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Animation students start petition
Students in the department start a petition to bring awareness about issues in the department. 04
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Ball
State soccer seniors
Cardinals’ soccer seniors reflect on their time spent in Muncie.06
Student artist
A Ball State student expresses herself through the use of horror makeup. 10
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4-DAY WEATHER FORECAST
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Happy Halloween
The Daily News design staff has hidden six Halloween themed illustrations throughout the paper this week in the spirit of Halloween. See if you can find them all!
Braun calls special session for congressional redistricting
Oct. 27: Gov. Mike Braun called for a special session to take up congressional redistricting this past Monday, Oct. 27, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle (ICC). Braun has set the session for Nov. 3 and will focus on revising Indiana’s congressional boundaries. These lines were previously drawn in 2021 after the U.S. Census, but Braun said lawmakers will use this session to “consider altering the boundaries of Indiana’s congressional districts.” Braun said he wants to “protect Hoosiers” and ensure their voice is heard in Washington, as well as represent them in Congress fairly, according to ICC.
Women’s volleyball sweeps Miami
Oct. 28: Ball State had their third home game in under a week as they welcomed the Miami RedHawks to Worthen Arena on Oct. 28. This was the Cardinals’ first match after their first conference loss against Ohio on Oct. 25. Ball State was able to get back into the win column as they took down Miami 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-15) and still stand atop the Mid-American Conference (MAC) standings. Ball State has a few days off before they travel to Kent State for a weekend series on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. “Going into this weekend, I think we’ll have that same competitive level [as we did against Miami], and we’re just gonna keep going for it and hopefully win the MAC,” junior middle hitter Gwen Crull said.
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BUILDING LASTING CONNECTIONS
Kadin Bright co-Associate Multimedia Editor
It’s showtime — as Ball State alumna Brynn Allison walks onstage, past the red curtain, she is met with bright lights that illuminate the ground beneath her. When the curtain closes, she is not fatigued; instead, she is fueled by adrenaline.
Brynn Hardy, artist name Brynn Allison, is a singer/songwriter based out of South Bay, California, near Los Angeles. Before living in California, Allison was a student and theatre major at Ball State, and before that, she was homeschooled in Michigan. Even though the jump from homeschool to public college to now living across the country may seem abrupt and difficult, Allison said she found peace in knowing she was “creating worlds.”
“Ball State has a very hands-on experience opposed to a lot of other college theatre programs I was looking at,” Brynn said. “[That’s] really attractive to me, because I am someone who needs to be very hands-on and in control of a lot of the artistic work that I do.”
Even though college is a time of change for many students, the university itself was not the only influence on Allison. She mentioned how Matthew Reeder, an associate professor of directing, Shakespeare and online specialist at Ball State, said something that still rings in her ear today: “Use obstacles as opportunities.”
“Being an indie artist, you don’t get anything handed to you,” Allison said. “You are expected to be your own management, label, producer. You’re expected to raise all the money, book all the shows; you’re expected to do all of these things,” Allison said. “And I could sit here and be really frustrated by that, but what I’ve done instead is, over the last two years, built on it. I keep the mindset [that those numerous tasks] are not obstacles, they’re opportunities.”
Reeder works in the university’s department of theatre and dance as both a director and a professor, teaching students not only about theatre but also how to develop the skills and talents that will help them further in their careers and lives.
“I remember having a really vivid moment with [Reeder] when I decided to pursue directing, specifically,” Allison said, remembering how Reeder told her, “You’re building worlds. You are a storyteller, and you have found the right place.”
Ball State alumna Brynn Hardy makes a name for herself in California.
you come to college is to figure out how to be a human being in the world, and that’s very easy to forget,” Reeder said.
He explained that today’s “hyper-achievement society” treats college as a way to “get your certificate to go out and get your job somewhere,” as opposed to “giving you the experience to stretch your mind and to introduce new ideas, to think about the past and the future and to think about the world and your place within it. Essentially, what it feels like to step out into the world for the first time as an adult on your own.”
Similarly to how students can lose sight of college’s true purpose, Reeder said people have come to see change and discomfort as harmful— but he believes those two things are essential for one’s growth and development, both personally and professionally.
“I firmly believe that discomfort is the only way that we change, and it’s the only way that we learn,” Reeder said.
While Allison said her transition from graduation to a west coast lifestyle was “a crazy thing to do,” she also said the change allowed her to do what she enjoyed most without wasting time: make music. With the sudden move, she had no choice but to create a new sense of community and chosen family. She now finds both in her band, “The Hummingbirds.”
Co-founder and Lead Guitarist Lucas Tammariello said he first connected easily with Allison because they both had a theatre background.
“I walked into work one day and met her for the first time [when] she pointed a finger at me and went, ‘You’re a theatre kid,’” Tammariello recalled. Though the greeting was atypical, it brought forth a sense of connection.
“Over the last year of being involved in this project, all of these things that I’ve always wanted to do have started to just happen organically… I’m doing the things I love to do with people,” Tammariello said.
The investments Allison and the rest of The Hummingbirds have made in each other over the years have further connected them on a personal level, allowing them to do what they are passionate about together.
“Being on stage gives me such a rush, I’ve been doing it my whole life, and I really do feel the most myself up there,” Brynn said.
The lessons Allison took from him are the ones Reeder said he hopes all his students will learn.
“Students lose sight of the fact that the reason
Despite The Hummingbird’s increasing popularity and influence in the music industry, the band is not the only endeavor in which they collaborate.
Brynn Allison poses for a photo for her album “Shoes”. She thrifted over 25 pairs of shoes and made the dress she wore. TALON REED COOPER, PHOTO PROVIDED
RAQUEL RUFFIN, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Animation department petition amplifies student concerns.
Seyla Ray Reporter
An art student stares at her computer, deeply frustrated. She was already exhausted, having been in the studio until 3 a.m. the night prior. To add insult to injury, while signing in for the day, she noticed fresh green lines running across her computer screen that were not there before.
The student in question is Ball State third-year animation major Hayley Rawlins, who said she knew it was time for something to change.
Rawlins was aware of a variety of issues within the art department, specifically those faced by animation majors.
“Animation requires significant out-of-class work to meet industry standards, for me, often 24 to 36 hours weekly for studio classes,” Rawlins said. However, that was not the only problem she’s encountered. Another issue she faces is limited access to the studio and limited equipment.
The time-consuming standards for animation mean that many students are “working overtime,” day and night, to finish their requirements, and Rawlins is one of those students.
Rawlins also heard from other students about concerning safety issues. During class, a female student sat next to Rawlins and shared that she was incredibly behind on projects because she did not feel safe walking to the studio alone at night.
“Her safety concern, combined with my own experience and peers’ complaints about equipment and access, pushed me to act. I had a frightening nighttime incident years ago, so her words hit hard.
program,” she said.
For Rawlins, advocacy meant contacting someone who could help her raise awareness. Director of the School of Art Lara Kuykendall was that person. Between the two of them, they worked out a way to bring attention to the issues in their department: a petition.
Kuykendall said she already had concerns even before the condition came about. “I was already working with faculty and IT staff to improve the conditions in our Animation labs,” said Kuykendall. She additionally explained that she was grateful that her students and faculty brought their concerns to her, and hoped that this experience would cultivate better communication.
“My goal is to ensure students have adequate workspace and resources during reasonable hours,” Rawlins said. “My classmates wanted to support me, so I created the petition to amplify their voices.”
By creating the petition, Rawlins aimed to address issues such as classes with more students than computers and scheduling conflicts that strain students and faculty.
But Rawlins and her classmate were not the only ones encountering these issues. Juliana Piercy, a third-year animation major and signer of the petition, had also experienced similar issues. The main problem, she believes, is the funding the program receives.
“We have a really big animation program; we have to have a lot of reliable software for everyone to be able to do what they need to do and pass their classes,” Piercy said.
“During the day, students who don’t have the technology necessary back where they live come into that extra lab to work on stuff. The equipment is from the early 2000s, and because they’re older, they are a lot slower than the good equipment,” Piercy said.
Due to the low quality of the tools provided, it can be difficult for students to work in “The Junkyard” and stay on pace. Rawlins also explained that students sometimes camped out in the room during other classes with their professor’s permission.
Along with the outdated software, which is more than 20 years old, Piercy also raised concerns about the separation of classes due to the introduction of new instructors and the cleanliness of the laboratories. Overall, the faulty equipment was her highest concern.
“We just don’t feel like the art community is given any priority when it comes to funding,” she said. “I hope the petition will let people know that the art community, especially in the computer world and animation, need[s] equipment to do our job so that AI doesn’t take over.”
The idea of staying later for class is common among students in other specializations within the art department. First-year Nick McClure, an art education major, personally enjoys his late class because of its laid-back nature.
“I believe that it’s important to take a stand when you think things are messed up,” McClure said. “If you have a strange feeling about a situation, it’s important to understand and advocate for why you feel that way.”
McClure also asks others to think about: “If you don’t take a stand, who will, and what will change?”
As of Oct. 29, the petition has 133 signatures; the goal is 200. While the petition is still short of some signatures, it is only a little over a month old, and improvements have already been made as a result.
The petition has gained the attention of the university. University Content and Media Strategy Manager, Andrew Walker, disclosed information on the matter. “I just received word from leadership in Academic Affairs that the issues outlined in that petition have been addressed,” said Walker.
Students no longer worry about securing a computer for class, and within one to two weeks of the petition’s launch, technicians restored “The Junkyard” as a daytime workspace, addressing students’ safety concerns. Rawlins also said that the department technician is attempting to improve computer performance.
The changes being made due to student advocacy are already showing, even with some signatures still needed.
“The petition made a difference,” Rawlins said. “The petition’s reach gave students a voice.”
Contact Seyla Ray at seyla.ray@bsu.edu.
At that moment, I realized I needed to be the one to advocate for our
Piercy also recounted that, in her freshman year, the department had run out of electronic drawing pens for students to rent, resulting in a variety of problems.
The sheer number of students in the program, combined with the lack of adequate resources, has led to noticeable differences in the quality of
Perhaps the best example of the department’s need for new equipment is a room dubbed “The Junkyard,”
“I have utilized the spray paint room in woodworking for my 3D class, which I have to stay later in the day for,” McClure said. “It was a nice resource and I felt confident in using it due to my professor demonstrating how to safely use the room.”
McClure explained that, in terms of the spray-painting room, the safety concerns mostly revolved around air quality and keeping the space tidy.
“It’s important to have good ventilation and keep newspapers on top of the surface you’re spray painting on,” he said.
McClure had not heard of Rawlins’ petition, but found importance in advocacy for the sake of change.
Isobel
I 100% agree on students having the resources they need to complete their studies because you’re paying thousands and thousands of dollars to come to this school to learn animation and to not have enough up-to-date devices feels like they’re trying to cut costs.
Isobel
It also doesn’t help that a bunch of teachers got fired due to the president trying to shut down the education branch.
Rylie
If the junkyard was actually usable, I could maybe finally get a night with eight hours of sleep.
RAQUEL RUFFIN, DN DESIGN ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
The seniors’ The seniors’ standard standard
Ball State Soccers senior class has set the tone for its team culture.
Rylan Crum Reporter
Ball State soccer has started its 2025 campaign with an overall 9-5-2 record and a 6-3-1 conference record, but this team is more than the performance on the field; it’s also about the culture within the team — and it starts at the top.
The 2025 season marked the first year in Cardinals’ red and white for soccer Head Coach Andy Stoots. Many times, when new coaches join a program, they want to bring their own team culture with them.
For Stoots, he focused on embracing the existing culture at Ball State, specifically the one that the team’s seniors have created.
“On the first day [I got here], the one thing that I vowed to the seniors was [that] I would do whatever it took to make sure that they were having a good chance to close out their Ball State careers on a real positive note,” he said.
That existing culture has been created over the years, and for the 2025 team, it starts with senior forward Delaney Caldwell, forward/midfielder
Addie Chester, goalkeepers Abby Jenkins and Grace Konopatzki, forward Emily Roper, midfielders Fiona Kilian and Tori Monaco, and midfielder and defender Kira Verburg.
Caldwell joined the Cardinals in 2022 after graduating from Saline High School in Chelsea, Michigan. In her freshman year, she won the MidAmerican Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year award, along with being named to the All-
MAC Second Team. She is currently tied at 11th for most goals in a season in Ball State history with seven, and tied 16th for most points in Ball State history with 15. So far in her final season, Caldwell has racked up six total points and three goals for the Cardinals.
Caldwell attributes her successful career with the Cardinals to her teammates.
“Just the people here, that’s my biggest thing. I say every year I’ve loved my teammates, this last year has been one of my favorite years with everyone, so it’ll be a very hard team to leave, but my teammates have been the biggest thing,” Caldwell said.
After Delaney’s playing career comes to a close, she plans to stay in her new home state in Indiana and be an elementary school teacher.
Along Caldwell’s side at midfield is Chester, who is in her second and final season for Ball State. She committed to Louisville and played two years there after graduating from Delta High School in Muncie and set the Indiana state record for goals in her junior season with 59. In her first year with Ball State, she was named a First-Team All-MAC forward, starting in all 18 games and leading the team with 10 goals. Chester has also made quite a mark in the MAC during her senior season as she is first in the conference with goals per game (.571), third in the conference in game-winning goals (.214), second in shots (49), eighth in assists per game (4) and leads the conference in total points (24).
Although her senior season is only her second year with Ball State, Muncie is still her home.
Senior forward Delaney Caldwell dribbled the ball Sept. 18 at Briner Sports Complex. Caldwell scored the only goal for Ball State during the game.
MEGHAN SAWITZKE, DN
Senior goal keeper Grace Konopatzki
hugs Athletic Director Jeff Mitchell in celebration of senior day Sept. 7 at Briner Sports Complex. ANNA EVILSIZOR, DN
With as much as we’ve wrapped our arms around them, they’ve wrapped their arms around us, and I’m just happy for them.”
- ANDY STOOTS, head coach
“Being back home is cool. I feel like I’ve gotten to know my teammates a little bit more from last year because I transferred in. I just feel super comfortable,” Chester said.
While Chester is not completely set on her future goals, it seems that she has somewhat of an idea.
“I’m kind of seeing where soccer goes, if not, I’m going to move to San Diego probably [and just] see what happens. It’s really up in the air [but] that question just stresses me out,” she said.
As the other two seniors are upfield trying to score goals, Jenkins is the one protecting the net for 90 minutes. Jenkins committed to Ball State after graduating from Hamilton Southeastern in Fishers, where she was an all-state goalkeeper and recorded 18 career shutouts. In her first three seasons, she played only two games, but last season, she showed why she committed to the Cardinals. In her 2024
season, Jenkins made only two starts but played in seven games, achieving 18 saves with a .900 save percentage. So far in her final season, she has a 2-12 record with an .800 saving percentage.
As Jenkins wraps up her goalkeeping career for the Cardinals, she said she will always look back and credit the team for her growth.
“Honestly, I think being in this program, I’ve learned a lot over time, and so being a senior now, I’ve got four or five years under my belt of experience. So you know, just working from that and gaining confidence from my coaches, my teammates, and everything. They’ve allowed me to be the best I can be,” she said.
As for her future, Jenkins has already applied to medical school, but still plans to stay connected with her teammates.
“The dream’s going to medical school, but then staying with it, following the girls on their own journeys [and] staying connected with the program,” she said.
Caldwell, Chester and Jenkins are not just a part of Ball State soccer — they could be considered the heart of it. They have a combined 11 seasons of Cardinal soccer under their belt, with Stoots crediting the culture he has seen to their experience.
“With as much as we’ve wrapped our arms around them, they’ve wrapped their arms around us, and I’m just happy for them,” Stoots said, “Regardless of if they’ve played a ton or haven’t played a ton, they have been extremely integral to our success. They’ve shaped the culture; it’s gone from being a good relational culture to adding
in some good performance elements, and those seniors have set the standard for what that looks like. I couldn’t be happier.”
Stoots’ first year has not just been all about wins and losses, but also about the experience the seniors bring and the culture they have built as a team. Stoots said he knows that it is
something they can use to their advantage as they head into the MAC tournament starting Nov. 1. Contact Rylan Crum at rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum.
Senior midfielder defender Kira Verburg kicks the ball Oct. 16 at Briner Sports Complex. Verburg started in three games last season.
ISABELLA KEMPER, DN
Senior midfielder Fiona Kilian walks with her family down the field to celebrate senior day Sept. 7 at Briner Sports Complex. ANNA EVILSIZOR, DN
CHESTER
CAREER STATS
FIRST-YEAR STUDENT’S LOVE FOR SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP MAKES ITS WAY TO CAMPUS.
Layla Kingery adds fake blood to Ren Brown’s slit throat makeup effect to make it more realistic Oct. 23 at Dehority Complex. MALLORY HALL, DN
Jayden Vaughn Opinion Editor
For first-year psychology student Layla Kingery, horror makeup is not just a hobby — it is an art.
Kingery said her journey with special effects makeup started in sixth grade, when she entered an “emo era” and was fascinated with everything dark, mysterious and scary. During that time, she pursued a more edgy look — leading her down a rabbit hole looking for horror special effect makeup online.
It started small, with fake gashes along her arms made from glue sticks, red pen ink and her mother’s foundation. But even when her “emo phase” ended, her love for special effects makeup only grew. Kingery began watching more tutorials online, buying out entire shelves of special effect makeup at Spirit Halloween and practicing more at home, honing her craft.
“I initially started it because I just wanted to be edgy,” Kingery said. “But, as I continued to do it, I began to see the artistic side of it.”
The more she practiced, the more complex her creations became. She even explored more complicated aspects of special effects makeup, such as scar wax and liquid latex, to create more textured creations.
But Kingery doesn’t keep her designs to herself. She lets the rest of the world see the masks of horror she creates.
Ever since her sophomore year of high school, Kingery has worn her creations out in public and in school — a tradition she plans to continue in college. She said she is pleased when people approach her, amazed at her creations and asking questions like, “How did you learn to do that? How long did that take you?”
Kingery usually practices a makeup look twice before moving on to her final product, which can
take anywhere from one to three hours to complete. But no matter how much time she has to pour into applying each piece of wax or drop of fake blood, it is always worth it.
“I found it was really neat to be able to transform myself in unconventional ways,” Kingery said.
Though she said she has a habit of doing many things “last-minute,” Halloween is the exception.
Kingery works diligently to ensure everything — her outfit and makeup — is planned in advance, watching makeup tutorials months beforehand.
However, after years of practice, she finds herself needing to watch fewer tutorials to achieve
“I think ever since I began to associate the special effects makeup with Halloween, ... that elevated my love for it even more,” she said.
But for every positive experience this hobby brought her, Kingery said there are multiple factors that make it difficult to maintain throughout the year, the main one being that she can only really practice in October without receiving strange looks.
However, sometimes her designs do not come out the way she hopes. More than once, she will practice a design to perfection, only for it to fall apart during the final stages. Even with all the hard
I think ever since I began to associate the special effects makeup with Halloween, ... that elevated my love for it even more.”
- LAYLA KINGERY, first-year psychology student
the exact look she wants.
Kingery’s love for Halloween was inherited from her mother, who loves the holiday even more. During Halloween, Kingery said, while she was growing up, the two of them would always go to haunted houses and have horror movie marathons together.
work she puts into her designs, at the end of the day, she said she still has to go through the process of wiping them off.
Sometimes, with simpler looks, she can tear them off fairly easily. With other, more complex looks — such as ones that use liquid latex — it is much more complicated.
“I usually have to take at least two showers [at] night to get everything off and [use] several facial wipes to get any residue off,” a process which can take up to two hours, Kingery explained.
But this year, Kingery is doing something different. Instead of just doing her own special effects makeup, she is offering her services to other students around campus.
Two of her friends, Jayce Avila and Ren Brown, let Kingery practice on them before Halloween arrived, which is when a majority of Kingery’s bookings are.
Avila, a first-year student double-majoring in psychology and sociology, let Kingery put a fake gouge in his cheek during their hour-long makeup session. Even in that short timeframe, Avila could see just how skilled Kingery was.
“I had quite an enjoyable experience; though the products were itchy at times, I found she was very gentle and careful of my comfort and made sure that I was not harmed beyond temporary discomfort,” Avila said.
Brown, a first-year legal studies major, said he was “very impressed” by the quality of the product, considering what little time Kingery has to work with each client.
“Truth be told, after the initial novelty wore off, I avoided mirrors until it was removed because I actually found it rather disturbing,” Brown said.
Despite her passion for special effects makeup, Kingery has no desire to pursue a career in that field. Although she has considered it, she fell in love with psychology instead. But even if she does not plan to pursue her horror makeup talent professionally, she said she will continue her hobby and practice whenever she gets the chance. Contact Jayden Vaughn via email at jayden. vaughn@bsu.edu.
Layla Kingery adds a makeup wax to Jayce Avila to create a ripped face makeup look Oct. 23 at Dehority Complex. Kingery is a freshman studying psychology at Ball State University. MALLORY HALL, DN
Layla Kingery applying a layer of clay teeth to Lian Mosher Oct. 23 at Dehority Complex. JORDAN BOX, DN
KYLE INGERMANN, DN KAI HARRIS, DN PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
Do not run or hide from horrifying allusions –or the conversations around them.
Channing Matha
“Curiously Crafted,” Copy editor
Channing Matha is a third-year journalism major and writes “Curiously Crafted” for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.
No matter how many I watch, horror movies have a chokehold on me. I am consistently drawn to them as I enjoy uniquely startling narratives. Behind their imagined terrors, horror movies can contain a range of genuine tones and themes, which I find endlessly engaging.
Horror is subjective, but its influence is not. Especially in movies, horror can be a powerful medium to spur political discourse within the public.
In August 2025, Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” was released in theaters with widespread public buzz and anticipation. Following its circulation among audiences, mixed reviews about the film emerged.
Besides the typical criticism surrounding its cinematic execution and story, I noticed an abundance of disapproving responses to various fan opinions of the movie. These viewpoints pertained to certain plot and visual aspects, and the responses to them included Cregger’s words from interviews, such as his intentions and thought process behind the scenes, to counter other watchers’ speculations.
Many of these comments were politically based, with multiple references to school shootings.
Being someone who was eager for the debut of “Weapons” and loved it, I could only furrow my brow at this negative discussion and these bad reviews.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I felt that some people misunderstood the balance between an interpretation and media literacy.
A fundamental factor of media literacy is understanding a creator’s perspective and purpose, as well as how these are brought to life. Additionally, recognizing underlying messages, biases and themes is crucial.
On the other hand, interpretations stem from the audience’s thoughts and opinions. They offer a subjective take on the features inherent to a piece of media, with one’s individual observations and experiences in mind. Interpretation is merely another part of media literacy, as media literacy involves understanding how an audience personally receives content. However, some regard them entirely differently.
Many argue that if a creator did not intend for something to be perceived in a certain way or did not intend a specific meaning with their creative choices, then an interpretation is purely wrong.
Grasping what the creator’s intentions were with their piece is just as important as acknowledging the views of audience members. Both provide unique observations. Neither is incorrect.
The public conversation around “Weapons” was mixed, spanning from praise for Cregger’s artistic choices to criticism of the plot and fan theories, with critiques mostly targeted toward political references.
Horror movies have a fairly large audience in the United States. According to an October 2024 Statista article, 40 percent of respondents in the United States enjoy watching horror movies or shows. Ultimately, this data establishes horror’s defined presence of an audience and its relatively wide reach in the country, and watching a horror movie is the first step in furthering discourse.
A political connotation is certainly not uncommon within horror, despite the belief of many. It is integrated into horror movies through the director’s intent, but oftentimes, fans point out
Generation Z. According to an October 2022 Deloitte article, a survey found that horror ranks third among favorite movie genres. This is significant as Gen Z plays a crucial role in politics and drives online conversation.
While “Get Out” is intentionally political, other movies are not devised to hold any political connotation, though audiences pick it up themselves. A prime example is “Alien,” a sci-fi horror released in 1979 and directed by Ridley Scott. The movie’s protagonist, Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, was part of a crew in which Ripley was primarily ignored. Despite Ripley’s advice being the more intelligent route during a crisis — a hostile organism on the ship — her words were disregarded.
In the end, Ripley prevailed in killing the alien, otherwise known as a xenomorph. I view this as a victory for women in the midst of authoritative dismissal, especially by men.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I felt that some people misunderstood the balance between an interpretation and media literacy.”
possible political allusions. As an avid consumer and enthusiast of horror movies, I have noticed details with political undertones that other horror fans have also detected.
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, “Get Out,” is an openly political movie. It is bursting with shocking moments, whether because of dialogue or visuals, as a criticism of performative allyship and liberal racism. Released in 2017, the film followed Chris as he met his girlfriend’s family, only to discover their terrifying agenda. Peele was blunt in his execution of the movie, incorporating symbols of racial disparity and insensitivity throughout. In particular, I believe that deer were a key symbol within the movie, symbolizing Black people as a whole as Chris navigated a family that wanted to use his body for personal gain. Mounted deer heads littered the house in the film, and the extermination of deer was mentioned. Deer seemed to represent an aspect of “the hunt,” thus signifying the dehumanization of Black people. This movie was crystal clear in its political messaging, as it presented a critique of modern society regarding racism and insincere support for the sake of self-interest.
A majority of the horror audience is
Weaver being the protagonist was a massive culture shock, given that women were typically not portrayed as strong, combative leads at the time. Facets of the movie can be viewed as allusions to nonconsensual sex and sexual violence, such as the initial alien implanting an infant xenomorph inside Kane, who was secondin-command. Likewise, the death of the only other female character, Lambert, invoked the same notion.
Though not an apparent political movie in its craft, it can be deconstructed as such.
Similarly, my favorite horror movie, John Carpenter’s 1978 release “Halloween,” also has political undertones. The plot depicted a masked murderer named Michael Myers returning to his hometown to locate new victims. He became fixated on a high school girl named Laurie Strode before killing her friends and attempting to bring her to the same fate.
I admire Carpenter’s craft without end. The unforgettable theme song, the suspenseful pacing and camera shots are fantastic to me. I particularly love the cold and calculated characterization of Michael Myers as a menacing figure, even though he does not speak and only walks.
Other fans and I have noted that Laurie was the only one of her friends not to have sex. Because of this, it can be considered that this choice represents the desire to return to traditional values, as during that time, postsexual revolution opposition grew. It can be argued that it emphasizes punishment for sexually expressive women.
Despite this, it can also be contended that the film still promotes femininity through Laurie’s survival of Michael’s wrath. I perceive Laurie symbolizing female resistance to male violence. “Halloween” is not innately political, but possesses implications that can lead to such observations. It does not matter whether one agrees with these interpretations. What matters is recognizing them in tandem with a creator’s own intentions and attempting to understand each. Engaging in discussion about those ideas is equally significant. People interpret things diversely, so bear in mind that is what it means to them, but consider what it means on a personal level.
Aside from killer soundtracks, terrifying visuals and hair-raising antagonists, horror films possess so much more. Watch the movies. Observe and evaluate. Have the conversation. Acknowledge and reflect. Effective discourse paves the way for opening one’s mind to broader and differing perspectives, especially those not initially recognized. Fear the content, not the conversation. Contemplate that the spine-chilling, disturbing on-screen occurrences and topics may mirror a horrifying reality.
Contact Channing Matha via email at channing.matha@bsu.edu.
SHOWTIME
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Allison is also a guitar teacher at a local music school near her, “School of Rock,” which she said is a perfect nod to the 2003 Jack Black movie.
The School of Rock near Allison is one of many across the world. They teach students up to age 18, with nearly a dozen in California alone and nearly 400 locations worldwide across 16 countries.
“We teach kids how to be in bands all day, every day,” Allison said. “I really fell in love with it.”
Despite the challenges and obstacles Allison has faced as an up-and-coming musician, ultimately she created a sense of community through her band and workplace, which blossomed into lasting connections and friendships that she said have changed her life for the better.
Those interested in learning more about Brynn Allison and The Hummingbird’s music, as well as their label, can visit their website.
Contact Kadin Bright with comments at kadin. bright@bsu.edu.
Solutions for Oct. 23
Brynn Allison performs and plays guitar April 18, 2025 at the Cats Crawl in Los Angeles, Cal. JACKSON TAMMARIELLO, PHOTO PROVIDED
Brynn Allison sits down and plays guitar April 18, 2025 at the Cats Crawl in Los Angeles, Cal. JACKSON TAMMARIELLO, PHOTO PROVIDED
Brynn Allison gets ready backstage for her performance April 18, 2025 at Cat’s Crawl in Los Angeles, Cal. THEA VALERIE, PHOTO PROVIDED
Happy Halloween
- Olivia McSpadden,
