In the original story, it is written that she is as white as snow. But in reality, if her skin was as fair as it, that could mean only one thing: she is dead.
How long have I heard that snow is cold but fun? You can make snowmen and battle with snowballs and warm yourself up by the fire with hot cocoa.
Hear me out, I don’t hate snow. I find it cute. The way it falls on the ground and the way it looks when you have one on your finger is breathtaking and is such a sweet dream. But in reality, snow is a nightmare, though I believe it is partially good.
But once it starts melting, all the bad things start to come out – dead leaves, dirt, sand, and corpses of bugs that didn’t make it through the storm. Along with that, the floor becomes slippery and looks very dirty.
Winter is supposed to be cold, but because of the snow it was terrifyingly freezing and going out some days was more of a punishment than a part of an active life. I don’t know why it has to be this cold, but my body cannot handle this temperature.
I lived my whole life in an african country, called Senegal and just like you would imagine it, there, cold weather is a myth. And now I suffer from the inverse of an oven. I am so used to being in warm places that my body was not ready for such a change.
The coldest I had seen so far was chilly; and there is a big – no, colossal – difference between “Oh, it’s cold, I need a jacket,” and, “Hark, the heavens themselves unleashed the tempest of divine wrath upon our heads!”
Coming to school is exhausting, going out of the school is overly tiring because it is so cold outside you cannot stand more than a few seconds before feeling your blood freezing. My toes are frozen to death. I almost got frostbite on my finger. But at least snow is cute, right? I am so done with this season already; please, let’s switch.
If it came to seasons, for the moment fall is my favorite because winter is too weird, going from hot to cold back and forth. Like, chill. You good, man. No need to make life this hard.
But, yeah, at least I can tell my friends from back home that for one day I have been an angel…a snow angel.
David Lynch’s cinematic journey stands as a beacon of astounding creativity, one that upends conventional narrative structures and delves deep into the subconscious. The legacy of Lynch is not one of straightforward storytelling but of visceral exploration — an investigation into the fragility of the human mind, the intersection of dream and reality, and the unsettling presence of evil in the most seemingly banal spaces.
Lynch’s filmography — spanning over four decades — is defined by an unwavering commitment to the surreal and the unsettling.
“Eraserhead” (1977), Lynch’s debut feature, set the tone for his career: a nightmarish, industrial landscape full of unsettling imagery, where the line between horror and absurdity is perpetually blurred. It is a film that rejects traditional narrative coherence, instead opting for mood and atmosphere that tap into primal fears.
From the strange, awkward, and seemingly benign characters, to the grotesque imagery of the mutant child, Lynch forces his audience to confront the unknown and the unnerving forces lurking beneath the surface of everyday life.
The television series Twin Peaks television series, which first aired in 1990, only solidified Lynch’s place in the pantheon of modern filmmakers. It blended soap opera tropes with a deep exploration of existential dread, creating a show that was as addictive as it was enigmatic. The mystery of Laura Palmer’s death was only the surface of a much deeper narrative — one that confronted ideas of duality, the nature of evil, and the loss of innocence. The surreal, dreamlike sequences of the Red Room and its iconic inhabitants, like Bob and The Arm, remain some of the most iconic and haunting images in television history.
Lynch’s films “Blue Velvet” (1986) and “Mulholland Drive” (2001) further expanded his exploration of the darkness lurking beneath the shiny surfaces of suburban and Hollywood life.
“Blue Velvet,” in particular, exemplifies Lynch’s knack for juxtaposing beauty with horror: the image of a pristine, picturesque suburban neighborhood shattered by the sadistic Frank Booth, whose violent rampage through the American dream is both shocking and yet eerily familiar.
“Mulholland Drive,” often regarded as Lynch’s magnum opus, continues to haunt viewers with its disjointed narrative, melding elements of noir, psychological horror, and identity exploration, all set against the glitzy but decaying backdrop of Los Angeles.
“But even more than that, Lynch’s legacy lies in his ability to make us question the nature of life itself. In an age where audience expectations for clarity and resolution often outweigh the desire for artistic exploration, Lynch stands as a defiant figure, unafraid to push the boundaries of cinema.”
Lynch’s films possess a distinctive quality of being elusive, of being part of a larger puzzle that refuses to be solved. And yet, this refusal to provide clear answers is part of his genius. His works are best appreciated not for their plot, but for the feelings and thoughts they provoke. Lynch allows us to experience the depths of human depravity and beauty simultaneously, offering no clear moral conclusions but forcing us to reckon with the complexity of human existence. His cinematic world is one of paradoxes — dreams and nightmares, love and violence, beauty and horror — all wrapped in an aesthetic that is unmistakably his own.
Lynch’s influence extends far beyond the confines of film and television. His legacy also includes his contributions to sound and music. The work of composer Angelo Badalamenti, most notably on “Twin Peaks,” became inseparable from Lynch’s aesthetic. The haunting, ethereal tones of the “Twin Peaks” theme evoke a sense of nostalgia, melancholy, and dread — three emotions that are central to Lynch’s worldview. The collaboration between Lynch and Badalamenti, which spanned several projects, gave Lynch’s world an auditory texture that deepened the emotional resonance of his visuals.
Lynch’s work “Inland Empire” was the culmination of what he had been doing in film for decades. The surreal atmosphere, the almost completely nonsensical story, and the fact it’s shot on a camcorder make it by far the weirdest thing he had done. It’s a beautiful testament to abstractions in art.
Lynch’s refusal to adhere to traditional filmmaking paradigms has cemented his status as a pioneer. His ability to manipulate time, space, and emotion in ways that defy explanation is his most significant contribution to cinema. What is often called Lynchian — a term now synonymous with his distinctive style — refers not just to the visual and auditory choices he made, but to the worldview his films communicate: one of fractured realities, psychological trauma, and the impossibility of true understanding.
If “Inland Empire” was the culmination of Lynch’s work as a filmmaker, then “Twin Peaks: The Return” is the culmination of Lynch’s work as an artist. Everything comes together and is perfected in this limited series. Every single element that makes the art of filmmaking is perfected. The music, the writing, the visuals, the sound, and the dialogue culminate in this monumental work of art.
His influences go far and wide. Monumental filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick loved David Lynch. He went as far as to say “Eraserhead” was his favorite film. Underground filmmaking legends like Gregg Araki, who made the wonderful “The Doom Generation” cited “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me” as an influence. Contemporary indie filmmakers love him such as Jane Schoenbrun, who made “I Saw The TV Glow.”
To me Lynch’s films made me realize that film was an art. It doesn’t have to just have a deep story. In fact, it doesn’t need to have a story, it can be a collection of visuals. That’s what the power of film is. To tell a feeling through image and sound.
But even more than that, Lynch’s legacy lies in his ability to make us question the nature of life itself. In an age where audience expectations for clarity and resolution often outweigh the desire for artistic exploration, Lynch stands as a defiant figure, unafraid to push the boundaries of cinema. His films demand a particular kind of engagement — a willingness to embrace ambiguity, to sit with discomfort, and to venture into the unknown.
In the end, David Lynch’s films aren’t about finding answers. They are about catching a dream and finding the meaning through interpretation. It’s far too often people search for direct answers. They want the explanation fed to them. Lynch is someone who stood against that and made people think about what it could all mean for themselves.
“The Notebook,” directed by Nick Cassavetes , is based on the 1996 novel by Nicholas Sparks.
This story is a very well known story with it being such a heartfelt story that many love. People know it as a romantic drama because of its loving and romantic scenes and the rough times that come with that.
This story is of a young couple, Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton, two young adults that fall in love during the early 1940s. Despite facing numerous obstacles, including social class differences and World War ll, their love endures.
The film is most known for beautiful cinematography, emotional depth, and strong performances by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. The movie is a touching story of love and memory that connects with the audience. The film is popular and known by many. But how well do we really know it?
The on-screen chemistry between Gosling and McAdams was undeniable. However, off-screen, their relationship was initially quite tumultuous. The actors has a rocky start, with Gosling even asking for McAdams to be replaced at one point. Despite this, they managed to work through their differences, and their performances ultimately brought the love to life in the movie.
An interesting aspect of the production was the dedication to authenticity. The filmmakers went to great lengths to ensure that the setting and costumes accurately reflected the 1940s and 1950s. The movie was filmed in various locations in South Carolina, capturing the romantic southern backdrop. The crew also paid attention to detail in recreating the period’s look and feel, from vintage cars to the era- appropriate clothing. This commitment to authenticity helped immerse viewers in the love story, making the film a classic.
The story was inspired by the real-life relationship of Sparks’ then wife, Cathy’s grandparents, who had been married for over 60 years. Sparks was moved by their love and the way they continued to cherish each other despite the challenges of life, aging, and illnesses. This heartfelt connection served as the foundation for the movie, which viewers will enjoy.
Winnie-the-Pooh and Steamboat Willie have been a part of many people’s childhoods, through many different generations. Yet that isn’t the only connection, for they have all recently joined the public domain in the past three years.
The Public Domain is when a certain copyrighted property can now be used freely, without obtaining permission from the original copyright owner in order to gain money from the IP.
This availability can actually expand the character by having more interpretations of beloved characters, yet, as has happened to many already, it can just be a quick name to slap on a low budget movie without thinking of the connections between the source material and the new take.
Art by Sam Ottinger.
A good example of this more lackluster avenue is the horror movie “Mouse Trap,” directed by Jamie Bailey and released on August 6, 2024, a horror take on “SteamBoat Willie,” which entered the public domain on Jan. 1 of that same year. The trailer for this movie first popped up a day after on Jan. 2.
This movie has very little going for it, and the inclusion of this past Disney property isn’t part of that group.
“Mouse Trap” has very few meaningful connections with SteamBoat Willie, except for random inclusions of the original short, and a mask that is supposed to resemble him. Yet even this mask point can be debated, for it seems to be more based off of the present day Mickey Mouse, lacking the steamboat hat of Willie, which is a key part of discerning the two versions.
This could be ignored, if the environment took up pieces of the original setting of a boat, but even that is ignored in favor of a random arcade.
“Mouse Trap” is a prime example of a movie using a well known IP in order to garner attention to a generic horror movie. The similarities between their “Steamboat Willie” and the modern day Mickey Mouse, even having the name of the villain be Mickey Mouse and not Willie, shows how they were less focused on turning the original short (or even just putting something truly inspired by it in) into something new with passion behind it.
In a very telling interview with scriptwriter Simon Phillips, he reveals the true intentions behind this movie’s creation.
First, he talks about is that their original idea is the idea they went with. This would typically not be a problem, but with everything else, it just adds to show the lack of care in producing a good movie, let alone one with good connections to a source material.
In this interview he also talks about the original name of Mickey’s Mouse Trap; this is another small detail that could be seen as minor, but it just shows the limited research done on the specific version in the current domain.
This horror movie trend continues with “Blood and Honey,” released March 17, 2023, and its sequel, released March 18, 2024. Both are slasher takes on Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Winnie and Piglet entering the public domain in January 1, 2022.
The first movie had a connection to the original material in the beginning, through a drawn backstory; yet it loses that clear connection quite quickly. It does do a slightly better job at representing the original IP than “Mouse Trap” did, but it also ends up in the category of being another generic slasher movie with a main antagonist that just happens to look like the classic character.
The first movie was also just one of the many movies produced by Jagged Edge Productions throughout 2023, showing another layer to its focus not on being a good movie, but more a focus on quantity over quality.
Luckily, not all horror versions of public domain IPs are unable to go through improvement.
The second “Blood and Honey,” aptly named “Blood and Honey 2,” is able to prove that creativity can be used in these sorts of concepts.
“Blood and Honey 2” includes new characters, like Owl and Tigger, due to their copyright running out between the first and the second, on January 1, 2024.
It is still not a perfect movie, but the increased budget, time, and effort used to create it helps elevate it from the first movie.
The mere presence of a second movie for a poorly received yet well known film typically is seen as another excuse to make money, but this wasn’t a project that was meant to be spat out and forgotten as the first one had.
Even with the bigger budget, roughly $500K, there were many aspects that producer Scott Chambers and director Rhys Frake-Waterfield had to take into their own hands to improvise solutions, such as when their costume designer quit on them three days before they were to start filming.
This already shows more effort and passion than “Mouse Trap” ever had.
There was, of course, an incentive to create a second movie, due to the possible profit that could be made, but instead of going down the route of quickly making a cheap sequel, they stuck to making something with a better script, acting, and prosthetics.
When a well known character enters the public domain, many are quick to try and profit from it by making low budget projects including these characters.
Notably, many are horror themed, which can either be equated with the fact that studios aren’t having to worry as much if a horror film fails than if an action one did, or due to the trend of turning something that would appeal to children into something darker that was popular around the times these movies were released.
Nevertheless, there are many who use these characters as a way to earn off of their name(s), but that shouldn’t dissuade others who have ideas with these IPs from creating something they truly have passion for. These characters don’t deserve to be left behind just because their copyright expired.
The public domain is here for the benefit of creativity, even when that may lead to not-so-perfect media
“She’s The Man” (2006) is a hilarious modern take on Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” starring Amanda Bynes as Viola and Channing Tatum as Duke.
Viola’s ultimate passion is playing soccer, but she is challenged because her school’s girls’ soccer team gets cut. She is so determined to play soccer that she then plans to disguise herself as her twin brother, Sebastian, and enroll at his new school, Illyria, to play against the boys’ soccer team at Cornwall.
Once she gets there, she has to navigate challenges such as fitting in with the other guys and dealing with the star player, Duke Orsino. Viola then starts to develop a crush on Duke, but he’s trying to win another girl, which leads to some major romantic tension. It’s a big challenge for Viola to try to act like a guy, but also somehow impress Duke.
The soccer side of the movie is fantastic. I personally loved these scenes, as they were super entertaining and well-choreographed. The soccer scenes were intense and exciting while also being funny. I thought they were the highlight of the movie.
Back to the actual movie, as the story unfolds, eventually the truth comes out, leading to Viola boldly revealing her true identity. The ending is sweet, with a classic romantic resolution. The whole message of the movie is about being true to yourself.
Overall, I thought the movie was great. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I enjoyed every second of it. If you love comedy and romance, of which this movie is a great example, I highly recommend giving this a watch.
In 2021, I found Conan Gray on the CMA music awards on TV. He has been my favorite artist since then.
Gray has four albums, 112 songs, and has 5.36 million subscribers. Quick disclaimer, some of his 112 songs are covers, or features. Also, some songs are translations. Conan Gray is a 26-year-old singer and songwriter and former YouTuber. He started his YouTube channel in 2013. Gray became popular in 2019-2020. Gray has also starred in the movie SOUR Prom.
His music has a type of rhythm that I have not found anyone could recreate. When I think of Conan Gray, I think of his songs “Heather,” “TCTAB,” and “Manic.” These three songs have been some of my favorites for some time now but all of his songs are a work of art.
I love “Heather” for the reason that the song is relatable. He sings about everyone having a “heather.” I interpreted this song as being about someone who has left him for another person and he has been jealous and frustrated. Gray sings in the chorus, “Why would you ever kiss me? I’m not even half as pretty”. I believe he is feeling used and confused. His envy and jealousy shows in the lyrics “But how could I hate her? She’s such an angel. But then again, kinda wish she were dead.”
I think of “TCTAB” because once again, it’s relatable. TCTAB stands for “The Cut That Always Bleeds.” I believe that he named this song after one of his toxic relationships. This relationship was hard to get over because they were leaving and coming back over and over again. The lyrics “I don’t love you anymore, a pretty line that I adore, five words that i’ve heard before,” prove this. He keeps falling for this person every time they come back when he sings. “’Cause I could be your lover on a leash, Every other week, When you please.”
Last but not least, “Manic”. “Manic” is a catchy and overall a well rounded song. It pretty much talks about his experience with an ex that spreads around rumours. In the pre-chorus Conan stands up for himself when he says, “You should turn back to your rat pack, tell them I’m trash.” I think he says this because he is getting over the rumors and stories about him and he feels that what others say doesn’t affect him. By telling people to call him trash feels like an “I don’t care what you say or do,” statement. This also shows in the lines in his chorus. “Tell all of your friends that I’m crazy and drive you mad. That I’m such a stalker, a watcher, a psychopath.”
If you like Pop or any of the sub genres indie, acoustic, and bedroom, there is a good chance that you will like Conan Gray. Teen Vogue has also called him ”the pop prince for sad internet teens.”
One thing’s for sure, teens today will find his lyrics relatable to their own lives.
Did you know the new season of “XO, Kitty” on Netflix came out Jan. 16?
If you’ve seen the first season you know Kitty has an older sister whom she loves, but did you know that her sister is actually Lara Jean? The same Lara Jean from the trilogy “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”?
These films follow the lives of two sisters and their many adventures throughout their school lives, as well as their love lives. Both determined, it showcases just how much love can mean to a person and just how much it can change you.
The movies star Lara Jean and her experiences as she navigates through her small town high school, where everyone knows everyone. In the beginning we learn about love letters LJ had written in the past towards the boys she used to love; when a love was so strong that she couldn’t bear it she would write the letters in order to express herself.
We watch as she struggles to see herself fit in with the students around her, that is, until her letters are sent. With the letters sent, we see LJ and one of her letter receivers fake a relationship in order to save her relationship with her family and friends.
But after a while the line begins to blur and suddenly things seem more real than they do fake. The movie follows LJ as she navigates through her junior year with her new boyfriend, her new friends, and all her family drama.
The next movies detail the conflicts she faced with her boyfriend, insecurities she had about his past, as well as their future. It displays rivalry, jealousy, and the anxiety that comes with beginning a new era of life, and yet, it also shows the beauty, warmth, and power true love can have.
Overall, the movies were a wonderful spin and really gave life to the stories written by author Jenny Han. The average of all three movies was around 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 6.4 on IMDb, with the popular opinion in favor towards them.
Watching the movies was a wonderful experience, perfect for that Rom- Com Binge you’ve been planning. It is cute and cheesy, but also accurately displays real insecurities as well as issues that many young couples face.
“Watching the movies was a wonderful experience, perfect for that Rom- Com Binge you’ve been planning. It is cute and cheesy, but also accurately displays real insecurities as well as issues that many young couples face.”
The series “XO, Kitty” continues with this legacy and follows Kitty Covey, Lara Jean’s younger sister. We watch as she flies across the globe to Korea in order to go to the same school as her online boyfriend, Dae. Once there, however, things get complicated as she meets his other girlfriend, his friends, and suddenly Kitty finds herself lost in a new school with people she doesn’t know.
Despite this, we see how Kitty starts over and begin to see her shine, lighting up the lives of those around her. Season One displays her journey and adventures she faces as she grows up and focuses on becoming her best self.
The second season describes her new experiences as she travels back to the U.S. with the hopes of getting her life back on track after a disastrous and messy year in Korea.
Season Two allows us to see how her relationships with her friends and family grow as well as change. With the help of her close companions we watch as she discovers new feelings and how she reacts to her relationships changing.
With an 80% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.5 on IMDb, “XO, Kitty” is well loved by many viewers, especially the fans of the TATB franchise. It continues to display many real emotional issues teenagers alike face, relating to their situations and reactions.
If anything were to change about the movies and show, it would be the negligence of certain characters. For example, in the first movie we meet Josh, who is the Covey family’s neighbor as well as one of the boys LJ sent a letter to. However, after the first movie he is forgotten, never to be mentioned again.
The same happened in the second movie with John Ambrose, the eventual love rival and second male lead. We are introduced to him and see how sweet their relationship grows only for him to be neglected in the last movie.
We see a similar situation in the series as well with characters like Lara Jean herself. In the second season of “XO, Kitty” we see the return of Peter Kavinsky as well as their eldest sister, Margot Covey. We see the return of so many beloved characters and yet not once was Lara Jean herself shown. Wouldn’t it be sensible for her, of all characters, to make a comeback in her sister’s story?
All these different characters, shown but only when needed. Sure, they may not be as relevant in the next parts of the Covey sister stories but it’s like they never happened at all.
Nonetheless, both the movies and the shows are a wonderful example of young love with adorable characters and a comedic turn of events at every corner. If you were to ever have time on your hands, it is a guaranteed good watch. Many fans all over the world love not just the stories, but the actors as well. With their professionalism and great on-screen chemistry, what is not to love?
The new year 2025 marked yet another devastating chapter in California’s ongoing battle with wildfires. The unprecedented scale and intensity of the fires have left an indelible scar on the state, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive action to address this escalating crisis.
The wildfire season so far has been one of the most destructive in California’s history. Over 5 million acres were consumed by flames, surpassing previous records and causing widespread devastation. Thousands of homes and businesses were reduced to ashes, displacing tens of thousands of residents. Tragically, the fires claimed hundreds of lives as well, leaving communities in mourning and grappling with the aftermath.
The economic toll was staggering, with damages estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, not to mention the long-term environmental impact, including loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and severe air pollution.
Several factors contributed to the catastrophic wildfires of this January. Climate change remains a significant driver, with rising temperatures and prolonged droughts creating bad conditions.
Human activities also played a role, with accidental ignitions, fireworks, as well as throwing lit cigarettes in an open field when smoking.
Additionally, the expansion of urban areas into fire-prone regions increased the vulnerability of human settlements to wildfires. The combination of these factors created a perfect storm, fueling the unprecedented scale and intensity of the fires. The wildfires underscore the urgent need for a multi-faceted approach to wildfire prevention and bigger fire teams. Immediate measures must include increased funding for firefighting resources, improved early warning systems, and stricter regulations on activities that could ignite fires.
Long-term strategies are equally crucial, and we must focus on addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable land use practices.
Reforestation and habitat restoration efforts are vital to rebuilding ecosystems and reducing future fire risks. Additionally, community education and preparedness programs can empower residents to take proactive steps in protecting their homes and lives. There were 22,648 total emergency responses; 135 wildfires; 40,644 acres burned; 24 fatalities; and 12,300+ structural damages.
The millions of people who lost their homes are devastated and have nowhere to go right now. They have lost everything during the mandate evacuation. Even celebrities have lost their homes. Adam Brody and his wife, actress Leighton Meester; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick; Paris Hilton; Billy Crystal; Tina Knowles, and reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt have all claimed they lost their homes in the fires. Everything was left and engulfed by fires that the department just had to let it burn itself out because water was not working.
These fires have left a severe reminder of the urgent need for a comprehensive action plan to protect our environment and California communities. By addressing the root causes and making more effective prevention strategies, we can reduce the devastating impact of these fires and help these families get their homes back by saving money and getting teams from different states to go help rebuild.
We can make this a time for everyone to come together and get all hands on deck to tackle this crisis head on.
Bob Dylan was someone who until now had never had much of an impact on my life. The film “A Complete Unknown” painted a new picture in my brain of what it was like to rise to fame in the 1960s as a folk singer.
Bob Dylan who was portrayed by actor Timothee Chalamet showed the bigger story behind so many important things in life. Through the simple times of living in New York in the 60s, it was interesting to see how much life has changed and how one person can make such a big difference in so many people’s lives.
The movie begins by showing Bob arriving in New York City to visit one of his idols, Woody Guthrie, who was in the hospital at the time for Huntington’s Disease, which severely affected his nerves and brain. We also get introduced to Pete Sagar, who started Dylan’s singing career by helping him play at new gigs and showing him the ropes by taking him to one of his shows. It was very interesting to see Pete be so kind to someone he would have barely known at this point.
Seeing how rapidly Bob’s life jump-started in just a few years of playing small shows was astonishing. As someone who is always on the outside of fame, I enjoyed the route they took for the viewer to understand and comprehend how fame truly feels and how overwhelming it can be.
Bob eventually gets a girlfriend he meets at a church he was playing at, and she ends up being a big part of his early career. In the movie her name was Sylvie Russo; however, in real life Bob’s girlfriend at the time was Suze Rotolo, and it is projected that this change was made because Bob Dylan requested to have her name altered.
In the movie Sylvie is a main/side character. While she is actively dating Dylan she seems to really get tossed to the side by Bob and is often treated unfairly. Something that is often referenced are Bob’s feelings for singer Joan while he has a current girlfriend, even going as far as cheating on Sylvie when she is out of town and while Joan had no clue about Sylvie. It was disappointing to see how Bob’s character seemed to also change as he gained more traction. He is perceived as a man with a very large ego in the film just by the way he treats a lot of the staff and his partners in the movie.
Another thing that caught my eye was even as Dylan was growing and getting more money from his hit records, he continued to keep his original small apartment in the city, as is shown several times even later in his career. A big side plot in the film is when Dylan decided to change his music from when he was known for folk music, making a drastic switch to adding more rock and a sense of punkyness in his songs that many fans did not appreciate.
Throughout the film a concert venue was shown many times; it was the Newport Folk Festival that Bob Dylan and many others played at over the years. A very small side plot I enjoyed in the film was Bob’s relationship with singer Johnny Cash, played by Boyd Holbrook, where they were pen pals and then finally met in person at the festival.
One important aspect of this festival was how for a couple of years in a row Joan and Bob would do a duet on the stage that fans seemed to enjoy. The mid-end of the movie walks through more of the changes Bob made when he was changing his music to more rock and using electric guitars instead of a classic one and ended up having people playing with him rather than just playing solo.
After we see how they perform together we get slightly introduced to some of the people playing with Bob. Towards the end of the film, we see how upset Bob’s management and fans are when they hear how he might be switching his music. Bob believed that making this switch was important to his style and that the people would change with him. In the end, the people were not a fan of this change.
In the end, I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone who would be interested in seeing the music industry. “A Complete Unknown” was truly unknown to me, as I have never been a fan of Bob Dylan and haven’t been up to date on the impact that he had made on our society.
Bob Dylan wasn’t afraid to be different or change the norm; he was able to take something and make it his own just with his raw talent and the people around him. I think that all the actors in this movie, especially Chalamet, were excellent in the execution of portraying their characters.
All of this said, my point of view was changed, and I think that’s about all you can ask for in a film. So next time you’re having a rainy day, sit down with some people you love and give this film a try, even if it may be out of your comfort zone because, after all, it might be just what you needed.
The doorway becomes open. The dark winding pathway to depression is in sight. A pathway no person should have to walk no matter how young or old.
An estimated 280 million people in the world suffer from the mental illness depression. In people under the age of 50 the leading cause of death is suicide. Five percent of people self-harm by cutting themselves. Eighty-one percent of people from the ages 15-24 who have vaped say they started to decrease their stress, anxiety, or depression.
Most depression starts in late fall to early winter. The main major leading cause of depression is stressful life events. In the United States depression peaks at the age of 40 for women and 50 for men. The depression rate of people in Indiana is 32.9%.
It’s safe to say depression is a very serious and dangerous illness.
More than an estimated of 30 million people have thought about committing suicide, almost four million people have made a plan to commit suicide, and nearly two million people have committed suicide. Depression can be a very serious illness that can lead to suicide.
Suicidal thoughts in teens can turn deadly. Too many families have lost their children due to their battle with depression. It’s truly a tragic tale repeated time and time again a tale that doesn’t end with a happy ever after.
There are many ways to get help if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or actions. Texting or calling 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or going to their website at 988lifeline.org is one. Another would be texting BRAVE to 741741 and a trained crisis counselor will help.
Suicide leaves many beaten and bruised. Not just those who have tried but those who knew the ones who have or did successfully attempt. It leaves families and friends crushed, a forever scar on the inside, the scars people don’t and won’t see unless they’re shown. Sometimes showing people these scars creates new ones, but we have to learn to live with our past rather than let it haunt and taunt us. We will not and cannot stop until we have shown these people with these scars still cutting deep that they will be okay.
Lights can be turned back on, just let them. Don’t be fooled by this darkness. That walkway ends, and that door will be shut.
Humanity has once more found itself at a critical moment. Future generations will look back on our reactions and judge us accordingly. The Israel-Palestine conflict is no ‘war’; it is an ethnic genocide perpetrated by a settler colonial state. History will not absolve us for our compliance in this act of inhumanity. We must disassociate ourselves with it and disavow it.
It must be first stated that you are not anti-Semetic for questioning Israel’s actions. This idea that protests are anti-Semetic is perpetrated by the media to manufacture consent to violate the First Amendment rights of protestors. There are plenty of Jewish figures who disavow the actions of Israel as well, such as Holocaust scholar Norman Finkelstein, political intellectual Noam Chomsky, and Marxist economist Richard Wolff.
But how do we begin to question Israel? We must first remove ourselves from bias. It is time for us to take a sobering look at the situation in Gaza. It is what could be considered an “open air prison”; many would also refer to this as a concentration camp. This may seem like a rough term, but let’s look at the facts of the situation. The Gazans are walled in on the Israeli border. The Palestinian people were slowly pushed out of their own land into a smaller and smaller area. In this area, Israel has complete control over their water, food, and electricity. The Gazans cannot escape across the Egyptian border, as Egypt refuses to take them. This is a completely controlled place where the people have no escape and are ruthlessly terrorized, making it by definition a concentration camp.
These are not livable conditions; these are not humane conditions, and these are not conditions we should be okay with. They have been trapped in this space and ruthlessly bombed. Homes, schools, churches, hospitals, all bombed in the name of fighting terrorism. Is this not terrorizing?
It hasn’t always been like this. Palestine used to consist of a much larger area before 1967. But then, the Israeli settlers asserted they had a biblical claim on the land and began to colonize it. Subsequently, over the decades, the Palestinians have been pushed out of their own land. If the situation were reversed and it had been the Palestinians claiming Israeli land, westerners would have asserted it to be a radical jihad. Why is that the Israelis get to do this free of scrutiny? Why do we act surprised when the oppressed begin to fight back in radical ways?
Art by Sam Ottinger.
The uncomfortable truth of the situation lies in its all too familiar excuse of “fighting terrorism.” As Americans we know what it’s like to be affected by terrorism. But we also know what it’s like to lie for the sake of imperialism. When Colin Powell lied about Iraq having WMDs to justify invasion, the public began to distrust government powers, and we need to bring this skepticism to Israel.
Yes, October 7 did happen. Yes, it was a tragedy. But this could have been avoided. The decades of the Palestinian people’s oppression bred this hatred. To terrorize a people and be surprised when they retaliate in a violent and radical way is ridiculous. It is not to say Hamas’ actions are justified or that they are a group of freedom fighters. It is to say that the hatred and violence they perpetuate was born from their own history of being oppressed and terrorized. The Israeli government has then weaponized this tragedy against the Palestinian people. There is absolutely zero justification for the murder that has occurred in Gaza.
46,009 people, including 17,492 children, have been massacred, and more than 11,000 are missing. How could you say that this is all done in the name of counter-terrorism? Israel can say it’s limiting casualties, but it is clear as day right in front of our eyes that they are not, as Israel designated safe zones in Gaza and then proceeded to bomb those as well. Israel denies, denies, denies, and relies on the weaponization of October 7 to substantiate these lies.
But what is to be done about this tragedy? Well, it’s hard to say, as the West stays a strong ally to Israel. Especially America, with Israel being essentially an extension of American interests in the Middle East.
The best course of action is the use of the First Amendment to rally more people to this issue. We must show the government that we will not stay silent for genocide. We cannot repeat the mistakes we made in the 30s and 40s.
We can find solidarity as a people and fight back against imperial forces. To free Palestine is to free everyone.
When I was a kid, an idea popularized within African countries was the very known and fantasized about “American dream.”
I grew up with it in some African movies related to freedom from certain situations like poverty or war, which made us Africans believe America was the best and most fantastic land on Earth and that being here is an almighty blessing for any person. But nowadays I think that this idea is dead, and I am not the only one. And now I just wonder, what happened to the American dream? Was this country always like this?
As I am speaking for the African citizens as an exchange student, I have barely seen a country downgrade in popularity as fast as the U.S. during the last decade. This country, which we now see as hate land, an anti-everything nation, a shoot-and-run territory, is moving further and further away from the glorious America that made people dream in the past.
These days most people that want to come live here are either seen as fearless conquerors ready to fight to be powerful in this world, or poor hopeless humans, ready to give their lives to live a normal life.
We exchange students come here to learn from you and teach you. Just like the name states, it is an exchange of my knowledge for yours. Just like not all immigrants come here to save themselves; sometimes it is just because they want to see how it is in the U.S.
One of the biggest reasons why the country is a victim of the reputation it has now is because of the violence that strikes it regularly. Murder, rape, kidnapping – all of those issues are found all over the world, but in the U.S., they are on another level. Not to mention the easy access to guns, which opens doors to violent people who don’t take time to think about what they do.
The media, which at first glance is so nice about this country, talking about everything that happens here, is, in reality, double-faced, as it also talks about everything negative here as well. The U.S. media may not talk about other countries, but those countries constantly see what is happening in the U.S. Because of that, the violence is even more visible to nations around the world and appears to be more regular than in reality.
For the young population, the ordinary American became a comic image of violence and machismo; and for some, obese gluttonous beasts that hate anything but fast food and their moms. Because of the influence of movies and media that show Americans in a bad light, they have been reduced to caricatures of the stereotypes people created around the world.
But to be honest, I didn’t meet anyone that acts like that or looks like they could act like this, so I can tell this is a misrepresentation that was unfortunately normalized around the world, one that was created to mock Americans.
But I have met only friendly people here. I still haven’t seen in four months, outside of people in the TV or rumors, someone here to harm me or anyone for fun. Some of you even talk to people without knowing them. That’s nice, even if kind of weird.
I won’t say anything about the way people see the political side of the U.S. I try to stay neutral in that, but I can tell that health care is seen as a joke for how expensive it is, and that gun violence is seen as a part of this country by foreigners who can’t see the U.S without it. If I can say something about both, it is that they are serious problems that people view as jokes, even if they are threats to American society.
The country is seen as a successful land with a lot of messes everywhere and many problems hidden behind a beautiful flag, and one of the most popular problems is the educational system, which, as I said in a previous column, is considered to be the worst and most “baby-like” on earth.
You can ask any exchange student if an American school is complicated, and most of the time the answer will be a big “no.” But something we exchange students aren’t ready for is how dangerous America really is. I never expected when I came to this country I would witness an event like the recent shooting at New Albany’s Harvest Homecoming. I know it happened a while ago, but I needed time to process the shooting there.
Every day, a new life is taken for no real reason. Every night someone takes their own life because of how complicated life is. The first idea that comes to my mind when I think of this is: Is America really worth traveling to?
In my opinion, America is worth coming to, with more opportunities to discover than we know, and more fun when we are careful. This country may be violent, but it doesn’t take away that it is an evolving country like any other, with its flaws and graces.
Like I said, we already know about the violence that exists in the U.S., but it is different once you live it. I am very profoundly hurt for everyone who lost their lives, and I pray that their families find comfort in their sorrow.
Remember, your life matters. Take care of yourself and others always and at all costs. Live. Love. Laugh.
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