The Bling Ring Rings True

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

I don't know how I feel about the The Bling Ring. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. An incredibly topical film about modern day youth, The Bling Ring tells the real life story of the Hollywood Hills burglaries that occurred a few years ago. It follows a group of high school teens as they rob the homes of famous celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Audrina Patridge, and Orlando Bloom to name a few. The film opens with new kid in school, Mark, making friends with a girl named Rebecca, who takes him to lavish parties where drugs, alcohol, and cell-phone selfies documenting their fun nights run rampant. It isn't long before he is swept up into this reckless lifestyle and starts stealing from houses with Rebecca and friends. 

The film shows break-in scene after break-in scene, all variably the same. They find some way into the home, model the most expensive of sequin dresses and sunglasses, steal the cash, and, without a second thought, shove it all into a Louis Vuitton handbag.

What was unbelievable to think about was that the film was based on real life. Obviously fabrications had been made, but the basic story was real. When these teens performed these acts of burglary, they were younger than me, and in a way, we can all see how the lifestyle they were trying to emulate is enticing. They always wore breath-takingly beautiful clothes and were filmed from an angle that made them look like models. In a way, they did not appear human. These people were elevated to a level of stardom, admiring the famous celebrities from the beginning.

Speaking of stars, no one stole the show quite like Emma Watson. Breaking away from her former good-girl image of Hermione Granger, Emma portrays Nicki, a fame-obsessed teen whose mother home schools her and her sisters (including adoptive best friend Sam) by teaching the views expressed in The Secret and distributing Adderrall at breakfast. While Nicki's vanity and false sense of self-worth can be annoying, director Sofia Coppola does a good job at making sure the characters are neither likeable nor unlikeable, but simply acting like all other teens around them, constantly applying lip gloss and checking themselves in the mirror.

Coppola wonderfully shows us the lives of these teenagers for what they simply are. She does not give us an agenda about how bad fame is or how modern youth are too reckless. While the theme of youth's obsession with fame, wealth, and celebrity are clear, it is not necessarily presented to us in a positive or negative light. Instead, she presents to us a beautifully shot reality show, as it appears the characters are almost always aware of the camera's subtle presence. In one particularly striking scene, the camera displays the entirety of Audrina Patridge's house as Rebecca and Marc rob it. The glass interior is very well-lit and we can see every move the young burglars make, as the camera slowly zooms in on their entrance and exit.

Throughout the entirety of the film I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for our antiheroes to finally meet their inevitable end, while also rooting for them to keep going. They live in a world so different from my own that I was so intrigued the whole way through. I've decided that enjoying the movie is a good thing. As long as I live vicariously through them, I'll continue to praise this film for all the beautiful glitz and glamour that it is.

Not All Those Who Sleep Around Are Lost: What I Learned From Samantha Jones

By: Sarah

Graphic by Emily

These past few weeks have been pretty slow for me, so naturally, I turned to watching Netflix and other such websites that enable the masses to distract themselves with television. During this period of rediscovering old favorites, I successfully completed all six seasons of the HBO classic, Sex and the City. If you were living under a rock in the early 2000s, and have just recently emerged, Sex and the City followed the lives for four women in their early thirties navigating the dangerous world of dating in New York City. While the show was mainly narrated by and stuck to the story of writer Carrie Bradshaw, it's the advice from her friends that really makes the show a valuable learning experience, particularly that of Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall. Throughout six seasons of chaos, I've compiled the best nuggets of advice from Samantha that really helped me live life to the fullest.

Before we go any further, I know that Samantha is supposed to be the slut of the group. And yes, I'm also aware that she's a bit extreme, and not necessarily a character created to be a realistic moral role model. That's not what this is about, so keep reading and cut that sass. Please and thank you.

1. "The good ones screw you. The bad ones screw you. And the rest don't know how to screw you." Whether we want to admit it or not, everyone has the potential to hurt us. It may not always be intentional or malicious, but that doesn't mean we need to be naive about our relationships and pretend we won't ever be touched by bad emotions. It's kind of like a sexed up version of that one Bob Marley quote every middle schooler puts on their Facebook profile. "The truth is everyone is going to hurt you, you just have to find the ones worth suffering for." I like Samantha's version better.
2. "Don't blame marriage. This one's married and she's not growing a national forest." I'm not necessarily advocating that women need bikini waxes to be happy. Do what you want with whatcha got, ya dig? But what I am saying, and Samantha is too, is that you should never let yourself take a backseat to your relationship. Relationships are fun, but taking care of you is more important. If you're not feeling your best, then your partner is sure to take notice. Always make sure you have yourself figured out before you invite another person into your life.
3. "The secret to being happily single is to do it like a guy; frequently, with multiple partners, and no strings attached." I'm not advocating sexual promiscuity here. Once again, whatever you are into. But besides the obvious statement that you can't get hurt if you put no emotions into something, Samantha is also saying that it's okay to see more than one person. The secret is not committing to more than one person. Don't do that. Cheaters are scum. But it's not necessary to be on the constant lookout for male validation in the form of a relationship. We're young, and we should be test driving as many guys as we can. Save the commitment stuff for when you're forced to join the real world, and just worry about having fun.Women that can be aloof and casual in the dating scene hold all the power anyway, because women that don't look desperate are more desirable.
4. "If I worried what every bitch in New York was saying about me, I'd never leave the house." This reminds me of some advice my mom gave me in junior high, when girls are probably at the peak of bitchiness. You can't worry about what other people think of you, because that means they win. Letting other people's opinions control your actions just means you're depriving the world from getting to know the wonderful, talented person you are. Be exactly who you are, do everything you've ever wanted to do, and screw everyone else.
5. "Not all women sit around and obsess about men. As soon as my relationships are over, I move on." Pretty self-explanatory. If it didn't work out, there was some reason that it wasn't supposed to. Not all relationships are forever relationships, some of them are just something thing to pass the time with. Take a little time to grieve what you lost, and then put all your effort into yourself again. Putting all your energy into bettering you is the fastest way to move forward.
6. "I love you, but I love me more. I've been in a relationship with myself for forty-nine years, and that's the one I need to work on." Truer words have never been spoken. If you don't love you, I guarantee that no one else will either. You have to be completely at peace with yourself, both inside and out, before a fulfilling relationship can come your way. This can take years, and I'll admit I even have trouble with this sometimes. But I know that everyday I do something for me, I get closer. 

So yes, Samantha may provide some of the most overtly sexual advice in television, but the underlying message is always worthwhile.Through her wise words, I have learned to be a more independent and strong woman, and I can't wait to tackle my twenties with the Samantha Jones brand of confidence.

Hats Off to 'What Now?'

By: Alex

Art by Alex

As we grow up, we experience plenty of moments of desperation that make us say ‘what now?’. But nothing prompts that thought more than one event: graduation. Yes, graduation season is here, and as we lie on the brink of summer, I thought it would be appropriate to recognize the event that many have been awaiting and fearing for quite sometime now.

Graduation is a monster because it comes in a two-pronged attack. On one side, graduation is great because it gives us the chance to move on and start fresh. On the other side, graduation is awful because it takes us out of our comfort zone and makes us think about the most daunting thing ever… the future.

As someone who has graduated once, I see graduation on more of the awful side, the fact that it makes me think about everything that I don’t have figured out and prompts my thought, ‘what now?’. To articulate these feelings, I’ve complied a list of my favorite, completely relatable, graduation movies that illustrate the ‘what now?’ feeling so well. Hats off to these five gems of cinema:

•  The Graduate (1967)- Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) graduates college at age 20 with a shining resume and a lot of promise, but he has no idea where to move next with his life. Ben spends time trying to figure it all out in the summer of a lifetime, as he has an affair with an older woman, meets the girl of his dreams, and tries to render some meaning from life. As Ben drifts along, we see him struggle with the inner turmoil of figuring out just what he should be doing next, all to the sounds of Simon & Garfunkel.
• Ghost World (2001)- Best friends Enid and Rebecca (Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson) graduate high school, feeling free and totally awesome, as they leave a place they hated so much. But the day after gradation, the two best friends are completely unsure of what to do next. Their ambivalence and snarky wit prompt new adventures and friendships with some interesting characters as the two girls try to figure out where their lives should take them.
• American Graffiti (1973)- On the night before they leave for college, a group of friends have one last hoorah in their hometown. After graduating, the kids (among them being Ron Howard and Richard Dreyfus) think they have everything figured out, but the night before they are about to leave, they start to question their futures, and things begin to change. Though they may have matured, they still don’t have it all figured out.
• St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)- A few months after graduation, a group of college friends try to get their lives together. Though some of them (being Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy) have their lives on the right path, others (Rob Lowe and Demi Moore) are headed down the wrong path. These friends work together to help each other in post-grad life and try to keep each other afloat and successful. Though they had a tight bond in college, they realize that nothing could prepare them for the shock of the real world.
•  High School Musical 3 (2008)- (Sorry, I had to) Troy (Zac Efron) and his friends come together for one final installment of the High School Musical movies. In this finale, the story centers on the Wildcats’ graduation and all the feelings of anxiety and excitement that come with the opportunity. It’s campy, but in the serious moment when I see Zac Efron accept his diploma, I must admit, I shed a tear. 
• Reality Bites (1994)- Lelaina (Winona Ryder) is an aspiring filmmaker who just recently graduated college at the top of her class. While she seemed to have it all together during school,  she discovers that the reality of the post-grad world totally bites. She spends the next few months trying to 'make it,' only to find failure again and again. We watch Lelaina struggle for validation while guitarist, Troy Dyer (Ethan Hawke), chases her affections. Told mainly in a documentary-style, this film shows the raw and gritty side of post-grad life and (bonus) features Ben Stiller in his amazing directorial debut. 

As Winona Ryder says in her valedictorian speech, "the question remains, what are we going to do now? The answer is... I don't know." Though these movies do a great job at illustrating what the shock and confusion of post-grad life feels like, it doesn't mean that I suddenly have all the answers. Though I haven't come to a definitive moment in my life from watching these films, these films have given me something that matters; they make me feel less alone. If I can get away for two hours and see these characters struggle with the same things that bother me, it makes me feel a little better about not having it all figured out. Graduation doesn't mean that the struggle is over. As we flip our tassels,  a new wave of problems are just beginning, but they are not impossible to face, especially with these great movies to guide us through.

I Want to Go to There: A Geographical Adoration of Fictional Places

By: Emily

Graphic by Emily

We all dream about getting away. Sometimes, when I watch a TV show, I imagine how awesome it must be to live in the world of those characters. The people, the shops, the experiences--they all seem so much cooler than what I am experiencing here in small-town America. Below is a list of awesome (and sometimes creepy) locations where I wished I lived.

Twin Peaks, Washington.
Home of David Lynch and Mark Frost's cult drama series, Twin Peaks is nestled away amidst the high cliffs and waterfalls of mountainous Washington. Twin Peaks outwardly resembles a peaceful quiet little town, but inside it is full of dark secrets. With all the houses resembling fancy cabins, I can imagine no greater camping trip than solving Laura Palmer's murder with Agent Cooper.

Quahog, Rhode Island.
It's hard to think of a kookier family than the Griffins. With Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie, and Brian all under one roof breaking bathtubs and inviting James Woods over for dinner, it's crazy to think that anything else even could happen in Quahog. But worry not, there are plenty of escapades happening all over this town filled with snarky comments and subtle (and not-so-subtle) pop culture references. So pull up a chair and have a drink with Peter and the gang at the hottest bar in town, The Drunken Clam.

Stars Hollow, Connecticut. 
When I think of the perfect little town, Stars Hollow instantly comes to mind. With its vibrant orange foliage all year round and quaint little bed and breakfasts and diners, what could be better? Perhaps add clever quick-witted mother-daughter team Lorelei and Rory Gilmore, and you’ve got a winner. Stars Hollow hasso much history from its residents both past and present, that it seems like a great little place to learn about its colorful inhabitants that have probably been there since the beginning of time.

Cicely, Alaska.
Not many people would choose to live in Cicely, Alaska, when given the choice between this cold small town and New York City, but that's because they haven't watched Northern Exposure. With its large cast of colorful but various characters, there's nothing that can't happen for these residents. If you haven't seen this enjoyable little show, you're missing out on some snow-covered fun.

Pawnee, Indiana.
With Leslie Knope being so proud of Pawnee, it's hard not to want to visit the fictional town that is home to the Parks and Recreation Department. With a visit to Pawnee's gay club called "The Buldge" among many of the town's charming local businesses, what's not to love? Plus, if Ron Swanson will be there presenting me with a plate full of bacon upon my arrival, I don't know what more I could ask for.

After much contemplation, I realized that I don't want to live in these crazy locales because of the cool places that I want to hang out in. I want to live in these places because of the people that I want to hang out with. I mean, let's be honest. Pawnee, Indiana seems pretty boring without Leslie Knope causing some sort of kooky ruckus. Even though I find my hometown boring sometimes, I only feel that way when I'm alone. When I'm with my friends, anything is possible. And so I've come to realize that it doesn't matter where you are; all that matters is who you are with.