Mount Hood

How to get involved in dance within Monmouth

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Western has a great number of dance classes available, but for those who have never taken the plunge and are still interested in dancing, there are opportunities in Monmouth.

The “Swing Dance Club” is a free opportunity on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. in room 212 in the Old P.E. Building. On wou.campuslabs.com it says, “The purpose of this organization is to encourage students to participate in swing dancing, an easy-to-learn high energy social dance.” 

Beginner lessons start at 6 p.m. and the regular dancing starts at 7 p.m. This is a great way to get involved with the Western community and have some fun.

The Health and Wellness Center provides many free exercise classes throughout the week, one of which is Zumba. The Zumba class is available in room 253 from 12:05-12:50 p.m. on Fridays. On wou.edu, the activity mentions that “Zumba classes feature exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin and international beats … It’s easy to do, effective and totally exhilarating, often building a deep-rooted community among returning participants.” 

As for experiences outside of Western’s campus, Monmouth Dance Studio offers a wide variety of dance classes every week, and has a monthly charge depending on the length of the class. The cheapest option is $45 per month for a 30-minute class once a week, in addition to the nonrefundable $30 deposit. For many college students, this is a steep price, but this may be a good option for those who are interested in cultivating their dance skills outside of Western.

While getting involved in dance can be intimidating for those who have never danced before, the dance community is not only inviting, but an amazing opportunity to combine exercise and friendship.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Art that tells a story: On Western Campus

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Campbell Hall currently has an exhibit up, called, “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts: Selections from the Permanent Collection” featuring 26 artists. 

The artists shown are Rick Bartow, Marwin Begaye, Pat Boas, Joe Cantrell, Corwin Clairmont, Jim Denomie, Demian DineYahi’, Vanessa Enos, Joe Feodorov, George Flett, Ric Gendron, Jeffrey Gibson, Don Gray, James Lavadour, James Luna, Brenda Mallory, Larry McNeil, Whitney Monthorn, Lillian Pitt, Wendy Red Star, Sara Siestreem, Kay Walking Stick, Marie Watt and Shirod Younker.

According to the “Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts at 25” by heather ahtone, Rebecca J. Dobkins and Prudence F. Roberts, the art institute in Pendleton, Oregon was founded by the Oregon painter and printmaker, James Lavadour (Walla Walla), who “envisioned a Native printmaking atelier on the Umatilla Reservation … that would provide a creative conduit for educational, social, and economic opportunities for Native Americans through artistic development.”

The company started out small in 1992 and has now grown into one of the most important printmaking locations in the country that brings together Native and non-Native artists to create with the guidance of master printer Frank Janzen.

Entering the Campbell Hall gallery, the first piece is colorful and bold, featuring two young girls dressed in Native American dresses.

All of the art pieces are either lithograpic or monotype — both are forms of printmaking. The interesting factor of having a collection of different artists all doing the same form of art is the diversity in style and color. Some pieces are neutral colors while others are more bright; all of the pieces are bold in their imagery and meaning.

It is apparent that the connection to Native American roots plays a large role for the artists, showing landscapes, traditional dress and more.

The flow of the gallery is easy to follow and provides a nice contrast between each piece as a viewer walks through.

This gallery is an opportunity for people to learn about Native American culture. The art is expressive and a book is provided that gives background information about the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts, which can be found on the windowsill in the gallery.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Never Retallack

Become captivated within the stunning views the Portland Japanese Garden has to offer

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Galleries are a staple within the realm of art, but for those interested in seeing art and nature combined, the Portland Japanese Garden is the perfect solution.

The idea for the garden was conceived in the 1950s by Mayor Terry Schrunk and members of the Portland community, in an attempt to soothe the tension between the United States and Japan after WWII and provide citizens with a garden of serenity and beauty.

On portlandjapanesegarden.org, it says, “Our mission is to bring the ideals of Portland Japanese Garden to the world: art of craft, connection to nature, experience of peace.”

Professor Takuma Tono of Tokyo Agricultural University designed the Garden, and his plan included five different garden styles laid out on 5.5 acres.

It officially opened in 1967, and the next year they started construction for the Japanese Tea House — where they host events for people to visit throughout the summer. 

It wasn’t until 1981 that they kept the gardens open all year round, and in 2015 the famous architect Kengo Kuma was enlisted to create a new visitors center, for the increasing amount of people coming each year.

I had the pleasure of visiting the Japanese Garden this month and the chilly weather did not hinder the experience at all. The intricate weaving pathways are interwoven with art features and an array of plants. There is a pond near a waterfall with large koi fish meandering within the depths. 

The routes that are available allow visitors to choose how they want to approach the gardens; this was helpful when it came to avoiding larger groups of people, keeping the experience serene and personal.

Located within Pavilion Gallery and Tanabe Gallery an art exhibit, “Spirits Rising: ひろしま / hiroshima” by Ishiuchi Miyako, opening Jan. 18 until March 15. This is the 75 year celebration commemorating the end of WWII. The exhibit will showcase the tattered clothes and belongings of those who experienced the atomic bombing in Hiroshima; it’s meant to remember what was lost and spark conversation as well.

They are open Monday 12-4 p.m. and Tues.-Sun. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; for students with ID, a ticket costs $13.50. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of japanesegarden.org

Wizard World Portland brings together pop-culture lovers at the Oregon Convention Center

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Wizard World Comic Con’s 2019 celebrity guest list included the likes of Jason Momoa, known for “Game of Thrones” and “Aquaman”, Melissa Benoist, star of “Supergirl”, and many others. The Comic Con was held on the weekend of Feb. 22-24 in the Oregon Convention Center.

Wizard World is a comic convention that provides fans and cosplayers an opportunity to socialize and meet their favorite superhero and sci-fi celebrities. The convention also allows artists and other vendors a chance to increase their visibility within the community.

The Convention Center was teeming with cosplayers and vendors on Feb. 22, the first night of the convention. Many characters made appearances in many different iterations thanks to dedicated fans that took the time to create their own costumes. Among the characters present were Jack Sparrow, Professor Snape and Mad-Eye Moody, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and many others. Even Darth Vader was there — wearing a kilt, riding a unicycle, and playing the bagpipes.

While attendees milled about the ballroom waiting to meet and greet with different celebrities, there were many vendors to keep them company. Typical t-shirt and collectible booths that attend every street fair and convention were there, but there was also a plethora of artist booths present. Most any movie or show imaginable was represented: there was fan art, comic books (both originals and collectibles) and most everything else.

“I actually do comic conventions and fandom conventions once every two or three weeks, like, all year round,” commented Misty Figs, an artist at the convention. Figs makes stickers, pins and online art through mistyfigsgiftshop.com.

“I get to meet a lot of the people that I interact with online, that buy my art or give me ideas for art. So getting to put a face to a twitter or instagram username is really cool, and I’ve met a lot of artists that way as well,” said Figs.

Aside from art vendors, there were also sections with computers for gaming and a virtual reality booth in which volunteers could try a VR game. Several tattoo booths were in attendance, one of which was called “Ink Bus”: that was a old bus turned studio. Another booth was born out of a partnership between Wizard World and Transition Project, a Portland-based company, to put comic books and other reading materials into the hands of people transitioning out of homelessness.

The Wizard World convention brought together many people from different walks of life that were able to bond over a similar love of movies and art. It has not yet been revealed if the convention will return in 2020.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Chrys Weedon

“The Grudge” of 2020 fails to find new angle for the franchise

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor 

“The Grudge,” released on Jan. 3, written and directed by Nicolas Pesce is definitely an unnecessary evil for the new year. A spin-off from the original movie “Ju-On: The Grudge,” this continuation was disappointing as a viewer.

This version focuses on a mom, Officer Muldoon, who moves to a small town with her son after her husband passes away. It’s meant to be a fresh start, but several bodies are found all connected to one house: the house that the audience knows has the grudge.

For those who are unfamiliar with “The Grudge” franchise, a grudge is defined in the 2004 remake as, “when someone dies in the grip of a powerful rage… a curse is born. The curse gathers in that place of death. Those who encounter it will be consumed by its fury.”

It’s the same idea in this spin-off; the grudge has traveled to the states, moving away from its origins in Japan.

Pesce’s take on this film is nonstop violence and jumpscares. There is never a point where the viewer sits in suspense and wonders “What’s going to happen?” It forces the audience along for a predictable and bloody ride that lacks any development for the franchise.

While “Ju-On: The Grudge” was slow and, admittedly, the visuals are less scary, the storyline and tension is preferable over the 2020 film. 

Despite my issues with the methods for scaring the audience, I also am not a fan of the dialogue or the plot in general. A lot of the dialogue in the movie feels awkward or forced and quite frankly, out of place. A couple of characters, such as Detective Goodman, were given interesting arcs, but those ideas were never developed and it left the audience with bits of useless pieces.

Overall Review: I am not impressed by the newest rendition of “The Grudge.” It was unnecessarily violent, and every jumpscare was predictable. The visuals were creepy enough to keep me entertained, and there were scenes that sent shivers down my spine, but for the most part it was another disappointment in the horror scene. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures

Get comfortable and grab a glass of cocoa and settle into these three short stories full of tension

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

With the start of the new term, many students may already be overwhelmed with new schedules and workloads. Reading in college often becomes tarnished as a pastime because of the amount of homework and class readings that students are required to do; a solution for that is short stories. There are countless tales that leave one breathless, contemplative or unnerved, all accomplished within 15-20 pages. 

“Cathedral” by Raymond Carver (1981): This suspenseful tale is from the perspective of a jealous husband when his wife’s blind friend visits them in their home, and unsettles readers. The discomfort that the husband feels by the intimacy of his wife and friend makes one wonder how the story will build, leaving the reader quietly anticipating each move. It can be found online here: http://www.giuliotortello.it/ebook/cathedral.pdf

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson (1892): This is by far one of my favorite short stories out there. Each time I read it, I discover something new, and the unease that I feel doesn’t ever end. It is a complex tale that shows the distress of a woman in her new house where she seems to unravel as she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in a room. Reality becomes distorted and it’s impossible to sort if what she is seeing is actually happening or not. It can be found online here: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf

“The Lottery” by Shirely Jackson (1948): Another one of my favorite short stories is based in a small village that must partake in “The Lottery,” and there is a general discomfort or fear with the characters. Each page makes the reader more and more anxious, waiting in anticipation for what could possibly happen. It can be found online here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1948/06/26/the-lottery

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Start the year with an album that encourages to put yourself first

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Selena Gomez released her new album “Rare” on Jan 10 of 2020, the first album she has released since 2015. The former Disney star goes deeper with this album, singing about the heartache she went through with Justin Bieber and the depression and anxiety she has struggled with, as well as touching on the stress of being famous.

The album starts with the title track “Rare,” a catchy pop tune that breaks down a relationship where the person she is with doesn’t appreciate her. The main point is that he doesn’t understand that she is “rare.” This is a powerful song to encourage women to never settle for someone who doesn’t see how special they are.

The next song on her album, “Dance Again,” is about her moving on from her trauma and opening herself up to having fun again and trying to find happiness. She sings about how she feels high without emotional baggage weighing her down.

Gomez’s song “Look at Her Now” refers to herself in the third person and once again touches on a toxic relationship. She discusses how she was hurt and how she bounced back and grew from her troubles.

One of my favorites on her album is “Lose You To Love Me.” With slow vocals and a gentle instrumental, she croons about only loving herself after her breakup.

So much of her album covers her heartache — which shows that she is struggling to process everything — but I think that her self-love focus will be very helpful for countless listeners who are dealing with toxic relationships. Similarly, it could help those who are dealing with depression and anxiety which she touches on in several songs.

Overall Review: This album, while not totally soulful, I think has some really important songs that can help those who listen. I recommend this album to those who want a bop that has some more meaning behind the lyrics.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of selenagomez.com

Album Review of the eclectic album “Fine Line” by Harry Styles

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Harry Styles is no longer just an old member of the boy band One Direction, but rather a talented and diverse artist. “Fine Line” is Styles’ second album, released in December of 2019. It received much acclaim and was number three on the UK Album Charts and number one on the Billboards 200.

The album had a different sound than his first album, “Sign of the Times” which was more peaceful and almost folk, while “Fine Line” dabbles in rock, pop and some psychedelic soul, while also touching back on the more peaceful folk with a couple songs.

Most of the songs on the album have the core elements of love, sorrow and exploration. In an interview with Rolling Stone he said that the album was “all about having sex and being sad.” Styles also mentioned being more adventurous in the album which is evident with his hit song, “Watermelon Sugar” a summer bop that sounds far different from anything else he has produced. Then his song “Lights Up” touches on self-acceptance and rejection, and seems like a cry of freedom. This transitions right into “Cherry” a peaceful melody with calming guitar, going back to the warm folk he has done before.

One song that really stood out to me in its uniqueness is “To Be So Lonely” it has a different sound than the rest of his songs, and sounds quite uplifting but the meaning touches on some negative qualities of himself and going through heartbreak.

His final song on the 12-track album, “Fine Line” is one of his deepest songs about a relationship that causes more harm than good. It starts quite melancholic, just Styles gently crooning about someone whose love can be bought. The song then builds with more instruments and reaches a fever pitch before coming back down, quite possibly representing the ups and downs that he went through in his relationship or in life. 

An interesting thing that I noted was the difference in the album cover of “Fine Line” and “Sign of the Times.” The stark contrasts between the covers properly showcase how different the two albums are; his first album is dark and moody, while “Fine Line” showcases Styles in white pants and a pink shirt in a psychedelic bubble. It seems to be a visual of how he is pushing himself as an artist with his latest album.

Overall Review: “Fine Line” is an album that I cannot get enough of, it has a little bit of everything, if someone needs a sad song to cry to, there are several, if someone needs to be pumped up, that’s also an option. Styles created an eclectic masterpiece that dives into some of his vulnerabilities, and pushed his normal boundaries when creating music. I highly recommend this album to anyone really, it has enough elements to connect to most people.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Decompress with all the Netflix originals coming out January 2020

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Most people may think that January 2020 is the time to try and follow their New Year resolutions; let’s be honest, it’s the start of a new term and the perfect time to decompress with everything new coming to Netflix this month.

This year Netflix is unleashing a tidal wave of original shows and movies, here is a list of what to expect:

Available Jan. 1: “Ghost Stories,” “Messiah,” “Nisman: Death of a Prosecutor,” “Spinning Out,” “The Circle.”

Available Jan. 2: “Sex, Explained: Limited Series,” “Thieves of the Wood.”

Available Jan. 3: “Anne with an E: The Final Season,” “All the Freckles in the World.”

Available Jan. 4: “Go! Go! Cory Carson.”

Available Jan. 8: “Cheer.”

Available Jan. 10: “AJ and the Queen,” “Giri / Haji,” “Harvey Girls Forever!: Season 4,” “The Investigators: Season 2,” “Medical Police,” “Scissor Seven,” “Until Dawn,” “Zumbo’s Just,” “Desserts: Season 2.”

Available Jan. 13: “The Healing Powers of Dude.”

Available Jan. 14: “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts.”

Available Jan. 15: “Quien a hierro mata,” “Grace and Frankie: Season 6.”

Available Jan. 16: “NiNoKuni.”

Available Jan. 17: “Ares,” “Hip-Hop Evolution: Season 4,” “Sex Education: Season 2,” “Tyler Perry’s A Fall From Grace,” “Vivir dos veces,” “Wer kann, der kann!.”

Available Jan. 20: “Family Reunion: Part 2.”

Available Jan. 21: “Fortune Feimster: Sweet and Salty,” “Word Party: Season 4.”

Available Jan. 22: “Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak.”

Available Jan. 23: “The Ghost Bride,” “October Faction,” “SAINT SEIYA: Knights of the Zodiac: Season 1 / Part 2.”

Available Jan. 24: “The Sun,” “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part 3,” “The Ranch: Final Season.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Movie Review: Bong Joon Ho’s masterpiece “Parasite”

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

It’s hard to really capture the brilliance of the 2019 South Korean film, “Parasite” within one article, with the cleverly constructed dialogue written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, as well as the striking filmography and acting.

The plot follows the impoverished family of dad Kim Ki-taek, his wife Chung-sook, son Ki-woo, and daughter Ki-jeong living in a small semi-basement apartment where they struggle to make ends meet.

Ki-woo has a friend Min-hyuk who is leaving his tutoring job with a wealthy family to study abroad, and asks Ki-woo to take over for him. While he is not in a university and has no classical training, he gets the job by lying.

This is the start of the journey as the Kim clan infiltrates the influential Park family slowly, with an almost eerie precision. The stark contrast between how the Kim family lives versus the Park family calls into question issues of class in a satirical way. 

While the film feels generally unnerving, it takes a complete 180 to shock audience members and become completely unsettling and disturbing. The harmless and functioning relationship between the Park and Kim family becomes strained as judgment and ignorance pierces through.

The film does an exceptional job in showing the ways that those who are impoverished are treated poorly in subtle ways, and the effect that it has on them is greater than many would assume. The film also calls to question how money influences the way people behave and addressing the advantages it gives the wealthy.

After the film ended, I sat there wondering how realistic a plot like this would be in real life, the dramatic and violent turn it took was so shocking, but with the strain of poverty, wealth and social interactions it is a haunting tale of what people can be pushed to do.

Overall Rating: “Parasite” is now one of my favorite films I have ever seen, it was well-crafted, intelligent and kept me on the edge of my seat. Joon Ho takes current issues of socioeconomic class and put together an entertaining and shocking masterpiece. I highly recommend this film to anyone in need of watching something new with an exciting twist.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Heartworm, a dream pop group ready to release music

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

There are many interesting bands in the making, included is New Orleans based, Heartworm. I was able to grab an interview with musician Dani Kardon, who is originally from Portland, OR. 

 

Q: How long have you been practicing music? 

A: I’ve been playing music for about 12 years now, I’ve jumped around from guitar to vocals to piano a fair amount! 

Q: What got you interested in music? 

A: I think just being a kid and loving the act of being loud and making noise probably, I get more and more into it the more I play, I think the interest just feeds itself!

Q: How would you say your music has changed over the years? 

A: My music changes a lot with what I’m listening to definitely. I grew up on old soul, the motown collection, all that. But I cycle through musical phases and I think I just pick up little bits of everything that I like and shove ‘em into my songs.

Q: How did you and your band get together? 

A: Me, Eryn (Bass) and Sabrina (Guitar) work/worked at the school of rock Metairie together, and Hannah (Drums) was in a band with Sab before. We just kind of were like, “okay let’s jam on some songs” and then it turned into hanging out and playing music, and then it turned into “okay we definitely need to be a band.” I would just like to put on record that I f**king love them.

Q: What is your position in the band?

A: I’m just like the singer — whatever else needs to be done person. I play keys a lot for the band. I’m also one of the songwriters in the band! I’m also the baby, that is another role I play. But like, boss baby.

Q: What are the future goals for your band? 

A: I think just ride the wave as long as possible. If it works it’ll be amazing and if it doesn’t it will still be amazing while it lasts. All of us take it seriously but at the same time very much don’t take it seriously, does that make sense? I’d love to tour and release albums obviously, that feels like it’s way in the future, but we’ve already recorded enough for a small EP so I guess it’s not so mystical and far away.

Q: How would you describe the style of music your band does? 

A: Lazy Punk and Dream Pop, what does that mean? Wouldn’t you like to know. We would also like to know. I dunno, just listen to us! People will figure it out.

Q: When can listeners expect music to be released? 

A: The middle of January! Like soon soon.  

Q: What is your favorite part about creating music? 

A: I love the song writing process, and what’s so amazing is taking a song to a band and watching it turn into the thing that you had in your head, or even better than what was in your head.

Q: Anything else you would like to add? 

A: Our merch is stupid cool, it was specially designed by a girl at Loyola named Maggie Chreene who is like a Goddess amongst women, and we’re working on an online store to buy it. Not to brag but a tik tok of her making the merch got like 10K likes. So yeah that’ll be something to watch for, because they really are gorgeous, we love Maggie. I’ll put the link in here. Also just thank you so much for interviewing me about my band, we love the interest people have been having in us and we’re so eager to share our music and lil band with everyone!

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Square Inch Arts: A small gallery with a substantial amount of talent

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Nestled neatly in the neighborhood of Sellwood in Portland, Oregon is the Square Inch Gallery owned and ran by artist Gia Whitlock. The gallery showcases the art of five other artists that Whitlock knows including Gigi Reavis, David Frediman, Sharon Greenwood, Jill Mayberh and Kat Perkins.

The gallery had a grand opening in the summer of 2019, but didn’t have regular business hours until October of this year. Whitlock opens the gallery from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. on Saturdays.

To enter the gallery, you walk alongside a house, like one might go to enter the backyard, and when you walk through the door, the name Square Inch Arts couldn’t be more fitting. The cozy gallery is small in size, but doesn’t leave viewers feeling claustrophobic. The space originally was a waiting room for a chiropractor, but the brightly colored walls and eye catching art opens up the space, leaving a more intimate feeling. 

Most of the artist’s work is in a specific spot, except for Whitlock’s paintings which are sprinkled throughout the gallery, this pattern creates a flow for viewers to follow easily. The art is for sale and quite reasonably priced, and for those who cannot afford a painting, there are smaller knick knacks such as postcards, puzzles, journals and small prints available by a couple artists.

The variety of art available is appealing such as mugs, paper cut outs, large oil canvases, realistic drawings, mixed media, embroidered hoops and several other pieces which leave viewers with plenty to look at in the quaint space.

Whitlock, who began painting in 2007, stated that, “I used to do intuitive paintings and try to have all these ideas, and they all just ended up like birds. I need to look at something.” I predominantly all her paintings are based off of flowers that she looks at, intermingling collage bits and other mediums to make it more than just a still life painting. Whitlock offers Paint Days at her gallery. Her studio is within the building of the exhibit, where those who are interested can pay to paint their own floral still life with Whitlock guiding and helping them throughout the process.

Whitlock says that, “The idea is to eventually have group shows, Sellwood has lots of shows throughout the year … I think it would be fun to bring some art in to those.”

Those who are interested in viewing art for free should swing by the cozy gallery at 1330 SE Malden St. in Portland, where sweet treats and tea are available while taking a look at the diverse art exhibited.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Review of the 2019 remake, “Black Christmas”

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

“Black Christmas,” a mystery slasher film centered on the murder of a sorority sister, was originally created and directed by Bob Clark in 1974. Clark later directed “Christmas Story,” a great balance of genres. In the original he relied heavily on the shrouded identity of the killer, and in the end, never revealed the villain.

The 2006 remake, directed by Glen Morgan,  went the opposite route and made it pretty obvious who the masked killer was, leaving little for the audience to think about.

Sadly, the 2019 remake directed by Sophia Takal followed suit and all the twists and turns that happened were obvious from a mile away, leaving no mystery for the audience and ending up quite a basic horror film.

A key difference in the plot, however, with the 2019 remake is the feminism aspect and spotlight on sexual assault issues on college campuses. 

Mysterious hooded figures with weird black goo on their faces are murdering members of a sorority, and the main protagonist Riley, played by Imogen Poots, is left to try and discover who is after her friends. Riley does not trust the authorities to help her after she was raped on campus and her rapist went unpunished. 

While there was some bad acting in the film, and a general predictability, I think that including a character who has gone through a trauma with no justice reflects current day issues with sexual assaults, especially on college campuses. The villains in the film want to put women back in their place, and reclaim male dominance in society, which reflects the toxic masculinity and sexism that is also prevalent today. 

Overall Rating: While I wouldn’t necessarily say that a second remake was needed of the Canadian horror film, and the acting wasn’t quite believable, the underlying feminism and attention to #MeToo was an interesting twist and brought something unique to the film. The “who done it” aspect was not available, because the killers were quite obvious in the film, but the motives for their rampage was different than I expected. All around, not a bad horror film; for those that prefer something a little more sinister on the holidays, “Black Christmas” is entertaining enough and touches on more serious issues.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Hamersly Library showcases [she] A Story of Photographs

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Guest artist Dongna Cai, an Associate Professor at the Beijing Forestry University Art & Design Institute, received Western professor Daniel Tankersley’s guidance for her project, [she] A Story of Photographs, to narrate a story through photos. 

It was a project that took nearly half a year — from selecting the narrative content to the actual photography work and development. There are 36 black-and-white photos that portray the lives of five female Chinese exchange students, who stayed in the United States for one year. Cai has broken up this narrative into five stages: arriving, registering, studying, enjoying and leaving.

Professor Tankersley wrote, “… sincere images of [she] open a direct window into the lived experiences of individual women whose time at WOU is characterized by a duality of the remarkable and the mundane.” He continues to write, “Dongna Cai’s photographs remind us to be curious about the people we encounter, to take risks and venture bravely into the unknown… and to appreciate the journey.”

The photos themselves are simple in nature, but the feelings they give viewers is that of  warmness. Seeing five women on Western’s campus by the Maaske Hall, or simply at the library, the bank, the gym or their apartments, brings the viewer on a journey with these students.

The five Chinese exchange students are experiencing something that many have not had the opportunity or the courage to do. It is a unique idea to present the seemingly mundane activities that seem so normal to those residing in the U.S. for years, because they are simple but foreign to those who are new to the U.S..

For anyone interested in checking out the exhibit, it is available for viewing until Dec. 13 on the third floor of the Hamersly Library.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos by Mikayla Bruley

Disney + quietly released the live-action remake of “Lady and the Tramp”

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Released on Nov. 12 comes the remake of a Disney classic, “Lady and the Tramp,” based on the Cosmopolitan magazine story, “Happy Dan, the Cynical Dog,” by Ward Greene. This 2019 remake was directed by Charlie Bean and written by Andrew Bujalski, with Tessa Thompson as the voice for Lady and Justin Theroux as the voice for Tramp.

This film is available only on Disney+, making it the first Disney remake to not have a theatrical release.

Filming for the movie really took off in the summer of 2019 in the sweltering heat of Savannah, Georgia and because the dogs in the film were real dogs, they had to ensure they didn’t overheat. While the majority of the film crew was suffering and sweating, they provided the dogs with refrigerated tents to keep them cool and excited for acting.

Several of the dogs used in the film were from animals rescues, while Lady’s parents were looking to rehome her, and after the completion of the film all dogs have been rehomed and adopted. 

The live-action version was, of course, adorable; a movie packed with dogs is hard to resist. They didn’t make too many changes to the original plot. They did, however, take out a couple songs, replacing or altering them.

Overall Rating: The film was an easy watch, it was fun and highly entertaining, but not as magical as the original. It is quite hard for remakes to surpass their predecessor, but I enjoyed the movie a lot, and anyone who has Disney+ should give it a try for the holiday season. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Album review of Coldplay’s 17 album “Everyday Life”

Never Retallack  | Entertainment Editor

Released on Nov. 22 was the British rock/pop band Coldplay’s eighth studio album titled, “Everyday Life.” It is a double album, with the first half — songs one through eight — called “Sunrise,” and the second half — songs nine through seventeen — titled “Sunset.”

The album starts with the song “Sunrise,” a melancholic instrumental song that felt hauntingly sad with the gentle violin and somber piano — an interesting way to start the album, but I think it fits the overall theme.

Coldplay touches on some serious issues within their album, with heavy topics that are relevant in today’s society. One such song is “Trouble in Town,” which explains how non-white people are treated in western countries, touching on the hostility that minorities can face by plugging in the audio from Officer Nance in 2013 who was fired for his racist and aggressive behavior. At this point in the song the soft instrumentals reach a fevered pitch that increases the anxiety of the situation and the chaotic atmosphere.

Another heavy hitting topic is covered in their song “Arabesque” which seems to try and make peace in the wake of western fear of Islam with the war on terrorism. They merge together western musical styles with Middle Eastern rhythms.

Continuing on this trend of confrontation and addressing the issues within the world comes the first song to the second half “Sunset,” a song titled “Guns,” that criticizes Americans’ obsession and need for guns. Going deeper into the issue, they sing about how Americans think gun violence will be solved with more guns and push the idea of education and peace instead.

Coldplay doesn’t stop on their mission for exposing issues, continuing with their song “Orphans” which tackles the Syrian Civil War and shows the story of a girl and her Baba — Arabic for father — who are refugees and aided by an archangel. This song pushes the need to accept and aid refugees who are struggling to survive, and emphasizing how they need to be with their family members to achieve happiness.

The album ends with the song “Everyday Life” that ties together the main messages from the band: love, equality, pain, struggles, legacy, humanity, hope and other things in everyday life. The album covers a diverse span of people from different cultures and the different challenges they face, while maintaining the belief that we are all part of the same family on this planet. 

Overall Rating: I think this album is a heavy hitter; it is full of slow and somber instrumentals with songs that cover real world problems. It is more of a sit-down-and-reflect album, rather than a catchy money-making album, focusing on encouraging change and acceptance.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records Press

“Like Phantoms, Forever”: The Return of My Chemical Romance

Sean Tellvik  |  Freelancer

My Chemical Romance are back from the dead. On Oct. 31, rock band My Chemical Romance announced their return for a one-night show in Los Angeles after a six-and-a-half year breakup. Many fans worried this may have been a one-off reunion event, but with the addition of festival dates in March, it is time to take the return more seriously. 

To fill the empty spaces in their hearts following MCR’s breakup announcement in 2013, fans devised numerous theories about a planned reunion. A band who posthumously released a song called “Fake Your Death” on a greatest hits album titled “May Death Never Stop You” invited some speculation about the permanence of their split. 

The band primarily consists of singer Gerard Way, bassist Mikey Way, and guitarists Frank Iero and Ray Toro, who have all been working on their own solo projects since the band’s split. However, no individual member of the band has had quite the same level of success as that which they experienced united. Hits like “Helena,” “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” “Welcome to the Black Parade” and “Teenagers” have stood the test of time and circulated many a Spotify “emo” playlist, which brings me to the most slippery issue surrounding the band’s identity. 

Many fans, streaming platforms and articles about MCR identify the band as emo, a term with a messy history and complicated implications. The band themselves have tried to set the record straight that they are not an emo band, even expressing disgust at the term. 

The term “emo” is short for “emotional,” referencing the genre’s often dark or confessional lyrics. Part of the problem is the misconception that emo culture begets self-harm and suicide. On the contrary, the music often acts as an outlet to channel much of the depression and mental health issues that lead to these actions. Especially during the 2000s, the toxic perception of emo culture has spawned violence and brutality against those who identify as emo. But the core of the genre, when separated from stigma, can offer catharsis and a form of identity to its listeners.

I believe so many people attribute the emo genre to MCR because they have validated people’s feelings of sadness, anger, loneliness — you name it — and shown listeners that it’s okay to not be okay. The lyrics to “I’m Not Okay (I Promise),” which say “You really need to listen to me / because I’m telling you the truth / I mean this, I’m okay, trust me / I’m not okay,” capture the feeling of masking one’s emotions to conform to an expectation of baseline happiness. I think MCR’s openness about these feelings are what made them such a popular band while garnering them the unwanted emo label. 

One of the band’s most famous lyrics from the song “Famous Last Words” defiantly states, “I am not afraid to keep on living / I am not afraid to walk this world alone.” This message of perseverance contradicts the claim that their music breeds self-destruction. Countless fans have given their testimony to defend that this is a band that saves lives. And I think the world needs to hear their message once more to break down the stigma against mental health issues.

 

Contact the author at stellvik15@mail.wou.edu

An exciting sequel with monsters a plenty: Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep”

Never Retallack  |  Entertainment Editor

Part of the fun when it came to watching the 2019 film “Doctor Sleep,” a Stephen King adaptation based on the sequel of the same name to “The Shining,” is finding all the Easter eggs that are hidden within this thriller.

Fans of the cult classic of “The Shining” can all agree that the film is full of iconic images and scenes, such as the blood filling the hallway, the scary twins, and of course Jack Nicholson sticking his face through the door he hacked a hole into. Mark Flanagan’s “Doctor Sleep” provided a new and exciting storyline while managing to revisit its origins and give audience members chills.

The film was originally in the works after the book “Doctor Sleep” was first published, but didn’t develop it until after the popularity of Stephen King’s “It” (2017). Flanagan said that the goal was to reconcile the differences between the novel and film “The Shining.”

The 2019 film stars Ewan McGregor as a grown up Dan Torrence. He is introduced as an alcoholic and troubled man, haunted by his past at the Overlook Hotel. Once on the path to change himself for the better, the audience meets Abra Stone — portrayed by Kyliegh Curran — a young girl who “shines” very brightly.

Those who shine like Dan and Abra are hunted by a group of supernatural beings who survive off of their souls. The film was a rollercoaster, watching the different powers that emerge, giving it a very different feel than that of “The Shining” which was more psychologically scary.

I don’t want to give away too much, but there were several scenes back in the Overlook Hotel that made audience members gasp in horror and delight; connecting back with the origins was my favorite part of the film.

Overall Rating: The actors in the film did a wonderful job, especially Curran in her debut role. I believe it’s challenging for any sequel to be better than its predecessor, and that goes for “Doctor Sleep” as well. The story was interesting, the jump scares were in fact scary, and the Easter eggs were exciting, but I don’t think it surpasses the uniqueness of Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photos courtesy of warnerbros.com

Spotlighting Western artist Tonya Bradley: Vocalist and violinist

Never Retallack  |  Entertainment Editor

Interested in hearing about a fellow classmate and a choir member here at Western? Look no further than this Q&A to get to know Tonya Bradley, a junior and vocalist at Western.

Q: How long have you been at Western? And what are you studying?

T: I’m a junior, this is my third year. And I’m studying Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Sciences with a focus in Sociology with a minor in French.

Q: And how are you involved in music?

T: Within the Western music department you are allowed to be in any of the ensembles no matter what your major is. I’m in Chamber Singers which you have to audition for either in the spring or in the fall. It’s a lot easier to start in the fall because you have a lot of music to learn.

Q: How long have you been part of the Chamber Singers?

T: I’ve been in Chamber Choir since Spring of my freshman year, and then I was in Concert Choir since Winter Term of that year (first-year). 

Q: So you can be in multiple choirs?

T: Yes, there are three choirs and you can be in all three. The Concert Choir is a non-audition group that is mainly classical music, but can sometimes do some pop stuff. Chamber Singers which is mostly classical, and Voices which is mostly Jazz.

Q: What style of music do you usually prefer?

T: I like the classical because you get to learn a lot of different languages, and there’s a lot of different techniques you get to learn and it is kind of the foundation of every other form of music. I also have done classical for my whole life so…

Q: So how long have you been studying music?

T: I started violin in third grade and took it all the way through my senior year in high school, unfortunately I don’t have time to take string ensemble and choir at the same time, so I don’t do both here (Western).

Q: When did you start training when it comes to singing?

T: I started choir my freshman year of high school, and took voice lessons as a sophomore, but I stopped taking them because they take a lot of time and money.

Q: Do you prefer singing over violin?

T: I do, because I feel like I get to be more creative with it and I don’t have to just stick with what’s already written on the page — I get to do more improvisation. And within the choir I am a Soprano 2.

Q: What is your favorite part about being involved with music?

T: You get to meet so many new people, and it’s a creative release for me and I when I am involved in the choir here (at Western) I feel like it improves my mental health and my school performance. It’s really important for me mentally, to keep me sane taking all my other classes.

Q: What is your least favorite part of the music world?

T: Probably just the amount of rehearsals, and the amount of personal practice I have to do to stay at the same level as everyone else, because I have a lot of trouble with rhythm so I have to spend a lot of my own time to practice. This can sometimes take away from my school work.

Q: If there is anyone interested in joining the choir what would you tell them?

T: I would tell them it’s an awesome idea; we got a new professor last fall and he is amazing. I think the choir has improved a lot and we get to do cool performances, like going to the Capitol — it’s a good experience and I think they should talk to him (Dr. James Reddan).

Q: For those interested in listening to the choir what should they look out for?

T: For Chamber Singers and Concert Choir we have a performance Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice and tickets are available now for anyone who calls the box office.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Student actors performed with passion in the production of “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Never Retallack  |  Entertainment Editor

Directed by one of Western’s theater faculty members, Professor Kent Neely, comes “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” This classic Christmas tale is based on a short story called, “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern published in 1943. Later on, it became a film, and then adapted into a play — Western’s performance is based off Joe Landry’s adaptation of the screenplay.

Landry’s adaptation is a radio show reading, where the actors on stage are acting like they are actors for a radio. This brought some much needed comedy into the somewhat sad play, with silly ads for dandruff and dirty car windows sung to the tune of classic Christmas carols.

Emily Hedges, an interdisciplinary studies senior at Western said, “I’ve seen the play before, but never as a radio show; it made it a very unique and interesting performance.”

Watching the student actors perform, I was pleasantly surprised with their quality and dedication throughout the performance.

With only ten actors, and one accompianist, it was an intimate cast with each actor playing more than one role. This is where the talent of the cast shone through; certain actors would speak in a heavy Irish accent one minute, then a tough east coast accent within the next breath, never missing a beat.

An interesting aspect of this production was also the use of a live sound effects board containing many objects for two cast members to create realistic noises without technology. The objects included a belt, marbles, a wooden box, a whistle and so many more. Like dropping objects into a box during a scene where they were collecting money.

The two cast members who managed the sound board, Trina Schwabauer and Sara Wright, had other roles as well, juggling the sound effects and their characters. This added another element of interest for viewers, since there were no props for the story of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” they were on a set, but not interacting with anything — staying stagnant in front of their microphones. 

Overall rating: the actors in this production did a great job, jumping around from character to character, all with interesting facial expressions and compelling dialogue. It was an all around enjoyable performance.

 

Cast List

Jake Laurents ……… Matthew Ramage

Sally Applewhite ……… Lea Sheldone

Betty Smith ……… Selena Moreno

Lana Sherwood ……… Citlalli Castaneda

Freddie Filmore ……… Jacob Fritts

Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood ……… William Evans

Homer Duncan ……… Steven Cummings

Opal Ferguson ……… Sara Wright

Sharon Cook ……… Trina Schwabauer

Patricia Dowd ……… Lexie Warner

Accompianist ……… Devin Desmond

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo by Mikayla Bruley

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