By Lela Nugent, Staff Writer Hollywood has remained an integral part of our society for generations. Hollywood's influence on society is ambivalent, meaning it encompasses both positive and negative aspects that shape our culture. On the positive side, Hollywood has the ability to entertain, inspire, and educate audiences globally through films and TV shows. It serves as a platform to unite people, initiate important discussions, and advocate for social change. Many Hollywood productions have shed light on critical social issues like racism, sexism, and civil rights. This helps to foster awareness and foster potential acceptance. However, there are negative aspects to consider regarding Hollywood's impact on society. One major criticism is the lack of diversity and representation both on and off-screen. The industry has been faulted for perpetuating harmful stereotypes. This lack of diversity can lead to damaging biases and may limit opportunities for marginalized groups in society. Another negative aspect is Hollywood's influence on physicality especially regarding beauty standards. The industry often promotes unrealistic beauty ideals, leading to issues like body dysmorphia, insecurities, and eating disorders, particularly among young female audiences. This emphasis on physical appearance can create a culture of comparison. Ultimately, affecting individuals' mental health and self image. Photo from Pxfuel; Although the life of a celebrity may seem incredible, it often isn't glamorous behind the scenes. Hollywood's focus on profit and commercial success can sometimes prioritize entertainment over accuracy or authenticity. This can glamorize violence, substance abuse, and other potentially harmful behaviors, which in return, desensitizes audiences to real-world issues and consequences for their harmful behaviors. It is essential for viewers to critically analyze the media they consume and recognize when Hollywood's portrayals may not align with reality accurately.
In conclusion, Hollywood's impact on society is a complex and nuanced issue, with both positive and negative factors at play. By being aware of the influence of Hollywood on our culture, we can actively engage with the media in a critical and thoughtful way, promoting positive change and holding the industry accountable for its impact. Through awareness, advocacy, and support for inclusive storytelling, we can help shape a more accepting and responsible entertainment industry for future generations.
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By Reese Perez, Staff Writer Since 2016, TikTok has been used by billions of teens around the world for entertainment, business growth, information, trends, etc. This app affects the lives of teens on a day-to-day basis. Due to the significance of this app among teens, there have been wide debates on its removal and impact. Over the past few years there have been new developments on the banning of the popular app “TikTok”, the government believes it to be a useful conduit for the Chinese government to use the algorithm to their advantage in their influence in the United States and potentially highly compromise the security of our nation. Those are the general arguments, but what are the general arguments on its uses and if it is damaging the community or not through its addictive and harmful formula? I will debunk both arguments about the existence or elimination of tiktoks, and even apps like it. Most of the arguments for the removal of TikTok revolve around it being a revealing sight with too many discrepancies and not enough regulation. One of the arguments is that this app prevents creativity from replacing with mindless scrolling and repetitions or copying of others for the sake of views and likes. The arguments to keep TikTok are more for the app's openness to all forms of artistic expression, whether that be through dance, song, pranks, stories, or even trends. These connect the community to a wider, more accepting networking of sharing ideas and enjoying the many versions you can get of one thing rather than seeing it negatively as a way to copy and a lack of brain cells needed. To start, there is a positive take that you can have on this. I don't own a TikTok account but I have seen things related to the app where whole communities band together to support each other and there are shared interests like on many social media sites. One example of this is #Booktok, which is where readers share their opinions, recommendations, and summaries of books. It is generally a positive community of people just sharing things they love with others. Trends allow people to “blend in” and maybe even ease into a culture that would otherwise seem cold and distant if not for the common things that connect them. It is an easy and simple way to fall in line and TikTok especially is incredibly diverse. Depending on your views, you can see many things to suit your fancy, whether that be basic life hacks or information or even news and DIYs to help others. It is a fun and creative way to share life experiences that draws the attention of young viewers from around the world and allows them to learn and express themselves however they wish. So why ban TikTok if there is so much information, communication, relational, and just simply fun things to enjoy about it? To start this side off, why do we need another website where mindless scrolling and consumption of entertainment are praised? There should be at least regulations set on these kinds of websites as the US is attempting to do by the new bill for Bytedance (the app owners) to sell the app by a certain time or risk it being banned from all of the US. It is clear that these kinds of apps prevent human ingenuity and finding “facts” or learning new “skills” just prevent true discovery or innovation from occurring. If we allow such frivolous actions to be flaunted around the young, then what is our generation to look like? This app not only is a creativity-killing machine, but it is also an easy way for any common Joe to access all kinds of information about you. On this app, people are praised and rewarded for stupidity and copies of other's work. Many people are content with watching others succeed before even attempting to succeed themselves. You are left to praise the face of others from behind a bright screen and follow the orders of one person deemed worthy of the fame gained from this. TikTok, and almost any form of social media, spread ideas of laziness and social conformity through “trends”, high expectations, peer pressure, and a lack of individual thinking. TikTok is nothing but an ignition of stupid ideas to be fun and puts a stain on newer generations' responsibility and ability to thrive. It relies on entertainment and others to support their frivolous attempts at getting noticed. This and many other “new ideas” coming from these new generations are feeding acts of violence, and laziness, leaving people without a backbone, prone to fail, and a joke to the world. How long before the latest trend begins to damage more than just a couple of “Karens” days? It's not too far to say this hasn't already happened anyway, though there are many examples in America of TikTok trends/pranks going too far, one example is a seemingly harmless prank that landed a woman in the hospital. It was the prank where you set something(bucket or other) on someone's head and film their reaction. These pranksters chose the wrong target however as the woman had epilepsy, she hit her head and ended up in the hospital. This app promotes bad and sometimes criminal behavior and passes it off as a joke and just a harmless prank. Is it not our duty that we must stand against the expectations that older generations of people have of a failure in the new generation? It seems logical to try and prevent these sometimes harmful pranks and ideologies along with the information given in this app. Or, should we leave it be as it is an app of free speech for the people, creativity, and sharing of talent that should not be suppressed? Should we settle with these extremes, or can we find some sort of compromise? Time will tell what the government’s ultimate answer is to this question. Works Cited Hale, Erin. "Why Has the US Passed a Bill to Ban TikTok, and What’s Next?" Al Jazeera, 14 Mar. 2024, www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/14/why-has-the-
us-passed-a-bill-to-ban-tiktok-and-whats-next. "TikTok Bans Explained: Everything You Need to Know." WhatIs.com, www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/TikTok-bans-explained-Everything-you- need-to-know. "Tustin Woman Hospitalized in Apparent TikTok Prank Led by Teens Inside Target Store." ABC7 Los Angeles, 30 Mar. 2023, abc7.com/orange-county- tiktok-prank-target-store-lana-clay-monaghan/13036859/. "Woman Hospitalized After Social Media Stunt Goes Wrong in Orange County Target." KTLA, 28 Mar. 2023, ktla.com/news/local-news/woman-rushed- to-hospital-after-social-media-stunt-goes-wrong-target-store/. Look back on how fashion has changed and evolved over the last couple of decades. By Kensington Balam, Staff Writer Fashion is one of the only concepts that has changed continually. From the 1950s to now, fashion has taken all shapes and sizes. Surprisingly, people have taken fashion from every decade, combined them, styled them, and much more. That is what the beauty of fashion is all about. Fashion is not a definite action, but anything can be fashion. So let’s look at how each decade, leading up to now, took the trends and popular endeavors that made each era unique. 1950s The 1950s was a revival from World War II. The fashion is similar to the 1940s with a different spin on things. The 1950s provided a sort of elegant, sleek, and fancy feel. Women wore long sleek skirts in bright colors with an emphasis on the waistline. Women tended to base their fashion on elite brands such as Chanel and wear this type of fashion even when relaxing at home. Men wore clean suits with buttons, and sometimes a vest to match. If you can imagine a fancy dining in, that is what people in the 1950s wore. Some other styles and trends also poked up from this decade. The Greaser and Ivy League look became extremely popular. The Greaser look consisted of leather jackets with slicked-back hair, while the Ivy League look was composed of uniform wear, including polar shirts, jackets, ties, etc. (Dubitsky). Photo from Atomic Jane Clothing. 1960s The 1960s seemed to be a kind of revolt or change from the stiff and fancy look of the 1950s. The fashion expanded and boutiques started to be all the rage. The 1960s was a sort of modern and experimental period of fashion. The designers started to work with wild patterns of bright orange, orange, and green, along with many different materials. Even men began to wear exuberant colors of suits. Women’s clothing also seemed to get looser and looser with less of a defined look. A very popular article of clothing that aired was the mini skirt, which differed majorly from the long dresses of the 1950s. The fashion also seemed to reflect a kind of futuristic look mixed with a hippie tone as well. The 1960s was a blend of the years to come. There was no fear of what stripes or polka dots could be used ("An introduction to 1960s fashion."). Photo from Midlibrary. 1970s The 1970s would be remembered, as many people do, as the era of the hippie movement or disco era. The 1970s was run by hippies who just wanted to love, which showed on their clothing, and disco stars who would put sequins and glitter on their outfits to dance all night. This era also consisted of flared plants, bell bottoms, flower prints, headbands, pantsuits, and anything that embodied freedom. The 1970s combined a mix of basically every fashion decade and put their own spin on it. The 1970s played with layering clothing and working with different blends of colors (Algoo). The 1970s, according to the Fashion History Timeline, was also known as the “Polyester Decade.” This meant that there was a large mix of fabrics and materials used in the clothing. Another component of the 1970s was the use of embroidery in fashion, which can be seen in jackets, headbands, etc. The 1970s was, in summary, a recap of the last couple of decades ("1970-1979."). Photo from Byrdie. 1980s The 1980s were likely the most drastic and memorable fashion movements in history. The 80s was a combination of three styles according to the Fashion Timeline: preppy, sports, and romantic. The 80s preppy look was very lucid, meaning that teens took it where they wanted it to go. Just like in the 1950s, this era was inspired by Ivy Leagues. Although, unlike the strict skirts and suits, people combined sweaters, shoulder pads, and anything they could find to style their look. The 80s sports era was inspired by several movies and music videos that showed women in leg warmers, off-the-shoulder shirts, oversized teas, scrunchies, etc. The romantic period was a mix of dresses loose and fitting with, again, an 80s twist. The 80s is still influencing all generations, even if it was over 40 years ago ("1980-1989."). Photo from The Fashionisto. 1990s The 1990s was the transition into a more casual look. The 1990s introduced baggy pants like cargo pants, oversized sweatshirts, baggy shirts, and anything that showed comfort. The 1990s can also be described, regarding casual work, as the grunge style. This style was basically like shopping in a thrift store, and like the 1980s, people mixed and matched all sorts of types of clothing. In formal styles, women started to wear more simple and loose dresses, also known as slip dresses. Women wanted to be elegant, and according to the History Timeline, inspired their look from Britney Spears ("1990-1999."). Photo from The New York Times. 2000s Just like the 1970s, the 2000s combined the latest fashion trends to something called Y2K. The 2000s had hundreds of different styles from ballet flats, denim, cargo pants, low-rise, etc. As seen in movies like High School Music fashion in the 2000s was layers, layers, and more layers. A very iconic done by Ashley Tisdale was a pairing of a dress and jeans underneath. The 2000s definitely created a statement for future generations with pieces such as low-rise pants, which show much of the stomach. Let’s just say Y2K has still continued to this day (Malach). Photo from Yahoo Sports. 2010s The 2010s are very similar to the current style of today. The 2010s was a combination of casual hip hop or streetwear and, shockingly, royal wear. Like the 2000s, the 2010s prioritized casual wear that could be worn anywhere. This included jeans, jackets, and the basic clothes of 2024. Something that did keep the 2010s different from the other decades was the demand for sportswear. People wanted nice gym clothes, which was a lack, which included the trend in yoga and such. Another trend that seemed to arise was VSCO girls, which was more common in the late 2010s among teenagers. This trend combined the style of a beach with a more simple and school look. The 2010s are seen as when social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, started to influence fashion (Ilchi). Photo from Vogue. Now Today’s fashion contains quite a lot of different elements including pajamas, jeans, trench coats, uggs, tank tops, etc. The type of fashion honestly changes depending on the season, day, or time. Today’s fashion does not really have a definite lens. Today’s fashion combines all the decades. Going on the streets you can see bellbottoms, puka shell necklaces, low-rise pants, tight-fitting dresses, jeans, casual, strict, fancy, and more. The beautiful thing about this generation is that anything can be fashionable. People often love going thrifting to take bits and pieces of the past. If there was a definite feel for what modern fashion is today, it is a combination of all generations with a mix of someone’s own style. Photo from Daisie Blog. In conclusion, fashion will always change, come back, and combine, and that is what makes it so fun. Fashion can be anything that someone thinks of, so whether you want to be casual or fancy, do what makes you happy and feel confident. Works Cited Algoo, Jennifer, and Nicole Saunders. "A Look Back at the Greatest 1970s Fashion Moments." Bazzar , 27 June
2022, www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/g6495/70s-fashion-in-photos/. "An introduction to 1960s fashion." V&M, www.vam.ac.uk/articles/an-introduction-to-1960s-fashion. Dubitsky, Meghan. "1950s Fashion for Men and Women." Central Casting, 5 Aug. 2019, www.centralcasting.com/1950s-fashion-for-men-women/. Ilchi, Layla. "7 Fashion Trends That Helped Define the 2010s." Women's Wear Daily , 19 Dec. 2019, wwd.com/feature/2010s-fashion-trends-that-defined-decade-1203393941/. Malach, Hannah. "The Top Ten Y2K Fashion Trends That Made a Comeback: Revived Low-rise Jeans, Trucker Hats and More, According to Google." Women's Wear Daily , 1 Dec. 2023, wwd.com/feature/2000s-fashion- trends-1235924893/. Reddy, Karina. "1970-1979." Fashion History Timeline , 3 Oct. 2019, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1970-1979/. Reddy Karina. "1980-1989." Fashion History Timeline , 29 May 2020, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1980-1989/. Reddy, Karina. "1990-1999." Fashion History Timeline , 15 Aug. 2020, fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1990-1999/. By Zack McDonough, Staff Writer School of Rock is the type of movie you watch when you need a good laugh. Released in 2003 and directed by Richard Linklater, this quintessential early-2000s time capsule has something to offer for anyone. School of Rock is about Dewey Finn (Jack Black), who, after being kicked out of his band, poses as a substitute teacher at a fancy private elementary school as a way to pay his overdue rent. After seeing the musical potential in his students, he teaches them how to be full-blown stars by giving them a course on music history’s rock idols. Black’s performance is the hallmark of this film, as his enthusiasm for the role can always draw laughter from the audience. Some say School of Rock set the tone for the rest of Black’s career, which he spent acting in unapologetically funny roles. As for other characters in the film, the child actors did phenomenal. Their performance is impressive for their age, and they did an impeccable job at delivering their lines. The diverse personalities present in the classroom in the movie helped emphasize character growth and gave audience members a feeling of representation by the characters in the movie. Overall, this movie leaves you with a bittersweet ending: happy because you watched it, but sad because it's over. Photo from Evergreen Podcasts; School of Rock is appealing to viewers through its diverse and comedic cast. Even though School of Rock aims to be a comedic movie, it offers many important lessons. The most notable lesson is that everyone is valuable despite each person’s differences. This can be seen through all the different kids in the class that Dewey Finn teaches, and how they each contribute to the class band that forms throughout the movie. Overall, critics seemed to enjoy School of Rock, as it scored 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and made 81.3 million dollars at the box office. I would personally give this movie an 8.9/10 and recommend it to anyone who needs a cheer-up or a good laugh.
By Maya Perez, Staff Writer Most people around the world have heard of the singer and songwriter, Taylor Swift. Taylor is an icon, and a cemented figure in pop culture, as she’s known for her relatable songs that have captured the hearts and minds of many. Swift writes about her experiences, and often it's about her relationships. Over the past year, Swift has been dating Travis Kelce, a football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. Kelce is also a popular figure but from the sports side of things. They have a very publicized relationship displayed by the media and seem to affect Taylor’s performances on her tours positively. On the football side of media, there is an obvious shift from the number of fans to the stock market price that has been deemed to be a result of Swift’s presence in football games, astonishing football fans worldwide. The Taylor Swift effect is a phenomenon that has been given its own name. This effect has dramatically enlarged the football audience, with female viewers ages 14-17 increasing by as much as 53% according to CBS8. In the 2023 season, the National Football League had an estimated 113 million watchers, which made it one of the biggest televised shows that year (clemson.edu). According to Marketwatch from CBS8, the NFL brand has increased to 122 million as of February 2nd, 2024, and has increased the scope of brands that sponsor the NFL. It seems that wherever Taylor Swift goes, the fans follow. For example, when Swift was seen wearing some New Balance shoes, that brand saw a “25 percent increase” (Aljazeera.com) and Kelce’s mother, who was seen using Ziploc bags, got a brand deal with the company just because of her association with Taylor Swift. Swift evidently has a positive effect on the football viewer audience. However, what about the die-hard football fans who didn’t start watching because of Taylor? Some fans, especially from the male audience, believe Taylor Swift is ruining football. Clemson.edu states that “Taylor Swift’s appearance at NFL games detracts from the game itself,” as excessive media coverage of her relationship with Travis Kelce seems to take away from the game and focuses more on the pop culture of it all. The football fans feel as if the over-obsessive infatuation with the Swift-Kelce relationship has taken over the NFL, from the camera panning to Swift’s every reaction in a game, to the many “87” Kelce Chief jerseys purchased by Taylor’s fanbase, the Swifties. However, despite the hate from some die-hards, the data does not reflect a recede in the football franchise. In fact, Swift's presence has very much increased the sales and audience of the NFL according to Clemson.edu. On a more personal level, Swift has brought together families to watch the live games together, strengthening the family dynamic. To say the least, Taylor Swift’s effect on football has skyrocketed the viewer audience and overall NFL franchise, providing doorways for more brands and sponsors to benefit from her “enchanted” fans. As she continues in her music career, Taylor will continue to astound and amaze people worldwide, making for a cemented figure in both music and sports history. She’ll always have an “invisible string” connected to the NFL, her “love story” ingrained as one of the most memorable events in the 2023-2024 football season. Works Cited Cohen, Ariana. "Super Bowl or Swiftie Bowl? | How Taylor Swift Has Impacted the NFL." CBS8, 2 Feb. 2024,
www.cbs8.com/article/sports/nfl/superbowl/inside-taylor-swifts-impact-on-the-nfl/509-92ca5bef-4cd8-45dd-8ced -edac383bae46. Scheinbaum, Angeline C. "The Taylor Swift Effect on Football: “Is It Too Soon to Do This Yet? ‘Cause I Know That It’s Delicate”." Clemson News, 12 Feb. 2024, news.clemson.edu/the-taylor-swift-effect-on-the-super-bowl/. Staff, Al J. "How Has the Taylor Swift Effect Boosted American Football?" Al Jazeera, 11 Feb. 2024, www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/11/has-taylor-swift-helped-boost-nfl-popularity-in-the-us. Grammy-winning jazz artist Laufey’s album Bewitched is a beautiful album full of heartbreak, love, and healing. By Kensington Balam, Staff Writer Have you ever felt so much happiness with someone you thought you might explode? Have you ever wished you could be with a person so bad it makes your heart hurt? Have you ever had a breakup so devastating you didn’t know how to think? Do you ever think about someone so much you might think you're being delusional? Well, Grammy-winning jazz artist Laufey’s 2023 album Bewitched sums up the emotions of love perfectly. Love is an emotion that is built upon many other emotions (“Meaning of “Bewitched” by Laufey”). NME shares on their website that, “I think love makes everyone really silly,” Laufey says. “I remember the first time I went on a date, we had a glass of wine and we kissed and then I left in the rain, and I remember thinking, ‘...it’s really like the movies!’” Love is different for everyone, but Bewitched really paints a beautiful picture of what it's like to have butterflies, heartbreak, and heart eyes. Photo from Wikipedia; The album cover for Laufey's Bewitched depicts the singer in a dazzling outfit. “Dreamer”: The album’s first song, “Dreamer”, is very old-fashioned, with a 1940s feel. The song really shows Laufey’s style as a jazz artist, which is not very common these days for a popular artist. “Dreamer” is about the idea that everything is better in someone’s head where no one can mess anything up. One of the lyrics reads, “From my own little cloud // Up by the Milky Way// I’ll stay here forever and a day.” The girl has her heart broken and thinks it best to just be by herself from now on ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Second Best”: The second song is, according to The Daily Iowan, the start of the album’s overall story. The premise of the song is about a girl being madly in love with a boy, but he is not. The lover’s feelings are with another girl and it breaks the narrator’s heart. The girl is being tormented and heartbroken by the idea that “[he] walked a little faster, left me behind // Kissed me with somebody else in mind.” The whole aim of the song is about being “Second Best” with someone. One of the lyrics even exactly reads, “You were my everything // I was your second best.” The girl is devastated by the idea that her boyfriend loves someone else, but she still loves him ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Haunted”: This third song is about how some relationships are temporary because some guys are not as committed. The song leaves a sort of eerie feeling, hence the title, that paints the guy as a sort of ghost that comes in and out of the narrator’s life. One of the lyrics reads, “I know he don’t love me quite like I love him // I swear to myself as he leaves at dawn // This will end, ‘til he haunts me again.” The girl seems to be left alone and waits for him eagerly, even if he does not feel the same way ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Must be Love”: This fourth song feels and sounds like the first feelings of falling in love. Everything seems light and romantic, and nothing can ruin the feeling. One of the best lines of the song is, “Can’t get back up // Can’t think straight, too tongue-tied // It must be love.” The main character in the song is feeling such intense feelings that she can’t seem to wrap her mind around it. With most relationships, there is the honeymoon phase, or period where everything is perfect, and this song embodies this phase flawlessly ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “While You Were Sleeping”: This fifth track is similar to “Must be Love” but with a different message. The song is surrounding the idea that the girl can’t believe that this guy likes her. The main character is still in the state of true love with the lyrics, “I’m dancing down streets // Smiling to strangers // Idiotic things” to convey this theme. “While You Were Sleeping” also bounces back to the dream-like feel of “Dreamer”, but instead of rejecting love, the narrator is embracing it. The only element in the song that seems off is the way the girl is questioning the boy she is in love with. Laufey writes, “I can’t believe you think I’m beautiful” and “I still can’t believe you noticed me an ocean away.” These lines almost seem like the narrator is not confident in herself and why her crush likes her. The song almost crosses between the idea of overwhelming love and not accepting it ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Lovesick”: The sixth song is the point of the breakup. The narrator finds themselves without their true love and in a state of paranoia. The narrator was at the highest point in her relationship and finally fell, feeling almost sick from how much love she had. Lines such as “Getting twisted in my head” and “Those November days still haunting me” shape the image of a girl who is destroyed after such an amazing yet heartwrenching relationship ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “California and Me”: This seventh track is a beautiful song that Laufey plays with the Philharmonic Orchestra. The song has an elegant feel with all the other instruments, which is absolutely gorgeous. During this song, the narrator is still in a sad state of mind thinking of the girl her lover runs back to New York for. The girl feels abandoned in California and can’t help but think of her ex-boyfriend. Laufey writes, “Laughing bout’ how I thought you were the one” and “Left me and the ocean for your old flame.” The narrator is still in her head because of the breakup and it can’t leave her ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Nocturne (Interlude)”: The eighth track is an instrument piece that has a combination of about two to three songs in the album. The track also helps separate the two parts of the album. The unterlude is absolutely breathtaking and is a great song to hear since most artists never add an instrumental piece in their albums ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Promise”: This ninth track, which was a single before Bewitched came out, is a beautiful representation of the pulling feeling of a past lover always on someone’s heart. The main character says she “Made a promise // To distance myself.” Although, by the end, she sings, “I broke my promise // I called you last night.” The girl can’t take it anymore and lets her emotions take over. The narrator is simply confused and conflicted about what she thinks saying, “It hurts to be something // It’s worse to be nothing with you.” This slow and emotional song is bound to get anyone in the feels ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). Photo from The Beat Asia; Laufey won the GRAMMY award for "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" this year for Bewitched. “From the Start”: This tenth track is the most upbeat of Laufey’s songs. It certainly shows a sort of old happy jazz feeling. “From the Start'' was also released as a single before the album came out. The song is about having a crush on a guy and wanting so badly to tell him how you feel. At the end of the chorus, Laufey even writes that she must “confess I’ve loved you from the start.” The song continues to paint the picture of just being hopelessly infatuated with someone ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Misty”: This eleventh song is a very slow-paced song, with almost a somber feel. Similar to “Haunted,” the narrator is in a haze. The girl is confused and can’t help but go after her lover again. She is feeling a ton of emotions and feels almost empty after her past breakup. The feelings seem to be almost empty or hollow, just going with the flow. The girl says, “And I feel like I’m clinging to a cloud // I can’t understand.” The girl is confused about her feelings and what it is like after a breakup. The Daily Iowan describes it as she is processing her feelings post-breakup ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Serendipity”: This twelfth track is yet another occurrence of following in love but in an unpredicted way. The girl, cautious, finds herself in love. The lyrics “Coincidences and cosmic signs // Have proved I am quite naive // I’m falling fast, failing gravity // And all I can see is serendipity” show that the girl has found herself in love without looking for it ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower) ("Meaning of "Serendipity" by Laufey."). “Letter To My 13 Year Old Self”: This thirteenth song is surprisingly not about love. This song is a touching song about Laufey talking to her younger self. Laufey’s younger self seems to be being picked on and doubting herself, but Laufey assures her that everything will be okay. Laufey writes the fantastic lines, “I wish I could go back and give her a squeeze // Myself at thirteen // And just let her know, that she’s beautiful.” This song is a great song to give comfort to teens in this generation who may feel the same way ("Bewitched by Laufey.") (Bower). “Bewitched”: The fourteenth, and final, song in Bewitched is a nice little bow to wrap up the album. This song is about being so in love with someone from the first moment you see each other. The girl in the song seems to be processing a lot from her new lover in such a peaceful and romantic way. Some perfect lines are, “You wrote me a note, cast a spell on my heart // And bewitched me // Bewitched me, you bewitched me.” These lines just show the amount of love the narrator is under and how happy she is. The song is just a spectacular song that helps wrap up an emotional rollercoaster of an album ("Bewitched by Laufey." ) (Bower) ("Meaning of "Bewitched"). After crying and smiling a lot after listening to Bewitched, it is great to just sit back and take in the emotions. Laufey intricately wrote an album that is full of heartbreak, healing, and love, all in just fourteen songs. Ever since Bewitched, Laufey has received so much love and fame from this album. Laufey, as many people say, is bringing jazz to Gen Z, a new generation. So, if you ever want to feel like you're back in the 1940s or in a hopeless romantic movie, listen to Laufey and her soothing and God-given, talented voice (Bower). Works Cited "Bewitched by Laufey." Genius, genius.com/albums/Laufey/Bewitched.
Bower, Will. "Review | Laufey’s ‘Bewitched’ tells a beautiful story of love, heartbreak, and life lessons." The Daily Iowan, 18 Sept. 2023, dailyiowan.com/2023/09/18/review-through-her-unique-style-laufeys-bewitched-tells-a-beautiful-story- of-love-heartbreak-and-life-lessons/. "Meaning of "Bewitched" by Laufey." Songtell, 25 July 2023, www.songtell.com/laufey/bewitched. "Meaning of "Serendipity" by Laufey." Songtell, www.songtell.com/laufey/serendipity. Wilkes, Emma. "Laufey's Album 'Bewitched' Breaks Records and Makes History." NME, 3 Oct. 2023, www.nme.com/news/music/laufeys-album-bewitched-breaks-records-and-makes-history-3507978. Behind the story and movie that has grossed over 300 million dollars! By Kensington Balam and Grace Rex, Staff Writers The whole world seemed to be shocked to find out that Hunger Games, the beloved trilogy, was coming out with a prequel in May 2020 (Italie, 2020). With COVID and quarantine, people needed a way to escape to another world. Therefore, to no one's surprise, Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes had over 3.5 million copies and hit the Best-Selling list for about six months (Italie, 2020). Subsequently, just 3 years later, Francis Laurence directed a movie adaptation of this book that captured the world's attention ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)."). The novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the hit series The Hunger Games. The book written by author Suzanne Collins came out on May 19, 2020, nearly 12 years after the first Hunger Games release. The novel follows the early teen life of the feared president of Panem, President Coriolanus Snow. The three-part, 528-page novel is an action-packed thriller that captures and holds readers' attention with fighting, suspense, and even romance. The novel opens with a young Coriolanus Snow and his family struggling to survive the “dark days”. The story continues and follows Coriolanus as he goes through school, and mentors a Hunger Games tribute during the 10th annual Hunger Games. He also journeys to the districts, making and losing some friends along the way. The novel starts with a young innocent Snow and keeps readers wondering how he became the monster he is in later books. In the final chapter of the book, it is all revealed how Snow fell, and how Coriolanus became the person he is. The novel paved the way for its movie adaptation which came out just 3 years later (Italie, 2020). Photo from The Washington Post; The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes marks the first installment of the Hunger Games series in a decade. Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes came out on November 17th, 2023. The movie received a lot of hype and attention before the movie even premiered, and even more after November 17th. Even in the first week, the movie received tens of millions of dollars ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)."). The movie then, especially the music, stormed TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. The Song Can’t Catch Me Now by Olivia Rodrigo being on top of the charts was one of the examples of the fame this new movie held (Pareles, 2023). Even now people are still going to the theaters to see this spectacular movie. The movie follows the same story as the book but in a simplified way. The movie ran at 157 minutes in three parts, just like the book was broken down (Asker, 2023) ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)."). The movie consisted of the stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Josh Rivera, and Viola Davis ("The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)."). The film starts by showing the years before the Hunger Games when the Capital was in shambles. Coriolanus and his cousin Tigers are seen running and hiding, surrounded by chaos and destruction. Fast forward Corilanous is now a young adult and is getting ready to accept the prize money for the best student in the school. Unexpectedly, Coriolanus does not receive the money because there is no prize quite yet. Casca Highbottem announces that each student nominated for the Plinth Prize will be given a tribute to take care of for the upcoming Hunger Games, and if their tribute wins, that student gets the prize. After each student gets their tribute, Coriolanus is stuck with the District 12 Tribute named Lucy Gray Baird. Coriolanus is not happy with the draw, but soon after seeing her singing and popularity, Coriolanus thinks otherwise. Coriolanus works for the next two days or two to feed Lucy and become close to her. An experience that brought them together was the bombing of the Hunger Games arena, where Lucy saved Coriolanus. After this act of service, Coriolanus and Lucy have a sweet interaction before Lucy has to go fight in the games. For the next two days, Coriolanus watches intently, doing anything to save her. Although Lucy Gray was not the only person who was struggling during the Hunger Games. Coriolanus ended up not only killing a tribute while trying to save his friend Sejanus but cheating in the games altogether. Lucy Gray ends up winning the games and surviving them as well due to Coriolanus sneaking something in a particular snake tank. Overjoyed, Coriolanus goes to find Lucy Gray, but not until Casca Longbottom stops him to confront him about his cheating. This ultimately results in Coriolanus’ banishment to the districts to become a Peacekeeper where he will have to serve for several years. Photo from Vanity Fair; Rachel Zegler, who plays Lucy Gray Baird in the film, is known for her breakout performance in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. Even though all seems lost, Coriolanus uses the last of his money to buy his ticket to District 12 to find his love, Lucy Gray. When at District 12, Coriolanus connects not only with Lucy Gray but with his old friend Sejanus who also decided to become a Peacekeeper. Coriolanus works very hard as a Peacekeeper while still having fun at Lucy Gray’s concerts, even sharing a date at the lake, but it is not until Sejanus decides to join the rebels that things start to spin out of control. Coriolanus, blinded by the need for power, ends up killing the mayor’s daughter when she is about to tell her father about a scheme Sejanus was involved in. Because of this, Coriolanus decides to betray Sejanus by sending evidence of his treason to Professor Gaul. Sejanus ends up being hanged for being considered a rebel due to Coriolanus’ actions, and now Coriolanus knows he has to run away. Coriolanus fears that because of all that’s happened he will be killed, as well as Lucy Gray. As a result of this, Coriolanus and Lucy decide to run away together, but not until Coriolanus finds the murder weapon he used to kill the mayor’s daughter. Coriolanus now knows that the only person who could expose him is Lucy Gray, and this drives him mad. Lucy soon runs away, leaving Coriolanus insane, angry, and heartbroken. Disposing of the murder weapon, Coriolanus returns to the capital to be taught under Professor Gaul, ultimately becoming the game master of the Hunger Games ("The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Cast: A Guide to the Characters and Their Costumes.”). The book and the movie were very much similar but also had many differences. Despite this fact, the meaning and message of both stayed the same. The meaning can be seen in several different ways: Power is a killer, everyone has a little evil in them, love makes you do crazy things, the past can shape you in the future, etc. However, at the end of the day, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a beautiful bundle of a variety of different messages. Coriolanus is a very complicated character who can be analyzed and seen in many different lights, and that’s what’s amazing about the movie. The movie and novel can give so many emotions and can be peeled many times like an onion. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, either it being the movie or the book, is in all an excellent work of art that truly makes anyone talk about it hours after seeing or reading it. Work Cited Asker, Kelly A. "‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ is the perfect prequel to a fan favorite series." The Arbiter, 22 Nov. 2023, arbiteronline.com/2023/11/22/the-hunger-games-the-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-is-the- perfect-prequel-to-a-fan-favorite-series.
Italie, Hillel. "New 'Hunger Games' book 'Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' sells more than 500,000 copies." USA Today , 22 May 2020, www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/05/27/new-hunger-games-book-ballad-songbirds- snakes-sales/5271675002/. Pareles, Jon, et al. "Olivia Rodrigo’s Haunting ‘Hunger Games’ Tune, and 9 More New Songs." The New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/arts/music/playlist-olivia-rodrigo-megan-thee-stallion.html. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Cast: A Guide to the Characters and Their Costumes." Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023, people.com/the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes-cast-everything-to-know-8399521. "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)." The Numbers, www.the-numbers.com/movie/Hunger- Games-The-The-Ballad-of-Songbirds-and-Snakes-(2023)#tab=summary. By James Shepard, Editor-in-Chief The music industry’s most prestigious award show, the GRAMMYs, returns on February 4, 2024! Nominations for the broadcast were announced on November 10, 2023, and the program is shaping up to be extremely competitive. The most nominated artist this year is SZA, with a staggering 9 nominations for her massively acclaimed album SOS. Breakthrough artist Victoria Monét followed SZA with 7 nominations for her debut album Jaguar II, including a nomination for Best New Artist. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, boygenius, Miley Cyrus, Jon Batiste, and Brandy Clark all received 6 nominations apiece. Photo from GRAMMY Awards; SZA has been nominated for 24 GRAMMYs but only has one win. This year could very well be her chance to acquire more trophies. In the R&B categories, Monét and SZA dominated with nominations for their projects. In addition, Monét’s daughter, Hazel Monét, became the youngest GRAMMY nominee in history at 2 years old for her part on Monét’s track “Hollywood.” Also in the R&B categories are Halle Bailey, nominated for her debut song “Angel”, and Coco Jones, nominated for several awards for her EP What I Didn't Tell You (Deluxe), in addition to Best New Artist. Moving into the rock and alternative genres, boygenius and Lana Del Rey swept the nominations for their albums the record and Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd, respectively. Other contenders include Paramore, for their album This Is Why, and the Arctic Monkeys for their album The Car. The pop categories are filled with nominations for megastars Swift, Rodrigo, Cyrus, and Billie Eilish. Swift is the favorite to win with nominations for her album Midnights, but Rodrigo could easily sweep with her album GUTS or Cyrus for her album ENDLESS SUMMER VACATION. Other nominees for the pop categories include Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, Troye Sivan, and Doja Cat. Photo from Elle; Swift could become the first artist to win the prestigious Album of the Year award four times with her album Midnights. Finally, the general field categories of Best New Artist and Record, Song, and Album of the Year are turning out to be highly competitive. In Best New Artist, nominees include Ice Spice, Noah Kahan, and previously mentioned Jones and Monét. Notably, Monét is the only individual nominated for Best New Artist to also be nominated for another general field category, with her song “On My Mama” earning a Record of the Year nomination. Other Record of the Year nominees include Swift, Rodrigo, Cyrus, SZA, and Batiste, all of whom are nominated for Song and Album of the Year as well. Viewers interested in watching the upcoming GRAMMYs can watch the ceremony live on CBS on February 4, 2024. In addition, you can find the full list of nominees at 2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List | GRAMMY.com. Works Cited Enos, Morgan. "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List." GRAMMY.com, 10 Nov. 2023,
www.grammy.com/news/2024-grammys- nominations-full-winners-nominees-list. Accessed 11 Nov. 2023. James Shepard, Staff Writer This Is Why marks Paramore’s triumphant return to music after their 2017 release After Laughter. The trio is composed of lead singer Hayley Williams, drummer Zac Farro, and guitarist Taylor York. The album faced great success upon its release, debuting at #2 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart and #1 on the UK Albums chart. It marked the band’s highest charting release on both charts since their 2013 release Paramore. In addition, the album is universally acclaimed on the critic site Metacritic, with a score of 85 out of 100. The album opens with the fiery title track, “This Is Why.” Lyrically, the song is about Williams’ struggle with fame, especially with criticism and social anxieties. The song’s chorus reads: “This is why I don’t leave the house // You say the coast is clear // But you won't catch me out // Oh, why? // This is why.” It describes Williams’ feelings toward public situations. With fame comes persistent stress about paparazzi, stalkers, or people who seek to hurt celebrities. When Williams sings, “this is why,” she’s pointing to the public exposure and consistent anxieties she has to endure. The second track, titled “The News,” continues the narrative about living in a tumultuous world. In the song, Williams sings about wars “on the other side of the planet” combined with a “war right behind her eyes,” describing her mental struggle as she processes the chaos plaguing the world and her own mind. In response to this, Williams sings in the chorus, “So I turn on the news // Turn off the news” repeatedly. This repetition emphasizes the monotony of daily life as people are forced to consume everything going on around them, and for some, it’s too much to bear. So, they “turn off the news.” In the following upbeat track, “Running Out of Time,” Williams sings about another one of her struggles– time management. Although she has good intentions for others, she sings about simply running out of time. The relatable song describes how many people feel about the finite time we have in our lives, as it’s difficult to manage relationships, work, home life, and personal care. Photo from Youtube; Released on September 28, 2022, the music video for "This is Why," the album's first track, now has 11 million views and counting. The video's serene nature imagery contrasts the band's high-energy vocals. The fourth track is “C’est Comme Ça,” which is French for “it is what it is.” The fast-paced song features Williams singing that she thrives in the chaos of life and lives by the phrase “it is what it is.” One of the lines, “I hate to admit gettin' better is boring // But the high cost of chaos, who can afford it,” is about how Williams doesn’t necessarily want to improve her chaotic life because she loves the turbulence it brings. In other words, she cannot “afford” to lose the chaos she needs. In “Big Man, Little Dignity,” Williams sings about powerful men who are not held accountable for their actions. Especially in the entertainment industry and Hollywood, there are several horrible people thriving, despite their extremely controversial actions. In the lines, “I keep thinkin' the end is gonna be different // But you keep on winning,” Williams describes that one day, someone will finally lose their undeserved authority. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yet happened, and abusers “keep on winning.” The next track, “You First,” is about the internal struggle many people face between their “good and evil” sides. In one of the verses, Williams sings, “Turns out I'm living in a horror film // Where I'm both the killer and the final girl.” This metaphor emphasizes how Williams feels like she’s both the “good” and “bad guy” as she struggles through her life. The title comes from the chorus, where Williams sings, “karma’s gonna come for all of us,” but she hopes “it comes for you first.” She hopes that other people will face their deeds before she has to face hers. The seventh track, “Figure 8,” features Williams singing about a relationship that felt like “spinnin’ in an endless figure eight.” In the first line of the song, she sings that this person “drained [her] dry, down to the last drop.” He took everything from her while she suffered. Williams knew that she needed to escape a cycle with “no end and no beginning,” which is an important reminder for anyone who is in a toxic relationship or situation. Photo from Rolling Stone; The band performed "Running Out of Time" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Lead vocalist Hayley Williams, pictured above, fortunately returned to Paramore after leaving for a short time in 2015, due to her experiences with depression. The next track “Liar” provides a stark contrast to the previous track; Williams denies herself love because she needed to keep “[him] safe from [herself].” Later in the song, she sings, “Love is not a weakening // If you feel it rushing in // Don't be ashamed of it.” Listeners must allow love to enrich their lives, despite some hardships. Overall, the song provides a happy ending for Williams after the pain of “Figure 8.” In “Crave,” Williams sings about nostalgia and “craving” to relive the best parts of her life. Whenever she’s enjoying a good moment, she “know[s] the feeling will come to an end,” which inhibits her ability to truly enjoy the present. In the chorus, she sings, “So I crave // Crave to do it all again.” Williams is constantly chasing after the positive feelings she’s had in the past, but it's necessary to value both past and present life experiences. The album’s closing track, “Thick Skull,” is about Williams having to learn the same lessons over and over again because they cannot penetrate her “thick skull.” In the chorus, she sings, “Thick skull never did nothing for me // Same lesson again? Come on, give it to me.” She knows that she struggles with accepting difficult lessons, even while facing intense pressure from the media. She has to put on a perfect facade, or “image,” of herself. Now, she’s escaping those expectations and letting herself make mistakes. It’s extremely important to learn from life experiences. After releasing this album, Paramore has solidified themselves as a group that continually improves their music. They are one of the top names in today’s music for good reason. The album is one of Williams’ most personal lyrical projects yet, and the band is sure to face more success in the future. Works Cited "This Is Why." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Mar. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Why. Accessed 13 Mar. 2023.
"This Is Why by Paramore." Genius, genius.com/albums/Paramore/This-is-why. Accessed 13 Mar. 2023. Rachel Florence, Staff Writer Fast fashion is a fairly recent trend in the industry. Buying clothes, which once was an occasional event, has become increasingly frequent. This means that companies produce clothing at a lower quality for less money. Consumers buy and discard clothes quickly, according to the ever-changing trends that create a constant demand for new clothing. Companies like Shein, H&M, and Mango get the newest styles in stores as quickly as possible. Photo from Fortune; Many fast fashion retailers take advantage of cheap labor in developing Asian countries like India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bangladesh. The employees work long hours and receive less than the minimum wage. The advent of fast fashion has made clothing more accessible, transforming a seasonal occurrence into a common hobby. This transition now allows people to gain inspiration from social media platforms such as Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok. Social media users can easily develop the styles of their favorite influencers and celebrities. However, the constant consumption of materials has made the clothing industry one of the most prolific polluters on earth. Many clothing pieces from fast-fashion brands are made of polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels and can shed microfibers. Also, the constant disposal of clothing creates extreme textile waste. There are humanitarian concerns regarding the working conditions of mass-market employees, who are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals and long work days. Photo from Phys.org; Fashion influencers and average consumers accumulate clothing "hauls" but quickly throw pieces away, contributing to dumping grounds in places like Chile. Fast fashion encourages a “throw-away” mentality regarding clothing, affecting both the producer and consumer. Excess fabrics and products sit in landfills for decades, adding to the world’s catastrophic pollution.
The trend of fast fashion has its perks, such as affordable prices and instant gratification for consumers, but the environmental and health consequences may not be worth it. A consumer should keep their clothing for as long as possible and research more sustainable brands. |