Mount Hood

Trisha Paytas births the Royal Family

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

As the British royal family passes, they are reincarnated into Trisha Paytas’ womb to be birthed as one of her children — or so the internet would lead one to believe. This conspiracy, making its rounds around the internet, is certainly interesting, and here are its origins.

Trisha Paytas, a long-time infamous internet celebrity turned loving mother with a popular podcast, TikTok account and YouTube advertisement, is said to be parenting the royal family. The outlandish rumor began when Paytas birthed her first child, Malibu Barbie Paytas-Hacmon, on Sep. 14, 2022, just six days after the queen’s death. Trisha Paytas stated on her podcast, “… [Malibu Barbie] does give me Queen Elizabeth vibes.”

This conspiracy only escalated further when Paytas announced she was pregnant via her podcast on Nov. 21, 2023 and found out about the pregnancy on Oct. 3, according to her. On Feb. 5, 2024, it was released in the press that King Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and is currently receiving treatment. The internet is now conspiring that King Charles’ presumed upcoming death will lead to Trisha Paytas birthing her new baby, Elvis Paytas-Hacmon, the reincarnation of King Charles.

There was a third uproar when Trisha Paytas announced she would be trying for a third child almost immediately after the birth of her second child. This was stated on April 6, 2024, less than a month after Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis and treatment plan on March 22. At an earlier date on her podcast, Paytas stated, “I just don’t love that it’s King Charles or Queen Elizabeth … I feel like if it was … I’m not wishing this but Kate Middleton … I’d take a Kate Middleton reincarnation.” It may be possible that Trisha was just playing along with the joke.

Paytas shared her opinions in a voice-over on TikTok while making a baked potato: “I get the meme of it all … I was able to lean into Queen Elizabeth one a little bit, but it also terrifies me that … people believe in it enough.” Since Paytas believes in manifestation, she fears that the meme will manifest the royal family’s deaths considering she also believes in reincarnation, as stated on her podcast. On the same TikTok, she announced, “I get the timing is crazy … but I hope he makes a speedy recovery.” 

Trisha Paytas stated that she simply wants her baby to be her baby and not be connected to anyone but Elvis, whom the baby will be named after.

Contact the author at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu

Games coming 2024

Written by: Taylor Duff | Staff Writer

2024 has officially sprung, and many games have already been released, such as “Tekken 8”, “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth” and “Alone in The Dark” — but do not fear, as there are eight more months of anticipation to endure as these releases arrive. Headphones on and feet up, let’s start gaming. 

Coming April 2024, “Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes” will be released on PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. “Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes” is intended to give gamers a new spin on the classic. 

In May, the world will be given a remake of “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door”, which was originally released in 2004 on the GameCube — with a polished version also being released on the Nintendo Switch. “The Thousand-Year Door” takes place in the town of Rogueport, and the plot is separated into eight chapters and a prologue, with each taking place largely in one of the various locations. Mario travels to Rogueport to visit Princess Peach after learning that she has discovered a map that leads to an old treasure. He quickly discovers that Peach has been kidnapped and a journey is in order. 

In June, a new “Elden Ring” will drop: “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree” is being released to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. “Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree” transports players beyond the Lands Between to the Land of Shadow, a brand-new realm.  

Come July 25, “Frostpunk 2” will be released on PC. Thirty years have gone by since the devastating storm that ended the first chapter of humanity’s survival saga in “Frostpunk”. The city, built around the generator and its life-giving warmth, expanded and progressed over the years. The player takes on the position as Steward, who, as leader of a resource-hungry metropolis, must cope with an ever-changing political atmosphere as the goal shifts from survival to reconstructing civilization.

“Dustborn” is coming August 2024 to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. This single-player action-adventure game explores themes such as hope, love, friendship, robotics and the power of discourse. 

Hitting September, it is expected that players will get “STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl” on PC and Xbox Series X. “S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl”, the next installment in the iconic franchise is a first-person shooter survival horror game with a large-scale, branching plot set in the terrifying Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. 

Now, it is not certain what comes of Fall 2024 and if more releases will come sooner as many games are still awaiting release dates. These games include “Little Nightmares 3”, “Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater”, “Star Wars Outlaws” and more. Overall, the selection of games on every platform will keep gamers coming back for more. Happy gaming!

Contact the author at tduff23@mail.wou.edu

Losing music subculture

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

Throughout the late 20th and the early 21st century, subcultures that existed around music genres were very prevalent and impactful to many, especially young adults. Those who were considered different or outcasted could easily find a community of like-minded individuals. These groups all involved fan culture and listening to a particular genre of music.

Punk subculture, which originated from punk rock, is the first and one of the most notable of its kind. Punks share common political views — such as anti-government and anti-corporation ideologies, as well as a similar fashion sense and music taste. 

Akin to all music-related cultures, punk has hundreds of branches of subcultures for a multitude of people to identify with. They may have different styles or worldviews, but they all share the same history and origin. 

Other music subcultures include, but are not limited to the following: goth, hip hop, punk, emo or heavy metal. 

While many people still participate and exist in these subcultures, there is a huge decline in engagement compared to the late 20th century. The culprit of the loss is none other than music streaming services such as Spotify. 

Thousands of new songs are uploaded to Spotify every day, with many of these falling under niche subgenres and categories that Spotify creates to keep said music organized. Spotify then pushes these subgenres onto users to make an individualized listening experience. 

Alex Michaels, a senior at Western and habitual Spotify user, expressed his distaste for Spotify subgenres and their classification system.“(Spotify’s classification system) is a mess,” Michaels stated. 

“A major difference between the Spotify subgenres and just the idea of subgenres in general is often subgenres are created by people in that community, who listen to that type of music or create that type of music and the subgenre is a reflection of that,” Michaels said.

Corporate-created subgenres lack the authenticity, community and history that real musical movements had. Spotify subgenres don’t have any real-life impact. 

“Genre is functional, it tells you what to expect from this type of music. Sometimes it can tell you how it was created or specific trademarks of that genre of music. There are characteristics of that genre and then that allows artists to play with those trademarks and characteristics and create something genre-defining or genre-defying,” said Michaels. 

In a final comparison between the new genres and the old, Michaels shared, “Spotify genres don’t have any functionality, their definitions are mostly vibe associations or specific artist examples, and there is no hard criteria.”

As Spotify and other streaming platforms continue to grow in popularity and users, as well as the daily increase of new genres, the survival rate of classic music subcultures comes into question. 

Will genre subcultures continue to survive or will they become lost to time? 

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu  

Bats and blood

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

“Cold” — The Cure

“A Forest” — The Cure

“Marian” — Sisters of Mercy

“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” — Bauhaus

“In the Night” — Bauhaus

“Spider and The Fly” — London After Midnight

“I Don’t Want To Fall In Love” — She Wants Revenge

“The Suffering of Spiders” — Traitrs

“Nine While Nine” — Sisters of Mercy

“Walking on Both Sides” — Pink Turns Blue

“Bloodsucker” — Paralysed Age

“Human Fly” — The Cramps

“Each Other” — This Cold Night

“There’s a Girl in the Corner” — Robert Smith

“Fantasmas” — Twin Tribes

“Slowdive” — Siouxsie and the Banshees

“Lust” — Boy Harsher

“Appealing Skies” — Corpus Delicti

“True Romantics” — Lebanon Hanover

“My Favorite Black Cat” — Lebanon Hanover

“Jasmine And Rose” — Clan of Xymox

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu  

Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire

Written by: Michael Hager | Freelancer

Content warning: This article contains spoilers

“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” is the latest movie and second-best box office opening to come from the MonsterVerse. As the sequel to the popular 2021 movie “Godzilla vs. Kong,” it is the fifth movie in the MonsterVerse, the 38th Godzilla movie and the 13th movie in the King Kong series. 

The MonsterVerse originated when Legendary Pictures and WarnerBros Pictures purchased the rights to the franchises related to Godzilla, King Kong and other Toho monsters, now known as “Titans,” back in March 2010, with plans to unite the two titans in future films.

Toho Company LTD were the original creators of Godzilla in 1954, alongside Ghidorah, Mothra and Rodan. All four titans were featured in the 2019 movie “Godzilla: King of the Monsters.” 

In “Godzilla x Kong,” Monarch — a secret organization formed in the 1940s to hunt and study massive unidentified terrestrial organisms, MUTOs or titans — has hundreds of different locations around the world to study each titan associated with a region. At the end of “Godzilla vs Kong,” the audience learns about Hollow Earth, a whole different world underneath Earth where Kong rules over in the end. 

Kong begins exploring Hollow Earth and expanding his territory until he runs into Suko, or Baby Kong, as fans have dubbed him. Suko eventually leads Kong to a new place, where he finds hundreds of great ape titans like him working like slaves and an ice titan named Shimo — also known as Blizzard Lizard —  ruled by an ancient orangutan titan called Skar King. Skar King’s goal is to rule over Earth, which forces Kong to rise up and ask for Godzilla’s help. At the same time, Godzilla has killed multiple titans, building up his radiation to prepare for the big fight. When Kong first shows up, Godzilla fights him on sight. The last surviving Iwi from Skull Island awakens Mothra, who is able to convince Godzilla to help Kong. 

Godzilla and Kong are able to break the crystal that controlled Shimo, and no longer under Skar King’s power, she is able to help. After defeating Skar King, Kong, Suko and Shimo return to Hollow Earth, and Kong rules over all the other great ape titans. Godzilla goes to the Coliseum and sleeps.

My theater experience was very enjoyable. The movie theater had limited edition cups, with the  choice of Godzilla or Kong toppers and popcorn tins to promote the movie. In my opinion, this movie was the best to come from the MonsterVerse. 

9/10. 

Contact the author at mhager20@wou.edu

The truth behind children’s television

Written by: Taylor Duff | Staff Writer

Content warning: this article discusses sexual assault, child abuse, racism and toxic workplace environments.   

“Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” is a new 5-episode docuseries released to the streaming service Max, that discusses the trauma and horrors inflicted behind the scenes of some of the most beloved 90s and early 2000s Nickelodeon shows. These shows include  “All That,” “The Amanda Show,” “Zoey 101,” “Drake and Josh” and “iCarly.” 

What all of these familiar titles have in common is the showrunner, Dan Schneider. Schneider is responsible for making many children laugh, but also for causing trauma to multiple young cast members. The series talks about Schneider’s verbal abuse on the sets of his shows and his use of many inappropriate euphemisms during production. In “Quiet on Set,” many child actors recount their trauma and abuse while working for Schneider and Nickelodeon. 

Leon Frierson, a cast member of “All That,” talks about his trauma of portraying a character named Nose Boy who had a skin-tight costume with suggestive male body parts as design. Frierson remarks about his treatment being one of the few African Americans on the set as well as Bryan Christopher Hearne who played various characters during his time on “All That”. Hearne had a similar experience and was mocked for his skin color and appearance while doing costume designs and makeup. 

Schneider ignored labor laws and urged the child actors to work rigorous hours. Those who have worked alongside Schneider have expressed how harsh and demanding he was — especially from the women he hired. Two female writers, Christy Stratton and Jenny Kilgen, recount Schneider illegally making the women split a salary, as well as pressuring the women into performing acts including screaming profanities, giving Schneider massages and performing sexual reenactments in front of him and others.       

Most shocking within the docuseries were the three different child predators hired by Schneider and Nickelodeon. These men were hired to help coach or even mentor the children on set. Most notable is the case of actor, producer and dialogue coach Brian Peck during his time working on “All That.” Peck was charged with many accounts of sexual abuse towards Drake Bell, a child actor who was well known for his starring role in “Drake and Josh,” but also made appearances on “All That” and “The Amanda Show.” Bell was 15 when these events occurred, and in August 2003, Peck was arrested. Peck was charged with 11 counts of lewd acts towards a minor. Peck served just 16 months in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender. This is the first time Bell has spoken about his abuse and trauma — as a result of Peck’s identity and charges were made public. A new episode of “Quiet on Set” was released on April 7, 2024, and continues to unveil the story behind the scenes of Nickelodeon and Schneider.   

Contact the author at tduff23@mail.wou.edu

PhotoSYNTHesis

Written by: Ruth Simonsen | Digital Media Manager

“For Granted” — Yaeji

“Pretty” — Coco & Clair Clair

“Another life (feat. Rema)” — PinkPantheress, Rema

“Good Luck, Babe!” — Chappell Roan

“It Almost Worked” — TV Girl

“Wasted Summers” — juju<3

“We Are The People” — Empire Of The Sun

“Hunger of the Pine” — alt-J

“Better in the Dark” — Jordana, TV Girl

“Groceries” — Mallrat

“It’ll Be (Video Game Song)” — Lauren Juzang

“Top Dog” — Magdalena Bay

“Airplane Mode” — Limbo

“sever the blight” — hemlocke springs

“brainrot” — ivri

“fantasize” — ericdoa

“NICE OUT” — Kilo Kish

“Gravity” — Ferdous

“Mosquito” — PinkPantheress

“Naked In Manhattan” — Chappell Roan

“Shotput” — Still Woozy

“Everybody Wants To Be A Frog” — Sports

“Kill V. Maim” — Grimes

“Me and Michael” — MGMT

“fkjune2” — Sipper

“girlfriend” — hemlocke springs

Contact the author at howldigitalmediamanager@mail.wou.edu

Cult classic baby returns

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

Black and white scenes, an atmospheric droning soundtrack and beautifully intriguing cinematic designs make the 1977 David Lynch film, “Eraserhead,” an instant classic for those interested in arthouse films, and, throughout the years, the movie has gained a cult following of Lynchian fans.

Recently, the fan focus has shifted towards the unusual premature baby that plays a main role in the film. The infant, who is usually referred to as “Eraserhead Baby,” but was also lovingly nicknamed “Spike” by the cast and crew of the film, has begun to capture the attention of many younger film buffs.

The baby’s abnormal appearance — which was inspired by a calf fetus — and his distressing storyline have restructured the hearts of many. These young adults have taken to social media to share their appreciation and maternal instincts for the newly born baby boy. 

A multitude of videos, posts and art — all in honor of the Eraserhead baby — have been shared across platforms such as TikTok and Tumblr. Some of the content includes users yearning to be the baby’s mother, while others question the love that people have for such a monstrous infant.

In some drawings and photo edits that were posted, the baby can be seen interacting with famous characters from other fictional shows and movies — such as Fox Mulder from “The X-Files,” or Finn the Human from “Adventure Time.” 

The unconditional love and admiration for the Eraserhead baby represents a wonderful example of the infatuation with the strange and unusual, as well as the fondness and empathy for the underdog character. 

While watching “Eraserhead,” one may feel disgusted and repulsed by the subject matter, but to others, the film — and the baby — may have a larger impact. 

One may see themselves in the baby: just a small, weak entity that rarely receives love and compassion. Others may find themselves wanting to take care of the infant, to give it life and meaning. 

The beauty of “Eraserhead,” is that it has an unknown message. The film is up for the viewer’s interpretation. An audience member may see themselves in the movie, while another may not. The film camouflages into different meanings depending on who’s watching it — this phenomenon also occurs with the Eraserhead baby himself. The baby is up for interpretation just as the movie is, which makes him so accessible to fans. He is a mysterious and intriguing character, which allows for “Eraserhead” fans to latch on and become easily attached to him. He could be a malevolent figure or a sweet and innocent one.

Either way, the Eraserhead baby has infatuated viewers. Whether it be from the introspective interpretations of the infant or if it’s just his silly look and demeanor, the film — and the baby — will continue to have a cult following for years to come. 

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu. 

Daisy Kent and Kelsey Anderson lean on each other in the final episode of “The Bachelor”

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

On March 25, 2002, reality television received a new addition through a now popular franchise known as “The Bachelor.” The “Bachelor” family has continued to expand over the past 22 years with a unique variety of contestants, including 72 year old Gerry Turner, the first Golden Bachelor.

“The Bachelor” is also known for its plethora of drama, from both men and women alike. A lot of this tension is perpetuated by producers, as the rivalry between contestants brings in views.

Devoted “Bachelor” fanatics nationwide were thrilled when Joey Graziadei was announced as the leading man of season 28 after Charity Lawson’s season of “The Bachelorette.” A tennis pro from Hawai’i, Graziadei captured the hearts of many for his emotional intelligence and kindness. Good looks are always a primary factor in the reality series as well, and Graziadei was not an exception.

Contestants Daisy Kent and Kelsey Anderson were fan favorites from the start of the season. Kent opened up to Graziadei, sharing her experience being Deaf and receiving a cochlear implant. Similarly, Anderson did not shy away from telling Graziadei about her mother’s passing. The two women, though having separate relationships with the same man, formed a close friendship throughout the season.

Producers of “The Bachelor” created a suspenseful scene involving Kent in distress, hurrying down a hotel hallway to knock on a mysterious someone’s door. Audiences assumed she was going to confront Graziadei and were surprised when Anderson opened the door. The two women confided in each other about their relationships with Graziadei. More amazingly, Kent and Anderson arrived at the ceremony together, rather than traveling in separate vehicles, supporting each other through to the very end.

Before Graziadei could tell Kent he wasn’t going to propose to her, Kent beat him to it — she had recognized Graziadei’s withdrawal from their relationship over the past week and realized she wasn’t the one. 

As Kent came to terms with the ending of her and Graziadei’s relationship, she said: “If I can love the wrong person this much, imagine how much I can love the right person” — an impactful statement that left audiences reflecting.

Kent did not stop delivering introspective statements even to the end of the final episode. “(Kelsey and I) always had deeper conversations… it was from a friendship perspective that I talked to her… it was the last bit of confirmation I needed to know that she was happy so I could step aside and let two people be happy who really deserved each other,” Kent said. 

“I think a lot of people think it’s a competition, but it’s not,” Anderson added, as the two women sat close together on stage.

Though many were rooting for Kent to be the next Bachelorette, she spoke up for herself and admitted she wasn’t ready to date again after Graziadei’s season. During “After the Final Rose,” it was revealed Jenn Tran would rejoin “The Bachelor” family as the first Asian-American Bachelorette. It seems that each season of “The Bachelor” will truly live up to their catchphrase of “the most dramatic season yet,” while continuing to develop in positive ways.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Spring Awakening

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

Written in 1891 and adapted to Broadway as a rock musical in 2006, “Spring Awakening” is a story that is still relevant today. The musical goes back and forth between modern alternative rock and themes from the 19th century. The WOU Theatre Department took on this multidimensional musical and worked to create something special with it.

Every single show was ASL interpreted. There was a reason for this — the interpreters interacted with the actors, adding a unique dynamic to the production. Parts of the songs were signed by the actors themselves, which gave the story more depth and emotion, as well as accessibility.

“Spring Awakening” is not a story to be taken lightly. Topics such as suicide, sex and abortion can make the play uncomfortable for some, but it is still a crucial story to tell. Today, the main themes of the musical continue to resonate with audiences.

Jacob Fritts and Kelsey Wallace brought maximum energy to the stage as Melchior and Wendla. They captured the audience’s attention both together and apart. The dynamics of each character made the story intriguing and relatable.

Moritz, a tormented young man, was played by Frank Kern, a second-year at Western. “Spring Awakening is themed heavily around how we raise our kids today, how we teach and support them… I feel it is important to recognize the impact that my performance might have on the audience, particularly my peers… audience members see the character of Moritz through the lens of me, a transgender actor, which inherently added a level of delicacy to how I approached my portrayal of his journey,” Kern said. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the audience when Moritz passed away.

Maddux Gillett, a sophomore who played Georg, a classmate of Mortiz and piano player, said, “…Georg’s solo in ‘Touch Me’ is near and dear to my heart… it is so freeing to own the song and share that with the audience.” Gillett’s energy lit up all of Rice Auditorium. 

Lexy Bolsinger, a senior at Western and “Spring Awakening’s” assistant director and fight choreographer, said, “My favorite part was bringing Hanschen and Ernst’s story to life. As a queer person, it is an honor to share all aspects of sex education. It was beautiful to hear audience members walking out feeling seen.”

All the cast and crew worked hard to make sure every detail was in place. Whether it was intimacy, fights or dance, each choreographed move was intentional. Each song and line was clearly rehearsed many times over. The WOU Theatre Department has once again impressed audiences with its talent and will continue to do so in the future.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

The rise of physical media

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

In 2023, Best Buy announced that they were going to stop selling DVDs in 2024. DVD sales have also been declining for the past 16 years, but with the rise of fan culture, especially on social media, DVDs and other forms of physical media have the chance to make a comeback.

Social media has allowed people from around the world to build connections with one another, especially when it comes to the shared love of media like film and music. Within these communities, there is a presence of commercialism. Artists make merchandise to sell to adoring fans, and people post about their purchases such as the discovery of new or vintage items relating to the media. It’s a large part of the culture. 

The urge to buy merchandise from favorite artists allows businesses like The Criterion Collection to rise in sales. Criterion is a company that makes special editions of classic and contemporary films. They sell DVDs with new covers and designs; their DVDs usually house exclusive commentary, merchandise and scenes from the director, which is a big selling point for fans. 

Even with new companies like Criterion, the purchasing of brand-new DVDs is still on the decline; this may be because many fans are giving thrifted and vintage DVDs a new life. The more obscure the merchandise is, the better it is for enthusiastic devotees. It is also very cost-effective, considering many DVDs only cost a couple of dollars at a thrift store.

Still, some may find the purchasing of DVDs to be a waste of money because of the accessibility of movies through streaming services. For many others though, the ability to own their favorite movie heavily outweighs being able to easily watch it through Netflix. 

In contrast to the steady decrease in DVD sales, vinyl sales have been rapidly increasing. In 2023, Americans purchased 49 million vinyl records, which is 14 percent more compared to previous years. Vinyls have also outsold CDs consecutively in the past three years. Fans and social media have contributed to this increase. Exclusive vinyls with limited merchandise inside have enthralled followers of popular musicians. 

Taylor Swift sold the most vinyl albums in 2023. Swift’s fan base has been known to have an obsession with merchandise, official or not, and with the combination of that and Swift selling many limited edition CDs and vinyl that included many treasures inside — such as photos and posters — there’s no debating why Swift conquered the charts in that category. 

Physical media will most likely never regain its position above streaming services, but for fans of popular and alternative media alike, personalized ownership will always win over the convenience and availability of streaming platforms.

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu. 

It’s a smash

Written by: Sophie Taylor | Designer

“F—–g Your Culture” — $uicideboy$

“I duckinf hatw u” — Ghostemane

“Floor 555” — XXXTENTACION

“CtrlAltDelete” — BONES

“G WALKIN’ ON YO COFFIN, Pt. 1” — Lil Boodang

“GENOCIDE” — Lil Darkie

“Memoirs of a Gorilla” — $uicideboy$

“Aftershock” — Pouya

“HDMI” — BONES

“Nightmare on the Northside” — Scrim

“Psycho Pass” — Xavier Wulf

“MARCELINE” — Lil God Dan

“Y’all Want A Single” — Korn

“Two Twelve Subwoofer” — 99zed, Saliva Grey

“Sacrilege” — Ghostemane

“You’re Now Tuning into 66.6 FM with DJ Rapture” — $uicideboy$

“AWKWARD CAR DRIVE” — Germ, $uicideboy$

“Heroin As a Recreational Activity” — DUCKBOY

“The 9th Circle” — MAKAVELIGODD

“Flesh” — Ghostemane

“4Peat” — XXXTENTACION, Ski Mask The Slump God

“Deadboy98” — REDZED

Contact the author at howldesigner@mail.wou.edu 

So much for (2our) dust…

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

On Feb. 28, Fall Out Boy kicked off the second North American leg of their “So Much for (2our) Dust…” tour in a sold-out show at the Moda Center in Portland. I had the opportunity to attend this show, something I have wanted to do since middle school. 

Fall Out Boy was opened by Daisy Grenade, The Main and Jimmy Eat World. Even though Jimmy Eat World was an opener, Fall Out Boy, Daisy Grenade and The Main are all influenced by Jimmy Eat World, which was a cool experience for everyone. Starting at 6 p.m., each opening artist had 45 minutes to perform onstage, with Jimmy Eat World finishing their set at 8:45 p.m.

While waiting for Fall Out Boy to come on stage, the sound tech played various popular alternative songs, including “Dear Maria Count Me In” and “Dial Drunk,” before they capped it off with Fall Out Boy’s modern “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Immediately after, the intro played and out they came.

After playing “Love From the Other Side,” guitarist Pete Wentz gave a brief introduction and they launched into their set. Many of the songs were accompanied by pyrotechnics, smoke screens, fireworks and a fire-covered guitar, played by Wentz. 

During the portion of the show where they played “Sugar We’re Going Down,” “Uma Thurman” and “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More ‘Touch Me’,” the band had a puppeteered snail on stage, along with inflatable cacti and a crew member wearing a white rabbit suit. The rabbit vibed along with the music onstage, ultimately ending up headbanging with the snail.

The band also eventually brought out an inflatable Doberman head — which was controlled by the same person who wore the rabbit suit — and had a mouth that had full movement to open and shut. During “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race” the mouth was utilized to sing “God d–n” with the audience. 

The setlist was mostly comprised of the band’s own songs from their “Save Rock and Roll,” “Take This to Your Grave” and “So Much (For) Stardust” albums; however, they did perform partial covers: “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne and “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. The latter was preluded by a piano medley of “Young and Menace” and “What a Catch, Donnie” — “Young and Menace” had not been played since Oct. 10, 2018. 

Overall, it was an extremely enjoyable experience. I have been a fan of Fall Out Boy since middle school, and it has always been on my bucket list to see them in concert. I was partially disappointed that they did not play more from their album “MANIA” or that they didn’t play the song “Save Rock and Roll,” but it was still an amazing experience overall. 

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Flashback to the 90s

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Songs that take you back to the time before iPods and Spotify. This is the playlist everyone’s parents listened to in their college dorms, filled to the brim with songs that defined the decade.

“Tubthumping” — Chumbawamba

“Mambo No. 5 (a Little Bit of…)” — Lou Bega

“Slam” — Onyx

“Break Stuff” — Limp Bizkit

“End of the Road” — Boyz II Men

“Zombie” — The Cranberries

“What’s My Age Again?” — Blink-182

“You Oughta Know” — Alanis Morissette

“Basket Case” — Green Day

“Ironic” — Alanis Morisette

“Semi-Charmed Life” — Third Eye Blind

“My Name Is” — Eminem

“No Diggity” — Blackstreet, Dr. Dre, Queen Pen

“No Scrubs” — TLC

“Genie in a Bottle” — Christina Aguilera

“What a Girl Wants” — Christina Aguilera

“Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” — JAY-Z

“(You Drive Me) Crazy” — Britney Spears

“Tonight, Tonight” — The Smashing Pumpkins

“Say It Ain’t So” — Weezer

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Celebrating Black authors for Black History Month

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

As Black History Month comes to an end, here is a list of books written by Black authors to expand one’s reading portfolio. With a mix of thrillers, memoirs and historical fiction, everyone is sure to find something to enjoy. 

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker — This Pulitzer prize winning novel depicts the lives of African American women living in twentieth-century rural Georgia. Though separated while they were young, sisters Celie and Nettie stay loyal to each other across time through a series of letters.

“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett — From the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, racial identities and communities are explored. One twin sister remains in the southern town she once tried to escape, while the other hides her past from her white husband.

“Ace of Spades” by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé — At Niveus Private Academy, the wealthy students strive for nothing less than perfection. When the anonymous texter, “Aces,” brings two students’ secrets to light, everything turns upside down.

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas — Starr Carter exists in two worlds — the poor neighborhood where she lives and the suburban prep school she attends. The shaky balance between her two worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the shooting of her best friend.

“Becoming” by Michelle Obama — The first African-American First Lady shares her experiences advocating for young women, creating inclusivity in the White House and changing the ways families pursue the topic of health in her memoir. 

“Right Where I Left You” by Julian Winters — Isaac Martin is ready to start summer, but not ready to start college without his best friend, Diego. Knowing the summer is limited, Isaac enacts a plan to snatch up a pair of badges for a comic convention — until past friends come into the picture and things become complicated.

“The Taking of Jake Livingston” by Ryan Douglass — Jake Livingston is one of the only Black students at St. Clair Prep School, and to make matters worse, he can see dead people. Most ghosts are harmless, but once Jake meets the vengeful spirit, Sawyer, high school becomes a game of survival that Jake isn’t sure he can win.

“Red at the Bone” by Jacqueline Woodson — On the evening of 16 year-old Melody’s coming of age party, she wears a beautiful dress to celebrate with relatives — a dress made for her mother 16 years prior for a ceremony that never happened. Her family history is unfurled as this book moves both forward and backward in time.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Excessive amounts of biopics

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

In the past year alone, 17 biopics were released in movie theaters and on major streaming services. The most notable of them is, “Oppenheimer,” which is currently nominated for 13 Oscars. Now, in 2024, new biopics are playing in theaters, including: “Bob Marley: One Love,” as well as the trailer for, “Back to Black,” a film about the life of Amy Winehouse. 

Many of the upcoming blockbuster films fall under the category of biographical movies, including a recently announced four-film series about The Beatles. Theaters everywhere are currently being overrun with these biographical retellings. 

Biopics are a genre that attracts a very specific audience. Most films during this day and age attempt to appeal to all viewers, which can cause the movie to fall flat. Biographical films attract an audience that is interested in the people, or person, that the film is about; rather than having to worry about reaching a large audience, the directors only need to worry about making a mediocre film and disappointing the fans. 

By making a film about a subject with adoring and intrigued fans, directors are almost guaranteed a box office hit. They simply have to hire the right actors and writers to depict an accurate story. There is little creativity needed to share the life of another person. 

Biopics are easier to make compared to an original story with an original script and there is less risk. Even if the film doesn’t end up being well-loved, most people will still go to theaters to see their favorite historical figure on the big screen. 

This is the reason for the constant output of biopics. There will always be famous and notable people to make movies about, and there will always be an audience for them. Original scripts and stories don’t have the safety net of a premade story featuring a well-known figure. 

These biographical films will never stop being produced; people will continue to die and movies will continue to be made. While these films hold some substance for sharing the lives of misunderstood individuals who didn’t have a voice like Priscilla Presley in, “Priscilla,” most biopics continue to reshare over-told stories of famous personalities. 

Biopics have their purpose in our society, but after a while, they will soon become old and overused. 

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu. 

Beyoncé takes on country

Written by: Libby Thoma | Staff Writer

Beyoncé has announced the second part of her “Renaissance” album, which is a three-act installment. However, this album takes a different approach than her previous ones because it classifies as country; it is said to come out on March 29. Fans are referring to the album as “Renaissance Act II” or “Act II,” although the name of the album remains unknown.

The news was dropped during the Super Bowl halftime show and confirmed to be country. Beyoncé also starred in a Super Bowl commercial with Tony Hail by acting as ‘firsts,’ such as the first female president. The commercial ended with a voiceover stating, “ok, they ready, drop the new music.” Later on the same Super Bowl Sunday, the songs “Texas Hold ‘Em’” and “Act II,” both country, were released and posted to her Instagram.  

However, Beyoncé’s new country album did not come without controversy. A country station, KYKC 100.1, refused to play Beyoncé’s new country music on their station, and Roger Harris, the owner of the station, stated they get a high volume of calls to play Beyoncé’s new songs, which on other stations, played up to eight times a week. 

The release of “Texas Hold ‘Em’” and “Act II” has been met with backlash from country listeners who don’t consider her music ‘real country.’ This has led to many stations facing the problem of receiving hundreds of calls or sticking to more traditional country music. 

Bobby Bone, along with many other Beyoncé fanatics, finds it interesting that there has not been much controversy surrounding Post Malone’s upcoming country album despite the two artists delving into the genre for the first time simultaneously. Fans think that an artist can tackle multiple genres of music. Along with creating attention for Beyoncé, the singer-songwriter has also generated attention for country music. Some say that country music is being more widely talked about now that there is this controversy, and that either way, the controversy is good for the genre. 

It is unknown where the new album will be available for streaming, but the two songs that were released became available on Tidal before Spotify or Apple Music. 

Beyoncé’s new music has country listeners and Beyoncé fans divided. Although there is this divide, attention is being brought both to the genre and the artist herself. 

Contact the author at ethoma23@mail.wou.edu

Spicy book recs for the single and the curious couples

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor, Salyna Woods | Freelancer

This selection of romance and smut books was created for those who may be lonely or for couples looking for new things to try in the bedroom.

Fluff — plot oriented, light spice

“Ice Breaker,” “Maple Hills Series” Book One by Hannah Grace — When the hockey and figure skating teams at Maple Hills University are forced to share the same rink — and Anastasia Allen’s skating partner gets hurt in the aftermath — hockey player Nathan Hills finds himself trading his stick for tights.

“The Deal,” “Off-Campus Series” Book One by Elle Kennedy — Hannah Wells would do anything to get her crush’s attention — even tutor the cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. All Garret Graham wants to do is play professional hockey, but his dropping GPA is threatening everything. If fake dating a girl to help make some guy jealous will help him secure a position on the team, so be it. 

Spicy — less plot oriented, medium spice

“Twisted Love,” “Twisted Series” Book One by Anna Huang — Alex Volkov is a devil blessed with the face of an angel and a cursed past; Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember. Their love is one that was never supposed to happen, but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both and everything they love.

“Things I Wanted to Say But Never Did,” “The Lancaster Prep Series” Book One by Monica Murphy — Whit Lancaster is a menace on campus, but his primary target is Summer Savage. When she finds him one night, broken and bloody, she sneaks him to her room and cleans him up, then falls for his lies. When he leaves, he takes her journal and promises to let her secrets out. Summer strikes a deal with the Devil — and lets him ruin her behind closed doors.

Spicier — hardly any plot, heavy spice, mature audiences only

“Priest,” “Priest Series” Book One by Sierra Simone — There are many rules a priest can’t break: he cannot marry, abandon his flock or forsake his God. Father Tyler Bell has always been good at following the rules set for him, but six months ago he broke his vow of celibacy on the altar of his own church. And God help him, he’d do it again.

“Neon Gods,” “Dark Olympus Series’” Book One by Katee Robert — Persephone Dimitriou plans to flee the glittering socialite life in the City of Olympus, but when her mother ambushes her with an engagement to Zeus, she is forced to flee to the undercity. There, she makes a devil’s bargain with a man she had originally thought was a myth. Hades never intended to step into the spotlight, but he finds that Persephone can offer the revenge he’s been craving. Every night they spend together has given Hades a taste for Persephone, and he’ll go to war to keep her close to him.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Upcoming Frankenstein films

Written by: Lili Minato | Freelancer

Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide

The iconic story of “Frankenstein” has been retold upwards of 114 times through the artistic media of film, the first recorded example being a movie by the same name made in 1910. Now, there are two new “Frankenstein” adaptations coming to the big screen in the upcoming year and a “Frankenstein”-inspired film that is up for an Academy Award. 

These three movies all follow the general themes and plot of “Frankenstein,” while also bringing their own original ideas to the table. From original stories to stylistic elements and cinematography, the classic story continues to spark new life in these adaptations. 

“Poor Things” is an artistic blockbuster that premiered in December of 2023. The story, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, follows a suicidal pregnant woman — played by Emma Stone — who is resurrected with her brain switched with the underdeveloped brain of her unborn child. She then goes on to explore the world through those new set of eyes. 

While not technically a publicized reproduction of the original story, it takes many elements from the stereotypical depictions of “Frankenstein” — a mad scientist and the resurrection of a new organic creature as well as the exploration and the understanding of society by said creature. The connections to the original Mary Shelley novel are abundant. 

The upcoming film, “Lisa Frankenstein,” takes a different approach to the generic recurring plot points of past “Frankenstein” adaptations. Described as a “coming of rage love story” by IMDb, the plot consists of a teenager in the 80s bringing a corpse — who happens to be her crush — back from the dead. They go on a joint mission to find missing body parts which results in murder, love and possibly happiness.

Even though this isn’t a completely original retelling of the novel, the film seems to be taking on something new with a campy and gothic style that will be loved by younger and older audiences alike. 

Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” is a remake of the 1931 classic by the same name. From what the public knows, this film doesn’t seem to stray as far from the original story compared to the other two films mentioned. 

However, audiences shouldn’t expect another repetitive “Frankenstein” movie — del Toro’s past films should inspire viewers to still expect an elevated level of beautiful, stylistic work. Combined with the acting skills of Oscar Issac, Mia Goth and Jacob Elordi, fans of del Toro and “Frankenstein” should anticipate creativity and beauty from this upcoming film.

Contact the author at lminato22@mail.wou.edu

Prime’s newest project: Hazbin Hotel

Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers, mentions of sexual assault, abuse, drug and alcohol use and violence 

Amazon Prime is no stranger to streaming shows based around angels, demons and the redemption of sordid characters. When Neil Gaiman’s “Good Omens” premiered on the company’s streaming service, Prime Video, it quickly gained notoriety among subscribers. Prime’s newest show, “Hazbin Hotel,” has been met with similar excitement since its release.

In its early days, “Hazbin Hotel” was first posted on a YouTube channel run by the show’s creator, Vivienne Medrano, who went by the handle @vivziepop. Since its initial release on Oct. 28, 2019, the pilot has garnered over 97.1 million views. In 2020, film studio A24 earned the rights to fund and produce the series, but it did not find a home company until Prime Video picked it up for partnership. 

“Hazbin Hotel” follows Charlie Morningstar — played by Elsie Lovelock — as she attempts to rehabilitate sinners in her hotel. Working at the hotel with her is the enigmatic Radio Demon, Alastor, bubbly one-eyed Nifty and alcoholic Husk, who act as the hotel’s business partner, housekeeper and bartender respectively. 

Together, they work to better the souls of p**n star and addict, Angel Dust, and the loveable loser, Sir Pentious. While attempting this, the hotel residents must prepare to face the coming exorcism, led by none other than the first man himself, Adam, or “the original d**k” as he calls himself. 

The show’s first season runs eight episodes, with a runtime of 25 minutes and two songs per episode. It also boasts a well-known cast of Broadway stars, including Alex Brightman, who performed in “Beetlejuice: The Musical,” Stephanie Beatriz, known for Disney’s “Encanto” and “Centaur World” and Keith David, who stars in Disney’s “Princess and the Frog” and “Coraline.”

On the surface, “Hazbin Hotel” may seem like a raunchy, adult comedy with flashy animation and rock-style musical numbers; however, it goes much deeper than what meets the eye. 

A primary example lies beneath the surface of character, Angel Dust, played by Blake Roman. At face value, he is flirtatious, constantly intoxicated and hides his insecurities under aloofness, but, in his song “Poison,” the audience is given a glimpse into Angel Dust’s inner monologue, as well as his abusive and controlling relationship with demon overlord, Valentino. In episode five, “Masquerade,” viewers see Angel — in flashbacks — assaulted and beaten by Valentino, as well as being forced to star in adult videos, usually with violent premises.

“It’s not an act! It’s who I need to be! And this, this is my escape. Where I can forget about it all and how much I hate everything. A place where I can get high and not have to think about how much it hurts. And maybe if I can ruin myself enough in the process, if I end up broken, I won’t be his favorite toy anymore, and maybe he’ll let me go,” Angel says. 

“Hazbin Hotel” also explores strained father-daughter relationships, with Charlie and her father, Lucifer — played by Jeremy Jordan, who is known for “Newsies” and “Tangled the Series.” In episode five, “Dad Beat Dad,” Lucifer comes to the hotel to help Charlie in her enterprise, and ultimately repairs his relationship with Charlie in a song titled “More Than Everything.”

The hashtag “hazbinhotel” has garnered over 1.1 million posts on TikTok and 767 thousand on Instagram — skyrocketing the show into popularity in the wake of the finale. Edits and clips of the show have taken over the for you pages of many TikTok users, as well as some users on the platform, gaining overnight fame due to their cosplays of characters and usage of dialogue or songs from the show. 

“It definitely deserves the hype it’s getting,” said sophomore, Faith Woolsey. “The plot is amazing and the animation is so good.”

However, there has been some bible-thumping, Ned Flanders types who have taken to TikTok to claim that the show makes Satan the hero and God the enemy. 

One such video was posted on Jan. 28, by TikTok user @kmarie_g, and captioned “are they getting bolder with satanic worship or are we waking up more? Either way, it’s here and it’s in the wide open. Amazon’s new cartoon series about Satan being the good guy should be a wake up call to all Christians that now more than ever we need to stand up and guide people to Jesus because this world is doing everything they can to pull them the other way.” In the comments, it was a similar story: other users supported her “message” and were asking God and Jesus to bring the end times. None of the users had watched “Hazbin Hotel.”

This is evident because these claims could not be further from the truth. For one, Lucifer and Satan are two different people in the Hebrew Bible; while Satan is known for trying to tempt Jesus, Lucifer is known for serving him. Lucifer led Jesus to the cross and was cast from Heaven for rebelling against God, while Satan rebels against God and wishes for humanity to serve under him. The title of “Devil” is interchangeable for both Lucifer and Satan. Additionally, it is Adam and his exorcists who are portrayed as evil in “Hazbin Hotel,” not God — who is not even seen and hardly mentioned in the show’s first season.

“Hazbin Hotel” has been greenlit for a second season by Prime Video, with the show’s creator stating a one and a half to two year period before the release of season two. For now, fans can enjoy the show’s sister series — Helluva Boss — on YouTube.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

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