Written & Narrated by Tristan Darvin
Edited by Nathaniel Edwards
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The Repetition of Star Wars
by Sam Broady
Star Wars has been releasing a lot of content lately. You can watch it all on Disney Plus. But will you enjoy it? Do you like repetitive spinoffs that keep you attached to the past? Or do you like refreshing stories with new characters and expansive lore? I believe the writers should focus more on originality than formula. This was the great mistake of the Disney purchase in 2012. They continue to show their desperate merchandise intentions through all these films, series, games, and more. But Star Wars isn’t the only cash-grab franchise; that term applies to Marvel, Pixar, and the rest of Disney as well.
Let’s start with the sequel trilogy. Whether you enjoy it or not, there’s no denying its similarity to the original trilogy and its reliance on fan service. Disney didn’t plan a storyline, their writing was based on the audience’s reactions to each installment. For example, the amount of backlash that “The Last Jedi” received led to a retcon of everything in “The Rise of Skywalker”. Rey is a Palpatine instead of a nobody; Anakin’s lightsaber is fixed; Kylo has his mask back; and Rose is heavily sidelined. Fast forward to season 2 of “The Mandalorian”. The first season is its own story, but the next one is a festival of cameos from well-known franchise characters including Cobb Vanth, Bo Katan, Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, and R2-D2. Then there’s an animated series entitled “The Bad Batch”, a prime example of one cliche after the other. There are some good episodes, but most of them have no stakes and old characters are thrown into the story on occasion to keep us engaged. Next we have “The Book of Boba Fett” which is literally living in the past. There are cameos everywhere and Tatooine is an overused location that loves smashing familiar sites in your face. Which is one of the problems with the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. It’s nothing new; it uses shaky cam too often; and it’s the third time we’ve seen the protagonist care for a child.
There’s a pattern to be noticed here. Disney is relying too much on our familiarity with the franchise in order to get viewers. I think plenty of people would still watch their content if they took a new approach. “The Mandalorian” was the first Star Wars series on Disney Plus and it succeeded because it’s a standalone story with a completely different tone. But people don’t realize that. The final arc of “The Clone Wars” is in the top tier of television. “Andor” is such a bold take on the lore and it doesn’t feel like Star Wars at all. Clearly, Disney isn’t always lazy. “Rogue One” is a great film that tells its own engaging story without the Skywalkers. “Rebels” is a fun series with many meaningful moments such as Ahsoka’s duel with Vader and Kenobi’s confrontation with Maul. The point is that Star Wars needs to be more consistent with its quality. One day, it’s the same old content. The next day, it’s the best we’ve seen in a long time. The reason Star Wars became popular in the first place is because it was something no one has ever seen before. It’s an exploratory adventure with memorable characters and iconic imagery that blew everyone’s minds with the ambition of its filmmaking. Now, they need to continue building off of that.
The other Disney projects have the same issues. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is even more formulaic and I cannot stand how unoriginal the majority of its installments are. They’re typical superhero stories with an overuse of poor CGI. Again, not all of them are like that. It mostly applies to Phase 4 and the amount of content released isn’t helping. They need more time to craft thoughtful and passionate projects. Pixar isn’t necessarily in the same boat, but even their films have a tiring formula at this point. Sure, each installment has its own creative premise and execution. But they all have very similar messages. Whether they’re about life, family, or friendship.
The moral is that people don’t like seeing the same thing over and over. We only pay to do so because we expect something from franchises that we fell in love with. Writers like Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Rian Johnson need to stay in the business because they have bold takes on storytelling in Star Wars. Dave Filoni dove so deep into the lore of the universe; Jon Favreau crafted an original and immersive western story; and Rian Johnson wasn’t afraid to take a trilogy into a new direction. I believe techniques like those are what’s most important.
Speaking Out on “The Poet X”
By Lacy Blanton, Guest Journalist
“Even with the tambourine and festive singing, these days, church seems less party and more prison” is one of many quotes and themes from the ingenious book “The Poet X” that simply took my breath away through amazement.
“The Poet X” is a 2018 young adult novel written by Harlem-based author and poet Elizabeth Acevedo, published by “HarperTeen”.
The story follows fifteen-year-old Dominican girl Xiomara Batista living in the vibrant city of Harlem, New York. A land home to thousands of Afro-Latino identities, and its culturally rich street life that her overprotective Mamí shields her from. Xiomara (who also goes by “Xio” or “X”) hides the beautiful talent of her writing in a notebook. In it, she lyrically pours out her thoughts and documents the struggles in her daily life. These struggles include frequent sexual harassment from men, questioning the authenticity of her birth-religion and Mamí making that freedom of choice difficult for her, and her confused feelings after a blossoming crush on a boy at her school. X discovers and is captured by the Black-based culture of slam poetry, which she begins to explore within her notebook. Living in a world where people try to keep her silent, X learns the power of her poetic words and fights for them to be heard.
A feature that makes this novel compelling is how it is written from an in-verse perspective. Each chapter is reminiscent of a page from a notebook, and almost every chapter is a poem that documents X’s life. Each poem or “entry” has a style that is easy-to-follow. They’re typically short but powerfully clever nonetheless. (A huge plus for those who struggle paying attention when reading.) Other details are that each chapter is dated to a month and a day of the week. All of this helps create an atmosphere that you’re truly immersed into X’s world, that you really are reading the notebook of an impressionable but talented teenager. And with that, rooting for the main character feels essential. The shockingly realistic plot and brutal honesty is also an immense factor to the novel’s merit. The summary given above are just several of the many heavy topics that the story tackles, but all are dealt with in a respectful and believable fashion. The novel is loaded with memorable quotes that’ll make readers’ fingers snap and go “mmm” with their mouths, most likely linked to the straightforwardness. As X and her family are Latinx, there are several chapters or phrases completely written in Spanish. Additionally helping the novel contain a piece of realism and have the readers feel even more immersed in the protagonist’s culture. Above else, the message of speaking out was the true shining star. Acevedo didn’t just write this book, she made this with true love and passionate words.
I, like many reviewers that have marveled over this book, are touched by this story. X’s passions, struggles, and life holds a mirror to mine. Not only as a person of color, high schooler, and twin, but also as a writer and poet wishing for my work to be heard.
Since its release, many schools across the US have outright banned the book for its inclusive themes of sexuality in adolescence, and claims of it being ‘anti-religious’ and having ‘alternative beliefs’. What these schools fail to realize is that “The Poet X” was not written for controversy, spectacle, or shock. It is a daring book that tells the real lives and situations of numerous individuals. From a current teenager’s coming-of-age to a grown adult who had similar experiences to X’s growing up. Acevedo’s central message about the power of voice alongside the art that is slam poetry within this story is a message for all to hear. It is absolutely going to save and inspire many.
TOP 5 SHOWS THAT YOU SHOULD WATCH
By Luke Whobrey
1 – Breaking Bad
Though often heralded as an oft crime thriller, “Breaking Bad” has had a resurgence in popularity with the release of a spinoff, “Better Call Saul” (an equally nefarious-themed acquaintance), as well as a variety of internet memes chronicling its main character, Walter White’s mouth-agape expression in response to a tragedy. The show, focusing on themes of disparity as well as chronicled events of impending doom, present a narrative meant to show that while action is a gripping feature, there is more to be presumed within what we perceive as “Illegal.”
2 – The Sopranos
A crime drama starring New Jersey’s finest James Gandolfini, the “Sopranos” focuses on an Italian-American mobster who attempts to reconcile his family life with his infidelities as well as the numerous amounts of punches, gunshots, and kicks he has to throw to get people his way. Running for seven seasons, David Chase presents a narrative acquainted with that of oldie-goldies in cinema, reminiscent of “The Godfather”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Untouchables”.
3 – The Walking Dead
A post-apocalyptic horror show with elements of the Western genre, especially that of Spaghetti Western, “The Walking Dead” chronicles in its first few seasons the life of a certain Rick Grimes, a police officer who awakens in a hospital after having been shot by a criminal. While asleep, the world around him collapsed to hordes of flesh-eating monsters that the characters in the show refer to as “walkers.” Delivering horror with a slice of standoff, “The Walking Dead” provides enough entertainment in both its catalogue of weapons as well as its production of acquired nuances, a feat seldom accomplished in mainstream media.
4 – The Last of Us
Despite only recently coming out and having four episodes total as of writing this, “The Last of Us”, like “The Walking Dead”, focuses through both flashbacks and interactions on a world destroyed by both firebombing from a desperate military as well as the undead who brought it upon themselves. The show echoes themes of affection and bewildered morality, as well as the unfortunate alliances and sacrifices needed to be made to fight against a foe, in this case one mutated with a large appetite for brains.
5 – Futurama
While a wild suggestion with its two-dimensional landscape compared to the previous shows, “Futurama” serves as one of “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening’s finest works, coming elements of comedy with surrealism, non-sequiturs, and futuristic vendettas, all held together by a stream-of-consciousness format explored in the character of Philip Fry, a despondent salesman who finds himself sent 1,000 years into the future in cryostasis.
School Lunches
Written By: Bradley Prather
Jeffersonville High School’s lunch is not the best thing in the world. I have heard many things about their lunch, and many say it’s equivalent to prison or jail food. I believe that JHS can improve their lunches in many ways. So in my article, I will be sharing my, and others, opinions on how they can improve their lunch. I will also talk about the price of lunches and why everyone’s lunch should be free.
One big issue with the food that they serve us students is the overall quality of the food. To start off, the chicken patties that they serve are very dry and bland. Secondly, the fries they serve us are usually half frozen still and undercooked. And the biggest problem, the food is either undercooked or overcooked. Though, not all things are bad about their food, their pizza is one of the better things they serve, and seems to be one of the more popular things amongst students. Finally, we serve the same thing everyday, except for the experimental kitchen line, but they serve the same thing in that line as well.
Now, I’m going to share some opinions of students, and my own on how they could really improve what they do and make. For me, I think if they actually paid attention to how long they keep things in their ovens, the food would turn out a whole lot better. One of the things people told me was to add variety, one of the foods people said they wanted to see a lot more was chicken nuggets and tacos, which I can agree on. Cainen Skaggs, a sophomore said, “Use fresher ingredients and food.” This is a very great idea, since many people complain about the food being bland, adding more seasoning and such would greatly improve the food. A fellow friend of mine, Cooper Pickles, said, “Adding more lines, so food can get to us faster.” One main problem is how long the pizza line can take, and many people on Monday are eager for Papa Johns, so having maybe 2-3 lines for pizza would be amazing. A senior I questioned said, “Letting students sell our own snacks” Letting students sell their own snacks would be cool, it could tie along to having more variety of what you can eat, and students would really like it.
“Lunches are equivalent to gas prices” this quote describes the price of lunches best. A lot of students in the school are enraged to say the least about lunches costing more. For some students in the building, lunch is the only meal they may get to eat, and they may not have money to pay for their food. I know that some students get their food for free, but why can’t EVERYONE get their food for free in school?
The Absence of Middle School
Written By: Nathaniel Edwards
(Pictured Above: Kaydee Merrifield)
An integral part of childhood development is the knowledge and skills acquired in middle school. In elementary school, you are exposed to a small group of students, separated heavily by the grade you are a part of. However, once you hit middle school, not only are you exposed to students from various elementary schools in your district, but students in all grade levels interact with each other. This melting pot creates an environment that forces students to interact with one another, and create the social skills necessary for the real world. This integral part of development was shattered in 2020. Desks began to spread, masks blocked faces, interaction was minimized. The freshman in 2022, the class of 2026, were stripped of their entire middle school experience. For Kaydee Merrifield, this has created an issue in her freshman experience.
Kaydee Merrifield is part of the class of 2026 and a former River Valley Middle School student. For her, the Covid-19 pandemic has halted her social skills and academic knowledge. Covid-19 started, for Kaydee, during her sixth grade year. Everything went online, and she would not be back in school until July of her seventh grade year. Although, coming back to school would not be any more advantageous to these social skills and academic knowledge than staying at home. At lunch, Kaydee expected to be able to make a big group of friends and socialize with them daily, but it became impossible due to the rule of three to four students per table. Class was not much better either; desks were spread so far apart that it was impossible to turn to a neighboring desk to talk or give simple remarks. “I was really crossing my fingers to make more friends in middle school but I did not make as many as I wanted to because I could never get around people.”
Suddenly, Kaydee was a freshman in high school. “Coming to high school, it’s like somehow I got whiplash. Suddenly there’s a lot of stuff.” Everything she grew to know as normal in middle school was now irrelevant. The normal became the standards expected from Freshman three years ago. Teachers expecting these standards is detrimental to the success of the Freshman class. “My math teacher expects us to know certain things, but I didn’t get a chance to learn them.” It is not just math that has this expectation, it is almost every Freshman class. Kaydee was never a science person, but her Biology Honors instructor expects so much from her class that she is now getting constant C’s. This pressure for reaching an academic level that you did not build to efficiently is suffocating individuals’ mental health.
“I definitely became less social during Covid. I like talking to people; it takes me an hour to leave a party because I keep getting stuck in different conversations. Now, it takes me a lot longer to even introduce myself to people.” It is intimidating to come to a brand new school where you get to interact with a large assortment of people, but given that you could not socialize consistently with your own middle school classmates, Freshman year is that much more difficult.
Kaydee Merrifield has to pick up the pieces she was not taught quickly, but she is doing it successfully. She is making tons of new friends, and she has established a wonderful relationship with a new friend group. Although this year will be difficult, she continues to show that it is possible to make this situation work. All Class of 2026 Freshman are struggling with their academics and socialization, but as the year progresses, we hope all Freshman can work as hard as Kaydee Merrifield is.
Stranger Things Season 4 – Review
Written By: Samuel Broady
The popular Netflix original series known as “Stranger Things” fully released its fourth and latest season last July and fans all over the world are still talking about it. Everybody loves a great sci-fi horror story about a group of kids stopping supernatural forces; and, personally, I believe that the show deserves all the views and love it has received. Of course, the newest season isn’t without its flaws, but it did revive the show and there’s a lot of reasons for that.
The main improvement with the fourth season is that the original elements of mystery and horror have returned. It’s safe to say that a mysterious story is all about revealing one piece of information after another, until each piece fits together perfectly to reveal the whole story. On a horror basis, this season really cranks it up. It embraces the Stephen King vibes and it increases the brutality. With the introduction of the villain Vecna, it’s a refreshing take on the genres that made the show magic in the first place.
Another thing that has always driven this show is the characters. Eleven is always interesting; Hopper remains a strong fighter; Steve’s development is amazing; and Eddie is amusing. However, in Season 4, Max has the best arc. She blocks out her friends because of her depression and trauma. But when she’s faced with the risk of death, she uses her happy memories to escape the darkness. What seemed like an apathetic lifestyle turned into an instinctive embracing of friendship and life. As a social commentary, I believe that her struggle is the best aspect in the new season.
There are a lot of other positive aspects in this season. The emotions are all over the place. Building off of our attachment to the characters, there are several heartbreaking scenes.
Additionally, the scope of the story is huge, the production design is off the charts, the filming locations are stunning, the special effects look convincing, the cinematography is showcased in spectacular use of dramatically colored lighting, the action doesn’t fail to entertain, and the performances rock. Sadie Sink (Max) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) especially shine in this season. Finally, the music is awesome. The biggest example is “Running Up That Hill”, a song from the 1980s by Kate Bush, which topped the charts on Spotify this year after its revival on the show.
There are negative aspects, unfortunately. The biggest issue is how overstuffed the episodes are. Too much happening can make one get lost and some subplots are more engaging than others. They should remove characters because some have no need in the show anymore. Also, the amount of plot armor and untied loose ends is somewhat underwhelming.
Needless to say, “Stranger Things” Season 4 improves on a lot of things. It’s not perfect, but it certainly proves the possibility for blockbuster television. All we can do now is wait for Season 5 and hope it’s even better because the future looks bright. According to the Duffer Brothers, we’re headed into a time jump that will only take place in Hawkins with no new characters. And that sure sounds promising.
All in all, Stranger Things Season Four deserves a 9/10.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – Review
By: Sam Broady
2022 was a good year for movies. With “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Batman,” “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” “Bullet Train,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” cinema was back. Oddly enough, there was one other film in theaters that nobody asked for, nobody expected it to be good, and nobody hated it. That film is “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Out of all the possibilities for a sequel, “Puss in Boots” turned out to have one and it happened to be amazing. I was blown away in theaters. I have a good memory of it and I look forward to re-watching it because it may be my favorite Dreamworks film. “How to Train Your Dragon” held that title for a long time.
The best thing about this film is by far the animation. In all honesty, it is the best animation I have ever seen. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is well known for its top notch animation, but while its visuals have the highest highlights, I think this film has better visuals overall. The action looks especially good. I love how the frame rate slows down in all the fight scenes. My favorite scene is the fight between Puss in Boots and Death because the color scheme looks amazing. I adore the use of colors and lighting in this film.
Another thing I love about this movie is the characters. I think it’s really important for a film to prioritize its characters if it wants to be memorable; luckily, that’s what happened. I highly enjoy Puss in Boots in this film. I don’t remember anything about the prequel but it doesn’t matter. Antonio Banderas gives the character such energy and he keeps his vibrant personality among the challenges he faces. I like his reunion with Kitty: she gets the job done. Perrito the dog is a funny addition. He brings love and comfort to the story. Goldilocks and the three bears are a delight to see and I didn’t expect them to be so fun. However, my favorite character is the wolf. His name is Death and he is the coolest character in fiction. Every time he’s on screen, he gives me the creeps.
Surprisingly, the themes are conveyed with more depth than I expected. This film explores the fear of dying, which many can relate to. With Puss in Boots being on one out of nine lives, he is running for his life for the first time. His objective in the story is to make a wish for more lives so he can be the legend everyone knows him as. But, in the end, he realizes one life is enough when he gets to spend it with the people he loves. Or should I say animals. Everyone else cancels their wish as well when they learn to appreciate what they have. Having someone to trust, having a family, having friends; there’s a heartfelt message about sticking with what you have in life and it’s done in a rather subtle manner that complements the characterization of our protagonist.
Extra aspects that I enjoyed are the voice acting, the humor, and the music. I don’t know why Dreamworks went so hard on this film, but I am so glad they did. We need more animated masterpieces like these; films that specialize in the telling of a story and the style of animation rather than serving as a formulaic cash grab that intends to sell merchandise and teach kids nothing. You can feel the passion that went into every frame of this film. I cannot feel anything when watching films produced by Illumination like “Minions”. The difference in quality between Illumination and Dreamworks is unreal. By all means, I think it’s safe to say that “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is the best animated film of 2022 and I am very thankful for its release.
National Honor Society inducts new members
All photographs by Jackson Anderson. Click on each image to view the gallery below.
JHS defeats Oldham County 16-1 last night
Red Devils face rival New Albany tonight at 7 p.m., play Bedford North Lawrence and North Oldham this weekend
All photographs by Malachi Conrad; click on each image to view the gallery below.
First year of high school provides challenges, lessons for freshmen
by Liddia Waterbury
Freshman Eden Stewart sits down at the lunch table. She puts her belongings and lunch box down, then proceeds to take her food out of the box. While eating her food, she takes out her computer. She starts working on homework or missing assignments while eating.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I usually prioritize finishing easier work in classes and taking more time to complete my harder work. This means doing work during lunch, advanced band, Spanish, and any other time I can. It’s really hard to do homework at home with all my band activities, but I usually manage my time well,” said Stewart.
High school can feel overwhelming at first, but freshmen learn how to adapt and succeed. Their experiences reveal why the lessons they learn in their first year truly matter.
For many freshmen, the transition to high school comes with challenges, but it also leads to growth. Stewart shares how they adjusted to this new environment and why it will help them to succeed.
“It was really hard. High school was really difficult to get into the flow with, especially because of my constantly full schedule between marching band, winter percussion, and all advanced classes. I’m still adjusting to it, and I know that with all the struggles this year, it will be easier next year. I will be able to have fun without a lot of stress,” said Stewart.
Although the transition can be difficult for many students, teachers support freshmen by making it easier and less overwhelming.
“It’s important to help freshmen adjust to high school because when you’re in middle school, you’re not really used to switching classes. Then, if you fail a class in high school, you have to retake it, and they’re not used to that either. To support freshmen, I listen to their problems and help with anything they need. Just caring about them and giving them extra time if they need it. Especially because you can get really behind on school work from seven classes if you don’t have that support,” said math teacher Alyssa Jones.
Support isn’t only about helping students adjust. It’s also about motivating them when they feel overwhelmed. Teachers play a crucial role in helping freshmen stay focused and confident during stressful times.
“If their lack of motivation is because they’re overwhelmed, then what I try to do is make it more manageable. I help them look at their grades in class and in other classes. I help them pick the most important grades and push to make sure they stay focused on them. They are the assignments that are going to help their grades the most. If they can just narrow their focus to one thing at a time, and get that done, they can make progress,” said English teacher Holden Henderson.
This shows how teachers help students feel less stressed by breaking work into smaller steps. While that support is important, students also need to find other ways to get motivated on their own.
“How I usually stay motivated is when I think about graduation. I usually end up thinking about how, like, if I don’t finish this, I won’t be able to succeed. I also stay motivated by thinking about how I want to make my family proud with good grades. This influences my hobbies and stuff because after putting in that much effort, they feel more relaxing. I look forward to doing my hobbies and other things,” said freshman Onah Barns.
Students motivate themselves through their own goals. At the same time, teachers can strengthen that motivation by building supportive relationships with their students.
“I just try to be myself, be relatable, and share my interests. I know that my interests overlap with a lot of yours. I feel a little bit more in touch with social media and modern media than other teachers. I just try to be relatable and make sure students know that I care about them as people and not just the numbers in my grade book,” said Henderson.
“It’s really important to have a good relationship with a teacher because you’re more likely to pay attention to what they say. If you don’t have a good relationship, you’re more likely to tune them out and do the bare minimum and not learn what they teach you,” said Henderson.
Strong relationships with teachers can impact how much students engage in class. When students feel comfortable, they are more likely to listen, learn, and reach out for help when they need it.
“To ask for help with school, I raise my hand, go up to the teacher, and ask questions. I know that they are here to help me and help me succeed. When I ask the teacher about work, they help me to understand it better. This also gets rid of a lot of stress when the material is important and I don’t know how to do it,” said freshman Madisyn Maratty.
Asking for help is important, and it also shows something bigger. Teachers are there to guide students and support them when they struggle, making help a key part of their role.
“Remember, there are so many trusted adults in this building who want to help you succeed, so find one and develop a relationship with them. Talk to your teachers about topics or things you may be struggling with. They are here to help you and truly appreciate hearing from you over hearing from a guardian or another adult.”
Freshman Counselor Andrea Schedler
“Remember, there are so many trusted adults in this building who want to help you succeed, so find one and develop a relationship with them. Talk to your teachers about topics or things you may be struggling with. They are here to help you and truly appreciate hearing from you over hearing from a guardian or another adult,” said freshman counselor Andrea Schedler.
Support from adults doesn’t stop at just being available when students ask for help. Teachers also take an active role in guiding freshmen, helping them build skills and habits they’ll need to succeed throughout the rest of high school.
“I make sure freshmen understand what is expected, that there’s certain behaviors that are not acceptable. I make sure that they know that teachers have deadlines to get work done. At first I try to push and guide them, then I get stricter, if they are still lacking in maturity,” said biology teacher Joe Somerville.
The freshman experience includes challenges, growth, and support. Students build habits and maturity while teachers continue to guide and push them towards success.
JHS defeats Shawe Memorial 3-0 in volleyball last night
All photographs by Malachi Conrad. Click on each image to view the gallery below.
Floyd Central defeats Red Devils 15-2 in softball last night
All photographs by Malachi Conard. Click on each image to view the photo gallery below.
Freshmen share tips for succeeding in the first year of high school
by Kaylee Borelli
The school year coming to an end, and throughout the year, freshmen have learned to adapt to the new environment of high school.
Teachers and counselors at have noticed how this year’s freshmen adjusted to the rigors of high school and how they’ve grown over the school year.
“Some of this year’s freshmen have adjusted well to the rigors of high school. I have witnessed growth in attendance, getting to class on time, balancing the workload of seven classes, becoming more confident in themselves, and learning how to handle conflict and minor issues on their own,” said freshman counselor Andrea Schedler. “I have also witnessed a lot of students grow in their involvement in athletics and extracurricular activities.”
Adjusting to the challenges of high school does not always happen easily, though.
“Overall, as a freshman class, they haven’t adjusted very well to high school,” said freshman college and career teacher John Moody. “Some have figured out how to live outside of middle school and have been mature, while others have been immature and are still stuck in middle school.”
Moody shared some tips on how future freshmen can prepare themselves for high school and adjust to the rigor of JHS.
“What you’re going to experience here is going to be much different. You’re going to be expected to meet deadlines. You’re going to be expected to work on things you don’t know, and you’ll have to ask questions,” said Moody. “You just need to be as prepared as you can be. Make sure things are turned in on time because some teachers won’t even accept late work. Also, don’t fall behind because if you don’t fall behind, you won’t have to worry about catching up.”
This year’s ninth graders have also detailed some advice for incoming students next year.
“I would definitely just be yourself so you can find more people that are like you,” said freshman Donnie Muncy. “I feel like that’s a big part of it, being around people like you helps you be yourself and be happy. But overall, just being around people like yourself will make your overall high school experience better.”
Similarly to Muncy, freshman Sophie Ellis also detailed a way to make friends as a freshman.
“Go to all the events, even if you don’t think they’re going to be fun,” said Ellis. “It’s a great way to make friends and bond, and you get to see the school community.”
In addition to the students sharing their tips, some freshmen shared how they succeeded in their first year of high school.
“This year, I never let my work slip and was able to turn in my work on time,” said freshman Katie Higdon. “I just made sure I didn’t procrastinate and got my work done before the due date, so I wasn’t stressed the day before an assignment was due.”
Freshman Kaden Eurton said organization made school less stressful.
“Instead of stressing over my work, I would stay organized and balance my work and free time so I never fell behind,” said Eurton. “I would say as long as someone stays organized and stays up-to-date with work, high school will be more enjoyable and not as stressful.”
Regular attendance is another suggestion that freshmen shared with their peers.
“You really can’t miss much school because of how much work there is,” detailed freshman Parker Vibbert. “It takes a while to get caught up, but as long as you have good attendance, school will be much easier.”
In Remembrance Of: Prominent People Lost in 2022
By: Madison Pritchard
Vivienne Westwood: 1941-2022
Vivienne Westwood was a force to be reckoned with during her successful career in fashion. She got her start in 1965 after meeting and moving in with Malcolm McClaren. Together, they opened a vintage fashion stall called Let It Rock. Here, Westwood began to design and create clothing based off of ideas McClaren had. The designs were representative of the “normal” style of the time, which often included very bold and promiscuous slogans or graphics. These articles of clothing were immensely successful within the punk youth demographic in Britain, however, they garnered negative attention from the more conservative right-wing reporters.
Eventually, Westwood and McClaren parted ways in 1986 and Vivienne began her own brand, Vivienne Westwood, which stayed true to her unique and extravagant roots. Here she became a household name because she was never afraid of being too bold or too brazen with her designs. Her influence on the fashion world is forever remembered as an important one for the strides she took to make a difference.
Stephen “tWitch” Boss: 1982-2022
Over his lifetime, Stephen “tWitch” Boss developed impressive skills in acting, producing, choreographing and dancing. In 2008, he was on the hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” and ended as the runner-up contestant. During this season, he performed a dance titled “Mercy” with fellow contestant Katee Shean that earned them a choreography award nomination from the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. In following seasons of SYTYCD he participated as an All Star dancer.
He became the guest DJ on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in 2014, and then in 2020 became a co-executive producer of the show. He also starred in the “Step Up” movies of 2010, 2012 and 2014 as character Jason Hardlerson. Then in 2015 he acted in “Magic Mike XXL”. In death, he leaves behind his wife, fellow SYTYCD contestant Allison Holker, their three children, and a loving fanbase who know him as a lighthearted, hardworking, and devoted man.
Irene Cara: 1959-2022
Popular songstress and actor from the 80’s, Irene Cara worked on a multitude of projects that earned her claim to fame. One of her most popular songs being the title song “Fame” from the 1980 musical film of the same name, where she played Coco Hernandez. The song rose to number 1 on music charts from multiple countries, earning her a spot in mainstream music. Then in 1983, she sang the song “Flashdance… What A Feeling” from the film “Flashdance”. This performance won her an Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Later in life, she voiced Snow White in the unofficial sequel to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Happily Ever After, and also appeared as Mary Magdalene in the musical tour for Jesus Christ Superstar. After these jobs though, she never was able to go back to the level of success she had once reached, and began to slowly drift away from the limelight.
Takeoff: 1994-2022
Kirshnik Khari Ball, or more commonly known from his professional name Takeoff, was one-third of the critically acclaimed rap trio, Migos. Made up of his uncle, Quavo, and cousin, Offset, they first hit the hip hop scene in 2008. But only in 2013 did they begin to garner attention for their work after the release of their single “Versace”. Their first number 1 hit “Bad and Boujee” was what really pushed them to the forefront of the rap genre.
Migos’ second and third studio albums “Culture” and “Culture II” both debuted at number 1 on Billboard 200. Soon after in 2018, Takeoff announced an upcoming solo album titled “The Last Rocket”. In October 2022, as his final project, Takeoff released a collaborative album with Quavo named “Only Built for Infinity Links” in the month leading up to his death.
Because of his important contributions and impact he had on the hip hop genre, the public commemoration of his life entitled “Celebration of Life” amassed over 20,000 attendees.
Meander Into the Manosphere
Clawing for meaning gets people scratched
by Tristan Darvin
Internet star and former kickboxer Andrew Tate.
“What colour is your Bugatti?”
That was a rhetorical question said by Andrew Tate. Rhetorical questions such as this one serve as jabs at the logic or moral fiber of an opponent. With the question of money and cars being used as a moral criticism, the question is based on the idea that money is morality and greed is good. In being based on such an idea, it brings a lot of questions about those who are asking it.
What created this void of meaning that’s been filled by this nasty materialism, who is this void in, and how is it better filled?
To take a look at the father of the aforementioned rhetorical question to get some insight, the phrase was coined by internet celebrity, kickboxer, self described misogynist, and likely human trafficker Andrew Tate. Tate was raised on an estate in Luton, England by his chessmaster father and his catering assistant mother, with Tate gaining television and kickboxing fame; Tate’s fame was short-lived due to a leaked video of him beating a woman with a belt. But Tate clawed out of his exile as the rising star of the online ‘Manosphere’.
An online coalition of disenfranchised men known as the ‘Manosphere’ has raised a myriad of pro-male figures into stardom from Andrew Tate to Jordan Peterson. The members of this coalition dwell in their own world, rejected by all else, that even has its own slang and lingo. These men often cite unfair rejection and mistreatment from others, especially women, for their behavior of sexual harassment and sexism. Whether or not those complaints are valid or a strawman is debatable.
The manosphere often leaves the internet to affect the material world. Elliot Roger, killer of six and self-described “supreme gentleman”, subscribed to these defeatist ideas of loneliness and despair and used them to justify his rampage. However, his behavior as described by himself and others had shown him not as a lonely soul, but one who drives others away while blaming them for leaving him behind. This demonstrates not the state of victimhood these men describe, but a state of hostile misogyny that makes everyone miserable and these men hateful.
However, with all of this in mind, one thing escapes us: how do we solve this?
Andrew Tate, just like the entire subculture he dwells in, spreads via shocking and rule breaking content. They take hold on the minds of men via scandal and unleashing repressed desires. They take hold, but they can be shaken off. We can be better, but we have to do some things.
Just like romance, communication is key in deradicalization. By unsealing the lid on these emotions by normalizing conversations about loneliness as opposed to ‘tolerating masculine solitude’ we may give these feelings an escape valve that isn’t as dangerous as when they come bursting out directed by muscled misogynists. Just as one can be pulled in, one can be pulled out by openness and acceptance of the other. And thus, the other may cease to be so terrifying and the hate may be quelled in the end.
The Weird Obsession with Marilyn Monroe
Written by Madison Pritchard
T-shirts, mugs, blankets, posters, figurines, and dolls. These are all merchandise items you can find with Marilyn Monroe’s name, face, or features plastered all over them. She has dominated the pop culture scene for well over seven decades, and there seems to be no sign of stopping that trend anytime soon. But what really prompted her ever-lasting popularity and her staple reign in pop culture?
Marilyn, born Norma Jean Mortenson, was your classic rags-to-riches story. She was born in Los Angeles and in her early life she went from foster home to foster home. Marilyn married her first husband at sixteen and started her first job. While working, she was scouted and began a new career as a pin-up model and acted in a multitude of short-films.
The public’s fascination with Monroe began back in the 1950s with her iconic roles in the films “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”, “The Seven Year Itch”, and “Some Like It Hot’’. Along with her feat of becoming Playboy’s first cover girl, and being crowned the “Sexiest Woman of the Century” by People magazine. She is also widely known as a leading and revolutionizing sex symbol of the fifties.
Her original boom was her cover on Playboy Magazine. What many don’t know is that this was a non-consensual act on owner Hugh Hefner’s part. She had originally posed nude for a calendar company out of “desperation” in which she made reportedly $50. The photos were eventually sold to Hefner for $500 dollars, which kickstarted his Playboy empire while Marilyn got none of the profits.
Marilyn is one of the most successful examples of using an on vs. off screen persona. So while these two personas were different, they shared a lot of the same qualities. Like her sense of literal humor. This prompted critics to claim that she was just acting as herself, instead of stepping into a new character. Her roles in Hollywood were consumed by the “Blonde-Bombshell” typecast and sexist stereotypes. In most of her movies she is depicted as a young ‘hopeless’ girl who eventually gets with a wealthy and sophisticated man. Marilyn’s acting career was often looked down upon by critics who criticized her for relying on her attractiveness, rather than acknowledging the fact that Marilyn was actually an intelligent and professionally trained actress who would make fun of the characters she played.
Into her personal affairs, Monroe was married three times, divorced three times. It was also highly speculated that she was in some sort of relationship to former president John F. Kennedy. This only added more allure to her persona. It left many people wanting to know more about this public, but also private figure.
Unlike many golden-age Hollywood starlets like Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, or Eve Arden, Monroe never had the chance to grow old and age. So, fast forward to her untimely death in 1962, when she was in her mid thirties. She passed, and was left forever-36, a young and beautiful woman frozen in time, never to grow out of the image people already had of her.
Her early death plays a huge role in her long-time fame. It left people able to dehumanize her, because she, physically, never changed. Just an unaging sex symbol. It begs the question of morality in the case of famous figures. She also never seems to have been able to rest, even after death. She also was never given credit for her incredibly successful career.
After her death, her estate was given to her acting coach, Lee Strasberg, who eventually passed, and then the estate was given to his then wife, Anna Strasberg, who is assumed to have had no connection to Marilyn other than through Lee. Anna eventually sold Marilyn’s estate to CMG Worldwide in 1994, which is how large corporations gained access to the ability to create merchandise and make immense profits off of Monroe.
Despite her career, most people have seen or known about Marilyn before even watching her films. Her face is plastered on merchandise and is included in in random advertisements that have no connection to her or what she stood for. Popular moments that reference or imitate Monroe span from even the earliest moments after her death to now, in 2022. For example, the 1980 Chanel No. 5 perfume commercial where Carole Bouquet literally turns into Monroe is a little freakish to watch. Or Madonna’s recreation of Monroe in “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” for her 1984 “Material Girl” music video that hit the nail right on its head. And even to the 2017 burial of Hugh Hefner next to Monroe, even though they never actually knew each other, as Hefner revealed in a 2012 interview with CBS News, stating that he felt a connection to her because of her significance to the popularity of Playboy. Or even most recently, the controversy surrounding Kim Kardashian wearing Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress to the 2022 Met Gala.
Even now, people still want more of her. The biopics and biographies, merchandise, or recreations of her work in film are still copied and multiplied year by year. Ironically, she is likely more scrutinized now than she was when she was alive. People need to leave her alone, and let her rest. Let the fascination of Marilyn Monroe die with her, one last time.
Nov. 2022
Facebook Has Got a New Name
Two weeks ago, a rumor of a name change for the social media company Facebook was spreading fast among internet users. Facebook has been around since February 2004, and it has developed and changed quite a bit. The name, however, has remained the same. Back in 2003, the original intention of the social media app was a “hot or not” style website, originally called Facemash, where students at Harvard University could rate the faces of their classmates. While it got shut down two days later, founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg aimed to redesign the website, giving it its new purpose – connecting people. In early 2004, it was re-released as the Facebook we know today.
On Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, Facebook announced the new company name as Meta Platforms, in reference to the metaverse (a fictional future vision of the internet.) According to CNBC, the change comes after the company faced scrutiny over the spread of “hate speech” and “misinformation” earlier this year.
In relation to the name change, the company will still remain in control of the other social media platforms such as Instagram, Oculus, Whatsapp, etc. and they will become what is known as subsidiaries, which means they will be less of a focus for the company but still important nonetheless.
“The best way to understand the metaverse is to experience it yourself,” Zuckerberg said in his announcement. “It doesn’t fully exist yet.” He hopes this name change will give a fresh face for the embattled company.
thehyphennews.com 