Mount Hood

Upcoming headliners

Written by: Hannah Field | News Editor

November 2023 is projected to be a busy month for media releases. Some great hits have already come out, including lots of anticipated movies like “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer” and “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” and novels such as the new Percy Jackson book, a Hunger Games addition and many celebrity memoirs topping the charts. The excitement is expected to last through the end of the year with new content lined up for avid readers and movie-enjoyers.
Author Rebecca Yarros came in hot in April 2023 with “Fourth Wing” — the first book in her series titled The Empyrean. “Fourth Wing” is projected on Goodreads with a 4.6 rating out of 5, prompting the release of her highly anticipated sequel, “Iron Flame,” which is expected to be released Nov. 7.     

With themes of fantasy and romance, protagonist Violet Sorrengail is thrown headfirst into a grueling test of wits and will in her second year at Basgiath War College — all while being pushed to betray her one true love. After “Iron Flame,” Yarros is expected to release three more books. “Iron Flame” is a must-read after “Fourth Wing’s” success.

Suzanne Collins’ newest novel, “Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes,” may have been released by now, but the movie directed by Francis Lawrence premieres Nov. 17. The movie is eyeing a $50 million box opening and may be one of the most anticipated films of the year. Taking place long before Katniss Everdeen’s iconic overture of the Hunger Games, the plot focuses on insidious president Coriolanus Snow, pre-presidency, and delves into the philosophical themes around control and chaos.

Christopher Paolini began his writing career with his publication of “Eragon” when he was 19, going on to resolve the Eragon series in 2011 — until now, with the expected release of his follow-up novel “Murtagh,” the name of a beloved character from the original tetralogy. 

While the plot itself is largely unknown, it has been said that “Murtagh” takes place a year after the last novel, “Inheritance,” left off and that the Dragon Rider has been exiled to unknown territory. Dragons appear to be a major hit with new novels this November.

The animated movie “Wish” premieres Nov. 22 in theaters — produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. With a 200 million dollar budget, “Wish” is expected to stun crowds with its worldbuilding and animation. 

After the protagonist Asha makes a wish on a star, she is forced into exile while trying to save the future of her beloved kingdom. Chances are, “Wish” will be a hit for kids, families and adults alike — utilizing that Disney charm to win over audiences. Secondly, it hosts the same teams that worked on “Frozen” and “Moana,” a sign of success for the film. “Wish” will be commemorating Disney’s 100th year of production as an animation studio, so expect a stellar show.

While not a movie nor a book, the drama series “All The Light We Cannot See,” arrives Nov. 2.  Modeled after the novel of the same name by author Anthony Doerr, the story revolves around a blind girl during Nazi reign who meets a young German soldier and tells a tale of resistance, hope and survival. The series has some big names, like Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie, and stars breakout actress Aria Mia Loberti. The show will have four episodes and is to be streamed on Netflix.

Calling all horror fans: “Thanksgiving” releases Nov. 17, starring big names like Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae. Plymouth, Massachusetts, is plagued by an axe-wielding serial killer in this upcoming thriller directed by Eli Roth.

Carol Danvers returns to theaters Nov. 10 in “The Marvels,” where she and two others join forces under the alias — you guessed it — The Marvels. With entangled powers and a breaking universe’s fate on their backs, the three have to unite to achieve their goal. The action movie has a gross budget of $274.9 million and includes another performance from Brie Larson. 

Audience reviews have a mixed expectation for the movie: while it is far too early for a rotten tomatoes rating as the movie isn’t even out yet, “The Marvels” has the shortest runtime of any Marvel movie to date and Brie Larson has faced plenty of critique online for supposedly being “disillusioned” in her role as Captain Marvel. Disney+ may receive the film early in 2024, but that is only a projected guess; in the meantime, it can be found in theaters near you very soon. 



Contact the author at howlnews@mail.wou.edu

Bite of ’89

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Two well-loved fan bases are celebrating simultaneous, monumental releases on Oct. 27. Both horror video game and pop music fans are being brought together by this fateful fall Friday. The ultimate question is which one will one be indulging in: the release of the live-action “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” or both?

Taylor Swift, currently one of the most well-known artists in pop music, announced she was going to re-record her first six albums in November of 2020. Swift’s old label sold her music to her manager, Scooter Braun, meaning she no longer owns the rights to any of her music. It’s no wonder that fans of the singer/songwriter are excited about the re-recording of the albums.

Fans of Swift — Swifties — everywhere are proud of this empowering transformation of their favorite artist.

“It’s one of her most iconic albums. This is the year she really embraced pop… I’m just really excited to be back in that era again,” said Kayla Smith, a sophomore at Western.

Though Swifties are ecstatic, some still look down on Taylor Swift and her music. “Even if you’re not a Swiftie… be supportive. You don’t have to listen to it if you don’t want to, but try not to be mean to Swifties out there who are really excited,” said Smith.

On the same day, fans of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” will be in theaters for the release of the movie adaptation of the horror game. The video game was first popularized in 2014 by gaming Youtubers who streamed videos of themselves playing “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Was that the bite of ’87? Players have to survive five nights alone as a security guard at a pizzeria — avoiding animatronics in the dark and learning the many years of intricate game lore.

The ultimate lesson to take away from this encroaching date is to be supportive of each other. Whether it’s pop star Taylor Swift, or horror game turned movie “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” both have made large advances in the last few years. Though both are very different, there is much to celebrate this fateful October weekend.

Contact the author at howlenterrtainment@wou.edu

Best in the pacific northwest

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

Here’s what all three of our Twilight enthusiast readers have been waiting for — a playlist catered to the rainy weather of the pacific northwest. Picture walking to class on a cloudy day, just for a sliver of sun to hit the vitamin-D deficient skin of a student by Todd Hall. They light up like a disco ball and run away at the speed of light. Tune in to this spotify playlist and that just might happen. Key word: might – but it’s still worth a shot. 

“Full Moon” — The Black Ghosts 

“From Now On” — The Features

“Neighbors (Soundtrack Version)” — Theophilus London 

“Friends” — Band of Skulls 

“Cover Your Tracks” — A Boy and His Kite

“Monsters” — Hurricane Bells 

“Slow Life” — Grizzly Bear, Victoria Legrand 

“What Part of Forever” — Ceelo Green 

“Hearing Damage” — Thom Yorke 

“Atlas (Soundtrack Version)” — Fanfarlo 

“How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep” — Bombay Bicycle Club

“Jonathan Low” — Vampire Weekend 

“Roslyn” — Bon Iver, St. Vincent 

“Requiem On Water” — Imperial Mammoth 

“Turning Page” — Sleeping At Last 

“The Violet Hour” — Sea Wolf 

“Speak Up” — POP ETC 

“The Antidote” — St. Vincent 

“Endtapes (Soundtrack Version)” — The Joy Formidable

Plus a few extras that fit the same vibe!

“Open Season” — High Highs 

“Kenny” — Still Woozy

“Dawn Chorus” — Thom Yorke 

“Daylight” — David Kushner

“Evergreen” — Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners 

“Fade Into You” — Mazzy Star 

“Two Weeks” — Grizzly Bear

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Western’s Cannon Gallery displays incredible art, sparking childlike joy

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

At the beginning of October, nine different artists from the Salem area showcased their pieces in the Cannon Gallery in Western’s Campbell Hall. The exhibit’s works of art used media such as paint, embroidery, clay and even coins and plastic figurines. 

The exhibit was titled “The Red Thread” — referring to the connection between the diverse group of artists. Inspired by a Chinese proverb, the red thread is said to connect people who are destined to meet. Following such, a literal red thread was hung throughout the Cannon Art Gallery.

Many of these artists collaborated, but each of their pieces displayed their unique personalities. Two artists, Susan Napeck and Jessica Ramey, had a similar theme to their art — returning to childhood. 

Napeck decided to embroider over the nostalgic drawings by their six-year-old self, depicting themself, their family and their home at the time. 

Ramey created a wondrous fortune-teller out of wood and clay, so anyone could come and find something out about themselves. 

Napeck discussed the connection between them and their art. Napeck’s inspiration came from the idea of “…letting go of old things and making new things with them,” Napeck said. 

Though the piece was sentimental, Napeck said they were alright with letting it go: “…once you make it into art, sometimes it’s easier to let go… once you’re done with it… you can let it fly.”

The fortune teller piece, titled “Elemental Fortune” and embellished with fake eyeballs and bright colors, drew many people in. Ramey had a different approach with their interactive sculpture. Though it was a fortune teller focused on reading personalities, they wanted to make sure it was unlike typical zodiac tropes. 

“The idea is just playfulness, and as adults, we kind of lose that a little bit,” Ramey said. 

The nine artists that showcased their work in the Cannon Art Gallery were part of a collective group from the Willamette Heritage Center. 

Both Napek and Ramey shared their thoughts on working alongside the other artists. “We all do very different things, but are equally curious,” Ramey said. 

In response to comparing their colleagues’ art with their own, Napek said: “as an artist, you try to give back to that facility without being self-conscious.” The idea of the red thread was present in both the profound words and work of the artists.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Fun fall watchlist

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

“Gilmore Girls” on Netflix

“Practical Magic” on Hulu

“Charmed” on Netflix

“Dead Poets Society” on Prime

“Coraline” on Max and Hulu

“Coco” on Disney+

“Over the Garden Wall” on Hulu

“The Shining” on Max

“Knives Out” on Prime

“Wendell and Wild” on Netflix

“The Birds” on Prime

“The Golden Bachelor” on Hulu

“Halloweentown” on Disney+

“What We Do In the Shadows” on Hulu

“Haunted Mansion” on Disney+

“Black Swan” on Prime

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Season two of “Our flag means death” dives deeper into the difficult topic of address emotions

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

The Max original, “Our Flag Means Death,” has won hearts and captured the attention of many. The relatable characters, charming relationships and lots of piracy, offer something for everyone. Though many scenes deal with the typical pirate activities, such as stealing and murdering, the newest season of the show dives into the murky depths of the characters’ emotions.

The first season of the show ended with a heartbreaking split of the main characters, Ed, also known as Blackbeard, and Stede, played by Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby. What some fans may not know is that these two characters are real-life historical figures, and while they may not have had a romance as the show depicts, they definitely met. A new historical character introduced in season two is Zheng Yi Sao, a pirate queen. 

Zheng, played by Ruibo Qian, brings a whole new level of comedy to the show, such as the iconic line: “Girl, how are you?” This question forces Stede to reflect on his past mistakes, and he even offers relationship advice to another character. 

On the other hand, Ed is struggling with negative feelings of self-worth and learning to accept the fact that he is lovable. Who would have thought that Blackbeard, the world’s most infamous and feared pirate, secretly had these emotions deep down?

Lili Minato, a Western sophomore and an avid watcher of “Our Flag Means Death,” shared what she liked about the show in comparison to others that try to tackle the topic of mental health. “This show is showing you pirates in the 18th century and allowing hard subjects to be shared without bumming you out too much because it’s a comedy,” Minato said. “There’s a level of fun to it that allows these harsher, more draining subjects, to be shared to a wider audience without it being too depressing.”

Both the cast and crew work hard behind the scenes to ensure everything is smooth sailing. Taika Waititi, the New Zealand director and star of “Our Flag Means Death,” has taken similar approaches in his past work. His shows, such as “What We Do in the Shadows,” tend to be representative of many communities, so it’s no wonder they have reached a broad audience.

“Our Flag Means Death” offers a new perspective to historical, comedy and drama television fans. It will make viewers laugh, cry and gasp. The show will inspire its audience to create their own “safe space,” as the pirates aim to do on their ship and with each other. It’s a heartfelt comedy that reinvents the stereotypical perception of pirates and will make its audience reflect on the way they love themselves and others.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Lessons from the school of SAW

Written by: Aubrey Laine Baker | Freelancer

The late September release of “Saw X” met box office success and critical acclaim as the film grossed $29.3 million worldwide on its opening weekend. Long-time fans of the “Saw” franchise have rejoiced at its return to the limelight, inciting countless sentimental reflections on its colorful history and cultural relevance. For almost 20 years, the continuing saga has dispensed dopamine fixes and unified audiences across the globe through their insatiable desire for psychologically unsettling storytelling, complex moral quandaries and labyrinthine narrative twists. Or, maybe they’re simply brought together by their hardwired, human hunger for ultraviolence.

While some critics dismiss the films with labels such as “torture porn,” others praise them for their deeper philosophical outlooks and metaphorical explorations of redemption — needle pits, anyone? But whether one is binging on gore or strung out on the subtleties of cinema, “Saw” leaves viewers of any disposition with a timeless takeaway: life is to be cherished.

I want to play a game. The game I want to play is not unlike the game of life. There’s a slow-acting poison coursing through the world that each and every person has the antidote for.

Are they going to watch themselves die, or are they going to do something about it?

Thankfully they’re not typically strapped by their teeth to a home-brew head shredder on a timer, and they don’t need to face their most personal flaws in a grimly ironic, gruesome death room. They don’t need to push the limits of self-mutilation or sacrifice the well-being of others for their survival.

But they will have to do some surgery. Somewhere inside of them is the glow of their passions. Can they find it?

Will they tend to it and radiate with its warmth? Or let it dwindle and die, and rob the world of their brilliance.

Life is a gift and it’s not to be squandered. In our contemporary world of nihilistic persuasion and ever-rising suicidal tendencies, it can be easy to forget that. 

In the words of John Kramer, “Congratulations, you are alive. So many people are ungrateful to be alive, but not you. Not anymore.”

Contact the author at

albaker23@mail.wou.edu

Basic needs and fun games — what more could you need?

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Abby’s House, the gender equity center located in the Werner University Center, provides students with resources for basic needs and other sorts of support — such as food and transportation. At Western’s Pack Welcome Week Game Night on Sept. 25 Abby’s House introduced students to a quirky card game called “Radical Queer Witches.”

The game is played almost exactly like “Cards Against Humanity,” but appeals to a more female, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audience. The goal of the game’s creator was to address issues of oppression in a humorous fashion and avoid the offensive aspects of Cards Against Humanity. Examples of response cards include “gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing” and “dissociating in the grocery store.” 

Hailee Carmody, the Basic Needs Peer Educator of Abby’s House, commented on the importance of the game: “It takes out a lot of insensitive answers and puts in some modern and way more fun ones,” Carmody said. 

Carmody and other Abby’s House employees are fervently trying to increase student involvement. “If you like Taylor Swift and games, please come to Abby’s House.”

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Back to school tunes

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

“There She Goes” — The La’s

“Bus Stop” — The Hollies

“You’re On Your Own, Kid” — Taylor Swift

“we fell in love in october” — girl in red

“mona lisa” — mxmtoon

“Call Your Mom” — Noah Kahan, Lizzy McAlpine

“Campus” — Vampire Weekend

“ballad of a homeschooled girl” — Olivia Rodrigo 

“4runner” — Brenn!

“Anything But” — Hozier

“Everyday” — Buddy Holly

“Acai Bowl” — Dominic Fike

“Come On Eileen” — Dexys Midnight Runners

“Long Way From Home” — The Lumineers

“Ghost in the Machine” — SZA, Phoebe Bridgers

“Not Strong Enough” — boygenius

“Textbook Love” — Fleet Foxes

“Sugar” — Remi Wolf

“Zombie” — The Cranberries

“Life in a Northern Town” — The Dream Academy

“Send Me on My Way” — Rusted Root

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Netflix’s interactive rom-com changes the rom-com game

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

Three handsome, single men are fighting for a young woman’s affection… Now, the woman’s dilemma has become choosing just one — the current lawyer boyfriend who just proposed, the famous rockstar or the schoolteacher with a history? Such is the predicament of Cami Conway, the protagonist of the Netflix hit, “Choose Love.”

What separates “Choose Love” from other modern romantic comedies is that the viewers have a say in choosing the perfect man for Cami. Watch with friends and they will be fighting over the remote to pick either Paul, Rex or Jack. 

Karis D’Orazio, a sophomore at Western and a rom-com fan, said she appreciated this aspect. “You got to pick the guy you liked, instead of watching the whole movie with a guy you didn’t like,” D’Orazio said.

A fun aspect of the movie is that the viewers may go back and undo their choices to receive different endings. The movie has six different endings depending on the decisions the viewer makes on behalf of Cami, however, the many options “took away from the story a little,” said D’Orazio. “You didn’t feel that fulfillment that you feel when you usually watch a rom-com.”

Fans of “Choose Love” have utilized popular social media apps, such as TikTok, to recommend it to others. “It popped up on my For You Page enough for me to be like, okay, I’m going to go look at this movie,” D’Orazio said. Watchers have shared what they would have changed about the movie to make it more enjoyable: “I feel like it could have been a series instead of a movie. You didn’t get to know the characters very well,” said D’Orazio.

This movie is just a gateway for the other interactive content Netflix has to offer. If a rom-com doesn’t resonate, there are interactive adventure, horror and animated shows. These shows and movies can generate feelings of authority in times when everything seems out of control. 


Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Under the Sea

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Disney has been making live-action remakes of all their classics for years, but they have been very hit or miss with audiences. While movies like “Cinderella,” “Cruella” and “Maleficent” have been quite popular with fans, others, like “The Lion King,” “Dumbo” and “Pinocchio” have been ridiculed for their atrocious attempts at matching their classic counterparts. So, when “The Little Mermaid” was released last month, it is safe to say that fans were skeptical. 

As soon as the teaser dropped in Sept. 2022, there was already controversy surrounding this remake. Overtly racist or not, fans criticized the casting choice of Halle Bailey as the Little Mermaid. Once the official trailer came out this March, people were quick to tear apart other aspects of the film as well — particularly in regards to Sebastion being portrayed as a crab instead of a lobster. 

However, I still had high hopes that the film would far surpass everyone’s negative expectations. Unfortunately, Disney did not rise to the occasion. 

One of the most continuous shortcomings that Disney has when it comes to their live-action remakes is their changes to the original films’ soundtracks — “The Little Mermaid” was no different. However, in comparison to the classics such as “Under the Sea,” “Part of Your World” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” the new songs added to the film were absolute garbage. One moment I was watching “The Little Mermaid,” and the next I was transported to a Harry Styles music video. To be clear, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with Harry Styles, it just stuck out like a sore thumb.

Besides this, the CGI was horrible. For the enormous budget that Disney had to make this film, they could have at least put some of it into making it look good. The green screens used in the film were obvious — come on Disney, you’re one of the biggest names in the film industry and it’s 2023. At least add shadows.
On top of this, the movie should have come with a sensory warning. I am particularly sensitive to sounds and the sloshing of the water every time one of the characters moved was too much for me — it sounded like an infant playing in yogurt. 

However, one of the film’s saving graces was its acting crew. Bailey put on a wonderful performance — beautifully pulling off facial expressions even after Ariel lost her voice — and overall, the acting was phenomenal.

Unfortunately, this film had the opportunity to put haters in their place — or at the bare minimum not give them any ammo — but, with no fault to the cast, Disney failed miserably. What could have been a stellar, empowering remake of a classic was turned into a meh-movie with little to no heart behind it at all.

6.5/10.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Western’s Theatre Department Presents “The Wolves”

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Western’s Theatre Department debuted “The Wolves” on May 31 which was performed consecutively for the following three days. Written by Sarah DeLappe and directed by Raissa Fleming, the opening night performance was a smashing success that captivated audiences with the drama and theatrics of a high school soccer team. 

The cast of Western students included Mere Butler as Soccer Mom, Katie Newbury as No. 25, Lexy Bolsinger as No. 11, Lucy Garcia as No. 8, Cody Reece as No. 7, Maddie Blanchard as No. 14, Savannah King as No. 13, Mariam Anderson-Taha as No. 2, Loki Cockrill as No. 00 and Jeneba Diane King as No. 46. 

This production was phenomenal. 

I grew up playing soccer and have a lot of experience playing on teams. Not only have I been in the position of the new girl — No. 46 — but I have also been on a team that was together since kindergarten. The accuracy of the team and their interactions was on point. 

Fleming noted that one of the most impressive things about Delappe’s play was its ability to “capture the nuances of teenage girls’ dialog. The sometimes-lyrical lifts and falls in dialog.”

Each of the characters not only portrays — with seamless accuracy — the perils of being a teenager, but they each do it in their own unique way. Additionally, each one of these individuals perfectly fits into the team as a whole. 

The audience was completely hooked and enthralled with all of the typical teenage drama presented by the team, which made it all that more devastating when one of them was tragically taken before her time. 

The process of dealing with grief is a difficult one and one that all of us will experience in our lifetimes. No matter how young or old, any member of the audience could sympathize with the grief-stricken team as they struggled to pick themselves up after the loss of their teammate. 

Congratulations to the cast of “The Wolves.” Be sure to check out the Theatre Department’s upcoming performances in Fall 2023.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

College Radio is Important

Written by: Mikayla Coleman

I was first introduced to KWOU — Western’s student-run campus radio — when I was finishing my third year at Western. If one would have told me that I would have my own show this year, I would have called them crazy. As a chronically busy, neurodivergent student, I was unsure about adding yet another weekly commitment to my plate. However, after witnessing the joy and excitement of laughing along in the studio and watching my friends play their favorite tunes, I knew that participating in KWOU would be an important part of my life.  

Building a show is a fun and creative endeavor. My friends have built talk and music shows around specific ideas or journeys. My show is called “The Tuned Inn.” I hoped to create advertisements and logos in a sort of “Inn” style hostel theme, but quickly ran out of time. Despite that, the name still has enough personality to make it feel like my own. 

It is extremely cathartic to be able to create a collection of music each week to share with the world. I await each Monday when I will receive my new “Discover Weekly” playlist on Spotify. I use a combination of modern and older music, as well as different genres, to add variety and flow to my playlists each week. In making these choices, I am able to express myself in whatever time and place I may be. They act as a sort of time capsule — looking back at all of my playlists from the past years, I am able to tell what feelings were at the forefront of my mind when I created them. 

Having a show at KWOU has allowed me a unique way to connect with people in my life. Whether a friend lives in town, out of state or across the country, listeners are easily able to stream from anywhere.

I am in a bit of a unique situation — my dad and his father before him have primarily worked in radio for their whole lives, so this allows me to be able to connect with him weekly and continue a third generation of interest in radio. 

As graduation creeps closer, I am already mourning the end of my beloved radio show. I have never considered myself to be charismatic, charming or lively in the way that most traditional radio show hosts are, but, through trial and error, I have been able to figure out what works for me and have become comfortable and content with my hosting and curation skills. I will miss having a space for my favorite people to meet each week and exist in the most chill and welcoming environment. 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Finally Free

Written by: Gretchen Sims

“Free Bird” — Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Free Fallin’” — Tom Petty

“Freedom! ‘90” — George Michael 

“Free spirit” — Khalid

“It’s Called: Freefall” — Rainbow Kitten Surprise

“Free Smoke” — Drake

“Left Hand Free” — alt-J

“Break Free” — Ariana Grande, Zedd

“Oh Freedom!” — The Golden Gospel

“Freewill” — Rush

“Freeway” — Hairitage 

“Wow freestyle (feat. Kendrick Lamar)” — Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar

“Free” — Florence + The Machine

“Free” — Mother Mother

“1AM FREESTYLE” — Joji

“Free” — H.E.R. 

“Get Free” — Lana Del Rey

“I Want To Break Free” — Queen

“Tuned In Freestyle” — Megan Thee Stallion

“Free” — Destiny’s Child

“Young, Wild & Free (feat. Bruno Mars)” — Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Bruno Mars

“free me” — anees

“Breaking Free” — Troy, Gabriella Montez, Disney

“Futura Free” — Frank Ocean

“For Free (feat. Drake)” — DJ Khaled, Drake

“Freedom” — Allen Stone

“Free Mind” — Tems

“Blessed & Free” — Kane Brown, H.E.R.

“Born Free” — Kid Rock

“Free” — Zac Brown Band

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Unhinged Hot Girl

Written by: Ruth Simonsen

“Twist” – Korn

“Peaches” – Jack Black

“Flamingo” – Kero Kero Bonito

“Ocean Man” – Ween

“Even Flow” – Pearl Jam

“Chelsea Dagger” – The Fratellis

“UZUMAKI” – Machine Girl

“Ram Ranch” – Grant MacDonald

“The Home Depot Beat” – The Home Depot

“Barbie Girl” – Aqua

“Friday” – Rebecca Black

“Photograph” – Nickelback

“Massive” – Drake

“D–ked Down in Dallas” – Trey Lewis

“Beyond the Sea” – Bobby Darin

“Life’s Incredible Again” – Michael Giacchino

“Coconut Mall (From “Mario Kart Wii”)” – Arcade Player

“Never Gonna Give Your Up” – Rick Astley

“Fruit Salad” – The Wiggles

“Guren no Yumiya” – Linked Horizon

“Crazy On You” – Heart

“Affirmation Song” – Doggyland, Snoop Dogg

“Frog On The Floor” – 100gecs

Contact the author at rsimonsen20@wou.edu

Art Fest 2023

Written by: Gretchen Sims

The second annual Art Fest was held on May 17. Western students, along with select high school and community college students, were invited to showcase their artwork in select WOU Art Galleries for a chance to win awards and prizes. The 55th Annual Juried Art & Design Student Exhibition has taken over gallery spaces in the Instructional Technology Center and Campbell Hall until June 9. The high school and community college works were located in the Hamersly Library, but were taken down after the awards ceremony. 

Awards were presented to various students after a long day filled with engaging art across campus. While some awards offered money, some added the opportunity for the student’s art to be commemorated permanently in several buildings on campus and in the new Monmouth Town Hall. 

This year’s juried exhibit was judged by Chelsea Couch. The six $50 Juror’s Awards were given to Chawni Childress, Michael Holley, Mnemosyne McKay, Morgan Amerson Horton, Quinlan Elise and Lillian Roth. 

The Dean of Liberal Art and Sciences Award offered three $100 awards to outstanding students. These were presented to Annabelle Bullock, Lillian Roth and Quinlan Elise. 

The Serendipity Purchase Award is one of the most prestigious awards that is given out each year. The art piece that wins this award will be permanently displayed in the Werner University Center. This beautiful tradition was awarded to both runner-up, Anthony Quinones, and winner, Emelie Shay.

The Dean of Education Purchase Award is also unique in the fact that the selected art piece will get to be the next installment in the Richard Woodcock Education Center’s art collection. This year, the winner of this award was Quinlan Elise. 

The City of Monmouth Arts and Culture Purchase Award was given out to the student whose art will be displayed in the new Monmouth City Hall. This honor was presented to Melody Barrett.

The Wolfstore Award gives its winners a $50 gift certificate to the Wolfstore — to be redeemed for art supplies or Western merchandise. This year, three of these awards were given to Violet Babbitt, Mikayla Coleman and Anthoney Quinones.

Last but not least, the Faculty Recognition Award, given to this year’s most outstanding art & design student, was presented to Anthoney Quinones.

Western’s student artists presented strong and high quality work, showing evidence of a fantastic year of creation.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Entertainment Editor wanted

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Ever wanted to express one’s passions for the arts? The Western Howl is hiring for the 2023-24 school year. Nine positions are currently open on Handshake and will close for consideration on May 22 at 5 p.m. Working for the Howl is a wonderful opportunity where one will learn how to work in a professional environment, write in newsroom standard Associated Press style and have their work published. 

This position looks amazing on a resume and helps expand one’s portfolio in writing and photography. Working for the Howl will be an opportunity to form friendships and connections across campus that will be beneficial, not only for the rest of one’s time on campus, but also for the jobs or internships that may come next.

Being the Entertainment Editor, in particular, is a rewarding job. Instead of the mundane writing one would often write in  class, writing for the Entertainment section allows one to compose pieces about subjects that they are passionate about. 

Some topics that are often included in the section are music, art, movies, TV shows, popular streaming services, video games and celebrity hot topics. There is such a large range of writing prompts that fall under the Entertainment section that whatever one is interested in, one can implement it into this section. 

So, be sure to check out Handshake if becoming the next Entertainment Editor is something that peaks one’s interests.  

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Guardians of Marvel’s Reputation

Written by:  Gretchen Sims

The most recent installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise was released in theaters on May 5, as part of Marvel’s Phase Five project. The film, which was written and directed by James Gunn, starred many fan favorites including Chris Pratt as Peter Quill AKA Star-lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as Groot, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Karen Gillan as Nebula and Bradley Cooper as Rocket. 

Besides the classic crew, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” also cast some new faces. Will Poulter, best known for his roles as Eustace Scrubb in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” and as Gally from “The Maze Runner,” made a spectacular appearance as Adam Warlock — an all-powerful being with a little bit lacking upstairs. Sean Gunn, best known as Kirk from “Gilmore Girls,” played Kraglin — Yondu Udonta’s incompetent replacement. Possibly most surprisingly, Sylvester Stallone made a brief cameo as a Ravager. 

The story follows Rocket’s origin story as he fights for his life after being attacked by Adam Warlock. The Guardians soon notice that Rocket has a killswitch inside him that prevents them from reviving him. The remaining Guardians must locate Rocket’s inventor and steal a code that can deactivate the killswitch that will certainly spell his doom. 

This movie encompasses all the stuff Marvel used to be made of. The cinematography and CGI are certainly some of the best out of the recent Marvel Phases. But despite beautiful displays, this movie is able to take Marvel fans back to their roots — the good times when Marvel movies were more than just an obvious cash grab. 

From the constant heartbreaks to the beautiful, heartwarming resolution, this film is a rollercoaster of emotions that is sure to delight fans everywhere. Every time the audience was served with a flashback from Rocket’s childhood, I was nearly on the verge of crying — and I don’t cry while watching movies. It was a real tearjerker, so be sure to grab a box of tissues before going to give this movie a watch.

9/10.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Beau is afraid, and so am I

Written by: Mikayla Coleman

“Beau Is Afraid” — Ari Aster’s third full length feature film running just under three hours — has a beast of a storyline. Attempting to explain anything about this film can be an enormous challenge and those who have seen it will understand. 

The film follows the tumultuous relationship between Beau, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his mother, Mona Wassermann, played by Patti LuPone. 

After a visit with his therapist, Beau is set to leave for a trip to see his mother. However, a set of unfortunate circumstances prevents Beau from leaving on time. As his home and neighborhood evolve into a terrifying hellscape filled with odd characters with a tendency toward stabbing strangers on the street, Beau learns of the death of his beloved mother he was just meant to visit. In a hurried struggle to go lay her to rest immediately, Beau is struck by a car. 

This movie does a wonderful job at simulating what it can be like to have anxiety. The soundscape, visuals and symbolism are absolutely saturated with paranoia. Through exploring Beau’s warped world, one is able to understand and empathize with his fear that everyone in his life is playing a fixed part in the journey to unveiling his guiltiness and his ultimate demise. 

The film has a unique way of pulling the rug from underneath its viewers — every time that one thinks to themselves that they could possibly have a grip on what is actually going on or what may be coming next, it takes a massive turn into the unexpected.

Along with the film’s long run time comes multiple different acts, differing from one another greatly in all aspects. It takes a multimedia approach, with animated portions, flashback scenes, another entirely constructed timeline in which Beau has a family and is separated from them and many, many more twists and turns. 

This movie was beautiful, heartbreaking, cathartic and terrifying. It may have been how long the movie was, or simply the subject matter, but I felt disoriented for days after watching “Beau is Afraid” — trying to piece together what it was supposed to mean and debating what parts could have been tangible or dramatized by the unreliable narration of Beau. 

The only way to know how one will feel about this film is for them to experience it themselves. It is something no one can prepare one for. 

7/10.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

The Main Character’s Playlist

Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

Having a bad day? Need a confidence boost? The following songs can help reframe any day into a scene from a movie, whether one is walking home or cruising down a backroad with the windows down. This playlist is for the people who want to feel on top of the world. 

“Animals” — Neon Tree

“Cigarette Daydream” — Cage The Elephant

“Escapism” — RAYE ft. 070 Shake

“Electric Love” — BORNS

“Daisy” — Ahnikko

“Collide” — Justine Skye ft. Tyga

“Midnight City” — M83

“Prom Queen” — Beach Bunny

“Sweater Weather” — The Neighborhood

“Hayloft” — Mother Mother

“Sweet Dreams” — Eurythmics

“Girls Just Want To Have Fun” — Cyndi Lauper

“Riptide” — Vance Joy

“Heroes” — ZAYDE Wolf

“Call Out My Name” — The Weeknd

“Judas” — Lady Gaga

“People I Don’t Like” — UPSAHL

“Ribs” — Lorde

“Big Boy” — SZA

“Perfect Day” — Hoku

“Tongue Tied” — Grouplove

“Gimme Love” — Joji

“Out Of My League” — Fitz And The Tantrums

“Tia Tamera” — Doja Cat ft. Rico Nasty

“Wicked Ones” — Dorothy

“Swim” — Chase Atlantic

“YOUTH” — Troye Sivan

“Someone To You” — BANNERS

“Feel It Still” — Portugal. The Man

“Stay” — The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber

“Teeth” — 5 Seconds Of Summer

“Hurricane” (Artsy Remix) — Halsey

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu

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