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The End of the Road: Escaping through Privilege in My Own Private Idaho
“I’ve been tasting roads all my life. This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.”-Mike Waters Mike Waters is a tragic character. Played by the late River Phoenix, he’s a young gay sex worker whose life is perceived as a fun escape to his best friend, Scott Favor. Mike’s situation was never a choice. His older brother is also his father, he’s poor, never had a “normal family,” struggles with narcolepsy, and is homeless (My Own Private Idaho). Though he insists he doesn’t feel sorry for himself, what makes Mike tragic is his yearning for stability, something he never obtains in the film. Scott sees the…
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“Overthinking: Am I Doing Enough? Or, Too Much?”
We all have had a lot to think about in 2020. We are all juggling classes, work, extra-curricular activities, clubs, mental and physical health, and human connection while staying extremely cautious about our outings since the pandemic outbreak. The combination of all these stresses could cause us to feel overwhelmed—I know I felt that. In previous posts, I discussed a few ways to cope with stress in “Writing Might Save Your Life” and “Musical Escapism: The (Cheap) Stress Relief You Need.” If these options aren’t your forte, that’s okay. I have another surprising option to try. To preface, the questions that I kept asking myself for the past couple of…
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That Distant Black Flag: The Intricacies of Familial Love in Chang-rae Lee’s A Gesture Life
“Japan” by YoTuT on Creative Commons “Let me simply bear my flesh, and blood, and bones. I will fly a flag.”(Lee 356) Chang-rae Lee’s novel, A Gesture Life, is a slow, emotional exploration of the complications that arise in the diasporic communities of the globalized last century. Chang’s quiet narrative hints at the darker complications of national loyalty and questionable morality, as readers are simultaneously led through the recollections of World War II and the peaceful everyday life of Franklin Hata, a Japanese-American immigrant who served as a medic in the Japanese army. From the beginning, Franklin, or Doc Hata as the sleepy town of Bedley Run calls him, is…
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Becoming a Global Citizen
Throughout my childhood I was never a person who liked to take risks, preferring to stay within my comfort zone. Two years ago I had never left the country without my parents. However, despite the unfamiliarity, I decided to embark upon a journey to a foreign place where I did not speak the language and knew almost nothing of the culture. I was apprehensive about visiting a strange place, but decided to open myself up to the experience of visiting a new country. During my school trip to Cuba I visited local schools, where our class shared musical performances and donated school supplies. At one of the schools we had…
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Spring Will Come Again: Story, Song, and Sorrow in Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown
“Orpheus with his lute made trees And the mountain tops that freeze Bow themselves when he did sing: To his music plants and flowers Ever sprung; as sun and showers There had made a lasting spring. Every thing that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea, Hung their heads and then lay by. In sweet music is such art, Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or hearing, die.” —William Shakespeare, Orpheus “On the road to Hell there was a railroad line/And a poor boy workin’ on a song/His mama was a friend…
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A Classic for Halloween: The Horror Behind Frankenstein’s Monster
[Source: Frankenstein by twm1340 on Creative Commons] As Halloween approaches, decorations and displays of classic creatures of the occult such as vampires, werewolves, mummies, and zombies go up on storefronts and homes. Frankenstein is no stranger to it. His combination of green skin, bolts and stitches, staggering height, and strange black and white hair should paint an image of terror, but through consumerism, marketing, and the media Frankenstein has become less of a horrifying monster and more of a pop culture icon. The original Frankenstein was a much more terrifying creature, who was more human-like than a brain dead zombie, as depicted in the 1931 film Frankenstein, directed by James…
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Forgotten Voices: Death and Transformation in Lee Maracle’s Ravensong in Relation to Modern Epidemic
Ravens on the trail” by Abhi Here on Creative Commons “Never again would wolf women serve men in quite the same way again.” (Maracle 2) Lee Maracle’s newly-revived novel, Ravensong, is a quiet but powerful recollection of the sociopolitical impact epidemic has on marginalized communities. Originally written by Maracle in three days, Ravensong was rejected by publishers, swamped out of print by the release of the high-fantasy works popular at the time, and forgotten by the general public for the better part of a decade. Despite its single-handed defeat by Harry Potter, Ravensong was brought back by dedicated fans who continued to push for its re-publication, feeling the necessity of…
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Podcasts To Listen When You Don’t Have Time
Source: Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash. October is the month of stress for post-secondary students. You could be facing midterm exams and papers in addition to working during the long-weekend or preparing for Thanksgiving dinners with family and friends. While it seems there is never a dull moment, you barely have time to give your mind and body a break from everything. If you’re tired of pulling all-nighters and stretching yourself thin for all the tasks you need to complete, try this hack to manage your time and stress better. Developing a new habit may sound daunting, but it’s easier than you may think. My challenge for you is…
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A Bombastic Feminist Blockbuster: Birds of Prey
[Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn. Warner Bros.] Superhero films —and blockbusters in general— are overwhelmed with stories about (mostly white) men. This doesn’t mean women are never in them; every so often they’re even allowed to star. However, modern outings of feminist blockbusters (with a few exceptions) have been tepid at best, and hollow “girl-boss” vehicles at worst. Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) stands out among its peers in its unabashed, glitter-covered spectacle and infectious energy. It’s a movie that unselfconsciously embraces womanhood and is deeply invested in telling kick-ass stories about that. Cathy Yan (dir.) and screenwriter Christina Hodson infused sincerity and spunk…
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The Restorative Powers of Interactive Storytelling
Source: Photo by: Edwin Hooper on Unsplash. In these strange times, when social interaction outside of our small social bubble is limited to virtual and socially-distanced spaces, creators of media are driven to experiment with more creative approaches. At the beginning of the pandemic, as we were sequestered inside our individual dwellings, a trend of interactive, choose-your-own-adventure media and storytelling technology skyrocketed. This new form of escapism opened a whole new world of possibilities during a time when many of us felt as though our worlds were rapidly becoming smaller and smaller. This new emergence, or in some cases re-emergence, of interactive stories has been particularly beneficial for teenagers during…
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Sweet Wild Grace: On Forgiveness, Redemption, and Humanity in Elizabeth Goudge’s The Rosemary Tree
“‘We are all very anxious to be understood, and it is very hard not to be. But there is one thing much more necessary.’ “‘What is that, grandmother?’ “To understand other people.'” —George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin Elizabeth Goudge’s The Rosemary Tree is a story about many different things: about family, relationships, secrets, second chances, redemption, living, and loving. The shining thread uniting all these different points is Elizabeth Goudge’s understanding of the strength and fragility of humanity, an understanding that extends beyond her characters to her readers themselves. She does not create characters that are wholly saints or sinners, but instead, acknowledges the beauty and brokenness in each…
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A Duty of Care: On Hospitality, Protection, and the Expression of Love in Redwall
Redwall Abbey, image c. Christopher Denise (illustrator) “I would read [the children of the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind] stories. Now sometimes, we’d get books that the publishers had sent in. So I’d read to them. And you know something? I didn’t like some of them books. I took a look through children’s books and I didn’t like some of them. And you know why? Because they were dealing with now. About this mess we’re living in the middle of. The modern age. And these stories were about technological progress, and the rise of computers, and teenage angst, I thought, augh. What happened to the magic? What happened to…
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If You Listen Closely: On Art, Love, and Chasing Your Dreams in Whisper of the Heart
The 1995 Studio Ghibli film Whisper of the Heart, directed by Yoshifumi Kondo and written by Hayao Miyazaki, follows a young girl named Tsukishima Shizuku on her journey to finding and dedicating herself to her dreams and ambitions. The themes of struggling in school and navigating love for the first time lend themselves to the narrative, rather than dominating it, and help further develop the themes of creative ambition and the artistic process in both Shizuku’s own life and the lives of the people she meets along the way. Though it is also a story of her friendship with Yuko, her mentorship with Mr. Nishi, and her budding relationship with…
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Hot Summer Reads: Sex and Vanity
“In one kiss, you’ll know all I haven’t said.” – Pablo Neruda What’s better than Crazy Rich Asians? In one of the most highly anticipated and hottest summer reads of the year, Kevin Kwan puts the two elements of sex and vanity together into his aptly named novel. Fans of the Rachel Chu and Nicholas Young love story will be especially delighted to see the same incredible delivery of scandal, romance, and drama. Set in modern-day New York City, 19-year-old Lucie Tang Churchill visits Capri, Italy, for a relative’s wedding. During her stay, she meets George Zao, an excruciatingly handsome man who she says she despises though ends up falling…
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Musical Escapism: The (Cheap) Stress Relief You Need
Source: (Edited) Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash. If you haven’t noticed online, musical artists, including Alison Wonderland at Digital Mirage and Lollapalooza, Porter Robinson and his Secret Sky Festival, and LIONE for League of Legends Mid-Season Cup (2020), continue to perform even with social distancing measures in place. While almost every industry suffers from the effects of COVID-19, musical artists and the music industry continues to volunteer their time to raise money for COVID Relief programs while trying to spread happiness to the fans. Although the performances and music festivals are delivered online this year, we feel connected and happy when we see our favourite bands and singers jam…
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From Book to Screen: Capturing the Heart of Little Women
Little Women (2017), image c. BBC Little Women, the book Louisa May Alcott is most well known for, is a story that has touched readers all over the world since its original publication in 1868. The story of the four March sisters as they grow from girls to young women still remains relevant today because of the timeless themes that play out within its pages: sisterhood, perseverance, hope, and the wisdom gained through experiences both precious and painful. Many readers also find parts of themselves reflected in the March sisters, and draw courage from their lives. Meg’s desire to fit in with her peers and Jo’s struggle to overcome her…
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Becoming a Hero the Hard Way: On Unconventional Heroes and Everyday Heroism
“This is a story of becoming a hero the hard way.” —Cressida Cowell, How to Train Your Dragon What defines a hero? If we look at the heroes of old—Greco-Roman heroes like Hercules and Odysseus, for example, or the Prince Charmings of fairy tales and folklore—a pattern of traits and skills linking these characters together starts to emerge. Sharpness of mind, physical prowess, and charismatic leadership are qualities we find in the heroes of ancient myths and legends, qualities that are essential for survival in their often perilous worlds. Valour, bravery, and gallantry are qualities that surface as the princes and knights of higher and more comfortable standing encounter and…
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Storytelling: The Skill Everyone Needs
Source: (Edited) Photo by Roman Bozhko on Unsplash. Sometimes we overlook the value of storytelling skills. I am guilty of this when I thought stories only existed in books, comics, manga, music, television shows, and films. We hear, tell, and share stories every time we communicate with someone. Whether if it is in our personal or work lives, we are always telling a story to exchange information and create a relationship with others. Now is the time you need to develop your storytelling skills. With shorter attention spans, we need to tell stories effectively in shorter time frames, as seen in TikTok videos. Let me explain why becoming a strong…
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Love Under a Lens: Anna Karenina
Photo courtesy of Focus Features Love. A four-letter word that stands for so much, but most of us are not sure what exactly for. What does love truly mean? And what does it look like? As someone who has had cups of water in her bedroom longer than has been in relationships, I am probably the wrong person to ask. So, where does one turn to find out the clues to such a confusing concept? Leo Tolstoy’s 1877 novel, Anna Karenina, of course. In this 800-page story, Tolstoy submerges into rich subjects of Imperial Russian life, family, religion, and of course, romantic love. Tolstoy sheds light on some of the most common…
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5 Comforting & Encouraging Book Recommendations
“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” —J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring “Hello. How are you doing?” As days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, these words were the ones I found myself repeating over and over to friends, family, and classmates. If lockdown has taught me anything, it has taught me the importance of communication—not only in relation to the spread…
