Editor
LETTER FROM THE
This summer marked many transitions for VARIANT magazine. As spring semester wrapped up, we worked diligently to finalize our new executive board. This involved establishing a new Heads Team with last year’s team. Naila Latham was brought on as our creative director. Ellie Roberto was promoted from copy chief to executive editor, and Margaux Augier advanced from copy editor to associate editor.
displayed enthusiasm during a time in which summer jobs and internships often hold most of our attention. This team cares about growing the magazine’s brand and reach, which proves only positive things for what we can accomplish during the school year. Head of Video Cole Kovalchik was inspired to create Variant’s Tik Tok presence, and filmed creative, trendy videos to introduce us to the platform.
It also involved the creation of some new positions for the organization. We brought on an art director, Emily Squance to help manage creative roles. The public relations team also expanded with the addition of a PR associate, Ashleigh Bublinec.
With a new team eager to work together, discussion began about producing a summer issue. With two semesters’ experience of working remotely, communication was smooth among all of our committees this summer. Our team decided on the theme of nostalgia, drawing inspiration from all spheres of the word: vintage music and fashion, retro video games, missing certain feelings, the Tumblr era, fairytales and more. After a year of navigating a pandemic and
One thing is already evident about this year’s executive team: the passion and willingness to take on new projects. Every member has
finally being able to return to some of the events we loved and missed, nostalgia seemed a good fit. To inspire the editorial team, Roberto shared a definition of nostalgia from author Michael Chabon: “the most emotional experience - always momentary, always fragile - of having what you lost or never had, of seeing what you missed seeing, of meeting the people you missed knowing, of sipping coffee in the stored cafés that are now hot-yoga studios. It’s the feeling that overcomes you when some minor vanished beauty of the world is momentarily restored.” The Nostalgia issue was submission-based, so that fellow creatives from the university or elsewhere, and Variant alumni had the opportunity to send in their work. We were pleasantly surprised at the response we received, upwards of 20 submissions. Creative pieces ranged from writing to photography, to graphic art and video. I think it’s safe to say our team was unanimously impressed by the quality of the work artists shared with us. Many Variant alumni were excited for the opportunity to send in work for the issue. John Pierron and Grace Dearing explore their nostalgia over the Tumblr era of 2014, covering music, movies, fashion and more from the coming of age time-period. Former organization heads and photographers, Madison Salyer and Sophia Daugherty-Muñoz shared their photography styles with us on pages 11 and 95. Mikaela Woods paired with model Lilah Gagne for a compelling photo series. More ideas for the issue started flowing as our team got to work. Head of Styling Kayla Edwards had the idea to make a mixtape that readers can access through a Spotify code and listen while they explore the issue. We opened song requests up to our Instagram audience, and asked what songs make you nostalgic. Outside of the organization, we were eager to collaborate with fellow artists who were interested in
submitting. Eli Burris, social media coordinator for the Ohio University Alumni Association, shared breathtaking views of Athens that can make any Bobcat sentimental (71). Audrey O’Donnell, a photographer based in Brooklyn, New York, lent us her eye through a colorful series with model Tiger Darrow (1). Rona Chang, an artist and business owner from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shared a street-style photo series she conducted with many different faces (31). We hope you love the issue and it sparks some nostalgia. Reflecting on the past only gives us insight and hope for what’s to come. Variant is looking forward to a beautiful fall in Athens and connecting in-person once again. Regards,
Jordan Schmitt Editor in Chief
NOSTALGIA NOSTALGIA SPOTIFY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST PLAYLIST
You can scan the Spotify code above to acces our Nostalgia playlist. Just go into the app and hit the camera icon to scan the code.
1.
“He Could Be the One” - Hannah Montana
11.
“Come on Eileen” - Dexys Midnight Runners
2.
“Your Love Is My Drug” - Kesha
12.
“So Good” - BOB
3.
“Superbass” - Nicki Minaj
13.
“Boom Boom Pow” - Black Eyed Peas
4.
“Sarah” - Alex G
14.
“Ribs” - Lorde
5.
“Boyfriend” - Big Time Rush
15.
“Nights” - Frank Ocean
6.
“One Thing” - One Direction
“No Role Modelz” - J. Cole
7.
“Love is in the Air” - John Paul Young
16. 17.
8.
“Whatcha Say” - Jason Derulo
18.
“Hotel California” - Eagles
9.
“Ventura Highway” - America, George Martin
19.
“Cigarette Daydreams” - Cage the Elephant
10.
“Pork and Beans” - Weezer
20.
“Electric Love” - BORNS
“I Like It Like that” - Hot Chelle Rae, New Boyz
V
VARIANT MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JORDAN SCHMITT EXECUTIVE EDITOR ELLIE ROBERTO ASSOCIATE EDITOR MARGAUX AUGIER CREATIVE DIRECTOR NAILA LATHAM CHIEF OF PHOTOGRAPHY ELLIOT MAGENHEIM PHOTO ASSISTANTS ASHLYNN MCKEE PHOTOGRAPHERS ASHLYNN MCKEE, AUDREY
˜ O’DONNELL, NATE SWANSON, ELLIOT MAGENHEIM, EVIE
COPY EDITOR ANNA BIRK WRITERS RONA CHANG, GRACE WILKINSON, SAMANTHA KRUSE, LUCAS STRUNC HEAD OF VIDEO COLE KOVALCHIK
SEARS, BRENT NEWLAN, JULIE GRAHAM, NAILA LATHAM, VIDEOGRAPHERS COLE KOVALCHIK, KAYLA
˜ RONA CHANG, SOPHIA MUNOZ PHOTO EDITOR CHERI MARSHALL WEB EDITOR MADISON KOPP
EDWARDS, NICK THOMPSON, HANNAH MAZANEC, CYDNEE LIVINGSTON HEAD OF STYLING KAYLA EDWARDS
DIGITAL TECH EVIE SEARS
HEAD OF EVENT PLANNING ERICA TRAPASSO
HEAD OF PUBLICATION DESIGN OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH
HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS EMILIE BURCH
DESIGNERS ASHLYNN MCKEE, JORDAN SCHMITT, CHERI MARSHALL, OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH, ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC, ELLIOT MAGENHEIM, EMMA DENGLER, MADDIE JAMES, ELLIE ROBERTO, NAILA LATHAM, MACEY ELDER, SOPHIE ELRICK, AUDREY O’DONNELL, KAYLA EDWARDS, LUCAS STRUNC, TURNER BURTON
PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATE ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC PUBLIC RELATIONS EMILIE BURCH, ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC, ANNA BIRK, EMILY SQUANCE, JORDAN SCHMITT ART DIRECTOR EMILY SQUANCE
HEADS OF MAKEUP CYDNEE LIVINGSTON, HANNAH MAZANEC MODELS
˜ TIGER DARROW, CHERI MARSHALL, NATE SWANSON, HANNAH MAZANEC, CONNOR GABLE, SOPHIA MUNOZ, NIA CALDWELL, HANNAH BURKHART, LILAH GAGNE, MADISON SALYER, CHRISTINA BETAS, CY WHITMORE, ETHAN HESS
STAY CONNECTED WITH US! VRNTMAGAZINE.COM / @VRNTMAGAZINE
EXECUTIVE BOARD
JORDAN SCHMITT
ELLIE ROBERTO
EDITOR IN CHIEF
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
ANNA BIRK
MADISON KOPP
EMILY SQUANCE
COPY EDITOR
WEB EDITOR
ART DIRECTOR
ELLIOT MAGENHEIM
CHERI MARSHALL
PHOTO CHIEF
PHOTO EDITOR
ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC
KAYLA EDWARDS
ERICA TRAPASSO
PR ASSOCIATE
HEAD OF STYLING
EVENT PLANNING
MARGAUX AUGIER
NAILA LATHAM
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
EVIE SEARS
HEAD OF PUB DESIGN
HEAD OF DIGITAL TECH
ASHLYNN MCKEE
COLE KOVALCHIK
EMILIE BURCH
PHOTO ASSISTANT
HEAD OF VIDEO
PR DIRECTOR
CYDNEE LIVINGSTON
HANNAH MAZANEC
COHEAD OF MAKEUP
COHEAD OF MAKEUP
VARIANTMAGAZINE 2021
OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH
CONTRIBUTOR
PAGE
AUDREY O’DONNELL / ‘WELCOME TO MY WORLD’
1
NAILA LATHAM
5
MADISON SALYER / ‘HOLLYWOOD GLAM’
11
EVIE SEARS / ‘VIDEO GAMES’
15
ELLIOT MAGENHEIM / ‘NOSTALGIC TECH’
17
MIKAELA WOODS / ‘GLAMOUR NOSTALGIA’
21
HANNAH MAZANEC / ‘SOMETHING SWEET’
27
SAMANTHA KRUSE / ‘CAMP NOSTALGIA’
29
RONA CHANG / ‘EVERYBODY’
31
COLE KOVALCHIK / ‘[AS]’
37
ASHLYNN MCKEE
45
SOPHIE ELRICK / ‘SURE JAN’
53
GRACE WILKINSON / ‘THE ELEGY OF MECHANICAL MIKE’
55
CHERI MARSHALL / ‘FAIRYTALE’
59
ELLIOT MAGENHEIM / ‘1980X PORTRAITS’
61
NICK THOMPSON / ‘NOSTALGIA’
65
GRACE DEARING AND JONATHAN PIERRON / ‘BEST OF 2014 TUMBLR ERA’
67
ELI BURRIS
71
JULIE GRAHAM / ‘REMINISCE’
77
CHERI MARSHALL / ‘Y2K FASHION’
83
EMMA DENGLER / ‘NOSTALGIA’
85
KAYLA EDWARDS / ‘DENIM’
89
˜ / ‘NOSTALGIA’ SOPHIA MUNOZ
95
1
PHOTOGRAPHED BY AUDREY O’DONNELL
2
3
4
5
PHOTOGRAPHED BY NAILA LATHAM 6
7
8
9
10
Hollywood Glam PHOTOGRAPHED BY MADISON SALYER
11
12
13
14
Singin' in the old bars Swingin' with the old stars Livin' for the fame Kissin' in the blue dark Playin' pool and wild darts
15
It's you, it's you, it's all for you Everything I do I tell you all the time Heaven is a place on earth with you" - Lana Del Rey
16
Nostalgic Tech PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLIOTT MAGENHEIM
17
18
19
20
GLAMOUR 21
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MIKAELA WOODS DESIGNED BY NAILA LATHAM
22
23
24
25
NOSTALGIA
26
Something Sweet PHOTOGRAPHED NEWLAN PHOTOGRAPHEDBY BYBRENT HANNAH MAZANEC
27
28
p ia m g a l C ta s o N WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA KRUSE 29
a
C
amp: a place for kids to be free, challenge themselves, and most impor tantly, learn who they are as people. When I was younger, I looked forward to my one week of camp during the summer. The place was magical and I swear as soon as I got there, I was engulfed into a different world. The world consisted of becoming friends with your cabin mates instantly, having the best counselors, swimming at the lake, swinging on the ropes course and dancing on tables during meals. One of the beautiful things about camp was the glorious nature. Being able to hike on trails, go exploring in the creek and just being able to breathe in fresh air felt amazing. Not to mention, living in a cabin with poor screen doors and windows forces you to become friends with the spiders under your bunk. I remember looking up to my counselors and hoping that one day I would be just like them. Not only did I see them as the epitome of a fun person, but I also looked to them for their camp fashion: their arms strapped with friendship bracelets and makeshift spoon and fork bangles, Birkenstocks and Crocs paired with some funky socks, Chacos that left the classic tan lines, sneakers that were once
white, oversized tacky tees, and the occasional overalls. Those looks screamed “Camp Counselor,” and just so happen to be a part of my camp fashion now as I fulfill my childhood dream. The fashion remains, allowing me to try these wacky trends for myself. The style of camp has been very influential in the world of art and fashion. Susan Sontag, a writer known for her essays on culture and whose first major work was called “Notes on ‘Camp,” said that the definition of camp is the idea of “an intentional over-the-topness, a slightly (or extremely) ‘off ’ quality, bad taste as a vehicle for good art” (The New York Times, 2019). Camp was the style was the theme of the 2019 Met Gala, and the outfits were as extravagant and flamboyant as ever. Camp is the opportunity to dress gaudy and playful, and it relates to the nostalgic childhood memories of seeing camp counselors dressed in tacky and funky clothing, showing the more exaggerated side of themselves (NBC News, 2019). The idea of over-the-top fashion expressing exactly who you are embodies the idea of camp. Whether it be the fashion style or the fond memories of childhood, camp trends stick with you, eventually shaping the person you grow to be.
30
everyBODY PHOTOGRAPHED BY RONA CHANG
everyBODY is a street style fashion photoshoot created by Otto Finnand Safran Everyday. Everyone is invited to join the fun by trying on Otto Finn jackets and jewelry by Safran Everyday and get their photos taken. Par ticipants will receive copies of their images and they will be featured on Otto Finn and Safran Everyday. Malian photographers Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibé were famous for their black and white portraits of everyday people dressed in beautiful prints in front of backdrops full of patterns. We consider each picture in front of our Kantha blankets to be a nod to these two artists and Rona’s photographic roots. Otto Finn is a sustainably made clothing and accessories brand that allows you to manifest who you are distinctly and comfor tably. Their featured products are locally made kimono style jackets that are primarily made from vintage kantha blankets, wool blankets and American quilts. The textiles have
31
a storied past and their uniqueness allows the wearer to empower and embrace their individuality. They are made by women for all folks, one of a kind, and a conversation piece. They use their production cut offs to make wearable pieces of ar t. They are conscious creators, mindful of our resources. Rona Chang created Otto Finn to normalize outfit repeating with a snazzy jacket on top. SafranEveryday is a woman run, fresh, small scale shop with thoughtfully made home goods and jewelry at a surprisingly affordable price. Inspired by the industrial materials such as steel, porcelain, and silicone, the resulting pieces add a distinctive and graphic quality to your outfit or home. Maia Leppo created Safran Everyday to provide fun, bold and color-driven choices for everyday living. Follow them on IG @ottofinn and @safraneveryday
32
33
34
35
36
[as]
37
38
VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK
[as]
39
40
VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK
[as]
41
42
VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK
[as]
43
44
VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK
45
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ASHLYNN MCKEE
46
347
48
49
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ASHLYNN MCKEE 50
51
52
ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE ELRICK
53
54
The Elegy of Mechanical Mike WRITTEN BY GRACE WILKINSON
55
She came on a June morning, pushed by a man with teeth of sparse quantity. Her escort wore a bandana, a goatee and denim cutoffs. He laid her brown and white speckled body on the hot asphalt, trekking down the driveway to collect the rest of her. My family gathered around the newly arrived, gawking. We blushed at her strong back and dared to touch her antlers of steel. The man began operating the beast; turning her up, down, side to side, and swinging her 360 degrees. My aunts looked at the magnificent barrel in disbelief. My thighs burned as I imagined the exertion of my sartorius and vastus medialis gripping onto the metal saddle. My posse of cousins, clad in wimpy cowboy boots, waited to see who would be the first to mount the beast. I, the youngest of the 13, pulled up the strap of my overalls and mosied to the great brute of the West. I nodded towards the operator, and my journey on the mechanized creature began. This is how I preferred to spend my summers. Not necessarily always riding a mechanical bull, but always with my family. For years we have pulled together nickels and dimes to let one night of mayhem reign. We would buy something as simple as a ping pong table, or as complicated as a dunk tank.
56
Then, a summer passed where my driveway did not dawn an outlandish structure. While my immediate family of four had a problem entertaining each other, I longed to see my Aunt Kathy reprimand a kid for using their hands to scoop fruit from a bowl. I yearned for my cousin Kevin to discreetly pour me a White Claw. We filled our voids by FaceTimes, drive-by birthday parties and texts. Instead of making new memories, we would reminisce on the summers we have shared. We would dance around phrases like, “When this is over” and “next year,” as the future was too unknown to assume it would exist. But alas, 2021 arrived and the summer party lived on. Aunts embraced, cousins gossiped, and uncles crowded the grill. Corn hole made its summer debut, cheaters were shamed in card games, and dances were choreographed. Smiles plastered everyone’s face, yet they were tainted with the loss of a year’s worth of memories. It was hard to resume our usual party antics after being out of business for a season. There was tension between those who received the vaccine and those who denied it. It suddenly felt inappropriate to give a mechanical bull operator the nickname “Mechanical Mike,” as we had no idea what kind of year he had.
57
As family members slowly began to trickle out, we didn’t know when we would see them next. We had gone so long without each other, it was almost like we didn’t know if we needed to get together anymore. But then someone would mention “she-who-came on a June morning, pushed by a man with teeth of sparse quantity.” Her escort wore a bandana, a goatee and denim cutoffs – fitting for the occasion. He laid her brown and white speckled body on the hot asphalt, trekking down the driveway to collect the rest of her. All would be well with this family that I love.
58
long time ago in a far-away magical land, the spirits of the Enchanted Forest existed together in harmony. The Guardian of the Forest lived in the form of an elegant swan, and all of the fairies and the creatures of light watched over the Guardian when the spirit took her physical shape, as she was more vulnurable in this state. Creatures of darkness always watched hungrily from the shadows as the Guardian spread her light throughout the land, keeping the night creatures in check. Everything changed one day when the natural balance of light and darkness was threatened by an unforeseen magical phenomenon.
A
WRITTEN BY CHERI MARSHALL ART BY CHERI MARSHALL 59
60
1980X
61
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLIOTT MAGENHEIM
62
63
64
VIDEO BY NICK THOMPSON
65
66
WRITTEN BY GRACE DEARING & JONATHAN PIERRON
67
ULTRAVIOLENCE
LORDE
PURE HEROINE
THE 1975
68
69
THE HUNGER GAMES
CATCHING FIRE
THE MAZE RUNNER
70
CAMPUS NOSTALGIA 71
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELI BURRIS
72
When I think of Athens, I think of the rich natural beauty of Southeastern Ohio and Appalachia, quirky celebrations like the PawPaw Festival, local artists and that signature Athenian hippie culture!”
73
All of the access to nature"
74
75
“How pretty the campus is
The wonderful people it brings together.”
76
r e m i n i s c e 77
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JULIE GRAHAM
78
79
80
81
82
Y2K fashion
From halter tops to low-rise jeans, styles from the late 90s to the early 2000s are back in full swing! Fashion at the time was heavily influenced by pop princess icons such as Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears. Crop tops, tiny purses, matching sets, rhinestones, and butterfly clips have all made huge comebacks, partly thanks to the influence of Gen Z trends on the video sharing app Tik Tok. You don’t have to trade your iPhone in for a flip phone to rock these nostalgic trends. Match your shoes to your bag or wear a miniskirt and frosted lip gloss. Channel Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, or Freaky Friday!
83
PHOTOGRAPHED BY NATE SWANSON WRITTEN BY CHERI MARSHALL
84
COMIC BY EMMA DENGLER
85
86
87
Nostalgia — a comic by Emma J. Dengler Thank you for reading
PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAYLA EDWARDS
X
VRNT DENIM
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
NOSTALGIA ˜ PHOTOGRAPHED BY SOPHIA MUNOZ
96
97
98
99
100
Website vrntmagazine.com Instagram @vrntmagazine Twitter @vrntmagazine