Mount Hood

Steady tunes to study to: song recommendations

A collection of study songs from The Western Howl staff

The Western Howl Collective

With the beginning of school, there are so many things to prepare: supplies, textbooks, resources, study routines and much more. However, a strong study playlist is key in being successful. These are some recommendations from the Howl staff. Hopefully, these songs will encourage someone to create an individual study playlist for a wonderful term. 

 

Brianna Lelieur | Entertainment Editor

“The Last Cherry Blossom” by Rudemanners — This is a Lo-fi song off an entire playlist, it is upbeat and very soulful. 

 

Rylie Horrall | Managing Editor

“I Miss Those Days” by Bleachers — My study playlist changes a lot but this song is almost always on it. I like listening to it because it has a mellow and relaxing beat that helps me focus without the words being too distracting. 

 

Allison Vanderzanden | Lifestyle Editor

“Cassini” by Curtis Schweitzer — I enjoy this song because it’s soft enough to not distract me while studying. I also like that the melody isn’t overly repetitive or predictable.

 

Sean Martinez | Copy Editor

“Vertigo” by Khalid — I don’t often listen to music while studying, but for me, it’s easy to get lost in the process of writing or studying while this song is playing. Plus, this song is about Khalid asking himself the big questions, making it a great song for concentrating on whatever task is at hand.

 

Kyle Morden | Head Designer

“comfy vibes” by LilyPichu — Sit back and relax; it’s time to get comfortable with some Lo-fi beats. No matter how stressful studying can be, this song will create a calm atmosphere for any listener.

 

Cora McClain | Editor-in-Chief

“I’ll Keep You Safe” by sagun — There’s a Lo-fi song for every occasion, and studying is no different.  I’m easily distracted and lyrical songs often make it harder for me to focus on work, so Lo-fi is my go to. The repetition and distortion that sagun’s uses keeps my brain engaged for long study sessions while not breaking my focus.

 

Kiara Wehrenberg | Photo Editor

“Dream Catcher” by Damu the Fudgemunk — This song is good for me to study because there are no lyrics for me to get distracted by while writing. I also like how the music is upbeat enough for me to stay focused and not fall asleep — most songs by this artist have a similar style perfect for studying. 

 

Stephanie Moschella | Digital Media Manager 

“3 Nights” by Dominic Fike — This song gives me the summer vibes that we all missed out on this year. It’s calming and melancholic, and leaving it on repeat helps drown out all the noise around me while I study. 

 

Sydney Carpenter | News Editor 

“Dr. Wanna Do” by  Caro Emerald  — After a long study session I like listening to some electric swing or Jazz to boost my mood and overall attitude. However, I usually don’t listen to anything while I work — it’s difficult for me to focus as is, and adding music to the mix doesn’t help me in my studies. 

 

Listen to the playlist here!

Students artwork to be represented online

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

In a year where everything is shifting and time is spent at home, the WOU Art Department and Cannon Art Gallery have decided to continue on with their 52nd year of the Juried Student Art Exhibition which will now be in online format.

When talking with Paula Booth, the gallery director for Cannon, she said that 32 students submitted their work this year which was more than she expected. 

“We are being very flexible with photo quality since many students do not have access to professional photo equipment at home,” said Booth on the subject of students needing to send in five images of their chosen artwork.

Any student who attended Western in the last year, regardless of their major, was allowed to send in their artwork. 

“Students submit work that they have completed during the last year, and professional jurors — professional practicing artists from around the region, the juror or jurors are different each year — look over the work and, based on artistic criteria, decide which work will or won’t be a part of the exhibit.” Booth mentioned how having a juried art exhibition is good practice for the students and looks impressive on their resumes.

The jurors selected which art would be in the gallery on Sunday, May 24 and even chose the “Best of Show” award which will come with a cash prize. But it’s not all about the money.

“I hope that by giving students an opportunity to share their work with their families and the WOU community in this way, they can feel proud of what they’ve accomplished this year!” Booth said. Booth’s goal for the gallery is a positive outlook and one that is needed for the strange times students and staff are going through.

There are diverse styles of art, including painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, video, animation and graphic design. There are also videos of graduating students’ Academic Excellence Showcase presentations available online.

This year’s jurors are Ariella Tai and Rubén García Marrufo, who both bring different expertise and perspectives to their decisions. Tai is a video artist, film scholar and independent programmer from Queens, New York, who is interested in Black performance and culture in film, television and media studies.

Booth says Marrufo is “a Mexican filmmaker whose work focuses on borders, the separation from place and its aftermath and an american installation artist. It finds its place between fiction and documentary video forms with narratives that are rooted in hearsay of multiple languages.”

More information when the art has been selected will be availble at https://wou.edu/art-and-design/cannon-gallery-of-art/.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo by Rachel Hetzel 

The year through song: Western Howl’s playlist

Western Collective

As this turbulent and trying year comes to an end, the staff at The Western Howl have compiled songs that relate to this year, or have gotten them through it. For those who are interested in jamming along with us, look us up on Spotify at TheWesternHowl.

The Weepies — “The World Spins Madly On”

Panic! at the Disco — “New Perspective”

Megan thee Stallion (feat. Beyoncé) — “Savage Remix”

Weathers — “I’m Not Okay”

MAGIC GIANT — “Disaster Party”

KYLE — “All Alright”

Ieuan (feat. Commonminds)  — “Over the Garden Wall”

Superorganism — “Something for Your M.I.N.D.”

Fall Out Boy — “Thnks Fr th Mmrs”

All Time Low — “Wake Up, Sunshine”

BIGBANG — “SOBER”

Asyndenton — “Ascending Heaven” 

Afroman — “Tall Cans”

EARTHGANG — “This Side (A COLORS SHOW)”

Future ft. Kendrick Lamar — “Mask Off”

Get cozy with these funny graduation films

Rylie Horrall |  Lifestyle Editor

As the year comes to a close, some graduates may find themselves wanting to have a movie binge night — whether it’s virtually with friends or in person with those they’re social distancing with. A great way to do this would be with some classic graduation films. Get cozy and check out the list of movies below.

  • “Legally Blonde” (2001) (Amazon) — A woman beats the ditzy-blonde stereotype by attending law school and graduating at the top of her class at Harvard Law.
  • “She’s All That” (1999) (Hulu, Showtime) — Popular guy and artsy girl make a bet to see if they can make the artsy girl prom queen.
  • “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” (2008) (Disney+) — The gang’s ‘all in this together’ as they navigate their senior year and graduation.
  • “Adventureland” (2009) (Hulu) — A college grad moves out to Europe for graduate school and falls for his amusement park co-worker.
  • “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986) (Netflix) — Right before graduation, a group of friends duck out of school for one last hurrah.
  • “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) (Hulu, Disney+) — A senior focused on finishing high school and going to college is set up with the new kid so that her little sister can go on a date.
  • “Booksmart” (2019) (Hulu) — Two academically strong seniors try to catch up on the special moments from their teen years on the night before they graduate.
  • “Accepted” (2006) (Hulu) — A fake university is set up by a senior to fool everyone into thinking he’s attending college, but then many other students also try to attend the nonexistent university.
  • “Life of the Party” (2018) (Amazon) — A freshly dumped housewife returns to college for a journey of self-discovery.
  • “Dazed and Confused” (1993) (Hulu) — Crazy shenanigans ensue on the last day of high school for a group of rowdy teenageers.
  • “Into the Wild” (2007) (Hulu) — A recent college graduate donates all of his money and gets rid of his possessions before setting out on a journey in the Alaskan Wilderness.
  • “Reality Bites” (1994) (Hulu) — A woman creates a documentary about herself and her friends after college.
  • “The Social Network” (2010) (Netflix) — Following Mark Zuckerberg post-graduation and the creation of Facebook.
  • “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006) (Amazon) — A college graduate with big dreams starts a job at a magazine firm as an assistant to a dubious editor.
  • “Superbad” (2007) (Showtime) — Two best friends try to handle the last couple weeks of high school by throwing a giant house party.
  • “The Graduate” (1967) (Hulu) — A recent college graduate moves back home with his parents and tries to navigate post-graduation life while avoiding the question, “what do you want to do with your life?”

Contact the author at rhorrall17@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Photo courtesy of Annapurna Pictures

Book review of Xander Blue’s debut Western fictional novel

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

During the wrath of quarantine, I have longed to be in a different time; reading Xander Blue’s “Whipping Up a New Past” certainly allowed for that.

Blue lives in Phoenix and has always had a passion for history in different eras and decided to write his debut novel in “The Goddess of Death Series.”

This American Western fictional book had some familiar elements when it comes to time travel. An old and eccentric scientist, Doc Brown — “Back to the Future” anyone — selects the chosen one to have the power of time travel; in this novel, it is through a futuristic bracelet that his star pupil, Janet Sun, can go back to the 1800s to educate Native Americans and kill the men who would murder her ancestors.

Janet Sun is the 64th richest person in the world, an Olympic bullwhipper, Taek Thai expert, gymnast, ex-military and college graduate. All around, she feels like someone that you imagine being when you grow up: she’s a superhero. 

After receiving a bracelet that allows her to time travel, she uses several different inventions Doc Brown provides her to enhance her knowledge of languages. He also offers her complex technology that works as bear and wolf repellant.

Sun’s mission was never fully explained or discussed; it felt more like a roller coaster of cutting heads off in the name of her family. An interesting part of this book is how much Sun alters the past — saving a baby from a burning building, murdering several men who were going to kill her ancestors, and even developing a romantic relationship with the sheriff.

In most time travel movies or novels, it is highly stressed that altering the past could have dire consequences. This story is centered around all the ways that Sun could alter the past.

Her character is caught up with helping others and creating knowledge, a noble goal for her mission, but one that was often not explained.

Much of the book was spent discussing how life was in the past, a specific way something was cooked or washed, or how trading or renting wasn’t an option. Some of the book felt like a way to showcase knowledge and research Blue had done in the time period, rather than focusing on character and story development.

The novel had good core elements, a strong main character who never waivered, an unstoppable mission and thorough information on the time they were in. I think the novel would have improved more if there had been more conflict for Sun — a book with only smooth sailing can feel flat. 

Overall Rating: While there is some room for improvement for this novel, I believe that there are some interesting and compelling moments throughout the book. For those who like a unique story about time travel, they should check out this novel; it is a quick read and more information can be found at https://XanderBlueBooks.wixsite.com/mysite.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Xander Blue

Learn more about Western poet Cylinda Neidenbach

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

Last week, The Western Howl published an article titled “Arms, revenge and flower crowns”

about the top three winners for the Peter Sears Poetry Prize. It’s time to get to know the first place winner, Cylinda Neidenbach — a senior at Western majoring in English with a focus on writing.

 

Q: How long have you been writing poetry?

A: I was prone to writing whimsical poems when I was about nine years old, a la Shel Silverstein. My parents used to read “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “A Light in the Attic” before I even knew how to read. I’d be four or five years old, reciting “The Loser,” (“Mama said I’d lose my head, if it wasn’t fastened on,”) and for a moment my parents thought that I had somehow learned to read. To this day I can still recite it from memory. After grade school, however, I’m afraid I seldom wrote poetry — unless it was something witty to amuse my friends. I took Dr. Hughes’s poetry seminar last term and was dismayed to find that he didn’t encourage goofy, half-baked poems. They were all I knew. I wrote the “rough draft” of my winning poem the first day of class, when Doctor Hughes told us to “describe something.” I had just hugged my lover goodbye, and his arms were the first thing that came to mind. Misunderstanding the instructions and somehow forgetting that I was in a poetry class, I wrote a small paragraph that later became, through many revisions, my poem “To Bear Arms.” You can imagine my surprise that it won.

 

Q: What got you interested in writing?

A:  I do love writing. It’s one of the few things I do for myself. I have been writing short stories and novellas since I could read. It’s a passion of mine. (My current novel was started in 2011 and I have been writing it forever. I hope to be done around the time I graduate.) As far as poems go, I never considered poetry my jam, but rather something I should know at least a little about as a future English teacher. (Many thanks to Dr. Hughes for helping me whittle down my natural tendency towards long windedness. Constant Vigilance! Word Economy!)

 

Q: What does it feel like to write a poem?

A: What does writing a poem feel like? I don’t know how to answer this. I started to notice moments of remarkable beauty or connection with things: people, nature, the world. Moments that made me feel present, and I would try to get them out on paper. Often a single line would form itself right then, and I would try to hang on to it, press it in my memory, be the conduit. That’s how it worked for me.

 

Q: Anything you’d like to add?

A: Serious poems, while not as fun as the lively, fickle, frivolous poems of my childhood, are rewarding. They serve as snapshots of memory, moments in time preserved.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Tristram Kerrigan

Learn more about Ali McCarthy, senior student creating content

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

Spending time stuck at home can leave many people feeling as if they have nothing left to do. English major Ali McCarthy, a Western Alumni, has decided to use her free time creating content on YouTube. Get to know more about her process and what her channel is about in this Q&A.

 

Q: How have you been handling the quarantine?

A: Quarantine has been… interesting. I spend pretty much all of my time watching videos/shows/movies or finding something to do. It’s an equal balance of laziness and productivity, but I’m definitely missing my friends. I try to stay on track with a bullet journal and try to write down things that can help me be productive or creative. I figured since I’m stuck at home, I’ll make the best of it and maybe test out some new hobbies or skills.

 

Q: What made you start your YouTube channel?

A: I was going through a bit of an existential crisis going into my last real year of college, feeling like everything I thought I knew about myself wasn’t actually what I was, and just feeling really lost. Back in high school, I took a video editing class and I really enjoyed editing. So during my crisis, I tried out a bunch of hobbies to kind of find that passion I once felt for writing and found it in video editing. I figured since it was fun and I thought I was good at it, I’d post it somewhere. It was mostly montages and compilations of my snapchats with friends or times I’ve traveled, but then I wanted to kind of dive into challenges and more entertainment and find a way to laugh at myself to take my mind off the stress of school and relationships and the future. Kind of like finding control in a world I couldn’t control.

 

Q: What are your primary focuses for the channel?

A: My videos mostly consist of me failing at something but still somewhat having success at it. I’ve learned to laugh at myself a lot, and I just kind of responded naturally to things like challenges, DIYs, cooking, etc. I just wanted to have fun, and I’m incredibly sarcastic and have a dry sense of humor. I feel like I don’t see a lot of that. Even now, I don’t make these videos expecting to blow up. It’s just a temporary thing because it’s fun for me. I’ve turned myself into Joe Exotic from the “Tiger King,” I’ve talked about my craziest and embarrassing stories, I’ve put on 100 layers of clothing, I’ll do a makeup tutorial; it’s all pretty sporadic but fun, and I usually just record in the comfort of my own bedroom — mainly because my mom would be super confused and interrupt if I recorded in the kitchen.

 

Q: What’s your favorite part about producing videos?

A: The editing process is my favorite. Once I get started, I just zoom through it. It’s incredibly therapeutic for me and lets me zone out for a while. Then when I’m done, I’ve spent hours creating something that I’ve envisioned and it makes me feel pretty good. Finding background music and sounds, adding effects, playing around with all the tools my program has — it’s creating art.  

 

Q: What are your hopes for producing content?

A: I guess for right now, I’m just making videos just to make videos. I don’t really expect to make it big or have thousands of subscribers and have a career from this, I know it’s possible but it isn’t a priority. I’m not good at drawing or have a sport I’m killer at, it just became something that took me out of some anxiety and made me feel in control. If I happen to go somewhere with this, that’d be cool, but I know sooner or later I’ll have to figure it out and either commit or move on. But right now, it’s me finding enjoyment and possibly spreading a little enjoyment to someone else. But life’s pretty crazy and you never know what could happen. 

 

Q: What has been the general response to your channel?

A: Generally, it’s my friends or acquaintances, basically anyone who follows my Snapchat or Instagram because that’s where I advertise my videos. It’s always a good response, people tell me I’m funny — which is a huge compliment to me — or they say they loved how my video went with all the comical effects I add into it. It’s been great responses but then again, it’s from people I know, so I would hope they’re nice about it, but I also always appreciate the feedback. 

 

Q: For those interested in your content what should they look up?

A: If anyone’s interested just look up Ali McCarthy or RallyAli, one “L” and one “I”, that’s a pretty common mistake. I try to do videos based on the trends going around or what I find is most interesting or entertaining, but YouTube’s algorithm is weird so it’s best just to look up my name. 

 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

A: I mean, any feedback is always welcome. Subscribe for new videos every Wednesday. I feel weird self promoting myself but you gotta do what you gotta do, am I right? We’re all just trying to have some fun before life gets too serious, so don’t be afraid to just do what you want to do.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

Photo courtesy of Alison McCarthy

Find out who won the Peter Sears Poetry Prizes this year

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

While school life has shifted to remote learning and creating, the university is still allowing opportunities for students to showcase their work. As such, the Department of English Studies has announced the winners of the 2020 Peter Sears Poetry Prize. 

Peter Sears is an esteemed poet in Portland and has obtained degrees from Yale and the University of Iowa. He was named the Oregon Poet Laureate from 2014 to 2016 and remains an important and influential writer in the state.

Sears also worked as a community services coordinator for the Oregon Arts Commission where he aided writers in their work with the National Endowment for the Arts. All of his hard work has earned him awards from the Oregon State Library, Willamette Writers and Literary Arts. Along with the Poetry Prize he has also founded the Oregon Literary Coalition and the publishing press Cloudbanks Books, along with their poetry journal, Cloudbank.

For the Peter Sears Poetry Prize, the first prize for the contest was $200, second prize was $75 and the third was $25.

The first prize winner went to Cylinda Neidenbach for her piece “To Bear Arms.” This piece was short and takes one’s breath away, seemingly a love ode to someone who has been through violence and hard work.

Cheyan Swan took the second prize with their powerful poem “a spell for revenge.” Between lines of strikingly intense spell weaving and casting, Swan intertwined who the spell was for — revealing hardships they have been through.

Third prize went to Katherine Sutton for their piece “Flower Crowns.” This poem compares the different experiences between that of a child and those who are older, all through creative metaphors using a flower.

Those who are interested in reading the full poems can find them here. https://wou.edu/wouportal/email_attachments/allstudents/msg-1588262462-25662-0/PeterSearsWinners2020.pdf

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Williams takes the stay-at-home order to create more art

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

Hayley Williams, the frontwoman for the punk-rock band Paramore, released two parts of  “Petals for Armor” in February and March and now the final album is ready.

“Petals for Armor” is a 15-song creation of Williams’ diary; the vulnerability and rawness in each song has shocked fans.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Williams commented on the album that “I needed these songs to help me get to a place where I could name my shame, take inventory of emotional scars, true friends, awful coping mechanisms and discover what I desire for my life.”

Her most recent EP released for the album was the song “Dead Horse,” an emotional rollercoaster of her romantic life. The song is powerful and confronts issues of infidelity and expectations, featuring several different versions of herself throughout the song to show her metaphorical growth and changes.

The album is a journey through her emotions, dealing with unmanaged rage in “Simmer” and “Leave it Alone,” and questioning the health of her relationships in “Why We Ever,” “Taken” and “Dead Horse.”

This album is vastly different from her music with Paramore; she takes risks with more funky and abstract beats that showcase her gentle vocals and emotions.  

The last song on the album, “Crystal Clear,” is one of my favorites because it is the perfect end to her journey. She talks about broken trust and anger — how she would never be so naive again —  and the song simply ends with her saying “I won’t give into the fear. It’s a feeling. I’m still right here.” This powerful line shows that she can work through her fear and continue on in her life, taking risks and proving others wrong.

Overall, the album was a journey for Williams and listeners; the songs have captivating musicality and intense lyrics that make the album a must listen.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of petalsforarmor.com

Film Festivals have never been so easy to access

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

In a time where art, literature and film are less accessible in person, it’s time to look at what is still available online. 

Film festivals are huge events that happen worldwide, but with the shifting times, there are several events that will be happening on smaller screens this year.

 

May 29 to June 7: The Brooklyn Film Festival is having their 23rd film festival. With over 148 films coming in from each continent, they will be fighting for the “Grand Chameleon” and 28 other awards offered. Due to the current situation, they will be allowing free access through their website: https://www.brooklynfilmfestival.org/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7-P1BRA2EiwAXoPWAxDccLm_-225G_0A-l7Lgz_OT4M0dDm_1nAU6-OyapTo93KfRFwDLxoCd3YQAvD_BwE

 

May 22 to June 14: The Ashland Independent Film Festival would be holding its 19 year in person festival, but due to safety precautions, they plan to move online. Over 24 days, there will be 30 featurette films and over 108 short films. More information can be found on their website:

https://filmfestivalflix.com/festival/aiff/#.XqslBqhKjct

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Southern Oregon Theatre company offers new online platform

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is a large annual event where dozens of shows are performed. It is no surprise that the event had to be altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but luckily the Southern Oregon Theatre Company has found a new way to connect millions to their performances.

The Southern Oregon Theatre Company has created a new digital platform called O!; by May 6, they plan to release previously recorded performances, documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and educational videos.

The company had started their season on March 6 in Ashland, just three days after the first confirmed COVID-19 case. After Kate Brown’s stay-at-home order, the company had to cancel productions and let go of 400 employees.

While the company has promoted O! as a way to engage audiences with theater during these times, they still plan to host the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from Sept. 8 to Nov. 1 if possible. 

O! was originally meant to be released during 2021, but the company decided to premiere early to keep people excited about theater. The platform contents will be almost completely free, and there will be other forms of media available such as podcasts and interactive videos.

For those that are interested in seeing what is available, check out the website: https://osfashland.uscreen.io/

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Live theatre available on Youtube

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

Theater has been a creative way to tell stories for centuries, and with the closure of theaters across the globe, many are missing the drama on stage. Luckily, there is a way to watch one of the most famous shows from the National Theatre in London, “Frankenstein.”

The show was originally performed and filmed in 2011; it was such an instantaneous hit that 800,000 people across the world experienced it. It was directed by Danny Boyle, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller as they take turns alternating in the roles between Victor Frankenstein and the creature.

The viewing for “Frankenstein” with Cumberbatch as the creature will air from April 30 at 7 p.m. to May 7 at 7 p.m. The alternate play with Miller as the creature will air May 1 at 7 p.m. to May 8 at 7 p.m.

These performances can be found on YouTube under the channel titled “National Theatre. Not only will they have “Frankenstein,” but they also have several live performances on their channels for viewing pleasure.

While watching a live play at home is not the same as sitting in an auditorium, it still offers the same entertainment value. Check out National Theatre’s Youtube channel for the other available plays.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Claire Nicholson

Western Howl’s songs to stay sane during quarantine

Compiled by The Western Howl staff

For those interested in checking out these songs, Western has a Spotify account with any playlists we have compiled. This playlist can be found under the account name TheWesternHowl and the playlist title “Finding Sanity.”

 

“Talia” — King Princess

“Fly Away” — Lenny Kravitz

“Boss Bitch” — Doja Cat

“Death Bed” — Powfu 

“I’m Ready” — Sam Smith, Demi Lovato

“Ordinary People” — John Legend

“I Want It That Way” — Backstreet Boys

“STFU!” — Rina Sawayama 

“Million Pieces” — Bastille

“Bohemian Rhapsody” — Queen

“Don’t Stop me Now” — Queen

“Let’s Go Crazy” — Prince

“I’m Not Okay” — Weathers

 

Photo by Rachel Hetzel

Need a distraction? Here are a list of the best comedies sure to help

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

  1. “I Love You, Man” (2009)

Directed by John Hamburg, “I Love You, Man” is a knee-slapping funny comedy, starring Paul Rudd, Jason Siegel, Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg and other big name actors. The film centers around Rudd’s character, Peter, who gets engaged to his girlfriend and it isn’t until the wedding planning begins when he realizes he doesn’t have many male friends. His journey to find his best man for the wedding includes a couple awkward ooooo man-dates, mistaken sexuality and the meeting of Siegel’s character, Sydney. This movie is full of awkwardness, strangeness and lots of Rush. Available on Amazon Prime.

 

  1. “Spy” (2015)

Paul Feig directed this masterpiece starring Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Jason Statham and other notable actors. The story revolves around McCarthy’s character, Susan, who works as a CIA analyst until her big moment comes where she must go undercover. The somewhat outlandish tale showcases German dancing, poison, ridiculous fake identities and most of all, empowerment. The movie is fun to watch as Susan becomes more confident and delivers intense battle scenes. Plot twists and intense action sequences padded by dry and witty humor is a crowd pleaser for all. Available on Youtube and Amazon Prime.

 

  1. “What We Do In The Shadows” (2014)

This masterpiece was created by two directors, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, who also happen to play two of the vampires in this mockumentary. The concept of the film is that a group of vampires — mostly notorious ones at that — have permitted a film crew to come and observe their lives. Viago, an awkward, quirky and love-sick vampire, acts as a peacemaker in his flat. Vladislav, or better known as, “Vlad the Impaler” is sexual, old-fashioned and hurt by an ex. Petyr, or better known as Nosfaratu, resides in the house as well, he also made Deacon and Nick, the two youngest, into vampires. This mockumentary is clever, weird and timeless in cinema, capturing the bizarre in the most hilarious fashion. Available on Kanopy, a site free for students.

 

  1. “Between Two Ferns: The Movie” (2019)

Scott Aukerman, director of the show “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis” is also responsible for the movie adaptation. This mockumentary is painfully awkward with equal part hilarity. What could go wrong with having Galifianakis play himself while roasting different celebrities to please Will Ferrell? Prepare to be shocked, amused and horrified all at the same time; it is the perfect reward after a day’s worth of Zoom meetings and online readings. Word of advice, watch until the very end for hilarious bloopers. Available on Netflix.

 

  1. “Little Evil” (2017)

Eki Craig directed and wrote this modern tale of Antichrist hilarity, casting Adam Scott as Gary, a step dad struggling to connect with his twisted stepson, Lucas. This movie perfectly demonstrates common tropes around the Antichrist and uses references to horror films such as “Poltergeist” (1982) and “The Omen” (1976) to really draw in the audience. The obvious evilness of Lucas, the naiveness of his mother and a group of struggling stepdads who all see their children as the Antichrist make for one brilliant movie. Available on Netflix.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of imdb.com

Art rethought and reproduced by the quarantined across the globe

Never Retallack |  Entertainment Editor

During this strange time, people are having withdrawals from all sorts of things in their lives, including going to art museums. Maybe painting or drawing isn’t a skill that everybody practices, but going to art museums is a great way to appreciate those who have honed such skills. 

Being quarantined limits that option, and in response, museums nationally are asking people to recreate famous paintings with anything they have at home and post it online. In the states, the museum that really kicked off this challenge is the J. Paul Getty Museum (The Getty). 

They challenged the public on March 25, and since then the number of people showing off their imagination and creativity has skyrocketed.

A couple other museums or art accounts doing the same challenge are Pinchuk Art Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, and an Instagram account from Amsterdam called Tussen Kunst en Quarantaine (Between Art and Quarantine). This account is what inspired The Getty to start the challenge.

Complicated pieces with a lot of elements are intimidating to those up for the challenge. They use whatever is in their house — anything of similar color or shape to recreate the painting. People are also incorporating their animals or children to recreate classic pieces. 

Each interpretation of the paintings is hilarious and brings a smile to the face, a perfect remedy for times like these.

Going to an art gallery isn’t on the table, but there are still plenty of ways to interact with art in everyday life; if one is bored, trying to recreate a favorite painting may be a great solution.

Feel free to submit any of your own interpretations and send it to @thewesternhowl on Instagram to show us your creativity and imagination

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Guinevere PH Dethlefson

Cannon Gallery provides “An Artful Life…” exhibit to celebrate the life of Alfred Maurice

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

The Cannon Gallery opened a new art exhibit on Feb. 28, “An Artful Life: Celebrating the Life of Creator, Teacher, and Collector Alfred Maurice.” It is one of the seven exhibits open to commemorate Maurice’s life and the work that he did. 

The gallery contains pieces from his time in Chicago; most of them are abstract architectural paintings that are bright and eye-catching — all of which are from the years 1979 to 1989, and any proceedings benefit the Maurice Prize.

Maurice was a passionate artist and has been known to say, “To me, art isn’t anything precious or special. It’s a way of expressing oneself, on par with writing or talking.”

The gallery at Campbell Hall is bold, and the layout of the stark white walls with vibrant and unique buildings are enticing.

The majority of the artwork is made with acrylic on canvas, with only three other pieces created with graphite on paper. One of which called, “Self Portrait with Painting,” features Maurice smiling proudly, representing the pure joy he had when it came to making art.

The artwork is simple yet unique; I highly recommend anyone interested in art — whether or not they have much background knowledge — to go and take a look.

The gallery will be open until March 20 in Campbell Hall from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Never Retallack

Western Howl’s favorite breakup songs

Western Collective

“My Dick” — Mickey Avalon

“Take a Bow” — Rihanna

“Missing You” — John Waite

“Bleeding Love” — Leona Lewis

“You should be sad” — Halsey

“The Good Side” — Troye Sivan 

“Die for Me” — Post Malone 

“Bad at Love” — Halsey 

“Cry Me a River” — Justin Timberlake

“He Wasn’t” — Avril Lavigne

“All I Ask” — Adele 

“Dancing on My Own” — Calum Scott 

“So Sick” — Neyo

“i miss the old u” — blackbear

“Figures – A Reprise” — Jessie Reyez ft. Daniel Caesar 

“Irreplaceable” — Beyoncé

“Gives You Hell” — The All-American Rejects

“Not Over You” — Gavin DeGraw

 

Magical review of “Onward”

Sean Martinez  | Copy Editor

Amidst all the classic sequels and live-action adaptations, Pixar once again delivers original content with its newest film, “Onward.” 

The story tells the tale of two brothers, Ian and Barley Lightfoot, as they attempt to bring their father back to life for just one day. They try to use a wizard staff, along with a gem, to resurrect him, but something goes wrong, resulting in their father having just a pair of legs. The rest of the film is a fun, adventurous and emotional quest to see their father one more time. 

Ian, played by Tom Holland, has just turned 16 years old and has no memory of his father, who died before he was born, and wishes he had the chance to meet him. His older brother, Barley, played by Chris Pratt, is obsessed with the fascinating history of magic that was once prevalent in their world. Both of their strengths and weaknesses became factors that pushed the story onward at a well-balanced pace.

To director Dan Scanlon, “Onward” was more than just a movie — it also reflected his personal story. His father died when he was young, and the ultimate question that spurred this fantastical film was, “What would it be like to spend one more day with him?” 

Scanlon did a great job of blending the magical world with the modern world. Everything in this film was creative, not just the characters and storyline, but the animations as well. There was not one wasted scene — all the little things mattered and tied into the bigger picture. There was also a good balance with fun, brother-bonding scenes and impactful tear-jerking moments. And as always, Pixar provided the audience with an abundance of easter eggs to crack. 

Overall Review: It may be too soon to dub “Onward” as one of Pixar’s top 10 movies, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t find myself resisting at any point in the film, the story was easy to follow. Needless to say, “Onward” is the perfect family film to watch this spring. It’s very moving and inspirational. 

 

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of pixar.com

Theater department welcomes Western to “Urinetown” with winter production

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

“Urinetown,” — a satirical musical, opened at Western on Feb. 28 with Michael Phillips as the director. The play was entertaining and interactive, and the opening act had about two minutes of uninterrupted silence while the actors laid on the ground, “asleep.” This made many audience members giggle nervously as the silence drew out. Laughter was a key element of the show. 

The story covers a drab town in the mid 1900s where a water shortage has led an evil man, Cladwell, to start Urine Good Company which now charges the poor pay-per-use public bathrooms. If anyone disobeys these rules, they face the threat of being sent to the mysterious and dreaded Urinetown.

This outlandish tale is packed with humor, love, violence and catchy songs. It was also full of jokes that tease elements of theater; Little Sally— a poor young girl— has conversations with Officer Lockstock where he explains how they’re covering basic elements in the first act so as not to overwhelm the audience. It mocks the “rules” that are typically followed in plays in a way that had the audience bursting into laughter.

The Western students who acted in the play did a phenomenal job, from the larger roles such as Hope Cladwell and Bobby Strong, all the way to the peppy assistant of Cladwell. The dedication and effort to the roles was apparent, and with the thorough costumes as well — everyone was able to shine in their own ways.

The live band was a great addition to the play, adding “necessary” drama to each scene, when someone made a surprise entrance, the other actors would gasp dramatically or exclaim “What?!” and the music would peak. At certain sad moments, the music would remain happy and upbeat, which Little Sally would comment on, earning more chuckles.

All the actors sang wonderfully, or sang as their characters were supposed to, which ended up being hilarious, and the dances were also well done. Overall, Western’s theater department delivered a hilarious and clever rendition of “Urinetown.”

Those who are interested in seeing the show themselves, can watch more performances Mar. 4-8 with the box office opening at 6 p.m. and the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free for students with ID.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Never Retallack

The West Of Us show camaraderie in Smith Hall

Sean Martinez  | Copy Editor

On Feb. 26, The West Of Us held their Winter Term Acapella Concert in Smith Hall, proving once again that instruments are not needed to make music. When the lights dimmed and the pitch pipe sounded off, The West Of Us kept the audience engaged as everyone listened to some well-known songs with unique twists. 

One of the performances that really resonated with the audience was the duet with “Build Me Up Buttercup.” My personal favorite was their unique take on Charlie Puth’s “Attention.” It was really cool to hear how each performer complemented each others’ voices. This was the first acapella concert I attended, and they did not disappoint. 

Acapella at Western has undergone numerous changes; it wasn’t until 2018 when the acapella group became gender inclusive and took on a new name, The West Of Us. 

The West Of Us strives to give audiences a great performance, but on top of that, co-presidents Olivia Martin and Austin Stewart are looking to recruit more students into the fold, students who will stick around long enough to bring the acapella group to new heights. 

“This year, we’re just trying to leave a good impression on everyone so that they want to stay, they want to learn music and they still want to sing acapella,” Stewart said. 

Olivia Martin added, “It’s kind of like leaving a legacy behind and ensuring that acapella is still going to be here for the years after we’re gone.” 

For Martin and Stewart, acapella is more than just making music with their mouths and entertaining crowds: the camaraderie is what keeps them coming back each year. Stewart talked about his experience coming to Western from Hawaii. Miles away from home, he decided to open up to new opportunities, which is when he was introduced to acapella. Ever since he joined, he’s considered The West Of Us a second family. 

Martin also went on to add, “It’s like a magnet that brings really compatible people together, and you just have the best time with them.”

Similar to team sports, Martin explained that acapella relies heavily on teamwork. “Everyone seems to be working on the same wavelength in order to collectively get better as a group,” Martin said. “It doesn’t ever feel like somebody’s trying to raise themselves up by lowering others. We either all go up or we don’t move at all.”

The West Of Us also aim to build a sense of community at Western. In recent years, they have performed for Western events such as the Cesar Chavez Conference, the Late-Night Breakfast, the Out of the Darkness Walk and their biggest performance, Acaparka — held at the Main Street Park at the amphitheater in spring. 

“We bundle all of our songs together … and then we perform a really large setlist for everybody,” Stewart said.

Be on the lookout for updates regarding the date and time for Acaparka.

 

Contact the author at howlcopyeditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Lisa Martin

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