Myers Park Hoofprint

The Myers Park High School Newspaper

Arts & Entertainment

Brandy Melville

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From a marketing perspective, Brandy Melville is genius branding for a generation driven by targeted social media presence; if you’re aware of the brand, a certain image almost immediately springs to memory, e.g. a very chic Americana teenager, the kind of clothing adorned by the effortlessly cool girl, maybe she lives a luxurious life at the beach? Or maybe she’s a master of the ‘uptown girl’ aesthetic? Regardless of the specifications of your mental image, Brandy Melville has a mysterious way of getting their brand image out even if you cannot recall ever seeing a single advertisement from the company itself. The brand’s success is built on a foundation of questionable practices, from its discriminatory hiring policies to its promotion of unrealistic body standards.

Initially started by Italian business owner, Silvio Marsan, the brand didn’t entirely take flight until his son and successor to the brand’s ownership Stephan Marsan took over. Stephan had a unique idea to have the brand’s image be entirely driven by the target audience themselves, young teenage girls. Stephan strove to accumulate a workforce of entirely conventionally attractive young girls to run the storefronts and the social media presence of Brandy Melville. What is arguably already an incredibly unconventional business model becomes stranger as many teenage employees recently spoke out on TikTok and in a recent documentary titled Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion about bizarre and abusive requirements from Brandy Melville’s higher-ups. The girls were required to send in full body pictures when clocking in for their shifts, and Corporate Brandy would, in turn, post similar images of girls adorning almost identical outfits, and in some cases, the clothing would show up on the Brandy Melville sales floor. The questionable business practices run deeper as a frequent trend Stephen had in his hiring process was only placing applicants of color in the storage handling sections of the stores whereas their white counterparts got to man the front. These allegations were supported by the numerous accounts included in the documentary, and can be directly traced back to Marsan himself disgustingly joking “If you’re white- you’re in sight” in a company group text.

Brandy Melville’s clothing itself is popularly poked fun of as it’s all one-size, not an inclusive size, but rather a “one size fits most” model whose measurements are the same as XS-S sizing utilized in other stores. The brand is not shy about its lack of inclusivity either, Stephan outright told his employees ‘Take everything but the three smallest sizes off the floor.’ After backlash from customers, the line was changed to “one size fits most” still modeled after a size 4. The clothing is often regarded for its soft and stretchy fabric which is particularly easy to manufacture as most of it is just mass-produced and cheap polyester.

An interesting fact about the brand is that for some unknown reason, they sell Olive Oil on their website, which can be traced back to the company’s roots in Italian culture, but is often found comical by Melville critics online. Another dubious business venture from Marsan is the recent emergence of the Brandy Melville band, a group of young employees that thus far have only put out covers, including “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown. The band has no official title or means of releasing music aside from a couple of videos posted on social media from various accounts all filmed in a Brandy Melville-owned recording studio. The only traces of where this band started are from TikTok of girls getting emails from Brandy Melville requesting them to apply for a position in these music groups. 

While Brandy Melville may excel in branding and marketing, its negative impact on society and the environment cannot be ignored. As consumers, it’s crucial to hold companies accountable for their actions and demand greater transparency and ethical practices in the fashion industry.

Amy Winehouse: In Reflection and Film

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Amy Winehouse left an undeniable mark in music history with her extraordinary talent. Known for her unimaginable lyrics, Winehouse utilized a collage of different music styles, such as Jazz, Blues, Soul, and even traces of Ska. Despite her tragically short life, her influence resonates strongly with fans and fellow musicians such as Florence Welch, Adele, and Lady Gaga.

Born in London, England, in 1983, her adoration for music and performing arts was formed early as she attended Sylvia Young Theatre-Arts School. Her attendance at the said institution was short-lived as she was allegedly expelled for expressing her bold character via a nose piercing: a testament to her refusal to dim her sparkle that is seen carried into her musical craft. Winehouse’s debut album Frank was an almost instant success and was swiftly followed by her first broadcasted performance on MTV of her song “Stronger Than Me.” Her debut album won an Ivor Novello award for its impressive contemporary lyrical writing. Frank would not be the only Winehouse album to have almost instantaneous success; Back To Black is often regarded as her most iconic album and the one that made Winehouse a Grammy-award winner, with singles such as “Me & Mr. Jones” and “Rehab.” The latter became particularly iconic, reflecting both her struggles with addiction and jabbing at her stubbornness to quit, a significant point of contention in her life and career. 

Throughout Amy Winehouse’s life, her rise in stardom and popularity brought her down a spiraling path of drug abuse and many other lapses in judgment. The media was no help to her plight as rather than getting her the help she so clearly needed, they treated it as a controversial tabloid story and constantly villainized her. Amy also struggled with a tumultuous eating disorder; towards the end of her career, she was clearly in need of help. Although she did attend rehabilitation, she sadly lost her grasp and passed away due to alcohol poisoning in 2011, leaving a hole in the hearts of her fans and the music industry. Her untimely death served as a stark reminder of the destructive power of addiction and the importance of compassion and support for those who grapple with its grip.

Amy Winehouse’s reach has even ventured into the film realm. The 2015 documentary Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia, depicted testimonial accounts and archival footage of the musician’s life and legacy. The documentary received many accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary and a Grammy for Best Film Soundtrack. It made 23.7 Million dollars at the box office. A biopic of the star’s life titled Back to Black premiered this May, starring Marisa Abela as Amy. The film faces some pushback due to utilizing Abela’s vocals rather than Winehouse’s, which is a controversial choice for musical biopics.Additionally, Winehouse’s close friend Tyler James condemned the film as “too exploitative” in a recent interview with The Independent. Since trailers were released, another concern fans have had is that her imitation of Winehouse’s heavy North London accent isn’t accurate to what she truly sounded like; many have reported that it comes off as a parody of her true voice. Winehouse’s fans also argue the film will always be considered “too soon” about the artist’s untimely death, and combined with lacking her original vocals has put huge hits on expectations for this film at the box office. Regardless, the film aims to give Winehouse the appreciation and memoriam she deserves.

As we reflect on Amy Winehouse’s life and career, let us not only remember her incredible talent and artistic contributions. May her music continue to uplift and inspire, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, there is beauty to be found in the power of expression. Amy Winehouse may have left us too soon, but her spirit lives on in the timeless melodies and poignant lyrics that continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

(Poppi)n’ Off

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Photo contributed by Creative Commons

Poppi is an upcoming and newly popular soda. It’s a brand of sparkling probiotic soda made with real fruit juice. It is a healthier option for normal sodas such as Coke and Pepsi. Poppi comes in flavors such as orange, strawberry, lemonade, and blueberry. Poppi is said to be good for your gut health, and the prebiotics in it nourish the beneficial bacteria in a person’s digestive system. The sodas have no artificial ingredients, as well. Poppi was started by a husband and wife duo Allison and Stephen Ellsworth in Dallas, Texas in 2016. It  had gotten most popular over quarantine. Poppi got its start on Shark Tank. The soda is made with 1 tablespoon of ACV and contains less than 25 calories and under 5g of sugar for one can. 

Poppi has become popular on social media, especially TikTok. That’s where many people first heard of it and where it got popular. What was once an undercover smaller business is now sold in many grocery stores, such as Target, Kroger, and Walmart. They are sold individually as well as in larger bulk size packs. Fan favorite flavors include Strawberry Lemon and Doc Pop. The average first time that they had Poppi soda was about 6 months, which many people would agree was around the time that it got really known. 

AmericannPeople crave sodas all the time,. They are very popular,  although they have tons of calories and multiple negative effects on people’s health. Normal sodas are high in sugar and contribute to weight gain, tooth decay, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Additionally, sodas can be acidic, which contributes to tooth decay. This is why they have to be enjoyed in moderation, and people should opt for healthier alternatives. This is where Poppi comes into play. People can crave these beloved sodas but have an option that actually benefits their health instead of having the opposite effect. Even diet sodas have still been proven to have negative health impacts, which is why sodas like Poppi were created. 

Poppi is on the more expensive side, but that is the price that has to be paid for high-quality options. As with anything, it should be enjoyed in moderation. This means that more than one a day is not good for you. Similar to Poppi, there’s also a brand named Olipop, which is a large competitor. They share almost the same health facts and design aspects. However, Olipop does not have the variety in flavor that Poppi has. 

Overall these new soda options show an important change in the soda culture, and they have gotten popular very quickly. Since they are still a new creation people aren’t sure about the long-term effects and benefits . However, they are a very enticing new invention. People are happy to have a new way to enjoy soda but not put the chemicals in one’s bodies that are found in normal brand sodas. Also, the wide variety of flavors gives many options so that no one gets sick of them and there is always something new that can be tried and enjoyed. These new businesses are getting popular over social media, and people try them and love them which then spreads the word. Healthy alternatives are all the rage right now, which is why Poppi is such a great and popular option!

Award Show Season Recap

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Photo contributed Elle Robinson

Dresses, jewelry, and slightly offensive jokes are all to come with award season! This season gives actors, performers, singers, dancers, and artists a chance to dress to the nines and show off all their hard work (or to prove their superiority). The season typically features a lot of award ceremonies, the pinnacle of which are The Grammys, The Emmys, The Tonys, and The Oscars. Of course, with award season comes drama, whether it be canceled comedians or snubbed singers, so here’s a recap of all that you may have missed. 

Starting strong with our singers! We all expected big things from Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights, which ended up winning Album of the Year. This album was arguably the most consistent piece of work by Swift and brought us back to her pop self after her folkier recent projects. SZA had 10 nominations for works off of her second studio album, SOS, and won Best R&B Song for “Snooze” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Ghost in the Machine” featuring Phoebe Bridgers. Bridgers is a member of boygenius, which won Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Song for “Not Strong Enough” which is the 6th track on the record. Surprisingly, Miley Cyrus had never won a Grammy until this year, winning Record of the Year for her chart-topping single, “Flowers”. Also, one of the most decisive categories this year was Best New Artist, which consisted of names such as Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, Gracie Abrams, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, and Ice Spice. Monét won the award and promised a great future with such powerful and soulful vocals, but the other nominees should not be underestimated either with many promising new faces. 

At The Emmys, The Bear swept the awards for good reason. The comedy series featuring Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edibiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach is full of laughs, hard themes, and amazing cinematography plus acting. The Bear won Outstanding Director in a Comedy, Outstanding Writing for “System”, and Outstanding Comedy, which was against fierce fellow nominees such as Only Murder in the Building, Abbott Elementary, and Ted Lasso. White won Outstanding Actor, Edibiri won Outstanding Supporting Actress, and Moss-Bachrach won Outstanding Supporting Actor. However, one of the more competitive awards was Outstanding Drama Series, with nominees such as Better Call Saul, Andor, Succession, The Crown, The Last of Us, House of Dragon, The White Lotus, and Yellowjackets. Succession ended up winning; however, all of the nominees were deserving and great pieces of work. 

The Oscars came in hot, with many unsurprising wins and some shockers. The 3-hour Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer, won Best Picture, Cillian Murphy won Best Actor, Nolan won Best Director and Best Cinematography and Robert Downey Jr. won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Surprisingly, Greta Gerwig’s box-office-breaking film, Barbie, only won the Oscar for Best Original Song for Billie Eilish and PHINEAS’S single, “What Was I Made For?” and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Award at the Golden Globes, and many believed was snubbed regarding nominations for Best Actress and Best Director for Margot Robbie and Gerwig, respectively. Poor Things actress, Emma Stone, won her second Oscar in the category of Best Actress and The Holdover actress, Da’Vine Joy Randolph won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. At The Oscars, Ryan Gosling performed a rendition of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie, notably bringing out Slash and Eilish and FINNEAS performed a tear-jerking “What Was I Made For?” Although we are still awaiting the results from The Tonys, it’s sure to be something to look forward to in anticipation of our favorite celebrities walking the carpet once more!

Madame Web: Caught in Hollywood’s Trap

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Photo contributed by Creative Commons

If you have been on the internet lately you may have noticed how much criticism the public has for Madame Web, the latest superhero blockbuster to bomb at the box offices. The Sony movie, directed by S.J. Clarkson and starring Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeny, currently scores 13% on Rotten Tomatoes. By just scrolling on social media you will hear viewers say, “This movie is so terrible in a way that makes you angry” or “It’s so bad it’s worth watching” or maybe even “It’s like everyone working on the movie just showed up to get paid.” These reviews summarize the general perception of Madame Web as it continues to gather infamy as “the worst superhero movie of all time.”  

The inevitable result of a highly anticipated movie failing is that people will start pointing fingers. Despite having roots in the famous Marvel Comics, Madame Web’s failure can be traced to several causes. The combined perspective from viewers and critics is that the CGI is noticeably bad, the dialogue is unintentionally funny, and the acting is shallow and boring. In the words of The New York Times, “The story is absurd, the dialogue snort-out-loud risible, the fights uninspired.” The actors seem like they just met each other and are having zero fun. Almost every character is one-dimensional, underdeveloped, and stereotypical. The four superpowered spider-women of Madame Web, Cassie, Julia, Anya, and Mattie have no background or development of their abilities and storylines. The biggest problem with Madame Web is the audience has to scramble to follow along with a movie that has low quality acting, writing, and production. 

What’s a superhero movie without exciting action? Madame Web answers that with possibly the least amount of action in the history of the genre. The two “fights” against the underwhelming villain Ezekiel are just the main character Cassie hitting him first with a taxi, then a few hours later, hitting him with an ambulance. Even Cassie’s and Ezekiel’s final showdown possesses no action and almost zero suspense.   

In recent years Hollywood seems to have fallen into a trap of “woke culture.” Political agendas have become more of a priority amongst filmmakers who are trying to gain easy success because a movie is “politically correct.” Madame Web seems to fall into this category. The superhero genre has been portraying strong women for decades. There have been many movies starring strong female characters, like 2005’s Elektra, 1984’s Supergirl, and many more. While many of these movies have been hits, the ones filmed in recent years can’t seem to impress the public. The problem is not female superheroes but how they are written.  Audiences can easily see when directors such as Madame Web’s S.J. Clarkson are trying to paint female characters as unconventional and independent to grab at popularity and inclusiveness. The root of this issue is that superhero studios struggle to draw the line between a female superhero, and a superhero who is female. While female characters in film must continue evolving, good writing can not be compromised. Audiences don’t dislike powerful women superheroes, they dislike poorly written characters whose only selling point is their gender.Madame Web’s defeat spotlights the more extensive issue within the film industry’s tendency to prioritize political agendas over the art of storytelling. In the future, it would be wise for studios to recognize that the key isn’t gestures of progressivism, but in the creation of characters and plot lines with originality and depth. Female superheroes deserve more than just superficial empowerment. They deserve to be written with high quality and standards so their stories last through time.  

Reneé W(Rapp)ed

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Reneé Mary Jane Rapp is a name widely known by a variety of individuals: theater kids, original Mean Girls fans, pop/rock enthusiasts, or people with the simple yet chronic condition of addiction to Tik Tok. She rose to popularity with her role of Regina George on the broadway adaptation of early 2000s chick flick Mean Girls, playing the part from June of 2019 to March of 2020, when production shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapp furthered her acting career by securing the role of Leighton Murray on a teen comedy series titled The Sex Lives of College Girls, and her singing one by visiting Los Angeles, Manhattan, Boston, and Atlanta on her first tour “Everything to Everyone: The First Shows and releasing her debut album, Snow Angel, in August of 2023. What many recognize her from is her most recent project, a Mean Girls reprise, which came out in theaters just a couple months ago, in January of 2024. Although it received mixed reviews, it is indisputable that the movie painted Rapp in a positive light for the general public. 

However, while most could list these facts about the actress/singer when prompted, many could not speak on her background. She did not simply emerge from a void of nepotism, she worked from the bottom up, making an honest living before stepping into the view of Hollywood’s eyes. Unlike most celebrities, who are derived from the glitz and glam of New York City or Southern California, Rapp comes from a region familiar to the majority of Hoofprint Readers: Huntersville, North Carolina, a well known suburb of Charlotte. Rapp attended North West School of The Arts, an arts school in the heart of Charlotte.

Rapp was born on January 10, 2000, approximately forty minutes away from Myers Park High School. She attended Hopewell High School for a couple years, before transferring to Northwest School of the Arts, abandoning her role of the varsity women’s golf team to fully pursue her passion for theater. Her theater teacher during her time at the school, Corey Mitchell, explained that Rapp “has a special distinction…There is a difference when that vocal ability is coupled with sincere emotions that can move an audience and that literally can excite an audience.” During her senior year of high school, she notably won Best Actress at Charlotte’s Blumey Awards for her performance as Sandra in the Northwest production of Big Fish. This win led her to receiving the nomination for Best Performance by an Actress at the Jimmy Awards In New York City, which she ultimately won as well. She stayed in Charlotte for a period of time after graduating, acting as Wendla in Theater Charlotte’s production of Spring Awakening. She was nominated for Best Actress in a Musical (local) at the 2018 BroadwayWorld Charlotte Awards as a result of this role. 

Denise and Charlies, Rapp’s parents, still reside in Huntersville, having moved to the town back in 1995 due to a job opportunity for Denise, who is a certified public accountant. That’s to say, although Rapp has moved on to bigger and better pursuits that Charlotte could not fully fulfill, she still has a connection to the Queen City. Rapp has only been in the spotlight for a couple of years, and still has ample time to establish herself as “one of the greats.” It can only be hoped that her fame won’t blind her too much, so that she will seldom forget about her roots, at Northwest and in Charlotte as a whole. It would be a shame to forget the beauty this city has to offer, even if such isn’t always obvious or acknowledged. Nevertheless, it will be exciting to see where her career takes her next.

Return of The Rom Com

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Photo contributed by Muse

There is nothing better than curling up with a cozy blanket and your favorite movie, but that experience gets ten times better when said movie is a light-hearted, sappy, and often predictable rom-com. The meet-cutes, the soundtracks, and the oh-so-overused plot lines and montages define this genre that is home to so many iconic films. Despite seeing their peak a few decades ago, rom-coms have been a source of entertainment for many decades, dating back to Shakespeare and the Greeks. 

Rom-coms entered their golden ages in the 1990s and early 2000s with hit films like Notting Hill and 27 Dresses. According to Statista, the genre peaked in 1999, grossing 835.83 million dollars in the United States alone.

Rom-coms offer comfort to their viewers, unlike any other genres. People are drawn to these movies for their balance of emotion and romance with lighthearted laughter and realistic characters. The stories commonly follow the same plot line: two love interests meet, then part ways due to an obstacle in their relationship, but ultimately realize their love for one another is stronger and reunite to end the movie with a trusted happy ending. Although the repetition of the basic plot may seem too predictable for non-rom-com fans, that makes the genre so inviting: the safe repetition allows you to relax, knowing you will never face a jump scare or disappointing ending. 

Despite their height in the early 2000s, rom-coms have seriously fallen off. They brought profit to Hollywood but could never reach the status of Marvel-like movies. With the rise of big-budget superhero films and dystopian series like Divergent and The Maze Runner, rom-coms didn’t draw nearly the same masses that these franchises did, and in turn, they weren’t as likely to receive awards. 

It wasn’t just the lack of revenue that started the downward spiral of such a beloved genre, but also the sexism from the industry that caused the fade-out of rom-coms. The term “chick-flick” was used to describe feminine movies such as Clueless and 10 Things I Hate About You in a negative light. Although “chick-flick” has now been turned into an adjective for movies that appeal to mainly female audiences, it was used in the 2000s as a derogatory term to bash the success and status of rom-coms. Sandra Bullock, rom-com superstar from The Proposal, While You Were Sleeping, Two Weeks Notice, and dozens more, told The New York Times, “I think when everything swung toward the very masculine action-adventure, women got relegated to the arm piece, or the damsel in distress.” When the industry’s focus shifted, the rom-com died, and it hasn’t found the right time for a proper revival.

However, in recent years, rom-coms have been making a comeback in a new way. Anyone But You hit the box office late last year, bringing in a surprising amount of press. The movie was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing starring heartthrobs Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, along with long-time rom-com star Dermot Mulroney. Powell and Sweeney’s characters, Ben and Bea, reunite months after the one night they spent together and are forced to get along for Bea’s sister’s wedding. The classic enemies-to-lovers trope has every ingredient for a perfect rom-com: a charming meet-cute, stacked cast, a familiar plot line, and a killer soundtrack. After being released on December 22, 2023, Anyone But You has since grossed over $207 million internationally. More than 2.8 billion people flocked to the theaters and left dancing to “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, the movie’s catchy theme song.

The success that this movie has seen is creating the perfect opportunity for rom-coms to receive the second life they deserve. Rom-com fans can hope that the popularity of Anyone But You will catch on in the industry, and we will get more films like Say Anything and Pretty Woman.

Spring Fashion Has Sprung!

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Photo Contributed by Sophia Punsalan

Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and it’s long overdue to break out of our fashion hibernations and revamp our closets. Whether it’s timeless classics like floral prints or some modern innovations such as office wear outside of a professional setting, 2024 holds lots of promising trends as we spring into this new season of fashion! 

Bows had a huge moment this past year, adorning any and every garment in the public eye, and while one can always appreciate some ribbon it’s evident that this was merely a testament to the appeal of the daintier, classical flares in fashion. It’s safe to say that the bow trend is finally tiring out and being traded for the abstract idea of subtle femininity. Soft linen dresses paired with slouchy jackets are an excellent example of this and they are perfect for the ever-changing North Carolina weather where one minute it is freezing and the next it is hot and humid. As we transition from winter to spring it’s important to note that the change in weather isn’t immediate and keeping duality within your outfits is paramount. To counteract the slow-changing weather, sometimes pairing a winter staple with a fresher spring shoe is a great call. One notable trendsetter in this specific field is fashion influencer, Enya Umanzor. With a keen eye for trends and an effortless sense of style, she popularized the pairing of looser-fitting jeans with the delicate elegance of ballet flats; this not only embraces the comfort and versatility of winter denim but also introduces a touch of femininity and lightness through the choice of footwear, seamlessly bridging the gap between seasons! 

Florals will always take charge in spring, but this year they can be seen on a bigger scale than the norm; larger-than-life rosettes! Zendaya notably graced the early 2023 Screen Actors Guild  Awards, wearing a dress entirely composed of these large rosettes, setting the stage for this blossoming trend. And yet, as we move into 2024, the allure of oversized florals remains as strong as ever, offering a unique opportunity to embrace opulent fashion in simpler, more wearable ways. Bold blooms serve as captivating statement pieces, injecting a dose of vibrancy and sophistication into any ensemble. Whether adorning flowy dresses, tailored blazers, or even casual tops, substantial florals offer a unique opportunity to embrace formal fashion in simpler, more wearable ways.

Speaking of integrating typically formal pieces into everyday wear, high fashion brands such as Miu Miu and Peter Do’s respective runway looks have been resurrecting early 2000s office looks with a modern twist. Blocky blazers, thin glasses, perfectly polished loafers, and even the aforementioned ballet flats have become staples in their collections, mixing corporate attire and street style. This revival of ‘library-chic’ aesthetics has been making waves in the fashion world, with retail giant H&M even dedicating a subsection of their website to this niche trend, aptly named ‘Office-core.’ As we embrace this fusion of sophistication and urbanity, we find ourselves redefining what it means to dress for success in the 21st century!

From the graceful transition of bow accents to the captivating allure of oversized florals, this season beckons us to embrace the essence of femininity in all its subtlety and grandeur. As we navigate the shifting weather and ever-evolving style landscape, we are reminded of the importance of versatility and duality within our wardrobes, finding inspiration in the seamless fusion of winter staples with fresher spring elements. Moreover, the revival of early 2000s office aesthetics, reimagined with a modern twist by esteemed fashion houses and embraced by trendsetters worldwide, signifies the redefinition of sartorial success in the 21st century. As we bid adieu to our fashion hibernations and embrace the blossoming season ahead it’s exciting to see what this spring has in store for fashion!

Coachella Craze

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2023’s Coachella Festival is all wrapped up, with hot gossip, riveting stories, and personal accounts flowing out of all news and social media platforms. With fans and celebrities mixed into the crowds together, Coachella provides a unique adrenaline rush: with music blaring, anything can happen. Old flames reuniting, special appearances, and shows gone wrong are just the beginning to the seemingly never-ending list of surprises from Coachella; Let’s take a closer look.

Couples at Coachella came off to a strong and surprising start. After almost two years since their dramatic breakup, Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello were shockingly unrelenting in their PDA during the music festival. Fans quickly took to Instagram among other platforms to converse and speculate about Shamilla. A few days after these viral videos were released, the two were spotted in Los Angeles holding hands. Are the two back together? On the mend? Or just having some fun? According to a private ET source, “They are both attracted to each other and care about one another a lot. They are having fun,”. 

While Shamila may be stealing headlines in the couples department for this year, another couple has received a fair amount of press in the wake of Coachella. After increased speculation regarding Bad Bunny and Kendall Jenner’s relationship, a video of Jenner appearing for his performance has left fans with a little more certainty regarding their current status.

Bad Bunny is no dark horse. His strong presence as a performer and signature mix between reggaeton, rap, and pop puts everyone on their feet, with his Grammy performance causing A-list celebrities to rock out. Bunny’s Coachella performance was nothing short of this, as he performed many of his songs from his hit album, Un Verano Sin Ti, including “Después de la Playa”, “Tití me Pregunto”, and “Efecto”. He also performed his latest release “un x100to” (reads as 1% in spanish) with Grupo Frontera. This song has risen to the top of the charts in less than a week, and had the crowd screaming and dancing, including Jeff Bezos. 

Though the founder of Amazon roughing it in the crowds of this music festival was comical and slightly shocking, Bezos does not take the cake for the biggest surprise appearance of Coachella. Former Disney star, singer, actress, and model, Zendaya made headlines with her surprise performance with singer songwriter Labrinth. 

With over seven years stretching between Zendaya’s last musical performance, her guest appearance left fans speechless. People Magazine reports, “Zendaya performed the final two songs of his set — “I’m Tired” and “All for Us,””. After her performance, the star took to Instagram to express her gratitude, writing, “cannot express my gratitude enough for this magical night…My heart is full, I can’t thank you enough for the love I received tonight, [it] made my nerves melt away. I’m so grateful.”.

Coachella has always lured fans in, and this year is no different. However, where there are celebrities, there is drama, and this music festival had a plethora. Frank Ocean was supposed to headline Coachella in 2020 but was put on the back burner due to Covid-19, this year he was the main headline for Weekend 1. But, his show started over an hour late due to supposed set issues, including a rumored ice rink. Ocean supposedly forced the stage crew to scrap his plan revolving around the rink, forcing all his dancers to change and the ice to melt before his performance could begin. His set was significantly shortened due to the curfew policies. Furthermore, after his first performance (or lack thereof), Coachella announced he would not be coming back to headline Weekend 2. Blink-182 took his place, and though some fans were satisfied as Ocean has not performed in 6 years, the majority were left angry and disappointed. 

Coachella 2023 was a festival to remember, with hints at new albums from popular artists, drama, and jaw-dropping performances. You can always expect the unexpected at an event as popular as  Coachella. There is no doubt next  year will be no different.

Sounds of Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare is one of the greatest English-speaking playwrights in history. Over the span of 20 years, Shakespeare strategically wrote more than 30 plays and over 100 sonnets, most popularly “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet”, and “Macbeth”. Not only is Shakespeare known for the quantity of shows he put on, but also the similar qualities between them all. Shakespeare’s use of complex innuendos and distinctive monologue is what still allows his work to not only be studied today but be compared with the hip-hop genre. 

Despite the significant amount of time between Shakespeare’s death in 1616, and the true beginning of hip-hop in the early 1970s, there is a surprising  correlation between the two. Kingslee Daley, better known as Akala, premiered in a 2011 TED Talk about these connections.

Akala previously worked with the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company to showcase a multitude of dramatic components and literary elements woven throughout these readings. Shakespeare introduces his use of iambic pentameter in most, if not all of his sonnets. Similarly, although less recognized, iambic pentameter is what keeps hip-hop listeners intrigued.

Iambic pentameter is a form of writing consisting of five sets and two beats. The reason this is such a common way of writing is because of its flexibility. A customary hip-hop beat is about 70-80 beats per minute. If you double that beat to 140 beats per minute and it still works. Akala displays the difference in beats with Shakespeare’s most popular poem, “Sonnet 18”. 

Hip hop, the genre that classifies songwriters ranging from the Wu-Tang clan, who were most popular in the early 90s all the way to Kendrick Lamar, in 2012. While beginning in New York and spreading from there, nearly 55 years later, it’s become one of the most listened to genres across the globe. Hip hop was the primary genre that led to so many new kinds of music. From it, genres such as rap, rock, grime, etc. were born. But, Wu-Tang Clan is the common denominator that brought it all together.

Wu-Tang’s second album, Wu-Tang Forever was named No. 1 on Billboard 200 and certified 4x platinum. It was one of the first albums to incorporate all factions of music into one. “All of a sudden, kids who listened to Heavy Metal, kids who were into Blur and Oasis, everybody was united around this one sort of album,” said Akala.

As listeners can tell from this one album, hip-hop as a genre is often characterized with a bold and vibrant beat accompanied by a fast paced vocal track. It originated from a rather cultural background of those from a Black, Caribbean, and Latino descent and was built on five main pillars that are still reviewed today.

The five pillars of hip hop music consist of DJing (oral), MCing (vocal), breakdancing (physical), graffiti art (visual) and knowledge (mental). The fifth pillar, Knowledge, is Akala’s main conversation point. Knowledge is one of the most important elements of hip hop because it gives the ability to understand, analyze and imagine a deeper meaning. Akala leaves his audience to ponder the question, who is allowed to be a custodian of knowledge?

In the beginning of his demonstration, Akala reads his favorite quotes aloud and asks by a show of hands, whether it was written by Shakespeare or by a hip hop artist. First, “To destroy the beauty from which one came” by Jay-Z. Next, “Maybe it’s hatred I spew, maybe it’s food for the spirit” by Eminem. Finally, “Men would rather use their broken weapons than their bare hands” by Shakespere. While it may seem as such, the three artists listed above are not the only ones to appeal to the fifth element.So, to answer that question, according to globalnoise.wordpress.com, “Rather than the gatekeepers of knowledge being the elite, in the twenty-first century anyone can be a custodian of knowledge, including hip hop rappers.”