The Current Fall 2018

THE

An Amarillo College Student Media Publication | Fall 2018

DISCOVER HOW LOCAL BREWERIES ARE GROWING IN AMARILLO BY CRAFTING THEIR OWN BEER

FM90S PROGRAM DIRECTOR AMY PRESLEY’S TOP10 FAVORITE SONGS

SIXTH STREET IN AMARILLO IS ON THE WELL-KNOWN HIGHWAY, ROUTE 66. FIND OUT HOW IT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATING DEATH THROUGH ART WITH A MEDITATIVE ART INSTALLATION INSPIRED BY ITEMS FOUND ALONG THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER

LISTEN TO THIS MAGAZINE Look for the Spotify icon throughout the magazine and listen to special playlists created to correlate with some of the stories.

Cover art and inside cover

by Salvador Gutierrez

Keegan Ried

Blass Guerrero

Reporter

Reporter

Rafael Flores

Mackenzie Farmer

Reporter

Assistant editor

Carter Hall Reporter

Lauren Ebben Reporter

Kimberly Reid Art director

Salvador Gutierrez Editor-in-chief

Photos by Charles Diaz

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR T

his semester, as the editor of The Current I decided to give the project a twist. I did not walk too far away from our traditional theme, media and arts, but I took the freedom of adding a third subtheme to the magazine, multiculturalism.

As an immigrant, I believe that knowing more about other cultures will help us gain a better understanding of the issues of the world and be more empathetic toward others.

That’s why you will find stories about the impact of Latino music in the world, the origins of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) from an anthropologic perspective, the effects of immigration in Amarillo and the artistic side of disciplines that are sometimes frowned upon by society: graffiti and tattoos.

Also, I have always enjoyed reading magazines backward, and wondered if anyone else enjoyed doing the same or if there were magazines with their contents on the back cover. Recently, I found out I am not the only one reading magazines from back to front. That’s why this magazine has the contents on the back cover.

As you can see to the left of this page, this magazine has its own soundtrack. Using the Spotify app, you will be able to scan the code on page one and access a playlist with songs related to each story that are meant to add to your reading experience. Some stories have their own codes that will take you to longer playlists focused on that story’s theme. I have never enjoyed reading in silence and I believe that you will be able to have a better understanding of our content if we give you more than just words and pictures.

I am incredibly thankful for the following people: Kim Reid and Mackenzie Farmer whose talent was indispensible; Jill Gibson and Maddisun Fowler, our advisers, for being there to answer questions and help; Tony Freeman, general manager of Cenveo Printing, who makes the printing of this magazine possible every semester; Mike Haynes, who continually helps me improve my journalism skills and Derek Weathersbee, who always makes sure our design is on point. Reporters, thank you for your dedication to bringing our message to the masses. Also, thank-you to you, the reader, for giving us a chance. I hope you enjoy the experience. --Salvador Gutierrez The current 02

The Latin

Revolution Is Here

By Blass Guerrero Art by Kimberly Reid

I

n the summer of 2017, “Despacito” became the most streamed song in the world with more than 5 billion plays and landed on the Billboard’s Hot 100 list for 16 weeks. This song became an international hit and helped open the gates for Latin artists to grow in the world market, bringing unknown artists and a different culture to the mainstream.

With the growth of music streaming services in Latin America, Latin pop became the fastest-growing genre worldwide with 119 percent growth since 2014, beating hip-hop and pop, according to Spotify. In 2017, six of the top 10 most viewed videos on YouTube were by Latin artists, compared to one song in 2016.

When released, “Despacito” was performed by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and it was already a hit in the Latin community. Then they released a remixed version with Justin Bieber, expanding the song’s success.

Latin artists have started collaborating with mainstream artists, allowing them to bring their fan bases together to

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gain popularity. The Latin pop genre has bought some new faces to the music industry, such as Maluma. Even though the Colombian singer had been singing since 2011, he finally got a break in 2016 performing with another Colombian singer, Shakira, in the song “Chantaje.” The music video became a major success with well over 1 billion views in the first five months. Since then, Maluma has released multiple albums. His latest “F.A.M.E.” has reached the top on the Latin album charts.

While many new artists have emerged, there are also wellknown artists jumping into the revolution. Shakira has sung in both English and Spanish.

While she has had success in English speaking countries, her latest album, “El Dorado” was a hit in Spanish speaking countries at the time when the Latin pop was growing quickly.

The popularity of Latin artists is music to the ears of (and música para los oídos de) both music promoters and music fans worldwide. The so called “Despacito” effect has helped Latin urban and pop music skyrocket in multiple markets.

Chill Out With Lo-fi

By Lauren Ebben Art by Kimberly Reid

W

hen biology major Preston Thipaphay wants to relax, he grabs his headphones and turns on some lo-fi.

kind of chill, gives you that good vibe to relax to,” Spencer Sopha, a computer science major, said.

industry. Services like Spotify and Pandora, as well as Apple Music and SoundCloud, provide a direct connection between artists and their consumers. “It is way easier to get your hands on all different types of music. We don’t have to use CDs and stuff like that. It’s billions of songs at the touch of your hand,” Thipaphay said.

Despite its popularity, lo-fi music Loosely defined, lo-fi or chill-out isn’t anything new. The genre music refers to anything that is a actually originated in London in the form of modern easy listening. It 1980s. In contrast to the fast-paced includes a wide variety of styles music on the dance floor, club DJs and formats and encompasses would often play ambient mixes other genres of music, such as jazz, so dancers could “chill out” at the hip-hop, pop and dance. clubs.

“With technology, you can listen to literally anything you want because The term originated from the Decades later, it’s used in similar you can search it up on your own. idea of ‘low fidelity’ recordings, ways. “Because I have such bad But at the same time like now, with meaning lower quality with more anxiety, I like to have music as an this kind of music, everyone just imperfections, but now slow tempos outlet to ease that part of my life. listens to the same thing,” Sopha and relaxed moods characterize And so, when I discovered lo-fi, I pointed out. this genre. was like, ‘Wow this is really nice, and calming,’” Madeline Filsouf, a “All the music today is really weird “I really like chill music, it gets me in psychology major, said. stuff, like hard, fast, loud…I think a good mood. Don’t get me wrong, lo-fi is the best music to listen to for I like all types of music, but I feel Lo-fi’s reemergence into popular everybody,” Filsouf said. “I think like slow music is the best to listen culture may be due to recent more people should listen to it, or to,” Thipaphay said. technological advancements that give it a try,” she said. “I think a have spurred the music industry in lot of people demand change, but “It is pretty much my favorite type a new direction. Online streaming once they face it are scared to open of music, because you can never go is now responsible for the majority up to something new, and that wrong with something that’s really of the revenue in the music definitely should not be the case.”

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Rap vs.

Rap Art by Kimberly Ried

Two opinions on the evolution of rap from 90s old school to modern rappers

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Dramatic Changes

By Stetson Smith

A

lot has changed since the 1990s. industry now allows artists to “buy their Many in the rap community way into” the business. With enough have noticed a huge transformation. money, you can have someone else According to Christian Garcia, local rap produce the beat, write the song and enthusiast and mass media major, some auto-tune your voice, yet the singer of the most dramatic changes have will get all the credit and be called an been the differences between 90s hip- artist. This detachment from the music hop and modern rap. has many who remember the old days

of hip-hop disappointed in the modern The first change is how much easier genre. it has become for upcoming and underground artists to move into the “We will probably never go back to the mainstream. Streaming services such OG days, with the way things are going as “Soundcloud” allow small-time now,” Garcia said, reminiscing fondly rappers to reach a more targeted about 90s hip-hop. “That’s not to say audience. This is completely unlike the we don’t have amazing artists today, story of legendary rapper, Eminem, who such as Kendrick Lamar producing the went through incredible barriers and soundtrack to the 2018 hit film ‘Black hardships in his rise to fame.

Panther.’” There are still talented artists out there who deserve more attention.

Garcia also said that instead of Their ability to be discovered could promoting authentic talent, the music greatly impact music of the future.

Nothing is the Same

By Ocho Beanz

E

veryone thinks their generation had it so good, whether it be food, T.V. shows, activities and above all…music especially hip-hop. But were the good old days really so great?

In the 90s (before the widespread use of the internet), for an artist to get signed, it took knowing who to give your mixtape to, plus having great luck (not just talent). With enough luck, someone might actually listen to and like your music and take it to their rep for the seal of approval. This could lead to a budget for a music video, which would then be shipped out for public consumption and the artist could only hope that carried over to sales.

But nowadays, who needs a record label? People rent studio time, shoot their own music promo video on their iPhones, upload to Soundcloud and do their own tours, receiving 100 percent of the profit – all that without a major company backing them, thus giving them more freedom to be who they want to be. But this also means they have to create their own merch, do their own marketing, fund everyone on the bus, all while competing with millions of other music creators for the exact same opportunities and with the same access to the same resources.

In the 90s, with the internet just beginning, most people were forced to talk about the life they actually lived without much influence from other regions, outside of what you saw on T.V. This made the music more of a personal experience. Now with such a bombardment of information daily, the content of music has shifted to incorporate what artists have seen and heard from other performers instead of drawing solely on their own lives and cultures.

In the 90s, technology was not nearly as advanced, which in turn had people learning to play instruments or hiring musicians to get the sounds they wanted, giving producers more of a connection to their craft.

Today, anyone can recreate some modern instrumentals in their basement with a little practice on programs like Fruity Loops. People can download sound packs of thousands of different instruments. Add in some 808s and snare drums, mix in some sound effects. Bam – you have a modern hit.

So, when comparing 90s hip-hop to modern hip-hop, there are not many similarities. All that’s actually the same between now and the 90s is that both have people telling lies in their music and producing trash.

RAPPERS From left to right: Tupac, Lil Pump, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem.

The current 06

A Long Lasting Tradition

By Blass Guerrero and Trevor Pyle Art by Salvador Gutierrez

FM

90’s Tejano Throwback Show has been on air for more than a decade. For the last 15 years, the show has delighted people from Hereford, Amarillo, Canyon, Dalhart and other areas within FM90’s reach.

The show has enjoyed some of the highest levels of success among the Amarillo College licensed radio station’s current specialty show lineup. There are a couple of reasons for that success.

Tejano Throwback began in 2003 with the goal of bringing Tejano music to the Texas Panhandle.

The show started as the Saturday Morning Tejano Throwback, airing from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The show was a success, “We had people here who had relatives outside of Amarillo, even on Saturday mornings we were busy with the calls. People were hungry for the music,” Stevie G, one of the hosts of the show, said.

After a year, the show moved to Sunday mornings and then found a permanent spot on Saturday nights.

Amy Presley, FM90 program director, said the show will stay around for many more years to come. “The reason this is popular is because the show has a specific format. They have a way they do everything on the show and

people have come to expect that.

It keeps them coming back to the show.” Presley said three hosts currently run the show: Stevie G, Ondamaxx and Ramona Salgado.

The Tejano Throwback show is aimed toward Spanish speakers, but also tries to appeal to audiences that do not speak the language. Many listeners like the music because they grew up with it and still enjoy it with their families.

The name of the show came from the fact old Tejano music was the defining staple of the show’s original programming. Today, the Tejano Throwback show contains new and old music and accepts live requests.

Presley attributes the show’s longevity to the loyal audience.

“You know, with this music being as original and unique as it is, the audience that follows it are diehards. They are the type of audience that calls every weekend, listens every weekend, and refers the show to everyone they know. This show is niche but it’s that cult following that brings a sense of strong togetherness to the people that listen to the show.”

The Tejano Throwback Show airs every Saturday night, 10 p.m. to midnight on FM90.

Selena Quintanilla is considered one of the most representative figures of Tejano.

AMY’S TOP10 10. Make You Feel My Love Any Version Bob Dylan knows how to write a great tune, so great that I love every version of this song.

09. Do You Love Me Now? The Breeders Difficult for me to pick one single Breeders song that I love the most. I’m still not sure if I picked the right one!

08. Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana Super cliché, I know, BUT this song changed my LIFE. I was 11 when this song came out and it left a massive mark on me. It still gets me when I hear it.

07. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground White Stripes I played this when I was a student working at FM90. Since then, I have fallen down the Jack White rabbit hole.

06. Sunshower Chris Cornell This song has so many chords! Beautifully written, incredible vocals. Just stunning.

05. Roll The Bones Shakey Graves Watch the video. It’ll change your life.

04. Everywhere Fleetwood Mac Everyone loves 70s Mac, but I gravitate towards the 80s stuff. Vampire Weekend does a great cover of this song too.

03. Baby Blue Sedan Modest Mouse I have lyrics from this song tattooed on my arm, I love it that much.

02. No One Is To Blame Howard Jones I’ve loved this song since I was a kid. It has taken on different meanings to me as I’ve gotten older.

01. Pressed Against The Sky The Toadies I met my husband at a Toadies concert and walked down the aisle to this song when we got married.

By Marissa Rivera | Photo by Lily Gamble

Music For Every Day

A

my Presley, program director of FM90, loves music. She shared her Top10 favorite songs and discussed what she listens to in particular situations.

What do you listen to when...

You are sad? I actually have a playlist called “Melancholy” for sad days. Songs like “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, “Roslyn” by Bon Iver, “Ode to Divorce” by Regina Spektor and “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies.

You are driving? My husband and I love going on road trips. We use it as “singa-long” time for our favorite 80s, 90s, and early 2000s songs. My favorites are Salt-N-Pepa “Whatta Man,” R.E.M. “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and Bruce Hornsby “Every Little Kiss.”

You are hanging out with family? My family loves the classics. “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar. the current 08

RESETTLEMENT Monday Peter and his grandmother, Lucy, arrived in the U.S. 16 years ago, running away from the civil war in their country.

By Rafael Flores and Lauren Ebben | Photos by Rafael Flores and Salvador Gutierrez

Immigration Adds to Diversity T

he city of Amarillo has served as a place of resettlement for people from many cultures. This has created a sense of multiculturalism - the view that other cultures deserve acknowledgment.

Between 1975 and 1979, approximately 12,000 Southeast Asians, 1,500 Laotians and another 1,500 Vietnamese immigrants arrived in Amarillo. Twenty years later, a wave of refugees from Bosnia and Kurdistan, (a region in northern Iraq), joined the growing population of the city.

The beginning of the 21st century ushered in the arrival of the most diverse group of refugees, as immigrants fled from countries such as Afghanistan, Taiwan, Mexico, Argentina, Kosovo, Venezuela, Congo and Myanmar in search of the “American Dream.�

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The foreign-born population in Amarillo stands at 11.2 percent, according to the most recent U.S. Census figures. Many of the people who make up that statistic are refugees. Most of these refugees were part of the U.S. resettlement program, an initiative that allows immigrants a fair opportunity to become naturalized.

The program also provides help such as medical assistance, job readiness services, food, housing and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.

In 2016, Amarillo opted out of the resettlement program due to the concerns that the influx of refugees could raise the threat of terrorism. Nevertheless, the city remains dramatically changed.

Monday Peter, a legal studies major, came to America from Liberia when he was six. Through the resettlement

program, he and his family fled to escape their country’s civil war. At first, they were sent to a refugee camp in the neighboring country of Ivory Coast.

From there, the Peters were selected through a lottery known as the “Diversity Visa,” which was established by the Immigration Act of 1990. Chicago was the family’s first stop in the United States. There they underwent processing and screening to ensure they were not a threat to the U.S. After completing that step, they were informed that they would be sent to Amarillo, Texas. “I was happy,” Monday’s grandmother, Lucy, said.

Once they arrived Amarillo, Catholic Ministries provided the Peters with housing, food and ESL classes.

Other local churches have provided similar outreach to refugees.

“The churches here have a long history of representation and experience and welcoming people,” said Sue Kelly, the director of the ESL program for First Baptist Church of Amarillo and former ESL teacher at Amarillo College.

Kelly said the First Baptist congregation was the first church in Amarillo to practice refugee resettlement.

During the 1970s, as more refugees from Laos and Vietnam moved to town, the church expanded its English program, eventually helping refugees find essential needs, such as housing, furnishings, clothes, and food. “It’s a big adjustment. They don’t speak the language... everything’s strange,” Kelly said.

Just as the increased number of refugees has caused a demographic shift in the community, Amarillo College’s population has been changing, according to Bob Austin, the vice president of enrollment management. For decades, the college’s ESL program has been a resource for immigrants seeking to learn English. Furthermore, with a Hispanic enrollment of 40.8 percent, AC has been designated as a Hispanic- Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of education, according to the AC website.

The college and the city have become diverse communities that support the ideals of multiculturalism.

Thanks to the welcoming hearts in this area, Amarillo and AC have become secure places for many immigrants to call home.

MULTICULTURALISM Born in Liberia, Monday Peter now calls Amarillo his home.

By Carter Hall | Photos by Javier Fernandez

Lucha Libre: Captivating Crowds W

atching lucha libre with my grandfather still puts a smile on my face. Growing up in a Hispanic family, I enjoyed seeing my favorite masked wrestlers compete.

I fondly remember my grandfather yelling in Spanish at the luchadores on television.

flying acrobatic moves and on-themat game skills. It is captivating.

For a luchador (wrestler), engaging the crowd is critical. Wearing la mascara (the mask) is what makes a luchador stand out as he approaches the ring for battle.

luchador and tells a story of his character. The vibrant colors and designs captivate the crowd, just like some of their acrobatic in-ring moves. Luchadors wear their masks with pride. They live and die for them.

Luchadores such as Rey Mysterio take great pride in their masks.

Mysterio’s mask is unique because his uncle designed it. Today, he has made few changes to the mask, but will adjust the color schemes to catch people’s attention.

Lucha libre is indeed wrestling, but with acrobatic and high-flying moves, fans see lucha libre as a piece of art. Language is not an issue when it comes to lucha libre because the masks, outfits and speedy moves all tell a story in the ring.

A luchador’s mask is the most prestigious, honored and respected Lucha libre is not an average part of lucha libre. La mascara amateur wrestler’s cup of tea. The for each luchador is creative and style of lucha libre includes high- different. It is what defines the

The wrestlers use the wrestling ring as a “canvas” and they work to make a story seem as real as possible. Iggy Mendoza, better known by his Texas Wrestling

Forget the headgear, singlets and skipping meals to “make weight,” lucha libre is not like other forms of wrestling. It originated in the 20th century in Mexico where it grew in popularity, becoming an integral part of Mexican culture. Similar to any wrestler, a luchador trains hard to improve key skills.

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Wrestlers depend on audience reaction. They rely on the noise to feel the ultimate rush that sends shivers up and down their spines and goosebumps down their arms.

“To wrestle in front of a big crowd, even a small crowd, is something that is a rush because you’re taking people on an emotional roller coaster. They’re living through you and that ring. The more that they are into your match, the better,” Mendoza said.

A. Fearless

N. Lethal

B. Bad

O. Dark

C. Strong

P. Brave

D. Glamorous

Q. Eternal

E. Mad

R. Psychotic

F. Rebel

S. Famous

G. Dr.

T. Quick

H. Red

U. Black

I. Trashy

V. Modern

J. Wild

W. Big

K. Ancient

X. Tabasco

L. Crazy

Y. Grouchy

M. Ultra

Z. Unmentionable

First letter of your last name

Association ring name, “Madness,” said he works hard to perfect his craft. “One of the reasons I got into it was the elaborate characters and memorable moments that made me feel as if this is something I want to do,” Mendoza said.

First letter of your first name

What is your luchador name?

A. Thunder

N. Annihilator

B. Mask

O. Mama / Papa

C. Angel

P. Barbarian

D. Flame

Q. Machine

E. Beast

R. Nightmare

F. Extinction

S. Knight

G. Fist

T. Hunter

H. Demon

U. Inferno

I. Destroyer

V. Shadow

J. Star

W. Rex

K. Ghost

X. Goliath

L. Diablo

Y. Loco

M. Snake

Z. Macbeth

The Portrayal of Minorities in Hollywood

By Savannah Lindvay Art by Salvador Gutierrez

H

ollywood’s depiction of Hispanics can often be far from accurate. Many movies tend to paint Hispanic people in a negative light. It makes one wonder how these films might affect people’s views on the matter.

“Hispanics are very tight knit, and when movies show them as very family oriented like grandparents, parents and children living under one roof that is very true,” Gabriel Alejandro-McHenry, a West Texas A&M student, said. McHenry is a first generation American on his father’s side of the family.

“Hollywood likes to pick villains, for the longest time it was Germans. Every movie with a bad guy that was European, it wasn’t a British guy it was a German. It’s the same now,” McHenry said.

“We have the drug war and so they’re using Mexico, wVenezuela and Colombia as the villians.”

McHenry said he believes there are some truths in the stereotypes that are presented, but that he doesn’t believe that it is fair to paint an entire people with the same brush. In particular, he referred to when Hispanic characters play drug dealers.

“You can find facts that are true, but it’s also over dramatized. The coverage of it is too extensive for how big it really is,” McHenry said.

Anthony Cruz, a mass media major of Hispanic decent, said he believes that the media can serve as a good overall voice for the Hispanic community, especially with the 2018 political climate.

“It’s a good thing to see a Hispanic in a movie. Especially if it’s a good movie, for example, a Marvel movie, because all you usually see is Whites or African Americans. You don’t see much of Hispanics in big movies nowadays,” Cruz said.

Marc Atreus, a mass media major of Asian decent, said he sees Caucasians usually being presented as middle class or in a position of authority, while Hispanics are usually presented as violent, oversexed and involved in gangs. To illustrate his observation, he referenced the movie series, “The Purge.”

“That movie mirrors the whole thing about how mass media and media in general represent other races,” Atreus said.

Atreus added that while he didn’t think that Hollywood directors and writers themselves were racist, he believed that they were being unfair to minority communities by projecting a lot of negative traits on them as a whole. “I have a lot of friends who are Hispanic and they are more than just what they are represented as in movies,” Atreus said.

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By Carly Stewart | Art by Kimberly Reid

Drawing the Human Form D

rawing can be a difficult task for many people, including art students. It requires patience, perseverance and careful observation. When drawing people, these challenges are escalated.

would think that looking at people every day, you’d be OK at drawing them, but it’s actually a lot harder than you think.” Paige Glazner, a graphic design major, said.

Glazner has found drawing people somewhat Amarillo College offers a variety of on-campus drawing frustrating. “Faces. Faces are the worst. I can get the classes, including figure drawing, which is taught by gestures of the body pretty well but faces are for sure artist and drawing instructor Stephanie Jung. “Drawing the hardest part for me,” she said. Glazner usually people is a way to connect more deeply with your draws animals instead of people. She said taking a own life and humanity, and to explore yourself,” Jung figure drawing class is helping her branch out. said. According to Jung, drawing people is not just an attempt to achieve a photo-realistic end result. It takes “It’s very helpful for animation because you get used practice, passion and diligent work. to drawing the person for one thing and you get to see how they move, so that’s kind of important for Many of the students in the class are animation majors animation,” Glazner said. who are taking the course to better understand how the body moves and functions visually, Jung said.

Jung said the practice of figure drawing provides a unique opportunity for art students to build their “Drawing from life helps a lot with learning the anatomy ability to observe and understand other people. “To of the body so I can actually portray that accurately in really connect with somebody and say ‘I’m only going cartoons or games or whatever I will be animating,” to pay attention to this person right now,’ is rare,” Gavin Dorman, an animation major, said. “Drawing the Jung said. human form is an important foundational skill for art students.”

According to Jung, ultimately, figure drawing taps into an artist’s understanding of humanity. “I want people Observation and understanding are the key to drawing, to have an expanded idea of beauty or attractiveness, said Holly Farrah, an art education major. “You have to and I want people to tune into their power as artists to understand the human figure to draw it accurately. You react to what they are seeing,” she said. the current 14

Day of the

Dead Art by Kimberly Reid and Salvador Gutierrez

La Evolucion del Dia de Los Muertos

By Salvador Gutierrez

D

ia de Los Muertos’ (Day of the Dead) is a Hispanic celebration that takes place in November of each year. On this day, death is celebrated with colorful festivals and other religious rituals. In the last couple of years; however, the celebration has become popular around the world with people who do not really understand its meaning.

Hollywood has helped introduced ‘Day of the Dead’ to other countries with the production of movies such as Disney’s “Coco” and Fox’s “The Book of Life.” Because of this, many people are familiar with the celebration, but do not understand its true meaning or origin, according to Erik Mendoza Luján, an anthropologist and the head of the Anthropology of Death project of the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico.

call Todos Los Santos (All the Saints), is not only a party, but it is also the representation and recreation of myths that make up the worldview of the majority of the indigenous cultures in Mexico,” Mendoza Luján said.

It is a time in which families come together.

Ancestors meet with descendants; therefore, the barriers of time and space are removed. It is a time of joy. It is a time for reconciliation and for strengthening ties in the community.”

Factors such as religion, urbanization and People who do not understand the historical agricultural activity, influence the way every and cultural background of the celebration region of Mexico approaches this celebration. tend to oversimplify it and misunderstand its “This is particularly true in the northern regions true meaning, according to Mendoza Luján. of the country and in larger cities and urban “For people without a sense of the meaning areas where there are no agrarian or indigenous and culture behind Dia de Los Muertos, death traditions,” Mendoza Luján said. becomes the identity and the folklore of the Mexican. Thus, the real meaning of the festivity, In fact, the holiday was largely forgotten in which is honoring the ancestors and reaffirming some areas of the country until the mid-20th family and community ties, is lost.” century when movements to bring back the tradition began creating “a link between Mexico’s diverse traditions and cultures, while at the same time incorporating elements of other cultures within the Mexican identity,” Mendoza Luján said.

“The celebration everyone knows as Dia de Los Muertos is an agricultural and religious ritual supported by the worldview of the different cultures that celebrate it in Mexico. Every Religious beliefs and the idea that during this culture adds and represents its own vision,” time the deceased return to the world of the Mendoza Luján said. living are the key factors that shape the holiday.

“Going to the cemetery to visit the deceased Although many believe that Dia de Los Muertos is a popular part of the celebration, as well is a Mexican tradition, the way it is celebrated as making an altar to honor the deceased at is not the same all over the country. “This ritual, home,” Mendoza Luján said. “At home, on which the majority of the indigenous cultures the altar, food is offered to share with family.

THE ALTAR

The altar is a way to honor the deceased.

It can be made out of boxes, shelves or other materials and it can be displayed at home or in the graveyard. In an altar with three levels the top level represents heaven; the middle level represents earth; and the lower level simbolyzes Mictlan, the Aztec underworld of the dead.

Death Around the Globe

By Danielle Barraza

A

round the world, death is seen differently through different cultures.

It can be seen as a celebration or a time of mourning. Either way, understanding how it’s seen through different cultures can be helpful.

Benny Barraza Death in Hispanic culture “The Day of the Dead is a really huge day. When I was in San Miguel, the whole city celebrated it. There was no school, no one was at work, nothing because it was a huge day because that’s the day that you help remember all of your family members that have passed away and then you help those that you feel are still on that spiritual journey. You may have some family members that may have died in a really negative or bad way and so that day is for you to sit there and offer offerings, which are little medallions and stuff like that to God and hope that that little medallion will be a prayer or offering to him so he can help those people that died that way to make that spiritual journey to heaven. It was the biggest celebration and biggest parade I have seen in my entire life.

People went all out and no one was scared of death. Those people were just trying to remember everybody. That’s how it’s done everywhere in Mexico. It’s the day you remember your loved ones.”

Jina Thammavong Death in Laotian culture “We have a wake when someone passes away. The wake starts as soon as the body leaves the house if they passed there. We go buy food, drinks and beer. We have friends that come help cook all the days that

the wake is going on. The wake can last somewhere between three to five days, depending on when the funeral service is. During those days, we just have friends and family come and pay their respects, eat, drink and enjoy everyone’s company.

People can help the family with food, like bringing something or most of the time they give money to help with funeral expenses. While all of this is going on, the family finds time in the day to make decisions.

There are two ways for the service: you could do it the culture way or a church service. If you choose the culture way, in Laos tradition you will have monks come to the house and do a prayer. They will also do a prayer at the funeral home during the service as well. When the monks are doing a prayer at the house, you gather the essentials for the person that has passed away. You can put their favorite things in a basket and you make sure to put pants, shirts, underwear, towels, toothbrush, stuff like that.

After that, the monk will do the prayer for the deceased to come and get it and to have in the afterlife. During the wake at the house, we do not have noodles at the house until the funeral service is done. Once the service is done that day, everyone is invited back to the house to eat and typically we have something with noodles. We also do not sweep the house until

everything is completely over. For grieving, we try our best to live our new normal life. We don’t show much emotion in front of each other. But it’s there.

We all try to stay strong for one another.”

Kadhem Al-Jabr Death in Saudi Arabian culture Funeral rituals in Saudi Arabia are mainly driven by Islamic faith doctrine and Arab tradition. Muslims commonly believe that death is a transition from one state of being to another, not as an end, and one action follow to the Day of Judgment. There are several steps needs to take place when someone dies. First, prepare the body for burial by washing and shrouding as soon as possible after death. This usually takes place in the cemetery. Muslims must be buried because cremation is forbidden in Islam.

Second, funeral prayer is performed by all attended members of the community. At this time, the funeral is usually quiet and there should be no talking, moreover, carrying is perfectly fine and expected but loud weeping is not. Third, the body placed in the grave facing toward Mecca, the holy city of Islam.

After the funeral and body barrier, family members and friends will gather and receive visitors in home or mosque for 3-7 days. All visitors read some verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and give that reward to the deceased person.

A

marillo College graduate Perla Arellano’s parents didn’t react well when she first told them she wanted to study journalism. “If you don’t die of starvation, you’ll die because someone will kill you,” her father said.

Fortunately, neither came to pass.

Arellano enrolled at AC in 2012 as a mass media major. She soon started working for “The Ranger,” the student newspaper, as a reporter and copy editor.

Arellano described the hands-on skills she gained at “The Ranger” as invaluable. She was also exposed to deadlines and what would happen if you didn’t meet them during her time at the newspaper.

While at AC, Arellano also interned at the Spanish TV station Telemundo Amarillo. “Maury Roman the director of the outreach center and news anchor for Telemundo back in the day said, ‘Hey you are a journalism major, come and shadow one of my producers,’” Arellano said.

When Arellano graduated from AC and transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in 2014, she realized how much the hands-on experience had helped her. “I remember when I had my first journalism class at UT Austin. When the professor came over to pick up my paper he said, ‘Oh, you’ve written for a newspaper before, haven’t you?’”

Life after AC

Perla Arellano

During her time at UT, Arellano worked as a communication writer for the department of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics and was able to interview one of the astronauts who was going to space.

One summer during her studies, Arellano returned to Amarillo, looking for work in journalism. She contacted Amanda Castro-Crist, her former editor from ‘The Ranger’ and close friend. “Amanda told me that ‘The Amarillo Globe News’ was hiring, so I ended up applying for the job and I got it,” Arellano said.

A Passion for Journalism

By Salvador Gutierrez and Jeremy Bates

“Perla is one of the hardest working journalists I’ve ever worked with, and she is deeply passionate about every story she works on,” CastroCrist said.

Following her graduation from UT, Arellano took a position reporting for “Ahora Si!” a Spanish publication in Austin. “Working for a Spanish language newspaper reminded me to think about the daily problems people might face,” Arellano said.

Arellano described working for “Ahora Si!” as “an amazing experience.”

She recalled covering a story about immigrant families facing language barriers when trying to get help following Hurricane Harvey.

Arellano said that being bilingual has been important for her career in journalism, and she advises other people in the field to become fluent in Spanish. Arellano continues to follow her passion and said she looks forward to serving as a role model for future Latino journalists.

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F

rom the high plains of Texas to the studios of Los Angeles, Ryan Riley has come along way to accomplishing his dream of entering the film industry.

“I have always loved film and TV. I dreamed of being a director but I had no idea how to actually become one,” he said.

While Riley hasn’t become a director, he can now be considered a screenwriter. One of Riley’s scripts, “Take Back the Night,” was recently accepted by Fox/New Regency and will be produced by James Demonaco and Sebastien Lemercier, the directors of “The Purge” franchise.

Riley graduated from Amarillo College in 2003 as a mass communication major. His goal was to work as a director.

“At the time I thought the director did everything,” he said. “Later I started to understand how films were made. Then I knew I wanted to be a writer because the writer originates the idea.”

Riley said he loves all sorts of movies. “I used to go to Hastings when it was still around and rent foreign films and independent films that never showed up in the Amarillo theaters. That exposed me to a lot of different cultures and storytelling.”

Riley said his path to becoming a screenwriter hasn’t always been an easy road. “I’ve been rejected hundreds of times,” he said. “It happens all the time and will continue to happen. It’s part of the business.”

Life after AC

Ryan Riley

Nevertheless, Riley has not let setbacks discourage him. “The important thing to do is to listen to their concerns or the reason they rejected a script. Maybe your piece just wasn’t for them. But more importantly, keep working on more stories.”

In addition to rejection, deadlines and timelines are factors that present challenges to scriptwriters. “I heard somewhere that the average career of a screenwriter is five years,” Riley said. “Most don’t sell more than one script. The biggest challenge is coming up with fresh ideas and executing them.”

Riley said many aspects of his life have helped him prepare for this competitive field. Working different types of jobs and working with other people exposed him to different cultures and opportunities, like working for “The Ranger.”

A Screenplay for Success

By Charles Diaz

When writing scripts, Riley draws on his journalism background because news writing and screenwriting are both visual and observational.

Riley said he wants to be a resource to AC students. “There is a lot of pressure on students to know exactly what you want to do with your life the moment you sign up for college,” he said. Instead, he encourages students to pursue their passions. the current 18

Sounds and Sights of the Border

By Keegan Ried and Kyler Kuykendall

M

usicians and artists use their talents to tell a story in such a way that it moves audience members to review their perspectives and beliefs. The Border Cantos/Sonic Border traveling art installation is doing just that. The exhibit, featured at the Amarillo College Museum of Art from August through December 2018, seeks to raise awareness of immigration issues by melding music, art and photography.

In 2012, Guillermo Galindo; a composer, performer and sound designer from California, was working on a project called Voces del Desierto that merged objects found along the United States and Mexico border to create instruments that eventually combined with a western classical ensemble. Photographer Richard Misrach, witnessed Galindo performing with his unusual instruments. This led to the birth of the collaborative Border Cantos /Sonic Border project.

With Misrach’s experience photographing the border and Galindo’s music made from border objects, the exhibit tells the story of immigration in a new kind of way – a way that immerses audiences both visually and aurally. Galindo is quick to point out that this project started long before the immigration debate began to heat up.

“When we started, Donald Trump wasn’t even a candidate for president. The project moved parallel to the election process. We had absolutely no idea.

The debates and discussions heated up as the exhibit moved from one museum to another,” Galindo said.

Galindo said his art does not seek to communicate a particular political ideology or push an agenda.

“Border Cantos was never about imposing political points of view. We provided our audiences a space where they can experience and then draw their own conclusions,” he said.

Continued on next page.

THE BORDER Richard Misrach, Wall (El muro). Jacumba, California 2009. Misrach has photographed the 2,000 mile border of Mexico and the U.S. every year since 2004.

The musical score is comprised of eight instruments.

Cans, bottles and shotgun shells are brought together to create an eerie and yet beautiful sound. The instruments are scattered throughout the showroom, each equipped with a speaker playing the original recording. During the exhibit’s 260 minute meditative sound experience, various instruments begin to play from different parts of the large room. Sometimes they all play together, but other times only one instrument has the spotlight. Standing in the middle of the room creates an almost out-of-body sensation as sounds from all directions fill the air. The audience member’s perspective changes as he or she moves around the gallery space, viewing the photographs, instruments and objects from the border and listening to the unsettling melodies.

The photographs featured in the exhibit capture harsh landscapes with flat color palettes only broken by the occasional splash of color from the long forgotten objects. In one image, an unfinished fence meant to keep migrants out stands forgotten like an effigy to the many travelers who attempted to cross. The combination of visual and auditory media meld together to create an experience that transports visitors to the border. Together the sounds and sights of the exhibit tell the story of the thousands of people who took a risk in hope of a better life.

Through this art installation, Galindo said he hopes that the public will become more interested in and aware of immigration issues, adding the project has “given me the opportunity to meet many beautiful people that dedicate their lives to find ways to approach the humanitarian crises of immigration.” Galindo said that changing people’s perspectives is a key goal of his art.

“My work is now a vehicle to approach many important issues, not only about immigration but about social justice in general. It is important to acknowledge that art is a powerful tool of communication and it can bring people together. I hope that, through this and my other projects, I provide a path to understanding the importance of compassion and understanding that there is still opportunity for change.”

SOUNDS OF THE BORDER Galindo used objects found along the border to create musical instruments. Some of the instruments feature Bibles, empty cans and clothing left behind by immigrants.

21 The thecurrent current

SOUNDS OF THE BORDER Top - “Effigy,” a stringed instrument built out of immigrants’ discarded clothing and crossed pieces of wood.

Figures similar to this one are found at the border. Their meaning is unknown.

Bottom - “Piñata de cartuchos.” This intrument is shaped like a soccer ball with shotgun shell casings hanging from its surface. This instrument was inspired by the West African instrument shekere. thecurrent current 22 the

By Mackenzie Farmer | Photo by Janny Phannaraj

A Canvas of Skin T

yler Llewellyn is neither a rock those who view them as art is star nor a rebel. He isn’t a biker, closing as time marches on.” a gang member or a military vet.

Instead, Llewellyn is an Amarillo Just like with any type of art, people College graduate who is studying have different opinions about at West Texas A&M University. tattoos and whether it can actually Llewellyn, however, has something be labeled as art. Derek Jefferson, in common with the stereotypical owner of Screamin Mimi Tattoo, biker or gang member. He has lots said he believes that the end result of tattoos. is what can be considered art.

People with tattoos were once “The application of a tattoo is typically labeled as more rebellious more technical than artistic,” said because body ink was common Jefferson. “The final product that among inmates, sailors and gang the customer wears is a piece of members. In the last 100 years, art that they get to keep. It’s a however, tattoos have transformed craft and you get the best of both into a form of fine art. worlds.”

“I do think tattoos are becoming more accepted as an art form,” Llewellyn said. “The generational gap between those who feel negatively toward tattoos and 23 the current

According to a 2013 study done

by Pew Research Center, about 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. Of those people, 40 percent are between the ages of 26 and 40

and 36 percent are between the ages of 18 and 26. Tattoos are even now becoming more common in the workplace when they once were not.

Mitch Parker, director of career and employment services at Amarillo College, said organizations and companies are more apt to hire a tattooed person now than they were even 10 years ago, although some organizations have policies in place about them being covered up.

Tattoos have become more mainstream and fashionable. Many people say getting a tattoo is a form of personal expression. “I get tattoos because I think they are beautiful, they express my views and personality and they represent things to me that may not be so apparent to others,” Llewellyn said.

By Samuel Gaulding and Ocho Beanz | Photo by Salvador Gutierrez

The Art of the Cut T

he art of barbering dates back must acquire a license to practice like urban, so it depends on the 6,000 years to the time of the the art. Amarillo is home to a number customer’s culture,” Brazan said.

Egyptian pharaohs, according of independent barbershops, each to the National Barber Museum with its own look and feel.

“There are different styles for website. In Amarillo, this ancient different people, but most people art continues to grow.

“How a shop looks depends on the like the old school style,” Griego owner and his artistic style,” said said.

“People love me as an artist,” said Baxter Brazan, a cosmetologist at Cornelius (C.C.) Combs, the owner Baxter’s Kutz on Sixth Street.

Combs said his favorite styles to cut of Combs and Cuts barber shop on are the ball fade and the taper fade.

Georgia Street. “As barbers, we Jacob Alvarado, another barber at Combs wears a ball fade himself make customers feel good about Baxter’s Kutz, said neighborhood and said, “I love the way it looks.” themselves. A good haircut builds shops have more personality than Not just every barber has the skill your self-esteem,” Combs said. corporate chains, such as Pro-Cuts to motivate the customer and and Great Clips. “Company haircut help him feel good about himself, Becoming a successful barber takes chains are not as artistic and don’t Combs said. talent, practice and training. “It give you the same treatment,” he takes 1,500 hours in the state of said.

The long and short of it is that a Texas to become a barber,” said barber’s success depends on the Ulysses Griego, a barber at Straight Choosing the right barber shop desire to learn and develop skills.

Edge barbershop on Paramount depends on the customer’s personal “Barbering is considered an art due Boulevard. Almost a year of classes style, according to Alvarado and to cultural influences, how it started is required to earn a cosmetology Brazan. Customers prefer different and all the techniques it takes to degree and every barber in Texas shops. “Some like retro and others master the practice,” Brazan said. the current 24

By Stevi Breshears | Photos by Stevi Breshears

Leaving a Mark on the 806 A

rt, by definition, is a form of self expression through a particular medium. For centuries, artists have taken to canvases, clay, marble, notebooks, musical instruments and more to tell stories. In recent years, non-traditional art forms have seen an increase in popularity. Famous street artists, such as Banksy and Lady Pink, have helped to bring light to the art style, but that doesn’t mean you have to travel all the way to New York City to get a taste. Street art and artists alike reside here in Amarillo.

“The more street art in Amarillo, the more the city will see how necessary it is to have artists creating public works of art. That will make Amarillo way cooler, and pave the way for young artists in the area to be inspired and make a name for themselves,” said Don Vandelhize, a local street artist.

While street art is a growing field, it isn’t always legal. For the first offense, artists can be fined up to $500. After that, artists could face jail time and fines up to $2,000. “The risk is what makes it worth the risk,” said Ben Badson-Sadler, another local street artist.

Due to the criminal aspect of street art, many artists keep their identities hidden, which also adds a mysterious element to the style.

“The anonymity behind street art is also fascinating. Passing by something you made that no one else knows who did it but you, that’s cool,” Vandelhize said.

25 the current

STREET ART

Diverse graffiti art can be found in different locations in Amarillo, TX.

LOCAL BREWERIES Addy Barnett pouring homemade beer at Six Car Pub & Brewery.

By John Tucker | Photos by Salvador Gutierrez

The Art of Craft Beer C

raft beer is not a new thing by any means, not even “the bible belt,” a region that stretches from northern in Amarillo. Beer begins with an idea. Even the big Texas to western North Carolina and from Mississippi commercial beers started out as someone’s original north to Kentucky where Protestant fundamentalism is recipe. “Craft beer is small batches of handmade widely practiced. “TABC says we can’t be within 300 product, we don’t use the same ingredients as the big feet of a church, school or hospital,”Read said. “In guys because they are expensive,” said Jared Read, the Bible belt there are churches everywhere so you owner of the Long Wooden Spoon brewery in Amarillo. have to figure out where you want to go and start your “We produce a product that is quite unique; you can business. Although, there are some denominations take the same beer style to five different breweries that have a thing for alcohol, nobody has been nasty and they all will be different.” about it.”

According to Read, “Amarillo is a different animal. We are right in the middle of the country, so the culture hits us a little differently than it hits other places.” The city of Amarillo is located in the middle of what is known as 27 the current

The craft beer culture has been gaining more ground in Amarillo. Evidence of that is Six Car Pub & Brewery in downtown Amarillo on Polk Street. The building is designed with the street car system that used to

run through Polk Street in mind. There were usually six cars on the line, hence the name, Six Car. Inside Six Car, patrons see handmade tanks, walk underneath parts of the brewery and see that it is all being crafted right there. The way the tanks are set up makes it look like they are there for decoration, but each one of them is functional and an important part of the process, which is quite extensive and scientific; one thing people don’t often associate with beer.

“Oh yeah, there’s a lot of science that goes into this,” Grant James, Six Car’s co-owner and brew master, said.

“There’s a lot of chemistry that goes into this. Each recipe has small differences in the process that makes a big difference at the end,” he said.

James also uses locally-grown grains in some of his beers from Maverick Malt House, which is just outside Amarillo.

That means, for some beers, the whole process from top to bottom takes place in the area. Amarillo grains with filtered Amarillo water, crafted right in the heart of the city. “We filtered the water as much as necessary,” said Read.

Brew masters in Amarillo work hard and take it seriously.

That is something people around here do not take for granted. The care and dedication that they put into crafting these beers is evident in the final product.

“People are starting to understand and appreciate the time and effort we put in. Beer is an art form,” James said.

“The standards in Amarillo are being raised. Amarilloans are becoming more aware of the quality and community pride that comes from locally produced products,” Angelina Medina, an Amarillo artist, said. “As our city grows so does the demand for more variety, quality and uniqueness,” Medina said.

The new restaurants, coffee shops and events popping up are bringing a different energy to the city. A large part of that new culture comes from craft beer and all the locally-owned breweries.

CRAFTING BEER Top - Jared Read co-owner of the Long Wooden Spoon brewery stirring hops in a hot solution.

Bottom - Grant James co-owner of the Six Car Pub & Brewery transferring beer from a barrel to a cistern.

By Jeremy Stitsworth and Kris Fredrick | Photos by Salvador Gutierrez

Route 66 Brings Community Together R

oute 66 was built back in the late 1920s and was a common means of travel across the U.S. Stretching from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Santa Monica, California, it was pretty much the only way to travel across the U.S. back in those times.

The historic highway spans eight states and more than 2,400 miles. Every year thousands of people travel the length of Route 66 to see the shops, antique stores and restaurants to experience this piece of American history.

This historic monument also touches the Texas Panhandle and cuts through the city of Amarillo. In the middle of that route, extending 13 blocks between Georgia Street and Forrest Street, is what Amarilloans know as Sixth Street, a part of Amarillo that makes 29 the current

an ideal destination for tourists, business owners, art lovers and history aficionados alike.

Sixth Street was a gravel road for a few years before officially becoming a part of Route 66 in 1926. It was originally meant to be a residential street, but after the establishment of Route 66, the street was transformed into a hub for nightlife and shopping.

The Nat Ballroom hosted acts such as Duke Ellington, Little Richard and Buddy Holly.

San Jacinto Methodist Church was built in 1926 and still stands as Cornerstone Church of Amarillo. The architecture of the buildings lining Sixth Street captures many styles of American culture in the early 1900s, ranging from Spanish Revival, Art Deco and Art Moderne design.

MOTHER ROAD Left - Various types of businesses can be found along Route 66. Right - Jordan Schragg working on some hamburgers at one of the oldest restaurants on Sixth Street, Golden Light Cafe.

Ninety-two years after the establishment of Route 66, Sixth Street is still a place people know they can go for food and fun. Everything from tattoo parlors, to restaurants, art galleries and gift shops line the street.

“There is always something interesting going on here,” said Jacob Royer, an Amarillo resident who frequently shops on Sixth. “I always find something unique or something new when I’m on Sixth Street.”

Shaniece Machele, the owner of The Eatery, recently set up shop on Sixth. “We didn’t want to open up anywhere else. Sixth has a lot of sentimental value to us. We used to hang out and wander around all of the shops as teenagers.”

Donna Griffin, owner of the Kismet salon as well as the Blue Crane Bakery, has been a business owner on

Route 66 for 10 years. “It’s a national landmark and that helps to get the word out to not only locals, but the visitors of the city as well,” Griffin said.

Another local business owner, Dirk Funk, of The Roseberry gift shop, said many businesses on Sixth specialize in work by local artists. “We only sell items from local artists,” he said. “Everything in here, paintings, jewelry, home décor, all were made from talented artists in the area.”

Route 66 has something for everyone. Whether you’re an artist, tourist, local or business owner, this is the place to go. Griffin said she would never consider relocating her salon or bakery. “No way. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in Amarillo except right here.” the current 30

THE

CURRENT Letter from the Editor

Salvador Gutierrez

2

The Latin Revolution is Here

Blass Guerrero

3

Chill Out With Lo-fi

Lauren Ebben

4

Rap vs. Rap

Sir Garen Grayson and Stetson Smith

5

A Long Lasting Tradition

Trevor Pyle and Blass Guerrero

7

Amy Presley’s Top10

Marissa Rivera

8

Immigration Adds to Diversity

Rafael Flores

9

A Tradition from Abroad

Carter Hall

11

The Portrayal of Minorites in Hollywood

Savannah Lindvay

13

Drawing the Human Form

Carly Stewart

14

Day of the Dead

Salvador Gutierrez and Danielle Barraza

15

Perla Arellano

Salvador Gutierrez and Jeremy Bates

17

Ryan Riley

Charles Diaz

18

Sounds and Sights of the Border

Keegan Ried and Kyler Kuykendall

19

A Canvas of Skin

Mackenzie Farmer

23

The Art of the Cut

Samuel Gaulding

24

Leaving a Mark on the 806

Carter Hall

25

The Art of Craft Beer

J.D. Tucker

27

Route 66 Brings Community Together

Jeremy Stitsworth

29

Pop music from Latin America is being played more and more in North America.

Lo-fi music is becoming more popular within the music world.

Fans of retro rap and modern rap go head-to-head.

FM90’s Tejano Throwback show has been on the air for over a decade.

Amarillo has become home to many cultures.

From brightly colored masks to artistic moves, Mexican wrestlers capitivate the crowd.

Minorities in Hollywood aren’t always portrayed the way they should be

Drawing someone can be a difficult task, but AC art students are learning how.

A passion for journalism becomes a career.

An AC graduate tells how he sold his script to Fox.

Tattoos have gained popularity and many consider them a form of art.

Being a barber isn’t just about cutting hair.