confused -Moonrise Kingdom -Chef

Amanda Koptyev â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19

THE CHANGING LOWER EAST SIDE Libby Silber‘17 explores our generation’s impact on the moderniztion of the LES with Avraham Weinberg (pictured to the left!)

While the Lower East Side continues to support long-standing hotspots such as Katz’s, Russ and Daughters, and the Pickle Guys, most of the attention has shifted towards new, hip businesses, leaving some of the old companies in the dust. Historically, the LES is a haven for Jewish life, overflowing with Judaica shops and Shuls. The number of old-generation Orthodox Jews residing in the area has dwindled in recent years, causing many Jewish establishments to close their doors. I decided to speak to Avraham Weinberg, the owner of a small Judaica store nestled among various tourist destination-spots, to learn more about the effects of the new generation making its mark on the neighborhood.

Libby Silber: What are the effects of the rapidly changing Lower East Side? Avraham Weinberg: Business is not like it used to be… it is not as busy as it was when my father and grandfather first opened shop in about 1960. In 1960, the Jewish-Orthodox community here was still flourishing. LS: If the Orthodox community has plummeted so gravely in this once affluently Orthodox neighborhood, who are the current patronizers of this business? AW: Now our customers are mostly tourists, but sometimes people still come in before the holidays.

Many factors contribute to the rapid decrease in the number of Orthodox Jews in this historically religious neighborhood: the most obvious one being gentrification and the “hipster-izing” of the neighborhood. Borough Park and Monsey have become the relocation spot for the LES’s religious population. Though the Jewish Orthodox community of the Lower East Side continues to shrink, they have left their mark on the neighborhood. The buildings with Yiddish writing now exist as chic walkups, streets like “Rabbi Yaakov Speigal Way” now explode with art galleries and brunch spots, the lasting historical influences on the neighborhood make it the unique and exceptionally cool place it is today. Take a trip downtown and see for yourself! writing and photography by Libby Silber ‘17

THE 70s & OUR GENERATION

The 70s and Our Generation I’ve always seen the 70s as the time when art really became “for the people.” It was a time for invention, when artists thought outside the box, spontaneously coming up with new ideas that excited them. In my eyes, it was the birthplace of the creativity we have today. People existed in collaboration, constantly helping each other to create even better forms of art. The 70s were when art, writing, music, and fashion merged together to form their own entity. I feel that the 70s were so crucial for pop culture, because people began to experiment, to figure out new ways to do things that were at once thought to have been impossible. People realized that art is about collaboration. It’s about inspiration. It’s about learning from one another to create an amazing, unique product at the end of the day. Our Generation is very much like the 70s, we are the Age of Technology, an age of creation. It’s a new era, a new way of seeing the world. The passion has come back, everyone is excited about life, about art, and everyone wants to contribute and collaborate. And Our Generation should remember the success of the 70s and allow that passion, and that energy to lead us in our own forms of self-expression in future endeavors. Things to appreciate from the 70s: Platform shoes, bell bottoms, “The Message”Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, lava lamps, music festivals, roller skates. *Check out Netflix original “The Get-Down” for some 70s inspired entertainment! writing and artwork by Raquel Michel ‘17

THE 2000s & OUR GENERATION

2016’s Albums We <3

MUSIC

ANTI – Rihanna Why we love it: Rihanna challenges the average love song by adding her own unique flair. ANTI is fresh and revealing. (Fav song: Love on the Brain) The Life of Pablo – Kanye West Why we love it: Kanye has a great ability to connect with all generations. Each album he releases is more innovative than the last. We admit it, we love Kanye just as much as Kanye loves Kanye. (Fav Song: Saint Pablo) Blue Neighborhood – Troye Sivan Why we love it: Troye describes his seemingly “perfect” upbringing under the unregretful truth of his “Blue Neighborhood” through deep and haunting vocals. (Fav song: BLUE) Swim Against the Tide – The Japanese House Why we love it: With their melancholic sounds and layered vocals, each song leaves an eerie impression. Amber Bain has created a new genre of alien-like pop that encompasses every aspect of musical freedom. (Fav song: Good Side In) Blonde – Frank Ocean Why we love it: In this highly awaited second album, Ocean comes to us with a more mature, intimate sound. The songs are about everyday life: no fancy cars, money, or fame. Just Ocean, us, and the music. (Fav song: Ivy) I Like It When You Sleep- The 1975 Why we love it: Everything about this album is so pleasant to listen to--even the sad songs don’t bring you down! The “bubbly-rock” tracks radiate positive feelings and keep you hooked throughout the album. (Fav song: The Sound) EP1 – Johnny Rain Why we love it: With its smooth vocals and heavy beats, you’ll wish this album was longer than its mere 24-minutes. (Fav song: 143) Bop City EP – Terror Jr. Why we love it: The Terror Jr. trio are a bit of a mystery and they produce incredibly hypnotizing music. (Fav song: 3 Strikes) The Colour In Anything – James Blake Why we love it: Simple and foggy, Blake’s album dives deep into euphoria. Blake channels the energy of his voice into his reflection of change: emotionally, geographically, and personally. (Fav song: I Need A Forest Fire) Views- Drake Why we love it: Drake adds a layer of depth and wisdom to his music, he’s unapologetic about who he is and his strong sound really comes into focus. (Fav song: Redemption) artwork by Arielle Hadad ‘17 writing by Sarah Issever ‘18 41

Pentatonix Concert Pentatonix is an a cappella group made up of 5 singers: Avi Kaplan, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Mitch Grassi. They won the third season of “The Sing Off” and are now world famous. I was thrilled to attend their concert at the Prudential Center on November 10th. The arena was packed with thousands of enthusiastic fans anxiously awaiting the group’s performance after the opening acts. Pentatonix began with one of their newer songs, “Cracked.” They started off singing in boxes that only showed their silhouette and performed many songs from their old and new albums,“Daft Punk Medley,” “Can’t Sleep Love,” and “Rose Gold” were some of my favorites. Also known for their covers of popular songs, the group sang “No” by Meghan Trainor, “Cheerleader” by OMI, “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber, and Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” As tribute to Leonard Cohen’s recent death, the group also sang a fantastic rendition of “Hallelujah.” What was most incredible about Pentatonix’s performance was the range of ability. Avi, the group’s bass singer, stunned the crowd with his insanely low notes while Mitch exercised his equally impressive high vocals. Kevin showed off his incredible talent by playing the cello while beatboxing and even though the concert was supposedly strictly a cappella, the crowd didn’t mind. Scott sang a song entirely in French and led many others alongside Kirstin. Pentatonix did not fail to impress anyone. People might wonder how an a cappella concert could be entertaining, but this group made sure it wasn’t an issue. They ended with an encore of two original songs. “SING” is an upbeat, fun song that usually closes their concerts; however, at this concert, they chose to end with their slow, soft song “Light in the Hallway.” The group sang this last piece without microphones, allowing their sound to resonate through the walls of the room. The chords of their voices coming together was one of the prettiest noises I have ever heard. If you haven’t yet listened to Pentatonix, they are definitely a group you should look out for. If you think a cappella music is boring and “ugly” sounding, PTX will definitely change your mind! writing by Rachel Wahba ‘17 right photo by Photo Club and top photo by Rachel Wahba ‘17

Kanye West’s Saint Pablo Tour The night brings an energy into this room and the stadium pounds with the veins of reckless youths. Everyone’s energy pours over one another, eating off of the spirit that craves its redeemer. I wait, we all do; we wait for him to come. We wait for a light to shine through the darkness of the abyss, for a beam to come down from the sky. The lights flash, but he’s not here just yet. Two hours, 1 hour, 57 minutes, then finally Souls get quitter, the crowd stands motionless. The night has come and all of our flowing energy condenses into this one tense moment. He has arrived. writing and photography by Sarah Issever ‘18

THINGS TO READ: SWING TIME BY ZADIE SMITH MOONGLOW BY MICHAEL CHABON KIDS OF APPETITE BY DAVID ARNOLD THE MAGICIANS BY LEV GROSSMAN THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR BY NICOLA YOON NICOTINE BY NELL ZINK THE STORIES OF BREECE D’J PANCAKE- BREECE D’J PANCAKE 2 A.M. AT THE CAT’S PAJAMAS BY MARIE- HELENE BERTINO THE GIRL ON THE FRIDGE BY ETGAR KERET THE NAMESAKE BY JHUMPA LAHIRI writing by Corrine Azizian ‘18 photography by Ilan Kogan ‘17 and Netanel Kamel ‘18 Sidenote: students of the Ramaz Upper School should speak to Rachel Russo ‘17, or Tamar Sidi ‘17 about joining Conflicts in Literature book club!

LITERATURE

THE BLUE MAKEUP TUTORIAL This RISE theme is all about our generation. As kids who spend the majority of our time in New York City: we live, breathe, and exist in a creative oasis. Earlier this year, I was listening to Troye Sivan’s album, Blue Neighborhood. I was in my room jammin’ to the sweet sound, wondering if all time could feel this way. That was when I decided to do a makeup tutorial inspired by exactly what I felt in that moment: cool and composed, yet out of control. The song I was specifically vibing to was “BLUE,” and so, that would be the central theme of my makeup look. I focused on a clean perimeter around the face, so that all the focus would be on the eyes. With a fresh canvas of the beautiful Sonia Dushey, and the aesthetic photography of Rachel Russo, I began to execute my vision. So, if you’re interested in wearing this look out on a night with your friends, or even on spirit day here at Ramaz- these are the exact steps you can do to achieve this look.

FEATURED 1.

Prepping: Primer is a must when it comes to makeup; your skin needs a shield so it doesn’t get damaged by all the glam added on top of it. I used Laura Mercier’s Hydrating Primer on Sonia.

Foundation: I use Too Faced’s “Born This Way” foundation; the coverage is just right for natural looking fabulous skin. (Cheaper Option: Lo’real Lumi Cushoin)

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Concealing and Highlighting: I highlighted Sonia’s T-Zone (forehead, nose, and chin) with Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer in Light. I also highlighted under the eyes in downward triangles to give a lifted effect and to erase any darkness. (Cheaper Option: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer) Contouring: I used Smashbox’s Step-By-Step contour stick in between the cheekbone and jaw line to add shadow to Sonia’s face. Cheaper Option: Covergirl Tru Blend Fixstick)

Setting and Baking: My favorite setting powder is Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder. I dusted it all over Sonia’s face but baked it under her eye in downward triangles. I do this with a wet beauty blender and really pounce it into the skin so there is no creasing or moving throughout the day.

Bronzing and Blushing: I used Kat Von D’s Shade and Light pallet to bronze and create definition on Sonia’s cheeks. As for blush, Sephora’s “Passionate” is my favorite. Remember: dust the blush in an outward motion towards the cheek bone so you don’t attract attention to the center of your face where your pores are most visible!

Strobing: Strobing is how we highlight the good stuff on our faces. I used Becca’s Shimmering Skin Perfector, in Opal, in a “C” shape from Sonia’s temple, to her cheek bone, hitting the brow bone while I was at it. I topped Becca’s pressed highlight, “Champaign Pop,” over it and added it to the bridge of her nose and cupid’s bow for added glam. (Cheaper Option: Wet N Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder)

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The eyes and eyebrows: Finally to the focus of this look! I used Sephora’s Collection Colorful Shadow & Liner in “My Boyfriend’s Jeans” all across Sonia’s eyelid and smoked it out with my finger and a blending brush. I then dabbed Sephora’s “Early Frost” Colorful Eyeshadow on the center of her eyelid to add dimension. Then I defined her brows with Anastasia Beverley Hill’s “Brow Wiz” in Ebony and set it with Glossier’s “Boy Brow” in Black. Lips: Because the eyes were so bold, I opted for a nude lip. I used Kylie Cosmetics “Literally” lip gloss. Setting once again: Setting Spray is the tool that will make your makeup last all day. It’s like hair spray for the face! I used Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray. And you’re done! Go out and be as edgy as you can. Enjoy! writing by Sarah Issever ‘18, photography by Rachel Russo ‘17, modeling by Sonia Dushey ‘17

LITTLE LISTS

Animated Movies of Our Generation - Shrek - Toy Story - Finding Nemo - Cars - Monsters Inc - The Incredibles - Ratatouille - Up - Ice Age - Lion king - Madagascar

R.I.P. Shows of Our Generation: - Drake and Josh - The Suite Life of Zack and Cody - That’s So Raven - Hannah Montana - Sister- Sister - Wizards of Waverly Place - Zoey 101 - iCarly - Victorious - Malcolm in the Middle - Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide - Everybody Hates Chris - Lizzie Mcguire - Lilo And Stitch - Kim Possible - The Fairly OddParents - The Proud Family - Cory in the House 50

The Games of Our Generation: - Hacky sack - PAC-MAN - Monopoly - Shoots and Ladders - Mancala - Jenga - Guess Who? - Twister - Mikado- pick up sticks - Operation - Battleships - Hungry Hippos - Connect 4

Most Popular Apps of Our Generation - Snapchat - Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - Uber - Spotify - Schoology - Pokemon Go - Youtube - Waze

writing by Anaelle Chetrit ‘17 photo by Mariah Hubert ‘17

CARROT CAKE Ingredients: 325g light muscovado sugar 25g plain flour 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda 2 teaspoons of baking powder 1 juiced orange 1 cup brown sugar 3 large eggs 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract 300 ml vegetable oil 300g of grated carrots 100g of raisins For the icing: 125g butter, softened 300g icing sugar 150 g full-fat cream cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla extract In a medium bowl, combine grated carrots and brown sugar. Set aside for 60 minutes, then stir in raisins.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 10 inch cake pans. In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Gradually beat in the oil and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, sugarm salt and cinnamon, stir into the wet mixture until absorbed. Finally stir in the carrot mixture. Pour evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. When completely cooled, frost with cream cheese frosting. writing by Anaelle Chetrit ‘17, below artwork by Arielle Hadad ‘17, top border by Danielle Bendavid ‘17

Anaelle Chetrit ‘17

FOOD HUEVOS RANCHEROS: 2 eggs Cheddar cheese Pinto beans Whole wheat tortilla For the guacamole: 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and diced ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves Hot sauce to taste 1 lime, juiced ½ white onion, chopped Kosher salt Scramble the eggs and mix in the cheese. Prepare the guacamole in a medium mixing bowl, add the diced avocados and mash with a fork until smooth but still chunky. Add the cilantro, hot sauce, lime juice, and onion and mix to combine. Season with salt. Top the eggs with pinto beans and guacamole and place over a whole wheat tortilla. AVOCADO TOAST 2 slices of toasted multigrain bread 1 mashed avocado 1 tbsp lemon juice 1-2 tsp tahini 1 splash of hot sauce Salt and pepper to taste Top with smoked salmon or an egg writing by Libby Silber ‘17 photo on the right by Sarah Issever ‘18

PSYCHOLOGY How to be Less Stressed with School Take a break, here are some ideas: • Try not to be last minute: Being caught up and up to date in classes, exams, and homework really helps. Having a breakdown at midnight because of an assignment due the next day is the worst. • Plan things out: Sticky notes, to-do lists, calendars— anything that works for you. Planning ahead helps to make you feel in control of the situation. • Do something fun: Treat yourself! When you’ve studied like crazy reward yourself with something you enjoy. Grab lunch, go for a run, bake some cookies, anything! It helps to shift your focus on something else for a short period of time. • SLEEP: A classic, but so important— get all the Zzz’s you can get. Everything seems worse when you’re tired. • Fake deadlines: One of the best tricks is to fake your deadlines. If a teacher assigned a paper at the beginning of a semester due on the 27th of March, write down that the deadline is March 24th. This will help with organizing your work ahead of time, and if something goes wrong, you’ll feel much better knowing that you are still three days ahead of everyone. If you still end up doing poorly, some recovery tips: • Don’t panic: When you get a bad grade it’s easy to freak out, but please, try not to. Panicking only adds stress and stress makes everything harder, (improving your grades included!) • Reflect: Ask yourself if there is a reason you got the bad grade? Was the class too difficult for you? Were you sick? Do you have too many after school activities? Was the teacher difficult to understand? There is a reason for bad grades and discovering the reason behind it will help you to improve. • Improve: Try to make the next semester, school year, test, etc. count. Take classes tailored for your learning level and do well. If it makes you feel better, colleges love to see improvement. They would much rather see an A or B grade in an easy class than a C or D in a harder class. It’s important to remember that mental health is more important than any class or extracurricular. • JUST KEEP SWIMMING: It really is not the end of the world. Yeah you got some bad grades, but so does everyone. You’re human. Everyone makes mistakes, just learn from them and move on. We are so much more than our grades and GPA. Go out with friends, watch a movie, go to the park. Keep moving forward, I promise you will get past this. Good luck! You got this! art by Sabrina Schochet ‘17 writing by Olivia Bourkoff ‘19 55

The Psychology of Our Generation In our day and age, social media plays a major factor in our lives; the obsession we exhibit towards it has psychological implications that are far greater than just being a time suck. Our generation’s love for posting pictures,”stories”, or statuses, stems from an inherent narcissism and desire for attention. People want others to know information about their lives, because it makes them feel like others actually care about them. Additionally, in our generation, people hate being alone and hate being bored. People follow each other on Social Media as a way to live vicariously through others; to gain access into another world and feel as if they too personally experience what others do. It is through social media that people create close connections, because this platform allows personal information about one’s life to be shared with many people. A person can place their own psychological fantasies, desires and wishes onto any person that they are keeping up with on social media, which is extremely satisfying. I decided to experiment by deleting Instagram and Snapchat on December 1st, so far I have found it rewarding and enjoyable to be without social media. I feel that I am now really connecting to people by texting or calling, not just feeling close to them because I scroll through their Instagram feed, or watch their Snapchat stories. The lack of knowledge from their social media accounts, I feel, has actually brought me closer to my friends. It’s as if a burden has been released and I no longer have to busy myself with that which has a negative effect on my life. writing by Alexandra Schreiber ‘17 artwork by Arielle Hadad ‘17 below photo by Rachel Russo ‘17

THE TALENT BOARD Featuring the artwork, poems, and stories of Ramaz’s creative student body The theme–

our generation

with writing & imagery inspired by it

poem by Hadassah Brenner ‘17 artwork by Lily Shams ‘17 previous photo by Noa Attias ‘18 next photo by Tamar Sidi ‘17

Photography Club

Tamar Sidi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;17

Tamar Sidi ‘17 left: Arielle Hadad ‘17

our generation