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By: Remy Zerber
Culture Columnist There are many students who will want to travel during Jan Term in 2022. People are extra eager to travel which is understandable, considering we have spent the past year in quarantine because of the coronavirus. However, even though some countries have opened up and people are allowed to travel now, there are still many safety precautions that need to be taken in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Even though travel for the long-anticipated JanTerm 2022 is open now, students and staff still need to follow safety protocols so no one gets COVID-19. Different countries have different policies on traveling. Some countries are open and others have closed their borders. For example, travelers need permission to go to Anguilla but countries like Canada are open to US travelers. Every country has different policies for entering it. For example, some countries require everyone to be vaccinated and quarantine for any amount of time upon entering. Even though it may be difficult to travel, students will still do it because everyone misses traveling. The pandemic and quarantine have made everyone appreciate traveling so much more. The risks of traveling during JanTerm 2022 are still high even though quarantine is over. Students can still get COVID-19 even if they follow their destination’s COVID-19 policies. There is no 100% guarantee that someone won’t get it. However, safety procedures are taken to keep everyone safe. In a recent update, the college has officially announced that travel is restricted this Jan term. Most students are disappointed by this news because we have not been able to travel for the last year and we miss traveling. Most students already paid the deposit to travel so it was especially disappointing when they could not go. Hopefully, it will open up again next year. Another problem students might encounter when traveling is cost. Cost plays an important role when a student is deciding where to travel during JanTerm. Most trips are expensive so students will need to figure out how to pay for them. Students might be able to get a scholarship to pay for their trip but they will have to meet the deadlines. Safety procedures still need to be followed in order for students to travel safely during JanTerm 2022. Countries have different policies regarding who is allowed to enter it. The risk of getting COVID-19 is still high even though quarantine is over now. Traveling for Jan Term is expensive so students might be able to get scholarships to pay for it.
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The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards took place last Sunday, September 19th. Here’s a recap of the night’s most memorable moments.
By Isabelle Delostrinos Culture Columnist The 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards opened up with a singalong performance from host Cedric the Entertainer alongside LL Cool J, Lil Dicky, and Rita Wilson. The group performed a rendition of Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend,” altering the lyrics to paint what the past year has been like in quarantine, and how the nominated shows kept us entertained. The infectious song and rhythm encouraged everyone to dance while the cameras highlighted actors in attendance such as Mandy Moore, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Billy Porter. After last year’s virtual award show, the joy of gathering and celebrating in person with one another was evident in this opening act. Not too long after the singalong song, Seth Rogen pointed out the uncertainty of the environment. He brought up the number of people in attendance and that the event didn’t actually feel like it was outdoors. Although the show was held outdoors in a tent, the roof was enclosed and guests were not wearing masks. But the Television Academy later noted that the event followed strict protocols, requiring proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test for guests to attend. Cedric the Entertainer also provided some comedic belief by calling Pfizer the Neiman Marcus of vaccines. Once the COVID related worries were addressed and safety was reassured, the award show fully commenced. Here’s a short list of some of the awards received throughout the night:
The winningest show of the night was Ted Lasso, breaking history by taking home eleven Emmys. Just based off of one season, the Apple TV show was awarded Outstanding Comedy Series. This win was a big statement as last year’s receiver, Schitt’s Creek, took six seasons to be recognized in this category. Actors from the show also received personal achievements such as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy for Jason Sudeikis. It was Ted Lasso’s night and if you haven’t seen it yet, the Television Academy is telling you to watch it now. The show is currently in its second season with new episodes releasing weekly. Aside from the show awards, this year’s Governor’s Award was awarded to Debbie Allen. The Television Academy recognized her contributions to the entertainment industry as a dancer, actress, producer, writer, and director along with her efforts to empower the youth through her dance academy. A video introduction highlighted moments throughout her career such as her work on A Different World, Grey’s Anatomy, and her iconic role in Fame. Her emotional speech encouraged women and youth across the nation as she urged “claim your power, claim your voice… to make this world a better place.” This year’s award show was a statement from streaming platforms. Netflix and Apple TV proved their ability to keep up with primetime channels and create shows that the public fell in love with. Televised shows like Black-ish and This Is Us fell short to Ted Lasso and The Crown. These long running shows did not stand a chance. The future of television may be changing with the evolution of accessible streaming platforms, so don’t doubt the newest releases from Netflix or HBO Max. They might just be worth the watch. Inspired by the story-telling blog Humans of NY, the Mission and Ministry Center created Humans of SMC. The new Instagram page looks to share students’ stories and experiences as we return to campus life and our SMC community.
By Isabelle Delostrinos Culture Columnist Have you ever sat down in a coffee shop and observed the people around you? Have you ever wondered about what their personality is like, where they came from, or why they even decided to be at the coffee shop? Every single day, we come across new people. From simple moments like walking past a stranger or meeting someone at a job interview, we have crossed paths with thousands of people over our lifetime. We tend to forget that the people around us are humans too. They’ve gone through things like heartbreak, happiness, successes, and failures, but constant focus on ourselves and our own struggles keeps us from celebrating our neighbors. There are millions of stories that people have to tell about their lives. Although we’ll never get to listen to all of them, Humans of NY inspires us to learn about the people around us. Humans of NY was a project started by Brandon Stanton. After being laid off from his 9 to 5, Stanton left for New York City and decided to take a chance on photography full time. What began as a goal to photograph 10,000 New Yorkers later turned into a story-telling blog highlighting people from all over the world. Stanton would converse with every person he photographed. In the bustling streets of New York, it was difficult for Stanton to find an approachable person. But his friendly aura allowed people to share their most personal stories. Amazed by their experiences and the level of intimacy they shared, Stanton couldn’t help but spread the word about these people. The impact of these interactions not only hit home for Stanton, but for the world as well. People were able to connect with strangers because of their similar experiences. Others learned life lessons by reading about different perspectives and outlooks on life. Since 2013, Humans of NY has been published into two books, produced into a docuseries on Facebook, and branched off into countries all over the world. Miniseries were also created to focus on specific groups, like prison inmates, pediatric cancer patients, Syrian Americans, and refugees. Its concept has been taken on by inspired readers and turned into things like Dogs of NY and has now reached our very own campus as Humans of SMC. Humans of SMC was established this year by SMC’s Mission and Ministry Center. After the heat of the global pandemic, our Saint Mary’s campus is finally flourishing again with an open campus. The student body is back to rebuild the community and Humans of SMC hopes to be a part of the process. Students will have the chance to share their stories and experiences about the pandemic, online learning, transitioning back to in-person classes, and more. The page looks to demonstrate intimacy and vulnerability as a reminder that our peers around campus are human too. Our classmates aren’t just people we have to do group projects with or people we just see walking across Chapel Lawn. They’re people with who we can connect and create relationships past the classroom. Humans of SMC looks to create a safe space on campus for students to be open about what they’ve been through because it can be helpful to those around them. Storytelling is a powerful tool that can be used to create meaningful connections, stronger relationships, and awareness of what’s happening around us. To learn about the people around us, you can find the Humans of SMC page on Instagram @_humansofsmc_. To share your story, you can email [email protected]. Check out Keith + Kari and Collective Memories Through December 12th
By Melanie Moyer Editor-in-Chief The Museum of Art (MOA) is welcoming the community back with two new exhibitions on view through December 12th. These original exhibitions are described as exploring “themes of narrative and memory” through painting, ceramics, print-making, and other multi-media platforms. The exhibitions are on view Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to all programs and events are free at MOA. Keith + Kari features the work of ceramic artist, Kari Marboe responding through site-specific work to the environments painted by William Keith. MOA’s frequent visitors will recognize Keith as the landscape painter from the College’s Permanent Collection. The key questions addressed in this exhibition are ‘What has changed? What has stayed the same?’ in an exploration of environmental response informed through research. In an interview with Marboe, she shared that it was really important to her to “connect to the the museum through these paintings and think about what had changed and what has stayed the same around these landscape paintings.” After visiting the sites depicted in Keith’s painting, she “responded to his works to generate new work of [her] own and also bring him back into the conversation.” Her work also aimed to bring Brother Cornelius’ work, which brought the collection of Keith’s paintings to SMC, “back into the consciousness of the student body.” Collective Memories: Stonecuts from Cape Dorset is also on display at MOA. The exhibit “features contemporary graphic arts crafted by Inuit artists and printmakers during the early years of the 1960s and 1970s at a remote co-operative (co-op) post at Nunavut, Canada.” The exhibition pulls from the Permanent Collection at MOA, featuring stonecut prints gifted to the College in memory of the collector, Barbara Allen Burns. The exhibition was created with consultation from the Saint Mary's College of California Intercultural Center (IC) and the College Committee of Inclusive Excellence (CCIE). MOA is open to the public and invites members of the community to their Third Thursday activities, which are resuming after they were cut short during online learning. Stay tuned for an in-depth tour of the exhibitions in a future publication. For more information on these new exhibitions, please visit this link: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/saint-marys-college-museum-of-art/fall-exhibitions-2021 Jackie Chan-Esque fight sequences meet with beings with apocalyptic potential in Marvel's newest film. A goofy sidekick, a scary sister, and tasteful use of Chinese culture make for a must-watch movie.
By Benjamin Noel Culture Columnist In a post-Endgame Marvel Universe, there seems to be no need for new heroes. Falcon and the Winter Soldier made short work of the Flag-Smashers, an organization that sought to destroy borders. The Scarlet Witch came to terms with the reality of her loss and moved on from her grief-fueled alternative reality. But none of these heroes could fathom, much less overcome, the threats of 3000-year-old evil powers locked in a realm not accessible to the outside world. A normal valet, Sean, lives in San Francisco, parking cars by day and spending nights at karaoke bars with his friend Katy, played by Akwafina, until they pass out early in the morning. Sean speaks multiple languages and Katy has an honors degree from Berkeley, but neither seems to have a direction in life. That is until Sean is jumped by a group of thugs surprisingly well trained in martial arts. He takes them on in a fight scene that is reminiscent of the action in Rush Hour with a few twists. And that’s when we learn that Sean is really Shang-Chi. Who woulda thought? We learn that he is no ordinary man, nor is he a superhero. His skills have come from a lifetime of training and dedication to honing his mind and body. That’s what makes this film different from most other comic book movies. The world did not fall in Shang-Chi’s lap, no, he bled, sweat, and cried for every last bit of strength, skill, and knowledge he possesses. And his lifetime of training, along with certain family ties, thrust him into the center of a world-ending threat that he must take down. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of 80s and 90s martial arts movies. The action in this film did not disappoint, and it had the best fight scenes of all the Marvel movies I’ve seen. The choreography, the creativity, and the well-balanced opponents in every fight scene made me jump up in my seat in anticipation, a feat that only a few martial arts movies have accomplished. There are no preset winners in any of these fights, there is no Hulk to smash around Loki, and every match-up could have gone either way. Also, if you were a fan of Black Panther and Wakanda, this movie is for you. In Shang-Chi we visit another realm that was able to prosper without contact from the advancements of outside modern technology. The fights and the lore within this movie made it worth the watch. You don’t need to have seen any other Marvel movie to watch this one, but if you have, be prepared for a couple of cameos from characters from previous movies, dating back to Iron Man III. Overall this movie was a great stand-alone film in the Marvel Universe, but it’s not a reach to say we’ll be seeing Shang and his friends again very soon. So buy your tickets and strap in for two hours of action, comedy, and ancient lore. You won’t be disappointed. After a year of Tik Tok’s rapid success, influencers from the app are looking to establish their career in the industry. From creating music to designing clothing lines, Tik Tok influencers are working past 15 second videos to make their names known.
By Isabelle Delostrinos Culture Columnist The internet has changed the game of becoming famous. It has given us famous bloggers, Youtubers, Instagrammers, Viners, and more. Influencers from various platforms reach a certain point in their career where they can venture past the one that built them. Liza Koshy gained momentum on Vine back in 2013, which opened up opportunities such as acting, hosting television shows, and creating her own makeup brand. Another example of this would be Youtuber Jake Paul. He scored a role on Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark and is somehow now a boxer. Within the past year, the social media platform that creates instant celebrities has been Tik Tok. The app was released in February 2019 as a merge with Musical.ly. It acquired all of the existing users, making it a seamless transition for the platform. Similar to Vine and Musical.ly, users could record and edit short videos to songs and sounds. This created a meme-able environment, appealing to audiences of all ages. The app already proved its success by sustaining over millions of users just a year after its release. But the global lockdown mandates skyrocketed Tik Tok’s popularity, making it one of the most used apps in 2020. An influencer that rose from Tik Tok was Charli D’Amelio. In the heat of the pandemic, D’Amelio was known for her effortless dancing. Short choreographed dances to current songs was a strong trend on the app, and D’Amelio was labeled the queen of this. Posting daily videos and collaborations with other “Tik Tokers” grew her fan base to 124.1 million followers. As soon as it was possible, D’Amelio made an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and even collaborated on a Tik Tok dance with J. Lo. Her rise to fame allowed her to move her family out of Connecticut and into the heart of the industry, Los Angeles. The D’Amelio Show recently debuted on Hulu, being one of the first shows to be based on a Tik Tok celebrity. The show consists of thirty five minute episodes following the lives of Charli and Dixie D’Amelio. The family looks to use this show as a way to let fans and the public into their lives. Not everything is as it really seems, and the first episode sheds light on some of the issues that come with rapid success and internet fame. Along with the show, the family works to expand their empire by creating their own clothing lines, continuing partnerships with makeup brands, and jump-starting Charli’s dance career and Dixie’s music career. Besides the D’Amelios, another Tik Tok star looking to create a space for herself in the industry is Addison Rae. After dropping out of college and moving to Los Angeles,Rae founded her own makeup brand Item Beauty. She was later seen hanging out with Kourtney Kardashian, which stirred the internet up with this unexpected friendship. Last month, she made her acting debut as the star of Netflix’s He’s All That reboot. And these are just some of the actions Rae has taken to grow her resume. It seems as though we are witnessing Tik Tok stars finding their niche in the actual, real world entertainment industry. Some are trying out a music career while others design their own merch. But it looks like the wave of Tik Tok influencers to celebrities will continue to grow these next few years. This past April, it was rumored that Netflix would be releasing a reality show based on the Hype House, a content creator house containing Tik Tok influencers. Facebook Messenger looks to promote one of their new features, Watch Together, by streaming creator Avani Gregg’s personal talk show. Although these influencers may not be known outside of their beloved Tik Tok posts, they are definitely working hard to make their mark and create a lasting career in entertainment. A New Retelling of the Classic Story
By Remy Zerber Culture Columnist The new Cinderella movie starring Camila Cabello is a very good adaptation of the original movie. This is Camila Cabello’s acting debut. The movie is modernized because it has some themes of female empowerment. The music in the movie is good because there is something for all ages. The new Cinderella movie starring Camila Cabello is a modern take on the classic fairytale, which has something for everyone. This new adaptation of Cinderella has many examples of female empowerment. One example is when Cinderella says she doesn’t want to marry the prince because she would be giving up everything she likes to do for him. This teaches young girls watching the movie that they should put their own happiness before anything else and they should not sacrifice everything for a man. Cinderella also makes a dress and sells it by herself. This teaches girls that they should not wait for anyone to do anything for them. They should do everything for themselves. A third example is when Cinderella wears a blue pantsuit. Her fairy godmother, played by Billy Porter, puts a pantsuit on her, which is a symbol of a business woman. This teaches girls that they should chase their dreams like Cinderella, since she is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a fashion designer. People of all ages will like the new Cinderella adaptation because of all the songs from different generations. There are songs by Janet Jackson and Queen for older generations and songs for younger people like “Material Girl'' by Madonna. These songs make the movie appeal to all age groups, making it more successful. It probably sold more tickets and made more money because of the music and the appeal to all age ranges. The cast of Cinderella is incredibly diverse. Billy Porter plays the fairy godmother, also known as Fab G in this version. He is a gay, Black man from Pennsylvania. He plays a genderless fairy godmother in this adaptation. He says his character is genderless because “magic has no gender” and his character is magical. Camila Cabello, who is of Cuban descent, plays Cinderella. This is a nice change from all the blonde Cinderellas and shows young girls that anyone can be a princess. Clearly, the new Cinderella movie is a modern version of the classic fairy tale that everyone can enjoy. It is a feminist version that empowers young women and girls by showing them what women can do through characters like Cinderella. The music in this movie is good because it appeals to all ages. The cast is also very diverse. The 2021 version of Cinderella is very entertaining and empowering for young women. Its legend precedes it for a passion project with decades of development behind it; rumors of a movie epic with an outlook which has spanned potent eras of recent history have been reinvigorated with new updates on the financing and progress of the project, along with creating a new cast for a time in which movies are coming around to seeing their cherished re-opening dates reached.
By George Donovan Culture Columnist Dreaming is believing for Francis Ford Coppola, the world-renowned director of such groundbreaking movie legends as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. At 82, his unique, decades-in-the-making epic is ready to catch the wind of the resurgent world of new film visions returning to preparation, execution, and the celebration from audiences and critics across the planet. The enormous and enigmatic project, Megalopolis, which has been hinted at many times through the years, is a retelling of Ancient Rome’s Catiline Conspiracy, which pit the patrician Catiline against Cicero in the former’s chance at overthrowing the Roman Republic, supercharged with the beating heart of a futuristic modern New York. Following Apocalypse Now’s release in 1979, capping one of the greatest filmmaker’s runs of all time with 4 lifetime achievement-worthy movies to his name released in the decade, Coppola took a heavy hit in the early ‘80s with the troubles of his Zoetrope Studios project, and smaller movies followed through the years to come. But plans for Megalopolis picked up in the following decade, with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jack, and The Rainmaker, three of his biggest hits in the 1990s, all produced to build a steady funding for the dream project in box office returns and studio persuasion. These developments came to a head in early 2001, with the announcement of Megalopolis at the Cannes film festival, floated by reports of dozens of hours of street sounds and Manhattan architecture already shot as second unit footage. Further hints, swirling around close friend and peer George Lucas’ Star Wars Episode I’s technology and filming techniques coming into Coppola’s hands for the heady production, promised an unparalleled movie experience. “I think the big news here,” Coppola explained to Deadline last month, “is that I am still the same as I was 20 years ago or 40 years ago. I’m still willing to do the dream picture, even if I have to put up my own money, and I am capable of putting up $100 million if I have to here. I don’t want to, but I will do it if I have to”. With Coppola spending his recent years re-releasing some of his most popular films, including new cuts and re-releases of his most famous movies, he’s hoping to put together a version of the new project that can be created at $100-125,000,000, a budget with which he’s committing to beginning principal photography next Fall with a cast for the 2020’s. Among the actors being contacted and looking to sign onto the project include Forest Whitaker, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jessica Lange, and even James Caan, who made history with Coppola in his Oscar-nominated role of Sonny Corleone in the original Godfather. Zendaya and Oscar Isaac, two other stars looking to make it into the cast, have been busy over the past few years with Dune, another ensemble epic with the word “masterpiece” being shared and passed around among early critics who attended the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September. With the success of that movie, opening October 22nd, suggesting the draw of a big cast to return in upcoming projects, the updating casting efforts for Megalopolis are re-imagining the conflicts of the story and characters for a new generation. Coppola’s confidence in funding for Megalopolis comes at a time where these dreams can come true, such as in the case of ‘70s peer Martin Scorcese, who’s own passion project, The Irishman, had swirled through drains of financial backing from different studios and production companies for years before finally settling to receive a funding and distribution from Netflix; The Irishman’s release in November 2019 was one of the platform’s biggest prestige movie hits, showing their support for the technology and scale which Scorcese’s visions demanded. But with the new positions for partnering private financiers, coupled with the sales in his vineyard holdings and winery outputs through the years, the beginning of a refurbished Megalopolis interest machine and one massive last hurrah for Francis Ford Coppola may pay off, and a legend will come to life to light up a rebounding industry, real and rolling at last. |
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May 2024
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