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The Value of Guilty Pleasures

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By Leo Milmet

Have you ever seen a film or television show, or read a book, or listened to a song, that you really, really like (or maybe even…LOVE) that you know is just awful? Or maybe you hate something for many reasons, but love to analyze just why you hate it, or you genuinely like a film, book, show, or song that everyone else hates? These various types of films are often called guilty pleasures, and I must say that I have many of them. I used to think of guilty pleasures as embarrassing, but not anymore. I actually really embrace my enjoyment of many truly bad (or badly reviewed) film and shows, like Maris Curran’s drama Five Nights in Maine, the new Burt Reynolds film The Last Movie Star (the rare film that I truly, honestly love that still has terrible reviews), almost any M. Night Shyamalan film (with the exception of Lady in the Water and the god-awful The Last Airbender) or, especially, the CW-produced coming-of-age show Gossip Girl. I really, honestly like that show. It’s awful, yes, and I despise nine out of ten shows of its type, but for some reason, I enjoy Gossip Girl. All art is subjective, so subjective that, in fact, you could easily argue that there should be no such thing as a “guilty pleasure,” but no matter. There is value to these artistic works.

Now, you may ask, “Where on earth is the value in Gossip Girl, or The Village, or even in Five Nights in Maine?” For myself, I find the value in “bad” films or shows by analyzing them, just to understand why they are bad. I can safely say that Gossip Girl is bad. The dialogue is sometimes ridiculously unrealistic, and the plotting can be very lazy. But, it’s incredibly fun for me to watch, and I love to analyze just why it is, in fact, a bad show. It’s simply a bad show that I watch all the time. And, doing exactly that, with whatever guilty pleasure you may have, is what I recommend to you today. If you’ve always had a couple of guilty pleasures that you’ve been embarrassed about for a while, maybe go through them again one day and try to figure out just why they are bad, good, or some mixture of the two. Trust me, it can be a lot of fun.

Editor: Makena Behnke

The Under-Appreciated Art of Short Films

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By Shelby Armor

Everyone takes the time to go with a couple of friends to see the latest blockbuster that just hit theaters, but people rarely go out of their way to see a short film. The art of the short film is rarely talked about, and I can’t think of many people that rave about an amazing new short film they just saw.

I, personally, am in love with short films. The thing that I find most amazing about short films is their ability to construct an entire complex story, often times in less than ten minutes. I find that this is the particular challenge faced by short films. You have fewer than forty minutes (as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences defines it) to make your audience fall in love with your characters and feel invested in the story that you’re telling. You are creating an intricate story with just as much complexity as a full-length feature film. This is a challenge. When watching a TV show, the creators take time and slowly introduce you to characters, knowing that you’ll like them eventually. But, in a short film, you have the length of an episode to accomplish the same thing and more.

Shorts can be anything from a soul-sucking drama to a childish animation. This is what is so beautiful about them. Even in their time constraints, they have such freedom of expression. Shorts are often used to make statements, to comment on human nature, or to take a strong political stance. But, they can also be used to just make people happy and laugh.

Well known for making people happy are shorts made by Pixar. I grew up on these films. My favorite film that I must have watched one hundred times and still enjoy today is called Boundin’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WyR4AqRweY). And while this short may be very amusing, it holds a deeper message for people, telling them to love and accept themselves no matter how they look. Another one of my personal favorites as a child was For the Birds, also by Pixar (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLdfpBNjdDc). This one is supposed to be pure comedy with an annoying bird being pecked at by smaller birds as they sit on a wire together.

And, if you take another example from Pixar’s Red’s Dreams (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBtIPJM2AsI), there is a much darker theme. It follows a young unicycle who is lying alone in a run-down shop, dreaming of the day he is bought and can go to the circus. All of these short films are only about five-ten minutes long, but even after not having watched the shorts in about ten years, I still remember every detail. I remember how I loved them so and first began to fall in love with the under-appreciated art of short films.  

Short films have the ability to tug at your heartstrings and lay out a grand story in less than an hour. There is such complexity to them, and they require so much skill to write, which is often not thought of when you see a short film. The ability to do what a short film does, to pull in viewers like they do within such a small time frame, is truly astonishing.

 

P.S. I highly recommend watching the Pixar short film collection, as they are all really amazing. Two really good ones to check out are Geri’s Game (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IYRC7g2ICg) and Lifted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVLoc6FrLi0). Another one of my favorites (not from Pixar) is The Present (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjqiU5FgsYc). Happy short film watching!

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

LGBT+ Superheroes

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By Comic Lover and Blogger Peter Kadel

America Chavez–Marvels first LGBT latina superhero

In the past two decades, there has been a major shift in pop culture and modern entertainment. Comic books and comic book movies have gained an incredibly high popularity as comic books have become a legitimate form of art, and their film adaptations have grossed  billions.

Recently, I was talking with Mr. Griffin after a GSA meeting. The subject of comic books and comic-book movies came up after Mr. Griffin complimented me on my knowledge of Marvel comic books. As the conversation continued, we eventually got to the subject of minority representation in comic-book superhero movies. It was at this point that Mr. Griffin asked, “When is there going to be an LGBT Superhero on the big screen?” And, while I could not answer the question off the top of my head, I decided that I needed to find the answer. At first glance, it seems like there are no LGBT+ heroes and that there aren’t likely to be any in the near future. But upon a closer look, the opposite is true. In terms of current representation, many existing LGBT+ characters have hit the big screen, and there are even more LGBT+ characters that exist in the comics that have not yet been adapted to the big screen. Harley Quinn who appeared in the DC Extended Universe’s movie, Suicide Squad, is bisexual in the comics, having had romantic encounters with Poison Ivy. However, the movie adaptation, where Harley Quinn is played by Margot Robbie, did not explore that side of the character’s sexuality. On the Marvel side of comic-book movies, the character Deadpool, who received his first stand-alone movie in 2016, identifies as pansexual. And, while he has not yet had an on-screen romance with a man, many people involved with the franchise, including Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, have voiced interest in pursuing this side of the character’s sexuality. 

Representation within the DC comic-book universe–Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn

But there are even more LGBT+ characters in comic books that have not yet made their way onto the big screen. The best example is Marvel character America Chavez (aka Miss America). She is a lesbian latina superhero who was raised by lesbian parents. She is likely our best bet in terms of an LGBT+ hero with a stand-alone movie. The character is currently set to appear in an animated film titled Marvel Rising: Secret Warriors. While that is not the great big live action event that the character deserves, it’s a start. Miss America is an empowered young woman who always stands by her ideals and does not put up with bigotry and injustice. She is the perfect role model for younger generations, not only because of her ideals, but because she is more than her sexuality and relationships. This is how representation should be. People are more than their sexuality, or race, and this is shown in the way Miss America is handled as a character. America Chavez is a step towards representation that will ensure the relevance of Marvel Comics. Comic books are very popular among young people, so it only makes sense that they appropriately represent the young people of America. 

Marvel comic books especially have a long history of representing the under-represented and making us fall in love with those we thought were unlovable. Stan Lee (the major creative force behind the most popular Marvel characters) has a penchant for taking society’s outcasts and making them heroes. The core of the best marvel heroes are not their looks or social standing but the content of their character. The importance of representation in comic books is not the race or sexuality of the character, but the fact that they are shown as being worthy of being heroes.

Editor: Shelby Armor

Underseen and Underrated Films, Volume Two

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By Leo Milmet, The Bird on Fire Resident Film Critic

 

I had several other ideas for my previous post “Underseen and Underrated Films,” from various decades, so I retroactively (after submitting it to my editor) titled that post “Volume One” and this “Volume Two.”  This time, however, the decade in which a film is released means nothing. These are simply some extra films that I love just as much as the others that were left out in order to follow my original rule of “one per decade.” Hope you enjoy.–Leo

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (dir. Robert Wiene, 1920): A beautiful, German, monster-horror-silent film that exudes pure artistry and pure terror at the same time. A fascinating and expressionistic masterpiece.         

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (dir. Frank Capra, 1939): An all-time American classic about a  layman who is chosen to become part of the Senate.

The Third Man (dir. Carol Reed, 1949): A masterful noir thriller. Joseph Cotten stars as Holly Martins, a pulp author who goes to visit his old friend Harry Lime in postwar Vienna, only to realize Harry is dead. Obsessed with understanding the circumstances surrounding Harry’s passing, he is led into a confusing web of contradicting stories about the victim.

The Night of the Hunter (dir. Charles Laughton, 1955): Despite initial failure, this ingeniously directed, incredibly suspenseful thrill ride is one of my favorite films of all time. Robert Mitchum stars as Reverend Harry Powell, a murderous and fanatical priest in prison for car theft when he meets a man who admits he has stolen and hidden $10,000. How far will Powell go to get his hands on the loot?

A Man Escaped (dir. Robert Bresson, 1956): A brilliant exercise in sound editing and mixing. The simple (but wonderfully executed) plot concerns the escape of a prisoner of war in World War II.

Network (dir. Sidney Lumet, 1976): A poignant political satire of insane proportions. Featuring Peter Finch in one of the greatest performances of all time.

Blue Velvet (dir. David Lynch, 1986): A twisted psychological thriller about a happy little suburban town and its deep, dark underbelly.

Clerks (dir. Kevin Smith, 1994): This low-budget, black-and-white comedy depicts the type of people who’d nonchalantly ring you up at a convenience store and then feel entitled to mock you just after you leave. Clerks is one of the best of its type because while it cracks its sometimes-funny and always overly sophomoric jokes, it entices you to latch on to its realistic, relatable and (surprisingly) intelligently drawn characters in a way that few comedies of its type can accomplish. Personally, I don’t watch this movie just to laugh, and that might be the biggest compliment I can give it.

Dark City (dir. Alex Proyas, 1998): This fascinating story, a visionary blending of science fiction and film-noir, is executed with beautifully bleak cinematography and production design. If you like film-noir or science fiction, this is an absolute must-see, even according to Roger Ebert, who named it his #1 film of 1998. Also, if you’ve never heard of this film, don’t look it up, just sit back and watch it one day, as the risk of spoiling one of the film’s many wonderful twists and turns is too high.

My Friend Dahmer (dir. Marc Meyers, 2017): This “horrifying coming-of-age story”  (the words of the director, Marc Meyers) concerning the teenage life of the infamous real-life serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is one of my absolute favorite films of last year. Its well-written script is brilliantly executed, managing to be at once chilling, hilarious, and emotional without ever missing a beat.

Editor: Claire Jenkins

Fusion Music: Fusic

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By Peter Kadel, Burgeoning Music Editor

America has historically been a place where cultures mix and blend to create new types of food, dance, literature, art, and music–a giant mixing bowl where people can embrace and experience other cultures. The blending of cultures is what will bring us closer together as a nation. One example of this culture-blend occurs in Fusion or Alternative Music. Here are three examples of some awesome Fusion Music.

A Tribe Called Red (genre–Pow Wow EDM): These Canadian DJs combine the music of Pow Wow’s from various Indian nations with electronic dance music to make a less repetitive, soothing sound. The group frequently collaborates with other DJs and Native American musicians to create a diverse body of work. There are more electric songs like “Electric Pow Wow Drum,” “Indian City,” and “Stadium Pow Wow.” Others like “We are Halluci Nation” and “I Feel” take a political stance and force us to confront the decades of mistreatment of Native Americans. It can’t be denied that the U.S and the various indigenous nations have a troubled and violent history and this genre could be the beginning of a new era in which culture can mix and blend instead of adhering to strict separation under the guise of avoiding cultural appropriation.

Dropkick Murphys (Irish Rock AKA Celtic Punk): Now, I may be biased because this is one of my favorite bands and one of my favorite genres, so be aware of that. This genre combines two styles that sound great on their own. The rich acoustic sound and meaningful lyrics of traditional Irish song combined with the speed, energy, and emotion of rock and punk music creates a strong emotional music. While some rock and punk bands rely only on anger to fuel their music, bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly (another Celtic punk band) speak to a broader range of human emotion. The sound of the genre itself, while not as unique as A Tribe Called Red, is distinct and entertaining. Celtic punk bands often gain popularity on Saint Patrick’s day when everyone is feeling a little extra Irish.

Native Howl (Thrash Grass): This pairing definitely seems like the strangest, least appealing mash up, but, as a lover of Bluegrass, I can say that a combination between Bluegrass and Thrash Metal is a fantastic union that is equally angry and folksy and all parts enjoyable. This genre is a good example of opposites attracting and playing off of each others’ strengths and covering their weaknesses. As Bluegrass relies heavily on acoustics and lyrics it can sound repetitive and all the songs can meld together. While metal has a fantastic energy and the songs are unique, the lyrics can often be lacking with similar phrases being used again and again. While Thrash Grass isn’t perfect, it is an entertaining fusion.

 

Editor: Brennan Nick

The Dying Art of Fountain Pens

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By Shelby Armor

 

Pilot Metropolitan with Refillable Cartridges

I’ve always been a lover of pens. I choose my pens carefully based on the type of pen, the thickness of the pen, the smoothness, the type of ink, etc. And I’ve recently fallen in love with an entirely new yet old kind of pen: fountain pens.

Both of my parents used fountain pens  when they were young, and it’s still used in Europe today. But in America we’ve let it die out. We now settle for more efficient roller-balls and ballpoint pens that may last longer but ultimately provide a horrible writing experience. The ink doesn’t flow as consistently. And to many, this doesn’t matter, perhaps that’s why we rely so much on ballpoint pens. But fountain pens have such an elegant vibe to them. Their perfect way that the ink flows from the pen, the sleek look, and the overall effectiveness make the fountain pen ultimately superior.

The ink just seems to flow from the pen. It’s something that I appreciate most from fountain pens. When writing, you get such a smooth line. It’s really the most lovely part of the pen. In addition, fountain pens just LOOK so amazing. They have an elegant and sleek look to them that is ultimately unattainable with other pens. From the spiffy exterior, to the beautiful metal nibs, there’s just nothing to not love. And fountain pens are just very effective as well. When buying one pen, there are two options. You can either get an ink well or cartridges. I personally use cartridges, as that is the more modern and efficient form. When using cartridges, you simply have to unscrew the pen to replace the cartridge every two weeks or so.

Many people argue that fountain pens are not cost effective, but I tend to disagree. My personal favorite pen is the Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen. (https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Metropolitan-Collection-Fountain-91111/dp/B00KRPFD96/ref=ice_ac_b_dpb?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1517543300&sr=1-4&keywords=pilot+metropolitan+fountain+pen) The price ($15) may seem slightly unreasonable for a pen, but consider the lifespan of the pen. The pen comes with a cartridge already, and the cartridges can be replaced for years. You would go through SO MANY ballpoint pens by that time. Considering that a pack of 12 cartridges is $4.79, that’ll last you for six months.

Pilot Varsity “Disposable” Fountain Pens

My ultimate verdict is that fountain pens are dying out when they really shouldn’t be. They are a beautiful writing utensil that is underappreciated.

 

Editor: Peter Kadel

Be Happy (I know it’s cheesy, but read it)

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An Op-Ed piece by Guest Blogger Holden Hartle

Currently I am holed up in my room, studying for a French exam, a history exam, and trying to memorize a monologue all the while wanting to fall asleep. But, I can’t. Or worse, I’m not allowed to. Because if I were to fall asleep, I would fall behind on everything, which leads to failed finals, and starts a spiral of failed everything. Failed classes. Failed goals. Failed dreams. But worst of all, I’ve failed myself.

In all of this, I have set a goal for myself. That goal is a simple one: be happy. That’s it. Ms. Clark says every day, “Set an intention for yourself. Whether it be for an evening, the rest of the week, or the rest of your life.” My intention is to be happy. But, as of late, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to be happy. In fact, I feel the opposite. I feel that if I can’t reach my own goals, what’s the point in doing anything? Why shouldn’t I just leave everything?

High school isn’t about being happy. I am in the process of learning this the hard way. High school is not about the clichés of making friends, joining clubs, and passing classes. It’s tiring. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. But, if you want to be successful, have a job, a steady income, and be happy, then you have to go through this.

If you have similar ideas to mine, then please try to cherish the good moments of high school. These good moments, the times where I can laugh and be myself, keep me going from one day to the next. Go on; make high school a joyful cliché. Go join clubs; go make friends; and go be happy.

Editor: Peter Kadel