STAFF OBSESSIONS

Simona Presutto, Thoughts Editor

We may be 50-some-odd years past the actual Age of Aquarius, but the Hart House Theatre 2019 production of Hair has had me obsessively listening to the Broadway cast album, and it slaps immensely. Hair is a high recommend if you like flower power, anti-Vietnam activism, Broadway legend Melba Moore, psychedelic drugs, ensemble numbers, Diane Keaton, full-frontal nudity, or catchy lyricism. All of those things and more wind fantastically and illogically through themes of racial and gender equality, peace and love, environmentalism, and religious freedom. Admittedly, it is disorienting that these LSD-riddled hippies, who have been writhing naked all night, deliver Beowulf’s closing lines in Flesh Failures (Let the Sunlight In), the show’s finale.

Kendal Preston, Lead Copy Editor

Tactile crafts are my thing. I hyper fixate on knitting, crochet, felting, you name it—I’ve done it. By hyper fixate I mean that I literally cannot stop once I start. I enter a trance and will not stop until I finish or inevitably get bored. Crafts are addicting; they are my own personal form of cocaine. I’m so obsessed that I have found the absolute niche of youtube videos: Yarn Hauls. Middle-aged white women buying yarn, then showcasing it in a video, is absolutely incredible. Can’t even put it into words.

Gabbi Gard, Sights Editor

My current obsession: glamorous, delusional women. With the whole Lindsay Lohan Mykonos show, I’ve come to realize that there’s nothing better than extravagant yet fundamentally deluded ladies. This obsession extends to every Real Housewife and spin-off character.

Alex Whitwam, Writer

Ever since I discovered Isaac Asimov’s writing, I’ve been obsessed. I wasn’t much of a science fiction fan beforehand, but his relentless optimism and philosophical views on humanity resonated with me. Back home, I have multiple shelves dedicated to his books--mostly collections of short stories and his robot series. I own multiple copies of Caves of Steel just because I liked the variant covers. I’ve written thousands of words on Asimov’s work; whenever he’s brought up, I warn people not to get me started talking about him because I genuinely have difficulty stopping.

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Josiah Friesen, Writer/Editor

I was asked to write a short piece about something I’m obsessed with. My first and second initial thoughts were, respectively, “Oh I can do that, no problem”, and “Why did I agree to this I’m obsessed with literally nothing”. I’m not obsessed with anything. There are no movies I could watch forever, no songs I could listen to on repeat, and no foods I could never eat enough of. This gave rise to a newfound obsession for me: my lack of obsessions. I’m obsessed with how I’m not obsessed with anything. Am I a dispassionate person? Am I just astronomically indecisive? Do I have a crushingly bleak and cynical outlook on the passions of life that casts a black and white filter over all there is to behold on this wondrous and diverse planet? Find out on the next episode of Josiah’s Existential Crises.

Oliver Smith, Webmaster

If you peek into my closet, your eyes will be bombarded with a certain yellow print. Banana socks (two (2) pairs), banana button-down, banana dad hat, and banana shorts. But that’s just my closet; this all had to stem from somewhere, right? That, of course, is my love of the ideal fruit specimen, the banana. Whether you like them green or spotted, starchy or sweet (wrong or right), bananas give and never take. I eat two a day and show no signs of slowing down. They’re easy to transport, require no wash, fun to peel, aesthetically

pleasing, delicious, nutritious, and ubiquitous. The quintessential fruit.

Grey Spafford, Illustrator

Ask anyone; I am the friendly neighbourhood Old Man. I am obsessed with warm beverages, wool socks, and being as comfy as possible. I seemingly care more about my cat than... well, pretty much anything. Catch me at the thrift store looking at all the old man sweaters and sweater-vests; and then leaving with only one (or none) because that’s still too expensive. Are you troubled? Need a different perspective? I will bundle you up in one of my many blankets, start the kettle and get you a snack while I endeavour to give my best advice.

Eli Sagner, Sounds Editor

I would consider myself obsessed with many things, mainly: my dog Sophie, my dog’s alternate egos (“Brofie”, “Hoefie”, “Blowfie”, and “Snowfie”), other people’s dogs, miscellaneous dogs, visual stimulation, pretty lights, black clothing, Organ Tapes, Tianzhuo Chen & Asian Dope Boys, Eyedress, Gaspar Noé, Takashi Miike, Gomorrah, the picture of Cam’ron in all pink, Max B, things that smell good, Jun Takahashi, Matthew M Williams, Craig Green, Michèle Lamy, Satoshi Kon, Idaho J Doe AKA Snort Dog, Kane Grocerys, Rick Owens, frogs, rats, staying hydrated, and getting a good night’s rest.

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