SEPTEMBER 12, 2013 VOL. 31 NO. 6
INSIDEBEAT THE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE OF THE DAILY TARGUM
2 A ‘Sopranos’ Binge 3 Street Style 4 Binge watching 6 Why we love ‘Fight Club’
Binge Watching
You’ve probably done it. You’ve probably put off something important to do it. We look at this popular phenomenon
I N S I D EBeat
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September 12, 2013 Page 2
Editor’s Rant
INSIDEBEAT E di t o r s
Inside Beat Editor
Associate Editor
Film Editor
Spence Blazak
Fashion Editor
Emily Corkum
Music Editor
Ryan Lizotte
T.V. Editor
Emily Maas
Copy Editor
Online Editor
Ryan Surujnath Freddie Morgan
Rashmee Kumar Mary Grace Garis
C o n tac t Rutgers Student Center 126 College Ave, Suite 431 New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Phone: (732) 932-2013 Fax: (732) 246-7299 Email: beat@dailytargum.com
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Stop binge-watching? Fuggedaboutit!
W
hat is the biggest problem with “The Godfather? Simple. It’s three hours long. Six hours if you’re including the second. But what if it was 87 hours long? This summer, I discovered the answer in HBO’s “The Sopranos”.
After this June’s passing of Rutgers Alumnus James Gandolfini, who plays Tony Soprano on the show, I decided to take on the Herculean task of completing “The Sopranos” before the end of the summer. I’ve binge-watched other shows in my time, including one dark weekend when I finished “Homeland” in three days, but there was something about “The Sopranos” that made it more addicting than all the others. What was that secret ingredient that made it the “best I ever had”? The New Jersey element definitely helps. The electric feeling I got when Paulie mentioned his summer home in Point Pleasant, the humble burg from which I hail, was like no other. Even when Jackie Aprile Jr. and Christopher rob a fundraiser at Rutgers, I had never felt prouder about my New Jersey heritage. A brilliant episode happens about halfway through the series where the area’s Native American population boycotts the Columbus Day parade since Columbus allegedly murdered their ancestors. The Italian main characters, losing out on their favorite holiday to celebrate their ancestry, start a political war. The episode features some of the strongest dialogue in the series, where Tony, Silvio, Paulie and Christopher sit around and discuss the philosophy of racism. The writing treats them like real,
flawed people rather than just some guys who are pure evil because they are racist. “The Spence blazak Sopranos” is fi l m edi t o r so much more complex than that. Its unabashed portrayal of racism, depression and the mafia gives “The Sopranos” a unique perspective on its subject matter. It’s part of the reason why show is so addictive. Tony Soprano was hyped up as the most flawed hero in television history. Having seen the likes of Walter White, Dexter Morgan, and Don Draper, I was skeptical of such a claim. Then I began watching, and realized he is sociopath with redeeming qualities. Tony Soprano is why “The Sopranos” works so well. He keeps falling into his same horrible patterns, making him feel like a real person and the perfect axel for the show to run on. Where Walter White has evolved from anti-hero to straight up villain, Tony Soprano might be a worse person, but you still can’t help but love him. Now that I’ve finished “The Sopranos”, nothing will ever be the same. If you need me, I’ll be binge-watching “The Wire”.
U p o n ne w b r uns w ic k cu l t u r e ? Enjoy w r i t in g ? C o me w r i t e f o r us . M o nd a y , 8 : 4 5 p. m . r sc 4 3 1
September 12, 2013
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What to Wear: Changing Temperatures
School of Envioronmental and Biological Sciences sophomore Craig Candela sports a pair of basketball shorts and a fitted cap. Shirley Yu / Associate Photo Editor
emily corkum f a s h i o n E D I TO R Every September, students pack their closets and move back to Rutgers, never truly knowing what the weather will be like. Some embrace these last few weeks of summer, wearing t-shirts and tank tops until its bitter end. Others begin the transition into fall by incorporating more jeans, maxi skirts and dark colors into their wardrobes. A few even decide that with the beginning of a new school year comes a direct decent into fall, no matter how hot it may be outside.
Students around campus are showing off their unique transitioning styles as the seasons slowly change from summer to fall. With the first official week of classes over, here are two outstanding student looks to wear to an evening class as the seasons begin to change. For the girls, pairing a simply patterned dress with heavier combat-style boots is an adorable way to slowly begin to embrace the changing weather. As the days get shorter, the evening air becomes chillier and this combination will provide a great balance between the day’s fluctuating temperatures.
School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Lindsey Bader opts for a pair of combat boots and a dress. Shirley Yu / Associate Photo Editor
Pairing the femininity of the dress with the masculinity of the boot gives the entire look more edge in comparison to haphazardly throwing on a pair of flip-flops. Additionally, by accessorizing with a pair of Rutgers sunglasses, you can show off your school spirit and compliment the masculinity of a combat boot with the masculine shape of the eyewear. Guys can never go wrong with graphic t-shirts, bright colors and killer sneakers. The right combination of these will allow you to stand out from the crowd while allowing you to keep cool under
the glare of the evening sun. Snap backs and fitted caps with graphic designs also add an individualized element to a look. They allow you to show off your favorite sports team, band, or city, while shading your eyes from the sun and enabling you to go the day without sunglasses. Finally, tasteful graphic t-shirts are a great way to add additional elements to your look. Graphic t-shirts, similarly to graphic snap back and fitted caps, show off a personal style, where you come from or where you would like to go, while looking casual and comfortable for an evening class.
Get This: Student Style
Bookworm Readers, $14 Urban Outfitters
Nike Hyperdunk id, $190 Nike
Freddie Morgan a ss o c i a t e E D I TO R At a loss for what to wear in infuriatingly fluctuating temperatures? Want to emulate these seriously sweet students above? Here are a few items that will allow you to polish your look!
adidas Art Trefoil Tee, $30 Urban Outfitters
Love Wrap Front Dress, $64 ASOS
Dr. Martens 1460 Boot, $120 Nordstrom
adidas Snapback, $26 Karmaloop
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Binge-Watching: The Good, The Ba
EMILY maas t e l e v isi o n E D I TOR “Binge-watching” is the act of watching a television show straight through a season or entire series, often marathoning episodes within a short period of time. This cultural sensation is being fed to students through sites like Hulu, Megavideo and Sidereel. The most common service to offer these glutinous opportunities nowadays, though, is Netflix. “I hate waiting for shows,” says Jimmy Dygos, School of Arts and Sciences first-year. Dygos, who has binge-watched shows such as “Dexter” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”, claims that binge-watching is inevitable. “I’ll be watching a show and I’ll get hooked on that episode, then I’ll have to watch the next episode,” says Dygos. “It’s just a domino effect.” Shows like “Breaking Bad”, “Lost”, and “Battlestar Galactica” are commonly devoured via Netflix, as well as Netflix-original material such as “Orange is the New Black” and Season 4 of “Arrested Development”. When a show’s entire season is posted on Netflix at
once, it’s hard not to watch it all right there and then. In fact, it may feel nearly impossible. Is Netflix setting students up for failure? Or are students supposed to withhold themselves from continuing shows all the way through? How can a binge-watcher have the patience to endure a cliffhanger when the next step in the story is a mere click away? Brienna Durso, an SAS senior, was never much of a television watcher until she caught onto binge-watching, “I wouldn’t watch a show if I had to tune in every week,” she said. “I don’t have the attention span for that.” Durso’s days of steering clear of the medium are long since gone. “Now that shows are available on the Internet and through Netflix, it’s interesting for me because I was never that into television,” Durso says. “Now that I can just click next, next, next, I find that I’m more interested in television because I get to find out what happens right away.” The instant gratification that streaming television offers seems wrong if given serious thought. Aside from the negative aspects it could have on television as a medium, the over-consumption of television series can
have serious downsides for college students as well. Antoinette Gingerelli, an SAS first-year, weighed in on the problems of binge-watching when faced with the obligations of the everyday student. “I think it’s a bad thing, definitely because it feeds procrastination,” she said. “I know, I have friends, especially who watch reality TV shows, who will put their schoolwork to the side in order to finish the series. I think anything with the word “binge” in it is a bad thing.” Gingerelli certainly poses an important point. Procrastination comes in all forms, but the latest option of online streaming seems to have made it even harder to push aside. Atahya McKnight, a junior in the School of Arts and Sciences can’t help her binge-watching addiction. She’s watched “Pretty Little Liars”, “Love & Hip Hop”, “Scandal” and “Family Guy,” all before her 30-day free trial ended on Netflix. All good things come with a trade-off, however, and McKnight has faced the negative effects of binge-watching. “I’ve missed a deadline for an assignment, but I couldn’t stop it,” she said. “It’s like, you have to, you
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can’t just stop watching or you’ll never know what happens next. I’ve missed assignments and I’ve put off doing work that I should do. I do it last minute and then end up stressing myself out, even though I could have paused the show and watched it later, but I decided not to.” McKnight’s habits reflect those of many other students trapped in the continuum of online streaming. “As a student, if you get too caught up in it, it makes it difficult for you to do the responsible thing,” she said. But when should a student know to pull on the reigns? Moderating viewing to free time can be difficult, especially after binging on a series. Spending copious amounts of time in a show’s world makes it hard to shake thinking about a series, when homework should probably be the central focus. But is Netflix to blame for these woes, or is it the student? Marquisa Graves, an SAS sophomore, can sympathize with both sides of the argument when it comes to streaming their favorite shows. “Well if you like it, you like it,” she says. “I know if you like something you kind of get addicted and you have to finish it, so that I can definitely understand.
But sometimes you’ve got to be able to be productive too with your time.” Binge-watching also has negative effects for the shows people are watching, as well. There are many things to consider when choosing to rush through a television series, instead of tuning in at its regular scheduled time. Episodes are made into episodes for a reason. Marathoning “The Walking Dead” or even “How I Met Your Mother” cuts the details and important events short. Smaller details and episodic intricacies often take a backseat to a show’s seasonal arc. The story of each individual episode is often times lost while binge-watching. Television as a medium is not meant to be viewed all at once, but rather in short bursts in each episode. Episodes are not there to give a viewer the option to take a break from watching, but rather to encourage a viewer to stop, in order to take the appropriate amount of time for the story to sink in. Binge-watching also compromises crucial cliffhangers within an episode or season. Rushing through a series takes all the fun and excitement out of waiting
to find out the “whodunit’s”. Graves also sees the benefits that set show times can have for a television series. “I think the cliffhangers are very important,” she said. “I’d like to be on the edge of my seat for a bit instead of just saying, ‘I don’t have to wait’ and just go ahead and see it. I hate the suspense but at the same time I think it’s necessary.” Binge-watching may also adversely affect a viewer’s emotional investment in storylines and characters. One could argue that a deeper emotional connection is received when watching a show non-stop, but really, it seems to be the complete opposite. Isn’t it easier to forge an emotional connection with a show if it’s watched every Thursday night at 9 p.m. for three years straight, as opposed to that show that was watched constantly for three weeks? Think of the difference between a summer fling and a longterm relationship. The question is, how can students overcome binge-watching? Should they even bother to try? Is the integrity of television as a medium enough to prevent binge-watching?
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Talking about ‘Fight Club’: Why we love the cult classic Spence blazak f i l m edi t o r In these first couple weeks of the semester, students find themselves scrambling to find posters to fill up the barren wall space of their dorms and apartments. Several poster subjects stick out among the miles of glossy paper seen around campus: Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and “Pulp Fiction”, to name a few. But there is one poster in particular that seems to have an exalted in every single dorm across campus, and it’s for the 1999 cult film “Fight Club”. “Fight Club” tells the story of a nameless narrator, played by Edward Norton, who is drowning in a modern world in which he finds no satisfaction. He is a worker drone who tries escaping the numbness of his life during his insomnia-ridden nights. One thing leads to another and he follows a soap salesman down a rabbit hole that leads him into a world where he is free from the clutches of the mundane. “Fight Club” is the very definition of a cult film, appealing to a very spe-
cific group of filmgoers, who derive a unique enjoyment from it that others may not appreciate. Yet, in a somewhat contradictory way, “Fight Club” is an extremely popular film that everyone seems to love. “If you asked 50 people to say what ‘Fight Club’ is about, they would give you 50 different answers,” said School of Arts and Sciences senior Andy Quesada. “The movie is complex, hard hitting and sticks with you.” “I think the thing that makes it so popular around colleges is that there is something for everyone,” Quesada said. ”Fight Club”’s broad appeal might just be where its secret lies, as it compares to several other successful films that attempted to cater to the masses. For example, when Cameron Crowe wrote and directed the 1996 hit “Jerry Maguire”, he said that the reason it was so successful was because it had romance for women and sports drama for men. Another example of this is “The Dark Knight”, which appealed to the nerdist Batman faithful, film snobs, those who
were attracted by a man dressed as a Bat and college “bros”. By accomplishing this, the movie has become one of the most successful ever and Joker paraphernalia can still be seen most days on College Ave. “Fight Club” never had the big budget of “The Dark Knight”, nor did it have the decades of brand recognition. Instead, “Fight Club” seems like it registered with a broad demographic in a different way. SAS junior James Mann says he thinks that it is the very essence of the film that is so appealing. “You have aesthetically pleasing direction from David Fincher, easy to love performances from Ed Norton and Brad Pitt, smart writing and Jared Leto gets the snot kicked out of him, what isn’t there?” Mann said. “It is easy to make a connection with it.” SAS senior and film buff Nader Salem listed “Fight Club” as his favorite movie, but for a few different reasons. “It utilizes the sincerest way to approach heavy-handed themes: black comedy,” he said.
Salem also believes that the fight scenes are the least important, as he gets more enjoyment from the message of the film. “[‘Fight Club’ teaches] that you don’t need other people’s validation to be happy.” A favorite movie can be a very personal thing for someone. Many hate it when their favorite movie is so popular, but Salem doesn’t mind that others admit to liking “Fight Club”. “…I do love when people love it,” he said. “Though it does irk me when people say they like it just to fit in. That makes it ironic to the film’s message.” That just might be the key to the “Fight Club” puzzle; it doesn’t just register with people on a personal level, but also on the intellectual spectrum. Some might look at the macho-side of the film and love it for the fight scenes, while others might embrace the film’s message on consumerism and still others love the cinematic attention to detail. “Fight Club” is a Rorschach inkblot test on film: you don’t know what you will see, but odds are, something will stick.
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New Brunswick’s musical influence RYan lizotte music editor From the darkly lit, adrenaline-filled atmosphere of basement shows to the stage of the Court Tavern, the music scene of New Brunswick has truly become intertwined with the city itself and with Rutgers University. Music has been an integral part of the New Brunswick experience for years, feeding off of Hub City’s energy and reputation as a college town. Although not all bands have found success and acclaim beyond the city’s limits (The Gaslight Anthem and Streetlight Manifesto are two of the notable exceptions), the music scene in New Brunswick continues to be based on artistic integrity and a sense of local pride. Many bands from the ‘70s onward would find success in New Brunswick through the raw power of live music, thanks to bars like The Court Tavern and the now defunct Melody Bar. These venues provided a pulse for New Brunswick’s music scene and were instrumental in early exposure for acts like Bon Jovi and The Smithereens. Pavement, one of the most notable indie-rock bands of the ‘90s, made its live debut at The Court Tavern on August 10, 1990. The rise of alternative rock provided depth to the city’s music offerings and gave music scene a more underground vibe. Matt Pinfield, a former WRSU DJ and Music Director, was a key factor in this switch. Pinfield’s on-air taste for alternative rock,
and his eventual gig as The Melody Bar’s main DJ, helped spread the underground influence to a broader audience. Additionally, basement shows are more than just a New Brunswick standby. Lifetime’s appropriately titled song, “Theme Song to a New Brunswick Basement Show,” aptly emphasizes the important of basement shows to the fabric of the New Brunswick music scene. The very existence of these shows has inspired artists and attracted them to the area. The Bouncing Souls relocated to New Brunswick from its home in Basking Ridge, inspired by the aesthetic of basement shows and the city demographic. 331 Somerset Street became one of the main venues for these underground events (typically of the punk rock and alternative variety), birthing influential bands that would go on to gain large audiences, particularly the post-hardcore groups Lifetime and Thursday. Midtown, an act founded by Rutgers students, debuted in 1998 to a basement with less than one hundred people. By 2001, the band was opening for blink-182. From the underground to the mainstream, New Brunswick’s history and special qualities have been embedded in the music and lyrics of its artists. The result has been countless evocative performances that reflect and enhance the vibe of the city – and, often, Rutgers itself. “University boys and the girls fill the bars, while I’m just waiting for the light to change,” sings Gaslight Anthem’s
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The Gaslight Anthem rose to notoriety through the New Brunswick music scene. FACEBOOK.COM
Brian Fallon in “The Diamond Church Street Choir,” referring to The Court Tavern’s location on Church Street. “Party at 174” references The Bouncing Souls’ former residence at 174 Commercial Ave, managing to capture the raw, upbeat nature of a basement show. And as Thursday’s Geoff Rickly wails in “Dying in New Brunswick,” “You’re walking down on Union. You see the roads and know
they’re a part of you.” New Brunswick’s music scene is truly unique, and the music itself is a living and enduring testament to it. “The steam heat pours from the bodies on the floor, in the basement where the Jackknives play,” fantasizes Brian Fallon. “…for the Hub City girls in the ribbons and the curls, who know the meaning of staying out late.”
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Every phone has a story
This iPhone has certainly seen better days. Yet, the wear and tear is a part of each device’s personality. Nisha Datt / Photo Editor
Ryan Surujnath I nside B e a t E di t o r After months of speculation and conjecture, Apple finally formally revealed its highly anticipated new iPhone models: the 5S and 5C. The announcement came with the usual media frenzy and fanfare that typically comes with most of Apple’s announcements nowadays. And that is perhaps the most interesting part of Apple’s presentation. Despite criticism that the company is no longer in-
novating, media outlets from all over the world descended on Cupertino, California to hear what Apple CEO Tim Cook was prepared to offer. Much of the reason behind the rampant following is the immense popularity of smartphones. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), a market analysis firm, smartphone makers are expected to collectively ship one billion units by the end of 2013. It is a staggering statistic considering how tech culture has changed over the past decade.
Tech followings have evolved from hushed comparisons of processing power and build integrity to something with more popular appeal. This is likely because boiling an iPhone, or any other smartphone for that matter, down to a simple spec sheet cannot accurately describe what these devices have become. They are more than mere hunks of aluminum or plastic. They have become more than just productivity tools. They are reliable companions. Perhaps even friends. It’s a phenomenon that college students are acutely aware of, especially when losing a beloved device. School of Arts and Science sophomore Ramsha Mahmood recalled the first week she spent with her Samsung Galaxy SIII. “I randomly took a cab one day and left it in the cab,” she said. Her reaction was inevitable. “I started freaking out.” Lost smartphones are such a commonality, that there are a multitude of apps available that can help track a misplaced device. Yet despite these backup plans, the uncertainty of a lost phone can yield a powerful sense of panic. Recent SAS graduate Adam Bergo likens losing a smartphone to misplacing a wallet. “I’ve seen so many of friends crack a phone and flip [out],” he said. Bergo cited
security and the abundance of personal information that people keep on their smartphones as a reason to be concerned. The amount of data on a smartphone provides a source of attachment, and occasionally angst, to a smartphone. Yet, while this testifies to a smartphone’s usefulness, there are instances when like friends, they can insert themselves into personal relationships. Rutgers Business School junior Ryan Nachman uses his iPhone to buy and sell things on eBay. He said the iPhone is a useful tool to keep track of prices. Nachman’s girlfriend, SAS junior Christina McGinnis has a different opinion on his smartphone use. She thinks Nachman uses his iPhone a bit too much. Nachman said that McGinnis gave him an ultimatum. “She said if I didn’t stop, she’d get pissed,” he said. He further defended his actions. “I am always looking to make money to buy [McGinnis] nice things.” In their relatively short existence, smartphones have ingrained themselves into everyday life to the point where they are valued as more than just pieces of metal or monetary investments. They are relied on and are more like personal companions than electronics.