Your Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 7: March 2013

march

STAFF favorites Maddie & Danny’s Favorite Blog Post:

Your Guide to Emerson Social Media

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LETTER from the EDITORS

ccording to Punxatawney Phil and his annual prediction every

February 2nd, an early spring is on it’s way! I don’t know if ol’ Phil is losing his eyesight or if some lighting design major was playing a trick, but it definitely doesn’t feel like spring will be here any time soon. Muddy slush still perpetually covers the ground after three weekends of unrelenting snow and it still feels like each day it’s getting colder. And even though it might be a while before the buds

Stephanie’s Favorite Instagram:

start blooming, the collegiate gods have bestowed every student’s most-loved gift upon us: Spring Break. It is as if they know that after a month and a half of the spring semester, we are already exhausted.

We need this entire week, maybe more for some of you, to soak up some rays at an island resort, to road trip to the west coat, to visit the fam and run into people from your high school you haven’t seen since graduation. No matter how familiar your destination, or where exactly you’re going, I challenge you to take the time to do something different. If there is one thing that almost four years of

“Prepping for tomorrow’s photo shoot! #lion #lamb”

college has showed me it’s that every day can feel the same, but it doesn’t have to be. Take this opportunity during your week off to be the opposite of bored. Find little things to spice up your life, and make every day stand out. If you don’t take that risk, before you know it another spring break will arrive with the same destination.

Love Always, Kilian Webster and Emily Tannenbaum

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YOUR introduction

featured 6

Technical Difficulties Whether you are a cyber-stalker or a coy-Catfish, the Internet has its ways of affecting relationships.

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Lookin’ Cute While Your Work Out Going to the gym but tired of wearing the same outfits all over again? Jennifer Ortakales walk us through on how to look fashionable on a budget.

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Boston’s Brooklyn A look at the gentrification in the making of Somerville caused by the up and coming artist scene and the rift between the locals and yocals.

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Why You Should Be Stoked for Stoker A look into the directional history of Park Chan-wook, whose latest work is Stoker, starring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska, and Matthew Goode.

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CO-EDITORS-IN-Chief Kilian Webster emily Tannenbaum creative director Pete Ivanecky MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Jacobini BUSINESS DIRECTOR Elijah Clark-Ginsberg DESIGN EDITOR Katie Lohman PHOTO DIRECTOR Stephanie Fishbein HEAD STYLISTS Tubao Nguyen Dinesh Mohnani MARKETING MANAGER Reed Van Dyck YMtv DIRECTOR Lyndsay Cannon HEAD COPY EDITOR Rachael Moore BLOG EDITORS Megan Tripp Maddie Bilis ROMANCE EDITOR Daniel LeMar FASHION EDITOR Valeria Navarro

romance Writers

Fashion Writers

Claudia Mak Ashley Juranich Kristine Ustas Hannah Perrin Shannon Dwyer Mollie Coyne Shantal Erlich Sydney Lester Brielle Sullivan Isabelle Hobbib Viktoriya Berezovaskaya Paul Almeida Valerie Sizhe Li Michael Mahin Ashley Delma Asta Tall Danielle Barker

Elijah Clark-Ginsberg Haile Lidow Dinesh Mohnani Samantha Dupler Ian Mofford Megan Kay Victoria Hulbert Kelsey Drain Jennifer Ortakales Mollie Coyne Emily Lacroix Andrea Palagi Hannah Woolley

MARKETING

Jacqueline Thomes Elise Mesa Jamie Iannace Melanie McFadyen Manisha Tolani Kinsey Minschke Rebecca Fluhr Kelsey Johnson Tracy Parco Lia Brouillard Camila Oriol Brianna Martinelli

EVENTS COORDINATOR Melanie McFadyen

STYLISTS

Emily Lacroix Rhianna Reinmuth Alexis Cervantes Nikki Frangella Anne Elise Dimas Lia Nagamatsu Jez Insalaco Brianna Martinelli Ana Larua Mendoza Karen Morales Amanda Perez Samantha Wagner

a&e Writers Miles Bowe Regina Mogilevskaya Jackson Birnbaum Caroline Cassard Hunter Harris Charles Nash Cedrine Sterit

Yourmag tv

Amanda Gomez Lindsay Gualtieri Ashley Juranich Hannah Perrin Terrena Scannell Chen Xu Meghin Hewitt Rory McCann William Vickroy Stephanie Pumilia Jaime Toscano Alexandra James Tatiana Ochoa Andy Keys

Layout design Jacqueline Thomas Bekah Skopil David Galinato Megan Tripp Teresa Garigen Madison Fishman

FEATURES EDITOR Sienna Mintz Asst. Features Editor Victoria Hulbert A&E Editor Nick Johnston

Nancy Valev Beth Treffeisen Emily Labes Gina Brindisi Julia Higgins Matthew Mullen Matt Keyser Joelle White Tracy Parco Madeline Bilis Erin Corrigan Bridget Reed Morawki Magdalena Rojas Lynch Rachael Moore Willie Burnley Jr Amanda Perez

Photographers Alex Fierro-Clarke Mimi Vecchione David Galinato Zeynep Abes Alicia Carroll Dondre Taylor-Stewart Jen Myers Kayla VanFleet Haley Kreofsky Tori Mier Rory McCann Paola Camargo

Copy editors Devan Norman Caitlyn Budnick Olivia Jacobini Morgan Metz Janella Angeles Megan Tripp Kelsey Perkins William Vickroy Jacquelyn Marr Madeline Bilis Willie Burnley Jr Erin Corrigan

editorial credits THE LION AND THE LAMB Scoop NYC Bobbles and Lace 251 Newbury St., Boston, MA 177 Newbury St., Boston, MA http://shop.bobblesandlace. http://www.scoopnyc.com/ com/ Turtle Pinkyotto 156 Newbury St., Boston, MA 223 Newbury St., Boston, MA www.turtleboston.com http://www.pinkyotto.com/

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features Writers

WISH YOU WERE HERE Britt Ryan 291 Newbury St., Boston, MA www.brittryan.com Bettie Page 32 Newbury St., Boston, MA www.bettiepageclothing. com

YOUR introduction

romance 6 8 10 12

Technical Difficulties Porn: Enjoy the Show International Love Underneath Your Clothes... When is Lingerie Okay?

fashion 14 16 22 23 24 26 28

Lookin’ Cute While You Workout EDITORIAL - “Wish You Were Here” Scent of a Woman Pimp Your Tech!

DIYour Mag: Dip it Low What Does YOUR Style Say About You? EDITORIAL - “The Lion and the Lamb”

features Emerson Cewebrities Kiss Me, I’m American The Best Brews for St. Patty’s Day Female Professor Profiles Boston’s Brooklyn A Road Less Travelled: Diesel Cafe Apartment Hunting

arts&entertainment 44 45 46 47 48 50 51

Why You Should Be Stoked for Stoker What The Fuck You Just Watched: Quentin Dupieux, Wrong, and the Art of Nonsense La Beauté Macabre: The Return of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Dan Deacon Unchained Melody: The Phil Spector Story Tame Impala The Playlist: Easter Rising

contents

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techincal knowing too MUCH

Facebook is a curse, a guilty pleasure, a misrepresentation, and something that billions of people have joined. Whether you use it once a month or multiple times a day, it has simultaneously wreaked its havoc and brightened your mood in more ways than you can probably count. It is addictive, designed to be enticing and easy to access for the young and the old, and people can feel like they have more friends than they ever would have had if they had stayed offline.

There is nothing like the feeling of seeing those bright red notifications in the top left of your screen, even though it is most likely alerting you to something trivial and nothing you care to be involved in. But what if someone requests you? That is the best feeling of all, unless they are someone you hoped had forgotten your name but actually held on to it like a one-way ticket aboard the Hogwart’s Express. Then that feeling turns awkward, but lucky you, there is an easy way to deal with this. You can just deny the request. That person will get the message and you will never have to put in the effort to try escaping their advances in real life.

That is the point of Facebook, to serve as our personal parallel world that we wish to be real. It is a chance to get out of reality and send a request to that someone you like, whom you would never have the courage to encounter in real life. The real trouble comes when figuring a relationship into the mix,mix or a possible relationship still in the early phases.

Facebook can throw a wet blanket all over that if you are not careful.

Before you decide to enter into a relationship, there is the preliminary Facebook stalking, which is usually where the problems begin. You begin to ask questions like, “Who is this guy or girl in a picture with my special someone, four years ago?” Questions start to cloud your head, and before you know it, this innocent person is shrouded in the horrible past that you have made up all by yourself. Never mind getting to know this person and making your judgments and decisions then, there is suspicion in those pictures. There is really nothing worse than judging a book by its cover, which is what Facebook capitalizes on most.

Let’s jump right into the midst of a maturing relationship. Jealousy and suspicion are enough of an issue without social media throwing gas on the flames and fanning them with seemingly questionable photos and

Text // Sydney Lester

suggestive wall posts. Most of the time, these mean absolutely nothing, because many people are naturally flirtatious, and that flirtation manifests itself all over people’s news feeds. Photos and wall posts contain inside jokes and so many other nuances and phrases taken out of context that are misinterpreted all the time, and a relationship fraught with confusion and wrong impressions is definitely not a good one.

One of the biggest issues with Facebook is relationships status. The status. “FBO”, aka, “Facebook Official” has become the defining moment in the relationships of people all around the world. It means that two people care about each other enough to declare it on Facebook, which does not actually seem like a big deal. Changing a relationship status is looked at as something huge, tying people together, and when they break up, there is nothing to show for it, except a gaping hole where the little Facebook heart and two linked names used to be. The “it’s complicated” option just shows the world that the problems that you two are facing are just the same as every other relationship’s problems, and you are trying to work them out. There is no button for “my significant other cheated on me and I can’t get it out of my head, but I am really trying.” Facebook forces people into defined subheadings that can force aspects of relationships that would otherwise be decided in a more natural setting.

Imagine how much less stressful the non-FBO relationship would be, at least in the beginning stages. There is no pressure from other people, and no one can “like” the status change or comment on it to show their approval or lack thereof. It’s your relationship, and no one else deserves a say in it.

As one Emerson student eloquently put it, Facebook allow everybody to be “up in your business.” If you think about it, the only reason people change their relationship statuses is to show all of their friends, so they can feel proud of their accomplishment. All that proves is the security of a relationship is not enough to have a mutual understanding of a real life relationship status.

Facebook is a double-edged sword that needs to be considered carefully when it comes to relationships. It can be exciting, fun, dangerous, or depressing, all depending on how you perceive different situations. With everything, keep an open mind and don’t prematurely judge anything.

YOUR opinion Amanda K. “Mega-sketch – with the Internet, you never really know who you’re talking to and what you’re going to get. It just seems too risky to invest so much time into someone who quite possibly might be nothing like who they say they are.”

John M. “I didn’t think I would be one of those naïve people who would fall for someone online, but it’s easier, and more fulfilling than you might expect.”

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Julia P. “There's something about being able to trust someone who doesn't know anything about you or anyone you know. If you get over the ‘don't talk to strangers on the internet’ stage, and with Twitter and especially Tumblr, that is really not even a stage anymore to most people, there's a real sense of power in being able to tell someone everything. You can bitch about whomever and whenever, and that can be weirdly therapeutic; you can have no inhibitions.”

YOUR romance

difficulties knowing too LITTLE

Text // Kristine Ustas

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears, does it make a sound?

If the person you fell in love with online had a different identity, was the love real?

Even though meeting people online is becoming increasingly more common, an online relationship is still considered taboo, whether it started on Facebook, Tumblr, or dating sites like match.com and OkCupid. But it’s happening, and more commonly than we might think. This new type of relationship is taking the world by storm with the new term referring to the Internet dating hoax from the 2010 documentary Catfish and in the new spinoff MTV docu-series. Catfish refers to a type of online prank where the person you develop a relationship online isn’t who they say they are.

In the documentary, Nev Schulman meets a woman online named Megan and starts an online relationship. Eventually they fall in love.

Unfortunately, to his surprise, Schulman learns that Megan is not the 19-year-old woman she said she is and instead, Schulman has been talking to a married, middle-aged woman. After the documentary was released, Schulman received hundreds of emails from people in similar situations as him, asking for help in uncovering if their Internet love is the real deal. Then came the MTV series Catfish where Schulman co-hosts and attempts to help people learn the truth.

While watching the show (somewhat religiously, I may add) I always seem to find myself going through a rollercoaster of emotions that range from “Oh, this would be the most adorable thing if this worked out,” to, “Duh, of course she’s really a 56-year-old man.” The conflict that the viewer goes through is similar to the emotional conflict that people go through in their online relationship. While you might have an uneasily feeling about the situation, the hope for something positive outweighs everything else. In one episode, an honest, genuine guy from small town thought the girl he was talking to was too good to be true. But the chance that she was real and could show him a new world was worth the risk. It ultimately comes down to the raw hope that you can believe in the best of the people.

What a lot of viewers have a difficult time understanding is why they stay in the relationship when there are what seems to be obvious red flags.

These range from the partner not ever being available to talk via Skype or on the phone, making no effort to try to see you in person, having very few Facebook friends, or not being tagged in photos. It may seem odd, but talking to people online has the capability to create a ‘fairytale’ persona where you can idealize yourself and the other person. You rely completely on the words on the screen to make your character judgments without anything to compare it to. You can pick and choose when it’s convenient

to talk, when you’re in a good mood, and can show them the ‘best you’ as opposed to the ‘regular you’ that is human. The person on the other end of the keyboard feeds into your pristine character and believes or ignores the signs that seem odd, like that you really don’t own a cell phone or are really too busy to visit. To put it into perspective, we fall victim to this every day with celebrities through television shows, Twitter, photos, etc.

They feed us the image of how they want us to perceive them, and since we don’t know them in person, we cannot fault them and we grow more and more enticed with their captivating image. Rarely do we stop to think that, although Beyoncé is pretty fabulous, she probably has big character flaws just like the rest of us.

However, this catfish phenomenon isn’t only happening to the small town kids who aren’t tech savvy. Recently, Notre Dame Football player Manti Te’o experienced a brutally public catfish when his online girlfriend who he had been talking to for two years, Lennay, passed away from leukemia. Nev Schulman, MTV’s Catfish investigator, tweeted that he investigated the online girlfriend and found that, indeed, Te’o was a victim of being catfished. Ronaiah Tuiasosopo orchestrated the relationship, taking on a fake personality as ‘Lennay’ and playing the part as he fell in love with Te’o. They had a two-year relationship that Te’o described as, “What I thought to be an authentic relationship,” filled with texts, phone calls, and real emotions.

In an interview with Dr. Phil, Tuiasosopo claimed his emotions were real all along.

Everything was real except for the person behind the name.

While the concept of a Catfish relationship is entirely immoral, that doesn’t stand true to online relationships in general. Online relationships have a preconception around them that often urges us to question the validity of peoples feelings simply because they are Internet based. It’s difficult to advocate putting your emotions into something so risky, but you can’t deny the raw emotions that are generated. Society is notorious for social stigmas, gay marriage being one of them, but opinions alter when we take the time to see that things aren’t wrong just because they’re untraditional. So maybe instead of creating yet another relationship barrier, we can be more open-minded that true love can come from different places. That being said, hopefully Catfish will open eyes and urge these who in online relationships to do a little investigating. For starters, Catfish teaches viewers to Google Facebook photos by dragging them into Google Images to check if the image was taken from someone else’s Facebook. This is where your hours of Facebook stalking come in handy. As a final note, don’t be afraid to fall in love, but don’t let love make you blind.

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Model // Jennifer Ortakales Photography // David Galinato

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YOUR romance

PORN: enjoy the show Text // Shannon Dwyer and Hannah Perrin

I

t’s no mystery that, when it comes to sex, our generation is shamelessly open about it. We don’t mind telling our friends about the crazy things we’ve done – games like “Never Have I Ever” were invented just for that purpose! But when it comes to sex, there’s one topic that is so taboo that we can hardly face it ourselves: porn.

“There’s, of course, always that connotation that the porn industry is negative and derogatory towards women,” explains freshman Zachary Mills. “But, I mean, people watch porn all the time, people jerk off, it’s not some big secret.”

Why won’t college students admit to watching, or even talk about, porn? It may have to do with stigmas surrounding the people who watch the sexually explicit adult movies. These people are perceived as being sex addicts, perverts, or those who can’t get laid. While some of these stereotypes may be true to a certain extent, they definitely don’t represent every porn viewer.

We’re adults; if we want to watch other people have sex, or be filmed while having sex, then that is our decision to make. And believe me, many are! According to recent research, every second in the United States alone, there are at least 28,258 Internet users who are viewing pornography. Additionally, a new adult movie is being made every 39 minutes. In the U.S., porn is a $12 billion industry; these figures are proof that it should be taken seriously. It creates more than the revenue of all professional football, baseball and basketball franchises combined, and almost twice as much as the combined revenues of ABC, CBS and NBC. “What I don’t agree with is how much money they make,” said freshman, Brianne Kowalski. “I don’t like how someone in that industry can make so much more money than someone working hard for their money. I think it’s fine that it exists, I just think that there’s too much money going into it. It is too glamorized. People shouldn’t be striving to be porn stars.”

Although the main hubs are New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles, Boston is no stranger to the industry. There are many companies that produce pornography in Boston, and many of their clients are college students looking to make a few extra bucks. Adult Performers are paid by the scene, with exact payment that varies depending on their popularity and the type of scene they are hired for. Most female performers will earn $1500 to $3000 for a single scene and can easily earn $250k annually. Male performers can make anywhere from $50 to $1500 a scene. With the price of college skyrocketing, it’s not surprising that many students are turning to pornography for work.

“I had an idea to make an Oscar winning porno one time,” said Mills, “but I doubt anyone would get behind me on that.”

How do college students get into porn? I talked to Emerson students in the industry to find out. Freshman Tom* created his own gay porn blog when he was in high school. He posted self-made videos and collected revenue from Google Ads on his page. He started acting in professional porn when a company in Boston discovered his blog. Another student, Maria*, contacted a porn studio herself. She went in for an audition and was hired on the spot. Despite what viewers might assume, the performance itself is “totally non-sexual… It’s always very mechanical.”

Still, there’s no denying that such a lifestyle must have some negative consequences on the actor’s personal life. “As far as your relationships go, you can never tell, at least in the beginning, how someone’s going to react to your job,” Maria said. Tom took down his blog when he was in a relationship because his boyfriend was not comfortable with it. He has told a few close friends about his work, but not his family: “What they don’t know won’t hurt them!”

For the most part, all the actors agreed that working in the porn industry has had a positive impact on their lives. Senior Fred* explained that being in gay porn pushed him to overcome many self-confidence issues that he struggled with as a teenager. The demand of gay porn in particular for a certain kind of physique also introduced him to regular exercise, which he now says, “is like therapy for me. It’s definitely a big part of my life since I began working in porn.”

Tom said he takes pride in the fact that his work places an emphasis on safe sex and sexual education. The use of condoms is at the actor’s discretion, but it is common for an actor to leave the job knowing more about safe sex practices than he did before.

While the actors may be fine participating in porn, how would their classmates feel if they saw them in a video?

“I would be shocked,” said Kowalski. “But, I mean, if that’s what they want to do, then that’s fine.”

Sophomore Camille Lerner agrees, saying, “I don’t think I would feel all that awkward. I wouldn’t care about seeing my friends in porn, and if I don’t know them I wouldn’t care at all. I might wonder why they are doing it, but it’s their choice.”

So, there you have it – porn is definitely a part of the collegiate lifestyle. Next time you’re perusing your favorite adult entertainment website, be on the lookout for familiar faces, but watch without judgment. Whether you are a viewer, actor, or director, there is a wide spectrum of how to be involved in the porn industry.

Names have been changed

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international

Love

There’s always been a sense of adventure around the concept of meeting new people in foreign countries. In a sense, it can even be truly magical. Even if this encounter is merely a hook-up, it can be so much more than that; it’s a new, exciting experience to say the least. But perhaps you can discover something special. You may even find love.

Most of us, whether we admit it or not, fantasize about our travels as being in this far away land, finding our per fect Italian prince or English gentleman. Even if nothing remotely similar

I

Photography // AP Images

to these dreams happens, you don’t feel all that disappointed, because, well, maybe it was a long shot to begin with. But for the fortunate, these romantic visions become a reality. They may be brief, just lasting for a day, maybe a week– the really lucky voyager might get a month or two. Regardless of the duration of these exotic affairs, people can find their princes or princesses to live out their own love story with. There is no past, and no future– these finite moments are all that matter.

the city of LOVE

f by romance you mean humiliating sex, then yes, Paris was the City of Love.

I went to Paris in November expecting little else than baguettes—I didn’t even know how to speak French, so how was I expected to seduce its lesbian population?

Turns out, I’m better at sexual sign language than I thought––no, in reality, I just set my sights on an English-speaking tourist with a Gaelic name. Emir was two years my senior, and she was quite possibly the most beautiful creature that Ireland ever produced—smoky eyes, high cheekbones, long dark hair. I had only asked her for a cigarette, but her accent, just the way she said my name, was enough to threaten me into her allure.

I have a serious problem with being attracted to women who like to kiss and run away, which is precisely what Emir did as she left for a boat party in a taxi at 2:20am (these girls usually happen to be straight). What she did leave me with, however, was a smear of lipstick on my cheek and her room number.

The next night, she and her friends eventually agreed to ditch their plans and follow the Americans. It was a shit-show that no one was prepared for: two lost iPhones, one missing coat, and more than enough bruises to confirm the experience.

Emir hung to my arm all night—a good place to be, considering all the free drinks I received were passed down to her. I left with Emir that night, to her friends’ shock and dismay (Emir identified as straight, after all). In the taxi, Emir rested her arm on my leg, her fingers dancing along the nowclenched muscles of my inner thigh.

She pulled me by the collar into her hostel room, 404. The three other people in the room faded into the dark: all I saw where white sheets and Emir’s cheekbones poking above them. A flash of eyes, a kiss: I felt her weight curl around my waist. I pushed my whole body back against her.

Her moan filled the room; my ears were ringing with her sound. She lifted my palm to her mouth, but her sound broke through the seal of my fingers––she was biting my shoulder now, a gnash of teeth to prevent her from screaming.

All I remember now is waking up at 4:30am when she shifted next to me in her sleep. I kissed the back of her neck as I reached for my bra, hanging from the metal rungs on the side of the bunk bed. She mumbled something in her sleep.

I left her room commando, pants unzipped, shirt slung off my shoulder because I didn’t know if she would have wanted me to stay. I was anxious that it would go as things like this usually go with “straight” girls––I would wake up beside her and her evident regret: everything I thought she felt for me the night before always misconstrued in her facial expression. I leave, feeling like I’ve just condemned someone to hell.

But all of that was a poor decision. I crawled into my bed to find my

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Text // Danielle Barker. Shantal Erlich and Valerie Sīzhé Lì

friend was “squatting” at the end of the mattress–– I had forgotten her couch surfing plans fell through for her last night in Paris. I lay as still as possible, careful not to stick my feet in her face. Nine other people in the room, and I fell asleep wondering which one of them had been nice enough to let her in.

She woke me in her frustrated leaving: our other friend hadn’t made it back to the hostel last night. I couldn’t answer any of her questions: everything in my night had simply been Emir. Everything worked itself out okay while I slept it off. My friend said Emir had said goodbye to them from the shower as they left: I woke up too late and missed her. I still had another night left in the city, after all.

The maid shook me awake, mumbling in French as she turned on the vacuum. My head was pounding, and my squatter was gone. Sunday: the closest bakery was closed—I had to walk an extra block or two for a croissant and a café crème (an obligation on behalf of an old ex). That was ever so fun to think about, in addition to the what-have-you of the past 24 hours— vous devez aimer Paris!

I considered Emir to be such a stroke of luck that my next and final night in Paris would be unable to replicate it. I was flat broke, with a spending maximum of €5 for the night in order to afford my train fare in the morning––I was prepared for a manageable night to say the least. Luckily enough, “Buy one get one free” beers for €5 was the deal at my hostel for the weekend.

My first two beers were on me. Two shots followed, compliments of the beautiful Danish man sitting at the bar, his eyes and facial features reminding me of Alexander Skårsgard. I can’t for the life of me remember his name: I only remember him telling me that if I could get a donkey, he would tote my minimal luggage and me to Copenhagen with him. I posted a donkey-request on Facebook, but no one had any available.

A third shot from a pretty stranger.

His Australian friend, Daniel, was the next to treat me to an Irish cider––the same kind Emir had been drinking the night before. They invited me to sit with them. Pressing my lips to the rim, it felt as if this glass from Ireland retained some essence of her.

Daniel offered a cigarette from across the table. Outside, it heated my lips against this frigid Paris air. A couple near us was smooching passionately. Daniel put his arm around me, but I didn’t think much of it. I had just talked to him about my string of lesbian adventures, after all.

The last swig of my cider tasted like spit.

“So you’ve never been with a guy?” he asks suddenly, arm still around my back, falling lower now.

“False. I’ve been with quite a few.” He looked at me searchingly. “I mean, I had my time with guys, y’know? I just never liked it–– they were always awful. If I ever met one who knew what he was doing…”

YOUR romance He interrupted me with his lips, hard, and I felt his stubble dig into my upper lip. I pulled back out of instinct. “What are you doing?” I was looking at him now, outlining his facial features: the pronounced jawline, a nose like my ex-boyfriend’s from years ago, the muscles of his shoulders.

“I wanted to kiss you. You don’t know how beautiful you are, do you? I bet you get girls as pretty as I do.” His hand brushed my cheek, and trailed down my neck. “I promise I know what I’m doing,” he whispered.

The seductive charm of his Australian accent had faded, but something about the scruffiness of his voice was enticing. In a drunken haze, I took a chance and believed his assurance. Something in the back of my head told me my mother would be proud––she had been begging me to “give boys another try” for years.

He was leaning into me again as he spoke, lips pouted towards mine.

His open mouth was dark, black, something piss-in-your-pants frightening once its intentions were declared. Some part of me had to prove to him–– and to myself–– that I wasn’t scared. I fleetingly shoved my lips into his, and hoped for the best.

I was the one who broke away, again. Beer, please, a shot–– anything alcoholic. I tried to disappear into my room; I tried to retreat to my bed— to give into the fact that it was past midnight and I had an early bus to catch. Despite my efforts, he found me, and for some god-forsaken reason I followed him back to his ten-person room on the next floor.

He picked me up and lunged me, so to speak, onto the top-bunk mattress that was his. I heard the lower-bunkmate shift in sleep as I landed, rustling the sheets in a daze. Daniel’s bulky heaviness came down suddenly onto me, and I kept wriggling beneath him. He smelt thickly of old beer, cigarette smoke, and cheap hostel soap.

Something about all of this would have (and should have) been humiliating. The other men in the room were audibly snickering, shouting “Give it to her good, mate!” and “She sounds like a class-A moaner!” If I had been taking this seriously, I might have been mortified, but listening to him, his rugged, bear-like groaning above me made me want to laugh too. I mimicked all the gestures of pleasure, but it had become clear that he built himself to be better at this than he really was. I will admit, though, that the sheer variety of relatively displeasing positions he attempted to put me in was impressive in its own way.

He fell asleep, draping his heavy, hairy body over mine after mumbling something about a blowjob. I squirmed away to escape from beneath him, dizzy, fumbling out the door and managing to make it back to my floor.

This was, of course, before I realized I was barefoot, and my phone, jacket, necklace, and my roses had all been left on the table in his room. The security at St. Christopher’s Inns made it impossible to travel between floors without a key that granted access to a room on that floor. As I sat in the stairwell between floors four and five, the black of my smearing mascara smudging my eyesight, I thought about Emir, how much I had taken the fleeting blessing of the night before for granted, especially compared to the frank disinterest of subjecting myself to the humiliation that was hostel sex with Daniel.

But really, a thanks to the desk assistant who brought me to his floor and swiped me into his room without concerning herself about my pretty questionable state. Obviously, they’re pretty used to these types of shenanigans in the oh-so-romantic City of Love.

andres in TEL AVIV Andres was 16 years old. The annual trip to Israel was coming up, and at school (in Colombia) the excitement was building. As usual, all the guys had crazy plans and expectations about the number of girls they’d sleep with and how many clubs they’d go to. The trip kicked off just as Andres and his friends had planned, and they were having the times of their lives.

Make-out sessions occupied every night on the weekends– and never with the same girl. It was great. “It is weird how only because you are foreign, girls find you that much more interesting and attractive”. But after a couple of weeks, they arrived in Tel Aviv, and at the local hostel he met her. She was an older girl, maybe nineteen or twenty, with flowing, dark hair, and radiant green eyes. They started talking and everything just clicked right away. “I mean, when I first met her it was like ‘wow she’s hot’, but you never know where it’s going to go. It took me a while to realize she was into me, you know?” That same night, Andres lost his virginity. They never spoke, or much less saw each other again after he left Israel. Despite how short-lived it all was, it’s still obvious he remembers her when he reluctantly discusses the encounter. “I guess it is easier to be crazy, and just go for it, when you know that in a day or two, you’ll be gone, and you probably won’t see these people again in your life.”

valerie in MALAGA

Everyone keeps telling me there is a tiny city called Malaga where people would easily fall in love. I thought that was a joke, but I completely changed my mind when I arrived. Islamic castles, exotic streets and beautiful coastlines all combined together to set a scene for adventurers to sketch a new movie plot. I’ve never asked for this in my real life before, but when it happens, it naturally comes to you as if it has been all destined. It all started with a friendly smile and a rooftop drinking party with a bunch of friends who came from all across the world. In Denmark, they use the term “hygge” to describe a situation that includes a cheerful mood, along with the peace of mind coming from a sense of belonging. And there he was–– the Danish guy, Sebastian. appearing in my life in such a romantic “hygge” that both of us found it impossible to ignore our attraction towards each other.

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Underneath your CLOTHES...

S

candalous, sexual, raunchy, promiscuous: even from when it originated in the 1850’s, lingerie has always been a hidden fashion statement that could be described by those terms. As lingerie evolved, it took on many forms, such as the “wasp waist” and the “false buttocks,” all meant to make the women seem more alluring and to arouse men.

In today’s society, girls and guys alike have questioned the actual purpose of lingerie, and debate about the appropriate time and place for it. While some support the sexy attire, others wonder why it is even necessary in the first place.

Read on for some ideas of how to show off your best assets.

For many girls, lingerie is an important part of a healthy relationship. It helps keep things interesting and fun, diverging from the norm. Intimate pleasure does not only have to be physical, but can also be upgraded by the quality of the aesthetics. However, some guys could really care less about what their girl is wearing as far as undergarments go – they prefer what’s underneath and don’t need any special lingerie to make it a successful evening. “In all honesty, who really cares about the lingerie?” said Leo, a freshman.

Even some girls feel like lingerie is hyped up way too much in today’s world. Sophomore Alexandra said, “The best lingerie anyone can have is your naked body, so don’t even worry about which underwear to put on because it’s better off anyway.” “Some guys do appreciate girls’ extra effort, and extra money, spent on bedroom ensembles. But at what point in a relationship do people deem appropriate to start wearing the good stuff? “It’s really a personal thing,” said Matt, who is also a freshman and currently in a relationship.

“It’s whenever you feel comfortable with your partner.

There shouldn’t be a set time as to when it’s acceptable and when it’s not.”

“The best lingerie anyone can have is your naked body”

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YOUR romance

when is Lingerie okay?

However, Megan, a sophomore, would disagree: “I would start wearing cute underwear and lingerie right away in my relationship, why not?” When it comes to going out, it might be difficult to decide what kind of underwear to wear. Standing there deciding between your comfortable granny panties or a sexy lacey thong is definitely a touch choice.

Pick something you will feel confident in. The most important thing to remember in selecting your under-armor is what you feel sexy in. Lace lingerie is something to consider when going out. It’s extremely comfortable, but really sexy and revealing at the same time. Also, lace comes in every style from thongs to cheeky boy shorts. Lace’s versatility can work for every girl.

When it comes to bras, any style really works, as long as you feel like your boobs look good. Lace works just as well upstairs as it does downstairs.

Don’t buy into the mega-push-up allure; it’s false advertising. Go for something with slight push-up, and make sure that the lining isn’t too thin. You don’t want to look like you’re smuggling raisins.

Try the Goldilocks method when looking at sizes: not too big, not too small, but just right. The best advice I can give you: when heading to Victoria’s Secret, or maybe the more affordable H&M, bring along another set of trusted eyes. It’s best to ask a friend his or her objective opinion on how the girls are looking.

Guys don’t get off scot-free when it comes to planning what to wear under there. Men also have different options they can wear, from boxers, to boxer-briefs, to briefs, to even the athletic jock strap to enhance their stronger qualities, such as bulges or butts.

“For a guy there isn’t really any sort of lingerie you can wear, but I guess I do have nicer boxers. Instead of wearing regular boxers I would put on something tighter like my boxer briefs. Those are a little hotter than regular boxers,” said Josh, a junior.

The boxer brief seems like it is a popular pick for guys.

Andy, also a junior, said that, “Boxer briefs just make a guy feel a little bit more manly and sexy at the same time. And if I get lucky that night then I have something to show off rather then wearing baggy boxers.”

It is better if a guy wears boxer briefs out and/

or if you want to impress your girl. It’s sexy when a man cares about putting on their better underwear, if they have them. If you don’t have special or better underwear, I recommend buying at least one or two pairs of nicer boxer briefs. Also guys, please remember to put those undies in the wash before taking someone to bed. Turning them inside out doesn’t count.

At the end of the day, the choice to wear lingerie or go without the bedroom attire belongs to you and your partner, and what you feel comfortable with. Wear as much as you want or wear nothing at all.Lingerie has evolved gracefully from its humble beginnings, and though some may not believe it’s entirely necessary any more, the choice is still entirely up to you. Find a style you love and feel great in, and make it work!

Guys don’t get off scotfree...

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lookin’ Cute while you Workout E

Text // Jennifer Ortakales Models // Pauline Hevia & Audrianne LaDuke Photgrapher // Haley Kreofsky

ven the most fashionable women can have trouble when it comes to dressing for the gym. Looking put-together in clothes that are comfortable and functional is a challenge we face when we work out. Whether you run, lift, jog, or swim, it can be hard to find stores that carry cute athletic clothes. Here are some tips that will help you become the best dressed at the gym.

Ditch the velour! Leave the Juicy Couture track suits to Paris Hilton and the women of Real Housewives. Stick with pants that are figure flattering and hoodies made of cotton. Leggings and yoga pants are the go-to, safe option because they are streamlined and comfortable, but don’t be afraid to wear something bold. The printed leggings that you

wear to class can also be worn to workout – think floral, metallic, tribal, and galaxy leggings. Black Milk Clothing has an almost endless amount of creative leggings that would be just as fun to workout in as they are to wear throughout the day.

Look for sweatshirts that are out of the ordinary. You’re always going to see slouchy PINK and Abercrombie sweatshirts at the gym, but you’ll stand out with something more unique. Many sweatshirts have ruching, which makes them fitted and looks better than one that’s loose and sloppy. A cropped sweatshirt is a sexier option; worn with just a sports bra, it shows off those toned abs.

W s a m

s g t a d l

h t

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YOUR fashion

When it comes to sports bras, it can be hard to find one that is just right.

Women with large chests have trouble finding enough support, while women with small chests are faced with looking even flatter. Victoria’s Secret has options to fit any woman – push up when you need a boost, bralettes when you need the bare minimum, maximum support for hardcore workouts, and everything in between.

Your shoes are important. They should say something about you. Plain white sneakers say you’re boring and plain, never mind the fact that white shoes easily get dirty. Pumas are great athletic shoes that have a signature, streamlined style that look very sophisticated. Nikes are classic, and come in an array of colors and styles, they have a more street style, laid-back vibe. Sketchers are a brand you don’t want to be seen in past the age of six and FiveFingers (the shoes that look like alien feet) are never okay regardless of your age.

Reconsider some of the tops you normally wear as regular daywear. You don’t have to limit yourself to dingy, oversized tees that look sloppy. Some of your tank tops and shirts may be made out of really comfortable materials, while cute

patterns will add some fun and color to your outfit. If you’ve got old tanks or tees that need some sprucing up, do a little DIY with embellishments and cutting.

Ever wonder where to put your phone or iPod when you’re out on a run?

Victoria’s Secret PINK now has a line of yoga pants with a pocket in the back just for this dilemma.

Try hairstyles other than your typical ponytail. One cute variation is to braid your pony. It looks super cute and stays in place better. Most headbands slip out when you’re jumping or running around, so to get your bangs out of your face you can incorporate them into an inverted or French braid.

It’s challenging to find makeup that lasts through your entire workout, but Revlon’s Colorstay Overtime is a good, waterproof mascara that is fairly smudgeproof as well. If you were to keep one product in your gym bag, Maybelline’s Baby Lips lip balm will keep your lips moisturized and prevent chapping in dry conditions.

where to buy your

WORKOUT ESSENTIALS blackmilkclothing.com

...for a great assortment of unique leggings

store.nike.com

...for edgy, high-performance pieces

shop.lululemon.com ...good yoga basics

victoriassecret.com/ victorias-secret-sport ...the best place for sports bras

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THE

THE

LION& LAMB

Pinkyotto cream dress; Pinkyotto, Boston. Iro tweed jacket; Scoop NYC, Boston. Wooden layered necklace; Bobbles and Lace, Boston. Denim shirt, studded bracelet, and black boots; stylist’s own.

Model // Olivia Harvey Photography // Mimi Vecchione

Faux leather tank top; Bobbles and Lace, Boston. Pinkyotto pearl jacket; Pinkyotto, Boston. Derek Lam twill pants; Scoop NYC, Boston. My Sisters AA rubber and silver earrings; Turtle, Boston.

Black stilettos; stylist’s own.

White blouse with hardware accents; Bobbles and Lace; Boston.

Pinkyotto black festive top and ten points necklace; Pinkyotto, Boston. Black skirt and black stilettos; stylist’s own.

Acne Studios leather and denim jacket; Scoop NYC, Boston. Pinkyotto clutch and triangle necklace; Pinkyotto, Boston. Cream dress and heels; stylist’s own.

Maison Martin Margiela leather vest and sheer maxi skirt; Scoop NYC, Boston. My Sisters AA rubber earrings; Turtle, Boston. Black lion chain necklace and brown envelope clutch; Bobbles and Lace, Boston. Black stilettos; stylist’s own.

Pinkyotto ivory blouse, pleated pants, and fur scarf; Pinkyotto, Boston. Cream enamel necklace; Bobbles and Lace, Boston. Tan heels; stylist’s own.

scent of a

Woman.

Photography // Zeynep Abes

Between guest-judging a competition reality show and playing a victim on an episode of Law and Order: SVU, producing a fragrance has become a rite of passage for celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Halle Berry, to Celine Dion and Selena Gomez. You can’t walk into the glittering beauty section of a department store without feeling like you’ve stepped into a tabloid magazine. When it comes to picking out a signature scent for yourself, especially on a student’s budget, it can be difficult to find a perfume that is sophisticated, lasts through lunch, and doesn’t remind everyone around you of cotton candy and hairspray.

For years, women have instead turned to the selection of men’s fragrances to find unique scents that suit their personal preferences. On one end of the cost spectrum, supermodels and uber-athletes alike pick Old Spice deodorant again and again because of its fresh scent and super staying power. The very popular unisex Kiehl’s Musk Fragrance (available at the Kiehl’s boutique on Newbury Street for $42.50) initially combines bergamot and orange blossoms in creamy top-notes. The rich body eventually boils down to warm white patchouli and musk base-notes. If you love the classicism of Chanel No 5, Kiehl’s Musk Oil conjures similar feelings of romanticism but with an extra dose of heady sensuality. Women everywhere return to the classic Kieh’s scent for its versatility, dimension, and durability. Through classes, internships, and long nights out, the musk works as hard as you do.

While some men’s colognes and fragrances can be overpowering, or downright offensive to the nose (looking at you, Axe Body-spray), those expertly made and blended with high-quality oils adapt to an individual’s body chemistry to ultimately produce a truly unique scent. By

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ignoring labels like “for men” and “l’homme” (“man,” in French), discerning ladies everywhere find their personal scent that sets them apart from the crowd—in a good way. While reading People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue, freshman Sarah, was struck by the scent of a scratch-and-sniff ad for YSL L’Homme (available at Sephora for $45-$95), featuring Michael Phelps. She enjoyed the sample and purchased the fresh, bergamot and ginger infused, woody fragrance for herself. Acqua di Parma Colonia, the original scent from the tradition-steeped Italian perfume maker, is another extremely popular choice for both women and men. First created in 1916, the most recognizable of the

“The right fragrance can help keep your mood bright and establish your individual presence in a room or situation.”

Text // Hannah Woolley

Acqua di Parma line (available at Sephora for $86-$122) starts with Sicilian citrus notes followed by damask rose and lavender. The iconic scent rounds out with woody patchouli and vetiver base-notes. Shannan, a freshman journalism major, enjoys the elegant aroma because “it’s not too strong, but it doesn’t wear off by the end of the day.”

The right fragrance can help keep your mood bright and establish your individual presence in a room or situation. In the sea of jasmine, vanilla, and floral notes, the layered richness and flexibility of men’s fragrances and colognes are a surprisingly sophisticated alternative for the woman who wants to leave an impression.

YOUR fashion

your tech! pimp Text // Valeria Navarro Photography // Tori Mier and AP Images

Finding something to wear is a strenuous process that can take up to 2 hours, and even then most of the time we are not nearly satisfied with our “oh-so-clever” outfit. Not only do we have to worry about that, but nowadays we also need to make sure that our robot-gadgets look equally dashing as us. Dressing your laptop, kindle, nook, iPad, iPhone, Android and Blackberry it is not an easy task. Amidst a sea of colors, patterns, and textures, hundreds of cases, bags, or sleeve options from where to decide the possibilities are endless. I can barely make up my mind when it comes to dressing myself, how I’m supposed to dress my gadget?

The technology accessories boom has become more evident the last couple of years, when gadgets became a staple in the bags and hands of many. Cases are not a new concept, and people started to use them as merely a form of protection against scratches, and the occasional, yet, accidental, dropping to the floor. Nowadays styles have become more edgy to a point where most fashion designers create their own tech fashion lines along with their clothing lines. From Marc Jacobs, to Kate Spade, to retails stores such as Urban Outfitter now carry some form of case for laptops, tablets and mobile devices.

When it comes to picking the right accessory for your device, it all depends on what you are looking for.

If you are all about comfort, and simplicity: a classic colored hard shell case will protect your phone or tablet.

For the partygoer: the party is popping, you are dancing like there is no tomorrow, and —you might have had too many drinks. Do not fret because a heavy-duty silicone case that withstands bumps and shock maybe your best bet, luckily Tory Burch and Kate Spade have cute options that make your phone your best and only accessory to rave about.

Internship Sweetheart: forget about those ugly briefcases that your mom had to carry around back in the day. Check out Marc Jacobs’s chic and affordable bags for laptops and tablets. Every day at work will be a fashionable one.

The artist: Case Mate offers personalized cases where you can pick from an array of options that go from colors, to patterns or even create your own drawings to add to your case, The simple gesture of dressing up your tech not only protects it from scratches and cracked screens, but adds a little bit of your personality to your phone. Technology accessories have become a statement of personality, and style, but of course we also love its practicality!

STREET TECH STYLE

Siriwan Siriwangsanti, “I like leather and this one is class and this goes well with whatever it is you wear because it’s simple.”

Emilie Mirvis, “I like that it has feather, and I love the boho feel of it.”

Jacob Porter, “It has all my favorite characters on it.”

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DIYourmag:

dip it low

I

Text // Emy LaCroix Photography // Tori Mier

t’s almost spring break and you only have your winter clothes. This is why transitional clothing is such an important part of a wardrobe.

Appropriate year-round styles, fabrics, prints, and colors aren’t always easy to determine. Light florals and chiffon are too ethereal for winter, and wool and leather are way too heavy for spring. Where is our happy medium?

Denim! It’s the perfect weight for winter or spring. It breathes, accents any outfit, and keeps you warm. I’m going to show you how to breathe new life into this timeless outfit staple, and get you ready for a chic spring break (even if you don’t have the extra cash for a suitcase full of new threads). Our secret weapon against drab winter wear? Dip dye!

Dip dyeing is akin to tie-dye, an ancient form of garment embellishment.

Ancient Indians would crush turmeric and dissolve it in water, then create patterns of dots and circles by tying off tiny sections of fabric with thread.

This process was called Bandhana and is still practiced in India today. In Japanese society, string, rubber, waxes, and stones are used to create a very intricate design on traditional ceremonial kimonos.

Of course, we can’t talk tie-dye and omit the ‘70s. While I would love to cite hippie ingenuity as the origin of the rainbow style, the real story is a bit more interesting. RIT Dye is a dye supply company in America that began to fail in the late ‘60s. They tried selling dye door-to-door in Greenwich Village, where many hippies lived, but it didn’t catch on until American designer Roy Halston Frowick (known as Halston) picked up the technique. After that, a DIY tie-dye trend took off.

But let’s admit it; tie-dye is only cool if you’re twelve years old and toting a sexy Lisa Frank bag. Let’s talk tie-dye for grown-ups. Let’s talk dip dye. It’s a process that creates either a pretty or an edgy ombré effect, depending on the colors and saturation you use. Ombre is a pattern of gradual fading, taking a fabric from dark to light. It looks muchs more sophisticated while still carefree. A different way to use this technique is to fade the pigment rather than adding it. That’s right, you can use bleach! It creates a cool effect and is the cheapest way to go. Bleach is only $3(you probably already have some)! So grab some gloves, and let’s get down to business.

what you Bleach | Water | Bucket need: Rubber band | Denim shirt (or any other denim item you want).

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1 2 3 4 5

Start with a clean denim item. I like to get mine at a Salvation Army or Goodwill. If that’s the route you take, WASH THEM FIRST. Tie a rubber band about halfway up the shirt, or wherever you’d like the fading to begin.

Fill the bucket about two inches with bleach and then add another two inches of water. If you want a larger area bleached, use more of the liquid; just remember to keep a 1:1 ratio. Dip your shirt into the bucket, halfway to your rubber band. Leave for for ten minutes.

Add two more inches of water and dip the shirt in about ¾ of the way to the rubber band. Wait another ten minutes.

Add about two more inches of water and dip the shirt just to the rubber band. Wait another ten minutes. The idea is that the diluted mixture will fade each section of the shirt less. You want the top to be light blue, the middle to be very light, and the bottom to be completely white. WARNING: over bleaching will make the garment look yellow. If you see this happening, dilute water more or stop and rinse.

Repeat above process with sleeves, then dunk entire garment into a bucket of equal parts vinegar and water. This stops the fading process and cements the color. It also helps remove some of the bleach scent. Rinse in ice cold water, then let dry. Wash the shirt with your laundry, and you’re done!

For a little added flair, you can add some beads or studs to the tips of the collar to make the look a little edgier, girlier, or whatever look you’re going for!

Dip dyeing is a fun way to step up your winter clothing for spring, and a denim shirt is the perfect transition piece. You can wear it buttoned up with jeans and a scarf for winter, or tie it at the waist over a cute floral dress for spring. Voila! You now have a new perfect year-round item.

OPTIONAL ITEMS: Any embellishments to take your modification to the next level, like beads or studs.

YOUR fashion

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what does YOUR style say about you?

Text // Molly Coyne

L

Photography // Jennifer Myers

et’s all admit it right now: we do in fact, judge books by their covers, or in this case, people by their outfits.

Whether it’s a vocalized compliment or a secretive sneer, we all have commentated on what we like and dislike about the styles and outfits we see on complete strangers. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in fact, it’s probably what the other person is expecting. Like the music we listen to and the hobbies we partake in, how we dress is just another way of vocalizing our personal opinions and revealing our personalities. We dress a certain way in order to expose to the public who we are, and though we may not care what others think of how we dress, we still want to cast a certain vibe about ourselves through our clothes. So, the obvious question is, what do complete strangers think of how we dress? How much does our personal style really reflect our personality? To help answer these questions, three Emerson students volunteered to rifle through their closets and choose one outfit that they believe reflect their style preferences and personality in the best way possible. Then, they were asked to critique and evaluate each other’s choices, providing an answer to our question: what does my style really say about me?

“We all try to impress others with the way we look, but when it comes to your personal style, you should be dressing for you.” Says Julie Whalen, a freshman Speech Communications major at Emerson. Julie would describe her style as edgy, but still fun and kind of girlie.

“I don’t think my style really reflects my personality, it’s kind of the opposite. My personality is already very bright, so the dark colors that I wear contrast with that.” Says Julie, believing that her style and her personality balance each other out.

She chose this outfit for several reasons, believing it represents her style the best.

“The leggings are fun, but still kind of dark and edgy.

The cardigan adds a pop of color to the outfit, so it brightens the outfit but doesn’t over-do it.”

Julie doesn’t find her inspiration in any particular celebrities or designers, but rather from the everyday people

that surround her. She admires the different styles that other people try around Emerson and Boston and finds fashion insight by just people watching.

“The way I dress is for me, I’m not trying to impress anyone.” Julie says. “I dress how I like to dress, in clothes that make me feel good about myself, not because it’s what other people want me to wear.”

Fellow model Alyssa Giannone, a freshman Journalism major at Emerson, agrees with Julie’s perception of her own style. After analyzing Julie’s outfit, Alyssa came to a similar conclusion.

“The way she dresses tells me she’s not afraid of what other people think; she likes to be heard. The colors are loud and every outfit is fun.” Says Alyssa. “She looks like she enjoys wearing the clothes and just comes off to me as a fun person to be around.”

Jasmyn Jacob, a junior at Emerson as well as the third model, finds Julie’s style very cute and fashionable as well.

“I really liked the floral print pants! They are something I would definitely wear,” critiques Jasmyn.

“I also thought the purple cardigan was a great choice for that ‘pop’ color.”

“She looks like she enjoys wearing the clothes and just comes off to me as a fun person to be around.” Concludes Alyssa, relating Julie’s style to her overall personality.

When it comes to Alyssa’s personal style, comfort is a main priority. “I would say my style could be described as street chic and lazy boy.” Says Alyssa, who regularly fluctuates between skirts and dresses to jeans and flannels.

“My style shows that I’m a creative person when I really try, and that I’m an athlete when I don’t try.” Alyssa comments. Even when she’s not trying to be particularly fashionable when getting dressed, her personality and style is still reflected.

As far as statements are concerned, Alyssa believes that those who see her can tell that she’s unique.

“I think my style reflects that I’m a music person. The way I dress parallels to the type of music I listen to.”

As a hardcore Beatles fan, Alyssa admits she is most

“You should be dressing for you”

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YOUR fashion inspired by the fashion of the 60’s and 70’s, but modernized.

She chose her outfit because it shows that she likes to be comfortable in everything she wears, but still stand out make a statement.

Julie would describe Alyssa’s style as “laid back and chill, but still very stylish at the same time.”

“I thought the navy blue mixed with the lavender was really eye catching,” comments Jasmyn. “The patterned leggings are really the focal point. It’s either a hit or a miss when it comes to patterned pants and I think this pattern is really beautiful.”

“This is something I would definitely love to wear,” says Julie, appreciative of Alyssa’s unique style. “Her shoes are definitely my favorite part of the outfit, I think they add something different.”

Lastly, Jasmyn finds her own personal style to be a perfect reflection of her personality, declaring her style as “NYC Chic”.

“My style really reflects my personality because it represents my edgy, urban side without losing sight of my really feminine and girly side.” Aside from keeping in touch with her feminine side while still seeming edgy, the Emerson junior likes to put outfits together that make her feel empowered as well.

“Blazers, heels, form-flattering tops really give me that extra pep in my step. I feel like I can conquer the world and take on anything life brings me!” says Jasmyn.

Much of Jasmyn’s fashion inspiration doesn’t come from a certain designer or fashion line, but actually from the YouTube star Carli Bybel.

“She gives great fashion advice, and makeup and hair tutorials. She does it all.” Explains Jasmyn. “Her style is definitely very similar to mine and her clothing is more accurate to what I would actually buy.”

Jasmyn believes her outfit best represents both her personality and style in several important ways.

“The leopard-print blazer I wore from Finao really makes a bold-feminine statement. The blazer has this beautiful leather collar and this winter season leather is SO in. I really like bold pieces that have leather accents on it. Also, the military heels have that urban touch that really reflects my style.”

“I would say she’s very city chic,” says Alyssa, basing her critique off of Jasmyn’s leopard blazer and high heels.

“Her outfit is stylish yet still functional.”

Julie agrees with Alyssa’s critique, adding a few comments of her own.

“I personally love her outfit.” Says Julie. “I love the jacket and the shoes-I wish I had those shoes myself!”

In conclusion, it’s strikingly obvious that what we wear does in fact reveal more about ourselves than we may think.

Whether you’re purposely dressing for others’ opinions or could care less about what the public thinks, the thoughts and opinions of others are still going to follow your style wherever it goes. So stand proud and rock your look, whatever that look may be!

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“Pinup Styles for the Perfect Getaway” G photography by Stephanie Fishbein featuring Sharon Shao, Manisha Tolani, Camra Godwin, Miruna Partovi, & Josephine Cooper lighting design by Nelson Ramm

t p e Sw y!

a w A

Bettie Page black gala blouse; Bettie Page Clothing, Boston.

Bettie Page Ariel dress and boy shorts; Bettie Page Clothing, Boston.

y o h A re!

The

Light my Fire!

Bettie Page floral jumper; Bettie Page Clothing, Boston.

t s u J chy!

a e B

Britt Ryan Anchor bathing suit; Britt Ryan, Boston.

Bottoms

Up!

Bettie Page reindeer blouse and purple pencil skirt; Bettie Page Clothing, Boston.

emerson cEWEBrities Text // Matt Mullen Photography // Dondre Taylor-Stewart

“We’re just having fun, but we like to think we’re famous” LYNDSAY CANNON

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F

ame is a tantalizing prospect that eludes many. Emerson often appears to be filled with burgeoning stars— from the musical theatre majors to the film students and everyone in between. However, with the growth of the Internet and social media, the idea that fame is for few is quickly becoming obsolete. There’s a new online world, one in which anyone with the stamina can carve out a section to call their own. Here at Emerson there are a few students who have made a name for themselves in the chaotic world of the web and have become Internet famous. Although for different reasons and with different ambitions in mind, these students have become celebrities in their own right with the rest of the world as their witness.

Kassie King, a sophomore Political Communications major, sees her Internet fame as a way to inspire positive change everywhere.

King is an immensely popular videoblogger on YouTube, where her weekly videoblog (vlog) gives us a taste of King and her personality. Her page has almost 6,500 subscribers to date. It’s hard to capture what exactly the theme of her vlog is, as the videos cover everything from pop culture to advice.

In a recent video she documented her entire month of January in short clips she filmed and cut together.

“On the Internet I’m kind of a joke,” says King, “and not in the bad way. I just like to think I present my experiences in a way that is entertaining and never taking myself too seriously.”

King attributes her following on YouTube to her long-standing relationship with the Internet community. At age twelve she began writing for MuggleNet, a Harry Potter fan site, where she met and developed friendships with fellow writers.

“I met all of these people…people who ended up going on YouTube later. We became friends and promoted each other.”

King espoused praise for YouTube, which she sees as a unique platform in broadening discourse, particularly amongst women.

“I’m happy telling silly stories. But I think

YOUR features that the video platform is a great place to talk about issues and things that you may not be able to tell even the people in your every day life,” says King. “While I’m putting myself on the Internet, I think there’s a lot of things I can say on that medium that I feel like would be a little much to spring on the people I see every day.”

In addition to her vlog, King has been in partnership with the website Wonderly which, as she describes it, promotes female video creators and empowers women. “There are a lot of 14-year-old girls out there that need to hear about things their parents may not tell them,” she says.

Lyndsay Cannon, a junior television production major, has found similar success in the world of Internet videos. Instead of weekly musings, Cannon produces and stars in original video parodies.

Originally, Cannon created these videos with her high school friend Angela Sclafani and posted them on their YouTube channel, UrbanDecay.

The duo began making parodies of songs like Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok” and of shows including Jersey Shore. Although the videos were simply for fun, the two girls had ambitious dreams.

In 2010, Cannon contacted Ellen DeGeneres, describing herself and Sclafani as “the next big thing.”

“We thought we were already famous,” says Cannon.

To their surprise, Ellen wanted them on her show—citing their friendship and calling them fresh and fun. Two days later they were flying to Los Angeles. Cannon called the experience life changing, however, she notes there was a dark side to her newfound Internet fame.

“When we went back to school, a lot of people stopped being friends with me,” says Cannon. “They thought we were stuck up.

That’s why when I came to college I didn’t want to tell anyone about it.”

Eventually word got out about her videos— and their viral success— but Lyndsay is now proud of them again and says they have made her stronger.

Soon after coming to Emerson “the stars aligned” and her cousin, John Walsh, came into her life.

“John and I weren’t always friends. In fact, I barely knew him. But we decided to start making parodies, and the rest is history,” says Cannon.

The duo created Jersey Shore Teens, a web series about New Jersey teenagers living together in a house for the summer, the second season of which premiers in April. Cannon and Walsh have also founded ACousinsProduction, their own production company. The cousins’ videos garnered enough attention to catch the eye of MTV, who agreed to play one of their

Jersey Shore Parody videos during the season finale of the real Jersey Shore.

Despite Cannon’s dazzling rise to Internet stardom, she still claims she is only doing it for the pleasure of working with people she loves.

“We’re just having fun,” says Cannon. “But we like to think we’re famous.”

Ben Kling, a senior Writing for Television and Film major, is something of an Internet Renaissance man. Kling has spent years crafting his own career, one in which he designs and builds websites and writes, records, and animates commercials. He is also an avid writer and has published his fiction and essays on College Humor.

Kling got his start making content on the Internet over 10 years ago.

“Web design became a hobby of mine in fourth grade,” he says. “I realized I could render a fake news website with whatever text I liked and use it as a source for an assignment.”

Kling now designs and animates for major websites. His clients have included College

Humor, Cartoon Hangover, and Channel Frederator. Kling also worked for College Humor, and even had his writing published on their website.

College Humor is a widely admired website that, among other things, produces viral videos often featuring A-list celebrities. Jessica Biel, Mila Kunis, and David Cross have all appeared in recent CH videos, to name a few. “Gay Men Will Marry Your Girlfriends” was a recent CH video that received over 5 million views.

“Since I also worked in editorial, it was often up to me what got published, so they just had me push my own posts through.

Sometimes I still do. It’s all very glamorous,” says Kling, who writes humor himself.

Lastly, Kling offers some advice: “Don’t brand yourself.”

In the quest for Internet renown, don’t distill your identity. All three of these students, different in many ways, represent this truth. It seems that if you want to be famous, just try being yourself and see what happens.

“It’s all very glamorous” BEN KLING

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kiss me,

i’m american...

Text // Gina Brindisi Photography // Alex Fierro Clarke

St. Patrick’s Day means beer, leprechauns and lucky charms, right?

To celebrate, many people go green-overload and sport obnoxious hats.

Others drown themselves in pints of beer, all in honor of this one dayMarch 17th. In Boston, this Irish heritage is taken to the extreme. Parades occupy the streets of South Boston, Irish step dancers take over Faneuil Hall, pubs across the city happily open their doors, and the Drop Kick Murphys- Boston’s own taste of Celtic Punk Rock- take the stage for their annual concert at the House of Blues.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations were not all fun and games.

In fact, their “celebration” involved just the opposite. People headed to church while pubs and bars were forced to lock their doors on March 17th up until the 1970’s. The Irish didn’t want a holy day to be just as rowdy as every other day. Over here in America, we don’t seem to be too concerned with that. Instead, St. Patrick’s Day becomes a day long party. It’s been estimated that a whopping 13 million pints of Guinness – one of the most popular Irish beers around – will be downed on a typical St. Patrick’s Day in America.

With statistics like this, it’s no wonder the Irish think we’re a bit on the wild side. “Americans are crazy,” says Ben Mulligan, a freshman science major at Ireland’s University College Dublin. “You probably take it more seriously than us,” he adds. Mulligan was born and raised in Silgo, Ireland, so you would think St. Patrick’s Day was an important part of his heritage and history. Instead, March 17th is nothing more to him than a slightly more-intense-than-usual rugby game between Ireland and England.

To us, that seems just a little unpatriotic. In America, we go all out for our nation’s own holidays like the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. St. Patrick’s Day has little to do with our country, but that hasn’t stopped us from claiming it as our own. “St. Patrick’s Day reminds me of my heritage and where my ancestors came from,” says Megan Kay, a freshman video and media arts major at Emerson. Back during the potato famine, Kay’s family crossed the pond to America. Now Kay and her family typically celebrate her family roots on St. Patrick’s with a classic Irish meal filled with potatoes, Irish Soda Bread, and her father’s favorite Irish movie, The Quiet Man starring John Wayne.

So yes, we definitely go much harder than the Irish do themselves. Yes, we definitely feel a stronger connection to Ireland on March 17th than the Irish do themselves. Our parades are bigger and our pints of beer go down quicker. Southie gets a bit…festive, with floats and pipe bands lining the streets for over 600,000 people to see for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade here in Boston. But remember that these parades and festivities aren’t celebrating Irish tradition at all. It’s not about Irish pridy. It’s a day devoted to America’s ever-classic absurdity.

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YOUR features

THE BEST BREWS FOR

st. patty’s day celebrate irish tradition the american way with one of these authentic brews.

Text // Gina Brindisi

1 2 3

Photography // Alex Fierro Clarke

Guinness Guinness is one of the most popular beers to sip on St. Patrick’s Day with its classic dry stout taste. It’s different from most beers, with a dark, bitter flavor that is unique to the Irish brewery. Most agree that each Guinness tastes different depending on where it’s brewed. Arguably, the best pint is the one you’ll get in Dublin, brewed with water from the Liffys and the unique Irish touch.

Murphy’s Irish Stout This microbrew from Cork, Ireland is owned by Heineken and has a lighter taste than its competitors. It may not be for the heavy beer enthusiast seeking that classic bitter taste, but it’s perfect if you’re looking for an authentic Irish beer for the day.

Smithwick’s Irish Ale Smithwick’s has been turning out this beer since the 14th century.

It’s known not only for its unique red (almost ruby) color, but also for its distinct smell of caramel and malts. It’s a smooth beer with a long history, making it one of the best choices for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

4

Harpoon Celtic Red Brewed right here in Boston, this beer may not be as authentic as the rest, but the Irish taste is certainly still there. It’s a hearty yet sweet blend, which is brewed specifically for the St. Patrick’s Day season, so be sure to get your hands on it while you can.

5

Kaliber by Guinness For those who aren’t yet old enough to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with alcohol in hand, this should definitely be your choice of beverage. It has Guinness’ same great taste, but without the alcohol.

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female professor PROFILES

in recognizing march as women’s history month, these notable female professors here at emerson cannot be ignored.

Photography // Kayla VanFleet

Text // Julia Higgins

Cathy Waters

sails into the waiting room of the Walker Building’s 9th floor, her hair wind-swept and her smile bright. Though she had been worried she would be running late to the* meeting, she shows almost no signs of being rushed; aside from a few stray hairs, she is composed and cheerful. After taking a seat in her office, she begins to discuss her lengthy professional career, which is one that diverges from the more artsy, entertainment-based careers that Emerson is typically known for.

For twelve years, Waters worked in marketing management at IBM, a job that she describes as being very analytical and math-oriented. For many Emerson students, Waters’ affinity for math may sound surprising, if not a little strange. Waters, however, says math has been something she was always good at, which, when combined with an ability to be a creative-thinker, led her into the marketing world.

After IBM, Waters moved on to teaching; first at Boston College, and then later at Emerson. Currently, Waters is working on several projects within the Emerson community, one of which involves working with architects who are helping Emerson look at the next 15 years in terms of campus design. Waters’ desire to work on the future design of the Emerson campus does not come as a surprise, as she describes shaping unstructured projects as one of her preferred jobs. “[One of my favorite projects] revolved around coming into something that was really messy, and not established,” says Waters. “I would call that a start-up culture; you’re trying to figure out how to do things, and put some structure around it, and projects like those have been some of my favorite.”

To current marketing students, and to the Emerson population as a whole, Waters stresses the importance of reaching out to others, and being open to selfdevelopment.

“It’s a good thing to not be afraid, and it’s a good thing to fail,” says Waters. “Sometimes you need to get it wrong, because that creates resilience, and exposes people to new opportunities. There should be a long period in your career where you don’t feel comfortable because it means you’re learning and growing.”

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YOUR features

Flora Gonzalez’s

The dark red of lipstick, and the even darker hues of her clothing, contrasts with her warm smile and her kind eyes. While talking with her, it becomes clear that Gonzalez is a storyteller; she is an open book, willing to share as much detailed information as she can. This distinct persona suits her nicely, as she is both a researcher and a writer of Latin American culture. Coming from Cuba, her experience as an immigrant to the United States has influenced a great deal of her research, as she reflects on the community she left behind.

“My first nonfiction work came as the result of having a daughter who turned 13- the age that I was when I was leaving Cuba,” says Gonzalez. “I would see her and I would think, ‘oh my god… she’s so young!” and I came to the US, without my parents, at that age. The memories just came pouring out, and I started keeping it as a journal.” This journal eventually became the foundation for her first nonfiction publication.

Gonzalez’s favorite work, a 2006 publication, “Guarding Cultural Memory,” illustrates both her love of research, and her continuous desire to discover herself. The book itself, which took ten years of intensive research, is about afro-cuban women of Gonzalez’s generation, who are filmmakers, poets, and essay writers.

“I happen to be very proud of that one,” says Gonzalez, in reference to her book. “I was allowing myself to discover something that I was denied as a child, as I was exploring women who grew up in an afro-cuban culture that was very different from the kind of life that I had been leading [in the US].”

Gonzalez’s best advice to aspiring young researchers and nonfiction writers is two-pronged: pick a subject that you are very passionate about, and be very disciplined.

“If you’re passionate about something, that’s what’s going to drive you. Doing research and doing any kind of writing takes a lot of work; you have to know that you’re in it for the long haul,” says Gonzalez. “There’s a very exciting period of discovery that comes with this, though, and that’s what keeps me going.”

Professor Melia Bensussen

can be heard before she is seen. After finishing a meeting in her office, her door swings open and her voice wafts down the hallway, falling clearly on all ears within range. As she comes into view, her bubbly charm is instantly recognizable; her reputation as a “theatre-person” corresponds well with the twinkle in her eye and the sincere smile on her face. Bensussen is chair of the performing arts department, a professor, and a director in both Emerson productions and those of outside theatres. Through all of this, she is also a wife and the mother of two children. In 2003, when Bensussen won her OBIE award, the off-Broadway equivalent of a Tony, she was pregnant with her second child.

“When I got invited to the ceremony, I didn’t believe I had won,” says Bensussen. “I didn’t want to fly out to New York because of my pregnancy, and I didn’t believe I had any reason to anyway.” But, as many of Bensussen’s colleagues had already guessed at the time, Bensussen did receive an award for Excellence in Directing* for her show NAME. Bensussen radiates this same humbleness while describing her past, often award-winning, work, such as the production of Twelfth Night she directed in YEAR. This won the Elliot Norton award for best production, an achievement that Bensussen happily recalls as, “deeply satisfying.”

Bensussen attributes much of her success as a director to the unique decisions she made throughout her career.

“I’ve passed on very successful projects that have gone on to be very important, but I just didn’t like them,” says Bensussen. “You have to live with yourself, and your choices. As long as you know why you want to do something, and you have an appetite to do it, then you’re fine no matter what happens outside of your project.”

Her advice to aspiring directors, students, and artists of all sorts? Stop focusing on the labels, like she did, and start focusing on the art.

“We’re a very career-oriented society, so we worry about what’s the best job, and who’s the best person to work for, and what’s the best theatre to go to, or where you should go to grad school,” says Bensussen.

“We’re artists if we’re in touch with what we want to contribute, not what the world wants for us.”

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Boston’s Brooklyn Text // Matthew Keyser Photography // Google Images When you hear “Somerville,” what do you think of? Do you think of its history as the carjack capital in the United States for over a decade? How about the notorious Winter Hill Gang and the Irish mob war in the ‘60s? Maybe you think of the longstanding nickname “Slummerville.” Then again, maybe you’re interested in the art galleries in Union Square, or bouncing from front yard to front yard in East Somerville during the annual “Porchfest” concert in the spring. Or maybe you only know it as that mysterious place across the river.

Somerville has always been a homey neighborhood. Way back in 1842, Somervillains (yeah, that’s the legitimate term for Somerville residents) petitioned to annex their city from their neighbor, Charlestown because it was developing too rapidly in their eyes. Today, Somerville’s character derives from the predominant lack of corporate franchises and the abundance of houses instead of apartment buildings.

Sarah Cohen lives with her boyfriend in the heart of East Somerville, right off of the main drag on Broadway. 21-years-old now, Cohen grew up in the Porter Square area, “a couple of steps from the city line” between Cambridge and Somerville. Her boyfriend was born and raised in East Somerville where the two live now.

Demographically, Cohen says that East Somerville is largely Brazilian. All along Broadway there are travel agencies, pastelarias, and hole-in-the-wall cafes with Portuguese names. Cohen says, “There’s even a Chinese restaurant down the street where the menu has Portuguese translations.”

The city was once almost entirely Irish, but as time passed, the area became more of a melting pot for different races. Up until the early ‘90s, Somerville was colloquially

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YOUR features

referred to as “Slummerville.” The city was known for being rough and tumble, filled with dive bars and low-income housing.

By 1994 though, artists were beginning to see Somerville as a Mecca of sorts, and galleries started popping up here and there. Cohen says, “There’s a big artist community now, lots of farmers markets, and a bunch of artisty, hipstery types here and out in Davis.”

Jeremy Owades is a 20-year-old Quantitative Economics student at Tufts University. While he lives in Medford, a stones throw from Somerville, he spends a lot of time in Davis Square. Owades says, “Going back twenty, even ten years, Davis Square was pretty shitty…Now Somerville is very up and coming. It’s full of recent college graduates in their twenties, as well as families with young children..”

When talking about the culture in Davis Square, Owades says, “If you’re in Davis Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night, there’s a lot of restaurants, pubs, and sports bars.”

Owades didn’t comment on the artsy side of Davis. He believes more that the new commerce entering Somerville is what brought about the facelift in the late ‘90s.

In a matter-of-fact tone, Owades says, “The success of one restaurant brings in five. Somerville turned around as more businesses began to thrive.”

Speaking about the local experience in Davis, Owades says, “I think the ugly [side of Davis] is definitely that…you’re walking down a nice residential street, and you’ll just get mugged. I’ve never had it happen but…we get student police reports. Even though Somerville is sort of out of that phase, [danger] still lingers.”

Cohen agrees, and knows firsthand that Somerville still has a bad reputation.

“When I told my mom that I was moving to Somerville, she was like, ‘You’re going to get raped,’” says Cohen. Her mom may not have been pleased with the decision, but Cohen moved anyway. She says, “I’m not stupid, but I feel pretty safe.” On the topic of personal safety, Cohen says, “When I lived in Worchester, I used to carry around a canvas bag with a brick in it.” Cohen no longer needs the brick, but she says, “No matter where I go, I’m still a little white girl.”

Somerville has progressed leaps and bounds since the ‘60s and ‘70s, when it was at its worst. Mayor Jospeh Curtatone stepped up police presence and the violent

crime rates have dropped since he took office in 2003. Somerville now has lower crime statistics than the rest of Boston, and Curtatone has delegated more money to litter removal. Curtatone has reignited the talks about establishing the Assembly Square area as a commutable mixed-use area, ending the delays and setting a goal for a T-station at Assembly Square by 2014.

For all of these improvements, the Boston Globe rated Somerville “the best-run city in Massachusetts” in 2011.

Currently, the MBTA is planning to expand their T services to bring new rails for the Orange Line to Somerville.

The plan was hatched mainly to service the growing population in Union Square and to make the Assembly Square Mall more accessible. Many residents see the expansion plan as a good thing. Owades

says, “I think everyone’s very optimistic about the expansion. New lines allow for more businesses.”

Cohen says, “I think it’s awesome.

It’ll make it so much easier to get around.

[However,] once property levels rise, it will push the locals out.”

The issue now is not so much trying to make Somerville appeal to a wider audience, but to keep its charm and personality intact. The artists and new businesses may have given Somerville a facelift, but the integrity of the neighborhood has held strong, and the local flavor continues to simmer in the melting pot. Owades says, “It’s young and fun. It’s a great bang for your buck.”

Cohen agrees, “I really like Somerville, that’s why I made the shift. It’s not Cambridge…it’s something different.”

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a road less travelled

diesel cafe

Text // Victoria Hulbert Photography // Stephanie Fishbein

When I was an awkward middle school preteen, I attended a friend’s Christmas party. In my humble 13-year-old opinion, their basement was the coolest room in the house, furnished with large leather couches, a vintage jukebox, and a top of the line pool table. As enticing as that pool table was, due to my uncompetitive nature and lack of any interest in games that involve effort or body coordination I kept my distance. I was at this ripe age of insecurity when my friend’s dad with, a mouthful of beer, announced raucously in the basement of the party, “Pool is a man’s game.

Girls will never understand how to play it.” My friend and I sulked away.

Overdramatically and for no other reason, I’ve avoided pool tables since.

A few weeks ago when some good friends invited me to play pool with them on a Saturday afternoon, I agreed. I thought I could take my usual spot on the sidelines sipping serenely on a flat Coke, or maybe a Shirley Temple if I was feeling fancy.

I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Diesel Café, which is situated right off the Davis Square stop on the Red Line, bustles with a mixed crowd of hipster vegans, couples young and old, and dedicated students hovering over laptop computers. It’s not your usual dingy pool hall. Walls are painted in bold orange and lime green.

Bright red booth seating lines the perimeter of the café, surrounding pool tables and an old-fashioned B & W photo booth ($4 for a strip of 4 photos). The industrial design and décor of Diesel gives it an urban and modern appearance juxtaposed against the laidback energy of the staff.

It’s a mix of a retro diner and a contemporary coffee shop.

Opened in the summer of 2009, Diesel Café in Davis Square is the one and only in the country. Makes it sound pretty special, huh?

The menu boasts a number of vegetarian options and delicious sandwiches at an affordable price (around $8 each). I enjoyed a hearty veggie breakfast burrito stuffed with spinach, eggs, salsa, and avocado (delicious)! Diesel also serves various warm and cold drinks. I am a real hot chocolate snob and I would definitely say Diesel serves a pretty damn good cup of hot cocoa. Even more exciting was that I didn’t burn my tongue with the usual impatient first sip because Diesel serves their hot drinks at “an immediately drinkable temperature.” Also, with a purchase of food or drink you can play unlimited games of pool for an hour. After that, each hour is $8, which isn’t too bad when split among friends. Wi-

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Fi is $5 by the hour so you probably don’t want to head here to work for hours on the Internet. But hey, the hot chocolate might make it worth it!

Yes, I did buck up the courage and play a few sloppy and humiliating games of pool and I wasn’t even embarrassed every time I mixed up my solids and stripes. On this particular Saturday afternoon the café was packed but most people I’ve recommended it to so far never knew it existed. Diesel Café is an oasis across the water and outside the city where all levels of pool champions or lack thereof are welcome.

Directions: Red Line to Davis Square Turn right out of Davis Square Walk for 5 minutes and find Diesel Café on the left hand side of the street Diesel Cafe 257 Elm St. Somerville, MA 02144 Enjoy!

YOUR features

apartment hunting Text // Joelle White

Photography // Alex Fierro Clarke

Looking for an apartment on your own is one of the most stressful “grown-up” tasks that you will tackle without Mom or Dad’s hand holding. However supportive a parent may be over the phone, it is up to the you to find a realtor, choose an apartment, and suffer the consequences of poor choices or insufficient planning. There are plenty of horror stories when it comes to Boston housing (I’ll save you from mine) but with these tips, you should be able to pick out a perfect place.

1. Is everything on the Internet a lie?

When it comes to Craigslist, a discerning eye is necessary, and while it is a great place to start your search, don’t make it the only place you look. Do secondary Google or Yelp searches on the apartment buildings, the management, and realtor companies to avoid wasting time with realtors that bait and switch - that is, they post an apartment that they never end up showing you during the appointment. Ask friends and acquaintances via Facebook for realtor recommendations or if there are openings in their buildings.

2. What aren’t they telling me? What should I ask?

Some of the most important information regarding an apartment is maintenance and the general responsiveness of the landlord to complaints and requests for repairs. Your realtor should be able to tell you exactly how well the building is managed, who manages it, and who will be responsible for the normal wear and tear repairs. Beware any realtor who gives dodgy answers to these questions.

Your best bet is to search the Internet for testimonials or if the tenant is home at the time of the showing, make sure to ask them how the building is maintained.

3. It’s not all about windows and closets…

A few things you will want to bring with you on the day of your appointment – a phone charger, measuring tape, camera phone, notepad, your checkbook and a friend. Use the phone charger to check all the outlets. Next, check the water pressure of the shower and all other faucets; disproportionate pressure could indicate an issue with the pipes. Also it’s good to know if the shower head has almost zero pressure or the bathtub takes an hour to fill. This goes for your appliances as well; check how long your oven or stove takes to heat up. If you can walk around the hallway, and if your friend can hear you from the floor below, this will be a good indication of how often you’ll be bothered by your neighbors. And lastly, don’t forget to take measurements, pictures and physical notes of all the places you’ve seen--it will help you make a decision later.

4. If you were seduced by the closets…

Sometimes, even, the most cautious apartment hunters can be fooled into renting in a building run by a slum-lord. That is an absent, rude, and generally useless landlord. If this happens to you, don’t despair. Call the Boston City Housing Inspection and make an appointment for them to come look at your apartment. Remember that your lease is a binding legal agreement for both the tenant and landlord and allows you to bother, hassle, pester and nag until your space meets the standards of the aforementioned lease. Everyone deserves to live cleanly, without rodents, and according to the law this is also your right as a tenant.

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FILM: why you should be

Stoked for stoker Text // Charles Nash

Throughout the years, the art of filmmaking has been celebrated throughout the world, through several different countries, cultures and languages. However, while foreign films are vital to the history of cinema and are still highly influential, movies that are presented in the English-language are considered to be capable of making a higher profit at the box-office since they typically attract the largest audiences.

Therefore, filmmakers from around the globe tend to trek into Hollywood every so often in order to make a bigger name for themselves with American audiences.

This month, Park Chan-wook, a director from Korea who’s best known for his sensational cult hit, Oldboy, will be releasing his English-language debut, Stoker, into theaters across the country. This gothic coming-of-age story stars Mia Wasikowska as India Stoker, a strange, introverted teenage girl who’s still coping with the mysterious and tragic death of her father. Soon after the funeral, India’s mother, Evelyn (played by Nicole Kidman) introduces her daughter to her Uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode), a strange and unsettling relative whom she’s never met before. While it becomes clear that Charlie is visiting the family for ulterior reasons, India decides not to expose him, but assist him with his hidden motives instead, even when murder comes into play. This eagerly anticipated thriller will be released on March 1st, and is expected to be one of the most terrifying portrayals of adolescence depicted on film in quite some time.

To celebrate the arrival of Park Chan-wook’s

how a filmmaker transitions from one culture to the next.

Face/Off (1997)

This fast-paced, exhilarating thriller is directed by John Woo, a Chinese filmmaker who had crafted some of the most dazzling and influential action movies of the 1980s and 90s.

Two of his most famous works from Hong Kong are The Killer (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992), which have appropriately received universal acclaim from critics and action-junkies all over the world. He eventually transitioned into Hollywood with his English-language debut Broken Arrow (1996), but Face/Off was not only a bigger hit with audiences, it’s the most explosively entertaining American film he ever made. It stars John Travolta as F.B.I. agent Sean Archer, who’s become obsessed with catching a terrorist known as Castor Troy (played by Nicholas Cage) who killed his son in a botched assassination attempt. Archer eventually captures Troy after he’s knocked out unconscious during a shoot-out, but not before he has set up a bomb to explode in Los Angeles within the next few days. So, as the title implies, Archer disguises himself as Troy thanks to an advanced surgical procedure in which Troy’s face is removed and placed onto Archer’s. However, things get really complicated when Troy wakes up from his coma (without a face) and forces the same surgeons to plant Archer’s face onto his. Sound complicated? Well, watching the film is much easier than reading about it, and it’s wickedly entertaining to see two of Hollywood’s most over-the-top actors playing themselves amidst Woo’s brilliantly choreographed action sequences. It’s an electrifying, darkly funny and wildly extravagant rollercoaster of a film that opens with a bang and never slows down.

21 Grams

first film in English, I thought that it would be insightful to look back on a few other Englishlanguage films that were comprised by foreign directors. Not only will it show that some of the best films to emerge from America over the past few years were composed by filmmakers from all over the world, but I feel that it can also inspire you to go explore these directors’ previous works from their own native countries as well. Ultimately, the language that the movie is being presented in doesn’t matter as long as the film itself conveys it’s message to you in a visceral manner, but it sure is fascinating to see

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After directing the brutally effective thriller, Amores Perros in 2001, Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu crafted this complex, insightful and emotionally devastating drama in 2003, which remains one of the most underrated American movies of the past several years. The plot is presented in a non-linear style, signifying to the viewer that they’re going to have to pay close attention to the film in order to gain anything out of it, but the rewards are immensely satisfying. It stars Sean Penn as Paul Rivers, a man who is waiting for a heart transplant, Naomi Watts as Cristina Peck, a former drug addict who’s cleaned up her act after becoming a wife and mother, and Benicio Del Toro as Jack Jordan, a born-again Catholic who’s determined to get his life back on track through religion. These three characters all begin to intertwine with one another after a

simple mistake that results in a heartbreaking tragedy sets off a string of events that will transform their lives forever. The fact that Iñárritu presents this story out-of-order not only makes this picture a fascinating psychological puzzle, but it also allows the viewer to think about what they know in relation to what we’ve seen (or haven’t seen) regardless of how far into the film they may be. It not only makes the drama compelling, it makes repeat viewings more rich and rewarding; every time that I’ve watched this film, I’ve noticed a small little detail that I hadn’t picked upon before. Challenging, provocative and incredibly moving, this is a movie that you’ll be thinking about for weeks after you see it.

Drive

A stylistic, ultraviolent neo-noir that may not have been a big hit at the box office, but it has garnered a huge cult following of cinephiles and was highly celebrated by critics. Previously known for his masterful Pusher Trilogy, Bronson and Valhalla Rising, director Nicolas Winding Refn crafted this scorching crime-thriller that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Ryan Gosling stars as The Driver (the film never reveals his actual name) who’s a stunt double by day and a getaway driver by night. He lives for the thrill of the chase, whether he’s being filmed for a movie or escaping from the cops during a highspeed pursuit, but that all changes when he meets his new neighbor, Irene, played by Carey Mulligan. The two have instant chemistry with one another, but once Irene informs The Driver that her husband is returning home from prison, the mob begins to come after him and his family, resulting in The Driver agreeing to pull off one big heist to pay off any remaining debts for Irene’s family. Of course, however, in a movie like this, nothing ever goes as planned, and the film switches gears into a bloody, high-octane thrill-ride. Paying homage to movies such as Le Samourai, Pulp Fiction and even Scorpio Rising, the film creates a beautiful, pulpy atmosphere, filled with a beautiful electronic score, unbearably suspenseful set-pieces and one of the most unconventionally poignant romances of the past few years. In other words, this film is one hell of a ride.

YOUR arts & entertainment

FILM:

what the fuck you just watched:

quentin dupieux, wrong and the art of nonsense

Text // Jackson Birnbaum

When I say Wrong is the strangest thing Quentin Dupleux has been involved in, it needs to be viewed in in context of the the other work he’s done.

Let’s start with the electronic music he’s done under the name of Mr. Oizo. Go ahead, look it up now. Now, depending on what song you found, you may now be nodding your head along with some very reasonable electronic music, or be puliing your headphones from you ear, staring at them with the sort of disbelieving gaze usually reserved for the sound of elephants fucking in a violin store. That shit can get pretty fuckin’ weird.

Then there’s the film that brought young Quentin to fame, Rubber. Rubber is the story of Robert, a tire that gains sentience, on a journey to find his purpose in life. Well, sort of. It’s also about a group of people watching the tire and starving. Also the tire explodes heads, like a lot of them.

So yeah, Wrong is that fucking weird.

Wrong is best described as Seven Psychopaths meets Waking Life, or Twin Peaks by way of Office Space. It follows Dolph (Jack Plotnick), a man whose life is not so much falling apart as it is fallen apart. He goes to work at a job he’s been fired from months earlier, a job where it is inexplicably raining all the time. He calls Pizza restaurants just to chat with the employees. The most meaningful relationship he has is with a woman who thinks he is his gardener, who she thinks is Dolph. His neighbor is on an endless drive through a desert. His palm tree has turned into a pine tree. And now, his dog is missing. If it sounds confusing, just wait until you’ve met the supporting cast of angry cops, selfhelp gurus/kidnappers, rude coworkers, the world’s “shittiest” detective, and assorted other oddballs.

Given my absolute love for Rubber, I was surprised by the utter lack of any sort of reaction that Wrong inspired. It’s not a bad film by any means, but it is a desperate one, constantly reminding you that the events it portrays are outside the norm. The film is trying so hard to distance itself from reality that it ends up being little more than gorgeously shot images. I’d give this one 4 out of 10, but since numbers are far too straightforward, I’ll instead give it a hambone and a fig that is actually my uncle.

If you know what I mean.

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MUSIC:

le beauté macabre:

the return of NICK CAVE and the bad seeds

Text // Jackson Birnbaum

He is a more than imposing figure. Tall, slender, always well dressed and sometimes sporting a mustache so grand that it makes Tom Selleck’s feel like it needs to hit the gym. He has the cold eyes of an aristocrat and a voice like heroin, until it rises to the harsh, broken-glass growl that can cow the most vicious beast. As a poet, he is incomparable; as a storyteller, he is amongst the best of the trade. Nick Cave isn’t a god, he is the man that gods worship. And he’s coming.

On March 24th, at the Orpheum theater, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will be playing on their first tour since 2009 to support their new album Push the Sky Away (due February 18th). Joining him on tour is Sharon Van Etten, an appropriately sorrowful vocalist throwing out some somber songs to slowly sway to. She’s actually quite good, and if this review sounds a bit unenthusiastic it’s only because she is in direct comparison to NICK FUCKIN’ CAVE. St. Nick’s career has spanned a ridiculously varied career. He started off with The Boys Next Door, who would later be called The Birthday Party. These post-punk icons made music like Bosch paintings: discordant, dementedly artful lyrics half-screamed over hellish music, just south of pure noise. this style continued on after their break-up and the formation of the Bad Seeds, but by the time From Her to Eternity was

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released in 1984, the style had been mastered, incorporating the same fury in a much more musical way, pulling in the spirit of broke blues players, of small town crooks and big city gutterrats. It was something new.

From here, Cave spread his tendrils out, dipping them into any influence that crossed his path. One such influence that grew in cave’s work was that of the Western, which grew to be a major influence in Henry’s Dream, but truly blossomed in the incredible 1996 album Murder Ballads, which also featured fantastic appearances from Kylie Minogue and PJ Harvey.

From here, Cave’s music took a decidedly romantic turn, far from the graphic violence that had so often in past been his focus. By the time 2003’s Nocturama was released, one could almost mistake them him for a gentle man.

Then, Grinderman Happened.

Loud, anarchic garage-rock at its gnarliest, Grinderman was a side project Cave pursued in 2007. Grinderman was highly sexualized, but not in a glamorous way. Nick and his cohorts knew full well that they were middle aged men, made no apologies for it. The album felt like you’d stumbled in on a group of stoned dads playing music while the wife and kids were out of town, in the best possible way. Cave brought this same approach to the next bad seeds album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, and for all intents and purposes

it had more in common with Grinderman than the old Seeds.

Shortly after this, The Seeds broke up. Cave went on to make another stellar record with Grinderman, write a couple of movies, score a shit-ton more, and basically be the most badass of all badasses. Rumors of a new Seeds album circulated for a couple of years, and now, Push the Sky Away is here At the time of this publication, two singles have been released. Those looking for more Grinderman will be disappointed. Those wanting more of the Bad Seeds they know and love, they… will also be let down. Both singles are unlike anything the band has done before. And it isn’t a bad thing. Take Jubilee Street, the second single, as an example. Take the quiet menace of Tender Prey, add a dash of The Good Son’s nostalgic longing, and filter it through the fine, beautiful string work of The Lyre of Orpheus. It is an unsettling mix, and one that admittedly took a slight bit to grow on me.

But something in it drew me back for repeated listens, and after two or three times through it has become one of my favorite new styles. I’m infinitely excited for this album.

Cave and Van Etten will be per forming on Sunday, March 24th at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. Doors at 8PM, it’s All Ages, tickets ($35-45) are available at ticketmaster.com.

YOUR arts & entertainment

DAN DEACON

Dan Deacon has never been a man with a plan. His career has had a trajectory that few would have been able to predict. He made a name for himself with Spiderman of the Rings, an album of jittery electronic music that was as sugary as it was assaulting. Then after embracing his 20th century classical roots with the player-piano inflected Bromst, Deacon found a way to combine the two with last year’s America. The album’s first half were the sort of bangers that got him attention, but what followed them was “USA”, a 20 minute suite of songs that embraced his Steve Reich influences in a newly ambitious way. Miles Bowe sat down with Deacon last year to talk about his new album, what he’s been doing, and where he hopes to go next.

So with the new album, there’s this very big concept. Was that something that developed during it, or that you had in mind from the start?

It developed during it, and throughout the process. I don’t know why that’s the end of that answer [laughs], but it just started to make sense that that was the title and it represented the various themes that brought the record to be. Like the geography influence and the travel influence versus the social critique and the personal critique. Do you know what I mean?

Yeah it seems the record’s more influenced by the country as a whole, instead of making these specific points.

I’d say that’s accurate.

So did it turn out how you envisioned?

I don’t know if ever sit down and say “this is how it’s going to be” and especially with this record I wanted to experiment in the studio and let the ideas grow rather than it just being a documentation of what we did or what we wrote...or what I wrote, I don’t know why I keep saying “We.” I keep saying "we" because of the band, but this is the past.

Ummm anywayyyyy ... But I’m happy with how it came out and like with most of my work it seems to be kinda polarizing.

Do you think some people, or critics, have responded negatively to it?

I just feel like...it sort of made sense to me. As soon as we announced the title, I started feeling a weird vibe and I do think if it was called like, “Captain Hook's Penis” or something like they would have....

Ultimately I think the record was different from people’s expectations, and some people want people to keep doing the same thing again and again and I didn’t want to do that. But ultimately people seem to really like the record.

Yeah, I really love it.

Thank you.

It seems like there’s a real classical influence on Bromst and America. I always really enjoy Conlon Noncarrow’s player piano work and I hear a similar sound on those albums.

Yeah, we used it on two tracks. I guess two movements of “USA”, “Rail”... and, oh, I guess three movements of “Rail”, and then also on Pretty Boy the piano is sequence through Disclavier.

What’s that?

It’s sequenced through the disclaiver as well. Disclavier, it’s a midi controlled player piano.

Q&A

There’s a Steve Reich feel to it as well.

A lot of the minimalist works definitely, you can easily hear the influence. And I really love it; it’s the music that I feel has most permeated the mindset of today. In regards to genres of the 20th century, minimalism is the one that.... We live in a world of constant repetition and homogeny and… [in regards to] the technology, I mean when I started making music I just had a loop pedal and I don't think that would even exist if it wasn't for the early pioneering work of those minimalists.

So I've seen the sort of synchronization that happens with your shows. How did that

originate? Did it just grow naturally over time?

It sort of developed over time, the first time it was like a product of necessity. Like the first time it happened, the power had gone out expect for the light in the room, and it was a basement show in New York, and the first time I'd played a really sick show in New York. I can't even remember the year, it was a while ago and the energy was high and the crowd was awesome and in knew as soon as everyone went upstairs the show was done, it was fucked, they weren't going to come back down. So I just started stalling for time and I'm like, "OK make a circle," and was just letting my brain race, and said, "OK make a circle!" and came up with these convoluted rules for a dance contest, until they finally got the power back working. Then I realized that during the dance contest people were now looking towards the center of the room not the front of the room where the stage was, and it was awesome. It felt like…it just felt great. It looked like something I'd never seen before or was a part of and I wanted to keep thinking of ways to get people to look at each other instead of the stage, or the floor or the direction I was playing, because I played on the floor back then. Then I started thinking about the audience as another compositional element, another way to create a unique experience.

So with so many different projects happening at once, the classically orchestra pieces, the album, the film scoring. Did you have like a goal all along, or a certain focus at first?

I tend to take on more than I can chew, and a lot of opportunities came up in 2010 and 11, and I'm really happy they did. It was a really insanely busy time, but that's what I think any artist can wish for, to be busy instead of not being busy. So we've got a bunch signed up for next year in the realm of that classical work, nothing I can really talk about yet, but…I think it's going to be a sick year. We're going to be working on a bunch of site specific pieces, and then I want to get started on the next record as soon as possible.

Deacon will be opening with Animal Collective at the House of Blues in Boston on Thursday, March 7th. Doors are at 7pm, 18+, and tickets ($2535) are available at ticketmaster.com and at the House of Blues box office.

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unchained melody: the PHIL The first time you got felt up, guess what? You were listening to one of my songs,” spits a wild-eyed Al Pacino in the latest trailer for HBO’s upcoming Phil Spector, written and directed by David Mamet. Set to premiere on March 24th, the bio-pic co-stars Helen Mirren and Jeffrey Tambor, with the film focusing mostly on the 2005 court trial in which…well, we’ll get to that later.

Who is this illustrious Phil Spector, you ask? Oh, you’ve heard of him. You just don’t know you’ve heard of him.

Though he was born and raised in the Bronx in the 1940’s, him and his family were uprooted to Los Angeles after the suicide of his father. In many ways, the City of Angels was good to Spector: in high school he picked up a guitar, started writing songs, assembled a band called The Teddy Bears, and by age 18 had a left-field number one hit across the charts, “To Know Him Is To Love Him,” a title borrowed from the inscription on his father’s tombstone. While The Teddy Bears were short lived (they broke up after just one year), Spector’s fixation with music, and his blossoming talents in producing, were not.

After boppin’ around L.A. for a bit , he caught the attention of music producers Lester Sill and Lee Hazlewood, who helped Spector get to New York and work as a staff producer for Dune Records. Months later, Sill and Spector unveiled their independent label, Philles, and produced monumental hits for female groups like The Crystals and The Ronettes.

With an immeasurable knack for pairing the right songwriters and sexy musicians with the deserved vocals, Spector singlehandedly revitalized what it meant to be a love song (a real love song) in the ‘60’s and what it took to be a Top 40 hit. Textured, layered sounds, smooth, sultry vocals, and all the churning, exciting internalized yearnings of teenagers in love, it wasn’t long before Spector’s position as one of the most talented music producers in the business was cemented.

Just listen to “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes and you’ll immediately understand. By age 21, Spector had produced over 20 smash hits and was swimming in millions.

Perhaps what he’s most well known for is the unprecedented way he reconfigured the role of sound in radio hits.

Dubbed the “Wall of Sound” technique, Spector layered many instruments over one another to produce grand, maximum sound, something he called his “Wagnerian” approach. It caught the attention of The Beatles, who Specktor worked with on one of his greatest creative achievements, the “Let It Be” album. It was partly due to this technique that Spector landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1989.

And yet, there’s a stigma attached to creative geniuses. They’re alcoholics. They indulge in hallucinogenic’s and roll around through life as if it’s one long fever dream. They’re depressed. Starving. Suicidal. Self-obsessed. Perhaps this is a generalized stigma, sure, but it proved to be true in the case of Phil Spector. Though sought out for his undeniable musical talents, the producer often underwent great tensions with the musicians he worked with, including John Lennon and George Harrison. Over the years, reports surfaced of Spector’s temper during recording sessions; threats, animosity.

Apparently he’d pull out guns when things weren’t going his way. These were legally owned firearms that never actually went off in his hands, but he still needed to let people know who was in charge, which in and of itself should have been foreshadowing from the start. Spector’s six year marriage to Ronnie, the lead singer of The Ronettes, resulted in an eventual tell all memoir which Ronnie published, explaining in detail tales of bi-polar disorder, depression, and madness that plagued their terrifying marriage. Spector, who grew increasingly paranoid, forbade Ronnie to leave the house, locking her inside and threatening to kill her if she ever tried to escape. He apparently kept a glass coffin in the basement

“And yet, there’s a stigma attached to creative geniuses.”

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YOUR arts & entertainment

Text // Regina Mogilevskaya

SPECTOR story to show Ronnie where she’d end up if she ever tried to leave him. Ronnie eventually escaped with the help of her mother.

The older Spector got, the more he morphed into odd behavioral patterns, often sinking into months of reclusion in his California mansions and experimenting with drugs. All of his culminated in 2003, when the legendary music producer allegedly shot actress Lana Clarkson in his Alhambra home. Claiming it was an accidentally suicide, Spector was put on trial in 2007, a long affair in which he went through three sets of attorney and had to be trialed again after a mistrial involving tampered evidence. He was finally convicted in May of 2009 and is now serving a 19 year sentence. Spector will be 88 year olds when he’ll become eligible for parole.

The HBO bio-pic will focus mostly on the tumultuous trial, a murderous pattern in Hollywood, one that comes after OJ was acquitted, as was Michael Jackson. Pacino, terrifying and wacky in one of Spector’s infamous wigs, looks like he’ll be a perfect fit for the role. Tune in March 24th at 9 pm. “There’s a story I want you to know, bout my baby how I love him so…”

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MUSIC: tame impala Text // Tori Mier

The “psychedelic hypno-groove melodic rock” (at least, according to the website) known as Tame Impala originates from Perth, Australia.

Lonerism is their latest album, released in October of 2012. The album almost immediately gained critical acclaim, being dubbed the #1 album

by Rolling Stone, Filter Magazine, Urban Outfitters and many others.

Consisting of Kevin Parker, Jay Watson and Dominic Simper, Tame Impala was formed from the Dee Dee Drums, Parker’s original project that focused on a similar feel to Tame Impala, but with a more blues-infused feel. Parker andSimper have been friends since high school music class; Watson was picked up later in Australia.

Lonerism is one of those albums that are whatever the listener wants it to be — the record is far from inclusive to only one sound or a few individuals. The tracks move and blend together, reminiscent of the romanticized aspect of the late 1960’s, early 1970’s. Dreamy, elaborate without being ornate and smooth as butter, Lonerism reflects feelings or notions of isolation without displaying a melancholy feel overall.

Despite the underlying current of meaning, many of the tracks bring to mind a bright outdoors landscape, groups of friends and sun-bleached locks. However, this feeling is not an energizing one, but instead a slow, sleepy sort of vibe; after all, the second track, “Endors Toi,” does translate roughly from French to “go to sleep.”

Such an ambiance does exist around Lonerism. It is at once both sleepy and alive, relying heavily on synth and the occasional dreamy vocal to complete the overall sound. “Be Above It” opens the album, with vocals quietly chanting the title’s namesake as drums give way to synth.

Louder vocals overtake the soft chanting later in the song, creating an interesting layered sound. The song repeats in a similar fashion, the synth progressing grower stronger and stronger as the track carries forward.

The second track, “Endors Toi,” reflects similar themes to “Be Above It” in its instrumentation — particularly, the rise and fall of t he sound.

“Apocalypse Dream” features a stronger, more upbeat sound. Drums and piano are used more extensively on the opening and the overall sound is less synthesized than the others, the piano work particularly critical.

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“Mind Mischief” follows up on the more upbeat feel in “Apocalypse Dreams,” emphasizing movement. “Music to Walk Home By” can throw the listener a bit of a curveball, starting off slow and almost static-like, but it quickly slides into the feeling built by “Apocalypse Dreams” and “Mind Mischief.” This track is hinged on the drum instrumentation. “Why Won’t They Talk To Me?” borrows the soft, slow beginning of “Music to Walk Home By,” ultimately swelling into a faster-paced, light dreamscape of a song. The swift one-two beat does legitimately lend itself to a physical walking place, an interesting touch.

“Feels Like We Only Walk Backwards” is more blues-infused than the other tracks, slowing the pace of the album down, followed by “Keep On Lying.” The latter reflects more of the musical ideals represented in the opening tracks, emitting the idea of a circular journey. However, “Elephant” automatically picks up the pace right again, featuring a heavy bass movement. “She Just Won’t Believe Me” is a short, fifty-seven second quip of synth that builds at a moderate rate, encompassing whispered vocals and guitar. The track cuts out just as it gains momentum to the eleventh track, “Nothing That Has Happened so Far Has Been Anything We Could Control,” another lovely dreamscape. The longest song on Lonerism at six minutes and exactly one second, it takes the listener through an array of different, yet loosely-connected, musical ideas. “Sun’s Coming Up” closes the album with a surprisingly clear and honest piano opening that features layered, low vocals slightly quieter than the instrument. The higher vocal performance displayed on the rest of the album soon makes an appearance and the piano ceases. In its place, the same dreamy instrumentation takes over, ending the album in a way congruent to how it started. Contrary to the track’s title, the ending of the song features vague sounds reminiscent of water.

Tame Impala will be per forming with The Growl at the House of Blues in Boston on Tuesday, March 12th. Doors are at 7pm, the event is all ages, and tickets ($20-35) are available at ticketmaster.com and at the House of Blues box office.

YOUR arts & entertainment

the playlist:

Text // A&E Staff

EASTER RISING

Isn’t it super weird that Easter’s happening in March? We wonder if anybody actually told the Easter Bunny or if he’s drank himself into a depressive stupor over the failure of Rise of the Guardians like we have for the past couple of months. Anyways, in between fish and Cadbury cream eggs, check out this playlist, chock full of creamy new tunes and some older (but always fresh) walnut chunks. It’ll (hopefully) help ease the pain of going home for spring break and leaving your significant other behind at school, lift your spirits despite getting rejected from housing or grad school, and perhaps add a little sunshine to what may be another month of shitty weather. God bless you, dear reader, and we’ll see you back next month for a playlist that is exclusively comprised songs from the new Bowie record.*

1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Sacrilege”

17. The xx, “I Miss You”

2. Morrissey, “I Have Forgiven Jesus”

18. The Walkmen, “Heaven”

3. 2Pac, “Untouchable”

19. Purity Ring, “Grammy”

4. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Push

20. Neutral Bling Hotel, “King of Jesus

the Sky Away”

Walks Pts 2 & 3”

5. Dan Deacon, “Crash Jam”

21. Hüsker Dü, “Turn on the News”

6. Yo La Tengo, “Ohm”

22. David Bowie, “The Stars (Are Out

7. Tame Impala, “Elephant” 8. Baroness, “Psalms Alive” 9. Dum Dum Girls, “Lord Knows”

Tonight)” 23. Iggy and the Stooges, “Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell”

10. Low, “So Blue”

24. Young Galaxy, “Pretty Boy”

11. Youth Lagoon, “Mute”

25. The Magnetic Fields, “The Nun’s

12. Frank Ocean, “Bad Religion” 13. Belle and Sebastian, “Act of the Apostle”

Litany” 26. Tegan and Sara, “I’m Not Your Hero” 27. The Knife, “Full of Fire”

14. My Bloody Valentine, “To Here Knows 28. The Mountain Goats, “Matthew When”

25:21”

15. Rick Ross [feat. John Legend], “Rich Forever”

*Not really.

16. James Blake, “Retrograde”

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