YOUR MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2012
VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2
YOUR introduction
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Autumn is officially upon us. For Bostonians this means warm colors and cooler whether, which then leads to hot coffee, layering, and mornings where you just don’t want to get out of bed. But in a lot of ways, fall means the start of new beginnings. It means revamping your wardrobe, finding new ways to organize the class notes you’ve already had in your backpack for a month, and brainstorming possible costume ideas so this Halloween weekend won’t be privy to any repeats. And for all of us at Your Mag, it means our first full issue of the semester. We’ve come a long way from our last October issue, and it is tremendous to look back on everything we have achieved. It’s hard not to get a little teary-eyed as we sift through Org Fair applications and photoshoot ideas, remembering the days when we had a staff of fifty and only one issue under our belt. It’s exhilarating, like trying to run to the T on a sixty-five-degree morning when you’re already ten minutes late and just rolled out of bed. Even though our hearts are still pounding with the anticipation of making it to class, we’re still steps ahead of where we were minutes ago. Happy reading,
Kilian Webster & Emily Tannenbaum october
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Featured
Articles
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Couples Costumes
Costumes by Claudia Mak, Photography by Brian Lynch
Crimes of Fashion
Photography by Brian Annis
Potcake: a dogumentary Article by Beth Treffeisen
fall television preview
Article by Nick Johnston
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YOUR introduction
Editor in Chief
assistant editor
Managing Editor
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kilian Webster
Olivia Jacobini
Emily Tannenbaum Pete Ivanecky
PHOTO DIRECTOR Stephanie Fishbein
Head Copyeditor
BUSINESS MANAGER
HEAD STYLIST
BLOG EDITOR
Rachael Moore
Elijah Clark-Ginsberg
Emily Lacroix
romance editor
fashion editor
Claudia Mak
Valeria Navarro
romance Writers
fashion Assistant
Daniel LeMar Ashley Juranich Kristine Ustas Jenny Hannigan Hannah Perrin Shannon Dwyer Mollie Coyne Shantal Erlich Sydney Lester Nathalia Nellies
Adriana Herdan
Design editor Katie Lohman
Layout design Claudia Mak Jacqueline Thomas Bekah Skopil David Galinato Adam Reynoso Megan Tripp Teresa Garigen Madison Fishman Tanya Wlodarczyk
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Fashion Writers Elijah Clark-Ginsberg Haile Lidow Andrew Favorito Adriana Herdan Dinesh Mohnani Samantha Dupler Mika Nakano Ian Mofford Kaylan Scott Megan Kay Lola Bitton Victoria Hulbert Kelsey Drain Jennifer Ortakales Mollie Coyne
features editor
Nick Johnston
feature Writers
a&e Writers
WEB Writers
MARKETING MANAGER Reed Van Dyck
Kevin Sweeney Alex Fierro-Clarke Hannah Wallace Nick Hayes Brian Annis Mimi Vecchione Hope Kauffman
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Miles Bowe Regina Mogilevskaya Jackson Birnbaum Cassie Cassard Hunter Harris Charles Nash Cedrine Streit
Raymond Bellinger Claudia Mak Amanda Gomez Silvia Stantcheva Kaela Holmes Norma Torrey Emily Lacroix Hilary Donoghue Victoria Soto Shannon Dwyer
Photographers
Devan Norman Eric Gaudette Caitlyn Budnick Olivia Jacobini Morgan Metz Janella Angeles Megan Tripp Kelsey Perkins Alexia Kyriakopoulou
a&e editor
Christina Jedra
Beth Treffeisen Nancy Valev Emily Labes Gina Brindisi Julia Higgins Anna Rose Pingeton Lindgren Matthew Mullen
Copy editors
Rachael Moore
MARKETING
Maria Vivas Brianna Martinelli Elise Mesa Jamie Iannace Rouming Zhao Melanie McFayden Emily McClure Celine Allende Megan Nicholson Virginia Johnson Jacob Greene Olivia Martiniello
STYLISTS
Bonnie Ong Audrey Geiger Tubao Nguyen Kristen Brice Megan Nicholson Andrew Favorito
YOUR introduction
Table of Contents ROMANCE
writer
Nathalie Nelles Claudia Mak & Danielle Barker Claudia Mak Claudia Mak Claudia Mak Alex Fierro-Clarke
6 Reasoning with Reality 7 October Date Ideas 8 Get Cozy with your Favorite Romance Novels 9 Decipher your Darling’s Tumblr 10 Couples’ Costumes
FASHION
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photographer/artist
Crimes of Fashion How to Master the Art of Layering Sock it to Ya’ A Gentleman’s Guide to Socks To Tattoo? Or Too Taboo? DIY Fall Collars Leader of the Pack Boy Meets Girl
Brian Annis Valeria Navarro Haile Lidow Elijah Clark-Ginsberg Adriana Herdan Emy LaCroix
Kevin Sweeny
Andrew Favorito Hope Kauffman
FEATURES
30 The Path to Publishing: Jornalism or WLP? 31 A Beginner’s Guide to: Registering to Vote
Nancy Valev Emily Labes Beth Treffeisen
32 Potcake: A Dogumentary
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 34 Movies You Should See This Month
Nick Johnston & Regina Mogilevskaya Nick Johnston Jackson Birnbaum
36 Fall Television Preview 38 Tobe Hooper Retrospective 39 For Your Consideration: Animal Collective’s Centipide Miles Bowe Hz 40 The XX Record Review Regina Mogilevskaya 41 YourMag Playlist: Spooky Songs A&E Staff
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YOUR romance
REASONING WITH
REALITY
Text // Nathalie Nelles underneath all of that was a thick layer of cowardice. I think I was afraid, then, of being alone. Of being without the person I had grown so comfortable with, that I had truly let into my life and that had let me into theirs. It felt like there was a void I was forced to face every morning we weren’t together, the sad consequence of a decision I had made in hopes of doing what was right. Being on your own is scary. It’s comforting to have somebody to call late at night, someone to vent to at all hours of the day when things aren’t going your way, somebody you reveal all of yourself to, who knows you down to the very bones that construct you. And it works in both directions. It’s been said that to be loved by another is the greatest gift you can get. But at what point, in all that blissful security, must we take a step back, and acknowledge the reality of the relationship? Does it always have to be once things have gone too far? Or is it selfish to cut things off earlier, in expectation of the inevitable? And is another’s love really the best we cawwn find, or is there a tacit greatness in the love you can have for yourself, in those rare moments when you find yourself totally alone? There’s never a good time to break up. Even the cleanest of breaks leave leaking cracks that spill over into your life, disrupting your peace, flooding your life with the drama you thought you had so cleverly avoided. But once the rubble has been cleared, we’re left with an astounding singularity, in which you’re left with no choice but to face yourself and the decisions you’ve made, good or bad. We should embrace that time to reflect on what made and broke our previous relationships, so as to not make the same mistakes again. Take the time to appreciate ourselves, for both the good and the bad; spoil ourselves, work on ourselves in the ways we know we can improve. And once we are ready to plunge back into the wealth of opportunities surrounding us, we can dive in, loving every inch of ourselves, and knowing damn well that we’re starting the exact same cycle all over again.
With the start of a new year upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the romantic opportunities before us this upcoming semester. But I can’t shake the feeling that even with all these unopened doors, we tend to revisit the relationships we already know, even though there’s a voice in the back of our heads plainly telling us that we shouldn’t. Why do we go back to the people we know aren’t right for us? Is it because it’s comfortable, or are we just scared? We all know this type of relationship. The one where it feels so right one moment, and the next you’re stricken by the harsh reality of incompatibility: the moral disagreement that gets swept under the carpet, the awkward silence at the ideal moment for some poetic gesture, cold complacency when you wished for romance. Maybe it’s irresponsible to yearn for all these things at our age, but should we really lower our standards just for the sake of having it at all? With a sea of opportunities in front of us (because really, no matter who you are, what you look like, or what you’re into - there will always be somebody out there who finds you attractive), there’s no reason to return to the same people time and time again. That ex you just had to “revisit” after your first year of college or your old flame that somehow got drunkenly rekindled at a party. The “casual” relationship that goes on for so long by the end of it all you’re not sure whether you had fun or if you can even stand to look that person in the eyes. I recently ended a relationship of sorts that had been slowly unwinding since day one. We stepped onto a cracked foundation before we even started, and we pushed it past the limits of what it should have been. I lost track of how many times we “split up,” only to see him a few days later and mutually decide to ignore everything that had transpired. Sure, in those moments, we were overcome with desires, lust, feelings that led us to it. But looking back on it all, I’m left with the sense that
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Text // Claudia Mak and Danielle Barker
How about them apples?
Dress Up at SoWa
The SoWa outdoor market, located in Boston’s South End, features many handmade goods, a farmers market, and an antique shop. The market closes its summer season on Sunday, October 28 where they feature the “SoWa Market of the Living Dead.” Attendees are encouraged to wear their scariest Halloween costumes while shopping around. Grab your spooky date and show up as zombies while grabbing some groceries from the farmers market, as well as some cool handmade Halloween crafts.
You can’t always choose the ripest mate in the garden, but at the Belkin Family Look Out Farm you can be sure to find the ripest fruit! There is nothing more romantic than traveling outside of city life to run away to a farm filled with wonderful fruits. In the fall season they are stocked with Asian pears, varieties of apples, and over 25,000 pumpkins! The farm is located outside of Boston in Natick, MA and reachable by the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail.
Get Spooky in Salem
Sam Adam’s Brewery
Salem (conveniently reachable by the blue line and bus) is the famous site of the witch trials. What could be more exciting and haunting than visiting Salem during Halloween season? Well, no place in America has anything on Salem during Halloween. Activities include: haunted houses, historic tours, a creepy wax museum, and macabre drag shows. For those less daring, there’s a super friendly pumpkin festival. But why on earth would you pass up the chance to explore one of the most haunted towns in America?
Take a tour of Boston’s most well-known beer and brewery! Stroll through the beer process with your honey and stick around for award winning samples (and even a taste of the malts used to make it)! Their fall flavors are particularly popular, so ‘tis the season to visit--and it’s only off the Stony Brook Station stop on the orange line. Please, only 21+ folks need apply.
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YOUR romance
Get Cozy with some
Romantic Reads Text// Claudia Mak
Some of Your Magazine’s romantics (including myself) recommend their favorite love stories to us this month. From classic to cliché, heartbreaking to adventurous, here are some of the most essential romantic reads: Claudia Mak: Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Does a love story at the very end of human existence sound a little dramatic? Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood isn’t your typical romance novel. It is a painful account of the love triangle that develops between a young man named Snowman, his cynical genius friend Crake, and a mysterious and beautiful former child prostitute named Oryx. There are no flowers, jewelry, or other romantic tokens. However, the child humanoids that Oryx and Crake have constructed (through science) and the responsibility they force upon Snowman to pass on their story to these life forms bond the characters together. This is not a story about love, but rather the sacrifices people will make for it.
Renee Smith: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
By far, my favorite romance novel would have to be Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I know it may seem cliché, but I really love how Jane Austen exploits the idea of simple-minded romance in a patriarchal society. Her message is conveyed through subtle sarcasm and the everlasting wit of the main character, Elizabeth Bennet. So, essentially, the reason Pride and Prejudice is my favorite romance novel is because it stands to challenge the very idea of a romance novel itself.
Nancy Valev: Lolita by Vladamir Nabokov
Who knew pedophilia could be romantic? My opinion goes against just about every social, moral, and ethical construct out there. Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is one of the most beautifully written romance novels. Every word and gesture is crafted so masterfully and with a passion that creates such an emotional dynamic with the reader. I feel like the expression “the forbidden fruit is the sweetest” certainly applies. The novel is a prime example of the dilemma many people face every day of wanting just what they can’t have. It projects lust, controversy, ache, and indulgence. What more can you want in a romance novel? I also have a strange interest in romance novels that I can’t relate to, and this is certainly one of them.
Kierston Rusden: Venus as a Boy by Luke Sutherland
UK author Luke Sutherland claims Venus as a Boy is a romantic work of nonfiction, telling of the surreal life of a modern Cupid. The novel begins with a vivid portrait of the Orkneys Island in which Desiree grew up. As a boy. Through the loss of a best friend to appalling cruelty, the magical gifts of love and healing hands, and the presence of sex and supra-sexual epiphanies, Desiree molds into a London hooker with a heart...and well, other things...of gold.
Danielle Barker: Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
I’m not one for sappy love stories, but this novel was able to win me over with both romance and substantial plot conflicts relating to the Civil War. W.P. Inman deserts the Confederate army toward the end of the American Civil War and walks for months in pursuit of his sweetheart, Ada Monroe. I have found that this novel plays on the notion that we find ourselves attracted to the idea of measuring love through loss. Maybe that’s the element that made this love story a therapeutically cathartic read for me.
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YOUR romance
Decipher your Darling’s
Text // Claudia Mak Tumblr is more powerful than we ever give credit to. It is seductive in the sense that it is a pictorial diagram of our deepest desires. It is a canvas where we paint our materialistic wants, things we find humorous, turn on’s and turn off’s, and even our innermost secrets (usually stated in a cryptic poem) to the public world. Although it is quite charming to be an old school romantic and get to learn a person through coffee dates, sometimes through blogs such as Tumblr, you can learn way more about your prospective date before actually meeting them. Think of your mate’s Tumblr almost as their bedroom. In a bedroom you observe the books, movies, or posters one collects to understand what their interests are. Tumblr gives people an endless opportunity to post all of their interests from sexy celebrities to favorite foods. So when learning about a person before a first date, check out their Tumblr for a head’s up. Here are three things you could find useful on their blog:
Food porn
This is obviously important because you probably want to entice your date with a delicious dinner. Almost everyone on Tumblr loves to reblog high resolution pictures of melting chocolate drizzled over strawberries or artisan Panini’s with arugula, Gouda, and perfectly parallel grill marks. These types of pictures will prove helpful when thinking of a restaurant or what to cook for your mate.
TV and Movie art
Tumblr is a huge treasure trove of amazing fan art and fan made posters for popular TV shows and movies. Looking for reblogged fan art will help you get a notion of what your love is interested in. TV and movies are almost like having a similar taste in music. Through seeing these references you can predict how many common interests you share.
What stimulates them
This is a broad one, but most bloggers post pictures of compelling trivia, facts related to their field of study or work, and activities and hobbies they enjoy. This one is probably the most important when learning about the person you’re interested in because it can denote their aspirations and level of intellect. When someone posts scientific findings or diagrams of anatomy you can assume that they have some interest in science and may study or work in the field of the subject. If they constantly reblog pictures of baseball players and their favorite team, you can consider asking them to go see a ball game!
Tumblr can be a personality map, so use it to give you a little background knowledge about your love interest. They will be impressed when you take them out to gourmet Mexican because of all the guacamole pictures they reblog.
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YOUR romance
Couples Costumes Photos // Brian Lynch
Man Men’s Don and Fat Betty Draper Models: Meredith Barry and Brendan Scully
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Kanye West and Kim Kardashian Models: Xavier Garcia and Jasmine Pook
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YOUR romance
The Walking Dead’s Rick and Lori Grimes Models: Nash Hightower and Nancy Valev
Ellen Degeneres and Portia Di Rossi Models: Megan Mitchell and Renee Smith
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YOUR fashion
Crimes of
FASHION Models // Sandrayati Fay, Claire Teasdale, & Laura Wu Photograhy // Brian Annis
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YOUR fashion
Sandra’s Top: Alice and Olivia - Scoop Laura’s Vest: Marc by Marc Jacobs - Scoop Laura’s Necklace: Out of closet - Zara
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YOUR fashion
Top: All Saints Bottoms: Alexander Wang Necklace - Out of closet Shoes: Forever21
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Bag: All Saints Laura’s Dress: Derek Lam - Scoop Laura’s Belt: Scoop
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YOUR fashion
Mastering the Art of LAYERING
Text // Valeria Navarro
your own clothing sauna and will probably suffer a heatstroke. Instead, mix light fabrics such as a light cotton, silk, and cashmere with knits, wool or fleece. Not only will you be adding some texture to your outfit, but it will also keep you warm and stylish.
With temperatures quickly dropping our favorite summer dresses, stylish crop tops, and strap sandals are thrown in the back of our closets. The realization that 6 months of Narnia-liketemperature and super-size-me bulky sweaters are ahead of us settles in. It doesn't have to be a dark nightmare beneath the veils of the merciless cold, because with some expert layering you can still rock that favorite mini skirt of yours or dress that you love so much. It took me a while to understand this art of layering, I mean, who wants to wear five extra pounds of fall/winter clothing? You end up taking it off anyway. The trick is to balance the amount of layers you wear, fabric thickness (thin vs. thick layers), type of fabric and style. Sounds like a complicated arithmetic formula, but with some practice, and patience even the hardest formula can be decoded—or you can cheat with this 101 fieldguide on how to layer:
2) Mix Thin and Thick Layers Thick layers add bulkiness and when you wear them, you end up looking like a snowman. Instead, pair up a couple of thin layers with one thick layer. Mix a nice collared sleeveless top with a short-sleeve cashmere sweater, add a blazer on top, and voila! Ready to rock the cold streets.
3) Proportions: Fit and Loose Combine a loose knit sweater with a tight skirt and a pair of tights. Or, you can pair up a loose skirt with a tight sweater. Too many loose or bulky fabrics will not only make you look bigger, but will also add weight and clumsiness to your outfit. Last but not least: Don't over layer—It’s not Antarctica!
1) Mix the Fabrics If you wear only wool, fleece, or heavy knitwear chances are that you’ll have created
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YOUR fashion
SOCK IT TO YA’ Text // Haile Lidow With fall approaching quickly, what better way to keep your feet warm than with a pair of socks? Now more than ever we have an insane amount of options in this department, and believe it or not, socks can really make an outfit. There are three basic lengths of socks that have been becoming more and more popular, seen on all ‘the it-girls’, on and off the runway. There are ankle socks, knee-highs, and over-the-knee, each of which are extremely appropriate for this transition from summer to the colder months on the way. Ankle socks used to be reserved for work out only, but think again. Try getting a few pairs in jewel tones. This way they won’t be too bright, but will instead add a nice deep tone and pop of color to any outfit. These are great with open toed or ankle strap chunky heels, keeping your toes from being
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exposed to the cold while also looking creative and well put together. For a more casual look, try slipping them under a pair of low top Doc Martens or platform sneakers. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, you could even try getting a pair of fishnet ankle socks at American Apparel. They are fun and add a touch of bad girl to a pair of Mary-Janes. Knee-highs are another great optionon the fashion scene. Many designers have featured them in their runway collections, paired with heels, oxfords, and even gladiator sandals. The best part about this sock length is its versatility. You can wear them pulled all the way up to your knee for a more school-girl vibe, or you can scrunch them down for a more “I just threw this on and I still look this good” sort
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of look. They are great for warmer days with dresses, or over jeans peeping out of boots for colder ones. You can even try layering them on top of each other, a thicker sock on bottom and a loosely knit pair on top.
But my personal favorite will always be the over-the knee sock. They are perfectly grungy and can completely vamp up an outfit. Remember the scene from Sex and the City where Carrie was home writing and wearing only an oversized sweater and a pair of over-the-knee socks? It just goes to show how these socks make such a huge statement. Wear them alone with oversize tees or cardigans on cozy days in your room, or over tights for fall weather. You’re guaranteed to catch some gazes walking down Boylston.
YOUR fashion
A Gentleman’s GUIDE TO SOCKS Text // Elijah Clark-Ginsberg
Socks are our humblest articles of clothing, in fact, you probably overlook them completely. Well, we’ve had just about enough of that. It’s time to learn some ways to wear socks that knock your you-know-whats off. Let’s start with sock basics. Those thick athletic numbers that your sock drawer is probably stuffed with? Save ‘em for when you’re actually at the gym. Instead, stuff your sock drawer with two new staples: thin cotton and thick wool. When it’s time to dress up, it shouldn’t be any surprise that dress socks are in order. These are thinner and finer than your garden variety hosiery and they’re the only things that should grace your feet when you’re wearing a suit and dress shoes (unless you’re going for an Italian look, then omit the socks altogether). Conventional wisdom says that socks should match your trousers, but a bright pop of color at your ankles is a lot more fun. Complement your tie or pocket square with colorful socks that’ll be sure to raise eyebrows and spirits. Of course, there’s a time and a place for everything, and sometimes it’s best to keep things simple with black, navy, or even tan.
Look Ma, No Socks!
We all love breaking out our sweaters for the first crisp days of fall, and there’s no reason your socks should be any different. With a huge selection of patterns, colors, and interesting knits, a great pair of thick wool socks may as well be tiny sweaters that you wear on your feet. A classic ragg socks go with just about anything, or you could get a bit more daring with fair isle knits or camp socks. No matter what design you pick, chunky wool socks are a wonderful companions for boots, Bean mocs, or any other rugged fall footwear.
Your ankles deserve better, gentlemen. Give them something great to wear this fall. 19
Some footwear, like boat shoes (and, of course, sandals) dictate no socks. Now that it’s too chilly for bare ankles, it’s time to put those shoes away. When they remerge in the Spring, remember to pick up a few pairs of loafer socks. These super low-cut socks give you the sockless look without the smell or discomfort.
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YOUR fashion
D I Yo u r M a g
FALL collars Photos // Kevin Sweeney Text // Emy LaCroix
Collars are the new outfit staple. These necklaces range from dainty beaded pieces heavy metal Text //to Emy LaCroix plates (accented with dangling jewels or spikes). A truly universal trend, anyone can find a collar to fit their style. Collars have been around forever. In ancient Egypt, queens wore intricate beaded necklaces called broad collars made out of turquoise and other stones. You can even see these at the Museum of Fine Arts, dated around 2400 B.C. When I first heard about the collar trend, I instantly thought of the medieval version. Thick leather, metal embellishments of crosses and buckles, gold, and chain mail. Naturally, the white fur of kings and queens came to mind as well. Of course today’s variety is of its own modern design, but it is still a timeless piece of jewelry with serious staying power. That’s not to say that people didn’t question the trend when they most recently reappeared on runways last fall. Many designers and critics cited the sexual associations of collars as a concern (think chokers and leashes). However, when they appeared in the Michael Kors Fall 2011 show as super-chic gold plates, the attitude changed. The look was polished, sophisticated, and edgy all at the same time. Missoni came out with a thinner silver version and the Gwen Stefani was spotted in a tribal beaded look. This trend had caught fire! Since then, collars have become a runway favorite as well as a trendy street look. With fall upon us again, the style has moved from metal to fabric. Christian Dior’s Fall 2012 collection features soft ruffled collars with matching cuffs that hang delicately around the model’s necks. Marni’s Fall 2012 collection has something new and interesting that I think will be huge come winter: jeweled fur collars. Similar to those you would find on a coat, but unattached, these accessories are incredibly versatile. Karl Lagerfeld offered a chic collar alternative to the typical fall scarf, a high neck wool collar in dark colors with emerald jewels. For months after collars first appeared last year, none could be found in the retail stores students can afford to shop at. Now, fabric collars are my new love and I’m not waiting a year to be able to enjoy this look. Especially not when I can make it myself!
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YOUR fashion
how tomake own your here’s what you need:
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2 ft ribbon or string, ½ yard of fabric, glue/sewing machine, embellishments (pearls, beads, studs, spikes, lace, shells, etc.)
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Cut out a rectangle of cardstock that is 14”x3”. Fold a piece of fabric in half and trace around the paper with an extra ½” on each side except the folded side. Use any fabric you want. Silk or lace will make for a very sweet look while wool is more cozy and leather is much more edgy.
Keep fabric folded and place the rectangle in the crease as well as a piece of ribbon or string. The string should hang out about six inches per side. Fold your extra ½” of fabric in so right sides touch the paper and each other. Glue to paper with tacky glue for ease, or sew for a more polished edge.
Now it is all about customization! Glue or sew beads to the edges of your collar. Try adding studs to the tips. Weave ribbon all along the outside. Glue lace around the top or bottom. This is where you get to have fun and what makes creating the collar yourself so worth it; you can do anything!
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Tie around neck with string at the bottom and in front of you. Tie in a bow and fold fabric in half lengthwise, pushing corners flat to achieve the collar shape.
Hint: leaving cardstock inside gives the collar a crisp look and helps it hold shape, but also makes it feel stiff. If you use a naturally stiff fabric, you can iron the shape in, no need for paper.
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YOUR fashion
Leader of the Pack
Text // Andrew Favorito
Ever since the Olsen twins debuted their $39,000 version to widespread controversy last year, backpacks have been on an uncalled for and surprising return to fame. No, I don’t mean the initialed L.L. Bean bags we all carried in elementary school, nor am I referencing the heinous North Face that I will admit to have sported all throughout high school. I’m talking about, dare I say it, the grown-up alternative, whether it be in leather, printed canvas, or some snazzy exotic skin. Last spring, I unabashedly fawned over a Philip Lim canvas backpack I saw at Barneys, and I distinctly remember watching the 1995 Isaac Mizrahi documentary, Unzipped, and being extremely envious of Naomi Campbell’s quilted black Chanel version. Even as I run around campus slinging a Louis Vuitton tote bag on my shoulder that is seemingly big enough to carry a small child, I can’t help but eye the reincarnations of utilitarian-chic I keep seeing around me . Should you happen to take a look at street-style photographer Tommy Ton’s blog, Jak & Jil, you’ll see that many of his subjects are sporting backpacks costing more than my monthly tuition bill. And, if you stroll into the
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Urban Outfitters on Newbury anytime soon (like I did today), you’ll see that Herschel Supply Co. bags have overtaken a substantial section of the first floor. Why this sudden change? Did everyone get tired of lugging around unnecessarily massive bags, or is it just part of the street-style revolution that has undoubtedly happened, notably visible in the current fashion obsession with sneakers a la Isabel Marant or Maison Martin Margiela? The last time backpacks were seen as even remotely trendy was way back in the late-90s - remember that scene in “10 Things I Hate About You” when Bianca profoundly declares “there’s a difference between like and love. Because I like my Sketchers, but I love my Prada backpack”? The fact that Sketchers were almost on par with Prada is insight enough into that disturbing era of fashion, but still, she was frighteningly ontrend for a 16 year-old and had a point – backpacks are now, as they were in 1999, cool. Coming fullcircle, it’s ironically fitting that 90s icons like the Olsens re-launched the trend, but the point is that while backpacks may have been stylish when I still sported Osh-Kosh, they’re back with a vengeance. No, it doesn’t.
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Boy
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Photography // Hope Kauffman Models // Ellen Duffer & Lacey Russell
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Girl
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Soodee polka dot dress Holiday Bow Ring
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All saints blush blouse, All saints leather pants, All saints beaded bralet
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YOUR features
The Path to Publishing: Journalism
Emerson College is one of the few schools to give students so much freedom to pursue just about any career they want in the most creative way possible. According to US News, some of Emerson’s unique majors such as Writing, Literature and Publishing and Political Communication: Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy cannot be found on any other campus. If that doesn’t bump us up from number three on College Magazine’s “Most Hipster Campuses”, I don’t know what will. But Emerson’s greatest strength could also be its greatest weakness. With so many options, some students are at a loss for what to choose. A hot point of debate for writing students has been the decision between the Journalism major and the Writing, Literature, and Publishing major in order to follow careers in magazine publishing. In fact, in the second semester of freshman year, many students find themselves scrambling to the Advising Center to make the big change in their majors. Prior to being fully exposed to the studies, students see a blurry line between the writing style and requirements that the two majors entail. Upon attending their first few Journalism classes, prospective Journalism students have found that it is not at all what they expected it to be. Sydney Lester, a current sophomore Communications major and former Journalism student, realized this issue after attending just the first few journalism classes. “I realized that all we would talk about was broadcast journalism and how you need to do everything in the media world, and I just didn’t want to be a part of that. I didn’t like the strict template of writing. It didn’t give me any freedom,” she said. “You couldn’t put your own spin on anything; everything was all just laid out for you. The creativity wasn’t there and that’s what I love about writing in the first place.” Lester found a unique way to incorporate her love of writing into topics she was interested in and set about studying that in Communications. “I want to get into working for non-
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profits and negotiation work - writing about that. The journalism classes would not have given me that option because they were so focused on hard news. I like having the freedom of going after the things I want to write about.” Lester is not alone in feeling that the journalistic focus of the classes was not what she had wanted or expected. Jamie Emmerman is a sophomore student who first came to Emerson knowing he wanted to study journalism. It wasn’t until he was exposed to the magazine side of the industry that he saw how his creativity and writing could flourish through a new outlet, away from newspapers. This is what led him to take advantage of Emerson’s Individually Designed Interdisciplinary Major Program to design his very own major of BA Publishing Arts: Feature Writing, Photography, and Design. The path to this program includes countless appointments, proposal drafts, applications, and signatures. The core of it is that it combines courses from two or more departments around an anchoring concept or theme. Students typically create an advising team of two faculty members from different academic departments that will help shape their program of study and provide them with support and guidance. “It all came down to creativity. From the writing to the visuals, a newspaper really can’t match a magazine’s level of artistic content,” Emmerman said. “Granted, there is just as much of a formula to magazine writing as there is to newspaper. The amount of wiggle room afforded for magazine writers is what pushed me to switch.” Cindy Rodriguez, a Journalism professor at Emerson College, stresses the importance that a journalism background has on writing quality in general. “Journalism teaches you things you take for granted in terms of organizing, crystallizing ideas, and saying things clearly and simply, which seems so easy but there’s so much more out there,” she said. “It’s not just something you grow up with. It takes years of practice. That’s why we call journalism ‘a craft.’” Rodriguez points out the importance
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or WLP? Text // Nancy Valev
of doing the actual research before putting thoughts into a paper. She believes that even when writing the most beautiful words, one has to have something to write about. “Any magazine piece you see that’s journalistic in nature came from someone who studied journalism. Take the New Yorker. Those writers didn’t get their MFA in writing. It doesn’t work that way.” Upon hearing about the issues that students face with the journalism classes, Rodriguez expresses concern. While she understands the impatience that comes with wanting to write more long form pieces, she feels that students don’t give themselves a chance to get there. This then leads to another issue that may play a significant role in students leaving the Journalism department: the classes. Feature Writing; TV News, Magazine & Documentary; and Journalism Topics: Entertainment Journalism are the only classes offered in the journalism department that cover magazine writing. In comparison, the WLP department offers Intro to Magazine Writing, Intermediate Magazine Writing, Copyediting, Magazine Publishing Overview, Magazine Design and Production, and Top: Magazine Editing. Rodriguez speaks on behalf of her colleagues when she says that the department wants to offer classes students want. If enough people want to take more magazine writing classes in the Journalism department, she said she doesn’t see why it can’t happen. The issue may be in the overall understanding of the writing styles of the two different majors, and which best fits the student. A common visible trend in the reasoning for students leaving the Journalism department has been the lack of creativity and freedom with what to write about and how to write it. While journalism offers the exceptional experience of gathering information and perfecting the rigid structure of concise communication, WLP takes a different approach by shaping students’ different modes of creativity through the loose structure.
YOUR features
A Beginner’s Guide to:
Registering to Vote Text // Emily Labes
Ah, the final months before Election Day. Is there anything else like it? Campaign ads get exponentially more brutal, dozens of farfetched rumors about the candidates circulate daily, and political commentators get so worked up, even makeup and lighting can’t cover up the tiny veins threatening to burst through their foreheads. But there are some good parts too; not long from now, our generation will make history as we exercise that sacred right to vote and decide who the leader of our country (for the next four years) is going to be. We are responsible for remaining politically aware. We are responsible for staying true to our beliefs. We are responsible for honestly answering the question: Who do I think would be the best person to put in office? But above
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STEP ONE: Decide where to register to vote. As students, we have the incredible advantage of technically having two homes. So the question is: Do I want to vote in Massachusetts, or do I want to vote in my home state? The answer to that question is entirely up to you. First, do some background research on your home state. Look into its number of electoral votes, political affiliations, etc. to help decide where your vote will most likely make a difference. Being a Cleveland girl, I registered in Ohio around the time I turned 18. Although there are many aspects of provincial midwestern culture that I’ve shamelessly left behind, I’m unwilling to give up voting as an Ohioan. It is common knowledge that Ohio is a Swing State. It carries a substantial number of electoral votes, and switches its political affiliations more often than the hot chocolate machine breaks in the dining hall. My vote could quite literally make a difference – and yours can too.
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STEP TWO: The voter registration form and you. If you’re going to vote in Massachusetts, don’t worry too much about obtaining the necessary forms. As the deadline to register nears, volunteers will approach you to get you registered with the
all, we are responsible for actually getting ourselves to the polls to vote! Every election, a large part of the American population simply just doesn’t vote. According to infoplease.com, in 2008, only 56.8% of eligible voters actually voted. As sad as that may be, it isn’t a huge surprise. The process of voting can be an intimidating one, especially for first-time voters. On top of all the “My First Election Day” jitters, there’s the seemingly insurmountable stack of paperwork that accompanies the ordeal (i.e. registration forms, absentee ballots, etc.) Then of course, there’s the time crunch when you realize that you must be registered by October 9th. But really, it isn’t so bad. Just use the following steps to prepare for the big day.
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combined vigor of the Planned Parenthood canvassers and celebrity photographers. These politically motivated volunteers may come on strong, but they will help you with everything you need to register, and help you figure out where to go on Election Day. If you’re going to register in your home state, the process is also far simpler than you might have guessed. The voter registration forms are easy to find on the US Election Assistance Commission’s website, www.eac.gov. Once you download and print them, you will notice the comprehensive guide that accompanies the application. It will answer any question you could possibly have, in a clear and concise manner. Sometimes, the government really does get it right. It is important to remember though, that each state has different voting laws. Pay special attention to this in the guide. Once you’ve filled out the forms, find out your local election office’s address online, or by asking your parents, and send those forms on their way. Then with a little bit of help from your postal carrier, and just a tad of clerical voodoo, you will be registered.
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STEP THREE: So, you’ve decided to register as a voter in your home state. For those who have decided to register in Massachusetts, pay no attention to the jibber jabber of this section. Those of you who have decided to vote in your home state – your journey is not yet over. Again, every state is different, but all states allow absentee voting. Once you find your state’s early registration application online, follow those handy-dandy instructions, and fill it out. If you’re going to be home for a visit during the allotted time, you can vote absentee in-person (oxymoronic, right?) at your county’s board of elections office. If not, you can send your ballot in early by mail. A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND: Your responsibilities don’t end here! Remember, it is important to stay aware of what is going on in the presidential race until the polls close. Also be aware that the presidency is not the only office up for grabs. Study what is going on in your state government, and figure out what other issues and candidates will be on the ballot. That way, when you finally have the sweet satisfaction of casting your ballot, you’ll know that you have made all the right decisions. Good luck!
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YOUR features
PotCake
A “Dogumentary”
Text // Beth Treffeisen Photography // The Turks and Caicos Islands, located north of Haiti in the Caribbean, is home to expansive resorts, pristine beaches, beautiful blue oceans, and lots and lots of dogs. There are so many dogs that the people living on the islands consider them a nuisance, similar to how citizens of Boston and NYC think of pigeons . Potcake: A Dogumentary, a film by Emerson students Janine Moody, Maxwell Collins, Brian Lynch and Kyler Shelling, focuses on bringing awareness to the dogs’ situation.
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“There is an overpopulation of the dogs that roam around everywhere like we have squirrels in the common,” said Moody, a sophomore visual and media arts major. Potcakes, the mixed breed on the islands, are typically about 45lbs and are known to be loyal and sweet, according to PotcakePlace.com. The overpopulation of these dogs on the island is due in part to poorly managed street garbage that the animals feed on, according to Moody. The lack of spaying and neutering is also an issue.
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YOUR features The idea for the documentary first sparked when Collins’s parents visited the Turks and Caicos Islands for vacation last fall. While on the trip, they heard of a local adoption center not far from the hotel they were staying at. “When they got there, they immediately fell in love with the puppies in the window,” said Collins, a senior in Post-Production major during a Skype interview. Collins’s parents did some research and found out how easy it is to take one of the puppies home. Collins was in bed at 8:30 a.m. when his parents dropped the Potcake puppy on his bed. “They just flopped him in on my bed, and he started licking me on the face. I was like, ‘I can dig this,’” said Max. Inspired by his new dog, Collins sought out to make a documentary about the Potcakes. He found an investor (whose name he did not disclose) who enabled the team to earn $6,000 to buy the equipment and approximately $1,500 to pay for the trip expenses. With equipment in tow, the team Moody, Collins, Lynch and Shelling - flew down to the Turks and Caicos Islands in late August to shoot the film.
“We didn’t go down with a plan. Well, [we had] a basic one with a few names and some interviews lined up,” said Lynch, a sophomore visual and media arts major. On the island there are three main organizations that deal with the Potcakes. There is the government that deals with euthanizing the dogs and the Turks & Caicos Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that spays and neuters them. Pampered Paws runs a kennel that takes in dogs from the TCSPCA as well as other stray animals. There is also Potcakes Place, which tries to get dogs adopted into homes outside of the country. They coordinate couriers to bring dogs from the island to the United States. They also make sure that the dogs have all of their shots and are ready to be given to a new family. Seeing the problem up close made all the difference for the team. “Right when we got there… they had found a litter in a cesspool,” said Moody. “It was so sad, and we saw the runt of that litter that was there. He was so tiny, he was half a pound. He didn’t make it
because he was so small.” During a helicopter ride, they saw the problem as a whole. Lynch said, “You go over part of the island where there’s no houses or anything, there’s just tents in the woods with people who live there. You don’t [usually] see that…you don’t expect it from such a paradise place.” Collins noted, “I saw shanty towns, and it was pretty bad and you just put it in the back of your mind. I felt bad for a while that I was doing [a documentary] about dogs and not the people.” Currently, Collins is working on editing the film and hopes to complete it no later than this December. The team plans to show the documentary around to film festivals and possibly pitch it into network television. “I kind of knew going down there that a lot of the beautiful Caribbean island countries are kind of third world countries,” Shilling said. “I wouldn’t say they are developed as we are as a western civilization, but actually being there and seeing it was actually the stunning part.”
“There is an overpopulation of the dogs that roam around everywhere like we have squirrels in the common” -Janine Moody
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YOUR arts&entertainment
Movies You Should See This Month: OCTOBER Welcome to Movies You Should See This Month, a regular feature where our editor, Nick Johnston, and one of our writers discuss upcoming films of varying quality. This month, writer Regina Mogilevskaya joins him from the Emerson dorms in LA. Get your schedules and a bag of Peanut M&Ms, because it’s going to be one hell of a month.
Text // Nick Johnston and Regina Mogilevskaya
The Paperboy // October 5th:
You know, I got to meet Lee Daniels once during freshman year (back when he was pushing Precious to some Oscar glory). He seemed like a pretty nice guy. He also told some girl who didn’t like his movies to go fuck herself, which was funny. The fact that he directed this absolutely bat-shit Southern pulp fest begs the question “what kind of drugs is he on and where can I get them?” For an example of this movie’s bat-shitness, I give you the scene that caused so much controversy at Cannes this year: Nicole Kidman pissing on Zac Efron to help soothe the pain from a jellyfish sting. If that doesn’t make you want to see this as soon as possible, I don’t think we can be friends. Matthew McConaughy technically headlines the bill, but if you wanted to see him in a good movie this summer, you should have gone and seen Killer Joe. -NJ
Taken 2 // October 5th: So, Taken 2, you say? Before you snicker and move on, you must ask a few questions. Is Liam Neeson in it, but looking about 15 years older than in the 2009 original? Does the film take place in a foreign country? Is someone close to Liam Neeson kidnapped? Is it his wife and daughter this time? Why is his
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daughter traveling again (when it is clearly not her forte)? Is there a lot of gunfire, violence, cell phones, and men speaking in very deep voices? Are people seeking revenge? And, most importantly, WHY IS LIAM NEESON’S DAUGHTER TRAVELING AGAIN WHEN IT IS CLEARLY NOT HER FORTE? You can find out all the answers to these questions by actually seeing the movie. Or maybe you can just watch the trailer. For free. At home in your underwear. -RM
Argo // October 12th: Look, if you’re
reading this, you’re probably going to go and see this wonderful true story about the craziest CIA plot ever conceived (in 1978). It’s a Ben Affleckdirected movie and, like watching the Sox lose or choking on a lobster roll or travelling to the new world to preserve your religious freedom, going to see it at a crowded, awful theater is an essential part of the
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Boston experience. Make sure you throw your popcorn at the kids who talk. -NJ
Nobody Walks // October 12th:
A series of infidelity, trysts, and cryptic glances amongst hopelessly beautiful people scattered throughout the Hollywood Hills. Their wooden-paneled homes are hardly inventive settings for a studio film. Surely, we’ve experienced the inner urges between a therapist and her patient on screen and observed indelible waves of desire between married
YOUR arts&entertainment
co-workers as working on a project keeps them in close quarters late into the night. However, Nobody Walks has a few exceptional things going for it. Notably, its conception by two Oberlin alumni is singular. Ry Russo-Young’s experimental directorial style is aided by the skill of writer Lena Dunham, whose realistic,
swaggering style has recently made quite a mark in the entertainment world. Plus, we just get to hear her writing, and not see her naked- that’s always good. The cast is also something to look forward to, with John Krasinski stepping out of his comedic comforts, Rosemarie DeWitt as the conflicted wife, and Olivia Thirlby as the shorthaired, sharp-eyed beauty that seduces with East Coast charm and mystery. The fact that Thirlby and Krasinski’s characters are intensely working on sound for her film ensures that Nobody Walks will be full of some sexy shots of sound The Loneliest Planet design, deafening flicks of soda can tabs, shower streams, and licking envelopes. -RM
Killing Them Softly // October 21st: Australian
filmmaker Andrew Dominik has directed some of the most incredible films in recent memory (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert
following words appear on screen: “What if the one you love became a stranger in an instant?” What happens? Everything happens. The film apparently turns on “the kind of small incident that could alter our life in just a few seconds.” Here, finally, is a trailer that barely gives away a Killing Them Softly thing and yet we are left
Ford), but works at a Terrence Malick-esque pace when it comes to putting out new material. This adaptation of the 1974 novel Cogan’s Trade (which was written by Boston native George V. Higgins) is his first release in five years.
intrigued, with our senses heightened and the backs of our throats tingling. -RM The film features his former Jesse James, Brad Pitt, in the role of the titular Cogan, an enforcer hired to investigate a heist. Apparently it’s a lengthy critique of late capitalism as well (so obvious that it repelled certain critics over in France), so check your expectations at the door. Check tout if you enjoy fantastic casting (James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins, Ray Liotta in supporting roles), incredible visual stylings, fascinating cultural commentary, or are interested in seeing Bostonarea rapper Slaine get hit by an exploding car. -NJ
The Loneliest Planet // October 26th: This bizarre little film is a
mystery wrapped up in a scenic sweep of green terrain. A young couple (played by Gael Garcia Bernal and Hani Furstenberg) decides to backpack the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia one summer. They hire a local guide to lead them across the wilderness. The trailer provides snapshots of the couple interacting with locals, happily biting into kebobs, doing volunteer work, and fooling around in tents. Yet all of a sudden, we see the
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Cloud Atlas // October 26th:
Already one of the most divisive movies of the year (its showing at Venice led to a Twitter war of an impressive scope), this adaptation of David Mitchell’s millenniaspanning, multi-narrative novel is brought to us by some of the best filmmakers of the 1990’s. Tom Tykwer, director of the masterpiece Run Lola Run, and the Wachowskis, directors of The Matrix, collaborated together in this three-hour epic. The catch? The novel’s one of my favorite books of all time (and I haven’t seen any of these directors do solid work since 2006, when Tykwer released his underrated adaptation of Perfume). The complex structure of the book doesn’t exactly lend itself well to a screen version. However, from what we’ve been shown so far, it looks like it will be absolutely stunning. The six-minute trailer showcased a diverse and fascinating cast (everybody from Tom Hanks to Ben Whishaw to Halle Berry) inhabiting some incredibly beautiful and bizarre visuals. Support some really ambitious Hollywood filmmaking, folks. -NJ
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YOUR arts&entertainment
Fall Television Preview Text//Nick Johnston
Fall TV seasons are always the worst. No Game of Thrones, no Mad Men, no Girls, no Veep… the list could go on and on, but we'll have to endure (nothing can replace you in my heart, Peter Dinklage). The returning shows sound absolutely amazing (I'm looking at you, Boardwalk Empire and Treme), but this is pilot season, not duck or rabbit. This is when a ton of new shows get their training wheels taken off, and are shown to the world to be harshly judged by people like me. Some will be great. Most will not be. Luckily, we've compiled this pretty intense list of what new shows to watch, and what horrible things to avoid. Please note: there isn't any Kevin Bacon on this list. I'm sorry.
LAST RESORT (ABC)
Airs Thursdays @ 8 p.m., starting on September 27th Principals: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Robert Patrick The Dish: I thought we'd had enough of this kind of soft-core libertarian porn when V was cancelled, but I guess you never can be too sure. I'm sure we've all had a few slight chuckles at the expense of near-ubiquitous ads that line the city's bus stations; you know, the one with the somber marine holding a battered flag as he wanders out of the water (somewhere, somehow, Mitt Romney thinks "I'll watch this!"). The plot's your standard "honorable soldiers who rebel against a tyrannical government" but this time it's on a nuclear submarine and said government wants the submarine to bomb Pakistan into the stone age. If there was a good reason to disobey orders, I'd say that would be a pretty solid one. Still, I'm looking forward to that guy from Homicide and the half-vampire/half-werewolf from the Underworld movie series fight that one Terminator who could turn into a puddle. That'll be pretty interesting. Watch If: seeing a Ron Paul quote on reddit makes you high-five your cat.
VEGAS (NBC)
Airs Tuesdays @ 10 p.m., starting September 25th Principals: Dennis Quaid, Carrie-Anne Moss, Michael Chiklis The Dish: Remember The Playboy Club? How about Pan Am? I don’t either, and that’s because those Mad Men rip-offs were cancelled in a heartbeat after they underperformed, with the former being one of the worst ideas in modern television history. This 1960’s-set crime drama seems like it will be following down the same path, but there’s enough interesting star power to make it intriguing. Mix that with some amazing production design and some good writing (I know that might be a little too much to ask, but, hey) and you have a show you’ll just need to watch. It may be nice to see Michael Chiklis in a role he really likes again, as there are few Vic Mackey types left for him to play in the current TV climate. His mob boss character (based on crime lord Marcello Giuseppe Caifano) will make an interesting foil for Quaid’s Vegas sheriff. I’m kind of excited to see how this turns out, honestly. Fingers crossed on the quality of it all. Watch If: you still can’t get the smell of that martini someone spilled on you at the craps table out of your good smoking jacket.
ELEMENTARY (CBS)
Airs Thursdays @ 10 p.m., starting September 27th Principals: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu The Dish: Don’t watch this crappy modern day Sherlock Holmes show, please. Here’s a list of five reasons why, if you need them. 1) For the love of god, just watch Sherlock. It really is one of the best things the BBC has produced in recent years. 2) Commenting on that further, the casting of Miller in the role of Holmes is a pretty disgusting stunt that’s meant to give the bird to Benedict Cumberbatch. 3) When was the last time you saw Lucy Liu in something you liked? I have a feeling it was Kill Bill Vol. 1. 4) Louie might still be on at 10:30. If you prefer to watch something else, Rock Center with Brian Williams is a pretty good news show. 5) CBS fired Dan Harmon from Community. Just don’t watch. Watch If: you like watching bad television ironically, so you can make jokes about it in the magazine you write for or to impress a crush that isn’t into you.
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YOUR arts&entertainment THE GIRL (HBO)
REVOLUTION (NBC)
Airs Mondays @ 10pm, starting September 17th Principals: Billy Burke, Tracey Spiridakos, Giancarlo Esposito The Dish: Looks like NBC wants a little bit of that Hunger Games money! This new sci-fi show from producer J.J Abrams has been pretty heavily promoted over the past couple of months, each ad showcasing the post-apocalyptic, post-electricity world the show takes place in. The setting is by far the most interesting part of all of it, as Katniss’ bow is changed into a crossbow, the dad from Twilight was cast as the resident badass, and the science seems pretty dubious (most scenarios like the ones shown in the show would probably be caused by something that would kill most of us off in a few months), but who cares? It should be a good time to watch regardless, as long as it is as propulsive and consistently entertaining as Alias or Lost. Plus, the guy who played Gus Fring on Breaking Bad is in it. How bad can it truly be? Watch If: you’ve actually considered being a survivalist type and living, hunting, and shitting in the woods. Especially watch if you first thought this was a good idea after playing too much Fallout.
Airs October 20th @ 9pm Principals: Toby Jones, Sienna Miller The Dish: Truthfully, this TV movie is what I’m most looking forward to watching this fall, and it’s something that I think is incredibly important for film students and anybody with an interest in gender studies to take a gander at. Alfred Hitchcock is one of cinema’s greatest sacred cows (no weight joke intended), and it’s interesting to see him considered in any light that’s not so overwhelmingly positive. The Girl documents his sexual harassment of actress Tippi Hedren (Sienna Miller) over the course of production of the two films they made together, The Birds and Marnie. It also showcases Hitch’s attempts, after she rebuffed him in every way, to destroy her career as consummately as he could. Director Julian Jerrold, whose adaptations of Brideshead Revisited and the first Red Riding book I liked a lot, seems to have the period chops and skill to make this flow well, and the casting is wonderful. Jones is one of our most undervalued actors, and maybe this performance will finally get him noticed by people outside of the critical circlejerk. He looks the part, and he’s proved time and again that even a man of small stature can be intimidating as hell. In interviews, Hedren, who gave the production an unprecedented level of access to her, claims that the story being told is a success story; one that shows that even though Hitch destroyed her career, he couldn’t destroy her. Let’s hope that the final product reflects the best of that sentiment. Watch If: you’re one of the lucky few who have HBO, or you need something to write about for that film final or that gender studies research paper that definitely won’t bore you to tears.
AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM (FX) Airs Wednesdays @ 10pm, starting October 17th Principals: Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, Zachary Quinto The Dish: Confession time: I haven’t seen an episode of this show, mainly because I don’t really care for Ryan Murphy or the programs he makes (although the presence of Ellen Barkin might just make me watch an episode of The New Normal), but I hear it is scary as hell and incredibly fun to watch. [I’m gettinging all the following information from my Editor-in-Chief, who is currently holding a snub-nose at the back of my head and telling me to take my time and make sure it’s perfect.] This new season takes place in 1964 at a mental institution, run by season one’s star Lange, and features appearances by actorslike James Cromwell, Joseph Fiennes, and the abovementioned Quinto, who I hope isn’t eating anybody’s brains like on Heroes. It should be a pretty interesting season, and I may just start watching it, especially if I can hear that awesome cover of “Tainted Love” they used in the previews last season. Watch If: YOU’RE A GOOD PERSON WHO LIKES AMAZING TV. [Now? Please?]
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YOUR arts&entertainment
Tobe Hooper retrospective O
Text // Jackson Birnbaum
ctober is indisputably the it’s a packed month at the Coolidge, greatest month. Yes, it brings but the most exciting event is their the sugar-and-stale-beer retrospective of the work of Tobe coma following Halloweekend, Hooper, running weekends at the backwards-cap sporting bros midnight from Oct. 5-25. in stained, “this is my costume” Few horror directors have had shirts, and the over-eroticized as diverse of a career as Mr. Hooper. bumble-bee costume. But it also From the unflinching realism brings films: sweet, bloodstained of his masterpiece debut, The cinema to satisfy every depraved Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to the urge you could possibly have. supernatural chills of Poltergeist, Here in Boston, we have a veritable Tobe has created some of the most platter of the horrific to choose iconic horror films to date. from.. It ranges from the wide First up in the retrospective is release of snoozefests like Silent The Funhouse, a carnival-based Hill: Revelation (in 3D! ugh.), to the Brattle’s excellent screenings of Cabin in the Woods and Nosferatu. But no theatre brings the blood, chills, and terror direct to your eyeballs quite like the Coolidge Corner Theatre. This October, the Coolidge brings you VHS, a found footage anthology that’s been picking up rave reviews. Texas Chainsaw Massacre They bring you J. Cannibal’s Feast of Flesh XII, a long-running slasher heavy on atmosphere, if tradition in Boston that combines a surprisingly low on gore. Up next is mix of heavy, horror-driven metal, Lifeforce, a piece best described as a a burlesque act as heavy on the fake melding of Alien, The Hunger, and blood as it is on the real sex appeal, a Romero zombie flick. Given that and a screening of a classic horror the film is relatively unheard of, film; this year, it’s Reanimator. this is the most exciting event, and This all builds to the infamous 12 one that is not to be missed. hour horror film marathon, where We go from there to what is the snooty film geeks and tattooed a personal favorite of mine, the gutterpunks mingle as they test extremely under-rated Texas the limits of their gore tolerance, Chainsaw Massacre 2. Straying as well as sanity, during 35mm relatively far from the original, this screenings of The Exorcist, The ups the gore significantly while Thing, and five surprise films. Yes, adding a healthy dose of black
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Poltergeist
@ the Coolidge comedy and a rocking soundtrack featuring The Cramps, Concrete Blond, and Oingo Boingo, among others. Plus, Dennis Hopper gets in a chainsaw duel. A. Chainsaw. Duel. ‘Nuff said. Finally, we arrive at Poltergeist. Despite the claims of some that the film owes more of the directorial credit to Spielberg than Hooper, this film simply drips the viscous ooze of Hooper trademarks. The moments of humor, the scares, it all has a feel that is undeniably Hooper. All that aside, it is also one of the best examples of the family-horror genre. It never feels watered down or tame, but manages to create a masterpiece that you can feel free to show your younger cousins. Those runty little bastards will be scarred forever. Anyway, this is a classic in the horror genre, and if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor and get your ticket now lest I mock you to the very edges of death for having not seen it. Hooper has been somewhat less prolific as of late. His newest film, Djinn, has allegedly been buried after a pressure from a member of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, so who knows when the next time you’ll see Hooper in theaters. So do yourselves a goddamn favor and hit up this wondrous event. Tickets are available at the box office, or at www.coolidge.org.
YOUR arts&entertainment
For Your Consideration: Animal Collective’s Animal Collective’s Centipede Hz spent most of 2012 on the top of many Most Anticipated lists. Now, it shares joint custody between Best of 2012 and Biggest Disappointments. Yes, as interviews with band members from months earlier confirmed, this album is divisive and difficult. This divide is mainly because the album’s following the perfect piece of pop that is Merriweather Post Pavilion. From that moment halfway through “In the Flowers” when it explodes into Beach Boys-in-space madness Merriweather (we’re all on a first name basis with this album now) just screamed “important.” It may sound hyperbolic, but understanding the religious reverence people have for that album is key to appreciating just how necessary Centipede Hz is for this band. The newer album acts as a perfect counterpoint to MPP’s optimism and bliss and it’s easy to picture a future where the two albums are seen as a pair. It’s a common misconception that Animal Collective’s records sound nothing alike, that the band makes an effort to abandon a previously established sound with every new album. It’s more like kids fucking around with a chemistry set and combining different elements to create something completely new; e.g. one of only two Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) songs on the new album, “New Town Burnout.” Over a brooding six minutes Lennox takes the dark, stormy intensity of his solo album Tomboy and mixes it with the saccharine twitchiness of Strawberry Jam to create something you’ve always wanted to hear by him (even if you didn’t know it). With that said, Centipede Hz is the sound of Merriweather spending a few years locked in a musty basement. It’s rotten, mushy, and
probably has a bunch of weird colored mold on it. It features a similar approach of building songs around electronic loops and samples, but it feels far more organic and dense. The various layers to songs often melt together on the road trip opener “Moonjock,” which incorporates blasting drum beats, laser sounds, gorgeous choirs, and brutal screams. All of those elements were worked in with enough time to include a minute-long ambient coda that leads perfectly into Hz’s first single “Today’s Supernatural.” This opening one-two punch will immediately dispel any disappointment people had when they heard Panda was going to be on drums the whole album. His unbelievably heavy live drumming is one of the elements that define the band’s aggressive new sound. Meanwhile Deakin’s first vocal contribution “Wide Eyed,” is one of the best surprises of the album. His deep voice adds something completely new to the equation, creating a nice variation from the cliché that Panda does the pretty songs and Avey yells a lot. His voice is mysterious, muscular, and the fact that it sounds a bit like Andy Partridge of XTC doesn’t hurt. One of the big reasons Hz acts as the perfect counterpoint to MPP’s optimism and bliss, is due to the songwriting break down. The previous album felt so exciting, mainly because it was the first time Panda Bear sang the majority of the songs. With the exception of “Summertime Clothes,” most of the songs people connected with (i.e. “My Girls,” “Brothersport”) had his Brian Wilson-esque touch. It was the only album where nobody was screaming. Hz, on the other hand, is almost entirely Avey Tare and it feels all the more refreshing for it.
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Text//Miles Bowe
Despite the “collective” in the name, Tare has always felt like a band leader. That sentiment has never felt truer than on “Monkey Riches,” a song that’s already been labeled everything from the best on the album to the worst in the band’s entire catalogue. The song is pulled back from the intensity of its live performances last year (Avey screamed for almost the entire song), but in a good way. Over nearly seven minutes, Avey takes a simple chorus/verse formula and builds each section in intensity. The music seems to collapse on itself as the initially sung line “I’ll make a monkey rich,” eventually becomes a blood curdling scream. A few weeks back, the Pitchfork Readers Poll named Merriweather one of the 10 best albums of the last 15 years. That distinction should put into perspective just how overwhelmingly difficult it is to try and follow up a massively acclaimed album. For a year in music when bands from Beach House to The xx have happily kept their sound untouched, it’s brave of a band (especially one with such a cult following as Animal Collective) to try something drastically new, not. to mention so dense and difficult. The finale, “Amanita,” (named after the iconic toadstool) is about transformation. It’s the first time Tare has sung lead on a closer since 2005’s Feels, and he makes it count. As the song morphs into its overwhelmingly beautiful psychedelic victory lap, Avey promises “I’m gonna come back and things will be different.” After over a year of waiting, Centipede Hz has been a testament to that return in all of its dark beauty.
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YOUR arts&entertainment
WHERE COEXIST STANDS APPROACH WITH CAUTION
A review of The xx’s latest album Text// Regina Mogilevskaya
It’s easy to create and produce a subpar record and patiently go up from there. It’s less easy to have your debut album top charts, place 9th on a Rolling Stones’ best of the year list, and garner general critical acclaim, and then, 4 years later, release a second record that’s just as good. Here’s to The xx, an indie pop trio from England who did just that with their album Coexist, which dropped on September 10th. Coexist opens with “Angels,” and to say that this is a haunting track would do it little justice. “Angels” is an invitation; each chord struck a beckoning into a cavernous blue, foggy world of lost lovers. The listener is stepping slowly into a story, perhaps one that feels all too familiar, where each track is a winding hallway of reminisces
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and regrets. On the stand out track “Chained”, the band croons a recognizable lament: “I ask you one last time, did I hold you too tight? Did I not let enough air in?” Lyrically, the album is full of emotional turmoil, the searing kind of heartbreak that you can still feel right in your underbelly. And yet what makes Coexist distinctive lays in its brevity. The trio obviously isn’t exploring new territory when it comes to song lyrics about a breakup, but the subdued and soft nature of tracks like “Fiction” and “Unfold” remain incredibly powerful and effective. Then there’s “Sunset”, a track that should hit close to home for anyone who has ever experienced any emotional turmoil. The track explores that distorted reality of former lovers acting like strangers, coming to the
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bitter conclusion that “it is understood that we did all we could.” The fairly simplistic composition of the tracks across the record serves as a connecting pulse, and the variety of instruments in the arrangements seem to compliment the vocals, not race against them. Brief lapses of dead noise and moments of unaccompanied vocals on certain tracks are jarring and unnerving, but imperative in recapturing the attention of the listener just as they’re getting used to the lulls. As expected, The xx’s greatest strength lays in their ability to build up to their orchestrations, yet what really works for Coexist is its exemplary sense of unity. While each track is relatively defined as its own story, the record as a whole remains cohesive and feels like one visceral, aching sensation. Coexist concludes with “Our Song,” a delicate track in which Jamie and Romy murmur “You walk through, you just walk through” as the music fades into static- white noise. They are allowing the listener make their way out of this failed love; though in reality Coexist floats across your insides and leaves you thinking about that story for a long time afterwards, and maybe even your own, too.
YOUR arts&entertainment
YourMag Playlist: Spooky Songs Text// A&E Staff
Here at the YourMag A&E section, we’ve spent the last several weeks eagerly anticipating the arrival of our favorite holiday: Halloween. It’s mostly because we like dressing up and, of course, we love any excuse to drink too much and eat lots of sugary stuff, but the spookiness of the crisp fall air always brings a little warmth to our blackened hearts. To help you ring in the scary season, we’ve thought up a little playlist that works best when played AS LOUD AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. We don’t care if you wake your neighbors up. In fact, we want to scare them too. We hope you have a nice holiday and that all of your fears come true. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go egg Old Man Jenkins’ house while wearing our devilish little costumes.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.
“I Put a Spell on You” Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “The Ghost of You Lingers” Spoon “In the Dead We Dwell” Hooded Menace “Pinky’s Dream” David Lynch feat. Karen O “Jack the Ripper” Morrissey “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)” David Bowie “The End is the Beginning is the End” The Smashing Pumpkins “@deathgripz” Death Grips “Kids on Holiday” Animal Collective “The Autopsy Garland” The Mountain Goats “Mother of the World” Swans
“Monster”
Kanye West feat. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Bon Iver
“Last Caress” The Misfits “China Girl” Iggy Pop “Disintegration” The Cure “Marilyn” Bat for Lashes “Fineshrine” Purity Ring “Loverman” Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Sweet 17” Dirty Beaches “Monster Mash” Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the CryptKickers “Power Nurse” Sunn O))) “Casper the Friendly Ghost” Daniel Johnston
“Sulk” TRST 41
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October
2012