Mount Hood

Three true crime podcasts to stream

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“Criminal”

Launched in 2014, “Criminal” is an award-winning podcast that takes a holistic look at crime and how it intersects with sociology and history. The host, Phoebe Judge, has a journalistic style that always cultivates a profoundly human element in each episode. Judge’s voice is soothing, and her questions honest and vulnerable, carrying the listener safely through each story no matter how strange.

Where to listen: This podcast can be listened to anywhere podcasts are found, including thisiscriminal.com. There are original illustrations for every episode of “Criminal,” which can also be found on their website.

Photo courtesy of thisiscriminal.com

 

“True Crime Garage”

Co-hosts Nic and the Captain cover both solved and unsolved true crime cases on their podcast, launched in 2015. These two men conduct impressively in-depth research, and educate their listeners about every version of events and possible theory surrounding each crime they discuss. The tone of the show is more informal and comical, but the pair of hosts still remain respectful of the cases and their seriousness.

Where to listen: A complete anthology of episodes can be found of the Stitcher radio app. A select number of episodes are available for free on the website truecrimegarage.com and are available for purchase on iTunes.

Photo courtesy of truecrimegarage.com

 

“My Favorite Murder”

Similar to “True Crime Garage,” this podcast is self-described on their website as a “true crime comedy.” The newest of the three podcasts, “My Favorite Murder” was launched in early 2016 by Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff. The show is full of the host’s dry, blunt sense of humor and exhibits a number of female-centered stories. The co-hosts also include information about their personal lives, which balances out the heaviness of the true crime material and may be why they’ve made such a connection with their loyal fanbase.

Where to listen: This podcast can be found on iTunes, Stitcher radio, and Player FM.

Photo courtesy of myfavoritemurder.com

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The Western Howl staff pick their favorite Halloween-themed movies

Compiled by: The Western Howl staff

Chrys — “The VVitch” (2015). My favorite scary movie has to be “The VVitch.” I remember going to see it in theaters when it came out in 2016. This movie mastered the art of atmospheric horror. I can’t sit through this movie without squirming in my chair, and comfort is an impossibility. The film still remains spooky without excessive use of jump scares, which I really appreciate. The cinematographer Jarin Blaschke and director Robert Eggers have created a visual environment that is dark, anxious, and horrifying. Anya Taylor-Joy is truly at her best and her performance really enhances it to all it’s uncomfortable, horrible glory. I would strongly recommend this film.

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu

Caity — “Halloween” (1978). This movie will never not be my favorite horror flick. It set the precedent for what a slasher film would be, and ushered in a decade of holiday-centered horror films that tried to imitate what this classic did. No matter how many times I watch it, the haunting — but simple — score, matched with the heart-racing scenes, are enough to make this the most memorable scary movie I’ve seen yet. Introducing Jamie Lee Curtis, as director John Carpenter’s nod to Curtis’s mother Janet Leigh, star of “Psycho,” the film helped create the scream queen of slasher flicks. While this movie is a horror masterpiece, the sequels don’t even come close to the original, so I’d recommend only watching the first installment.

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Bailey — “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993). This Disney flick is an innovative story that serves two genres: Christmas movies and Halloween movies. Now a cult classic, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” combines the creative mind of Tim Burton with the musical stylings of Danny Elfman to create a movie that the whole family can enjoy. In fact, there’s even a ride at Disneyland that is made-over with a “ The Nightmare Before Christmas” theme every year. And this year, the lovably misguided Jack Skellington, “Pumpkin King” of Halloween Town, is getting re-released on Blu-ray as a celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary. This funny and frightening tale made over 75 million dollars in the box office, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone.

Contact the author at bthompson15@wou.edu

Kyle — “Hocus Pocus” (1993). During one night of Halloween, three villainous witches made their way back from the dead to bring us the Disney film, “Hocus Pocus.” This cult classic became my favorite Halloween-theme movie when I was a child. It includes the right amount of comedy, horror and music. No matter how many times I watch it, I can never get enough of the Sanderson sisters. It’s as if they put a spell on me. Although meant for children, the director was able to sneak jokes that only adults can understand, so I would strongly recommend this movie to anyone.

Contact the author at kmorden17@wou.edu

Rachel — “Sleepy Hollow”, starring Johnny Depp and directed by Tim Burton, is my favorite Halloween movie. It is based on the legend of the Headless Horseman. It’s a gothic supernatural horror film, although I didn’t find it too scary. It’s about Ichabod Crane, a police constable, who is sent to solve the mystery behind the murders taking place in the town Sleepy Hollow. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes dark themed movies, without a lot of scares.

Contact the author at rhetzel18@wou.edu

Ashlynn — “Corpse Bride” (2005). “The Corpse Bride” is another classic Tim Burton animation that is perfect for Halloween. It’s not a scary movie, but it does have the right amount of creepiness to celebrate this spine-tingling holiday. This lighthearted movie is perfect for anyone who is like me and loves a good laugh and a happy ending. It is a sweet story of a soon to be groom who gets the jitters. He unknowingly proposes to a corpse and has to figure out how to reverse what he has done. It’s a spoopy film that I always watch on Halloween and highly recommend to others.

Contact the author at anorton17@wou.edu

Becca — “Hush” (2016). What I liked about this movie is that it doesn’t fall into the usual scary movie tropes of having main characters who make terrible decisions that have you yelling at your screen. The main character in this movie is a young Deaf woman who is being stalked in her house by a killer. Unlike many other horror movies, in this one she actually makes smart, methodical decisions and the movie is full of constant suspense. The ending was also unexpected for me. While I usually find myself leaning towards supernatural when watching horror movies, this one stuck out to me.

Contact the author at rmeyers17@mail.wou.edu

 

Cora — “Halloweentown” (1998). Witches and goblins and skelies, oh my! No Dylan, we’re not in Cleveland, we’re taking the bus to St. Helens, Oregon, a.k.a. “Halloweentown.” Watch as future head of the Cromwell line, “I’m 13…I’m practically a grown-up” Marnie, stumbles through finishing a spell her not-so-responsible grandmother started (before literally walking into a trap) to reverse the evil magic seeping its way into the heart of Halloweentown. Don’t worry about Marnie being the most inept witch ever, her seven-year-old sister Sophie saves the day; and like a true hero gets none of the credit, leaving community health major senior Keith Mathew to cry “what about Sophie?!” With a dash of 90s radical slang, spoopy Halloween hijinks and a wholesome the “true power is love” moral, “Halloweentown” (and its three sequels) should appear in everyone’s Halloween movie marathon.

Contact the author at cmcclain17@mail.wou.edu

Paul — “Scared Shrekless” (2010). Our favorite childhood meme team is back at it again competing to see who can stay in Lord Farquaad’s old castle the longest by telling spooky stories. This short contains three sections that are told as separate stories. Gingy, our lovely little sentient gingerbread man, tells us about how his tumultuous love life led to him getting eaten by a zombie lover. Our friend Boots then tells us about his worst fear which is too intense to mention in such a short review. Finally, Shrek tells us about his experience with Pinocchio’s demonic possession and the mild psychosis that came along with it. Overall, if you need some fun short goofs with your favorite childhood characters you’ll really enjoy this show.

Contact the author at pfdavis14@wou.edu

 

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

A Cappella club discusses plans for this year

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“Last year was our…first time integrating and so now we’re starting out this year strong,” said A Cappella club President Violet Trammel. At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, Western’s two A cappella groups — Suspended and 15 Miles West — integrated and became one coed group. Since then, they have been focusing on performing more events, and gaining more visibility through community outreach.

“What’s cool about this year, opposed to last year, we’re actually doing a fall concert,” said Vice President Cole Aldred, “we didn’t last year because it was kind of a hard transition to get the new cohesive group in motion.”

Last year, The West of Us was part of the ICCA competition: the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. The event took up a lot of time, which resulted in the club being MIA for most of the year.

“Sometimes people are like ‘we have an acapella group?’” said Trammel when asked why she wanted to focus on getting more visibility on campus.

The A Cappella club is completely student-led. Most of the songs performed by the club are arranged by its members. There are 16 members total, which helps the group achieve things they weren’t able to when there were two separate clubs.

“Overall, in terms of musicality and things that we’re able to achieve, integrating has been the best for us. We can make so much more and we can do so much more with our songs having a larger group,” remarked Trammel.

Both the President and the Vice President agree that their favorite part of being involved in A Cappella is the friendships they’ve formed during their time in the club.

“The friendships you make in A Capella are super lasting and they’ve been the closest people to me,” commented Trammel.

The West of Us holds auditions for performance roles every fall term: “We’re looking for people that wanna have fun, that are musically inclined, and that want to have a good time on stage,” said Trammel.

The club’s next performance is their fall concert on Nov. 12 (location and time TBD).

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

Review: “Halloween”

Caity Healy | Editor-in-Chief

As Sheriff Brackett put it in the 1978 film by the same name, “It’s Halloween — everyone’s entitled to one good scare.” With the 2018 “Halloween” release on Oct. 19, audiences everywhere got just that, as they were invited into the next generation of horror.

As an avid “Halloween” fan, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with this sequel. Choosing to ignore “Halloween 2” through “Halloween: Resurrection,” this installment simply took place 40 years after the infamous 1978 Halloween night — a decision that ultimately paid off, as, in my opinion, it has been the best installment in the series thus far, aside from the original.

Three generations of “final-women,” two new scream queens and the same knife-wielding villain took the screen for a slasher filled with more gore, and a far higher body count, than its predecessor.

While the film is generally enjoyable, especially for someone looking for a fun, slasher flick, it did have its flaws.

The character development felt drastic to me. Laurie Strode, the heroine, had one of the most obvious changes. A scared, 17 year old in the original film, morphed into a revenge-seeking, ultra-protective grandmother in the sequel was a significant change.

However, the character development that I mostly struggled with was Michael Myers. In the original film, his kills were methodical. He stalked, watching from afar and moved in a slow, menacing way. In this new installment, he moved more quickly and killed anyone that crossed his path. My guess is that it had to do with pent up aggression from being locked up for four decades.

His character also felt more human. For a good portion of the movie, he was unmasked. It made him feel more real, and in my opinion that took away from the inherent evilness that inhabits him.

The plot involved a lot of unnecessary detail that didn’t really add anything to the storyline. It almost felt as if they were trying to include as many nods to the previous installments as they could, and in doing so, added extra fluff.

That being said, I was actually a huge fan of the small references to the original series. The gas station from “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” the woman with hair curlers from “Halloween 2,” and even short lines from the original were enough to make me smile when watching this film.

Overall, the film was enjoyable. However, it wasn’t very scary. Most of the scares are seen in the trailer, so I’d recommend seeing it without watching the trailer first.

I found the film to be entertaining, and it’s one that’s sure to please any generation of “Halloween” fans.

 

Overall Rating: I recommend this film.

 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of universalpictures.com

Lacy M. Johnson writes a new book of essays about hot-button topics

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“You probably want him dead, strangers tell me.” This quote contains the main theme of the first essay in Lacy M. Johnson’s “The Reckonings.” In an essay by the same name, Johnson analyzes a culture that glorifies and searches for revenge— American culture. She has faced this culture directly many times, especially when she started telling her story. In her 20s, Johnson was kidnapped by her then-boyfriend who attempted to kill her. But she doesn’t want revenge.

“‘I don’t want him dead. I want him to admit all the things he did, to my face, in public, and then to spend the rest of his life in service to other people’s joy,’” writes Johnson. Johnson calls this a reckoning; she writes that wishing suffering on people who hurt us only compounds sorrow and injustice instead of cancelling it out.

This book contains 12 essays that cover topics from sexual assault, to environmental activism to racism. Johnson’s book is covertly a discussion of philosophy and ethics, with memoir stirred in.

“We human beings are not born with prejudices. Always they are made for us by someone who wants something,” commented Johnson in the essay “Goliath.”

Each essay is itself a new beginning, and covers a topic that is as serious and worth contemplation as the others.

“Silence is pathological. Apathy is pathological,” Johnson says in her chapter about white supremacy: “On Whiteness.” In this essay and in many others, Johnson dives into the idea that anyone who considers themselves innocent is out of touch with the world and the systems of privilege that exist within it.

The themes discussed in this book are very relevant and would be considered by the general population as hot-button issues. Johnson’s handle on these topics and her poetic style leave her sentiments with the audience long after this book is read.

 

Overall Rating: I would strongly recommend this book.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of simonandchuster.com

Campus art feature: “Iberian Venus” sculpture by Manuel Izquierdo

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Located in a back corner of the Grove, surrounded by beauty bark and concrete, is Manuel Izquierdo’s sculpture “Iberian Venus.” The marble sand once covering its exterior is mostly eroded away, leaving smooth white patches in its curves and crevices. Moss and crumbling concrete remain.

Installed in September 1975, “Iberian Venus” was commissioned, according to library archives, by Western’s student body. Funding was provided by what was then called the Associated Students of OCE, which would be equivalent to ASWOU now. The sculpture was supposed to include a reflection pool at its base, but upon observation, it doesn’t appear to have one.

Manuel Izquierdo arrived in Portland, Oregon in the 1940s. Izquierdo was born in Madrid, Spain and travelled to Oregon as a refugee from a war-torn Europe. In his career, Izquierdo created 27 corporate and public commissioned pieces and has participated in 25 solo exhibitions. Izquierdo died from illness on July 17, 2009.

The library archive article titled “Outdoor Sculptures on Campus” reports some controversy among Western’s students upon installation of the statue. It was argued by some students that the final sculpture did not resemble the original proposal approved by the committee.

Paula Booth, assistant art professor and director of the Cannon Gallery of Art in Campbell hall spent most of her interview brushing leaves, cobwebs and moss off the sculpture to the best of her ability, but there’s only so much one can do if they’re not trained in refurbishing art.

“It kind of breaks my heart, to be honest. I feel like it’s so neglected, and it’s by one of Oregon’s most prominent sculptors,” commented Booth.

In a secluded corner and blocked on three sides by a grassy slope, this sculpture doesn’t stand out, especially now that its white marble sand coating has been reduced to nothing. It can’t be easily seen from the surrounding sidewalks or roadways.

“Especially when you have art outdoors, you need to have it properly cleaned periodically, you need to have it fixed periodically,” Booth remarked after examining the sculpture’s deteriorating state. “It’s completely not how the artist intended it to be.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Molly Burch’s “First Flower” album review

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

“First Flower,” released on Oct. 5, is Molly Burch’s sophomore album and is a complementary companion to her debut album released in early 2017.

Molly Burch is based in Austin, Texas, and has a background in jazz vocal performance. Her background in jazz is clearly heard in her work, more obviously in this new album than in her first. Her sultry voice and the way in which she approaches her lower register packs her performance with emotion.

The tone of this new album is more loose and experimental, achieved by Burch’s new vocal approach and the underlying bossa nova-type beats. The sepia-toned guitar and whispering lyrics from the first album “Please Be Mine” carries over onto “First Flower,” solidifying Burch’s sound.

“I don’t need to scream to get my point across,” states “To The Boys,” the feminist anthem on the album.

Where her first album tackled the crowd-pleaser of unrequited love, Burch’s second album delves into the mind — more specifically, anxiety and self-doubt.

“I think I want to be better,” read the lyrics of the song “Good Behaviour.”

In another song on the album, “Candy,” Molly croons, “why do I care what you think?” Contemplative yet never wallowing, these songs play off less hopeless than a vulnerable, honest portrayal of struggling with anxiety.

Despite overarching themes of self-doubt, Burch also swings to romantic optimism in songs such as “To The Boys” and “First Flower,” where she sings “you are my man.” Each song is multifaceted and blends themes smoothly. Multiple layers exist in each song, and the simplicity that still remains provides much to appreciate.

The 11 tracks on the album are short and sweet, with only one breaking the five minute threshold. The tunes don’t ever seem rushed, however. Burch is able to pack so much emotion and storytelling into small packages due to her writing ability. These songs could easily turn into mono-dynamic songs that blend into one another, but this artist’s ability to meld so many different themes in a way that seems so effortless is thanks to her sharp pen.

Overall rating: I would recommend this album.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of mollyburchmusic.com

The Tournées Film Festival screens “BPM”

Jamari Gilbert | Freelancer

“Beats Per Minute” or “BPM” is a movie directed by Robin Campillo. This dramatized historical piece was showcased here at Western during the Tournées Film Festival. The TFF brings French films here to Western and other American campuses. “(The movies) touch on a wide range of subjects, diverse perspectives, locations, and human experiences, all circling around themes of mobility, migration and global interconnections,” says the film festival page on Western’s website. There will be six movies in total every Thursday, from Oct. 11 through Nov. 15.

“BPM” delves into activities of the HIV/AIDS activist group, Act Up-Paris in the 1990s. They are faced with many challenges in the film: the majority believing that AIDS only affects homosexuals and the government not passing laws to help stop the outbreak. Their activism varies from throwing fake blood over pharmacies to throwing the ashes of departed members onto conference members and their food.

The audience is first introduced to the Act Up-Paris branch for the first half of the movie. This section of the movie is more of a celebration of the hard work that the many men and women of the Act Up-Paris performed to ensure a brighter future for those individuals living with AIDS. As the Act Up-Paris group is trying to decide the best means of getting their message across, infighting occurs, with some members even going so far as to openly sabotage other members work when they are unhappy. Bits of drama like this are sprinkled throughout the movie even though the premise alone is serious enough.

The last half of “BPM” focuses on how AIDS will destroy an individual once infected. Several characters portray the grim outcome, but the most prominent is the character Sean, a veteran of the Act Up Paris group who is already in the later stages of the disease. He forms a sexual relationship with one of the newest members Nathan. This half of the movie goes into their relationship and shows how AIDS will both affect the infected and those around them.

“BPM” is long, but it is worth it. Showing the fight against AIDS in two different ways: the political fight that demonstrates the hardships everyone involved must face and how AIDS changes the lives of men and women who are infected by the disease.

Overall Rating: I would recommend this movie if the viewer is interested in learning about the AIDS movement in countries besides the United States, or if they’re interested in an LGBTQ+ film.

 

Contact the author at jgilbert16@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Hunter Atkin talks about his performing arts journey at WOU

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Hunter Atkins describes performance art as the “purest form of art,” stating, “It only happens once in front of the audience and it’s shared with the audience, and then it’ll never happen again. And it’s very… emotional and straight from the heart and it’s unmonetized. So, nobody gains anything from it but the art.”

Hailing from Salem, Oregon, Atkin is currently a senior set to graduate in the spring. Atkin’s craft is truly eclectic — he studies theater and has been involved in numerous straight plays on campus; he sings and dances; he also creates performance art. More recently, Atkin has been focusing on poetry and writing music. After graduation, the BFA student plans to move to a big city– such as Chicago or LA– to make his art a career.

Originally, Atkin came to Western to study nursing. The artist’s sister was also enrolled in the nursing program, and that’s part of the reason he enrolled.

“I was like ‘Okay, nursing pays, I’m not sure I’m going to like it, I’m going to go for it.’” By the end of his freshman year, Atkin had auditioned for the BFA program.

Throughout his studies, Atkin has seen a lot of support for the arts.

“(Western’s programs) give us so many opportunities to do things we would never be able to do in the real world.” Western funds a rehearsal space, workshops and improv coaches. A program called “5 O’Clock Shadow” is also offered, which allows student artists to create their own shows. A rehearsal space is provided, as well as show dates and the performance space itself — the Black Box in Rice Auditorium.

It was difficult for Atkin to choose his favorite artistic project at Western, but he eventually chose his semi-recent performance art piece, “Love.” On his reasons behind this choice, Atkin responded, “my performance art is probably the thing I’m most proud of because I wrote it all myself, start to finish, and I put a lot of myself in it and I was really vulnerable with the audience.”

Hunter commented that the most salient lesson he’s learned during his studies was experiencing rejection. Even when professors or other artists are giving criticisms that may feel hard to handle, “…afterward when you work on the things that you really sucked at, it just feels like you’re building yourself up. It’s really cool to be able to do that in a safe space.” Atkin believes that Western provides a safe environment in which artists can work on their craft, whereas the “real world” doesn’t offer those same opportunities.

Atkin’s advice for first-year students?

“Let college kind of happen to you, because eventually you’re going to find something that you stick to, that you’re really passionate about that you like a lot, and then follow that.”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Hunter Atkin

Jacob Joliff band performs as a Smith’s Fine Art Series event

Jamari Gilbert | Freelancer

On Oct. 12, Jacob Joliff and his band came together and put on a concert for Western students. This concert was part of The Smith’s Fine Art Series, a collection that showcases many talents and performances here at Western. The artists perform from Oct. 5 through June 8 of 2019, with two events in January 2019, one event in April, and the final performance in June. This event was held in Rice Auditorium.

The Jacob Jolliff Band is a Bluegrass ensemble that is comprised of four key members: Jacob Joliff, the singer and Mandolin player, Alex Hargreaves the fiddle player, Jeff Picker on the bass, and Stash Wyslouch, their guitarist. With their cooperation, the band put on a unique and entertaining performance.

Bluegrass is a style of country music, but with jazz and gospel influences. No banjos were used during this concert, although that’s what some people may think of when bluegrass is mentioned. Most of the songs focused on being instrumental but a few had some lyrics spread throughout to spice things up every now and again. The music was unique and complex, but can be defined as a fusion of jazz and country.

The excitement the Joliff band had to play in front the audience was palpable. The passion and hard work that went into each song could be felt as they were performed on stage. Before the artists started the next song, the pride on their faces was obvious when the audience exploded into a round of applause and whistled.

Watching how they all shared the space and the microphone, easily stepping out of the way when it was time for one of the other members play their heart out during their songs was arguably the best part of the performance. The Jacob Jolliff Band performed very well and the enthusiasm for the music they performed only made the experience better.

The Joliff band is worth a listen by anyone who is a fan of jazz or country, and by anyone who is looking for music that is full of spirit and energy. If students find themselves free and wanting to try something new, events from the Smith Fine Arts Series provide fun opportunities on campus. The series offers some truly unique experiences.

 

Contact the author at jgilbert16@mail.wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Local artists Harold and Sue Mason exhibit their work in Campbell Hall

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Locals artists Sue and Harold Mason are featured in a month-long exhibit in Western’s own Cannon Art Gallery, which opened on Sept. 26 and will remain open until Oct. 26. The exhibit is titled “Creative Partnership” and is located in the heart of Campbell hall.

When asked about the mission statement of the Cannon Art gallery, director Paula Booth replied that her goal was “to expose our students to a lot of different types of art and a lot of different types of artists… You know, things that they might not always think about.”

Booth said that the gallery is usually booked a year in advance, sometimes two years. The gallery has shown both national and international artists, and holds around six exhibits per year. Harold and Sue approached Booth a couple of years ago with the desire to show an exhibit together, and Booth scheduled them into the gallery rotation.

Harold and Sue have been creative partners for the last 56 years. They started making art in the San Francisco Bay area and became involved in the arts community there. Throughout their careers they have moved and travelled extensively, making art everywhere they go.

“We have a tendency to move someplace instead of going there and staying for weeks at a time” said Harold. Sue and Harold became more involved with the Native cultures of the American Southwest when they moved to the area and befriended the local Native community there, and the influence these communities had on their art is palpable.

The pair moved to Oregon about 15 years ago.

“We knew we wanted to live near a campus, and so we ended up just a block and a half from (Western),” commented Sue. Both Sue and Harold have taken art classes at Western, so they are familiar with the campus and well known by the faculty members in the department. “We’re both delighted to have a show here. We love the university. So when the opportunity came up, we were quite pleased,” said Sue.

On Oct. 3, the 700 square foot art gallery was glowing with bright show lights, and community members and students circulated around the ceramic sculptures and landscape paintings. During the reception, the Mason’s answered questions and connected with community members and students alike.

Harold’s art covered three of the gallery’s walls. Most were untitled.

“Harold didn’t want to label all of his work and Sue didn’t label all of hers either. So it’s kind of more of an impression of their work,” said Booth.

Harold’s art was a collection of watercolor paintings, sketches, and mixed media pieces. Many paintings were landscape scenes that exhibited exquisite detail. Colors in this paintings were soft and the scenes contemplative.

When asked if he had a favorite piece, Harold replied, “If you say one’s a favorite, it puts the other ones down, so I never have a favorite; they’re all favorites. Or else they wouldn’t be up there on the wall.”

Sue’s art consists of porcelain and stoneware works, relief prints, silkscreen prints and fetish pots. Fetish pots, according to the gallery description, “use materials of the natural world — clay, bone, hides, feathers, shells, etc. to show respect for nature and the world we live in.”

Sue’s stoneware sculptures and vases are very domestic and intricately designed; the pieces could be contemplated for a significant amount of time and new details would continue to be found.

“My aim is to inject joy, lightness and humor into each piece I make,” quotes Sue’s artist statement.

Her art is largely inspired by native cultures. Several sculptures are inspired by the Dio De Los Muertos celebrations in Mexican culture.

“I’ve always loved folk art, and just the way the art represents the (native) cultures,” Sue commented.

When asked what “creative partnership” meant to them, Sue summed up her relationship with Harold, “We’ve always been best of friends, as well as best of lovers, so best of both worlds.” Harold and Sue have always been a partnership, and support each other in all of their artistic endeavors. Each artist’s style is distinctive, yet complementary. Visitors to the exhibit can truly see the complexity of the artistic life Harold and Sue have built together. The pair’s devotion to living an artistic life and supporting each other is truly enviable. The couple is still actively making art. Sue sculpts and Harold is active with his painting and has added writing into his repertoire.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

SWANK allows Western students to stream movies for free

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

This fall, on-campus residents will have access to a free movie streaming service. The company providing the service is called SWANK. Western has branded this service “ResLife Cinema.”

The Housing and Dining Committee decided not to renew their contract with MINET two years ago, and thus left Western with limited entertainment options. After a lengthy search for replacements, the committee chose SWANK.

Aside from offering a wide selection of shows and movies, SWANK places a strong emphasis on educational programming. Ryan Jennings, an analyst programmer for computing services, performed the setup for this new service.

“Our Resident Assistants (RAs) can now request and select nearly any film they wish to build a program around, for free,” said Jennings. SWANK provides discussion guides along with films to help staff start dialogues around important topics, such as identity, mental health, sexual violence and more. Residents can also take part in monthly polls which provide feedback about what kind of content they would like to see.

Madeleine Hannah, senior humanities major and a resident of Ackerman hall, commented that, “I think it’s really beneficial…not everybody has Netflix or Hulu, or ways to nicely stream things, so it’s good to have access to that.”

Sabrina Smith, junior ASL/English interpreting major, brought up another point.

“I think it’s cool because when me and my roommates want to have movie nights we can just put it on instead of using people’s Netflix, because most of them share with their families and parents and they’re like, ‘oh we can’t actually watch this, cause my parents might see it.’”

Western organizations can also create their own channels and upload content to the site. “Since the product is new to us we have yet to explore this option,” Jennings commented, “however it might be a nice to upload a replay of latest (Western) sporting event, or allow residents to develop their own custom content to share with others.”

All on-campus residents have access to this resource, and there is no account set-up required. ResLife Cinema can be accessed through the WOU portal. The link is located under the “My Programs” tab, and is titled “ResLife Cinema (SWANK).”

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Ashlynn Norton

Volunteering with local art organizations can help emerging artists

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

The art profession is notorious for being one of the most competitive communities in the world. It can be difficult to get involved, especially since rural areas, such as Monmouth, have less access to art education compared to urban areas, according to the U.S. Department of Education. But there are resources near the Monmouth area that are helping to support student involvement in the arts.

The Salem Art Association offers many opportunities for emerging artists. They offer workshops on marketing yourself and connecting with established artists. Professor Paula Booth, Director of the Cannon Art Gallery, is along-time volunteer at the Salem Art Association. For artists struggling to get their art into the public eye, Booth says “they need to be spending not just the time making art… but (they) also need to be working on marketing (themselves) all the time.” Professor Booth says that about 50 percent of an emerging artist’s time should be spent marketing themselves.

The Salem Art Association provides volunteer opportunities in their galleries, teaching positions, and a residence program. The Association also holds an arts festival every year in the summer, and the volunteer opportunities there are endless.

When asked on the importance of getting involved, Booth said, “If you want to be in a certain field you have to go out and meet the people who are doing what you want to do.” Volunteering is a great way to meet people and to connect with the organizations that match your interests. To see a more comprehensive list of opportunities for involvement, visit salemart.org.

Salem also offers an art walk, held the last Friday of every month. Artists hold regular meetings every Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Prism Gallery, which is located in the Reed Opera House in downtown Salem. The Salem Art Walk includes a group theme show, also held at the Prism Gallery. Anyone can inquire about being involved in the group shows. Each month a different taphouse or bar hosts the After Party, at which committee members and artists can be found. To find out more information, visit salemartwalk.com.

In the end, volunteering can also lead to work. Booth recalled her own journey with volunteering, noting “I was just volunteering when I was interested…took on more responsibility as a volunteer…then I was able to eventually get a job.”

Connecting with organizations and artists in the surrounding community seems imperative for emerging artists. When it comes to on-campus opportunities, the theater department and the arts department are always offering different opportunities depending on the time of year — that’s why it’s important for students to get in contact with their professors about volunteering.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

New music releases

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

October 5:

Photo courtesy of mollyburch.bandcamp.com

  • Molly Burch: First Flower
    Over a year since her first album, “Please Be Mine,” Molly Burch will be releasing her sophomore album. “First Flower” is said to comment on the artist’s struggle with anxiety and broken friendships.

Photo courtesy of twentyonepilots.com

  • Twenty One Pilots: Trench
    After a year long hiatus, TOP has been alluding to the release of their fifth album since July when they released two singles. This will be their first album in the three years since “Blurryface.”

Photo courtesy of tokyopoliceclub.com

  • Tokyo Police Club: TPC
    “Hercules,” a track on the album, is available for listening now. This new track listens like a light, summer jam that will surely carry them on a wave of nostalgia through the fall.

October 12:

Photo courtesy of youngthegiant.com

  • Young the Giant: Mirror Master
    An album about shattering stereotypes and blazing our own trails, this will be the fourth studio album from this band, and is sure to satisfy Young the Giant’s fanbase.

Photo courtesy of tomodell.com

  • Tom Odell: Jubilee Road
    This album was recorded by Odell while living on a quiet street in East London, and promises to be his most honest album. The catchy piano melodies and passionate performances of his previous album “Long Way Down” are promised to return in this new project.

October 26:

Photo courtesy of robyn.com

  • Robyn: Honey
    Robyn is returning with her first studio album since “Body Talk” in 2010. This new album boasts a new emotional transparency and softness that contrasts with the party songs featured on her last album.

November 9:

Photo courtesy of universalmusic.com

  • Jeff Goldblum: The Capitol Studios Sessions
    That’s right, Jeff Goldblum is releasing an album. An accomplished jazz pianist, Goldblum’s debut album stars The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra (and Jeff on the piano) playing at the Capitol’s Studio A and B, which they turned into a dinner club to capture the music in front of a live audience.

Photo courtesy of muse.com

  • Muse: Simulation Theory
    “Simulation Theory” is a science-fiction themed conceptual album inspired by 1980s pop culture. In their eighth studio album, Muse blends nostalgia with contemporary themes to create something unlike they’ve ever done before.

November 16:

Photo courtesy of mumfordandsons.com

  • Mumford and Sons: Delta
    “Delta” promises a journey back into Mumford and Sons acoustic roots, but also ushers in innovation. This album also incorporates genres such as jazz, electronica, and rap.

November 30:

Photo courtesy of the1975.com

  • The 1975: A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships

Two years after their last album, The 1975 returns with their third LP. The cover and tracklist have already been released, and if the song titles tell us anything, it’s that this album will be done in the band’s classic, indie-pop style.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Ensuring diversity in the arts

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Often, liberal arts colleges and universities are privileged environments; when it comes to the creative atmosphere they foster, they can promote critical discussions on important topics, and allow traditionally underrepresented voices to be heard and appreciated. Continuing this trend can be quite difficult as our generation transitions into the “real world” — a world in which white, male, cisgender voices are often still held up as the standard.

Americansforthearts.org states on their website, “We must all hold ourselves accountable, because acknowledging and challenging our inequities and working in partnership is how we will make change happen.” Holding ourselves accountable can start by analysing the kinds of art we ingest. People should go through the music they have on their phone or computer. How many straight white males’ music is downloaded? The same should be considered with literature and art collections. What types of perspectives dominate?

“I believe students need to see people like them doing the things that they want to do,” commented art professor Paula Booth in regards to the way diversity can be reflected through this creative outlet. Representation through this medium is a way to help all students feel included, and to give a voice to the underrepresented.

Booth goes on to add that “people need to understand that art is not just something that was made by white men a couple hundred years ago, which is often what we’re taught.” To get a deeper comprehension of this concept, students can benefit from being mindful about what they choose to expose themselves to, especially when it goes against what they might have been taught growing up.

“When we’re exposed to other people’s cultures… we become more compassionate, we have greater empathy, we express our curiosity,” stated Catherine Ndungo-Case, the founder of the Cheza Nami organization. According to chezanami.org, the goal of this organization is to “promote cultural education and diversity awareness.”

Of course, being perfect is not the goal here. Rather, the goal in ensuring diversity in the arts is to become more well-rounded individuals and to give a platform to the underrepresented. This can be achieved by looking at the literature, the art, the theater, and the visual content absorbed by most on a daily basis — by making an effort to surround ourselves with perspectives that aren’t our default.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Paul F. Davis

A look at “Inside Black Mirror”

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Darkly satirical and terrifying, the cult show “Black Mirror” is peeling back a new layer in the form of a book that will be released on Nov. 10. “Inside Black Mirror” will dive into the minds of creator Charlie Brooker and executive producer Annabel Jones to give us an oral history of the show. Fans of this British science-fiction series will be able to follow the show from inception to execution and rise to global hit. Also featured in detail will be the inspirations behind every season. Various directors and other creators are interviewed in-depth about their creative process. Key actors will discuss their experiences bringing the show to life. Behind the scenes stories that have never been told before will also be included; all this content will be supplemented with photographs exclusive to this book.

Netflix bought the rights to “Black Mirror” in the fall of 2015, and recently renewed the series. Season five is already under production, rumored to be released in late 2018. “Inside Black Mirror” will be a nice companion to the show and is sure to be a hit among fans of its eerie symbolism and cultural critiques. Anyone who needs a fix of contemporary, technological fiction should keep their eyes out for when “Inside Black Mirror” hits the shelves.

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Netflix

Review: “Reversing Roe”

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor

Netflix’s documentary “Reversing Roe,” released on Sept.12, follows the transformation of abortion legislature in America, which has been a consistently controversial topic in this country in recent history. Narrated by prominent figureheads on both sides of the divide, this documentary takes us through the history of abortion, from the illegal, backroom abortions of the 1960s to the ever-increasing restrictiveness on abortion legislation today.

According to the Netflix website, “Reversing Roe” is “essential viewing to understand how the country got here.” However, there does not seem to be much information contained in this documentary that isn’t common knowledge to anyone who already holds an opinion on this subject. New information is severely lacking, making this documentary more of a refresher course on the abortion debate in America.

Netflix also advertises “Reversing Roe” as a documentary that allows both sides of the debate to be heard: this does seem to be true. Of the individuals highlighted, 18 professionals are pro-choice and 18 are pro-life — so from a purely metric standpoint, everyone is given an equal voice. However, it is important to mention that there is a slight bias. It does seem that this documentary leans more pro-choice, mostly because there is more focus on the pro-choice professionals and their arguments against restricting a woman’s right to choose.

Despite an apparent pro-choice bias and overview of already-available information on the abortion debate, “Reversing Roe” is worth a watch simply because it emphasizes the fact that America is at a very fragile point in its history. Pro-life groups have been steadily chipping away at Roe v. Wade since its ruling in 1973, ensuring that over 300 abortion restrictions have been passed since 2010. Seven states have only one clinic that provides abortion services.

I would suggest watching this documentary if you are interested in learning about the abortion debate in the U.S., or just as a refresher if you haven’t been following politics these past few years. But keep in mind, there is a slight bias involved.

Contact the author at cweedon16@wou.edu.

Photo courtesy of: Netflix.com

Review: “Marvel’s Spider-Man”

Keith Mathew | Freelancer

With the popularity of Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” released Sept. 17, decides to go a different route. This new action-adventure game starts years after the masked hero acquired his powers — so no Uncle Ben trauma to go through for the tenth time.

The opening cinematic tells the player right away that Peter Parker has been in the hero business for years and is now a veteran.  There is a high energy tutorial which shows the basic abilities without leaving out any moves that may be needed. This is especially helpful because this game leans heavily on combo attacks to build up the focus bar, a resource used for instant takedowns or to heal during a fight.

Combat in this game is very fluid; dodging attacks is natural. However, learning the timing of the dodge takes some time to get accustomed to.  A combination of melee and ranged attacks in the form of gadgets sets the foundation of fighting enemies along. Additional skills picked up later in the game augment combat to make a personal style.

What is great about “Marvel’s Spider-Man” is the characterizations. Peter Parker is the awkwardly sarcastic and caring college graduate outside his Spidey-suit, but when he starts his crime fighting, he becomes the well-known quippy web-slinger we all know.  One liners and hilarious character interactions are abundant. Aunt May and MJ Watson both make appearances. In the customization of suits and abilities department, “Spider-Man” has succeeded. Unlike similar games, “Marvel’s Spider-Man” has separated abilities obtained from different suits and the suits themselves.  These suits can be purchased using different varieties of tokens found in the game, or can be awarded through the completion of tasks or collection of items.

Tokens come in six different varieties and can be obtained through the collection of backpacks or pictures, the clearing of a base, challenge or crime.  Tokens are also used in upgrades and passive abilities. The customization of a Spidey-suit consists of the look, the suit power and the passive abilities.  Once the suit and suit power are purchased, the suit power can be applied to any suit. This game gives what gamers want on that level of personalization.

With so much that is good about “Marvel’s Spider-Man,” there are also elements that could have been done better.  Knowing that the tokens collected throughout the game are helpful for powers and upgrades, I didn’t enjoy the vast amount of items to collect and complete.  The game makes me feel it is padding the runtime by having so many collectables.

Further into the game, enemies become large hordes and the dispatching of them becomes tedious. The gadgets are powerful but have limited ammo. Thus, after all the ammo is gone it’s all punching and dodging from there.

For those who like Easter eggs or references, this game is chock full of them.  Each suit is a reference to a different iteration of Spider-Man in comics, previous games or movies.  Suits include the Iron Spider from “The Avengers: Infinity Wars,” Spider-Man 2099 and others. Additionally, Pride flags can be found scattered throughout the city and one theatre’s signage can be seen with a proposal.

Despite the critiques, I think “Marvel’s Spider-Man” is a well-rounded game with great elements.  I would score this game an 8/10.

Contact the author at kmathew14@wou.edu

Photo courtesy of Insomniac.games

Awarding student artwork

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Every spring term, the Cannon Gallery of Art uses their Juried Student Art Exhibition to show off what Western students have to offer. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the exhibition, which displays sculptures, paintings and prints as well as graphic design pieces.

“I believe over 200 pieces were entered, and about 85 were selected,” said senior education studies major Katie Dillard. “We were allowed to submit up to six pieces each, and I entered six paintings that I felt best displayed my artistic ability. Five of my six pieces were chosen by the juror to be displayed in the student show.”

This year’s juror was Michael Hernandez, owner of the High Street Gallery and The Bruin Co. in Salem, Oregon. In addition to the jurying of accepted works, select departments on campus also have the ability to hand out awards to individual works. Amongst these awards are the Woodcock Education Center Purchase Award, WOU Bookstore Award and Art Faculty Award, among others.

“Before the exhibit opened, representatives from Werner University Center, the Richard Woodcock Education Center and the City of Monmouth come and choose a piece or pieces for purchase awards, meaning that they buy a work from the artist to add to their permanent collections,” explained Paula Booth, assistant professor of art and Cannon Gallery of Art director. “Others, such as the Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the WOU Bookstore staff and the art department faculty choose artworks to be given awards for excellence. As well, the juror of the exhibit gives awards.”

For some students, many of the submitted pieces were ones done for class.

“A lot of my artwork was created in class, so I had little control over the subject/objects being painted,” said Dillard. “However, I always try to find the beauty in the shadows, colors and form of even the most ordinary of objects. If there was any conjoining message or theme between my pieces, it would be about capturing beauty.”

One of Dillard’s pieces, an oil painting titled “One step towards change,” won the WOU Bookstore Award.

“I explore many different mediums and each message (and) theme is different,” said senior art major Bethany Coma. “I have focuses in printmaking, painting and sculpture … I want my audience to be as excited when they see my work as I was creating it.”

Two of Coma’s featured pieces won awards — “Astro-Kitty,” an intaglio etching of an astronaut cat won a Werner University Center Honorable Mention and the Woodcock Education Center Purchase Award and “Drowning,” a trace transfer monotype, won an Art Faculty Recognition Award.

“My favorite thing being included in the show is the opportunity to be able to show the public what I’ve been working on,” said Coma. “It’s such a great feeling to be a part of such a great art program and that they do this for the students every year.”

While the exhibit is rewarding for those who get to share their artwork, Dillard also mentioned how seeing the exhibit making process itself was rewarding: “The gallery director and staff did a phenomenal job of helping frame, arrange and hang the artwork so the pieces complimented each other. I had the opportunity to observe the process as I am taking a gallery exhibition class this term, and hadn’t realized the dedication and work it took to put together a successful show.”

Capping off the exhibitions for the academic year, this exhibit will be up in the Cannon Gallery of Art in Campbell Hall until June 13.

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by Zoë Strickland

Composed by one, played by many

Zoe Strickland, Editor-in-Chief

Many years of music study and a working knowledge of three instruments led up to music composition major Jessica McCutchen’s senior music recital. McCutchen, who plays piano, violin and flute, has spent the last four years honing her composition and music playing abilities.

The pieces performed during the recital span McCutchen’s time at Western — from “Reflections,” the solo piano performance that McCutchen first composed in 2013 and revised in 2014, to “Antumbra,” written in 2018 — the newest solo piece from McCutchen.

Of the eight pieces performed during her June 1 recital, McCutchen’s favorites are “Antumbra” and “The Marionette.” The latter was performed with McCutchen and Dr. Carlos Velez on flute, and music major Emily Delziel on piano.

“‘Antumbra’ is a piece about transition and seeing where life takes me,” said McCutchen, who also performed the piece at the “Elegant Evening of Piano Music” event on May 2. “It’s a solo piano piece, so it’s me and the piano telling a story. It’s about leaving this place I’ve made a home and leaving people I love to go off and chase my dreams.”

“‘The Marionette’ was written out of frustration due to the lack of technical challenge in pieces I was playing in ensemble classes,” McCutchen said. “Instead of festering over something I had no control over, I went home and wrote. Getting to perform it with my flute/composition professor, Dr. Velez made it more special.”

While the recital both began and ended with a McCutchen as a solo pianist, that’s far from what was displayed in the duration of the evening. The bulk of the recital consisted of compositions that were also played by numerous students throughout the music program. For some pieces, like “A Life to Remember,” “Dawn” and “Derailing Circus,” McCutchen was among those playing. However, pieces like “Procrastination Waltz” and “Knock Knock Go Away,” were solely played by her peers.

“Hearing my compositions being played by others is the strangest feeling,” said McCutchen. “It’s like someone saying your thoughts, which can be beautiful or it can be heartbreaking. I invest so much time and effort composing a piece. I make sure what I write has a purpose. When I give it to a performer, it’s like I am giving them a part of myself to share with the world. Hearing someone else articulate your thoughts and your emotions is overwhelming and beautiful. It’s sharing who I am through other people.”

As for what’s next for the graduating musician, she plans to continue her education: “I plan on getting my masters and doctorate. I really love school.”

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Zoë Strickland

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