March 2018

FIT

MARCH 2018 Volume 50

Issue 4

March 2018

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MASTHEAD

Andrea Navarro Editor-in-Chief

W27

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Sophia Ostaenko Managing Editor Kayla Renshaw Treasurer

EDITORS Mason Auman Shani Hashemi

ART Erin Tucker Art Director Lara de la Torre Photo Editor Dear Reader,

Ashley Aviles Thuy Anh Dang Alexander Lopez-Guevara Designers

CONTRIBUTORS Andrea Navarro Alexander Lopez-Guevara Mason Auman Thuy Anh Dang Shani Hashemi Shona Neary Sophia Ostapenko Galit Lønstrup Erin Tucker Lara de la Torre Ashley Aviles Christina Santos

I’m going to tell you a secret that is not really a secret: I wanted to be the Editor-in-Chief of W27 since the first time I picked a copy up during my first semester at FIT. I was not too confident about my writing skills, since English is my second language, so it took me a whole semester to go to my first meeting. I joined during the second semester of my Freshman year, became Managing Editor as a Sophomore, co-Editor-in-Chief as a Junior and now, as a Senior student in my last semester—the sole EIC of this publication.

I’m telling you this so you know just how badly I wanted to produce the newspaper you have in your hands right now. And although this was my vision, it was the amazing hard work of W27’s contributors which made it a reality. You have made this transition feel effortless and I am so happy I get to work with all of you. Special thanks to our new Managing Editor, Sophia Ostapenko, and our new Art Director, Erin Tucker.

As a graduating student I’m excited (and truthfully, nervous) about the things to come.

However, thinking about what I’ve learned here, what I’ve done, and perhaps more importantly, the people I’ve met, makes me feel more prepared for the future. FIT was good to me, and I sincerely hope that it’s good to you, too. And if you are like me—so hopeful, so anxious—I hope the following words remind you that you get to decide your own narrative, and your story could just be about to get more interesting: “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can’t carry on at all.” — Rainbow Rowell.

Keep carrying on,

Ellen Davidson Alexandra Mann Faculty Editorial Advisors Andrea Navarro

Professor Albert Romano Faculty Advertising Advisor

W27 Newspaper

ON THE COVER: @W27 Newspaper Tegan Davis Photography @W27 Newspaper

www.w27newspaper.org www.issuu.com/w27newspaper

FIT

MARCH 2018

contents ON THE BLOCK

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Action Call: The #Enough National Walkout / Sports & FIT: Two Words to Start Putting Together

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New Views: FIT Professors Show Their Craft / Student Club Spotlight: International Fashion & Cultural Association

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Diary of an Intern

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Student Government Association: In Search of Our Leaders

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Special Collections: Secret Gems at FIT Library

DEAR INDUSTRY

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Amazon Go: Amazon’s Ambitious Step Towards Innovating Retail

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Super Bowl: The Commercial Gamble

FEATURES

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The Many Paths of Marketing: How Branding Gave Tegan Davies the Confidence to Pursue Photography Evi Manson: An Artist in Brooklyn

HAUTE CULTURE

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Art Exhibit Review: Sonder / Restaurant Review: Xi’an Famous Foods

14 Why Wakanda Matters

W27 is PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PLEASE RECYCLE AFTER READING. A FIT STUDENT ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION.

HOFIT

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Humans of FIT

MONTH IN REVIEW

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The Administration of Donanld Trump: A Review of His First Year in Office The Unveiling of the Obama Portraits

Voice & Action Towards a Dream: How to be a Successful Activist in Modern Society

THE GALLERY

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William Perez

FIT SPEAKS

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The Reality of the Second Amendment

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A Reflection on the Status and Significance of NFL Player-Protests

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Why is the Internet So Obsessed with Horoscopes?

STYLE ON 27

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Style on 27

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ON THE BLOCK

W27

Action Call: The #Enough National School Walkout

BY ANDREA NAVARRO

On March 14, just one month after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 students and staff members, a national school walkout took place.

Organized by the very own students of said high school, the walkout was meant to encourage teachers, students, administrators, parents and allies to walk out of their schools for 17 minutes, one for every person who died in the fatal school shooting that occurred in the Florida high school.

Participants were encouraged to leave school grounds at 10 in the morning from their respective time zones—making abundantly clear for the rest of the world and, perhaps more importantly, the current administration, that an overwhelmingly large percent of the population wants a change that leads to the end of mass tragedies that have become absurdly common in this country. Under the slogans “Never Again,” and “Enough is Enough,” thousands of students from high schools, colleges and even middle schools from all over the country participated in this initiative.

FIT was one of the universities who was supportive of the #Enough National School Walkout. From sending emails encouraging students, faculty and staff to voluntarily join the walkout and wear orange in remembrance of the people murdered in the Stonemason Douglas High School, the administration did a good job of expressing support for this important cause.

Some professors even went as far as scheduling a class break starting exactly at 10 AM and finishing at 10:25 AM, so participating students had time to walk back to class after the 17-minute walk was over, without missing any important material. Other professors, however, expressed they had no desire in stopping class and even said that any student getting out of the classroom would do so under their own risk. We applaud the FIT faculty and professors who stood in the right side of history and made it easier for students to exercise their right to peacefully protest.

tragedy, the students from Parkland have channeled their sorrows and frustration into an example of leadership and civic action.

They have organized the March for Our Lives with support from many gun safety national organizations. Said march will take place in Washington, D.C., just ten days after the National Student Walkout, on March 24. Its purpose is to call out government officials to finally make reforms in gun control and school safety. The D.C. march will also start at 10 AM and many other cities around the country will also be marching in what is expected to be one of the most attended protests in recent times.

The student walkout is just the beginning of a movement that has been in the making for a long time—and instead of understandably falling apart from the weight of this unspeakable

PHOTOS COURTESY FIBONACCI BLUE

SPORTS & FIT:

Two Words to Start Putting Together

BY SHANI HASHEMI

When you think about the Fashion Institute of Technology, sports might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Art, fashion and business are terms more readily applied to the school—FIT, however, has a great deal of athletic opportunities and activities.

There are fall and spring sports to join each semester. Fall sports include women’s volleyball, soccer and tennis as well as well as women’s and men’s cross-country. The swimming and diving team start meeting in the winter and compete through March. Spring sports include men’s tennis, the track and field team, table tennis and the dance company.

It’s possible that FIT’s seeming lack of facilities is discouraging to potential collegiate athletes, which the athletics department admits is a challenge—yet they still work creatively to fulfill the needs of each team. Most of the school’s teams practice off campus, except the volleyball team, which has games and practices in the school gym. The soccer team practices in nearby Chelsea Park and the tennis team goes to the Midtown Tennis Club. The track team conditions at school

but practices at the Armory Track in Washington Heights when it’s cold and Riverbank State Park when the weather is nicer. The swim team meets either in a facility in the Lower West Side or Upper East Side, depending on availability. FIT’s athletic teams may have to send their athletes all over Manhattan, but the department works hard to create schedules that align with the coaches and players availability. The teams always travel to these facilities together and build friendships this way.

In regards to the athletic contests, the soccer, tennis and track teams compete at Kingsborough Community College during home tournaments.

The dance company has two major performances each Spring and Fall semesters in the Haft Theater. This semester, their performance will take place during May 10, 11 and 12.

Since FIT has a two-plus-two system, athletes can only play a sport during two years -- which qualifies FIT as a division 3 school, which allows them to compete in the National Junior College Association. FIT’s Athletics and Recreation director, Keith Heron, says that there’s no need to feel intimidated at the prospect of joining a sport.

Whether it’s because you may not be able to commit your time or you don’t think you have what it takes—try anyway, since you never know what could happen. The coaches’ contact information is on the FIT Athletics website (fittigers.com) and they are open to questions.

There are many advantages to being part of a team. It helps you improve your athletic skills, builds camaraderie and makes you feel like you are part of something more than just your major.

FIT is full of driven and ambitious students who dedicate their time to their work. The athletic teams do not exist to be an extra burden, but to provide an extra outlet. According to Mr. Heron, one of their purposes is to “relieve the stress from all those commitments because it’s something you truly enjoy.”

Whether or not you decide to be part of a sports team, it’s important to get involved in something other than your schoolwork for the benefits and the balance it could bring to your life. There are always open gym hours and fun classes to go to, and some students are even trying to put together a volleyball tournament for everyone at FIT.

FIT

MARCH 2018

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New Views: FIT Professors Show Their Craft

BY ALEXANDER LOPEZ-GUEVARA

In the beginning of March, FIT held its annual Faculty exhibition, New Views, where professors teaching in the School of Art & Design got to showcase their skill and craft—which is often not thoroughly shared in a classroom setting. Students and faculty had the chance to witness what FIT professors brought to the table in terms of artistry, mastery and knowl- Shefelman had a monitor and pair of goggles waiting for whoever wanted to step into a Viredge. tual Reality world. Once I slipped the goggles From the moment I stepped in, I was greeted on, I could feel myself in actual space, obby the grand painting by Illustration professor serving the funky characters that Shefelman Tony Capparelli, titled Lasting a Lifetime. It created using a new software called Masdepicts an entire scene of spectators observ- terpiece. Continuing my visit, I came across ing an ice hockey game inside of an arena. Jewelry Design professor Wendy Yothers’ Capparelli executed the painting with metic- works titled Life Imitates Art. Within a glass ulous color choices and a great point of view, case was a wine glass with a sculpted figure making it an immediate favorite. Moving fur- inside of it, a bottle with human legs as a top ther into the exhibition, I came across Fine and what seemed like a little bowl hoisted up Arts professor Anthony Santuoso’s painting by a figure—all were so fun to look at and adtitled Friending Death, where we see a man mire. sharing a couch with a skeletal figure dressed in a black suit. Their gestures read as a bit flir- Each installation and artwork carried with tatious and casual, with symbols of art, reli- it a sort of attitude and presence that trugion and a subplot also embedded into the ly matched the spirit of the professor who created it—or at least, of the professors that composition.

I know. There were many instances where I As I made my way around, I stumbled upon felt like reaching out to those professors that the room where Illustration professor Dan I did not know to ask them questions about

CJ JEH, “A SPLIT SECOND OF ETERNITY”

their contributions. One example is Communication Design Pathways professor, CJ Yeh’s work, titled, A Split Second of Eternity. There were three separate paintings with one rose placed in the center of each strip of bright-white linen. What makes the works so intriguing (aside from the title) is the chance to see traces of the making process, such as the dabs of white that were applied to cover unwanted marks, and our ability to really appreciate the rendering of the roses.

Overall, the exhibition showcased the works of professors that many students have come to respect and admire, allowing us to appreciate being a student so much more. There’s a level that the students of the School of Art & Design hope to reach and viewing these works gives us a glimpse of what’s to come, as well as appreciation for the now.

International Fashion and Cultural Association

Student Club Spotlight:

FIT is a diverse community with students representing many places around the globe, from the streets of Brooklyn to countries as far as Zimbabwe and Singapore. Everyone who comes to FIT brings a different set of stories and inspirations.

Most of us are tied, however, through a love for fashion. With such a diverse student body, we were motivated to learn more about the cultures that form the FIT community.. This is where the International Fashion Culture Association (IFCA), a new rising club, comes in. The club seeks to create a community where everyone can share their experiences and knowledge. W27 was fortunate to meet Aurora Azon, the current president of the club.

W27: What is the purpose of the club?

Aurora Azon: The purpose of the IFCA is to inform and promote the understanding of other cultures through the lens of fashion. We created a super solid foundation for a professional yet comforting environment and networking platform for our members and industry leaders. Our primary mission has been to support our members’ international fashion and cultural dreams,

PHOTO COURTESY: NICK BOBBO

BY THUY ANH DANG

such as: studying, traveling and/or moving abroad, as well as creating a diverse cultural environment here at FIT. We want to bring in the FIT community with everyone’s unique experiences. We want to learn from each other and help ourselves grow as people and as fashion leaders.

Kat, came to talk about her travel experiences and how she became a successful blogger featured in Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and The Wall Street Journal.

W27: What has your club done in the past?

AA: I love the first meeting of each semester.

Meeting new people and learning about them and their aspirations is something my officer board and I enjoy.

AA: In Spring 2016, we joined the Models and Stylists Networking Conference and Fashion Show to assist as dressers for the models and help with set-up.

In Spring 2017, we hosted the International Fashion and Culture Networking Conference featuring keynote speaker Anniesa Hasibuan - NYFW designer who is the first to feature a hijab in every look, host Verky Arcos Baldonado from LATINA magazine and speakers Raquel Smith, Beyonce’s stylist and Meg Flather (Tatcha Educator). This is our first solo event that collaborated with the Indonesian Fashion Gallery (IFG) and the Riviere Agency. We also had Kat Tanita, fashion and travel influencer and writer behind With Love From

W27: What do you like most about the club?

W27: What is the club working on now? Is there anything that we should check out in the future?

AA: We are working on a Cultural Fair that will happen this April in the Breezeway. Look out for flyers and information posted on our Instagram and Facebook page!

For more information: IFCA’s mail: intlfashionculture@fitnyc.edu Instagram/Facebook: @intlfashionculture

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ON THE BLOCK

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n er t n I n a f o y Diar

MY LIFE AS A MUSEUM INTERN

BY SHONA NEARY

DO YOU WANT TO SUBMIT A PAGE OUT OF YOUR INTERN DIARY? SEND US AN EMAIL TO W27_NEWSPAPER@ FITNYC.EDU FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR STORY FEATURED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE.

PHOTOS COURTESY LUIZA BATISTA

Hey hey—I’m Shona, a senior student in the Visual Presentation and Exhibition Design program interning in the Museum of Modern Art. I actually got my associates in Fine Arts here at FIT, but wanted to learn more about the spaces and experiences we go into—thus, my interest in the art and museum fields.

To apply for my current internship at the MoMA, I had to turn my applications and documents in the beginning of the fall semester—so be forewarned, if you’re looking into a museum internship, you have to apply early! Amazingly enough, the MoMA got back to me and offered me an internship with the creative department and business development teams of the MoMA Retail Design Stores.

1:00 PM: After lunch, I meet the 30 or so other interns working in the museum and we head to the conservation labs. Every week, the MoMA does a tour of a different department and it’s really cool to see the behind the scenes of the whole museum operation. Right when I walk in, there’s a Picasso sculpture of a guitar made out of cardboard in a wooden box and a Matisse print on the table.

I’m low key FREAKING OUT (but it’s chill). I’m an art nerd, so I obviously ask a ton of questions. It’s also really neat to meet the other interns during these tours because they come from all over the world—the two other interns in my department are from Lebanon and India, and I love hearing about places I’ve never been to yet.

3:00 PM: The tour is over and I head back to my desk.

This is what an average day looks like so far: The office I work in is filled with amazing designs and art reproductions, so it’s a great place to brainstorm when I’m 9:00 AM: I usually start at 9:30, but today we are flipping working. I just finished creating postcards with Van Gogh window displays in the MoMA Design Store in Soho. Most art reproductions, so now I’m working on designing graphdesign internships would be sitting at a computer, but I’m ics and signage for new products, events and promotions. carrying three gallons of paint across soho (#muscles). I Seems easy enough, but it takes forever to get anything meet up with the rest of the team at the store, and a few approved—but when it finally is, it’s really cool to see the minutes later I’m climbing a 15 foot ladder and scrap- work you made all over the museum and the stores. After I ing vinyl off the front of their windows. Not gonna lie, it’s finish some design work, I help the business development freezing out here, but pulling off vinyl from things is one team move new displays into the right stores, and I mail of those weird, soothing, OCD-things to me. Also, getting some product samples out of the country. ripped.

5:30 PM: Overall, solid day but now I’m exhausted. But 11:30 AM: I’m done helping with the new window display, really, you can’t beat the perks of getting into all New York and I meet with the manager to talk about a new product City museums for free and getting paid to work in one of prototype. A few of us share our opinions, I jot down some your favorite places. I would really recommend doing a notes, and I run to the subway to go to the actual muse- museum internship if that’s something you are interested um’s location in 53rd street so I can report my notes to my in because on top of the things that I already mentioned, supervisor. the opportunities you get and the people you meet are truly extraordinary. 6/5 recommend.

FIT

MARCH 2018

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION: In Search of Our Leaders

BY MASON AUMAN

Ridhhima

Stephanie

Thomas

Crystal

Running for director of sustainability was Stephanie Ramirez, an International Trade and Marketing student who wishes to inject an ethos of sustainability into the everyday functions of FIT. Some of Ramirez’s ideas include clothing swaps and waste audits for each department, to maximize the potential for sustainability at the school. She ran against Ishani Shah, an FBM major who understands the responsibility of those in the fashion industry to combat the waste that is created. She ran on a platform that emphasized awareness and the creation of sustainable environmental strategies that will benefit the student body. Winner: Ishani Shah.

Elizabeth Indriolo, an Advertising and Marketing Communications major, ran unopposed for the position of Director of Student Organizations. She has been involved in WFIT Radio and Broadcasting. Indriolo promises to increase involvement among students and aide in collaboration to improve the FIT student-experience.

Design major from India who is currently in her second semester at FIT. Shah describes herself as open-minded, approachable and helpful. She enjoys creating artwork in Photoshop and Illustrator. Running against Shah was Darnisha Thomas. She is also a Fashion Design major who is eager to get involved on campus life. Thomas asserted that as Coordinator of Graphic Design, she would be getting involved in the community and bringing students together in order to learn from each other. Winner: Darnisha Thomas.

The competition to become Coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion consisted of Crystal Okonkwo and Esther Fyine. Okonkwo is a leader, lover and advocate who promised to use her position to celebrate everyone at FIT. Fyine is a commuter who treks to school from the Bronx. As the coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion, she promised to make sure that the entirety of FIT’s student body feels a sense of belonging. Winner: Crystal Okonwo.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TARISHI GUPTA

Yon Hee

If you blinked then you may have missed it.

Correction–you probably missed it even if your eyes were being pinned open. FIT recently held elections for a number of positions in the Student Government Association. The candidates who vied for these positions are passionate about benefiting our community, even if their constituents are unaware of it.

The circuit of activities that these candidates endured included general campaigning, video responses and various meet and greets.

Darnisha

Elizabeth

The results of the contended races will be announced in tandem with the results of the next round of the elections, which will be happening after Spring break has concluded.

Applications will be due April 13.

When asked about the current state of affairs, current SGA President, Soone Bajwa, seemed concerned. “I really hope that more students will step up,” he, said. “If these many positions remain vacant, the 2018-2019 year will likely be a rough one for the whole campus.

There’ll be far less fun programs, free food Running unopposed for Director of Program- and activities, as well as advocating for stuming was Thomas McLaughlin. His primary dent concerns. I strongly urge every student goal is to focus on what the students want to consider running for a position–for the out of the school’s programming. He wants good of the student body.” everyone to enjoy their time at FIT and will work to ensure this is the case.

If you’re wondering how you can affect a positive impact on the FIT community, this Yon Hee Allen will be continuing her work could be a valuable opportunity. Students in as 7th Floor Coordinator, while Ridhima SGA leadership positions shape the quality of Manghani and Kimberly Miller fill the roles the FIT experience, whether you realize it or of Coordinator of Commuter Affairs and Co- not, since the activities that we enjoy are the ordinator of Campus Evening Events, respec- result of their hard work. By filling a position tively. in the Student Government, you are contributing to the experience of the entire student The position of Coordinator of Graphic De- body. And you have the ability to make that sign was contended by two candidates. The experience a great one. first of which was Niyomi Shah, a Fashion

Esther

Ishani

Kimberly

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ON THE BLOCK & DEAR INDUSTRY

W27

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS:

SECRET GEMS AT FIT LIBRARY

BY SHANI HASHEMI

It contains at least 10,000 rare books dating back to 1680, and most of the information is donated by companies and individuals or left in a will to FIT. While they may share similarities, the Special Collections department operates as a separate entity from the Museum at FIT. Occasionally, the museum will borrow material from the Special Collections to amplify their current exhibitions.

The newest pieces are showcased in their own display outside of the Special Collections archive, in the library, where the information is kept at a certain temperature and lighting for preservation.

The most recent feature is a collection of photos taken by Bill Cunningham–the fa-

Amazon Go:

Amazon’s Ambitious Step Towards Innovating Retail

BY THUY ANH DANG

mous street style photographer who worked for The New York Times for almost 40 years before passing away in 2016. The collection is a series of photographs taken in 1973 at the Grand Divertissement à Versailles, an event held to raise funds for the restoration of the Palace at Versailles, attended by Cunningham and his colleague Charles Tracey.

Cunningham’s photographed the show’s models, which ended up becoming a competition between five American and five French designers. The French had always held the title of top couturiers, but the Americans impressed everyone in attendance with their unique styles. The Special Collections department already had documentation of this event, but now they have the pictures to go along with it.

The Special Collections Department heavily reflects FIT President Dr. Joyce F. Brown’s strategic plan for the school—research material is an asset that makes FIT strong, since it has so many primary sources. This resource is excellent for students looking for historic or distinctive inspiration for their own work. So far, the biggest users of the

Creating one of the world’s greatest online shopping business. Buying Whole Foods. Inventing Alexa. Organizing Amazon Fashion Week in Tokyo (which will be taking place from March 19 to the 24). What hasn’t Amazon done in their conquest to rule the parts of the world that operate through capitalism and consumption?

Apparently, open convenience stores that utilize artificial intelligence so you can buy merchandise without having to wait in line.

Is it too good to be true? Not really. This past February Amazon opened its first store in Seattle.

How does it work? Before coming to Amazon Go, customers should download their app, which generates a QR that gives you access to the store. Hundreds of hidden cameras and AI sensors will watch as you shop. Each item has a code to help the AI identify the type of product you are buying. Then, when you exit the store with the product, the app will automatically detect the purchase and send you a receipt. If the Amazon sensors cannot identify the product, it will put the product as the most likely item to be purchased to let you confirm it before paying.

Although shopping without having to wait in line seems convenient enough, there’s also the fact that anyone who doesn’t own a smartphone—or can’t afford to buy one—

collections are Textile Development graduate students.

The Special Collections Department is located on the fourth floor of the library, where its open six days a week with nighttime hours on two of those days, however, physical material can only be obtained by appointment and must be requested at least 24 hours in advance. About 2,500 pieces have been digitized and are available on the website, and the department also has an active blog called Material Mode that posts information on new pieces. With hundreds of books, illustrations and catalogs, the inspiration possibilities are endless.

PHOTO COURTESY SHANI HASHEMI

Unknown by many, the Special Collections department of the FIT library stores incredibly interesting historical data about the fashion world and beyond. The library began taking on special material in the late 1950s to be used by students and professors for research, and the collection expanded so greatly that its own department had to be formed.

would not be able to come to the store. Young children or people with low disposable incomes might not be able to enjoy this service, and Amazon Go could directly add fire to the problem of class wealth gaps.

There’s also the additional concern that, according to Forbes, one of the AI’s greatest traits is its ability to collect and learn from existing data. It needs to know how to identify the correct buyer, the correct bought merchandise and when theft is occurring.

In order to do that, it has to be able to know consumer’s every movement. The more data it has, the less likely it is to make mistakes— which has reasonably raised concerns regarding digital privacy.

Amazon isn’t just a retail company, it also owns one of the largest consumer’s databases in the world, collected from every time we click on one of their products. There is a high possibility that they know how to forecast psychological consumption traits, control the way consumers behave, and monopolize the retail industry. Is Amazon joining forces with Google to rule the world? Perhaps. But should we give up certain liberties for the sake of convenience? To be at the top of an industry, companies have to evolve and create something new. This is the path Amazon’s taken, and we praise it for its attempt of innovation. Here’s to seeing how the new stores will actually function.

FIT

MARCH 2018

SUPER BOWL: THE COMMERCIAL GAMBLE HOW THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN ADVERTISING INFLUENCES BRANDS

BY SOPHIA OSTAPENKO

If films have the Academy Awards and the music industry has the Grammys, advertisers have the Super Bowl—the biggest night in advertising spending for brands.

It has been reported by CNBC that each commercial spot costs more than 5 million dollars during the big night. Every year, advertisers compete for the prime time since the commercials air to an average of 50 percent of American households, even though according to the Nielsen company, the viewership this year was down to 103.4 million people, the smallest audience since 2009. But although the viewership may have decreased, a few of this year’s commercials have been embedded into Americans’ memories, even those were not watching the game.

The Tide laundry detergent commercial which aired during the Super Bowl proved to be one of the best commercials this year. Tide, which has been making news waves in the past few weeks due to the “Tide Pod Challenge,” released a commercial starring David Harbour, who is known for his role as Chief Jim Hopper in the Netflix series, “Stranger Things.” In the commercial, every five seconds are dedicated to the stereotypical product commercials for automobiles, diamonds, bed sheets, beauty products, among many others.

Throughout the entire ad, however, the fact that every individual is wearing a clean shirt signals the power of Tide laundry detergent. After the commercial aired, it immediately trended on Twitter, among other social media platforms, with people joking and commenting on the fact that they were not even sure what commercial they were watching since everything else has been declared as a Tide ad.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIME MAGAZINE

first spot on USA Today’s 30 Ad Meter.

But what caused Super Bowl to become such a valuable spot for commercial time?

Why aren’t the Academy Awards the biggest night in television? The origin of the Super Bowl advertisement phenomenon dates back to 1967. Since the Super Bowl is the biggest night in American television–more than half of the population of the United States will tune-in to watch the big game–each second of air time is incredibly valuable.

As more families were able to purchase television sets, more households were able to watch the Super Bowl. Therefore, according to Fortune, a 30-second spot in 1967 would cost around $42,000—about $300,000 of today’s dollars.

In 1984, Apple modernized the concept of a Super Bowl advertisement. The company released a commercial that was more assimilated with a short film. Since it was 1984, the company paid tribute to the famous novel by George Orwell, “1984,” by using the slogan, “You’ll see why 1984 won’t be like 1984.” The company hinted at the release of their upcoming Macintosh computer, and the commercial became a starting-point for many brands on how to create successful and memorable advertisements.

Since then, companies have aimed to produce commercial sensations that would be groundbreaking and memorable. If executed correctly, this type of ad can bring more than double the revenue of what was originally spent on the TV spot.

The Super Bowl is certainly the biggest The Amazon ad for Alexa has also rapidly game on television. And for advertisers, grown to become a memorable commer- it’s the biggest gamble. Some advertisers cial. Alexa, Amazon’s home speaker, loses win and some lose, but perhaps even if her voice, and celebrities such as Cardi B, an ad fails, it will still be memorable due Gordon Ramsay, and Anthony Hopkins to online conversation and visibility. That substitute for her while her voice recov- being said, the commercials that receive ers. The commercial was quirky and light- positive feedback are later used as examhearted, which quickly resonated with ples of good advertising—so a great and viewers. According to USA Today, the Am- thoughtful Super Bowl ad is a future reveazon commercial successfully scored the nue touchdown for any brand.

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10 FEATURES

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The Many Paths of Marketing:

How Branding Gave Tegan Davies the Confidence to Pursue Photography

BY ANDREA NAVARRO

PHOTOS BY TEGAN DAVIES As one of FIT’s biggest majors, Advertising and Marketing Communication students have a lot of career possibilities. Public relations, direct marketing, sales promotion, advertising, publicity, special events planning, journalism and brand management are just some of employment options for a degree which appeals to many students.

But for Tegan Davis, a senior AMC student, the major’s main appeal is how it can be the strong foundation to build a career in any field, particularly the one she’s most passionate about—fashion photography.

Andrea Navarro: What are your underlying feelings about graduation? Is it exciting or terrifying?

Both?

Tegan Davies: I mean, I’ve definitely been in school for long enough. I’m ready to move on. But at the same time, I’m not exactly sure about what exactly I will be doing once May comes—and that’s somewhat scary because I’m someone who likes control, who wants to understand that I’m going to be following a certain path, knowing exactly what I’m going to be doing. But I don’t know what’s going to happen in 4 months. I am in an internship now, so I might end up working for them or spending a few months figuring out what I will do next.

So that uncertainty is kind of terrifying, because I like to be productive and do things all the time. But at the same time, yes, it’s also really exciting. I’m excited to see what my future career will be—even though I am an AMC student, I’ve never really done anything with advertising.

All my internships have been with photography, and I sort of see myself working at a photo studio, really working creatively and on my feet.

Now, I see that a career doesn’t necessarily have to be a linear path to success.

AN: You say that you are certain that you don’t want to do advertising. If that’s the case, why did you pick AMC to begin with?

TD: Right out of high school I enrolled into the University of Florida, where I’m from, and I decided that I wanted to take a business major, something that was sort of general. I mean, I’ve been interested in photography since my senior year of high school, that’s when I really got into it. But I was hesitant about studying it as a major, so I thought it made sense to get a business degree as a foundation that I could build upon, something that could open a lot of different doors. But even then, I wanted to keep learning photography. So, during my time at FIT I made sure to get a lot of photo internships and practical knowledge.

FIT

AN: What aspects of AMC do you think could be beneficial to your future career, whether you end up pursuing photography or not?

TD: What I like about AMC is that it teaches you how to understand branding and the nature of marketing—how to sell a product. And that can be used across all platforms and industries. Because, at the end of the day, a business is trying to sell a product. Even at a place like my current internship, they do stop motion videos for companies, which requires a strong understanding of branding. You have to know who you are speaking to, what your market is and how to address it. I think that if you come into a business like that, it’s an advantage to be able to do creative and fun things, but also know how to sell what you are supposed to. It’s a great foundation to have.

AN: We all know that FIT is an unconventional college. I would say that both Art & Design and Business & Technology schools are really creative. How different do you think those students are, in terms of creativity and what drives them?

TD: Well, I have a friend who is in Fine Arts and what I’ve learned from her is that’s what they do the most—art. What I think is unique about AMC specifically is how broad it is and how it can drive you into so many different paths. However, I can say that I wish we (Business & Technology students) had more access to things like the photo studio. I feel like it’s a little exclusive to the art people, and business majors who are inspired to do creative projects can’t really rent out equipment or things from the studio—I looked into it and it just isn’t allowed. So, in that sense, there seems to be a hard divide between the Art & Design and Business & Technology students, at least in terms of access to things. There should be more encouragement for students, all students, to learn as much as possible and be as creative as they can possibly be.

AN: How have your career expectations changed from when you started at FIT to now that you are about to graduate?

TD: When I began looking for experiences, I was doing photo internships for fashion magazines, such as Elle, Nylon and Interview. And after those experiences I realized that perhaps magazines aren’t really for me, because a lot of those internships are just you working in the photo department of the magazine. Basically, I

MARCH 2018

was doing administrative work, booking people for shoots and setting up the shoot. You are not really on set helping that much, so it’s not necessarily a creative environment. When I was in high school, opening Vogue Magazine and seeing all those cool, glossy photos made me think that was what I wanted to do. And I’m so glad that I got to intern in those places because it made me realize that I do love photography, but maybe that environment really isn’t for me. And that took awhile for me to come to terms with, because that’s what I was so set on. But, then I did an internship with a fashion photographer (Matt Licari) and that was amazing. Being on set, seeing the shoot happening, being able to help out and have a creative voice — that’s what I really want to do.

AN: Do you feel like you are missing out from having a traditional photography training?

TD: Matt taught me everything about equipment, lighting, working on your feet. I think working with him really proved to me that I could pursue photography without formally studying it, because he taught me practical knowledge of photography. He told me everything I needed to know about how to get into magazines, how to do your taxes if you are a freelance photographer. He sat down with me and we went over retouching pictures. I really learned so much, just with this one 5-months experience. I walked away feeling confident in my abilities. And to me, just having that real life knowledge was worth so much more than anything I could have learned in a classroom.

Having internships allowed me to learn what I want to do and what I don’t see myself doing.

AN: What is something that you didn’t expect to happen during your FIT years?

TD: I developed certain passions I didn’t expect to. I think that by living in New York, a place that is so diverse, you are exposed to so many things.

At first, my goal was to be the creative director of a magazine. Now, I see that a career doesn’t necessarily have to be a linear path to success.

I don’t think that would necessarily make me happy. But helping other people, that definitely would. So I need to incorporate that into whatever I end up doing. The big thing I learned is that I’m okay not being a “big success.” I’m okay not being on top. I don’t need to be the best fashion photographer. I just want to help other people and find satisfaction in whatever I do.

Being on set, seeing the shoot happening, being able to help out and have a creative voice — that’s what I really want to do.

AN: And the idea of being “the best” is so abstract, anyway. Who gets to decide who is the best, what’s the best possible thing, what’s the best job. I think as business majors we are sort of conditioned to always try to be on top. But I’ve started to see a shift in what some people from our generation actually want out of life. Do you think politics have something to do with it?

TD: Yes, I think so. Since I moved here, my politics have definitely changed. I moved to New York from Florida, which is certainly a more conservative place. I grew up in an environment where there wasn’t as much diversity of ideas. So moving here has made me think in a more liberal way, for sure, which I think is great. I’m in a point in my life where I need to be more active about my opinions and political beliefs. And New York fosters that mindset of community in you. I think that right now that’s a mindset that the rest of world should follow.

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W27

FEATURES

EVI MANSON:

An Artist in Brooklyn

BY GALIT LØNSTRUP

Really, like a dream. Everything just started to happen, you know?

GL: How can you describe the journey in your art?

EM: When the internship ended after eight months, I got into illustration. I believe they were influenced a lot by my life situation then, where I had to decide whether to go back to Mexico and continue my career or stay a bit longer in New York.

E

vi Manson is a Mexican 26-yearold painter and illustrator. With a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Shoe Design from her home country, she journeyed to the United States three years ago, where she’s made a home with her husband, Kyle and their dog, Stitch, in Bushwick. Evi is the co-founder of the creative space Studio6 in Brooklyn. For a long time, I had been curious about her art and her story, so we took a moment to chat over coffee at a Bushwick café she suggested.

From León to Brooklyn, from shoes to acrylics, from uninspiring familiar surroundings to a feeling of longing for and creating art inspired by the exact same thing, our talk begins here.

Galit Lønstrup: So, tell me a little bit about coming to New York?

Evi Manson: When I chose New York, the plan was to go back to Europe at some point.

Europe is really fascinating to me, and I have always imagined going back to live there. When I finished college in Mexico, I started working as a shoe designer, which is another passion of mine. I grew up in León, a “shoe maker” town in Mexico. My parents are leather producers, so it was not a foreign field to me. I grew up there, and when I graduated, I made shoes in a company that I adore, but as time went by I really wanted to try something new. Also, I never wanted to work for someone. I couldn’t see myself in a 9-5 job.

I had never been to New York and I didn’t know anybody here, I just moved. Well, I did know a friend of a friend, who lived in Bushwick and at the time had a room free in an apartment he shared with three other guys. So, here my first month in New York began. My stay wasn’t meant to be long term and I didn’t have a job.

I got the chance to apply for an internship at Oscar de la Renta and I got it, in the print/ fabric development department. It was a busy time, but also a very beautiful experience.

At the time, I was seeing this guy and I really liked him. Eventually, we decided to go for it and get married. So when I was changing my legal status, things in my life and art started to switch as well. I wasn’t allowed to work or do anything outside of waiting to be a resident, which took a year. And during this year all I did was draw. I sold a few of my illustrations here and there. And that’s how the entire year went by, just illustrating on my own.

I experimented a little with watercolors, before I really started to do acrylic paintings. I did abstract pictures. I found that the abstract painting was very liberating, I didn’t have to decide what object to do and this development was a great emotional process. A combination of colors was all I had to decide and this would basically be the inspiration for my paintings.

The mixture of colors.

Later I started doing decoration pictures. My only purpose was to have something pretty hanging on the wall to enjoy for myself.

They were kind of self-portraits of emotional expressions that I had during the day. How they turned out would depend very much on the day. Sometimes I would throw the paint at the canvas, I didn’t have a method, really. I would even use drumsticks too.

GL: So what are you working on now and how are you inspired?

EM: Now, I’m back to painting objects. I received my green card last year and before that, I didn’t go to Mexico for more than two years. I was finally able to travel again, and this had a huge influence on my art. I was always very into London and New York, I feel like I never appreciated Mexico as much as I do now, after I had been away for a long time. Before, Mexico was always the same to me, it didn’t amuse me and while everyone was excited about Frida Kahlo and the art there, it was just normal to me.

But living abroad for so many years without going back made me miss it so much. So now I understand. I see all these things clearly, that I didn’t see while growing up. I was, and still am, in the process of accepting my ethnicity and learning to own it more. That is what I’m painting now.

I’m working on a series called “Contemporary Mexico,” which is a representation of

contemporary women in their everyday lives in Mexico. The richness of travelling and getting distance makes it possible to see those golden moments, which I will define as drinking coffee in the morning or doing the laundry by hand. I want to express traditional treasures in the contemporary world. My current piece is a woman drinking coffee from a classic Mexican pottery mug. I’m making sure, in my paintings, that these small details of Mexican design are present.

I’m playing a lot with bright, though soft colors.

Another thing that stands clear in my memory about Mexico is how the light hits objects in certain times of the day, smooth and golden.

I am trying to present this atmosphere and light in my series. Especially the sun. I like the romanticism of thinking that I’m in Mexico, because I’m so far away. It’s more like a memory in my head – like I’m representing my own nostalgia.

It’s an experience and feeling of Mexico that I want to give to people through my art. I want people to see Mexico the way that I have rediscovered it. As an exclusive and sophisticated country full of music, theater, amazing cuisine and life. An appreciation of what Mexico has to offer is what I want to give.

GL: Do you have a personal belief?

EM: I’m a firm believer in the power of attraction. Whatever you think and believe will happen to you. From my experience, people can often be quite negative towards my dreams. To them, my aspirations seem a little crazy. People have a tendency to tell you how hard your goals would be to achieve. I always tell myself that this is their perspective. It might be hard for them, but that doesn’t mean that it has to hard be for me.

See more of Evi’s work on her Instagram @evimanson

FIT

MARCH 2018

Art Exhibit Review:

BY ERIN TUCKER

Curated by Emma Orland and Carolyn Hallack, Sonder is an art exhibition which opened its second installation this past March 9 until March 11 in a small gallery in lower Manhattan. On opening night, art lined the walls around the entire space and the gallery was packed to the door with admirers sipping wine, shooting photos on disposable cameras and posing at the photobooth.

It all started in June 2017 when Orland came up with the idea to curate an exhibit for young artists. Soon after Hallack joined her, and they had their first exhibition in September of that year. They chose Sonder as a name because of a fascination with its definition: “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” They wanted to give these passerbys a space to share their art.

Sonder did really well at showcasing the young artists of New York and how we view the world. Through the artists’ vulnerability, there was so much room for people to relate to what they had to say. The narrative behind the pieces was honest in and of

itself, and the personal concept made Sonder stand out as a unique exhibition.

One piece that stood out to me was a photoset called Inherently Queer, by Kayden Strauss. A photography major in his first year at FIT, the style of his work features a cinematic approach. Strauss describes himself as an artist that likes to photograph those not typically seen and prefers to not use traditional models.

Inherently Queer represents “a side of the queer community that most do not normally think about– which is the fact that queer people are just people.” It provides a glimpse into parts of someone you might not typically see, which underlines the idea that there is always more to a person than you can know from their surface. He wants people “to understand [his] message without having to say much,” and the piece was very successful in that respect.

Another of my favorites was a photoset

by Mae Krell, titled Utah. Krell is a 19 year old musician and photographer, born and raised in New York City. Utah is a beautiful set of 20 film photos that

narrate their year away from home in treatment. They detail that year as one of self discovery and self reflection; one of the hardest but most powerful things they have ever done. Krell hopes that sharing these photos and their stories “will help people realize that they really aren’t able to understand and see what other people go through until they ask, listen, and choose to be empathetic and understanding.”

Exhibitions like Sonder are important, not only for these young artists, but for the audience as well. It gives young people a voice and creates room for meaningful conversations to be had. Sonder was wonderful and I highly recommend paying Sonder III a visit, which Hallack says is already on the planning stages.

Restaurant Review:

BY LARA DE LA TORRE

Xi’an Famous Foods

With over 22,000 followers on their verified Instagram account and over 11,000 posts using their signature hashtag, Xi’ an Famous Foods has amassed a loyal fan-base since its opening in 2005. A family-owned and operated restaurant for thirteen years, according to their website Famous Foods, it “began as a 200 square foot basement-stall in the Golden Shopping Mall in Flushing, NY.” Since then, the mom-and-pop has expanded to include nine locations in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn and two in Queens.

PHOTOS COURTESY LARA DE LA TORRE

Xi’ an Famous Foods has harnessed the power of said Instagram-worthy noodles and what’s more, I found that they’re actually one of the most wonderful comfort foods a person could ask for.

Offering vegetarian and vegan options as well as their signature pork, beef and lamb dishes, this restaurant’s menu makes one feel like they’re eating lovingly made home-cooking.

The restaurant’s mission is simple: bring to light food that is little-known on this side of the world. The city of Xi’ an, located in North-Western China, is unique in its culinary tastes. Combining Chinese and Middle-Eastern flavors, food from this region of China is heavy in its use of fragrant spices such as cumin and Sichuan peppercorn. And for all those heat-lovers out there, it’s also heavy-handed when it comes to chili.

Upon my visit to the 34th and 5th midtown location of this notable eatery, I was impressed by their quick, efficient service and care when it came to the exact level of spice I wanted my Mt. Qi Pork HandRipped Noodles to have. After a quick scan of the menu, simple ordering and paying (my tab coming out to a reasonable $11.83 with tax) and grabbing my freshly made dinner out of the hands of the chef herself, I was able to make my way upstairs to the second-floor seating area without incident. Nestled comfortably in a corner, I took my first bite–a memorable one.

Tangy, tasty flavors melted in my mouth.

Cumin mixed with hot chili oil, sharp bites of celery and vinegar, the give of wellcooked pork and the crunch of equally well-cooked cabbage. Most notably, the familiar, glossy texture of freshly made noodles–the star of the show. Hand-pulled biang-biang noodles are hypnotizing to watch while being made and even more mesmerizing to eat. Overall, reasonable prices, healthy portions and newfound flavors are what are going to keep bringing me back to this cult-followed favorite and hopefully this will have inspired you to give it a try yourself–don’t forget to ask for extra chili oil!

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HAUTE CULTURE

W27

WHY WAKANDA MATTERS

BY MASON AUMAN

PHOTO COURTESY DAVID HOLT | FLICKR

Warning: mild spoilers ahead.

is an independent black woman and an integral player for the salvation of her country.

She is fearless and undaunted. Nakia is why Wakanda matters.

perhero films. I found a more than small part of myself hoping that Killmonger would sucIn February, Marvel Studios released the ceed in his mission–even though it meant the newest edition to their perpetually expandBlack Panther himself would suffer defeat. ing cinematic universe. Black Panther roared Erik Killmonger is the voice of rage and frusinto theaters and hungrily garnered critical The otherworldly technological advance- tration that we need to hear. He’s filled with acclaim and big box office numbers. The ment of Wakanda is the work of T’Challa’s pain that we need to feel. Erik Killmonger is film has been reviewed by innumerable out- younger sister, Shuri. The young woman is, why Wakanda matters. lets on the merits of its technical assets and frankly, a genius. Her intellect and inclinainvaluable representation of people of col- tion for invention outmatches that of Tony Hell, Wakanda is why Wakanda matters. The or–the latter of which is the crux of my own nation is a technological marvel and a stunanalysis of the film’s importance. The way Stark–Marvel Studios reigning technological ning display of African culture. No president that the characters in Black Panther appear is mogul. She maintains a distinct voice that can look at Wakanda and call it a shit-hole. dignified, strong and–ultimately–heroic. This respects the tradition of her nation while in- It’s the kind of country that historians would heroism can be seen not only in T’Challa, the sisting that there are better ways to do things. gawk at. It demands the respect of every title character, but in the host of supporting Shuri has a youthful energy that can be felt viewer in the theater and holds it tightly for characters that surround him. when she interacts with T’Challa. The pair the duration of the film. Its stunning strucoperates in a way that implies a familial bond tures and warmth stays with you when you T’Challa’s home nation, Wakanda, finds itself much deeper than the viewer can discern. leave and you can’t help but want to return as in the tumult of a power vacuum when his fasoon as possible.

Shuri is why Wakanda matters. ther is killed. In his quest to secure the land and his people, T’Challa is guarded and adThis kind of representation is why Black Panvised by a woman named Okoye. She acts as ther is so important. It seems simple and the leader of the Dora Milaje–the royal guard maybe even a bit reductive to imply that the of the king. Okoye is introduced to us at the movie isn’t more than cool images, because same time that we meet T’Challa and quickits value is found in a vast array of places. ly establishes that she can not only hold her But the mere existence of these characters own with the young king but even best him. is enough on its own to warrant excitement.

A child of color can look at Okoye and say, It’s unfathomable that it’s taken this long, but “that’s me,” the same way that white children we’re here now. Representation matters. It have been able to identify with super heroes matters because it’s the catalyst for imbuing since the genre was birthed. Okoye is why us with an idea of what we could become. It Wakanda matters. matters because it’s real life. We are not one

T’CHalla’s adversary, Erik Killmonger, is the thing, we’re infinite things. And all of those Okoye and T’Challa are joined by Nakia, a spy most striking figure in the film. Killmonger’s things deserve to be included in film and mefor Wakanda who has T’CHalla in the throes inception provides the viewer with a sense of dia so that we can become the best versions of affection for the entirety of the film. Nakia empathy and connection that is rare in su- of who we are.

“No president can

look at Wakanda and call it a shit hole country.”

FIT

MARCH 2018

15

HoFIT

HUMANS OF FIT

BY LARA DE LA TORRE

DANIELA MONTES DE OCA FASHION DESIGN What are you most afraid of right now?

To be completely honest, I’m afraid of just trusting in certain relationships in my life.

What are you looking for right now?

To live passionately; seizing every moment and making sure to enjoy everything.

Off the top of your head, what’s the happiest

What would people be surprised to know

moment of your life?

When I first moved to NYC by myself; figuring things out on my own and making mistakes gave me such joy. Getting on the wrong side of the subway and realizing I was completely not where I’d wanted to go; just getting lost but still knowing I was safe.

about you?

That I love giving and receiving gifts.

What’s your greatest struggle right now?

Guarding my heart.

CAROLYN CASTAGNA ILLUSTRATION What are you most afraid of right now?

Well, my constant fear is failing; not living up to my full potential. And also just not being happy with what I’m doing.

Off the top of your head, what’s the happiest moment of your life?

This is so hard... I have so many happy moments I don’t know if just one would be enough! It’s probably when I was little and I went to show my grandparents a picture I had drawn from one of my favorite children’s books; it was the moment I realized I wanted to be an artist.

What are you looking for right now?

I’m looking for any type of experience that I can learn from.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I’m a good dancer.

What’s your greatest struggle right now?

Balancing my social life and school. Staying calm when I have a lot of things to think about.

KAYLA MASHBURN FABRIC STYLING

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LARA DE LA TORRE

What are you most afraid of right now?

I’m afraid of not finding a place to live next year since I’m not planning to be in the dorms anymore.

that throws off the balance that I start to develop; if it’s not work stressing me out, it’s school. I’m just always searching for things to even out.

Off the top of your head, what’s the happiest

What would people be surprised to know

moment of your life?

Two years ago at my old school. I used to play softball as a college athlete. We were tied, the bases were loaded, it was the eighth inning and I came off the bench to close out the game. I remember striking out the first 2 batters and then a pop-up to end the inning and we ended up winning the game. It was honestly the most highlighted part of my college career.

about you?

I love playing video games; Halo is my favorite game. It’s always been my way of connecting with my dad.

What are you looking for right now?

Stability. I feel like there’s always something

What’s your greatest struggle right now?

I think my greatest struggle is just trusting in God and what He has planned for me. I try to take control of things a lot in my life but at the end of the day I know that no matter what I do, there’s always going to ultimately be that high power that’s going to take control. It makes me nervous.

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MONTH IN REVIEW

W27

The Administration of Donald Trump: A Review of His First Year in Office

BY SOPHIA OSTAPENKO

Donald Trump is one of the most controversial presidents in the history of the United States of America. His unique approach to the presidency, which is livestreamed on Twitter, has been making major headlines during 2017. Particularly with various sources of what he calls “fake news,” such as CNN. Although the media attempts to cover most of the topics of President Trump’s doing, a lot of the stories go unnoticed on social media and in society. Therefore, the question arises if there is anything number 45 may have done that changed the course of politics in the United States for better or for worse? Let’s review.

The Rise of Women Whether directly or indirectly, President Trump and his notorious comments about women have had a significant impact on launching a new chapter for women.

The issue of building the wall has been covered recently because the Trump Administration is intending to build it through Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge. This could potentially destroy the Rio Grande Valley refuge, which according to Business Insider, is “home to more than 400 species of bird, 450 plant species, and the endangered ocelot.” The reason the government is planning to build the wall through the refuge is because it already owns the land. If the wall has to be built on any different territory, such as one of the neighboring residential properties, the United States Congress will have to go to court to obtain rights and permissions prior to beginning any sort of construction. Obtaining federal permission could take weeks, months or years.

That would delay the Trump Administration from achieving their goal, even if the president and his administration are selected for a second term.

The Power of Twitter President Barack Obama and the Obama Administration were the first to use Twitter as a way to connect to American citizens, to voice support and explain issues on a more accessible platform for the newer generations. However, President Donald Trump has really turned Twitter into a separate news source.

Mr. Trump is famous for using Twitter for expressing his views and opinions. Since he has become president, he continues to use Twitter as a collection of his thoughts and opinions on government issues, even those that are highly confidential.

Mr. President has tweeted about everything and anything: the FBI, with messages like “NEW FBI TEXTS ARE BOMBSHELLS.” Fake News, which

Released in October 2016, a tape from “Access Hollywood” detailed Trump’s vulgar remarks on women. According to The New York Times, the comments were made while Donald Trump was speaking to Billy Bush of “Access Hollywood,” while they were on the set of “Days of Our Lives”- where Trump made an appearance.

The rude statement made by Trump in regards to inappropriately touching women by their genitals was one of the contributing and final factors to prompting a new wave of women’s rights movement.

The Women’s March was the starting point of the 21st Century Women’s Rights Movement. The following events have not only been responses to Trump’s comments, but also address issues that have been ignored for years and are having a major impact on the entertainment industry, and potentially on other industries as well. #MeToo movement along with #TimesUp were not just trending Twitter hashtags, they encouraged women, who were victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault, to speak up and fight for their rights within their career fields.

Although this movement is still a work in progress, it has already pushed infamous directors, actors and producers into the spotlight, such as Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and, as of recently, Woody Allen.

DACA, the Wall, and the Wildlife Refuge President Trump has come under fire for many issues that are connected to current and potential immigration policies. Despite the fact that he is still intending to build the wall between Mexico and the United States, he is attempting to alter or end the current immigration policy of chain migration due to the fact that many immigrants come to the United States because of their relatives residing in the country.

PHOTO COURTESY CNN.COM

Although President Trump has gained a lot of attention in regards to the wall during the election period, he is not the first president who intended to build a more rigid border between the US and Mexico. President George W. Bush and the Bush Administration, which was in office from 2001 to 2009, also had a plan of constructing a wall.

However, because they chose to pursue federal permission and not build through the refuge, they were in court until President Obama’s term in office.

In addition, The Trump Administration has released numerous statements in regards to shutting down DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The program, that allowed many children and young adults who entered the United States illegally to obtain legal documentation, such as a social security number, was planned to be shut down. However, after numerous protests and petitions, DACA and its longevity will be decided upon in court. So far, the second U.S. judge has blocked the Trump Administration from ending DACA. According to the Washington Times, it will not only fully restart, but it will prevent any current members of the program from being deported, along with accepting brand new applicants as well.

PHOTO COURTESY REDDIT

includes sources such as The New York Times, Tax Cuts, DACA, State legislations and much more.

Known as the “Big Bully of the Internet,” Mr. Trump has lived up to his reputation by calling Senator Chuck Schumer “Cryin’ Chuck Shumer,” and the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-Un, “short and fat.”

While the tweets are often not what you would expect from a person who is sitting in the president’s chair, in one of the most powerful countries in the world, there’s something about President Trump that has proven now, more than ever before, millions of people are able to connect to the president of the United States of America.

Anyone from any location in the world has the ability to press the “Tweet” button and be directed straight to the president’s feed and his replies section. His usage of Twitter is showcasing the power of social media and its vast extent. Without having to speak to the press or contact anyone to write an official announcement, Mr. Trump is capable of typing his message and sending out himself.

After all of the issues are taken into consideration and all points of view weighed, is this what 21st Century presidency has come to look like?

FIT

MARCH 2018

THE UNVEILING OF THE OBAMA PORTRAITS

BY ALEXANDER LOPEZ-GUEVARA

This past February at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, the unveiling of the Obama couple’s portraits opened to wide acclaim from both the political and art worlds.

In October of last year, it was announced that artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald would take on the honor and challenge of creating two stunning portraits of both Barack and Michelle Obama (respectively). The two portraits produced exude of elegance, artistry, and a sort of intimacy that has not yet been fully explored in past presidential portraits.

Presidential portraits of the past all carry within them a basic composition, first established by Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington: the man sitting or standing, in his best suit and tie, perhaps smiling or carrying a solemn gaze towards the viewer or someone outside of the frame, and within the composition, there are objects associated with the position of a leader.

Background colors are low in saturation to allow the dark of the suits contrasted with rosy-pale faces to prevail. Portraits that stand out for their

funded until the 1960’s, when Jacqueline Kennedy founded the White House Historical Association. Of course, there were plenty of portraits of the First Lady, but the commissions were usually done privately or through funding from outside sources. Many of the first Lady portraits only indicated delicacy and class. Such examples include Theobold Chartran’s portrait of Edith Roosevelt, and Aaron Shikler’s portrait of Jaqueline Kennedy. Some of these portraits include smiles, flowers, and even dogs. These portraits, much like the presidential portraits, focused a lot on political identity and status, and hold a similar mood throughout the course of time.

The National Portrait Gallery houses these portraits (and many more), but did not open its doors until 1968—50 years ago, exactly. It only recently began to commission the presidential portraits. It has made way for the consistent hiring of artists to create something to honor such political figures. But these commissions never did stir the pot within the two realms of art and politics. Despite the lack of attention in the past, it took these two subjects (and the current political climate) to bring attention to the unveiling of the art itself.

Kehinde Wiley’s piece takes elements of color choice and composition that echo de Kooning’s portrait. It also echoes Healy’s seated portrait of Lincoln on an elaborate chair. But what makes this portrait stand out as a work of artistry, originality, and mastery is Wiley’s signature approach to the rendering of his subjects; he is famously known for his African American subjects posed in front of backdrops with intricate patterns and bright hues.

These hues cast reflective light on the fabrics and frames of each PHOTOS COURTESY THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY subject, which is usually painted departure from this composition include George in a classical tradition, making them look heroic, Peter Alexander Healy’s portrait of Abraham in a way. In his portrait of Obama, Wiley has Lincoln, Elaine de Kooning’s portrait of John F. Obama sitting in an elaborate wooden chair, Kennedy, and Norman Rockwell’s portrait of with a suit—no tie— and with his arms gently Richard Nixon. These portraits combined mood, crossed and his hands resting on his thighs. He political identity and artistry to depict the legacy leans forward and looks at the viewer with a cool of each president. glance, softened by the warm and rich colors laid down by Wiley. In the backdrop, we see a wall of Portraits of First Ladies did not begin to be jasmines, (representing Hawaii—Obama’s native

state). The blue lilies represent his Kenyan roots and the chrysanthemum is the official flower of Chicago, which is where Obama first entered the political world (and met his wife). The springlike theme of the backdrop can be interpreted as fresh, invigorating, or abundant in its nature; which could describe the impact Obama had on American culture, politics, and the economy.

Amy Sherald is known for her way of presenting her African-American subjects, much like Wiley is known for his manner as well. The subjects are dressed stylishly, rendered in black and white and set against a colored background (she chooses the most beautiful palettes to fill the canvas). Abstraction and simplification of the form is prominent in her work, as opposed to Wiley’s classical style. In her portrait of Mrs. Obama, we see those same techniques shine through. Along with her signature approach, Sherald incorporates a masterful use of composition to represent power, elegance, and grace. Mrs. Obama is in a beautiful dress, designed by well-renowned designer, Milly; there are patches of patterns and lines, which are rendered to indicate folding and wrapping around the figure of a seated Michelle. The composition is pyramidal, with Michelle at the very tip, with a glance that reads as fierce, passionate, fashionable and classy—traits that she’d share often during her tenure. With both arms folded, a hand holding her chin (and a few fingers poised in a way that reads as a little sassy), we see Mrs. Obama for the respectable figure she is. The soft blue color acts as a calm complement to the fierce gaze of the former first Lady. I must say: It is my favorite of the two.

Compared to the past portraits of the presidential couple, these two portraits stand out as groundbreaking, modern, and serve a refreshing take on what a portrait of an important figure can be. Some people regarded the background of Barack Obama’s portrait as distracting or silly; some people said Michelle Obama’s portrait looked nothing like her and that her dress was too distracting. But it should be noted that not many people understand the importance of symbolism and composition within a painting.

One cannot paint a likeness of the subject and write it off as artistic without first exploring the history and humanity of the said subject. Both portraits remind us of the kind of people the couple were during their presidency, and ask us to remember that they too are just people.

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MONTH IN REVIEW

& TOWARDS A DREAM :

VOICE

W27

ACTION

HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL ACTVISIT IN MODERN SOCIETY

BY ASHLEY FREUDNER Have you ever dreamed of a future where society can live and flourish without the presence of increasing hatred? This is the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of in his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. As King put it back then, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’”

It’s with the work of activists that history has been made– like in 1918, when women were given the right to vote due to the efforts of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Fights by those like King and Malcolm X worked towards dismantling segregation, ultimately succeeding in its removal from federal and state law. Through living without fear in speaking for what they thought was right for society, these activists all worked towards reshaping the future.

Overwhelmingly, an awareness of such issues is taking place now. This awareness has sparked movements and protests like the Women’s Marches. But even with protests making communities come together, there’s still a lack of inclusivity.

For example, The Women’s Marches–while powerful–sometimes fail to recognize everyone who identifies as a woman, as well as the intersections of feminism that include race, class and income. It’s crucial to keep things like this in mind to help make the fight for human rights inclusive.

Taking action for what you want to see in the world is crucial, and giving a platform to other voices, especially those who are silenced, helps to amplify these crucial messages. For instance, Rowan Blanchard is a young activist and actress who uses her Instagram account to discuss issues from sexism to transphobia to racism. Through this platform, Blanchard uses her influence to create awareness about a multitude of important topics to her five million followers.

The ability to be a successful activist doesn’t depend on age and there is no specific threshold that must be met in order to do something to better society. This past Feb. 14, 17 people were shot and killed in Parkland, Florida inside of the Stoneman Douglas High School. Less than two months into the new year, it was the 18th school shooting in 2018. Since the shooting in Parkland, there has also been a fatal shooting in Mount Pleasant, Michigan in the Central Michigan University.

The victims of the Parkland shooting have worked extremely hard to get some real change to happen.

In a matter of days, these high school students were able to get many companies to withdraw ties with the NRA and went to Washington, DC to speak with members of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF FIBONACCI BLUE

18

federal government in an effort to get stricter gun laws. They have also been vocally spoken about their want to implement positive change in social media, organizing an incredible amount of people into channeling their anger into peaceful protest, such as the upcoming “March For Our Lives.” One voice may not stand strong alone but with a large platform the voices of many can make change happen.

It’s also valuable to have an understanding of intersectionality and how people experience life in a different way than you might. People experience life through different lenses, skewing their opinions and actions. It’s our responsibility to be aware of this and to understand how we can leverage our privilege to help others. But how exactly can we do that?

Working with organizations to help spread a message and fight for a cause is an actionable way to help others. This ultimately benefits underrepresented groups more than simply being aware of something and posting about it on Instagram. It’s vital for us to get out there and work towards creating change.

Everyday is an opportunity to change things. Activism is about growing and learning from the things that can be done to help make a positive change happen. Being aware and showing that you care means putting into the world what you want to receive. So keep dreaming, and have a vision of that dream for an equal tomorrow, because one day it might be a reality.

FIT

MARCH 2018

19

Each month, we feature artwork from FIT students. Whether it’s something you’re pursuing professionally or just trying to have fun with, nothing is too big or too small for The Gallery.

THE GALLERY ART COURTESY WILLIAMS PEREZ

Williams Perez Illustration major

“For some of my artwork, I like to create a narrative and let the person use their own imagination to create the story behind the art.”

Follow Williams on Instagram: @williams_perez_

Would you like to see your artwork featured in The Gallery? Send us an email to w27_newspaper@fitnyc.edu for a chance to have your work featured in our next issue.

20 FIT SPEAKS

W27

THE REALITY OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT

BY SOPHIA OSTAPENKO

T

he Constitution of the United States of America has been laying the groundwork for the government and its people for the past 300 years. The first ten amendments, which are also known as Bills of Rights, were created in 1791. They address what is considered to be a collection of basic rights of United States citizens. Perhaps the most controversial of these amendments is the Second, which states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” This directive has been the topic of innumerable discussions in recent times.

The meaning of the amendment is often argued due to the various interpretations of its original wording. To understand the amendment, an American has to travel back to the times in which it was created: December 15, 1791. At the time, the United States government was not what it is at the moment. It lacked structure, national security and strong military to protect the internal affairs and the people of the United States from foreign invasions, or gain control over domestic crimes.

The second amendment was completely understandable then. But things have changed since then, and more people have begun to question the necessity of the Second Amendment and people’s right to bear arms in the 21 century.

Although “bearing arms” might be used to protect oneself, is it truly necessary when the residents of the United States live in a world with police forces and effective militia? As of late, guns have not been used for protection. Instead, they have caused some of the deadliest mass killings in the United States.

The Second Amendment allowed individuals to purchase weapons and use them in the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School shooting, December 2, 2015 San Bernardino shooting, December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, June 12, 2016 Pulse Club in Orlando shooting, October 1, 2017 Las Vegas shooting, and February 14, 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

According to CNN, the previously mentioned shootings do not compile even half of all of the shootings that have occurred within the past three decades in the United States. Yet, the government has not been actively searching for solutions to ban guns or impose stricter laws that would influence gun control. Some of the most liberal parts of the nation would like to abolish the Second Amendment. It would, however, be much more difficult to do so since discontinuing an amendment requires another amendment to be imposed. The process has to go through the

Supreme Court and Congress, which would take more time and effort from the current government or any other.

But the question still stands: what does the Second Amendment specifically state? Does it indicate that all of the citizens of the United States have the right to own weapons? Or was it simply a misinterpretation on behalf of the people 300 years ago, which has now just been accepted by society as the common meaning of the amendment?

According to The Guardian, before 2008, the US Supreme Court was not involved in explaining the definition of the Second Amendment. The people of the US perceived it as the right to bear arms, but “the supreme court and federal courts held that it only applied in the context of militias, the right of states to protect themselves from federal interference.” But in the District of Columbia v. Heller court case, the court overturned the ban on bearing handguns in the city. As The Guardian reported, the controversial and well-known Supreme Court judge, Antonin Scalia, supported the court’s decision, stating that it simply reaffirmed “an individual’s right to keep a weapon at home for self-defense.” Although the Supreme Court has refused to accept any other court cases related to the topics of Second Amendment and gun control, it is worth breaking down the definition of the amendment in order to get a better grasp of it.

According to CNN, each word could be individually broken down in order to grasp a more detailed understanding of the amendment’s meaning. The word, “militia,” for instance, refers to groups of men who were serving as protectors to their towns, colonies and what eventually became known as states. The words “well regulated” do not imply the actual word “regulation.”

Instead, it meant that the militia was prepared to fight if needed to, not if it was controlled by the government and used as the modern day military services.

“Being necessary to the security” also implies that the militia was necessary to protect “local residents from attack and invasion,” as Jack Rakove, a Pulitzer Prizewinning author and professor of political science and law at Stanford University says in the CNN article. The word “security” also implies protection from the government’s overuse of power. For instance, if the government would’ve wanted to take control of a citizen’s land, the “security” in the Second Amendment would allow the citizen to defend his holdings and use his rights. As a combination, the phrase “A well regulated Militia”, is one of the main reasons for the debate. Since times have changed and the government has solidified its authority and created a functioning

military, CNN points out that “militia” does not have the same translation or definition as it did at the time of the creation of the Constitution.

“Of a free State” holds its true meaning to this day. The state refers to the United States as a nation, or to the colonies that existed at the time. The word “free” implies the independent nation.

“The right of the people” refers to people’s rights. Yet, although the Founding Fathers believed in people’s natural, God-given rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of religion, according to another CNN expert, Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, they did not combine the First and Second Amendments for a reason. The First Amendment, which advocates for natural rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of speech, is closely related to the rights that were given by a higher power beyond the government. The Second Amendment argues for rights provided by the government, but they are not considered “natural rights of the people.” In a way, it was a government’s way of saying that the people of the United States have the right to self-defense.

The word “people” implies the masses who had the ability to vote and participate in all political affairs, also known as white men. Since the Constitution was written in 1787, slave ownership and lack of women’s rights were still a part of the American culture. Therefore, “people” indicated the white men who could vote and read the Constitution. That also has clearly changed in today’s society.

The final part of the Second Amendment, which is “bear Arms, shall not be infringed,” has to be looked at in terms of its context.

The word “arms” could imply weapons or emerging firearms. But, “shall not be infringed” means that the rights listed should not be broken by the government in relation to its people.

Considering the time period in which the Second Amendment was written, it is possible to say that the amendment provided the United States’ citizens with the right to self-defense, rather than the right to carry weapons and use them with malicious intentions. Yet, since the country’s culture has significantly evolved with many adopting the concept of the Second Amendment as the right to carry weapons, it is worth asking if it would be possible to pass a different amendment—one adapted to the contemporary context, that takes into the consideration all the tragedies that have occurred due to unregulated sell of weapons and a loose interpretation of our second amendment.

FIT

MARCH 2018

21

A REFLECTION ON THE STATUS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF NFL PLAYER-PROTESTS

BY MASON AUMAN

The National Football League mattered this year. It didn’t matter because of the exciting competition or the looming risk of substantial traumatic brain injury, although both were present throughout the season. The NFL mattered because of the movement Colin Kaepernick started and the players that continued to kneel for the national anthem even after he lost his job for it. A brutal and vitriolic discourse was introduced into the public sphere, with right-wing voices and the President himself pissing on the concept of free speech under the guise of “patriotism.” But why did this happen?

Why did a variety of NFL players decided to kneel in protest as the national anthem played before each game? And what tangible result are we left with?

PHOTO CREATIVE COMMONS

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in an article for The Guardian, notes: “…the message is so historically American that Betsy Ross could have embroidered it on her bloomers: “All people are created equal, so let’s treat them that way.”

IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO RECOGNIZE THE PLIGHT OF OTHERS IF IT IS NOT YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE. THIS IS NORMAL. WHAT IS NOT NORMAL IS BEING MADE AWARE OF A GROUP’S SUFFERING AND DENYING THE EXISTENCE OF THEIR PAIN ENTIRELY.

The players kneel as a call for law enforcement to stop killing unarmed black people, for lawmakers to stop creating laws that systematically block minorities from voting and for the judiciary system to stop punishing black people far more than white people who commit the same crime, which is an undeniable statistical fact. The players kneel as a way to stir up conversation about these issues and raise awareness that will lead to equal job and educational opportunities for black Americans.

These sentiments are considered controversial by many, even though they are the foundation of this country. Colin Kaepernick began this movement as a way to alert the public of a problem that they may not have even been aware of. It can be difficult to recognize the plight of others if it is not your own experience. This is normal. What is not normal is being made aware of a group’s suffering and denying the existence of their pain entirely. This is, at least some of the time, the case for those who have voiced disapproval for the player-protests this last season.

Having addressed the most commonly lobbed complaints in opposition to the player-protests, the question becomes: what did it accomplish?

To start, it accomplished Colin Kaepernick being jobless as no NFL team will bring him on. I find it unfathomable that a Super Bowl caliber quarterback like Kaepernick isn’t even considered good enough to play third string–meaning he doesn’t rank within the top 96 quarterbacks in the country. This notion is egregiously false and any person who has even a cursory interest in football knows it. Every NFL owner, by denying Colin Kaepernick a spot on their team, is showing that they care more about not alienating bigoted fans than winning football games. It’s ironic, I suppose, that those very fans will certainly be upset when their team can’t string together a decent playoff run.

Has the NFL done anything in response to its players passionate pleas for change? Yes, in fact, they have done something. The size and value of that thing is not small. But it is possible, however, that the contribution is undermined by the ostracizing of Colin Kaepernick. According to the Guardian, The NFL has pledged to donate $89 million dollars over seven years to various grassroots social justice organizations. Kaepernick himself just finished raising one million dollars to donate to various charities. He recently donated the final $10,000 of his #10for10 campaign in which he donated $10,000 to 10 different charities–each donation matched by a celebrity friend. In tandem with the league’s pledge, a player’s coalition has formed to address social justice. Recently, reports have surfaced that a bit of dissent is brewing within the group. This news is disappointing but not dire. And it does not undermine or discredit the players’ plea for justice.

These metrics are important. But the most important result of the protests is the way that it has sparked national conversation. High school and college athletes followed NFL players in kneeling, creating a ripple that made the protest impossible to ignore.

It is my hope that the players are not finished yet.

They must continue to kneel and continue to shout for justice. As with all protesters for justice that have There are also those that haven’t outwardly objected come before them–the players who kneel and speak to the message, but to the methodology. To many, out will be considered heroes, even by the people the idea of kneeling during the national anthem is who oppose them. a show of disrespect to our military and those that have died for this country. I am not the first to point The individuals who promote hatred and oppression out–nor will I be the last–that those who fight for will pretend that they supported the protests all America do so for that exact reason. They fight so along while pressing back against whatever group is that we can have the freedom to speak out against calling for justice that day. Donald Trump can tweet oppression. Additionally, I find it particularly in support of Martin Luther King Jr., now. But he important to note that, during every national was singing a different tune when he publicly called anthem that has ever played before a sporting for the execution of the black boys who comprised event, there are people in line for hot dogs or nachos the “Central Park Five,” even after they were proven or beer. There are people in the restroom. There are innocent. Colin Kaepernick is on the right side of people texting on their phones or even just walking history. The players who kneel are on the right side from one place in the stadium to another. These of history. With urgency, we must all join them. So individuals pay no mind to the anthem. Why are that someday we can tell our children that we were they not considered disrespectful or unpatriotic? on the right side of history, and have it be the truth.

22 FIT SPEAKS

W27

WHY IS THE INTERNET SO OBSESSED WITH HOROSCOPES?

BY CHRISTINA SANTOS For many college students the Fall semester can be an overwhelming one– such was the case for me, last semester.

It wasn’t long until I delved into the habit of checking my horoscope every day, becoming very acquainted with every aspect of my birth chart. Soon, I took note of my considerably strange obsession. I was searching for a gleam of hope, that maybe things would take a more positive turn. I’ve always had an interest in astrology and my star sign, however, between the stress of dating, family life, school and work, life took a toll on me. At the same time, it seemed as the entire internet was obsessed with the zodiac, so it made justifying my interest to myself all the more easier for me. Horoscope updates came in the form of Instagram posts, tweets or a simple Google search. Even when I wasn’t looking for the information, I just stumbled upon it. This became an everyday routine, where I couldn’t go a single day without checking up on what would happen to me and, clearly, all of the other Pisces across the globe.

One third of Americans strongly believe in the predictions presented in horoscopes, according to an study from scientists at the University of South Carolina and John Hopkins University in Baltimore. The importance of zodiac signs is also increasingly popular among millennials, but there’s no surprise there. In total, 58 percent of 18 to 24 year-olds believe that the zodiac is indeed a science.

And yet, should we really take our sign into consideration when making important decisions? According to astrology, there are plenty of ways in which zodiac signs can affect your life.

Many online sites and publications post daily variations of horoscope-related stories. For example, the popular millennial site, Thought Catalog, has dozens of articles dedicated to zodiaceque topics. Some of their most current popular articles include titles like, “Exactly What It’s Like To Date The 12 Women Of The Zodiac.” These types of posts are all over the internet, especially when it comes to love and dating. And millenials are the ones reading them the most.

Astrology and love coincide for many different reasons, since love and relationships are most often than not the one thing that is out of our control.

That being said, many can use zodiac readings to dictate how they date and to feel a sense of control. I used to act this way, but eventually, this way of thinking backfired. You can’t rule someone out just because they’re a Gemini or a Taurus.

The moon can in no way, shape or form determine someone’s exact personality.

You can’t fit someone’s life into a single paragraph–and many horoscopes are

IN TOTAL, 58% OF 1824 YEAR OLDS BELIEVE THAT THE ZODIAC IS INDEED SCIENTIFIC. ambiguous enough to relate to pretty much anyone’s life, anyway.

going on around you may serve as a temporary relief, but it also makes you feel free from the results of your own questionable actions.

The fascination with reading these weekly predictions leads into what psychologists refer to as The Barnum Effect. This effect occurs when someone believes that what they’re told applies specifically to them, when actually, the information is vague enough to apply to anyone or any situation. This is a technique that many con artists and wannabe psychics use against you (I would know.)

Astrology should never be used as an exact science or as a substitute for getting to know someone. Clinging onto your ex’s horoscope as you would to your own does is unhealthy and stops you from moving on. Dismissing someone you just met just because they are a Virgo is completely careless. These predictions can barely justify who you are as a person, so why use it to judge someone else?

These horoscope habits can have negative effects on your mental health in the long run. In my case, I delved so deep I found a new world I wasn’t sure I wanted to be a part of. Psychologists note that a zodiac reading with a poor outcome may make you more susceptible to temptation and bad choices. And if you are anything like the users conducted in this study, these readings will directly determine your decision-making. It may seem like common sense to do the opposite when receiving a bad reading, yet our minds seem to do the reverse. In a study done by the Journal of Consumer Research, it was found that those who regularly check their horoscope are more likely to act out impulsively or indulgently.

Participants in the study were more likely to let bad readings decide their further actions.

Your horoscope is meant to be a fun way of getting a better sense of your personality and the world around you.

There are no shortage of horoscope variations when you have access to the internet. If you’re anything like me, you’d search the internet until you find one that pertains exactly to your situation. However, neither the stars nor the moon can dictate what will happen to you. The universe is not working with or against you, and it shouldn’t be the deciding factor for any aspect of your life.

Think of it like this, if you’re not careful, daily horoscopes can act as a BandAid to more serious issues. Believing that the universe is at fault for what’s

“The universe is not working with or against you, and it shouldn’t be the deciding factor for any aspect of your life.”

MARCH 2018 23

FIT

STYLE ON 27

w BY ERIN TUCKER & GALIT LØNSTRUP

1. What’s your favorite piece of the outfit you have on?

2. Who is your style icon and why?

OLIVIA BARTFIELD, TDM

1. Probably my baret. I got it in France back when I visited.

2. I would probably say Alexa Chung, just because she defines everything Parisian.

NGOZI ODEGE, ACCESSORY DESIGN

JUSTIN ETIENNE,

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

JESSICA BIANCHI, FBM

1. My suit, I guess, because it 1. My hoodie. It’s from a brand 1. My shoes, definitely. I love pinks matches. It’s from Zara. and sparkly stuff. They’re from Urcalled 10 Deep, streetwear. ban Outfitters.

2. I guess everybody in the streets. 2. I guess ASAP Rocky, because Also, maybe Solange. of how versatile he is. He mixes 2. Probably Petra Collins. I love her streetwear with high-end a lot. I style, but I also like how she takes think versatility is really good in pictures, and her style in that. fashion.

BERFU CIFCI, FASHION DESIGN

UTKARSH SHUKLA, MFA FASHION DESIGN

1. My fur coat and my belt. Both 1. The jumpsuit. I just recently got are from Zara. it. It’s from this store in Bedford.

I forget the name, but it’s a bou2. My style icon is a Turkish blogtique that has pieces from tiny deger, her name is Nil. She kinda has signers from across the states. a dramatic style, with all the black.

I also love her masculine style.

2. I don’t know, I think just my

ELLIE VOGEL, FASHION DESIGN

1. That’d be the denim jacket I’m wearing. It’s shaped like a suit jacket but it’s acid wash. It’s from this vintage store near my house in San Jose, California.

2. Lily Collins. She has a vintage friends; people around me. I don’t aesthetic that I like. necessarily look at people through what they wear, but just like how they hold themselves. and their confidence.

SIMONE LOWE, FBM

1. Probably my baret. I just got it a few days ago. It’s from Dolls Kill, an online clothing company.

2. I really don’t know, I kinda do my own thing. I don’t really follow many fashion people on Instagram or anything. I kinda just thrift all my stuff and put it together.

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