1 2020 VIM SPRING
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FASHION 9 MIRROR, MIRROR 12 IT’S A MOD, MOD WORLD 15 PATTERN WARS 18 DIGITAL FOOTPRINT 22 ROARING REVIVAL 26 STRETCH THE UNIFORM AESTHETIC 29 COOL, CALM, COLLECTED 32 NEW ROMANTICS 36 SUN PROTECTION FACTOR (SPF) HEALTH & BEAUTY 39 FINDING THE COURAGE TO KNOW YOU’RE RARE 42 FOUNDATIONAL THERAPY 44 GREEN REVOLUTION 48 MUSIC MOOD 50 SIRENS CALLING 53 TEXTILE WASTE AWARENESS 57 NO STRINGS ATTACHED LIFESTYLE 61 MORBID OBSESSION 64 PINK TAX 66 “I DO NOT”
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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Mattie Milne & Wolfgang Ruth ASSISTANT TO THE EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Eve Voci ART DIRECTOR Kelly Phalen ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Lauren Johnson EDITING DIRECTORS Caroline Johnson & Sophie Schmidt CREATIVE DIRECTOR Molly Harmon ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR Maria Vitale WOMEN’S FASHION DIRECTORS Mackenzie McDonell & Meghan Provenzano MEN’S FASHION DIRECTORS Dwayne LaGrone & Christian Ostrowski LIFESTYLE DIRECTORS Abby Jaroszewicz & Monique Ross ASSISTANT LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR Karina Lloyd HEALTH & BEAUTY DIRECTORS Steffany Kim & Olivia Russell ASSISTANT HEALTH & BEAUTY DIRECTOR Violet Wesenberg CREATIVE BEAUTY DIRECTORS Michaella Andersen & Olivia Simone EVENTS DIRECTOR Katie Telder ASSISTANT EVENTS DIRECTOR Hallie Tsui MARKETING DIRECTORS Courtney Monge & Alaina Warburton PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Aubrey Haase ASSISTANT PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR Brianna Olszewski SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS Mady Emerson & Madeline Strintz ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Bella Jacks & Emma Rafferty PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS Nicole Ma & Maria Leolani ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS Lauren Snyder, Emma Dowd & Jillian Felton DIGITAL BLOG DIRECTORS Evana Caruso & Heather Haely ASSISTANT DIGITAL BLOG DIRECTOR Meg Lloyd DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR Madison Stoy FINANCE DIRECTOR Nina Kirchner ASSISTANT FINANCE DIRECTOR Maisie Kern CASTING DIRECTORS Abigail Rothe & Caroline Semler ASSISTANT CASTING DIRECTOR Brianna Elizalde & Tori Tullio FASHION RELATIONS DIRECTORS Alaina Agnello & Katty Genson FILM DIRECTOR Sara Seryani ASSISTANT FILM DIRECTORS Moises Garcia & Malia Athanasiou GRAPHIC DESIGN DIRECTORS Mary Beth Flores & Hope Ann Flores DIRECTORS OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Cat Dang & Shaun Hayes UX DIRECTORS Carly Komar & Catherine Davis ART TEAM Gabrielle McKeever, Molly Killingbeck, Nolan Wall & Corrah Vanwingen EDITING TEAM Lucas Polack, Bianca Bucholtz, Alec Parr & Emily Hobrla WOMEN’S FASHION BLOGGERS Kathryn Chambers, Noel Thomas, Meave Wilson, Abby Scroggie & Kit Harmer WOMEN’S FASHION STYLISTS Kathryn Remy & Hannah Pace WOMEN’S FASHION WRITERS Claire Balderson, Nicole Glynn, Kayla Effner & Jessica VanDerMaas MEN’S FASHION STYLISTS Fernando Jarquin, Baraka Macharia, Matthew Gulielmi & Marley Jenks MEN’S FASHION WRITERS Madison Walsh, Jordan Kilgren & Lucy VanRegenmorter
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CREATIVE BEAUTY TEAM Megan Hemstreet, Sam Holley, Olivia Makela, Mackenzie Stoy & Ovya Venkat EVENTS TEAM Julia Chenault, Danielle Doherty & Peri Applefield HEALTH & BEAUTY TEAM Alisha Ungkuldee, Maxine Osorio, Caroline Burns, Chloe West, Paige Bimberg, Natahlia Grinenko & Navya Kalia LIFESTYLE TEAM Audri Carmona, Isabel Foster, Celine Kerik, Claire Ryan, Hunter Gadwell, Brianna Lane, Amarra Lyons & Emily Tottis SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM Genna Bellestri, Jillian Jaeger, Lauren Veldboom, McKenna Cameron & Mira Heaney MARKETING TEAM Olivia O’Connell, Olivia Moliassa, Alexia Saucedo, Isabella Adelson, Stephanie Kline, Sarah Oesterling, Justin Zhang, Alexa Reder, Maddy Grainger & Gabrielle Morello PUBLIC RELATIONS TEAM Tessa Jazwinski, Kaleigh Jacobs, Sarah Peltz, Erin O’Brien, Ri’An Jackson, Rachael Nemic, Bryn Feeley, Jillie Gretzinger & Haley Robins CASTING TEAM Ashley Ayers, Zainab Fayyaz & Daniela Dorais ADVERTISING TEAM Julia Schwartz, Maddie Vanvliet, Shelby Zeigler, Rachel White, Avery Graf & Belle Zelazny PRINT PHOTOGRAPHERS Alec Plymale, Jenna Diclemente, Sage VanAlstine & Julia Lobello ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHERS Sylvia Jarrus, Hannah Sherman & Celia Lochkos GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM Lexi Ciagne & Courtney Cibor DIGITAL BLOG TEAM Elena Bulthuis, Kayla Donaldson, Kayla Norris & Sarah Rabaut DIGITAL TEAM Mateo Cervantes & Emily Markham FINANCE TEAM Olivia Phaneuf FILM TEAM Leah Croghan, Brett Moore, Tommy Ruth, Sarah Zube, Sterling Goddard, Rachel Wright, Anna Francone, Cody Church, Jared Osborne, John Hart, Julia Seitz, Maddie Moran, Jacob Templin-Fulton, Jack Gallagher & Deon Nevins FASHION RELATIONS TEAM Alexis Rillema, Kennedy Goudeseune, Alexandra Forkin, Lilly Soble, Ally Iverson, Shree Mysore & Anna Webber DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TEAM Morgan Jefferson, Akbar Zaidi & Patricia Udeozor-Nweke UX TEAM Bryan Vi, Neha Singh, Kate Sauve, Kira Perry, Judy Effendi, Lauren Barmore & Jay Godinho FOUNDERS Kerry Chereskin, Lauren Christopherson & Julie Christopherson
To begin, on behalf of VIM, we would like to extend our appreciation and deepest gratitude to those in the medical field, grocery store staff, essential workforce and anyone, anywhere sacrificing their health to keep us safe. This is a debt we can never repay. Now, more than ever, our platform is a source of positive media and a distraction from our world’s current state. With that said, this magazine is filled with photoshoots and articles completed prior to Michigan’s social distancing guidelines and we could not bear to see the amazing content already produced not showcased. Amid the chaos, we made it our mission to finish what we started and print our spring issue. As the semester began, no one could have imagined finishing the Spring 2020 print magazine via video calls and long email chains. Cancelling projects and events that were in the works for months — Spring Fashion Show at the Breslin, Detroit Networking Trip, VIM’s first live
music video premiere, campus-wide magazine launch week and more — broke our hearts, but we knew it was necessary for the safety of our beloved VIM community. Thank you to our staff who relentlessly worked not only to complete this magazine but finish the semester without compromising VIM’s high standards and acclaimed style, despite the unfortunate circumstances. Without falter, they rose to the challenge — seamlessly transitioning into the “new normal” while finding innovative ways to share content with our audience. This dedication is a testament to how much VIM means to our members, and also the influence we strive to foster each year for our viewers, readers and followers.
we had no idea the immense impact this organization would have on our lives. From the friendships formed and memories created, we truly found a home at MSU. It has been an honor to work alongside the most creative and dynamic students the past three years, and a privilege to lead this organization as editors-inchief. As we’ve said from our tenure’s start, we hope VIM continues to spark conversations, stir curiosity and above all: inspire change. We have no doubt this legacy will continue and we eagerly look forward to not only VIM’s prosperous future, but its world domination. All the best,
Saddened we are unable to properly celebrate a year and magazine our staff should be more than proud of, we choose instead to focus on the endless gifts this journey has given us. Joining VIM our sophomore year, 5
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GRAPHICS: KELLY PHALEN 7
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MIRROR Snow White was a story ahead of its time, showing us all how mirrors can shape our self-image. Even in Snow White’s 1545 Germany, comparable beauty ideals have led to distortions about what women should see in their reflections. When self-evaluation demands impressions of ourselves to be based on what we see in the mirror, it is important to be aware of how unreliable mirrors can really be. Depending on the angle, mirrors can show multiple different perspectives, all of which show different truths. Mythology from around the world reveals how mirrors have a reputation of manipulating reality. Medusa herself was defeated only
when Perseus used his shield to redirect her own image back at her. Likewise, mirrors in fashion have a way of using light to attract and redirect the eye. In 2014, Iris van Herpen introduced her signature Mirror dress, which illustrated the versatility of mirrors’ ability to imitate reality. In its folded-like structure, the mirrors sculpted on van Herpen’s gown provide varying angled perspectives, exemplifying the true distortions mirrors can give off. Then, in 2015, Fyodor Golan included notes of reflective fashion with holographic vinyl. Since then, iridescent apparel has reflected warped versions of whoever looks into the fabric, while simultaneously delivering an edgy, futuristic aura. Metallic, mirrored looks have also been represented by Balmain in their Spring 2019 Jersey Disco dress. Balmain’s use of mirrors is yet another example that furthers the parallel: fashion’s purpose is to express reflections of your very own truth, whether or not it is done so literally through the use of mirrors.
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WORDS: JESSICA VANDERMAAS PHOTO: JULIA LOBELLO STYLE: HANNAH PACE, KATHRYN REMY & KATHRYN CHAMBER GLAM: OLIVIA SIMONE
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WORDS: CLAIRE BALDERSON & NICOLE GLYNN PHOTO: MARIA LEOLANI & JILLIAN FELTON STYLE: RACHEL SAMET, MEGAN NEIBERT & MAEVE WILSON GLAM: KATHRYN REMY CASTING: CAROLINE SEMLER, BRIANNA ELIZALDE & ABIGAIL ROTHE
One of the most iconic eras in fashion occurred in the 1960s: the mod movement. Hair, makeup and bold fashion worked its way into celebrity styles and popular television, and it’s now making its way back to the modern runway. Fashion in the ’60s was influenced greatly by art and the youth movement, especially with the rise of feminism. This was captured by the embodiment of A-line miniskirts, textured tights, swing coats, floppy hats and contrast collar shift dresses. Short hairstyles, highly influenced by the British mod movement, also became popular. One of the most iconic styles included the bob, consisting of straight, blunt haircuts paired with the crucial addition of thick bangs. However, the style that led the era was an angular, fivepointed pixie cut, aptly nicknamed the “five-point.” Makeup focused heavily on the eyes. Mascara, eyeliner and heavy eye shadow were essential to any look, and lips were left bare in order to let the eyes act as a statement. Lesley Hornby, better known as Twiggy, was a British cultural icon throughout the era with a career in modeling, acting and singing who was the epitome of ‘60s fashion. She shaped the 1960s by being one of the first international supermodels and fashion icons. Twiggy was a standout because of her slender appearance, big
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eyes, long eyelashes and short hair which was all the rage during this time. She modeled in France, Japan and the United States and was named “The Face of 1966” by the Daily Press which landed her covers on Vogue and The Tatler, spreading her fame worldwide. In recent years, mod fashion has conquered the runway as several designers took inspiration from this era. However, many of the designers actually took this inspiration from the representation of mod fashion in popular TV shows of the 1960s, such as “The Brady Bunch.” Marcia Brady led the mod movement 14
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perfectly as a well-known celebrity icon, usually wearing kneesocks, shift dresses and other iconic pieces of the decade. With representation on television, Marcia’s character helped to popularize mod fashion and preserve it in film for generations to come. Twiggy and Marcia brought mod into mainstream culture way back when. Maybe it’s time to bring it back into popularity. This timeless style can be worn in any era by sticking to simple silhouettes in busy patterns. Try pairing a ribbed turtle-neck with a miniskirt and boots for a modernized twist on the mod styles of the ’60s.
WORDS: MADISON WALSH PHOTO: NICOLE MA & EMMA DOWD STYLE: MARLEY JENKS CASTING: TORI TULLIO
Whether bold or unexpected, today’s fashion goes beyond conventions and mixes styles to create unique and wonderfully clashing looks. In pulling apart every aspect of a look and fusing recognizably clashing articles, patterns and textures, fashion mastermind Francesco Risso has created a never before seen style by breaking conventional fashion rules and adding his hallucinatory touch. In an interview with The Cut, Risso speaks on the constructive chaos of his childhood as an inspiration to his now iconic style. His unique life experiences are directly translated through each and every one of his looks. The Marni designer gives a new meaning and sense of class to unmatching, optically confusing and seemingly thrown-together looks. These looks, however, could not be more carefully calculated. He has created his own art form that has sparked interest from all within the fashion landscape.
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BRIGHT COLORS, UNCONVENTIONAL ARTICLES AND UNEXPECTED PROPORTIONS
Specifically, Risso’s menswear lines radiate the importance of making fashion fun. The centered focus is artistic expression rather than pushing to conform to traditional expectations of elegance. In a way, this trailblazing change has brought a lighter and more accepting tone to the more unique styles within the industry. Even the most renowned events such as the Met Gala, which is known for its elegance and class, did not force Risso to hold back his personal brand. Sporting a monkey printed
floor-length coat and a bucket hat, the artist’s visual showcase of levity was greeted with interest and creative praise. From a menswear perspective, Risso’s creative genius exposed on such a large scale is truly groundbreaking. With a heightened focus on bright colors, unconventional articles and unexpected propotions, there is a wild contrast between brands like Marni and others within the high fashion industry. These collections set themselves apart from other menswear looks by straying away from bleak aspects and the overwhelming sense of self-seriousness. Allowing such a vibrant range of emotions through multiple men’s lines works to eradicate the division of vulnerability between women’s and men’s fashion. Whereas women’s clothing is traditionally made to stand out and catch eyes, men’s is to exemplify more reservation. This fresh take on design makes Risso one of the most notable stylists in men’s fashion. His ability to create what traditionally does not work into a masterpiece shows a sense of fearlessness and willingness to fail that expands the diversity of men’s fashion. It is easy to acclimate to status and achievement, however there is much to be said for remaining grounded enough to laugh at failure and success alike. Perhaps this is the overall secret to the clashing genius.
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PHOTO: MARIA LEOLANI GLAM: MICHAELLA ANDERSEN & OLIVIA SIMONE CASTING: TORI TULLIO
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PHOTO: NICOLE MA, JILLIAN FELTON & LAUREN SNYDER STYLE: MOLLY HARMON & MARIA VITALE GLAM: MARIA VITALE CASTING: ABIGAIL ROTHE & CAROLINE SEMLER
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STRETCH THE UNIFORM POWER LIES IN STABILITY 26
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WORDS: JORDAN KILGREN PHOTO: SAGE VANALSTINE STYLE: MATTHEW GULIELMI & FERNANDO JARQUIN CASTING: BRIANNA ELIZALDE
Where does creativity emerge? Is it from the designer’s workspace? The main runway of a major fashion house? The classroom of the most prestigious fashion school in the globe? What if the answer lies in unexpected places? What if that place was a custodial closet? A mailroom? A security outpost? In overlooked places, heritage lies below. The nuanced design found on uniforms of postal workers, janitors or even construction workers exude commanding design characteristics that have resonated with pioneering brands like Telfar, Balenciaga and Kanye West’s Yeezy. Many of the utilitarian features of uniforms have transcended apparel of the working class and made their way to the forefront of the fashion industry. Wide-set shoulders of security guard uniforms have made waves over the last two fashion seasons, departing from the conventional, fitted aesthetic that has served as the standard for fashion in the 21st century. The jumpsuit of custodial workers, often single colored and adorned with cargo pockets, have also seen a resurgence on the runway alongside similarly designed flightsuits. Even postal companies like DHL and USPS have collaborated with fashion retailers like Vetements and Forever 21. Garments feature the iconic insignias and colorways of said carriers on collaborated pieces. While the utilitarian and military aesthetics have found their place on the contemporary apparel mainstage, it is important to
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remember that these design motifs began in a place of utility and service. Designers will forever attempt to push the envelope and create new ideas, however the timelessness of uniform aesthetics will always have their place in the fashion atmosphere. It serves as a testament that some of our favorite styles today, no matter how plain or avant-garde, originated from a place that had no aim to capture the attention at all.
“While the utilitarian and military aesthetics have found their place on the contemporary apparel mainstage... these design motifs began in a place of utility and service.��
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To kick off the new decade, Pantone named “Classic Blue” as the color of 2020. The color represents staying cool, calm, collected and the desire for a fresh, new beginning where we will all be more in touch with ourselves. Pantone is not just releasing a color that will be carried throughout the
design industry, but an energy that we can base our lives on and even show through our closet and everyday style. The notion that a particular color carries such weight and impact may seem like a stretch, however Meryl
Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, in the classic film “The Devil Wears Prada” explained this domino effect in fashion perfectly. She points out how the cerulean blue sweater her assistant Andy, played by Anne Hathaway, chooses to wear bears a much more complex story than she might think. 29
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In her monologue, Priestly states, “...that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of ‘stuff.’”
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Fashion evokes various energies and ideas of who we might be as people. Designers may choose what colors, trends and styles end up in the stores, but we decide what we take home. Most people have a few items in their closet they find themselves coming back to—the staples in their wardrobe that make them
feel the most confident in their own skin. These small stylistic choices added together comprise the message we put into the world for others to see. It is not about wearing the latest or most expensive brands and designers but about being the type of person you want to be in this new era through feeling and style.
Whether it is intentional or not, these choices project an image of oneself communicated through fashion. Over time, these stylistic choices evolve along with the person who is wearing them. Being in tune with your look is more than a vain practice. It is an opportunity to embody the ideal version of yourself—a tangible way to mark a change in your life and self-discovery. As Pantone seemed to suggest with their campaign, fashion can also be incorporated into goal-setting and New Year’s resolutions.
No matter what “your color” is, own it. Use Classic Blue to really channel the best you of 2020. Who knows where it will take you?
WORDS: NOEL THOMAS & KAYLA EFFNER PHOTO: ALEC PLYMALE STYLE: HALEY POAG & SAVANNAH ALDER GLAM: OLIVIA SIMONE
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When you imagine pirates, you might picture a one-legged man with an eyepatch and a hook for a hand. However, the New Romanticism movement places a poetic and romantic twist on classic pirate style. New Romanticism, or “ahoy fashion,” can be identified by cotton blouses, velvet waistcoats, tunics and tricorne hats. This isn’t the first time New Romanticism has risen to prominence. In the late 1970s, inspired by fashion boutiques such
as Kahn and Bell in Birmingham and celebrities like David Bowie and Marc Bolan, these outfits popularized. Famous figures at the time like Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls and Boy George helped introduce this new style to the public eye. New Romanticism saw a brief revival in the 1990s, when it inspired many of the looks in Vivienne Westwood’s SS94 line. Her show on The Cafe Society runway featured supermodel 33
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NEW ROMANTICISM
IS MAKING A COMEBACK
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Kate Moss, who flaunted nothing but a tricorne hat, a necklace and a tiny, nautical-striped skirt. Now, the trend is back in full swing after being revived by designers such as Ann Demeulemeester, whose most recent collection featured fishnet vests and flowing button-down blouses. One look featured a mesh veil draped over the male model’s face. The romantic yet maritime looks in Demeulemeester’s latest collection are inspired in part by artist Thierry De Cordier’s seascape paintings, which depict dark and choppy waters. Designer Tiscar Espadas recently released a conceptual line featuring delicate pirate-inspired looks. The collection includes loose-legged sailor pants with a multi-buttoned
waist. The pants are paired with delicate blouses, many of which have rope-like string intricately looped through the fabric. Ceramic figures that resemble bones hang from rings held by the models of his collection.
trenchcoat and pirate hat to your 8 a.m. lecture? Try starting off simple by pairing a sheer white top with your choice of pants and dress shoes.
Celebrities such as Kate Moss, FKA twigs and Caroline Polachek also sported this trend. FKA twigs took the stage at The Palace Theatre in LA wearing a whimsical blouse paired with a billowing white headdress. Polacheck was also seen wearing a striped red trench coat, knee high boots and tricorne hat. She tied the look together with a cross body bag. From the runway to the music industry, New Romanticism is making a comeback in modern fashion. Not ready to wear a
WORDS: LUCY VANREGENMORTER PHOTO: MARIA LEOLANI STYLE: BARAKA MACHARIA GLAM: JULES CAYAO CASTING: BRIANNA ELIZALDE
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WORDS: NATAHLIA GRINENKO PHOTO: JILLIAN FELTON & LAUREN SNYDER STYLE: DWAYNE LAGRONE CASTING: ABIGAIL ROTHE
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), without protection, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. That could simply be a walk to class or watching an outdoor sporting event, no matter the time of year. When most people think of sunscreen, they probably think about the beach, the sand and the warmth of a summer day. What people need to realize is that sunscreen should be applied daily. The CDC data has found fewer than 15% of men and 30% of women use sunscreen regularly. Why aren’t we wearing sunscreen daily? A logical answer could be people are uninformed about the risk of overexposure to UV rays. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, regular daily use of SPF 15 sunscreen can lower melanoma risk by 50%.
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With numerous products targeted for UV protection, it can be difficult to choose the best fit for any specific skin type. There are two factors to consider: the spectrum and the SPF. UVB rays cause sunburn and UVA rays cause tanning and premature aging with overexposure. Even if an individual naturally tans and rarely burns, they are still at risk. The key is to purchase a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, protecting against both kinds of rays. Regarding SPF, the CDC recommends SPF 15 for daily exposure and SPF 30 or above for extended outdoor activities. The problem least addressed is even once people are informed, there is still a sense of inconvenience when using sunscreen. It’s sticky, it smells, it’s expensive and it’s a reminder of nagging parents. However, SPF has made huge improvements in becoming an everyday essential. Much like a face wash or lotion, it
However, it is worth noting whether the makeup has enough SPF, is broad-spectrum and how often it should be reapplied. One clean ingredient option for incorporating sunscreen and color into daily routines is the Supergoop! CC Cream Daily Correct Broad Spectrum 35 Sunscreen. With men being half as likely to wear sunscreen as women, it’s important to address the lack of options for men. This idea could potentially stem from the fact that many health campaigns focus on encouraging women to use sunscreen and fail to specifically address men.
may take some experimenting to find the sunscreen that best fits an individual’s needs. With emerging research about the importance of daily sunscreen use, more products have been developed specifically for the more vulnerable face. For example, options for those who have skin sensitivities have become more readily available, such as Neutrogena Pure and Free Daily Sunblock Liquid. There are even makeup options that include broadspectrum such as IT Cosmetics CC Cream.
moisturizing and defending against the sun. It’s unscented and ideal for acne-prone or sensitive skin. With research-based information and a variety of sunscreen options now readily available, the culture around sun-protective products stresses the importance that sunscreen isn’t just for people who are outdoors daily or burn easily. Bottom line—sunscreen is one of the best ways in preventing exposure to harmful rays, as well as pestering parents.
According to Cancer Research UK, skin cancer in men is on the rise, which has increased 55% over the last decade compared to 35% in women. With this in mind, no stereotype or “norm” should get in the way of health. A commonly used option for men is the Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Naked lotion. For those who are not used to feeling any residue on their face, Cetaphil Pro Oil Absorbing Moisturizer with SPF 30 Broad Spectrum is one product that avoids this while also
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WORDS: VIOLET WESENBERG PHOTO: JENNA DICLEMENTE GLAM: SAM HOLLEY & OVYA VENKAT CASTING: ZAINAB FAYYAZ
Too often individuals lower their standards, allowing themselves to settle, whether it’s with friends, significant others or work. It becomes easier and easier for others to walk all over you when you don’t take the time to realize your own worth. People will take from you what they can and they will continue to do so if you let them. It is time to start telling yourself that you are rare, rather than constantly selling yourself short. Frequently, the idea of loving and appreciating yourself gets tossed to the side because people just see it as a cliché. Regardless, it is still worthy of a conversation. It is time to get past the idea that talking positively about yourself and being confident in who you are is unbecoming. Nobody knows how to talk about themselves lovingly these days because we don’t allow ourselves to appreciate who we are.
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Instead, we self-deprecate. Selfdeprecation is not funny or cute—it is just plain hurtful. Of course, you can joke about yourself, but there is a difference between laughing at yourself and tearing yourself down. It is not fair to hold yourself back by neglecting your attributes and looking past what makes you unique. Why degrade yourself when you are the only person who will always be there for you? You are allowed to love yourself, your smile, your birthmarks and wispy baby hairs. You deserve to be proud of your work, get excited about your interests and take time for your hobbies. You’ve earned the right to enjoy the things that make you, you. You cannot expect other people to recognize how rare you are, you have to learn how to accept this idea yourself.
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College living is tied with the culture of sitting. From being seated in class about 15 hours a week to sitting while doing homework, student bodies have adapted a sedentary lifestyle. Most students are mindlessly sitting, paying little attention to their posture, and further, how their posture is affecting their overall physical and mental health. Poor posture can lead to a decrease in blood and lung capacity, but the most impacted is the spine. The brain communicates with most of the body through spinal nerves, so if a person’s spine is constantly being compressed from sitting all day in class or walking with the weight of a heavy backpack, the ability to move and sit pain-free will soon diminish. For most college students, that privilege has already been taken, however this does not mean that the pain is inevitable and longlasting. By being conscious and making little adjustments to the way one sits, stands and walks, the body will correct its unhealthy practices (or habits) and generate pain-free movement. This idea derives from the practice of foundation training. Foundation training works on revisiting and revising modern habits that have essentially created pain or deteriorated the efficiency to accomplish tasks. Contrary to physical therapy or intense massages, foundation training works on taking the pain away, while teaching the body to adjust everyday movements so that future pain is alleviated. Foundation training accomplishes this by rewiring the body to use gravity to its advantage and take away the 42
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weight of the body from joints to muscles. Expert in foundation training, Brittnie Finkbeiner, co-owner and Doctor of Chiropractic for Dynamic Essence Chiropractic Center in Grand Rapids, MI, explains foundation training as a moving practice that is meant to overcome compensatory posture. Dr. Finkbeiner illustrates how too often, “we let gravity take control of what should be our own body’s right.” Moreover, Dr. Finkbeiner explains that from a young age, children are taught to be silent and still; they are praised for sitting at their desks silently and diligently. They are reminded to settle down when causing too much ruckus. This can easily be interpreted as “do not move” by children of all ages. Dr. Finkbeiner expresses her grievances with this common misconception, as much of a child’s physiological and psychological growth depends on movement. Fostering a habit of movement is not only beneficial to one’s own neuro lines and sensory processes, but it also aids in
developing a relationship with one’s own intuition. Facilitating a reliable intuition is the gateway to having an established routine that’s healthy to both the body and self. Dynamic Essence Chiropractic Center is a space that promotes well being through the unity of both. They provide chiropractic alignment, foundation training and massage therapy all while in a relaxing and uplifting environment. While honing into their practice, they make sure to also consider how one’s mental and emotional state is aligning to one’s physical being. Dynamic Essence’s priority to consider all aspects of health during their practice has become more relevant as new research continues to show the many ways posture affects psychological processes. Various scholarly journals such as the European Journal of Social Psychology have articles that detail research indicating the relationship mood and hormones have with spinal posture. This claim arises from analyzing the way people often conceal their emotions through posture. Dr. Finkbeiner notes that women especially are prone to habituate a “safety-guarded posture” as a defense mechanism for the judgement they will endure or pressure they put on themselves. Outside of school, the leading force that encourages bad posture is the usage of phones. For every inch that the head goes forward, an extra ten pounds are added to the head, which causes more strain in the neck and affects overall posture. Enabling bodies to adjust to the phone, instead of the opposite, causes many detrimental effects beyond posture. Symptoms such as unsteady balance, tension on the joints and eye strain are just a few examples that bodies have experienced by adjusting to their phones and not
the other way around. Following the rising concern of these symptoms, medical professionals have curated different practices to mitigate the pressure we’re constantly putting on ourselves—foundation training being one of them. An easy way to start off is to implement visual and physical breaks amid sitting or looking at a screen for too long. Switch your working environment from sitting to lying on your stomach to standing. If the space you are in is too constricting, movement in general is always an option—even while sitting. Examples include yoga transitions between cat-cow, shoulder rolls and movement in your glutes. Little movements like these will build awareness to your posture. To prevent persistent eye strain you can look out twenty feet for twenty seconds after every twenty minutes of looking at a screen; keep in mind that doing this with dark mode installed on your computer will help with headaches and nausea caused by screen time. Implementing little variations of movement while sitting or staring at a screen will improve your health. However, only adapting a certain amount of movements may only give you temporary results. Whereas, finding an activity to stick to that brings body and self awareness can have long term outcomes. Whether it is foundation training, intentional yoga or actively walking, make it a lifestyle so you can sit with ease, stand with power and move pain free, now and in the future.
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WORDS: OLIVIA RUSSELL PHOTO: LAUREN SNYDER STYLE: MARIA VITALE CASTING: DANIELA DORAIS In recent years, people have begun to turn to holistic practices in pursuit of better health. From plant-based eating to clean beauty, many are finding that the answer to their troubles comes from nature. Holistic health is not a new concept; there is a history of using alternative therapies to help heal yourself. However, the 21st century has brought on new challenges—especially within the pharmaceutical industry. Ineffective and addictive prescriptions have forced many to again consider integrating holistic remedies into their lives. A more open dialogue about alternative options and a decreasing stigma around marijuana and psychedelics have left many to explore their options outside of the doctor’s office.
On Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 voters in Michigan elected to legalize marijuana for recreational use. This has a variety of benefits, from decriminalizing its possession and consumption to the economic benefits
PEOPLE HAVE BEGUN TO TURN TO
HOLISITIC PRACTICES
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of dispensaries. But many are especially thankful due to the medicinal benefits of THC. From slowing the spread of cancer to helping with insomnia to relieving pain and alleviating anxiety, the list could go on about the benefits of THC. With the legalization of recreational use, THC can be implemented by all. From edibles to tinctures to topical creams, these products can benefit all ages.
Another natural remedy surging in popularity is CBD. This is a compound also found in cannabis, but unlike THC, it is not psychoactive. However, like THC, its health benefits are copious: relieving pain, reducing anxiety and depression and treating acne are all found to be remedied with CBD use. Unlike marijuana, CBD can be bought in a variety of places, even at Quality Dairy.
While many are open-minded to integrating cannabis products into their lives, the stigma around psychedelics has left many wary. However, research has shown that psychedelics may have a positive impact on mental health. Micro46
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dosing, where you take a small amount of the substance as to not get the hallucinogenic properties, has been shown to be especially useful to mental health. These alternative therapies are now becoming mainstream. From increasing support from the FDA to it’s inclusion in Gwenyth Paltrow’s Goop products, psychedelics are an increasingly viable option for those seeking mental health relief outside of prescription medication.
Another hallucinogenic compound, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has been shown to be beneficial to mental health. Originally discovered in a study for treating alcohol addiction, the positive benefits of LSD dosing can treat a variety of other disorders. This includes anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse.
As more than just a party drug, ketamine has shown to have distinct benefits as an antidepressant. In controlled amounts, the drug has been found to relieve depressive episodes in those using it for treatment. A nasal spray similar in chemical structure to ketamine has even been approved by the FDA to treat depression in patients.
With the active component psilocybin, mushrooms have been consumed by communities for centuries due to their hallucinogenic and healing properties. Early studies have shown that the compounds within
these fungi help those suffering from depression and PTSD. In 2019, Colorado decriminalized the use of mushrooms, illustrating that regulation is loosening up as people search for alternative methods for treating mental ailments. As more people become disillusioned with typical methods
and practices of medicine and pharmaceuticals, the alternative options are promising. These remedies span across all demographics as research is beginning to favor these remedies. This research is allowing people to find more alternatives that work for them.
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Imagine listening to your favorite song—or better yet, turn it on right now. How do you feel? Are you dancing along? Is it triggering a memory? It is no secret that music does more than provide a background soundtrack to our lives. Whether you realize it or not, music impacts us physiologically and neurologically, and this has exciting implications. Why do you listen to different music when you are reeling from a break-up compared to when you are preparing for a night out with friends? As it turns out, our brains attribute different feelings to different elements of music. Take tempo for example. According to Southern Illinois professor Gordon C. Bruner, faster music tends to evoke exhilarating and happy feelings while slower music is reminiscent of melancholic and sentimental emotions. Studies even suggest that there may be a favored range of tempos, with people generally preferring songs that are 70 to 110 beats per minute, according to University of Rochester researchers Zuk, Carney and Lalor. In fact, humans seem to be naturally disposed to spontaneously tap along to beats of 85 to 120 BPM, indicating that being able to “feel the beat” comes naturally to many listeners.
interpreting words, language and sounds, this is not the only brain region that responds to music. For instance, music increases dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, the part of the brain that seeks reward and pleasure. In this respect, music is a powerful drug. There is also evidence from a 2008 neurological study that suggests music increases neurogenesis (the production of new neurons) in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for producing and storing long-term memories. Music may even have an impact on cognitive function. If your parents had you listen to classical music before you could even form sentences, they were likely testing the “Mozart Effect,” an idea that proliferated after studies suggested classical music (particularly Mozart) increased future cognitive performance. While the correlation between Mozart music and brain power is relatively weak, this is still a compelling area of music research. Arguably even more exciting is the prospect of music therapy, which is using music for therapeutic purposes. How exactly music affects human physiology is not well understood, but research in this field is buzzing with compelling data.
Our ability to interpret and react to music occurs in the temporal lobe of the brain. While critical for
In one study by Sendelbach et al., the use of music therapy following cardiac surgery produced statistically significant effects on post-surgical pain and anxiety among recruited patients. A 2010 study from researchers Karwoski Kazam, and Solomon demonstrated significant decreases in blood pressure among patients who listened to music during cataract surgery compared to patients who did not. Additionally, when delivered in a “structured therapeutic framework,” music therapy has been demonstrated to reduce depressive symptoms in some subjects. University of Central Florida professors Kiminobu Sugaya and Ayako Yonetani are studying another application of music therapy that would potentially relieve symptoms of Alzheimer’s. “Usually in the late stages, Alzheimer’s patients are unresponsive,” Sugaya explained, “but once you put in the headphones that play [their favorite] music, their eyes light up. They start moving and sometimes singing. The effect lasts maybe 10 minutes or so even after you turn off the music.” Scientists are working to understand the full extent of music’s therapeutic properties, but in the meantime, we can likely do our brains a favor and listen to “Ribs” by Lorde to make ourselves feel better.
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PHOTO: NICOLE MA & MARIA LEOLANI STYLE: MOLLY HARMON & MARIA VITALE GLAM: MICHAELLA ANDERSEN CASTING: ABIGAIL ROTHE & CAROLINE SEMLER
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WORDS: MEGHAN PROVENZANO & ISABEL FOSTER PHOTO: MARIA LEOLANI STYLE: MACKENZIE MCDONELL GLAM: MEGHAN PROVENZANO
“Forever 21 is having a sale!” “We need to go right now.” “I will for sure buy anything if it’s 75% off.” We’ve all had this conversation before with our best friend, right? The word “sale” and phrase “75% off” trigger us to think that we are going to miss out on things that we think we may need. That’s what fast fashion does. It makes us believe that our current clothes are no longer trendy and cool, making us want to purchase more and more. Fast fashion emphasizes the delivery of new styles to customers immediately. Such retailers carry massive inventories of merchandise sold at lower prices which encourages consumers to buy more of what they think they need to stay in style. And it works. Who wants to wear something that Regina George would say is so last season? That’s right, no one. Unfortunately, fast fashion normalizes the idea that there are more than four seasons in a year. As much as we appreciate designers and their ingenuity, it has led to overconsumption and detrimental effects on the environment. Due to monthly — sometimes weekly — trends, as soon as we buy something new, it loses its value tremendously. We wear pieces once or twice and put them away to hang in our closet to never wear it again. We see new clothing pieces online or hanging in stores and that motivates us to “keep up” with the trends.
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This desire to stay relevant in society has led us to make careless fashion purchases. It has led the fashion industry to mass produce more things we think we need. In actuality, we are not only spending more money and losing space in our closet — we are harming our planet. Clothes and retailers are not necessarily the bad guys, but the way they are produced are. As we all know, most clothing companies produce their clothes in factories, which contributes to climate change due to the high amounts of chemicals being emitted into the air. We don’t consider the everyday decisions we make and how they can have lasting impacts on the planet. The clothing industry follows oil as the second largest industrial polluters and second largest polluter of freshwater resources on Earth. When we walk into Forever 21 with our $20 ready to be spent, we don’t look at that black bodysuit and think, “Oh, lots of resources were used to make this and producing it is causing a huge harm to the environment.” We are most likely thinking, “This top will definitely impress the average-looking frat boy I have a crush on,” for us to only wear it once. If we learned anything in Economics 101, the higher the demand for something, the more it will get produced. If we as a society are overconsuming, then we are playing a role in climate change. 80 billion garments are produced each year and, on average, we only wear garments seven times before getting rid of them. If it could get any worse, we are also polluting our oceans with our clothing choices. Some fibers in our clothing leak into our oceans,
harming aquatic ecosystems. Microplastics, which are found in synthetic clothes like polyester, enter our oceans by washing them in washing machines. According to Forbes, these same synthetic fibers and microplastics emit potent gases that contribute to climate change such as nitrous oxide (N2O), which is 300 times worse for the Earth than CO2. Additionally, the production of these synthetic fibers results in over 70 million trees cut down annually. You also probably didn’t know that when we donate our clothes to places like the Salvation Army, Goodwill or other donation centers, most of our clothes are sent away. If they won’t sell in the store, they could be sent to the landfill. Although only 5% of donated clothes are sent to landfills, that small percentage equates to the 12 million tons of U.S. textile waste that end up in landfills annually. They sit and emit these noxious chemicals that
are harming our planet. Surprisingly, there is good news and solutions to the problem. We don’t want to trash (pun-intended) clothes altogether because we need clothes—we love clothes. However, we need to be more conscious of the effects our choices have on the environment and push for the diversion of this important issue. 95% of clothing items including footwear, fashion accessories, towels and drapery have the potential to be reused and recycled, but currently, we are only averaging at a recycling rate of 15%. This inconsistent, disproportioned rate is caused by the simple lack of awareness among individuals. We can do easy things like not impulsively purchase items online or at the store, especially when we know we will only wear them once. Unsubscribing from stores’ emails and newsletters can curve such impulsive buying to lessen our
exposure to sales and deals when we don’t need anything. What can also help save the planet and our pockets is purchasing basic pieces that are made with higher quality fabric. Quality pieces can be worn in a variety of ways and the item will ideally hold its shape for a longer period of time, ultimately reducing waste and saving us money. More reduction ideas include utilizing renting sites, such as Rent the Runway and Nuuly. Using these sites can help save us closet space and our environment. And odds are, when you need a fancy gala dress, you will only wear it once anyways. Borrowing from your friends and hosting a clothing swap party— where everyone brings something they don’t want anymore and everyone exchanges clothes—can help mitigate waste as well. Shopping at thrift stores before shopping for new items is another way to help. Yes, it may take a little
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youth homes or shelters to see the impact firsthand. Of course, shopping is inevitable and treating yourself every once in a while is important. Let’s become the change and make it a habit to buy only things we need to help save our suffering planet.
Coordinated by Meghan Provenzano, VIM spread awareness of textile waste and the importance of giving back to our community by encouraging internal members and asking fellow student organizations to donate. We collected 11 garbage bags of women’s tops, four bags of women’s dress pants, two bags of dresses, one bag of men’s clothing and two bags of accessories. All items were donated to Kevin J. Moody Youth Home through Child and Family Charities, a homeless and runaway shelter for adolescents.
longer to find exactly what you are looking for, but the treasure hunt will be worth it in the long run when the item is cheaper and costs the environment even less. Refurbishing older clothing pieces can be a fun, creative outlet and can help reduce waste. 56
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Lastly, thoughtfully donating clothes can be fulfilling and environmentally conscious. Rather than treating your clothes like garbage and bagging them up to leave them on your driveway or dropping them off at donation centers, instead, donate to your local
Thank you to everyone who showed support and those who exhibited so much love to create something fulfilling within our community!
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Following the explosion of mass media and internet influencers, the beauty industry has dominated the market and is leading consumers to becoming invested in the ever growing supply and demand. Due to the growing use of social media, the culture of the beauty community has influenced a growing audience to focus on their lives and invest into following their paths. Standards of beauty can be traced back to early civilizations and are viewed differently depending on what part of the world you are in. For instance, Egyptians used makeup to diminish signs of aging, while ancient Greeks recognized a straight nose, low forehead and delicately arched brows as symbols of beauty. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Makeup and physical attractiveness have been a high demand for centuries, and despite the standard of beauty being repeated throughout history, there has been a growing appeal for following the trends presented by the industry since then. Today, makeup can be seen as a symbol of freedom and self expression that impacts our views and choices everywhere we go, whether we are aware of it or not. According to Money, a person between the
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ages of 16 to 60 spends an average of $43 per shopping trip which can add up to $15,000 a lifetime. The success of these companies is due to the advertisements that have captivated users into purchasing their products. When you think of vintage beauty ads, you probably think of the cheesy, misogynistic messages in old magazines, but their main selling tactic was promoting the perfect, idealistic standards of beauty. Even in their magazine advertisements, they included howto’s which, kept their customers engaged with the company. Today, companies will pay social media influencers from $100 to upwards of millions of dollars to promote their products, depending on how large their follower count is. One of the most notable social media influencers, Kylie Jenner, has trailblazed the beauty industry with her company, Kylie Cosmetics, and has
changed the way companies have advertised their products. When starting the company, she already had quite a large following, but the success of her brand has named her one of the youngest billionaires to date. A simple promotion on her Instagram can sell up to tens of thousands of her products, and because of this, many companies have followed this trend and marketed their goods through the use of social media and influencers. In making her the highest paid influencer, Jenner makes an
estimated $1 million per sponsored post on Instagram. With such simple advertisements as an Instagram post, it has audiences highly anticipating what is to come next. While being captivated by Jenner’s lifestyle, audiences have been engaged with creators from YouTube since the birth of the website. From the early YouTube days, beauty gurus have given free, educational lessons on how to optimize a viewer’s makeup skills paired with entertainment. This unique form of promotion drew audiences closer to these creators which companies have kept their eye on. Due to how these YouTubers are able to generate revenue based off of the views they receive from each video, it has now transitioned from simple how-to’s to selling as a main driving point. One of YouTube’s top creators, Jeffree Star, currently
holds a net worth of $200 million, earned from both his influences on his social media as well as his own makeup brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics. More and more, we are seeing celebrities and YouTubers creating their own beauty brands that are projected to be worth millions and even billions in the near future. The beauty industry is not only booming in the United States but around the world. For countries like South Korea, the word of their beauty trends have been translated into many Americans’ everyday lifestyle. South Korean beauty companies are considered top 10 in the world. Their facial skin care is famous but is also projected to be worth $7.3 billion in 2020. Like America, South Korean celebrities like k-pop stars exemplify a standard of beauty that many aim to achieve. While South Korean culture is crossing borders, so is k-beauty.
Because of all of this, the global beauty industry is worth $323 billion as a whole and is projected to be worth up to $805 billion in 2023. And with this acceleration, it is safe to say that it will only be rising in the future. As the beauty industry changes with history, makeup is not only a product but exemplifies a change in our society.
WORDS: STEFFANY KIM PHOTO: LAUREN SNYDER GLAM: MEGAN HEMSTREET, SAM HOLLEY, OLIVIA MAKELA, MACKENZIE STOY & OLIVIA SIMONE CASTING: TORI TULLIO
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U T L U C R A L U P O P IN E IM TRUE CR Ted Bundy, Jeffery Dahmer, the Manson Family: all serial killers who live in infamy, even still today, long after their reigns of terror. Two of Netflix’s most popular series in the last year were about Ted Bundy, one being a documentary and the other a dramatized version of events. A filmic version of Jeffery Dahmer’s youth found critical acclaim in 2017 on the independent film circuit. Even one of the nominees for Best Picture at the Academy Awards—“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”—in 2020 was an alternate telling of the Manson Family. Serial killers—and grizzly crimes in general—take up a substantial corner of our popular culture. It is not just movies and TV shows, either. The rise of the internet has meant a rise in new ways of consuming media, such as podcasts. Of all the genres of podcasts, true crime is undoubtedly the most popular. These stories can be told in many different ways, which means that telling the same story over and
over can be deeply engaging. For example, some podcasts are a “crime a week” style, where every episode is focused on one specific crime. This can be exciting as you don’t have to listen in order, but it also can be frustrating for listeners who want to dive deeper. For this reason, there are podcasts with an entire season dedicated to one case, either through an investigative lens or an informative one. This style of media is not new. People have been obsessed with true crime long before the existence of Twitter but due to the growth of social media, it is much easier to create conversational buzz around the popularity of this bizarre genre of entertainment.
serial killer active in the 1800s who fascinated people then and still fascinates people now. Jumping forward, one of the most popular television shows from the 1990s was “Forensic Files,” a documentary series focused on true crime that aired over 400 episodes before the show concluded in 2011. So even though the popularity of true crime is more tangible in the current era, it has been of human interest for hundreds of years. But is this a healthy thing? Murder is one of the most horrifying,
Jack the Ripper, for example, was a
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having to live them in the real world. You go through the complexities of human struggles from a distance—that’s the nearest most of us want to get with them.”
gruesome things one could be exposed to—and yet millions of people are willingly doing it every day. What is it in our psyche that makes us do this, and is it harming us? Chris Lang, a British screenwriter interviewed by Cosmopolitan, thinks it is actually good to indulge a true crime curiosity. Lang says that “...thrillers are a way of accessing quite often difficult subjects without
A ll of the
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murders
Essentially, true crime gives us a way to experience the horrors of the world without actually needing to experience them ourselves. It can provide us with a way to exercise empathy. Cosmopolitan writes, “By engaging with something horrific through the television screen, you are able to process the emotions of the characters, without having to go through the pain yourself.” Empathy can stem not just for the victims, but also for the perpetrators. Often crime documentaries or specials focus specifically on the criminal and try to humanize and understand what could drive someone to do
and disap
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these terrible things. The fascination comes from the idea of difference, that the psychopathic or sociopathic criminal mind thinks in a more twisted, different way than what is thought of as “normal.” Additionally, absorbing a lot of true crime media can serve as preparation for these events. All of the murders and disappearances actually happened and continue to happen, which means that something similar could happen to the average listener. For many listeners, true crime stories are a guide for what to watch out for, and how to protect oneself. For example, a popular podcast called Crime Junkie has a mantra of “Be Weird. Be Rude. Stay Alive.” Which means to do whatever is necessary to get out of a bad situation, no matter the potential social consequences. Crime Junkie also encourages its listeners to invest in an “If I Go Missing” folder, which would theoretically contain important passwords such as a bank account login or phone passcode or even email account information to make it easier for law enforcement to launch an investigation.
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Often the most devout consumers of true crime media are women, possibly because women are socialized to be more vigilant regarding their safety. Therefore, these accounts of actual horrific events are being used to hopefully prevent future horrific events. Some scholars do warn about too much consumption, though. British psychologist Emma Kenny told BBC that we “don’t want to desensitize [our]selves.” Part of the thrill is that the criminal acts are things that the viewers/listeners know to be morally wrong. But if that moral distinction goes away, that is when the obsession can become more dangerous. In a similar vein, that healthy sense of preparedness can easily turn into overwhelming paranoia. Just like scary stories can keep kids awake at night, too much true crime could trigger an unhealthy anxiety about the
world. Yes, bad things happen and yes, life can be dangerous, but that does not mean life is not worth living—good things can still happen. The worst case scenario cannot be used as a reason for disregarding all the potential experiences that await. Humans are obsessed with heinous crimes—we always have been. There’s nothing sick and twisted about binge-watching Netflix’s latest thrilling documentary. Just remember, all things in moderation. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, and in this case, too much of a bad thing is a bad thing. Take care of yourself first.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST
WORDS: ABBY JAROSZEWICZ GRAPHICS: HOPE FLORES & KELLY PHALEN
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Pink. It’s romantic, charming, feminine and sometimes accompanied by glitter. We buy into pink bubblegum selfies, pink flamingos for the pool and we rosé-all-day with pink wine. We are tickled pink when amused or delighted—so, what could be wrong with a pink tax?
Unlike society’s association with the color, the Pink Tax is not “sugar and spice and everything nice.” It instead represents the additional amounts of money women and woman-identifying individuals pay for everyday essentials—like tampons and razors. In fact, Ax the Pink Tax claims a female pays $1,351 more per year compared to her male counterpart. Necessities, like food and prescriptions, are untaxed across 64
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the United States, yet only 13 states have exempt essential hygiene products from their sales tax—as if ovulation is a luxury. The Tampon Tax relies on all females, including those living in poverty, to pay additional money for items they need. A small percentage added on to every transaction adds up quickly. Feminine care products are not where the boundaries lie; razors, haircuts, and dry cleaning fees have historically held higher prices for female consumers as well. In fact, many large stores have separated men’s and women’s hygiene products among the aisles. Female razors might be placed with female deodorant, so a 15 cent difference compared to male razors is not necessarily noticeable.
“A female razor has a better aesthetic anyway!” It is easy for brands to justify a difference in price when one product is pink—full of “personality” and “flavor”—while the other is plain, lifeless, and boring. However, a male and female razor generally share the same benefits, especially when produced by the same brand. The Pink Tax does not have an inception date—it starts the moment a girl is born. A study from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that children’s clothing costs 4% more for girls compared to boys, while toys marketed towards young girls cost an additional 7% compared to boy options. The gap increases
as women get older with women’s clothing and senior healthcare products, which cost an additional 8% each. So, 15 cents may not immediately break the bank, but it will gradually add up over the course of a lifetime to increase the discrimination between men and women across the globe. The Pink Tax affects half of the population. This is also the half that systemically makes less. While the wage gap has gradually decreased over the years, it is still existent—a dark cloud lingering in the sky of progress. A 2018 American Association of University Women study shares that white women make 79% of the average white man’s salary, Black women trail behind with 62% and Hispanic women with 54%. These women on average bring in less money than their male counterparts, yet spend
significantly more per year on higher prices for necessary items. Feminine hygiene products are not a luxury. They shouldn’t be taxed as such. Period.
You may find yourself feeling helpless in a world of inequitable taxation. The sad truth is that taxes are inevitable, but the Pink Tax doesn’t have to be. The United States is making some strides, but nothing groundbreaking—at least not yet. Recently, many companies have taken initiatives to eliminate the gap between male and female hygiene products, including brands like Billie and Boxed. The Affordable Care Act prohibits insurance companies from charging women more for identical services to men and requires birth control coverage.
In 2018, Jackie Speier (D-CA) created the Pink Tax Repeal Act to “prohibit” discriminatory pricing on “substantially similar” products and services when “priced differently based on the gender of the individuals” for whom the product is intended for. The bill died, but the fire within the feminists of the world did not. In fact, it is burning stronger than ever. In 2019, 22 states introduced bills that fought against the Pink Tax, but sadly, none went into action. However, we cannot lose hope. We cannot lose the fire. Soon, women won’t have to settle on a male hygiene product just because of a lower price. It will be because of a group of powerful women who decided to fight and those who decided to listen. WORDS: HUNTER GADWELL & CLAIRE RYAN PHOTO: JENNA DICLEMENTE GLAM: MICHAELLA ANDERSEN CASTING: DANIELA DORAIS
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society reinforced it, why is there now a consistent decreasing trend for traditionalized marital union than from previous generations?
Spools of white silk and lace, the smell of thousands of delicate flowers from every direction, rows of adoring people and a twinkly diamond as clear as water. At the end of a flowing walkway, lined with the dim light of a million tiny flames, are the gates to Prince Charming?
Women today, as Coco Chanel once said, are focused on pursuing two things: “who and what she wants.” There is no longer a focus on finding the right spouse and starting a family. Since the late ’60s, women have been launching into successful careers. Routinely defying these harmful prejudices, like when gaining the right to sign credit applications without the accompaniment of a man through the Equal Opportunity Credit Act in 1974, women continue to persist against all barriers.
In many cultures, it is presumed that from a young age, women dream and prepare their entire lives to obtain one goal—to get married. With the introduction of elaborate wedding ceremonies into Western society in the 1820s, the life long propagation of marriage being a necessity finds its origins. Imparted for the rest of time on women and anyone that doesn’t meet the heteronormative guidelines historically deemed necessary for this union, this narrative is as demeaning and ignorant as the fundamental “beliefs” that it derives from. For their entire lives, women are taught the idea that for as long as it takes, they need to be on constant lookout for someone who will sweep them off their feet and “save” them. Ideally, this person—a man—is supposed to “complete” her. More importantly, he must both provide for a woman’s incapacity to be financially independent and eventually father her children. According to societal norms, all of this—finding someone of the opposite sex, the wedding, giving birth to the kids—should really be done by 30, because after that women are no longer attractive enough to find a potential husband, looks- and fertility-wise.
In addition to women, many other groups of people have found strength in coming together to dismantle the always existent, patriarchal paradigm.
Currently, less than half of the United States population is married, with a marriage rate 70% down from what it was in 1960. If women have been taught their only utility is marriage and childbearing and
With the work of countless reformers and activists preceding, people across the world are no longer accepting a system that is not beneficial and inclusive for all. On the monumental day in July 2015, the Supreme Court finally ruled same-sex marriage to be legalized in all 50 states in Obergefell vs. Hodges. Until then, an entire portion of American citizens were not allowed to demonstrate their love through marriage. According to Pew Research Center, in 2017 the official recognition of samesex married couples increased 23% prior to the legislation but 67
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in 2017 the official recognition of same-sex married couples increased 23% prior to the legislation but still is only 61% overall. Furthering the marital decline, people that identify with LGBTQIA+ are still unable to completely and truly show themselves for who they are, living in a perennial state of poignant and bereaved silence. Even in the face of times of unrelenting persecution and oppression, these communities continue to proudly stand tall and equivacobly strong. Powerful words like those of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), one of the first women in U.S. Congress, reminds and gives us courage to never give up when speaking out in times of injustice. “Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet. In fact, often times, the most righteous thing you can do is shake the table,� said OcasioCortez. Because, the true beauty of marriage relies on the freedom to choose to whom, and when the union begins. Women and historically marginalized groups are finally starting to gain back the power they never had: the ability to do what they want. Pursuing their academic and professional goals, women are unforgivingly devoted to achieving their dreams and fully supporting themselves, before and if at all, committing to marriage. Although there have been great achievements, the systemic problems that exist with marriage today contribute to the widening hole in its institution. With entire groups still left out of the choice to marry, imperative strides still have yet to be made.
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