The Dartmouth 05/14/2019

VOL. CLXXVI NO. 37

RAINY HIGH 47 LOW 36

OPINION

COUVILLION: DARTMOUTH AND THE DEEP SOUTH PAGE 4

LEVY: WHO AM I? PAGE 4

ARTS

REVIEW: ‘POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU’ IS NOT QUITE SURREAL ENOUGH PAGE 7

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: STEPHANIE EVERETT ’19 PERFORMS WITH PASSION PAGE 8

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE

Beto O’Rourke holds Student rescued after missing for town hall at College two nights at Mount Moosilauke

B y joey chong The Dartmouth

On Friday afternoon, over 300 students and community members filled the Top of the Hop for a campaign event for former Texas congressman and Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.

During the event, O’Rourke focused on a variety of topics including women’s issues, climate change and the “continuing legacy of slavery” in the United States.

O’Rourke is the ninth

Democratic presidential candidate to visit Dartmouth and the sixth candidate to host an event with over 300 attendees, according to New Hampshire College Democrats president Michael Parsons ’20.

B e f o r e O ’ Ro u r k e ’ s e n t r a n c e, a c a m p a i g n staffer attempted to excite the crowd by beginning a “Beto” chant. The chant died after a few seconds, and the staffer repeated his

SEE O’ROURKE PAGE 3

Dartmouth hosts 47th annual Powwow B y savannah eller The Dartmouth Staff

Over 60 dancers from across the country came to campus on Saturday and Sunday to participate in Dartmouth’s 47th annual Powwow, a Native American cultural gathering. Typically, the event takes place on the Green, but due to rain concerns, this year’s powwow was held in Leede Arena. The event was organized by the Native Americans at Dartmouth student organization and was open to the public.

The Dartmouth Powwow

is the one of six events traditionally allowed to commence on the Green and is the second-largest event of its kind in the Northeast, according to NAD’s website.

Featuring dances set to music from six different drum groups, the Powwow provided a venue for the celebration of the cultural identity of Dartmouth students and of Native Americans who traveled to the event from across the country.

“Powwow is just generally a Native American social SEE POWWOW PAGE 5

DEBORA HYEMIN HAN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

Arun Anand ’19 was rescued yesterday morning after getting lost om Mount Moosilauke.

B y THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF Arun Anand ’19, who was missing on Mount Moosilauke since Saturday, was located alive Monday morning and was brought to safety, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game chief of law enforcement Kevin Jordan.

At about 9:30 a.m. yesterday, Anand was located by a team of Fish and Game officers doing a line search, according to Jordan. He said that Anand was found without shoes, and was likely hypothermic after spending two nights outdoors in the cold. A press release from the Fish and Game department

states that Anand was found hiking down the Gorge Brook trail near the mountain.

Jordan said that he was told Anand, who was not familiar with hiking, had split from the group at around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday because he did not feel he was prepared. The group encountered winter conditions, and Jordan said that the group instructed Anand to head down the trail. New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that he was missing around 9 p.m. Saturday, according to Jordan.

A n a n d , 2 1 , a n at i ve of Collegeville, PA, was participating in a Collegesponsored hike and failed to arrive back at the Moosilauke

Ravine Lodge. Upon being located by the rescue team, Anand was provided with food, water, warm clothing and hiking boots. Rescuers then helped him hike the approximately one mile to the lodge. EMS personnel assessed Anand, and then he was taken to DartmouthHitchcock Medical Center for precautionary reasons.

A search in the area began Saturday night. That search and rescue team consisted of New Hampshire conservation officers, volunteers from Pemigewasset Valley Search and Rescue, New England K-9 Search & Rescue and Upper Valley Wilderness SEE MOOSILAUKE PAGE 5

PAGE 2

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

Public policy class to disburse funds to eight local nonprofits B y rebecca nicol The Dartmouth

PBPL 51, “Leadership in Civil Society,” a class taught by Rockefeller Center for Public Policy associate director Ronald Shaiko, will distribute around $40,000 to eight Upper Valley nonprofits this term. This was made possible by The Philanthropy Lab, a Texasbased organization which offers grants for philanthropy projects.

Students in the class will select eight Upper Valley nonprofits to receive donations of $5,000 each.

Shaiko said that the students have complete independence in making the funding decisions.

“I have no say in who gets the money,” Shaiko said.

In addition to Dartmouth, 14 other universities, including Harvard University and Columbia University, are offering courses sponsored through The Philanthropy Lab. The only stipulation for the donations, according to Shaiko, is that they cannot be used to fund infrastructure within the nonprofits.

Shaiko said that The Philanthropy Lab first reached out to the Rockefeller Center in 2011 to sponsor a course, but the Center declined because it felt there was not an appropriate course at Dartmouth for which to use the money. When The Philanthropy Lab reached out to the Center again last year, Shaiko decided that the existing “Leadership in Civil Society” course would be a good option to incorporate a hands-on approach to philanthropy.

The Dartmouth Center for Social Impact helped connect the Rockefeller Center with the Upper Valley nonprofits. Center for Social Impact associate director Ashley Doolittle said she reached out to over 70 nonprofits who have worked with Dartmouth classes in the past.

Doolittle said that over 50 expressed

interest in the program and have submitted their grant proposals to the Rockefeller Center. Doolittle said that the nonprofits work in a wide variety of sectors such as housing inequity, food justice, conservation, women’s issues and healthcare. The students of PBPL 51 will narrow down the candidates based on their proposals.

Doolittle said that classes such as PBPL 51 are part of a curriculum called “social impact practicums” that are designed to “create a sense of community between Hanover and the Upper Valley through experiential learning.”

Social impact practicums have been included in 86 classes since their program’s inception two and a half years ago, according to Doolittle. “[Social impact practicums] create relationships among the class [and] help students feel like the Upper Valley is their community,” Doolittle said.

She added that PBPL 51 is taking a “unique and special” approach to the social impact practicum model and was made possible by the grant from The Philanthropy Lab. Another key part of the class, according to Shaiko, is that each student has the chance to interview alumni who have made considerable donations to the College. He said that this will give students an insight into the philanthropic process.

“I really enjoyed talking to alumni,” public policy minor Tara Burchmore ’19 said. She added that she has enjoyed learning about philanthropic policy in a way that will make real-world difference and that taking this class during her senior spring has been a good way to conclude her Dartmouth experience.

Luke Cuomo ’20, who is also a public policy minor, said he was “enticed by the chance to not just learn about policy, but actually take part in engaging with real

CORRECTIONS We welcome corrections. If you believe there is a factual error in a story, please email editor@thedartmouth.com.

MICHAEL LIN/THE DARTMOUTH SENIOR STAFF

The Rockefeller Center secured funding for the class through an organization called The Philanthropy Lab.

life organizations that are actually making a concrete difference in the Upper Valley.” He added that he enjoyed the legal and ethical debates the class raised about philanthropy.

The class will hold an awards ceremony to distribute the awards to non-profits on May 23, and

Shaiko said that College President Phil Hanlon will be in attendance.

In future years, the Center will look for alumni and Upper Valley partners to sponsor the class, and The Philanthropy Lab will match the community contributions to make the donations ever larger,

according to Shaiko.

Shaiko said he hopes that the one thing students take away from the class is the importance of lifelong commitments to philanthropy.

“The ultimate goal of the class is to plant that seed of philanthropy,” he said.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

PAGE 3

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

O’Rourke talks healthcare, income inequality, immigration leave policy. Talking to the press following the event, O’Rourke said attempt five more times. that his campaign staffers are paid O’Rourke began the event at least $15 per hour, including talking about his hometown of interns.

El Paso, TX, and its diverse O’Rourke then promised to close community. O’Rourke criticized the gender and racial wage gap, President Donald Trump for garnering applause after calling for his views on immigrants and his the ratification of the Equal Rights description of “Klansman, white Amendment. supremacists and Nazis as ‘very fine He continued to talk about people.’” racial equality by discussing the After discussing immigration, prison system. He said that the O’Rourke transitioned to explaining U.S. has the largest prison system in his healthcare the world, which is platform, “disproportionately p r o m i s i n g “Going in, I thought comprised of “guaranteed he was a hollow people of color.” high-quality He also advocated u n i v e r s a l candidate. But I see a indirectly for the h e a l t h c a r e lot of genuiness to him leg alization and for every decriminalization and a good side that A m er i c a n . ” of marijuana O ’ R o u r k e wants to change this by c o m m e n d i n g a l s o country, so definitely states which have underscored passed laws to w o m e n ’ s my opinion changed.” legalize marijuana. healthcare O’Rourke returned to ensure to his discussion on that “every -ARYEH LANDE ’22 race and described w o m a n t h e “ c o n t i nu i n g makes her legacy of slavery, own decisions about her own body.” segregation and Jim Crow” through Following healthcare, O’Rourke maternal and infant mortality, spoke about income inequality. income inequality and the schoolHe said he would raise the federal to-prison pipeline. minimum wage to $15 an hour and “We have our work cut out for lauded New Hampshire legislators us,” O’Rourke said. “Let’s make who recently passed a paid family sure that when we’re telling the FROM O’ROURKE PAGE 1

MICHAEL LIN/THE SENIOR DARTMOUTH STAFF

O’Rourke spoke to a large crowd of supporters at the Top of the Hop.

American story, we’re telling the complete American story.”

O’Rourke emphasized his family when describing gun rights and gun violence. He said his son Henry is growing up in a country where school shootings are part of the educational experience. O’Rourke also called for universal background

checks to reduce gun violence.

O’Rourke concluded his policy discussion by explaining his position on climate change. Having faced criticism for lacking a signature issue in the first months of his campaign, O’Rourke spent the most time discussing climate change. He emphasized that it is “not caused by God, not by mother nature, but by you and by me.”

O’Rourke finished his speech with the story of his 2018 Texas Senate campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). He offered two familiar statistics that he has mentioned frequently at his campaign events.

“We visited every single one of the 254 counties in our state,” O’Rourke said. “We were down 2.6 percent on election night.”

While O’Rourke surged in national popularity during his run for the Senate in 2018, his campaign for president has not gained steam.

According to a recent Monmouth University poll, two percent of New Hampshire Democratic voters

would vote for O’Rourke in the 2020 Democratic primary election.

O’Rourke particularly struggles with women voters. In the poll, one percent of Democratic women voters in New Hampshire would vote for O’Rourke. This marks a decrease from five percent in a University of New Hampshire poll released in February.

“Going in, I thought he was a hollow candidate,” said Aryeh Lande ’22. “But I see a lot of genuineness to him and a good side that wants to change this country, so definitely [my] opinion changed.”

Dartmouth College Democrats president Gigi Gunderson ’21 said she is excited to see the development of candidates’ platforms and future visits from other candidates to the College.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing a lot of candidates flesh out their policy platforms and answer some tough questions, especially about voting rights, women’s reproductive rights and climate change,” Gunderson said.

PAGE 4

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

THE DARTMOUTH OPINION

STAFF COLUMNIST GABRIELLE LEVY ’22

STAFF COLUMNIST ZACH COUVILLION ’22

Who Am I?

Dartmouth and the Deep South

Countless articles have been written on the the bathroom mirror and the virtually-constructed effects of social media on the lives and social ‘I’ in Instagram [creates a] disturbing sense of interactions of young people. I, personally, thought blurred identity or unreality.”

I had heard it all before. Then, in my senior year of Think of depersonalization like it’s a state high school, a close friend of mine was diagnosed of intoxication. For the most part, people under with derealization disorder. This condition makes the influence of alcohol or marijuana still know people feel like an outside observer to one’s own life, who they are. But when they look in the mirror, as if there is a glass wall that separates them from many experience a sensation of disconnect. Social their surroundings as time passes at an abnormal media has similar effects on our sense of self. rate.

By unknowingly drugging Whilemyfriend’scondition “I couldn’t help but ourselves with alternate was likely not related to social worlds painted in C1 VSCO think about the media, I couldn’t help but filters, we blur the lines think about the similarities similarities between between the real and the between the symptoms of the symptoms virtual. derealization disorder and Of course, for most digital depersonalization — of derealization people, feelings of digital the losing of one’s self in disorder and digital depersonalization are reality as a result of the “self ” temporary and rare. So why depersonalization.” that is created on social media. is this important? Well, the Digital depersonalization can issue with losing track of one’s be caused by excess social sense of self is that we turn to media use. And while it is important to recognize others to fill the void within. When we can’t quite technology’s effect on how we interact with one figure out who we are anymore, we look to other another — a topic which many have already people to make the judgment for us and start fixating covered — this lesser-known effect of social media is and the number of likes and comments we receive equally consequential as it describes how technology online. This need for external validation perpetuates impacts our relationship with ourselves. a feeling of unease and insecurity.

When we post a carefully edited picture on Diverse new online platforms that emerge so Instagram, VSCO or Facebook, we create and rapidly can only increase the risk that we may one perpetuate a sense of our self that is a fantasy day wake up unable to shake the horrifying sensation — a representation of what we hope or aspire that we no longer know who we are. While there to be. Our real self, however, is the person we is no easy balance between reality and virtuality, see in the mirror — the person who has to deal we should constantly be mindful of the tensions with hardships, stressors and disappointments. between the two. Only then can we begin the As described by the Russian psychoanalyst Elena hard work of reconciling our physical and virtual Bezzubova, “dissociation between the factual ‘I’ in identities into one cohesive sense of self.

Dartmouth students come from all sorts the ladder of prestige. of backgrounds. The College allocates Part of this ethos comes from the strong substantial resources to those who identify religious sentiment present in the South. A as first-generation and low-income adjust to 2016 Pew Research study showed that Southern the Dartmouth environment. For example, states have the highest percentage of adults who the First Year Student Enrichment Program go to church, pray daily and believe in God’s provides an orientation experience specifically existence with absolute certainty. Mississippi for students of these backgrounds. This and Alabama tie for the most religious states approach is commendable, but economics in the U.S., while New Hampshire ranks as the cannot fully capture a student’s identity. As least religious state in the U.S., tying only with someone from the rural South, I can attest that Massachusetts . Southern Christian religiosity while socioeconomic factors are important, we does not only affect political views: It gives cannot let its importance make us forget about communities a sense of purpose and belonging. how our geographic backgrounds also affect our Take a conversation I had with a student experience of Dartmouth. Just as we actively from a competitive Northeastern high school promote other forms of as an example. She claimed diversity, we should also “A college town in that the prevailing attitude enthusiastically celebrate the northeast and a in her school could be the Dartmouth student described as: “If you don’t body’s geographic diversity small rural town in the get into a top-tier school, and try to learn from the South are completely then who are you?” But I cultural perspectives it would rather ask myself: different universes.” brings.

“What does it take to be A college town in the a respected member of Northeast and a small rural my community?” It’s not town in the South are completely different important to go to an Ivy League school or universes, each bestowing a distinct accent of to secure the most prestigious internships. All reality on its members. Surface level analyses that matters is being a good family member, of politics and traditions do not adequately having good values and, importantly, being a describe the divergent philosophies of the good Christian. regions.

Some of the smartest and most accomplished For example, I recall a conversation I had students I know are ones who have stayed at with a low-income student who participated home in their community. While family is in FYSEP programming. Having grown up in a common value shared throughout the a large city, she noted that actively pursuing United States, a key aspect of the South is the professional development was expected of predisposition to value family over education, her due to the opportunities that surrounded return to one’s roots and stay firm to one’s her. As someone from a small rural town in identity as a community member. No awardMississippi, I found her story remarkable. winning academic, influential politician or The members of my graduating class did wealthy entrepreneur could ever achieve the not even have résumés going into the college Southern definition of success: The success application season, much less internships or of staying humble and accepting Jesus. research experience.

In my experience, many Dartmouth It’s not that those from the rural south students from the rural South diverged from have mindsets at odds with success: The this mindset one way or another, but that mindset just follows a different definition of does not change the fact that they grew up success. Obsessing over acceptance into top- in this environment. It is critical to recognize tier colleges is unheard of in my hometown. these types of social differences and foster Instead of viewing a prestigious college as a an environment of acceptance of these rung on the ladder of success, the students I sentiments, to resist the urge to make political knew in high school were content with staying judgements of the conservative South and in town, attending either community college or have awareness of the deeper issue at work. pursuing technical training. A strong sense of Perhaps we can also use this as an opportunity home and community is one of the hallmarks to reflect on our definition of success or at least of southern culture, one that my community recognize that success is more subjective than values over individualistic desires to ascend we may have thought.

Digital depersonalization may be ruining our lives.

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A Southerner’s perspective on success at Dartmouth.

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

THE DARTMOUTH NEWS

PAGE 5

Powwow committee members raised $62,000 to fund events this year, drawing funds from Office of the President, the Office of gathering with music and dancing,” the Provost, the Native American event co-chair Skyler Kuczaboski ’21 Program, private donations and the said. “It’s a way to come together and sales of shirts and food. just celebrate She added that our culture and the committee “I’m really excited that was able to raise who we are as a we’re doing traditional over $15,000 more people.”

O ve r t h e jingle dancing this year than last year’s two-day event, budget, allowing d a n c e r s i n because it’s what I the group to plan t r a d i t i o n a l know, and powwows more dances and r e g a l i a better cash prizes usually have modern participated in for winners. Snyder over a dozen jingle dancing.” said the increase dances from in funding came various Native partly from interest A m e r i c a n -ELSA ARMSTRONG ’21 in the College’s m u s i c a l 250th anniversary. traditions.

She said she hoped Mitchell Baker, a dancer from New the funding would continue past the Mexico, was appointed Head Man anniversary. this year, while Kuczaboski served as “I think that if we want to see Head Woman. The two participated Powwow grow into what we know it in each dance at the event. can be, it’s going to take more than “It’s a really big honor to be asked to one or two years,” she said. be Head Woman, just because it’s not Twenty-six vendors were present at something you take on by yourself,” the Powwow, selling Native American Kuczaboski said. “It’s in recognition jewelry, clothing and other items. that you’re a good dancer, you know Kuczaboski said the committee made what’s going on in powwows, you’re an effort to attract vendors from the an important community member to Northeast to support local artists Dartmouth, and we want you to be and help local Native Americans part of this in a bigger way.” artisans have more of a presence at Shelby Snyder ’21 and Kuczaboski the Powwow. were this year’s co-chairs of the “We tried to give more of the Powwow Committee. According to vending spaces to indigenous people Snyder, committee members and of this area, because I feel like they other volunteers raised over $62,000 don’t often get as much recognition,” FROM POWWOW PAGE 1

Search operation aided by helicopters, students FROM MOOSILAUKE PAGE 1

Response Team.

The operation was then aided by aerial searches from a Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter and an Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, as well as a team of several Dartmouth students and the

Lakes Region Search and Rescue Team. Around 50 individuals have been involved in the search team. The press release stated that rescuers encountered deep snow, dense understory and steep terrain during the search.

This story will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.

Kuczaboski said.

The Powwow incorporated group dances as well as specific “specials” meant to showcase one type of dance or to honor someone. NAD president Elsa Armstrong ’20 said she was excited to participate in a “special” meant for old-style jingle dancers, a style of dancing she learned as a member of the Ojibwe nation growing up in Saint Paul, MN. “I’m really excited that we’re doing traditional jingle dancing this year because it’s what I know, and powwows usually have modern jingle dancing,” she said.

Another “special” new this year

honored the cultural traditions Snyder said she thought the of Native Americans from the event was a success. As a Native Northeast and American from an Canada, with “It’s a really big honor urban setting, she a performance powwows have to be asked to be Head said of the Smoke always been a way D a n c e Woman, just because for her to connect traditional to it’s not something you with her culture the Iroquois without having Confederacy of take on yourself.” access to traditional New York. The ceremonies.

Powwow also “For me as a included a new -SKYLER KUCZABOSKI ’21 Native person to team dance share that with event in which other people and dancers performed choreographed to continue that for myself — it’s just routines. the best feeling,” she said.

PAGE 6

DARTMOUTHEVENTS

THE DARTMOUTH EVENTS

SCREEN TIME

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

Cecilia Morin ’22

TODAY

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Discussion: “Dartmouth Town Hall hosted by EVP Rick Mills,” sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice President, Hopkins Center for the Arts, Spaulding Auditorium.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Seminar: “Thermospheric Anomalies and Ion-Neutral Coupling,” by James Clemmons, sponsored by the Department of Physics, Wilder Hall, Room 115.

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Seminar: “Latin Lords, Muslim Subjects: Islamic Communities in Medieval Europe,” sponsored by the Society of Fellows, Haldeman Hall, Room 041.

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Lecture: “Gender and anti-Semitism,” by Christina von Braun, sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program, Carson Hall, Room L01.

TOMORROW 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Thesis: “Isolation of Effects that Influence the Spectroscopy of Magnetic Nanoparticles,” by Yipeng Shi, sponsored by the Department of Physics, Wilder Hall, Room 202.

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Pets: “Visit from Winston, VT Therapy Dog,” sponsored by the Student Wellness Center, House Center B.

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Lecture: “Michelangelo Rules,” by Cammy Brothers, sponsored by the Department of Art History, Carpenter Hall, Room 201F.

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TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

THE DARTMOUTH ARTS

PAGE 7

Review: ‘Pokémon Detective Pikachu’ is not quite surreal enough

B y sebastian wurzrainer The Dartmouth Staff

“Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is without a doubt one of the most bizarre ideas for a mainstream, Hollywood family film that I’ve encountered in recent memory. To be clear, I’m not referring to the basic notion of adapting the hugely popular Japanese multi-media franchise into a live-action American film. “Pokémon” is so ubiquitous at this point that even if you’ve never really experienced it –— as is the case with me — you’ve almost certainly at least heard about it through cultural osmosis. Moreover, that ubiquity practically transformed into notoriety with the 2016 release of the augmented reality game “Pokémon Go,” of which, again, you’ve almost definitely heard.

Given that the current age of Hollywood filmmaking is so reliant on big-budget adaptations of nostalgic staples of geek culture, it’s not that surprising that a liveaction “Pokémon” has bubbled to the surface. What is surprising, however, is that someone decided that the best way to appeal to an audience beyond the “Pokémon” fanbase was to adapt a video-game spin-off titled “Detective Pikachu,” thereby conceptually resulting in a film noir murder mystery spoof … but with Pokémon.

Like I said, as a premise for a $150 million wannabe blockbuster, that borders on outright surreal.

And things only got stranger when it was revealed that Ryan Reynolds — an actor currently coasting on the success of his lauded performance as the motormouth title character in the “Deadpool” films — would be providing the voice of the titular character. I’m sure that there’s some overlap between “Pokémon” and “Deadpool” fans, but the intended demographics for these franchises form two distinct circles, not a Venn diagram.

My point is that there’s a reason the trailer for “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” elicited a sort of morbid curiosity in me. Rather than attempting to assure audiences that

the film would be relatively normal, the marketing fully embraced the zany absurdity of the premise and the circumstances surrounding it.

Over the course of two minutes, that trailer managed to shoot the moon a minimum of four times, ricocheting back in forth from terrible to brilliant to terrible to brilliant and back again … and then maybe back again one more time after that just for good measure. The only conclusion I could draw was that the film would either be so bad it’s good, or that it would somehow miraculously succeed by trying to be even more outlandish than the title already suggests. As far as I was concerned, either outcome sounded enjoyable.

Disappointingly, “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is neither strange nor misguided enough to be a surrealist masterpiece or an enjoyable dud. Indeed, much of the film is frustratingly competent from a technical perspective — nothing mind-blowing, but perfectly functional. Which shouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing. Even the most bizarre films can sometimes benefit by starting from a solid technical foundation. The problem is that “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” isn’t all that bizarre. It’s incredibly tame, by-the-numbers, and thus rather uninspired. Indeed, the screenplay does its best to tone down both the “Pokémon” and the “Detective” angles of its title, opting instead to fuse two of the more popular narrative tropes from family-oriented films; “a boy and his [fill in the blank]” meets “big bad corporations are evil and only our intrepid cast of youthful characters can stop them.” Of course, as is almost always the case, the corporation isn’t really evil. Films like “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” tend to discuss capitalism in terms of a singular evil CEO figure, rather than in terms of a much larger exploitative system. But hey, framing capitalism as a massive exploitative system wouldn’t be very on-brand for Hollywood, am I right?

The shame of it all is that “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” starts with a relatively intriguing

set-up. Protagonist Tim Goodman some genuinely touching emotional (Justice Smith) travels to Ryme beats. Thus, when the sloppy and City — wherein humans and choppy writing does rear its notPokémon live in har mony — infrequent head, it feels all the more because his estranged father Harry, disappointing. a detective, has recently died under Nowhere is this better exemplified mysterious circumstances. Shortly than in the reveal of the villain and after arriving, Tim encounters their subsequent evil plan. The film Pikachu (Reynolds), Harry’s partner telegraphs the identity of the villain who happens to be suffering from practically from the first scene in recent amnesia. The two team up which the character appears; indeed, to discover who murdered Harry the moment the character in question and to restore Pikachu’s memory. At spoke their opening line, I leaned over first glance, that’s to my best friend an incredibly and whispered, “At first glance, conventional “That’s the bad murder mystery that’s an incredibly guy.” Lo and o u t l i n e , b u t conventional murder behold, I was intentionally right. As a result, so because it mystery outline, the reveal may be p r o v i d e s s o but intentionally so a little clichéd, many potential but at least it because it provides opportunities makes a degree to highlight the so many potential o f s e n s e. B y humor in a “hard- opportunities to direct contrast, boiled” detective the actual evil story featuring highlight the humor scheme is not P o k é m o n . in a ‘hard-boiled’ only rather Indeed, the film’s but it detective story feature ableist, best moments are also has no basis precisely when Pokémon.” in any of the it takes those preceding events. opportunities It is a pay-off for and runs with them. a set-up that appears to have never However, once it establishes the really existed in the first place. The basic parameters of its narrative, result is a third act that somehow “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” simultaneously makes perfect sense almost completely abandons the and feels completely out of left field. appeal of the genre it theoretically It’s interesting to note that Nicole wants to spoof. Tim and Pikachu Perlman is credited as a storywriter are less detectives than they are for the film. Perlman wrote the extremely lucky; clues just fall into infamously unhinged first draft of their laps, and most of the other “Guardians of the Galaxy” before murder mystery tropes featured in director James Gunn largely retooled the film feel obligatory rather than her work into the eventual shooting inspired. Of course, the inability script. Likewise, as far as I can tell, to construct a compelling mystery Perlman wrote the first draft of wouldn’t be so detrimental to the “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” before film if the story they did choose to subsequent writers were brought on tell was especially interesting. board. One can’t help but imagine The problem, ultimately, is that that the current film’s most fun the film has four credited writers; moments are leftovers from her thus, the final script has plenty of original, livelier vision. solid moments that are nevertheless Again, none of this is to suggest surrounded by some truly inept the film is bad. Far from it — most of connective tissue. The lack of a the run-time is relatively enjoyable. compelling mystery aside, there are But it’s just such a thoroughly at least clear stakes, motivations, middle-of-the-road experience, characterizations, themes and even made all the more frustrating by

the occasional glimpses of genuine artistic inspiration. For instance, most of the cinematography by John Mathieson is fairly unremarkable. As video essayist Lindsay Ellis notes in her video about Joel Schumacher’s “The Phantom of the Opera” (for which Mathieson was also cinematographer), Mathieson is really only as good as his director.

Thus, mirroring director Rob Letterman, Mathieson’s work on “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” is mediocre, marked only by its distracting overreliance on shallow focus. But every once in a while, Letterman and Mathieson appear to have had the semblance of an interesting idea, and thus the film is sprinkled throughout with legitimately dynamic shots meant to be reminiscent of classic 1940s film noirs.

Similarly, most of the actors are perfectly decent. Reynolds’ voice acting, in particular, elicits a number of chuckles even if his talents feel a little under-utilized in such a tame setting. One wonders if the film was forcibly trimmed for a PG rating.

Noticeably, everyone plays his or her part with a straight face, barring Kathryn Newton as Lucy Stevens, a junior reporter desperate to hit it big with a major story. Newton seems to think she’s in a completely different film, overacting with a campy knowingness that suggests she expects the audience to be in on the joke of her character as a parody of a stock trope from countless murder mystery stories.

But again, the film so rarely embraces its ostensible aspirations to be a genre homage/parody; thus Newton feels both out of place and indicative of an alternative version of “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” that I actually would have much preferred.

Her off-kilter performance combined with the occasional dynamic shot on the part of John Mathieson and the vestiges of Perlman’s original writing collectively suggest there is a fresh, zany version of this film itching to break free. It’s just a shame that almost everyone involved decided that playing it safe was better than playing it exciting.

PAGE 8

THE DARTMOUTH ARTS

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2019

Student Spotlight: Stephanie Everett ’19 performs with passion B y macy toppan The Dartmouth

For Stephanie Everett ’19, her career on stage far predates her recent roles in the Dartmouth productions of “Eclipsed” and “Into the Woods.”

Rather, it dates back to her fourth-grade talent show, in which she and four other girls performed “Hard Knock Life” from “Annie” complete with props and choreography. According to Everett, her passion for theater grew from that day on; she participated in musicals throughout middle school and high school, where she said she found a serious program with a dedicated teacher.

According to Everett, the director of “Hamilton” and “In The Heights” went to her high school and studied theater under her own drama teacher, who fostered a professional atmosphere that made her take theater seriously.

However, Everett said that when she came to Dartmouth, she initially wished to pursue a pre-med track in pursuit of a career as a pediatric oncologist. It wasn’t until she quit soccer and took a musical theater class during her sophomore spring that she realized her love for acting and decided, finally, to pursue a theater major modified with African American studies, as well as a minor in sociology, she said.

According to Everett, her professor in that life-changing musical theater course, senior lecturer Carol Dunne who also runs Northern Stage, a theater company based in White River Junction VT, suggested that she apply to the still-new E-term program, an off-term internship for Dartmouth students at Northern Stage, and spend her off-term acting.

With a day left before the application was due, Everett said that she got her materials submitted and was accepted into what would prove to be a milestone experience in her acting career.

“At Northern Stage, Carol was the

only person who’d known me from before, and she knew I was dealing with post-concussion stuff and she was like, ‘I think all of you interns should work on a little passion project, a little something to fill your time if you ever have down time,’” Everett said. “She was like, ‘You should write a one woman show about head injury!’”

Accrording to Everett, the resulting one-woman show “It’s Fine, I’m Fine” — written by Everett with help from Eric Love and, more recently, dramaturg Samantha Lazar — is an autobiographical production discussing the struggles of her “invisible disability:” post-concussion syndrome from a soccer injury.

Everett said that her concussion is technically healed, but her symptoms have persisted for two and a half years, though she has learned to work around them. Despite the fact that she lives with the residual effects, Everett said that people tend to forget about her injury, which is why she wrote her show.

Everett’s one-woman show has already found acclaim. Everett said that from the hundreds of entries for New Works Now, an annual workshop festival at Northern Stage dedicated to encouraging new plays and productions, her play was among the three pieces chosen. Additionally, Everett will also be performing her show at the United Solo Festival in New York — the largest solo theater festival in the world — this upcoming fall.

“I didn’t even want to write [the show] in the beginning because I purposefully avoided thinking about the bad parts of it all,” Everett said. “[But] this show is a way for me to finally put into words ... perfectly how I would describe what’s going on.”

As a friend of Everett since she worked on wardrobe for the production of one of Everett’s first productions at Dartmouth — “1984” — Millenah

Nascimento ’21 said she has witnessed Everett’s personal growth as an actress, playwrite and person.

“I think the development of her confidence in herself and her identity and her person has allowed her to be willing to share her story,” Nascimento said. “She’s able to put these stories out there and relate to people ... I think that as she’s gotten older, she’s been more willing to take on this role as a mentor.”

Virginia Ogden ’18, a BOLD Gurley Brown Fellow at Northern Stage and another close friend of Everett’s, said she observed Everett’s growth from a pop vocalist in Dartmouth Idol into the autobiographical playwright and performer that she is today. According to Ogden, Everett played the traditionally male lead, Claude, in her senior thesis production of “Hair,” through which

Ogden said she saw Everett as an “incredibly versatile, incredibly strong, incredibly disciplined actress.”

“She approaches acting like an athlete,” Ogden said. “She is humble, she’s driven, she’s focused and she’s so coachable. She’s always looking for ways that she can improve. And that made her so fun and easy to work with.”

Among her friends, collaborators and mentors, Everett’s unapologetic sense of self and tireless work ethic is unanimously noted. According to assistant technical director and master carpenter Scott Henkels, this year, after taking a course in set production, Everett has taken a job in the tech aspect of Dartmouth’s theater department. Henkel said that Everett became interested in technical theater in pursuit of the carpentry knowledge to one day construct her own tiny house,

and that has reflected in her tireless work ethic and positive attitude.

“Expressing interest in learning anything that she can towards building a tiny house has lead her to be successful in the shop, in learning to take pride in good work and also in enjoying what you’re doing,” Henkels said.

Everett said that she has executed her plans to continue pursuing theater even before graduation; she will begin acting in summer productions at New London Barn Playhouse later this month before moving to New York in September. She said she looks forward to making new friends in the theater communities she encounters along the way, and for the more distant future, she plans to work in regional theater for the influence it has on local communities, specifically the inspiration theater can have on children.

COURTESY OF STEPHANIE EVERETT

Stephanie Everett ’19 looks forward to performing for local theaters.