Mount Hood

Grammys return to the garden

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 28, the “60th Annual Grammy Awards” hit the small screen. The show was hosted by James Corden.

The awards show, which broadcasted from Madison Square Garden in New York City for the first time after a 14-year stint at the Staples Center, aims to award music and recording professionals from a myriad of different positions for their excellent musical contributions. All of the awards are decided by The Recording Academy, which is comprised of people in the field.

The Grammys opened up with a performance by Kendrick Lamar, featuring a brief interlude by Bono, who sang the hook to “XXX.” from Lamar’s album “DAMN.”

Other performances during the show included: Childish Gambino performing “Terrified,” off of his album “Awaken, My Love!”; Kesha performing “Praying,” off of her album “Rainbow”; Bruno Mars featuring Cardi B performing “Finesse”; a joint performance by Sting and Shaggy featuring a performance of Sting’s “Englishman in New York” and their new single “Don’t Make Me Wait”; amongst a handful of others.

There were 84 gramophone awards on the table — including the 75 that were given out before the show began.

For the first time, the award for Best Comedy Album was presented on TV, rather than being given off-camera. The award was given to Dave Chappelle for his Netflix special “The Age of Spin.” The special was Chappelle’s first in 13 years, since his 2004 release “For What It’s Worth.”

The award for Best New Artist went to Alessia Clara, whose 2015 album “Know-It-All” debuted at number nine on the Billboard top 200 list.

By far the biggest winner of the night was Bruno Mars — he went home with six awards, including Album of the Year for “24K Magic,” Song of the Year for “That’s What I Like,” as well as Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance. Kendrick Lamar also took home a stack of Grammys, winning four of the seven he was nominated for. Lamar took home Best Rap Album for “Damn,” Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “HUMBLE.” and Best Rap Collaboration for “Loyalty” with Rihanna.

Ed Sheeran, who wasn’t in attendance to accept the awards, won both Best Pop Vocal Album for “Divide” and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Shape of You.”

The next major award show to sweep the screen will be the BAFTA Awards, which is airing on Feb. 18 on BBC America.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: latimes.com

Review: “Big Bear, Little Bear”

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

On Jan. 15, Rusty Clanton released his EP “Big Bear, Little Bear.” The Tennessee-native singer-songwriter has grown a substantial following in the last five years through YouTube and touring with the likes of Tessa Violet, dodie and Emma Blackery.

For those unfamiliar with his work, when Clanton asked his fans on Twitter to name other acts that his work sounds similar to, followers listed acts from Vance Joy to Bonnie Tyler, from Bon Iver to Sleeping at Last and Passenger.

This addition to Clanton’s discography brings a new aspect to his work: more complex arrangements. Typically, Clanton’s recordings have a fairly low production value on the instrumental side of things — his vocal arrangements are more processed or layered, with many a self-made harmony to be found. However, this new album incorporates piano, keyboard and drums, among other things. All of this new for fans of the folk-turned-indie rock singer.

Though all of the tracks bring something to the EP, “Comfort” is, by far, the best of the seven. Tackling themes of loneliness, faith and the road to self-growth, the vocals and melody carry the otherwise minimal lyrics.

However, “Dirty Words” comes in at a close second place. An upbeat sounding, jarringly juxtaposed piece about breaking up, the song is a true gem for those who have lived through the same experience: “If one more person tells me / ‘hey listen, man, at least I bet you’ll get some good songs out of it’ / I’ll sell my things / and drive my car as far out west as it will go / and keep on going if I can”.

If I were to have a complaint, it would be that the songs don’t flow in a connected way, which I only want because I’ve come to expect it, since his last EP did that so well.

Clanton’s last EP “Calm and Normal,” was released in 2016. Though the two EPs are not distinct from each other thematically, this album holds the production value that “Novels” brought to the table in every song.

For those looking for an easy listen, “Big Bear, Little Bear” is an excellent choice. For longtime fans, it’s a signal of big things to come from Rusty Clanton in the coming years. As a longtime fan of the person and faithful listener of his music, I could not be more heartened by Clanton’s latest effort.

Contact the author at sblair13@wou.edu

Photo by: rustyclanton.bandcamp.com

Harmonica player steals spotlight in jazz performance

Stephanie Blair | Staff Writer

Under a wash of colored lights — which would shift throughout the night, from reds and purples to blues and greens — four men took the Rice Auditorium stage on Jan. 19 for one purpose: to play jazz.

The quartet was composed of: DJ Ginyard on bass; Shedrick Mitchell on keyboard, organ and piano; Nathaniel Townsley on drums; and headliner Gregoiré Maret on harmonica. The group were old friends, Maret explained after their introduction.

But the four were not the only musicians on stage that night. For a few songs before the intermission, the quartet was joined by vocalist Christie Dashiell.

“An incredibly talented young woman — I honestly think she is one the most talented singers of her generation,” Maret said of Dashiell, just before she took the stage. “I feel really honored … that she accept the invitation and she’s going to be here performing with us tonight.”

The group played songs off of Maret’s newest album, “Wanted,” which was released in April 2016. In the performance program, Maret is quoted as saying, “There’s a lot about this record that is about my past to where I am now. I wanted to acknowledge not just who I am but how I came to be what I am now.”

Part of that story is growing up in Geneva, Switzerland to an African-American mother and Swiss father. Part of it is going from studying at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Musique de Genéve to New School University in New York. Part of it is transitioning from a student and a backup musician to taking the spotlight.

Maret has received praise from critics at The New York Times, The Daily Beast, Zeal NYC and many others for his melodies and ingenuitive harmonica compositions. And critics aren’t the only ones who love him. Though Maret was the focus of the Smith Fine Arts stage on the night of the performance, he’s built a strong career out of working alongside legends both in the jazz world and out: Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Elton John and Sting, to name a few.

Maret’s music is available on iTunes, Amazon, sunnysidezone.com and Soundcloud.

 

Contact the author at sblair13@mail.wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

New exhibits come to Hamersly

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

For Hamersly Library, the beginning of term means the opening of new second and third floor art exhibits. The exhibits officially opened on Jan. 8 and Jan. 5, respectively. “Painting for the fun of it,” a watercolor display by local business owner Larry Sykes, is located on the second floor and “Beyond Watching,” a mixed media exhibit by visiting professor Xianzhu Tu, is located on the third floor.

The work shown in “Painting for the fun of it” is the result of Sykes being hesitant to learn how to paint. Before he and his wife moved to Monmouth, she bought him watercolor lessons. His artist’s statement describes the initial hesitation he felt towards the craft, “he knew nothing about painting watercolors but eventually gave in and found he had a knack for it. After a couple lessons his teacher said, ‘no more lessons, you get it, just paint.’”

As the work on display showcases, Sykes has an affinity for near-photorealistic pieces. His sense of detail is what initially drew Jerrie Lee Parpart, Archives and Exhibits Coordinator, to his work, “I see the exhibits program as a way to teach outside of the classroom … to spark interest in things that you normally wouldn’t have in your classroom, or to augment that which is already being taught in a class,” she said. “Specifically with Larry’s work, it’s a different way of looking at the world. He has an eye to look at mundane things … to just see the details.”

In Tu’s “Beyond Watching,” the artist has chosen to display multiple digital and ink images, as well as sculpture and installation pieces. One installation involves a bunch of small heads arranged in a pile, while another utilizes a large, square display case to show sand-made mountains atop a mirror.

“The exhibition shows a series of art practices based on my personal cultural experiences of self-reconstruction from observation, perception, questioning, reflection, and awakening. Beyond watching, returning to one’s real self is the ultimate appeal of my artistic expression,” explained Tu in her artist’s statement.

While the foyer of the third floor gallery is used to display the aforementioned pieces, the two gallery rooms are arranged with Tu’s digital and ink images.

“With her work, I was very excited about the idea of combining both communication and art,” said Parpart.

In addition to these two exhibits, Hamersly Library is also hosting a smaller exhibit on the second floor for the Polk County Historical Society. In February, the library will also house a 22-panel collage that traces 3,000 years of disability history.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

Cannon Gallery highlights digital magic

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 17, artist Ryan Woodring came to the Cannon Gallery of Art for the reception of his installation, “Unveiling World Tour.” The installation has been up since Jan. 11 and will remain in the gallery until Feb. 9.

In his series of projected pieces, Woodring performs a digital magic trick — he alters pre-existing video clips from the various unveilings of the replication of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra. The recreated arch was made into a 3D model and then sent around the world on an unveiling tour. In Woodring’s altered clips, rather than the cloth being lifted to reveal the recreated arch, it’s lifted to reveal nothing.

“Unlike most monument unveilings, the recreated Triumphal Arch is not aimed at permanence. It is meant to be disassembled and reassembled for the purpose of unveilings and digital dissemination,” says the artist’s statement. “Woodring’s act of removal looks to isolate the magic trick, allowing the fullness of the unveiling spectacle to circulate while making room for emptiness, hypocrisy and loss to be revealed.”

Woodring’s clips — the unveilings from New York City, London and Florence — are projected onto the walls of the Cannon Gallery.

“This is the first show we’ve ever had that is only projections and video,” noted Paula Booth, Director of the Cannon Gallery. In the past ten years, the gallery has featured five exhibits that use projection as a focal point.

Solely using projection in this exhibit may allow viewers to extract more meaning from the collection of pieces. “You can almost think of it as one artwork, like the gallery itself becomes the artwork. You can look at it really superficially, just watching the video and seeing what’s going on … it’s captivating just to watch. But then when you read his statement and realize that there’s many layers to what’s happening visually,” said Booth.

The next exhibition in the Cannon Gallery will open on Feb. 21 and will feature hanging relief sculptures by David George Andersen, the late Chief Preparator for the Hallie Ford Museum of Art, “I think it will be a slightly challenging exhibit for some folks. His work is commentary on politics, on religion, on all those things that make us uncomfortable to talk about,” said Booth.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Review: “The Post”

foxmovies.com

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

Before going to see the film, I had heard relatively nothing about “The Post” or the Pentagon Papers scandal that it follows. Regardless, the film was an engaging and empowering political thriller that boasted impeccable acting.

The film follows the publisher and executive editor of The Washington Post — Katherine Graham, played by Meryl Streep, and Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks — as they try and play catch-up with The New York Times in an effort to expose Vietnam era U.S. war secrets. Before The Washington Post can obtain enough evidence to write their own articles about the secrets, President Nixon tries to shut The New York Times’s articles down.

The release of this film couldn’t have come at a better time; “The Post” felt like an homage to the free press. The movie pits The Washington Post and The New York Times against each other, emphasizing The Washington Post’s involvement and stifling The New York Times’s. Though this made for a more intense and dramatic storyline, it felt unjust. I loved the sense of journalistic fervor presented throughout the storyline.

For the greater part of this film, I was ready for Spielberg to blow it with Graham’s character. True story or not, I almost resigned myself to the fact that Streep’s character would be lessened to the part of frail, flighty woman and that her male counterparts would have to intervene to save the paper. However, instead I witnessed an incredibly moving comeback. Streep could play publishers for the rest of her career and I would be content; her depiction of Graham was incredibly moving.

Hanks was extraordinary in his role as well; his character is driven and unrelenting.

One of my favorite things in “The Post” was the underlying sense of female empowerment. It would’ve been easy to make Graham the only speaking female role. However, the movie is powdered with minor female characters that emphasize Graham as a role model to women.

“The Post” was fantastic. It isn’t the type of movie that will keep you thinking about it for days after you see it. That being said, it’s memorable, it’s engaging and the acting is incredible.

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Western welcomes Celtic music

Nikita Williams

Nikita Williams | Freelancer

On Jan. 13, musicians Eric Rigler, Dirk Freymuth and Kira Ott held an exciting and high energy concert as part of Western’s Smith Fine Arts Series.

Rigler and Freymuth had just come back from their 2017 PBS TV special “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” where they created a musical panorama of the Celtic spirit and energy that revealed parts of the Celtic culture.Together, the three musicians played wonderful music from Ireland and Scotland as well as music from the movies “Braveheart” and “Titanic.”

Rigler is a legendary bagpipes player and has played in movie soundtracks such as “Braveheart,” “Titanic,” “Men in Black 3” and “Cinderella Man.” He has performed on “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” as well as other TV shows.

In addition to being a professor at Western, Freymuth is also a gifted player in guitar, lute, baroque mandolin and viola da gamba.

Ott is one of the most in-demand musicians of the Celtic scene in Los Angeles, California. Ott teaches, performs and records traditional Irish fiddle.

During “Celtic Journeys: Songs and Soundtracks,” Rigler played Irish Uilleann pipes, Scottish small pipes and whistles; Freymuth played acoustic guitars; and Ott played the fiddle. During the concert, both Rigler and Freymuth noted how much they enjoyed using a looping pedal both while recording traditional Celtic music and while playing it live. It was amazing to see something so intricate being played on the Rice Auditorium stage.

The concert was high energy, fast-paced and interesting to watch. All three performers had an amazing on-stage connection with each other. Their movements while playing their instruments and their enthusiasm after the show had finished were evidence for how much each performer loved the music they played. It displayed their love of Celtic music and happiness in sharing it with the audience.

Rigler, Freymuth and Ott played with energy and enthusiasm — you could see their passion for this type of music. With a packed show and such wonderful music being played, it was truly a night to remember. The next show in the Smith Fine Arts series show is “Grégoire Maret: The Gospel According to Grégoire Maret,” on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.

 

Contact the author at nwilliams15@wou.edu

Low-key shows to stream

Michelle Bonilla | Freelancer

filmaffinity.com

“The OA”

When a young woman returns home after having been missing for the past seven years it becomes a joyous event for the once small town who have all but assumed her dead. However, everyone is shocked once they discover that the once missing blind girl who lived down the street has regained her sight. Her parents and the FBI plead for her to tell them about her disappearance but she just won’t talk. This trippy sci-fi show will have you questioning faith and reality as your mind reals to discover who is telling the truth and why are they lying.

netflix.com

“Castlevania”

She showed him kindness and love and they burned her at the stake. Inspired by the classic video game series by the same name, take a journey into this animated series in a midlevel land called Wallachia. The legendary Count Dracula takes his vengeance upon the town that brutally murdered and falsely accused his beloved wife. He unleashes an army of monsters upon the land and the only ones who can stop him is a disgraced demon hunter a magician and his exiled son. This show has a perfect mixture of dark humor and drama that perfectly in captures this gritty tale of vengeance and bloodshed if you like movies like Nosferatu and Berserk then you will have very high regards for “Castlevania.”    

netflix.com

“Frontier”

Jason Momoa from “Game of Thrones” shines in this gritty and intense historical drama series as he plays a part-Irish, part-Cree outlaw named Declan Harp. Harp goes head to head against the Hudson Bay Company and their monopolization of the fur trade within the Canadian borders. Declan Harp is a smart and dangerous fur trader with a dark and mysterious past who enlist the help of an Irish pauper who doubles as a spy for both Harp and the english soldier in the New world. If you enjoy TV shows like “Outlander,” “Viking” and “Penny Dreadful,” then you will love Frontier.

northandsouth2004.com

North and South

“North and South” is a British television series based upon the Elizabeth Gaskell’s Victorian novel by the same name. The show follows a young woman named Margaret Hale as her and her family leave the quaint countryside in the south of England after her father leaves the church and moves up into the industrial city in the north. The family struggles to adjust themselves socially especially after they meet a predominant family known as the Thornton’s who own a successful cotton mill within the city. Margret is faced with many issues facing gender, class and social expectations. However, her feelings for the town’s people seem to clash with her unknown attraction towards the cold young bachelor Mr. Thornton, the owner of the mill. If you have ever enjoyed films like “Jane Eyre,” “Pride and Prejudice” or “Anne of Green Gables” then you will enjoy this romantic series that proudly features a strong female lead who is not afraid to question society and all of it’s injustices.

 

Contact the author at mbonilla17@wou.edu

Review: “The Financial Diet”

Paul F. Davis

Zoë Strickland | Editor-in-Chief

“The Financial Diet,” written by Chelsea Fagan and designed by Lauren Ver Hage, is a finance guide geared towards twenty-somethings that want to stay on top of their finances. The book, while both useful and interesting, missed the beat when it came to recognizing some of the inhibitors that millenials may face when trying to save money.

“The Financial Diet” is based off of the work done for the duo’s financial website. As an on-again, off-again follower of Fagan and Ver Hage’s work for the past few years, I picked up their book in hopes that it would offer new insights into the world of saving money.

The guide is easily palatable; it’s split into seven chapters, all of which focus on a different aspect of one’s finances. Each chapter is broken up by expert interviews and illustrated diagrams. My only qualm with this is the inclusion of a ‘food’ section.

The fourth chapter of the book focuses on money-saving in the kitchen. There is a bunch of great advice offered, but I think the chapter is lacking when it comes to advice on what to keep in your kitchen. There is a list of spices and oils that one should have on-hand, and then the chapter delves into recipes. I love a good recipe as much as the next person, but if I wanted recipes, I could look online or in a recipe-specific book. These pages could have been more useful if they instead included lists of multi-purpose food items you can buy or examples of cheaper food that packs a lot of nutrients.

The information offered in the rest of the book is useful. Fagan explains some of the lesser-known aspects of being a financially responsible adult; she discusses the importance of investing, home ownership and credit scores.

While all of this information is useful, I think the book would be more insightful if it went more in-depth about how to specifically set money aside for things like emergency funds and college loan payments. It’s easy to say that people should pair down their expenses in an effort to save money. However, there are some people in the target age range for this book, like college students, who may not be able to cut their spending that easily. A hefty portion of the advice offered in “The Financial Diet” is focused on those who are living above their means.

“The Financial Diet” is a good book for those looking for an aesthetically pleasing crash-course in financial responsibility. However, it shouldn’t be your only source of financial research.

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Last year’s overlooked entertainment

Sonyclassics.com

Mitchell Martin | Freelancer

It’s 2018, and that means there are new movies, games, television shows and albums for us to bite into. And while I sit, awaiting the release of “Avengers: Infinity Wars,” Season 3 of “The Magicians” and for all of the Japanese RPG fans out there, “Dragon Quest XI,” I’m not ready to close to door on 2017 and you shouldn’t either.

Last year had some truly great films, but one film, released early on Jan. 23, did not get as much coverage as it should’ve. “Brigsby Bear,” directed by Dave McCary, follows a young man named James Pope, played by Kyle Mooney, a writer for the film, attempting to create the finale for his favorite TV show. The film has a sincere tone for such a dark premise — James was kidnapped at a young age and raised to believed the world is irradiated, his only connection to others being a TV show called Brigsby Bear, secretly made by his kidnappers. He is rescued and introduced to society but can’t seem to let go of the show. If you can get past the second-hand embarrassment you’ll find a truly charming experience. Mooney’s portrayal of James is particularly enjoyable as he nails the socially awkward boy who really just wants to live happily. All in all, give this movie a watch, it’s sure to warm your heart.

2017 also had a ton of good music, but I think the greatest musical crime committed was the lack of hype surrounding the album “Three Movements” from legendary video game composer Manami Matsumae. Matsumae has been in the video game industry for thirty years and is most famous for composing for the original “Megaman” soundtrack. As such, it’s no surprise that her debut album sounds like a classic NES title you never got to play.

The starting track “Choose your hero” is extremely catchy, emulating 8-bit era music perfectly. The songs act like levels in a video game, successfully using guitars and synthesizers to really invoke those memories of jumping from platform to platform and taking on the final boss. Two tracks, “Intermezzo, Part 1,” and “Intermezzo, Part 2,” stand out from the rest. They’re both completely composed using piano, and have a much softer tone which bring about a calmer feel than the other tracks on the album. Overall, Matsumae has a good shot as a solo composer, and I hope she continues to put out more of her own albums.
We had a lot of great big hits in gaming in 2017, one of which is “Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth” for the 3DS. The game is a hardcore old school dungeon crawler which sports map-making and as you venture up labyrinths of the giant tree Yggdrasil avoiding giant foes and slaying monsters. It has brilliant character creation, allowing you pick any hair and eye color you can imagine, 40 different voices, four races, ten classes, and ten portraits per class. The game lacks in story, but easily makes up for it in immersion by carefully playing small events around the map that help to build the world around you. Overall it’s a great addition to the series and a game that should be in any RPG fan’s library.

 

Contact the author at  mmartin17@wou.edu

New year, new music

thewombats.co

Ashton Newton | Freelancer

2017 was a big year for music. Whether it was Taylor Swift reinventing her sound in “Reputation” or Kendrick Lamar dropping an instant classic with “DAMN.,” it’s hard to picture 2018 living up to one of the best years in the last decade for new music, but in fact, 2018 is looking to bring as much, or even more, great new music.

Right around the corner, Rhye is releasing a new album called “Blood” on Feb. 2. His first album is five years old this year, but he made a return in 2017 with a series of singles and lending vocals to Bonobo’s “Break Apart”.

 

The British indie group The Wombats are making a return with a new album releasing Feb. 9 titled “Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life.” They’ve already released two singles off of the album, “Lemon to a Knife Fight” and “Turn.”

 

At this point in the year, a lot of bands have only given conformation that they will release new music this year. Artists like The Arctic Monkeys, CHVRCHES, Childish Gambino, Frankie Cosmos, Drake and Father John Misty have all teased new music, so there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

 

One of the most exciting teased projects of 2018 is a collaborative album between Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Apart from a confirmation from Jay-Z himself, no additional information has come out about the collab.

 

Lady Gaga released a new single called “The Cure” and teased a 2018 album at last year’s Coachella. If the rest of the album matches the sound of “The Cure,” it looks like Lady Gaga is making a return to her earlier dance-pop sound.

 

At the end of 2017, Jack White released a pretty cacophonous single that turned out not to be a single at all. Instead, the release was simply bits and pieces taken from his upcoming 2018 album “Boarding House Reach.” It’s not a good sounding song, but it serves as an intriguing tease for what’s to come.

 

Some teases have gone more under the radar, like Death Cab for Cutie announcing their 2018 release in a tweet that simply says “LP9 // 2018” with no other information.

 

2018 is already shaping up to be one for the books. With what has already been announced, there’s plenty for fans of every genre to get excited about.

 

Contact the author at anewton15@wou.edu

Seasonal movie recommendations from The Western Journal

If you’re looking for a comedy-filled classic to watch with your family this holiday season, look no further; “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a movie that I can’t get enough of this time of year. Watch as Clark Griswold tries to maintain his sanity throughout the Christmas season while various members of his extended family vacation at his home. From the hilarious struggles of hanging up lights to the Christmas tree going up in flames, it’s fun to experience a family more dysfunctional than your own. So, grab a glass of ‘nog and mele kalikimaka.

– Sam Dunaway, News Editor

Animated or claymation holiday specials are timeless classics. However, of the many produced in the late 1960’s to early 1970’s, the most iconic and memorable is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Providing sing-along tunes, a cute and heartwarming story about the origins of Kris Kringle and characters voiced by Hollywood elite — including Mickey Rooney and Fred Astaire — the movie will leave you feeling nostalgic and full of joy. It’s shown annually during the “25 Days of Christmas” on the FreeForm channel. So, as the song says, “put one foot in front of the other,” and soon you’ll be enjoying a holiday classic, as well.

– Caity Healy, Lifestyle Editor

Not in love with the idea of watching Christmas movies for the duration of December? Neither am I. Instead, try watching a movie that gives you winter vibes rather than holiday spirit, like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Being both an Edgar Wright-directed film and an adaptation of a series of graphic novels, expect nothing less than a visually beautiful, fast-paced comedy that you’ll want to watch over and over again. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is an action movie mixed with romance: a revenge story mixed with comedy. There is something for everyone in this film, and the wintery Canadian backdrop will leave you begging for snow.

– Jade Rayner, Copy Editor

I love a good classic movie, and in my opinion, one of the best ones is also a great winter film. “An Affair to Remember” is a 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Grant’s character meets Kerr’s on a cruise ship and they hit it off. After the cruise, they part ways and inevitably keep seeing each other. Though it isn’t explicitly a holiday film, there’s a scene that takes place on Christmas Eve. This movie is perfect for people who want to sit on the couch while wrapped up in a blanket drinking something warm — it’s cozy, it’s cute and it has Cary Grant.

– Zoë Strickland, Managing Editor

To learn the true meaning of Christmas, slip on your pink bunny pajamas and grab some Chinese food: it’s time for “A Christmas Story.” The 1980’s classic follows Ralphie Parker through the Christmas season and the winter time shenanigans that he and his family face.

Ralphie gets really down on the holidays, which I can relate to, but he comes around in the end as everything… sort of works out. Overall, it’s funny and doesn’t over-romanticize the holidays, making it perfect for Christmas lovers and haters, alike.

-Stephanie Blair, Editor-in-Chief


Once-great M. Night Shyamalan has earned a pretty bad reputation over his slowly sinking career. This puts me in a weird position, because I’m about to recommend that you watch his found-footage horror-comedy “The Visit.”
“The Visit” isn’t a good movie per se, but it is one of the most bizarre films I’ve ever seen. It’s stuck somewhere in this weird limbo between the godawful “After Earth” and the surprisingly fun “Split.” What is Shyamalan doing? Why does a graph of his career make a parabola now? I don’t know, but this unusually entertaining film is well worth an hour and a half of your time.
-Darien Campo, Designer

‘Tis the season to stay busy

Jade Rayner | Copy Editor

The holiday season is about to hit full swing, with December right around the corner. Whether you’ve been blasting holiday tunes since the beginning of November or you’ve been avoiding the holidays at all costs, it’s time to embrace this season to the max. Break out your planners, folks, because there is no shortage of fun to be had, come Dec. 1.

Being a full-fledged Christmas fan or not, there’s no denying the joy that comes from seeing lights adorn trees as far as the eye can see. To catch a tree lighting in action, and snag some free hot cocoa and candy canes in the process, check out one or three of the many tree lighting events taking place within the first week of December.

Western’s 50th annual tree lighting will take place in front of Campbell Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1. For more information, refer to page five. Can’t make it that night? Keizer will be holding its annual tree lighting in Walery Plaza on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. For more information on event details and where to park visit http://keizerchamber.com

Independence is lighting up the night with their Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. It’s important to note that the parade route will look different than it has in the past. For a complete map of the route, check out the Independence city website. A holiday party will be held following end of the parade at the Independence Elk’s Lodge on Main Street at 5:30 p.m.

For those looking for a little more excitement and a lot more walking than a typical tree lighting has to offer, check out the Oregon Zoo’s 30th year of its ZooLights event. ZooLights takes you on a journey through a spectacle of over a million lights, while also offering rides on the train, pictures with Santa and a variety of food carts. The event runs through Jan. 7, but will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 as well as Jan. 1 through 4.

For those who want to save some money this season, plan on attending one of the value nights for a cheaper admission price. To see a calendar of when those are, as well as pricing and event times, go to http://oregonzoo.org/visit/zoolights.

The Elsinore Theatre in downtown Salem is offering multiple opportunities to get a nostalgia fix with a variety of holiday movies and performances. From screenings of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “Elf,” to the Eugene Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker” and “Sing We Now of Christmas” performed by Festival Chorale of Oregon, the possibilities are plentiful. A full list of performances and movie screenings can be found on http://elsinoretheatre.com.

There are a plethora of activities and events available to attend during the holiday season. As the term winds down, it’s the perfect time to start planning how to achieve a well-deserved break from school and have fun in the process.

 

Contact the author at journalcopy@wou.edu

Review: “Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp”

Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

I discovered “Animal Crossing” and began my lifelong debt to that nefarious raccoon, Mr. Nook, in 2002, when it first came to America as a game for the GameCube. The game was met by a sea of praise from players and critics alike and was followed by its sequel, “Animal Crossing: Wild World” on the Nintendo DS in 2005. Due to continued critical and cultural acclaim, the game continued to be reincarnated: next as “Animal Crossing: City Folk” in 2008 for the Wii, and finally as “Animal Crossing: New Leaf” for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012.

However, such as it is with many Nintendo games, if those platforms weren’t a part of a player’s childhood then these titles hold no meaning or nostalgia. Now, for the first time, an “Animal Crossing” game is available on a non-Nintendo console: the humble smartphone.

“Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp” is free on Google Play and the iOS App Store, allowing Android and iPhone owners, alike, to experience a taste of the game loved ‘round the world.

However, veteran Animal Crossers may find themselves wanting more from the app. The concept of the new game is that the player’s character is taking a vacation to go camping outside of the city. In this wilderness, other animals from the game series are camping, as well, and will exchange money and materials for favors. Similarly, instead of being perpetually indebted to Mr. Nook for home expansions, a trio of brothers keeps the player in debt through camper upgrades.

There isn’t nearly as much customization available as there was in previous games and the world is incredibly limited. Similarly, beloved characters and places have been cut to accommodate the limitations of cellular platform — or, more likely, to avoid making the entire game experience free to the public. For those who invested significant amounts of time in collecting artifacts and specimens for Blathers at the museum, there’s nothing in the app.

For those who have been shaking trees and running from bees for over a decade, it simply doesn’t provide the same level of satisfaction.

However, for a college kid with no money for a Nintendo console, it’s a great substitute. And, for those who have never experienced the game, “Pocket Camp” is a great way to test the waters without investing in consoles and games.

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu


Radium Girls stand in the spotlight

Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

On the mainstage of Rice Auditorium currently sits a simple set of three platforms and a plain black backdrop, obscured by a massive, reflective window. It’s on this little set that a big story is going to be told: “Radium Girls” by D. W. Gregory.

The premise is less simple.

“Three girls die and sue a company,” said Mindy Mawhirter, a junior acting BFA major who plays Kathryn at the start of the show.

“In that order,” added first-year theatre and mathematics education major Andi Moring, the play’s lead.

The play takes place over the course of 20 years but begins in New Jersey in 1921, following a small group of girls who work in a factory painting watchfaces with glow-in-the-dark paint for the soldiers of World War I. It’s the radium which makes this paint glow, and claims the lives of so many workers in this factory.

In one of the opening scenes of the play, the forewoman informs the girls that they have to go back to licking their paint brushes to form a point rather than wiping them in cloths due to their budget. When Grace, portrayed by Moring, objects, saying that her doctor warned her not to, she is snapped at and told that she must have misunderstood the doctor.

“We know now that (radium) is very poisonous and radioactive, but they didn’t know that back then,” explained Moring. “It was the miracle drug, it was incredible.”

This point is further driven home in the show when Marie Curie claims that radium is the cure for cancer. And so, the girls continue to radiate themselves, making them sick and ultimately driving them to their graves. This same event sparks a lawsuit, the main focus of the show.

“It’s kind of just the story of the first real lawsuit against a company for how they’ve been treating their workers, and work conditions,” said Moring. “I don’t want to give away too much but, yeah. That’s our show.”

“This is a very different show than what we did last year — we did ‘Machinal,’ which was an expressionistic piece, and this is more of realism,” said Mawhirter. “So that’s been interesting to see: the differentiation between the two styles of theater — especially with having the same director (Michael Phillips).”

While the show isn’t expressionistic, it is a touch abstract in terms of its performance. The set, as mentioned, is fairly minimal, and so is the cast. The show is performed by 16 actors who portray a total of 36 characters on a single set.

Molly Duddlesten, junior theatre and English major, commented, “I die on page 27 so like, that’s cool. And then I’m other characters in the show, which is fun.”

The show opens on Thursday, Nov. 9, and runs for two weekends. Nov. 9-11 and 15-18, the curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee performance will take place on Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. There will be no late seating once the show starts. Friday night performances will be interpreted.

Adult admission is $14; senior, faculty and staff admission is $10; for Western students with ID, admission is $8. Visit the box office at Rice Auditorium or call 503-838-8462 to purchase tickets.

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

Podcast roundup

Zoe Strickland | Managing Editor

 

“Terrible, Thanks for Asking”

Photo courtesy of apmpodcasts.com

Listen to if: you want honesty, and you need a good cry.

“Terrible, Thanks for Asking” is an emotional show. Hosted by Nora McInery, “Terrible, Thanks for Asking” is a podcast that celebrates the more somber bits of life. McInery is well-versed in those moments; within the span of a few weeks she lost her second child, her husband and her father. “Terrible, Thanks for Asking” stems from those experiences.

In the podcast, McInery interviews people about those dark parts of life; the episode themes vary from what it means to be perpetually single in your thirties to what happens when your best friend dies. This podcast is one that can’t help but breed empathy for every situation, even for people who may be hesitant about whether or not they will be able to relate to what’s discussed.

“The Love Bomb”

Photo courtesy of podcasts.com

Listen to if: you’re interested in gender identity, sexuality and the interconnectedness of people.

“The Love Bomb” is hosted by actor Nico Tortorella, who identifies as a cisgender, sexually fluid bisexual. In this podcast, he interviews people in his life who he loves, has loved or doesn’t love yet.

In the purpose of full disclosure, Tortorella uses the word love openly. This is probably the only case wherein I don’t roll my eyes involuntarily at the phrase “in love with love” — Tortorella’s interest and honesty makes it work. “The Love Bomb” delves into the deeper discussions relating to how people identify and what those identities mean to them. The show just concluded its second season, so there are about 40 one-hour episodes to wade through.

“Still Processing”

 

Photo courtesy of stitcher.com

Listen to if: you want to stay informed and intersectional

“Still Processing” is a show put on by The New York Times that primarily deals with the intersections between culture and race. Co-hosted by culture writers Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham, the podcast has interviewed RuPaul to talk about the Emmy’s, analyzed the implications of the show “Girls” and, most recently, discussed the sexual harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

Though the topics discussed on “Still Processing” may not be new ones, both Morris and Wortham bring a sharp-witted perspective to the table.  “Still Processing” is a show that forces listeners to think about their actions and the media they consume. “Still Processing” just wrapped up their most recent season, but has 53 episodes that are up and available for your listening pleasure.

“It Makes a Sound”

Photo courtesy of nightvalepresents.com

Listen to if: you love fiction and analyzing the power of music.

 

“It Makes a Sound” is a new podcast from Night Vale Presents. Like most of the podcasts in the company’s arsenal, “It Makes a Sound” is a fictionalized serial show that only spans a season of episodes. In this case, “It Makes a Sound” is set to produce nine.

Set in the ‘90s, the podcast begins when its fictional host, Deidre Gardner, finds a tape of an unreleased album from the elusive musician, Wim Faros. The podcast follows Gardner as she attempts to solve the mystery of the Wim Faros tape. “It Makes a Sound” is beautiful in the way that it captures what it’s like to truly be a fan of something. Gardner takes you through her journey as she finds the tape, and brings you along as she tries to use music as a way of revitalizing the world around her.

 

Contact the author at journalmanaging@wou.edu

Scream yourself silly

Darien Campo | Designer

I am an avid fan of horror-comedy, but I can be picky about this genre. Usually because most films turn out to be little more than “comedies with gore” (e.g. Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil.) In this list, I’ve put together what I think are the five best films that perfectly straddle the line between shocking terror and gut-wrenching laughter.

  1. The Frighteners

Just five years before Fellowship of the Ring hit theatres, Peter Jackson directed “The Frighteners;” a film starring Michael J. Fox as Frank Bannister, a conman who uses his ability to communicate with ghosts to trick people into thinking he’s an exorcist. “The Frighteners” is an enthralling mystery that weaves Bannister’s con artistry, his uncertain past, a terrifying mass murder and a mysterious string of deaths caused by an unknown assailant.

  1. Cabin in the Woods

Drew Goddard, writer of “Cloverfield,” “The Martian,” and the upcoming “Deadpool 2” made his directorial debut with “Cabin in the Woods” — a film he wrote with nerd-culture icon Joss Whedon. “Cabin in the Woods” is a great deconstruction of all the horror tropes and characters we know so well. It subverts the genre in surprising ways, while still paying homage to and celebrating the gory heritage we all know and love. “Cabin in the Woods” is frighteningly original and shockingly funny.

  1. American Psycho

Bret Easton Ellis’s novel of the same name can be a difficult read. Those not used to such violent fiction can easily see it as a fetishization of murder and sexual violence, but the decision to have the film helmed by female director Mary Harron helped turn it into a violently hilarious parody of 1980’s greed and narcissism. Christian Bale delivers one of his finest performances as the utterly psychotic Patrick Bateman: a self-obsessed desperate-to-impress yuppie by day, deranged serial killer pop-music aficionado by night.

  1. Bubba Ho-Tep

B-movie king Bruce Campbell stars as Elvis Presley, years after he faked his death and now resides in a nursing home with a black man who claims to be John F. Kennedy. Together the two must face off against an ancient Egyptian mummy that is now feeding off the souls of the weak retirement home residents. Based on a novel by Joe R. Lansdale and directed by Don Coscarelli  (“Phantasm,” “John Dies at the End”). “Bubba Ho-Tep” is – well, I don’t even know what else to say, if that all doesn’t reel you in then you’re a lost cause.

  1.  Evil Dead II

While the original “Evil Dead” is a campy misstep of a horror film by a group of novice filmmakers, and “Army of Darkness” is a straight-up comedy, the middle film “Evil Dead II” is the movie that I believe perfectly strikes a balance between fear and farce. “Evil Dead II” is a film that is equally inspired by the gore and horror of “Friday the 13th,” as it is by the outrageous slapstick of The Three Stooges. Bruce Campbell is at his peak as Ash Williams, S-Mart housewares clerk and demon-slayer. This movie is fast, fun and full of atmosphere. If you’re a fan of the recent Showtime series or terrific reboot, it’s well worth checking out the franchise’s roots here. It’s one of my favorite films, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Contact the author at dcampo13@wou.edu

Review: “Little Nightmares”

Jade Rayner | Copy Editor

If you’ve ever wondered what it would look like to combine the style of Tim Burton with the adventure and covert horror of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” — “Little Nightmares” is here to deliver.

“Little Nightmares,” a side-scroller suspense-adventure game by Tarsier Studios, was released on April 27 and is perfect for getting in a spooky mindset for Halloween. The game centers around Six, a small child trying to find their way out of The Maw, a cruise ship full of large, grotesque characters that will eat Six if they get the chance.

Much like the “Amnesia” games, the monsters must be ran from rather than fought, with a few exceptions. “Little Nightmares” also shares similarities with Playdead’s “Limbo” in that they are both side-scrollers which focus on a child protagonist, and puzzle-solving is needed to travel through the game.

I would say a big pro and con for this game is how accessible it is for a wide range of gamers and non-gamers alike. Being one of the worst gamers I know, I obviously died at least 40 times over the course of this fairly-short game, and I’m sure that is missing a good handful of them. However, for those well seasoned at gaming, it might not pose the same challenge that “Limbo” would. Although the beginning sets the scene differently, most of the game is well-lit and the monsters aren’t very difficult to escape, especially if you died once and have been able to see their movements. The first level is by far the most difficult, but you will be rewarded if you choose to make it throught the whole game.

There’s something for everyone within The Maw. Childlike playfulness and imagination is encouraged while the player learns to navigate the mouse-sized Six around the massive rooms in The Maw. Once the monsters come out, horror fans are presented with fast-paced suspense, but it’s never too much to handle. For those sticklers like myself who demand an aesthetically pleasing design in their entertainment, there are no disappointments. I cannot stress enough how beautiful and unique a world Tarsier Studios created.

My recommendation is this: drop whatever game, Netflix series or memoir you’re working on, and do yourself a favor by immersing yourself in the world of “Little Nightmares.” It’s not a big time commitment considering it only took me — a “noob” of a gamer  — a total of four or five hours to complete. Throughout the journey of completing this game, I felt both emotionally and physically frustrated, angry, excited, sad and in love for a variety of reasons. No other game has ever sparked as visceral of a response from me as “Little Nightmares,” and if that doesn’t intrigue you, nothing will.

“Little Nightmares” is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows through Steam.

 

Contact the author at journalcopy@wou.edu

Nightmare Factory back in business

Stephanie Blair | Editor-in-Chief

Those seeking an experience manufactured to scare even the bravest of heart need look no further than the Nightmare Factory at Oregon School for the Deaf. For the last three decades, the Factory has been spooking its victims with ghouls, zombies, monsters and clowns.

In particular, one clown has stood out: Mr. Booger. Each year, Mr. Booger straps those brave enough into a wheelchair and takes them for a “Wild Ride” through his funhouse. The Nightmare Factory website advertises that “this insane ride of your life includes many years of terrifying flashbacks! Great birthday gift for that special someone! Not for the faint of heart or people with weak knee syndrome!”

For those eager for a thrill, but not thrilled by the prospect of being wheeled around by a clown, there is another option to enhance the experience of the Nightmare Factory: Z-Tag. For $10 in addition to admission, haunt-goers can purchase an “infection detector” which will allow them to partake in a modified version of tag.

As explained on the Nightmare Factory website, “Human players start out with a green tag and must survive by avoiding zombies and finding health kits or a healer … Zombies have red tags  and seek out humans, Infection happens when a zombie player’s badge gets within 3 feet of a human player’s badge.”

The infected human must then find a health kit within a certain amount of time or they, too, will become a zombie. Tags are for the players to keep, and they can re-enter the haunt to play again for a reduced price.

For those seeking to be scared to death or who just want to make it out alive, the Nightmare Factory offers intensity levels for everyone.

However, for those with heart conditions, seizures and asthma the Nightmare Factory has a special warning; “Fog machines, strobe lights, specialty lights and high startles in use!”

For more details or to purchase tickets, visit nightmarefactorysalem.com or call 503-378-3825.

Regular admission tickets are $15, VIP tickets — which reduce wait time on busy nights — are $25 and tickets for Mr. Booger’s Wild Ride are $40. Tickets for the Wild Ride must be purchased in advance.

 

Contact the author at journaleditor@wou.edu

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