In Defense of Old Movies

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

My alarm goes off at 8AM and I immediately somersault out of bed. Those who know me know there is only one thing that can get me out of bed this early on a Monday: movies. And so I arrive to the first day of my American Cinema until 1970 class amped and ready to learn. My professor, a white-bearded yet completely bald man, welcomes me in with a small smile. Once everyone else arrives to class, he asks us a question: "How many of you actually like to watch old movies?"

Immediately my hand shoots up into the air and I see a few other stragglers raise their hands after me. I wonder if my classmates were just so lethargic because it was 8AM on a Monday or if they really just did not like old movies. It was in that moment that I realized why only a few people raised their hands. Today in our world of movie-watching, we are bombarded with too many camera tricks. From 3D to computer-generated special effects to excessive language and violence, as modern audience members we are spoiled. We will sit through three hours-worth of explosions, but getting through a one and half hour black and white drama seems nearly impossible.

Now don't get me wrong; I have been known to enjoy a good fast-paced car chase, and there are some older movies that are great if only because I can easily nap to them. But there are many benefits to watching movies more than fifty years old. For me, the magic of watching Bringing Up Baby every year with my family or experiencing Marlon Brando's powerful performance in A Streetcar Named Desire again and again is unmatched by any modern movie. After all, there is a reason these movies are still remembered by older and younger generations alike. Many films like these have stood the test of time because of the striking camera work or progressive subject matter or memorable performances by some of the greatest actors ever. I mean, what other movie has covered such important social issues in the same manor of To Kill A Mockingbird did? Or has the same grandiose cinematography as Citizen Kane?  If you like any movie ever, chances are it was inspired by or taken some aspect of it from another movie that came before it. Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese both say that Citizen Kane has inspired their work in one way or another, and it inspires me too. In fact, tons of old movies inspire me.

I can watch Citizen Kane a thousand times and still be amazed by the transitions in that film. Each shot is perfectly established with sturdy angles and dramatic lighting. The image of Charles Foster Kane clapping at the opera is one that will probably never leave my mind. And it's films like that--films that can stay with you long after you see them, and make you want to keep coming back for another viewing--that really matter. For me, Citizen Kane is just one example of an older film that should never be forgotten.

And so, I say that old movies should not be immediately dismissed because they may be "out of date" or "boring." They have merit and they have purpose and they can inspire. After my American Cinema class ended for the semester, I knew tons of students that discovered some great movies that they now love and will continue to love until the day they die. So next time, before you immediately write off another old movie, I urge you to at least give it a try first. Who knows? It might turn out to be one of your new favorites.

YOLO: The Modern Carpe Diem

By: Alex 

Graphic by Alex 

We’ve all heard it, the famous mantra, ‘you only live once.’ But for me, YOLO is much more than just a term coined by a rapper to make his song sell more records. For me, YOLO is the modern Carpe Diem (Latin for "seize the day"), and I’m so glad it’s become a part of our society. With so many new conveniences, it is so easy for our generation to live passively. Today, we can accomplish just as many things by sitting on our couch as we can going out in the world and participating. Nowadays, we can use these conveniences as an excuse not to participate in real life; it’s an easy way out.

Seizing the day is a term that’s become lost in a world where things are handed to us. Thanks to the popularization of YOLO, people are now realizing that you really do only live once, and there are a lot of things you should just get up and do instead of waiting for them to happen. As silly as it sounds, there really is so much truth to this motto.  YOLO has encouraged me to try things that I would have never done, and I’ve never regretted any of it.

Yes, there is definitely such a thing as too much YOLO-ing. You never want to do something that could put your life in danger. But on the other hand, you have to take risks if you want to YOLO in the most authentic fashion. So even if something is new and scary and maybe even a little crazy, if I feel safe doing it, I’m going to try it. My best advice is, as long as no one dies, it’s worth trying.  

I was talking to my friend on the phone the other night at 3AM, distraught over how much I sometimes miss out on because I don’t live in the city. She lives in Boston where there are plenty of opportunities to YOLO, and she said, “no one is stopping you from doing anything you want. You can go climb a tree right now, you can go to Taco Bell and eat all the food you want. You can go in the middle of the street and wave at cars. You can do anything. You just have to want to do it.” And I thought, she’s completely right. No matter where you are, there is always an opportunity to YOLO, and every YOLO moment makes for experience, which makes for a really awesome story. So, the more I YOLO, the more I learn about the world and myself. It’s true that every experience makes us better people and gives us more of a base to speak from.

I’ve learned that I have so much more to lose if I don’t go out and take a couple risks. So next time you’re contemplating actually doing something or just passively going through life, remember my mantra, ‘you only live once,’ and think again about trying something new. Seize the day. You won’t regret it. 

Hard Times, Real Friends, Wonderful Life

By: Alex

Art by Alex 

Tis the season to talk about my favorite Christmas movie, which is also possibly my favorite movie of all time—It’s a Wonderful Life. Frank Capra’s masterpiece of seasonal spirit proves that pure optimism can be found in even the gravest times. But more importantly, he proves that every human life is worth something.

Growing up with It’s a Wonderful Life, this Christmas classic was one of the first videotapes I owned. Though I appreciate it’s traditional value in my house, what I love most about this movie is that no matter how many times I watch it, its timeless themes never lose their worth.

In the story, George Bailey feels his life is worthless because he has nothing to show for it. He’s struggling as a businessman in a job he doesn’t truly love, and he hasn’t yet lived his dreams. As all these realizations come together, George feels he is worth more dead than alive.

George feels like a failure and a waste, and I identify with him in that way exactly. At some point in our lives, we can all feel these overwhelming feelings of anxiety—we question what we perceive as a meaningless life. I’m sure that many can identify; for teens, this is angst in its purest form, all part of growing up, and for people like George Bailey, it’s more like a midlife crisis. But in either case, neither is less serious than the other. Falling into these feelings causes us to question our identities and wonder if our efforts and our lives are truly worth it.

We just want to something to change, something to show us that our lives aren’t as pointless as they seem. In this film, we see that it is possible to notice the redeeming qualities of our lives, even in our most desperate times. Thanks to George’s guardian angel, we see that just by being himself, George has changed the lives of so many and didn’t even know it. By looking back on his life and all the people he has changed, George realizes that his life truly has value.

Even when I feel like the biggest failure, It’s a Wonderful Life has taught me that each person I encounter, every decision I make, has an impact on someone other than me. I learned that those people who love us give us something to show for our lives, even if we don’t have the dreams and accomplishments to prove it. This film shows us that optimism is possible in any situation, especially when we have loved ones around to help us out.

For George, it took a near death experience and a second chance from his guardian angel to realize this. But for us, all it should take is a viewing of It’s a Wonderful Life to know these values are true. Knowing that we’ve accomplished more than we think just by being ourselves should make us feel very lucky. Though we may still feel worthless at times, with the right people around, we all really do have a wonderful life. Remember, no man is a failure who has friends. 

A Triumphant Return

By: Alex 

Art by Alex 

One of my favorite things to do is drive down the highway on a Friday afternoon, appreciating Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Homeward Bound’ on my journey south into Pittsburgh. Though I don’t make this commute often, I love it when I do. There’s something magical about the prospect of going home and getting back to a familiar place. But life gets very confusing when I pack a suitcase for a weekend at home. I love school, and I love home, but living in two different places, it becomes so hard to figure out where I belong.

As I’m bothered by these questions on my drive home, an episode of the television show Freaks and Geeks comes to mind. Even if you don’t watch the show, all you need to know is that there is this one episode where a character named Barry returns home from college. As I watched this episode, I felt so much for Barry--- returning home to a family where nothing has changed; it’s so comforting. 

When Barry comes home, his high school, family, and neighbors were all the same; it was him that had changed. Likewise, when I return home to a room that’s stayed the same, walls still crowded with posters of the Beatles and old photography, awards from high school and baby pictures, I realize that I’m the one who’s changed. But it’s not the kind of change that lets you know that you’ve outgrown something; it’s the kind of change that tells you you’re getting somewhere. 

Realizing that I’ve become a bigger person while being away from home gives me such a sense of accomplishment. In a non-pompous way, I have newfound confidence when I talk to people. I want to show them that I’ve learned a lot about myself during my time away from home and have become a better person for it. I know myself better than I ever did, and I think that being on my own is the only way I could have figured that out. 

Even though Barry had such confidence in himself, as he talked about what he hoped to accomplish in the next few years, you knew there was a part of him that truly didn’t quite know his direction. But being at home made any doubts or anxieties seem so small. 

Having a familiar place to return to after you’ve changed so much means that you have time to figure it out; that’s why I love going home. It gives me the stability I need while I carry on with my busy lifestyle away from home. We would all go insane if we didn’t have some stability in life, but we wouldn’t be able to grow if we stuck to a predictable routine.

Returning home is so much more meaningful than living there. Though it gives us comfort, returning home doesn’t always tell us where we belong. It’s hard to live a life in two different spheres, but it’s all part of the journey. Being away from home is hard but good; it gives us space and appreciation. I’m sure Barry would agree.  

People Throw Rocks At Things That Shine

By: Alex

Graphic by Alex.

Taylor Swift is one of my favorite human beings. I love her because the music she writes and performs is her, at her finest yet most vulnerable. Her songs are about how something or someone made her feel and how she’s a better person for it. What makes her unique is the fact that she learns lessons from these hardships, so she turns a negative into a positive. She’s not just complaining about her life, she’s singing to an audience that relates to her music, and through it, find an outlet to overcome what plagues them.

Taylor’s not afraid to speak her mind, and I really admire that. The perfect example of her courage to ‘speak now’ is her sassy masterpiece, “Mean.” Taylor wrote “Mean” about a critic who absolutely hated her, and as she does with everything else in her life, she decided to write a song about how he made her feel. But what is so great about this song, is that it’s become so much more than a song about a critic; it is a power ballad against any bully that has ever brought her down, and that’s something everyone can relate to.

Bullies come in many forms. They can be as stereotypical as a dramatic, two faced teenager who makes your life hell as you grow up. Or a bully can be someone different, someone who doesn’t call you names or leave you out of the group, but instead, someone who doesn’t believe in you. These are bullies in the real world—people of authority who won’t give you a chance, people who take advantage of your talents, people who disregard your feelings at a chance to make them look better.

I’ve had many people tell me I couldn’t amount to anything, and that really hurts. There is something so encouraging about knowing that someone has faith in you; it really gives you more confidence and drive to accomplish what you want to. But when someone condemns you, when someone refuses to respect your dreams or talents without even giving you a chance to prove all you can be, it takes motivation to a whole new level.

When I hear a nasty comment from someone, whether they are insulting my writing, my intelligence, or just my personality, I think of Taylor’s song. When I hear these insults, I want nothing more than to prove to all those people one day that I have amounted to something so much greater than they could have ever imagined. I don’t want to get revenge. It’s nothing malicious. I just want to show them that they were wrong for not having faith in me.

Taylor’s “Mean” has become so much more than a song about a pretentious critic. It is an anthem to anyone who has ever doubted her. It’s a kind, subtle, and classy middle finger to all the haters saying, “You didn’t believe in me, and look where I am now. And what do you have? Nothing.”

There is just so much truth and righteousness in this line, “someday I’ll be living in a big old city, and all you’re ever gonna be is mean.” She says it perfectly. One day I’m going to do great things, and move on and become a person I’m proud to be, an it doesn’t matter if you believe in me or not. I’m going to get there. And once I realize my dreams, you’ll still be mean. You’ll still be stuck in an unhappy, lonely place.

And, man, isn’t that satisfying; knowing you’ve become someone great, despite what everyone else might say, despite your past. That’s when you truly know you’ve accomplished something. I can only imagine the pride and fulfillment that Taylor feels each time she sings this song at a concert. I know she’s smiling because she knows there’s someone out there watching who didn’t believe in her. And it must be great for her to know that she made it just fine without them. 

Why You Should See Cloud Atlas

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

There has been a lot of buzz around the new film Cloud Atlas. Directed by three different people (The Matrix's Wachowski siblings and acclaimed German director Tom Tykwer), it follows six different story-lines, all spanning the course of millions of lifetimes and all connected in one way or another. While an incredibly big feat for a, granted, three-hour movie, these story lines are interwoven in ways one could not even imagine; from England during the Second World War to a futuristic Korean city, to a post-apocalyptic Earth, these stories are all connected through the characters. While these characters changed for each different story, the same cast of actors played multiple characters from the different stories. After watching this modern epic, I can confidently and happily declare that Cloud Atlas is unlike any movie I've ever seen.

While I have not read the book on which the movie is based, I can only assume the movie adaptation is fairly similar. This is a movie that easily could have been a huge joke, and quite possibly a terrible flop. But the solid story line and intriguing characters made it an interesting watch from beginning to end. There was never one moment in the almost three hours of the film where I felt bored or detached. Every story line was compelling, action-packed, and full of emotion and drama. From sci-fi to action to drama, there really is something for every movie-lover. Each vignette could have easily stood on its own as an independent movie (the strongest quite possibly being the story that takes place in England about composer and pianist Jim Broadbent and Ben Whishaw, respectively).

The only place where I found this movie lacking was the risky idea of having its actors play different roles and often different races. While it was necessary in order to get perhaps the most imporant theme of the movie across, some of the characters' makeup was just uncomfortable to look at. For example, Jim Sturgess and Hugo Weaving, two Caucasian English actors, were made to look like a mix of Caucasian and Korean. Similarly, South Korean actress Bae Doona was transformed into a Caucasian woman with freckles and red hair. While this is a risky idea, I just did not think it worked very convincingly. Now I know other people that had no problem with this and did not even recognize who the actors were at points, but I disagree. To me, it even felt a bit disrespectful.

If nothing else, Cloud Atlas is inspiring. At the end of my cinematic journey (and it was a journey) through thousands of years of life, I walked away with a new found sense of self-discovery. I felt like even though Cloud Atlas and the world are both bigger than I ever could imagine, I realized something. I realized that we are all connected, and that we, and Cloud Atlas, are capable of amazing things.

Don't Get Mad, Just Be Atticus Finch

By: Alex

Graphic made by Alex

It’s hard to believe in your dreams when you’re surrounded by people who don’t give you a chance. Don’t get me wrong, I have lots of supportive people in my life. But sometimes, the dreamers don’t get the opportunities they deserve. As an ambitious teen, I want to immediately get even with the people who say I’ll never amount to anything and show them everything they’re missing out on. But I don’t, because I learned from my role model, Atticus Finch, that revenge is not the way to get ahead. Atticus proves that righteousness always triumphs over revenge.

Thanks to Atticus, I know how to carry myself through life’s struggles. From Harper Lee’s masterpiece To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch serves as THE PERFECT example of who to be.  In the book, Atticus is a lawyer defending a black man named Tom Robinson in a small, conservative, southern town. The man against him, Bob Ewell makes Atticus’ life miserable because of his decision to support Robinson. Narrow minded, bigoted, and offensive, Ewell brings danger and hardships to Atticus and his family, but Atticus never fights back. Despite all the judgment and hate he receives from the townspeople, Atticus remains steadfast in his decision to support a black man because he knows, above all, that he is doing the right thing.
What makes Atticus so righteous is not only his decision to support an innocent man, but also his decision not to get even with those who hate him for it. Instead of getting revenge, Atticus found a way to prove himself through other means. By being courageous and supporting the underdog, Atticus demonstrated his worth to the town, giving them something to believe in and showing them the true meaning of courage.

Through this story, Atticus made it obvious to me that there will always be people who don’t believe in you or try to discredit you because they disagree. But the most important thing I learned from him is that it doesn’t matter. By having confidence in my decisions, I can have pride in what I do. If people condemn me for believing in myself and doing the right thing, then I welcome it. And I won’t be the one to want to get even; I’ll prove my worth some other way.

When Bob Ewell spit on Atticus, he didn’t spit back. He just walked away. And what happened in the end? Bob Ewell hated his life and Atticus had a great moment of satisfaction, knowing that he provided such a good example for his children to look up to.

Doing the right thing is all that matters. So when any Bob Ewells come up in my life, I surely wont be spitting back at them for revenge. I can go on living my Atticus-inspired life, with no regrets. And one day when the Bob Ewells see what I made of myself, they’ll be sorry they ever spit my way.

A Love Affair with Television

By: Alex

Graphic by Alex 

It would be wrong for me to describe myself without using the word ‘television.’ In the most non-antisocial way, I say that television is one of the most important parts of my life. What I love about TV isn’t laying on a couch and passively watching a screen; it’s actively watching, getting attached to the characters, and becoming inspired by the writers. What makes me excited to watch TV is the value of a story.

I love nothing more than relating to a character; it is so endearing and refreshing. That is why I love TV, because it’s a nice escape from a life that I don’t really know my place in yet. Whether I’m laughing or crying with a character, there is always at least one person on a show that I feel a bond with, and that is what makes me excited about it. TV makes me feel like I’m not that much alone.

Of course, I have to credit this bond that I feel with TV to the genius behind it all—the writers. Television writers inspire me because they are so precise and thorough; they’ve got an agenda. Over the years they map out where a character is going, how they will grow, and how their struggles will drive the story. The profession fascinates me.

I love to see a character grow, and television has the means to do that. The writers get a whole series (rather than 200 pages of a novel or 2 hours of a film) to create and shape these characters to drive powerful stories that hit home. We can watch them go though their times of happiness and triumph or despair and anxiety.

That’s what makes them so real—seeing characters change is just like watching the people around you grow—its life. And that’s what makes it so relatable. I can identify with the spirit of TV more than I can with most people. Watching TV fosters my creative spirit and gives me hope that one day my stories can be heard. And for about an hour of the prime time line up, I feel like anything is possible.

I would not be ashamed to leave a party on the weekend to find a room with a television to watch SNL. I will gladly put aside my homework to watch a few hours of Freaks and Geeks via Netflix. And I’m not opposed to running across campus so I can catch the premiere of this week’s episode of Glee.

Television is magical. It has the ability to create respect and love among it’s generations of viewers. One day, I hope to be satisfying my love affair with television by serving it to my greatest potential; writing my own stories for America to fall in love with all over again. 

The Perks of Being a Coming of Age Novel

By: Alex

Bildungsroman—my new favorite word.

In fancy German terms, it means ‘a coming of age story,’ which just happens to be my favorite genre of literature. Being a lover of the bildungsroman, I’ve collected many angsty novels that resonate with a certain piece of me. But one bildungsroman that is especially relevant to my life right now is Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Without difficulty, Perks captures the spirit of the bildungsroman that I love so much. Chbosky channels the overwhelming desperation that goes along with growing up through his true-to-life teen characters, who can flawlessly execute these complicated feelings.

Perks’ protagonist, Charlie, is an anxious, troubled soul beginning high school. And through his journal entries, we get an insight into Charlie’s struggles to find his place and forget about his unsettling past. Charlie’s journal takes us through his first encounters with relationships, heartbreak, drugs, abuse, suicide, and true friendship.

Charlie gives a voice to every misunderstood and troubled teen. His muted cries for help and introverted personality reveal that when you’re growing up, nothing is easy.  Charlie’s experiences are so relatable, yet so unique. I find myself feeling for Charlie’s yearning to find his place and prove himself. He embodies the conflicted element of the teenage brain, when you never know what to do, what the next step is; how it’s so hard to see your future but even more difficult to let go of a troubling past. It’s easy to be a wallflower--to be stoic and refrain from participating. To keep anxieties numb by feeling so little. But Charlie proves that those you love can make growing up a little easier.

Because of this story’s ability to describe what teenagers fear, dream and struggle with most, it remains one of my favorite novels. Chbosky understands what it means to long to escape, to become something better than yourself, and to grow up with a purpose. This book has taught me that when you’re growing up, you don’t always have to fit in. What made Charlie unique were the things that brought him the most happiness and taught him the most about himself. Seeing a character like Charlie makes me feel like I’m not so alone in a world where I feel like everyone has it all figured out and I don't. Perks provides solace for teens who just want to know there’s someone out there who understands.

Perks lends itself to the grand question of 'who am I?' and 'what do I stand for?', and it speaks to me exactly for that reason. Through his deeply personal journal entries, Charlie gives an effortlessly accurate description of the angst and desperation of growing up that goes unsaid. It’s very hard for teens to share their hardships, or even put their effusive emotions into words, but Chbosky did just that. He is a hero of the bildungsroman. This is not just a paperback book—it’s a powerful story. The story of a life. 

Hipster Hop: The Battle Between Fly and Mainstream

By: Emily

Graphic made by Emily

The genre of rap and hip hop music isn’t all mainstream. In fact, there’s much more to rap than just Chris Brown’s obsession with women (preferably beating them) or Snoop Dogg’s undying love of weed. Granted, these are expected staples in the "popular" hip hop world, but if this is true, then hipster hop might as well be the planet Neptune.

Like music classified as "hipster," hipster hop is usually not familiar to a large audience. It's usually deemed "indie" because it cannot be found on the radio. Instead, much of hipster hop is broadcast via free mix tapes on the internet or through remixes or mash-ups.

Now as a typical white girl who covers herself in sunscreen and wears 3D glasses ironically, not many people would picture me as the type to enjoy the musical stylings of such rappers as Kanye West or Tyler, The Creator. But the reality of the situation is that these creative lyricists are, to me, geniuses of the musical world. Their rhymes are undoubtedly clever and that’s what draws me to them. In one of my personal favorite hipster hop songs, Childish Gambino says, “rappers used to laugh like I tripped and fell/Cause I don't stunt a gold cross like I Christian bail.” Like this song, called "That Power", it’s not hard to uncover a new line that might make you laugh or even think deeper than you’d have originally imagined possible.

The thing that’s so great about the hipster hop genre isn’t the fact that no one else has heard of many of the artists. It’s the fact that these rappers aren’t afraid to express their inhibitions and worries. While they may appear hard and intense on the surface, underneath their fly exterior is quite possibly the most relatable person on the planet. Kid Cudi, for example, in his super jammable hit “Soundtrack 2 My Life” says, “I’ve got some issues that nobody can see and all of these emotions are pouring out of me.”

And so I leave you with a list of just a few songs that exemplify the genre of Hipster Hop. Granted this is only a sampling of the many rappers you might discover yourself, so keep looking! And don’t be afraid of 50 Cent’s Thug Life. There are plenty of talented rappers who just want to live the normal life like you and me.

1. That Power by Childish Gambino
2. Teleport 2 Me, Jamie by WZRD
3. Welcome to the Jungle by JAY-Z and Kanye West
4. Last Name London by Theophilius London
5. High Again by Hoodie Allen
6. Man on the Moon by Kid Cudi
7. 4AM Monday by Watsky
8. Lost in the World by Kanye West and Bon Iver