The Spirit 2018 Valentine Edition

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

SP I R I T =TH

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SPORTS The End of the Drought: A PAC Basketball

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LIFE STUDENT est Tales of a B r che Friend: Tea Edition

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Athlete Power Couples Rachel Kahng Staff Reporter With February 14th just around the corner, people worldwide are thinking of exchanging gifts, flowers, and chocolate with their loved ones. After all, Valentine’s Day is the classic opportunity to appreciate family and spend time with a beloved companion.

But when it comes to Valentine’s Day, we are reminded of more than simply romance, secret admirers, and love letters. To the athlete couples out there, sports is just as worthwhile as any other aspect of a relationship.

Varsity volleyball player Tara Kim (12) was on the return trip from an away game when she met fellow volleyball player Justin Kung (10) at a rest stop. The two instantly clicked and demonstrated their shared passion for sports through early conversations about teams, seasons, and games. After the fall season ended, Justin and Tara immediately engaged in their respective winter sports, basketball and cheerleading. Even with the brutal time commitment sports may require, Tara explains how “because of our similar schedules, it’s easy to make plans after games or practices.” In addition, the couple has learned to study together at near-

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

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Henry Kim Staff Reporter

photo courtesy: doyoon won

The CNN Freedom Project Admittedly, upon entering this year’s CNN Freedom Project fashion show, I was initially quite lost. And a little confused.

The only experience I’ve had with fashion was when I helped my mom decide what to wear when she went out for dinner, so when I heard that one of the seniors (the elusive Jules Lee) was holding a fashion show, I thought of the divas on the catwalk in the magazines my dear mother always uses for reference. The sixty-thou hoodies the show

ARTS To Group 6 Extended Essay Writers

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by cafes to manage school assignments and time with each other. “Another great thing about both playing sports is how we’re able to relate with each other,” she continues. Being aware of each other’s busy agendas urges them to pursue their relationship with understanding and appreciation.

Despite the time that has passed since Tara and Justin have met, they say “even now, much of our relationship revolves around sports.” By cheering one another on during games, they have discovered traits about each other that continue to inspire them during their own sports competitions. Justin expresses how Tara’s positive attitude motivates him on the court as “no matter how tired or frustrated she might be, she is constantly providing encouragement for her teammates.” Likewise, Tara reveals that “Justin always gives his team his all until the end, even when he’s not having the best game,” prompting her to undertake the same mindset.

Furthermore, varsity soccer players Matt Rempel (12) and Mafe Creazzo (12) first noticed each other during their sophomore year in world history class but officially met during a saturday soccer program soon after. ... continued on page 3

Jeremy Choi Staff Reporter

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

sold outside of the Blackbox, furthermore, didn’t help clear matters for me, either (What are these things and why are they the next Supreme?) Upon further examination, though, I was surprised to see that this fashion show, as a matter of fact, was an integral force in addressing one of the most pressing social issues of today—modern day slavery.

“Holding events like this where people are able to donate incentivizes bigger organizations to do [more] work. Small efforts can make big differences,” said Clara and Jaesun (9), the volunteers at the front desk.

photo courtesies: clamer studios

... continued on page 6

I love you. I love.

Love. It’s a word that is earth-shatteringly profound, a word that goes beyond the chemical reactions that science snootily claims it to be. It doesn’t even have to be romantic nor familial; you can love anything or anyone. Yet, it’s only when modern media takes that with a pound of salt and irreverently sticks it into every facet of our culture that the word love becomes diluted.

Most sensible adults don’t say “I love you” to a person they’ve gone on a casual date or two with. It conveys a certain level of seriousness and honesty that only serves to make both parties uncomfortable if insincerely spoken. After all, the “L-word” is usually reserved for a tried and tested relationship of commitment, not a fling that has a place only in superficiality. It’s the trials of finding love that breaks the picturesque, frankly naive view of romance being flawless. Despite my teenage angst rebelling against the notion that adults have their love lives all figured out, I have to begrudgingly admit that time carries a wisdom of its own.

However in a high school setting, relationships have no choice but to be laughably short. Any student would be hard-pressed to show the vulnerability necessary in saying “ I love you” without having the threat of college shoved down their throat; being at an international school clearly doesn’t make things better.

This is further compounded by the casual variations of ‘I love you’ such as ‘lit’ and ‘bae’, closest friends and loved one respectively. Forgive me for sounding ancient, but that’s a complete degradation of the emotional heritage of English, or any language for that matter. Honestly, in spite of current slang being the child of the openly promiscuous times of “netflix-and-chilling and smashing,” all we’re doing is avoiding commitment. ... continued on page 4

the spirit: Co-Editors-in-Chief: Michelle Yun and Andrew Chung News: Alyssa Choi Sports: Janet Lee Student Life: Daniel Hahm Opinions: Sarah Pyo Arts: Janice Hahn and Joan Gwak Design: Ashley Won and Ina Kim Advisor: Ms. Susan Kong

Scattered throughout this issue are Valentine messages submitted by our very own SFHS students. As you peruse our February issue, be on the lookout for some cute, uplifting, lovey-dovey compliments and confessions. We’ve blanked out the names for privacy reasons, but feel free to imagine these messages as addressed to you— our lovely reader—instead! (At least, we know that’s what we’ll be doing.)

Your Co-Editors-in-Chief, Andrew Chung and Michelle Yun

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SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS

Alyssa Choi News Editor Email|alyssa.choi.18@seoulforeign.org

Breaking Up With Homeroom Sydney Chun Staff Reporter From the vantage point of a Student Council member, the atmosphere within the school function is and has always been one of compassion and warmth. But there’s no denying that relationships between members are put to the test when the annual elections roll around. Tension between candidates for a position is inevitable; stress and exhaustion trail behind them until the last vote has been counted.

As the high school transitions from one building to the next, Student Council is to undergo radical changes regarding the way it functions, and it all begins with the student schedule: homeroom will no longer exist in its original form, and such an elimination ultimately abolishes the position of homeroom representatives. Hence, elections this year will be only for executive positions; this includes those running for both entire school executives and class executives.

As the lack of homeroom representatives would cut the number of Student Council members by nearly half, the possibilities of filling those empty spaces are endless; however, the ways in which these spaces can be filled will be further discussed after election

season. These tentative positions, if created, will be introduced when the new high school building is constructed.

One of the primary reasons why homerooms will be discontinued is because of the idea of fostering inclusion, as mentioned

by Mr. Holcomb during Community Time.

However, as such an initiative ultimately jeopardizes the chance of many students being in the Student Council next year, the removal of homerooms has resulted in some backlash.

The addition of potential positions opens up more possibilities to instill diversity and creativity into the Student Council, and those wishing to instigate change in the high school are highly encouraged to run for a position.

“If you’re a person who has a true vision for this school and has concrete solutions for the many flaws present, it will be worth trying for a position,” Geo Yoo (10) said thoughtfully. “For me, I’ve always viewed SFS as a place that has a lot of good values, but greatly lacks communication between the administration and the students, so I work to change that.”

Another member of the Sophomore Student Council commented on his experience of running for a position. “At first, elections seemed like another burden amid all course-

work and commitments,” Jason Whang (10) shrugged, smiling. “Remembering the purpose, however, made the experience worthwhile because standing up for the student body is what I am passionate about.”

Evident by the new changes to positions

this year, it is clear that next year’s Student Council will function quite differently. But with a capable and responsible team that has the heart to serve, it is possible that the difficult transition from one building to another will be a smooth one.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: LIGUN RHI

APAC Forensics: A Hidden Gem Your New Obsession: Brian Son Staff Reporter A barely audible din of excited voices pervades the atmosphere as students and coaches from nine different international schools fill the auditorium. It is the last day of APAC, and everyone is gathering for the closing ceremony, hoping to walk out with a gold medal on their chest. This isn’t APAC Swimming, Basketball or Soccer. It is the slightly more obscure, yet highly competitive APAC Forensics competition.

The term “forensics” in this context comes from the National Speech and Debate Association, which was formerly known the National Forensics League. In forensics, there are a wide range of events available to students, including Solo Acting, Impromptu, Oral Interpretation, Extemporaneous, Original Oratory, and Parliamentary Debate. Each of these events ranges from theatrical performances to formal current event speeches, making it appealing to a wide range of students.

This year, Seoul Foreign High School had the opportunity to compete in APAC Forensics at Concordia International School of

PHOTO COURTESY: MR. MCMILLAN

Shanghai. This year’s Forensics team had quite the number of ‘newbies,’ with seven new members — six freshmen and one sophomore. Although the team as a whole did not place in the top tier ranking at the competition, two SFS students made it notably far. Christine Park, a new sophomore member, made it to the Solo Acting Finals with her emotionally charged performance of a scene from the play The Train Driver by Athol Fugard while Johanna Kleinert, a new freshman member, made it to the Oral Interpretation Finals with her hilariously insightful take on an excerpt from the memoir “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir”

by Jenny Lawson.

Dongkyu Choi, a “veteran” junior that competed in APAC Forensics for the third time this year, expressed that “though the competition was tough, our team was always there to support us, and I felt united within my team. [. . .] We bonded and created permanent memories throughout this trip.” To Dongkyu, APAC Forensics is much more than just an academic competition — and as a member of the team myself, I have to agree.

Whether it was the experience of hanging out with my homestay in the evenings or dreading over an extemporaneous speech on a current event topic I had never heard of before, I definitely also feel that I’ve grown not just as a scholar but also as a person. Being part of such a team and gruelling through a myriad of obstacles together to eventually reach our goal at the competition taught me how you, I, and all of us are part of something much bigger — and to not be afraid of that but rather, appreciate and value it.

Lastly, as the team has already begun to prepare for next year’s competition, it is always excited to see new faces – so whether you’re an experienced rising junior who’s passionate for current events or a freshman just looking for a way to hone your acting skills, keep in mind that APAC Forensics may just be that perfect outlet for your academic, creative, and personal self!

Max Baskin Staff Reporter Like the great stock markets of yore, cryptocurrency exchanges are where a rapidly increasing percentage of the global invests, and loses money.

In case you haven’t noticed, “Cryptos” like Bitcoin and Ethereum have been in the news for the past several months. As virtual currencies backed by no country in particular, they were once primarily used by those who wished to transfer money internationally without using the US dollar. They have also been used as a method of payment in notorious viruses such as the WannaCry hack and other ransomwares.

Online currencies change in value much faster than conventional currencies, which has recently led to waves of amateur traders buying and selling the curren-

cies for a quick buck. Bitcoin in particular recently topped out at an unILLUSTRATION ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: COURTESY: believable JEEYOUNG JEEYOUNG WHANG WHANG $19000 per coin, making millionaires out of those who bought the currency back when it was in the low hundreds.

South Korea has been in thrall to the trend in recent months. With 11.3 percent of 15-to-29-year-olds in the nation unemployed, buying and selling cryptos have become an alternative source of income for many young Koreans. More than 30 percent of 941 office workers surveyed by Saramin, a Korean job portal, said they traded cryptocurrencies. In January, South Korea alone accounted for 15 percent of global bitcoin trading.

However, that statistic may change. On January 4th, South Korea’s Justice Minister

2 | FEBRUARY 2018

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Park Sang-gi stated that a bill was being prepared to ban cryptocurrency trading nationwide, due to widespread concern over the practice’s similarities to “gambling”. This statement sent prices of Bitcoin and Ethereum reeling, with Bitcoin going down more than 12 percent.

Although this plan was later stopped by South Korea’s finance minister Kim Dongyeon the damage was done. The bitcoin downturn, already in motion by the time of the announcement, accelerated, leaving the exchange rate at 8000 USD and falling at the time of writing.

Cryptocurrency has advanced from the deep web to the public spotlight in the span of a few short months. Although for some it is no more than dangerous gambling, for others, it is as legitimate a source of income as trading stocks. With South Korea making up such a large part of the global crypto market, its government’s policy will ultimately affect the entire world’s position on virtual currencies. With prices still fluctuating wildly, the drama of Bitcoin and other blockchains is not over yet. _____... i think i’ve fallen for you... and no matter how hard I try... i just can’t get myself up... today is a special day and i would love to spend it with you...

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

SPORTS

Janet Lee Sports Editor Email|janet.lee.18@seoulforeign.org

Athlete Power Duel from the Pool: APAC Swimming tion of a multi-day meet started to set in. who have always supported the swimmers: Couples Daniel Ahn My 100m individual medley that day was our careers have been made possible by you: Contributing Writer

Rachel Kahng Staff Reporter (... continued from front page) The pair had plenty to talk about as not only are they both Brazilian, but they also share the same enthusiasm for soccer. Hence, naturally, they tend to spend time together by playing the sport. Another perk is the support they demonstrate for each other. “Matt believes in me when I don’t believe in myself,” Mafe pointed out. “He inspires me to improve myself as a player and as a person” she adds. Meanwhile, Matt admires Mafe’s strong work ethic on the field and in the classroom. He recognizes how “her willpower makes it impossible to see an obstacle and even start to think about giving up.” There’s no doubt that their positive, fearless attitudes influence each other on and off the field.

As Tara and Justin put it, “our relationship would definitely not be the same without sports.” Regardless of the hackneyed phrase, sports really does have the power to bring people together. It’s clear that sports can produce relationships worth celebrating on Valentine’s Day.

One, we are crusaders.

Two, a little bit louder, Three, we still can’t hear you, Four, more, more, MORE! The day was Wednesday, January 31st.

The team felt a mix of the classic pre-APAC nerves and the tiredness that comes with a 6:45AM bus departure. Brief snacks (Delimarché sandwiches, anyone?) and team photo shoots upon arrival disguised the true competition that boiled alive within each swimmer’s belly, soon to be unearthed on Thursday.

The first day at APAC is always the freshest. Old faces reunited with fellow APAC competitors as they caught up on the year since the last APAC at Seoul Foreign School, opening old wounds of sore losses and reigniting the hunger for more wins. APAC veterans and rookies alike all brought their A-game as each vied for the top step of the podium. Records tumbled as if they never existed and the 4x100m freestyle relays of the day meant the girls took home sixth while the boys took a respectable fifth.

We woke up on Friday with renewed focus as the meet took a decidedly more serious tone. The routine of breaking records and scoring points continued as the exhaus-

the first time I made it to individual finals, a 10th place finish buying me a ticket into B Finals later that day. The girls 4x50 medley relay took home a silver while their male counterparts took home the bronze.

I still can’t quite understand how I survived Saturday, the last day of APAC. The utter exhaustion of the past two days continued to hammer my muscles as swimmers turned to glucose pills, protein shakes, and energy bars for sustenance. Still, my only personal best at APAC came on Saturday, when I bested my previous best in the 100m free by just 0.06 seconds. Saturday was also the day of what is to be my greatest memory at any APAC, where I earned my first medal when the boys 4x100 freestyle relay came in third.

The competition that is so darn boring to watch on television means so much to the athletes that take part in it. The weeks of practice, the endless perfecting of technique, and the constant push for greater strength all translate into such a climax of effort in such a short amount of time that it doesn’t seem worth it to anyone on the outside. But to those at APAC Swimming 2018, no sport is more rewarding.

To this year’s swim team: thank you for an amazing meet and congratulations to the girls for third and the boys for fifth. To those

The End of the Drought: APAC Basketball Jacob Lee Staff Reporter

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: INA KIM

To ______: You may be ’re short and angry, but you gry an d an rt sho MY valentine :)

APAC Quotes

1 SWIMMING 2 BASKETBALL

Homestay: I’m from Australia.

Elina Lee (11): We love Canadians! *Shiraz Ben-Shoshan (12) eating a Subway sandwich* Elina Lee (11): Is wheat vegan…?

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL On the basketball courts of TCIS, the Crusaders fought hard every game but fell short, placing 6th overall in the tournament. Because it was a group formed with only one returning varsity player, the focus for this year’s girls team was to rebuild and learn what organized basketball really is.

Janet Lee (12), the veteran and captain of the team, commented that despite athletes who have “never played high school basketball”, the strength of the group was the “open-mindedness and willingness to learn about the beautiful game”. This attribute was refined and displayed during the length of the tournament, as each game seemed to be better than the last.

Janet noted that both “Coach Roth and I were able to see such improvement within the 6 games that placing 6th wasn’t a big deal”, and it was a chance for her to “reflect upon, execute, and pass down what I’ve been taught”.

In the final 5th vs. 6th game against UNIS, our girls missed the game by a mere four points, losing 29-25. This was a huge comeback from the 34-25 loss against the same team in round robin matches, exhibiting the poise and spirit of a Crusader. Janet wishes that “the nine returners for next year digest and absorb all of the game experiences,” and that she is “thankful for all the memories made.”

For the girls, the sky’s the limit as they look forward to next year’s super APAC.

To those who scoff at swimmers: hear our roar! One, two, three, crusaders!

Paul Kim (12): “Ohmygosh put the ball in THE BASKET.” *Chris Noh (12) tears his ACL during semifinals* Coach Rader: “We were lucky to have Chris for this long…”

PHOTO COURTESY: TCIS ATHLETICS

The Crusader boys team came in determined, focused, and ready to redeem last year’s second place. Sweeping all five round robin games, our boys were in great shape to dominate the finals match.

While we were confident and attacking the basket, missed free throws and miscommunication put the Crusaders down in the first half. The Crusaders, however, climbed out of the nine-point halftime deficit during the third quarter. The momentum completely shifted, led by strong drives to the basket from Eugene Linton (12).

With 6 points separating HKIS and the Crusaders, Caleb Jang (12) drained two back-to-back threes to tie the game at 29.

From that point on, the game continued to go our way, with a clutch steal and basket from Tawan Lee (12) and continued foul draws from Eugene. HKIS missed their final shot, and the final score was 43-40.

Amidst the screaming, all Brandon remembers is “a blur” and “hugging Caleb on the floor.” Mr. Rader smiles, saying it was “a

huge moment for Caleb and Brandon, as they’ve been with me since my first season coaching varsity and we’ve been talking about this for years.”

Looking back, Brandon and Caleb reflect that it was “an unforgettable experience.” Although the team won a championship, they believe nothing should be taken for granted as “the team had its own trials and tribulations like any other team.” Both seniors left encouraging words for future Crusader athletes, saying to treat “every practice like a game” and to “wear the Crusader jerseys with pride.”

Mr. Rader also shared a similar message, revealing that he is “so happy for the guys that they got this win” and that “they’ll never forget being champions and cutting down the net.” With determination, Rader declares that “SFS is back on top, and we’re going to work hard to stay here.”

Congratulations to the varsity boys basketball team for being the 2017-2018 APAC champions!

BOYS’ BASKETBALL 3 | FEBRUARY 2018

Ethan Lee (9): Is our team dinner after the game?

Han Kim (10): No, it’s during the game. *While dancing to music* Alexia Diamany (11): If no one hits me up, I just gotta try harder next time.

Hannah Ha (10): Number 20 on HKIS is so hot... *Takes a picture* Angelica Slater (10): Dang, I look so good.

Michael Woo (12): John, you’re honestly so good looking.

Matthew Chae (11): I’m going to wear my Off-White belt to the banquet so I can get all the girls.

John Kang (11): Matthew, you’re a solid 3 out of 10...

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT LIFE

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

Daniel Hahm Student Life Editor Email|daniel.hahm.18@seoulforeign.org

The Pressures Veganism at SFS of Valentine’s Day Min Cheong Kim Staff Reporter Ah, the time of the year for lovey dovey couples to blossom, the swoon worthy poetry to be read, and red hearts to appear in the eyes. There are candles, chocolates, letters, and kisses,—but among all of the love, this is the day single people have to embrace themselves.

One may enjoy the day as they express repressed emotions, while another scrambles to finish a card during lunch after receiving an one from a loved one.

Tensions are high in February.

Some of the positives of not having a significant other can be “avoiding a lot of drama and potential hurt by being single” and one doesn’t have to “feel obligated to keep one person happy,” says Tony Kim (12).

Single people may feel the need to do something, but it’s okay since “they are only single on this day and it’s not bad to be single,” Lauren Lee (12) stated encouragingly. “A lot of people actually prefer it,” she added. Being single may make people feel lonely or feel like they are missing half of a whole, but another reason is sometimes it may be better to stay friends. Lauren says a good question to ask beforehand is, “are you willing to go further than being friends for an even better relationship that might end up in your initial friendship being ruined?”

All in all, every single person interviewed has responded that the greatest benefit of being single is being able to spend time with your family, friends, and yourself.

While the couples are probably enjoying their candle-lit steakhouse dinner, what could the single people be doing?

Treat yourself! Take the time to gorge in discounted chocolates while binge watching movie specials with your dog.

Get yourself flowers to brighten up your room with sweet aromas of mother nature. Or better yet, save that money and invest it for that pair of pants you had your eyes on. Give your buddies a hug, pat them on the head, and confess your appreciation for them. Make your parents a heart shaped pancake with a massage to relax their souls.

Take the focus off of not having something, and live life to the fullest with what you have. If you are in a relationship, congratulations and enjoy the ride. If you are single, congratulations and savor the freedom. Both situations will support in making yourself a better person everyday if time is used wisely. No time for negativity, spread love! illustration courtesy: jeeyoung whang

Grace Park Staff Reporter Veganism is a everywhere now: social media, the news, and even within our SFS community. However, because a vegan-based lifestyle hasn’t gained momentum in Korea yet compared to some other countries, many vegans at our school often face difficulties.

“Being a vegan at SFS is like being a weirdly shaped puzzle piece in a jigsaw puzzle,” Ekaterina Tsygankova (9) shared. She,

along with many vegans, explained that a lack of awareness and knowledge regarding their lifestyle often creates misconceptions and stereotypes.

“Many people think that I lack nutrition or that I’m angry about meat eaters,” she said as she recalled her past experiences. She revealed that she is often framed as unhealthy with a limited diet, when in actuality, there is a wide variety of food products with taste that she can consume.

Mehr Lakhiani (11) further dissented the misconception that vegans are an insignificant minority. “Many people think that only

illustration courtesy: ina kim

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a few people are vegan,” she claimed, “But about 20% of the school have dietary restrictions, whether it be vegan, pescatarian, or halal.” She highlighted the need to better address and respect those with different diets and advocate for them so that they aren’t disadvantaged during meal times.

While veganism is known to enhance one’s health and lifestyle, it can be difficult to sustain in Korea, where this diet is relatively uncommon. Amy Lee (12), who was once an avid vegan, experienced a change in her diet as she began to consume meat when she entered her senior year.

“Being a vegan in Korea is very difficult as Korea has such a large meat eating culture, and there are not as many vegans as there are in America,” Amy explained. As a senior, she expressed that she didn’t want the struggle of finding proper food for the day to compound the stress that schoolwork generated. “Hopefully I’ll go back to being vegan again, but not for the remainder of my time in Korea,” she said.

Some student initiatives have been taken this school year to better endorse veganism—J&Js implemented new vegan menus, and events such as homecoming and field day served vegan dishes for the first time.

Re:Connected to SFS Grace Park Staff Reporter Last January, SFHS hosted its first alumni event of the year: Re:connect. Gathering five alumni with different passions, the event provided an outlet for past alumni to interact with current students and parents.

It garnered attention not only for the words of encouragement that all the alumni had to offer, but also for the friendly interactions alumni and current students were able to exchange.

For those seeking a more accurate and vivid depiction of college life after graduation, the alumni event provided them an opportunity to take realistic advice from experienced alumni and plan accordingly. Each alumni spoke for about ten minutes about his or her college episodes.

“It provided a platform for alumni to reflect on their journeys after SFS,” Christine Suh (11), a member of the committee, shared as she discussed the purpose of the event. She explained that such conversations allowed students to understand what they should place most of their focus on as they prepare for college life.

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to the US for college, SFS has its students scatter across the globe after graduation to not only the US, but also to European and Asian countries. Event leader Hyunkyu Choi (11) voiced that the alumni committee and its events are especially significant to SFS given such context.

“It’s meaningful that people can come back from all over the world and give valuable advice to us,” he said. Hyunkyu shed light on the remarkable power of the alumni committee to have such distinct individuals with different lifestyles meet to offer words of encouragement and strengthen ties with the SFS community. He further hinted at potential future events that will allow even more students to interact with alumni.

Though the event itself started as a CAS illustration courtesy: soyeon kim

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4 | FEBRUARY 2018

project, the members of the committee revealed that the alumni committee would continue to shape and impact the SFS community and its alumni, perhaps becoming one of the main pillars of SFS. “I see this as the start of a renewed connection between SFS and its alumni,” Christine said enthusiastically, “It has the potential to be of immense benefit to both alumni and students by broadening the community.” In the long run, the committee would allow SFS students to appreciate the various contributions made by our alumni and take inspiration from them to pursue their own passions.

(Email hyunkyu.choi.19@seoulforeign.org for more information about the alumni committee)

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT LIFE

Tales of a Best Friend: Teacher Edition *Mr. Kamphuis and Mr. Kneeshaw‘s interview was conducted together.* How did you become close friends? Was there a certain common interest?

Mr. Kneeshaw: Well, not so much common interest, but we both started in the same year. We were more of the younger ones. We were young, single, wanted to go out and see the city, and do some interesting activities.

Mr. Kamphuis: And we also started playing football too.

What is one memory of each other that stands out the most? Funny? Embarrassing?

Mr. Kneeshaw: Well we’ve been snowboarding together quite a bit—there was one jump in the middle of the woods that he tried. It was a pretty big drop off and I had to film about 20 wipeouts. I kept telling him ‘stop stop stop’ because there were trees [at the bottom] and if he landed, he would have just hit the trees; but he kept going and never landed—it was quite funny to me.

Mr. Kamphuis: I remember I went ahead of you and looked back to see if you had done the rail that you were talking about. You rode the rail, and that was pretty cool, but then wiped out and broke your collarbone. *Laughs in reminiscence* I had to drive you all the way home in the snow.

Mr. Kneeshaw: Yeah, yeah that was pretty bad. *Mr. Hahm and Mr. Wilson’s interviews were conducted separately.* How did you become close friends? Was there a certain common interest?

Mr. Hahm: Well, we work in the same department and that is the first reason. Second reason: we both love jazz. Because of that, it was very easy for us to get together and talk about jazz.

Mr. Wilson: Ah, work together. And music, jazz, and mathematics of course.

photo courtesies: john chang

How long have you known each other?

Mr. Hahm: Oh, at least very closely 5 years.

Wilson: About 7 years.

Mr. Hahm said around 5 years.

Mr. Wilson: Well, you know, he has trouble with his maths… what can I say?

Christine Yun Staff Reporter City of Stars, are you shining just for me?

On January 13th, the annual Homecoming dance took place—this time, fresh changes were installed. When the clock struck 6, students dressed in all sorts of colors began to stream in to the live music of La La Land, courtesy of the high school jazz band. In the back of the gym, two catering services, Linus BBQ and Hilton Hotel, were set up.

While bright lights flashed and music blared throughout the gym, students who wished for a calmer night lounged in the UAC. Decked out with claw machines, pingpong tables and bean bags, the opening of the UAC certainly did impress.

Not my crush but one of my best friends. _____ is the kindest person I have ever met, and she’s single so you guys should be fighting over her.

“We opened up the UAC because people always complained about Homecoming being boring and the same every year. We wanted to change that,” Mark Ku (12), Student Council President, said.

In addition to the UAC, the Student Council held a raffle. A lucky Someone In The Crowd was able to win an iPad, polaroid, Herschel goods and more.

“I was just eating my food until I heard Mark call out my name and lift the iPad in the air. It was really surprising. I use the iPad almost on a daily basis because it’s so handy,” Seb Kang (10), one of the raffle winners, said.

“I believe this year’s Homecoming was

Hallway

Chris Ahn (12): Guys, did you know when you’re around people you love you start to look like them? That’s why kids look like their parents.

Were you always close during the 5 years?

Mr. Hahm: Mr. Wilson might say differently, but he’s been my best friend at SFS throughout all five years. He is partially my mentor, partially my friend, and all that.

Who in the friendship is more stubborn?

Mr. Hahm: Oh definitely Mr. Wilson! Are you serious?! I’m a nice person whereas Mr. Wilson is hm... You know? Yeah, yeah.

Mr. Wilson: Of course, Mr. Hahm. The guy’s just stubborn, I’m not sure if it’s genetic, nature or nurture... I don’t know, he’s just stubborn! He won’t budge.

Who is more likely to gossip?

Mr. Hahm: Mr. Wilson! Definitely. According to Mr. Wilson, he has a very reliable source which he is not going to reveal. I don’t know who it is.

Mr. Wilson: Oh, Hey you!

Mr. Hahm.

I need a map whenever I walk around SFS because I swear I get lost in your eyes ;)

, Hi ____y your jo n e y I reall ideos and I’m ev YouTub d I could be gla l person a speciayou. to

A City of Stars Recap

QUOTES in the

Cailee Kim Staff Reporter

To ______ - you make my day better thank you for being in my life. im happy when im with u.

the best one we’ve had in a very long time.

We had a lot more to offer to students,” Mark reflected on the success of Homecoming.

However, even with new changes there is always room for improvement. Some pointed out that the drinks at the bar were always short while others suggested that there could’ve been more engaging activities.

“For those of us who didn’t want to dance, I felt like I was always just sitting around,” Jiye Moon (9) said.

Despite the flaws, we can all say with confidence that this year’s Homecoming, what with all the daring changes, was one to remember. Props to the Student Council for preparing A Lovely Night for us all!

Jules Lee (12): The only thing attracted to me is turf.

Paul Kim (12): Squirrels are just athletic rats.

Mrs. Baena: Pick a number between one and four.

Ben Choi (11): Seven. *Kevin during a Biology dissection* Kevin Tang (12): Is that the heart?

Mrs. Yap: No, Kevin, you’re looking at the anus.

Sophia Han (12): Is Vietnam in China? *Forrest (11) pulls out a disposable water bottle* Mr. Mees: Forrest, why do you hate the environment?

Mr. Callaghan: Make a meme out of it. Make it savage. Make it DANK. James Eom (12): I wonder what 1600Hz sounds like.

Hyong Kim (12): *screeching* Ina Kim (12): I only make friends with perfect human specimen... and Won. Mr. Rader: I glowed up so much since high school.

Sally Rakestraw (12): What’s a dumb thing that I say?

Ashley Jung (12): Everything that comes out of your mouth.

Ashley Jung (12): When I grow up, I want to be Safwat.

You make math tolerable!

Submit at

bit.ly/sfhsquotes! photo courtesy: jaemin baek

5 | FEBRUARY 2018

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

ARTS

Janice Hahn Arts Editor Email|janice.hahn.18@seoulforeign.org

AI X ART

IMAGE COURTESY: STARTRIBUNE.COM

Simon Choi Staff Reporter With the recent selfie feature that has been added to Google Arts & Culture, one of the most popular apps available for the iOS and Android at the moment, the arts and technology is finally coming together.

The app has taken a step further in introducing AI to arts and culture, and it has set a high bar for both the arts and AI in 2018.

The app has used AI to give users a new experience with art, and it is receiving much attention. AI is becoming more advanced and accessible than ever before, and it is amusing as well as educational.

The CNN Freedom Project interest of app users in the United States, and social media channels like Twitter and Instagram are now flooded with unique comparisons. Unfortunately, this fascinating feature is only available in the U.S. at the moment as it is still in its beta testing phase.

However, because it is so popular, Google will most likely enable this feature in other countries soon.

The app may be merely seen as a form of entertainment right now, but if looked into more deeply, it can be seen that this app is opening ways for future arts to combine with artificial intelligence. Art can possibly change drastically through its new approach with technology, and in the future, more arts may merge with AI. This change is quite beneficial as the merge may allow people to experience and learn about art in a way never felt before. However, this change may also be detrimental as it is turning away from traditional art. Some may argue that art should not become strongly influenced by technology. Nevertheless, it seems likely that there will be a lot more collaboration between the arts and artificial intelligence in the times to come.

“

It is evident that AI’s influence is more impactful than ever before, especially in the arts.

”

Google Arts & Culture is currently a sensation due to its new selfie feature that allows for users to compare themselves to historical portraits. Once taking a selfie, the app analyzes the characteristics of the selfie through computer vision technology, and it brings out multiple portraits that look most similar to the selfie. Moreover, the app also lists percentages for each picture representing how much the artwork resembles the selfie. This new feature has captivated the

Jeremy Choi Staff Reporter (continued from front page) Almost immediately greeted by a senior volunteer tour guide, I couldn’t help but ask her to show me around: pictures, illustrations, and male models were scattered all around the Blackbox as separate exhibits with their own individual spotlight, making the room vibrant and alive. Considering what I expected for a fashion show, the atmosphere was more quaint and subdued, creating an environment where the audience could respect both the art and the cause at the same time.

The tour guide started by explaining the clothes. Through Lee’s efforts to “contact brands” and “recruit sponsors”, the Freedom Project exhibited the brands Basechoice and Sundae School, the former of which was created by a Swiss student portraying the feelings of “enslavement in the modern-day” through his work. Sundae School, more notably, was a brand some of the SFHS seniors were wearing at the show, a clothing line that participated to support the project’s efforts against slavery. Joo Eon Park (12), one of the models involved, described his reasons for joining as to promote “awareness and good intentions”, and that he was proud to participate a second year.

Next was the artwork, created by Ina Kim (12) and various other artists. “Through the use of felting and yards that vary in size in this collection, this demonstrates the feeling of captivity in trapped up children. The bright colors that the materials reflect the hope that in the near future modern slavery will come to an end,” the description of the art wrote. Yurice Lee (11), an avid artist and visitor, was even able to give me context on the piece, saying that she was “surprised” to see the direction Kim took.

Intermittently, I also listened to musical performances by SFS volunteers in the background, who gave renditions of both covers and original compositions. Jade Teather (12) described her performance that evening as “reflectful” and “inspirational” to the general audience, establishing a reflective, yet saddening mood through her guitar.

PHOTO COURTESY: CLAMER STUDIOS

I left the Lyso Center that evening feeling thoroughly awestruck and extremely insecure. Not only was Lee able to strengthen connections between SFS and large news networks like CNN, but she received undying support from her classmates for what started off as a simple CAS project. Now, it is an endeavor that has the potential to save millions and spread awareness to millions more. And I thought my donations to church made me a success story.

“I love that fashion is a microcosm of the world itself with its own business, politics, and social engagement,” Lee said. “[But] fashion, like any other form of art, can carry social significance. Fashion can be used to promote social justice.”

What I admire about Lee is her willingness to use her passions to fuel a greater cause. As a student who finds it hard to discover a sliver of motivation, it is heartwarming to see others who are driven just by what they love and their desire to meet their own expectations. This isn’t to say that people like me can’t make a difference, though, right?

Projects like these, especially those executed in such creative fashions (no pun intended) opened my eyes to the capabilities we have as students of SFS.

CinemaSins vs. CinemaWins Won Lee Staff Reporter Whenever we interact with any art form, we tend to be solely attracted to the positives. For instance, with music, we always discuss how a rapper “went in” or how a singer creates “bangers”. However, this divide is more interesting in film. Although the usual thought is that there are either good films or bad films, two channels on Youtube — CinemaSins and CinemaWins — find different ways to appreciate the films that they “review”. Seeing how differently these channels react to any film, we as viewers can find both channels appealing.

We sometimes love to lampoon films and “wreck” them for their blatant mistakes and plotholes, but also enjoy them as the art form they are. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the comedy of making fun of an art form we like, nor is there anything wrong with liking it either. As such, both channels represent the manners in which we react to films in their own unique manner.

The main motto of this channel is “no movie is without sin”.

Now, the channel’s idea of what a movie “sin” is very vague and purposefully so. Sins on this channel range from legitimate ponderings about a film’s plot holes and the stupidity of villain’s plans to things as small and insignificant as the presence of a sign advertising “soy steak” in the background of a scene (from “Everything Wrong With Looper”). CinemaSins doesn’t hold back in their lampooning of any films, regardless of whether they like the film or not (as seen in films like La La Land which the creators said they enjoyed, yet still filmed). Some of the more notorious sins are things like “DC Comics” or the duration of the studio logos at the beginning of the film.

6 | FEBRUARY 2018

In stark contrast, CinemaWins is a channel that began in 2015 that boasts a much more positive motto stating “Some movies, while full of plot holes, continuity errors, and bad acting have plenty of wins!”. Although the “wins” in this channel are more clear cut than the “sins” of CinemaSins, they also tend to be comical with wins being awarded for how cute a character is (i.e. Groot in “Everything Great About The Guardians of the Galaxy”.

However, CinemaWins tends to delve more into what actually makes a film “great” versus the negative and comical ponderings of CinemaSins. Whether it is in the form of discussion about how great an actor is or how significant a films’ themes are, films are appreciated for what they are in this channel.

CINEMA

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

ARTS

Joan Gwak Arts Editor Email|joo.gwak.18@seoulforeign.org

To Group 6 Extended Essay Writers:

who chooses to write his or her essay on the arts should prepare (and hope for) for the same resulting profundity. So if you end up choosing to write an extended essay on film, music, theatre, or the visual arts, here are a couple of tips.

On Film 1. Organize your sections by aspects of filmmaking, not by elements of plot.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: MAGAN CHANG (12)

From talk in the hallways, it’s clear that the Group 6 IB extended essay is going to be very popular this year. Second semester of junior year is definitely a taxing time with the start of this essay, but choosing a creative topic that interests you truly helps with taking away the stress load. As someone who wrote on film, I’ve grown quite fond of the film-analyzing process, and anyone who chooses to write his or her essay on the arts should prepare (and hope for) for the same resulting profundity. So if you end up choosing to write an extended essay on film,

This might be a mistake only I made at the beginning of my writing process, but everyone is susceptible to doing the same thing. It’s important to remember that although a film essay is analytical of some storytelling, this isn’t a literary analysis. A film essay will look at cinematography, artistic direction, and screenplay among other cinematic techniques.

2. Watch some good YouTubers who make video essays on film.

YouTube essayists are really my reason for why I got so caught up with analyzing films. I recommend watching some videos from Lessons from the Screenplay, Chan-

nel Criswell, Karstern Runquist, and Every Frame a Painting among many others. This way, you can learn how other film enthusiasts analyze films.

3. Don’t assume that a Film EE is an esay way out.

A lot of people use this subject as a way to keep from doing “actual” research. People must realize that this essay is incredibly time consuming and like all research papers, it takes lots of thought. It was one of the hardest assignments for me in my high school career.

Although I myself did not participate in other extended essays, theatre EE veteran, Joan Gwak (12), and visual arts teacher and past EE supervisor, Mr. Young, were able to give their two cents of advice for their respective topics.

On Theatre 1. Ask your supervisor for advice.

As Joan, theatre EE candidate says, “Mrs. Moon is very experienced in helping people

Chloe Kim Staff Reporter

with theatre EEs and gives the best feedback— she WAS an English teacher in the past!” Your supervisors have lots of knowledge to share with you, so go into your meetings with the right questions.

On the Visual Arts

1. Make use of your primary sources.

In an exclusive interview with Mr. Young, I found that “the best visual arts EEs are when the student has direct contact with the art or artist.” Mr. Young calls it “action research”, that is all about “immersing yourself in your topic.”

2. Learn your subject-specific vocabulary.

The same goes for all extended essays in the arts. Mr. Young said that the most difficult thing about writing an arts EE is “using subject specific vocabulary.” In school, we learn analytical skills for the sciences and humanities. But after starting an arts EE, it’s common to realize at the beginning of the process that you don’t know the words to analyze a painting. Knowing subject-specific jargon is critical for doing the best job.

Advice From Art Majoring Seniors Eunice Cho Staff Reporter When a friend tells you that they will be applying to an art department in college, make sure you’re not hearing this at the beginning of their senior year. Piecing together a portfolio into existence is work that requires your soul, persistence, and dedication on another level as a highschooler. I applied as an architecture student but it only struck me at the end of my junior year that I should be, or should have been, making a portfolio. As a student who wasn’t taking art for an IB course, I had to involve myself with art in my own time and build a portfolio from scratch. But also as someone who has surprisingly survived a make-a-portfolio-inone-semester and spent many hours with strained eyeballs looking at a little wooden structure, I wish to communicate some tips to future applicants to the art field. After interviewing three seniors who’ve taken similar paths as I did, I discovered something in common. Despite the varying specific interests, we all wanted art in our lives. Hear what we would like to say about making an art portfolio as part of the college application process.

Remember that it’s ultimately quality over quantity.

When you are aware of the time constraint, you may rush, but that comes with the cost of lower quality. Master the art of cutting time. Plan first and constantly think of effective ways to minimize wasting time. but know your realistic boundaries.

Be aware that art is a difficult field to succeed in.

There’s little validation and exposure in the artistic realm, compared to the number of people that want to do it. It could even be a road to self-hatred. At certain moments, you may ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this? When did I even like art?”

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There are no guidelines. No rubrics.

Just like writing a college essay.

Your inspiration has to come from your own thought processes and choices.

It may come naturally to you in ordinary ways, like music and conversations. Ideas are impromptu and they don’t stem from an ‘I need to think of an idea right now’ kind of mindset.

Each piece may feel like writing another supplementary essay.

When building each work, you need to have a backstory uniquely for each.

Often times, you submit your portfolio with a short blurb attached with it. This writing must concisely and specifically exemplify that you create things with intention and knowledge.

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Be confident, but realistic.

Overconfidence may crash and burn you when criticism gets in your pride’s way, but there’s no need to be insecure about your work. Believe in your quirks, but know your realistic boundaries.

Start early and start BIG. Leave time for yourself to doubt and question your motivations. There needs to be self reflection and pragmatism. If you have the luxury of time, quit art for a while and see if you can live with that.

You will get to know patience in a very painful way.

Be aware that the process is time-consuming, no matter how much you love art. Passion may be the only sedative that tempers the struggle.

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7 | FEBRUARY 2018

“I honestly can’t go half a day without drawing something, and I’m pretty secure that this is what I love. But I know this is not the end of the road for me. I’m going to hit some walls in the future in college, as an adult, and doubt myself again — but with questioning follows an answer, and the answer could be outside of the art realm. You really don’t know.”

– Ina Kim, 12

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ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: INA KIM

SEOUL FOREIGN HIGH SCHOOL

NO. 5 / FEBRUARY 2018

OPINIONS

Sarah Pyo Opinions Editor Email|sarah.pyo.18@seoulforeign.org

Reza Por...

Philip Han Staff Reporter “Cling, Veeesshhh…” is a sound we might hear when entering the grocery store. The pleasantly polished glass doors slide open as nicely arranged carts greet the various customers: friends looking to prepare for game night, employees from the Italian bistro restocking their veggies, or parents gathering snacks for their son’s field day event.

Naturally, we take most of these things for granted. Isn’t it second nature to buy another carton of milk when we run out? Yet, one would be shocked to realize how blessed we are to have a steady source of food — or a steady source of anything, for that matter.

Our bubbles of naiveté are instantly popped by the atrocious living conditions of Venezuela. *** “Por favor, drive rapido!” she begged. It was the darkest hour before dawn, and Kiara needed to get there fast, faster than the others. And there was no doubt that the driver was thinking the same. His foot, in battered sneakers, stepped on the pedal.

It had been last night when the word spread. Diego, stationed at 2 Calles Distrito Capitol, received a phone call from the chavisimo services office.

Each phone call from the chavistas — even the word ran an angry current through Diego’s body — was the source of both relief and fury. wWould the socialists ever know the struggle of the working class? He knew the answer was never. And yet, circum-

stances had forced him to be grateful for each call, each time that his boss demanded that he “come early”. How sadistic the universe was.

Sure enough, the call started with the soulless “Come to work early tomorrow!” from his manager.

“Si senor, but-” The phone call dropped. As usual, Diego let out a deep sigh. He resented the disrespect he received from work, the disrespect he received from this country. He had been ordered to come to work hours earlier than his regular shift. They never told him why, but the reason was obvious. A restock of the government-regulated market. In fact, Diego didn’t know why they tried to bother keeping these restocks a furtive secret; it was as if they didn’t know that hunger was the best word-of-mouth wildfire.

He gently picked up his half-functional flip phone and texted Kiara, “happy stomach.” It was a code name they had made about a year ago when the government initiated the price controlling for foods.

They were afraid to leave digital traces behind; the horror of leaking classified government information was beyond comprehension. The text message — as much as it relieved Kiara of using teaspoons to measure processed flour — brought back the all-too-vivid memory of her younger sister’s death: aggressive national guards, slit in her growling stomach, and pool of dark purple.

Yet, Diego made a deliberate choice to break the law. Even the family tragedy was not enough to outweigh the risks. It was the only way to provide the bare-minimum. Af-

ter all, three crackled onions, four bottles of water, and a bag of flour would only last two weeks.

After a 20-minute ride across the city, the taxi made its final turn towards the destination.

Droplets of sweat trickled down Kiara’s forehead; the poignant stench of crowded humans lined up through the alleyway struck her in the guts.

The car abruptly stopped. Kiara tugged on the rusted handle of the taxi. The brown door felt heavier than ever. She stepped out and treaded forward. Underneath her feet, she could feel the indents on the earth from the furious customers that were soon to be stomping on the floor again. Finally, the daunting metal bars crept into her peripheral vision. Next to it were two soldiers. They smelled like a mixture of late night drinks, cheap cigars, and pungent body odor.

“No entrar!” demanded the buffer one.

Kiara would not dare to look up as the two snickered. No civilian was around the entrance, not even on the romp that led up to it. Kiara shuffled along the narrow courtyard. Her scrawny limbs trembled vigorously out of fatigue. “7:15 AM,” her wristwatch read. It was just about time for dawn, but all

Wubba Lubba Dub Dub COMMENTS

Even though you never knew me, and I’ll probably never know you, I’m so grateful you exist.

_____ has the best body in sfhs by far. someone sign him up to be a model.

ILLUSTRATION COURTESY: MAGAN CHANG

Want to join? Log in or sign up in seconds.

Henry Kim Staff Reporter (continued from front page) All in all, it’s healthy to have differing opinions on when dropping the “L-bomb” is appropriate; having one set timeframe would be a disservice of the nth degree.

All I can offer is the outsider perspective of a teenager, one who has the mixed blessing of being untouched by the ravages of “love-sickness” that begins with high school.

And, well, could “-sickness” be an apt term?

Are we being beguiled by the tropes and clichés that media constantly churn out? After the initial euphoria of forming a non-platonic bond wears off, can we truly convince ourselves that we “love” that person?

We’re at the stage in our lives where we teeter back and forth between the lines of immaturity and adulthood — I’m genuinely frightened that for some, there exists no such line.

Kiara saw above her was a listless overcast of mixed grays.

A miserable wait and this inhumane suffering — is this what she was to expect all her life?

Droplets of rain fell down on her head. “Reza por mi; pray for me,” she said within. “Reza por mi familia; pray for my family.

Reza por Venezuela; pray for Venezuela.”

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Fan Culture 2.0: Electric Boogaloo 12.9k

To fellow otakus and movie-bingers: still feel like you’re in your “seventh-grade emo phase?” (self.AskReddit)

submitted 1 year ago by anonymous 6618 comments

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Gabriella Chu Staff Reporter You sit down with your bowl of popcorn and flick on the first episode of the second season of Riverdale. It’s the perfect night: you, alone in your room with the lights off and your computer open.

Being a part of fan culture is something that many view similarly to the “seventh grade emo phase”: it’s more of a passing moment in the big picture than something that will define or shape your character for the rest of your life. Being a fan of an entertainment franchise wasn’t really considered an acceptable hobby or interest, only something done for fun or to kill time.

However, I’d argue that this is changing. Someone’s interest in TV shows, movies and music can be considered something that actively represents that

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person’s character. How many times have you used “So, did you see X movie?” as an icebreaker?

The changing perception of media in relation to individuals has a lot of implications for people both in fan communities and outside them. It eliminates a lot of the shame around discussing TV shows, for example, because it makes it more okay to nerd out about fan theories or freak out about cliffhangers. And no matter how cringey this may come off to someone not interested in or even disliking that show, there’s no denying the simple fact that being open about their interest or even obsession with that show brought those people together.

There are still a few steps that need to be taken before everyone can finally embrace their inner dork. People shouldn’t be embarrassed about whatever media they may enjoy, and the elimination of shame from these communities is the most important step in making fan culture more acceptable.

Many, including myself, sometimes fail to

8 | FEBRUARY 2018

recognize that there is no shame in liking a certain show or franchise, no matter its reputation, because in the end they are a media conglomerate whose main goal is to appeal to consumers.

Also, the reasons we enjoy things don’t have to be emotional or deep. It’s as simple as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine makes me laugh,” or “the lead actor in How To Get Away With Murder is good looking,” or even “Harry Styles has really good hair.”

These reasons are perfectly valid, and there’s no shame in being interested in media that was made to interest people.

I think that being a fan of a media franchise can be something that can help define what we value and hold dear to ourselves, even as adults. When we’re all eighty years old, we’re going to still be debating over whether or not it truly was the greatest show and whether or not The Last Jedi was a good movie or not.

[-] gabriellachu

729 points 1 day ago