Atlas Magazine: The Human Issue by Atlas Magazine

The Human Issue

Art by Natasha Arnowitz

Dear Reader, As you know, the world is going through a tragic and difficult time. This was an unusual semester for Atlas, and everyone else, to go through. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had our lives turned completely upside down. We could no longer travel the world, eat at restaurants, or, most importantly, share that human connection with those we loveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or anyone for that matter. Our once-collaborative classrooms have been replaced with a more isolated atmosphere; desks are six feet apart, voices are muffled behind masks, and professors teach behind plastic walls. The chatter and laughter you once heard in the buildings have now been replaced with a single, deafening silence. These few details and instances have shown just how much the COVID-19 epidemic has impacted the Emerson community.

This semester, Atlas wanted to reestablish those lost connections by focusing on all things human. This semester’s issue is personal, vulnerable, and authentic. Our hope is to extend our connection with readers beyond the pages. While we wait for the world to open up again, I encourage you to find solace within Atlas’s Human issue, and with each other—whether it be virtual, or six feet apart. We hope you are staying safe and healthy as we look forward to a pandemicless future. Xx, Anna Moon Editor-in-Chief

Art by Sophie Droster

Art by Chloe Williams

Staff

Editor-in-Chief: Anna Moon Managing Editor: Marianna Poletti Reyes Creative Director: Stella Drews-Sheldon Health Editor: Molly Goodrich City Editor: Abigail Amato Campus Editor: MaryCatherine Neal Globe Editor: Eliza Fu Style Editor: Marianna Poletti Reyes Head Copyeditor: Katherine Powers Photography Director: Kaitlyn Joyner Design Director: Kristen Cawog Art Director: Natasha Arnowitz Fashion Directors: Brynn Rhodes & Faith Bugenhagen Editorial Director: Grace Cosgrove Beauty Director: Morgan Holly Staff Writers: Jessica Ferguson, Coral Worley, Grace Rispoli, Kaitlyn Joyner, Erin Renzi, Mattie Grace Holloway, Amanda Winters, Maggie Lu, Julia Brukx, Skyler Johnson, Claire Fairtlough, Athena Nassar Copyeditors: Charlotte Drummond, Claire Christensen, Jessica Ferguson, Melanie Valencia, Alice Fowle, Rebecca Letts Illustrators: Chloe Williams, Sophie Droster Designers: Paige Shapiro, Julia Brukx, Chloe Williams, Sherry Ma, Marianna Poletti Reyes Photographers: Thaler Bishop, Ian Hamilton, Gabriel Sampedro Editorial Team: Chloe Shaar, Serge Ganthier, Brynn Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Makeup: Khanh Nguyen, Samantha Silveira, Angelee Gonzalez Stylists: Chloe Shaar, Serge Ganthier, Olivia Cigliano, Neeka Boroumandi

Table of Contents HEALTH Adolescents Don’t Need to ‘Catch a Dick’ and Here’s Why by Athena Nassar // page 12 Mental Health in the Age of Isolation by Kaitlyn Joyner // page 16 Sincerely, Yours by Julia Brukx // page 22 CITY Seen Through Diffrent Eyes, Felt By Different Hearts by Grace Rispoli // page 26 Small City, Big World by Maggie Lu // page 32 CAMPUS Creating in Chaos by Jessica Ferguson // page 40 Food: The College Health Crisis Nobody Talks About by Claire Fairtlough // page 42 The Loss of Campus Life by Matigan Grace Holloway // page 48 GLOBE The Butterfly Defect: Inclusivity and the Impact of COVID-19 on International Students by Coral Worley // page 52 Welcome to the Show: A Performance of American Activism and International Students Have the Front Row Seats by Amanda Winters // page 60 STYLE TikTok Hair, Don’t Care: How TikTok is Redefining Hair Trends by Erin Renzi // page 66 America’s Sneaker Craze by Skyler Johnson // page 70

Art by Sophie Droster

Top left art by Sophie Droster, Bottom right art by Natasha Arnowitz

Art by Chloe Williams

Section design & art direction by Chloe Williams Page art by Stella Drews-Sheldon Photos by Thaler Bishop

Editorial point Chloe Shaar Stylist by Neeka Boroumandi Makeup by Samantha Silveira Models Khanh Nguyen and Daniella Hoyos

By Athena Nassar

With the film industry glamorizing choking, gagging, spanking and wild sex with strangers, it is only natural that we, as a highly emulative audience, are beginning to expect this kind of relationship with our partners. Many shows and movies place a heavy emphasis on the physical aspects of romantic relationships, while neglecting the equally important emotional components, such as the popular HBO series “Euphoria.” The peer pressure is evident in examining the dialogue between Jules and Kat from “Euphoria.” After Jules learns that Kat is still a virgin, she says: “Bitch, this isn’t the ‘80s. You need to catch a dick!” The camera cuts to Kat sitting topless in a room with three guys that she just met that night. This scene portrays how just one line can push a 16-year-old girl to put herself at risk for low self-esteem, a warped body image, and STDs. Additionally, this line is claiming that it is abnormal to not have sex by the time you are a junior in high school. If you do happen to be a virgin, “Euphoria,” along with a list of other TV shows, labels you as boring, or even worse — a prude. According to an article in The Harvard Health Blog, adolescents are more likely to give in to social pressure, because the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala that are critical for emotional learning and advanced self-regulation have yet to be fully developed. In a HealthDay article, Dennis Thompson asserts that only thirteen percent of 15-year-olds report that they have lost their virginity, and only two percent of high school girls report that they have lost their virginity to someone they just met, which points to the idea that Jules is attempting to reinforce a “norm” that just isn’t normal. In an Entertainment Weekly interview with Eric Dane, who plays the role of Cal Jacobs in

“Many shows and movies place a heavy emphasis on the physical aspects of romantic relationships, while neglecting the equally important emotional components.”

“Euphoria,” he refers to the TV show’s explicit plot as a “cautionary tale,” but as we move through each episode, the lines are blurred between what is cautionary and what is dismissive. In the show’s pilot, Jules, age 17, meets Cal, age 41, at an abandoned motel after matching with him on a dating app. What I find troublesome about this scene is not the prosthetic genitals or the finger in the mouth, but the cavalier way in which Jules responds to what is essentially statutory rape. Although rape victims are prone to developing mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety and a range of eating disorders, Jules doesn’t seem to be struggling with any of these side effects, and no deeper trauma is ever addressed. In fact, the show depicts Jules messaging a number of other anonymous men online and laughing off the whole situation with her best friend, Rue. Jules’s behavior encourages the target audience, which consists of primarily teenage girls, to seek out sexual relationships with older men and perpetuates the growing trend of the sugar daddy/sugar baby dynamic. In reality, Jules’s reckless actions could have very easily resulted in a case of sex trafficking or murder. So which TV shows do depict an accurate representation of a teenager’s sex life? There are only a few TV shows and movies that I can confidently stand behind in their promotion of sexual health: “Sex Education,” “Never Have I Ever” and “The Spectacular Now” are some of my favorite examples. “Sex Education” discusses masturbation as a performance and confronts the sexual pressure from peers head on. “Never Have I Ever” stars actors who are actually teenagers rather than middle-aged men and women. “The Spectacular Now” replicates the awkwardness of stripping down to your bra in front of someone for the first time and the clumsiness of putting on a condom. These TV shows and films represent everything that “Euphoria” is neglecting to tell us about: raw embarrassment, inexperience and the weight that comes with losing your virginity. When confronted about the overly sexualized portrayal of minors in “Euphoria” Zendaya, who portrays Rue Bennett in the show, says, “I think the important thing to acknowledge is that the show is about teenagers and not necessary for teenagers, which I think people can misinterpret.” Who or what is to stop adolescent people from consuming a TV show that is geared towards them and comprised of people who are supposed to represent them?

by Kaitlyn Joyner We all remember the day that our lives shifted, becoming nearly unrecognizable. The barren supermarket shelves, the endless bickering on the news, the constant fear of what would happen next – external chaos manifested into internal unease. The world fell into a restless state where surrendering control was not a choice, but a necessity to ensure security and safety. While quarantining and social distancing for the sake of physical health is necessary, the impact of social isolation on people’s mental health is equally complex and concerning. Reality has been completely uprooted and redefined for most of the population with little warning or chance to adapt. Some people have been forced to relocate or leave behind friends and family, while others have lost loved ones to the virus or other health complications. Some people have lost their jobs or housing in the midst of the economic uncertainty surrounding the crisis. Health anxiety has been another challenge, especially for people who already deal with anxiety. Remote Emerson sophomore April Hart* said that her social anxiety has been exacerbated

by worries over the health of her and her loved ones. “The virus has added another layer to my anxiety about seeing people, so being anywhere in public is even more hard than it used to be,” she said. Even with masks and social distancing, venturing anywhere outside the house can lead to a plethora of fears and complications that are simultaneously understandable and troublesome to deal with. In terms of socialization, it can be difficult to connect with others the same way we would in a pre-pandemic world, meaning that many individuals have felt lonely, disconnected or fatigued from virtual communication. Nadezhda Ryan, a sophomore visual media arts major at Emerson who is taking classes remotely this semester, spends the majority of her day from 9 a.m to 9 p.m doing homework or online classes, but feels so exhausted and limited by quarantine that she often finds herself turning to technology during her downtime as well. Our screen time has skyrocketed, and it can feel difficult to escape the grip of technology when so much of our lives have been relegated to the virtual world.

“The world fell into a restless state where surrendering control was not a choice, but a necessity to ensure security and safety.”

As if our society was not already in chaos prior to coronavirus, the pandemic has undoubtedly served as fuel to the fire when it comes to politics. Fear, panic and blame have intensified the already polarized state of our nation, and debate has been rampant surrounding the government’s way of handling public health crises such as the pandemic, police brutality and other violence rooted in racism. Social and political turmoil continue to rage on as we attempt to cope with adjusting to new environments, limitations and realities. Needless to say, the mental toll of going through a pandemic is likely to unearth anxious and depressed thoughts, whether people have previously struggled with their mental health or are becoming rather newly acquainted. The weight of our reality has become an incredible burden to bear. Despite this, some people have also found immense healing and growth within their personal quarantine situations. For some, the call for quarantine and social distancing has offered a chance to reset, recharge or rediscover themselves. Spending more time with loved ones has helped people to nurture certain connections while the need for social distancing has aided in reducing the fear of missing out or feeling an obligation to be social all the time. The pandemic has given certain individuals more time to explore new interests, seek mental health support or refine old skills. There is nothing straightforward or simple about the way the pandemic has reshaped our lives; for many individuals, its influence has been complicated, leading to both positive and negative changes. Ryan has experienced a duality in the effects of the pandemic on her personal growth. “I feel like I’ve grown in a lot of ways and that I’m a lot wiser, but simultaneously I feel like I’ve been set back a lot,” she explained. “Living in your parents house, it’s hard not to revert back to your younger self.” Though it is important to always look for the positive in the midst of dire situations, it’s also crucial to consider that finding the bright side in a pandemic is a privilege not all people enjoy. With a rising death count, political unrest, unemployment and the safety of millions of people at risk, it’s not healthy to expect everyone to see our current situation through rose-tinted glasses. It’s important

that those who have had more positive experiences in quarantine do not speak over those who have been dealt a worse hand. Our current situation is aggravated by many preexisting systemic flaws that need to be addressed. Experiences in quarantine have varied greatly, and each individual’s story is likely complicated. There are many facets to this new existence we are learning to inhabit, and it’s a process to become acquainted with an ever-changing world. Regardless of the positive and negative aspects of our situation, our society is going through a collective trauma. Mental health struggles are far more widespread than most people recognize. We all need to be gentle with one another as we attempt to understand how this immense shift in reality has transformed our internal worlds. Though there is not much certainty to cling to in terms of how long this will last or how things might change, we can take this chance to support each other and redefine how we approach mental health as we attempt to work towards safety and recovery.

“Mental health struggles are far more widespread than most people recognize.”

As we continue to adjust to a rapidly changing world, it’s important to take time for yourself and ground yourself in ways that feel right for you. For some people, such as Ryan, this can take the form of yoga, meditation, while for someone like Hart, piano can be the best way to handle stress. “Coping” can take on a vast variety of personal meanings. It can be difficult to feel like we are allowed to experience moments of joy and contentment in such a chaotic time, but permitting ourselves to embrace our emotions is necessary to our mental well-being. There is no need to feel guilty for feeling positive emotions unless these emotions stem from activities that endanger the safety of others. There’s nothing wrong with taking comfort in the few things that stay consistent in an effort to feel a little less lost. It’s perfectly okay to seek and provide support, allow yourself to become immersed in your interests and focus on what you can control rather than on what you cannot (which is sometimes easier said than done). “Reach out to your friends, do more art, and be okay with not being productive,” Ryan said when asked what advice she would give to others who are struggling. “You deserve breaks, and your self-worth is not defined by your productivity.” If you have the resources to do so, consider starting therapy or reaching out to mental health services. There has never been anything shameful about seeking help, and especially with the current state of our world, it can be helpful to have someone to confide in, someone that can give you the tools to cope with and understand your feelings. Everything is changing, and so are we. As we learn to connect in new ways, unearth truths about ourselves and society and work towards a better world, we must practice empathy towards everyone, including ourselves. Healing is not linear, and neither is progress, but together we can learn to navigate the intricate maze of growth. *Name has been changed for privacy of student

By Julia Brukx

“More so than any other kind of communication, writing a letter is a gift; you’re making something and handing it off to another person to do with as they choose.”

How do you reach out to someone and let them know that you’re thinking of them? Maybe you shoot them a quick text, invite them out for a cup of coffee, or suggest an activity together — a movie, perhaps. But what do you do when movie theaters are temporarily non-existent, coffee is strictly to-go, and digital interactions have become the only form of communication? The current state of the world is, to put it mildly, a bit stressful. The isolation brought upon by the pandemic, added upon by the twin epidemics of racism and a dying democracy, make living through each day of this year taxing. Understandably, people are concerned about their loved ones, especially those who live far away; although, when you are unable to leave your home, even next door is unspeakably far. But how do you reach out, let them know that you’re thinking of them, and that when this is all over everything is going to be okay? Somehow, a Zoom call just doesn’t have the same effect. A 1986 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology highlighted the mental health benefits of writing things down, but these results have been mainly applied to journaling and list-making, with letter writing often slipping through the cracks. Dedicating time out of the day to write can help deal with stress and fluctuating emotions. It can help to process many different feelings, practice creative expression and imbue the writer with a sense of control over their story. Writing things down may also force one to view their experiences from a different perspective and possibly find a silver lining. Writing a letter is a solitary experience, as is reading one, on most occasions. But it is in that act that a real bond can form. To read a letter and know that someone is thinking about you can lift your mood, and the physicality of the object allows for something to which you can return to. While texts and emails slip into oblivion after a short time, a piece of paper can be stored and revisited during a particularly bad mood. More so than any other kind of communication, writing a letter is a gift; you’re making something and handing it off to another person to do with as they choose. As soon as it falls into the mailbox, it is no longer yours. The separation of time and space inherent in letter writing can actually enhance vulnerability. In the same way that it is easier to be vulnerable with another person when not making eye contact — think about being on the phone or in the car — it is easier to pour your heart onto paper than into thin air, and there’s no chance of being interrupted.

For many people, writing letters and sending them the old fashioned way can bring back memories of a simpler time, perhaps even a better emotional place than we are in now. Think of the times that you’ve gotten a handwritten letter in the mail. For many people, the memory is associated with childhood, invitations to birthday parties, and thank-you notes that your mom forced you to write. Putting yourself back in that headspace is a way of using nostalgia in order to cope with the current traumas of the world. By all accounts, writing a letter to communicate with someone is impractical. There are much faster forms of communication that don’t cost 55¢ per stamp. However, those don’t carry the romanticism of the past. Think about when people used to write letters. On the battlefields, in cramped attics, in empty offices with only a candle for light. They wrote to their loved ones, with the most important message being that they were still all right. Since Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took office in June 2020, he has implemented changes to the USPS which have caused significant delays and backlogs in the delivery of mail. Amidst pressure, these changes were suspended until after the November election. However, the USPS remains a critical national service that is in jeopardy because it is seen as a business instead of a public service, and therefore is expected to make up for budget deficits. Until the administration of the post office can agree with the 2-to-1 margin of Americans that believe that the USPS should be run as a public service, buying stamps can help fund the post office and allow for its continued existence. So I encourage you to take some time. Grab a sheet of paper, fancy stationary or looseleaf ripped from a notebook, and write something. It can be to a friend, a family member, or even just to yourself. It doesn’t have to be long; it can be a couple sentences and a doodle, pages of pouring your heart out or a list of things you did today. Let the person you’re writing to know that you’re thinking of them. Drop the letter in an envelope, and adorn it with the cute stamps that you picked out. Carefully write out the address, and take a quick walk to your nearest USPS drop box, enjoying the sights and fresh air as you go. Drop it through the slot and marvel at the fact that in just a few days this thing that you made for someone will be arriving at their door. In a time of isolation and division, of hatred and fear, sit down and write a letter to someone you love. You don’t know how much they, or you, may need it.

Section design by Sherry Ma Art by Stella Drews-Sheldon Photos by Gabriel Sampedro

SEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES, FELT BY DIFFERENT HEARTS by Grace Rispoli

“Euphoria,” Emerson College junior Fabi Muci responded without a hesitation, eyes lighting up, when asked about her feelings upon returning to Boston. “Like I literally get back, and I’m so fucking happy.” For Muci, Boston is the fourth place she has lived. She was born in Venezuela, then lived in Uruguay, and then Miami, before arriving in Boston. “Something that I have learned about living in all these different places, is that I’m really good at adapting to different ways of living. I’m very adaptable,” said Muci. “But also, you don’t have to connect with the country, you don’t have to connect with a place. There’s places you’re not going to connect with.” Connection to any person, place, object or memory looks different for everyone. The concept of connection is not one-sizefits-all, as evident through the unique and personal relationship Boston’s inhabitants have with it. Sarah Hutchinson, a native to Boston’s suburbs, said Boston feels like home. Hutchinson graduated from Suffolk University in 2018, and subsequently spent some time living in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Boston and works in its very own Downtown Crossing. Sitting on a bench in the Boston Public Garden with her book folded on her thumb to save her spot, Hutchinson elaborated on what Boston’s feeling of home was to her. “I think that it’s warm and fuzzy...I associate it with things I love, like my family and my friends. This is one of my favorite spots in the city,” she says, referring to the Garden. “So every time I need to like calm down or just kind of get a grip on everything that’s going on in life, it’s nice to come to the park or a green space and just feel really grounded; it kind of brings me to the present, whereas I feel like in any city it’s really easy to get lost in figuring out what the future is. But it allows me to just live day to day.” For Northeastern University sophomore Jenny Norvold of Central Massachusetts, her connection to Boston began developing in her high school years as she was receiving treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute(CQ). Her love of Boston led her to study in the city, and has grown even stronger since. Following a shopping trip in Downtown Crossing, Norvold sat in the Garden with her bag and detailed having a clarifying realization during a moment she had with her roommate in Seaport prior to school beginning. “It just made me know that I was in the right place for college,” says Norvold. “And the right place to, I guess, spend my life.” For another Massachusetts native, Wesley Days, a sophomore journalism major, the venture to Boston was strictly academic, and has continued to be so. Days says that, if it were not for Emerson College, he would not be in Boston. While he connects with people he has met and the work he is able to accomplish in the city, Days does not feel a connection to the city itself.

“I don’t think it’s anything that Boston did, I don’t

think it’s a bad place at all, don’t get me wrong. I think for me, as someone who’s from Massachusetts...I’ve lived here all of my life,” he said. “It’s not something I’m freaking out over.” Whether pursuing an education or a career path because of a desire to live in Boston or pursuing a path that landed them in Boston, the city houses many individuals that each create their own unique connection. “I would say, Boston is like my airplane...it’s my travel destination to where I want to be in life,” said Muci. “Where I’m just like in it, I’m still absorbing it, but I’m just cruising. I’m literally just cruising and taking everything in that it’s giving me.” On a golden, late afternoon, Muci sat in the Boston Common, illuminated by the lowering sun, describing her connections with the different places she has lived. Muci noted that the connection is unique to each place. Before diving into her relationship with Boston, she described Uruguay, a country consisting of roughly 60,000 square miles and three million people. She described the connected and inclusive community, their acceptance of her immigration, their values on happiness, their minimalism and the natural beauty of the country she learned to love and grew in for ten years of her life. Muci explained that she wants to raise her children in Uruguay, but send them to college in Boston. A connection to a place is not all about the physical attributes. A connection, a joining or attachment of part of yourself to a location is composed of memories, atmosphere, the life you’re living and those experiencing it with you. It includes those alongside you, walking past you or sitting next to you on public transportation, impacting your community in unseen fashions. To Muci and many other students, such as Emerson College senior Amanda Benavente, who hails from Southern Florida, connection to this city is rooted in growth. “I think there’s a huge emotional connection because these were some of the best four years of my life. It literally changed who I am and what I want to do from now on. I would say Boston as a city showed me that I can achieve anything I want as long as I just do it and put my work into it,” says Benavente. “And it really shaped me into who I am as a woman and being independent and a go getter, and I feel like I wouldn’t have really gotten that at home if I hadn’t taken the risk of going some place new by myself across the country and just diving into all things unknown.” Another aspect that adds to the inspiration and growth of those studying in Boston are the working professionals and students all around them. Muci emphasized that this aspect of the city was significant to Boston. “I think that’s so special, like one of the most special things about Boston, that it’s a college city, because like all of the students that are here, which are so many, are looking for the same thing, and are going through similar experiences, and like, it’s a city designed for college students,” says Muci. 28

The determined atmosphere of the city is in part due to the collegiate population of Boston, notes Benavente. “It’s not just Emerson students that are so driven. I’ve talked to new business owners, and they are so passionate, and all they want to do is get their name out there. Or I’ve talked to other students in Boston, and they’re the same. It’s almost like everyone who comes here is willing to work,” says Benavente. Muci also highlighted what it’s like to see working professionals going about their everyday life. Attending college in a city allows her to see the real world, it gives her the ability to picture her life after college and gives her inspiration and motivation. For many, their connection to a place is tied heavily to people. It may be as simple as forming bonds with people who are merely familiar faces or passerbys on the street, like for Emerson College sophomore Jessica Spector, who highlighted how she has become a regular at certain stores, and that people recognize her. “Also what I love is that strangers come up to you and ask you for directions all the time, and that’s not something you get back at home,” said Spector. For sophomore theatre and performance major Allie Witek, the connection to Boston is rooted in those around her. “I associate connection with other people. I don’t usually connect myself to physical objects, or even places,” said Witek. “I mean I love Boston for being a city, but I connect it to the people that I meet there. So connection to me means relationships, probably because I’m a Cancer.” Muci does not associate her connection with Boston solely on relationships, though they are an important part. “I think it’s because we’re all here to find what we want to do, but you’re also...looking for what you want, [and] you find people who want similar things” said Muci. “And then here...I blossomed and became truly who I am, because I found the people that helped me get there.” For those who arrived in Boston prior to the year of 2020, their connection to the city looks different than to those who arrived amidst the unprecedented pandemic that shook the country in March of 2020.

Amanda Furbert, a Tufts University dental student, who arrived just before the fall 2020 academic semester, feels that it has been difficult for her to establish a connection. “Do I feel an emotional pull to the city? I want to, I would like that,” said Furbert. “But I’m kind of like, since I can’t experience the whole city, then it’s really hard for me to feel like I have an emotional connection.” Much of this she attributes to the social isolation and COVID-19’s hindrances of meeting others. Emerson College freshman Amaris Ramirez feels as though she feels a connection to the city, based on its physical appearance and atmosphere, however has experienced the difficulties of connecting with peers as well. “I definitely feel like, without COVID, it would be a lot easier especially because...I’m very extroverted and thrive more in social situations rather than being by myself, so it’s definitely been very different than what I’m used to,” said Ramirez. “But also, I’m willing to put myself out there, so that’s what I’ve kind of had to do, but it’s mainly just, more of an effort than usual.” Maddie Brown, a recent college graduate of Miami University, took a job at Wayfair in Boston for the spring of 2020. She started her position on March 9. Brown was in the office for three days and has been working remotely since. She returned to the home she was raised in for the majority of quarantine until traveling back to Boston in August. Brown said that she has grown to love her neighborhood of Beacon Hill and the city of Boston. Despite the isolation and barriers to connecting to people and creating roots through personal relationships in Boston, Brown has connected with the city. “I feel like I’ve made friends with my neighborhood, like I love going out for little walks during the day,” said Brown. The connection individuals have to Boston — or any place in the world — is more than what meets the eye. “It’s something I feel toward something tangible and intangible that has depth and that matters... because that is how I feel with Boston,” said Benavente. “I feel like I have a connection to it in my heart and mind forever.”

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turned into a bustling metropolis full of distinct peoples and differing lifestyles, all contributing to a city constantly alive with sound and movement. Over the years, unique cultural communities have developed, adding vibrancy to a city largely defined by its rich history. Each community centers around varying regions from all over the world, everywhere from China to Italy. According to an article from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Global Boston,â&#x20AC;? a digital project from Boston College, many of them began forming after times of war and chaos, with immigrants flooding to America for safety and comfort. People of the same ethnicity and cultural backgrounds gathered together and settled down, letting their traditions shine through and making a home for themselves right here in Boston.

SMALL CITY, BIG WORLD by Maggie Lu

North End The North End is one of the most famous ethnic enclaves in Boston, known for its Italian culture and heritage. No matter the time of year, there will be people out enjoying the scene. All of the seating at the restaurants is always filled; the scents of savory pasta and sweet pastries waft through the air. There are lines out the door and down the block for certain stores, piquing the interest of passersby. According to Chloe Russo*, a junior who lives in the area and frequents the neighborhood: “The North End is genuinely so authentic and has such good food and a beautiful culture.” She adds, “I am here every other weekend to just shop or grab a bite to eat; there’s just so much to do here.” And it’s true, one will discover that there is no limit to how much amazing food you can find, and the people are all so passionate about their heritage and culture. Friendly banter and hearty conversations constantly overlap; sounds of laughter and glasses clinking fill the streets. There is no tension or stress, no feeling of exclusion; everyone is welcome in the North End. East Boston East Boston is known as the center of Latinx culture. There are several restaurants and markets that you cannot find anywhere else, featuring food from many different countries in Central and South America. It is not just your typical “Mexican” culture that you see misrepresented in other parts of the United States. The East Boston area has plenty of food and amazing people, hailing from a variety of Latinx countries. There are small corner stores selling snacks and candy, and large groceries with fresh meat and vegetables. Walking down the street, there are people talking and joking in Spanish. It can feel like a piece of home for the Latinx community, especially to Marisol Escobedo*, who is an Emerson student and a close friend of mine. She is someone who identifies as Latina and has visited East Boston a number of times. “In the smaller shops you find here, although they are not the large stores you would usually find in other countries, you can still find a sense of familiarity. The workers are Latine, they speak Spanish, and [they] sell a lot of food from our childhoods. And even though I can’t say it’s exactly the same as home, it’s something you can’t find anywhere else in Boston,” she said.

Chinatown Located closest to the Emerson campus is the well-known Chinatown. Despite the name it has been given, it is not only Chinese culture that is present in the small community. There is a mix of traditional and modern East Asian food and art, with countries like Japan and Korea also being reflected in the district. Through the big, brick gates reside hundreds of Asian restaurants and shops, most lined with a mix of Chinese, Taiwanese, and American flags. The streets are always buzzing with life, with groups of friends walking down the block holding bubble tea or shopping for Asian groceries at the marketplace. Chinatown has become a popular tourist attraction for many, but that does not take away from the sense of community that has been established in the area. Being Chinese myself, Chinatown has become my home away from home; it is somewhere I feel connected to, somewhere I can see my heritage and culture reflected. Transitioning to college is never easy, but living near Chinatown gave me a sense of comfort that I wouldn’t have had anywhere else. I remember walking into a small, family-owned bakery on my first day in Boston, the smell of fresh baked bread flooding my senses. The lady behind the counter greeted me excitedly and began recommending to me some of her personal favorites, pointing around the store at the pastries she had baked fresh that morning. There was a warmth in the store and a warmth in my chest, as I knew I would always have a place to belong while at school. That is the true beauty of the multiple cultural communities here in Boston. For other immigrants and students alike, these cultural communities are a place they can feel connected to the homes they’ve left behind. These are only a few of the most populous enclaves, but there are plenty of other diverse and vibrant communities throughout the city just waiting to be explored. For many minority groups, these are the places where they can feel like they belong. But that doesn’t mean they are closed off to outsiders; culture is meant to be shared. These pockets of diverse and authentic heritage provide amazing opportunities for people to learn, explore and travel to. No matter where you go, people are there to greet you warmly and welcome you into their businesses and their homes. So the next time you go out, consider visiting somewhere new and exciting, and you may be surprised by how much you can learn. *As requested by interviewees, names have been changed for privacy

Section design by Paige Shapiro Art by Stella Drews-Sheldon Photos by Kait Joyner Editorial & Styled by Serge Ganthier Makeup by Samantha Silveira Models Zeiana Andrade and Suha Cho

By Jess Ferguson

It seems everything in our lives turned upside down when the pandemic began. Yes, some things remain unchanged, but things will likely never fully go back to the way they once were. The same rings true for art. It only makes sense that such a historic year — filled with a pandemic, social movements and a presidential election — would be reflected within art. The art created during periods of unrest can be both an emotional outlet, as well as an educational tool. Since March, artists have been creating infographics on Instagram to promote resources like local businesses, places to donate to the Black Lives Matter movement, and voting registration instructions. These graphics are often shared onto users’ stories to spread information to their followers. MassArt class of 2019 graduate Zoe Gillette felt the responsibility to address the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement this summer in her artwork. “It was just hard to ignore something like that. It felt weird to just continue making art about my usual regular stuff, which is like animals in pants, kind of goofy stuff,” she said. “I needed to process it in my own way and make stuff to bring awareness. It’s been almost a paradigm shift in the way that we approach social media. Now more than ever, it just sort of feels like a big forum for collecting necessary information.”

Dr. Leonie Bradbury, Emerson’s distinguished curator-in-residence, directs the media art gallery on campus. She attests to artists’ abilities to portray the world in a way that resonates with us. “Artists are very much on the forefront of society, and they’re often paying close attention to what’s happening in the world around them,” Bradbury said. “I myself really gain a greater understanding often of complex social or scientific situations or circumstances by looking at how artists are interpreting or responding to these current affairs. There are so many different ways to be in the world and to understand the world, and that’s what’s so exciting about working with living artists.” Following a rise in mental health abnormalities since March, we’re all looking for ways to feel normal or comforted. As an artist, Gillette feels both the comfort of creating art as well as experiencing others’ work. “I do really find it a comfort to have a medium to sort of channel my thoughts and even to look back retrospectively and see how it’s evolved,” she said. “That’s sort of what I want to project, is to give people something to laugh at or be interested in, or to look harder into.” Some of that comfort may come from the relatability of the content. We have all lived through many of these major changes, and so we can feel connected with the art’s content.

“A lot of artwork does aim to be sort of relatable to people in some way, so to make something that directly has to do with the quarantine sort of puts everybody in the same bubble,” Gillette explained. “It does give me a sense of comfort to know that everybody’s sort of in the same position right now, and it does serve to kind of unify people in a nice way.” Just as we’ve seen with education, work, and extracurriculars, the way art is created and exhibited was forced to change with the pandemic. Bradbury assisted in showing one of the first virtual galleries in the Boston area, in partnership with the Curating Contemporary Art class last Spring. She also recently curated a drive-in visual art experience in Salem. “I definitely think that there will be, and there is already, an impact in terms of the way people are making work, whether or not it’s actually about the COVID experience,” Bradbury said. “What can we keep from this moment of stress and crisis, and what are we inventing now that we can take with us?

And she is taking that question to heart. Going forward, whenever the Avery Street gallery is closed, she plans to display art in the windows for Boston residents to see. The art we’re seeing at this moment in time will serve as a historical document for future generations to see. This is especially true with art now being on the internet, and social media in particular. “A hundred years from now, how are people gonna look back, and what are they gonna see?” Gillette asked. “The internet is the new kind of wave of accessibility where people are gonna be able to look back and see through thousands of catalogs of work and be able to make a lot of really accurate judgments about how people acted during quarantine and how people made light of a tough situation.” If you’re looking for a sense of direction or source of comfort these days, try visiting a local museum — or scrolling through Instagram in bed. Or, if you’re feeling creative, try creating art, not for aesthetic purposes but as an emotional outlet. Life feels more stressful than ever, and if a coloring book can make me feel even a little better, it’s worth it to me. 41

The College Health Crisis Nobody Talks About 42

CW: Food Insecurity & Eating Disorder

By Claire Fairtlough

This fall, conversations about the college experience have shifted. The conversations have changed from revolving around parties and ways to get the most out of the college experience, to conversations of how to get an education safely during the COVID-19 health crisis. However, an issue that’s always been around has reemerged in a sneaky and more dangerous form — people’s relationship with food. It’s difficult to have a healthy relationship with food in general, and it can be hard to fit in three healthy meals a day while navigating a busy schedule and a unique college environment. What happens when your financial situation gets in the way of your food security? Or when societal pressures and mental health issues turn a healthy relationship with food into an obsessive disconnection? This is extremely likely in any college setting, and is an issue that Emerson students are currently facing. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) estimates that between 10 and 20 percent of women and 4 to 10 percent of men in college suffer from an eating disorder, and these rates are on the rise. Emerson’s students should be prioritizing their health as they work toward a degree. After all, we are paying $70,000 to be here. Shouldn’t the college be actively working to provide suitable options and resources to ensure that their students are happy and healthy? Emerson does have a few resources available to help aid in food insecurity and disordered eating. To tackle food insecurity, Emerson has a list of resources available on the Food Access Initiatives page on the Emerson website. There’s a food pantry available, Food Cam (a food donation and pick-up hub), off-campus student support services and a student assistancefund which provides eligible students with free meal swipes, grocery store gift cards, or a meal plan. Elizabeth Avery, Emerson’s nutritionist, is available for students to discuss dietary issues, 75 percent of them being eating disorders. What is the solution when having such a negative relationship is normalized? Avery defines a healthy relationship with food as, “appropriately to hunger and satiety cues, eating out of both hunger and pleasure, consuming all food groups, embracing spontaneity and flexibility with food choices and timing, recognizing all foods as permissible, acknowledging there are health benefits to every food, and not defining oneself by one’s diet.” Even with these resources available, Emerson students continue to struggle. Avery recommends to anyone who feels like they might be struggling with an eating disorder to take the first step and meet with a therapist who specializes in eating disorders.

To understand the student perspective, sophomore theatre and performance major Maddie Wicker reached out to me to share her story with food insecurity at school. “I feel insecure about constantly eating at Emerson. I am working and saving up money to pay for my loans, but I feel as if I am missing out on a culture beyond the dining hall and the Max,” she said. When asked if the ongoing pandemic impacted her food security, Wicker’s biggest issue is with the new hybrid schedule. She notes that when she had in-person classes, she would be able to navigate when to eat better due to breaks in her schedule. Now, her room has been transformed into her classroom, work space and home. She understands why we need to have the hybrid learning environment available to us in order to stay safe, but it doesn’t change that she’s noticed a decline in her healthy eating habits. “I don’t have enough money to eat off campus, but the centers are closed when I do.” Wicker believes that food insecurity among low-income students goes hand in hand with disordered eating. Tatte Bakery and Cafe has become the restaurant she’s reliant on this year, since they offer an array of fresh food and meals that are significantly better than getting cold food under heating lamps. However, she mentions, “I am running out of Board Bucks fast, and do not have the funds in my bank account to splurge in Chinatown as much as I would like. I am saving up so I can take another semester here in the winter, and assist my mom with paying my student loans. I don’t have the luxury of going out to other places as much as my peers do. I am very much dependent on the Emerson dining center. While I am grateful for my time here, I am aware that this could be my last year at Emerson if I do not buckle down and work hard. There would not be such a food insecurity if students had the funds to support themselves.” Tatum Jenkins, a sophomore IDIP major at Emerson, informed me that she was recovering from a binge eating disorder. Even though her disorder began before college, she’s noted that her experience has been difficult due to peers’ negative attitudes around food. Tatum is on a sports team, so she feels added pressure where how you eat correlates to her athletic performance. I asked Tatum about her issues with Emerson’s food options, and she replied with, “My main problem with Emerson’s dining options is the lack of self-service and limited number of places we can use Board Bucks. I need to have a sense of control over what I’m eating in order to feel stable in my eating patterns and thoughts. Not being able to serve myself and having restaurant options that service lots of triggering foods has been difficult for me.”

“ I was surprised to learn how ingrained food insecurity and disordered eating is in student culture. ”

My final interview revolves around a sophomore student who wishes to remain anonymous. She reached out to me about her struggles with disordered eating, and how the negative student culture around food has made it difficult for her to regain a healthy relationship with food. The main issue that this student struggles with has been listening to her body cues. She adds, “Often by the time I reach hunger to the point where I cannot ignore it, the only food option available to me is the Max, which only offers unhealthy food that I have difficulty ‘allowing’ myself to eat. This happens really often where I wait too long, and everything is closed by the time I’m starving. I end up spending so many of my Board Bucks and hardly any meal swipes just because the options aren’t available to use meal swipes when I listen to my body cues.” I was surprised to learn how ingrained food insecurity and disordered eating is in student culture. It’s normal for students to complain about not being satisfied with the meal options available to them, but this pandemic has added an additional weight to the conversation. Food insecurity is rooted in the culture of an expensive school such as Emerson. With Emerson College’s massive price tag on tuition, it’s easy to think that if you go to an expensive school, you have the funds available to afford breakfast, lunch and dinner. But that’s not always the case. Even if you are able to afford to refill your Board Bucks if you’re running low or to eat off campus when you get tired of the rotation of food at the DH, there’s such a strong stigma surrounding having a healthy relationship with food. It can be hard for people to reach out and get the help they need, when having a negative relationship with eating has been so normalized. 47

By Mattie Halloway

“Campus” is a word that has been concrete for a long time. It’s often associated with doing homework on a green lawn, the hard mattress in your dorm, and that one song by Vampire Weekend. Even Emerson’s unconventional campus creates an environment that provides a homey comfort for students. This semester though, the word “campus” is subjective. Now, “campus” is living with your mom, or trying out a new apartment, or being time zones away from your professors. “Campus” is no longer concrete. For sophomore Alex Pyne, majoring in an individually designed interdisciplinary program, moving off of Boylston Street was not their first choice. Alex had hoped to live on campus this year but had difficulties with Student Accessibility

Services and was unable to secure a standalone room for the semester. They’ve now signed a lease and live in an apartment in Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood a train ride away from the campus they once called home. Pyne is living with two Emerson seniors and is grateful for the human interaction they gain from each other. Pyne misses their radio show, Mahna Mahna, on WECB and meeting friends at the Max. While they’re still a part of some organizations like WECB at Emerson, the experience, of course, is not the same. Sophomore Mica León Perdomo lives in Cambridge with her mom. Although she commuted to campus last year, she still notices the inevitable changes of this se-

mester. She is taking classes online, and instead of taking the train to campus every day, she learns from the comfort of her home. In addition to working from home, she has also switched majors this fall and is taking on the world of Business of Creative Enterprises. León Perdomo is also doing a remote internship for a TV station in California. She enjoys her new classes and major and finds remote learning easier than managing classes when they were in-person. She likes creating her own schedule and not taking an hour train ride to class every day. In working from home, she has also had time to work on making music and catching up on YouTube Zumba. But, she still misses “normal.”

“I am going a little bit crazy...I need a change of scenery or something,” she says. Although León Perdomo doesn’t live far from Boylston Street, she tends to stay in Cambridge. “My family is particularly paranoid about the virus,” she says. She only sees her friends from school once a month or so and misses the social aspect of college. I miss this part, as well. I am living in Wilmington, North Carolina. It’s quiet and sunny, but I miss the sounds of car horns and the screeching of the T in Boston. My campus consists of the desk in my bedroom, and occasionally the kitchen table. I feel like I’m playing a waiting game with the rest of the world — waiting until summer, waiting until August, and now waiting for second semester for life to go back to normal. León Perdomo hopes that things will go back to how they were when she returns in the fall of 2021. When I asked Pyne if they thought things would go back to the way they were within the next year, they gave a blunt “there’s no way.” 49

Section design by Julia Brukx Art by Stella Drews-Sheldon Photos by Ian Hamilton Editorial point Serge Ganthier Styled by Faith Bugenhagen Makeup by Khanh Nguyen Models Leeah Darenancourt and Sabine Waldeck

By Coral Worley

inclusivity & covid-19 impact on international students

Senior journalism major Jiachen Liu (she/her) calls the decisions that led her to become an international student at Emerson College a complicated story. Born and raised in Henan, a central prov Senior journalism major Jiachen Liu (she/her) calls the decisions that led her to become an international student at Emerson College a complicated story. Born and raised in Henan, a central province of China, and educated in Shanghai, Liu had to choose between going back to her hometown or becoming an international student for college. She decided to go to Emerson because of its established journalism program and inclusive environment. But is Emerson as inclusive for international students as it seems? According to chaos theory, the butterfly effect is both a literal and metaphorical concept that small actions can create a large result. Weather reporters use this concept as an excuse for incorrect weather predictions; while others take the concept as a metaphorical lesson about how an individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions can affect others. With the evolution of globalization, many industries, companies and educational institutions have hurried to put into place strong international initiatives. These rushed efforts have created the new term butterfly defect, which addresses the lengthening gap between moral intentions regarding global inclusivity and the effectiveness of these systematic changes institutions are partaking in.

“But actually, being an international student at Emerson College, especially during a pandemic, may not be as idyllic as the college wants you to believe.”

In May 2020, Emerson College was one of four US colleges that received a Simon Award for Campus Internationalization. International students make up approximately 12.5 percent of the student body. According to the school’s website, global education is “one of the five core strategies of the college’s strategic plan, global engagement is our goal – and it is also our passion.” With these accolades, it would be probable to assume that the international students who make up that statistic feel as comfortable as the college claims. But actually, being an international student at Emerson College — especially during a pandemic — may not be as idyllic as the college wants you to believe. When the time came for Liu to settle into a new country, the college lifestyle, and to begin this new life transition, Liu says that “Emerson doesn’t do well with international students.” In the international pre-orientation, she felt that the launch was superficial. There were many icebreaker activities, but they failed to connect students on a deeper level in terms of culture where students could bond with one another. Liu appreciates the international pre-orientation, and even

signed up to be an orientation leader last year, but still does not feel satisfied with the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA). The college lacks knowledge about opportunities and resources such as how to file taxes, where to find tax services, and despite updating the college’s international tax service last year, it still remains vague. Similarly, Liza Xiao (she/her), a junior marketing communications major from Shanghai, China, also came to Emerson because of its highly advertised inclusive atmosphere which seemed to be aided by its welcoming LBGTQ+ culture. Xiao also commented on the international student orientation, where she felt that it wasn’t that helpful; the core staff who were supposed to help them transition not only to college but to an American institution were Americans themselves. However, it did help her to make connections and befriend other international students. She contributed her actual transition to the start of the first semester of her first year, when she became very close with her suitemates, who were always willing to answer questions, and help her out when she felt uncomfortable.

“A lot of Americans don’t really know about things outside [their country], they don’t feel a need to worry about it.”

Xiao believes Emerson could do better in international inclusiveness, as the resources provided by the college lack a personal touch. For instance, instead of taking matters into their own hands, many faculty will redirect student emails to places within different departments. But when it comes to actually scheduling a meeting with professors and staff, there aren’t any times that are offered in her time zone, which is odd, considering that Chinese students make up 5.3 percent of the entire student body, and 42.6 percent of the international student body. On a similar note, junior journalism major Riddihma Dave (she/ her), who is originally from Mumbai, India, feels that the college approaches international students in a very generalized way, but she sees that the college is trying. She believes that one of the main reasons for the college not being as personalized in their interactions with students is because OISA is so understaffed, and that international students are often an afterthought.

When one has a global perspective, they may be more aware of issues that will affect others, even if those individuals don’t see it that way. Xiao points out that “A lot of Americans don’t really know about things outside [their country], they don’t feel a need to care about it.” Americans have the perspective that they have enough to worry about in their own country, and most likely have no idea what’s happening in other countries, until it affects them. But when you have the opportunity to travel abroad, or participate in other languages and cultures other than your own — you get outside your comfort zone, become more open minded, and expand your ways of thinking. “Traveling experiences can feel in a similar way to reading a book,” Xiao comments. “There’s this spark in your head, where you begin to see connections between two completely different things that at first glance, seem to have nothing in common.”

America’s problem with globalization is that industries and higher education are not deliberate enough about making the connection between domestic events and global issues, according to Dave. American education doesn’t focus on any other culture or history than their own. But now that many businesses

are heading towards a globalized direction, having an open mind will become more valuable than ever before, especially in terms of marketing, where Xiao sees herself having a career. With America being considered the top leading business country, and having the gold medal of economies, it enforces this obligation to know and care more about the outside. And yet, on a smaller scale, Emerson doesn’t quite carry this ideal as thoroughly as it should. “It’s a process,” Xiao admits, “it won’t happen overnight,” but the

efforts need to be persistent. And it isn’t just the college and staff that need to contribute to learning to understand the international student perspective, it’s also the students. Last semester, Liu was well aware of the dangerous effects of the virus long before her peers. In one class, where they had been discussing what qualified as international news, the topic of COVID-19 came up, and one student denied the virus as international news because they claimed it to be “China’s problem.” Additionally, several students had proposed to Student Affairs to add more hand sanitizers to campus and campaigned for everything to be remote. Still, the response given by Emerson was that they wanted to wait and listen to the professionals. Liu confirms that there are certainly microaggressions here at Emerson, despite how much the college emphasizes its inclusive environment. Riddhima also has experienced microaggressions, but finds them so hard to pinpoint because “it’ll be small things in classes that happen, where I’ll bring in my international perspective, but some students will always retort ‘but in America…’ or make sly comments.” It seems that many Emersonians have fallen into the trap of the American ego. Many are so quick to resist outside perspec-

tives. Xiao also touches on this, and highlights the student organization POWER, which stands for Protesting Oppression with Educational Reform. POWER seeks to initiate accountability within students and faculty regarding diversity, inclusivity and social justice. She has noticed that since the pandemic, professors have been more understanding towards international students, but it hasn’t always been that way. In general, Liu thinks that Emerson’s response to COVID-19 could have been much quicker. She remembers sitting in class, crying, wanting to go home to see her family, and it being extremely difficult to find a flight that wasn’t expensive. Many flight options had connections in other countries, where she’d have to temporarily stay in another country, which would mean even more of a possibility of exposure to the virus. Xiao also remembers that the initial reaction to the virus was a difficult time. At first, she didn’t want to go back because the ticket prices were so high due to everyone rushing to return to their families in China and other countries, but she managed to get the last one-way flight from JFK. It was a relief, but since she’s settled at home and continued school online, there have been a whole different set of barriers.

For one, the time difference is extremely challenging, especially with the recent change in daylight savings time. Emerson was able to pay for international students to have access to the VPN, which ideally would allow for a better connection, but for Liu, it doesn’t always work. Both Liu and Riddihim don’t want to spend another semester with classes online, but are unsure of their plans. Xiao is considering a gap semester to partake in an internship because she feels it’s hard to be productive with online classes. Emerson has not initiated any more financial resources, or personal advising to offer alternatives. The college does send many emails trying to keep international students engaged in the Emerson community, but there are so many emails that it’s overwhelming to keep track of. Xiao and Riddhima express that they still feel connected with the community because they’re both involved in so many clubs and organizations which still meet on zoom, but it can become difficult when they have to stay up until 3 am to finish classes. Despite Emerson’s claims to give great value to their international students and a heavy emphasis on the importance of

a global perspective, there seems to be a gap between the intentions of the college’s morals and the actions that actually take place. This seems to be part of the butterfly defect. There may be good intentions to be more inclusive and provide resources, but the results fall short. Where are the financial resources for international students who want to take an internship, or who want to return to campus, but can’t afford the flight? Why aren’t students giving the same attention and care to international students as they are to their required global perspective class? If anything, a global perspective, where students engage with their international peers to at least try to understand their experiences, may better inform them about the bubble beyond Emerson, and help to unite people across borders. Something that hopefully many people have learned since the pandemic is that one person’s actions can affect the entire world. If a tiny butterfly in Japan can flap its wings and cause a rainstorm in Brazil, then certainly each of our small actions can create a positive vibration of change that ripples across the globe. A vibration that doesn’t just ripple, but that remains imprinted in the earth and in the minds of us all.

a performance of

WELCOME TO THE SHOW W By Amanda Winters

american activism & international students have the front row seats

Within the past year, we have entered the era of peak social media activism. A steady flow of information is presented to us with aesthetic infographics and Instagram stories, and the issues range social media activism. A steady flow of information is presented to us with aesthetic infographics and Instagram stories, and the issues range widely from climate activism to social justice on both a local and global scale. Many people, including those in the Emerson College community, have observed this and have even taken part in social media activism. While there are some benefits to social media activism, such as increased awareness of issues, there are also several issues with this trend. With the rise of online activism comes the idea of “performative activism,” in which one speaks about an issue to impress their peers or boost their self-image, despite having little to no regard for the actual issue. Many students, both domestic and international, have noticed this new trend and have formed a variety of their own opinions of whether or not this is effective, and what kind of impact this has on a local and global level. Many people question whether this influx of information is an accurate and reliable way to increase education, especially in the Emerson microcosm. Emerson freshman Aries Fung expressed that infographics are necessary. “I don’t think it’s optimal or perfect, but it’s the best thing we have right now,” he explained. “It leaves people who don’t care wondering if they should [care]. I’m glad it’s consuming that aspect of their life. It should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind.” As an international student from Hong Kong, Nicholas Wong, a freshman video and media arts major, has a certain perception of online activism. In an interview discussing activism from an international perspective, Wong stated, “I think from the way we see it in Hong Kong, a lot of it seems very surface level. I don’t see it as a bad thing but a lot of it doesn’t seem genuine. It feels hypocritical and virtue signaling.” Regardless, Wong believes that any activism is still activism. “Even if people are posting links just as a trend, I still don’t think it’s a bad thing to be posting these resources,” says Wong. Ultimately, Wong admits he may have a skewed perspective on American politics. According to Wong, a lot of these issues within the U.S. are not discussed as frequently outside the U.S., which may affect his overall view of American politics.

According to Wong, a lot of these issues within the U.S. are not discussed as frequently outside the U.S., which may affect his overall view of American politics. Wong believes that cultures outside the U.S. are less likely to express their opinions on politics. “Not everyone wants to always talk about politics,” expressed Wong. “ I think people are very eager to tell people they have to care about their issues. You can’t say silence is violence and not talk about any other issue in the world aside from issues in America. It’s easy to point and laugh because it’s cool, but what are you doing for us?” As a result of COVID-19, there has been an increased concern over racism towards East Asian people in the United States and globally. “In terms of globally, I think America is doing the worst, America is handling racism the worst,” says Fung. “We are in a tumultuous time.” While Fung can only speak for himself, he personally does not think there’s been hostility towards East Asians related to Covid-19 at Emerson. “At Emerson, we are in a liberal bubble. Trump calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus makes people hate him more than us.” Fung did however state that he has experienced microaggressions at Emerson, but nothing in relation to COVID-19.

In terms of whether or not social media activism helped combat this issue, Fung explained that there is not much social justice advocacy for East Asians, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. “It’s all Black Lives Matter, and that’s where it should be: period,” says Fung. “We should focus on that.” Emerson freshmen Elyza Guzman, who is actively involved with social media activism, shared her opinions on the #blackouttuesday trend that took place on June 2. This trend was on social media in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. Users paused their routine posts to post a black square on their social media with the caption “#blackouttuesday” to raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement. While the intentions of this trend were very good, many people, including Guzman, felt the trend fell short of its intentions and most participants’ posts were simply performative. “It was kinda dumb,” said Guzman. “I think it had good intentions but [it] didn’t do anything in the long run. A lot of people back home posted [the square] for two days and deleted it.” Guzman did not participate in the trend because she felt it was performative. However, she did not judge others who did unless she knew their personal views did not align with the message of

the trend. In reference to the BLM movement, many white people are actively working to show proper allyship to the community, but others engage in performative activism or feel pressured into speaking out. “I feel like everyone has this pressure to say something and put their two cents, and it just becomes about them,” said Guzman. While Guzman does not believe people are required to speak about the movement, she does believe that people in positions of power should have some level of obligation, especially in terms of civil rights issues. Fung also shares a similar sentiment, stating, “I think it’s okay to not post about issues. However, I think if a white person has a social media following, it is their obligation to post about it.” Fung shares a very similar sentiment to Guzman, stating that it’s more about intent. Fung believes that if the intent is good, the outcome does not matter. “There’s a difference between people posting for clout than posting because they feel something about it.” “I feel very emotionally invested in people dying because of their race, and it scares me that some people don’t,” says Fung. “I look around me and hope everyone is equally as angry.”

Section design by Marianna Poletti Reyes Art by Stella Drews-Sheldon Photos by Thaler Bishop Editorial point Grace Cosgrove Styled by Liv Cigliano Makeup by Angelee Gonzalez Models Liv Cigliano and Melanie Shepard

By Erin Renzi

When Layla Pagan, a sophomore business management major at Siena College, tried the hair color filter on TikTok, she felt like a badass. She never thought about dyeing her hair before, but suddenly a filter on the popular social media app made her rethink the way in which she styled her long waves. Since the rise of TikTok, trends have flooded the application, inspiring users to partake in them. While Gen Z sat in on Zoom classes and stayed home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, TikTok trends such as whipped coffee, the “Savage” dance, and bleach tie-dying clothes filled their spare time. More recently, hair dyeing has taken over the social media platform. When you’re part of “hair tok” on the app, videos of people dying their hair funky colors flood your “For You page” (FYP). Some users decide to dye just one section of the underlayer, while others dye their whole head. When someone sees funky colored hair on the app — whether it be from actual hair dye or an experimental filter — they are sometimes inspired to color their hair. “I always thought I would stick with my natural hair color forever,” says Pagan. After seeing the purple hair filter on her FYP and trying it on herself, she made the decision to go to a salon, where the hairdresser bleached everything but her roots in order to give Pagan a beautiful purple balayage. Ithaca College sophomore and film major Sarah Borsari had a similar experience. Borsari always wanted to dye her hair, but refrained until she saw a TikTok video. “[Dyed hair] is not something I saw a lot,” says Borsari. “Not a lot of people in my town had dyed hair, at least funky dyed hair. When I saw on TikTok all these kids had it, especially all these kids who are very similar to me, I was like okay, maybe I’ll do it.” Borsari is on the Harry Potter side of TikTok, which is where she saw people dying their hair like the character Draco Malfoy. The underside of his hair is dyed bleach blonde. The character’s hairstyle is what inspired Borsari to take the leap of faith and go to the salon, where she put her own spin on the style and dyed her hair purple. Famous TikTok influencers are also responsible for hair dye videos trending on TikTok, and therefore impacting the beauty industry. When Charli D’amelio dyed the underside of her hair blue, more and more videos of people coloring their hair in a similar way populated the app.

Certain styles of haircuts have also been popularized through TikTok. Curtain bangs, a style of bangs that make a curtain framing the face, have made a comeback through the app. Many Gen Zers cut their own curtain bangs or visited salons after the style began trending. When Gen Zers see those who have a hair color or style similar to their own, they are more likely to jump on fashion trends. Erica Caruso, a sophomore dance major at Towson University, wanted bangs for a year. She says she finally decided to get curtain bangs cut after seeing a girl on her FYP with dark hair like her own sporting this style. TikTok is not only introducing new trends and redefining fashion, but also increasing users’ confidence when it comes to their hairstyle. Pagan, for instance, says she is happy with the results of her purple hair and was left feeling confident and powerful. Oftentimes, people are reluctant to visit salons after receiving a haircut or hair dye job which wasn’t what they originally wanted. Borsari used to be someone who hated getting her hair styled at a salon. Before dying her hair, she showed her hairdresser a photo of TikTok star Charli D’amelio’s hair as inspiration. “Usually when I get my hair done I hate it, always,” says Borsari. “This was the first time that I walked out and I thought ‘This is awesome. I love it.’” Experimenting with a new hairstyle can allow people to better show off their personal style. After Caruso got curtain bangs, she learned to be unapologetically herself. The confidence curtain bangs gave her allowed her to be more expressive through her personal style. “I just kind of stopped caring so much about what I wear. If I like how something looks, I’m gonna wear it despite what other people may think of me,” says Caruso. All social media platforms create a bandwagon effect. When popular influencers are seen engaging with a specific fashion or beauty trend, users will often jump on the trend as well, especially if they look up to that specific influencer. Emma Chamberlain’s influence on social media has caused many Gen Zers to buy yoga pants, even though they have not been seen as a fashion statement since the early 2000s. While it’s hard to predict the trends that will be created through social media platforms one thing is for certain: TikTok has become a leader in trends that sparks users’ confidence and allows them to express themselves through experimental style trends.

AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SNEAKER CRAZE By Skyler Johnson

Fashion statements, collector’s items, and athletic gear, sneakers are a huge part of fashion. Aficionados of the shoe, or “sneakerheads,” will spend lots of money on their collections, and people have added to the multibillion dollar industry by making businesses out of reselling them. One might be confused by the expensive price tags and materialistic nature of sneaker culture, but those who love them understand they’re more than just shoes. Here is what you need to know. Sneakers originated from plimsolls, which were originally used for sports and leisure. The term “sneakers” came from prison inmates who would refer to the guards rubber-soled shoes as “sneaks” due to them being silent. They became mainstream with Nike’s Air Jordan Is, which were launched in 1985. They were popularized by basketball star Michael Jordan, which they were named after and promoted by. Jordan wore them while playing and got fined, as they didn’t meet the National Basketball Association’s dress code. Thankfully, people saw the game, and the shoes, and the rest is history. Athletes, and soon rappers, were showing off their sneaker game. Once the internet came, blogs like Complex, Hypebeast and GQ documented every new model. For many sneakerheads, the primary draw of sneakers is how they look, not how they perform. Sneakerheads will wait in line for hours to attain a shoe they won’t try on before purchase. They only need to see the pictures. Collectors will look at every detail, from toe box to outer sole, including the stitching. Experts will buy shoes from a number of brands, the most popular being Nike, followed by Adidas.

According to Nike’s vice president of design Tinker Hatfield, every shoe has a story and its own meaning. Hatfield designed most of the Air Jordans. The Air Jordan 15s came out when his father died, and the Air Jordan 20s told the story of Michael Jordan’s life for the past 20 years through sketches printed on the strap. Sneakers can also represent something deeper: a desire for innovation. Hatfield, in an episode of the Netflix documentary series “Abstract: The Art of Design,” said, “We kept getting requests over the years to do the Back to the Future shoe. And finally… I said, ‘You know, why don’t we go ahead and try to make [them]?’” The “Back to the Future” shoe was a self-lacing sneaker from the movie “Back to the Future Part II,” where the sneakers were seen as futuristic. They were developed, and became the Nike MAG. For the consumer, sneaker buying can be a way to represent admiration for a sports player or an artist. Fans of Kanye West were obsessed with Adidas’s Yeezy 500s. It’s a way for individuals to flaunt their wealth. Sneaker culture is ultimately about competition: who can have the best and rarest shoe? While sneaker culture may seem obnoxious for some wealthy people to partake in, it can also be important to some people of color who have long been excluded from many aspects of the fashion industry. A lot of minorities have their own connection with sneakers. They were first promoted by Black athletes and rappers, and are still important for many members of the Black community who see themselves in these celebrities. The Latinx community loves their sneakers, too. Latinx journalist Maria Moro, in her Complex article “I Finally Feel Seen: What It’s Like to Be Latinx In Streetwear Right Now,” stated, “it was ... challenging for me to see a reflection of myself in mainstream media growing up, let alone fashion.” Now, she can. Latinx rappers like Bad Bunny are releasing new lines of sneakers, so Latinx people can see themselves in celebrities like him. For Indigenous people, Nike’s N7 Fund creates shoes that are inspired, and, recently, created by members of indigenous communities. N7 also gives back, giving $8 million dollars in grants to inidegenous communities every year. Although much less significant, people like Emerson College junior James Sullivan, a political communications major, wear brands like New Balance because, he says, “they’re locally made,” and “use ethical practices to make their [shoes].” Sneakers are not just shoes, they’re a reflection of who people are and how they want to be perceived.

Art by Natasha Arnowitz

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Art by Sophie Droster