Volume 13 Number 2
December 2019
The Talon Nation Ford High School
1400 A.O. Jones Blvd.
Fort Mill, SC 29715
Alarmin g School Shooting Ad Pg. 11
ng i t a e Ch es m o c Be ic m e d i Ep Pg. 9
g n i k a T rt a D : Aim tor i t e p Com Pg. 4
As the decade comes to a close, The Talon staff remembers important events that shaped the past 10 years. It’s the time we grew up, a time that defines who we are – children of the 2010s.
2 • news
School Lunch Debt Growing Problem For Students Nationwide, Fort Mill
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by Ryan Nguyen
ation Ford students racked up a total debt of $2,583.26 in the first 12 weeks of the school year. The Fort Mill School District owes more than $16,000 combined in lunch and breakfast debt with Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill High School, and Catawba Ridge High School as of Nov. 19, according to Tammie Welch, Director of Student Nutrition. Difficulty paying for school lunches is a growing problem nationwide for families. Lunch debt, when a student's lunch account goes to a negative dollar amount, can mean two things – either students can't actually afford to pay for their lunch or they forget. According to School Nutrition Association, 75 percent of U.S. school districts have lunch debt, and students without funds to buy lunch has increased 40.2 percent since last year. The average amount of unpaid lunch debt is $2,500, but some school districts have reported over $850,000. “Current policy allows students to charge meals but not ala carte items,” Ms. Welch says. Nation Ford has numerous solutions to try to resolve debt. Students are reminded when their balance is low at the point of purchasing food. “We have an automated call system that calls and emails every Thursday for students who have a negative bal-
ance,” said Judy McManus, manager of the lunch staff at Nation Ford. McManus also prints weekly letters to send home with students who have a negative balance. In addition, Parent Portal has a feature that will notify students if their balance is below the minimum set up by the student/guardian. Student balances can also be paid off on the Parent Portal website. Students are eligible for free or re-
The cap for student debt is $40, and after this amount, the cafeteria staff will provide these students a particular meal. duced-price lunches, children below the poverty level qualify for free and reduced lunches. Students apply for free and reduced lunch by filling out a form and have to be approved by the district. By using this information, the federal government will approve and pay for lunch for qualified students. “Our school has about 22 percent of students that qualify for reduced lunch,” said Principal Jason Johns. Students who qualify for reduced price meals pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Nation Ford has an administrator lunch account for teachers who can
add money to buy lunch for students who can’t afford it. The cap for student debt is $40, and after this amount, the cafeteria staff will provide these students a particular meal. Nation Ford students who left the district have an unpaid balance of $106.76, and those who left Fort Mill School District have saddled the district with an unpaid balance of $1,191.85. If seniors end the school year with a lunch debt or any other fees, they will still be able to graduate, but the school will withhold that student’s graduation tickets. A group of alumni from Fort Mill, Fort Mill Ol’ School Crowd, gathered money for the school district to reduce bullying by helping students’ pay for lunch debt. Each school in the Fort Mill School District has an Angel Fund, where community members can make donations to help pay for students’ negative lunch balances. “The alumni have been donating to the Angel Fund for about two years,” said Jean Deese, who started the effort. The group accepts donations during meetings and some regular donors that donate monthly. The alumni gives the money to the school district. The district then distributes it to schools that need it. They have raised more than $5,000 since starting the group-helping over 15,000 students.
Education First Tours Give NFHS Students Opportunity Travel Abroad, Enjoy New Cultures
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by Emily Willers
tudents will have four opportunities to travel abroad with faculty in 2021 through EF Tours. Registration is currently open to sign up for adventures in Australia, Italy, Spain, and soon for Costa Rica. EF stands for Education First, and their mission is to offer students the chance to see the world in a safe and fun way. Journalism and creative writing teacher Beth Swann just announced that she is offering to take students to Italy, including Rome, Florence, Venice, and an excursion for one day to Pompeii for Spring Break 2021. Statistics teacher Julie Ratcliff will take a group of students to Australia and New Zealand in the summer of 2021 for 15 days. They will take a trip through the rain forest on four-wheelers and learn how to throw a boomerang. “I am excited to offer the students an opportunity to take a trip of a lifetime,” she said. The Foreign Language Department has three teachers offering trips: Mrs. Christi Sain and Mr. Sebastian Tellez will travel with 15 students to Spain in June 2020. They are visiting five cities in central and southern Spain, while Ms. Jennifer Burris will return to one of her favorite destinations, Costa Rica. Mrs. Sain has taken three international trips with students in her years of teaching. “I love traveling with students because I enjoy seeing their world expanded. It is rewarding to be a part of many ‘first-time’ experiences for many students, such as tasting unknown
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foods, visiting world landmarks, traveling without parents, international flights, using different currencies, subways, buses, and more,” Mrs. Sain said. “I also enjoy seeing how kids interact and form bonds with students who they didn't know before,” she added. “A shared experience is powerful.” Mrs. Swann’s trip to Italy will be her fourth tour with EF. “Travel outside the country can be life-changing for all of us, and it's one of the best things I've been able to do in all my years of teaching,” Mrs. Swann said. “My students learn as much about themselves as they do about another culture -- it’s an unforgettable experience.” EF Tours plans the itineraries and every tour has a bi-lingual guide from the destination country to make traveling fun and easy. If students complete a project on tour, they can also earn college or high school credits. “Colleges are interested in students who want to participate in global learning and who are interested in the larger world community,” Mrs. Swann says. Trips are all-inclusive, except for lunches and tips. EF Tours handles all of the logistics. Families can choose when and how to pay for the trips, and with monthly payment plan are convenient for many students. Sometimes students pay for themselves, or parents will match their payments. Students who want to travel on next year’s trips can see the faculty member who sponsors the destination.
-Nation Ford Goes GlobalTour: Bel’ Italia - Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii Spring Break 2021 Beth Swann currently enrolling!
Room D109
Tour: Expedition Australia & New Zealand June 2021 Julie Ratcliff
Room N106
Tour: Adventure in Spain June 2021 Christi Sain
Room D109
Tour: Costa Rica - A Touch of Tropics July 2021 Jennifer Burris Enrolling in Jan/Feb
Room C511 December 2019
news •3
Academic Cheating Reaches Epidemic Nationally, Talon Poll Confirms Issue by Kaylee Battle
which in itself would be considered In this day and age, the fine line as providing or receiving help on between cheating and using available any schoolwork, will be dealt with as resources is more blurred than ever. cheating.” Cheating in schools, including at Na- But students interpret the honor tion Ford, has become a widespread code differently. In a survey of Naepidemic, and with this year’s first tion Ford students chosen at random, round of exams creeping up, the pres- 56 percent of students polled felt that sure is heavy on students to end their while receiving outside help on tests courses successfully. and quizzes is considered cheating, do Dr. Donald McCabe and the Inter- ing so on other assignments is acceptnational Center for Academic Integ- able. Out of the remaining students rity conducted a survey of more than polled, 25 percent thought getting out70,000 high school students at two side help on any assignment, includdozen high schools in the U.S. between ing homework, would be classified as 2002 and 2015. The responses clearly cheating, and 19 percent thought rehighlights the problem: ceiving outside help on anything other - 64 percent of students admitted to than homework constitutes cheating. cheating on a test From the survey, only 25 percent - 58 percent admitted to plagiarism of the answers were correct in terms - 95 percent said they participated in of the school’s honor code, leaving 75 some form of cheating, whether it was percent of surveyed students unaware on a test, plagiarism, or copying home- that receiving outside help on any aswork. signment is a violation. “I think students cheat because Meanwhile, only 1 percent of disthey’re scared of failure, and if they ciplinary incidents reported during want to get into college, they have to the 2018-2019 school year were due to have the good grades to get there,” cheating. Jada Cannady The differ(‘20) said. ence between “Social media has also Parents, teachthe number of ers, peers -- sostigmatized the ‘chosen ones’ students who ciety in general actually cheat as those who are successful in and those caught -- drill the importance of grades cheating does academics, athletics, etc...” into students’ raise questions heads as soon as regarding the ~Mrs. Debra Miller, they start school. enforcement of Assistant Principal They’re told that the Nation Ford good grades sepahonor code. This rate the successful from the failures. could be due to the fact that teachers “I believe there is more pressure on are not expected to report situations students in general to perform due to involving cheating to administration. immediate access and the social media “Teachers are actually encouraged stigma of ‘excellent performance al- to exercise autonomy when they susways wins,’” said Mrs. Debra Miller. pect cheating,” said Mrs. Miller. “We The belief that the grade a student encourage and respect their relationgets is more important than the learn- ship with the student, knowledge of ing process can be problematic – it fu- the curriculum and assignment, and els students to do whatever they can to trust they will make the appropriate achieve the grade decision based they want. This on their own ob“Honesty is important in mentality goes servations.” every part of life because it hand in hand with A mentality social conformity of “following speaks to your integrity.” and the pressure the crowd” could students feel to also make some ~Ms. Amy Ahl, achieve an ideal students feel as Biomedical Teacher life. though cheating In addition, the is not a big deal if ability of parents and students to look they hear about their friends doing it. at grades at any time on Power School Social media and television shows that and compare them to the grades they normalize cheating can also impact think they’re supposed to have only students’ decisions. Cheating – both magnifies this issue. in educational and other settings – can "Yes, the access to your grades exac- sometimes be romanticized in the meerbates the problem,” Mrs. Miller ad- dia, owering the value of integrity. mits. “But again, social media has also A below-par grade is likely to afstigmatized the ‘chosen ones’ as those fect a student’s faith in her abilities, who are successful in academics, ath- and that lack of confidence leads to letics, etc. So it creates a culture where lower performance in school and may you have to be at the ‘top’ to be suc- even cause a student to feel the need cessful.” to cheat. This can easily spiral into a Misunderstandings about what ac- situation in which a student neglects tually constitutes cheating is a problem work constantly because she doesn’t that can end up giving some students believe she’s smart enough to achieve an unfair advantage and also mislead- the grades she wants. ing teachers about student’s mastery of What should be done about cheatmaterial. ing? Nation Ford High School admin Students have different opinions istrators and teachers constantly enabout what is ethical when using re- courage students to do the right thing. sources on assignments. So, what is “Honesty is important in every part considered academic dishonesty? of life because it speaks to your integri According to the Nation Ford High ty,” said Biomedical teacher Amy Ahl. School Student Handbook, “Any act, “In an academic standpoint, you end
december 2019
NFHS Honor Code:
“ Any act, which in itself would be considered
providing or receiving help on any schoolwork, will be dealt with as cheating.
”
--------The first incident will result in a parent/guardian being referred to the principal, the student will be given a zero on the work. For the second offense, the pupil shall be suspended from school for three days.
The Dirty Truth About
Cheating
National Student Poll by International Center for Academic Integrity
64% admit to cheating on a test 58% admitted to plagiarism 95% participated in some form
of cheating (test, plagiarism or copying homework)
NFHS Student Poll: Honor Code Knowledge
75% are unaware outside help on any assignment is cheating by Kaylee Battle up being the only one that actually gets cheated when you engage in academic dishonesty because you don’t end up with the life skills or knowledge that you need for the future.” Practicing integrity in school activities can lead to students becoming good citizens after high school. Dishonesty in school casts an irreversible shadow on every aspect of a student's life. Once a student believes honesty is not important, other valuable morals may not seem essential either. Through positive reinforcement and encouragement, the staff at Nation Ford is deter-
mined to give students the ability to succeed in life. “While we do not have a specific plan for academic integrity, it is important to note our focus and emphasis on a ‘family culture’ and being good citizens,” said Mrs Miller. “I think we could do a better job of creating an awareness campaign about the negative aspects of academic dishonesty. Most importantly, we should illustrate how this dishonesty could negatively impact your life regarding your livelihood, your reputation, character, and morality.”
The Talon
4• sports
Shooting For Success
Varsity Boys Basketball
Varsity Girls Basketball
The Falcons are hosting the Christ Church Episcopal Cavaliers tonight at home. This will be a non-conference game is a part of the Battle at the Rocktournament. The Cavaliers are coming into the game undefeated, however the Falcons have played twice the teams as they have. The second game between Nation Ford and Indian Land on December 9th was a big win for the Falcons. While the two teams switched leads and stayed close behind each other in the first half, the Falcons picked it up in the second and pulled through with a win. This success came after a frustrating loss for the Falcons at Byrnes High School Dec. 6. The game at Catawba Ridge on Dec. 3 was the first game the rivals had played each other, since this is the first season for the new school’s basketball season. An unfortunate loss to Indian Land on Dec. 2 didn’t deter the Falcons on their path to success before they went on to defeat Catawba Ridge the following day. An unfortunate loss to Indian Land on Dec. 2 at the beginning of their season followed after the Milltown Basketball Classic, a neutral tournament between local rivals.
With only 2 losses behind them, the lady Falcons are stepping into the Battle of the Rock tournament with a strong record. The Falcons are matched up against the Legacy Prep Lions on Dec. 13. The Indian Land Warriors didn’t stand a chance against the Falcons on December 9th, s the Falcons crushed the team 82-33. This is the girls’ second win against the Warriors. The Falcons lost their game at Byrnes High School on Dec. 6. However, this loss clearly did not deter the team from their path. The Catawba Ridge Rattlesnakes were crushed by the Nation Ford Falcons on Dec. 3. This was a very positive outcome to a game that could have gone either way since the two teams have never played against each other. Against the Indian Land Warriors, Kelci Adams (‘20) and Adrienne Ruffalo (‘20) led the Falcons to victory, Adams scoring 18 points and Ruffalo close behind with 16 points. The Falcons started their regular season on a high note, beating the Parkwood Rebels 72-62 and set off a trend of wins that they’re continuing to follow.
by Kaylee Battle
by Kaylee Battle
“I enjoy working hard with my teammates.” Petey Tuipulotu (‘20)
Taking Aim
Senior Dart Champ Wins In Regionals
S Solomon Moore works for the pin against Catawba Ridge on Dec. 4 during their 69-12 victory.
Wrestlers Pin Down Hopes For Big Season
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by Kaiden Bridges
n Dec. 4 the Falcons fought against Heathwood Hall High School and Catawba Ridge High School winning both of their matches 57-12 and 69-12. Throughout the season, the wrestling team will face new goals and expectations brought to them by their new head coach Tony Forte. “Last year this team didn’t qualify any wrestlers for the state,” Coach Forte said. “A big goal this year is getting kids back to Anderson for the state tournament and just getting our wrestlers on the podium.” Coach Forte joined the Falcon team after coaching at Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C. for the last two years. He also doubles as a High School 101 teacher when he isn’t at the mats coaching the team. “Fort Mill High School is often known as one of the top wrestling schools in the area and in our town
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of Fort Mill,” Coach Forte said. “One of the things I want to do is change that attitude and perception. . . Our goal is to be the best team in Fort Mill.” The students work hard and put their hearts into the winter sport. “We have our senior leaders and guys who came close to the state tournament last year,” Coach Forte said. “Sean Grennan (‘20), Solomn Moore (‘20), Reed Spilmann (‘21) who was only a match away from states last year, are all wrestlers to be on the lookout for. We also have a transfer from Fort Mill, Ethan Johnson (‘21). He was a state place winner two years ago.” The Falcons have been lucky with no major injuries in the preseason. “Our region is very competitive in wrestling,” Coach Forte said. “Especially with Fort Mill and Rock Hill at the top and Clover not far behind.”
by Ryan Nguyen
he’s a 17-year-old throwing darts in bars around the country. Madison Persun (‘20) learned how to play when living with her godfather, Eddie Rebstock, who was a professional dart thrower for the U.S. Olympics and traveled the world competing. Madison’s not so bad herself -- she’s placed in the top three in her last cotests. In November, she traveled to Myrtle Beach to compete in a regional competition hosted by BullShooter, a company started by Rudy Allison, who had seen the popularity of darts in Ireland. “That whole weekend, I [won] a little under $200,” she said. Darts is a game that can be enjoyed by any age and anywhere around the world. Competitors play a variety of games, including Cricket and 501. In Cricket, players take turns throwing darts at the board trying to “close out” sections of the dartboard by hitting specific sections three times with the dart to earn points, for example, those labeled 15 through 20, and then hit bullseye three times to end the game. “Then you just have to work your way down to zero, and whoever gets to zero wins,” Purson explains. In 501, players begin with 501 points and take turns throwing darts at the board, to hit numbered sections, and subtract the corresponding the number of points. Darts come in two types. “There are soft tips with plastic tips, and then there’s a metal barrel, and a shaft and flank,” she said. “Then for steel tips, the tip and barrel are made of metal.”
Madison Persun poses with her dart at The Luck of the Draw competition in Spartanburg, SC. Madison usually competes in local bars, who set up the matches, tournament style. Each competitor pays a set amount to play, and that total becomes the Luck of The Draw. The champion then gets all the money in the pot. “Possibly over $300 for winnings,” Madison said. She competes professionally, obtaining sponsors, including Extreme Darts, a company who provides her with darts and materials. They also sponsor dart players they consider professional in their gamesmanship and who are enthusiastic. Unfortunately, Pursonn lost one of her sponsors because she was unable to compete due to attending school. She has custom-made darts that costs $120 for a set of three. Darts is a family affair for the Pursons -- Madison tends to play with her mom in her free time. Her family supports her love of the sport.
december 2019
sports • 5
Falcon High Flyer
Volleyball Phenom Sophie Fisher Looks To Future For College Play
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by Adrienne Ruffalo
ophie Fisher (‘20) is well on her rie Christan, helped her develop into way to becoming a Division 1 a solid recruit. They never gave up on athlete next year. She has not yet her and always pushed her to do better, signed but she says. has many Fisher’s dreams and offers to D1 goals are to be a good I didn’t want to play volleyball player but schools like Clemson, Kentucky, Maryland, to be a really good at first... My mom made also USC Columbia, Georperson. gia, or Penn State. Right now she wants me go to one practice, Fisher has been to focus on finding a playing volleyball school that feels like a and I then fell since she was in sixth good fit because she has grade. so many offers and still in love with it. “I didn’t want to doesn’t know where to play at first,” she said. go. “I thought it was stuFisher doesn’t necespid. My mom made me go to one practice, sarily have a dream school, but after coland I then fell in love with it.” lege, Fisher hopes to play professionally, To get where she is today, her family either overseas for a couple years or for the members and her high school coach, CarUSA team.
“
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The Big Leagues 10 Student Athletes Commit To Colleges Haley Bishop Vanderbilt University - Track & Field Caroline Chapman Erskine College - Soccer Magdiel Cotto University of South Carolina - Baseball Skylar Holmes Towson University - Track & Field Emily Lammers USC Aiken - Volleyball Ella Miller Lander University - Lacrosse Taryn Samons Lander University - Lacrosse
Grace Scott St. Andrews University - Volleyball
Ally Thees Georgia State University - Volleyball
Morgan Werner Butler University - Cross Country and Track
Need Help With Writing Assignments? december 2019
Writers’ Ink
Trained peer tutors available at FLEX in D501 The Talon
6• centerspread
Music Through The Decade
A
by Julia Lako
s the decade comes to an end The Talon takes a look at music that defined the decade, what stood out and created a change. According to nielson.com hip hop became one of the biggest genres to grow during this decade. Trap music, cloud rap, drill music, mumble rap, and emo hip hop also grew popular. Beginning in 2010 Billboard top artists began to see artists like Drake, JAY-Z, and Chris Brown gaining popularity. Lil Peep grew to fame under emo hip hop; after his death his popularity increased with his family releasing music and tracks. Mac Miller died in 2018 causing celebrity tributes at concerts to the well known artist according to Vogue.com. In 2018 Drake was on top of the top artist list on Billboard. Indie music began to grow as well with artists like Mumford and Sons, Vance Joy, and The Lumineers. This genre brought traditional instruments back like mandolin, ukulele, bongos, banjos, and accordion. The band Hoizer released the song “Take Me To Church” gaining attention for its message against homophobia; in the music video it shows a gay couple being hunted and tortured by mask-wearing men. Teen pop has made a significant comeback throughout the decade including stars from Disney and Nickelodeon like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Ariana Grande. They expanded their careers and have come-of-age with their music over the decade. Taylor Swift was awarded artist of the decade; this makes her the first woman to earn this award. Ariana Grande had four of her albums peak at number one on the Billboard 200. Boy bands and girl groups have also made a big comeback in this decade. Groups such as One Direction, Little Mix, and Fifth Harmony. One Direction and Fifth Harmony were both formed on X-Factor by Simon Cowell; both of the groups have split since their formation. Now the members of One Direction have since started solo careers. Camila Cabello has also started a solo career after leaving Fifth Harmony. Along with this revival K-pop groups have rose to fame quickly around the world such as BTS and BLACKPINK. The 2010’s brought a decade of music that will be remembered and listened to for years to come.
• Party Rock Anthem • Airplanes • Firework • Pumped Up Kicks • Thinking Out Loud • Blank Space
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• We Are Young • Blurred Lines • Harlem Shake • Cruise
• Perfect • Love • Havana Yourself • • Rockstar • One Dance • Señorita • Panda • • Bad Guy • Hello • • • Fancy • Shape Of You • That’s What I • Circles Like • Truth • Bad And Hurts Boujee • Psycho • Bodak Yellow • God’s Plan
Lucid Dreams Finesse Sad! Mine
December 2019
centerspread • 7
Disney Then & Now
Reflecting On Iconic Disney Shows, Setting The Tone For New Disney
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by Maggie Kell
’m Selena Gomez, and you’re watching Disney Channel. The familiar catchphrase is the sound of most people’s childhood in this decade. Popular shows like “Raven’s Home,” “The Thundermans,” “Gabby Duran and the Unsittables,” and “Andi Mack” are dominating the screen. However, it is not just Disney Channel who has changed, but Disney itself. Disney started with an idea from Walt Disney who first began making cartoons to sell them to family, friends and neighbors. Eventually, the cartoons lead to the Disney Company, which became a multi-billion dollar company. On April 18, 1983, Disney Channel premiered 60 years after the company was founded. The first ever series which ran from 1983 to 1992 was “Good Morning, Mickey!”and the first ever “Disney Original Series” was “Flash Forward,” which ran from 1995-1997. Disney Channel shows before in the previous decade fueled more diverse shows in the 2010s. Some Disney movies before the 2000s have been branded with ‘outdated cultural depictions’ due to racists or sexists implications. However, as times have changed, Disney has been trying to become more inclusive. “That So Raven” was one of Disney’s top rated shows and introduced an Afrian American girl named Raven Symone (played by Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman). Movies and shows such as “The Cheetah Girls”, “The Proud Family”, and “Going to the Mat” all produced in the 2000-2010 included diverse characters. “I think it's good to expose kids to diversity,” says Danny Davila (‘20). “Entertainment is trying to have unified values. It allows our country to progress as a society together. Exposing diversity - like the Disney Channel is doing - to the younger generation will help them become more unified together.” The 2010-2019 decade has also made strides representing the LGBTQ community. Cyrus Goodman (played by Joshua Rush) was the first gay character
Fort Mill's
Local Changes
by ANSLEY ARCHULETA
on Disney Channel, featured in the 2017 show Andi Mack - a small stride for the Pride movement. Doc McStuffins, which is featured on Disney Junior, introduces a double-amputee character named Johnny McBride (voiced by Shia LaBeouf), however, the disabled characters appears for one episode only. While Disney has been the face of many family-faced movies leading into the new decade many stars on Disney Channel have been known to go off the rails. (Hannah Montana) Actress Miley Cyrus’ relationship with marijuana became public in 2010, and in September 2013 she released “Wrecking Ball” which featured naked Miley Cyrus swinging from a wrecking ball which raised eyebrows. Disney has many trademarks including Marvel, Pixar, and Lucas Films (Star Wars) and is recognized globally in entertainment. It is also known for its theme parks and TV business; which includes the Disney Channel. Disney purchased the rights to Star Wars in 2012. “The Force Awakens,” “The Last Jedi,” and the upcoming chapter of the trilogy, “The Rise Of Skywalker,” were all made after Disney bought LucasFilms. “The Mandalorian” which was released on Nov 12, 2019 on Disney Plus, earned a 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. “Shows are more streamlined nowadays, and [companies] produce them now without any effort,” says Connor Brandenburg (‘20). “There are a lot more new titles. Back when we were kids, they would have shows going on to six to seven seasons, but now we have one season shows cause they cancel it, and then go onto the next project.” As 2020 draws near, Disney is set to release many more movies. Marvel will begin Phase Four of the Cinematic Universe set after Endgame, and many new live action movies like “Mulan,” “Cruella,” and others will be released in the years to come. The 2010-2019 Disney’s expansion set the stage for even more influence in the next decade.
This past May was the 10th annual Strawberry festival. Hosted in Walter Elisha park, Fort Mill families love to shop from local vendors, play games, and watch the annual Strawberry Queen pageant. Back in 2017, Carowinds opened Winterfest as a way to incorporate the theme park into the winter season.
Beginning in 2016, Kingsley is packed with many new stores and quick bites, making the location a popular teen hang out spot.
Fort Mill's Population Over the Decade 20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
'10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18
Social Media That Shaped, Changed The 2010s
10 Years of Apps: What Apps Were Like When They First Came Out, What’s New Today
F
by Zaria Drakeford rom Myspace to the iPhone 11, technology and social media impacts our lives daily. As the decade comes to an end, The Talon reflects on the popular social media apps over the last 10 years. Back in early 2018, Facebook users discovered that the company had been releasing their personal information. Created in 2004, Facebook started off with 650 users. In 2010, Facebook had around 7 million users, but now has a growing 2.41 billion users. Also in 2010, it was the third largest web company in the U.S. behind Amazon and Google. In August of 2010, Facebook Messenger was released. Moving into 2020, Facebook has announced a brand new logo and complete redesign. They have also focused on a new mission that has a main goal of privacy. In early 2018, Facebook users discovered that the company had been releasing their personal information. According to New York Times, the company had control over its 2.2 billion users and allowed Microsoft’s Bing to have access to all the names of Facebook users’ friends without consent. The social network also gave Netflix and Spotify the ability to read users’ private messages, permitted Amazon to gain users’ names and contact infor-
december 2019
mation, and allowed Yahoo to view streams of friends’ posts. This year, Facebook users, can expect more spaces for private communication and new privacy settings out of all of their apps: Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, and Instagram. Created by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, Instagram was released to the public in October of 2010. In the first week, the app was released, it had close to 100,000 users. Only two months after being released, it had already reached more than a million users. After Instagram reached around 27 million users in 2012, Facebook bought the company for $1 billion. Instagram now has around 1 billion users and has released new updates, such as Checkout on Instagram which allows users to purchase items through the app, @shop which is for small business owners to sell and promote their products to customers, Instagram T.V (IGTV), Close Friends List that allows you to choose which followers can view certain posts on your story, and accept donations through Instagram. Snapchat, the multimedia app, created by three Stanford students, Reggie Brown, Evan Spiegel, and Bobby Murphy, originally name was Picaboo. After releasing the app in July of 2011, they had only 127 users by the end of the summer. After a very slow start, Snapchat now has approximate-
ly 210 million users. They later relaunched the app with a new name, Snapchat later. Word got out of the app and its ability to text without any evidence of texts ever being sent and reached about 100,000 users by April of 2012. At the end of 2012, video snaps were introduced. By May 2013, 150 million snaps were being sent everyday. Today, Snapchat is thriving and has released many special features such as the 3D Camera Mode, Spectacles 3, Snap games, new filters, and friendship profiles. Twitter was launched in 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams, and Biz Stone. Before the app blew up, the app was referred to as Twttr. In 2007, it reached 600,000 tweets a day and in 2013, the company had over 2,000 employees, had 200 million active users, and was worth around $31 million. With President Donald Trump being elected in 2016, the app has skyrocketed and has become a main source for news and information for young users. Twitter now has around 330 million users with approximately 500 million tweets sent per day. In February of 2005, Youtube was launched as a limited basis by former Paypal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim. In September of 2005, a Nike ad was the first to reach one million views. When Youtube officially launched in
December of that same year, it had more than two million video views a day. In January 2006, the number had increased to 25 million and by March, more than 20,000 videos were being uploaded every day. In 2010, new types of ads were being released and the site was reaching $3 billion daily views. In 2011, Youtube Live was released and a year later, the first ever 1 billion view video, “Gangnam Style,” was released by Psy. In 2015, Youtube Red was released to make it easier for users to access music. TikTok was originally called Musical.ly but was sold in 2017 to a different Chinese company, ByteDance. The company merged Musical.ly with its own lip syncing app, Douyin and debuted the app in August of 2018 as TikTok. By September of that same year, TikTok had over $1 billion downloads, exceeding Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Youtube. The popular music app now has around 2.5 billion users and is known for its hashtags related to jokes and challenges made through the app. So what are the main differences between Musical.ly and TikTok? Well for one, the logos are completely different. Musical.ly also focuses more solely on lip syncing, however TikTok is more generalized and is meant for any kind of video, music related or not.
The Talon
8• Features
Toxic Parenting Can Affect Children For Years
C
by Maggie Kell
hildren’s relationships with parents are formative and lasting. Unfortunately, some households are not as supportive as others, and even well-meaning parents can become what experts call poisonous or toxic parenting. Toxic parenting is commonly defined by psychologists as continual behavior by the parent with two or more of these characteristics: constant criticism, controlling behavior, guilt-tripping and manipulation, humiliation, invalidation of your emotions, passive aggression, disrespectful of personal boundaries, or one-sided relationship. There is a difference between toxic parenting and children who are being oversensitive. Repetitive behavior is the constant in toxic parenting - a parent may be controlling for example, but may not meet the definition of “toxic.” “[My mom] wants me to be better than others. Susan (not her real name) says her household has never been inShe wants me to be the best. viting and she thinks her mothI miss the motherly moments when I was younger.” er’s parenting is toxic. “My definition of toxic parenting is parenting that ~ Susan (not real name) doesn’t benefit the child or leaves the child with trauma, whether it's deliberate or not,” Susan explains. “My mom tends to point out the things that are wrong because she's a per• Constant criticism fectionist - and if it's not perfect, it's not right.” • Controlling behavior Susan says that her moth• Guilt-tripping and manipulation er often picks on the little • Humiliation things about her including her acne, tight jeans, or things • Invalidation of child’s emotions that she cannot control. She says • Passive aggression this makes her feel more insecure about herself, and makes her worry • Disrespectful of personal boundaries that she will never meet her mother's high standards. betterhelp.com “I usually have to ask days in advance to go out with my friends,” Susan says with sadness. “Sometimes even weeks in advance. I
What is toxic parenting? Repeated instances of 2 or more behaviors:
feel like most parents are fine with their kids going out without asking many days beforehand.” Though Susan can’t fault her mother for worrying about what happens after dark, she doesn’t understand why her mom can’t allow her to hang out with friends without asking days in advance. “It’s emotionally damaging if you were ignored, shamed, or punished for expressing your thoughts or feelings or for being immature, imperfect, or having needs and wants,” says Darlene Lancer, psychologist and author of numerous self-help books and webinars. “Most everyone manages to grow up, but the scars remain and account for problems in relationships and coping with reality. Subtle put-downs are also abusive. Abuse needn’t be severe if it’s chronic.” Lancer explains that toxic relationships in childhood could result is later problems. Susan Forward writes in her book, “Mothers Who Can’t Love,” that there are many “unloving mothers: the narcissistic mother, the competitive mother, the overly enmeshed mother, the control freak, and mothers who abuse or fail to protect their daughters from abuse.” She also explains in her first book entitled “Toxic Parents” that toxicity in the household is not just yelling at your kid, but the failure to recognize repetitive behavior. “[My mom] wants me to be better than others” Susan says. “She wants me to be the best. I miss the motherly moments when I was younger. “A couple of things have happened in my life that have severed that motherly love. I feel like our relationship is stable right now, but one incident could destroy that relationship.”
COLUMN
Traditional Dating Changes In New Generation
The Talon
We saw need to you with talk. I Rac hel!
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“Dating now is kind of annoying,” girls and Addie Ruth (‘22) says. “Social media guys. That makes it hard and everything is just adds addiout there.” tional stress In addition, if teens are in a relation- to reach this ship, and a teen’s “date” snapchats oth- standard of er girls/boys or likes another person's society. It post on Instagram, someone's feelings also makes it may get hurt, adding yet another level difficult to set of drama. standards for “I personally do not care when my “The best feeling was seeing yourself and boyfriend commuthe light on the telephone other people nicates or hangbecause you think when you got home and outs with the opyou need more posite sex,” Lexi than the normal.” knowing that you got a Bumgardener (‘21) Dating may message from them.” said. “I know sevseem superficial eral people who ~ Karen Hood, History Teacher today compared to almost consider earlier generations’ breaking up with their boyfriends if traditions in the age of hiring an “onthey even talk to another girl, which is line dating coach” -- even teens feel crazy to me.” the current relationship scene is not Also, frequently looks play a role in always the best way to build genuine digital “dating.” relationships or relationship skills. “There is additional stress for this “I feel like I’m lucky because I’ve generation,” says English teacher Linh known my boyfriend since middle Tran, who has a degree in psychology. school, and we started out as friends “The people you see on your timeline first,” says Khonnie Kounbandith (‘21). or on Instagram are so pretty and per- “Dating” in the traditional sense fect, and you absorb the message that is a foreign term for Generation Z. looking like that is the norm for both “Talking” is the new form of dating now, kahoot.it
by Alyssa Martin odern day courtship in high school has gone from the traditional dating protocol when the guy picks up his date at 6:30 p.m., meeting the parents before the couple goes out for dinner and a movie to simply talking for a few weeks or a month and some sexual activity. While dating these days is more inclusive of LGBTQ teens and there is less of a stigma when girls initiate the relationship, as Resource Officer Dave Prescott, says, in the past, to get a date, “You actually had to have game. “There’s no way I would go back and date…,” he admits. “Dating sucks in this generation.” Social media has completely taken over dating. Much of the dating takes place through a screen now. While adults -- or least teens over the age of 18 -- can use apps including Tinder, Christian Mingle or Match, high schoolers basically “hang out” and “talk.” In other words, they sit around on their phones having short, awkward conversations via text on the phone that may or may not end up in an actual meet up for a real date. Courting as a first step may not even include face-to-face meet ups.
“Dating sucks in this generation.” ~ Officer Dave Prescott
t h e y say, which is basically flirting. There was beauty and true romance in dating for earlier generations when the boy would ask the girl to be his girlfriend in a special way, teachers remember. “The best feeling was seeing the light on the telephone when you got home and knowing that you got a message from them,” says History teacher Karen Hood. It’s unlikely dating in the future will return to a more personal experience as technology develops.
december 2019
Features • 9
Spanish Teacher Sebastian Tellez Fondly Remembers His Childhood In Colombia
“There was nothing that
most difficult. At age 13, Tellez moved to the U.S., settling with his family in Randolph, N.J. “The difference between the people in New Jersey and here was huge,” he said. “Actually, Charlotte is a lot nicer than New Jersey, that kind of caught me off guard.” Tellez attended his freshman year at a school in New Jersey then moved to Charlotte where he spent the rest of his high school and college career. The shift in culture from New Jersey to Charlotte caught Tellez completely by surprise, young Tellez was unprepared for the level of friendliness giv-
really made me want to
“When I landed, we drove
learn English, it kind of
to my old neighborhood, and
just happened.”
I didn’t get there until 11
language -- he’s sharing the culture he grew up in and still remembers fondly. His favorite Colombian dishes were ajiaco, a stew that includes chickens, garlic, potatoes, and corn, and tamales which mostly includes pork ribs, tomatoes, lemon with the outer shell made of cornmeal. “I really miss the culture. It's definitely the best part about Colombia-the food, the culture, being around family -- I really miss them,” he says. Family is very important to the Colombian culture, and fortunately for Tellez, his family was always around. His Aunt Marisa was given the duty of being his madrina, his godmother, and she took her job very seriously. To this day, he still receives calls and messages from her just to see how he's doing. After his mother passed away
p.m...”
by Grace Asaad
H
e passes the ball to his amigo and races across the small patch of land in the neighborhood park, the one with their favorite climbing tree. The boys play for hours before they are called into the house to eat dinner with their families. When Spanish teacher Sebastian Tellez looks back on his childhood in Bogota, Colombia, he misses the friendly people and his old neighborhood. Today he’s in the classroom, teaching young minds about more than just the
In Bogota, Colombia Sebastian Tellez and his sister, Irene, enjoy Christmas time spent in 1992 with family after coming together from England and Colombia. Photo courtesy of Sebastian Tellez when Tellez was Caobos, a private “Actually, Charlotte is a bilingual school. He only 6-years-old, he moved to England continued to learn to live with his Aunt lot nicer than New Jersey, English in school, Patricia, and only and at that time, he that kind of caught me then did he start to made trips to the learn English. U.S. to visit Disoff guard.” “There was nothney World and Sea ing that really made World. me want to learn English, it kind of just Fluent in two languages, he also happened,” he admits. understands quite a bit of French After a year, he moved back to Co- and a little Portuguese, but he says lombia and attended Gimnasio Los learning English was definitely the
en by the people of Charlotte. After leaving Colombia permanently at age 13, he has been back twice to visit family and friends. “When I landed, we drove to my old neighborhood, and I didn’t get there until 11 p.m. and my friends were all waiting for me, and we hung out all that night,” he says. The last time he went back to Colombia was in 2012 where he saw his old friends and family. Although he has been back twice his, 6-year old son, Gabe has never been to Colombia. Tellez says he is definitely going to take his son there some time, but he wants to wait until Gabe gets older so he will be able to remember the people and culture as fondly as he does.
Families Celebrate Culture, Traditions During December Holidays In Fort Mill
W
by Khonnie Kounbandith
inter holidays traditions, and some of them are thousands of years old. The From South America to Europe and the Middle East, Talon takes a look at a few of the lesser-know traditions who have December holidays.
Las Novenas from Columbia
In the nine-day Catholic tradition of Las Novenas, those who observe this holiday celebrate from Dec. 16 and ending on Dec. 24. Families gather in a household each night to hold prayers for the birth of Jesus Christ. Las Novenas, or Novena of Aguinaldos, means “ninth to baby Jesus,” and originated from the Columbian and Ecuadorian Catholic Church. “[Before celebrating], we stand in a prayer circle to pray about Jesus and his birth. We sing about Him during and after the prayer,” says Vanessa Cardona (‘21). “We use instruments [to sing with] like tambourines as well.” Usually a host family will hold a party on the last day, which is Christmas Eve. Their hosts doesn’t decorate their homes, but they may have a miniature replica of the town of Bethlehem and the Nativity Scene. On Christmas day, families place baby Jesus in the manger in front of Mary and Joseph. Family and friends arrive with gifts for each other, eat traditional food such as tamales, and dance. “[When we were younger], I remember being in a prayer circle with my family and singing songs with tambourines and maracas,” Alex Cardona (‘21) says. “After opening our gifts at midnight, we would play with our new toys with our little cousins.”
december 2019
St. Lucy’s Day from Italy
A well-known religious figure in Europe, Saint Lucy, or Santa Lucia, is celebrated every Dec. 13 with festivals, feasts, and gifts for children. Lucia was persecuted by Roman authorities in Italy in the year 304 because she refused to convert to Roman Catholicism. Artists describe her without eyes, since she is the patron of sight -- and various legends attribute that to her name, which is from the Latin “lux,” which means light, and even that Romans took her eyes or her life due to the lust of a rejected suitor. Now, she has become a celebrated holiday for people living in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Italy. “[Where I live] in the North of Italy, Saint Lucia is similar to Santa Claus since she gives gifts to kids as well as protects them from harm,” says exchange student from Italy, Letizia Dallatomasina. “However she is different since she arrives to town on a donkey instead of a reindeer.” Countries including Sweden, Norway, and Finland celebrate Saint Lucy by holding a Festival of Lights. “In Italy, there is a town called Saint Lucia to honor her,” Dallatomasina says. “We have festival about her the Sunday before Dec. 13. Children write letters about what they want and tie it to a balloon.”
Hanukkah from Israel
Probably the best known non-Christian holiday this month that is celebrated in America and around the world is Hanukkah. In 2019, the eight-day holiday begins on Dec. 22 and ends Dec. 30. “[Hanukkah] started when an ancient Greek army invaded Israel. A small Jewish army called the Mac-
Celebrating Novena, Alex and Vanessa Cardona (‘21) with their cousins in their aunt’s house in Dec. 2016. Photo courtesy of Cardona Family cabees rebelled against the Greeks and kicked them out of Israel,” says Josh Silverman, a Jewish sophomore at Catawba Ridge High. “The holiday lasts eight days because when the Maccabees returned to the synagogue, they only had enough oil to light the candles inside for one day -- but the oil lasted eight days, and that was the Hanukkah miracle.” Each night, families open one gift after lighting a candle. “Every year my family gets together and my mom makes homemade latkes, which are made from shredded potatoes,” Silverman continues. “We go to Krispy Kreme and get Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and we light the candles.” Unlike Christmas, families do not put up many decorations around the house. Instead, the families set up a Menorah with its candles and light one by one each night.
The Talon
10• opinion
You Gotta Be Kind To Be Cool
“Words have the power to tear down or build up relationships.” --Psychologist Peggy Boone
O
by Megan Jafarace
ne mean comment, two frowns. Another mean comment, more frowns and a tear. One compliment, two smiles. Two compliments, big grins. From one person to another, the smiles spread—all because one person spoke kindly. Although positive words have great effects, negative comments unfortunately do the opposite. That very reason is why kindness should be considered cool.
“Bullying victims may experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders.” ~Peggy Boone, Psychologist Although not everyone realizes it — words positive or negative — have long-lasting effects. Negative words can increase activity in the fear center of the brain and have been shown to increase stress hormones. “People may internalize negative words and feel unworthy or engage in negative self-talk,” Boone said. And experts say those ugly words can impact people for years. Negative words may even turn into bullying. “Bullying victims may experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders,” Boone said. Even though bullying can often times make the bully feel powerful, Guidance Counselor Megan Keller said, In the end it will only hurt both the bully and victim.
According to Boone, the same disorders displayed in victims and more are shown in bullies. If bullies process the effects of their behavior on others, they may experience increased psychological distress, according to Boone. Problems can occur in adulthood as well, including breaking the law and engaging in substance abuse. Students, teachers, and parents should choose their words carefully. Cyberbullying isn’t any different, experts say. Victims may feel anxious/depressed because they do not feel as though they have control over the situation, Boone said. They may experience low self-esteem or feel humiliated depending on what was posted. All of this evidence suggests that ugly words affect society negatively, no matter if you’re the bully or the victim, so why not flip the story? Kind words are just as powerful, only with the opposite effect. Positive words make us want to do better and make good choices—such
“When you give someone a gift, you are full of positive thoughts. It feels good to help someone else in a world where there’s a lot of pain.” ~Megan Keller, Counselor as being kinder. They make us feel good and improve our self-esteem, Boone said. Much like negative words, positive words also have long-term impacts. If you affirm someone and speak kindly to them, it will motivate them
The Talon Staff
“You’re too sensitive!”
“That was a stupid question.”
“I appreciate you”.
“You’re an awesome friend”
“You matter.”
“Nobody wants you here.”
“You inspire me.”
“You’re a loser!”
to become the things you say, said Keller. Those words are going to fill their mind with positive things. For example, if you tell someone that their music is good—it may inspire them to write more music and work harder. Positive words also impact the initiator. “When I am kind to people I always feel joy,” said Keller. “When you give
someone a gift, you are full of positive thoughts. It feels good to help someone else in a world where there’s a lot of pain.” If you are positive towards someone, they’ll be positive back, said Keller. One kind word may even inspire someone else to pass it on. It’s contagious and in your power to use words for good.
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tive articles related to Nation Ford High School or topics students find interesting.
Ansley Archuletta
The paper’s objective is to notify the school community of the news in a timely and
Grace Asaad
informative manner and to entertain them through articles and columns.
Kaylee Battle
The staff encourages letters to the editor. Nation Ford High School students,
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staff members, and the public can express their opinions and reactions to the arti-
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cles in The Talon. Letters should be signed and should not exceed 150 words. Letters submitted may be published in the paper at the discretion of The Talon staff and will be edited for accuracy, length, and grammar, as well as offensive or inappropriate content. The staff may permanently keep all unpublished letters for reference or guidance for future writing. All submissions should be submitted to Mrs. Swann, room
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The Talon
December 2019
opinion • 11
Charity Releases Shameful School Shooting Ad
Staff Editorial When directors like Quentin Tarantino release films, the extreme violence is expected and fits within the director’s style. However, when a charity organization releases two violent videos that are emotionally jarring for viewers, publishing these advertisements is simply manipulative and alarmist. On Sept. 19, the organization known as Sandy Hook Promise, a charity striving to end school shootings and harm to children, released their second advertisement called “Back to School.” This advertisement displays a noticeable increase in violence compared to their first advertisement, “Evan,” which chronicles a romance between two students. During the relationship, a student in the background named Evan isolates from his classmates, even using obscenities against people who try to sit with him. In the finale he enters a gym with an automatic rifle and begins firing at other students. The screen cuts to black, and text appears, saying “look for the signs.” Due to the lack of specificity, Sandy Hook Promise’s point seems to be that introversion and lashing out are signs of a potential school shooter. The ad acts as if these signs made it obvious that the student would be a school shooter, but it just made an unrealistic portrayal of one.. Placing the blame on a certain groups of people (introverts people lash out in this case), only further misinforms people on school shootings and creates a stereotype. The “Back to School” video begins
as a normal advertisement, instructing parents to buy school supplies. But halfway in, the video turns horrific when a school shooting occurs in the background. The children still talk about back-to-school essentials, but it’s presented in a satirical manner in which the “supplies” are tools children can use in a school shooting to help them survive. The finale remains equally horrific, depicting the potential death of a child hiding in a bathroom stall as the final shot. The advertisement is suited for adults and older teenagers--the intense violence makes this evident. Because of the target audience is adults, the quote “school shootings are preventable if you know the signs” seems to blame parents and school employees for being unaware of signs potential shootings. Once again, Promise is blaming a certain group of people for school shootings. What are the effects of this strategy? Parents will become more paranoid, and if something does happen to a child, this ad promotes the idea of adults taking the blame for it because they should’ve known “the signs.” However, the reality is parents cannot keep track of everything going on in their child’s life, let alone everything going on in their school. Promise seems to be assuming that parents are simply ignorant to the idea of shootings, but, like a majority of Promise’s messages, the idea is oversimplified, and, ironically, produces ignorance. After they released “Back to School,” according to the website Adage, Sandy
Sandy Hook Promise Foundation does not meet 5 Standards for Charity Accountability: Standard 4 (Compensated Board Members)
Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board’s chair or treasurer.
SHPF does not meet this Standard because:
Three members out of the nine member board of directors (33%) are directly and indirectly compensated, two as paid staff and one indirectly compensated as the spouse of a staff member.
Standard 14 (Budget)
Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.
SHPF does not meet this Standard
Did not identify total projected administrative expenses. Standard 16 (Annual Report)
Have an annual report available to all, on request, that include required financial and other information.
Standard 17 (Web Site Disclosures) SHPF does not meet this Standard Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy) SHPF does not meet this Standard Hook Promise’s website saw a 500 percent increase in visits. Ironically, the brutal violence Promise seeks to eliminate only made the ad more successful. Promise tweeted the ad, placing a caption that said “survive the school year.” Such a lack of subtlety shows that Promise knew the intensity of the
ad would inspire useful controversy Sandy Hook Promise and their procedures have good intentions: to protect children around the world -- mentally and physically, but their ad presentation exemplifies a flippancy that may inspire a school shooter stereotype and fear mongering. by CB
Deceased Actors Making Films From The Grave RESURRECTING ACTORS
1999 Oliver Reed passes in a Maltese Bar while filming scenes for Gladiator. He is resurrected via CGI to finish his scenes as the slave owner Proximo
2011 Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Marlene Dietrich are all resurrected to star in a commercial for Dior’s J’Adore fragrance. Audiences were disturbed that the trip down memory lane ended in uncanny valley. 2016 Actor Peter Cushing’s image is used to make actor Guy Henry closer resemble the character Wilhoff Tarkin in Disney’s Rogue One. The debate about using deceased actors is relaunched with discussion being featured on several news sights.
December 2019
1994 Brandon Lee dies in a tragic accident during the filming of The Crow. With the majority of scenes complete, CGI was used to place Lee’s head on a body double. 2004 The campy diesel-punk film Space Captain and the world of Tomorrow resurrects famed British actor Lawrence Oliver, who passed away 13 years before filming started, to star as the films main villain, this went under the radar due to the movie bombing the box office and remaining in obscurity to this day. 2015 Footage of the late actor Marlon Brando is used to recreate his role as Superman’s father in Superman Returns, the franchise rebooted soon after. 2020 Audiences await to see how Disney will handle the departure of Carrie Fisher and what will happen to iconic Heroine Princess Leia in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Unethical Directors Use Computer Generated Imagery With Deceased Actors To Make Films
D
by Colin Hoover
ead actors. Yes, they’re back director decided that the perfect fit for the and still making films from be- main character would be James Dean, not yond the grave. In recent years, an actor that resembled James Dean, but deceased actors’ images have James Dean himself. been recreated through CGI, computer There ploy is no reason for Deans imgenerated imagery. Peter Cushing’s im- age to be used except to promote the movage was used in ie by leaching off the 2016 film his fame. The The debate over using dead “Rogue One” to fact the Ernst is make actor Guy actors in new films has boiled acting as if Dean Henry look like will be in the over into mainstream the iconic Star film is even more Wars character insulting. He conversation. Wilhuff Tarkin. claims the family Some controversy came from using the of James Dean, who treat their dear cousin late actor’s image, but most fans didn’t as a posthumous cash cow, is treating it as care, because it was done solely to make “His fourth film.” They are using a CGI the character of Tarkin look closer to his image of Dean, not the actual person. The portrayal in other films. However, the de- fact that the dead are being used to market bate over using dead actors in new films original movies shows just how low Hollyhas boiled over into mainstream conver- wood is willing to stoop for an easy buck. sation as director Modern techAnton Ernst annology is raising Modern technology is nounced that famed new questions raising new questions actor James Dean about what is ethiwould be staring cal and this time the about what is ethical, in his Vietnam war movie industry has and this time the movie gone too far. One film, “Finding Jack.” This is a clearly industry has gone too far. thing technology unethical and discannot do morally turbing use of the late actors image. James is bring back the dead. Dean died in 1955 at the age of 24, but this Actors who have passed away cannot hasn’t stopped Ernst from attempting to be used to make new movies. Dean is not profit from the dead actors name. “Find- in “Finding Jack,” his image is just being ing Jack” is a feel good movie about an cast on an intern in a green suit.“Finding American soldier in Vietnam who is nurs- Jack” is not James Dean’s fourth film deing a wounded dog back to health. spite what Ernst thinks. Using an image A hackney edition to the list of medio- without permission from the actor is an cre war movies with dogs. The only thing assault on his legacy and no doubt the film that makes this movie special is that the will go down as a disgraceful flop.
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