22 minute read
LIFE
8November 13, 2020 LIFE RCC Theatre performs virtually Students read through ‘Kill Move Paradise’
ROLINDA ESPINOZA
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STAFF REPORTER
Theater students at Riverside City College are continuing to showcase their art form despite COVID-19, most recently telling an eye-opening tale about the realities of being Black in America.
RCC Theatre live streamed a performance of “Kill Move Paradise” on Nov. 6.
The play follows four young African American men whose lives have just ended.
The four characters, Isa, Griff, Daz and Tiny are confronted with the harsh reality that they died as a result of social injustice and discrimination.
To transfer to the afterlife, the group must come to terms with the experiences they faced in their past life.
Isa, the group leader, first meets soon-to-be father Griff. Shortly after, the duo becomes a trio when they meet Daz. To round out the group, Tiny, who is noticeably smaller and younger than the rest of the group, enters the picture.
Tiny is first amused by the idea of “America” until he realizes he had been shot while playing in the park with his friends.
His realization is a turning point in the play where the sweet and innocent boy becomes angry with the country that failed him.
KYIESHA CHAVEZ STAFF REPORTER
Roald Dahl’s 1983 children’s novel “The Witches” begins with the statements “this is not a fairy tale” and “witches are real.”
Following that is the frightening story of witches who are actually demons and share one thing in common: They all hate children.
The novel does a good job of acknowledging some of the darker parts of our childhood, portraying the characters in a brutally honest way.
People who don’t like children think they smell bad and strangers with candy have bad intentions.
The first film adaptation, released in 1990 and directed by Nicolas Roeg, brought that terrifying imagery to life with Anjelica Huston as the Grand High Witch. While it performed poorly in the box office, it has been a favorite for kids and adults for the past 30 years.
The 2020 adaptation was released at the perfect time on HBO Max, just a week before Halloween.
It starts with a monologue
“There are many things viewers of the show should take away,” Jessie Nganga, the actor who portrayed Tiny’s character, said. “The first being the fact that for multiple years on end, African Americans have been viewed by America as a form of entertainment, whether it is through athletes or throughout the film industry.”
The audience plays an interactive role throughout the play and represents “America.” They are made to observe and judge the four men.
“Viewers of this play should realize how horrible the perceptions of America have been toward the African American people and those of different cultures,” Nganga said.
The cast and crew faced a series of complications during production because of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying social restrictions. Live performance is not currently an option, so the show was adapted and presented as a read-through of the original play.
“COVID-19 has impacted many of us, both through big and small situations alike,” Nganga said. “The fact that I cannot be in-person to perform hands down one of the most powerful plays I’ve done so far hurts.”
Like many of us during the COVID-19 pandemic, the cast battled uncertain and inconsistent Wi-Fi connections.
The full show was recorded in one take despite the chance of technical difficulties. Even without these issues, there are other anticipated challenges that accompany live performances.
“I would say that the biggest issue was being at the mercy of Zoom and people’s internet connection,” said Ali Muhammad, who portrayed Isa.
The cast worked around these obstacles and the performance ran smoothly, allowing the performers to deliver an incredible show.
The actors of “Kill Move Paradise” want the audience to know that it’s okay to be uncomfortable and question authority.
“There is a line I have in the show where I say, ‘dead men don’t protest,’ and I want the audience to connect with the struggle of the characters and be inspired to do something,” Muhammad said.
RCC Theatre is offering two additional productions this month that touch on social justice on the RCC Theatre Facebook page. They will perform “A Mans world,” by Rachel Crothers, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. The show is set in the home of a New York artist based on writer Frank Ware. The play touches on double standards between men and women.
“Blood at the Root,” by Dominique Morisseau, is based on the Jena Six and will be performed
IMAGE COURTESY OF ALI MUHAMMAD
SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF RCC THEATRE Khari Butler, top left, plays Grif, Ali Muhammad, top right, plays Isa, RJ Marshall, bottom left, plays Daz, and Jesse Nganga, bottom right, plays Tiny on Nov. 6.
Dark novel changes directions in film New adaptation of ’90s movie takes more realistic approach
Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.
modeled after the book: the narrator speaking in a classroom full of children.
The first thing you realize about the narrator is the fact that he’s voiced by Chris Rock.
When I came to terms with that, it changed the tone of the movie. Hearing his voice was the first sign that director Robert Zemeckis decided to take this iconic film in a completely different direction.
It’s no longer the terrifying ’90s dark comedy movie that gave me nightmares as a kid, but much more colorful and with lighter intentions.
Another key difference is the updated cast. While the original film had a predominantly White cast, this new adaptation was a bit more diverse.
The main cast includes Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch, Octavia Spencer as Grandma, Stanley Tucci as hotel manager Mr. Stringer and Jahzir Kadeem Bruno as Hero Boy.
We also come to find out that the narrator is the voice of Hero Boy as an elder.
This cast difference is also noticeable in that the ’90s version
was set in Norway, while this new version takes place in Alabama during the late ’60s.
Moving the story from Europe to America changes the dynamic and makes it more relatable for an American audience. This is similar to the movie adaptation of another Dahl novel, “Matilda.”
The last difference is that Roeg deviated the ’90s film ending from Dahl’s original novel — turning the mouse boy back into a human. Zemeckis decided to keep the original ending, with Hero Boy remaining a mouse for the rest of his life.
Even with all the changes to fit Zemeckis’ directing style, I found the film to be quite enjoyable to watch with the family.
Though I do prefer the sheer nightmare-inducing horror in Roeg’s film simply due to the old CGI technology, Zemeckis’ new version appeals to the younger generation with a more realistic approach.
Instead of the witches peeling off a mask to reveal a scary face, they look just like any normal adult but twisted into something we can’t trust. What’s scarier than that?
Life Five fall movies to watch with the family
JUSTIN YOTH
ASSISTANT LIFE EDITOR
Nothing to watch on Netflix or any other platform?
Well, as we approach winter, there are some phenomenal family-friendly movies that provide us with the ambient, nostalgic taste of the seasons of autumn and winter.
At least one of these movies on this list brings us back in time to a moment of ease. I am sure that watching some of these can take our minds off the devastating events we have witnessed this year.
“Ghostbusters” (1984)
“Ghostbusters”engages the audience with supernatural effects and a team that strives to catch ghouls with vacuum-like tools.
Along with catching the ghosts, having special tools and being an odd bunch, it is a cheesy, spooky movie to watch at night during the cooler months.
Filmed in the ’80s, it has a nostalgic feel to it, leaving viewers amused and engaged. The stage effects used in creating the movie series were phenomenal.
The theme song rings bells of popular culture and brings back childhood memories: “Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters.”
The movie’s fan base feels a strong attachment to the identity and preservation of the valued film, as with all others which are fundamentally based on an intriguing story outline.
So don’t forget to get your Ghost Proton Robo-Buster Pack and relax with all the free spirits trekking within your homes.
“Coraline” (2009)
Coraline, a young girl, moves into a mysterious mansion, encountering all the vintage styles and a mysterious “little door” that holds the basis of how the story will develop.
Within the little door comes a mirroring world with excitement and wonders for any children — and there lurks a calculating witch.
The majority of the movie revolves around this and a familybased predicament Coraline has due to her parents’ neglect and uneasiness.
This movie is perfect for family bonding and gives off
November 13, 2020 9 British metal band drops EP New Bring Me the Horizon tape sounds like soundtrack to 2020
ALYSSA ALDRETE
STAFF REPORTER
About 14 years ago, British metal band Bring Me The Horizon burst onto the alternative rock scene with a MySpace-era metalcore style and were met with a lot of sneers from anyone not in their target audience.
Their lyrics were vulgar, their thrash metal sound was hard for mainstream magazines to praise, and yet the emo teens of 2006 ate up their look and sound and were eager for more.
Now on their seventh studio release since the MySpace days, BMTH have surely made a name for themselves in the alt-rock world.
Truth be told, staying relevant in 2020 has been a difficult feat for those bands that were birthed alongside a once-thriving, now all but dead social site. But as a longtime fan and critic of the music in this genre, one band that has noticeably stayed in the limelight with every release is BMTH.
If one thing can be credited for their relevance, it’s their ability to apply what they have learned.
Their sound has fluctuated from straight up metalcore, to synth-infused post-hardcore, to a rock-opera-esque emo, to trance metal. As they continue on this path of change, the avid listener would assume they have been gearing toward a “mainstream” radio-friendly sound in 2020.
But if their newest release comes with any sort of subhead, it would be: made you look.
Released Oct. 30, “Post Human: Survival Horror,” is a nine-track EP that may as well
ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN NAVARRO | VIEWPOINTS BMTH’s “Post Human: Survival Horror,” released Oct. 30, is a nine-track EP. be the soundtrack to this socially apocalyptic year.
The intro track “Dear Diary” instantly makes the longtime BMTH fan smile, as the first 30 seconds ensure that they have no intention of going “soft” anytime soon. Taking it back to their sophomore album’s hard and fast style, frontman Oliver Sykes intensifies the track with vocals that sound like he’s a horror character trying to sing as he runs for his life, before the song rips into the gritty, trance-metal mix listeners have come to love.
From here, the album rides a wave of songs that take us on an intense hard-rock roller coaster through the hells of the year. If any song is a clear coronavirus anthem, it’s the second track entitled “Parasite Eve.” The lyrics describe every
possible anxiety our population has had during this time, be it the virus itself, or the consequences coming from those who refuse to fear it. The chorus is bound to get stuck in your head as it embeds a real-life important question in its hook: “When we forget the infection / will we remember the lesson?”
This was the album’s second single, following “Ludens,” which was ironically written for post-apocalyptic video game “Death Stranding” in 2019. Sykes told NME that the bulk of the rest of the record was written at the beginning of quarantine season this year, making “Ludens” an eerie prelude to a fantastic tale of times to come.
BMTH also brings some friends along to tell this tale. If “Survival Horror” is the film “Ready Player One,” then each feature track you hop into is like a different fight being fought against our apocalyptic enemies. Think “Resident Evil” meets a metal show.
British hip-hop and punk artist Yungblud lends a verse on the resistance anthem “Obey,” kawaii-metal sensations BABYMETAL collaborate on “Kingslayer,” an instance of Japanese video-game style music made heavier, and British duo Nova Twins bring the rap-metal track “1x1” to life with their unique rapping style.
Finally, the record closes out with the solemn ballad, “One Day the Only Butterflies Left Will be in Your Chest as You March Towards Your Death.” The lengthy-titled closing track is the breather you need after the bulk of this album, as the voice of Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee brings a welcome change of pace. Her haunting voice invites Sykes to show his softer side, as the two harmonize what Sykes described to NME as “mother nature and mankind” crying out to each other after one destroys the other.
As the album closes with a hellish uproar being silenced by one final piano key, the audience is left with another incredible release from this genre-bending band.
In theory, the mixing of so many different styles in just nine short tracks would not work for most bands — but most bands aren’t Bring Me the Horizon. Their understanding of what they want to bring as a band is so precise, that they are on the verge of creating a genre we may not even be able to name yet, all on their own.
10 November 13, 2020 Life Nothing knows how to soothe the soul ‘The Great Dismal’ is a therapeutic rhythmic escape for listeners
STEPHANIE ARENAS
STAFF REPORTER
This year has been dismal for many people across the country.
Many have gotten sick, others have lost jobs, and many feel isolated due to quarantine.
Times are tough for everyone, but some have still found ways to cope.
Fans of the Philadelphia rock band Nothing are enjoying the little things in life with the new album “The Great Dismal.”
The group was formed in 2010 and consists of lead singer and guitarist Dominic Palermo, guitarist and backup vocalist Doyle Martin, bassist Aaron Heard and drummer Kyle Kimball.
“The Great Dismal,” which is their fourth album, was released Oct. 30 and has garnered plenty of well-deserved attention from music fans in the scene.
Before you listen to this album, be sure to prepare a hot cup of tea. The tunes are warm and envelop the listener in a mental blanket on a cold winter night.
The album invites its listeners to join them on a journey to the great unknown. Their lyrics inspire existential explorations of the mind and relax the body over the 45-minute album.
BOOK REVIEW
LIV DROBNY STAFF REPORTER
“Institutional racism” emerged in the American vocabulary during summer 2020 following the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and an unknown number of other victims of police brutality.
According to the New York Times’ 1619 Project, Black Americans have experienced the effects of institutional racism for over 400 years.
Walter Rodney’s “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” written in 1972, puts the American legacy of racism in historical context and reveals how racism is a cornerstone of European and American success. It is the reason why Europe and the United States continue to be the most prosperous regions of the world today.
Rodney offers an excellent overview of the roots of institutional racism in Europe and America. It is a necessary lesson for any person working for equality.
Rodney begins by discussing the relationship between the individual, community and state. He gives an overview of the history of emerging global economies and what constitutes a developed nation. With a focus on Africa and the Americas, Rodney highlights the development and wealth disparities between Europe and these exploited colonized territories.
A picture of a rich and advanced pre-colonial Africa emerges. Rodney describes the prominent and flourishing societies of Egypt, Ethiopia, Nubia, the Mahgreb, Western Sudan, and the East Interlacustrine Zone. It is clear that precolonial Africa was not simply a collection of unorganized tribes, but a landscape spangled with culturally advanced, militaristic societies.
In the 1400s, European ships landed in Africa and immediately began to establish African markets as an arm of a cooperative European capitalist market. High quality African artifacts and textiles were hugely popular among consumers in Europe. Meanwhile, European goods sent to Africa were of poor quality despite high trade costs to Africans.
Slaves quickly became the most lucrative trade coming from Africa. Coastal African societies were inundated with slavers despite strong resistance. Europeans — especially the Portuguese — first put economic and then violent pressure on African leadership who had little choice but to concede.
Rodney identifies the role of racist propaganda as the breath of life for the slave trade. The racial superiority complex of White Europeans and European colonizers in the Americas permitted racism, violence and brutalization of Africans in Africa and the diaspora.
This is where the United States doubled down on racist rhetoric to secure its economic interests. Despite the participation of enslaved and free Black Americans in the Revolutionary War, the constitution that followed American liberation authorized the continuation of slavery. The prevailing narrative in our elementary and high schools says that the Revolutionary War was based on the unfair practice of taxation without representation. The American colonies had no interest in forking over the gargantuan profits created by slave labor.
By the time the Civil War broke out, Americans had realized that the economy was changing and plantation slavery was no longer a viable model for industrial development. In abolishing slavery, the goal of the North was not a virtuous push for social justice, but to advance the capitalist interests of the country. Morality was beside the point. Before and after the Civil War, Black Americans suffered, and continue to suffer, racism in the North and South.
This legacy of discrimination continues today.
Rodney’s explanation of this history is comprehensive. His writing is sophisticated and can sometimes be difficult to understand. It requires analysis to fully appreciate. A more advanced reader might appreciate Rodney’s work, whereas an intermediate or novice reader might struggle.
Walter Rodney was a Guyanese historian, scholar and social activist who helped found the Working Peoples’ Alliance, a democratic socialist political
ILLUSTRATION BY JULIAN NAVARRO | VIEWPOINTS Nothing, formed in 2010, is a rock band from Philadelphia. “The Great Dismal” is their newly released album.
A personal favorite of mine is the song “Catch a Fade.” With references to the current state of the world, this song gives listeners hope that there will eventually be a better future for society.
“Tired / I was tired / It’s a marvel that my shell has / Kept its shape,” the lyrics read.
You may feel alone without the comfort of your friends and family around in these socially distant times. The soothing sounds of songs on “The Great Dismal,” help listeners remember that they are not alone in this world.
These are hard times for everyone and it is important to understand that we must stick together and get through it.
Music can be therapeutic and help improve the quality of mental health. It gives us the comfort we need and inspiration to appreciate what often goes unappreciated.
“The past year has been difficult, and it’s an unexpected difficulty,” Palermo said in an interview with Revolver on Sept. 26. “It’s a strange world to navigate right now, especially being a bit cynical like I am. I can find the humor in all of it, but it’s kind of hard to do in that aspect.”
“The Great Dismal” is extraordinarily produced and manages to sound simultaneously
Walter Rodney explains historical foundation of institutional racism
heavy and graceful. party that exists today. He studied in London and went on to teach at universities in Tanzania and Jamaica. He collaborated with Black leaders in the United States and was given an appointment to teach history at the University of Guyana, but was deemed a threat and his offer was rescinded.
In 1979, Rodney was framed for arson and one year later he was assassinated with a bomb. Although “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” is Rodney’s most notable work, before his death, he published extensive historical and economic literature on Africa and the African diaspora.
“If ‘underdevelopment’ were related to anything other than comparing economies, then the most underdeveloped country in the world would be the U.S.A., which practices external oppression on a massive scale, while internally there is a blend of exploitation, brutality, and psychiatric disorder.” –Walter Rodney
Life November 13, 2020 11 Area church hosts food drive as COVID-19 continues
KEYSHONNA SIMMONS
STAFF REPORTER
As COVID-19 continues to ravage communities, local churches have stepped up and are providing aid to those in need.
The Way World Outreach, a church in San Bernardino, has been conducting food drives at its downtown location Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m.
“During this (COVID-19) season, we’ve delivered over 10,000 bags of groceries and have given out 800 hot meals,” said Melissa Munoz, the church’s food distribution director.
The giveaway of hot meals are distributed outdoors using a grab-and-go method in order to remain aligned with COVID-19 safety.
Prior to COVID-19, the distribution of hot meals was conducted indoors. People from all over the Inland Empire would gather inside the facility for food and prayer.
“The Way World Outreach helps those who cannot make it to the church,” Annette Valdez, director of the church’s women’s home, said. “We go to the homes of seniors and at-risk people to give them food and groceries.”
The church’s success in finding the resources necessary to serve its community is an example of God’s work, Valdez said.
Through word of mouth, the church is able to help homeless people in the area.
“Some people come (in) incoherent and they come on a regular basis,” Valdez said. “(They) now have a relationship with people in the church and MOVIES from page 9 a seasonal vibe that we all can enjoy at any time.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993)
Leading up to the festive season, this Disney classic is undoubtedly something for the family to enjoy.
Many of us remember the famous chorus: “This is Halloween / This is Halloween.”
Funny, yet engaging, the animation styles in this film are otherworldly and add to the Halloween spooky effect.
Filmmaker Tim Burton produces and voice-acts in many of these types of movies, which have made him a giant in the industry. His animating and voice-acting style adds to these fall animated films.
The animation styles display a stark difference between this movie and other Disney films, such as the princess classics, “The Lion King” and so on. I believe this is what makes it feel extraordinarily intriguing.
People wait in line at the Arrowhead Campus of The Way World Outreach ministry for the food pantry in San Bernardino on Nov. 6. The organization distributes food to the community every Wednesday and Friday at 11:30 a.m. at its Arrowhead Avenue location.
some now have homes and live a successful life.”
Briana Shelton, 28, a Hemet resident, also provides food and prayer to those in need within her community.
Shelton is continuing the work her aunt started in 2000 by giving out food and praying for those less fortunate in the Hemet area.
Kyle, a young man who was homeless and on drugs encountered Shelton one day. Shelton fed Kyle, prayed for him and shortly after Kyle reached out to thank her.
“Twitches” (2005)
Witches and magic? Sounds like the perfect recipe for a fall movie.
This film stars Tia and Tamera Mowry, features cool magical effects and displays a splash of
According to Shelton, Kyle eventually checked into a rehabilitation center and turned to religion.
The churches and the people taking action to help feed their communities are making a big impact throughout the Inland Empire.
Donations can be made to The Way World Outreach, located at 4680 Hallmark Pkwy in San Bernardino. Online donations can be made at thewayworldoutreach. org.
To find your nearest pantry
PHOTOS BY JOYCE NUGENT | VIEWPOINTS
Volunteers help people select and pack groceries for an easy trip home at the Arrowhead campus of The Way World Outreach in San Bernardino on Nov. 6.
Halloween movie season doesn’t have to end in October
visit www.foodpantries.org. diversity in the world of films. The characters go through an initial encounter at a store. From there, they take on some ways of trying to really understand each other.
Their birth was of powerful parents whom they had to separate from due to an encroaching “darkness” consuming their allpowerful dimension.
With the use of special effects, it combines the world of magic, wizardry and just two young girls: twins who accidentally find their true purpose.
It is a perfect movie to sit back, relax and eat popcorn to while not having to remain entirely focused.
HELGI HALLDORSSON | WIKIMEDIA “The Nightmare Before Christmas “ is a classic Disney movie and was released in 1993.
“The Craft” (1996)
Yes, another witch movie. It’s never too late to explore witchcraft and character development — even if it is November.
An unparalleled group made of four women with a crave for revenge, magic and power, this crew is the most formidable and should perhaps be the most feared.
While still in high school, feelings stir and become a developing issue throughout this film. There are no spoilers here so watch the film to find out more.
The defiance of cultural norms is what makes this movie so interesting and adrenalineinducing for some.
All of these five movies have a thought-provoking effect, especially after watching them multiple times. With their coming-of-age narratives and overall cultural experience, there is no doubt that you will like at least one of these films.
