Mount Hood

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

Best Netflix Documentaries

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Sometimes, particularly during the fickle spring weather, all homework should be cast aside in favor of a good documentary. After all, what could possibly be better than snuggling up with a blanket — perhaps a cat or two — and a warm beverage of choice to watch the evermore fascinating life of someone else? 

Thankfully, many fantastic options are readily available on popular streaming services. Often, the most significant hurdle between one and their perfect afternoon is all the options to choose from.  

To alleviate a stressful afternoon spent scrolling Netflix for the perfect documentary, here are some of the best, most interesting documentaries to choose from. These will not disappoint. 

TRUE CRIME:

“The Keepers” — This seven-episode series follows the mysterious death of Sister Catherine Cesnik, a teacher at Baltimore’s all-girls Archbishop Keough High School. Former students suspect foul play after a priest is accused of abuse. 

Content Warning: contains mentions of sexual abuse and violence

TV-MA

“Murder Among the Mormons” — This three-episode mini-series details the life of one of the most notorious forgers in history who created fakes that duped The Church of Latter-day Saints. As he begins to feel the law closing in on him, the forger resorts to the unimaginable. 

Content Warning: violence

TV-14

“Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” — This three-episode mini-series covers the highly mediatized Murdaugh case. After a major blow is made to the Murdaugh family name, an offending family member and his mother are mysteriously found deceased. 

Content Warning: suicide and violence

TV-MA

“Worst Roommate Ever” — Dorothea Puente is an outstanding member of the community. She donates to politicians, rescues kittens and even opens up her home to the less fortunate. Is it possible that something more sinister lurks beneath this grandmotherly facade? Each of the episodes details a different roommate horror story.

Content Warning: violence

TV-MA

CULTS:

“Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey” — This four-episode series focuses on the happenings within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day church. The documentary gives the unique perspectives of family members and ex-wives of Rulan Jeffs on the Mormon sect under the leadership of Warren Jeffs.  

Content Warning: religious trauma and sexual abuse

TV-MA

“Waco: American Apocalypse” — One of Netflix’s newer documentaries, this three-episode limited series contains real-life footage and interviews with survivors that detail the horrific situation in Waco Texas. FBI hostage negotiation teams clashed with on-ground forces in a way that escalated into the death of hundreds. 

Content Warning: religious trauma, sexual abuse and violence

TV-MA

“Sins of Our Mother” — A loving mother, quickly turned doomsday believer, is willing to follow her new religion to unbelievable ends. This three-episode series takes a deep dive into a popular case.

Content Warning: religious trauma, violence

TV-14

“One of Us” — This documentary follows three Hasidic Jews and their journey to leave a very restrictive Jewish sect. With little to no education, these people must fight for their place in the outside world.

Content Warning: religious trauma

TV-14

THOUGHT-PROVOKING:

“13th” — This thought-provoking documentary forces its audience to take another look at the American prison system. 

Content Warning: discusses racism and difficult topics

TV-MA

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Revenge is Best Served Raw

Written by:  Mikayla Coleman

Released on Netflix Apr. 6, the 10-episode drama mini-series “Beef” has been taking the world by storm. The series, created by Lee Sung Jin, stars Steven Yeun as Danny Cho, Ali Wong as Amy Lau and David Choe as Isaac Cho. 

The series follows Danny Cho, a struggling contractor, and Amy Lau, a prestigious business owner, as their worlds collide and implode after a particularly spicy road rage incident between the two. Instead of setting things aside and moving on as most typically would, both characters allow the incident to fester into a bitter feud that completely takes over their professional and personal lives — putting everything and everyone in jeopardy. 

The two main characters’ lives could not be more different. The show begins by depicting Danny struggling to maintain his contracting business and cohabitating with his younger brother in a small apartment. 

Amy Lau is on the cusp of a major business deal that will allow her to sell her small business and finally be able to enjoy the luxury that she has worked hard for. Amy has a young daughter and a mildly famous husband, known for being the son of a famous Japanese artist. While Amy seems to have the “better” life, it becomes clear throughout the series that money truly cannot buy happiness. Amy is painstakingly choosing to be surrounded by many tone-deaf members of the one percent — earnestly trying to ignore the blatant philosophical and ethical differences between herself and those close to her. 

And despite the money that Lau has access to, there is a major parallel between both Danny and Amy — their utter, bitter unhappiness. This common thread of struggle weaves the two together in a beautiful melancholy throughout the entire series and ultimately brings them together when they are both at their lowest. 

Most episodes begin by displaying paintings by David Choe, carrying heavy visual metaphors and symbolism for what is to come. The seething energy that is present between these two characters, along with several deviations and side plots, makes every minute captivating. 

9.5/10.

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu

Songs for Fan Girls

Written by Juliana Tinker, Addie Floyd and Caitlin Quirk.

“Burning Love” — Elvis Presley

“Satellite” — Harry Styles

“right where you left me” — Taylor Swift

“The River” — Daisy Jones & The Six

“Moves” — Suki Waterhouse

“Tutti Frutti” — Little Richard

“Thunder Road” — Bruce Springsteen

“Dive” — Olivia Dean

“Silver Springs (Live)” — Fleetwood Mac

“Ceiling” — Lizzy McAlpine

“I know it won’t work” — Gracie Abrams

“What A Time” — Julie Michaels, Niall Horan

“Jailhouse Rock” — Elvis Presley

“Ever Since New York” — Harry Styles

“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” — Taylor Swift

“Dancing with Myself” — Billy Idol

“American Girl” — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

“The Oogum Boogum Song” — Brenton Wood



WOU Art Galleries Spring into Action

Written by: Gretchen Sims

April has been an eventful month for Western Oregon University Art Galleries. With works displayed in the Cannon Art Gallery, Instructional Technology Center, Hamersly Library and the Werner University Center, one can enjoy so much art across campus. From student artists to seasoned vets, the exhibits put on by the WOU Art Galleries are a staple in the community here at Western. 

These are the current art exhibits hosted by Western and the dates that they will be here. Be sure to check them out before they’re gone. 

Walk This Way — Composed by the artists of Living Studios in Corvallis, OR, this exhibit features “artwork made for art’s sake.” Living Studios gives a creative outlet to adults experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities. The artists’ detail-oriented works present art the way it “should” be — everything everyone thinks it’s not. 

This colorful and engaging exhibition runs through May 5 in the Cannon Gallery of Art. Check out this exhibit Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. 

Islanded (no more) — This exhibition captures the experience of what it’s like to be LGBTQ+ in America through the photography of those living it. A three photo series and five short films by Carl Collison are featured in the Hamersly Library Exhibit on the second floor. The works document the LGBTQ+ experience through both horrific queerphobic violence, but also the hope many find in the future. 

This moving exhibit runs through Apr. 30 and can be viewed any time the library is open. 

Picturing America — On the third floor of the Hamersly Library, this collection of works showcases the talented Gregory Poulin. This is a continuation of his ongoing series which finds inspiration in exploring a diverse group of individuals and their outlook on America today. 

This collection will be available until May 3 and can be viewed any time the library is open.

Rotating Senior Art Exhibit — Every month, a new senior from the Art & Design Program showcases their work in the Werner University Center Exhibit. This is a chance for students to show off their talents and express themselves through their art. 

This month, the student artist is Morgan Amerson whose exhibit “Color Me Surprised” will be available for viewing until May 6. Stop by Monday-Thursday between 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. or Friday between 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For any questions, contact Gallery Director Paula Booth at boothp@wou.edu

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Interview with Aisia Carrillo

Written by:  Gretchen Sims

This month’s senior artist is Aisia Carrillo. Carrillo explores the theme of connection through exploration in their exhibit “The Journey of Exploration.” Carrillo states that, “As a student exploration of medium and message has been a large part of my work.” 

Being able to see the connectivity between art and personal experience can enable an artist to engage with and better entrance their viewers. 

Carrillo’s mediums help represent their message. The charcoal drawings that open this exhibit represent the message that Carrillo hopes to display. The exhibit then transitions into beautifully colored paintings that embody how color can add to the message of the pieces. Finally, the exhibit ends with yarned pieces that draw connectivity between all of the works. 

Carrillo masterfully uses their works to showcase the range of mediums in art as well as an exploration of subject matter.  

Q: What does art mean to you?

A: Art to me is a form of expression that enables me to show everyone how I see the world.

Q: What first got you interested in art?

A: I can not remember what first got me interested in art all I remember is asking my parents for art supplies when I was very young.

Q: What would you like others to take from your art?
A: I would like others to be able to feel something when they see my art. Whether it is good or bad I seek to invoke an emotion.

Q: What inspires you?

A: I am inspired by the world around me and everyday life. I am constantly thinking of new ideas and pictures of things I can make whether I’m driving or reading a good book. 

Q: What is your “why?” (what makes you the artist you are today)

A: My why is the challenge. I love a challenge and art allows me to challenge myself and push myself to be better every day.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Discovering Connection

Written by: Nicholas Sarysz

For years now, and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the human connection our societies were built off of has been lost; and each day it feels like society has been driven further and further apart. 

Most of the focus within the news and other popular media outlets is all of the negative encounters we find ourselves in. While it is important to be cautious in every situation, it is also important to Discover Connection, which is the goal of the YouTube Channel under that exact title.

The channel explores the power of human connection with the mission of educating, inspiring and empowering people to help make our world a happier and healthier place. The channel’s producer, Brad, is a Canadian storyteller that works on the channel with a few friends. Brad not only explains the power of connection but displays it through the videos he creates. 

He started the channel back in September 2018, leaving his parent’s home in Nova Scotia and hitchhiking all the way to Vancouver, spanning 29 days and 5800 km. 

Throughout his documentation of the journey, Brad made connections and friends by interacting with complete strangers in unfamiliar areas, which is something that many of us would find impossible.

Fast forward to today, and Brad is doing the same thing with his friend Liam, this time through the United States. They are not only hitchhiking across the entire country, but they are doing everything solely off the kindness of strangers. This means that all of their transportation, meals and lodging were provided by people they had never previously met. While this concept leads to plenty of awkward interactions, it leads to far more incredible connections that can be heartwarming to a viewer behind a screen.

Currently, the series, which they titled “I Crossed America with $0” is on its eighth episode, with the 10th episode finale scheduled to release during the last weekend of April. Not only is the series genuinely entertaining, but it does an excellent job of highlighting just how special human connection truly is. Each person they connect with is unique and shows care and compassion in vastly different ways. 

The series does an amazing job of showing just how different life is for each of us and how cultural context and our experiences impact everyone differently.

All in all, the series is an inspiring, thought-provoking experience that requires an open mind. It is a must-watch.

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

“Love is blind” is problematic

Written by: Gretchen Sims

Content warning: contains spoilers about “Love is Blind”

 

The Netflix reality TV show “Love is Blind” has become increasingly popular over the past few years. Now amassing four seasons with no end in sight, “Love is Blind” is undisputedly a riveting concept and has captivated fans around the globe. 

The social experiment this show revolves around poses the question of whether or not people can put aside their physical preferences and fall in love without being able to see the other person. In order to accomplish this, the participants are put into “pods” where they can hear the person on the other side but can not see them. People are shuffled around between different dates in these pods until the man proposes. After this, the couples are tested in the real world to determine whether or not love is blind. 

This show fulfills all the drama cravings one could ever have, and yet it begs the question… is this just an innocent escape from reality, or does it have deeper and more concerning implications? 

One of the most obvious concerns about “Love is Blind” is the demographic of the participants. Participants are straight, heterosexual couples that pursue traditional gender roles in their relationships. The show does not shy away from this and, in fact, often leans into harmful stereotypes. 

In season three, Nancy Rodriguez says, “I would be a great mom to like, 10 kids. My ovaries are dancing,” after meeting a potential fiance in the pods. All of the women on the show want large families and often express how they cannot wait to start popping babies out. 

Men in the third installment of the show exuded toxicity. From saying no at the altar due to his fiance’s professional opinion on abortion, to threatening a breakup because his fiance stayed out too late, all the way to telling his fiance that eating two tangerines all day would spoil her appetite for dinner, men in the third season of the “Love is Blind” franchise were always coming up with new ways to subject the women to emotional trauma.

After the third season, the “preditors,” producers slash editors, decided to even things out by making the women the drama in season four. This switch was very obvious and left viewers wondering if this act was an intentional way to even the playing field in response to backlash caused by the unhealthy relationship dynamics presented in season three. 

Adding to the absurd drama, the cups that the contestants of “Love is Blind” drink from are metal — preventing the audience from seeing how much, or what, is inside them. In many instances, contestants talk about the type of alcohol that they are drinking, and, it can be deduced from many of the contestants’ actions, that they are drinking heavily. While heightened emotions can make very good reality TV, it probably isn’t the best idea to decide to marry someone in a month while under the influence. 

Oh yes, and then there’s that. Choosing to spend the rest of your life with someone is a huge deal and, arguably, one month isn’t enough time to make that decision. 

Many members of the “Love is Blind” cast do fall in love, but they are unable to follow through with it when it comes to the wedding day due to indecision. A good example is SK and Raven in season three and Micah and Paul in season four. Perhaps, given more time, these relationships could have worked out. 

Many people can agree that drama-filled shows are their guilty pleasure, so before sitting down for a fifth season, be sure to think about the emotional toll these participants are experiencing as well as the relationship precedent it is setting for its viewers. 

 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu 

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