Opinion

Harry Styles isn’t the epitome of androgynous fashion

BY LINA MEZERREG

Fashion has long been a form of selfexpression, but as androgynous or gender non-conforming fashion begins to enter the mainstream, public figures have often received polarizing media attention for their outfits.

However, Harry Styles is often the artist who receives credit for his work to break boundaries. Not to say that Styles doesn’t have a unique sense of style or that he hasn’t challenged gender norms in his own way, but his recognition steals

1984

Elton John has been seen as an icon in male fashion for his continuous flow of outrageous fashion statements, this gown from his December 1984 concert being no different.

2016

the spotlight from many other celebrities, namely people of color, who have done just as much — if not more — to defy gender norms with their fashion. Even more so, Style’s outfits tend to be specifically curated to gain attention instead of stemming from his personal fashion sense.

The media’s fixation on Styles can be seen through the uproar his simple, sheer Gucci shirt received at the 2019 Met Gala — a small touch that received more media coverage than the outfits of all the other celebrities combined. In recent years, Styles has been on the cover of several Vogue issues in feminine styles or silhouettes. Despite the general Twitter uproar regarding his outfits, there was greater support for his revolutionary style than bemoaning for the loss of traditional masculinity.

Yet all of these outfits were specifically curated for media attention. Several were heavily influenced by icons before him such as Prince and Bowie and reflect none of Styles’s personal style.

“Trends like white boy of the month and craze for Harry Styles overrepresent white men in media,” Indesign President and senior Suanna Zhong said. “So many people overlook other artists who did it first, such as Prince or Billy Porter. However, with artists like Lil Nas X using their platform to be unapologetic and taking bold moves to defy gender norms, we will slowly move in the right direction.”

Other artists who don’t receive due attention for their work to break gender norms have wardrobe choices that are more reflective of their own personality. Furthermore, these figures were breaking gender roles before Styles entered the scene. Of the most iconic are Sir Elton John’s diverse and astonishing outfits, such as his 1975 Dodger stadium performance outfit studded with sequins or

Known for his eccentric style sense and impact on modern hip hop and trap music, Young Thug reinforced his unique style with the cover of his No, My Name IS Jeremy mixtape. 2019

Billy Porter can easily be seen as one of the most unapologetic male artists in Western media that has blown media sites away with his innovative outfits. The same can be said about this outfit at the 2019 Oscars. his 1997 birthday suit inspired by King Louis XIV. Closer to home is Prince, a musician remembered through generations for his andogynous style and flamboyant character. Further down the line, more expressive personal styles became popular in Western culture, from Young Thug’s dress on the No, My Name is JEFFREY mixtape cover to Lil Nas X’s outfit at the 2020 Grammys. All of these outfits did more than Harry Styles’s poorly curated editorial by actually redefining what masculine fashion could be.

This stronger sense of personal style and nonconformity of gender norms is mainly expressed through both the spontaneity and purpose of the outfits. These outfits were not meant to be the statement of the occasion or had a particular point to get across; instead, they seemed to stem from preference and comfort. The lack of public attention for said outfits contrasts sharply to that for Styles’s calculated wardrobe choices, with some earlier trendsetters even receiving derision for their choices.

This rundown of celebrity fashion’s role in redefining masculinity would be incomplete without looking at the greater influence K-Pop has had on universal fashion standards and redefinition of gender norms. Arguably one of the most alluring aspects of the K-Pop industry is its idols’ elaborate self expression, namely in dress and attire. This aspect is reflected in both male and female idols’ remarkable costumes and makeup. Despite mainstream

rejection at their expression, it is these facets of K–Pop that not only grow its international fanbase but also redefine masculinity on a global scale. From EXO member Kai’s crop tops in music videos to Stray Kid member Felix’s skirt photoshoots, all of the choices show a fluidity and disregard of gender stereotypes that many artists from other cultures are hesitant to express. Outfits like these are still not as common in Western media, as they tend to relate to the stereotype that one’s fashion sense is a result of their sexual orientation, w h i c h strengthens the presence of toxic masculinity. “When people who don’t know or aren’t familiar with K-Pop see it, they can jump to a lot of conclusions about the artist,” junior and LHS Ravens member Maia Bline said. “But in the past few years, people have been more open to a less strictly masculine style and have a more inclusive perception of others and their styles thanks to K-Pop.” Evidently, the difference in media treatment towards Harry Styles and other artists that have expressed androgynous fashion shows a repetitive and sickening double standard of some receiving praise for the same thing others get ridiculed for. Only when celebrities of color garner the same recognition of their work in combating gender norms can the male fashion industry move forward in Bad Bunny a meaningful has secured way. his position as an influential Puerto Rican producer and rapper through both his fashion and music. His “Yo Perreo Sola” music video was no different. “Because white men are overrepresented in media, people overlook other artists who did it first, such as Prince or Billy Porter.” Suanna Zhong, Senior Together, Stray Kids has constantly been seen as a group that has redefined K-Pop with both their music and visuals, but AustralianKorean member Felix takes it a step further GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY TIMOTHY KIM with their Noeasy era Cawaii photoshoot.

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Why does appearance matter in the workplace?

BY JASMINE RIHAL

In the majority of professional environments, there has been an everlasting negative prejudice against those with tattoos, brightly dyed hair and afros. But a person’s appearance should not matter in the workplace as only their skills truly matter.

The negative connotation of tattoos has led it to become one form of appearance-based discrimination. Despite younger generations becoming more open and accepting of the concept, the negative connotation of tattoos has led it to become one form of appearancebased discrimination.

However, unlike the negative stereotype of tattoos, they actually represent one’s artistic and sensitive side — some get a tattoo of an important individual’s name or an important symbol.

“If your tattoo is a tattoo of your kids’ names then that’s a whole different type of tattoo,” Spanish teacher Michael Esquivel said. “You can’t paint with a broad brush and describe people with tattoos with just the same adjectives, as they are all different and unique.”

People who have brightly-colored hair have also experienced discrimination in the workplace, they are percieved as immature and unprofessional. Some people have strict notions about what makes up a professional appearance.

“I’m disappointed that people are discriminated against but not surprised.” chemistry teacher Jessica Lu said. “People are discriminated against in the workplace for having dyed hair, visible tattoos and more.”

Brightly colored hair shouldn’t be something that is judged upon, but rather a positive trait that makes a person stand out. Similar to tattoos, they represent a person’s own unique style.

“At the end of the day, it’s just hair, and it’s a way for me to express my creativity and have fun, and maybe for others to make a statement, ” junior Venus Dhanda said.

Hair color isn’t the only form of discrimination when it comes to hair in the workplace, there is also prejudice against those with afros. A common false assumption is that people who have afro hair are ghetto or unprofessional. This can date all the way back to the 19th century when black women were forced to cover their hair because it was seen as a threat towards white women.

“It’s a part of our culture and we should be proud of it;, it is nothing to be ashamed of,” Archbishop Mitty junior Kaitlyn Arzú said. “To me and probably to others, my hair is a way to express my confidence and artistic side.”

These different appearances shouldn’t be things that are looked down upon and cost people their chance to work in an environment where they are respected. Instead, they help express a person’s unique personality in a positive way and their artistic side.

Including students with disabilities

ELIZABETH CHENG—THE EPIC

Almost all bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Ableism is defined as “discrimination in favor of able-bodied people.” Personal and systemic ableism is frequently witnessed throughout most high schools, including Lynbrook, and needs to be addressed by raising awareness to improve school climate. The Lynbrook community should work to create an inclusive environment for students with disabilities and be more conscious of possible ableist actions in their daily actions and words.

The formal definition of a disability is a “a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.” Disabilities can be categorized into eight sub categories, including mobility or physical disabilities, spinal cord disabilities, head injuries, vision disabilities, hearing disabilities, cognitive/learning disabilities, psychological disorders and invisible disabilities.

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, later changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 1990, was enacted by Congress in 1975 and protects the rights of people with disabilities to receive an education. Disabilities affect 14.4% of all students, and in the 2018-19 school year, 7.5 million children with disabilities in the U.S. received education tailored to their individual needs.

Lynbrook has done its part in including students with disabilities through programs like Viking Buddies, designed to create a comfortable environment for all individuals.

“Inclusion and integration of students of all abilities is mutually beneficial,” junior and Viking Buddies President Lucy Barnes said. “It not only creates these valuable peer relationships with people with disabilities, but it also helps to foster empathy. I think Ilooked in awe at my mother getting dressed for a party in traditional Indian clothes, jewelry and makeup. It was expected of me to dress similarly, but I couldn’t help feeling that it simply wasn’t me. My dad and brother were both wearing jeans and a shirt, a style with which I was much more comfortable. I asked my mother if I could wear fancy pants and a shirt instead of a dress. She looked at me and said the phrase that I will hear for the rest of my life: “What will people think?” When I was younger, I didn’t pay attention to the rhetorical question and continued to follow my parents’ advice. But, as I grew older and started to hear it more, I realized that the question perpetuates the idea that reputation matters most and people must think highly of you so you can succeed in life. I’ve been taught to put other people’s opinions over my own feelings. When my family attended an event, I was forced to hide my true emotions behind a facade of happiness. I was told that I needed to smile at all times to look approachable. I was told I wouldn’t be likable if I didn’t always show them the best version of myself. So, I promptly changed my habits. I altered my personality to fit others and my interests to those of the person I was conversing with as a way to become relatable. With my friends, I talk loudly and make unfunny jokes, but with my relatives, I’m quiet and reserved. I’ve developed different identities and it’s hard to juggle these characters while trying to find my true personality. But years of hiding my true feelings from my friends and family in order to be a likable person have led to an inability to process my feelings in front of other people and talk freely. I was so absorbed in trying to please everyone and being likable that I lost who I truly am. I still have a long way to reach that point in my life where I can discard what other people think, but I’m slowly changing my attitude. I’ve started to chip away at the wall I’ve built around myself and realized that I can talk about my feelings to some people without judgment. Although rebuilding myself into a new person might not be achievable, I’m one step closer to being my true self rather than being someone who lives for the validation of others.

Staff Editorial The Voice of the Epic

psychological disorders. Jokes involving the r-word or light-hearted references to anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD and other disorders can be extremely harmful toward individuals with these disabilities. In addition, teachers and administration should place an emphasis on shutting for a lot of the students without disabilities, down this behavior by educating students it’s really important to learn to understand about empathy and how to interact with that those around you may perceive things students with special needs through differently than you do.” platforms like Advisory. Modules presented

The school also has programs such as the during the advisory period are an effective Academic Community Transition program way to educate a large number of students that help high school students with moderate at once. to severe learning and behavioral disabilities Viking Buddies aims to provide transition into the community by teaching institutionalized opportunities for general them life and vocational skills. In addition, education students to be able to make Voyager students are students with mild to friends with students with special needs. moderate disabilities who are on a diploma Barnes believes that the most important step track in which they earn their high school toward inclusion is eliminating separation diploma during by providing the graduation opportunities ceremony in their for interactions senior year. between differently

Students abled students. and staff should “I like the [Viking continue to be Buddies] dances,” respectful and ACT student inclusive toward Russel Cheung individuals with said. “They’re fun disabilities. They because there’s should allow food and friends.” greater flexibility ASB should to students with also maintain disabilities to ELIZABETH CHENG—THE EPIC communication accommodate New buildings like the GSS are wheelchair-accessible. with the Special them and create a Education more accepting environment. Students with Department in order to extend invitations disabilities should not be treated as helpless, for school-wide events to all students. For but rather differently-abled and just as example, ASB could reach out to ACT students capable of achieving success. One area where by sending Legislative Representatives general education high school students often to classrooms. Certain barriers, such as fall short in interactions with students with transportation to events, can limit these special needs is by using a cold or mocking opportunities, but through collaborations of tone when referring to their differently abled ASB and the Special Education Department, peers. Lynbrook should be able to plan accessible

“I see the way people treat these students, events for ACT students, or use its platform and you can see the tone difference,” Barnes to promote inclusion programs. Rather than said. “There are so many different types relying on Viking Buddies to hold events for of strengths, and I feel like people don’t ACT students, ASB should work to include appreciate that enough. It comes down to them into pre-existing school-wide activities. being kind and having integrity.” Individual students can also take it upon

Students must consciously work to not themselves to reach out to ACT students, normalize jokes about mental disabilities and either as part of initiatives such as Viking Buddies or on their own time. “We’re sort of in our own little space here,” ACT teacher Dave Herz said. “We don’t really get that much interaction with General Education students, but even just a ‘Hello’ or ‘Have a great day’ would be really useful for these students and it would be a great first step. The more people that interact with students with READ THE REST OF THE disabilities the STORY HERE more comfortable they become.”

ELIZABETH CHENG—THE EPIC

Entrances to the quad includes both stairs and and a wheelchair-acessible ramp.

*the Epic staff voted 36-0 in favor of this stance.

BY NEHA AYYER// IN MY OPINION

“What will people say?”

BY MYLES KIM // IN MY OPINION

The art of creating problems by running away

The incessant noise that fills my head with doubts and carries my pessimistic attitude is briefly lost in the wind as I ride out my fantasies as an outlaw in Red Dead Redemption 2, or lose myself in the philosophy of consciousness in Westworld. People often have different reasons to consume media: some find it as a distraction or merely seek entertainment, while others ponder about the messages behind their favorite video games or books — I do it for all of the above, but mainly to escape the dull routine of my daily life.

When I was younger my father bought my first video game console, the Xbox 360. Back then, I never thought about the nuances of my experiences: life, death, climate change or the next presidential election. I was just a kid who liked playing video games. The problems I concerned myself with consisted of which meal to choose at lunch that day. I guess it just comes with growing older, the scaling of your problems and walking up those endless flights of stairs.

As I grew older, the hopeful optimism I once held for my future and the world shattered like glass. The refusal of nations to work toward the common good has created a generation characterized by traits of powerlessness, uncertainty and pessimism. After all, what is the point of going through more than a decade of schooling, if it amounts to nothing? Why should I not just sit in my room, close the blinds and pick up that controller?

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it pushed me away from human interaction and left me feeling isolated and alone. The lack of regard for human life amplified feelings of powerlessness and the desire to ignore it all. Multiplayer games became unappealing, and my focus shifted toward singleplayer games that allow me to become the protagonist and dissolve my feelings under new characters and stories.

As I am writing this, living through the most affluent period of human history, what makes our reality upsetting is that despite all this “progress”, we cannot seem to get our act together. Why fret any further, when I can stuff my head full of fictional worlds more appealing than our own?

That incessant noise that I often find myself burying under fictional stories, is not going anywhere — no matter how many hours I sink into my favorite games. Eventually, that noise will become too deafening to ignore.

There is no point in arguing that future generations will not feel the same way as I do to a greater degree. There is no point in arguing that future generations will inherit a world ravaged by our mismanagement. But, if life really has no meaning, then I should try to enjoy the time I have left. The world is still on fire, but at least there is one guy having fun.

Will this column about my worldview and pessimistic attitude change anything? Perhaps it will, but what do I know — I am just a kid who likes playing video games.

Snapchat: Friendships or competition?

BY SUSANNA TANG

Approximately 319 million users every day tap on the iconic white ghost centered within a yellow box to reply to a friend’s “snap” — a picture or short video. Snapchat’s mission is to “empower people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world and have fun together.” However, with the addition of streak counts and Snap Map, an interactive map that allows users to share their locations with friends, Snapchat’s optimistic mission is masked with users’ compulsive desires to maintain streaks and to illustrate a perfect life.

After two consecutive days of back-andforth snaps between two users, a number indicating a streak count appears next to each user’s name. The addictive nature of Snapchat’s streaks comes from natural desires for dopamine rewards by continuing markers. The higher the number is, the more disappointment a broken streak would cause, often putting pressure on both sides of a friendship to add on to the streak to avoid taking the blame of the loss.

“When my parents took my phone, I deleted all of my apps, so I lost my highest streak of around 1,000,” freshman Rayyan Ghafoor said. “I felt horrible because I had just lost all of my hard work.” R A T I ON BY EMMA CONSTABLE Snapchat allows users to communicate with each other through short disappearing C GRAPHI I LLU S T snaps, creating a welcoming environment for those who feel anxious communicating with peers in person. Many even utilize Snapchat’s short-lived features to start small conversations with someone.

Oftentimes, however, communication through snaps consists of meaningless to no conversations; many chats are chains of idle photos of ceilings, grounds or half of a face. To many teens, the continuous sending of snaps between two friends proves commitment to a friendship, and leaving a friend on “opened” or “delivered” can show disinterest. This type of communication can lead to a false sense of friendship that revolves around the momentary attention of another.

“Many people just mindlessly send streaks on Snapchat,” Ghafoor said. “You could be doing much more productive things in your life than sending streaks.”

GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION BY MYLES KIM

Another one of Snapchat’s most enjoyed features is its filters. Although they are used for humorous intentions, some of the most popular Snapchat filters distort one’s face by altering the facial features or skin tones, which may suggest unrealistic beauty ideals and act as a temporary cure for facial dysmorphia, only to accentuate the condition when the filters are gone. Seeing a digitally modified version of oneself every day can be detrimental to mental health and can deter one from being content with their real appearances. “Beauty filters make us compare ourselves to something that is not real,” school-based therapist Jenna Starnes said. “And our minds are bad at determining what’s real and not. As you’re seeing someone’s picture, you see someone who looks beautiful and you think to yourself, ‘I don’t look like that.’ But we don’t think, ‘this person doesn’t actually look like that’ either.”

Snap Map allows users to see their friends’ locations and the time they were last active. The Bitmojis, or personalized avatars, of friends who have enabled the sharing of their location appear on their current location on the map. Many parents and teens have expressed concerns about Snap Map’s invasion of privacy, as it allows users to see the whereabouts of their friends down to the street name and exact layout of the building, encouraging predators to stalk their victims.

“Snap Map also feeds into feelings of missing out,” Starnes said. “The worst case scenario is that you find your group of friends together without you. This could lead to the thoughts, ‘Am I missing out? Am I being excluded?’”

Many teens acknowledge the harm that Snapchat’s competitive culture can cause, yet they cannot seem to terminate the addiction. A few steps one can take toward overcoming the addiction is to turn off all notifications and to remove the app from one’s homescreen. Although the best thing to do is delete the app, the toughest step is getting past the initial withdrawal, so Starnes suggests users to distract themselves and to pay attention to the positive things that they are experiencing away from Snapchat.

Driving into a new world of independence

BY SRUTHI MEDEPALLI

As Lynbrook students hurry to class, they’re greeted by a procession of student drivers rushing to get the best parking spots. As the final class bell rings, a similar herd of students run to their cars to beat after-school traffic, head home and commute to extracurricular activities. Driving is a significant symbol of independence for teenagers, allowing them the freedom to independently travel long distances. However, concerns regarding the price of insurance, time investment required for driving lessons and general purpose of driving in high school often arise among the school community. Lynbrook students have expressed varying opinions on the purpose of driving in high school and whether it’s necessary.

SRUTHI MEDEPALLI — EPIC “Honestly, driving is slightly scary. The first part of driver’s ed was all statistics on how many people die in car-related accidents each year, and it made me worry about how all it would take is one small mistake for me to crash — or for another driver to crash into me — and injure or kill someone. I don’t really enjoy driving, but I like that it gives me freedom to go places.”

— Ava Tse, Sophomore

SRUTHI MEDEPALLI — EPIC “My motivation to drive in high school was to be able to drive anywhere without my parents. If I wanted to go somewhere far, I wouldn’t need to ask them to drive me there, especially since they would drop me off and pick me up hours later. But practicing with my parents was stressful. Taking any turn was complemented with criticism because it would either be too fast or too slow.”

— Anirudh Nandakumar, Junior

SRUTHI MEDEPALLI — EPIC “Even though my initial motivation to drive was gaining independence, I didn’t quite get that. For small things, my parents will occasionally let me drive, but in general, I do not drive even though I have my license. My parents are wary of if the benefits of driving outweigh the risks for a high schooler. Though it sucks, it is an understandable concern that is an overlooked reality of giving a teenager the ability to drive.”

— Avni Mangla, Junior