April 2017 // Issue #11
credits editor-in-chief/creator/designer: Sarah Kendric featured writers: Lauren Diaz, Meghan Priest featured photography: Elizabeth Kulesha featured artists: Tamsen Simpson, Lauren Diaz playlist coordinator: Tamsen Simpson
About: Sawyer is an online magazine for those interested in fashion and beauty, art, photography, pop culture, and life in New York. Each bi-monthly issue of Sawyer has a different theme, main idea, or point of inspiration. The theme this month is ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994). The writing, art, and photography you will see in this issue are centered around the movie, as well as the decade that it was filmed and set in (the 90’s). sawyermagazine.com / sawyermag@gmail.com fb: Sawyer Magazine / twitter: @sawyermag
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Table of Contents
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the new power suit what to watch on netflix a chance meeting + mentorship craziest milkshakes in NY quentin tarantino shop: graphic tees elizabeth kulesha, photographer mood board lockscreen / time travel
a letter from the editor I love ‘Pulp Fiction’ for many reasons, the primary one being that it tells an interesting story in an interesting way. Tarantino manages to craft a world of his own, and weaves viewers into it. He gives us a window into lives, which he intersects. While a large part of the story shows us the everyday lives of characters like hitmen, but we’re also able to see important moments: ones that change and end lives. However, while much of the movie is very dark in subject matter, the tone of the movie evens out the facts of the events. This juxtaposition of wit and violence is what makes ‘Pulp Fiction’ great. In fact, one of Tarantino’s main calling cards is his graphic use of violence, particularly gun violence. Because this is obviously a hotly debated and serious issue in our society, its hard to take depictions of the matter in movies (like ‘Pulp Fiction’) lightly. However, a separate debate about the depiction of violence for the sake of art is also a prevalent one. Many claim that presenting gun violence in movies is a way to shine light on their consequences, but another popular argument is that showing violence is the equivalent of allowing violence and accepting it as a part of our society. My other favorite thing about ‘Pulp Fiction’ is the artistry of the visuals. Tarantino presents us with images that are now iconic. His selective use of bright colors (like the red dot of marker drawn on Mia’s chest) is so memorable. The explosion of color and light in the Jack Rabbit Slim scene is just as appealing, especially when mixed with saccharine nostalgia and the oddity of the dance sequence (which I love). My hope for this issue is that I manage to capture some of ‘Pulp Fiction’s’ eccentricity and creativity. Until next time!
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w
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Jules Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson)
u l P P
A hitman, cool under pressure and good at his job. After a brush with death, he decides to reevaluate his life and retires. His is a biblical story of moral redemption.
Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman)
Marsellus’ wife: powerful, confident, and addicted to coke. When Marsellus leaves town and assigns Vincent to take her out for dinner, she choses a 50’s-themed restaurant that Vincent describes as a ‘living wax museum.’ She accidentally snorts Vincent’s heroin, she OD’s, making Vincent’s night considerably more complicated.
Vincent Vega (John Travolta)
Jule’s partner, a loyal man, and a heroin addict. While he maintains a cool demeanor, he doesn’t handle pressure with the same grace as Jules. Many of Vega’s critical moments in the film are linked to his entrances and exits from bathrooms.
Fabienne
(Maria de Medeiros)
Butch’s girlfriend, adoring of him and innocent.
Brett (Frank Whaley)
While the backstory of Brett and his friends is uncertain, we do know that he crosses Marsellusand we definitely all know how that ends.
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Lance and Jody
(Eric Stoltz, Rosanna Arquette)
Friends of Jules’ who are able to revive Mia after her overdose.
o n i F c t i Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) Butch is a boxer with a prized possession: a gold watch that was once his greatgrandfather’s, passed down to him by a soldier from his father’s POW camp. Things take a turn for the heroic in Butch’s story when he rescues another character from a brutal assault.
the title ‘Pulp Fiction’ refers to ‘pulp’ magazines, known for their storylines of crime, violence, and sharp dialogue. The movie connects three main stories, each concerning 1 of the 3 protagonists: Vincent, Butch, and Jules. They're presented out of chronological order, but intersect throughout the film.
Ringo and Yolanda (Tim Roth, Amanda Plummer)
Small-time criminals who affectionately call each other ‘Pumpkin’ and ‘Honey Bunny,’ respectively.
Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames)
Captain Koons
(Christopher Walken)
A fellow POW with Butch’s father, the man who passes down the golden watch to a young Butch.
Boss of Vincent and Jules, and linked to every main character. He’s a tough, smart dealer and crime boss. While he faces many challenges throughout the film, his most difficult day is undoubtedly when he becomes a victim of rape. Luckily, vengeance is his specialty.
Winton “the Wolf” Wolfe (Harvey Keitel)
Marsellus Wallace’s fixer, with a demeanor so cool he makes Vincent and Jules look like melted ice.
Esmarelda Villalobos (Angela Jones)
Jimmie (Quentin Tarantino)
A friend of Jules’ who helps him out when in a jam, much to his own annoyance.
A cab driver fascinated with death. She drives home Butch and reveals that he is the first person she’s met who has killed somebody.
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7 st a hear
l gabrie
victoria beckham
nta oscar de la re
man
zimmer
retna
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lela rose
thom br owne
dion lee


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What to Watch on Netflix This Month by Sarah Kendric 1. Moonrise Kingdom (2012) This quirky, poignant Wes Anderson is food for the creative brain. The stunning cinematography takes on an essential role in this story, which is centered around precocious young love and adventure in 1965. I personally found it to be so subtle, clever and charming.
2. Abstract: the Art of Design (2017) This 8-part Netflix documentary highlights the stories of artists (one per episode) in fields such as illustration. It has a ‘day in the life’ kind of feel, and any artist would appreciate learning more about the thought and execution behind design. The editing is also extremely creative, and gives the documentary plenty of exciting visuals.
3. No Tomorrow (2016) ‘No Tomorrow’ delves into the life of a doomsday theorist certain of the apocalypse and dedicated to living life to the fullest. When I first started the series, I had it pegged for a cheesy carpe diem comedy. While the message to ‘seize the day was certainly abundant, it quickly became one of my favorite new things to binge watch, and I was genuinely sad when I reached the end. Unfortunately, the series was not renewed for a second season by the CW.
4. Chicago (2002) As a Broadway fanatic since practically birth, I have always been aware of Chicago and relatively familiar with the story and some of the songs. However, when the movie version became available on Netflix, I was able to officially watch- and get hooked. Set in the 20’s, Chicago deals with corruption in the criminal justice system and the competitive nature of stardom. It manages to capture the excitement of a live musical, and the editing adds another layer of storytelling.
5. Superbad (2007) This irreverent late-night comedy follows two best friends (Jonah Hill and Michael Cera) as they set out to get booze and girls. It feels so true to life, and will definitely surprise you with a pretty solid plot and sharp, funny dialogue.
6. Midnight In Paris (2011) This movie stars Owen Wilson as a writer on vacation in Paris who travels back in time to the 1920’s. which he believes to be a cultural golden age. It’s funny and loaded with literary and art references of several eras past, and provides interesting insights about nostalgia.
a chance meeting: me + my mentor by: Lauren Diaz It was a hot August afternoon and my mom and I were going to spend the day in NYC. I wanted to show her all of my favorite paintings at the Met and MoMA, take her to lunch, and explore any interesting place we could find. The two of us went all over the city and we had the absolute best day. As it was coming to an end, she suggested we visit Mood (the famous fabric store on Project Runway) before our trip home. We almost didn't go, as it was an hour before closing time, but deciding to walk in was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was my first time there, and as Project Runway's biggest fan all I wanted to do was jump for joy, run around, and pet their french bulldog, Swatch. As I was looking at some lace I heard a familiar voice; as I turned my head around I could see that it was Helen Castillo, one of my biggest inspirations and favorites on the show. Her eye for detail and beautiful construction had always mesmerized me. I was immediately star-struck and was too afraid to go over myself and say something. Luckily, another family went over and allowed me to seize my opportunity. I mustered up the courage to tell her how big of an influence she's had on me as a designer and she explained that she runs one on one mentoring sessions and that she would love for me to sign up for some. I was speechless, many people don't even get to meet their idols once and I had the pleasure to go a second time. Since that meeting I go to Helen's studio every Saturday morning for class, and she's shared immense amounts of knowledge about drawing the fashion figure, draping, sewing, dierent fabrics, and developing collections. There is something really special about having a mentor who you trust and value as a friend as well; she is someone I can count on to give me extremely honest advice, push me to be my best everyday, and work with me through things I struggle with until I get them right. Helen has given me so many amazing creative assignments during our sessions that have taught me so much like market research at upscale clothing stores, creating and labeling fabric swatch book, and designing garments from mood boards that don't have to do with clothing at all! Since going, I have seen a significant improvement in the caliber of my work and have developed more of a prominent voice as a designer. In February I even got to help out at her New York Fashion Week event, I got to work behind the scenes in setting up, dressing the models, and viewing the work of professional stylists and makeup artists. Helen has been a tremendous influence on my life in more ways than one, and I couldn't picture my life without her. ★
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where to find 5 of the
529 Broome St., 10013 / 248 W. 14th St., 10011 Of all the crazy milkshake joints in the city, Black Tap is definitely the most popular. Their shakes have gotten an enormous amount of attention in the city- and for good reason. Their confections are not only extravagant, but delicious.
33-01 31st Ave. Astoria, 11102 Besides their American bistro food and allday brunch, Mom’s is known for their 5 ‘Bigmouth’ shakes, which are piled high with whipped cream and toppings like slices of cake.
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67 Clinton St, New York, 10002 When it comes to shakes, the Burgary offers up chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and a ‘daily special’ with a side of atmosphere.
263 West 19th Street 10011 Four signature shakes, including “Killa Vanilla” and “Death by Chocolate.” Everything- including the outside of the glass- is sugar-coated with icing and other treats, like cereal and cookies.
260 E Park Ave, Long Beach, NY 11561 If you really want a unique shake experience, venture outside of the city to Diner by the Sea. They create special tie-dye milkshakes topped with toys. Yes, you read that right.
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QUENTIn
TARANTINO What a Guy. While he is one of the most noteworthy directors in the business, Quentin Tarantino was not always as successful as he is now. In fact, he was a high school dropout. Instead of studying, Tarantino could almost always be found watching movies or reading comics. After desperately wanting to be an actor, he decided he knew enough about movies to make his own. He went through years of making mediocre films with friends, followed by years of scriptwriting, before he began to write the script for “Pulp Fiction”. Tarantino went through several drafts with innumerable grammar mishaps, but in 1994, the movie hit theaters in a big way. Tarantino’s movies are easily recognizable, usually because of his signature use of violence and wit (which is evident throughout “Pulp Fiction”). There is no doubt that Tarantino uses violence in his work to better tell a story and keep it real, which has been both criticized and admired for decades. Many people accredit acts of violence in our world to
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the violent movies, shows, and games that have arguably desensitized some, but Tarantino claims there is no correlation between the cinemas and current events.
This
argued connection between violence in movies and in our world is the source of the bulk of criticism Tarantino faces. He argues, “Novelists have always had complete freedom to pretty much tell their story any way they saw fit. And that’s what I’m trying to do.”
While he views violence in movies as “cool,”
Tarantino has an opposition to violence in real life, and will no longer answer questions about in interviews. Despite the controversy that comes with Tarantino’s unique style of directing and writing, these movies have become timeless classics with a large cult following. In addition, his story of ‘high school dropout to Hollywood director’ inspires many. by:
Meghan Priest
twitter: @PriestMeghan / ig: @meghanpriest
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collage by
Tamsen Simpson want to submit to Sawyer? Send artwork, writing, etc to sawyermag@gmail.com!
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left: sarah kendric / right: lauren diaz
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@lizkul
photographer Sawyer Magazine / 24
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a tumblr-style “10 Things” collage…take a screenshot and make it your lock screen if you love the movie and our April issue! (made to fit iPhone 6) -by sk
your new lock screen
time travel: 1994
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