June 2017 // Issue #12
credits editor-in-chief/creator/designer: Sarah Kendric featured writers: Queen Moody, Lauryn Oliver featured artist: Tamsen Simpson 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 ‘The Craft’ (1996). 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 7
what to watch on netflix
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on: channeling thirst for power
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feminism, activism, and w.i.t.c.h.e.s.
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special effects peaked in the 90’s
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shop: teenage witch
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emoji spells
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mood board
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welcome to salem
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lock screen
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time travel: 1996
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letter from the editor Every 90’s alt girl is familiar with ‘the Craft’ (1996). It tells the story of Sarah, a telekinetic new student at a Catholic prep school who befriends a trio of amateur witches: Nancy, Rochelle, and Bonnie. Their coven is completed by the addition of a fourth person, and their powers develop significantly. The girls use their powers for personal gain: Nancy pulls her family out of poverty, Rochelle gets revenge on a racist bully, and Bonnie heals the scars that cover her body. The girls’ powers cause them to get sucked into this downward spiral, and their spells lead to their demise.
While their ‘girl gang’ celebrated unity and sisterhood at times, they failed to extend their love to others. We can learn from their mistakes in an indirect way by using our ‘powers’ (so to speak) of education, platform, etc to help others. In a time of social and political tension, its more important than ever to be kind and spread positivity. Being unconditionally pleasant is in no way simple or easy, but it is undeniably important.
Summer is the perfect time to incorporate mood-boosting practices such as meditation into your daily routine. When your energy is positive, its obvious and infectious. Find some time throughout these first two months of summer to treat yourself, your loved ones, and people in your life who you think could use a little extra love. Sending you major good-witch vibes!
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schouler
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What 2 watch on netflix this month
SK
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Girl Boss (2017-) Girl boss loosely tells the story of Sophia Amoruso, a self-professed #girlboss and the founder of popular retailer Nasty Gal. The show is full of cool vintage clothes, fun characters, and of course, plenty of Nasty Gal spirit. Sadly, Nasty Gal filed for bankruptcy under Amoruso in 2016, which cast a sad and semi-prophetic undertone to the show. The adventures of Sophia (the fictionalized version, at least), are still enjoyable nonetheless.
The Get Down (2016-) The latest from Baz Lurhmann , The Get Down is set in 1970’s Bronx and tells the story of young friends at the forefront of the hip hop movement. The ‘Get Down Brothers’ truly are a brotherhood of friends/talented musicians navigating their way through young love, the music industry, and the challenges of becoming adults. The setting is so rich and real, and there’s an abundance of incredible costumes, locations, and kickass songs.
Chewing Gum (2015-) This British hit is written by and stars Michaela Coel, who hilariously portrays a virgin looking to learn more about sex and the world, despite the limitation of her strange and religious family. The weird characters and storylines make this sitcom unpredictable and funny, and its focus on the awkward, funny side of sex and the lives of those in poverty give it purpose.
The Last 5 Years (2015) The Last Five Years began as an acclaimed musical with Norbert Leo Butz and Sherie Rene Scott as Jamie and Cathy, the only two characters. This movie adaptation successfully weaves together the story of the couple (played by broadway star Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick), who meet, marry, and divorce in the span of- you guessed it- five years. The beauty in the Last Five Years is the way in which it is told. The characters take turns telling the story through song, with Jamie moving in order of events and Cathy moving in reverse chronological order. Their timelines intersect in the middle for the event of their marriage.
Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life (2016) This lighthearted comedy series revolves around the exploits of Cooper Barrett and his loyal friends as they navigate the business world and relationships post-college. The semi-aware narration and hard-tobelieve escapades read as a grown-up version of ‘Ned’s Declassified.’ Even so, it’s an quick, easy watch and an overall good time.
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why do WITCHcraft when u can do ARTS & crafts?
In T well, powe
The why such a not just artistical goth vibe dramatized
It’s feeling o motivation because of
In Th their spel want more.
@sarahkendric
Dopam than destr it), we ca it’s an photograph SoulCycle!
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Dopam focus on you are yo yourself a
The Craft, a group of teen girls get addicted to the power of, ers.
term “cult film” has a double meaning here. There’s a reason a wacky movie is still engaging viewers decades later, and it’s t because the 90s was the era that could do no wrong lly. Honestly, apart from us digging the aesthetic and weirde, we come back to it because it is, in its own cinematically d way, relatable.
DOPAMINE, ladiez! The hormone of POWER, and all of which the of power casts a spell on: addiction, attention, love, lust, n. Basically, everything you do that you want to do, you do f this notorious neurohormone.
he Craft, the girls come back for more occult shenanigans after lls start to work. AKA they got what they wanted, and now they . Like that time you just had to have one more piece of cake or had to buy those shoes you can’t afford or had to text your ex who at one point in time might’ve reciprocated the love. Logically, you know that giving into these impulses will not satisfy you. You’ll only feel good for a second. Instant gratification. Then you’ll wake up the next day, and you’ll be forced back to reality: you’ll be bloated and lethargic, or you’ll be even more of a broke bitch than you were before, or you’ll remember that you’re so alone oh my god. The Craft is more real than you’d think. Everyone has their vice, their dumping ground for dopamine. We all need at least one, we’re human! Dilemma: do we make it a landfill or a compost? Clog the earth or grow a garden?
mine doesn’t have to be our downfall (sorry, Nancy). Rather roying ourselves just to catch a glimpse of it (before dropping an hold on to it by creating! By building ourselves up! Whether artistic activity like drawing, music-ing, painting, hing, writing, etc, or any kind of physical activity (I love !), the beauty is in finding what it is that works for you!
mine is not meant to be an escape; it’s meant to be fuel to the present. By regularly doing what’s best for you (because our brain), you can enjoy being here and learn to have fun with anywhere. No need to fight nature, live it to love it! ✦ by: Queen Moody IG: @livqueenmoody // Twitter: @LIVQUEENMOODY Sawyer Magazine / 10
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In the 1960’s, the Women's Liberation Movement was in full force. The expectation that women’s work was in the household was cracked, and many women were beginning to continue their education in college. ‘The Feminine Mystique’ had been read, the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) was created, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. Still, the fight for social change was (and still is, in many ways) far from over. Enter W.I.T.C.H. The acronym stood for a number of names, including ‘Women’s International Troublemaker’s Conspiracy from Hell’ and ‘Women Inspired to Tear down Constructs of Hate.’ The group was officially born on Halloween, 1968 in New York City. It was composed of socialist feminists, who differed from radical feminists in that they believed in addressing a wide range of social issues instead of placing all of their focus on disassembling the patriarchy. A political group rather than a spiritual one, they aligned themselves with many leftist bases such as the Black Liberation Movement and the Anti-War Movement. The group worked tirelessly to battle oppression through “witty, flamboyant, and theatrical” acts against male dominance in society. They adopted the imagery and appearance of witches as their calling card, so to speak. As religious studies scholar Cynthia Eller stated: "The most significant aspect of W.I.T.C.H. was its choice of central symbol: the witch. By choosing this symbol, feminists were identifying themselves with everything women were taught not to be: ugly, aggressive, independent, and malicious. Feminists took this symbol and molded it - not into the fairy tale "good witch," but into a symbol of female power, knowledge, independence, and martyrdom.” Examples of W.I.T.C.H. activism included ‘hexing’ the New York Financial District by sealing the locks and doors shut with glue (which, notably, caused the Dow Jones Industrial Average to decline the following day). They questioned female patrons of restaurants as to why they let men buy them food and protested bridal fairs and beauty pageants with signs, chants, appearance, and presence. It has also been noted that W.I.T.C.H. was not anti-male, but anti-patriarchy. One of W.I.T.C.H.’s most prominent members was Robin Morgan, a former child tv star. Although she later dismissed the movement, her presence was once crucial and she was quoted as saying: “I’ve never been a man hater, though I’ve been pretty damn furious with men, many times. When I get angry at a man or at men, it’s because I think they’re capable of change. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t waste my anger on them.” W.I.T.C.H. had mostly dissolved by the 1970’s, but its ideals spread into pockets of many cities where smaller ‘covens’ were created. Today, the group is experiencing a new wave as women thirst for change and action. While none of its large scale protests have taken place yet, its spirit of non-conformity, female strength, and political activism are still very much alive. ✷
art/article: Sarah Kendric Sawyer Magazine / 12
Special Effects Peaked in the 90s:
Why Fewer Computer Graphics Make for Better Movies The introduction of CGI, or computer generated images, was a huge milestone for the film industry. 2D CGI was first used in movies in 1973's Westworld. An increase in the exposure of CGI changed 90s movies and shows as we knew them. CGI allowed for the depiction of things that would otherwise be impossible. In Jurassic Park (1993), filmmakers were able to create dinosaurs as well as the objects they destroyed through 3D CGI. DreamWorks would not have been able to produce everyone’s favorites, i.e. Toy Story (1995) and the Nintendo game SuperMario64 without the creation of CGI. Iconic sci-fi films like Terminator 2 Judgement Day (1991), Men in Black (1997), and The Matrix (1999) would not be the same without the fancy computer works used to recreate these astounding images of aliens or thrilling battle scenes. Even the Titanic in 1997 recreated realistically flowing water through computer graphics. CGI continued to evolve in some epic ways. Directors became able to depict supernatural powers, fictional creatures, dramatic backdrops and more that were not available prior to the advancements in computer technology. Unfortunately, the accessibility of computer graphics is being abused in the present-day film industry. The use of CGI in modern movies has become quite problematic to some of the hardcore movie lovers. It has become evident that beauty and impressing the viewer is unfortunately being prioritized over believability. It feels as if the more detailed the image, the more forced it can appear. When CGI is overused it loses its realistic feeling and becomes distracting to the most important part of the movie: the plot. Filmmakers try to create interest with more explosions rather than leaving that to the story, setting, plot, and character development. It’s taking over production time, budgets, and even replacing real characters. If the amount of resources spent on CGI was put toward hiring better writers or creating cooler set designs, we’d have better cinema. Personally, I have come to consider the reliance on computer generated images as lazy and will always prefer the Hollywood films that aren’t drowning in overdone graphics.
by: Lauryn Oliver ig: @lauryn.oliver twitter: @laurynoliver24
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shop: teenage witch ★ click stars to buy ★
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đ&#x;Œ&#x; đ&#x;•Ż quick guide to emoji spellsđ&#x;•Ż đ&#x;Œ&#x; đ&#x;Œż emoji spells, a takeoff on traditional sigil symbol spells, rose to popularity among modern, online witches in 2015/16. Here’s how to get started:đ&#x;Œż 1. ground yourself and focus on your breathing and energy. Encircle yourself by imagining a circle or sphere on the ground around you 2. set a specific intention. Add details and avoid 3. choose emojis that represent your intention 4. cast the spell • whereas traditional spells are casted with words and chants, emoji spells are casted by sending, sharing, and posting them. If you don't feel comfortable sharing your spell, you could even dm it to yourself. The more a spell is liked or shared, the more power it has. • optional: bookend spells with crystal ball emojis (this is also a form of encircling!) • try casting spells for focus, inviting love and positivity into your life, strengthening friendships, sleep, safety, unbinding‌ its all up to you and your wants/needs! 5. if you choose, release your circle of protection by clapping your hands and stating that it is now open. đ&#x;Œœ some popular emoji spells (as seen on tumblr):đ&#x;Œ› đ&#x;•Żđ&#x;Œ&#x;đ&#x;Œˆđ&#x;’&#x;đ&#x;’–♈đ&#x;•Ż
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“I invite positive energies and love into my life and relationships.� @pojkke
đ&#x;”Žđ&#x;Œ™âœ¨đ&#x;?źđ&#x;?‘đ&#x;“–✨đ&#x;Œ™đ&#x;”Ž â? a calming sleep spell to help you get some rest because you deserve it. â? @athamerror
đ&#x;Œ™âœ¨đ&#x;”—âš”đ&#x;’•đ&#x;’–đ&#x;’•âš”đ&#x;”—✨đ&#x;Œ™ emoji spell to improve and strengthen your relationship with your significant other. @emojispellz
đ&#x;“–đ&#x;‘ đ&#x;Œ&#x;đ&#x;’Ąâœ¨đ&#x;•Żâœ¨đ&#x;’Ąđ&#x;Œ&#x;đ&#x;‘ đ&#x;“– maintaining focus spell to help obtain a healthy state of attentiveness. @la-petitefille
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collage by:
want to submit to Sawyer? Send artwork, writing, etc to sawyermag@gmail.com!
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a tumblr-style “The Craft” collage…take a screenshot and make it your lock screen if you love the movie and our June issue! (made to fit iPhone 6) -by sk
your new lock screen
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