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Gracie Donovan December 4, 2020 | 2:46pm EST Thanksgiving is over so that means the Christmas season has officially begun. And now, finally, we can once again binge watch the Rankin-Bass Holiday specials on Freeform. What are the Rankin-Bass Holidays specials, you ask? I think you know. They’re the incredibly weird, claymation movies that come around every holiday season only to be hidden away the minute your last Christmas present has been unwrapped. Some of my favorites include: Santa Claus is Coming to Town, A Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and much more. So here’s a list of all of those incredibly odd Christmas specials (only the important ones, of course) rated. Rudolph’s Shiny New Year (5/10) First is the absolute oddest one. Because I really can’t talk about these Christmas specials without starting with this one first. It’s Rudolph’s Shiny New Year. This movie follows Rudolph, a reindeer we know well, as he saves the new year (who is in the form of a big eared baby). Santa receives a letter from Father Time telling him that they must find Baby New Year before the new year. And, naturally, Santa sends Rudolph to do his bidding. The weirdest part about this movie is that there’s a gigantic vulture named Eon who will turn to ice and snow when the new year begins. He wants to kidnap Baby New Year so the year will never begin. This movie has burned itself into my brain in a way I will never truly forget, mostly because of Ben Franklin’s surprise cameo. I give it a 5/10 just because it’s so disturbing. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (9/10) This is probably one most people know. But despite that it’s still pretty weird. In Santa Claus is Comin' to Town we get the backstory for Santa Claus, also known as Kris Kringle. Kris is an orphan baby left on the steps of Somebertown’s city hall. The mayor, Burgermesiter Mesiterburger, tells his guards to get rid of the baby right away. A strong wind carries the baby to the mountain of the Whispering Winds where animals hide the baby from the Winter Warlock before taking young Kris to the Kringle family. The Kringles happen to be toymakers, and they teach Kris their craft. When Kris grows up he decides to finally cross the mountain of the Whispering Winds so he can bring their toys to Sombertown. When he arrives, he is surprised to find that toys are outlawed in the town. What follows is a thrilling tale involving the arrest and rescue of Kris, the befriending of the Winter Warlock, a song by Kris’ love The most important thing about this movie is the soundtrack. I sing Jessica’s 70s power ballad not only on Christmas, but all year round. This one gets a 9/10. Points taken off for the annoying noise the penguin makes. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (7/10) I know that you know this one. This Christmas special tells the story of Rudolph. A reindeer who somehow has a glowing, red orb instead of a nose. It’s never explained why that is. Rudolph’s parents attempt to hide his abnormality but when his secret is revealed, he decides to set off on his own. But not before igniting the flames of a romance between him and a reindeer named Clarice. But don’t worry, she wears a red bow and mascara so that we’ll know she’s a girl. Rudolph leaves the north pole with an elf named Hermey who, very weirdly, wants to be a dentist. They also run into Yukon Cornelius, a miner, who joins them on their journey. The three try to find solace on The Island of Misfit toys but are rejected, after an absolute banger of a song, because they aren’t toys. Rudolph eventually ditches the two because he believes his red nose puts them all in too much danger (it attracts the attention of a snow monster). Some time later after Rudolph has grown up, he returns home to find that Clarice and his parents have been looking for him ever since he left. There is a final battle with the snow monster where Yukon (allegedly) dies. By the end of the movie Hermey is allowed to open a dentist's office, Yukon has returned with the now tame snow monster, and Rudolph is given the job of guiding Santa’s Sleigh through the snowstorm on Christmas Eve. All in all, it feels like the real story of the song we all know and love is not told in this movie, at all. It really feels like a lot of backstory that we don’t really need. Plus there's the blatant reindeer sexism. I’ll give it a 7/10. The Year Without a Santa Claus (10/10) Here it is! The one you’ve all been waiting for. This is, without a doubt, the best Rankin-Bass Christmas special. It tells the story of the year Santa decides to cancel Christmas due to lack of Christmas spirit and a nasty cold. Mrs. Claus, the clear protagonist of the story, is determined to change his mind. She does this by sending two elves (Jingle and Jangle) to find an example of Christmas spirit. After a confrontation with twin brothers, Heat Miser and Snow Miser, they eventually achieve this by getting the people of Southtown to designate a national holiday for Santa. Why does the mayor of Southtown have this much influence over the entire earth? I can’t say. But what I can say is that the songs in this special are without a doubt the best. We start off with the theme song, a true classic, where tone deaf children and Mrs. Claus sing of “that terrible year” when “Santa Claus took a holiday.” Yes, I do know all the words to this song. Other notable mentions are Mrs. Claus’ solo “I Could be Santa Claus,” “The Snow Miser/ Heat Miser Song,” and, of course, the absolutely tone-deaf cover of “Blue Christmas.” The best part about this movie is when Santa awakes from his nap after being told of the national holiday and begins to make a series of grunting noises that are truly horrific. I give this one a 10/10, it's just that good. Well, there you have it. My personal ranking of the most important Rankin-Bass Christmas Specials. Happy Holidays everyone!

Lindsey McCormack December 7, 2020 | 4:11pm EST Good sapphic representation seems few and far between in media. Despite a steady increase in the number of sapphic characters we’ve seen on TV or in movies in recent years, much of the representation that is given is short-lived, just plain bad, or repetitive. Sapphic characters are often heavily sexualized, underdeveloped, or part of a period piece. Some networks have attempted to create characters that actually feel human in recent years and some of those attempts ended in great results. People were seeing themselves in characters perhaps for the first time ever. Take Netflix for example, they’ve created a variety of shows in recent years that feature strong sapphic leads and have made audiences very excited. Here’s the thing though, most of that progress ends up losing meaning. Because although Netflix can produce a show with good sapphic representation, they can’t seem to renew any of them. Most of the shows that Netflix has created in recent years that feature sapphic characters have been canceled. Netflix draws in queer audiences with the promise of representation, then betrays them. It’s time we talk about that. An example of this phenomenon happened earlier this year when Netflix decided to cancel two shows with sapphic leads within a week of each other. ‘I’m Not Okay With This’ (2020) and ‘Atypical’ (2017). ‘Atypical’ was lucky enough to last 3 seasons before it was canceled, however, it should be noted that Casey (one of the starring characters) didn’t even realize she was into girls until partway through the second season and didn’t start dating her love interest, Izzie, until the beginning of season three. So, the actual total time of queer rep in the show was more like one and half seasons before getting canceled. A fourth season may also be in the works before the show’s official end, but COVID has made those exact plans unclear. ‘I’m Not Okay With This’ unfortunately only got one season before being canceled. Sydney, the main character, is a teenage lesbian who is discovering she has superpowers, dealing with the after-effects of her dad’s death, and falling in love with her friend all at the same time. The story was intriguing and an interesting mix of an authentic gay youth experience and sci-fi. Sydney’s deeply layered character is a rarity in lesbian media and that excited many young sapphics, especially lesbians, who tuned into the show. It is even revealed that Sydney’s friend Dina likes her back. Dina is deeply layered as well, but has a very different experience with her sexuality. The show was canceled in the name of COVID, Netflix claiming that it was canceled due the financial and timing effects it had. This would be fair if the second season hadn't already been green-lit, written, and budgeted before the show was canceled. A situation I find highly frustrating. ‘I’m Not Okay With This’ is not the first example we’ve seen of Netflix canceling a show with a teenage lesbian lead after the first season. In 2018 they did the same thing to ‘Everything Sucks’. ‘Everything Sucks’ was a show that was made by Netflix in 2018. One of the main characters, Kate, is another example of a sapphic character with depth. Kate was a sophomore in high school, the principle's daughter, who was coming to terms with the fact that she was gay. Many people watching the show identified with her struggles and the experiences that lead her to know and accept that she was gay. It felt real and raw. Unfortunately due to the show being canceled audiences never got to see much of what happens after Kate came to terms with her sexuality, the show is even left on a cliff hanger about whether or not she will tell her dad. I am not going to sit here and act like ‘Everything Sucks’ was perfect. It wasn’t. Kates love interest in the show, although a year older than her in the script, was played by an actor much older than the actress who played Kate and that made the dynamic very uncomfortable to watch. However, that is something else that is 100% Netflix’s fault. Netflix should’ve originally casted two age appropriate actors, but they don’t care enough about sapphic stories so they didn’t. Instead they ruined a storyline that could’ve been wonderful by making it uncomfortable to watch, then canceling the show. There are many more examples of Netflix not caring enough about about sapphic characters or storylines to keep them running. For example ‘Sense 8’ featured multiple sapphic characters and was canceled after just two seasons in 2018. ‘One Day At a Time’ featured a young lesbian and her non-binary lesbian partner and was canceled in 2019 after 3 seasons despite great ratings. ODAT, however, was picked up for a season by POP. ‘Trinkets’ featured multiple sapphic characters and was canceled around the same time as ‘I’m Not Okay With This’ after only two seasons. Some of these shows were cancelled for seemingly no good reason. There was no worthwhile explanation for why they couldn’t go on. Others were given reasons like low views or poor casting. But here’s the thing, all of the above reasons are the fault of Netflix. Obviously the shows they gave no explanation for canceling are Netflix’s fault, but so are the shows they did provide with reasons. Poor or uncomfortable casting? Netflix is the one doing the casting, they have access to some of best casting directors in the field and they can do better. Lack of views? Netflix can promote these shows better. Many of them end up getting not even a tenth of the promo some of the trashier, straight, rom-coms or dramas get, and then Netflix acts surprised when people don’t view them as much.They then conclude that means people don’t want to see sapphic content. Netflix must do better when it comes to creating Netflix originals with sapphic characters that do the community justice because, as of now, they’re failing.

Editors in Chief December 23, 2020 | 7:19pm EST This semester, AmLit decided to steer away from recent tradition and replace “Best in Show” with a new feature, “Editor’s Choice.” In past semesters, we have reached out to professors to select what was, in their opinion, the best piece in a genre. This semester, each member of our E-Board chose a piece to highlight in the magazine instead. Rather than four Best in Show pieces, this volume of AmLit has sixteen Editor’s Choice pieces — chosen with love, care, and appreciation by AmLit’s E-Board members. Accompanying the “Editor’s Choice” labels you will see in our Fall 2020 issue, this blog post contains an explanation from each editor, giving you a glimpse into the reasons behind their choice. This allows us to connect with the AmLit community in a way we haven’t done before; as each editor spent hours flipping through the pieces you will see in the pages to come, this new feature gives us a chance to let artists know how much their work impacts those that read it. “a gracious stranger’s home” by Stephanie Mirah (p. 4) I was initially drawn to the color scheme of the piece. What made it truly my favorite was the composition and character. — Piper Hamm (Photo Editor) “pristine” by Lia Patentas (p. 8) The work is a beautiful mix of both nature and the familiar, everyday in the form of the mail-box. It creates a domestic, cozy atmosphere that I feel like can appeal to everyone's nostalgia and homesickness. — Shelby Rose (Blog Editor) “Summer of ‘07” by Sofia Dean (p. 9) Some pieces have the ability to make you feel as though you are reading about a lived experience of your own — a memory tucked away that isn’t yours but brought to life so beautifully that it feels like it is, and this piece does exactly that. It is filled with child-like wonder and beauty that transports you to the exact moment it describes. The lines “My caramel skin growing darker as my friends’ cheeks are painted pink.” are my favorite. They showcase how wonderfully the artist highlights the innocence of youth and how our perceptions of the world and ourselves change with time. — Riddhi Setty (Editor in Chief) “8 & 4” by Stephanie Mirah (p. 15) I really enjoy the soft contrast of pastel palettes in this series. It’s comforting to imagine the artist spent the day at the same place, from 8 to 4, doing whatever they please but having a solid day. The perspective and landscape is both serene and ominous in a beautiful way. — Rachel Burger (Art Editor) “nomads” by Maxwell Laro (p. 16) This work was so visually stunning to me when I first saw it — both the clarity that was able to be captured and the composition of the work are absolutely gorgeous. As an avid animal lover and conservationist, it's incredibly exciting to see a photo of these noble creatures in their true element and seemingly roaming free. To that point, the title "Nomads" is the cherry on top of this gorgeous work that encapsulates its essence. — Katie Meyerson (Creative Director) “First I have to learn in English” by Alexa Barnes (p. 18-19) I am choosing this piece because I think it is such a beautiful depiction of both language and love and the intersection between the two. The writing style of this piece was like nothing I had read ever before and I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions of ASL. — Katt McCann (Prose Editor) “La Tierra Devastada” by Emma Southern (p. 26) This piece is beautiful and a perfect representation of art's ability to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries. The Spanish and English translation of this piece show a skilled use of technique and devices, as well as packing an emotional punch with its relevant and important theme. — Sofia Dean (Poetry Editor) “erika” by Olivia Schwalm (p. 40) Something about this portrait feels acutely powerful. From the glow off their skin to the highlights of their jacket, this single frame truly captures a beautiful moment in time. The dark background sharply outlines the figure pointing beyond the frame and their face is filled with a wonder that fills the photograph. As with many creative works, I find myself wanting to know more; but even without answers, I admire this piece greatly. — Sheer Figman (Editor in Chief) “Stacked in Color” by Shea Neary (p. 60) I chose this piece because the subjects themselves are beautiful people but also because the composition is so well done. The top and bottom of the frame with balanced gray space and the mirror effect of the subjects first has my mind going "huh?" and then going "wow." If it wasn't for Covid, I would definitely be asking the artist to take my graduation photos!! — Stephanie Mirah (Copy Editor) “Thoughts from Late Summer” by Emma Lovato (p. 62) I love this piece in it’s entirety and the way it has me longing for something that I haven’t even experienced. But most of all I love it for it’s ending lines. — Gracie Donovan (Blog Editor) “To Jean, Best of Luck — The Girls” by Annie Przypyszny (p. 67) The emotional depth of this piece's subtle narrative is captivating and intense. It spares no humanity; every observation is full with reverent humanity — and with clarity and understanding. — Shannon Sakosits (Poetry Editor) “Blue Sunrise II” by James Kwon (p. 95) The deep blues of this photo evoke so much emotion, and transport me to the rare times that I wake up with the sun, allowing all of the colors to seep over me. I love the warped perspective the artist takes in this photo; the more I look at this photo the more surreal it feels. — Kait Caffrey (Photo Editor) “Missed Messages” by Shelby Rose (p. 104-105) I really love the structure of this piece. Having it broken up really puts you into the shoes of the narrator, and lets you feel the heartbreak of what went unspoken in this relationship for so long — a feeling made all the more heartbreaking with the final line of the piece. Overall, an amazing piece of prose with a great message and excellent execution of the concept! — Henri Brink (Prose Editor) “and soon” by Riddhi Setty (p. 106) What struck out to me so clearly after reading "and soon" was how much I wished that I wrote it. In my eyes, it's a perfect poem that leaves a lasting impression on whoever reads it. I felt this poem on every level. Loving someone so much through the winter and the hard times. Being selfish enough to take up space, and being selfless enough to curl up in comparison. This poem is the perfect encapsulation of what it means to endure the ebb and flow of love, and the hope that "and soon" it will work out. — Emma Lovato (Creative Director) “Love Poem” by Annie Przypyszny (p. 113) The passage of time is terrifying, but knowing we have someone there we will share it with makes it sweeter. This poem captures the feeling of knowing you will love someone forever, that they will always be in your life, "I'll love you madly, as always" just gets me every time. It's so tender and loving. — Emily Coneybeare (Event Coordinator) “flowers i gave my mom” by Grace Collins (p. 120) This piece gives me warm, happy feelings. There’s love in the colors. And I’m a slut for flowers. — Annie Przypyszny (Art Editor) Editors in Chief The current EICs are Sheer Figman and Rachel Burger.

Emily Hanlon April 15, 2022 | 3:00pm EDT Music is really important to me— I use it to study, to help me write, I turn it up while I clean or do laundry, or listen to it when I want to destress. I know this feeling is not unique to just me, as I have met many other people who also have a passion for music, earbuds in for long periods of time, with some people’s Spotify Wrapped minutes climbing into the tens of thousands. After making (and receiving) playlists from friends and family, I realized that sharing music in this way was a really important way to connect with others; there is something special about being sent a playlist of songs knowing that someone had you in mind. Sharing playlists can also act as a way to stay in touch with people when you can’t physically see them, for instance, when my high school friend, Ally, and I exchanged playlists back in October. Despite being in two different states and having not seen each other since the summer, it still almost felt like I was having a musical conversation with my friend, and we also texted about the music, having a real digital conversation about our playlists. Ally’s playlist not only introduced me to great new music, but it also helped assuage some of my homesickness and stress during my first semester of college— I remember listening to her playlist one difficult week when I was intensely studying for a midterm late into the night and working on a research assignment. Overall, sharing playlists with others can be a really great way to improve your mood in a stressful or difficult time and can also just be a really fun thing to do! Of course, there might be the initial feeling of worry that someone will absolutely hate whatever music you send them, but try to push past that fear and self-consciousness, because exchanging playlists with a friend or relative is an extremely rewarding experience. Since I’m always looking to discover new music, I thought I would conclude this post with a list of my favorite songs from the playlist Ally sent me (in no specific order). This list is broken up between songs that I had heard before (because I love rediscovering a song I’ve listened to previously) and songs that were completely new to me. My Favorite Songs From the Playlist that I had Heard Before: “Vienna” by Billy Joel “I Will Follow You into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant “Pierre” by Ryn Weaver “Holy Ground” by Taylor Swift My Favorite Songs From the Playlist that Were New to Me: “Ship to Wreck” by Florence + The Machine “Patience” by The Lumineers “Casanova” by Blake Rose “CHICKEN TENDIES” by Clinton Kane “Movie” by Blake Rose

Genesis Magpayo March 27, 2022 | 3:38pm EDT My healing journey hasn’t been the most linear one. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. But, the one thing that always helped me refocus was my past. As I learned how to reevaluate the things that I love about myself, the thing that I kept referring to was what had happened in my childhood that led to how I am today. And as I was walking down this path, it spiraled me down a rabbit hole of continuous questions. Why do I get overwhelmed after every minor inconvenience? Why do I get exhausted from social interaction so easily? What led me down this path? After weeks and weeks of journaling, I think I’m starting to figure out what my inner child really wants. The inner child is a part of our personality that still has childlike wonder but is often hidden due to circumstances from childhood that brought up resentment, anger, hurt, fear, and sadness. Most of the time, we try to forget about our inner child and move on from that past but that’s the thing, you can’t escape it. The way you react to adult situations is with pent-up feelings resurfacing from childhood that haven’t been unleashed yet. Looking to my inner child and seeing what she needed at the time has helped me refocus my healing journey and replenish myself. Yet I needed some help. Here are some of the top journal prompts I used over the weeks of journaling that have really helped me realign and learn more about myself. Part A: As a child, what is something you lacked that you wish you had? Depending on your living situation and the way you were raised, were there any things that you wish you had? It could be more attention from a family member, lack of validation, lack of physical affection, lack of personal space. It could be anything. Focusing on the things that you lacked as a child will help you understand the needs that you want in a partner, friendship, and even your parents now. For example: When I was a kid I was never really heard from my parents and when I would try and talk about it, they would tell me to stop. Now, as a result, my inner child yearns to be heard in every conversation and wants to speak up if someone is hurting me. So if someone tries to silence me, my reaction is to be submissive because it’s the natural response I learned as a child. Through discovering what we lack, we understand why we act a certain way and react a certain way. Part B: What are some ways that we can help our inner child? After answering part A, part b will take what we lacked as a child and refocus on our attention to how we can combat it. For me, one way that I can help my inner child is to be assertive if someone is treating me poorly or to attract the type of people that won’t exclude me from a conversation. And while there are some things that are very much out of our control, this prompt will help us distinguish the things that are in our control and what aren’t in our control. Question 3: How can we bring love to our inner child? This question is a little bit more lighthearted but nonetheless very important. Let's go back to our childhood (without cellphones) and focus on the things that we used to love as a kid. Was it singing? Was it dancing? Was it coloring? As we grew into adults and entered the real world, we started the lose the characteristics and things that we did that gave us real joy. Why did we let that go? And yes it might be silly but sometimes it just takes one childhood action to spark joy in our life. Question 4: What is the one thing that your inner child is afraid of? This question is very similar to part A and part B but it focuses on the things that we feared as a child or one of the first encounters of fear. This will help circle back and see whether or not it is still affecting you today. Question 5: If you can tell one thing to your inner child right now, what would it be? Last but not least, this is a question that serves as a letter to the past self! After retrospecting on the past and learning what you can do to support your inner child, write a letter to them. Express that it’s okay and that you’re still learning and growing! It takes a lot of courage and a lot of time to look into our past and resurface the things that have brought us pain. Our inner child has been through a lot of pain and a lot of trauma. Our inner child is always there, we just need to listen to it.

Matt Colucci April 8, 2022 | 3:53pm EDT Queerness. Though this particular amalgamation of letters is a rather modern invention, the written expression of love outside the heteronormative binary has existed as long as humans have been capable of feeling this emotion altogether. From before the time of Sappho to current orators like girl in red, queer affection has been the muse of an unknowable number of poets. Walt Whitman was born in a small town on Long Island, New York in 1819. During his prolific life as a poet, he managed to earn the title of one of America’s landmark writers. In fact, many literary scholars mark the genesis of the American poetic voice with Whitman himself. Unlike poets of antiquated British persuasions, Whitman broke free of the societally expected and accepted conventions of poetry of the time. The bulk of his work discusses Nature, a word he consistently capitalized. He continued with this personification, writing what can be most accurately summarized as love letters to the natural world around him. One of my favorite examples of this romantic affection for Nature is the following excerpt from a poem entitled I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing: I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing, All alone stood it, and the moss hung down from the branches, Without any companion it grew there, glistening out joyous leaves of dark green, And it looked rude, unbending, lusty, made me think of myself; Clearly, there’s a lot to unpack here. Whitman speaks about this tree with so much unadulterated affection that it borders on desire. I would never dream to argue that Whitman did not possess a unique, even otherworldly, love for Nature. However, this flowery language had a purpose aside from simply explicating his passions for the earth: it was an avenue for him to express his love and sexual attraction for other men. Walt Whitman featured with his longtime friend, and “possible” lover, Peter Doyle (Washington, D.C., 1865) While Whitman undeniably used his poetry as a vehicle to express his queerness, it was not an insulating barrier. Whitman spoke freely of his same-sex attraction and love, seemingly unconcerned, yet strikingly aware of the societal taboos surrounding male homosexuality at the time. In his first addition to his work Calamus, Whitman writes: That the Soul of the man I speak for, feeds, rejoices only in comrades; Here, by myself, away from the clank of the world, Tallying and talked to here by tongues aromatic, No longer abashed – for in this secluded spot I can respond as I would not dare elsewhere Strong upon me the life that does not exhibit itself, yet contains all the rest, Resolved to sing no songs to-day but those of manly attachment Projecting them along that substantial life, Whitman was not ignorant to the inherent perceived deviance of his heart and body, though his poetry may imply otherwise. The necessity to relegate his affection to the closed doors of his home or the private expanse of Nature. It was in this magnificent literary world that Whitman was able to build his egalitarian utopia. Through his pen, he was able to satiate his inherent hunger for male tenderness. Whitman’s writing defines passion. His words paint a world where lust and love coalesce to become a singular and indiscernible reality. Despite the social progress that our society has made since the time of Whitman’s life, male homosexuality is still viewed by many as being sexually devious, even perverse. Due in part because of these connotations, there is a cultural idea, nebulous as it may be, that male same-sex love lacks depth. Ignorant observers of queer people often make the assumption that this form of interpersonal affection is solely physical, merely a depraved way to satisfy one’s most animalistic instincts. Whitman eloquently, even magically, dispels these ideas. His love for men is intrinsic, an inseparable part of his humanity. And when I thought how my friend, my lover, was coming, then O I was happy; Each breath I tasted sweeter – and all that day my food nourished me more – And the beautiful day passed well, And the next came with equal joy – And with the next at evening, came my friend, And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as directed to me, whispering, to congratulate me, – For the friend I love lay sleeping by my side, In the stillness his face was in clineded towards me, while the moon’s clear beams shone, And his arm lay lightly over my breast – And that night I was happy An excerpt from “Live Oak, With Moss, III” Whitman gave his fellow men who love men emotional legitimacy. He put into writing the ubiquitously felt emotions of affection, yearning, and pleasure that we experience. We are not deviants. We are lovers.

Alexis Frorup November 30, 2022 | 6:50pm EST Black female artists have a lot to bring to the table when it comes to music. Black women have been breaking out of the stereotypical genres and have been entering into new genres like alt-r&b and indie. If you’re looking for some new artists to listen to, I have some recommendations. Little Simz Known for her song “Venom” which blew up on TikTok, Little Simz is a London-based hip hop/ rap artist. The song’s popularity led to her remix of the piece being featured in Marvel’s “Venom: Let There Be Carnage”. But Little Simz has other listen-worthy pieces in her repertoire, her 2021 album “Sometimes I Might Be Introvert” has a relaxed feel featuring samples of older songs and soundbites that add unique touches to the album. Recommendations: “Woman”, “Two Worlds Apart”, “Point and Kill” Syd Tha Kyd/ The Internet Lead singer of the band “The Internet” and solo artist under the name “Syd Tha Kyd”, Syd is a singer, songwriter, and music video director whose songs often are about her relationships with other women. She often collaborates with other R&B/ alt-R&B artists such as Tyler the Creator, KAYTRANADA, and even co-wrote “Plastic off the Sofa” by Beyoncé. Like the previous artist, Syd’s music is very relaxed, the kind of music you need to listen to with good headphones to truly experience. Recommendations: “YOU’RE THE ONE”, “Come Over”, “Palace/Curse” (the second half of the song is better in my opinion) Arlo Parks Arlo Parks is an indie-pop musician whose music holds themes of mental health and sexuality. Parks’s music is inspired by poetry, something that is very evident in her lyrics as they flow together to make her easy-listening songs sound meaningful. Arlo Parks is an artist whose music benefits from a second initial listen, one to pay attention to the music and another for the lyrics. Recommendations: “Black Dog”, “Green Eyes”, “Cola”

Abby St. Jean November 30, 2022 | 5:54pm EST Art has historically been dominated by wealthy white men of Western European countries. When someone is asked to name famous artists, the first names off their lips almost always fit this description: van Gogh, da Vinci, Monet, Matisse. Sometimes the names of Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo enter this conversation, but often only when speaking to someone who knows enough about art history. I believe that every artist is trying to tell a story. Perhaps an experience of theirs, a moment they remember, a dream they had, a color they relate to. In some way or another, abstract to realist, all art has some narrative or connotation. By this I mean that when looking at a piece of art, there is always a reaction, an assumed meaning by the audience. This reaction may be good or bad, one of adoration or disgust, but regardless, viewers look at the piece and feel something. That feeling is the story being told by the piece. What happens when these stories only come from one place? Only come from one group of people? Only demonstrate one type of experience? What about the viewers who don’t come from that place, group, or experience? Should people be expected to relate to pieces that never describe their situation? Artists from historically marginalized groups are not often represented in the curation of galleries, this means that viewers from historically marginalized groups are not represented either. Making artists of color a centerpiece in art history and curation is not only important, but necessary. It is also clear that of the American artists highlighted in galleries across the country, a preference is held for wealthy artists from the North — those that have access to more materials, time, and privilege to be artists. Acknowledging that art comes from every walk of life is a key part of viewing art in a more mindful and productive way. It can’t be expected that every visitor to a gallery or museum comes from one background, so why should the artists? The National Gallery of Art is working to highlight the works of Black artists from the South specifically through their current exhibition: Called to Create: Black Artists of the American South. This exhibition works directly with the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, a group that advocates for Black artists from the South being highlighted and centered in artist spaces. Pieces range from quilt work, to paintings, to sculpture and assemblage; a group of wonderfully colorful works of art. See this exhibition for yourself. Now on view at the National Gallery of Art until March 26, 2023 in the East Building.

Hope Jorgensen November 30, 2022 | 5:58pm EST While Halloween and October have come to an end, the season of spookiness doesn’t need to. November is a month of gray skies and rich autumnal hues, and what better way to spend those chilly November nights than with a horror novel? In my opinion, the only thing better is cosying up with a queer horror novel. Luckily, I have three queer paranormal novels in mind. My next recommendation for queer horror is “Summer Sons” by Lee Mandelo. “Summer Sons” is a queer Southern Gothic set in Nashville, Tennessee. The content warnings of this book include suicide, homophobia, violence, drug use, and racism. The story follows main character and narrator Andrew as he deals with the sudden suicide of his childhood best friend; Eddie. Andrew is haunted by both supernatural forces and his own grief as he navigates graduate school at Vanderbilt University. The ghoul of Eddie stalks his every move, and Andrew must learn to resist him and his past. As he struggles to understand new secrets of Eddie’s, he must also dive into his own complex feelings regarding Eddie and what these feelings truly mean. For those looking for an escape from a dreary, chilly November, this novel full of the ghouls of late summer is a perfect fit. The next novel I will be recommending is “The Taking of Jake Livingston” by Ryan Douglas. There are a few content warnings for this book that include school shooting, attempted sexual assault, suicide, homophobia, racism, physical abuse, and animal cruelty. The main character of the book is Jake Livingston, a queer Black 16-year-old boy and medium who lives in a world of ghosts and ghouls that no one else can see. Jake attends a predominantly white high school where he struggles to find true friends and succeed in school. After the sudden death of a neighbor, Jake becomes haunted by the ghost of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter. The book switches between Jake’s point of view and Sawyer’s past before he died. As the book progresses and the haunting worses, this becomes a fight for Jake’s very soul. The last book I will be recommending is “A Lesson in Vengeance” by Victoria Lee. Content warnings for “A Lesson in Vengeance” include child neglect, suicide references, and violence. The story is set at an all-female boarding school called Dalloway School. Felicity Morrow has returned to school after a year, having taken off after the death of her girlfriend. Returning to a dorm thought to be haunted by the ghosts of the Dalloway Five, Felicity meets Ellis Haley. Ellis is a prodigy author who draws Felicity into her research for her next book, based on the Dalloway Five. Reality becomes horror and horror becomes reality as Felicity searches for the truth. Truth not only about the ghosts, but her own haunted memories and what really happened the night her girlfriend died. For those seeking queer paranormal dark academia, this book is an ideal pick for a November read.

Jinger Callwood September 15, 2022 | 11:18pm EDT “My dreams were bigger than the fear.” (pg. 103) When Oscar-winning actress and producer Viola Davis debuted her book, Finding Me, in April 2022, it quickly became a New York Times bestseller and was elected as Oprah's Book Club pick. You may think you know the critically acclaimed actress, but in Finding Me, she reveals who the true Viola Davis is. 1. Overcoming Adversity Viola Davis’ childhood was plagued with abuse, poverty, mental illness and every ism out there. However, she did not allow challenges to define her and instead adopted a sink or swim mindset which instilled in her the strength to persist. Many fans only see the glamorous aspects of a celebrity’s life, but we very little get to see the raw and unpicturesque moments of their life. For The Woman King actress, there was nothing glitzy about her toxic family dynamic upbringing. Although she had limited resources, her motivation and talent prevailed. Davis described many nights without sufficient food and water, going to school in dirty clothes and living in a rat-infested home. Despite tremendous challenges, she always persevered. 2. Resiliency Upon graduation from Rhode Island College, Davis had her sights set on Juilliard, and soon enough— she found herself staring out at the program. However, her road to becoming an A-lister was far from easy. Many times Davis was told that she would never be good enough for Hollywood or that she didn’t fit the traditional beauty standards, yet that didn’t stop her from achieving her dream. Acting served as a form of escapism from the burden of the trauma Davis constantly carried around, and today she aims to inspire the younger generation of performers. 3. Personal Growth Even currently happily married to her husband of nineteen years, Julius Tennon who she shares a daughter, Genesis Tennon, with Davis admits that she still experiences insecurity and imposter syndrome and continues to work through setbacks and trauma. She highlights the importance of seeking mental health resources and making time for self-care. This book is about Davis taking ownership of her struggles and reflecting upon the hardships, achievements, and joy throughout her personal and professional life.

Ruby Voge April 24, 2022 | 7:30pm EDT A few weekends ago, I visited the digital art installation Pixelbloom, which aims to celebrate DC’s signature spring cherry blossoms. The minute I entered the main gallery, I was bombarded with a multisensory experience of bright color, moving graphics, and an instrumental soundtrack that seemed to wash over my body like a wave. Initially, walking across the gallery felt disorienting, like any minute I was going to trip over one of the animated branches and fall face-first into a giant tree just under my feet. Following the lead of almost everyone else, we made our way to an empty spot near a wall and lay on our backs, letting ourselves float through the flowers. In front of us, bright turquoise, pink, and purple petals swirled into abstract formations, like schools of fish swimming through the ocean. Then, dark brown branches lined with green buds and deep purple and lilac blossoms lined the walls. Cherry blossoms spun open and closed, quickly blooming then whizzing away, only to be replaced by another, even more beautiful image. After the shock of the scale and speed of Pixelbloom wore off and my eyes could unglue from the sea of pink surrounding me, I was able to look around at the other people enjoying the exhibition. Being an observer is always something that has come naturally to me, especially in public spaces with big crowds. I love noticing the small things that others don’t. Sometimes I point them out, but most of the time, the moments are so small that even a few seconds later they’re lost forever. Like a hesitant arm finally being placed around a pair of shoulders. Or the instant joy that comes with taking the first sip of a cup of coffee. Or even just the smiles plastered onto everyone’s faces on that first warm sunny spring day on campus. I watched as a small boy spun in endless circles, his eyes shining and a look of awe on his face. Then, his older sister, a little hesitant at first, began to spin and laugh as well. A couple lay on the opposite side of the room, transfixed, in the exact same position: one leg bent and one extended straight out, arms folded over their chests. Another couple, directly across from us, leaned against the wall, heads on each other’s shoulders. A young girl in a princess costume did snow angels on the ground, as her father watched on. Walking across the gallery almost in a trance, I watched a little boy tripping over his feet as he turned his head to stare at the swirling blooms. Sometimes, watching other people experience the art around you is even more meaningful than the art itself. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum – it’s constantly reliant on the interpretations and reactions of those who view and consume it. It’s being at a concert and taking a break from screaming the lyrics to turn around and look at the dozens of people squished around you, clapping and jumping and bobbing their heads, the music taking over their bodies. You realize how much power music has, and how listening to it is such a communal experience. Or watching the way people laugh at a joke in a movie, their faces illuminated only by the light from the screen. Next time you go to a museum or a concert or even just a bookshop or a cafe where people are reading or listening to music, take the time to look at the people around you. Try to notice something new, push yourself to explore the world right from where you’re standing or sitting. Take a snapshot in your mind of each of these moments and you’ll always have them as memories to carry with you. A lot of the time, someone else’s enjoyment of art is all you need to bring happiness into your own day.

Bella Nathan April 24, 2022 | 7:56pm EDT Nothing causes more internet controversy and drama than the actions of female pop stars. One of the foremost examples of this phenomenon is singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. Del Rey first came into fame with the release of her hit song and music video, “Video Games'' in 2011. Del Rey has been the poster child for controversy, from the release of her 2012 single “Blue Jeans” which features a man choking her in the cover art, to her ever-controversial lyric, “He hit me and it felt like a kiss.” Del Rey herself addressed the controversy she has faced with an Instagram post in May of 2020, asking why she faces so much hate and pushback for her expression of sexuality in her lyrics and videos. Del Rey is just one of many female pop stars who face constant controversy, and these controversies all contain some overlapping factors. Most of them focus on the actions of women, and many of them have to do with female sexuality and how women are choosing to express or not express their sexuality, like in the case of Del Rey. While it may seem like entertainment, these controversies represent an important conversation occurring on the internet concerning women’s behavior. As a listener of Del Rey, one of the biggest controversies I have heard is the accusation that Del Rey glamorizes abuse. As I said, Del Rey addresses this accusation herself in an Instagram post made in May 2020. Del Rey seems to have formulated a persona that embodies a soft interpretation of hyper-femininity and she has an interesting and nuanced perspective on men and the male gaze. Del Rey starts her post by calling out other popular sing-songwriters, including long-standing pop culture icons such as Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj. She asks why they can sing “about being sexy, wearing no clothes, f*cking, cheating etc-” but she can’t sing about being in love in an imperfect relationship or “dancing for money…without being crucified or saying that [she’s] glamorizing abuse?” Del Rey continues to complain that there is no place in feminism for “girls who look and act like'' her. She defines “girls like her” as girls who are soft and “delicate.” Del Rey references some of the criticism she has endured for her lyrics that explore the submissive role she takes with men in relationships. Del Rey seems frustrated by the fact that she faces criticism for her lyrics and aesthetic, while other female singers, like the ones named earlier, do not. It is important to recognize that the opinion that the other named singers don’t face criticism is only Del Rey’s opinion, and may not be realistic or accurate. Del Rey is frustrated that she is being criticized for her expression of sexuality, and from her perspective, she is being criticized more than other female artists because of the specific way that she expresses her sexual desires. Again, I do not agree with Del Rey that she is enduring more criticism than others, but it is true that the specific criticism that she is receiving is different from others due to the nature of the image that she is portraying. Del Rey talks about being in a submissive role in her lyrics, whereas other popular singers who speak of being sexual gravitate towards a more dominant role. While Del Rey’s desire for domination may seem different from the sexual expression of other female pop stars, the connecting factor can be found in the postfeminist framework. Postfeminism specifically promotes liberation, independence, and a renewed science of freedom and autonomy. This means that any form of female sexual expression is valid, be it submissive or dominant, as long as it is coming from the woman’s own choosing. This is what distinguishes Del Rey’s desire for domination from problematic male domination. The renewed sense of autonomy and freedom leads to a shift in the power dynamic in the sexual contract between men and women. I think the criticism that Del Rey endures comes from a lack of understanding that desired domination and submission are starkly different from undesired, and often problematic or hurtful domination. Similar to other female pop stars that express their sexuality in a more conventional way, Del Rey should be allowed to express her desires and sexuality without judgment. That being said, it is valuable to ensure that sexual roles are truly wanted by women, and not framed that way by male manipulation or social conditioning.