Story by Lexie Doig Staff Writer Illustration by Allison Lee Associate Design Editor SPHS should pick a summer reading book that highlights the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. As the summer reading book has traditionally been used to showcase diverse authors and stories, it is time to represent all students with literature highlighting identities other […]
Quinta Brunson’s Abbott Elementary is a class act
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Ethan Lyons Staff Illustrator A series about the shortcomings of the American education system does not intrinsically lend itself to a quirky workplace mockumentary. But since it is helmed by the talented Quinta Brunson, it works. Abbott Elementary is a perceptive and incisively witty comedy that […]
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is joyous but shallow
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Isole Kim Staff Illustrator After two years bereft of live entertainment, the Ahmanson Theater returned on Sunday, Jan. 16 with the North American premiere of the British musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. The story of a 16-year-old boy in Sheffield, England dreaming of becoming a drag […]
Spielberg’s West Side Story updates its source material with more depth and authenticity
Story by Charlotte Dekle Associate Feature Editor Illustration by Martin Walsh Associate Design Editor As the phrase goes: all is fair in true love and war. West Side Story is content with oscillating between these two modes, from characters wistfully singing about the future to clobbering racial attitudes with a blunt club. Updated from the […]
SPHS Drama gives a stellar performance of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility under the stars
Story by Hanna Bae Staff Writer Photo courtesy of Shari Correll Contributor Under the direction of drama director Nick Hoffa, SPHS Drama’s rendition of Sense and Sensibility put a new twist on Jane Austen’s literary classic in its run from Friday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 14 under the stars on the Tiger Patio. The […]
Dune’s sublime cinematography balances a complex plot in the newest adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]