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Talia Marshall April 6, 2021 | 12:23pm EDT Phoebe Bridgers is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter known for her albums Punisher and Stranger in The Alps as well as her collaborations boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center. Carmen Maria Machado is a writer (and AU Alumna :P) known for her memoir In The Dream House and her anthology of speculative short fiction, Her Body and Other Parties. Bridgers often cites Her Body and Other Parties as a favorite book and inspiration for Punisher. As a fan of both Bridgers and Machado, I felt it was my obligation to do my best to pair stories from Her Body and Other Parties with songs from Punisher. (Spoilers for “The Husband Stitch,” “Inventory,” and “Mothers” follow, so if you’re worried about that you should pause here to read the book) “The Husband Stitch” x “Moon Song” While the title of this story refers to the extra stitch doctors will often add when sewing a woman back up after birth to increase their husbands’ pleasure, the story is also a retelling of the classic slumber party horror story about the woman whose head is kept on her neck by nothing but a green ribbon. In Machado’s telling of the story, the speaker marries a man who is “a little craggy, in that way men sometimes are, and [she] wants” (3). He is liked by her parents, “He is a nice boy, they say. He will be a good man” (6). The speaker says “I have heard all of the stories about girls like me, and I am unafraid to make more of them” (7). Throughout the courtship, “there are two rules: he cannot finish inside of me, and he cannot touch my green ribbon” (7). The beginning of their story is of love and lust, the middle is of increasing control by the husband as he and their son wonder about the speaker’s ribbon, and at the end, the speaker allows her husband to destroy her by untying the green ribbon around her neck. Similarly, “Moon Song” follows a love that is increasingly destructive, ending with “But you know the killer doesn’t understand.” The speaker in the song and their lover have a love that is similarly all-encompassing to the love in “The Husband Stitch.” Bridgers sings “you pushed me in/And now my feet can’t touch the bottom of you,” implying a deep, consuming love that is drowning in the end. She also sings “And if I could give you the moon/I would give you the moon”--like the speaker in “The Husband Stitch,” the speaker in “Moon Song” is willing to go to great lengths to please their lover. In these pieces, both Bridgers and Machado leave their audience with more questions than answers. Ultimately, both works could be summarized by Bridgers’ “Moon Song” line “You’re holding me like water in your hands.” “Mothers” x “Savior Complex” “Mothers” is a non-linear telling of a relationship between the speaker and a woman she calls “Bad,” exploring the nature of motherhood and also abusive relationships. Bridgers describes “Savior Complex” as “when you get what you asked for and then you’re dating someone who hates themselves,” as the song traces what seems to be a co-dependent, volatile, and exhausting relationship. Both relationships are all-encompassing and draining for the narrator and toxic for both them and their partner. In “Mothers,” after the speaker meets Bad for the first time, Machado writes “I called her two days later, never having believed more firmly in love at first sight, in destiny. When she laughed on the other end of the line, something inside of me cracked open, and I let her step inside” (48). Similarly, Bridgers sings “Baby, you’re a vampire/You want blood and I promised.” In both pieces, the speaker welcomes their partner into them, alluding to the damage the relationship will cause. The most direct parallel between the two pieces is in the lines “show me yours, I’ll show you mine” (which is later repeated without “show you mine”) and “She… told me her darkest story and asked about mine” (50). In context, these lines further emphasize the unhealthy codependence of the two relationships, especially when “show you mine” is not repeated, as the speaker in “Savior Complex” is completely sidelining themself for their partner. “Savior Complex,” as it is so aptly titled, is also an exploration of the speaker’s savior complex. In the first verse, she sings “Overly sincere/Smoking in the car, windows up/crocodile tears,” speaking to some of the tactics she uses to feel like the savior of her partner. It becomes clear throughout the song that the speaker’s partner cannot offer them what they need, in a relationship or to fulfill their savior complex. In the same way, Machado writes “I wanted too much from her, I think. I demanded too much” (56). This section ends with the only point in the piece where we hear a declaration directly from the narrator, who says “I believe in a world where impossible things happen. Where love can outstrip brutality, can neutralize it, as though it never was, or transform it into something new and more beautiful. Where love can undo nature” (56). While much can be said about the way both speakers prioritize love over even their own comfort, the near-absence of the speaker in “Mothers,” despite being told in the first person, mirrors the ways the speaker in “Savior Complex” consistently puts themselves second. “Inventory” x “I Know The End” Though Her Body and Other Parties was published in 2017 and Punisher was recorded in 2018 and 2019, both are strangely prophetic, especially in “Inventory” and “I Know The End.” In Bridgers’ interview with Sam Sanders for NPR’s It’s Been a Minute, she summarizes “Inventory” as “it’s a zombie apocalypse, and the way [the story] ends is, [the speaker’s] on this island writing [a list of people she’s slept with] to keep herself sane...But she ends up on this island alone. And I guess I thought if the world was going to end, I'd go up to, like, Big Sur.” “I Know The End” is part breakup song, part apocalypse song, and also charts the imagined journey to Big Sur that Bridgers references. In both the song and the story, the speaker ends up accepting the inevitability of apocalypse. For Bridgers, this comes in the form of the repetition of “The end is here,” as well as a 19-second, blood-curdling scream that ends with Bridgers gasping for air. In “Inventory,” the speaker sits in her cottage on the island writing lists and says “I keep thinking I can see the virus blooming on the horizon like a sunrise. I realize the world will continue to turn, even with no people on it. Maybe it will go a little faster” (43). What are you waiting for? stream Punisher, and read Her Body and Other Parties.

Annie Przypyszny April 4, 2021 | 4:55pm EDT Mary Blair’s Disney Animation concept art coaxes color to the apex of its capabilities. The influence of her paintings sparked to brilliance the classic Disney features we know and love. She is undaunted by boldness, by brightness, or by marrying together colors that, while they seem like they should clash and compete, end up complimenting each other. Mary Blair joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in the 1940s, beginning in the character-model department. Her extraordinary talent was soon recognized, and she was moved to the story department where she created the concept art for many of what are known as Disney’s ‘Silver Age’ or ‘Restoration Age’ animated films. The animation and color scheme in Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), and Peter Pan (1953) are teeming with elements of Blair’s artwork. It’s no wonder that she quickly gained the approbation of Walt Disney himself, and became one of his most prized members of the story department. For Cinderella, Mary Blair’s concept art is what brought the rich, midnight blues of the ball scene into the movie; it’s what made the singing flowers in Alice in Wonderland so bright and whimsical; it’s what shaped the tropical beauty of the mermaid lagoon in Peter Pan. One can see from her work that Blair was not aiming to tame color, but rather drive it to its furthest potential. And her innovative work with Disney is not just limited to the aforementioned films. Blair played a crucial role in developing many of Disney’s animated shorts, as well as the feature The Three Caballeros, the concept art of which was inspired by her travels through South America with Walt Disney and other Disney Animation Studios artists. Being a favorite of Walt’s, Mary Blair was the source of much jealousy from the men she worked with. While there were other women working in the story department at the time, Blair’s presence was especially threatening to them. Her success even sparked antipathy in her husband, Lee Blair, who worked in the animation department, and by whom Mary would later suffer domestic abuse. Mary Blair, Concept art for the Walt Disney animated feature “Alice in Wonderland,” c. 1950, gouache on board. (Photo Courtesy of the Hilbert Museum) The struggles she was facing in her personal life led Mary Blair to resign from Walt Disney Animation Studios, but that wasn’t the end of her career with Walt Disney. As Walt developed his theme parks, he was able to persuade Blair to return to assist with certain projects, most notably the It’s a Small World attraction that debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and eventually became a classic ride at both Disneyland and Disney World. Her concept art for the attraction demonstrates that Blair never lost her penchant for playing with color. The entire It’s a Small World ride is a marvelous journey of bright, joyful hues, from the blue, gold, and white exterior of the ride to the rainbow of scenes inside. Blair later went on to develop several murals for Walt’s parks, including her large work “Mural,” which is now displayed inside Disney World’s Contemporary Resort. “Walt said I knew about colors he had never heard of!” Mary Blair once said in a letter. There’s no doubt that she saw something that those around her didn’t see. Surrounded by people working on movies for children, Blair seemed the most in touch with children's awe and whimsy, their ability to see beauty in the unconventional. She knew that color was the key to unlocking the magic within each story. Sources: Brooks, Katherine. "One of Disney's Most Influential Female Artists Finally Gets Her Due." Huffpost, Buzzfeed, 22 Mar. 2014, www.huffpost.com/entry/the-world-of-mary-blair_n_5003658. Hayward, Carrie. "MAGIC, COLOR, FLAIR: The World of Mary Blair - Photo Tour!" Disney Travel Babble, 17 June 2014, disneytravelbabble.com/blog/2014/06/17/magic-color-flair-mary-blair/. Holt, Nathalia. The Queens of Animation. New York, Little, Brown and Company, 2019.

Rebecca Oss March 22, 2021 | 4:57pm EDT JoJo Siwa, a 17-year-old multimillionaire, recently came out as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community after about a month of dating her girlfriend, though she had began dropping hints of her sexuality six months earlier. But first, some background on the child star turned sparkly icon: Siwa’s net worth is estimated to be between an astounding $12 and $14 million dollars. She first found stardom as a young child on Dance Moms in 2015, though after leaving the show, her popularity grew after releasing songs like Boomerang. Siwa also has multiple clothing lines in Target and Walmart stores, and her iconic bows have continually been a popular purchase. She has been signed to a Nickelodeon contract since 2017. D.R.E.A.M. The Tour started in 2019, but it was cancelled in early 2020 because of COVID-19. The solution? Set up a full stage in the backyard and live stream a virtual tour, called WORLD WIDE LIVE!, of course! Now, the timeline: on June 6th, 2020, Siwa posted a video on TikTok dancing on her backyard stage to Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, an iconic queer anthem. This may have been an attempt to come out, as most comments at the time were along the lines of “let’s not suspect anything” and “let her live without labels” (therefore, of course, labeling her as straight, the default). It has not been confirmed if this was an attempt to come out, or if she was simply jamming to a song. In hindsight, though, it seems intentional to release such a video during Pride Month. More than six months later, on Dec. 24, 2020, Siwa posted a video with someone who TikTok users affectionately refer to as a “Hey Mamas” lesbian, or a lesbian who has a top knot, an undercut, a Nike headband, a tight Nike sports bra and/or Adidas joggers, and who says the phrase "Hey Mamas." The two of them were wearing matching outfits (including the traditional Adidas joggers). While this was much less obvious, and not strictly a “coming out video”, the comments on this video were filled with queers with gaydars strong enough to realize that Siwa had been spending lots of time with a stereotypical lesbian. January 20, 2021, the day when JoJo’s audience realized that what had only been possibilities might be true: JoJo posted a video with the same Gaga song from her summer TikTok, decked out in a bow and sweatshirt with rainbows on them. Famous friends like Colleen Ballinger, Hyram, and James Charles commented supportive messages, and as the video gained traction, almost every gay creator on TikTok welcomed Siwa to the community. The comments quickly filled with excitement over the quickly growing theory that she might be queer. The next day, user @kentboyd_, an actor, writer, and dancer, posted a video on the @pridehousela account, a group of LA-based queers who live together and post queer content. The video included the pride house members and Siwa dancing together to Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun” with the caption “Now your (sic) one of us!! @itsjojosiwa.” However, most of the comments on this video were people still speculating. Later that day, Jan. 21, user @femmeflowers commented “sooo can we start saying ‘do you listen to jojo siwa?’ instead of girl in red?” on a TikTok theorizing about Siwa. Girl in Red is a gay Norwegian indie pop singer-songwriter, and TikTok users have made it trendy to indirectly ask creators if they are queer by asking if they listen to “Girl in Red.” JoJo Siwa herself commented “100% love that.” Screenshots of this quickly circulated around TikTok and Twitter, where users had almost immediately made Siwa coming out a trending topic. This was the first bit of confirmation from Siwa about her sexuality. She then posted a picture of herself in a chevron, almost rainbow, jacket and rainbow bow with the caption: “You make me HAPPPPPPPYYYYYYY!!!” Similar to her January “Born This Way” TikTok, the comments were filled with congratulations from celebrities. Despite continuing to avoid labels, by dropping all of these hints it was becoming increasingly obvious that she was a member of the beloved alphabet mafia. On Jan. 22, Garrett Clayton, Tanner in “Teen Beach Movie,” posted a TikTok of some pride house members and Siwa dancing together with the caption “Welcome to @pridehousela @itsjojosiwa” with a smiley face and heart emoji. This helped cement the fact that yes, she is indeed the gay we were hoping for. Just a bit after that, Siwa posted a picture to her Twitter and Instagram story. It was the final bit of confirmation we needed - Siwa wearing a tee shirt that said “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.” from, of course, her cousin. This is the first time Siwa directly attached a label to herself! Siwa then proceeded to retweet, quote tweet, repost to her Instagram story, and like numerous comments across all platforms from her supporters. On the 23rd, Siwa had an Instagram Live where she talked about how extremely happy she has become since coming out. "I always believed that my person was just going to be my person," she said. "And if that person happened to be a boy, great, and if that person happened to be a girl, great! Right now I'm super-duper happy, and I want to share everything with the world." She also specified that she doesn’t have any specific label for herself. Since then, both Siwa and her girlfriend, Kylie, have posted cheesy photos across various social media platforms, and Siwa has even professed her love for her girlfriend on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Feb. 3. So now we know: JoJo Siwa’s sparkles and rainbows represent more than just a loud fashion sense. But why does it matter? In a time when more and more people feel comfortable being their authentic selves, why is Siwa’s coming out so relevant? It’s because of her audience: her brand is marketed towards young children. Representation in the media is always important, and there is still not enough. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of children who have admired JoJo are being exposed to the normalization of queerness. Siwa did receive backlash, however. She was swatted by the paparazzi shortly after coming out, which is the act of sending the police to someone’s home, forcing them to leave their house. This is a potentially traumatizing event, and remember that Siwa is still a teenager, despite her fame. All of that commotion simply for some low-quality paparazzi photos. Additionally, there have been a fair share of hate comments. However, Siwa knows how to rise above them. In response to a negative Instagram comment, JoJo responded with a simple, “Okay!” letting her audience know that the hate doesn’t bother her. As JoJo Siwa continues to grow in net worth, queerness, and popularity, her authentic self will continue to shine through.

Sana Mamataney March 19, 2021 | 9:44pm EDT This year, The Bachelor has taken one blow after another in the wake of racist incidents from a contestant, just as the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum this past summer. The show has received a lot of backlash, but this isn’t the first time racist incidents and remarks have happened in The Bachelor franchise. In fact, they’re common, and happen implicitly every season. This season, the popular show had its first Black bachelor, Matt James. Toward the middle of the season, photos of one of the contestants, Rachael Kirkconnell, attending an Antebellum themed fraternity formal went viral, as well as posts on social media that she had liked discussing the confederate flag and pro-Trump sentiments. After days of no response from the production team or Kirkconnell, Chris Harrison, the show’s host, went on a podcast with former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay, where he said that, “We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion. Because I have seen some stuff online — this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl’s life apart and diving into, like, her parents, her parents’ voting record,” Harrison said at the time. “I haven’t heard Rachael speak on this yet. Until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this?” Essentially, Harrison said that the audience should listen to Kirkconnell’s side of the story, and not criticize her actions before hearing what she has to say. This received lots of backlash from The Bachelor fanbase and from the general public, and from Rachel Lindsay. Harrison apologized for his comments the next day, and a few days later, announced he was stepping down as host of The Bachelor because of the incident. Kirkconnell also issued an apology, and it was also revealed that she was Matt James’s final pick, but they broke up because of the racist incidents from her past. This is the first time a contestant with a past of racial insensitivity has been criticized the way Kirkconnell has, even prompting Harrison to step down based on his comments on the situation. That doesn’t mean that contestants haven’t been racially insensitive in the past. In 2018, on Becca Kufrin’s season of The Bachelorette, Garrett Yrigoyen, her final pick, was criticized for liking racist posts on Twitter. Garrett defended himself, as did Becca. Now, in 2021 however, following the height of the Black Lives Matter movement last summer, things like this don’t just slide by anymore--but it doesn’t mean that anything that happened before way okay, either. From 2009 to 2012, there were no Black contestants on any of the franchise’s shows. With the few Black contestants there have been since then, many of them are villainized. Taylor Nolan, who is half-Black, was on The Bachelor in 2017, and was pitted against the show’s white villain, Corinne Olympios. With their feud, Nolan was villainized as well for talking down to Olympios. Following the show, Nolan said that, “I was essentially given this storyline and this perception from fans and from Corrine who narrated all of it, that I thought I was so much better than everybody else. I was condescending, that I was mean, that I was a bully, that I was angry, essentially...a version of an angry-Black-girl edit basically.” While Taylor Nolan was painted as an angry-Black girl, perpetuating an age-old trope, other Black women on the show were made to feel out of place, and felt they were only there to fulfill an invisible quota. Jubilee Sharpe, who was on Ben Higgins’s season in 2015, she felt that she was only being kept on the show because she was Black-- she could tell Ben just wasn’t into her. He was giving her attention, but not attention that felt good. “I felt like a zoo animal,” Sharpe said. “I felt like an exotic zoo animal … I wasn’t like all the other animals in the zoo, so people who would ooh and aah at me, but it wasn’t... it’s fascination, like I’m the unknown.” Sharpe’s time on The Bachelor was filled with microaggressions -- comments that she wouldn’t fit in with “soccer moms” because of her race, being called “intriguing” rather than beautiful, and more. The Bachelor has always had a problem with race -- whether it be tokenizing, ignoring racist behavior, or just not enough representation. And they haven’t been forced to deal with the consequences of it until now on Matt James’s season. In our changing world, things that used to slide by viewers are now at the forefront of their thoughts. While it has hurt the franchise and contestants, this change is necessary for a show that has hurt so many people for such a long time.

Laisa Gastaliturris March 8, 2021 | 7:54pm EST Ginny and Georgia is a comedy-drama series that was released by Netflix on Feb. 24. It’s about the life of young free-spirited mother Georgia and her two children Ginny and Austin who move to Wellsbury, Massachusetts, for a fresh start. Their move was caused by the sudden death of Georgia’s husband back in Texas. Moving is nothing new to them, they have been moving for years, but this time Georgia said it will be different, and that Wellsbury is the place where they will put down roots. The ten-episode series is worth the binge-watch because of all the different topic areas explored such as new love, home, friends, and lies. Right across the street, they have neighbors who go to her same high school and one of them, Max, ends up being her best friend, and the other, Marcus, her secret lover. Ginny never had a stable group of friends before, and she found her people in Wellsberry. Throughout the episodes, things start to get steamy when the camera points to Marcus, Ginny’s secret lover. Even though Max plays as a matchmaker and sets Ginny up with Hunter, there is an undeniable connection between Marcus and Ginny. Some might say it's toxic, but as Georgia says, love is not safe, and that is exactly the case here. Everyone struggles with something in this series, just as everyone struggles in real life. Even though people may seem to have a perfect life, everyone has their problems, and just because they don’t share them with everyone doesn’t mean they aren’t real. Georgia has struggled her whole life, and being pregnant with Ginny at a young age made her find her way through the world as best she could. Though some might disagree with Georgia’s methods to make it in life, she did it all for the sake of her children. Georgia is a force to be reckoned with, and even the mayor agrees and is blown away by both her beauty and energy. As for Ginny, she feels overwhelmed and confused about her situation, both at home and romantically. Georgia keeps a lot of secrets from Ginny and this infuriates her. What’s more, her aunt and dad making a short appearance does not help the situation. Romantically, she is not as happy as she would want to be and lies start to accumulate. Everything clashes at once, the friend group, her love life, her family. Ginny is more hurt than ever. Ginny keeps finding new things about Georgia’s past, and this is too much for her to handle. Since she feels she has nothing left at Wellsburry, she leaves with her brother, and the viewer does not know where she is headed. Some say that she is going back to her dad, others to her aunt, but right now the only certain thing is that when Georgia and the mayor get home that night, her children will be long gone. Stop what you are doing and watch this show. Romantic and familiar love, and the different ways in which these characters express them are what makes this series so good. Here lies are formed for the sake of not hurting those you love, but not everyone interprets it that way. This relatable, eye-opening, funny and even sometimes cringe-worthy show should be your next pick to watch on Netflix.

Katt McCann March 7, 2021 | 11:05pm EST If you are an avid reader who occasionally scrolls through the app Tiktok, it is more than likely that you have found yourself on BookTok. This community of TikTok readers, known as Booktok, encompasses literary fanatics of all genres from the classics to steamy romance novels. The most predominant faction of Booktok, however, are dedicated fans to a select few young adult fantasy series and authors. Their zeal is evocative of fandom tumblr circa 2014 when the only books that mattered were The Mortal Instruments, Divergent, The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson and Harry Potter (among a few others). If you went down that rabbit hole, you know exactly the cult-like community I am referencing. Through Booktok, I have re-entered the world of young adult and new adult fantasy. Through my hours of scrolling, I have racked up recommendation after recommendation, placed an unhealthy amount of books into online shopping carts and written a to-be-read list longer than I care to share. I have been both blown away by books that met the hype they were given, such as The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and I have also been let down. At first this community of online readers seemed like a gift. I often struggle to find others who get as excited over books as I do, so it was refreshing to know there were thousands of others out there with the same passion. However, recently I find myself quickly scrolling to another video when BookTok content creators pop up. Even before the video starts, I can confidently say I know all of their recommendations. After the first week of watching, everything became redundant. The same books continue to be discussed over and over again, to the point that I actually groan when I see a familiar cover. Every once in a while I find a video that reviews a book I have never heard of before, or offers a selection that promotes diversity and inclusion, but for the most part I am being forced into a YA fantasy corner surrounded by the same authors and tropes. What’s more, if you have not read the books that continue to be pushed onto TikTok users, it automatically feels as though you are the odd one out. Through these videos, reading is transformed into a contest, in which the winners own beautiful bookshelves filled with hard cover series sets and stay up to date on the latest book trends. Everyone else is pushed aside. I realized this when I kept seeing videos in which people said “If you have read these books, we can be friends.” In a world with so many books to explore, I found it strange to promote the idea that you MUST read these select few books to be “cool” or accepted by the reading community. To sum up my feelings about Booktok, it is a great way to find out about new and trendy books, but it does not go beyond that. After a few videos you will find yourself confined to one category of literature, and while those books might be amazing, some range is necessary. The moral of this story is take recommendations with a grain of salt, do not allow strangers on the internet to control your reading tendencies; read and enjoy whichever books you’d like.

Sana Mamataney February 26, 2021 | 10:53am EST Taylor Swift’s wavy blonde locks and golden hue made a reappearance from her original Fearless album cover as she announced that her re-recording of the album would be released on April 9th. Swift had a heavy dispute with record executive Scooter Braun, who bought Big Machine Label Group and Swift’s first six albums, and then sold them. Following the selling of her albums leading to the loss of her rights to them, Taylor Swift made the decision to re-record each of her first six albums, and make them her own, beginning with Fearless. She initially released one of the most iconic songs from the album-- “Love Story”-- on February 12th, the night after she announced the release of Fearless. These re-recordings, which Swift calls “Taylor’s Version,” aren’t just duplicates of what she once sang thirteen years ago. They’re a tangible representation of the way that Taylor has grown up, and the way that her fans have grown up with her. Fans will get to relive the way they felt at eight, thirteen, or fifteen, when they get to listen to Fearless (Taylor’s Version). They can listen to “The Way I Loved You” for the first time again after going through an adult heartbreak. They can dance around their room again listening to “You Belong With Me” and feel like the teenager they once were. And, they can listen to the six unreleased songs she’s adding to Taylor’s Version, and really heard songs from Fearless for the very first time. Even the new album cover is a symbol of nostalgia, hope, and change. Fans pointed out that the new album cover looks like Taylor is wearing a top similar to Romeo’s in her original “Love Story” music video. It’s a symbol that she’s grown up, doesn’t need a man to save her anymore, and has become her own strong woman, undefined by men as she has been for so much of her career. Not only is the re-released album a symbol of growing up, it’s a symbol of strength and independence. While Taylor would still be hugely successful if she didn’t re-record her albums, doing so gives her ownership of them, literally and figuratively. The music will be fully hers, and she will reclaim what should have been hers in the first place although it was taken over by men. She asserted her strength and persistence by re-recording her albums, unwilling to allow her hard work to be taken away from her. On April 9th, fans and Taylor will get to relive what life was like thirteen years ago--and reflect on how things are so different now. We may want to never grow up, but with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) we may just have to realize that we already have.

Sophia Fingerman December 23, 2020 | 10:00pm EST Let me guess. You, a mere overworked, underpaid, existential college student, forgot that in order to get the gifts that you order online in time for Christmas, you needed to order them in like, October. And if you were looking to buy for Hanukkah, well that deadline was even earlier. The only way to get around this is to whip out your mom’s Amazon Prime account, but in a year of “shop-small” emphasis, this comes in poor taste. Well what’s a person to do? Don’t get your tinsel in a twist too soon. Tis’ I, your friendly secular elf, here to provide those last minute, day-or-so late, easy-peasy gifts to give to your friends and foes. And on a budget too (they will probably cost $10-$30, depending on where you shop and what you decide to do). So sit back, relax, and then start gifting :) 1. Groovy Earrings: It’s simple. Go buy yourself a pack of Shrinky Dinks from your local craft store. And I bet you have a bead store where you can pick up some earring hooks and jump rings. Print out some pictures online and you’ve got a recipe for zany earrings, perfect for any fashion-plate on your list. Not feeling like you can handle a Sharpie with that much care? Buy some chapsticks or other random knick knacks that you can glue onto your earring hooks and tadaa! Instant hit. Just hit up youtube for some easy tutorials :) 2. A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: Ok, ready? Print a picture of you and your giftee certain to make them smile. You can do it quickly and last minute at a CVS/drugstore. Find an appropriate sized, plain frame (you can get these anywhere (a dollar store, Target, or local business). Use puffy paint or paint based sharpies to write inside jokes around the frame. Before you put the picture in, write a sweet note on the back (but make sure to tell them about it). And that’s it! It’s that easy! And, you’ll get extra points for going the sentimental route 3. Garden Party: Have some old jars laying around? Maybe some dirty flowerpots? Use old and tattered book pages; mod podge glue; acrylic paint; and/or glitter to decorate some fun botanical decor. Then swing by your local nursery or hardware store for a succulent/plant to plop into your newly designed receptacle. Yes, the plant will probably die, but painting and decorating something is so personal and so simple– it doesn’t even need to look good, it can be an endearing mess. Your friends/family will love it and they’ll be hit with a wave of nostalgia for kindergarten crafts and playing outside. Plus, they’ll think of you whenever they see it. Perfect for your granola pals. Check out youtube/TikTok/Pinterest for inspiration! 4. Very Vintage: Thrifting clothes is a sustainable and fun way to upgrade a wardrobe. Go swing by your favorite vintage/thrift store and grab a sweatshirt or t-shirt to embroider an inside joke or simple art piece on. You can find embroidery floss, hoops, and needles at any craft store, and can print out patterns online. You're creating a cute and stylish gift while also acting sustainably and creatively! 5. Ooh! Artsy!: Crafting is a theme here. Dig around in your old art kit and find those empty canvases and acrylic paint. You can find materials that you don’t have at your local arts and crafts store (or a Michaels/Joanns nearby). You don’t have to be a painter or an artist for this: paint it a solid color, wait for it to dry, and then sketch out a quote that your giftee is sure to like. If you’re feeling gutsy, paint over the pencil with another color. If that’s not your thing, you can just use sharpie (but be gentle). It’s handmade, from the heart, and certain to make them smile. Use embroidery floss as pictured below for another layer of visual complexity. Don’t have any canvases? Paint rocks instead! A quirky and cute way to use what’s around you. 6. Ready, Set, Bake! There is no harm in simply baking a massive load of cookies for your giftees. But if that isn’t your energy, this is another easy plan. Secure a large mason jar (probably 32 ounces). You can usually get them at Target. Pick your favorite cookie recipe and make one of those cute layered cookie recipe jars! You can also do this with hot chocolate, loading the jar up with cocoa packets, marshmallows, candy canes, etc. Don’t worry, there are videos for it. And remember to wear gloves/ wash your hands and print out the actual recipe for your giftee! 7. Your local bookstore Your local bookstore is the place to go, I promise. If it is anything like mine, you can find tons of high-quality candles, hand lotions, pencil pouches, and stickers. And even better, you can ask your booksellers for a book recommendation. They’ll be able to grab you a paperback your giftee is sure to love with little-to-no information. Have a title in mind? Nothing is more personal than sharing your favorite book. Throw a sweet note on the inside cover and you’ve got the perfect gift. That’s all from me folks. Hope this helps all you lovely, chaotic people like me. Have a happy holiday season and here’s to the new year! XOXO, Soph the Holiday Helper

Sofia Dean December 19, 2020 | 3:13pm EST You may have heard of The Florida Project through TikTok. If you did, you probably saw teenage girls pose effortlessly in front of the famous South Floridian purple motel in technicolor edited videos on the app. The popular sound to the videos combines an indie track with the sarcastic free-spirited voice of Halley, the young mother in the film. But the A24 film by Sean Baker is so much more than its brightly colored 35mm aesthetics. The story of Halley and her six-year old daughter, Moonee, living in the Magic Castle motel, trying to make ends meet as they fight off impending homelessness just miles away from the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World, is a heartbreakingly authentic depiction of poverty in the U.S. When I first saw these Tik Toks of young suburbanites making the trek to the setting of the film to fulfill the indie aesthetic that A24 films are known for, it angered me. It felt like ignorant poverty-core, commodifying the harsh lived experiences of low-income people. When I first watched the film, I couldn’t even get through it all because I found it so sad, why did these tiktokers not have the same reaction? After sifting through more of these aesthetic 1-minute videos, I realized my anger stemmed from jealousy. My sadness and strange attachment to the film came from the fact that I related so much to the experiences of Moonee and her ragtag group of friends, having grown up impoverished myself. I was envious that the people glorifying the film could do so, when I felt embarrassed to admit that I had any connection to the movie. I realize now that my reactions and the tik toks demonstrate the genius of Sean Baker. The idolization of the film portrayed through the brightly edited videos is exactly how Moonee viewed her own little world and how Baker intends the audience to see it too. The camera placement, composition, shot size, and bright colors are supposed to make us view Moonee’s world through her innocent eyes, masking a lot of the pain and hardship that actually is occurring all around her. Sure, Moonee and her mother could never afford actually going to Disney, but Moonee and her friends make do at the abandoned housing development, their own Haunted Mansion from Hollywood studios. Prancing with her friends in the nearby swamp is their own Animal Kingdom. The film is full of other juxtapositions, showing the complicated relationship between childhood innocence and poverty. When you are a child growing up in poverty, you often don’t realize what you don’t have and you still have the ability to see the world with bright eyes. It reminds me of when I was 3 or 4 years old, sitting in the back of my mom’s old Dodge wildly exclaiming that we were at Disney when I saw a tall slender building in Baltimore City. Or when my sister and I would swing from the wired clothes line in the backyard like Tarzan. Only when you grow older and look back can you recognize the traumatic events you were forced to suffer through as a kid, no longer with highly saturated editing. Watching Moonee sit lonely in the bathtub, left alone with her toys as rap music blared and her mother was just a room over participating in illicit activities to make ends meet, reminded me of the many times I was surrounded by adults in my life engaging in activities I wasn’t supposed to know about and wouldn’t begin to understand until today. Perhaps this is our little kid brain’s way of protecting us from the world. Actress Bria Vinaite plays 20-something single mom Halley in The Florida Project. Her daughter, Moonee, is played by Brooklynn Prince Not to say that these tiktokers have little kid brains, but they represent the idyllic world that Moonee sees. However, it is important to note that it is not necessarily the world that Moonee lives. Poverty is something that no child should have to live through, no matter how innocently they are able to view the world. Baker contrasts life at the Magic Castle motel with life at Walt Disney World and its corresponding high-end resorts just miles away, to show the stark wealth inequalities that exist in the U.S. After all, Moonee was facing separation from her mother at the end of the film and the whole time they were fighting the possibility of homelessness as families just down the road enjoyed upscale all you can eat buffets. Anger was not the right reaction when I saw The Florida Project inspired tiktoks. The creators behind them saw the film just as Baker intended, through the imaginative, innocent eyes of a child. I too feel a sense of nostalgia when I watch the movie, thinking of days when everything around me seemed so simple, the complexity of my situation not yet realized. But I also am reminded of the harsh realities that Moonee and her mother truly faced, many similar to those I am only beginning to unpack for myself today. I hope that others too will recognize the pain that comes along with living through poverty as well as the stark wealth inequalities in the U.S. when they watch The Florida Project.

Katt McCann December 19, 2020 | 3:33pm EST With the arrival of winter break and COVID-19 continuing to put a stop to our social lives, now is the perfect time to either dust off the books gathering dust on the shelf or buy yourself one that is stiff and new. The hunt for a good book can sometimes be a challenge with so many amazing options out there (so many books, so little time!), but fear not, for astrology solves all problems. I am by no means an expert when it comes to astrology, but I sure have read a lot of books. Based on the books I have read and the descriptions of each sign, I put together a list of one recommendation per sign. The books contained within this list range from classics to YA and Fantasy (who doesn’t love some range!). Try one or try them all. Each of these have left a great impression on me that I feel comfortable, nay, confident in recommending them to another human. Let’s begin! Aries (March 21 - April 19): The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins While I do feel like this is a bit of a stereotypical choice, Katniss Everdeen screams Aries throughout the series. Aries are often described as strong, confident, honest, and courageous, along with being a bit short-tempered and impulsive. Throughout Katniss’ struggles, Aries' qualities really shine through. She has no choice but to be impulsive and aggressive; in her world it is do or die. Beyond Katniss being a quintessential Aries (even though her character is actually a Taurus), the entire world and story Collins builds has Aries energy. Taurus (April 20 - May 20): The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde When reading the description of a Taurus, this book came instantly to mind. Taurus’ are Earth signs who are practical, ambitious, and often stoic and materialistic. They are also ruled by the plant Venus and have an eye for beauty, artistry, and luxury. All of these qualities remind me of Dorian Gray and his passion for beautiful things. While he increasingly becomes more stoic, he has a true eye for artistry, even when it became his downfall. Gemini (May 21 - June 20): The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Gemini’s are known for being gentle, curious and for having the ability to learn quickly. They are most famous, however, for their inconsistent ways, often referred to as the two-faced sign. This two-faced stereotype fits right in with Dr. Jekyll who is the kind, intelligent scientist and Mr. Hyde who is grotesque and violent. Beyond this comparison, I think Gemini’s would relate to Dr. Jekyll who exhibits many of their positive traits but is caught in a sticky situation resulting in a life filled with their dislikes, such as being alone and being confined. Just like a Gemini, this is a book that never gets boring. Cancer (June 21 - July 22): The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton This book is perfect for any Cancer you might know. Some of their traits include being loyal, emotional and highly imaginative. They also can often be a bit pessimistic and suspicious, as well as insecure. The Outsiders is known for its emotional story and the loyalty between characters, something that really speaks to Cancer’s. Leo (July 23 - August 22): Eragon by Christopher Paolini Choosing a book for Leo proved to be very challenging, but I think I picked a pretty good one. Leo’s are creative, passionate, warm-hearted and often funny, which I often associate with the amazing fantasy series Eragon. Known as natural leaders, majestic, and brave, Leo’s have all the qualities I associate with the characters in Eragon. This is an epic story that will not disappoint any Leo readers. Virgo (August 23 - September 22): Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky This book screams Virgo. This classic YA novel is perfect for Virgos who are often known to be analytical, hardworking, practical, and shy. Virgo’s are always paying attention to small details and have a very methodical approach to life. The main character, Charlie, tends to observe life rather than take part in it, something I think Virgos will resonate with deeply. Libra (September 23 - October 22): The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Written by a Libra, The Great Gatsby is a classic that this sign is sure to love. Also ruled by Venus, Libras will appreciate the luxury, beauty, and romance weaved into the novel. Some Libra traits are being cooperative, fair-minded, and gentle, but they also have a passion for seeking justice. Narrated by a very Libra-esque character, not only will readers relate to Nick, but they might also find their value in justice is tested through romance and betrayal. Scorpio (October 23 - November 21): A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab This series is currently my favorite YA fantasy trilogy at the moment, so while I think I might be biased, I know Scorpio readers will see themselves within the main characters. Known for being resourceful, brave, stubborn, distrusting and a true friend, there is no way they will not connect with the characters Schwab has crafted. Each character has so many layers that as you dig deeper and get to know them it is not hard to see these traits shine through. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21): Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman This novel is crafted by two of my favorite authors and exudes unreal amounts of Sagittarius. Sagittarius' are curious and energetic, and with their open mind they have a wonderful sense of humor, which is why Good Omens is the perfect book for any Sagittarius. A fantastic fantasy comedy about the approaching Armageddon, Pratchett and Gaiman never fail to satisfy the humor a Sagittarius needs. While many Sagittarius' are very impatient, they will find that they won’t be able to put down this read and will definitely not become bored. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19): The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger Capricorns are known for being responsible, all-knowing, a bit condescending, but extremely loyal. Though Capricorns like to follow the rules, they won’t accept them blindly and will push back if needed. This is exactly why this controversial classic is the perfect read for them. J.D. Salinger, a Capricorn himself, created a character that was always disappointed and ambivalent yet wise beyond his years, something Capricorns may connect too. Aquarius (January 20 - February 18): Circe by Madeline Miller As an Aquarius, I can attest to this being the perfect book for any Aquarian readers out there. Aquarians are known for being very progressive, independent, and original, however at times can be a bit temperamental. They are also known for their humanitarian spirit, which is exactly why this book screams Aquarius. The novel is a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Circe, who rejects the Greek Gods' casual cruelty against humans. Beyond her humanitarian spirit, Aquarians will also admire her intelligence and independence. Pisces (February 19 - March 20): I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson This YA novel screams Pisces energy in the best way possible. Pisces are typically compassionate, artistic, gentle and wise. For a romantic and artistic Pisces, they will love reading about the two main characters' passion for art and the love stories that find their way into the mix. This emotional story blended with Nelson’s unique writing style is sure to be a hit for any Pisces.

Isabelle Wittmann November 30, 2020 | 4:59pm EST The first time I walked down the ambiguously hidden staircase of Dupont Underground (DU) I discovered a creative world safely tucked away in Dupont Circle’s abandoned trolley station tunnels. Walking down the staircase I did not imagine such a beautiful space to lie right beneath D.C’s iconic Dupont circle. But I guess that’s why it’s iconic. Dupont underground is a representation for D.C. as a whole. Underneath all the political drama, busy people, and suits, lies a world of creatives reflecting and expressing their emotions through beautiful photographs, paintings and designs. Recently I started volunteering at Dupont Underground, a non-profit community arts organization, located beneath Washington, D.C.’s Dupont Circle. The unique architectural structure was originally opened as a trolley station in 1949 and revived as Dupont Underground in 2016. Dupont Underground’s mission is to: “inspire and strengthen creative and thought-provoking dialogue among artists, designers and the community.” DU’s vision is to: “showcase D.C.’s cultural identity” Dupont Underground highlights the role of art within social activism, especially during this time of racial reckoning encouraged by the Black Lives Matter movement, COVID-19, and the presidential transition. I spoke with Oliver Clemmons, CEO of Dupont Underground, Nora van Trotsenburg, COO, and Shedrick Pelt, co-curator of the rise up exhibition. (the current exhibition at DU) First, I spoke with Nora and Oliver about the role of art within a community in a general sense. Art within a community fosters connection, reflection and representation. Nora points out that art can “really communicate things that sometimes people have a really hard time communicating with their worlds...it's able to express the diversity of feelings and perspectives in a way that's sometimes really emotionally charging for people to do in the verbal sense.” She further elaborates by adding that, “especially with Black Lives Matter, people in the community of color have been feeling exhausted and drained. The art has allowed them to express this without feeling like they are draining themselves.” The current exhibition at Dupont Underground is “Rise Up” and it features photographs by local photographers, taken of the Black Lives Matter 2020 Uprising in Washington D.C. All of the photographs were taken between May 31st and August 28th and the exhibition was put together within a month after the National Actions Network’s march on Washington. It is currently the only exhibition in D.C. featuring photographs from the protests this past summer. The rise up exhibition is authentic, vulnerable and powerful. When thinking about the purpose of the Rise Up exhibition, Nora points out that Dupont Underground wanted “to add a reflection of what everyone had just experienced.” The biggest thing she wants people to take away from the exhibition is to know that “they’re not alone in whatever they've experienced whether they’re an ally, whether they’re a person of color who has experienced police brutality, racism and descrimination. It’s just to create a conversation and to create thought and learning.” When talking to Shedrick Pelt, co-curator of the Rise Up exhibition, I asked him what he wanted people to walk away with after walking through the Rise Up exhibition. He said, “I want it to be an introspective moment, for our allies I want them to look at themselves and know that they have a lot of work still to do and we appreciate what they are to the movement, then also for my people I want them to find some type of pride and inspiration to keep going because the bullshit is not over, these stories that are up on the screen, these are the stories that help you understand that people are out here for us. Also if you’re from D.C., I want you to get some sense of pride that your city is really taking a stance and leading the way in this part of the movement, in this conversation.” So why are art spaces like Dupont Underground so important right now? While speaking with Nora and Oliver I concluded that dupont underground draws its strength from bringing in people that are not always featured in big museums so they too can be a part of the conversation and have their voices be heard. A second strength of Dupont Underground is that as compared to other museums, it does not exhibit artifacts and instead exhibits peoples’ voices, their works and allows them to represent themselves. Nora has a background in native art and art history. She briefly talked to me about how Dupont Underground is able to create more of a safe space so artists are able to express themselves more authentically. “The Underground, if they were to have an exhibition within the native community, they would be able to exhibit works, create conversations that would not typically happen in a museum. It’s a venue that is fluid, that’s moving, and people bring their works. We essentially facilitate these communities as clients to exhibit their voices, and their works and to represent themselves. And I think that if you have a platform that's like that, you can create more connections with communities because they might feel safer that way.” Oliver points out that native D.C. citizens “have had this entire city stripped away from them with all the gentrification that has been going on, so what has really been left are the people that have been pushed out of their neighborhoods and have been replaced. D.C. has lost a lot of its culture in the past few years compared to what it was in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. What we're trying to do is give a voice to these people and artists who still live in the area. A place to showcase their work, to show their culture here in D.C.” Dupont Underground is a vital and powerful art space not only because of its ability to give a voice to a wide range of people, but also because of its ability to create connection and conversation within the community so that people can gain more awareness, experience growth and learning and be a part of the conversation. Check out DU's website if you are interested in volunteering, interning, or just want to find out more about the organization! Also, make sure to check out DU on Instagram (@dupontunderground)

Harry Styles made history in November as the first man to appear solo on Vogue’s cover. He also did it in a dress. Styles’s cover quickly became a trending topic, with people praising him for breaking gender norms and showing confidence while doing so. Like the famously dedicated fans of One Direction, where Styles got his start, Harry’s fans consider him a heartthrob--and him wearing a dress did not change that one bit. Toward the end of his One Direction days, Styles began wearing more out-of-the-box clothing for being in a boyband, like floral suits. On his first tour, he wore funky suits and bright colors that some compare to Prince, Elton John, Freddie Mercury, and even David Bowie. Harry is not the first male artist to dress “feminine,” and he won’t be the last, because it works. It shows creativity and boldness, giving these artists an eccentric flair. While many older people praised Prince, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and Elton John for their style choices, they often fail to do the same for Styles and other current artists. It’s not uncommon to hear people call him “gay” just because of the way he dresses. While Styles has never labeled his sexuality, labeling him as gay because of his fashion choices and his music is done to discredit him, which is an act of homophobia. Many also express disdain for his “lack of masculinity” in his fashion choices. This begs the question of how masculinity is defined, and why we have such a problem with people trying to break out of the ideals of masculinity. Conservative political commentator Candace Owens expressed some of these comments, tweeting that, “There is no society that can survive without strong men. The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack. Bring back manly men.” In my opinion, men dressing feminine does not make them less strong. In fact, having the confidence to deviate from gender norms shows strength, nor does it indicate a rise in Marxism. That claim is simply laughable. Styles himself even said that there’s strength in this deviation, stating that, “I think there’s so much masculinity in being vulnerable and allowing yourself to be feminine, and I’m very comfortable with that. Growing up you don’t even know what those things mean. You have this idea of what being masculine is and as you grow up and experience more of the world, you become more comfortable with who you are.” Harry’s expression of femininity shows a degree of boldness and confidence in oneself, not a weakness like Owens claims. Additionally, as a cisgender white man, Styles helped popularize dressing feminine and breaking gender norms. He was not the first to do this. Aside from the rock stars I mentioned previously, other LGBTQ+ and BIPOC helped to create and pioneer androgynous fashion. In the 1980s, Japanese fashion designers Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo began making clothes that challenged gender norms and contributed to avant-garde fashion in Japan. Additionally, Jaden Smith, actor, rapper, and singer modeled for Louis Vuitton’s womenswear campaign in 2016. Within the last ten years, other figures like Billy Porter, Keiynan Lonsdale, Cee-Lo, BTS, and Ryan Jamaal Swain have challenged gender norms with their fashion. Wearing dresses or skirts or feminine or andorgynous clothing is far from a sign of weakness. Like Styles said, it shows a certain vulnerability, and being vulnerable is one of the strongest, bravest things a person can do.