Your Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 9: May 2013

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STAFF favorites Kilian’s Favorite: The awesome staff this year!

Elijah’s Favorite Your Mag TV Feature: Boylston Gypsy

( http://bit.ly/10UWXYE )

Cedrine’s Favorite Instagram:

“Going on location for our last shoot of the semester!”

On the cover: French Connection crochet dress; Crush Boutique, Boston.

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LETTER from the EDITORS

he day I graduated high school was one of the happiest days of my life. I no longer had to walk the halls of Avon High surrounded by people who cared about me just as much as I cared about them (not a lot). I was prepared for the better things that awaited me-- getting the hell out of my tiny suburban Connecticut town, meeting new people, and most of all... Emerson. Emerson was where I wanted to be since the first time I stepped foot on the not-quite campus one snowy afternoon in February of 2008. I knew from the pit of my gut that if I couldn’t go to Emerson, there wasn’t really much else I could do. So with that in mind, I suppose I always knew that graduating college wouldn’t be quite the same as graduating high school. Sure, I’m excited for the new opportunities that await me. But I’m so not excited to leave. I have met some of the best people I know at this school and have had some of the greatest experiences and opportunities simply because I was fortunate enough to go here, and I know that many of my peers feel the same. And having to get rid of this huge part of my life that I worked so hard for isn’t going to be easy. Even though huge chapters of your life need to end, I honestly feel that it doesn’t mean that these chapters are over entirely. I was lucky enough to be one of the founding members of this publication, and being able to watch it grow from Impact Label font and a staff of 25 to a publication with SGA recognition, a penchant for Didot, and a staff of over 100 is truly amazing. And while I’m sad to go and leave my baby behind, I know it’s in good hands. I know that someday I will see every monthly issue in print, and every semesterly Film Fest with an even bigger turnout than before. But I think what I am most looking forward to is knowing that someday, a 16-year-old girl will step foot on the cobblestone walk outside of the Admissions Office, pick up a copy of Your Mag and know that she is home.

If I can make someone feel the way I did six years ago, I will know that my time here was worth it.

Love Always, Kilian Webster and Emily Tannenbaum

YOUR introduction

featured 6

A Break Up First-Aid Kit Equip yourself with this kit and you’ll be prepared to get through whatever your love life throws at you.

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Summer Trends Although the thought of summer seems like a dream, it doesn’t mean you cannot start preparing your closet with the chicest, the most daring, and fabulous patterns and styles.

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Jim Gentile: The Animal Companion The Pet Shop is an Allston landmark. Owner and caretaker Jim Gentile tells the story behind his exotic pet store with his clan of dogs and cats as his witness.

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The End of The Office At the end of the immensely popular sitcom’s run, Regina Mogilevskaya reflects upon the impact it’s had on her internship, her viewing habits and her life.

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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 Michael Mahin Asta Tall Danielle Barker

Haile Lidow Dinesh Mohnani Samantha Dupler Ian Mofford Megan Kay Kelsey Drain 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

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

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

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 Elijah Clark-Ginsberg

features Writers Nancy Valev Beth Treffeisen Emily Labes Gina Brindisi Julia Higgins Matthew Mullen Matt Keyser Joelle White Tracy Parco Madeline Bilis Erin Corrigan Magdalena Rojas Lynch Willie Burnley Jr Amanda Perez Victoria Hulbert

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 Brielle Sullivan

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 WANNA BE ON TOP?

GARDEN VARIETY

Rag & Bone 111 Newbury St., Boston, MA http://www.rag-bone.com/

Gant Crush Boutique 324 Newbury St., Boston, MA 131 Charles St., Boston, MA http://us.gant.com/ www.shopcrushboutique.com J Press 82 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge, MA http://www.jpressonline.com/

YOUR introduction

romance 6 7 10 14

A Break Up First-Aid Kit Homo Homophobia Toxic Love The Ex Files

fashion 16 17 22 24 25 30 32 36

Summer Beauty Solutions “Garden Variety” Festival Fashion Shades of Style “SeNOIR” DIYourmag: Lovely in Lace “Wanna Be On Top?” Summer Trends

40 41 42 44 46 48

A Road Less Travelled: The Butterfly Garden Authors in the Making A Smoky Situation Jim Gentile: The Animal Companion In N Out: Transfer Students of Emerson Supervillains in the City

arts&entertainment 50 52 53 54 55 56 58 59

The Great Gatsby Search & Destory: Punk Movies and the Fabulous Stains Video Games: The Last of Us The End of the Office Fields and Stripes Heavy Rocks: Boris’ Best Albums Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for My Halo The Playlist: Nicktunes

contents

features

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a break up first-aid kit Text // Sydney Lester and Shantal Erlich “Breaking up is hard to do, sleeping is impossible too, and everything’s reminding me of you, what can I do?”

Everyone is going to go through a breakup at some point in his or her life, most likely more than once. You’re not alone on this one – so get out of bed, take a shower, and actually leave your house today, because you’re about to take the first steps towards dumping your breakup blues.

Comfort food:

Freshen Up Your Look:

Breakups are hard, and you don't have to make them any harder by trying to stick to a diet. Go ahead and have a pint of ice cream, or a gallon, or whatever will ease the pain. A midnight stroll to the c-store will clear your mind and satisfy your junk food cravings.

Get a new haircut, or dye it that bold shade you've been thinking about for awhile. Treating yourself well and changing a few things about your look can be more beneficial than you would think.

Friends:

Have a few Zen moments with you and only you. Think back on where you've been, where you are now, and where you're going. Visualizing the place you're in will help you feel a lot better about your current situation. If you have these conversations with yourself, you can save a lot of money on therapy.

Think of your friends as sunglasses when you're hungover, or a tampon to stop the bleeding of your heart. They will be there to keep you from Facebook stalking your ex and moping around like a sad loser. They are going to be there for you every step of your breakup process, and even after you’ve fully recovered.

Alcohol:

Go Home:

Don't feel guilty about getting drunk post-breakup. Have a good cry and get it out of your system. Just make sure that you don't go over the edge. We don't want Lindsay Lohan 2.0.

Go back home for a weekend and surround yourself with people who love you. It could be your parents, siblings, or your grandparents. Catch up with old high school friends; a change of scene would refresh and revitalize you.

Prioritizing the social life:

Vengeful and angry music:

Brave the B line and bitter cold and splurge on some watery jello shots in Allston. Bring your main bitches and bros and you will forget your troubles, at least for a night

Create your very own playlist of songs to scream at the top of your lungs and keep you out of a sappy trap. Here’s some to get you started: “I Love It” by Icona Pop, “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson, “F*** You” by Cee Lo Green, “Gives You Hell” by the All American Rejects, “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

by T. Swift.

Find a new hobby: Whether it's working out, reading, or finally learning how to make homemade pizza, you'll need a new hobby. An exciting new prospect to dive into is the perfect way to keep your mind off those breakup woes.

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Reflection:

YOUR romance

homo Homophobia Text // Michael Mahin Photographer // Rory McCann Model // Darian Carpenter, Will Suttner, Jenny Ortakales

“They would always try to one up each other, ‘out gay each other’...” {7}

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recent ABC poll concluded that 58% of Americans have expressed support for gay marriage, an all-time high and benchmark for vocalized public support. This is another in a series of defining moments in the continuing struggle for the equal rights of gay men and women.

However much support the movement has received in recent years, gay rights remain a highly contentious and often sensitive issue to the American public.

What may surprise members of the public, however, is how prevalent homophobia remains, especially in the gay community.

“Homophobia,” which the Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines as the “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals,” is a term often exclusively ascribed to straight members of any given community. There is the belief that only straight men and women can be homophobic. To say that this assumption is far from the truth is an understatement. Like any community, gay men and women are capable of discrimination, prejudice, and, yes, even hatred. It is not uncommon to hear a gay man viciously complain of “limp-wristed, effeminate” gay guys. It is not uncommon to hear gay men and women complain of someone self-identifying as bisexual, claiming that bisexuality “doesn’t exist” or that this person is simply afraid to admit that they’re gay. It is not uncommon for lesbians to be slut-shamed by other lesbians. Gays aren’t always other gays’ loudest advocates.

Why do members of the gay community continue to tear each other down? Take your pick: there’s any number of reasons for why gay men and women seem intent on criticizing one another. Self-hatred, for one. Being gay can still be incredibly challenging and confusing in this day and age. I myself have found this issue of identity to be especially complex. Am I too gay? Not gay enough? Am I perpetuating stereotypes if I like pop music and hanging out with girls? Should I be breaking stereotypes? Am I expected to?

These questions of identity are personal but also cultural. What do I expect of myself as a gay man? As an individual? And what does society expect of me? I am constantly considering and analyzing what I say and how I act to determine if I’m acting “too gay.” I have also been known to criticize other gay men who I consider “too flamboyant” or “obnoxious,” only exposing my own insecurities. I’m not entirely comfortable in my own skin, as a gay man and as an individual, and I suppose I unfairly take this confusion out on other gay men. I am uncomfortable with others’ sexuality only because I am not wholly comfortable with my own. As much as I seem to hate others, it is only as much as I hate myself.

The same can be said for gay women, who often struggle with their personal and public perception. Gay women are often caught between being too feminine or too masculine, too gay or too straight. “One of the things that I’ve experienced, just knowing the few lesbians that I do, is denouncing femininity,” says Emerson student Jennifer Glatz. “I had a friend who discovered her sexuality, and by doing so she thought she had to cut her hair short and dress like a boy, and she says that

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she doesn’t buy into the ‘woman’ thing, and ragged on me and my other friend for dressing in dresses and wearing make up. She was of the belief that in order to be a lesbian, you had to be a man (which wouldn’t make her a lesbian anyways, if she thought her gender was male).

Another thing I see sometimes, and I used to get down on people for this, is the perception of ‘slutty lesbians’ or the girls who do just what gay men do in the clubs. There is this perception that lesbians (and in the show Queer as Folk US this was apparent) that lesbians are the homey type and that they want children, houses, and a family

“One of the things that I’ve experienced, just knowing the few lesbians that I do, is denouncing femininity.” in general. So there was a lot of slut shaming where I grew up if a girl slept with like 5 different girls a week. I used to make fun of those girls too, until I grew up.”

Another reason involves the competitive spirit of many gay friendships and relationships. Because gay men and women are continuing to find and establish their place in society, they often feel intense pressure to make themselves heard. Gay men and women often feel they have to prove themselves and be the “better gay,” whatever that means. In order to ensure their acceptance by their peers and by the public, gay men and women feel they have to contend with others.

I have often seen this with other gay men who feel that they need to prove that they are somehow “better” than me, whether in their fashion sense, musical taste, or number of friendships. It can be really frustrating to feel like you are being judged or put down, especially when you have no interest in competing.

Emerson freshman Duncan Gelder experienced this first-hand while in high school. “My Junior year, I got the lead part in Pippin, which was great,” says Gelder. “However, I was up against another very outgoing, very flamboyant Senior, and when I got the part and he didn’t, he was very upset. He felt that it was his senior year and that he deserved to have the lead. I honestly couldn’t have cared less, but he was very attached to getting this part, so he became very frustrated.

He began to make snide remarks at rehearsals about me (‘Everyone in here has friends! Oh wait, I didn’t see you, Duncan. Never mind...’) and although they were done in a joking manner, he began to do it more and more. He started telling my friends stories about me and how my family was ‘insane’ and that I was telling stories about people behind their backs (which was completely not true). It got to the point where I would be laughed at each time I said a line and if I asked a question in rehearsals, they would all snicker and roll their eyes. At first, I would just laugh along with them, but when it finally escalated to the point

YOUR romance

where no one would hang out with me and I would be left alone every day after school to wait for rehearsal to start. It sounds so petty, and it really was, but several months of this was really frustrating. I was uninvited from the cast party, and I left the show without having any friends. Come to find out, he was in a class of mine the next semester and he began to get even worse. He started making degrading and sexual jokes about my family members and drawing obscene things on my homework when I wasn’t looking. I felt like I was dealing with a third grader, but because he was so well liked and so outgoing and he knew how to talk to teachers, nothing ever happened. Eventually someone picked up on it and he was told to cut it out because he was over 18 and I wasn’t at the time, so he could really get in trouble for it. I honestly had no interest in any of it, because it was so petty and immature, but it was still upsetting. I found out later that he felt like I was taking his ‘place’ as the ‘gay guy’ of drama. He felt like being the typical gay guy was his identity and that I was taking that away from him, even though me getting a part in a play wasn’t going to change that.”

This competitiveness can be an incredibly complex issue for those either experiencing or observing it and can arise from one’s own selfhatred but also from some form of misplaced sexual tension. Many of the gay men and women I have met in my life have experienced trouble

“I don’t believe, for the most part, that the gay community hates other gay men for being gay. But more so being competitive and ‘hating’ other gay men for being more ‘gay’ or flamboyant and just generally trying to outdo one another.” developing long-term or meaningful friendships with other gay men and women and I believe that this can be, in part, due to underlying sexual tension. Not all gay men are attracted to all other gay men, just as all gay women are not attracted to all other gay women, just as all straight men are not attracted to all straight women and vice versa. Tastes are personal. Preferences are different. But there’s no denying that these friendships can and sometimes will possess sexual undertones. If these feelings aren’t mutual between the two parties, however, it can create feelings of resentment and bitterness. Just as some straight men and women complain of not being able to have friends of the opposite sex, gay men and women do occasionally feel that friendships with such others will be too complicated, too messy, and too difficult.

“Surprisingly there is a lot of homophobia in the gay community,”

says Emerson freshman Alex Ayer. “Although there were only 3 openly gay men in my high school class, the competitiveness amongst them was some of the worst I have ever seen. They would always try to one up each other, ‘out gay each other’, and generally be competitive and over-compensate for various things. Ever since I came to Emerson it is far more prevalent. I wouldn’t necessarily call it homophobia, however.

I don’t believe, for the most part, that the gay community hates other gay men for being gay. But more so being competitive and ‘hating’ other gay men for being more ‘gay’ or flamboyant and just generally trying to outdo one another. This creates an air of sexual tension.

All of these things combined create social pressure that eventually leads to being more self conscious about one’s sexuality, eventually snowballing and exaggerating these traits. I feel that this is a problem in the gay community because there is usually a far smaller population of gay people than straight. This creates a smaller more competitive community. Also the media and society’s image of gay people has a role to play. Due to how people who aren’t gay think gay people are supposed to be, some play up the stereotype and fight for attention of being a minority.”

Unfortunately, gay men and women aren’t the only ones who feel discrimination from within the LGBT community. Many bisexual and transgender individuals experience discrimination and hatred from their supposed peers and allies. “Biphobia” and “Transphobia” have become particularly pressing issues today. Though some have vocalized their concern for bisexual and transgender members of the LGBT community, very few have recognized these issues as legitimate and worthwhile problems. Openly gay columnist Dan Savage has been repeatedly attacked for what many perceive to be biphobic and transphobic comments made on his part. Savage, perhaps known best for kick starting the “It Gets Better” campaign, continually uses his position as a public figure to champion gay rights. But his silence and even disdain for the rights of bisexual and transgender members of the LGBT community has established vast inequalities within this community. Shouldn’t we be supporting all members of this community, not just those members most directly related to us?

What does it say of us, as members of the LGBT community, if we pick and choose which factions of our community we want to support?

So what does this all mean? Do I stop seeking out friendships with other gay men? Should gay women accept “butch” stereotypes unequivocally? Should we be able to handpick whom we want to support?

These are questions I hope that we, as a society, as a larger community, continue to examine and think over. Only in addressing and observing these issues can we come to understand them. The LGBT community is starting to gain more public support in this day and age. Let us hope that members of the community itself begin to extend the same support for themselves and each other.

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TOXIC LOVE: abusive

relationships Models // Paulina Hevia, Sean Mack Text // Shannon Dwyer

It started as a wild, passionate romance, but soon the smile on your friend’s face begins to look forced. His or her voice is strained and, although he or she insists nothing’s wrong, your gut tells you that’s not so. Clearly your intuition is picking up on something, but you’re not quite sure what.

Signs of dating abuse and violence creep up slowly and insidiously, so people rarely peg them for what they are, or they misinterpret them. It’s easy to think that, like in the movies, extreme jealousy is romantic or that a guy’s effort to keep his “sweetheart” all to himself mean that he must really, really love her, right? False.

Somewhere along the way, what seemed like normal love has crossed into abusive territory.

How can you tell if a relationship is abusive? It’s not so clear-cut. The common thought is that dating abuse is purely physical, but in reality there are many different types of unhealthy relationships. It may be romantic in movies when a beau gets wildly jealous, but in real life, extreme jealousy or and raging insecurity are signs of abuse, not of amour. Healthy relationships do not involve fear, anger, or manipulation. If someone feels threatened, harassed, manipulated, or demeaned, that’s abuse. On the same wavelength, a boyfriend or girlfriend who physically harms his or her lover, threatens to do so, or expresses anger by throwing objects, punching walls, or breaking things in his or her lover’s presence, has serious anger management issues. Punching a wall may appear to be a safer outlet than punching a person, but it’s still an act of intimidation and aggression. Even if they do not physically harm their partners, the threat alone is abusive.

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YOUR romance

Partners who try to control loved ones’ behaviors by dictating who they see, where they go, or what they wear (can you say Kim and Kanye?) are also crossing the line. A loving relationship doesn’t intimidate, insult, demean, harass, or attempt to control. Many times in relationships where this occurs, the “controller” attempts to isolate his or her partner. It’s significantly easier to manipulate, control, and intimidate a girlfriend or boyfriend if you sever their support system - the friends and family who are most likely to notice the abuse and intervene. It’s one thing to have issues balancing your friends and romantic partner, but when it gets to the point where you go weeks without spending more than an hour with your friends, it’s an issue.

Isolation is not only physical. Often it is not possible for someone to physically keep their partner to themselves, so they turn to technology. Constant calls, texts, and Facebook messages are a sign of an abusive relationship. Don’t get me wrong it’s adorable to get daily calls or cute little love note texts sprinkled throughout the day. But when the volume of calls or texts increases to the point that a person feels pressured or harassed or when the texts is are manipulative or focused on where they are and who they’re with every minute, there is an issue. At the most extreme, abusive partners may send hundreds of texts per day, round the clock.

You may be reading this and thinking, “What a psycho! I would never stay with someone who did these things to me!” Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Most people don’t start out being emotionally abusive in a relationship, and it is hard to pinpoint the exact moment when the relationship starts becoming unhealthy. After a while it all becomes a big blur of fighting, screaming, and name calling that leads to a pattern of apologies and make up sex.

From what I’ve heard about these types of relationships, the abuse starts out very subtle. Over the first few weeks your new boyfriend or girlfriend may appear charming, laid back and fun to be around. Then one night they surprise you when they raise their voice over some small issue, and it snowballs from there.

Learn the signs. Seek help. Abusive relationships are not something to belittle, they are real and warrant attention.

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here to talk Text // Brielle Sullivan

Emerson offers options for students seeking guidance.

Emerson College Counseling Center has many counselors willing to give advice, talk, or even just listen. Whether one has encountered a sexually, physically, or emotionally abusive relationship, the Counseling Center is ready to help.

As counselors for many teenaged college students, they have experience discussing the challenges many face in abusive relationships. According to Emerson’s website, the Counseling Center is “free of charge for all full-time undergraduate students and to part-time undergraduate and graduate students who have paid the Student Health Fee.” The Counseling Center’s team of experts are there for Emerson students, but there are also others who are willing to help. Moving on from a traumatic experience can be extremely challenging, but with support from friends and family, the huge weight on your chest can be lifted.

It may seem embarrassing or difficult to talk about your problems, but bottling them up inside can only do more harm.

There are others out there who have gone through similar situations and seeking help with moving on is never something to be ashamed or embarrassed of.

There are colleges all around the nation that have unfortunately encountered sexual assault cases similar to the Ohio rape case. Although Emerson students may not be able to completely end the violence, they can spread awareness, encourage change, and know that their college is there for them if they need help.

Emerson College feels very strongly about helping its students who have encountered sexual assault. The school’s website contains a list of numbers for the on-campus sexual assault team, including the Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Health and Wellness, Police Department, Title IX Coordinator, and Housing and Residence Life. There is also a Boston Area Rape Crisis Center that has a 24-hour hotline: 1-800-841-8371 The Counseling Center is located in the Union Bank Building on Tremont Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.). To make an appointment, call 617-824-8595 anytime.

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YOUR romance

breaking the cycle

Text // Kristine Ustas Photography // David Galinato Models // Paulina Hevia, Sean Mack “Rape culture is a concept used to describe a culture in which rape and sexual violence are common and in which prevalent attitudes, norms, practices, and media normalize, excuse, tolerate, or even condone rape.”

- Wikipedia.org An unconscious 16-year-old girl dangled between two teenage boys is photographed and spread over the Internet. She is brought from party to party as two men film themselves raping, assaulting, and urinating on her. Fifty of the victim’s classmates stood by and did nothing to stop the attacks; instead they tweeted, texted pictures, and took videos of her as she was unaware of what was happening. Not one person spoke up or intervened when they saw this obvious cruel injustice. This was the reality in Steubenville, Ohio in a case that refueled the conversation of how our society reacts when confronted with rape culture.

Instead of stressing the severe emotional, physical, and mental impacts that the situation had on the victim, CNN reporter Poppy Harlow emphasized the impact that the verdict would have on the rapists. Harlow said it was “incredibly difficult even for an outsider like me to watch what happened as these two young men that had such promising futures, star football players, very good students, literally watched as they believe their life fell apart.”

Rape culture seems to have become ingrained in our society. When we hear of such horrific cases and immediately ask if the victim was intoxicated or if she was provocatively dressed, we are contributing to rape culture. In the Steubenville case, we point out that the victim decided to get that intoxicated, we consider that the rapists were ‘star football players’ and beloved in their communities, and we even have the nerve to acknowledge the defense that the 16 and 17-year-old boys’ brains were not developed enough to know not to rape an unconscious girl.

The topic of rape culture should be much more than lightly touched upon, as it is an extremely in-depth issue with many layers that are being ingrained in our consciousness and culture. The Steubenville case sparked a huge discussion about rape culture in America and reiterated the terrifying notion that we are becoming a society that doesn’t teach us not to rape and instead assumes we know how to not get raped.

When we hear of cases such as this one and the negative attention the victim received, it’s hard to expect other victims to come forth and share their stories. We are socialized by the media to blame rape victims for their own victimization every time we imply that ‘She might have asked for it’. After the Steubenville case, two teenage girls were arrested for threatening the rape victim via social media. In a time of severe stress and recovery from the rape, victims are being placed under even more unnecessary abuse.

As a school that thrives itself on its ability to communicate, Emerson College is proud to have students who are passionate about ending sexual assault. Emerson Stopping Sexual Assault works to decrease the amounts of assaults that occur on campus by spreading awareness, advocating for change, and creating a discussion to educate the community on sexual assault and violence against women. You can find Emerson Stopping Sexual Assault on Facebook and Twitter. Members update the Facebook page every day by posting discussions, upcoming- activities, and encouraging information.

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the EX files

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Text // Ashley Juranich Photographer // Haley Kreofsky Model // Shannon Dwyer, Nicky Brownson, Matthew Fagerberg Picture this! You’re with your boyfriend or girlfriend on the most amazing date ever. They take you on a romantic stroll-in-hand through the park and then for some dinner at one of your favorite restaurants. Everything is perfect, including your guy or girl.

Nothing can get better than this relationship. All of a sudden things take a turn and the relationship quickly goes down hill. You start thinking what kind of ex your boyfriend or girlfriend will become.

There are so many different types of exes out there: some good, some bad,

and some plain old creepy. Most of the time there is no way of telling what kind of ex your significant other will turn into. All you can do is wish for the best, and hope that your boyfriend or girlfriend will not turn into your worst nightmare.

Here is a list of different types of exes that are the most common that arise after relationships. Not only can some people relate to these stories, but also some people can prepare you for the future. So sit back and take note while you experience… The Ex-Files.

1. The Never-Ending Ex

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Definition- The ex that comes back into your life every few months, but never really left.

The never-ending ex can be a good or bad thing. It can be good by catching up every few months finding out what is new in each other’s lives. It can also be bad because they keep resurfacing and rehashing past memories that hurt you all over again. Rachael, an Emerson junior, is in this exact situation right now. As she sits, shaking her head thinking, with a smile on her face, she says, “We were together for a long time, almost two years, until we suddenly broke up and went our separate ways. It was hard not talking to him, but once a few months went by I started to recover. Out of the blue he called me and within moments all the hard work of forgetting him went right out the door. I still hear from him every few months, and it’s always the hardest.”

2. The Friend Ex

Definition- The ex that takes the break up well and remains good friends with you.

This is the best scenario anyone can ask for. Having an ex that wants to remain friend’s keeps the situation relaxed and like nothing happened. Some people are just not meant to be connected on such an emotional level, and being just friends is a better fit. Alex, a junior, calmly says, “I’ve never been in a bad break up before. I’d rather stay friends and talk to my ex girlfriends every so often instead of not talking and ignoring each other. That’s just awkward and I’m not an asshole.”

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3. The Stalker Ex

Definition- The ex that is jealous of your life after them. They also stalk you through social media and on the streets.

This is one of the worst. Unfortunately, many break ups lead to exes being jealous and wanting to know what is going on in your life. This kind will take it to an all time creeper status, and find out everything they want to know. Derek, one of Emerson’s students, says, “I was working construction one day, and earlier that week my girlfriend and I broke up. She was far away at college when it happened and I never thought I would see her again. As I was working, I saw a familiar car parked outside of the site and soon realized it was her. I jumped into my car and drove away. As soon as I thought she was gone she was following closely behind my car. I had to keep making quick turns to lose her. It was one of the creepiest things ever.”

YOUR romance 4. The Ex You Never Dated

Definition- The ex that wasn’t meant to be anything more than a booty call and makes an agreement only to benefits minus the emotional strings.

Relationships are not meant for everyone and when a relationship ends that doesn’t necessarily mean the fun has to end. There is nothing wrong with just hooking up. You just have to be careful that you don’t fall for your ex again after agreeing on a “no strings attached” relationship. “Sometimes it’s easy to walk away from the person you’re dating, but walking away from the constant sex is hard,” sophomore Tori says.

5. The Ex You Want Back

Definition- The ex that you made a mistake breaking up with and want back.

At the time the decision felt right, but then a few days later, the thought of not being with them is terrifying. Wanting your ex back is a reoccurring habit for some people. One little thing can change your mind about the person and once you end it, thinking you have made the right choice, you wake up in bed rethinking everything you did. It has happened to all of us. I myself was in a really good relationship with nothing to complain about, until one of my friends pointed something out about my boyfriend and the rest of the night that one little thing bothered me so much I ended up breaking up with him the next day. As time went on, I realized I was wrong and I wanted him back. Sometimes hearing things from your friends about your boyfriend or girlfriend is hard to resist, but don’t let it bother you to the point of breaking up and then realizing that it was a dumb move.

6. The Ex That Was Never Really Your Ex

Definition- The “ex” that seemed like yours at the time, but in realty there was no relationship there.

Have you been in a situation where it seemed like you were in a relationship because you are basically doing everything that a couple does? There are too many times that people will not “define the relationship” and leave it open to interpretation. This is confusing, and when they just stop completely talking to you, it seems like a break up even though the relationship was never official. From my own experience, three months of “being” with this guy ended out of nowhere. There were no more phone calls or text messages. All communication had stopped and when I decided to reach out to him, I never got a response. I found myself in break up mode – taking all his stuff and throwing it away and placing anything else in the back of my closet. I realized how stupid the whole thing was, considering I was never actually his.

7. The Compulsive Liar Ex

Definition- The ex that would lie all the time to you about everything.

A compulsive liar is basically living a double life, because they are with you but also with someone else as well. In the end how can you even trust someone like that? Terrena, a sophomore, says, “I met Jacob going into the summer of my senior year in high school and fell for him fast. He was the first serious long-term relationship I ever had and the first guy to tell me he loved me. I was very attached to him and literally thought I would be with him for the rest of my life. Since I was clearly blinded by love I didn’t see all the signs of how unhealthy our relationship was. No matter how hard I tried to make him happy he would always pick fights with me and blame me for everything. He would constantly tell me how he thought I was talking to other guys and it hurt me that he would think I would do that to him. He even took another girl to senior prom that year and left me to go by myself. I started to realize he would lie to me about what he was doing and I would find out he was hanging out with other girls alone. Even with clear evidence he would still deny everything to me. One time I found a random pair of woman’s earrings by his bed and he managed to turn it around on me saying I needed to stop being so insecure. I found out that from the very beginning of our relationship he was cheating on me with multiple women. I now know that no man is ever worth it if they try to make you feel less of yourself and if they act like they don’t trust you, then it’s a complete reflection of them, not you.”

YOUR summer f*cket-list Text // Asta Tall Summer is the perfect time to spice things up. Unlike real adults we get a break from homework and obligations. You can focus on the important things in life, like family, health, and a hot piece of arm candy. Let’s face it: when the weather heats up, your need for romance does too. Summer plus boredom equals extreme horniness. Before you head out into the wild make sure you are equipped with a list.

The kid who got hot- This is the kid that

went from a tiny toothpick or chunk of tub to a nice piece of ass. Mother Nature has waved her magical wand and SHAZAM. There is nothing like an ugly-duckling-turned-swan to make those summer nights cozier.

The Intern- You both are being charged

with the menial chore of fetching someone coffee or making copies. While you’re at the job, strike up a conversation. Don’t be afraid to mix business and pleasure.

The Beach Hottie- Honestly, you are not going to the beach to swim in the ocean and risk consuming all that salty water. So lounge a bit closer to said hottie. Talk about how beautiful the waves look that day. You’ll be sure to be rocking the boat by the end of the night.

The International- There is nothing like being seduced in a different language to get the juices flowing. No one describes English as “The Language of Love.” Worry not if there is a language barrier. In the wise words of Jamie Foxx’s song Speak French , “I don’t speak French but I’ll tongue you down.”

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8. The Psycho Ex

Definition- The ex that turned absolutely crazy after the break up and is not taking it to well.

Not everyone breaks up easily and, in some cases, exes will become psychos because they are so upset. Some crazy psycho acts are showing up at your house, breaking into where you live, threatening you to get back together, ruining your personal property, etc. Jen, a junior, says, “My ex boyfriend was a psychopath. After we broke up, he called me crying wanting to get back together. I refused a million times and he started to threaten me, telling me that if I didn’t go to his place and get back together, he would hurt himself. The nice guy I knew had turned into a crazy ex.”

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Garnier Sleek and Shine Moroccan Oil Treatment Neutrogena Shine Control Blotting Sheets The only thing that should be shining this summer is the sun, not your face. These oil absorbers quickly pick up any excess oil from sweat, leaving your skin feeling soft and clean.

summer BEAUTY solutions

Going for a dip in the ocean is great, but not when it leaves your hair dry and salty. This treatment helps to restore smoothness while deep conditioning your hair, preventing further damage and dryness. times caused by sunscreens.

Aloe Vera Gel There’s nothing worse than harsh sunburn after a long day outside.

This body gel helps to sooth and replenish skill, while also preventing peeling and further irritation.

Text // Mollie Coyne

Yes to Cucumbers Gentle Milk Cleanser Sometimes it feels great to ditch the sandals and go barefoot, but afterwards your feet are left dry and cracked. Repair your soles with this gentle cleanser that moisturizes and replenishes.

After a brutal winter, it’s relieving to know that summer is just around the corner.

A season jam-packed with road trips to the beach, music festivals, and long nights spent outside in the warm summer air. Summer is a time to relax and enjoy yourself, but it also proposes a number of beauty issues. Dry hair, oily skin, and sunburns are no fun to deal with. Thankfully, there are a number of affordable products to help beat the beauty blunders so you can focus on appreciating the season of sun.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Prevent dry, cracked lips with this affordable and practical lip balm treatment. It conditions while protecting from the harmful effects of sun, leaving lips feeling cool and moisturized.

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Neutrogena Clear Face Liquid Lotion Sunblock Combat harmful UV Rays and acne simultaneously with this liquid lotion sunblock. It’s oil free liquid provides SPF protection while preventing breakouts sometimes caused by sunscreens.

Garden Varie ty Photography // Mimi Vecchione Models // Evan Vilhen, Norelle Cretarolo, Lauren Kelly, Patrick Lynch, Aaron Reichlin

J Brand skinny jeans; Crush Boutique, Boston.

J. Press sweater, J. Press, Cambridge. Alisha D lime necklace, Crush Boutique, Boston. Gant navy blue club blazer, Gant, Boston.

from left to right: Gant Rugger white canvas shorts, Gant, Boston. J. Press pink belt and floral polo, J. Press, Cambridge; J Brand skinny jeans, Crush Boutique, Boston. Gant orange blazer, Gant, Boston; Gant sunflower chinos, Gant, Boston. J. Press blue oxford shirt, cricket sweater, and seer sucker blazer, J. Press, Cambridge;

from left to right: J. Press white chino, pink sweater, and patch madras blazer, J. Press, Cambridge. Gant white shirt, Gant, Boston; French Connection Suzanne stripe dress, Crush Boutique, Boston.

Gant navy blue club blazer, Gant, Boston.

Gant Rugger navy blue canvas shorts and yellow cable sweater, Gant, Boston. Gant madras shirt, Gant, Boston. J. Press pink belt, J. Press, Cambridge.

from left to right: Gant sunflower chinos, Gant, Boston. Gant Rugger black watch tux, Gant, Boston. J. Press blue oxford shirt and flamingo bow tie, J. Press, Cambridge; French Connection crochet dress, Crush Boutique, Boston.

from left to right: Gant Rugger white canvas shorts, spring green cable sweater, navy blue belt, and navy blue weeds jacket, Gant, Boston; J Brand skinny jeans, Crush Boutique, Boston.

J. Press sweater, J. Press, Cambridge. Alisha D lime necklace, Crush Boutique, Boston. Gant navy blue club blazer, Gant, Boston.

Festival Fashion Text // Megan Kay

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Coachella Where and When: April 12 - 14 and April 19 - 21 in Indo, California Why It’s Awesome: People watching the beautiful inhabitants of California and celebrities, palm trees and mountains as a backdrop.

Lineup Highlights: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Beach House, Local Natives, Of Monsters and Men, The xx, Grizzly Bear, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, The Lumineers What to Wear: Coachella is the ultimate boho, hippie, and hipster fashion hub. To fit in in this scene, bring plenty of maxi dresses, florals, high waisted denim shorts, crop tops, fringe, oversized flower headbands, and face paint.

Outlandish Item: Native American headdress. Because being at Coachella suddenly makes you Native American.

Image // AP

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Vanessa Hudgens

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The Governor’s Ball Music Festival When and Where: June 7-9 in Randall’s Island, NYC Why It’s Awesome: Riding a ferry to the island and plenty of time to explore New York City.

Lineup Highlights: Kanye West, Kings of Leon, The Avett Brothers, The xx, Kendrick Lamar, the Lumineers, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Of Monsters and Men, Crystal Castles, Azealia Banks, Best Coast, The Vaccines, Icona Pop What to Wear: Since this festival is in NYC, the fashion is a mix of daringly funky and straight off the runway chic. Don’t be afraid to wear bold colors, bustiers, or see through shirts with a peek a boo bandeau. Be sure to top off any outfit with bold makeup and hair, like a high bun and red lips. If you can’t afford the latest Marc Jacobs dress or Chanel purse, head to American Apparel for some pieces that are both fun and girly.

Outlandish Item: Designer splurge item.

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Rihanna

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Warped Tour When and Where: June 15 – August 4 across the nation Why It’s Awesome: Reliving your preteen angst days, relatively inexpensive tickets, and plenty of meet and greets with bands.

Lineup Highlights: Motion City Soundtrack, 3OH!3, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Summer Set, Never Shout Never, Relient K, Hawthorne Heights What to Wear: Break out the Converse or Vans! It’s time to dig those band T-Shirts and bright graphic Ts from the bottom of your closet, because this festival is about the punk and alternative scene. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to put some crazy colors in your hair, this is certainly it. Also, even though it will certainly be hot out, dark colors like black will also be in full force. Be sure to hit up Hot Topic for all of the punk clothing you need.

Outlandish Item: Bold and graphic pants in striped or checkered patterns. Just because you can.

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Hayley Williams of Paramore

YOUR fashion Image // AP

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Lollapalooza When and Where: Aug. 2 – 4 in Chicago, Illinois Why It’s Awesome: You can explore Chicago by day and enjoy the music at night, nearby hotels and relatively cheap food and drinks, and plenty of after parties Lineup Highlights: Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Keys, Florence + the Machine, Jack White, Passion Pit, The Weeknd, M83, Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, Fun., Of Monsters and Men, Santigold What to Wear: This festival runs the gamut from boho-chic to mega-trendy.

Everything from cut off shorts, neon, crop tops, studs, vintage T-shirts, and maxi dresses are popular choices. For a perfect style blend, head to Nasty Gal’s website for Lolla-approved outfits and accessories.

Outlandish Item: Studded fanny pack. Because where else can you wear one?

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Miley Cyrus

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Bonnaroo When and Where: June 13-16 in Manchester, Tennessee Why It’s Awesome: Four days of music, plenty of entertainment like water slides and movies, free water, and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie Lineup Highlights: Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, The xx, Passion Pit, Kendrick Lamar, Of Monsters and Men, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, A$AP Rocky, Matt & Kim, The Vaccines What to Wear: This festival is all about southern style ya’ll. Bust out the denim shorts, cowboy boots, vests, tribal prints, and flowing dresses with a hippie vibe. Head to the nearest Levi’s store to get denim everything.

Outlandish Item: Cowboy/girl hat.

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Boston Calling When and Where: May 25 and 26 in Boston, Massachusetts Why It’s Awesome: Get to hang out in Boston more (when it’s actually warm!), smaller size, relatively inexpensive tickets.

Lineup Highlights: Fun., The Shins, Marina & the Diamonds, Matt & Kim, Cults, Of Monsters and Men What to Wear: New England is notoriously preppy, so look for some simple but fun summer pieces to blend in here. For a perfect seasonal twist, go nautical with some stripes or boat shoes since you’ll be right on the ocean. To stock up on preppy essentials, head to Gap or J. Crew.

Outlandish Item: Sailor hat.

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Emma Stone

Celebrity Style Inspiration: Taylor Swift

T H E

SHO R T S

O U T F I T

SH I R T

SU NG L A S SE S

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BAC K PAC K

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Shades of S tyle Text // Samantha Dupler

Having great style is all about exposing your true self with confidence, and not covering up or hiding behind anything. So when it comes to sunglasses, they may seem like the antithesis of style: an accessory literally created to shield your face and obscure your eyes.

But not only are sunglasses useful for the obvious reasons protecting your eyes from the sun (and protecting the general public from eyes that stayed open for eight hours straight studying or partying), they can bring even more attention to your eyes with a certain added flair.

Sunglasses, or at least eyewear approximate to them, have been around since prehistoric times, when the Inuit would wear walrus bone goggles with slits cut into the middle to protect their eyes from the harsh glare of the sun off the snow. But it wasn’t until the 1940s that modern sunglasses as we know them became a fashion item, instead of just being used to avoid copious amounts of light. They became a favorite accessory of film stars, since they were adept at both obscuring their famous identities and protecting against the bright lights of camera flashbulbs. Sunglasses caught on with the general public, from the cat-eye frames of the 1950s to the aviators of the early 2000s.

This spring, sunglasses showed up in a ton of different designers’ shows, each bringing a fashionable twist to the now-classic look. Designers like Marani and Versace seemed to favor unique geometric frames with sharp edges, while Jill Sander and Holly Fulton showcased circular rounded ones. Mirrored lenses made a comeback as well, shown on the runways of Giles and Burberry Prorsum. But the biggest trend by far were decorated frames, with floral appliques debuting on the frames of Anna Sui and Prada’s models, with Roberto Cavalli favoring steampunk-like metallic embellishments to the edges of his lenses.

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ER, T S B E W KILIAN -IN-CHIEF R EDITO P 2013 L BFA W

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TON, S N H O NICK J ITOR A&E ED P/MEDIA L BFA W 2013 S STUDIE

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YOUR fashion

DIYourmag:

LOVELY In LACE Text // Andrea Palagi Photography // Stephanie Fishbein

We all have that one pair of denim shorts that we just can’t seem to let go of no matter how worn out or out of style they become. They say denim is forever, right? Well even if denim is a true fashion classic that doesn’t mean it has to stay the same. This season it’s time to give your old denim a makeover just in time for the warmer weather.

As the temperature rises, lace will become the leather of the spring. Just as we saw winter coats with leather pockets in December, we can expect to see lace accented denim shorts in May. And just like any other seasonal trend, lace embellished cutoffs are expensive—$79.00 at club Monaco and $48.00 from Nasty Gal. With prices like these, it’s time to be resourceful. So grab those old faithful denim cutoffs and make them lovely with lace with this simple DIY!

Model // Caroline Henry

What you need: - A pair of denim shorts - 1 yard of lace material - Fabric glue OR needle and thread - Scissors

What to do: 1. Take your scissors and cut 3 medium sized squares out of your lace fabric (about 4 in. x 4 in.)

2. Place one of the squares over one back pocket on your shorts and cut away at the fabric until it matches the shape of the pocket.

3. Apply fabric glue along the edge of the pocket on your shorts and then place the lace piece on top of the glue. Press down gently before continuing on to the front.

4. Flip the shorts over, take the two lace squares and place them inside the front pockets so they visibly stick out. Cut away any extra fabric so they fit within the open space above the pocket.

5. Once again, apply fabric glue to the edge of the area above the pocket and press the lace down firmly.

6. Let this dry for about 15-20 minutes and then slip into your new lovely lace shorts compliments of you!

DIY Remix: Consider mixing things up by using colored lace instead of the classic white or cream—this will add a burst of color to a fun spring outfit. You can also use any extra fabric to make little lace accessories (like a cute headband, right.)

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Green Niki flare dress, and white Finn vest, Rag & Bone, Boston

On April 14th, 10 fierce femmes fought it out in hopes of becoming Emerson’s Next Top Model. Three of those fresh faces, Michelle Dalisay, Christina Kirkman, and Alyssa Giannone, joined crowned Emerson’s Top Male Model, Alex Frapech, in channeling their inner supermodel one more time for Your Magazine’s May issue. All of the clothes have been provided

by Rag and Bone.

Wanna be on top?

Photography by Haley Kreofsky Li ghting by Stephanie Fishbein

from left to right: Rag & Bone rinse selvage jeans and triangle pocket t-shirt, Rag & Bone, Boston; Rag & Bone white Lorie dress, Rag & Bone, Boston

YOUR features

from left to right: Rag & Bone blue Jefferson blazer and Eloise pant, Rag & Bone, Boston; Rag & Bone black Niki flare skirt and black Moto sliver blazer, Rag & Bone, Boston.

summer trends

STRIPES Text // Valeria Navarro

Stay in line, and you’ll stay in trend. The re-emergence of stripes seems to be a staple for every summer, but this season designers took a step forward by playing with direction and colors! Stripes can trick the eye, creating the illusion of a slimmer figure and sleeker shape.

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YOUR fashion

summer trends

WHITE OUT Text // Valeria Navarro

Classic, versatile, and sleek. White is a quintessential staple color in our closet, and it can be donned in different ways to accommodate different occasions. When wearing all white, make sure to find the right hue of white. Always play with textures to add dimension to your outfit, and avoid the “white wall look.�

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summer trends

FLORALS Text // Emy Lacroix

Pastel shades are adorable for spring, and more vibrant hues are gorgeous in the summer sun. A black and white print is always classically chic and appropriate year round. Paired with a plain outfit, a pop of pattern in shoes or sunglasses will step up your style. Try a structured floral blazer for a professional look, or a floral dress with sandals and a denim jacket for a casual feel.

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YOUR fashion

summer trends FLORALS for MEN Text // Dinesh Mohnani

It’s time to break away from those solids, stripes, and plaids, and enter a new face in men’s fashion: Florals. That’s right! Be brave this season and add an unconventional chic to your closet. Menswear has seen an influx of prints recently, but this is one that sticks. To rock this trend, you need to be a strong and confident man. Walk down the street like you own it and no one will question you. If you’re unsure, start simple with a floral tie or shoe, but once you feel comfortable, push the boundaries and try on a pair of floral pants.

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a road less travelled: the BUTTERFLY GARDEN Text // Victoria Hulbert

Photography // Kayla VanFleet

Exotic plants and butterfly wings engulf the small atrium in vibrant colors. Laughs from excited children can be heard echoing off the walls. Young couples wander through the pathways, holding hands. It’s a relaxed atmosphere paired with beautiful scenery: a nature oasis in the middle of an urban city.

Tiny, feathery feet dart across your bare skin as butterflies take a break on your shoulder or the top of your head. Have a seat on one of the few wooden benches and watch as the bursts of bright blues and oranges contrast against the greens of the surrounding environment.

Muted browns of the Painted Lady and Viceroy butterfly float among others.

A glass-enclosed conservatory resides in Boston’s Museum of Science. An extremely popular exhibit for all ages, the Butterfly Garden, allows you to walk among a varied assortment of living butterflies from around the world. The garden is a permanent exhibit at the Museum and is open daily from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Tips of the trade from one amateur butterfly watcher to another: move slowly, stay low, approach from behind, watch your shadow, heck, wear some camo if you’re feeling up to it. If you’re lucky enough, you might catch a glimpse of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail with its large yellow wings fluttering by. Follow these tips closely enough and a brush-footed species, the most diverse of butterfly families varying in all sizes and colors, might just decide to land upon your outstretched hand.

Exploring the entirety of the exhibit could take as quick as ten minutes or as long as it takes to lose track of time altogether. There’s something magical about chatting on a park bench surrounded by clouds of butterflies. At the Museum of Science’s Butterfly Garden, there is no time limit, so there is no rush. Make yourself at home, but once you’re ready to leave, don’t take the butterflies with you. Be sure to check your clothes for sneaky hitchhikers or escape artists on your way out.

Students can check out a Museum Pass from the Boston Public Library using an active library card for free admittance to the Science Museum for up to 6 people. These should be reserved in advance, in person, or over the phone. Normally, an adult ticket for the Science Museum costs $22.00 and a small fee of $5 is charged for the butterfly exhibit.

celeb spotting at the butterfly garden: Swallowtail Butterflies: Family Papilionidae

Black swallowtail

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Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Brush-footed Butterflies: Family Nymphalidae

Painted Lady

Viceroy

YOUR features

authors in the making

Text // Emily Labes Photography // Dondre Taylor-Stewart

Emily Sinclair

Quinn Fariel

I like to analyze people and make up plausible stories of what sort of life they’ve lived to make them act/react to situations in a certain way. More important than the inspiration I draw from strangers is the inspiration I draw from those close to me; I find that listening to the crazy/sad/beautiful stories my friends tell is one experience that always gets me feeling creative.

Stacey Richter and Tom Paine.

Thesis Advisor: William Orem Thesis Topic: Short stories Where do you most find inspiration?

Describe your overall writing process.

Lately, I’ve taken up the practice of writing at least 500 words a day - no matter if it’s just free-writing or nonsense - because I feel like consistently keeping myself in a writing mood has been a huge problem for me in the past. When I do discover an idea that I’m interested in, I open up a blank document and start a pseudo-outline. I write until it starts feeling like I’m forcing myself to do so, and then I take a break.

The next day I’ll revise what I have and continue writing.

How much of your thesis is new work and how much of it is old work?

My thesis (as of now) is a pretty even mix of old and new writing - I wanted to improve on my favorite pieces from the past, as well as produce new material to work with in the future.

Describe the work you’re most proud of, and how you came to write it.

The story I’m most proud of is (poorly) titled “Family Values”; Gangsters in Concrete published the piece and was incredibly helpful with editing suggestions. I think their input contributed greatly to my story being chosen by Plain China (an undergraduate literary review that looks at student run magazines from across the country and picks out the ones they want to consider for publishing). When Plain China contacted me and told me they would have an editor work personally with me to continue improving the story, I was thrilled. It was so reassuring to have a group of noteworthy writers reading my work.

What is your greatest challenge in writing your thesis?

Thesis Advisor: Ben Brooks Thesis Topic: Short-short stories (no more than 15 pages) Who are some authors that inspire you?

Describe your overall writing process.

I’m only able to write in the morning. Everything I’ve turned in, I’ve started around 4 a.m. the day it was due. So, I try to take morning workshops. When I’m writing, I don’t eat, I don’t take breaks, and I don’t listen to music; I have to get myself into a meditative mindset…

I edit while I go.

How much of your thesis is new work and how much of it is old work?

One story was already written, one was written but has undergone a rewrite and point of view changed, and three are brand new stories…

At this point, I’ve written three, and I’ve got two to go!

Describe the work you’re most proud of, and how you came to write it.

The story I’m most proud of is called “Listing,” which is a pun. The story literally lists the actions of the protagonist, but it’s also about a sinking ship. It starts with this egotistical engine tech who thinks he’s just the shit… When they leave for their travel destination, you quickly realize that it’s a cruise ship. It’s told in very close first person, in real time, through the character’s eyes... Now, they’re suddenly sinking and he has to deal with all these tourists. If I could write in one style over and over, it would be that one – very normal people dealing with very extraordinary situations, and what you learn from them and about yourself. The strangeness is where the magical realism happens.

What is the primary goal of your thesis?

I felt that it would be better for me to work on showing my progression as a writer, rather than just trying to get published. It’s helping me to see where I’ve come so I feel confident going into a difficult field. It’s hard to get published, especially for young people. Sure, I’ll market the hell out of it, but it’s as much for me as it is for other people.

I’d definitely say that the greatest challenge I’ve faced so far is actually coming up with new ideas - for whatever reason, I’ve been experiencing one of the worst bouts of writer’s block I’ve had in years.

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YOUR features

a smoky situation: emerson’s smoking culture examined

Text // Matt Mullen

F

Photography // Stephanie Fishbein

ew things are as ubiquitous to Emerson as the cloud of cigarette smoke that lingers above Boylston Street each and every day. The walk to class is a veritable parade— with smokers lined up along either edge of the sidewalk and pedestrians shuffling down the middle. When it rains, smokers gather in tight circles in the shadows of archways. Those who smoke and those who don’t are forced to coexist on the narrow sidewalk. The popularity of cigarettes here is aggravating to some and enjoyable to others. But it seems most people are willing to accept those around them who smoke— as long as they stay out of their way.

“I’m a very ‘do whatever you want to do’ person, and ultimately I don't care if people are choosing to smoke a whole pack of cigarettes a day as long as they're not hurting anyone but themselves,” says Nikko Mejia, a freshman Writing, Literature & Publishing major. “That being said, some of them cannot wrap their minds around the idea that other people are blighted by their cigarettes.”

Mejia expresses a sentiment held by many non-smoking Emersonians— the idea that the second-hand smoke is negatively affecting all those who encounter it. For a relatively small campus, the smokers are nearly unavoidable.

Mejia lists the places he regularly encounters smokers: Diagon Alley, the nook on the way to Walker building, in front of Colonial building, in front of Little Building, and on Tremont street on the way to the Union Savings Bank building.

The Student Handbook states smoking is prohibited on campus during posted hours, including the Archway outside of the Boylston Street entrance to the Little Building and the entrance area in front of Piano Row.

Model // Jasmyn Jacob

Still, these are among the most popular places for smokers to congregate— from the early mornings before class to late at night after extracurriculars. Part of the reason cigarettes are so popular is that they offer relatively simple and immediate satisfaction to stressed-out students. Hao Li, a freshman Visual Media Arts major, claims she doesn’t have time to relocate somewhere more isolated to smoke.

“I’ve been smoking for the past two years.

I don’t really plan on stopping. I smoke where I can and when I can,” says Li. One of the reasons she smokes is for the social aspect. “Since

“I don’t want your cancer breath in my lungs” coming here, I’ve met so many people through smoking. It’s a nice way to talk to people. We’re so busy all day— to have three or four minutes to stop and chat with someone is really nice.”

By now, most everyone is aware of the health implications of smoking cigarettes regularly; students who smoke see the positives outweighing the negatives. “It’s a quick way to relax, and all my friends do it,” says Li. At Emerson, both free time and free space are at a premium, meaning smokers relish in the ability to have a break from their busy day to smoke and chat. Many smokers think relocating to somewhere more obscure— such as the “official” smoking area on Tremont Street next

to the Little Building— means losing out on their well-deserved quality time.

“No one even goes to the smoking corner,” says Li. Jamie Alberici is a sophomore Live Event Production major whose views are somewhere between Li and Mejia’s: “I don’t smoke. But I’ve been here for two years, so I’m used to everyone smoking. I don’t care anymore,” says Alberici.

Though many, like Alberici, have grown to simply accept the situation as it is by writing it off as another idiosyncrasy of attending a city school, others are disgruntled. This recent post on the Emerson Confessional Facebook page (where students anonymously submit confessions and grievances) illustrates the frustration many feel: “Seriously though, if one more person blows smoke in my face on Boylston, I'm going to freak.

I don't want your cancer breath in my lungs. Have some respect for those of us who don't want to die horrible, drawn out, preventable deaths.”

While the Emerson Confessional page often garners exaggerated hostility, students have been vocal about the smoking situation in the past, even prompting the SGA to contemplate making rulings. However, nothing has come of it yet. With the student body torn between anger, comfort, and apathy, a solution seems difficult.

Should smoking be totally prohibited? Should the campus police monitor designated nonsmoking areas more efficiently? Does Emerson have more important things to worry about than smoke in people’s faces? Currently, the situation is as opaque as the cigarette smoke that drifts above Boylston Street and rises towards the clouds.

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Jim gentile:

the animal companion Text // Sienna Mintz Photography // Paola Camargo

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amson, a giant, scruffy Newfoundland sits in his usual spot at the front of the Pet Shop in Allston Village with his slobbery face pressed up against the glass door for passersby to admire. At his side, a tired miniature poodle named Toby, lounges carelessly over his comrade’s legs. A cat patrols the store’s aisles, arching his spotted back whenever the bell on the door announces a new customer. Unlike the dozens of other animals inside the Pet Shop, these pets are not for sale.

The walls of the Pet Shop are lined with fish tanks and cages that house lethargic hamsters, exotic lizards, and a hodgepodge of hedgehogs, rabbits, and other living things. In the center of it all stands Jim Gentile, the store’s owner for 37 years and counting. His shiny bald head gleams under the fluorescent lights overhead.

Bent forward over the counter, he calculates the store’s daily sales, but never fails to greet his customers with a warm, smile.

Gentile bought the store in 1975 when he was only 25. Now 61, he’s watched the neighborhood change around him, but has managed to combat the stereotype of the small business’ demise. “I’ve adapted to the neighborhood. I think my business is more adaptable than some of those other businesses were,” he says with a thick Boston accent. He recalls a time when retail stores, butchers, and fish shops lined Harvard Avenue. Today, the Pet Shop stands out as one of the few stores that doesn’t sell meals to hungry college students… unless they’re hungry for crickets.

When his Pet Shop days first began, Gentile sold cats, dogs, and plenty of complimentary supplies. But as the neighborhood changed, so have his products. “[Allston] was very family oriented,” Gentile says. “At some point in the late 70s, perhaps early 80s – because I don’t have a great sense of time – the landlords here discovered they could get a lot more money by renting to four students than they could a family of four. They started upping the rents so that people could not afford to stay here.”

With students flocking to the brick lined

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streets of Allston, landlords enforced a no dog or cat policy, effectively threatening Gentile’s business. “I was forced to be more companion animal oriented,” he says. By “companion animal,” Gentile means small rodents, fish, and birds; those that need less care than a dog or cat.

Taking care of the army of animals in the Pet Shop isn’t easy work. Gentile says, “There are no holidays. It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas or Thanksgiving; somebody has to be here eight hours a day to feed, water, clean, and make sure that everybody’s doing well.” With the cacophony of chirps, whistles, and meows resonating through the store, this isn’t difficult to believe. Gentile, who lives just outside of Boston says, “It’s not the type of job where if your butt is dragging at 11 o’clock at night you can’t just say, ‘I’m gonna leave the rest of the animals for tomorrow.’

The business is you either sell it or maintain it.”

For Gentile, who has always had an affinity for animals, this overwhelming daily to-do list is a way of life, but it’s not cut out for everyone. “Within the years that I’ve been here, there’s been at least five different independent [pet] stores that have opened up either on the avenue or around the corner on Brighton Avenue and they don’t last,” he says.

Most of these endeavors have failed because, in Gentile’s opinion, they didn’t understand what they were getting into. “It’s more a labor of love than it is for a lot of other businesses. You either have the desire to do it or you can’t stay in this business.” Gentile has that desire. He dabbled in computer programming in the 1970s, but says, “I found that if it wasn’t breathing, it couldn’t hold my interest.”

Gentile spends his days working alongside his son, who hopes to take over the store once Gentile retires. Tending to the two of them grounded. Gentile says, “Neither of us needs the money that bad as opposed to being able to look at your face in the morning when you shave and say, ‘I did the right thing yesterday.’”

As the door opens, ringing the bell, a mother and her young daughter walk in and the child

runs over to pet Stella, the golden English Bulldog. She is sprawled out underneath the bearded dragon’s terrarium and rolls over graciously for a tummy rub. Gentile says, “Obviously in here [the dogs] don’t get as much attention from me as they do at home but they get attention from other people.” Students often pop in to say hello to the furry beasts guarding the door, but sometimes, rowdy passersby cross boundaries that Gentile isn’t willing to stand by.

Gentile recalls two drunk graduate students who insisted on buying a hamster. Despite their “nasty” objection, he had to refuse them and eventually, have them escorted out of the store. He points to a laminated piece of paper on the wall that reads, “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone,” and says, “That legally gives me the right to refuse service to someone if I feel they’re not gonna be the right home.” He says that, inebriated or not, “You just have to be cautious that the home environment isn’t with someone who thinks ‘Well if it doesn’t work out I can just drop ‘em at the shelter two weeks from now.’” Gentile has had a handful of experiences like this, and says “It’s not like buying a video game or a TV where if you decide there’s no room for it you can sell it. It’s a commitment that you’re making to a living thing.” As far as expenses go, Gentile hints that he doesn’t need to keep the shop open to support his family, giving him the freedom to pick and choose the right pet owners.

That being said, Gentile loves seeing his pets go to good homes. “When you have 80 fish tanks and half a dozen hedgehogs and a dozen bunnies, you cant give the individual attention that they’ll get in a home environment,” he says.

Gentile thrives in the diverse community of students and immigrants in Allston. “Students are what keeps me young,” he says. Though close to the age of legal retirement, he doesn’t have plans to call it quits any time soon. Chuckling, he says, “Eventually someone’s gonna come in and I’m gonna be standing like this,” he leans against

“I found that if

the counter. “And they’ll go ‘Excuse me sir can I have a dozen crickets?’ and I won’t respond and they’ll go ‘Sir?’ and they’ll give me a push and I’ll just fall over back behind the counter.”

He says, “I honestly can’t think of a day in all the time I’ve been here when I’ve woken up in the morning and thought, ‘Bleep, I have to go to work today.’” In other words, Gentile is living the dream. As the Allston community ebbs and flows, the Pet Shop’s doors remain open for business, or maybe just a quick lick of the hand from a friendly canine. Outside the Pet Shop, a young man wearing an oversized jersey sees Samson in the window and shouts, “Aw shit, I gotta check this place out!”

it wasn’t breathing, it couldn’t hold my interest.”

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in n out:

transfer students of emerson college Text // Julia Higgins

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Photography // Tori Mier

hough there are plenty of students at Emerson College willing to rave about their time at school, there are many others who have been less enthused with their Emerson experience. In coming to Emerson, many students are excited at the prospect of a diverse and welcoming environment, free of judgment from fellow peers. This is, after all, a sizable portion of what Emerson advertises to potential students.

At Emerson, students are told they will be free to explore their interests without fear of being different or quirky. Incoming students are also initially attracted to the idea of a careeroriented environment, where all types of study are specialized. After being at Emerson for several months, however, many freshmen have come to find these uplifting descriptions of the school to be untrue and choose to transfer to different colleges in search of a more comfortable environment.

Jen Myers, a freshman Marketing Communications major-turned-undeclared in her second semester, says her year at Emerson has been nothing like she expected it to be.

“I thought the student body would be more open, because I feel like that’s always what Emerson is preaching,” says Myers. “I remember when I visited Emerson, [the tour guides] were like, ‘it’s so open here, and everyone is super chill, and understanding about everything,’ I thought to myself, ‘oh, that’s great;’ my high school wasn’t like that at all. Coming here, I realized that my high school was actually more accepting, and more open. What Emerson spews out about itself isn’t true at all.”

This lack of acceptance at Emerson is only one of several reasons Myers is choosing to transfer. In addition to the unfriendly environment she’s been subjected to, Myers says that as a student athlete, the support from her peers for Emerson athletics has been “really disappointing.”

In transferring, Myers hopes to find people who are more well-rounded than the students at Emerson.

Model // Kelly Fay

“[The well-rounded aspect of other students] is what I miss the most from high school,” says Myers. “Everyone had different goals and different places, and here everyone is kind of interested in the same thing; obviously that’s not entirely true, but it’s just too specialized of an environment.”

Rin Conley, a freshman Marketing Communications major, echoes Myers sentiments.

“It’s hard to connect with people here,” says Conley. “I feel like a lot of people at Emerson are very privileged, so I don’t really have a lot in common with them.”

Throughout her first year at Emerson, Conley has felt stifled by the unfriendly environment around her, and she feels as though Emerson is largely a white, upper-class college; this is a demographic that she does not belong to, and therefore cannot relate to.

“I guess I thought it would be more diverse,” says Conley. “I know there’s all the diversity that lies within the LGBTQ community, but there’s really not that many kinds of people that go to Emerson. Because of this, I thought Emerson would be more accepting of everyone, and I kind of haven’t gotten that, or met people who are super friendly.”

Peter Schonning, a transfer student from the University of Vermont, counters both Myers’ and Conley’s observations about Emerson with more positive feedback of his own.

“People are so nice here!” says Schonning.

“I’ve met maybe one really mean person… but in general people here are really friendly. I really like how close knit [Emerson] is.”

Before he came to Emerson to major in Writing, Literature & Publishing, Schonning was an English major at UVM. The English program at UVM, however, was geared more towards the education field, as opposed to the creative side of writing he was craving. Here at Emerson, Schonning has discovered a world of opportunity, where he can take advantage of the many creative writing workshops Emerson

has to offer, as well as the bevy of specialized classes that Emerson offers.

Where Schonning praises Emerson for its career-oriented environment, freshman WLP major Autumn Farrell, another student transferring from Emerson, is in search of a more expansive, less expensive environment. “[I’m transferring] mostly because of how much it costs,” says Farrell. “I don’t necessarily like Emerson enough for how much it is- it’s very career oriented, and if you want to experiment [in terms of classes] you can’t really with the classes made available.”

Farrell’s judgment of Emerson being more similar to a trade school than a traditional university is relevant, as Emerson truly is perfect for those who want to gain expertise in their future career fields. That being said, any students looking to gain a broader knowledge of subjects that go beyond communication and the arts will not necessarily be happy at Emerson.

Emerson caters to a specific type of person; there are many aspects of the school to take into consideration when coming here, aspects that go beyond the mere “where and what” of the college.

Though many students like Farrell and Myers, come to Emerson with a specific career trajectory in mind, the hyper-focused environment of Emerson is simultaneously the school’s best selling point and biggest downfall, especially when it comes to freshman students.

As a college, Emerson’s application process has high school seniors choosing how they want to spend the rest of their lives, at least careerwise. The tuition price also factors in to the demographic that attends Emerson; for people who do not come from wealthy families, like Conley, finding a niche within the school can be harder, which in turn makes spending time at Emerson more of a challenge.

“It’s hard to connect with people here” ..... “People are so nice here!”..... {46}

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“I thought the student body would be more open”..... “It’s very career oriented”.... {47}

Left to right: Sawyer Paine (Riddler), Ashleigh Heaton (Ginny Weasly), and Aaron Rivin (Spider-Man)

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Supervillains in the city Text // Erin Corrigan Photography // Zeynep Abes

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t some point during your time in Boston, you may have noticed people decked out in crazy apparel roaming about the streets. Some of them may look familiar, resembling a character you’ve seen in a film or a comic book panel.

Well, that’s the point of cosplay - to be a real life version of a fictional character. But don’t get it confused with an extension of Halloween. Short for “costume play,” cosplay is a performance art, so it’s much more than just a visual activity. People who partake in cosplay, or rather cosplayers, assume the entire role of their characters, from their gestures and poses to their catchphrases and dialogue.

Cosplayers often refer to themselves as otaku, which means “geek” or “nerd” in Japanese. These fans assume the roles of characters from all genres of “nerdy” entertainment, including comic books, anime, manga, films, video, and computer games. Even inanimate objects can be cosplayed. Picture a group of people dressed up as Tetris blocks trying to fit together all day. There’s no limit to how extravagant people’s costumes may be.

Animation & Motion Media major Aaron Rivin first got into cosplay during high school.

He and a friend threw together a cardboard Iron Man helmet before the premiere of Iron Man. Now, Rivin travels around the country going to different conventions and has convinced friends to join him along the way. Rivin recently perfected his costume-making skills by finishing a personalized Spidey Suit. Rivin worked on this project for over a year.

When it comes to costumes, many dedicate

lots of time to perfecting the appearance of their character. They pay attention to every detail – from makeup to hairstyles to accessories – to make their guise as elaborate as possible. Some otaku go as far as sewing padding or other materials into their costumes to create muscles.

Others who are less crafty or don’t have as much time to spare opt to buy costumes.

Those who want to purchase a costume in person normally do so at a convention, where dealers and commissioners set up shop. Most costumes found on websites fall between the $100 to $200 range. However, the top-of-theline costumes can cost thousands of dollars.

Rivin says this tends to turn people off even though prices like these are completely “reasonable.” He says people don’t realize how many hours go into making a handmade costume. “Either you put in the necessary time or pay someone else to,” he says.

Bostonians have likely witnessed swarms of cosplayers because the city is home to a number of events where cosplay flourishes.

Most of these events are annual conventions that attract video game, anime, manga, and comic book fans from around the world.

According to Rivin, there are two different types of conventions. Some take place at big halls where fans leave at a certain time and go their separate ways. Then there are conventions that are held in hotels that at times are more celebratory…sort of like a wedding party full of Pokemon characters.

Imagine walking through an expo lined

with tables of vendors. Character figurines, statues, and graphic art are on the tables.

People dressed in intricate costumes, colorful wigs, and dramatic makeup browse what the vendors have to offer. Expect lots of camera flashes, up-beat music, and a booming voice reading scheduled events over the intercom.

Throw some Stormtroopers, a few Jack Sparrows, and a handful of Sailor Moons into the mix and you’ve got a good idea of who and what can be found at one of these conventions.

Fans attend these conventions for a number of reasons. Some participate to compete in contests, watch performances, or socialize and share their love for these characters. Rivin particularly enjoys seeing the kids react to cosplayers. “You have these moments that are like what you see at Disneyland where the kids actually think you’re them. You get to sit there and talk to them and they just eat it up,” he says.

Boston Comic Con is one of the area’s most widely known conventions. Last month, costume designer, model, and cosplay entertainer Yaya Han hosted the annual costume contest. Han has made over 200 costumes for anime, manga, comic book, video game, and sci-fi characters. Though this year’s convention ended a few weeks ago, there are still plenty of other events happening in Boston in the near future. Check out some that are happening this month below.

Zombie March IX May 18, 2013 South Station

Anime Boston May 24-26, 2013 Hynes Convention Center

Participants march from South Station to Government Center, snaking through the Boston Common, the Public Garden, Newbury Street, the Prudential Center Mall, and Copley Plaza.

Over 1,000 people have already confirmed attendance on the Facebook event page for this battle between the living and the living dead.

This three-day annual convention celebrates Japanese animation, comics, and popculture. Last year, more than 22,000 attended over the weekend. Anime Boston is known for its Cosplots. Each year, the staff plans a storyline that unites the convention’s entire cosplay programming. Last year’s Cosplot involved an intense battle for a special weapon and a brutal on-stage death.

Even if you’re not interested in partaking in cosplay, attending a convention will give you a chance to observe and interact with this role-playing community.

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the great gatsby Text // Charles Nash

“He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.”

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his lavish quotation from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s extraordinary novel, The Great Gatsby, perfectly illustrates what makes the iconic character of Jay Gatsby so enticing: his charisma. The same could be said for the book itself, which remains to be one of the most beloved literary works of the 20th century. As a passionate tale of forbidden love, it’s intoxicatingly romantic. As a social commentary on the lifestyles of the bourgeoisie during the 1920s, it’s meticulously insightful. And as a piece of fictional storytelling, it’s a work of art that’s as culturally significant as it is spectacularly enthralling.

While there have already been three film adaptations of The Great Gatsby, as well as one made-for-TV movie, this modern take on Fitzgerald’s magnum opus might just be the most audacious, expensive, and visually dazzling variation yet. Initially, the film was scheduled for a release last December, but due to conflicts with the production schedule, it has been delayed until May 10th. This may limit the movie’s chances of receiving recognition from the Oscars come next January, but it will certainly be a breath of fresh air within a season of sequels, superheroes and excessive explosions.

It stars Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, a World War I veteran who rents a house within the fictional community of West Egg, located in Long Island, New York to take up a job as a bond salesman. Once he his arrives, Nick becomes fascinated with his wealthy next-door neighbor Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), who throws excessively elaborate parties every weekend, but is known to have an ambiguous persona within society. As Nick begins to socialize with his second cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton) he is introduced to a life of luxury within the culture of the Roaring Twenties, and ultimately begins a great friendship with Gatsby after receiving an invitation to one of his Saturday night celebrations. However, Nick soon discovers that Gatsby’s life of extravagance may not be as pristine as it appears, and the reasons for his enigmatic identity may be to cover up a former affair that he’s had with Daisy, which may actually be resurfacing again. Jason Clarke and Isla Fisher also co-star as George and Myrtle Wilson, a middle-class couple who seem to be perfectly happy within their relationship, but like many of the characters in the story, they are not as honest as they appear to be.

The film is directed by Baz Luhrmann, who’s mainly known for his wildly stylized imagery, rapid-fire editing and ambitiously theatrical approaches to his narratives; most of which focus on two star-crossed lovers. He’s fearlessly overthe-top in ways that most filmmakers are afraid to attempt, sometimes to a fault. I have not seen his first film, Strictly Ballroom (1992), but his sophomore effort, Romeo + Juliet (1996), in which he puts a contemporary spin on Shakespeare’s play, is so erratic and unhinged that it just flies off the rails, typically resulting in unintentionally hilarious sequences involving quick-cuts of shoot-outs and helicopters.

Nevertheless, Luhrmann managed to utilize his idiosyncratic methods that drove me insane in Romeo + Juliet to nearperfection in his grandiose third feature, Moulin Rouge! (2001). A sumptuous feast for the senses, the picture takes place

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in Paris during the year 1899 and incorporates musical numbers of modern-day rock songs into the story of a poet and a courtesan who fall in love. It’s Luhrmann’s viscerally charged love-letter to cinema; an inventive, heartfelt and exhilarating spectacle that reminds viewers of why they love going to the movies in the first place.

As for the box-office flop that is Australia (2008), well, I have to admit that I turned it off after the first 30-minutes.

That being said, if I didn’t happen to be hung-over on an eight-hour flight from Europe back home to Boston, I probably would have given it more of a shot. The only bits of it that I can recall involve Nicole Kidman, who basically plays Kate Capshaw’s character from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as she shrieks through everything in her path while a shirtless Hugh Jackman keeps dumping buckets of water over himself to consistently remind audiences of how sexy he is. Perhaps I’ll give it another chance during a day when I’m in a better state of mind. Considering Luhrmann’s dizzying characteristics, it’s never a good idea to watch one of his films after (or during) a night of excessive drinking.

Still, regardless of my opinions on Luhrmann’s previous works, I’m still incredibly excited for his upcoming production of The Great Gatsby. The sleek, hyper-stylized look of the film is dazzling, but apart from it being marvelous eye candy, perhaps the cinematography will also help convey Fitzgerald’s themes focusing on the superficiality of the upper class during the Roaring Twenties. In addition to that, the fact that Luhrmann has a real zest for crafting pictures that center on two characters whose love for one typically leads to tragic circumstances makes this story a good fit for him to convert to the big screen.

Plus, the casting is stellar. Leonardo DiCaprio is pretty much the ideal choice for Gatsby; he’s capable of creating an alluring screen presence with the capability to charm audiences in some roles while also being able to create a sense of power and dominance in others. Carey Mulligan is also perfect for the role of Daisy, who’s able to convey a sense of yearning without even moving her big, lustrous eyes. As for Tobey Maguire, I’m not sure if he was the best choice to play Nick, but I’m also judging this based off of my personal memory of the book and a two-and-a-half minute trailer, so perhaps it isn’t fair for me to make these judgments so early on.

The main reason that I believe this picture will be worth seeing, even if it turns out to be a misfire, is that Luhrmann is a director who never plays it safe, and, in my opinion, never makes a dull film. Sure, some of them feel as if they’ve been strung together after he and his editor drank a dozen red bulls and several hits of ecstasy, but I can’t say that I’ve ever been bored by one of his movies. They’re all just so completely bonkers that it’s hard for me not to be fascinated by at least one aspect of Luhrmann’s loopy cinematic techniques, even if they become exhaustingly overwhelming. This is why I believe that whether The Great Gatsby turns out to be an electrifying masterpiece, a cinematic train wreck, or even a mixed bag, I think it’s destined to be one of the most memorable and talked about films of the year.

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SEARCH & DESTORY PUNK MOVIES and the fabulous stains

Text // Jackson Birnbaum

The Coolidge Corner’s After Midnight selections just got punk as fuck. On the 24th and the 25th at midnight, prepare yourself for Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains, a riot-grrl odyssey of rebellion and music. The film follows a young woman named Corrine who, after an appearance on a local tv show, runs away with her band The Stains, consisting her sister and cousin, to tour with a rising punk group The Looters. When a sudden burst of media attention propels the girls into the spotlight, they must battle with their image, their tour-mates and the pressures of fame.

Honestly, it’s a fairly conventional film in terms of plotting, and there’s nothing really too extraordinary about the film itself, but price of admission is well-worth seeing the cameos from members of The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Tubes and many more. To get psyched up for the debauched glory of the stains, here are 4 of the best punk films, to be enjoyed with a snuck-in 40 and a lot of yelling.

4. BURST CITY This fucking movie. Released in 1982, this japanese quasisci-fi musical follows… To be honest, I have almost no idea what the plot actually was. I guess it has something to do with bikers and a power plant, but make no mistake, this is a movie about smashing shit, loud punk, and hyperactive visuals.

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3. RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD A hilarious and gruesome quasi-sequel to Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, Return follows a group of young punks partying when the dead start returning from the grave, hungry for brains. This gory masterpiece features tunes from T.S.O.L, The Cramps, and SSQ.

2. TANK GIRL

1. STRAIGHT TO HELL

This one definitely falls in the so bad it’s good category.

Based on the stellar comic series by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, Tank Girl is a schizophrenic mess of a flick about an apocalypse where water is a scarcity and a young girl named Rebecca, better known as Tank Girl, is fighting to free the precious resource from an evil corporation.

Wacky visuals and kangaroo men happen, and Malcolm McDowell chews the shit out of the scenery. As an added bonus, it’s showing at the Coolidge on the 17th and 18th.

Ever wonder what a punk spaghetti western would look like? No? Well, Alex Cox did. Straight to Hell starts off like a Tarantino film with a couple of hit-men on the run after a job gone wrong. Things take a turn when they enter a town filled with coffee-addicted cowboys, and pretty soon you’re getting a full on Spaghetti western, but with Joe Strummer, Jim Jarmusch, Elvis Costello, and Dennis Hopper. It’s every bit as awesome as it sounds.

YOUR arts & entertainment

VIDEO GAMES: the last of us Text // Nick Johnston

I’m going to go ahead and readily admit that I won’t be able to write an article as awesome as the one Ian Clayton wrote for the magazine last year about apocalypse-themed entertainment, and I won’t be analyzing this as well as he did mainly because I haven’t played the game yet, but here goes nothing. It’s pretty ironic that the last video game preview I’ll be doing for this magazine is for a video game called The Last of Us, but c’est la vie, I guess. Besides, what better game is there to go out with? This looks amazing, frankly. Anyways, I’ve been digressing for quite a bit now, so I’ll just give you the summary and shit because that’s what we’re here to read about, right?

The Last of Us was made by Naughty Dog, the kind folks who gave us the fantastic Uncharted, Jak and Daxter, and Crash Bandicoot series. However, this game looks to have a much graver focus than any of this developer’s previous titles. At the start of the game, the world has ended, having descended into chaos after a fungus-based zombie infection (think of the worst case of athlete’s foot that you’ve ever had, and multiply that by a thousand, like if fucking spores and shit were growing off of your head and stuff). You play as a duo: an older man and his young ward trekking through the wildernesses and decaying urban jungles of the post-apocalypse, fighting for survival against gangs of scavengers and the infected. The whole thing looks GORGEOUS and sad as hell and I just cannot wait to play this. That’s not to say that it will be all depressing and whatever, but this looks like it may be the best survival horror game you will ever be able to buy.

Let me make this absolutely clear: the only reason I still have a PlayStation 3 is because of this game’s impending release (and because my girlfriend is so obsessed with Studio Ghibli that she bought a copy of Ni No Kuni that she doesn’t play as often as she should, but that’s another story- OW NOT WITH THE OPEN PALM). The beautiful design and the impossibly bleak world that Naughty Dog’s created seems like it might not just be there for window dressing - this could be one of gaming’s most compelling stories, as long as the human element remains as amazing as it was in games like Uncharted. It’s Cormac McCarthy for the gamer set, and these stories need to be told in order for this art form to gain some sort of legitimacy or credence in the world at large.

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the end of THE OFFICE Text // Regina Mogilevskaya

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When I was in high school, my best friends adored The Office. Nothing to do on a Saturday night in our small, sleepy, only-home-to-TD-Banks-andDunkin-Donuts New Jersey town? No problem! We’d spend our evenings lounging in Hanna’s living room alternating between bites of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Kraft Mac n Cheese, our limbs melting slowly into cream-colored leather couches as we repeatedly pressed play on episode after episode. The only cause for pause would be to escape into the kitchen for more snacks, of which there was always plenty. (What? What do people EXPECT theatre kids to do when it’s off-season? Steal a handle and a pack of Marlboro’s from our older siblings and go out on the town? Nah. Thanks though.) But that’s beside the point.

The point is that I detested watching The Office. Naturally, I was in the minority so I didn’t have much say in the matter, but for some reason the series just never clicked for me. The square confines of the carpeted office made me feel claustrophobic, and watching Michael Scott prance and hike his leg up on Jim’s table and generally flail around Scranton as a pitiful human being (in most cases) made me feel like he was a tick I wanted desperately to flick off of the screen. I’d clutch my PB&J and silently wish we could pop in my collector’s box set edition of Friends instead. Season 10, perhaps. “The One With Ross’s Tan.” Over five years later, when I was in Los Angeles interning for NBCUniversal in their digital content department, I once again had a run in with The Office. A number of run in’s. In fact, I had to watch it weekly as part of my internship duties. Whether it was due to attending an arts school for three and a half years or the fact that my tastes had changed (see: improved), but right there at the start of it’s final season, I fell in love with The Office.

By this point, everyone and their mother has caught at least a few episodes of NBC’s long running show. Adapted directly from the British version, which starred Ricky Gervais, the American version by producer Greg Daniels would forever re-sculpt the traditional format of the half-hour comedy. Shot in true to form documentary style, in addition to the unseen camera crew filming the day-to-day happenings of the office and of the characters lives, members of the ensemble cast would frequently sit down and converse one-on-one with the camera (and therefore the audience), breaking down the third wall completely. The style of the show relayed an unprecedented thick sense of realism; we weren’t watching actors on screen, we were getting peeks into the workings of an everyday office, a seemingly bland paper company in the middle of Pennsylvania.

Part of the shows genius was the writers and producers commitment to closely studying the workings of an actual office, and incorporating golden details into their scripts. The clueless efforts by management to instill team spirit and inspire passion, being so mind numbingly bored at work that the slightest bit office gossip was cause for an uproar, the push and pull of corporate versus the little guy, endless pranks, pointless meetings, and, of course, hilariously unassuming bouts of racism and verbal assault by The Office’s cast of wacky characters. The ensemble is another aspect of the series that makes The Office stand out from the rest. In a word, they’re perfect. Every last one of them. And I’ll let you in on a little secret; a good portion of the cast aren’t even actors. Take Phyllis Smith, for example, who plays Phyllis Lapin-Vance. She was a casting associate working for The Office when Greg Daniels, after enjoying the way she read with those auditioning, hired her for the role. The same thing happened with one of the show’s other writers, producers, and show runners, Paul Lieberstein,

who plays the role of Toby. Mindy Kaling and B.J. Novak, originally writers for the show, were also taken on as Kelly Kapoor and Ryan Howard, respectively. Even Moes, Dwight’s mentally challenged beet farmer brother, is none other than Michael Schur, a writer and producer for the show. Apparently, The Office promotes from within.

Over the course of nine seasons, as with any long running show, there have of course been just as many misses as there were hits. Audiences and critics began to lose faith with the show rolled into its later seasons, recycling through guest stars, the emergence of overbearing marriage and family plotlines, and tired jokes here and there. Many believed that the series should have ended when Michael Scott (played by Steve Carrell) left the show. In fact, the eighth season marked the first in its history in which The Office did not receive a single Emmy nomination. However, as The Office slowly makes it departure from television, it’s hard not to recall the moments that will live on forever in the hearts of fans. Who can ever forget that time Dwight set fire to the office in order to teach his colleagues about fire safety? When Michael accidentally sustained an injury by grilling his foot? What about Diversity Day, in which Kelly Kapoor got to slap Michael straight across the face? Don’t tell me you didn’t get butterflies when Pam and Jim finally (finally) first kissed, or that you didn’t proceed to sob watching the couple say their vows at the foot of the Niagara Falls. Don’t pretend you haven’t made at least one meme of Dwight’s countless, horrifying, laugh-out-loud interviews. Through the years you’ve enjoyed Meredith’s drinking, giggled at Angela’s cat mug, probably spit your drink out over something Kevin had said, were thankful for Oscar, and appreciated every single one liner that’s come out of Creed’s mouth. We’ve seen cast members come and go, relationships fall apart and rebuild. The members of the office have become something of a family to fans, and even if your family sometimes makes you want to rip your hair out and eat it, or stuns you with the words that come out of its mouth, at the end of the day, you miss your family when they go.

The very first episode of The Office premiered in March of 2005, just a few months before most of us were entering high school. We were young and mischievous. Some of us probably smelled a bit. Mostly, we were all looking forward to the future, as we knew big things were ahead. The hallways of the high school, crowded with seniors who vaguely resembled Greek statues. Would we ever get to be that tall? That confident? Getting our drivers licenses. Turning eighteen. Applying to college. Applying ourselves. Coincidentally enough, the very last episode of The Office is schedule to play on NBC on May 16th, 2013, just four days after we graduate from Emerson. Think about the person you were when you first stepped foot onto Boylston, and think of the person you’re leaving as. It’s highly unlikely that the two are interchangeable, and unsettling as it may be, I’m sure not one of us would have it any other way. But in the way that it’s good for the cast of The Office to leave Dunder Mifflin and open up new doors for themselves, it’s time for us to brazenly peep our heads from out the Walker building, put out our cigarettes and step away from the home that’s nurtured us and kept us on our toes. In the wise, wise words of Michael Scott, “Times have changed a little. And even though we’re still a family, here at Dunder Mifflin families grow. And at some point, the daddy can’t take a bath with the kids anymore. It would be inappropriate for me to take a bath with Pam. As much as I might want to.” Go forth, young friends. Bath free.

YOUR arts & entertainment

fields and stripes Text // Ceddy Streit Imagine yourself years after graduation, a successful career filled with exploration, traveling and whatever it is that make your heart flutter. How would you feel to come back to the school that started it all and have your work displayed and honored for the student body, staff, faculty and city to see?

School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) alumnus Ridley Howard is experiencing just this. After graduating from the SMFA with a Masters of Fine Arts (1999) and a traveling fellowship through Italy, he has been invited to have a solo exhibition at in the place that accelerated and launch his career, the Museum of Fine Arts. Entitled Fields and Stripes, the exhibition aims to explore 21st-century painting through color, geometry and abstractions.

Howard’s pieces feature an exploration of color, portraits, abstractions and the relationship between them. Using oil paint on linen and paper, he crafts elegant, puncturing pieces, which not allow the viewer to appreciate the mediums versatility but also the artists mastery and knowledge of it.

Despite several pieces being solid and meticulous in their nature, the artist has been able to incorporate a sense of harmony and mystery within each of them. It is through Howard’s ingenious and sensitive incorporation of geometry that he has been able to compose and soften the subjects featured in his various works of art. As one begins to explore and become more familiar with

Howard’s painting, it is apparent that this fusion influences all of his diverse subject matter. Additionally, one cannot ignore the MFA’s observation that his works “recalls the cool psychology of paintings by Edward Hopper and Ed Ruscha.”

Such parallels are best illustrated when comparing Howard’s Blues and Pink 2012, with Holly Rose Dress, 2011. The first depicts a soft, ghostly yet striking portrait of a woman while the second, a sharp yet mysterious female silhouette. Though both pieces are different in their approach, each has a deliberately undefined and mysterious quality to them. Illustrating that there are several connections between his pieces that can be extended beyond this formal and stylistic relationship. It will be interesting to see how the exhibition plays with this multilayered interconnectivity through the curator’s organization and layout decisions.

Fields and Stripes looks to be an exhibition that excites and challenges one’s perceptual senses. Howard’s harmonious combination of striking yet haunting imagery not only attracts and sparks curiosity in the viewer but also requires much deconstruction and analysis to understand the various systems that are simultaneously in play and working off each other. Opening on May 11 and running until October 27, 2013, it is clear that if you are staying around Boston for the EVVY’s, commencement or an internship, this is one exhibition that you should not miss.

“excites and challenges one’s perceptual senses”

recap

who: ridley howard what: “fields and stripes” where: museum of fine arts when: may 11 – october 27, 2013 price: free with emerson ID {55}

HEAVY ROCKS: boris’ best albums Text // Miles Bowe

T

he usual method for how I write articles at Your Mag is simple. We see what bands will be coming to Boston next month. Then I figure out something to write about relating to the chosen band whether that be an album review, an interview, or some sort of rambling musing on love (See: My article in the February issue). So how easy an article comes out of me can sometimes depend on who’s playing in the near future.

I explain this, dear reader, I guess to give you the context for why I was literally jumping up and down with excitement when I heard the Japanese rock band Boris was playing two (YES TWO!) shows in May at Brighton Music Hall. Because Boris aren’t just like any band, pick an album from their massive discography and you might end up with sludge metal, pick another and you’ll get dreamy shoegaze, or bluesy Sabbathstyle heavy metal, or ambient music, or post-rock hell, they even dropped a J-Pop album a couple of years ago. For nearly a decade now Boris has been a band that I’ve loved and grown up with. See, the aforementioned unpredictability of the band is certainly a strength, but for someone who may have never heard them it can be very daunting t figure out where to start. I’m usually reluctant to do list type articles if the subject doesn’t merit it, and Boris completely do. So it’s my pleasure to present The Top 5 Essential Boris albums.

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YOUR arts & entertainment

5. Akuma No Uta (2003) In 2003 Boris had already shown off how diverse they could be. They had already dabbled with sludge metal, postrock, and more traditional heavy metal over various full lengths. What makes Akuma No Uta such a breathtaking record though is how they managed to take all of these different aspects of their sound and create a record that did all of that at once.

The ominous 10 minute “Intro” patiently opens the album, but then we’re abruptly flung into the metal-as-fuck riff-fest that is “Ibitsu,” still the band’s best traditional rock song. Other tracks (“Furi”) invited even more head banging, the big surprise is the emotive 12-minute jam “Naki Kyoku.” Still the best starting place for getting into Boris; besides, with that Nick Drake inspired artwork the whole things is just too cool to pass up.

4. Boris At Last: Feedbacker (2003) Yep, 2003 was a really good year for Boris. Feedbacker is the bands third attempt at a single song album and it’s still a favorite of many people. Feedbacker’s five sections all fit into a very clearly defined arc that makes it the easiest to absorb of the band’s one track wonders. “Part 1” provides a gentle intro, which then builds over an incredible 15 minutes on “Part 2”, only to reach its peak on “Part 3”, then burst and decay in the harsh noise freakout of “Part 4”, and finally resolve on the gorgeous and gentle “Part 5”. It is Boris’ most traditional take on post-rock, but with their trademark doomy heaviness…in other words it’s fantastic

3. Pink (2006) The band’s best rock album without a doubt. Pink is a metal album with a bright candy coating. Starting off with one of their all time classics, “Farewell,” Boris drew a connection between the guitar heroics of heavy metal and the ethereal fuzziness of shoegaze. Both styles are essentially linked by crushing, distorted heaviness…in other words, this bands greatest strength. Flashing to the end, the closer “Just Abandoned My-Self,” starts like any one of their speedy metal songs, but just keeps…going…for nearly 20 minutes. By the end it’s gradually slowed and morphed into a sludgey meditative drone that brings to mind Sonic Youth’s “The Diamond Sea,” rather than anything by Sabbath.

However in between those two very unique tracks, Boris deliver a buffet of different metal styles. With the thrashy title track, or the terrifying doom metal of “Blackout,” or the blues-y “Afterburner,” even the gentle interlude “My Machine,” is reminiscent of the quietest moments on an Isis record. Arranged in this way, Boris managed to take the fans that got into Boris through post-rock, or noise, or drone, and ease them into and out of what is really their heavy metal album. Pink remains great starting point and one that fans will constantly come back to.

2. Rock Dream (Boris with Merzbow) (2007) Stop. I know what you may be thinking. A live album?! This high up? With the fucking god of harsh noise, Merzbow?! But hold it right there because aside from being one of Boris’ best albums Rock Dream is also a shining example of how much value live albums have. The set list is flawless (opening with a 35 minute version of “Feedbacker”, and closing with “Farewell”), the sound is impeccable, but most importantly here is Merzbow. Masami Akita has a terrible reputation from people who think of his albums as lengthy torture sessions of static and noise (I’ve been a big fan of him for years, but it would be an understatement to say he’s not for everyone.) But what people often miss about Masami Akita regardless how you feel about his records as Merzbow, is that the man is a stunning collaborator. With a deep amount of restraint and humility he is brilliant at completely melding into another band’s live set and simply acting as another member. It’s telling that the album is not “Boris AND Merzbow” because this doesn’t sound like to groups struggling over each other, rather Merzbow is working in complete sync with everyone. He provides an incredible foundation of noise, gives even more muscle to the band’s sound and makes every track on this album sound better than there studio counterparts. Boris never needs to release a greatest hits record because they already have this.

1. Flood (2000) There’s a reason why it was news when Boris announced they would be playing the song “Flood” on this tour. It’s the sort of song that you cannot just slip in during a show; rather it’s a song that Boris has to dedicate the entire night’s set to. After two solid albums of Melvins inspired metal, the 70 minute single song/album (broken into 4 tracks) Flood must have been a surprise once people heard it. When that first big build of feedback opening the album abruptly cuts away to a gentle, undistorted guitar riff, which repeats, loops over itself, and eventually melts away over 10 quiet minutes, it’s clear that this band had a lot more to it than just metal worship. Flood has an extremely slow build up (vocals don’t even show up until over 30 minutes in) and the final 21 minute track acts as a lengthy come down, but the peak of the album contained on track 3 is unmatched in most of post-rock. For a brief moment Boris sound like the most triumphant band there is, and while that climax is incredible everything else around it is completely captivating. While Feedbacker sticks to a very structured form (and sounds great for it) Flood resists falling into as clearly defined movements, instead it is an impressionistic masterpiece containing elements of ambient, folk, shoegaze, metal, and psychedelic rock, all done with an emotional nakedness that the band has never replicated before or after.

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KIRT VILE

smoke ring for my halo Text // Tori Mier

With a spot in the famed Coachella lineup, a critically acclaimed studio album, and upcoming American tour dates, Kurt Vile is currently sitting pretty in the tough indie rock industry. The Philadelphia native played solo for two years in Boston, but formed the well-known group, The War on Drugs, upon moving back to Philadelphia in 2005. However, his stint with the band only lasted a few years, ending when he decided that his solo career needed to take top priority. Constant Hitmaker was released in 2008 on Gulcher Records, followed up by another release in 2009, God Is Saying This to You …. Vile made the decision to sign to Matador Records in the same year and dropped an album with them soon afterwards, entitled Childish Prodigy. The album really gave Vile a push into the industry and gained him a lot of attention almost immediately. Vile’s fourth studio album, Smoke Ring for My Halo was released in 2011. The album gained critical acclaim, hitting #154 on the Billboard Top 200 in addition to achieving places on other annual lists.

But even a powerhouse like Vile isn’t without backup – his band, both live and in-studio, consists of Adam Granduciel, who started The War on Drugs with Vile, Jesse Trbovich, and occasionally Rob Laakso. With their instrumentation and Vile’s distinctive, “stereotypically indie” vocals, their talents come together to create something memorable, particularly on Smoke Ring for My Halo in 2011. The album opens with “Baby Arms,” beginning with a soft acoustic guitar accented by a tambourine in the background.

The gentle layering of two guitars establishes the mood of the song, one instrument being played with a pick, the other utilizing finger-strumming.

A laid-back love song highlighted by melodic guitars and Vile’s appropriate croons, the song is both relaxing and a good indicator for what else is to come on the album.

“Jesus Fever” is also an acoustic opener, but with a quicker beat and the backing of a rhythmic drum. The lyrics illustrate a wistful scene within Vile’s mind. The song seems to depict the evanescent nature of almost everything in this world – so many things are temporary or fleeting, and “Jesus Fever” portrays this idea. The wistfulness comes through clearest in the line “if it wasn’t taped / you could escape this song / but I’m already gone.” The track gently fades out into silence, furthering its point of life’s transitory nature. “Puppet to the Man” picks up the tempo established in “Jesus Fever,” this time exchanging acoustic guitars for electric and background drums for a strong beat in the forefront of the song. “Puppet to the Man” is a particularly exceptional track on Smoke Ring for My Halo, conveying some of the best pieces of indie rock: a foot-tapping, body-swaying melody with a robust drumbeat as the background of the song, both meant to highlight Vile’s thoughtful and sometimes melancholy lyrics and tone. The feeling of pensive reflection plays a huge role in Smoke Ring for My Halo, making it extremely listenable for all kinds of music lovers.

“On Tour” follows, switching back to a clear, moderate melody played out on an acoustic guitar. It is another contemplative track that reflects on Vile growing wiser and being able to “see through everyone, even my own self now.” However, this knowledge is not portrayed without sadness over this loss of innocence, as illustrated in the chorus, in which Vile repeats “lord of the flies.” This reference is to William Golding’s Lord of the Flies,

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a novel about young boys losing their innocence to the cruelty of the world. Other stand outs of the album include “In My Time,” a song mainly based on the acoustic guitar with a few measures of an electric guitar that feels punk and psychedelic at the same time.

“Smoke Ring for My Halo,” the title track, lives up to the expectations of being the album’s namesake. It epitomizes the album’s sound with melodic guitar chords that are very pleasing to the ear and possesses a gentle, ‘90s alternative-infused feel.

The album overall is incredibly well put-together and remarkably neat in its ability to make the songs sound like one interwoven tapestry. Perhaps the only issue with Smoke Ring for My Halo is Vile’s surprisingly lack of vocal variety; almost every single song is performed in the same vocal range. However, there is something soothing about this effect that draws the listener in, not to mention maintaining this vocal range helps contribute to the album’s pulledtogetherness. All in all, Vile’s fourth studio album is extremely welldone, building excitement for both his fifth album to be released this April and his upcoming dates on the East Coast.

YOUR arts & entertainment

the playlist: NICKTUNES Text // Nick Johnston

So, I guess this is it. I’ve had an incredibly fun and amazing time working as your faithful A&E editor for the past two years, and it’s led to some impossibly great and wonderful opportunities in and of itself.

It’s been stressful as hell from time to time, but it’s always been worth it.

First, I’d like to thank Olivia, Kilian, Pete and Alex Pulido for believing in me and helping me to get this job all together, and I’d love to gratefully and graciously thank all of the wonderful people who have written under me for years and years (Ian, Charis, Roxy, Matt, Marc, Jen, Eric, Anthony, Hunter, Caroline, Charlie, Miles, Regina and Tori, and I hope to god I didn’t leave anybody out)- you all are the best and I hope you continue to be the best, no matter if I’m here or not. I’d like to thank Michael Marotta, Chris Ewen, Peter Keough, Ken Powers and all of the other wonderful people around Boston who have made this city the best place in the world to spend as an undergrad who liked to read and write about music, film and culture. Finally, I’d like to thank all of you who ever picked up a copy of this little magazine (digitally or otherwise) and gave all of us a chance, and who knows? Maybe you went to something that you wouldn’t have and you actually might have liked it, and hopefully you’ll credit us in the years to come for exposing you to some weird shit you didn’t think you’d like but you wound up loving.

Our wonderful assistant editor Cedrine Streit officially has the reigns now for the ol’ section, but I want to leave you with a final playlist: a bunch of tracks that sum up my time here and attempt to put a bow on the whole thing. Look for the spotify playlist, and stay golden, all of you. You’re the best. Thx. - NJ 1. Wilco, “Misunderstood” (live, off of Kicking Television) 2. New Order, “Age of Consent”

18. Phaseone, “No Slack” 19. Outkast, “Gasoline Dreams” 20. Rick Ross feat. Nas, “Triple Beam Dream”

3. The Magnetic Fields, “The Saddest Story Ever 21. A$AP Rocky and everybody known to man, Told”

“Fuckin’ Problems”

4. OMD, “Enola Gay”

22. Destroyer, “Kaputt”

5. Blue Hawaii, “Try to Be”

23. St. Vincent, “Cheerleader”

6. Chromatics, “In the City”

24. Julia Holter, “In the Same Room”

7. Rhye, “The Fall”

25. Sleater-Kinney, “The Drama You’ve Been

8. Colleen Green, “I Wanna Be Degraded” 9. Circle Jerks, “Wild in the Streets” 10. Hüsker Dü, “Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely” 11. The Buzzcocks, “What Do I Get?” 12. R.E.M, “Moral Kiosk” 13. Beachwood Sparks, “By Your Side” 14. Suede, “Animal Nitrate” 15. Dinosaur Jr., “Feel the Pain”

Craving” 26. Beat Happening, “Revolution Come and Gone” 27. The Men, “Candy” 28. My Bloody Valentine, “To Here Knows When” 29. The Smiths, “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby” 30. Pulp, “Common People” (the full length version, fuckers) 31. Screaming Females, “It All Means Nothing”

16. The Replacements, “Unsatisfied” 17 Killer Mike feat. El-P, “Butane (Champions Anthem)”

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