The Chic Mag - Film, Fashion and Culture

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR;

Henry Moore once said “to be an artist is to believe in life.”

Art, littered with the bleeding emotions of humanity, whispers life into the universe and promises that no one will walk alone. To create art is to carve proof of one’s existence into the earth, as if to say “I love you, don’t forget me.”

Growing up, I can vividly remember loving Barbies – the dolls, the movies and the interactive DVD that I would play with my grandma after school. I aspired to wear those vibrant and ostentatious dresses one day. As I got a little bit older and experienced more of life (and with that more hardships), I was drawn to Monster High dolls, music on my iPod touch, and movies like “Freaky Friday” or “13 Going on 30.” These were my saving grace; it was a form of escapism to put in my headphones and watch a movie or listen to music. I was able to physically feel that things would get better – that these characters, despite being artificial and written-in, also undergo their own struggles and seem to get a happy ending. I knew that even if it took my whole life, I would too.

Fast forward to the beginning of my 20s and experiencing more media than I can even begin to describe, the saying, “we are what we consume” rings true. Whether it be film, comics, clothes, or the models wearing them, these whispers have permeated every facet of the human experience. They have offered comfort in times of tragedy, given inspiration to the uninspired and forefronted movements for change. It fosters work that feels both new and familiar, like home and a brand new place all at once. All of our contributors at The Chic come from different backgrounds and grew up on different cartoons, toys and movies. Maybe we have different fashion tastes and contrasting opinions, but we’ve all come together in a way to create something truly full of heart, something Chic.

We welcome you into the Fall 2022 issue of The Chic Magazine, a love letter to the art that has shaped us all. Hill and Micah Rind

Of Comics And Couture

DAVID ULLOA JR.

Two black, robotic-like, wing-like extensions expand out from behind the person’s back. A black mask covers their face making their identity barely visible while a black chainmail gown covers the body.

What was just described here?

A futuristic batwoman costume? A cosplay of an anime character?

It’s none of these. It is a piece from Gareth Pugh’s Spring 2007 ready-to-wear costume.

If there was a line between comics and couture, that line has faded away.

For many people around the world, comics were a mirror and an escape.

Comics showed us people who were outcasted and

picked on by their peers, but this time, the outcasts were the heroes of the stories.

Their costumes allowed them to become the best versions of who they were and in the case of Iron Man, it allowed him to fly and cut metal with his finger.

The ability to express the best version of yourself with simple fabrics and stitches is not limited to the pages of a comic book. Isn’t that why we love fashion?

This common thread (pun intended) has led to the unlikely influence on fashion from the comics.

A prominent example is the piece mentioned at the beginning of the article.

Vogue India described the outfit as a “scifi reimagination of an instantly recognisable

figure,” which is Batman.

Like many characters within the Marvel and DC universes, there are a lot of different iterations of Batman.

The article does not mention which iteration of Batman the designer may have been inspired by, but this outfit has strong resemblance to the Batman from Batman Beyond.

This is a two sided relationship. Comics influence fashion, and fashion influences comics.

If you want to see how fashion has influenced comics, look no further than Amazon Prime Video and/or your local comic store where you will find the Miles Morales Spider-Man.

The first example that comes to mind is “SpiderMan: Into the Spiderverse” which featured this iteration of Spider-Man.

If you still have not seen this film, this is your spoiler warning.

Towards the end of the film, Miles Morales dons a new black Spider-Man suit of his creation.

The suit is completely black with the exception of his finger tips, the tip of his feet which are the

bright red we have come to associate Spider-Man with. In addition, his shoulders feature the same red color and his classic Spider-Man goggles are red and white.

The notable difference between the Miles Morales and Peter Parker iteration of Spider-Man is that Morales does not just wear the black spandex suit.

No, this Spider-Man adds his own twist.

On top of the spandex suit, Morales wears a pair khaki cargo-esque shorts with a red zip hoodie and a blue bomber jacket on top. To top it off, Morales dons a pair of Air Jordan 1s in what appears to be the Chicago colorway (red, white and black).

Yes, this Spider-Man embraces streetwear fashion while fighting crime.

However, this is not the only example of Miles Morales embracing streetwear fashion.

Look no further than the comic “Miles Morales: Spider-Man #30.”

In this special 10th anniversary edition, Morales dons a new black and hot pink suit.

Starting from the top, with the exception of the

hot pink goggles, Morales dons an all black mask. His torso and back are black with the exception of the Spider-Man logo which is hot pink. His arms follow a pattern of black shoulders, hot pink biceps, black forearms, and then hot pink fingertips. A hot pink spider web lines from the armpit, down the legs to the top of his high top sneakers.

In this suit, the artist did not forget to add in Morales’ streetwear flare. On top of the suit, Morales dons a sweater that appears to be a cross between a painter’s sweater and a turtle neck that covers a person’s mouth. The sweater black with stripes of hot pink running down the sleeves and, of course, a hot pink Spider-Man logo.

Let’s not forget about the shoes, a pair of hot pink sneakers that have a striking resemblance to the Balenciaga Speed Sneakers. There is no clear indication if these are in fact Balenciaga sneakers, but if there’s one thing that’s for certain, this Spider-Man has a serious sneaker game.

Who said you needed a spandex onesie to fight crime?

According to the Marvel website, America

Chavez, is an interdimensional superhero with superhuman strength and the ability to fly, among other powers.

Chavez fights crime in jeans, a blue t-shirt with a white star in the center, and a denim jacket with an American flag pattern on the back. She is “America” Chavez afterall, so the Americana patterns were to be expected.

A superhero that travels between universes…in jeans.

So, will we see couture brands like Alexander McQueen and Dolce design the next X-Men suits?

I do not know, but it would be interesting to see.

In an age where the House of Gucci has collaborated with a video game console company (Xbox), there is no doubt the mutual influence the comic book and fashion industries have had on each other will only expand the preconceived notions of how superheroes dress and give people new ways to express themselves through fashion.

FILM, WE’RE ABOUT TO GO INTO A MULTIVERSE OF

On the second day of Paris Fashion Week, Christian Dior showcased its Autumn-Winter 2022-2023 Ready-to-Wear collection at the Tuileries Palace, pulling inspiration from the past, present, future, technology and feminism. The women’s artistic director, Maria Grazia Chiuri, presented 83 looks with around half of them showing futuristic influence.

Most of the futuristic designs resembled a sporty style, including leather biker gloves that had “The Next Era” on the sides of them and structures that looked like football or hockey shoulder pads. The majority of models also wore knee-high socks with thick stripes. When the socks were paired with black heels that had thick straps, they resembled cleats.

The first look introduced the collection’s futuristic inspiration. The outfit glowed in the dark, so when the model first walked out onto the runway, all anyone could see was a black bodysuit covered with neon green lights.

The first half of the show mainly displayed the futuristic themes, but every now and then there was a more modern look thrown into the mix.

A lot of the modern looks were skirt suits, but some of them also included long leather dresses, lace dresses, collared dresses and beaded dresses. Some of the dresses were accompanied by a sporty aspect such as leather biker gloves or a leather color blocked moto jacket.

More modern looks included beige floor-length trench coat dresses, some with lace up corsets, and black dresses with asymmetrical hems made from tulle. Though they were well put together, some of the trench coat looks resembled Burberry’s designs because they were matched with plaid.

Several different fabrics used within the collection included velvet, denim, chiffon, leather and poplin. Many of the different patterns and fabrics were styled together like houndstooth with plaid, denim with poplin, lace with tulle and jacquard with mesh.

Toward the end of the collection, there were four dresses that stood out from the rest because they were all one solid color and made from what looked like chiffon. Each had a flowy drape to it as the models walked down the

runway in mustard yellow, blue-green, red and black.

There was one completely black velvet pantsuit thrown in after the chiffon dresses before switching to three all white dresses with gold accessories on each. These last eight looks were completely different from what was presented at the beginning of the show and looked like they could have been a part of Dior’s Spring 2022 couture collection instead.

The Fall/Winter 2022 season’s theme was very different for Dior when compared to previous collections because of the added technology inspiration that had not been showcased before.

In the past, the brand’s collections presented looks that seemed to be mostly inspired by past and present themes. For

example, its Spring/Summer 2022 collection was made up of a lot of skirt suits and suit dresses along with peacock and trench coats.

What also made the environment different was the art that was hung up on every wall in the venue.

On the red carpeted walls, dozens of black and white portraits of females from the 16th-19th centuries were framed in various sizes, covering the walls from top to bottom from Italian artist Mariella Bettineschi. “The Next Era,” which is referred to in the collection within the designs, is in homage to Bettineschi’s oeuvre.

Now that Chiuri has introduced this next chapter for Dior, it won’t be a shock if her future womenswear collections will show similar futuristic or technological themes.

Photos from Paris Fashion Week website

TIMELESS TIMELESS

HORROR FILMS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.

You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em.

As someone who has almost always favored the latter, I was shocked when I recently found a horror film that I enjoyed.

That horror film was Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992). After watching this film and enjoying it, I thought: Why are some horror films more digestible than others?

The answer to this question, in my opinion, is love. I know that sounds cheesy, but hear me out. When you understand someone’s motivation for being evil, it makes their actions just a tad bit easier to digest. “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” does just that.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

In the beginning of the movie, we witness pre-vampire Dracula leaving behind his true love, his wife, to go to war. It is an emotional scene in which two “innocent” people must separate without knowing if they will ever see each other again.

After fighting in the war, Dracula survives, and he returns home to be reunited with his love. However, in a man’s deceit, a letter was given to Dracula’s wife, Elisabeta, falsely claiming that Dracula had died. In despair, Elisabeta commits suicide in order to be reunited with her love in heaven.

When Dracula returns home to see his wife’s deceased body, it breaks him. Even worse, a priest claims that Elisabeta will not be admitted into heaven, as suicide is a sin that cannot be repented.

This is Dracula’s motivation to become the evil villain we know him as today. It’s not bloodlust. He is avenging his one true love.

The story of “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” is really, at its core, a love story. It begs the question: How far would you go for love?

I don’t like horror movies, but I liked this one.

WHY? BECAUSE THERE’S A CLEAR MOTIVE, AND THAT MOTIVE IS LOVE.

I’m a sucker for a love story, and “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” might be the most epic love story of all time.

The most romantic line I’ve ever heard came from Gary Oldman (playing Dracula) saying, “I have crossed oceans of time to find you.”

How is such a romantic line in such a scary film?

The point is that many horror movies are missing a motive. For me, a film should not be scary just to be scary. There needs to be a reason. For “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” it’s love.

The horror genre could open up a much wider range of audience if it were to only have a motive.

My name is Liliana Velazquez, and I am currently dedicated to being a full-time student at Arizona State University (ASU). I study public health, however, I started taking ceramics classes at Phoenix College for elective credits, and it became a passion of mine. I had three semesters of ceramics in high school, which I took because I wanted to branch out into a new art medium.

Overall, my ceramic work embodies lightheartedness as well as attention to detail. Whenever I make a piece, I think of my family and how they might display it or what colors they might like. So, my family inspires a lot of my work.

Below is my latest and greatest piece, titled “Casita.” It is a miniature version of my grandmother’s house in Durango, Mexico. Although I have only visited her a few times, I absolutely adore her and her little house where she and my grandpa raised their 11 children. Her house represents generations of beautiful memories and strong family ties. This project, which took me weeks to make, is my homage to my grandma, who has recently passed away. I did not get the chance to show it to her, though I am proud to display it on her altar, and I am sure she is enjoying it from above.

Also pictured are some of my other favorites: “The Drip Series,” “Army” and “Primavera.” I believe these are a testament to my love for the craft as well as my love for decorative functional ceramics. These pieces all took very long to make, as it takes patience and precision to achieve such works. They are my favorites because they show the ideas in my mind successfully becoming tangible through lots of hard work, time and attention to detail.

The initial thought that comes to mind when discussing self-care is beauty and skincare. This generalization of the true meaning of self-care has subsequently been feminized by society. The topic of self-care can become problematic since it has been categorized as feminine. Men will not partake in self-care routines because of the fear that their masculinity will be affected. The direct result of this fear is toxic masculinity and gender norms/standards that men uphold that often harm themselves and society.

In order to understand the true meaning of self-care, we must dissect the meaning of the word. Google’s dictionary definition of self-care is “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health.” Analyzing this definition, we can conclude that skincare and beauty is just an aspect of self-care. Therefore, there are multiple practices that anyone can partake in. The feminization of self-care is taking a negative effect on the population, specifically, the male demographic.

only does practicing self-care help build confidence within yourself, but it helps eliminate any emotional stress. When we build up tension in our body from emotional stress, we have problems concentrating, making decisions, or even getting our work done. Everyone gets overwhelmed emotionally whether it is an exam or pressure during a game. Emotional stress applies to everyone, so self-care should be normalized for everyone to practice.

Self-care could be painting your nails and DoorDashing food while you watch your favorite Netflix show. Selfcare could be going out for a walk and listening to your favorite artists. Practicing self-care is unique to every individual, so it shouldn’t be normalized for just one gender.

Society has overlooked the real impact that self-care has on mental health. Not

A common self-care practice and the most overlooked is skincare. Skincare is vital for our health. Developing a skincare routine can help prevent acne, wrinkles, and create confidence in oneself. The benefits of a skincare routine are outstanding. However, social norms have feminized skincare, restricting men from developing their own routine because society fears being seen as “gay.” It is not “gay” to take care

SELF-CARE ISN’T RESTRICTED TO ONE TYPE OF PRACTICE. THE MAIN IDEA OF SELF-CARE IS THAT IT IS FOR YOURSELF.

of yourself and your skin. From my personal experience, I have dealt with terrible acne and clogged pores. At a young age, I was already hating my image just because of the hormones and toxins that were being released into my skin. After doing some research, I found out about skincare and products I can use to help with acne. I went through various products for my skin until I found the routine that best suits me. Developing my own skincare

routine has helped me gain confidence and feel healthy in my own skin.

Self-care is a key concept that everyone needs to have access to. My goal is to help normalize the practices of selfcare to others so that it is accessible to everyone. Changing the gender norms on notions that positively benefit us individually will help bring more awareness to the issue of toxic masculinity and gender norms.

PEXELS

PHOTO COURTESY OF VOX

Skinny strap dresses and Skechers, lowwaisted cargo pants and platform shoes, loafers and mini bags. These are just a few of the looks that encapsulate the late ’90s and early 2000s.

If there ever were a perfect example of a movie that portrays any of these fashion trends, “10 Things I Hate About You” would be it.

“10 Things I Hate About You” is my ultimate comfort film. And, after watching it so many times, I know every line of the movie — and yes, I mean every line. I discovered the movie while I was deep in a Heath Ledger phase (I still am). The fashion, music, writing, enemies to lovers trope, and the perfect casting of the actors have made me fall in love with everything about the film. I was even going to make Kat Stratford’s line, “Likes: Thai food, feminist prose and angry girl music of the indie rock persuasion.” my senior quote.

Most people might look at the summary of the movie and think, “I’ll pass, this is just another poorly written romantic comedy,” but I can confidently say that this movie stands out from the rest.

Something that I find interesting about the movie is that it is loosely based on the Shakespeare play “The Taming of the Shrew,” but is set in modern day. The film is set in Seattle, and it focuses on a few teens at Padua High School. There are multiple story lines occurring as the film progresses, but the main character is Katerina “Kat” Stratford (Julia Stiles). Kat is extremely uptight and keeps to herself. She cringes at almost everything, including her own sister, Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynick). Bianca is more outgoing and is eager to date, while Kat could care less about the “unwashed miscreants” who attend their school. Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) is the mysterious, brooding bad boy who is challenged to get Kat to date him.

The enemies to lovers trope has been around for centuries, obviously, considering this film is based off of a Shakespearean play. I find myself wondering what draws so many people to this specific trope. Maybe it is the drama the audience knows will come along with the conflict, which makes them curious as to how the events will unfold in the story. Another factor that I think makes these types of stories so interesting is the slow burn aspect. The anticipation of the two people involved catching feelings for each other, along with the tension building, makes for a great storyline.

What I love about this film is that while Kat and Patrick are the main characters, the other storylines also play into their own, which makes the situation even more interesting. So, in the back of the audience’s mind, they know that if anything goes wrong, there will be a domino effect and everyone involved in the story will be screwed over somehow. To me, this is one of the reasons that the movie has managed to set itself apart from other movies like it, so thank you Shakespeare.

The fashion in this film is another aspect that I have absolutely fallen in love with. So many of the trends from “10 Things I Hate About You” are making a comeback today. Low-rise jeans and

cropped tops, cardigans and platform shoes. Mesh shirts, chunky jewelry, claw clips, charms bracelets and necklaces. I can’t write this enough: I love everything about it. Walking around campus, I can see any one of these fashion trends. This is just another example of how fashion is cyclical. Even the trends from the late ’90s and early 2000s had influence from the fashion of the ’70s.

“10 Things I Hate About You” has managed to stay relevant throughout the years because of the writing, cinematography, fashion, soundtrack and actors who made the film what it is. It is no secret that most people love a good slow burn, enemies to lovers trope. Collectively as a society, I think we tend to look at the past, even if we were not alive or old enough to remember life at that time, and feel nostalgic. Films are one of the best teleportation devices we have to look into the past. With a movie like “10 Things I Hate About You,” where some of the biggest young stars of that time can be seen enveloped in the music and fashion of the late ’90s and early 2000s, it feels like looking back on simpler, happier times.

If you have not seen “10 Things I Hate About You,” I highly recommend watching it. The overall cinematography and storyline will not leave you disappointed, and it is truly a classic.

A CONVERSATION WITH HANNAH NOELLE

AUTUMN SCHIERFERSTEIN PHOTOS BY SCOTT HALL

Hannah Noelle, a transgender model and brand ambassador, spoke about how sexualization in the fashion industry has impacted her career. Her work with Willow Scott Modeling Agency has propelled her to several opportunities in the valley within the last few years. Whether on the runway or behind the camera, Noelle continues to take on the greater Phoenix area and wants to encourage aspiring transgender youth to chase their dreams too.

The following is a Q&A with Noelle.

How did you get your start in modeling?

I ended up meeting a model through one of the charities that I was working with and she got me my first professional shoot. After that, things took off. I posted pictures, other people started following me, I got invited into local groups and then it just skyrocketed really fast. Then COVID happened and everything came to a stop until I met my agent at a casting in early 2020, and towards the end of the year when I joined her agency, Willow Scott, and everything took off again.

What role do you think sex plays in the fashion industry?

Everybody has heard the term ‘sex sells’ and especially now in the days of OnlyFans it’s even more that way. Some models focus on OnlyFans, Instagram, or other social media which can be great money. Once you dedicate yourself to implied nudity or full nudity work though, you can get pigeonholed into that.

Then you have other models who really like to do runway, print, or editorial work. Here in Phoenix, there’s not as much money in that type of work, especially for somebody brand new. Again though, sex sells, some designers make amazing outfits that are sexy and elegant. Those tend to be more expensive than designers’ everyday wear.

I do. I think being sexual is something that someone in themselves can own, and that’s on your own terms. Being sexualized, that’s on somebody else’s terms, and you can’t really control that.

Have you faced sexualization in the industry?

Yeah, but more because I’m transgender, it is a fetish for some people and it’s taboo for others. Which isn’t right, I’m just a normal human being. I’ve got a good structure now though. I’ve got confidence that I don’t need to do anything that will make me feel uncomfortable.

People have said things like, ‘You’re so pretty for a transgender girl’ or ‘I never thought I would find a trans girl as pretty as I find you.’ Nasty comments that I’m sure are meant as a compliment, but it’s not.

When I first came out and started transitioning, I had this grand idea that everybody was going to be nice and nobody would have hidden agendas or malicious intent. Girls always say there are guys out there that will use you for your body or for an emotional escape and it’s true. Once I had that happen, it was a rude awakening.

How have you overcome being sexualized?

It made me appreciate my body more actually because I don’t want to give my whole self to somebody who’s not going to honor and respect me or my boundaries. I was dating this guy and he wouldn’t go out in public with me at all, for example. He was convinced that people were going to think he was gay if he had a transgender girlfriend, but slowly, I see this world changing for the better. More people are coming out as gender neutral, transgender. People are speaking up, saying ‘This is my body, I’m a human being, you will respect me.’

Having a strong support structure or mentors is so important. And that’s what I want to be for young, transgender people who are coming out. I want them to look at the strength I’ve had and the things I’ve been able to overcome, so they know if it happens to them that they can overcome it too. I love that more and more men are comfortable wearing makeup.

Do you believe there’s a difference between being sexual versus being sexualized?

Noelle perseveres with self-respect when faced with misrepresentation and disrespect, which led her to the supportive community she has today. As an aspiring jack of all trades, she is showing the valley her vision of what it means to own your sexulality. Keep a look out for Noelle on Instagram (@hannahnoelle5839) as she prepares for the Spring season of fashion events in Phoenix.

LOVE HATE WITH LOVE

I love love. I love the idea of love, I love the image of love, and most importantly, I love the feeling of love.

This simple four-letter word holds so much weight when it comes down to it.

It can make you do things that leave your heart and mind conflicted and leave you unsure of which to follow.

Alternatively, it can make you idealize certain aspects of life when, in reality, once the glamorous filter fades, the dull muted colors of the world become clear.

GRACE HARDY

Sadly, our generation has grown up in fast-paced, drive-thru relationships. Meaning falling in love with someone comes as quickly as falling out of love with that same person.

We no longer have the luxury of sitting in each other’s presence and doing life together because the public’s eye is watching. Your relationship now becomes everyone’s news story, and nothing is intimate and raw.

You believe that your friends and family members are madly in love and are in these healthy relationships, when in actuality they have multiple arguments behind that door because someone is not being heard.

Relationships are tested all the time, but as outsiders watching, we never see the signs of brokenness until it is too late. The couple has split, and the relationship fades into parts of an unwanted memory.

People of all ages expect these Netflix romantic plots where you lock eyes with someone in passing, and they just so happen to go to the same coffee shop as you at the same time.

We like to believe in coincidences because we long for those moments that we dreamed about to come true.

However, the shocking and devastating truth about love is that not every Netflix romantic storyline was meant for you.

In high school, someone told me that if you allow your mind to romanticize love, your heart will be broken for every scenario you made up. Moreover, it will continue to happen over and over again.

I was a person who always fell head over heels for someone and had a hard time falling out of it.

In high school, I liked this guy for four years, and I would always talk about him to my friends but never actually talked to him.

Looking back, I think it was because as much as I fantasized about us being together, I could not fathom the outcome of us not working out.

So, I guarded my heart and watched my crush from a distance. Arm lengths apart but still within reach.

Some may say I am philophobic, someone who fears being loved or receiving love.

Nevertheless, how can I be philophobic if I read romance novels, if I liked this guy for so long and if I love the idea of love?

JASMIN MEZA

This photoshoot was the result of a spontaneous road trip that me and my friends took during our winter break. We drove a few hours to the Petrified Forest and planned the entire thing about two days before. We were particularly inspired by avant-garde fashion when dressing our model and originally wanted to have our model sitting on a single chair in the middle of the desertlike scenery. Although we couldn’t find anything on such short notice we eventually decided the suitcase worked just as well, if not better.

MALCOLM AND MARIE: AN ANALYSIS

A complicated story not about love but about two people

Netflix advertised a new Sam Levinson film, “Malcolm & Marie,” as “not a love story,” but “a story of love” in January 2021. This black-and-white noir about the complications of two people with history both individually and interconnecting has stuck with me for the last year.

I like to think that sometimes, when a planted flower has been growing in the same spot for so long, gardeners will just leave it there because the roots are so deep and entangled underground that ripping it up would be too much work, too painful. This is how I viewed Malcolm and Marie’s relationship within the film. The dialogue between the two characters over the course of the movie shows how messy love can be and how perception, self-worth, empathy and communication are so important. Malcolm and Marie’s love for each other is not the least bit romanticized, but the love is still there regardless of the arguments and trauma they inevitably inflict on each other.

Even in the trailer for the film, Malcolm (John David Washington) tells Marie (Zendaya), “You are by far the most excruciating, difficult, stubbornly obnoxious woman I’ve ever met in my entire life. I fucking love you,” further showing this distorted idea of love and the difficulties that carries for the two characters.

The story follows the couple after Malcolm’s movie premiere night and the endless arguments that unfold after Malcolm forgot to thank Marie at the premiere. Their night at home begins with petty arguments about gratitude and recognition, which turn into and shed light on the cracked roots of their relationship and the internal battles they both fight.

Love can be defined in endless ways, and can be shown in even more ways, whether it is interpreted as good or bad.

For some, love is simple. Isaiah Figueroa defines love as lighting a blunt, while Michael Mejia perceives love as a life that is sweeter together. Women like Micah Rind describe love as, “comfortable silence” while Chloe Wells sees it as “caring so much about someone, you’d do anything for them and accept them for who they are.”

One definition that sticks out is when Jacky Ortiz said, “Love to me is looking at a person and finding absolute safety and comfort in their presence. When I love someone, I find myself smiling and being filled with absolute warmth and a million colors.”

In “Malcolm & Marie,” their love, put simply, doesn’t reflect any of these typical loving traits or definitions. They don’t accept each other for who they are or find comfort in the silence. Their silent moments in the film are tense, their insecurities overbear any type of acceptance for the other person. Ortiz’s definition of love, emphasizing safety, juxtaposes perfectly with the scene where Marie is holding a knife in her hand, crying, maniacally laughing, monologuing and asking Malcolm where the pills are. Despite how insane their night is of arguing, this is all just a part of love to some people.

Many men, such as Jake Gutierrez, believe “good love is hard” as well as Lance Harris stating, “If love was easy then it wouldn’t be worth fighting/ sacrificing for.” Others, like Martin Simon, mention that, “love should come natural.”

This is not to say that the people who believe love is worth fighting for believe that being put through toxic situations is OK for the sake of love or “fighting for love.” But it is to say that love is different for every single person.

It is put best and most applicable to Malcolm and Marie when Rind states, “Love isn’t hard, it’s the ownership, jealousy and deceit that make the situation hard.”

Malcolm and Marie love each other. However, over the course of the film, it goes to show that their love is not healthy for one another; they both have things they need to work on within themselves in order to ever be able to love each other in a way that’s beneficial.

Marie sees her contribution to their relationship as outstanding Malcolm’s and feels she’s taken advantage of. She thinks that he is selfish, doesn’t care and acts out in multiple ways through the film including yelling, crying and manipulation. Marie tells him, “Malcolm, I feel like once you know someone is there for you and once you know they love you, you never actually think of them again.” Malcolm is just as manipulative and narcissistic, telling Marie things like, “You’re so fucking solipsistic that you see yourself in everything, even in things you had nothing to do with.”

Overall, Zendaya explained the story of these two people who experience life together best when she told The New York Times, “None of us who made the movie think that they’re, like, in a healthy relationship, you know what I mean? I think it was to explore those insecurities and those dark things about ourselves that I think sometimes relationships can bring out of us.”

Sometimes, the love and connection that binds two people together isn’t always good for each other, but it’s important to recognize the difference between “tough love’’ and an unhealthy relationship.

“There isn’t a specific message. It’s more of a piece to open up a dialogue. You’re the fly on the wall. You’re watching the codependency, the narcissism, the ups and downs of something that has a lot of toxicity in it. It’s triggering for different people in different ways because they find themselves connected to different parts of the characters,” Zendaya said in an interview with The New York Times. “If there’s anything to take away from it, it’s this idea of gratitude [for] people in our lives who make it possible to do what we do. For any young person going through any kind of relationship and something like toxicity or whatever the case may be, I think a huge thing is understanding your worth.”

STORY BY ALEXIA HILL PHOTOS FROM NETFLIX