Independent Student Voice of MHCC
Volume 52, Issue 12 JANUARY 12, 2018 advocate-online.net
Lunasco settles in at DRC PAGE 4
Winter can be sad, MHCC can help PAGE 7
Cuckoo for ‘Coco’ PAGE 8
PAGE 5
Saints basketball update PAGE 6
2016 FIRST PLACE
General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association
OPINION EDITORIAL
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
WEB PRESSURE TO PROVOKE CREATES OUTRAGE
“I
think this definitely marks a moment in YouTube history because I’m pretty sure this has never hopefully happened to anyone on YouTube ever. Now with that said: Buckle the fuck up, because you’re never gonna see a video like this again!” So said Logan Paul, 22-year old vlogger, on his infamous New Year’s Eve ‘Suicide Forest’ video. For those of you who haven’t seen it, or missed the whole controversy entirely, Paul entered Aokigahara Jukai, a forest abutting Mt. Fuji, Japan, to wrap up his three-day stint in Tokyo. Aokigahara Jukai roughly translates to ‘Sea of Trees,’ but is perhaps more infamously known both locally and internationally as the ‘Suicide Forest.’ According to a 2009 CNN. com article, Aokigahara Jukai is “home to the highest number of suicides” in Japan, a country already topping the list for suicide rates worldwide. So, Paul goes in with his crew, filming all the while, no doubt looking for spooky footage (the forest is widely believed to be inhabited by ghosts) when they stumble upon a body hanging from the branches. The camera, of course, doesn’t stop rolling, but rather showcases the body, and the video from here on out ceases to be a “Logan Paul Enters the Spooky Suicide Forest” and becomes more of a “Watch Logan Paul React to a Suicide.”
Editor-in-Chief Matana McIntire Associate Editor/ News Editor Greg Leonov Associate News Editor & Copy Editor Bethany McCurley Arts & Entertainment Editor Ryan Moore Associate Arts & Entertainment/ Social Media Manager Cassie Wilson PA G E 2
Our weekly editorial is designed to explore compelling issues that affect the community we serve. It has no attributed author because it represents the collective voice of the Advocate editorial board. Words like crass, tasteless, and disrespectful all come to mind, and many more colorful phrases were unleashed in the comments section shortly before Paul decided to pull the video within 24 hours after posting it, and the responders have every right. He made a stupid, insensitive film, showcasing a person taking their own life, and for what? For entertainment value? For artistic commentary on today’s society? For views? Probably for views. Paul has a huge following, with over 15 million YouTube subscribers and made – I’m not kidding – $12.5 million last year. This guy doesn’t just make a living, he makes an absolute killing. If he invested properly, he could easily retire right now and be set for the rest of his life. But at a certain point, you have to wonder if it’s about the money. In his tweeted apology, Paul writes, “…I didn’t do it for views. I get views.”
Oh, the humility. “I did it because I thought I could make a positive ripple on the internet, not cause a monsoon of negativity. That’s never the intention. I intended to raise awareness for suicide and suicide prevention, and… thought ‘if this video saves just ONE life, it’ll be worth it.’ ” Hear that, everyone? Logan Paul’s not doing this for him – he’s doing it for you. All right, so obviously he’s a kid, a kid who got caught up in his own fame, decided to push the envelope, and had it blow up in his face. YouTube cut his Google Preferred deal and several in-theworks pictures have now stalled, plus he’s facing the collective wrath of the internet. It seems as though he’s truly experiencing some regret, though one has to wonder if it’s over his actions, or mostly over being judged harshly. Justice, it seems, will be served in this case.
Opinion Editor Kyle Vanooker
Andy Carothers
Web Editor Position Open
Cory Wiese Megan Hayes Nick Krane Gabriel Donaldson Miguel De La Rosa
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Video Team
Ad Managers Megan Phelps Yen Le
But what are we really upset about in this whole debacle? Is it the fact that Paul was exploiting someone’s death for financial gain? Because you could level the same accusation at any filmmaker who’s ever made a war movie. While there’s a big difference between, say, Christopher Nolan’s artistic intent vs. Paul’s, the fact remains that Paul is first and foremost a performer, and is creating this content to be consumed as entertainment in the same way many movie executives are. Is it because the content was exceptionally shocking? If you’re clicking on videos about a ‘Suicide Forest,’ it’s reasonable to expect graphic and/or mature content not suitable for minors. Many people, however, have pointed out Paul’s target demographic skews toward younger viewers, and that’s a fair point – if the majority of your viewers are pre-teens, producing
Maddy Sanstrum Logan Hertner Kente Bates Jonathan Zacarias
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content that’s not appropriate for that audience is definitely a questionable move, and his sponsors’ reaction to the video reflects that. But isn’t that shocking content why we watch vloggers like Paul in the first place? Aren’t we, as consumers, looking for content that’s going to move us, that’s going to elicit a reaction? This guy’s been uploading 10-15 minute videos every day for over a year, with 15 million subscribers telling him that in an oversaturated medium, in a time when information overload is the norm, that his content is worth watching, and advertising revenue has indicated the same. Up until now, collectively, we’ve been telling Paul that his content is worth it, and as with any sort of commoditization, you need to justify your value to your shareholders. It’s no wonder he’s felt the need to push the limit; as with any entertainment product, you need to constantly outdo yourself or risk the nail-in-the-coffin label of irrelevance. So does that make a suicide video okay to release? No. Should we collectively let Logan Paul off the hook? Hardly. The consequences that are coming out of this whole thing are to be expected. But before we jump on the castigationbandwagon, let’s examine our own motives, and ask ourselves if we’re expressing outrage because we’re actually outraged, or if it just plain feels good to do so.
Cover graphic By Shiela Embers Ann Shodderly Fletcher Wold The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc. edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.
OPINION | NEWS
JANUARY 12, 2018
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS AND TIPS Kente Bates the advocate
It’s that time of year once again (time is flying by already) to renew fitness goals and to at least try to better yourself and to become what you have always dreamed of. This article is about The Total Self – how to make yourself better and to become the person you have always wanted to be. NOTE: This article is not a substitute for sound medical advice. Please consult your primary care provider about the best course of action to meet your fitness goals.
This time of year, the gyms are full, and people are buying every gadget known to man to make their weight-loss dreams come true. If you are a reader of my columns, you know I always begin and end with hard work, study and getting to know your body. To follow trends, no matter how popular they are, is just being trendy. People need to realize they can literally create their own fitness success and change their lives forever. In that spirit, here are a few tips and tricks that will prove useful going forward: • Realize that the only one who can change your life is you. Following people, trends and things of that nature will only take you so far. Please understand that you must be in complete ownership of your life. To control your destiny, you must understand yourself. To change your life, you must understand yourself. You must be willing to get rid of the things holding you back.
You must be willing to put things in a perspective that works for you. • Execution is a must. To know what to do is one thing; to actually do these things is another. So many of us are great at joining things, becoming followers of movements and people. The “acid test” to fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions is whether you will act on what you know, or not. It’s not enough to just know what to do, it is imperative that you act on what you know. • Get to know yourself. Forget the fads, forget the trends. Get to know your body and how it works. Let the bandwagon jumpers and all the rest follow the trends. You will make the best of this time by getting know your body. • Whether you think you can, or think you can’t – you’re right. Your mind is the most powerful muscle you have. Add to that, whether you have the will to succeed or not… depends on whether you want it badly enough, or not.
• Change takes time. This is no “quick weight loss” scheme or anything like that. It has been written that change happens over the course of 30 days. So anything you’re doing to lose weight or to change your life, it is crucial that you stay the course. It is imperative that you are sincere about it. Please think critically and use your best judgment. As I often say, “The Basics Always Win.” I say this for this reason: You must get to know your body; become a label reader; use good form when working out, and when stretching; and eat healthy and good food. The basics are the bedrock for changing your life. You must understand yourself, you must become someone who is educated about your body and your mind. As stated in the past, there is a mind-body link when it comes to fitness. This is essential in your fitness quest. The mind-body link must be endowed by knowledge. Read up on whatever fitness goals
you have. Bone up on some general biology so you can understand how the body works. Also read some other disciplines such as psychology, maybe even some self-help books, to open your mind to different points of view. In closing, look to yourself, and not to some trainer or trend to change your life. This process will change your life. It will change your mind – it will change the way you think. This process is needed. This process will make your life better. Educating yourself is, in my opinion, better than working out because you are changing the way your mind works. Then you are changing the way your body looks. You are endowing yourself, enhancing discipline, resiliency and overall intellect. Knowledge, discipline, and execution are just a few of the basics. And, THE BASICS ALWAYS WIN. Happy New Year!
News Saints vs. Penguins this Wednesday
No school Monday
Mt. Hood’s basketball teams take on the Clark College Penguins on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The Saints women tip off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30 p.m. All MHCC students with ID receive free admission. Tickets cost $5 for adults, $4 for all other students and military members, and $3 for seniors and children under 12. The games take place in Mt. Hood’s Yoshida Event Center (gymnasium).
The college is closed on Monday, Jan. 15, to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Planetarium previews 2018 In-store financial aid ends Tuesday, Jan. 16 is the last day to use financial aid as credit in the MHCC bookstore.
News Briefs
Scholarship advice and Q&A The MHCC Foundation is holding a workshop in the CoLE Computer Lab & Conference Room 2340 to answer questions about scholarship applications and address with concerns and technical difficulties. The seminar is 4-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan 17.
Tonight (Friday, Jan. 12), MHCC Planetarium Director Pat Hanrahan will discuss viewing opportunities in the night sky for 2018 from 6-7:15 p.m. in the Planetarium, Room 1305. Venus and Mars will be their brightest this year, and launches are planned for new space missions to Mars, Mercury, the moon, and the sun.
With Bethany McCurley
MHCC Foundation Scholarships Nearly 90 MHCC Foundation Scholarships are available for the 2018-19 school year. There are both general scholarships and some geared toward specific careers and college majors. The applications opened Jan. 1 and close on March 31. The scholarships are listed at mhcc.academicworks.com.
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NEWS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
BUILDING COMMUNITY FOR MHCC STUDENTS
Resource center coordinator strives to meet student needs Cara Pelzer
the advocate In late October, Gaby Lunasco was hired on as the permanent Diversity Resource Center (DRC) Coordinator for MHCC after serving in an interim capacity for about a year. She has since been busy working in a position she described as her “dream job” in a previous story published by the Advocate, making some exciting changes. Near the end of Fall Term, Lunasco worked with a world religions instructor to have the DRC used as a space to host a final project that was open to all students, she said. She plans on further developing the DRC by creating partnerships with different departments on campus and community organizations. “The DRC serves a few purposes here on campus. It’s a physical space for students to come to, hang out in, (and) study,” Lunasco said. “There is also a prayer and meditation space available to students.” It is easy for students to connect with Lunasco, as her office is located in the Student Union, in Room 1061. “One significant change that has happened (in the fall) is that my desk is no longer located in the DRC,” she noted. “While this takes me out of the day-to-day happenings, it allows for the space to truly be student-centered.” Lunasco is committed to building
Photo by Fadi Shahin // the Advocate
The Diversity Resource Center is participating in more community events both on and off campus, and will be screening movies in the center to draw in new groups of students. The first film is "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" on Jan. 18 at noon.
important new relationships, she said. “As both the DRC and Student Life plans develop and grow, we hope to continue growing community partnerships, as well as increase access to students, staff, (and) faculty across campus.” So far, this school year, the DRC has hosted a PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) event, which a faculty member
brought to campus. Lunasco also wants to screen movies in the space. At noon on Thursday (Jan. 18), the offbeat film “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” will be screened in the DRC. “My intention is really to try and highlight films that maybe not everyone sees. They’re not ‘pop culture’ kind of films,” Lunasco said. “Art and media, I think, are amazing
ways for culture to grow and people to experience other things in a different way, on an emotional level.” There’s also a focus on Mt. Hood programs and student participation. “I’m hoping to partner again with Integrated Media, as well as further develop relationships with other departments” at MHCC, Lunasco said. The DRC also will be part of a
multi-campus Martin Luther King Jr. Day event on Monday (Jan. 15) coordinated by Campus Compact of Oregon, she said. The MLK event will be held at Warner Pacific College in Southeast Portland. After a rally, volunteers will disperse to help different organizations. Some of the work will include some projects at a senior care center, and helping clean classrooms in a preschool. As the DRC coordinator, Lunasco has an additional responsibility, she explained. “One of the new roles for my permanent position was to begin overseeing SOC (Mt. Hood’s Student Organizations Council). A big portion of this school year will be devoted to learning this new role, supporting Student Life until we are fully staffed, and (the revision and) streamlining of processes in our area,” she said. The Council is getting stronger, according to Lunasco. “We have some new clubs, and I think it (growth) will just continue.” Lunasco said the SOC’s responsibility is to maximize what’s available to students. “Student life is really responsive to student needs, and student needs are continuously going to change, so it’s one of those things that will always be a work in progress,” she said. Greg Leonov contributed reporting for this story.
¡Bienvenido! Добро Пожаловать
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Located at the MHCC campus Above the Library, Room 3308A College of Business & College of Education (503) 491-7000 PA G E 4
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
JANUARY 12, 2018
IS ‘STAR WARS’ LEAVING FANS BEHIND? Mixed responses beg the question if Disney can meet the expectations of a cross-generational fanbase Ryan Moore the advocate
J
ust before 2017 came to close, the latest entry to the Star Wars series made the second-biggest box office premiere in U.S. history, bringing in $220 million during the weekend of Dec. 1417. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” not only drew an impressive audience, but was also very well received by critics, scoring a 90 percent rating on the review site Rotten Tomatoes. Despite all of this seemingly positive response, the movie has been met with some criticism from the only thing bigger than the franchise itself: the Star Wars fanbase. As far as audiences are concerned, there is an apparent divide in overall satisfaction with the movie, and some of the reason comes from the way plot details
unfolded after being set up by the film’s predecessor. Episode VIII follows the events of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” directed by J.J. Abrams after Disney’s acquisition of the franchise. The 2015 premiere of “The Force Awakens” is the only movie with a bigger opening boxoffice weekend in the U.S. than “The Last Jedi,” and its success has often been attributed to the amount of nostalgia stitched into it, with several thematic callbacks to “A New Hope,” the 1977 original. Many movie series can suffer from having a bad sequel, and that challenge is being observed as fans criticize “The Last Jedi.” With new director Rian Johnson stepping in for the middle entry of this new trilogy, the immediate challenge comes from not only meeting the same level of reminiscence to past Star Wars movies but also making sure the story is being told in a fresh and exciting way that generates
momentum prior to the inevitable conclusion in Episode IX. Aside from the more particular complaints on the current state of the Star Wars universe, there has
wisdom and guidance to Rey. While this bond isn’t completely absent from the movie it is cut short, as far as screen time. The disagreement over
The movie constantly demonstrates a theme of leaving the past behind been a mixed reaction from fans regarding Luke Skywalker’s role in “The Last Jedi.” As many of the trailers and even the title of the movie suggest, it was presumed that Episode VIII would showcase jedi master Skywalker passing on his
Skywalker was even voiced by Mark Hamill himself, the actor who has played Skywalker throughout the series. Hamill noted that he was shocked to hear that Johnson make his character, normally so full of optimism and hope, become so
distant from his past beliefs. Yet, shortly after the release of the film, Hamill tweeted an apology for publicly expressing his doubts about the direction of Skywalker and praised Johnson for making a great movie. With all of the creative risks that were taken in this installment, it is clear that the movie constantly demonstrates a theme of leaving the past behind. This serves an even deeper purpose as avid Star Wars fans make new speculation while awaiting the release of Episode IX, set for December 2019. The directing will be handed back to Abrams and perhaps this last film of the newest trilogy will give us a better understanding of what moving into an entirely new generation of Star Wars means for both the characters on screen as well as the expectant fans around the world.
Comic #9 in a series by Amy Welch PA G E 5
SPORTS
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
HOOPS TEAMS SHOOT FOR PLAYOFFS Jonathan Zacarias the advocate
Returning from the winter break, it’s time to check in on the MHCC men’s and women’s basketball teams. Both played in out-of-division “crossover” tournaments in December, the women going 1-2 in the Centralia Crossover, the men going 2-1 in the Mt. Hood Crossover they hosted in Gresham. Mt. Hood men’s forward Ethan Channel and sophomore guard Steven Fair received NWAC Crossover All-Star awards for their play. Now, as the MHCC squads dive
into their South conference schedules, both their coaches are optimistic. Men Coach John Hawley looks to take the Saints back to the NWAC championship tournament after a successful run last year. The team (4-10 overall, 0-3 South Conference) began its season losing two road games in overtime, and have struggled a bit. Most recently, the Saints lost Wednesday to Chemeketa, 98-89, in Salem. “We’ve been right there on the bubble,” said Hawley. “We haven’t
played real consistent basketball, that’s been the biggest thing. And it starts with our on ball defense. It breaks us down a little bit, causing a lot of problems in our rotations.” Mt. Hood’s next home game is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday against Clark College (also 4-10, 0-3). “Clark’s pretty much in the same boat as we are. It’s a winnable game,” Hawley said. Asked about postseason hopes, Hawley said, “You know, (the South) is always tough. We beat each other up. Last year we made the conference playoffs and it came down to the last weekend. That’s how competitive the southern region is, top
to bottom. Women In his first year as Saints head coach, Jeremy Vandenboer seeks to make some noise in the NWAC South. His team is off to a good start, at 5-8 overall but 2-1 in the South after beating Chemeketa, 69-61, in Salem on Wednesday. The freshman-heavy Saints were led against the Storm by the 15 points of freshman forward Courtney Jackson and freshman center Rachel Watson. The Saints are happy to finally be getting healthy again as they
had some players out injured, said Vandenboer. Before the Chemeketa game, he described his mood as “Feeling good, feeling confident. Today’s game is really important.” Mt. Hood returns home to take on Clark College (0-14, 0-3 South Conference) at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Vandenboer said his team has “a really good chance” at the playoffs, but added his own warning. “We obviously can’t overlook any team,” he said. “Play hard; make shots; good defense: Just do what we do and it’ll take care of things.”
ADVERTISING
National Teacher Shortage Casts Shadow Over Oregon: Creates Premier Job Opportunities Press Release For young people wanting a secure, well-paying, satisfying career, a job in education definitely represents a possibility worth considering. For the last several years there has been a growing shortage of elementary and secondary school teachers nationally, a trend that seems likely to continue as Baby Boomers reach retirement age. And, Oregon has not escaped the impacts of this trend. There is a looming shortage of teachers and therein jobs to be had. Within the Greater Portland area, somewhere between 900 and 1000 teachers reach retirement age every year. And while those individuals will not necessarily automatically retire, the shortage of teachers in the state of Oregon is expected to become acute over the next 5-10 years. According to Federal Title II reports, 4,203 Oregon students were enrolled in teacher preparation programs with 2,221 completing the program in 2008-09. The most recent report from 2012-13 showed only 1,891 students enrolled with 1,672 completing the program. Of particular demand will be teachers credentialed to teach science, math, Spanish, special education, and English as a second language and bilingual education, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, Oregon schools also will experience a shortage of speech pathologists and nurses, the federal agency said. Of the small number of programs in Oregon preparing teachers, the most intimate and cost effective is likely Eastern PA G E 6
Oregon University at the Mount Hood Community College campus in Gresham. Students can finish 90 of the 180 credits required to become a teacher at MHCC and finish the remaining 60 at the EOU onsite operation in just 6 terms. Students from Washington and Idaho do not have to pay out-of-state tuition. “Our students are well prepared for assimilation into this market,” said Dr. Brandon Monroe, who leads the program for Eastern Oregon University on the Mount Hood Community College campus. “Our cohort program is very popular with students,” Monroe added. “Our students leave feeling they were part of a family effort.” For more information about the EOU at MHCC program, please contact Dr. Brandon Monroe at 503-491-7445 and bmonroe@eou.edu. Sources: http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/TchHires1.asp?RptYear=2015-16&TheRpt=TchHires&Submit=1 http://komonews.com/news/local/ in-oregon-teacher-shortage-schools-recruit-professionals-to-teach-11-21-2015 http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2014/01/oregon_schools_ short_on_teache.html https://www.nytimes. com/2015/08/10/us/teacher-shortages-spur-a-nationwide-hiring-scramble-credentials-optional.html?_r=0
NEWS
JANUARY 12, 2018
FREE OPTIONS GIVEN FOR MENTAL HEALTH Bethany McCurley the advocate
With the dark days of winter can come a depressed mood. Portland and its neighbor, Vancouver, Washington, have the highest rates of depression among 150 of America’s largest cities, according to WalletHub. They also rank as the top two cities for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depression brought on by the lack of sun during the winter. MHCC’s Career Planning and Counseling Center, located in Room 1152 between the Bookstore and Student Union, offers personal counseling for students, faculty, staff, and employers suffering from mental health issues and life stresses. Appointments can be scheduled in advance, and walk-ins are accepted in emergency situations. With only a four counselors on hand, it can be hard for CPCC workers to meet regularly with all students who seek help, so current ly the team refers students to longterm resources off campus, when needed. Because of budget and staffing restrictions, John Hamblin, execu-
tive dean of student development, said the CPCC staff are brainstorming group events and programs to reach more students. They are
considering holding a one-day certification class for mental health crises, accepting counseling interns for assistance, and creating support
CROSSWORDS WEEKLY 4
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groups. There are also depression-related accommodations offered by MHCC’s Disabilities Services de-
partment. If a student has been diagnosed with a physical or mental condition, Mt. Hood can provide accommodations such as a separate room for testing, or a longer time to complete an exam. The disabilities we can’t see are just as important as the visible ones, said David Pontious, the director of Disability Services. His goal is providing “equal access opportunity” for all people. Part of those services include personal counseling and special career guidance, as well as student registration assistance. Many people have come to the Disability Services office – located in the Student Services office, Room 2253 – suffering from maladies ranging from a concussion, to mental health issues, a broken arm, mobility restraints, and visual impairment issues. Both the CPCC and Disability Services help students with mental health concerns and career planning. On Feb 8, the CPCC is hosting a career fair, featuring 60 employers trying to recruit MHCC students for jobs, careers, internships, or volunteer opportunities.
Keep updated and test your knowledge with the Advocate’s weekly crossword. The answers are scattered throughout each issue’s stories.
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Down
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1. _____ was hired on as the permanent Diversity Resource
Center (DRC) Coordinator for MHCC. (2 words)
2. Portland, Oregon and ___ have the highest rate of
depression among 150 large American cities. (2 words) 7
3. Change takes...
Across
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10
4.
Who said, “The disabilities we can’t see are just as important as the visible ones.” (2 words)
5. _____ got backlash for filming scenes of the
“Suicide Forest.” (2 words)
6.
The director of “Star Wars: the Last Jedi” was... (2 words)
7.
Which holiday closes school on Monday, Jan. 15?
8.
In the movie “Coco” whose guitar gets stolen?
9.
Who made the movie “Coco”? (2 words)
10. How does Luke die in the new Star Wars movie? (2 words) PA G E 7
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T
COCO
New Pixar film celebrates Day of the Dead in living color Cassie Wilson the advocate
D
isney’s “Coco” is another great push for more diversity and inclusion in entertainment, and a great celebration of Mexican traditions. For viewers unfamiliar with the Day of the Dead holiday, seeing this movie can be educational without necessarily realizing it. Main character Miguel Rivera, age 12, is struggling to understand the significance of the tradition his family is trying to teach him because he feels a lot of resentment towards elder family members who have passed away, and have left him feeling cursed. His late great-
Graphics by Matana McIntire and Prisma Flores
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5 out of 5 candles great-grandmother, Imelda Rivera, was the wife of a musician who left the family to further pursue his career. Ever since, music was banned entirely from the family, and her husband’s picture was removed from the ofrenda, an altar with photos and other offerings to welcome deceased family members home on the Day of the Dead. This becomes a problem, because all Miguel wants to do is play music, so he sneaks off to do so in secrecy whenever he gets the chance. Much of “Coco” is set in the afterlife after Miguel steals the famous guitar of the late Ernesto de la Cruz, whom he believes to be his great-great-grandfather, the musician who left the family. Miguel truly does become cursed because he stole from the dead. He is then only visible to those from the Land of the Dead, and needs a blessing from a family
member in order to return to the Land of the Living. The Land of the Dead is full of breathtaking animation as Pixar artists outdo themselves once again. In fact, before “Coco” begins, a message from the directors plays on screen to thank the hundreds of creators who brought the film to life. Everything is so full of color, and there are huge scenes with so much detail that the art alone increases the rewatch value because viewers will want to catch more with every play of the movie. The alebrijes – spirit animals – are some of the most mystical and bright beings in the film. It’s also worth noting that animators had a whole new task with the majority of the characters in “Coco” being skeletons. They move differently than traditional human or animal characters: Their bones even rattle when they walk, and they
can jump from high places, hit the ground, fall apart, and put themselves right back together. Skeletons and the concept of mortality aren’t as sinister as this movie gets, though. There’s an unexpected darkness that comes out of some of the characters, and plot twists that will leave viewers of all ages in shock. This results in learning moral lessons from the more subtle themes in “Coco.” The movie does a great job of presenting ideas that can connect with people from just about any and every background. It talks about sacrifice and balance, and about selfish behavior being unlearned. From the very beginning, many viewers will likely connect with the family traditions and pressures that Miguel faces. He wants to be a musician, but he’s expected to help continue his family’s shoemaking business. “Coco” will surely capture the hearts of people of all ages, as well as anyone who just enjoys being fascinated by rapidly advancing animation developments that can be found in most all Disney Pixar films.