Issuu

Pg.6 At What Point does toxic masculinity take over?

C MAGAZINE

October 2021 • Volume 10, Edition 1 Dear readers, Back and better than ever, C Magazine has returned in-person after a year of virtual learning. With new and eager staff writers and a myriad of captivating stories, we are delighted to present to you our first issue of the 2021-2022 school year. The cover image features sophomore Bryan Stewart as he proudly displays his painted nails: not a common image associated with masculinity. Stewart is one of many Paly students representing the hopeful future where the definition of masculinity knows no confinements of physical appearance or behavior. Our feature package “Exhibit: Art of Disability Culture” displays the current featured exhibit at the Palo Alto Art Center. It aims to amplify the voice of artists with disabilities to reclaim and retell the media’s often inaccurate disability narrative. Check out the C Magazine website for an extended version of the story showcasing several other artists and their artwork plus descriptions for each piece of artwork. Learn about the heroic (almost superhero-esque) Jennie Savage as she empowers young female debaters, changing the narrative in Paly speech and debate. This story, written by Milena Rodriguez and Ella Rosenblum, brings to light the appalling accounts of the blatant sexism and misogyny women face on and off the debate floor. In the art section, look for “Brown Around Town”, where writers Isaac Hillesland and Emma Turnbull share an inside look at Paly alumnus Greg Brown’s inspiration and his personal connection to the murals throughout downtown Palo Alto. The sunlight beams out of page 35 in “Celebrity Power,” written by Samantha Lee and Brooke Threlkeld. This story highlights musician Lorde’s most recent album “Solar Power,” where a focus on climate change is expertly threaded through her lyrics. On a broader note, this story includes discussions and controversy of celebrity activism, questioning whether or not celebrities should be expected to engage in social justice work. As this school year’s first issue of C Magazine arrives at your doorstep or in the grasp of your hands, we hope our newest exhibit of talent from our wonderful staff inspires and excites you. Happy Reading, Sophia Baginskis, Emma Joing, Julia Ragno and Marilyn Yin Editors-in-Chief

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Palo Alto’s Secret Bucket List By Audrey Guo

Fall-ing Into Films

By Jasmine Tabrizi

Tweens Take on TikTok

By Emma Joing

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Making Market Memories pg. 16

contents culture Boys Will Be Boys

Debate Like a Savage

Staying In, Coming Out

Making Market Memories

A Happy Surprise

We’ve Got Spirit!

What Does Your Music Taste Say About You?

arts Exhibit: The Art of Disability Culture

Brown Around Town

Flynn in the Kitchen

Music Celebrity Power

Stop and Listen

Instrumental Impact

Composing Identity

“BOYS WILL

what to wear wear, which sport to play, when to cry, who to date; at what point does

Aidan Murphy

take over?

TOXIC MASCULINITY TOXIC MASCULINITY TOXIC MASCULINITY

ith all the terrible comments you hear… you just learn to brush it off,” sophomore Bryan Stewart said. Laughing, belittling comments and demoralizing language sung throughout Paly affect the many boys, promoting an environment surrounded by toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is the idea of men conforming to stereotypical alpha male roles, hiding some of their true personality and becoming hypercompetitive. As it weaves its way into our culture, boys and men follow stereotypes about what it means to be male, perpetuating negative aspects of our society, from homophobia to hiding emotions altogether. There is a fine line between masculinity and toxic masculinity. Masculinity can hold a meaning of any kind, which can be held by anyone identifying as a male. It becomes ‘toxic masculinity’ when these qualities and behaviors become an exclusive set of characteristics that men believe they themselves should have, or others believe they need to have, in order to be masculine. Freshman Aidan Murphy strongly believes there is a distinction between these terms. “For me, there’s a big difference between masculinity and toxic masculinity,” Murphy said. “As long as you’re comfortable with yourself, you can always be masculine.” Most people assume the traditional belief of masculine implies having power and showing no sign of weakness. However, Murphy believes it is the opposite. He believes toxic masculinity is a sign of weakness. “For me, [hypermasculine guys] are not comfortable with themselves,” Murphy said. “If [guys] see someone express themselves in any way that’s not ‘masculine,’ they take their anger out on them because they aren’t able to express themselves yet.” Society’s assumption of how all men should act often pressures men to hide any emotion to prevent being seen as anything but “tough.” Despite how men might look on the outside, senior Ryan Lykken explains that they do, in fact, have an emotional side too. “There’s always the quote that boys don’t cry, but deep down

BE BOYS” inside, most guys are pretty sentimental,” Lykken said. “A lot of them often break down and are not just big, strong guys.” Senior Cole Sturino believes this stereotype that men don’t show emotion is taught to them from childhood. “[Boys are] taught that [they are] only really allowed to express anger or happiness,” Sturino said. “I have a harder time expressing what I feel.” With the competitive male nature challenging the validity of many individuals, the definition of masculinity is often obscured. “The only thing that defines someone as a man is if they identify themselves as a man,” Sturino said. “Having certain traits or not doesn’t really make them more of a man than somebody else.” Similarly, senior David Gormley believes in the idea that the best definition

of masculinity is no definition. “You’re putting everyone in a box,” Gormley said. “It makes people feel like they have to be a certain way.” Definition or not, masculinity holds no boundaries. In addition, toxic masculinity has a significant impact on how males dress each day, often stopping many from presenting themselves how they want to because of the negative view of society. In his first year of high school, Murphy has already experienced being called out for his style due to the fact that it does not fit the masculine stereotype. “Get used to seeing something that you haven’t seen before...because I dress a little bit more feminine,” Murphy said. “Sometimes I get called gay slurs, just because that’s how people react to it; that’s how they take it out.” Sophomore Bryan Stewart has also ex-

“AS LONG AS YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH YOURSELF, YOU CAN ALWAYS BE MASCULINe..” MASCULINe - Aidan Murphy

perienced his fair share of inappropriate comments about how he chooses to present himself. To many, his painted nails stand out in his everyday outfits. “People at school will make a comment that reinforces gender norms,” Stewart said. “In my eyes, they seem jealous just because I like to express myself the way I do.” From all of his experiences, Stewart has found a simple but impactful solution to the negativity he receives. “At this point, I don’t really care what they think,” Stewart said. ”You should be who you are.” Appearance extends beyond clothing, and especially as a teenager, toxic masculinity adds to the difficulty of achieving the most stereotypically ideal body. For some, that means losing or gaining weight. “When I was younger, everyone used to call me skinny,” Lykken said.

Bryan Stewart

Text and design by JACK HANEY and MCKENNA RAUSCH

“[People would say] ‘get in the weight room’, ‘eat some food.’” These gender norms often define what activities men believe to be acceptable to share with one another. Lykken has his own hobbies that many would not associate him with. In addition to basketball, he plays the violin. Lykken has been playing this musical instrument for the past eight years. “I think [that] as I matured, I see it as more a cool thing that nobody really does,” Lykken said. “When I was younger, freshman year or something, I would try not to tell people just because I felt like it’s not a male-dominated thing.” Although women do not experience this type of toxicity, they see it on campus every day. Junior Evie Kramer notices how men do not feel as comfortable because of the masculine standard that has been built up. “I’m at a disadvantage when my classmates feel like they can’t be their true selves,” Kramer said. “It makes classrooms feel unsafe and leads to an overall toxic environment for them and

sometimes even us [women]. I hope that Paly and our society as a whole can relook at what we consider to be the ‘perfect’ man.” Gormley believes change is not only inevitable but is already happening. “Over the last four years that I’ve been at this school, people have become a lot more aware,” Gormley said. “Boys are more aware of how they’re perceived. It’s improving.” However, Gormley believes that the root of the issue is in how each individual is raised and educated. “We need to educate people that being manly doesn’t have to mean being a bully or being abusive or aggressive,” Gormley said. “It’s just being who you are.” Murphy believes that expressing your true self is important, and to do this, the Paly community needs to see more male students expressing themselves. “If we just bring in this standard and get guys used to seeing things that they haven’t seen before, it would make everyone feel more comfortable expressing themselves,”

Murphy said. The negative reactions coming from those who surround boys and men creates a serious issue of self-care and failure to recognize how to support oneself, mentally and physically. According to the World Health Organization, starting at 50 years old, men tend to be disproportionately affected by mental illnesses due to not engaging in self-care practices. The WHO believes that changes need to be made to begin providing help to men. Acceptance to participating in self-care starts with eliminating these cliché barriers that prevent men from doing so. They say it will allow men to feel more accepted for who they are, and not feel pressured to conform to this “alpha” male character. Lykken believes that reaching this acceptance could be simple. “Just don’t judge people,” Lykken said. “Everyone has their own struggles, especially men trying to be confident. It’s a pretty hard thing in this day and age, so just keep your thoughts to yourself and try to be positive.”

Bryan Stewart

“We need to educate people that being manly doesn’t have to mean being a bully or aggressive, it’s just being who you are.” -David Gormley

Aidan Murphy

Text and design by MILENA RODRIGUEZ and ELLA ROSENBLUM • Art by WALLIE BUTLER and KELLYN SCHEEL

In the competitive academic setting of high school debate, female competitors experience sexism and learn how to overcome barriers with the support of their coach

ou sounded like a b*tch.” Standing in shock after hearing the feedback given to her by a parent volunteer judge, Paly alumna Candace Wang knew her coach, Jennie Savage, would have her back. Wang, a former competitor and coach on the Paly Speech and Debate team, still remembers this judge using incredibly sexist language when giving her feedback during a 2014 tournament. “In a debate where I got particularly passionate, I was talking and making my points, and I was probably be-

ing a little louder than normal because I really believed in [my] arguments,” Wang said. “On my ballot, [the judge] said that I sounded like a b*tch.” According to the Paly Speech and Debate team’s director, Jennie Savage, these ballot comments are a widely discussed inequity among debaters. “There are entire websites devoted to [gendered terms on ballots],” Savage said. “Women in the debate community have started ‘ballot shaming’ or ‘judge shaming’ every time there's a comment on a ballot like,

'you know you were too aggressive during cross-examination.’ I’ve even seen ‘women shouldn't wear pants, you need to wear a skirt,’ or ‘you know you'd look way better in heels than those flats you wore.’” Comments like this one are all too familiar to girls who debate competitively. Gender discrimination has been embedded into the debate culture for decades due to the historical male domination of intellectual activities. Savage has worked tirelessly to ensure the young women on the Paly debate team are not torn down

en't done well so far, but now we're on the map, and we're going to celebrate because people are gunning for us.’” N o t only did “ b * t c h cakes'' become an infamous part of the Paly Debate team, but teams across the country have now adopted the practice. On the Paly team, the male debaters expressed feeling excluded by the b*tch cakes since they would never receive one. “I said, ‘Great, if you ever hear anybody from another team calling anybody else any kind of [gendered language], and if you can prove that you have stepped in and stood up for them and called them out on it, then you get a b*tch cake too,” Savage said. “So far, no men have earned this cake.” As a coach, Savage has also experienced situations in which her gender led to discriminatory treatment; she remembers a specific instance from her earliest days of coaching when a male coach made inappropriate comments toward her. “He walked up to me and said, 'I've been hearing that you're the hottest coach

“There’s nothing that you did to draw that fire, except [being] a woman, and probably a successful woman.” Jennie Savage

by these comments, but instead own them to take away their power. “B*tch cakes” is one of the team’s famous traditions, which began after a female debater’s experience with sexism at a tournament. In the female debater’s fifth undefeated round of the competition, a competitor called her a b*tch. Savage decided to use this experience to model the right way to handle inappropriate behavior. “I could see [that] her hands [were] shaking and she [was] trying not to cry,” Savage said. “I said, ‘I heard that you got called a b*tch, and I can't tell you how proud I am of you.’ She looked at me with these huge eyes, and the whole table of 12 Paly debaters were all listening to me [with their] jaws dropping.” Savage used this sexist comment to teach the team a valuable lesson. “I said [to them], 'You realize they only call you a b*tch if you're good because they don't snipe at people who are below them, they snipe at people who are above them,’” Savage said. “‘I have been waiting for three years for one of my debaters to be called a b*tch. Finally, someone has, and I can't tell you how proud I am.’” After her speech, Savage felt that she still needed to do something to show the female debaters on her team that they had nothing to be ashamed of. “I made this big cake for [the female debater] that said ‘b, asterisk, t, c, h!’ and I brought it into practice,” Savage said. “In front of the whole team, I said, 'I want you to know this great thing happened to our team, we finally arrived. For a young team, we hav-

now,’” Savage said. “He's one of the best coaches in the country, and that's how he chose to introduce himself to me and welcome me to the league, [by saying] something about my sexuality.” Savage started coaching in her early thirties with a four-year-old son. When Savage’s team started dominating tournaments under her leadership, she was criticized by the coach and his colleagues. They mocked her for being a mother as well as a coach, and she was given the nickname “The Devil.” “How dare I, as an older woman, and as a [female] coach, start beating their team when they were younger, they were guys, they knew what they were doing, and I was just a housewife,” Savage said. Savage herself was a competitive debater in high school. Savage began debating her sophomore year after the debate coach insisted she join the team. “Mr. Roberts was widely known to be the best teacher and the meanest teacher in school, and you just didn't say no to Mr. Roberts ever, you said ‘yes sir,’” Savage said. “He cornered me in the hall one day as I was leaving eighth grade and said, ‘You're going to join my debate team,’ and there was one thing I could say to him, and that was, ‘yes sir.’” Despite not originally planning to join the team, Savage quickly grew to love debating. “It was this intellectual outlet for me as a woman in a culture that expected me to look good,” Savage said.

At the end of her first year on the team, Savage first experienced the sexism with which she would become extremely familiar throughout her career. One of her opponents handed Savage a note after she emerged victorious over a pair of male debaters at a tournament. “I read it on the way home, and it was an extremely graphic ‘menu’ of our body parts with prices listed next to them,” Savage said. “It made me so angry, but also, at that point in my life, I just felt ashamed. I remember thinking, ‘I can't tell my mother about this,’ about how they've hyper-sexualized me.” When Savage told the male debater that she would tell his coach about the note, he responded that his coach knew the whole time. “They told me that [he knew all about it],” Savage said. “They said, ‘he thinks it's hilarious, and he was the one he told us to give it to you.’” Savage’s own experience reminds her of the experiences the girls on her team might currently be facing. “I thought that it meant that I was bad and [that] I'm just a person who comes across as too sexual,” Savage said. “There's shame wrapped up in [being perceived that way], and it's one thing I'm very aware of with my female debaters.” After experiencing the sexism that

female debaters face, Savage strives to provide the girls on her team with support and guidance. For example, Savage describes an experience in which a female debater’s mother was concerned with comments that her daughter would receive if she wore a shorter skirt to the tournament. Savage told the mother that she doesn’t believe in telling young women that they should avoid wearing certain clothing because of the inappropriate behavior of male judges and competitors. “If this is the way that she wants to present herself, I am all for it,” Savage said. “Don't tell her to put more clothes on.”

Instead of telling her to cover up, Savage prepared her debater for the sexist comments she may face. “I said to [her], 'you might get comments on ballots from male judges that you need to wear longer skirts,’” Savage said. “‘You might get comments on your ballots that are gender-specific, and you just need to be ready for it. You don’t deserve it. If it does happen, come to me, and we'll deal with it. You have nothing to be ashamed of.’” Current junior Meena Narayanaswami joined the Paly Speech and Debate team as a freshman. Throughout her time on the team, she has noticed that female debaters have very different tournament experiences than their male counterparts. “You go to tournaments, and you get looked down upon by your male debater peers,” Narayanaswami said. “Guys [are] so confident and willing to say whatever [is] on their minds without any actual factual basis to support them, while the girls on the team won't say anything until we are 100% confident that it's correct and we have evidence to back us up.” Debaters go through their arguments each round and then receive comments on a “ballot” from the judges. These comments are often a reflection of the double standards that girls in debate face. “Even when I do win rounds, I definitely get a lot of

“‘I have been waiting for three years for one of my debaters to be called a b*tch.’” Jennie Savage

comments [from judges] like, ‘you need to be nicer to your opponents,’ ‘you need to smile more,’ or ‘you need to be less aggressive with your opponents,’” Narayanaswami said. “I don't see my male peers getting that quite often, or nearly as much as I do.” Savage echoes Narayanaswami’s claim that there is a clear difference between the treatment of male and female debaters during tournaments. “When do men get told to smile more, or to defer to their opponents, or that they're coming across as shrill?” Savage said. “I've never seen my male debaters called shrill or ‘too assertive.’” Savage’s previous experience as a female debater has allowed her to create a safe, inclusive environment for everyone on the team. Her goal is to empower the young and impressionable women on the team. “[Savage] supports in such a way that makes you realize that you have a lot of power,” Wang said. At the start of each debate season, Savage makes it clear that they have a zero-tolerance policy against any discrimination. Creating an inclusive environment is an active process, and it’s a process that takes time. “Making [the importance of inclusivity] very clear immediately sets this precedent for the entire team for the rest of the year,” Wang said. The debate team offers many leadership opportunities, but girls do not often

run f o r these roles. “[Savage] does a really good job of calling out some of the things that we've internalized as girls and as women,” Wang said. “We wait until we're given something rather than going up and grabbing it. Every time I've ever tried to do something [on the team], [I think], ‘let's do it, what's the worst that can happen?’” Savage’s leadership creates an environment where girls feel empowered and confident in their abilities. “Girls growing up forget that they are powerful, fierce and have a lot of say in what happens to and around them,” Wang said. “[Savage] reminds people of that.” The challenges that girls face in debate provide many important lessons; Savage teaches girls how to be confident and assertive in a world where they have been taught to obey. “I think debate teaches you [that while] it's okay if you're wrong, it's important to make your point [and] say how you feel,”

Wang said. “Sometimes that space for [girls] to talk isn't going to be there,” Narayanaswami said. “You have to create it yourself.” Savage teaches girls how to use their voice in an academic environment, which has historically excluded women. “Most girls are not taught to be outgoing, outspoken and assertive about their opinions,” Narayanaswami said. “Debate was a really positive experience for me in learning how to be okay with asserting my points and acting confident in what I was saying.” However, the most important lesson that Savage teaches girls on the debate team is that the gender discrimination they face is not the result of their actions. “Debate gives you the understanding that it isn't you,” Savage said. “There's nothing that you did to draw that fire, except [being] a woman, and probably a successful woman.”

Staying in Coming Out

Insight into the evolution of youth queer identities over the course of the pandemic

he whirring of Park Dunlap’s computer fan the LGBTQ+ community, it’s often forgotten that queer is suddenly interrupted by a Zoom waiting representation in the media is a relatively new phenomenon. room doorbell notification, and another, and Dunlap, like many others born in the 1990’s, noticed another, and another. As the gathering starts, Dunlap little LGBTQ+ representation in the media as a child. glances at the participants list in disbelief; it’s the “[When] I remember growing up, all we really had largest number of attendees the program has ever had. was Ellen,” Dunlap said. “I think Queer Eye had first Dunlap, a TurnOut Youth Program Volunteer come out, but it really was a scandalous thing to sneakily Facilitator, talks about watch in the basement after the first meeting of the “This year, we [could have] filled your parents went to bed.” program, a virtual gathering As technology continued of LGBTQ+ youth in up a whole hallway, there must to evolve, new mediums the Bay Area each week. have been 40 of us.” of previously inaccessible “This year, we [could LGBTQ+ representation Parks Dunlap, became a reality to a have] filled up a whole hallway, there must TurnOut Youth Program Facilitator new generation of youth. have been 40 of us and “You have to credit the I realized how wild that was,” Dunlap said. “The internet for [queer] representation in general because spectacle of so many youths being able to step out of it comes back to [how it’s] not just [celebrities] or TV, their comfort zone makes me ecstatic about the fact but also the presence of education. Now, we’ve got that more people are having these conversations Twitter and Discord where lots of things are happening with themselves around sexuality and gender.” [as well as] TikTok; TikTok is like a beautiful little In order to fully understand the increase in microcosm of queer identity exploration,” said Dunlap. the number of individuals identifying as part of For students at Paly, TikTok served as a catalyst for

expression and exploration of their own identity. exploration of one’s sexuality and understands Maia Johnsson, a Paly senior, experienced this criticism from both perspectives. this firsthand as her time on TikTok led to an “I’m sure there have to be people who introspective discovery of her own sexuality. are faking it for attention,” Ramirez said. “I was able to find lots of LGBTQ+ videos “I know there are, I know those people, but that I was able to relate with,” Johnsson said. I also know that there are those types of “I think that deep down I always knew I was people that genuinely need the support.” attracted to people other than guys but I Ramirez, like most queer people and allies didn’t want to be of the LGBTQ+ that person who “I saw lots of people over social community, believes came out and wasn’t that the measures completely sure.” media coming out and living that are being put in A d d i t i o n a l l y , life with their partners and I place to discourage Johnsson wanted to the discovery of wanted to experience that.” have her own, genuine someone’s gender Maia Johnsson, identity experience coming out and/or and living her life as during Senior sexuality part of the LGBTQ+ a time of growth c o m m u n i t y . can create lasting “I saw lots of people over social media damage. She believes the wellbeing of queer coming out and living life with their partners youth is more important the minor effects of and I wanted to experience that so I tried [to some confusion made over a short period of time. hide who I was] for a few months until I got fed “Adding a letter or two to their pronouns is up with waiting and just wanted to not have not the worst thing in the world; there are much to keep this secret or feel like my friends and bigger things that we could be worrying about,” family don’t actually know me,” Johnsson said. Ramirez said. “I wake up the same way if someone While the visibility of queer people in and goes by She/Her, They/Them, or He/Him.” out of school has expanded, criticism levied Although the future for queer representation against the LGBTQ+ communities over and rights are uncertain, queer people exist and the years has come in and out of popularity. are contining to fight and advocate for themselves. The more popular criticism levied against “More and more people are figuring students is that individuals are lying about their out their true self (even if some doubt the identity or faking it for attention. Senior Isabel legitimacy) by excusing [doubters] Ramirez is outspoken on matters involving the and preaching love,” Dunlap said.

Text and design by JEREMY PENG and MATHEW SIGNORELLO-KATZ · Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

A fun way to get your fresh foods and a taste of Palo Alto culture

ood stands line the street, ASL for four years and I was able to teeming with colorful sign with them and communicate what vegetables, mouth water- they wanted to buy and how much it ing fruits, delicate flowers, homemade would be.” Dyer is not alone in creating conbreads and buttery cheeses. Arriving at the farmers’ market feels like a step nections with her community through back in time. Bored of the average the market. Charlotte O’Dell, staff member at the Trader Joe’s fare? Cruz Take a trip to a “I consider all of these ven- Santa Pasta Factory, local farmers’ market. dors and my customers to be has developed strong relaCate Dyer, a senior at Paly, fre- like my family. We all trade tionships by working at the quented the Caltogether and check in on stand. ifornia Avenue The venfarmers’ market each other.” dors arrive as a kid and now several hours works at the Far Charlotte O’Dell before the West Fungi stand. market opens, “I enjoy going to the market because of the fun, inclu- often before sunrise. They spend time sive community [but also for the] vari- chatting, making friends and trading amongst themselves. “I consider all of ety of fresh foods,’’ Dyer said. One of her favorite parts of work- these vendors and my customers to be ing at the farmers’ market is the unique like my family,” O’Dell said. “We all people she meets on the job. “A deaf trade together and check in on each couple came to the stand and they were other.” For Susie Makino, parent of a Paly signing,” Dyer said. “I’ve been taking

junior and staff member at the Sun how much our customers love us,” Smiling Valley Farm, the farmers’ mar- Dyer said. “Every week, we have peoket is a place to take a break from busy ple bring us fresh baked goods that day-to-day life. “The farmers’ market they made for us, along with produce is not just a place where you can get from their stands. We know lots of our groceries, but a community where you customers very well, as they come evcan converse with different people and ery week to get mushrooms.” breathe in fresh air as you find colorful Dyer always makes sure to greet vegetables and take in positive energy,” customers with the farmers’ market Makino said. warmth. “There’s The market a little old lady that “The farmers’ market is a is worth a visit comes every week just for its excitcommunity where you can and gets super exing and vibrant cited to see us,” converse with different a t m o s p h e r e. Dyer said. “We From the live talk with her about music playing people and breathe in fresh school and life and in the center she asks about air.” of the market all of the special to the streets Susie Makino mushrooms we buzzing with have that week.” happy chatter, Bustling with there is no doubt the market is appreci- shoppers, the farmers’ market is always ated by the community. bound to provide something unexpectBesides helping the planet, small ed. “A kid dressed in a full grim reapbusinesses and your body, shopping at er costume, including a weapon, fake farmers’ markets allows for exploration blood, a cloak and a mask,” Dyer said. and experimentation. “When I go to “[The kid] came up to our stand and the farmer’s market, there are various asked for a bag of portobello mushfruits and vegetables that I don’t usu- rooms. After he bought them, he took ally see at the supermarket,” Makino off his mask, reached into the bag, and said. “It’s nice because I can find new started eating the whole mushroom ones and try them out.” raw. His dad took pictures. He looked The farmers’ market also has real very happy.” people who nurtured the bounty and Market moments are what keep are its proud purveyors. The variety of customers coming back each Sunday. food is mesmerizing. After all, where It doesn’t get much better than picking else can you find 18 different types of up your morning coffee along with a mushrooms? fresh baguette and bumping into the “What makes the farmers’ market grim reaper eating a portobello mushspecial is the diversity in shops and room.

Text and photos by ANNA MARKESKY and CASEY WALTERS Art by CHRIS MARKESKY

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A HAPPY S

Paly 2021 graduates Aaron Kim and Leonardo Vargas leAVE their mark on Palo Alto

SURPRISE

trolling through Downtown Palo Alto, you may be unaware of the beautiful works of art hiding just around the corner. Around the back of the Ace Hardware store, you’ll catch a glimpse of a mural bursting with color made by Palo Alto’s very own teenagers. “It’s this very bright, colorful and joyful image that takes you by surprise and, for a second, you forget everything else and you’re just appreciating what you see,” Palo Alto High School Class of 2021 graduate Aaron Kim said. Kim, along with classmate Leonardo Vargas, spent the last year and half planning, painting and perfecting their stunning mural on the backside of Ace Hardware in downtown Palo Alto. Both passionate artists already, the pair took on the artistic challenge in order to leave a final mark on the city before departing for college. In the beginning months of the COVID lockdown period, Kim and Vargas communicated with the city to receive approval. Although this set them back a bit, they worked tirelessly to plan the perfect vision of their mural and get to work. The mural shows a kid joyfully leaping

into a pit of multicolored balls, an idea line of the kid and all the highlights and created by Vargas after some brainstorm- shadows,” Kim said. “Then we cut it out ing. “When we started, we went through and taped it together, and that’s what we a whole bunch of different ideas,” Kim used to display [the design].” said. “They were all Leo’s designs, he’s Painting the mural was a time-concrazy visionary… every day he would suming process; the pair spent a total of come with a handful of new designs, and seven hours a day, for seven days, workwe would look at them and talk them over ing to finish their masterpiece. The two together. When he sent me the design of teenagers functioned well together, using the kid jumping into the pit… I loved it.” their different artistic skills to delegate the Neither Kim nor Vargas had experi- work appropriately. ence painting on such a large scale or with “We would play off each other’s skills spray paint, so and strong figuring out the suits,” Kim logistics of creatsaid. “Ultiing the mural was mately, we a challenge. The wanted the best process involved product. So if projecting their he was better design onto the at tracing then AARON KIM wall to help them he would do create stencils for that… it was a the different aspects of the mural. very natural process of dividing up the “We could just project our mock-up de- work.” sign onto the wall, get measurements and It was not an easy process for them see how it actually looked on the wall,” to produce the final product from start Kim said. “We would go to the location, to finish; the pair faced many challenges set up the projector and project our de- from gaining approval to the city, finding sign onto the wall. It the time to work on the mural amidst sewas super helpful to see nior year stress and preparing all the mahow big [we wanted it terials for the actual construction of the and] the placement of mural. “I like to think of this as a story of everything.” perseverance,” Kim said. Their stencils were When designing their mural, Kim and constructed from card- Vargas strived to create a joyful, colorful board-like material piece of artwork that would brighten any and taped to the wall passerby’s day, and they did just that. so they could trace the “It was just about spreading a little bit outline of the parts of of joy in an unexpected place,” Kim said. the mural from the pro- “It’s this mural on an alleyway right on jected design. the back of the wall, where you can’t re“We taped [a giant ally see it unless you’re kind of seeking it board of] that to the out… if anyone were to walk down and wall, set up the projec- see it, it would just be such a happy surtor, and traced the out- prise.”

“It was just about spreading a little bit of joy in an unexpected place.”

Text by EMMA TURNBULL • Design by SOPHIA BAGINSKIS

We’ve Got

SPIRIT How ‘bout you? 333 What draws Paly students into Spirit Week each year?

Throughout T he outlandish costumes. The cheering (and booing) in the stands. Floats and class dances. The homecoming football game and homecoming dance. Occurring annually in fall, Spirit Week has been an integral part of Paly culture since the mid-1900s. The six-day series of activities, cheering and fun is a chance to show off Paly spirit and compete with other grades. “I always smile just thinking about it again,” 2014 Paly alumna Mehrn Sikri said. “You don’t get that in college.”

MONDAY

MORE THAN A FLOAT

Before Monday, students from each grade work together to design and construct a float based on their class theme. Lisa Hallenbeck, Paly alumna (‘87) and mother of a current Paly student, recalls her float building experience. “There you are at two in the morning making little flowers and you’re standing next to someone that you have never met … but you’re united for the rest of your life just based on that,” Hallenbeck said. “And I think there is definitely a spirit component to it where everybody gets really into it.”

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

For years, Paly community members have called out the juniors’ “Thousand Islands” dress up theme for appropriating Hawaiian culture. Some have suggested dressing in beach or tourist attire instead, and in a 2018 Campanile article, former ASB director Matthew Hall proposed his own solution. “If all class officers were to make a collage of appropriate costumes for all five days and we posted that on Schoology, that would be a good way to get it out there,” Hall said. Despite community efforts, many students were still observed donning leis and hula skirts in 2019. This year, ASB posted a lookbook on social media and is pushing “Thousand Islands” toward beach attire.

FUN & GAMES

“I definitely fit the themes, like I’d wear a cowboy hat on ranch day for sophomores and I was definitely into the color thing,” Paly history teacher and alumnus (‘08), Daniel Shelton said. “But I didn’t really go all out on the costumes. I was definitely more into the games.” While the rest of their class cheers them on, students play games like tug of war and hungry hungry hippos to earn points for their grade. “I remember the emotion more than the actual games, to be honest,” Sikri said. “I just know that they were so much fun to watch.”

the week... Tradition and change

Hallenbeck and Shelton remember a couple of Spirit Week traditions that have since died out. “Every year, the seniors would steal the Channing house sign from the retirement community that’s downtown,” Hallenbeck said. “It was ‘totally fine’ that you stole it every year, because every year you would bring it back.” Some of Shelton’s favorite memories were Paly’s morning rallies. “We would show up early for the morning rallies and there would be donuts and hot chocolate,” Shelton said. “I used to show up to school at 7:15 just to get a parking spot.”

Camo Conflict

“[Wearing camouflage] was part of a theme for the week and then the juniors who came behind said, ‘Oh, this is kind of cool. Let’s just do camo on certain days,’” Lim said. “And then it continued.” But Lim believes that wearing camouflage print could at best, promote the military and at worst, “make a mockery” of it. “I would, and this is going to be heretical for some people, love to get rid of camo,” Lim said. But many students look forward to wearing camo as seniors–it’s a long-lasting tradition that many don’t want to miss out on. For better or for worse, camo is here to stay this year.

QUEEN OF THE COURT

RITE OF PASSAGE

Wednesday’s dress up theme is color day. Each grade wears their assigned color of orange, red, yellow or green/camo. “I love seeing all the different classes, especially on color day, like seeing who’s part of what grade and seeing them all together unified with their colors,” Ashley Meyer, junior and ASB vice president, said. “Orange is kind of a rite of passage for the freshmen,” Arne Lim said, laughing. Lim, a retired Paly math teacher, graduated from Paly in 1980. Though not much of a participant at Spirit Week in his high school days, Lim was instrumental in helping ASB plan and coordinate the week at the end of his career.

Saturday’s homecoming court is another tradition that died out over time. “We got rid of this a long time ago. There was always a court that had a male and a female senior, junior, sophomore and freshman that were the Homecoming Court, and the seniors were called King and Queen,” Lim said. Hallenbeck adds on, “It was probably just a popularity contest or goes in the other direction where they elect someone who’s not as a joke.” Today, students still participate in the homecoming dance where Spirit Week points are also announced. ”It’s definitely something special that is meant to be cherished,” Sikri said.

SATURDAY

Text by KAILA CHUN, RACHEL ELLISEN and AUDREY GUO • Photos from PALY JOURNALISM ARCHIVE

Which Outfit?

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Where Would You Rather Shop?

Pick a Movie?

START HERE Choose a Color Palette

Answer these questions and FIND YOUR UNIQUE PLAYLIST

Say About You?

Extra or Orbit Gum?

MAC

Favorite Paly Building? PA C

MU S I C T A S T E

What Does Your

Text and design by AUDREY GUO, OLIVIA HAU and WILLOW STEELE • Art by AUDREY GUO and OLIVIA HAU

U R

HOMEWORK If you were led to this playlist, you are driven and hardworking with a fun side. You make everything more exciting, even the most boring things. You have a positive attitude that you always put out to others. This lofi playlist is perfect for making your homework fun and calming, which fits your personality perfectly.

If you landed on this playlist, you are a rebel at heart. You love excitement and adventure, but also enjoy some alone time. You put up a hard shell at times, but, underneath, you are sensitive and caring. This playlist will bring out your bold spirit.

M O M

A PHASE,

N G

You love a vintage feel, and you have excellent style. People stalk your Instagram for inspiration because you always look so cool! With this playlist, you can channel the vibe of exploring a record store or following an 80s aerobics workout video. You love living in the moment, but listening to this playlist will take you back a couple decades and allow you to escape the present.

in the

Which TV Show?

TOWN AND COUNTRY GO-TO?

ROMANTICIZE DOING

AP hysics

Salt & Straw

Hardest Paly Class?

Tin Pot

Best Palo Alto Ice Cream Shop?

APu sh

This playlist is perfect for your appreciation of wholesome moments and new experiences. You are a caring and kindhearted person, which doesn’t take away from your spontaneous and exciting personality. People love to be around you and are drawn to your magnetic energy. Listen to this playlist to channel that positive yet adventurous vibe.

AT SUNSET

S F

Kylie Jenner

DRIVING TO

Kim Kardashian

Favorite Kardashian?

EXHIBIT: THE ART OF DISABILITY CULTURE The stories behind the artists at Palo Alto Art Center’s latest exhibit

Text and design by EVIE COULSON, REYA HADAYA and EUNCHAE HONG • Photo by BROOKE GLASSON

ne in four Americans live with a disability at some point in their lives, according to the CDC. However, all disabilities, whether visible or invisible, lack accurate, authentic representation in society. To showcase inclusion, accessibility and interdependence, the Palo Alto Art Center welcomes the exhibit “The Art of Disability Culture: Artists with Disabilities Dispelling Myths, Dissolving Barriers, and Disrupting Prejudice” from Sept. 11 to Dec. 11, 2021. Each artist featured in the exhibit lives with one or more disabilities. Through their unique artwork, they spark conversation, evoke self-reflection and reclaim the disability narrative.

RACHEL UNGERER

Ungerer, R. (2021) Will I Lose My Dignity: Invisible in Your World?.

hrough her intimate artwork, painter Rachel Ungerer shares daily interactions with her loved ones, herself and the world. “My inspiration is based off my own experiences as a disabled, queer, polyamorous woman and the experiences of my peers,” Ungerer said. For the past 12 years, Ungerer has experienced chronic hand pain in both hands. This invisible disability is not outwardly apparent but still impacts her daily life. Ungerer was unaware of invisible disabilities before having one, a phenomenon common amongst able-bodied people. As a result, people constantly invalidate the existence and severity of Ungerer’s chronic hand pain. “One of the biggest challenges of having an invisible disability is that almost no one believes you,” Ungerer said. “My doctors often gaslight me and say, ‘I don’t want you to think of yourself as disabled.’” Ungerer aims to teach others about the reality of invisible disabilities through her artwork. “Part of the reason I do this is so people will learn,” Ungerer said. “I think they would be kinder if they understood.” Ungerer does not follow the same “routine” that society expects everyone to follow, instead she adapts and finds ways that work for her. “I can’t physically work the 40-hour week that my brother can, plus overtime,” Ungerer said. “I’m never gonna be that guy, so I have to figure out a different path, and maybe that’s okay.” “Will I Lose my Dignity: Invisible in Your

World?” by Rachel Ungerer “Will I Lose my Dignity, Invisible in Your World?” by Rachel Ungerer depicts her daily experience commuting to work. Due to her chronic pain, Ungerer cannot stand and hold her weight with her hands, making access to seating imperative. “Often, when I ask for disabled seats, people don’t believe me,” Ungerer said. “They look right through me like I don’t exist, making the term ‘invisible disability’ really explain how people treat you regularly.” Ungerer is sometimes forced to sit on the floor of the bus and even created fake business cards to prove her disability to other passengers. “Eventually, someone would get out of a disabled seat, and I’d sit in it,” Ungerer said. “People who were not even asking for the seat for themselves would try to bully me off the bus, get me kicked off the bus altogether or not believe that I belong there at all.” To explore this phenomenon, Ungerer initiated the process by simply having conversations. “I started gathering stories of other people with invisible disabilities of what it feels like to be in a public space, not to be alone,” Ungerer said. The pain of Ungerer’s disability is something many cannot empathize with. For this reason, she wants to highlight the pain with her artwork. “I wanted people to see the hardship,” Ungerer said. “A lot of what I paint shows comfort and connection: in this painting, I purposely did the opposite because life has both.”

JENNIFER WHITE-JONHSON

White-Johnson, J. (2020) Black Disabled Lives Matter.

rt serves as a vital outlet of self expression for artist Jennifer White-Johnson. “I think that the need to create the artwork was really important to me, especially being a Black Afro Latina disabled woman in 2021,” White-Johnson said. “It’s the space where I can just be unapologetically me.” White-Johnson’s work in art and activism provides positive representation of the disabled community, something that is lacking in mainstream media. “There is a lack of consistent portrayal of disabled people that is empowering, and that is strong, and that is building coalitions and collectives within their communities,” White-Johnson said. “I think that’s why art needs to exist: to continue to show people the truth and the authenticity of a community.”

“Knox Roxs: The Zine” by Jennifer White-Johnson In 2018, White-Johnson created a self-published photography book, “Knox Roxs: The Zine”, inspired by her son, Knox. “It has 80 pages of photos of him experiencing autistic joy and showing so much love and soul,” White-Johnson said. “[Those] are often words you don’t really associate with neurodiversity and autism because we’re so bombarded with the oppressive aspects and data of autism.” Knox, is one of her biggest inspirations. “When I look at my son, he definitely inspires me to continue to be very authentic and to be open about my disability and to talk about it in a very respectful way and not to complain and degrade the disabled experience,” White-Johnson said. In the process of creating her book, White-Johnson noticed that her photos displayed an eye-opening story.

“I saw that the photos began to tell this really beautiful, authentic story of what being Brown and Black and autistic really looks like versus what is being fed to you,” White-Johnson said. When children are diagnosed with autism, many people seek to “cure” or “fix” them, contributing to a harmful misconception that children with autism are undesirable. White-Jonhson’s approach diverges from this narrative by embracing Knox’s autism as an integral part of his identity. “I want my son to know that, growing up, his disability was celebrated and we weren’t busy trying to fix him and make him change to suit societal norms,” White-Johnson said. “Black Disabled Lives Matter” by Jennifer White-Johnson White-Johnson created the “Black Disabled Lives Matter” symbol using the Black Lives Matter fist and integrating an infinity symbol to represent neurodiversity. “The Black Disabled Lives Matter symbol represents we’re here, we’re not going anywhere, we’ve always existed, we’re going to continue to exist,” White-Johnson said. The intent of the symbol is to represent the intersectionality of the two communities. “I hadn’t really seen the Black Power fist being aligned with disability culture or a symbol that represented disability culture in a really interesting, simple way that was direct,” White-Johnson said. With this symbol White-Johnson wanted to create something that uplifted disability culture. “I wanted to actually use language to help uplift disability culture,” White-Johnson said. “And to create a rallying call to get people to have these kinds of conversations.”

Jonhson Jr., K. White-Johnson, J. (2018) Knox Roxs: The Zine

Oteri, M. (2020) Memorial Portrait of Stacey Park Milbern.

MICHAELA OTERI

Oteri, M. (2020) Memorial Portrait of Ki’Tay Davidson.

Oteri, M. (2020) Self Portrait.

“Disabled Beauty Series” by Michaela Oteri Oteri’s “Disabled Beauty Series” is inspired by the Cripple Punk Movement, a social movement, started by Tyler Chu Ella, regarding the representation of disabled people in our society. “That entire movement is about accepting yourself despite the ableism,” Oteri said. “That’s what I went forward with for my portrait series.” Oteri initially wanted to create this series to educate others about disabled people, but the process of creating these portraits has sparked a new awareness in herself as well. “I’ve really learned a lot about myself, my perception of disability and my understanding of disability,” Oteri said. Oteri’s favorite part about creating these portraits is observing her subjects’ reactions to the final product. “It’s so great to have the feeling of people just approaching me online and [saying], ‘Wow, I just saw myself in art for the first time, I’ve never seen myself this way before,’” Oteri said. “Not even a portrait of themselves, just a portrait of a person that looks like them.” One of the reasons Oteri decided to pursue art was to communicate her thoughts on disability culture to the rest of the world. “We’re beautiful individuals,” Oteri said. “And we deserve to be seen that way.”

ichaela Oteri is a digital artist who uses her art to shed light on issues that disabled people face, such as ableism, which is discrimination based on their disability. “My message [in my art] is that disabled people are people,” Oteri said. Art has not always been a significant part of Oteri’s life. “Previously, I didn’t have all that much interest [in art], but I started getting sick, and it was an easy outlet to be able to explore and tell stories with my friends,” Oteri said. Ableism is not taken seriously by a large percentage of the population, and Oteri wants to make sure that she, as well as her artwork, are able to demonstrate its harmful impacts. “[Ableism is] very impactful and it sometimes results in people dying,” Oteri said. “It’s very serious and so that’s something that’s a very important thing that I’ve had to come to terms with and learn about.” Despite the fact that disabled people are the largest minority in the world, they do not receive a lot of respect, and Oteri wants to help the community gain that respect through her work. “There are disabled people in every part of the world, in every group, in every community,” Oteri said. “We just don’t get a lot of respect.”

Brown arounD town Remembering artist Greg Brown's playful murals and their lasting impact on the Palo Alto community surprise awaits passersby in which they hired him as an official public downtown Palo Alto if they artist. He then reached out to individual pay close enough attention. A business owners for permission to paint UFO crashes into the bank. A murals on their buildings. Brown enpair of aliens sneakily climb a joyed incorporating the surroundings of flight of cherry red stairs towards a door- his pieces into the paintings themselves. way. These are just a few of the whimsical “Greg felt that his mural should fit in with murals of artist Greg Brown that are in- its greater environment,” Julie Brown credibly treasured within the community. said. “He wanted to surprise and delight Greg Brown, a 1969 Palo Alto High the viewer.” School graduate who died in 2014, is one Brown is known for using the trompe of the most beloved artists in Palo Alto. l’oeil — or “trick of the eye” style in his Known for making viewers do a dou- artwork. This type of painting creates the ble-take, these pieces of art are scattered illusion for viewers that the art is an actuthroughout the downtown area. Brown’s al, three-dimensional object. artistic contribuThis technique tions to Palo Alto is illustrated in his began when he mural of a little was hired as the boy fishing from “Artist in Resa window, which idence,” a feaimitates the actutured artist in one al window next to of the city’s art it on the building; centers, at age 24. his mural of a “He had an woman watering easel set up in Julie Brown, Greg Brown’s Wife plants integrates a one of the Palo real bush into the Alto Art Center’s piece. “[Brown’s studios,” Greg Brown’s wife, Julie Brown murals are] a marvelous example of said. “People could watch him paint and trompe-l’oeil and whimsy,” Palo Alto pubcomment or ask questions. This inspired lic art director Elise DeMarzo said. “They him to take his paintings outside and put [offer] people something unexpected and them on a wall.” fun around the corner as they go about Brown first gained approval from the their daily lives.” city through a Comprehensive EmployBrown learned the trompe l’oeil techment and Training Act (CETA) grant, in nique as a teenager while working with

“He wanted to surprise and delight the viewer.”

a mentor artist, Roberto Lupetti. “He washed brushes in exchange for lessons and observed this man’s work closely,” Julie Brown said. “Greg taught himself how to use an airbrush to get the subtle modeling he achieved with skin and fabric.” The mural of an alien in a UFO, which appears to be crashing into the side of the Comerica bank building on Lytton Avenue, is one of Brown’s most admired trompe l’oeil pieces. “I like it because from far away, it almost has the illusion of it being real,” junior Daniel Siegel said. “You have to look twice, especially if you haven’t seen it before.” Brown based many of the characters in his murals on people in his own life and community, making them more personable. His “Pedestrian Murals,” the collection of his initial nine paintings including the aliens and the boy fishing, featured several characters inspired by everyday people. “His process for the Pedestrian Murals was fairly straightforward,” Julie Brown said. “He’d get an idea, try a simple sketch and then find someone who fit his idea for the character. That person would be photographed in the position Greg needed, and then he was ready to begin.” In addition to harnessing inspiration from people in his life, Brown was also influenced by anything creative around him, like books, dreams or events he experienced. “He was always open to inspiration,” Julie Brown said. “An example of a

Text and design by ISAAC HILLESLAND and EMMA TURNBULL • Photos by EMMA TURNBULL • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

Brown, G. (1975). Boy with Fishing Pole

real event [that he took inspiration from] is the lady with a hose, where a bird sits. This really happened to his grandmother one day when she was out in her garden; she modeled her character in the mural. The people jumping off a building are known as ‘The Roofhoppers,’ [and were based on] a dream he’d had.” Nearly every citizen of Palo Alto, no matter the generation, can recall catching a glimpse of one of Brown’s murals at some point in their lives. “They definitely add uniqueness Elise DeMarzo to Palo Alto, and they make you Palo Alto Public stop and look,” senior Gianna Brogley said. “It’s cool that the Palo Alto community is connected by the fact that everyone knows the murals, like you can say, ‘meet me by the mural with the guy pushing a [stroller] with his alien.’” That’s what many people in Palo Alto cherish most about Brown’s work: the charming quirkiness. Walking down the street, one might be surprised to see an image of a man pushing an alien in a stroller, but that was Brown’s style, and it was representative of his personality. “His sense of humor is very much re-

flected in his artwork,” DeMarzo said. “You couldn’t have just a basic conversation with him. He always liked a turn of phrase, and he [always brought] something with a big personality to that conversation.” Brown was valued not just for his work but also for his welcoming personality. Members of the community always felt included in his artwork, whether by simply witnessing him painting or striking up a lively conversation. “In the time that he would work on-site, people would Art Director come up and talk to him,” DeMarzo said. “He never shied away from the public, so it doesn’t surprise me that in the course of creating [his murals], he also built in community outreach.” His murals remain a significant element of Palo Alto today because of this community connection he built; each of his pieces has a story behind it or a memory someone can associate with it. “[One

“His sense of humor is reflected in his artwork.”

time], I went by to check on him with [my daughters], and he gave them huge paintbrushes and had them paint in a little section with him,” DeMarzo said. “That was his personality; to engage people as they came by and make them feel like they were part of it. That moment really encapsulates my few encounters with Greg; he was tremendously warm, very funny and quick witted.” Brown’s murals will forever be adored and honored within the community for bringing humor and joy to the streets of the city. He will always be remembered as a lively, outgoing presence that brought people into the process of his art. “His early Palo Alto murals connected with people on many levels,” Julie Brown said. “They showcase the nature of Palo Alto as I’ve always known it; at its best, it is innovative and diverse, [and] a place that values community and creativity.”

KELLEY IN THE

KITCHEN

Featured Artist: Flynn Kelley Experiments in the kitchen turn dough into pastries and baking into art

vidence lines the kitchen counter in the form of salt, sugar and baking soda. In senior Flynn Kelley’s kitchen oven, a cake is coming into existence. Kelley’s recipes are not perfected overnight, and his masterpieces, like this cake, arise from careful observation, experimentation and determination. Experimenting with his creations has allowed him to transform baking from an ordinary activity into an art form of his own while honing his culinary skills through repeated experience. While many students watch shows like “The Great British Baking Show” for pure entertainment, Kelley watches the show to learn from other bakers. “It’s very dramatized, but there are some neat tricks [that Want to make Kelley’s I’ve learned],” Kelley said. “I think delicious scones? one of the contestants listens to Check out the recipe on our his cakes to hear if they’re popping, and I don’t do that. I prefer website at cmagazine.org

to take a toothpick, but it is still cool to learn.” Kelley has also developed his baking skills through his job at the Peninsula Creamery in Palo Alto. On his first day at his job, he experienced information overload as he observed one of his co-workers to learn the responsibilities of his role. The new information was difficult to absorb at first, as the baking processes were different than what he was used to; this left him confused but also gave him the chance to gain new experiences. “As you watch, you learn technique, and that helped me improve a lot,” Kelley said. “I learned how to make cream for cookie batter, or cookie dough. You cream the butter, which I [already] knew about, but I wasn’t doing it correctly; there’s a bunch of [those techniques] that I knew about but wasn’t doing correctly. Then you adjust your technique as you watch other people bake.” Kelley prefers home baking to baking in a restaurant because he feels that he is able to express more creativity on his own without any

time constraints. “As a home baker, normally what you’re doing is spending all your time making one thing, and that takes up your free time for that day,” Kelley said. “You’re focused on making this [dish] as pretty as possible and just perfect.” Freedom to create as you please is lost when working at a restaurant like the Peninsula Creamery. “When you get into the restaurant industry, you’re no longer focusing on one thing,” Kelley said. “You now have six things running at the same time. You use the same technique and the same ingredients and it’s a mad rush just to finish the day. You’re tired and exhausted and you’re probably running around all day.” Despite his gripes with the restaurant industry, baking still brings positivity to Kelley’s life. “I think eating [my baked goods] was the primary motivator early on, like ‘I just want to make something tasty,’” Kelley said. “But then when family or friends are invited over to try things that you make, that’s the best feeling ever. It’s just gratifying.” The people around him provide the motivation that all artists need to work harder and perfect their craft. “A lot of [baking] is common sense, but a lot of it is just making it your own,” Kelley said. “For some recipes, your family will probably hate you for a little bit while you learn, but there’s that learning phase with any hobby.” One recipe that Kelley has perfected is his lemon blueberry scones. He enjoys baking scones because of the free-

dom that comes with developing the recipe and baking each creation. “You can make [the scones] whatever you want them to be for the most part, as long as they’re close to a biscuit texture,” Kelley said. Kelley developed his recipe from multiple different recipes that he had baked with previously but had not completely loved. “There was one really weird one that had vinegar in it,” Kelley said. “I didn’t like that, so I took the recipe and just looked at how much lemon to put in.” Small changes and pieces of information from various recipes have come together to form his perfect scones. Kelley has also explored his experimentational side through baking cakes. One cake in particular, a lemon cake, allowed him to try various methods of cooking eggs. “I tried a new technique for the cake that I really enjoy,” he said. “I heated [the cake] up over a double boiler so that it’s partially submerged in the water and steam heats it up.” The chemistry of baking has intrigued Kelley as he has developed his skills, and he works to learn more and continue his experimentation. Baking is an ordinary activity that anyone can learn, but Kelley has turned the commonplace pastime into a passion that is uniquely his own by sticking to his creativity and gathering experience wherever he can. “[Baking’s] just like a toy,” Kelley said. “You play with it, and you customize how it looks, and it can end up being pretty fun.”

“When family or friends are invited over to try things that you make, it is the best feeling ever.”

Text by EUNICE CHO and JULIE HUANG • Design by JULIA RAGNO • Art by JULIE HUANG

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CELEBRITY POWER Should celebrities with massive followings like Lorde use their talents and platforms to further important causes?

ow can I love what I know I am crisis. Although she is not an activist, gonna lose?” Singer-songwriter Lorde makes an attempt to incorporate Lorde sings this lyric about the activism into her art form -- and she is environment and the climate crisis on the just one of many celebrities to do so. The track ‘Fallen Fruit’ in her latest album, pressure on celebrities to participate in ‘Solar Power’. activism, mostly through social media, “The album is is a relatively new a celebration of concept, and the the natural world, effectiveness of an attempt at celebrities using immortalizing the their platform to deep, transcendent create change has feelings I have when sparked much I’m outdoors,” Lorde debate. said in a June 10 Such notable newsletter to fans. figures walk a fine Lorde on ‘Fallen Fruit’ The album covers line. Their activism topics ranging from can face scrutiny her relationship with from fans who don’t Hollywood, to her intense love for the support the causes they advocate for, but outdoors, to her fears about the climate remaining silent can cause other fans to

“But how can I love what I know I am gonna lose?”

become infuriated by their silence. Highprofile figures are not presented with a correct way to use such a large platform, which can cause fans to become frustrated and even go so far as to call celebrity activism performative. Paly alumnus (20’) and Lorde fan Max Rosenblum feels that often celebrity activism is used as a publicity stunt. “Having a celebrity talk about a political opinion is just the same as the Coke official Instagram account saying that they support pride,” Rosenblum said. “Like you’re a soda. It feels honestly a little disingenuous.” Senior Sophia Cummings has a different view than Rosenblum; she believes the benefits of exposure outweigh the possible ulterior motive. “Honestly, whether or not it’s performative, it’s what movements really need,”

Cummings said. “They need these Paly Eco, believes the awareness these big platforms to show a lot of repre- songs brought to the issue, however sentation and educate their followers.” small, will make a positive impact. Even Lorde herself questioned “Even if people maybe don’t take how much she should get involved away the key message itself, mayin activism, be they’re just saying, “It’s more motivated tricky to know and interested how much to to learn more go there as a about the specifs o n g w r i t e r, ic topic,” Hadzic you know?” said. Lorde’s That be‘activism’ in ing said, there ‘Solar Poware still varying er’ created a levels of impact discussion as that a celebrity listeners woncan have with dered what its their activism, brief mentions and a lot of that of the climate has to do with Erin Brady crisis was dohow they choose ing to create to do it. Rosenchange. While people often favor big blum believes that, often, celebrities actions, Junior Erin Brady reminds us don’t choose the correct format for that this album is more about Lorde’s their activism. personal love for the environment. “On one hand, I think that people “Climate change is something with a platform have a certain amount that’s very important to her, so it will of power that they ought to use rebe reflected in different parts of the sponsibly,” Rosenblum said. “But I album,” Brady said. “I think people also think that most celebrities tend to need to understand that there are be very out of touch with what actualbaby steps for every cause, and so peo- ly is helpful.” ple should speak out about things that An example of this is Lil Dicky’s are important to them and try to do single ‘Earth’ featuring an impressive the best they can.” lineup of celebrity appearances. The Junior Lea Hadzic, the president of song took over three years for the

“Climate change is something that’s very important to her, so it will be reflected in different parts of the album.”

33-year-old rapper to create. But for Brady, the song was more fun than inspirational. “I don’t remember anyone being like ‘Wow, I really loved the part where they talked about the Earth,’ everyone was like ‘Hey remember when Halsey said something funny,’” Brady said. “It didn’t make anyone want to recycle more or anything.” A great example of direct action-based activism that led to a positive impact is the Saw movie franchise. According to a September 2017 New York Times article, the Saw franchise was able to donate more than 120,000 pints of blood through blood drives for free tickets. Rosenblum believes concrete actions like these are a more effective way for celebrities to use their platforms. “It really comes down to actions because those are way more blunt and obvious. It can be something as small as just posting about it and educating their followers,” Rosenblum said. “But if they’re out there doing service work, they’re setting an example and people love to follow in the footsteps of celebrities.” That being said, Lorde has taken some actions other than just writing lyrics about the environment in her album. This past June, Lorde released a memoir titled ‘Going South’ in which she reflected upon her transformational journey to Antarctica. It was on this

trip that she soberingly witnessed the to this album may have fallen short catastrophic effects of climate change of what some fans wished for, Brady firsthand, which served as inspiration thinks it was still useful. for both ‘Going South’ and ‘Solar Pow“I do think that is a beginning er’. Proceeds from sales of her book step — to try to do whatever you can, go toward a postgraduate scholarship whatever you’re good at, use the tools to study climate you have to talk science in Antabout causes that arctica. are important to Additionally, you,” Brady said. she released Rather than an extended choosing a play featuring platform like five songs from social media ‘Solar Power’ to share her sung in Māori. message, Lorde “All proceeds chose to take from TE AO it in a more MĀRAMA [her artistic direction, EP] will go to combining her Sophia Cummings two amazing NZown strengths based charities— with a topic that Forest and Bird and Te Hua Kawariki needs to be spoken about. Charitable Trust,” Lorde said. Cummings believes that Lorde Despite the fact that Lorde has used was able to effectively combine the this album for action-based activism, advocacy in her songs with her message some fans are still left wondering if of growth. music is even the right medium to “She did it in a very artistic way, express these views. comparing it to her life and growth and “In terms of art, I listen to everything,” Cummings said. music because I like how it sounds,” In the end, Lorde acknowledges Rosenblum said. “And it speaks to our that she and other celebrities are far soul. It speaks to themes that I care from perfect. about, and that are important to me “I’m still learning the nuances of sort of emotionally. I don’t go to music all this,” Lorde said. “It’s on me to use to learn about politics or to have a my resources — resources you gave me, political opinion.” directly or indirectly — to donate on While Lorde’s activism relating your behalf.”

“She did it in a very artistic way, comparing it to her life and growth and everything.”

Stop and

LISTEN W

Music fans wrestle with the importance of separating the art from the artist

hile sitting in her room, junior Theresa Hart pulled West’s discography when he went through his previous nine out her phone and clicked on Instagram where she saw albums. news about homophobic remarks that rap artist DaBaAfter listening to “Donda,” he liked the album and by shouted out during one of his performances. thought it stuck to its theme. “The artist doesn’t make music Because Hart had only listened to DaBaby’s music in “Levitat- for the media,” Marburg said. “The media is just taking that ing” by Dua Lipa ft. DaBaby, 10 times or so before, she promptly outside perspective.” decided to stop listening to the song because of the music artist’s However, Kanye West is only one of many artists who actions. have been clobbered by the media. Singer Courtney Love “I [thought] ‘Well why would you say that?’” Hart said. “There has been the poster child for media-bashed music artists for are hundreds of things you could say at your concert. This is so decades, in part due to her over-the-top personality and preunnecessary. It’s unnecessary in any context.” sumably unhealthy relationship with late rockstar and lead Living in the age of social media, celebrity news travels faster singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain. than ever, and music artists are no exception to this rule. The inFreshman Clara Hoffman, who has been a rock fan since creased exposure of music artists’ lives and ideologies minimizes childhood, listens to Nirvana among other music artists. Detheir room for error and can present a more challenging case to spite their longtime connection to the band, Hoffman has fans who generally separate the music they listen to from its artist. also listened to a few of Courtney Love’s songs. With all of the music-artist-directed criticism that pops up on“Hearing about all of the drama still doesn’t really line and in the media, how does change [the music] for me beone decide at what point to draw cause I’m interested in what “The artist doesn’t make music for the music is,” Hoffman said. the line and stop listening to their music? Hoffman believes in sepathe media. The media is just taking Since its release, many have rating the artist from their muthat outside perspective.” criticized rapper Kanye West’s sic until the music and lyrics most recent album “Donda” for themselves become part of the its supposed slow start and inproblem. At this point, if the consistent style. Beginning with lyrics do cross a line, it could “Donda Chant,” a tribute to mean the difference between West’s passed-on mother, the album features a somewhat new tone the loss or gain of a fan for Hoffman. that generally doesn’t align with his previIn general, song lyrics cross a line if they contain offenous work and has since received sive material like racist, homophobic or sexist lines, just to mixed reviews. name a few examples. For junior Oliver MarAdditionally, song lyrics may be inexcusable if they’re beburg, the media’s opin- ing used by an artist to manipulate listeners into pardoning ions of the album them from receiving criticism. don’t cloud his opinSimilarly, Hart believes that certain issues caused by ion at all. Marburg, music artists warrant discontinuing one’s support for their a Kanye West fan songs. For example, “Do It Again” by Pia Mia ft. Chris and longtime fan of Brown used to be one of Hart’s go-to’s until she found out rap, fell in love with about Brown’s history of abuse towards singer Rihanna. At

Oliver Marburg

Text and design by NATALIE HMELAR, JASMINE TABRIZI and KYLIE TZENG

that point, she stopped listening to the song and never went sometimes end up in plagiarism lawsuits. back. “I really liked that song, and I still do, but I don’t listen to Recently, artist Olivia Rodrigo has given up millions of dolit because I don’t want to give him money,” Hart said. lars to Taylor Swift and Hayley Williams from Paramore due to Even though listeners may not be aware of their own im- plagiarism accusations. pact, it’s important to stop listening to music when artists act Sophomore Evelyn Zhang, an occasional Rodrigo listener, poorly because they need to doesn’t notice the overlap in musee the repercussions of their sic but acknowledges the possiactions. Hart highlights this “The way you present yourself and bility of its presence. principle when speaking about “I think it’s hard to immedialso the way you are as a person DaBaby’s music. ately have a distinct music style “Yes, that’s just one less is super important because you’re when starting out in the music listener on his Spotify, but he industry,” Zhang said. “We subsending a message on what you did get dropped which was consciously add in bits and piecimportant because he saw the es of our experiences into our stand for and what you believe.” real repercussions of what he expressions of art, so there are said,” Hart said. going to be similarities.” Occasionally, after artists Yet, the accomplishments of notice a drop off in listeners, newer artists should not they have comeback eras where they try to repopularize their be diminished. Junior Johannah Seah loves what music. A common method artists use to try and repopularize newer artists bring to the music industry. “It’s their music is changing their music genre or style. really great that the newer artists are getting Some genres of music are wide enough where artists can to show their music to the world,” Seah simply try a different aspect of the same genre; this is especially said. “Olivia Rodrigo has inspired a lot of evident in pop music. Pop has numerous subgenres, so often other songwriters as well.” pop artists don’t have to diverge too much from the pop genre. Nowadays, the content of music “Call [pop music] stereotypical, call it boring, call it what- holds great influence over worldwide ever you want,” Hart said. “Actually, you can’t call it boring music lovers’ opinions. The ways in because you can do so many things with it.” which artists use (or don’t use) their muA pop artist infamous for genre switching is Taylor Swift. sic and platform as a medium to project She started with sweetheart country and pop, but as the years their beliefs should be noted by all music went on, it evolved into electro pop before transitioning back to followers. more mellow pop music. “The way you present yourself and also Some associate the genre switches with the pressure from the the way you are as a person is super importever-changing music industry and pop culture trends; in con- ant because you’re sending a message on what trast, others believe it is natural for an artist’s music to change you stand for and what you believe,” Seah said. as they grow and develop as a person. “Music is really tied to that, especially if your music However, it can be hard for upcoming artists to come up is the main issue that people are concerned about.” with music that doesn’t include influences from current artists. Unfortunately, the inclusion of influences from other artists can

Johannah Seah

Instrumental

Impact

TikTok’s popularity explosion has resulted in major influence amongst the music industry

Guitar in hand, Menlo-Atherton senior JJ Jones consumption. Per the report, 62% of TikTokers were positions himself in front of his phone’s camera, preparing between the ages of 10 and 29, while up to 38% of users to share his musical talents with his viewers on the were over the age of 30. In addition, approximately 9 out worldwide social media platform, TikTok. of 10 TikTokers used the app on a daily basis. The app has taken the world by storm with over a TikTok’s influence on the music industry is undeniable, billion downloads since even allowing small September. It provides artists to gain notoriety. users with access to “I love TikTok,” Jones “I love TikTok... it’s a great countless songs and said. “It’s a great way for way for artists to express their a platform to express artists to express their creativity, talent and musical opinions and musical opinions and showcase entertainment. showcase who they who they really are.” As new songs feature in really are.” TikTok trends, they gain The app is also JJ Jones, senior popularity and appear a useful tool to on the Billboard 100 or market songs in Spotify order to reach Viral 50 lists. According to a wider audience. “[TikTok] doesn’t change the Business Insider, integrity of the artist,” junior Vivian Trach said. T i k T o k ’ s “If you actively know that something is a good m u s i c a l business marketing strategy and you don’t use it, i n f l u e n c e that’s your own problem… times are changing.” has resulted In addition to TikTok providing its users with in 67% a way to get their music out to the world and of users practice their talents, it has also provided other expanding their users an easy way to search for new artists and music taste by music. searching for Because the app takes a more contemporary songs heard on approach by providing TikTokers with accessible the app. tools, TikTok allows users to enjoy a vast array Another report of songs, interact with the music and express conducted by their uniqueness. Oberlo compiled “TikTok helped me expand my music taste various statistics that by exposing me to new songs and adding a specifically focused greater variety of music to my daily playlists,” on the demographic sophomore Bella Nguyen said. influence the social TikTok’s influence reaches a vast audience, media platform has on both within the app and in other forms of age and users’ daily time media; the impact of this oversaturation

Text and design by AIDAN DO and WENDY LI • Art by KELLYN SCHEEL

results in the overplaying of popular music— to the point of irritation. “[A song can] get really overplayed because you hear it on TikTok, then on the radio and then you end up hearing it everywhere,” Trach said. Many feel that the artists that solely create a career around TikTok are manufactured, rather than genuine artists. “TikTok artists are like industry plants in the music field,” Jones said. “It’s not… really organic music.” To many TikTok users, it is obvious when an artist has only created a song to capitalize on a trend. “There are some artists out there that you can clearly tell [their] song lyrics are [aiming to become] a TikTok trend,” Trach said. “It’s not really a song then; you’re just trying to make a phrase catchy.” Instead of being connected to actual music, songs are solely associated with the 15 second bit that is used on TikTok. “[I] only enjoy specific parts of songs rather than the song as a whole,” Nguyen said. Though the app leaves users questioning the authenticity of the music, it also encourages users to expand out of their bubble of music to search for other songs. Regardless of differing opinions, TikTok remains a place for users, such as Jones, to express their identities through music and create art to the rest of the world. “I definitely plan to continue posting on TikTok,” Jones said. “It’s a great way for me to show people who I am.”

“There are some artists out there that you can clearly tell [their] song lyrics are [aiming to become] a TikTok trend.” Vivian Trach, junior 41

Composing IDENTITY

Composing and producing music is a powerful mode for self-expression inger --songwriter Elizabeth Wong envisions character storylines to create emotional scenes within her songs. Guitarist and singer Kyle Park reflects on his feelings through his lyrics. For Akhil Joondeph, who creates sound mixes, music is a way to combine the various musical influences that make up his identity.

Fantasizing Scenes Elizabeth Wong

riting out her music, senior Elizabeth Wong can envision herself as a character from her favorite movie, living out a tragic heartbreak or uplifting moment. She scribbles down lyrics onto the page to make the story truly come to life. Wong began practicing music at three years old when she took piano and vocal lessons. However, her passion for songwriting did not spark until middle school when she began creating ballads as a way of expressing herself. Since then, she has used songwriting as a way to touch on her emotions. “Most artists write as they are in a moment of sadness,” Wong said. “I write when I’m in a good place [for songwriting] to act as a reflecting process and to sort myself [out].” In addition to drawing from her own experiences, Wong finds inspiration in books and movies. She imagines the emotions of the characters in order to visualize herself within that certain story. “I try

to put myself in that place and see how I resonate with a narrative,” Wong said. Wong admits that she does feel pres- Kyle Park sure to constantly create music, and she trumming through chords on his encounters many instances of writer’s guitar, junior Kyle Park digs deep block. As an artist, she has had trouble into his experiences and lets his emoconceiving new ideas for songs, but with tions out through singing. After hours of time she has been able to overcome this fiddling with the chords and lyrics, Park obstacle. finalizes his song and gets to work produc“I feel like the best thing to do ing. is just relax for a moment Although Park has because there’s a reabeen playing piano son why you have and guitar for 11 writer’s block years, his interest in in the first songwriting did not “As an artist, you place,” Wong begin until quarsaid. “The best have the freedom antine, when he [strategy] is to needed a way to to do anything.” wait it out until express himself. you have inspi“I use [songElizabeth Wong, senior ration.” writing] as an outWong has let,” Park said. “It’s collaborated a place where I can with a friend talk about the things I in the past to create music want to talk about.” videos. She enjoys the visual Park’s songwriting process heaviaspect of the music process but ly revolves around his mood at the time. is currently focusing on songwriting. One One of the songs on Park’s upcoming Exof Wong’s latest releases, Mystery, showtended Play (EP) — a collection of songs cases five of her latest songs and can be typically shorter than a full album — is found on Spotify. In the future, she hopes titled “Campfire.” In the song, Park imagto continue creating music and releasing ined the scene of bonding with friends her songs to the public. She continues to while watching the campfire die down reflect on both her own personal experiand relates that to the bliss of being young ences and the imaginative stories she enand the fear of leaving adolescence. counters. To Wong, crafting stories for her “I parallel the campfire to reckless songs is a way of exploring the freedom youth,” Park said. “You don’t want [the of songwriting. night] to end [when you are] sitting “As an artist, you have the freedom to around the fire… and you don’t want do anything,” Wong said. “There are no your youth to end. It’s about fearing the boundaries.”

Teenage Emotions

Text and design by CAITLYN ODA and EMMA TURNBULL • Art by ISABELLA PEI

future, while also being in the present mo- er and occasional traditional composer. id compositions by viewing them as their ment and enjoying it.” Joondeph, a performer of Indian dance, own pieces, rather than compilations of Park, with the help of a friend, pro- creates mixes of music on his computer others. duces his music using computer software. for both his own pieces and for a UCSB “I always think about my mixes as During the production process, Park competitive Indian dance team. His ini- [their] own songs,” Joondeph said. “I avoids editing his songs heavily because tial talent for music composition stemmed don’t really think about them as splices of he prefers them to feel more from his involvement in dance other songs. [I think about] how I would authentic. and formal music theory want a song to flow, how verses and cho“I want [my songs] training when he was ruses flow in a normal song, how [the muto have that raw sound younger. He cultivates sic would] build in a normal song. That’s “I use to them, where it’s inspiration for a mix what makes mixes more melodic and less [songwriting] as just singing and from the various like ‘chunk, chunk, splice.’” guitar,” Park said. musical influences Joondeph’s interest in sound mixing an outlet.” “That’s more peraround him. and music generally stems from the differsonal, especially as a “I always have ent musical influences throughout his life, Kyle Park, junior listener. When [a song music in my head… especially as a person of mixed race. is] overproduced, … it so when I’m concep“Ever since I was younger, and as a takes away from how well tualizing a dance piece, I hear mixed-race person, [there was] a lot of I can connect with the [music] and I [know that’s] what I different musical influences [in my life],” music.” want,” Joondeph said. “So then I’ll Joondeph said. “[There was] lots of ‘80s Because Park initially began compos- go and transition to composing.” and ‘90s music from my dad, ing for himself to self-reflect, his new EP Creating a sound mix usand then from my mom’s will be a significant milestone for him in ing computer software, side and my grandma, sharing his music with the public. like Joondeph does, [there was] a lot of “More so than just releasing it, it felt involves blending varIndian music.” “I always have like a goal for me to get to write,” Park ious parts of differCreating sound said. “Once I’ve released this, [it] will be a ent songs into a new, mixes is an espemusic in my personal peak for me.” singular piece. The cially meaningful head.” process is time-conpursuit for Joonsuming and involves deph because it Akhil Joondeph, senior much trial and error gives him the abilto figure out the flow of ity to represent his Akhil Joondeph the song. mixed-race identity by tapping “I hear what parts are buildinto these musical influences. eadphones on, he meticulously ing, what parts are low in terms of “I felt like my identity wasn’t nectweaks the reverberation waves energy or intensity, and what [parts] are essarily reflected in any music as an Inon his laptop in front of him. The high like the climax,” Joondeph said. “I’ll dian American person,” Joondeph said. sound emits from his computer as he at- think about how I want the mix to move.” “There was Indian music and there was tempts to imitate the melody that he has Although Joondeph’s sound blends are American music, [but] there wasn’t really clearly envisioned in his mind. formed from various parts of different that togetherness with them. So I took iniSenior Akhil Joondeph is a sound mix- songs, he finds that he creates more flu- tiative and created that myself.”

Mixing Identity

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 1