Mount Hood

Spring into action

By: Alyssa James
Staff Writer

Winter term is coming to a close which means that after next week, spring break will be here. Oregon may not be the ideal spring break destination spot for most; however, Oregon offers various excursions that students can enjoy.

Beginning March 24, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is putting on their annual Tulip Fest. With 40 acres of land to walk about with views of the mountains, this is an ideal place to visit to enjoy the start of spring. There is a $5 ticket cost to enter, but once inside there are a few different gardens to explore, food onsite from the Mt. Angel Sausage Company, a coffee cart and more. This may be just the way to kick off the spring season.

Over 21 and want something fun to do? The Cider Rite of Spring is taking place in Portland on March 25. According to nwcider.com, Cider Rite of Spring is an event that celebrates the “blossoming Northwest Cider industry” and is “an annual cider tasting event welcoming the return of Spring.” The event runs from 12 to 6 p.m. and costs $25 to attend. With entrance, attendees receive a complimentary glass and access to a total of 30 local cideries offering almost 100 different types of cider.

For someone who doesn’t want to spend a bunch of money over the week-long break, taking a trip to one of the numerous hikes within Oregon may sound like the ultimate way to spend one’s time. A few options that may be worth looking into are Silver Falls State Park, Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge and Multnomah Falls. One thing to always remember is that when going on a hike, staying safe is the top priority. Whether hiking, enjoying cider, or admiring tulips, there is something to enjoy for everyone during spring break.

Contact the author at ajames16@wou.edu

Western gets vocal

By: Blayde Biacan
Staff Writer

Western’s very own a cappella event took place at the Smith Recital Hall on March 9. A cappella is singing without instrumentals. The experience had the performers doing their utmost in their talents, all the while still joking with the audience and themselves on
stage.

Western’s a cappella is separated into two groups. The male group is called 15 Miles West. While the female group is called Suspended. Their interactions on stage and between themselves show how close they are, “We’re like a family” said one performer.

In the event, many well known artists and songs were performed. In order of their performances, the event started with 15 Miles West performing “This is Gospel,” “I Wish,” “Jealous,” “7 Bridges Road,” “I Do” and an Usher medley. It then transitioned to Suspended performing a Chainsmokers medley, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” a Rihanna medley, “Hide and Seek” and a Colors medley. In the end they came together to sing “Never Be Like You.”

The only time that an individual stood out was in a solo, other than that, you could see and hear every performer and their music. Trying to focus in on one specific tune or person is hard. Despite there being no musical instruments besides the performers themselves, it sounds exactly like each song, which is truly what a cappella is.

Contact the author at bbiacan16@wou.edu

Local musician shakes things up

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

Breaking into the music scene can be hard for new artists. With the rise of social media and trends, staying relevant in today’s entertainment industry is a difficult thing to do, but local musician Isaac Turner is combating that.

Turner created a “Song of the Week” series, where over the course of one year, he writes, produces and creates a music video for an original song. Turner just wrapped up working on his week 10 song, “The Road.”

I got a chance to sit down with Turner and learn all about his work and the exciting things he’s been working on.

“Last year in December, I reflected that I’d done nothing the whole year. A whole year has gone by and I haven’t even finished my album, I was still recording it. I played a couple shows and did a few festivals, but that’s nothing. I did nothing to build a fan base” said Turner.

With this, Turner recounted that it was time to make a change.

“I came up with this idea to write, record and produce a song every single week. One, it’s going to force me to buckle down and handle it. It’d force me to stay in the studio writing and producing. The other thing is that you get better every time you do something. Every time I do one of these songs, the songwriting will get a little bit better, the production will get a little bit better, the music videos will get a little bit better. That was the main part of it” Turner added.

Shying away from the old standard of making music and staying relevant in today’s world of social media are both important for Turner and his music.

“How do you stay relevant in today’s crazy social media? If you have an album that’s 12 songs, how do you keep that relevant all year? You can’t. By a new song every single week and the process of the song, I can stay relevant all week long” Turner said.

Turner currently has three albums out. His latest, “Give You Love” released in January with 12 songs.

The biggest inspiration for Turner’s current release system is the band Marion Hill, who released a song online and gained enough popularity that they had a record deal before their first tour. He said Marion Hill, “… and their story is what changed my idea, so they’re a huge inspiration on me, their story more than their music. Sound wise, I’d say Chet Faker. I love his vibe”.

Another inspiration for Turner is the state of Oregon, where he’s spent his whole life.

“The rivers, the woods, nature. I incorporate that into so many of my videos. I think a huge part of my acoustic thing comes from that folky Oregon natural kinda thing” added Turner.

Isaac Turner’s music is available on both iTunes and Spotify, as well as on his youtube channel “isaacturnermusic,” where his weekly music videos can be found.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: “Kong”

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

“Sometimes the most dangerous things are the most beautiful,” says Tom Hiddleston’s “Kong: Skull Island” character, explorer James Conrad.

A fitting quote for a movie of such monstrous proportions. It’s difficult to watch “Kong: Skull Island” without being constantly blown away by the beautiful South Pacific setting and the fantastic cinematography.

Each scene of terror is followed by a scene of beauty. The wonder of the uncharted Skull Island is shown throughout, causing smile-inducing scenes of beauty around every corner, which helps to make “Kong: Skull Island” an excellent adventure film.

Accompanied by music and outfits from it’s 1973 setting, “Kong: Skull Island” makes great use of the time period, set up to feel like a Vietnam War film.

The film makes great use of its cast. Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston and John Goodman all bring unique and compelling performances to the table. Working with an ensemble cast of well known actors can make for thin characters, but in “Kong,” everyone has their moment to shine.

Even Kong himself is an incredibly done character. Both terrifying and sympathetic, Kong’s special effects help to make him realistic enough to feel like a real threat to the viewer, rather than an animated joke like some “King Kong” movies in the past.

The film does fall into standard action movie tropes though. When the soldiers are focused on in the film, I found myself having heard the same dialogue and seen the same problems. “Kong: Skull Island” doesn’t do much to set itself apart from every other action film.

The plot is also weak. Two hours of “get from point A to point B with monsters” gets redundant and annoying after a while and would be a total bust without the accompaniment of great performances and excellent visuals.

With a great cast and beautiful cinematography, “Kong: Skull Island” is one of the best “King Kong” films ever made. Although brought down by action movie tropes and a weak plot, “Kong” is still a great, beautiful movie that definitely deserves a watch.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

¾
+ Great cast
– Weak plot

Tackling a trend of sadness

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

The idea of publishing is exciting for writers, but can also be scary. Western student Ollie Bergh, a Bachelor of Fine Arts theater major, recently self published his first book, “The Joy You Hide,” a collection of poetry and a short story.

“The joy you hide” includes 21 poems and a short story called “kintsugi,” in which, taken from the book’s description, Bergh “… tackles a young tragedy like a film.”

Sitting down with Bergh, I was able to get some information about the inspiration behind “the joy you hide.”

“We’re so cynical, our generation, people say ‘the millennials.’ I remember talking with someone and we were one upping each other with our lives, and I just thought that was ridiculous. There’s so much happiness we have in the world everyday, but it’s kind of ‘trendy’ in a way to be sad. So I thought I’d argue that” said Bergh.

Bergh’s favorite poem, and the one where he got the book’s title from, is “our biggest fear.”

“This is maybe the thing I’ve always wanted to say. It’s six lines, but it took me so long to make sure I got every word right. I just really love it. It feels to me like the expression of the book itself” Bergh recounted.

“The runner up would be the poem right next to it, ‘the loneliest generation,’ which for me was super fun because I got all four seasons in there and I created a form that I wanted out of nowhere. I made some rules for myself and it was a fun puzzle that came out. People really like it.” Bergh added.

Bergh compiled his work into the book and published the book himself.

“As soon as I got the book in my hands, I felt guilty. I cheated in a way, I feel. I haven’t gone through the gambit that a lot of young go through which is they write, write, write, write, write their whole life. For me, this has just been a hobby. I didn’t really want to go through the arduous process of going through a publisher, so I thought ‘I’ll do it myself’” said Bergh.

“What I would say to someone who wants to do it is, if someone like me can do it – on a whim, you absolutely have every responsibility to do it. Get your writing out there, and if no one is going to publish it for you, publish it yourself” he added.

Bergh cites the inspirations for the book as our generation’s cynicism, his faith and his experience at Western.

“The biggest direct influences are the people on campus and Dr. Hughes, who has helped me a lot. I think it was my freshman year, I reached out to him and said ‘hey I want to understand what makes a good poem’ and he helped me out with that. Campus itself, the people have crafted me here” said Bergh.

Ollie Bergh’s book “the joy you hide” is available now on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback editions for $10.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

Review: Logan

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

The popularity of superhero movies recently in Hollywood can be traced back to the 2000 release of “X-Men.” Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Patrick Stewart as Charles Xavier both helped to create a beloved universe that is still around even 17 years later. Both have said that “Logan” is their last appearance in the universe, and a fitting end it is.

From the very beginning, “Logan” is a much different superhero movie than anything done before it. It’s R rating gives it room to be dark, gritty and full of violence. The hacking and slashing that Wolverine had done in films prior is nothing compared to the full-blown decapitation and dismemberment of “Logan.”

The film takes place in 2029, in a very different and almost dystopian America. Corporations are big, even in North Dakota trees are a rare sight and mutants are mostly gone. World-building is done right in “Logan.” The dystopian aspects of the world are learned throughout, rather than forced by exposition.

Logan and Professor X are the two main focuses of the movie and are both different than ever before. Logan is working as a limo driver, trying desperately to make money to provide a physically and mentally ill Professor X with medicine.

These are characters that I’ve grown up with for the past 17 years. To see them in such low places in “Logan” is difficult, but their struggles and character arcs make for an engaging movie. For Jackman and Stewart, their performances are both some of the best in the past 17 years of films.

This is a superhero movie with no costumes, no heroic speeches, but instead real consequences, guilt and lots of regret. This is all shown by compelling performances from Stewart and Jackman.

The film also introduces X-23, a young girl with very similar abilities to Logan, played by Dafne Keen. X-23 is the character that takes Logan and Professor X out of their everyday lives and moves the plot along. She doesn’t say much, but her presence in the film is powerful. She also kicks some serious butt for a child.

“Logan” is a must-see for superhero fans and casual moviegoers alike. The performances are top of the line, the story is tragic and beautiful at the same time and Jackman and Stewart end their “X-Men” careers on a high note. “Logan” is not only the best film in the “X-Men” franchise, it is one of the best superhero movies that there has been in a long time.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

4/4
+ Intense, violent action sequences
+ Incredible performances

Western brings the music

By: Ashton Newton
Entertainment Editor

With the end of term approaching, classes are starting to pick up with exams and projects. Luckily, Western’s music department has a busy rest of the term planned with student recitals and music performances.

On Thursday, March 9, Western’s music department will be holding the end of the term student recitals. This event gives the public a chance to come and see Western music students perform. The recitals start at 11 a.m. and are located in Smith Music Hall.

Friday, March 10 will be the next show in the Smith Fine Arts Series, Orquestra Brasil with Gilberto Gil. Gil is a well known Brazilian musician and cultural icon. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free with a Western student ID.

Lastly, Western’s percussion ensemble will be performing both classic and modern works on Monday March 13 in Rice Auditorium. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free with a student ID.

With the stress of finals approaching, Western music events are a great way to unwind and take some of the stress off.

Contact the author at journalentertainment@wou.edu

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Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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