The Wake - Issue 3 - Fall 2022

fortnightly student magazine

Winter is Coming and so is SAD

p. 9

volume 22 — issue 3

Myth of the Male Feminist

p. 17

Everyone but Africa

p. 10

Free of Gluten, Full of Anger

p. 18

Romanticizing Devils

p. 13

Mark Normand Q&A

p. 22

CREATIVE SUBMISSION

​​lil ol’ sentimental bird a dip of the wind your body squishes against the fear

to get a taste of the calm

that blows coldly in the air

yet you are not afraid you lay as if on your emerald throne illuminating brilliance solace as if it was all you’ve ever known old man, you think

and you think and you think at least to me, your thoughts seem like a thousand comets shooting past the stellar sky what do you think of the glistening golden leaves? is your soul dank or alive?

have you thought about your purpose in life? but in a second, you leave you become the thing of the earth

won’t you come back to sit,

lil ol’ sentimental bird?

Megan Hegenbarth

©2022 The Wake Student Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

Established in 2002, The Wake is a fortnightly independent magazine and registered student organization produced by and for students at the University of

Fortnightly Student Magazine

Minnesota. The Wake was founded by Chrin Ruen and James DeLong.

Disclaimer: The purpose of The Wake is to provide a forum in which students can

Volume 22 Issue 3

Editorial

voice their opinions. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not representative of the publication or university as a whole. To join the conversation email eic@ wakemag.org.

Production

Editor-in-Chief

Srihita Raju

Executive Director

Marie Ronannder

Managing Editor

Sophia Goetz

Creative Director

Laura Kuchar

Cities Editor

Vishalli Alagappan

Finance Manager

Rashmika Cheekati

Voices Editor

Carter Starkey

PR/Ad Manager

Gracie Kibort

Online Editor

Quinn McClurg

Social Media Manager

Renee Mottet

Copy Editor

Abby Vela

Art Director

Megan Bormann

Music Reviews Editor

Peter Nomeland

Web Manager

Sahra Hussein

Multimedia Producer

Ben Villnow

Distribution Manager

Selam Gerezgiher

Multimedia Editors

Natalie Aue

Designers

Makenna Larson

Kailee Baumann

Mallory Paul Kat Regas

Cities Interns: Sydney Peshon, Ava Rausch

PR/Ad Interns: Cheyney McKinney, Jacob Nelson

Voices Interns: Devna Panda, Goamaar Paul

Social Media Intern: Makayla Hilluka

Features Interns: Maddie Roth

Art Interns: Sarah Jiang, Natalie Williams, Brooke

Online Interns: Zoe Hoornbeck

Lambrecht, Alex Kozak

Copy Editors: Vern Nowakowski Music Reviews Interns: Shanna Sivakumar

This Issue Writers

Art

Allie Parker, Rachel Hoppe, Panache Matemba, Ava

1 Megan Bormann, 2 Brooke Lambrecht, 3 Alex Kozak

Rausch, Srihita Raju, Rae Damrow, Devna Panda, Nithya Venkat, Gracie Kibort, Maya Modeli, Abby Vela,

Cover and Feature Art: Natalie Williams

Shannon Brault, Shenali DeSilva, Matthew Zeichert,

Feature Spread Design: Mallory Paul

Rogan Isbell, Chandra Baviera Magic Hour, 5SOS5, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Lord of Creative Submissions

the Rings: Rings of Power, It’s Only Me, and Bad Mode

Megan Bormann, Shannon Brault, Megan Hegenbarth

images from original sources.

The Wake Student Magazine 126 Coffman Memorial Union 300 Washington Avenue SE Minneapolis, MN 55455

THE WAKE

The Zodiac as Pasta wink! one page magazine

aries

orzo unpredictable, can be chaotic in large numbers

cancer

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Discover what your zodiac sign would be....as a type of pasta!

Enjoy your pasta personality type!

taurus

farfalle bowtie pasta for the best dressed in the zodiac

leo

tortellini delicate, fragile, must handle just right to protect the insides

macaroni a classic, iconic, reliable

libra

scorpio

gemini

gemelli ...must I explain...

virgo

lasagna structured and often support whatever they’re a part of

sagittarius

ziti angular, dynamic, stunning

penne can come across as shallow...but all that space is for personality!

kraft mac & cheese an aquired taste...but worth it in the end

capricorn

aquarius

pisces

conchiglie practical, intentional, put together...slay

spaghetti you go with the flow...but you can also get tangled up in your own issues!

linguinie flowy, full of lots of possibilities NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

INSIDE 8

Hidden Gems on Campus: Study Spaces

9

Winter is Coming and so is SAD

10

Everyone but Africa

11

The Importance of Online Communities

13

Romanticizing Devils

16

An Imaginative Inner Life

17

Myth of the Male Feminist

18 19 20 22

Free of Gluten, Full of Anger The Pressure to Find Love Six Reviews Mark Normand Q&A

UPCOMING EVENTS 10/16 - 1/8 Botticelli and Renaissance Florence: Masterworks from the Uffizi In Renaissance Florence, artists saw art anew, inspired by ancient marbles and myths as well as the humanism of ruler and patron Lorenzo de’ Medici.

At the center of it all was Sandro Botticelli, whose genius for transforming classical themes into wholly original art inspired new ideals of beauty. Now, in a remarkable partnership with the Uffizi Galleries, Mia is hosting a major exhibition exploring the fevered creativity that defined this time and place.

2400 3rd Ave S

11/4 @ 6 - 8 PM “We Are Still Here” Indigenous Art Show

Visit the Friedli Gallery and Studio for their third annual indigenous art show on Nov 4th form 6-8pm, featuring works from native artists that celebrate indeginous art and life.

943 7th St W

11/4 - 11/6 2022 Minneapolis Gift and Art Expo

11/4 - 11/6 Art Attack 2022 The Northrup King Building is hosting their signature fall open studio event from Nov 4 - 6, where you can meet artists, explore all 4 floors of this historic building and get some shopping done!

1500 Jackson St NE

11/5 - 11/13 Festival de las Calaveras A Latine music and arts festival from Nov 5-13 at Squirrel Haus Arts that celebrates Latine artistic expression centered around the traditional and contemporary indigenous Mexican Dia de los Muertos celebration around the remembrance of Festival de las Calaveras is organized by Tlalnepantla Arts: non-profit community arts group based in Minneapolis.

3450 Snelling Ave

11/12 @ 5pm Gophers Got Talent Presented by the CLA Student Board, Gophers Got Talent is a chance for UMN students to showcase any talent from singing to close up magic to dance to spoken work to balloon animals to literally anything!

The Whole Music Club, CMU

Get ahead on your holiday shopping!

The Minneapolis Convention Center is hosting their annual gift and art expo, featuring holiday decor, jewelry, pottery, sculptures, textiles, paintings, and more.

1301 2nd Ave S

THE WAKE

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Letter from the Multimedia Producer Dear whoever is holding this magazine, We all had a motto or phrase that we repeated to ourselves at major points in our lives. These mottos represented who we used to be, who we were at the time, and who we wanted to be. For a lot of us, moving to college was a chance to start over and reinvent ourselves. My motto while moving to college was, “The only way you can truly find yourself is by being the most unapologetic and authentic version of yourself. Everything you want will follow.”

From the moment my parents drove off to the second I am sitting down to write this letter to you, I have held up on my promise to myself. In being my most authentic self, I have found my creativity, my voice, my passions, my people, and my path. By surrounding myself with people who support me and letting those who don’t go, I have been able to accomplish and create some really cool sh*t. Since freshman year, I have been so proud of the work I have done but something was missing. I was doing a lot of ideation and planning but my need to create wasn’t being met. So, in my last year at the University of Minnesota, I joined The Wake.

The Wake is a place for people to be themselves and talk about things they are passionate about. While I haven’t been at The Wake for very long, I have been reading and watching since freshman year. It is so admirable how passionate, talented, and authentic every single person involved in this process is. As the Multimedia Producer, I have the privilege to watch these people do what they do, document it, and tell their stories. Being at The Wake serves as both a reminder and an opportunity to be my most authentic self and use it to create.

Going into my senior year, I was nervous about being able to handle it. I am completing my degree, working two jobs, leading a student group, and volunteering. However, a new motto came into my life recently. I won’t go into detail but I lost something I really wanted and was working for and my dad said to me, “People who shoot for the stars are more often disappointed by life, but they achieve so much more.” By being my most authentic self, I have aimed for the stars in everything that I do and with that comes a lot of disappointment. Don’t lose yourself, remember who you are, remember who you love, and remember why you do what you do. Aim for the stars, and if you miss, try again.

I invite you to write these down on a post-it note and put it on your wall, “The only way you can truly find yourself is by being the most unapologetic and authentic version of yourself. Everything you want will follow,” and “People who shoot for the stars are more often disappointed by life, but they achieve so much more.”

With love and gratitude, Ben Villnow Multimedia Producer

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NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

ART

THE WAKE

Art by Shannon Brault Art by Shannon Brault

CITIES

Hidden Gems on Campus: Study Spaces Edition Getting motivation to study by finding your fave study spot

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BY ALLIE PARKER As we near the midway point of the semester, you may be desperate to find a way to romanticize doing your homework in order to stay motivated.

You’ve tried studying at Walter or Memorial Union and have come to realize that your favorite study spots are everyone’s favorite study spots. Fret not– luckily for you, I’ve searched every nook and cranny of campus and compiled a list of study spots so cool and cozy you’ll be itching to do your homework.

East Bank Nolte Center The entirety of the Nolte Center has a very historical ambience, and the lounge on the first floor is particularly lovely. Despite being at the heart of campus, it’s a quiet and peaceful space, making it ideal for lengthy study sessions.

Curriculum and Instruction Library This small ‘pocket library’ is located in the lower level of Peik Hall in Room 45, and it is cute as a button! It consists of children’s books along with several comfy chairs and couches, giving the space a cozy, cheerful aura.

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Taylor Center If you’ve ever dreamed of studying in a room that looks like it came straight out of Hogwarts, this is the perfect place for you! Located in Lind Hall, this space is a computer lab surrounded by stunning wood detailing and large windows, thus effortlessly mixing traditional and modern. There’s even a split staircase leading to a second floor!

West Bank The Barbara Steffens Hedin Alcove This homely nook is located on the second floor of the Law Library. The entire library is perfect for anyone looking to grind out some work in a soundless study space, but this tiny and secluded area is the cherry on top.

East Asian Library Located in the sub-basement of Wilson Library, this room is complete with an extensive collection of East Asian literature accompanied by a large study area, and is ‘you could hear a pin-drop’-level quiet.

Additionally, you can find several individual study rooms hidden behind the bookshelves.

St. Paul Robert N. Shoffner Library If there was an award for the smallest, daintiest library on campus, I believe this one would take the prize. It’s perfect for anyone searching for a ‘dark academia’ study vibe, and you can find it on the third floor of Haecker Hall in room 375.

Hallway on the second floor of McNeal Hall The study spot may be oddly specific, but I promise it’s a treasure chest waiting to be opened.

This little pocket of McNeal has a good collection of seating along with lots of natural light that flows through the huge windows overlooking the gorgeous St. Paul campus.

So, as the weather continues to cool off, grab your favorite fall drink and check out a few of these nifty spots!

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

CITIES

Winter is Coming & so is SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Less daylight, more melancholy

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BY RACHEL HOPPE For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a huge advocate for Minnesota autumn and winter. There’s something immensely magical about throwing on a sweater and a beanie to go walk under a canopy of red and orange leaves.

All throughout summer, I’d romanticize the colder months, the time to curl up with a good book, mug of hot chocolate, and cozy blanket. Trips to the pumpkin patch with friends, with the addition of costume parties over Halloween in the evenings, guaranteeing a night full of laughter as we walk home in the crisp air. It’s truly my favorite time of year.

But then the summer actually turns to fall; the sun starts to set at seven PM, then six. Suddenly the sun has taken a permanent position behind the clouds, creating an overcast shadow over campus.

The reality of fall sets in—it’s cold, dreary, and dimly lit, a stark contrast to my autumn romanticization.

My stomach feels heavy and my mood takes a general shift for the worse as I begin to prepare for the long, cold, sunless months.

The harsh weather and lack of sun isn’t the only thing that puts a damper on my well-being.

Without fail, winter always holds the moments where my life has taken a temporary turn for the worse. The minute the cold begins to sting my nose, my already hopeless mood is intensified by the painful memories that creep into my consciousness. The combination of the lack of sunshine mixed with reminders of my past misfortunes does nothing but further perpetuate my hopeless attitude. The leafless and snowcovered trees slice into the gray sky the same way my stress and anxiety juts into my own life.

In a vain attempt to keep my mind off my poor mood, I generally end up throwing myself headfirst into any work I can get my hands on.

Whether it be homework or a personal project, I can’t help but use it as a way to not think about how hopeless I feel the minute the first snowflake hits the ground.

The reality of autumn is an unfortunate precursor to the season that solidifies the pit of dread in my stomach: winter. If the sun setting at seven wasn’t bad enough, now it’s pitch black by 6 p.m. and the streets are covered in a layer of half-melted slush.

However, This plan usually backfires almost immediately. By avoiding confrontation with these negative emotions, I continue to feel hopeless, not just because a blanket of snow is preventing me from seeing any green, but because I also have so many deadlines that I struggle to keep up with.

The advent of winter leads me to become a raging pessimist. The abrupt seasonal shift causes everything to suck, and there’s no way to improve my soured mood.

That being said, there are certainly ways to avoid the familiar sadness that’s come to be associated with the winter months. Clearly it’s something that I still struggle to work into my own routine, but

THE WAKE

even taking a few minutes a day to implement new habits can possibly lead to a better morale surrounding seasonal affective disorder overall.

First and foremost, finding someone you’re comfortable talking to about your emotions can be a great stress reliever. Whether that be enrolling in therapy or talking to a trusted friend, finding an outlet to talk about feelings of hopelessness can make all the difference. Another technique I’ve found relieving is maintaining a regular sleep schedule. This is something I, along with the majority of college students struggle with, but the days I’m able to get those essential eight hours of rest boost my mood completely. Lack of sleep leads to a myriad of struggles, as well as emphasizing pre-existing symptoms of SAD. While these aren’t permanent fixes to seasonal affective disorder, making conscious efforts to improve your mood is a small way to fight against SAD. Frankly, I don’t have all the answers, but these techniques have provided me with a little solace in the colder months.

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CITIES

Everyone but Africa

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An investigative look into hegemonic worldview and its influence on study abroad destination preferences

BY PANACHE MATEMBA Do you swoon at the idea of a guided culinary course in the Italian countryside? Perhaps you have a penchant for francophone culture and daydream about learning the language in a Parisian backdrop. Year after year, thousands of collegiate hopefuls pursue opportunities just like these: going in with buoyant spirits and leaving with enviable résumé additions. Arguably, the wealth of experience one acquires while learning abroad is unparallelled.

this opportunity with their 2005 motion picture Madagascar, DreamWorks opted for the jocular route; the plot follows a band of bumbling anthropomorphic zoo animals whose story is so far removed from Malagasy culture that it becomes negligible. And Black Panther, while dripping in Afrofuturistic sophistication, is, at the end of the day, a fantasy. Unfortunately, we won’t be seeing Wakandan passport stamps anytime soon (sorry fans).

The University of Minnesota prides itself in its study abroad programs. Nevertheless, the school’s recently published data illuminates a worrying trend: certain destinations clearly get top pick over others. According to the U of M’s Study Abroad Center, over 65% of college globetrotters make their way to Europe; in second place is Asia and Oceania at 15%, followed by the Americas at 13%, and finally, Africa and the Middle East at only 7%.

At the core of all this is anti-Blackness. AntiBlackness is more than a face-saving buzzword used by pandering corporations. It is the lingua franca of the world. Its manifestations run the gamut from overt to covert, and it infects every branch of our society. For centuries our media has shaped mainstream attitudes toward the African diaspora and their homeland. But our media is only as progressive as the people who produce it.

They take cues from our education system.

As the daughter of Zimbabwean immigrants, I can’t ignore my conviction to explore this. There’s an undeniable euphoria when I go home. The melody of the marimba at the souvenir shop. The exhilaration of being on safari. The plate of sadza ne nyama that awaits me at my grandma’s house.

And so my question stands: Why not Africa?

Actually, it’s unsurprising that Africa is unpopular given her grim media portrait: a poverty-stricken warzone at worst, and a missionary’s wet dream at best. Outside of Hollywood’s fetishization of ancient Egypt, we see few examples of media that depict African societies. Instead of seizing

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The ruling pedagogical approach to Africa and her history is fundamentally dichotomous: casting Western societies as protagonists and everyone else as foils on a world stage. These Western societies, as we read about them, are the founders of innovation. They govern our cultural taxonomies of highbrow and lowbrow, with their works always falling under the former.

deliverance from turmoil rests on the influence of the West. So we deploy volunteers and evangelists on service trips to rescue her from her impending doom.

And therein lies our problem: the narrative holds that the West is the donor, and Africa is the recipient. We would not expect a recipient to give to their donor. Why would American students choose Africa for studies abroad when they’ve been told that she has nothing to give? After all, Paris is lauded for its footprint in arts and fashion, Rome for its cuisine, and London for its contributions to theater and literature. Surely those cities would have more to offer in their respective disciplines than any African country…

And yet, as someone who has had the privilege of experiencing Africa, I know this to be far from true. Should you make your way to Africa, I hope you’ll find solace in her maternal warmth. I hope you’ll feel the rhythm of the handicraft markets as they revive at the crack of dawn: the sweet hums of women carrying baskets of mangoes on their heads, the symphony of livestock and engines parading on gravel streets. I hope you’ll feel my ancestors’ tears on your skin during the rainstorms.

I hope you’ll see the colors of Africa.

One day, if you meet her, you’ll love her. And I promise she’ll love you right back.

Africa’s character on the other hand, is particularly stunted; she is primitive, obscure, and a perpetual charity-case. Having been vanquished, she is void of any global significance. We are taught that her

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

CITIES

The Importance of Online Communities

BY AVA RAUSCH Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s been a boom in online communities, most notably Reddit, one of the most prominent hubs for online communities.

Reddit is an online network composed of different communities where users can dive into their common or obscure hobbies and interests, ask questions and receive answers from other users. You can curate your feed by following different threads, inputting some of your interests/hobbies and liking different posts. The more you interact with other users and threads, the more accurate your feed will be. It can feel overwhelming trying to find your niche, but exploring your interests and finding a community where you belong will be rewarding.

One of the most attractive features of the website is anonymity.

I have asked some of the most personal questions in forums and not only have I gotten useful answers, the responses seem genuine. While not everything you read on the website is true, or the advice you receive may not come from professionals, it allows for another perspective on a subject you might not be familiar with.

Your username is randomly generated when you create an account and most Q&A threads require users to remain anonymous. Additionally admin can monitor the communities to ensure the platform remains positive and respectful. It’s important to make sure you aren’t sharing important personal information on the internet.

There is no shame in asking a question on an online public forum or connecting with others who share similar interests.

Our society is based on social interactions whether in-person or online and it’s important to use any resources we can to foster communication on important societal issues or silly conversations. Online communities provide us with a safety net while creating interpersonal connections.

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THE WAKE

Black Garnet Opens Its Brick & Mortar Store

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After two years of online selling, Black Garnet Books soft launches their brick & mortar store

BY SRIHITA RAJU In the summer of 2020, Dionne Sims began Black Garnet Books, an online bookseller, in the midst of protests against state violence in Minnesota. Sims wanted to create a space to celebrate Black literature and to fight against the institutional exclusion of black voices from the literary community.

The curated collection of books focuses on stories from marginalized communities and underrepresented voices. For the past two years, Black Garnet Books has served the Twin Cities as a website and a pop-up at local arts events. Finally, now Black Garnet Books has a long-awaited physical store for readers and radicals to visit.

Luckily for University of Minnesota students, the bookstore is located conveniently right off the light-rail in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul. Although the opening on October 15th was just a soft-launch event, the bookstore was completely full of excited patrons within an hour of the doors opening.

Upon entering, it is immediately clear that Sims and the rest of the employees at Black Garnet Books want this to be a comfortable community space once the store is fully open. The store has an open floor layout with a few tables in the middle of the store stacked with books they want to highlight, as well as some stationary and stickers. Their walls are lined with shelves that split the books into genres, including a Young Adult section, cookbooks, history books, memoirs, general fiction, and children’s books. Just like when they were completely online, the curation of books shows the commitment Black Garnet Books and Sims have to amplifying marginalized voices and stories, not only to show resistance against oppressions, but also to celebrate the love and cultures that come from diverse communities. Near the shelves they’ve created a cozy seating area so customers can sit and read from the books they’re interested in or chat with others (perhaps one of the store’s incredibly friendly staff members).

Black Garnet Books as an online retailer was the only Blackowned bookseller in Minnesota when it first started, and is now one of two along with Strive Bookstore in Minneapolis. Soon, their store will be fully open and operating, and no doubt will become an iconic Minnesota bookstore. For anyone who wants to learn more about radical change and community growth, meet like-minded activists, or just find your next read, Black Garnet Books is the perfect place to be.

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ART

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Art by Megan Bormann

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

FEATURE

Romanticizing Devils Gen Zers have fallen in love with serial killers and forgotten the intentions behind true crime documentaries

BY RAE DAMROW

THE WAKE

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FEATURE

When I heard that Evan Peters had been casted to play Jeffrey Dahmer in the Netflix’s dramatization docuseries “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” I was excited. As someone who adores “American Horror Story,” I was thrilled to see Peters take on such a horrifying role like he has done seamlessly in the past. What I did not realize, shockingly, was that people would glorify the heinous crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer because of the light that Evan Peters portrays him in.

Almost immediately after the show dropped, fans from all over buzzed about the hauntingly morbid nature of the show. Along with those comments came something unexpected: how unbothered many were with the show. Soon after “Monster’s” release, a stream of TikToks flooded people’s feeds with edits from the show.

Captions ranged from “I know this man is traumatized from taking on another serial killer role, but he looks so hot tho” to “The clutch Evan Peters had me in with this

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scene.” Hundreds more had similar captions about how attractive Evan Peters made Jeffrey Dahmer look in the docuseries.

To take this another step further, many were making TikToks about how if they knew Jeffrey Dahmer back when his killing spree began, they would be able to fix him. “He wouldn’t have killed me because I would’ve helped him,” one of the captions read.

Others took to Twitter with tweets like “Wish he was still alive. I’d def write to him” and “Jeff was a good man and that’s why he gave the men quick deaths.”

While these are more than a few examples, I feel as though several are needed in order to get my point across: stop romanticizing serial killers.

You would not have changed them because no one was able to. These men were cold blooded killers who were going to stop at nothing to tear apart their next victim. Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 men between the ages of 14 and 33. He raped, tortured, dismembered, and even ate some of his victims. What bothers me the most about people romanticizing serial killers is sometimes it seems as if people neglect the atrocious crimes these men committed because they are blinded by their attractiveness. How can you neglect to remember that Dahmer was a cannibal?

The same can be said about Zac Efron when he took on the role of Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile.” A similar response to that of Peters portrayal of Dahmer flowed through social media with Efron playing one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Bundy was responsible for the murders of over 30 women while being responsible for attacking several others. He would rape, mutilate,

and bludgeon his victims to death. Even worse, Bundy continued to engage in sexual acts with the women he killed after their deaths, telling police he enjoyed laying next to their corpses. There were even times when he would cut off victims heads and use them at a later date for sexual acts. Yet, when Netflix released the retelling of Bundy’s story, starring Zac Efron, the world went crazy over him.

TikTok and Twitter were once again taken over by people raging about how “hot” Efron looked while personifying Bundy.

The Wake put out a survey to test my theory on how college students view the actors from these types of documentaries, and the responses caught me by surprise. Out of the 30 people who took the survey, 8.3% said Evan Peters was “still hot” while playing Jeffrey Dahmer and 14.3% said Zac Efron “could still get it” while playing Ted Bundy. Overwhelmingly, though, most people were disgusted by the actors while they took on these roles. When asked what their thoughts were on Monster, there were two similar responses that stood out: many were upset that the producers of the show did not ask for the consent of the families of the victims before shooting the show and the show did not need to be made. There were a couple of people who said they did not want to watch the show out of principle since the majority of Dahmer’s victims were part of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities. Comments ranged from “I don’t jive with glorifying grisly violence against black gay men” to “I think its just another example of the commodification of black pain and trauma for the entertainment of white people.” Responses for people’s thoughts on “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” were similar to Dahmer in the sense that people did not think it should have been made since it glorified a mass serial killer and did not focus on the victims of Bundy.

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

FEATURE

Eric Perry, cousin to Errol Lindsey, another one of Dahmer’s victims, also talked about how pissed his family is about the show.

In an article written by People Magazine, he said “How many movies/shows/documentaries do we need?”. So many Gen Zers are obsessed with true crime, myself being one of them.

On the other hand, though, I would rather give up any sense of my entertainment than have the families of the victims relive the horrors of losing those they held close to their hearts.

I encourage people to think about what the true intentions are of these movies and shows: to remember the victims.

One of the Dahmer episodes focuses on Tony Hughes, a deaf aspiring model and one of Dahmer’s victims. Hughes had been deaf since infancy because a doctor misprescribed him medication. He learned sign language and how to read lips. The episode is especially heartbreaking because Dahmer murders Hughes with a hammer when he tries to leave after the two spend a night together. The closing scene of the episode shows Dahmer cooking and eating Hughes’ liver after donating money to the search efforts for him. The mother of Tony Hughes, who is 85-years-old, talked about how retraumatizing the show is and how she is continuing to grieve the murder of her son.

THE WAKE

intense compulsion. One reporter who interviewed him said they saw no remorse from Dahmer, that he was unemotional about his crimes when he spoke about them (in great detail, might I add).

Dahmer said if he would have been released from prison, nothing, and I mean nothing, would have stopped him from going back to his old ways. So for those of you who think you could have fixed him, do you still believe you could have been Dahmer’s knight in shining armor?

The next time you watch a show/movie like “Monster” or “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile,” ask yourself why you are watching, and if you truly believe it is worth romanticizing devils.

We have to stop romanticizing serial killers. We have to stop making these dramatized shows that are not completely accurate. There have been a plethora of real life documentaries that tell the events of what happened with serial killers. There is no need to produce these dramatizations when the documentaries should be satisfactory enough. It is understandable as to why we are fascinated by shows like these, but as a society we need to rethink the reasons behind why we are compelled to watch shows like this. Does the financial potential of a true crime story warrant the consequent retraumatization of friends and family members of the victim? All we are doing is lifting up serial killers and giving them the attention they were so desperately seeking by committing their crimes. This is what they wanted, and we are happily giving it to them.

Jeffrey Dahmer sat down multiple times with different news stations to talk about his crimes. He talked about how addictive killing was to him, an

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VOICES

An Imaginative Inner Life Reconciling fantasy and reality

BY DEVNA PANDA “Are we all living like this? Two lives, the ideal outer life and the inner imaginative life where we keep our secrets?”

When Jeanette Winterson wrote the above in Sexting the Cherry, she may as well have been peering into my inner consciousness.

I often feel as if I am spending the majority of my life in my head. I tend to concoct romanticized scenarios in my mind about all of the many ways different situations in my life may play out. Ultimately, these daydreams do little but disappoint me when I am inevitably brought back to reality.

I can draw several examples from my life that would serve as evidence of this tendency, but I’ll tell a less consequential one. Throughout my entire adolescence, I was hopelessly entranced by a boy I had grown up around. My feelings for him would dwindle for a period of time and then inevitably resurface. By the time sophomore year of high school rolled around, we had lost contact.

However, in what I considered a stroke of sheer luck, we were assigned seats next to each other in Honors English 10 and thus forced to converse.

Throughout the semester, we started talking about the recent developments in our lives and all that we had once had and apparently still had in common. Not having spoken to him in a couple of years, I was surprised (but also not at all surprised)

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to find all of the old feelings I had once felt come flooding back.

One morning, we were playing with a paper crane we had found in the library. There was nothing particularly out of the ordinary about the interaction. When the next period rolled around, I sat down in my next class. I was pulling out my materials for the class when I noticed a folded piece of pink paper dangling from the ceiling. I’ll bet you can’t guess what’s coming next. The paper was in the shape of a crane! Being as naively trusting in the universe as I was, I told myself that if I saw one more, it was a sign that something more would come out of the newly reformed friendship. As I continued to glance around the room, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The room was teeming with paper cranes of all shapes, colors, and sizes; there was one stashed in every nook and cranny. I had never once noticed them before and now I could hardly take in one square footage of the room without seeing a crane. I was confident that regardless of whether the universe had ever spoken to me before, it certainly was now. This was a sign that we would permanently be in each other’s orbits once again.

Fast forward to the end of high school. Many things happened but the two of us growing closer was not one of them. When I reflected later on that memory, I remembered something that I

had initially glossed over. One of my classmates had used those paper cranes for a presentation related to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes before putting them in the library. It was entirely possible that she had put those cranes in the room just before I had noticed them.

Instead of having the courage to create my own fate, I had placed my trust in some arbitrary external power. In doing so, I rendered myself as a mere observer in my own life. Moreover, my fantasized life had been so disparate from my nonfictional life that this propensity to romanticize had clouded my ability to turn a fantasy into reality. Fortunately, in this instance, interpreting an occurrence that was likely meaningless as a ~sign from the universe~ had no genuinely significant impact on my life.

Even still, I have since realized the importance of seeing the world and my life’s events as they are.

When the line between reality and imagination is blurred, the risk of missing out on an experience formative to one’s development is run.

I do not want to be someone whose inner life obscures their outer life. Instead, I intend to prioritize experiencing each moment with as much profundity and clarity as possible. I can’t speak for how we are all living, but that is how I want to live.

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

VOICES 2

Myth of the Male Feminist Why does the cool feminist bro always dissapoint us?

BY NITHYA VENKAT

“On October 11th, headlines broke announcing that popular music artist Rex Orange County had been charged with 6 counts of sexual assault.

The news was heart wrenching. To many, Rex Orange County was the soft boy making songs like Pluto Projector and helped give us Tyler the Creator’s Flower Boy– in what world is a man like this capable of sexual assault? And this isn’t the first time we’ve been shocked by allegations like these. Men we’ve trusted and have positive public images like Ansel Elgort, Brad Pitt, and Ned Fulmer have been exposed for cheating, abuse, and assault. We’ve watched time and time again men’s wokeness unravel and reveal their true character.

But why is this pattern so common– and why haven’t we woken up to it? Why does the male feminist remain such an elusive myth?

First off, it’s not to say men can’t or shouldn’t be feminists. Rather, we must investigate why men who are the loudest about it end up being the worst of them all. The answers lie in social media.

In a time where putting “BLM” in your Instagram bio and reposting “My Body, My Choice” graphics is enough be considered ‘woke’ or aware, it’s not hard to brand oneself as a feminist. Social media has turned identity into messaging, the creation of profiles synonymous with being a public figure. What you post, who you repost, and what labels you use to politically identify yourself become who you are. In some ways, this

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is good! Visibility is often important and activism and education through social media allows for wide dissemination of important messages. But on the flip side, messages can get watered down and activism can become inauthentic. It’s easy to see how a man can just repost and say the right things and earn the label of ‘feminist’ without actually being a feminist. And to those who live their lives online or have public facing careers, spreading the right buzzwords and infographics is crucial to their careers and hiding the reality of their personal lives.

Further, social media and its specific brand of activism fosters damaging parasocial relationships between creator and audience. We feel as if we know them, trust them, and that they would never do something as heinous as sexual assualt, abuse, or cheating. This is another reason we are so shocked everytime stories like Rex Orange County’s come out. But the obvious reality is that we don’t know them. We don’t know who they are and what they’re capable of. Just because they allow us glimpses of their lives at attractive and vulnerable moments means nothing. It’s a continuation of this smart and tactical branding.

This idea is exacerbated when it comes to male celebrities specifically. Men look to foster an image of the sensitive feminist guy who understands you in ways your own boyfriends and situationships never will. This parasocial relationship doesn’t just

obscure their actions, it defends them. We saw this in the wake of Amber Heard’s defamation trial. It became a trend on TikTok to use her testimony of how she was assaulted by Depp and make mocking videos to it. Regardless of your opinions on the trial, mocking abuse is wrong– and the misogyny of mocking Heard over Depp is obvious.

We are devastated that we can no longer listen to Rex’s music, rather than being devastated for his victims. And we struggle to comprehend that someone like Hasan Minhaj could be anything but perfect when he gave us comedy hits like “Homecoming King” and “Patriot Act.” When we watch how audiences feel for everyone but the victims, the relationship becomes less parasocial and more parasitic.

In order to stop the cycle of the disappointing male feminist, we need to encourage authentic activism. Like I mentioned before, men can be feminists and the issue doesn’t lie in simply being a man. Rather, we need to look into the systems in place that people with power abuse to prey on their audiences and victims. Movements must be centered in conversation and empathy rather than posting and virtue signaling. There is a world to be found in human connection–not digital distancing.

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VOICES

Free of Gluten, Full of Anger This illness is Chronic, and my attitude is Ironic 3

BY GRACIE KIBORT Sometimes young adulthood feels like a race. Against time. Against peers. Against your friends. Against yourself. Each individual brings a unique perspective with distinct advantages and hindrances, so their locations vary as the gun shoots a blank.

Runners have their crutches, the best longdistance sneakers on the market, and that disgusting goo that runners always suck out of the tube. No one understands what lies upon the finish line, which differs slightly for each person. Everyone defines success differently but they’re proud. One by one, racers cross the finish line, collecting the medals earned and taking photos with loved ones beaming from ear to ear. Training has been strenuous, and they have a right to be proud of making it to the finish line, even if it didn’t take a second thought.

‘It could always be worse.’ Living with chronic illness is also like the race of young adulthood. Except, it’s race day, and no one told you when, where, who, or how you were supposed to finish it. And you woke up, muscles burning as if you already ran the race three times over yesterday. It is a constant struggle to keep up with even the most leisurely runners.

‘You were fine yesterday.’ Each Thursday afternoon, I aspire for a productive Friday.

That night, In bed, I scan my mental to-do list.

‘Target run, pharmacy, gym, library before noon. Then coffee, lunch, and some work.

Cook dinner, then assess social plans for the night.’ I’ll repeat, like clockwork. You’d think I’d learn.

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‘Do you think she’s doing it for attention?’

I’m fortunate enough to have classless Fridays. Nonetheless, I wake up every Friday morning as achy as if yesterday I completed a marathon and then decided to walk in front of a bus and not go to sleep for three days. I’m a busy student and make sure I’m soaking up college all while checking the dreaded boxes of extracurricular activities, jobs, social life, relationships, adult responsibilities, and school. Each student faces their priorities and stressors, but when her body does not support her more than four days a week, problems arise. Fridays bring agony.

‘Well, you don’t look sick.’ I saw a tweet last week, ‘don’t let school get in the way of college.’ A familiar dread consumed me, a hard lump rose in my throat, and resentment for my condition set in. The time Friday night rolls around my legs swell, my head is throbbing, my back is aching, and my room is spinning. Even if I wanted to spend the night out gulping down poorly mixed drinks, it isn’t in my best interest. I scroll through socials bitterly, knowing even the people in my life think I’m boring. I feel bored, not just physically but mentally, knowing my friends continue to go out and spend their days at 21 as intended. I feel lame, worthless, and incredibly resentful for the cards dealt. I sometimes believe I aged beyond my years too quickly due to physical torment from within that many peers will not face for years to come.

that a post-covid world would result in a more accessible one. Nonetheless, the world has returned to its rigid, outdated structure based on ableist norms. I was woefully incorrect. At the U, musty attendance policies quickly returned, forcing students to attend class when sick without a mask and virtual options to fall by the way side. We had a chance to better the system for those who need it and deliberately chose not to.

‘I frequently write articles for this publication reminiscent of one angrily shaking their first up at the sky. Yet each time, I uncover a speck of positivity as I sum up my piece.

Young adulthood is like a race. It’s cutthroat, competitive, and often heartbreaking. But if lacing up my tennis shoes on the morning of the race is as far as I get before going back to bed, I’m proud.

‘You’re too young to be dealing with that.

Just wait til you get older.’ I foolishly believed NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

VOICES

The Pressure to Find Love With the dominance of hookup culture in college dating habits, and a lover seemingly one swipe away, why do we find ourselves clinging to the elusive ‘great college romance’?

BY MAYA MODELI There is a set of external pressures that make us feel almost obligated to be in a relationship.

Several interviewees described their parents or family members asking about significant others, the dreaded ‘are you seeing anyone?’ question at family gatherings. For most people, it’s easier to just say that you’re not seeing anyone and face a look of pity, than to explain ‘it’s complicated’ to your grandparents.

Growing up I felt like so many of the adults around me had met in college, regardless of if they’d dated in college they still met in the college setting. A lot of the people that I spoke to had a similar experience, where they had adults in their life that they looked up to, who were examples of the college romance narrative.

A student interviewee, who we’ll call “T”, said “Socially, it [college] feels like the right time, and right place.”

To some extent it feels as if we are almost indoctrinated into a ‘timeline’ of life events that we need to follow. That college and the varying checkpoints that come with it are obligatory to getting the full ‘college experience’.

“If you don’t meet the love of your life playing darts at tap this weekend,” Kat Johanns, a sophomore said, “ you just gotta pick yourself up and try again next weekend.”

One of the pressures people feel from social media is from an internalized devotion to achieve an ever-changing standard of perfection. One of the most important facets of this perceived perfection is being in love. There is this assumption that everyone is better off in a relationship, and that this relationship must be expressed on social media.

Several interviewees said that they felt the most isolated, and arguably the most pressure to be in a relationship when people around them are in relationships, as well as when their social media feed contains relationship content. T said, “I think that people get a lot of validation from relationships.”

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Relationships, especially college relationships, provide people with the validation that social media has cultivated a taste for.

The pressure to be in a perfect relationship comes from an overwhelming feeling of ‘FOMO’, or the fear of missing out. Where being in a relationship is a function of obligation, and we feel a compulsory need to desire something that others have. In her TED Talk, Bea Arthur therapist, entrepreneur, and women’s advocate, describes this as the ‘culture of comparison’ where we feel the need to compare our choices against those other people make, and that in doing so Bea Arthur says that “Happiness becomes a moving target.”

Traditional media targeted at Gen-Z typically shows a high school romance. When we have seen and idealized the high school romance for so long and we don’t get that same experience in high school it’s almost as if the desire for a relationship as a byproduct of academia lingers and is shifted towards college, and suddenly the teen movie that wasn’t a part of the highschool experience becomes the expectation of the college experience.

There are psychological factors that play into the desire to be in a relationship as well. According to Arthur Chickering, a developmental psychologist, there are various vectors of development that often happen in a postsecondary education environment, including this idea of developing a sense of identity and autonomy. But that doesn’t just happen, college students go through a set of experiences that give rise to their ‘coming of age’. This is a period of time that can be isolating, and people have a natural desire to belong, seeking an intimate relationship can be a way of avoiding the feeling of loneliness.

This idea of a college relationship may have been conceived from familial pressures and traditional media, but really, the compulsory need we feel for the ‘great college romance’ comes from our own ‘culture of comparison’.

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SIX REVIEWS

5SOS5 Magic Hour Surf Curse

BY ABBY VELA With Surf Curse being my, “I liked them before they blew up” flex, it is only right that I take a good, hard look at their newest album, Magic Hour.

Surf Curse leans less into the surf rock aesthetic of its early years, revealing a progression from the lofi-surf rock moments in their previous album. Rather than tinny and punching guitar riffs, Magic Hours offers a wholly indie take. This was somewhat unexpected as the first single, “TVI,” has the same driving riffs of their first releases. I will say, their sound is much more mature, which I appreciate.

A highlight of this release is the instrumentation. Surf Curse takes inspiration from one of the members’ side projects, Current Joys, in the writing of this album. The repetition of complex guitar and bass lines is present in both projects, but Magic Hour shows a dancible side that sets it apart. While the core of this project is indie-rock, hints of Americana in songs like, “Strange,” and the jazz notes in, “Fear City,” keep the album moving with musical diversity.

The small pitfall of this album is its faltering lyrical significance. The lyrics, “Cathy, are you feeling grumpy?” are not all that tantalizing, and the song, “Last Honor,” isn’t bad, but it’s just a bit corny for my taste. Though, maybe I just need to lighten up a bit.

This album is an easy indie listen. While I could listen in order, I don’t need to for full enjoyment.

It’s fun, and it feels like summer. That’s good enough for me.

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Gangubai Kathiawadi x Mafia Queens of Mumbai

The Australian band followed through on their promise of an ethereal 19-song album that their die-hard fandom has been impatiently waiting for.

Take everything you know about sex work and flip it on its head.

BY SHANNON BRAULT

I’m unsure whether I’ve seen a biopic as impactful as Gangubai Kathiawadi. The movie captures the true story of Gangu, a girl sold to a brothel by her lover. As soon as she accepts her unwanted fate of prostitution, a client brutalizes her so severely that she turns to a local mafia don for counsel. After the first thirty minutes of the film, countless paradigms shifted in my brain. This cycle repeated for the duration of the film, and to my dismay, the movie ended. I flew to my laptop and instantly fell down a rabbit hole in hopes of learning more about Gangu’s story. Upon my quest, I found that the movie was based on a novel: Mafia Queens of Mumbai by S. Hussein Zaidi. Published in 2004, it chronicles the real stories of multiple women of Mumbai and their association with underground crime rings. Gangu didn’t fit the “traditional” roles of women in India but is remembered specifically for her bravery against the systems that failed her. Chapter 2 of Mafia Queens of Mumbai focuses specifically on Gangubai and notes that she is known as the “Goddess of Sex Work” in local brothels. While I think the movie is a must-watch, I must warn you that many scenes can be triggering. No amount of words can describe how moving (and frankly, disturbing) both pieces of art are. Although one’s opinions are “each to their own,” how could I not recommend such important pieces on a topic so controversial?

The 5 Seconds of Summer fandom has been impatiently waiting for the new album that the Australian band has been teasing for months. Their fifth studio album was created and recorded in Joshua Tree and delivered a complex package to fans with songs about love, loss, growing up, and dealing with the emotions of all that life has to throw at us.

What’s special about this album to me personally is that it was mostly written and produced by the band members themselves. In their two previous albums, Youngblood and CALM, the majority of the vocals went to frontman Luke Hemmings with some going to bassist Calum Hood. In 5SOS5, they get closer to their roots, with all four members shining through on different songs in vocals and in their respective instruments. They also were all involved in the writing process, allowing each member’s perspective to be shared with die-hard fans that can tell who is speaking. Many of the songs were exclusively produced by Micheal Clifford which is really special.

I went into 5SOS5 with high expectations, and those expectations were mostly met with an almost unskippable album. Their five singles, Complete Mess, Blender, Me Myself and I, Older, and Take My Hand, gave me and other fans something to hold onto while we waited for the album that promised to be something ethereal.

Like many albums, some of my favorite songs and ones that I would argue are the best were not singles like Easy For You To Say, CAROUSEL, You Don’t Go To Parties, Bleach, Flatline, EMOTIONS, and Bloodhound.

With that being said, it is nearly impossible to pick a favorite or “best” from the 19-song album that arguably is their most cohesive one to date of their new sound that has strayed from their pop-punk roots. It has given me another album to add to my list of favorites and one that is sure to be on my repeat rotation for a long time.

BY SHENALI DESILVA

It’s a rare occasion when a movie is so captivating that the book flies straight into my shopping cart.

NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

SIX REVIEWS

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power It’s Only Me Despite being more stylish than substantive, Rings of Power still is the one Prime Video show to rule them all

BY MATTHEW ZEICHERT

Atlanta superstar Lil Baby looks to build off his 2020 smash album “My Turn”.

BY ROGAN ISBELL

J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books defined the fantasy novel genre. Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies changed cinema for the better. “The Rings of Power” is NOT revolutionary television. But who says it has to be?

Dominique Jones, better known as Lil Baby, didn’t start rapping until 2017. Now the 27-year-old is one of the biggest rappers in the game and dropped his third solo studio album “It’s Only Me” on Oct. 14.

With its first season, the LOTR prequel series tells the story of Elves, Dwarves, Harfoots, Humans, and Orcs who lived around the time the seven rings for the seven kingdoms were originally crafted.

The album cover features a Mount Rushmore-like statue with four different faces of his. It’s a bold statement saying he’s his biggest competition, but the music (mostly) backs it up.

“The Rings of Power” is possibly the most elaborate and expensive television series ever.

The world-building, costumes, and special effects are incredible. When used, the C.G.I. seamlessly blends in with the practical effects.

This and much more make “Rings of Power” one of the most visually compelling shows on streaming services.

Then there’s the story. While there are well-crafted plot twists and memorable moments galore in the show, that doesn’t hide the fact that there are too many subpar storylines throughout. Although Morfydd Clark as Galadriel and Lenny Henry as Sadoc Burrows are particularly compelling when they are on screen, the actors in “The Rings of Power” can only do so much with the lackluster scripts they were given.

“The Rings of Power” will certainly wow some viewers; Others may be perplexed as to why they spent eight-plus hours watching a special effects showcase.

The album feels excessive at times with 23 songs, as Baby uses streaming’s nature to his advantage like many recent artists. But Baby does his best to keep the album fresh with his energetic vocal performances and playing to his strengths.

His lyrics are one of his best assets as an artist, as he paints vivid imagery with introspection about the street life he used to live. He also throws in many smooth, slick uses of wordplay.

The beats radiate high energy with stuttering hi-hats, heavy bass, and dark piano keys rattled throughout. It serves as a fitting background for the hungry energy Baby brings throughout.

With frantic flows, motivational content, and many braggadocious lyrics, Baby delivers a memorable album with many highlights. The smooth summertime atmosphere and confidence of “California Breeze” and Baby’s high energy and non-stop flow on “Not Finished” make them some of the best songs.

Time will tell if “It’s Only Me” is Baby’s best album.

But it’s evident he has the talent to continue his run and be one of the top rappers of the 2020s.

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Bad Mode Hikaru Utada

BY CHANDRA BAVIERA Music that comes from the heart can be seen in different languages. The imagery projects the inspirational soul. Whether the velocity of sound in physics gets your body up and running, or swift movement causes your body to have blood flow up, you’d MOVE. Beats of drums under the sound of audio, so MUSIC has definitely answered the question. This famous singing sensation, Utada Hikaru, sang a unique and incredible voice. From her typical heartbreak pop beat “First Love” to now upbeat “One Last Kiss,” her album titled ‘Bad Mode’ is more than just the eighth Japanese-language studio album.

The Japanese lyrics translate into English to, “I don’t like being photographed That’s okay For you have already imprinted in The projector in my heart I was pretending I don’t miss you Well, I guess that makes the two of us Yearning for someone Came hand in hand with heartache” This Japanese American pop star made the world bop their heads and even dance in the latest generation of SONY and APPLE headphones. However, these specific song lyrics connect to unwrapping truthful emotions. The song starts really fast; the English lyrics “One Last Kiss” which are sung in the song, smoothly come packaged in a full heartbeat, sounding lovely with inner heartbreak in every stanza. The music has tempos of adagio, and allegretto. It can be hard to sing the song if there is no proper training. With these beats, soft, slow, and growing to be fast, in a variety of notes, The important thing to remember in this song is that the storyline grows through the message.

Singing in two languages is not just a gift but a talent. Give the album ‘Bad Mode’ a listen for an amazing and marvelous experience of refreshing young love.

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Q&A

Mark Normand Interview

BY PETER NOMELAND Mark Normand is a New Orleans-born stand-up comedian. He is currently on tour with two shows at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. He has recently released a special called “Out to Lunch” and hosts an interview podcast with fellow comic Sam Morril called “We Must Be Drunk.”

: How’s the tour going?

Mark: Tour is going great; I seriously can’t complain and living the dream. I’m living the best of both worlds since I’m still working out

: Every comic I’ve seen live has said Minneapolis is one of the best audiences in the country. Is that true or are they just being nice?

in clubs but also getting a taste at the

Mark: I think they’re great – Acme is a killer

theater life.

club and continues to make the list of best clubs for comics to visit. This will be my first

: How has it been back on the road this

time headlining a theater in Minneapolis, so

past year?

I’m excited for it. I will say it’s a bit nippy here

Mark: I love the road; it’s great – comedy is

shows baby!

in Minnesota, but I’m ready to have fun. Two in a huge boom right now, but I should be grateful on how it’s going even though I’m constantly thinking about the possibility of it all going away. It’s always blood, guts, and gore on the news, so people are wanting to laugh. I love it!

: You self-released a very funny comedy special in 2020. What was the thought process behind that decision?

Mark: It was a huge failure at first – I was trying to sell it to every streaming service and

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NOVEMBER 1 – NOVEMBER 14

Q&A said let’s put it on Youtube as a last-ditch

day, then hit the NY circuit – it always ended

effort. Felt like I got denied by everyone at

with, “One more drink?”. That was the first

the bar and left with my aunt – now I love my

iteration of the pod; then someone had that

aunt. What once felt like a failure became my

name, so we came up with “We Might Be

launching pad.

Drunk.” There’s a real health kick in the comic

: Your podcast “We Might Be Drunk” with fellow comic Sam Morrill is the only podcast

Mark: We’ve had some of the best in the biz – Bert, Bill Burr, Lewis Black, and that’s only a few to name. Dream guests keep coming;

like we’re the last ones – this also helps us

I mean we’d love Doug Stanhope, Brian

share a drink with the ones still boozing.

Regan, Roy Wood Jr, Michael Che, Michelle Wolf. In terms of what we would make, we

: What’s your favorite drink you’ve made on the show?

do the research to make it a good hang – we hit them up and see what they like, and a catered drink always makes for a better

Mark: Well, we used to drink quite a bit together because we both came up at the

Mark: It’s gotta be the paper plane – it’s a

same time. Only time we’d get to hang out

classic whiskey drink that’s underrated, not

is after shows because we’d be writing all

too shabby with Bodega Cat I might add.

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what would you make for them?

community right now, and sometimes feels

I can think of with an open bar. How did that idea come about?

: Who’s the dream guest on the show, and

conversation.

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