Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator Condensing a 722 page novel into a single film is a daunting task. If that novel doubles as the first story in an incredibly complex six volume series, it is even more intimidating. This is the exact situation that Denis Villeneuve faces directing […]
The French Dispatch maintains director Wes Anderson’s signature wit
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Illustration by Martin Walsh Staff Illustrator Since 1996, director Wes Anderson’s singular style has skyrocketed him to the king of eccentric and fascinating films. His tenth venture, The French Dispatch, is no exception. The production fulfilled Wes’s signature flair with wit and style, but the lack of a coherent […]
Social media magnifies disparities in crime coverage
Story by Hanna Bae Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Staff Illustrator Social media has had an undeniable effect on modern generations. From wholesome social interactions and inducing mental illness to cyberbullying and heartwarming success stories, all aspects of life are shown on and influenced by social media and its users. Social media’s impact has […]
Shakespeare’s timelessness
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator Within the pantheon of English Renaissance poets, William Shakespeare is by far the most prolific and the one that most teenagers dread. In high schools, the Bard’s work is only read with the archaic and distancing languages. Though this is important to understand […]
TAAGLA: The Bunny Museum
Story by Raluca Tudusciuc Staff Writer Photos by Samantha Shiroishi Staff Photographer Nestled among the hills of northern Altadena lies one of Los Angeles’ most fascinating museums. An attraction for both animal lovers and appreciators of the unique, The Bunny Museum, co-founded by Steve Lubanski and Candace Frazee in 1998, boasts the world’s largest collection […]
Solar Power affirms Lorde’s musical versatility
Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator Since she released her debut album, Pure Heroine back in 2013, Lorde has had the element of surprise on her side, never failing to spark conversation and maintain unpredictability. Her work speaks for itself, but her age especially took the world by surprise. […]
Love, Victor redefines queer teen romance
Story by Michael Mayemura Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Staff Illustrator Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger’s masterful writing brings Hulu’s hit teen drama Love, Victor to life. Based on the successful movie, Love, Simon — Love, Victor centres around Victor Salazar (Michael Cimino), his friends, and family as they navigate through their complicated lives. […]
Garrett Bradley paints an evocative portrait of tennis star Naomi Osaka in Netflix docuseries
Story by Elsie Waters Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Staff Illustrator Netflix’s latest docuseries, Naomi Osaka, is an inspiring story about one of the most dynamic and talented athletes in the world. 23 year-old Japanese professional tennis player, Naomi Osaka, emerged on the scene three years ago and has since then taken the sport […]
Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You is as timely as ever
Story by Hanna Bae Staff Writer Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet,” commences Celeste Ng’s 2014 debut novel, Everything I Never Told You. This literary thriller captivates readers from the very start with the untimely and unexpected death of the protagonist, uncovering the events that led […]
Above all else, Roadrunner is honest
Story by Veronica KoutskyStaff Writer Illustration by Martin WalshStaff Illustrator Anthony Bourdain shocked and delighted the world when he swallowed a beating cobra heart on his show Cook’s Tours, but his fearless and carefree persona on the show was largely manufactured. Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain dives into who Bourdain was outside of his […]
HBO’s highly anticipated Gossip Girl 2.0 is scandalous and opulent, yet ultimately hollow
Story by Charlotte Dekle Staff Writer Illustration by Ethan Lyons Staff Illustrator 2.5/5 Spotted: the highly anticipated Gossip Girl continuation hit HBO Max on July 8th. With it comes a downpour of teen soapiness; don’t forget your umbrella. When Gossip Girl hit the airwaves in 2007, it became a cultural phenomenon, defining the CW as […]
The 2021 Arts Crawl: puppets, painters, and parrots
Story by Charlotte DekleStaff Writer Photos by Samantha ShiroishiStaff Photographer After a year bereft of art and music, the South Pasadena Arts Crawl was back in half-swing on Saturday, July 17th from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. The free “al fresco” themed event featured an array of artisans, live music, and comedians. The Arts Crawl, […]
Revisiting The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s influence
Story by Charlotte DekleStaff Writer Illustration by Penny AboudGraphic Designer The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’s extravagant, ABBA-filled 1994 debut marked a monumental shift in both the film industry and queer culture with its refreshingly positive representation of gay and transgender people. The Stephan Elliot helmed film tells the story of drag queens […]
In the Heights explores the vibrant community of New York’s Washington Heights
Story by Eddie ZhouStaff Writer Illustration by Allison LeeStaff Illustrator The success of Hamilton propelled Lin-Manuel Miranda to superstardom, but it was his Tony Award winning 2008 musical In the Heights that propelled Miranda into the musical world. In the new film adaptation, directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Step Up), stunning visuals […]
Nostalgia in Media is Necessary in a Time Period Where the Future Teems with Uncertainty
[Spoilers ahead for I’m Thinking of Ending Things] Charlie Kaufman’s 2020 film I’m Thinking of Ending Things was one of the most disturbing pieces of media of the last decade. It starts with Jake, a man in a relationship that is seemingly on its last legs, going to visit his elderly parents with his girlfriend. […]
Nadia Lee Cohen’s “Women” studies the drama of the mundane
A crinkled paper grocery bag lies upside down in an empty parking lot. A Redbox DVD rental stand flickers in the distance next to a couple of Glacier water machines. Although only an image, one can imagine the lyrical chirp of crickets, the gentle whirr of the water machine, and maybe an occasional car passing […]