I Am Not Wearing Your Letterman Jacket
In these months of solitude, the bored masses have switched on to Netflix to help them escape the mundane feeling of the lockdown. This constant tuning in is no new feeling to teenagers, whose viewership has created an entirely new genre of melodramatic “teen” shows and movies. While I binged (and rebinged) these shows, I became increasingly interested in the patterns of dress. As a fashion zealot, I tend to fixate on styling within any form of media - I get excited by fresh perspectives in fashion. Especially when it is portrayed through a young character’s style. Sadly,
In these months of solitude, the bored masses have switched on to Netflix to help them escape the mundane feeling of the lockdown. This constant tuning in is no new feeling to teenagers, whose viewership has created an entirely new genre of melodramatic “teen” shows and movies. While I binged (and rebinged) these shows, I became increasingly interested in the patterns of dress. As a fashion zealot, I tend to fixate on styling within any form of media - I get excited by fresh perspectives in fashion. Especially when it is portrayed through a young character’s style. Sadly, as I binge hop from Riverdale to Love Victor, I am underwhelmed by the lack of originality in the costume designer’s styling choices. It leaves me to question if there is a dress code for every mainstream teen-oriented TV show and if this rulebook accurately depicts the taste of the current generation.
Throughout these teen melodramas, one-dimensional characters are condemned to insipid styling. Costume designers should use their fashion expertise to amplify the characters’ voices, creating dimension to these teens through clothing but many designers fall flat. However, the issues with costumes is not entirely the costume department’s fault. Hollywood costume designers have to answer to showrunners and the network to ensure that each garment they choose is on brand for the series and the channel.
The aesthetic issues of a show fall on the shoulder of its creator and writing team; the vigor in which they describe each character paints the picture of who the character is, therefore hinting at these character’s style. This causes a hindrance in the creativity for a designer making it hard for them to push boundaries, delivering stimulating costume concepts that their bosses can approve. Here lies the real root of the problem, aside from the basic network TV character breakdowns, a designer’s creativity is dwindled based on what network heads think their audience wants to see. Yet heads of networks (like seventy year old Mark Pedowitz from The CW) are typically the jobs of older white males who have not been in high school since the sixties. So, what do they really know about what our generation likes to wear?
Consider their most popular show, Riverdale. This hit teen drama centers around five main characters that exemplify every single high school movie character trope ever. The All-American jock (who is ironically played by the New Zealand actor KJ Apa), the girl-next-door (Lili Reinhart), the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks (Cole Sprouse), the rich daddy's girl (Camilla Mendes) and the mean popular head cheerleader (Madelaine Petsch). The Riverdale cast is dressed in tropes: the staple “bad boy” leather jacket is paired with all of Sprouse’s outfits, while rich girl Mendes always adorns her fit with a pearl necklace and Apa constantly sports his football letterman jacket.
Although some of these costume pieces do hold weight for some characters (like Mendes’ pearl necklace was a gift from her father before he went to prison), numerous costume choices simply promote these outdated tropes. Every week we tune in to watch Petsch, the prettiest popular (twenty-six year old) high-school girl, do a slow-motion strut down the halls in her mini-skirt, crop top and heels. She evokes the sense that, “Every girl wants to be her and every guy wants to do her” (F*&% the Prom- another teen flick starring Madelaine Petsch as the mean popular head cheerleader). It is baffling to watch the different shows replicate these tropes (sometimes with the same actor) with the costume design only emphasizing these stereotypes, confirming how superficial screenwriters think teenagers are.
Generation Z is a lot more than the silly high school tropes that are portrayed on TV and we show it by how we dress. We play and experiment with gender norms, always pushing the boundaries of fashion, asking the fashion industry to give us more: more inclusive sizes, more dynamic silhouettes, more comfortable clothing. Most shows don’t represent the dynamic tastes for this generation but, recently one show redefined the style of teen melodramas. HBO’s Euphoria pushes the boundaries of young adult fashion. The show’s characters and costumes embody everything Gen Z is: fun, bold, unique and unapologetic. Euphoria’s make-up artist Doniella Davy was informed and inspired by teen influencers who she researched for the show. Davy wanted to immerse herself in a younger generation’s fashion choices so that she can authentically create looks for young characters, paying off in her first Emmy for Outstanding Contemporary Make-up. This show loves to rebel against the norms of teen show costume design - throughout the series, a transgender character wears non-gender conforming undergarments. “There is a lot of power seeing a young trans girl not really trying to conform to a cis-gender standard” Hunter Schafer (Euphoria actress) stated regarding her character’s costumes. This series recognizes young adults and how we use clothing to express all aspects of ourself.
As Shakespeare’s once said, “Theatre holds a mirror up to society” (Hamlet); although, film is not exactly the same as theatre, it is a mass form of storytelling. People stare at these screens hoping to escape while wanting to find themselves. From the character development to the fashion styling, the lack of genuine adolescent depictions can be disheartening causing one to believe that their story doesn’t matter. As an impressionable teenager, when you watch a show that is supposedly made for you, you should be able to connect to real characters rather than clichés. Hopefully, with Euphoria unveiling what it looks like to be a teenager in today’s society (and receiving accolades for their honest work) there will be a paradigm shift in major studios; causing them to create characters that resemble this generation versus propelling old-fashioned Hollywood ideals.
Photo Credits: Pinterest
Report: Taylor McKenzie
Billy Porter - the Centerpiece of Pose
Pose tells the story of LGBTQ ballroom culture in New York City during the late 1980s and early 1990s and has thus been applauded for being a television show with prevalent trans actors. A key player in bringing this historical scene to life is Billy Porter, who portrays the character Pray Tell.
Talk about a show-stopping look.
Pose tells the story of LGBTQ ballroom culture in New York City during the late 1980s and early 1990s and has thus been applauded for being a television show with prevalent trans actors. A key player in bringing this historical scene to life is Billy Porter, who portrays the character Pray Tell. Porter is renowned for his flamboyant, gender-nonconforming attire, which has overlapped between his onscreen and real life fashion sense.
Porter wearing an eye-catching green printed suit.
Outfitting him are the talented costume designers Lou Eyrich and Analucia McGorty, who took painstaking measures to exhibit Pray Tell’s vivacious demeanor. Eyrich and McGorty realized their artistic vision by collecting clothes from vintage shops and secondhand stores and transforming them into new, more extravagant ensembles. One interesting aspect of their creative process is that they often model outfits after those of the 1970s, demonstrating their attention to detail by recalling the show’s post-disco setting.
This yellow coat over printed silk blouse outfit commands.
Much of Pray Tell’s wardrobe includes garish hats, including a lavender top hat and green captain’s hat with the label “Yellow Cab.” Among the character’s iconic outfits are a vinyl trench coat, mixed-print silk robe, and most ostentatiously, a shimmering sequined dress complemented by blue and green feather jacket. Fans of the show have voiced their disappointment at Pose being snubbed for an Emmy nomination, and failing to consider awarding Eyric and McGorty is indeed a missed opportunity.
Photo Credits: PopSugar
Report: Nia Hunt
Inside Taylor Swift’s Surprise Album Release
On July 23 Taylor Swift shocked the world by revealing that at midnight shwe would be releasing a new surprise album. She explained, “Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore.” On midnight of July 24 the 16 track Alternative/Indie album was released. It has been an instant success and begs the question; Taylor has done country, pop, and now Indie, what can’t she do?
This year has been difficult for so many people amidst the COVID 19 pandemic. Plans have changed, events cancelled, and schools closed. Among the numerous concerts that have been cancelled is Taylor Swift’s Lover Fest, in which she had planned to perform songs from the album she released in August of 2019.
On July 23 Taylor shocked the world revealing that at midnight she would be releasing a new surprise album. On social media she shared, “Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore.” On midnight of July 24 the 16 track album was released, much to the excitement of fans all across the globe.
This alternative Indie album has been an instant success and begs the question; what can’t Taylor Swift do? She has released hugely successful country and pop albums over the years and now has an impressive Indie title to add to her versatility. Although the album itself was recorded in isolation, Taylor collaborated with some amazing artists including: Aaron Dessner who helped co-write and produce numerous songs, and Bon Iver who helped write and sung with her on the song, Exile.
The album boasts emotional tracks including Exile, which is about a toxic or struggling relationship and the guy is simply wondering where everything went wrong. Epiphany is an emotional piece as well, which some have speculated to be about the doctors and nurses during this pandemic. One of the lighter hearted tracks is, The Last Great American Dynasty, which tells the story of how American composer Rebekah Harkness apparently dyed her neighbor's dog green after an argument.
Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi
Tanaye White: Sports Illustrated's Dynamic 2020 Model
Tanaye White: Sports Illustrated's Dynamic 2020 Model
Departing from her prestigious career in aerospace to finally pursue her dream of becoming a supermodel, Tanaye White is a paragon of combined brains and beauty. After auditioning for Sports Illustrated for the second time, White has officially become the publication’s flagship 2020 model.
White’s journeys through her endeavors are testaments to her resilience in the face of adversity, and she has thus broken ground in on multiple fronts. While she initially had to suppress her childhood interest in modeling, she nonetheless excelled in academia by earning her Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Maryland and her Master's in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University. These scholarly achievements launched her into a position with the world’s third-largest defense and aerospace agency. Now equipped with job security, White gained the confidence to audition as a model for Sports Illustrated. Rejection from her first audition did not deter her, either, and it was this very perseverance that made her childhood dream into a reality.
White profoundly understands the significance of her latest milestone. She is a dark-skinned black woman proudly flaunting a voluminous afro who is being exalted as a beauty icon, the kind of representation that will undoubtably empower other girls and women of her complexion and phenotype. Additionally, she wishes to challenge the falsehood of attractiveness and intelligence being mutually exclusive. Despite her demonstrably high intellect, White was constantly underestimated by her colleagues due to her appearance, a nuisance further compounded by her burgeoning modeling career. While she has left her field of study, her continued active defiance of such sexist expectations remains to be seen.
Photo credits:
https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/sports-illustrated-model-tanaye-white-interview-47624848
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/tanaye-white-left-her-defense-191936603.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAMUHifBmn6PmuIKoMrC9sPlx7mELyA4vLE9ZPAWjLpD4wUaTyFV5sp89VpfCcf7mb0gldSy1MSY3s3HrbIFgIUk1zdGIAQfOOpU2HIkyU_2jpP0bvTRyqZx9WOlP5lLE06Uf9AlxgFYWFfPmuu7wt0sRVHb5e_mJCcDxpnr54jE
Report: Nia Hunt
One of the NBA's greatest traditions is back on.
One of the NBA's greatest traditions is back on.
The current global pandemic might have put almost everything on hold. However, several things have started to open back up, the most recent one being different sports. Baseball and the WNBA started their seasons this week. Unfortunately, not all sports have good news. The NBA has been hit with one bad news story after another. But the worst story? Probably the canceling of the pre-game fashion show, where the players would walk down a tunnel, showing off their ensembles. A new policy has forced players to show up to the games in their team uniforms.
"Considering the unique environment on the NBA Disney campus and warmer weather conditions, a different policy was put in place for players' arrival and entry into the arenas," a league spokesperson said, according to ESPN.
Many are not happy. “That is crazy," Chris Tucker told ESPN in reaction to the news. "I think that takes away [from] originally what getting dressed was all about. It wasn't even about the tunnel walk, it was more about getting dressed up and going to work. To me, it's like a mindset, getting dressed and getting ready to go to my game. It puts me in the mindset that I'm ready to work and helps me find my focus."
However, the disappointment was short-lived. On Monday afternoon, ESPN reported that it was initially “misinformed by a league spokesperson" about a final ruling on the dress code. Players actually will be allowed to wear…clothing from their own wardrobe to games, which would be an astounding sentence to read under any other circumstances. The bottom line: NBA pregame fits, briefly taken from us, are back, albeit with a modified dress code. The rule was enacted with the requirement that players wear more relaxed clothing.
Report: Anna Bechtel
The NCAA is in Trouble, and Players Shouldn't Have Any Sympathy
As fall draws closer we will get a clearer picture of what the NCAA's plans are to play games during a pandemic, which may require it to force unpaid student athletes to put their health and safety on the line.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating for a lot of industries, including sports. Each league is trying to find a way to play games that don’t blatantly put the health of its players, coaches and other staff members at risk. A big reason for this is that, even during a pandemic, there is money to be made from games, and no sports organization is as desperate to generate revenue than the NCAA.
While the organization was one of the first to address the pandemic back in March when it restricted fans from attending March Madness games, before scrapping the entire tournament, it faces an even bigger challenge in the coming months: football.
The cancellation of March Madness had devastating financial consequences on the NCAA, but the cancellation of an entire football season could be even worse. The sport is a huge revenue generator for a lot of colleges and universities that are going to see a decline in attendance, and therefore tuition dollars, this fall. But while schools may be left in a very difficult situation if there is no season, by no means should any NCAA athlete for any sport have to play in the midst of a pandemic.
It makes sense that professional athletes would want to play because playing their respective sports is how they make a living, and even with that being said many across different leagues have opted out of playing. College athletes do not get paid for playing their respective sports, an entirely separate issue, therefore the only incentive for them to play is to keep their scholarships. One could argue that some student athletes would want to play anyway for simply the love of the game, but that will almost certainly not be the case.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 30 UCLA football players wrote a letter to the university last month which condemned the school for failing to protect their health and safety. This came after certain schools, like Alabama and Auburn, began training camps early and saw a surge of COVID-19 cases among the players.
Certain conferences are taking matters into their own hands. Earlier this month the Ivy League announced that no sports would be played during the fall season. Some smaller Division III conferences have also cancelled fall sports.
But schools that generate a lot of money from football and are dependent on that money, like Alabama and Auburn, are likely going to try to find a way to play. The NCAA is already staring down a very uncertain future with all of the revenue lost, so it will encourage anyway to bring in money even if it means making unpaid student athletes put the health and safety of themselves and of their families on the line.
Whether or not the NCAA will, or can, force student athletes to play has yet to be seen. We will find out come the fall, and if early training camps were any indication then resuming games guarantees many players will get infected with COVID-19. The consequences of that could be dire, and that, combined with the huge loss of revenue from March Madness, puts the NCAA’s future in uncharted territory.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Report: Michael Rosen
Koncerns for Kanye
As of recent, Kanye West has shown interest in becoming the next President of the United States, though it came out of nowhere.
As of recent, Kanye West has shown interest in becoming the next President of the United States, though it came out of nowhere. Although he did not receive enough signatures to be on the ballot for South Carolina, he decided to host a rally.
Some of the items discussed in his speech sent red flags to the media and to his family and friends. These items include speaking on abortion and slavery. Kanye claimed that him and Kim Kardashian were moments away from ending their child's life with pills, as was his mother when he was conceived. There was significant backlash from the family and rumors of divorce circling after these statements were made public. The Kardashian family claims that they are worried about his health and worried about what he is doing to the brand of the family. Kanye continues to become extremely distraught in the rally as he shares tears with the audience when he screams "I almost killed my daughter". He closes out with his opinion that everyone who has a baby should be given "a million dollars or something like that". The rally was unconventional yet a nice touch by Kanye to still be able to have his voice heard by the people, even though he lacked the votes to participate in the state. As the public continues to watch Kanye grow in the political world, they will be able to make opinions of him for themselves. As his rallies and speeches continue, there is no doubt that he will be increasing his likability. Although his interest in becoming the next president was a shock to many, maybe this is what the people need at the end of the day.
Report: Hannah Zaremba
Looking Back on the Life and Legacy of Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera’s death has been a heartbreaking shock to her beloved son, her friends, family and colleagues. Not only that, it’s a loss for fans everywhere who have admired and been impacted by Naya both on and off the screen.
This past week the Hollywood, Glee, and LGBTQ+ communities lost a shining light, the talented and selfless Naya Rivera. Naya and her four year old son rented a pontoon boat on Lake Piru, which is just north of Los Angeles on Wednesday July 8th. When the boat wasn’t returned on time, staff went looking and discovered Naya’s four year old son, Josey, asleep onboard, but no sign of Naya. Josey told authorities that she had helped him into the boat and when he looked back she was sinking under the water. Everyone who knew Naya knows how much being a mom meant to her. In an interview with People in 2016 she said, “I hope to instill good morals and values in [Josey]," Rivera added. "I want to teach him to be confident but kind, strong but not proud, and to always be in love with life." Until the very end Naya gave her strength, courage and life for her son. On July 13th, almost a week after she went missing, Naya’s body was found at Lake Piru, the medical examiner determined her cause of death to be accidental drowning.
Rivera has had numerous roles but is probably best known for her role as Santana Lopez on Glee. Santana was a flashy, sassy and breathtaking cheerleader. On a much deeper level she was also a voice for queer and questioning women, especially women of color, as Santana discovered herself and her sexuality on the show. One of the most iconic Santana lines is, “I love girls, the way I am supposed to feel about boys.” Numerous Glee stars reunited and gathered together at Lake Piru, standing at the edge of the water holding hands, in remembrance of their friend and colleague. The cast has been through it’s fair share of tragedies and heartbreak throughout the years. The day Naya’s body was found marked the seventh year anniversary of Cory Monteith’s death, Cory played Finn on Glee. The creators of Glee, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan penned a heartfelt note of tribute to Naya. They wrote; “Naya always made sure that Santana's love for Brittany was expressed with dignity, strength and with pure intentions. Naya was always moved by the girls who reached out to her to tell her how much Santana and Brittany's love affected them. Naya's obligation to them — and to all of her fans — was obvious. She had the rare combination of humility and endless confidence in her talent." The three men will be creating a college fund for Naya’s son Josey.
Naya is loved, missed and remembered by her beloved son, numerous friends, family and coworkers. As well as many fans' lives she has touched both on and off screen. In her short thirty three years of life she used her talent for good and made a difference in so many people’s lives. Her love, light, grace, and talent will be missed by all. Be encouraged by these fitting words that Naya shared on twitter some time ago, “No matter the year, circumstance, or strife everyday you’re alive is a blessing, Make the most of today and every day you are given. Tomorrow is not promised.”
Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi
Is Kanye West Running for President or Not?
Okay Kanye, What's Your Plan?
Remember when I said Kanye was officially running for office? Well, I’m not really sure anymore! First he was in, then “He’s out”, according to his political adviser Steve Kramer, and now he’s on the Oklahoma ballot? Is anyone else super confused?
Are you in or are you out Kanye?! First and foremost, he payed his way to get on the Oklahoma ballot with a $35,000 fee. He has his own campaign website, but there isn’t much of a campaign on it…actually, there isn’t really much of a campaign at all. The website, as of right now, is asking for South Carolina citizens to sign a petition to get Kanye on the state’s ballot. That’s it, that’s the whole website. You can take a look for yourself here. His rallies in South Carolina are scheduled, he’s continuously promoting his petition, and he’s working to get on other state’s ballots as well, so I guess he is running for President?
Mr. West is known to get a little intense when he finds his newest project, and in this instance, he hasn’t failed us. He tweeted out an edited photo of Mount Rushmore with his head on it captioning it, “2020”. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared.
The Yeezy designer also tweeted out on July 19 that his new album, Donda, will be released next week, but then he deleted it? What is going on?! As you can tell, this campaign changes day by day, so stay tuned to see what’s next for the West’s.
Photo Credits:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/kanye-west-photoshops-face-onto-22371710
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/18/kanye-west-rally-south-carolina-369380
Report: Kaitlin Gallagher
Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon
Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon is the first posthumous album to reach No. 1 since 2018. Pop Smoke and XXXTentacion are two of the four hip-hop artists with posthumous No. 1s. They follow The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, who each have three posthumous leaders. R.I.P to the Woo.
Pop Smoke’s (real name: Bashar Barakah Jackson), posthumous album titled, “Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon” has taken over social media. The Brooklyn, New York artist recently was tragically killed in his home in Hollywood Hills, California, back in February. Pop Smoke was an upcoming artist with a whole new sound. His drilling beats that have mostly been produced by Axel, have made many all over the world, mostly New Yorkers, fall in love with his artistry. He was only 20 years old when he passed away and he had so much talent.
Pop Smoke’s rise to fame started with the New York anthems, “Welcome to the Party” as well as “Dior.” His two mixtapes “Meet the Woo” as well as “Meet the Woo 2” had all the fans heavily anticipating his debut album. According to his management, the plan was to release 3 mixtapes and then release the debut album.
Unfortunately, his life was cut short and it was not able to happen this way. Soon after the announcement of the release of the album, it was said that Pop Smoke wanted a famous designer named Virgil to design the cover of his album. When the cover was released, all of New York protested the artwork due to it not being up to par and did not meet the fans expectations. 50 Cent, as the executive producer, gave the fans an opportunity to submit artwork to be featured as the cover of the album. In the end, the fans were satisfied.
Pop Smoke’s Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, giving the rapper his first chart-topping effort. The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption. News of Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon’s rise to No. 1, comes shortly after five people were arrested on July 9 in connection with Pop Smoke’s murder on Feb. 19.
Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon is the first posthumous album to reach No. 1 since 2018. Pop Smoke and XXXTentacion are two of the four hip-hop artists with posthumous No. 1s. They follow The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, who each have three posthumous leaders. R.I.P to the Woo.
Photo Credits:
Album cover: @50cent
Red shirt: @realpopsmoke
Report: Soila Douce (@soila.xx)
Patrick Mahomes Signs Record-Setting Contract, And He Deserves It
Patrick Mahomes is reaping the benefits of being a young superstar quarterback who just led a team to its first title in half a century, but does his new deal guarantee prolonged success for the Chiefs?
Patrick Mahomes has secured a retirement plan for his great grandchildren. The star quarterback of the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs recently signed a 10-year extension worth $477 million, plus a potential $26 million in bonuses for a whopping $503 million. The contract ensures Mahomes will remain in Kansas City through the 2031 season.
This is the most lucrative contract in American sports history, a title previously held by Mike Trout’s 12-year $426.5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels. Mahomes is the first professional athlete to sign a contract worth half a billion dollars, and this doesn’t even include endorsements.
It’s fair to be angry at the fact that a football player is earning half a billion dollars, especially during a global pandemic and unprecedented unemployment. Although it should be noted that artists, such as actors and musicians, who are being paid similar amounts of money are seemingly immune to the same criticism. But there is no denying that half a billion dollars is a lot of money, and, at least from a pure sport standpoint, Patrick Mahomes is one of the few professional athletes playing today who deserves that type of money.
He has only played two full seasons in the NFL, and yet he already has a Super Bowl ring, a Super Bowl MVP, a regular season MVP and threw for 50 touchdowns in a single season. He is a classic gunslinging quarterback who is considered by many to be the best in the league, and at the ripe old age of 24 it’s likely his best seasons are ahead of him. Chiefs fans aren’t upset at the amount of money he’ll be making and for good reason. Mahomes brought a championship to a franchise that hadn’t won a title in 50 years, and he looks poised to bring a few more Lombardi trophies back to Kansas City.
But just because Mahomes is locked up for the next decade does not guarantee a dynasty for Kansas City. There are plenty of elite quarterbacks, past and present, who have only one Super Bowl to their name; Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees just to name a few. There’s also the fact that the Chiefs are going to be working with a tightened budget when trying to sign other players. Kansas City is not a huge market and having around $50 million dedicated to Mahomes each year for the next decade means the Chiefs probably won’t be handing out too many more huge contracts for a while. Locking up a generational talent like Mahomes was the right move, but the challenge now becomes maintaining and building upon the core around him while staying under the salary cap.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Report: Michael Rosen
Everything You Need to Know About Hamilton
August of 2015 Lin-Manuel Miranda’s record breaking musical, ‘Hamilton’, debuted. On July 3rd the full filmed performance with the original cast was uploaded onto the popular streaming platform, Disney Plus. However, it’s a game changer, allowing people who’ve never seen a Broadway show to experience the magic of theater. Have you seen Hamilton?
In August of 2015 Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Pulitzer Prize winning musical Hamilton debuted. The musical is a modern retelling of Alexander Hamilton’s story, going from an immigrant to being a founding father and the first U.S. treasury secretary. It was an instant success, and won an astounding 11 Tony awards.
On July 3rd Disney Plus released the filmed Hamilton performance with the original cast members onto it’s streaming platform. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic all on and off Broadway shows have been halted. Sitting down and watching the world renowned musical on your phone, television or computer isn’t quite the same as going to an actual theater. However, it has offered an opportunity for more people to experience the magic of theater, some for the very first time. Many people can’t afford to go to a Broadway show, which is why this could be a game changer, allowing more people than ever before to get to see a Broadway show.
In today’s current cultural climate the show tells a story that needs to be told. It shows the importance and value of immigrants on American society. Even including the line, “immigrants, we get the job done.” In addition, the show boasts a diverse cast including many black, Latino and Asian American performers.
The one downside is that Disney Plus is no longer offering a free trial of its streaming services. The reason being that it would be likely for many people to get the free trial simply to watch Hamilton. Luckily, the Disney Plus subscription is only $6.99 a month. Many people say it’s well worth the money to watch the educational and brilliant performance.
Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi
Beyonce wins BET's 2020 Humanitarian Award
The BET Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity who makes strides towards bettering communities, a celebrity who understands the significance of philanthropy and dedicates their time and money on working with charitable causes, and Beyoncé fulfills nothing short of this description.
Queen B. Yoncé. Sasha Fierce. Ms. Carter. Just a few nicknames that refer to the one and only Beyoncé. The singer, songwriter, producer, actress, and woman of many more talents has been nominated as BET Networks 2020 Humanitarian Award honoree. From starting her own charity BeyGOOD and implementing multiple humanitarian projects and efforts, it is no surprise that Beyoncé was chosen to receive this special award.
The BET Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity who makes strides towards bettering communities, a celebrity who understands the significance of philanthropy and dedicates their time and money on working with charitable causes, and Beyoncé fulfills nothing short of this description.
Being the incredible human that she is, Beyoncé donates to more than 35 different charities, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Feeding America, and Stand Up To Cancer.
In light of the current protests and efforts to dismantle systemic racism, Beyoncé remains a prominent figure for the Black Lives Matter movement. In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé dedicates the award to all of her brothers and sisters who continue to fight for change, and encourages people to use their voice and power to vote.
On Juneteenth, the anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved people, Beyoncé released a song titled “Black Parade” which celebrates black history and is an ode to her heritage. The musical release comes as no surprise, though, as Beyoncé has always celebrated blackness in her music and remains a symbol for black beauty, grace, and power.
In addition to her recent creative projects that commemorate black heritage, Beyoncé has partnered with Disney on a visual album titled “Black is King” inspired by “The Lion King” that will also pay tribute to Black culture and incorporates the timeless lessons from the movie.
As if BET’s Humanitarian Award isn’t already an honor in itself, the award was presented to Beyoncé by none other than former First Lady, Michelle Obama, who beamed with proud while speaking about the honoree- her dear friend.
Beyoncé’s career thus far has been undoubtedly influential, and in her young life she has already done more than most in philanthropic efforts. She is a star who she shines bright, and is able to radiate that light onto others and help them to create better a better world around them.
Photo credit can be attributed to Google's website.
Report: Alexandra Donnelly
Black-ish’s Marsai Martin sets trolls straight after criticism on her BET Awards Look
Black-ish actor Marsai Martin made sure she gave internet trolls a reality check on focusing on the more important things such as Breonna Taylor rather than criticize her looks from the BET Awards show.
This year’s virtual BET Awards was hosted by Comedian Amanda Seales. The Black Entertainment Television Network has celebrated and honored Black achievements and culture for 20 years.
This years show was pivotal, due to the racism and injustice that Black people face around the world. Amanda Seales shed light on two of the most important realties that we face in this world, systematic racism and police brutality in the U.S.
Although the famous award show was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, that did not step celebrities from flaunting their stylish looks in the comfort of their own homes.
Black-ish star Marsai Martin was not having it after receiving criticism over her awards look. On Monday June 29, the 15-year-old took to instagram, posting an epic clap back for all of the trolls who had words to say on her look.
“So, I was on Twitter, and a lot of people have been addressing my hair and talking about my hair and how it looks like a grandma’s wig,” she said as she held back fake tears and pulled at her strands. “And they’re talking about my veneers,” she added, pulling out a retainer. “These don’t look like a veneer to me.”
She continued in a saddened tone, showcasing her brilliant acting skills as she apologized to “anyone that I offended or haven’t gotten to your expectations about how I’m supposed to be.”
“I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings,” she said. “Or have anyone worry about what my decisions are.” She took a pause as if she was going to break down and was handed a $100 bill that she in turn blew her nose with.
At the end of the clip, Martin expresses her disappointment in people for not focusing on more important and relevant things, rather than how someone looks when doing their own awards show hair and make up at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Y’all, we are in quarantine and we’ve got more things to focus on than just my hair,” she says. “Justice for Breonna Taylor.”
Martin received a lot of praise from fellow celebrities in the comments.”My cousin is better than y’all,” wrote Janelle Monae. “I wouldn’t cross her y’all. She’ll chew you up,” wrote her fellow Black-ish actor Jeff Meacham.
“Oh man I was so upset. You are just brilliant. Holy crap what a turn. You got the stuff. No one is qualified to be you BUT YOU. And you know it. So rad,” wrote comedian Sarah Silverman.
I think it’s safe to say that you don’t want to mess with the clap back queen.
Picture Credit:
1. https://toofab.com/2020/06/29/black-ish-marsai-martin-hilariously-claps-back-at-trolls-bet/
2. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/marsai-martin-clapback-video-bet-awards-2020
3. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/marsai-martin-clapback-video-bet-awards-2020
Report: Juana Norales
Instagram: @juana.n_
The Evolution of Athlete Social Justice Protests
“Together we stand. Our actions must speak louder than our words.” @washwizards
At one time, it was rare that a professional athlete would speak up about anything regarding social justice. Deciding to go against that meant that ridicule would be sure to follow. This was true for Muhammad Ali, track and field stars Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who infamously stood on the awards podium with raised fists during the national anthem at the 1968 Olympic Games, Peter Norman, who was the third man on that podium with Smith and Carlos, Lebron James, and Colin Kaepernick.
In the late 1960s, boxing legend Ali decided not to enter the draft to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali was a firm believer of the Muslim principles, which is what led to his decision. With segregation still a very big part of America’s culture, many African Americans were uncomfortable with the idea of fighting for a country that did not value people that looked like them.
Following his decision to not enter the military draft, Ali sat down with some of sport’s biggest athletes to discuss his decision, which was later known as the “Ali Summit”. With the understanding that their careers would be at jeopardy, these athletes still chose to support Ali.
Carlos and Smith raising their fists to the national anthem would become one of the biggest moments in sports history. But for Peter Norman of Australia, that monumental moment would cost him his career. After expressing support for the Olympic Project for Human Rights, Australia shamed him and never selected him to be a part of another Olympic team.
Recently, many athletes have decided to participate in protests and use their platforms to address racial issues that have plagued our country for far too long. NBA players Dwight Howard and Kyrie Irving have been encouraging their fellow colleagues to sit out the rest of the season as a protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
“There will be no more sweeping harsh realities under the rug or putting band-aids on the scars just to rip them off down the line. It’s time we hold everybody accountable… Justice is demanded. Sustainable change is necessary”, says Washington Wizards player Bradley Beal.
The Washington Mystics and Wizards recently organized a protest to symbolize unity. An Instagram post made by the Washington Wizards read, “Together we stand. Our actions must speak louder than our words.” As of late, there have been several WNBA players that have decided to sit out their 2020 season to focus on social justice reform.
From the time that Ali spoke on America’s prejudices to present day, not much has changed. Athletes need to be vocal about social issues. If not, some people will act like they don’t exist.
Photo Credits:
Olympic/Black Power photo- history.com
Ali Summit photo- cleveland.com
Together We Stand photo- wjla.com
Report: Brionna Thompson
MLB Finally Has a Plan to Play Baseball in 2020, but its Future Looks Very Dim
After weeks of bitter negotiations, MLB finally has a plan to play baseball in 2020. However, not only is a season beginning to look less and less likely with a nationwide rise in coronavirus cases, but the negotiation process may only be the beginning for a league whose collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of 2021.
Of all the professional sports leagues that were trying to implement a plan that would allow them to resume playing games amid the COVID-19 pandemic, MLB may have had the brightest and harshest spotlight. A bitter negotiation process between the players and owners was seemingly going nowhere; players wanted to ensure their health and safety were the highest priority and that they would be paid a fair portion of their contracts, while billionaire owners cried poor that they were losing money due to the lack of games and kept lowballing players who would be putting their well-being on the line to play baseball. Yet somehow a deal was finally reached.
After players rejected the fourth deal the owners put in front of them, the owners unanimously agreed to proceed with a 60-game season under the terms of a deal made with the MLB Player’s Association back on March 26. While there are still many kinks to work out, MLB has finally joined every other professional sports league in at least having a plan to resume games.
As is the case with every other league, the unconventional season structure raises questions in terms of the sport. How legitimate will the World Series champion be if it only had to play 60 games under unprecedented circumstances? It is much easier to bat .400, a feat no one has accomplished in nearly 80 years, in a 60-game season than the usual 162 games. If a player accomplishes that feat or any similar ones will they be considered legitimate? What makes MLB unique among other sports is how much of a marathon the regular season is. Plenty of teams have played well in their first 60 games only for things to fall apart over the next 102, which means we could see some very unusual playoff contenders.
This is of course assuming that the league actually resumes play. We have seen coronavirus cases not only spike up in many states across the country, but in clubhouses for every sport as well. We are beginning to see players opt out of the season due to the risks involved, including Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies, Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the defending champion Washington Nationals and Mike Leake of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It’s becoming increasingly likely that we will not see professional sports played again in 2020. While this would be devastating to every player, fan and owner, MLB has the bleakest future of any North American professional sports league. The discussions of how to safely and fairly play baseball during a pandemic have expanded the rift between players and owners, all before the collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of 2021. It may be a very long time before we see MLB games again, even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
Report: Michael Rosen
Chloe x Halle Show Us How Stylish a Virtual Performance Can Be in Reflective Fabric
Chloe x Halle performed at the 2020 BET Awards in not one but two expertly crafted outfits constructed by their stylist Zerina Akers.
Chloe x Halle performed at the 2020 BET Awards in not one but two expertly crafted outfits constructed by their stylist Zerina Akers. Zerina tapped TLZ L'Femme for some white reflective fabric that seemed to be her favorite out of the two polar-opposite looks.
The girls started the performance singing "Forgive Me" in black latex and fishnet stockings (Chloe in a cutout minidress and Halle in high-waisted shorts, a bralette, and blazer), but "Do It" brought out the low-slung cargos and crop tops with sashes swinging every which way. The mood was very early 2000s for the latter ensemble. Even though these looks were different by design, Chloe x Halle accessorised with sparkling jewels in both scenarios — chunky silver hoops in scene one and crystal-encrusted combat boots in scene two.
"The Girls Next Door vs. The Girls Around The Way. I've been dying to use this 3M reflective fabric in a look," Akers wrote on Instagram, thanking Derek Milton for his expertise in directing the virtual snippet, which was rather flawless from an aesthetic perspective.
Report: Amanda T Lou
What's in Store for Law and Order: SVU Season 22
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit showrunner, Warren Leight, recently discussed how the upcoming season 22 will respond to the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests.
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement and the attention being brought to police brutality many people are calling for the defunding or reformation of the police. Some people also want cop shows to end, worried that these shows glorify police too much or make brutality seem okay.
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit has been one of the most well known and loved cop shows through the years, focusing on sex crimes and bringing victims to justice. It just finished it’s 21st season and was recently renewed for an astounding three more seasons. Since day one Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay) has been lauded and admired by many as a voice for survivors and for justice. Mariska Hargitay has made SVUs mission her own, when she founded The Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004. It’s mission, to “ transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, support survivors’ healing, and end this violence forever.”
The show’s writers room had already been hard at work planning how to include the pandemic in their upcoming season, including the increase in domestic violence it has caused. Now the writers, headed up by showrunner Warren Leight, are finding ways to include George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests in the coming season.
In The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast Warren Leight candidly discussed how throughout season 21 he made a conscious effort to have a more diverse writers room and cast. Especially with the introduction of Kat Tamin, a new face in the squadroom who is a bisexual Lebanese American woman. In the writers room he has introduced new individuals, some of whom have never written for TV before. “I think we’ve tried really hard in the last year to show how class and race affect the outcomes of justice in society,” said Leight.
As SVU looks towards it’s 22nd season they need to be even more intentional with the type of stories being told. Leight explained that they cannot have a bad cop in every episode but there are other ways to show the impact of our current cultural climate. For example, since the show is told from a cop's perspective it will show how trial is navigated differently when the jury doesn’t trust the police. Leight added, “I think we’re trying to depict how justice should be handled for victims and for perps. Olivia makes mistakes...but she’s empathetic, which is I think what separates the cops on our television show from what we’re seeing these days.”
Leight also touched on the hero cop belief, discussing the importance of the cop’s on SVU showing what justice could and should look like, but also showing what the current reality is. However, in showing that reality he voiced his concerns, “A flawed cop with a tendency towards violence who’s glorified, to me, is a real recipe for legitimizing police brutality.” Leight freely admitted that especially in earlier seasons of the show violence and brutality were more often portrayed, he believes that that needs to stop on cop shows everywhere. People need to stop making this violence seem normal or okay because it is neither of those things.
What has set SVU apart throughout the years is that they show what the justice system could and should be. More often than not justice is served on the show, but in reality 995 out of 1000 rapists walk free. The police on SVU believe survivors and are a voice of hope and healing for millions. In general, this is not how the criminal justice system in the United States works, often survivors are blown off or not believed. As season 22 approaches the aim is to continue telling stories of survivors being believed and justice being served. They plan to continue showing what justice should look like, while also showing the realities of our broken system.
Report: Rebecca Vanderkooi
Anderson .Paak's "Lockdown" Examines the Current Movement, And Why We Can't Let Up
Released on Juneteenth, "Lockdown" perfectly captures what will go down as one of the most significant movements in human history.
In the month since George Floyd’s murder we have heard from multiple artists who have spoken about the importance of the protests that have followed. R&B singer/rapper Anderson .Paak dropped a track of his own titled “Lockdown” on Juneteenth that not only discussed the protests, but it also talked about other events that are intertwined with the message behind the protests.
Before the protests began we were all still focused primarily on the COVID-19 outbreak, and .Paak himself asks “Speakin’ of the COVID, is it still goin’ around?” which is followed with the question “Plus unemployment rate, what, forty million now?” It’s hard to ignore the role the pandemic and mass unemployment have had in sparking the protests, especially since the virus has disproportionately affected Black communities and the government’s response to providing help to these communities is nowhere to be found.
But .Paak also touches on some of the more Orwellian aspects of the protests that few other artists have pointed out. He notes the “secret agents” planted in the crowd, a reference to the undercover officers that were spotted in the crowd at multiple protests. It could also be a reference to the uniformed officers that were caught on video destroying storefronts likely in an effort to shift the blame to the protestors. Speaking of destroying storefronts, .Paak also brought up incidents of looting and seems to address the fact that the media focused a lot of its attention on the uncommon incidents of looting and ignored the very common incidents of police brutality that took place at these protests. This is not the first time we’ve seen .Paak get political and spit some woke lyrics, but it is certainly one of the most notable. There is also a version of the song that features a very powerful verse from Jay Rock.
Aside from the lyrics, the beat is a typical smooth, funk inspired instrumental that we’ve come to expect from .Paak. While the sereneness of it may not seem like a great compliment to the distressed lyrics, it encapsulates the faint hopeful tone of the track. His final utterance of “we ain't gotta stop 'cause they tell us to” and the cover art for the track which features .Paak holding a sign that says “The People Are Rising” seems to hint at optimism that real progressive changes will come out of these protests, and we have seen small steps taken in the right direction since the protests began. Police department budgets across the country are being slashed with money being reinvested into communities that desperately need the funds, and the country is slowly reckoning with its past as statues of former Confederate generals and Confederate flags are being taken down.
But the cover art also features the names of 39 people who had their lives taken away by those whose duty is to protect and serve. So, while change may seem inevitable at this point, we can not forgot those who lost their lives because these changes were not implemented sooner.
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Irked Music Geek
Report: Michael Rosen
J.Cole vs. Noname: The Conversation That Needed to be Heard
J.Cole recently dropped a surprise song called the Snow on tha Bluff on June 16th, addressing the female activist, Noname and her recent tweet (that has since been deleted) calling out conscious rappers.This conversation started with Noname addressing rappers who make music on social injustice but are silent outside of the music. But this started a bigger conversation.
J Cole recently dropped a surprise song called the Snow on tha Bluff on June 16th, addressing the female activist, Noname and her recent tweet (that has since been deleted) calling out conscious rappers. My first natural reaction was to be angry because the understanding of the message for me came off as an attack on black women. The original message on how I understood it was, I am a black man and as a black woman you need to educate me on things going on because you didn’t struggle like us black men have, so stop nagging.
I took to twitter as well as I asked my black male friend to get a different perspective on what was going on. Now I don’t believe this is a time for this divide to happen between us in the black community because divide and conquer is the mentality that has been instilled for years within our community. Yet, the conversation is needed. Many state that J Cole’s message is being taken out of context.
My friend Larrion broke down Snow on tha Bluff and how the original was a movie from the perspective from a camcorder that was passed around. He states “ It looks authentic but it makes you question if it is real or not.” With social media, we are given a glance at what high profiled people do and create our own reality of what they do and this is J Cole’s perspective. Which is why he feels fake because the perspective in which we see on social media is just a glimpse. This conversation started with Noname addressing rappers who make music on social injustice but are silent outside of the music. But this started a bigger conversation.
Many women took the J Cole song as an attack of telling women specifically black women that we should watch our tones and attitudes and educate men correctly. Black women were asking black men to hold their friends and themselves accountable. Some black men understood and pledged to make a change. Others completely ignored what black women were saying. Women are sexually assaulted, assaulted, put into uncomfortable situations and more. Black women will stand in front of a black man and put her life at risk so that she can save him.
Black men need to see that all we are asking is that instead of telling us to be quiet and not nag but to actually listen. We need black men as much as they need us. We don’t mean just your friends, family or women that you are attracted to but all black women because we would protect you. In this time black men and women should not be divided but united together. Just take the time out to listen to each other and understand each other's point of view. You don’t have to agree but at least understand.
Photo Credit:
J Cole and Noname - insider.com
Noname's tweet - USA New Hub
J Cole's lyrics: Youtube
Tweet: Tumblr
Report: Maya Howard
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.