Flair Magazine Issue No. 6 - The Adapt Issue

Designed and Photographed by Lauryl Meile

Letter From the Editor

Welcome to Issue No. 6 of Flair, the Adapt issue! Writing this letter feels so surreal and, for a long time, I had no idea what I would even say. I discovered Flair four years ago when Olivia Miller first created the magazine which would soon become an important creative outlet for myself and so many others. As a sophomore, I was featured as a staff photographer for the Together issue and in my junior year I held the position of Director of Art & Design. Thank you, Alana Consol, for passing the torch of Editor-in-Chief to me; I am beyond grateful and fulfilled. Flair has given me an ever-growing community of creatives, so many new friends, a new-found passion for digital art, and the continuous serotonin of accomplishing something incredible with the help of my peers. Throughout my time with Flair, I have seen it change and grow in so many new directions. Meanwhile, the world has mirrored these transformations and will continue to do so long after Flair and all of us are gone. The theme of this issue, Adapt, represents how a changed world inevitably changes us. As we are all learning how to adapt to these changes simultaneously, remember, nobody was given a step-by-step for how to exist on this planet. This issue reminds us, however, that we will not adapt to the drastic effects of climate change—rising sea levels, rising temperatures, pollution, and more. We hope you enjoy and appreciate this issue and will do the same for our planet—we cannot live without it.

In college, smoking weed is fairly common. Some people do it because it helps with stress or anxiety, and some do it because it helps with their creativity. Now, maybe for some people, marijuana is helpful, but it’s not for everyone. There’s a common misconception that marijuana helps people with anxiety, and it may, for some. However, for others it may heighten their anxiety. With an increase of anxiety while high, some people can be led to drug induced derealization and depersonalization.

Derealization and depersonalization are both mental states. Derealization is a mental state where one is detached from reality, Meanwhile, depersonalization is a mental state wher mental health condition such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, personality disorder, or Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder. Lots of people with these disorders are unsure of having them until an episode happens. A drug induced episode tends to look like an anxiety attack that worsens to the point of questioning one’s self or reality. To be more specific, this involves an individual having hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. All of which, may or may not escalate to a worse mental state.

Some ways to decompress when anxious while high to avoid an anxiety attack or anything of the sort are to: do breathing exercises, do grounding exercises, drink water, stop smoking weed, and connect with others.

If someone were to need additional help, there are other resources such as: National Suicide and Crisis Hotline- 988 Emergency Medical Services- 911 American Addiction Centers- (888)-986-7268.

Designed and illustrated by Sid Tsui

What is Ecofeminism?

Patriarchy in Our Society

Radical Ecofeminism v. Cultural Ecofeminism

Accountability Upheld by Ecofeminism and Its Relation to Fast Fashion

Important Vocab

- Radical ecofeminism: suggests that the connection between women and nature oppresses both. Any historical connections between women and nature need to be documented and deconstructed. Both women and nature are associated with negative attributes, while men are seen as capable of establishing order

- Cultural Ecofeminism: encourages the connection of women and nature, and relates them through traditional gender roles of intimacy and caring, and biologically. Suggests that the societal adoption of traditionally femanine attributes will create an atmosphere of caring for the environment

Written by: Sara Dent

1 Regan, Sarah. “How Gender & the Environment are Intriniscally Linked.” Mindbodygreen, Mindbodygreen, 22 June 2020

2 Mallory, Chaone, “Environmental Justice, Ecofeminism, and Power.” Springer, Spriner Netherlands, 1 Jan 1970

3 Miles, Kathryn, “Ecofeminism; Sociology and Environmentalism.” Encyclopeadia Britannica, Encylopedia Britannica, Inc. November 14, 2013

4 Miles, Kathryn. “Ecofeminism; Sociology and Environmentalism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. November 14, 2013

5 Buckingham, Susan. “Ecofeminism.” Ecofeminism - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2015

6 Skinner, Robb. Ecofeminism English Edition by Vandana Shiva Maria Mies. July 12, 2018

7 Bick, Rachel, et al. “The Global Environmental Injustice of Fast Fashion - Environmental Health.” SpringerLink, BioMed Central, 27 Dec. 2018

Designed by: Lexie Huck

Photographed by Catie Jacobson Designed by Rian Lounsbury

Animal is the familiar story of a woman seeking revenge after living a world desecrated by the cruel acts of men. After witnessing a traumatic event, Joan flees to Los Angeles in search of someone who she believes will unearth the answers that will allow her to come to terms with her disturbing past. On her journey, Joan begins to unravel the tragedies of her past in order to understand why she is the way she is. This is a story that depicts the brutal reality of being a woman and what it takes to lead us to our breaking point. Taddeo dives into this actuality and makes the reader decide: under what circumstances is revenge justified?

FLAIR LIBRARY

Baeurle

Esther Greenwood should be in the midst of the best years of her life. She’s a college student in her 20’s and has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime working for a fashion magazine in New York City for the summer. Instead, she finds herself on the brink of demise, slowly slipping into insanity. She feels detached from reality and numb to her environment during a time when she is meant to feel the most alive. How will she continue to navigate life when the only emotion she feels is indifference?

The Bell Jar is the first and only novel written by writer and poet Sylvia Plath, and has left a profound impact on American literature. This is a story that should be read by every 20-something due to its level of accuracy in depicting the false expectation of existing as a young adult in America.

Animal by Lisa Taddeo

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

written by Anna Williams designed by Grace

In 2017, Chemours, an offshoot company of the chemical brand DuPont got caught releasing high concentrations of GenX and other PFAS into the Cape Fear River. PFAS or Per and Polyfluorinated substances are used as coatings to make products resistant to oil, heat, grease, and water. Objects like non-stick pans and fire-resistant clothing use these chemicals. These compounds were found in the Cape Fear Public Utility Authorities’ (CFPUA) filtration plant, reaching concentrations nine times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s advisory level. These artificial forever chemicals do not break down and cause cancer, liver disease, high cholesterol, and numerous other health defects.

Five years later, as of October 2022, Chemours is still producing these compounds with approval from the EPA, claiming a “95% reduction in pollutants’’ and announcing a zero greenhouse gas emission goal by 2030. All actions are irrelevant to reducing the compounds already found in the water. CFPUA has filed suit with Chemours for failing to take action regarding the contamination. This suit asks to pay damages to CFPUA customers and an additional $43 for improved filtration of these contaminants. However, a trial is not expected until 2024.

Chemours is currently working on expanding its Fayetteville plant, which reports show to be leaking PFAS into the aquifers of the surrounding area. Chemours produced PFAS continue to show up in the blood samples of North Carolinians while residents in the Cape Fear region wait for action and accountability to be taken.

The company saw a net income of $608,000,000 in 2021.

No one has faced criminal charges for illegally dumping PFAS.

Written by: Designed and Illustrated by:

Written by Gaby Von Vajna Designed by Lexie Huck

Simply styled

Written, Designed and Photographed by Taylor Puckett

Easily one of my favorite parts of every day is choosing my outfit because for myself and many others, fashion is an artistic form of self expression. The process of finding what to wear isn’t always smooth and easy. As with any art medium, experiencing creative blocks can be difficult and cause me to feel detached from myself. I’ve accumulated some fashion tips throughout my style journey that I want to share with you in case you’re ever feeling stuck on how to build that perfect outfit!

First things first, if you like it, wear it! This quote deeply resonated with me as I was first coming into my personal style. I immediately wrote it on a sticky note and pasted it to my mirror. Personally, I was getting caught up in “the vibe” of where I was going, whether it be class, a dinner with friends, a party, etc. While picking out our outfits, my friends and I would find ourselves saying, “I don’t think that’s the vibe.” How liberating it was to stop giving a fuck about “the vibe” and start creating my own! Sometimes all we need to feel comfortable wearing what we want is to give ourselves permission and let go of what others might think.

This next tip is called the 8 point rule and I first discovered it from TikTok. The idea is that a complete outfit has 8 points. Generally an outfit with 6 points or less could be missing something that would bring it all together. This point system is completely subjective so if you choose to use it, don’t let it stop you from adding more or wearing less! That being said, the way you count your pieces is entirely up to you but I usually count everything as 1 point. I count pieces that are patterned, unique, or statements as 2-3 points. If you still feel like you’re missing something try adding some accessories. Here’s an example of an 8 point outfit I created for reference!

Shoes can make or break an oufit! So something that doesn’t always make sense but can occasionally make a big difference is matching your shoes with your top. If the bottom and top of your outfit are different colors, matching your top color to your shoes can bring a sense of balance and unity into your outfit. In the pictures below you can see the effect this can have on an outfit!

Accessorize! Accessorize! Accessorize! An outfit is never complete without accessories. Oftentimes, the final version of my outfit will feel good yet still missing something before it’s complete. I always save accessories for last so that I can best compliment the outfit with what I choose. It can be jewelry, a belt, a hat, or a bag, to name a few. There are so many options to choose from so have some fun with it and get creative! In the outfit below you can see how accessories can elevate your fit from good to great.

HANG UP AND HANG OUT

Written by Brooke Zarzycki Designed by Taylor Puckett

It's not news that collectively, we spend way too much time with our faces buried in our phones. This is here to serve as a simple reminder to put the phone down and stay present as much as possible. Almost every facet of our lives has become increasingly digitally dependent. During the pandemic our phones and computers became clutches in order to keep a small window of normalcy in our hands. This clearly has carried on as online school, work, and TikTok prevail! I'm sure I am not alone when I admit that my screen time on some days.... is nothing to be proud of. But with determination and following a long couple of hours of aimless scrolling that left me a little disappointed in myself, I found some ways to unplug and stay grounded with my surroundings. Setting boundaries with social media, and texting is very important. That first hour or two in the morning, and the last couple before you go to bed, should be disconnected. Those are periods of time in which you can be productive, map out your day, and recharge without distractions. Don't ignore the do not disturb setting on your phone, you would be surprised how quickly you forget about checking it when you can't hear your notifications every couple of minutes.

When you are hanging out with others, try and keep your phone out of arm's reach. Quality time with people you love, while watching what everyone else in the world is doing, is not quality time. Switch out your typical screen time hours with some more beneficial activities. Try to go on a walk and connect with nature, read a book, or pick up a new hobby. You can maximize your time in a day if three hours of it is not spent online. When you get the urge to scroll, start journaling instead. Think of things you are grateful for in your life, rather than longing for what others are portraying as their lives. It can be difficult to find joy in your day-to-day life when comparing it to false realities pushed online. Notions of perfect lives online unfortunately hold a lot of power in people's content with their lives.

Give yourself allotted phone time. Set time limits for apps or consider deleting social media during the weekdays. Challenge yourself to a social media cleanse for a certain amount of time, you might find that you don't even miss it. The more cognizant you are of disconnecting, the easier it will become. Being tied up in your online world can add a lot of unnecessary stress, and you can miss out on a lot more important moments and opportunities. Hang up and hangout with the physical world right in front of you and hold those around you accountable for the same!

adaptation

adaptation - rae goergen

the common question of if you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? the latter answer usually being, i would tell them to be themself, don’t ever change. but truly speaking, change is necessary. you can’t stay true to yourself without change; without learning from your mistakes or learning who you are.

the common question of if you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be? the latter answer usually being, i would tell them to be themself, don’t ever change. but truly speaking, change is necessary. you can’t stay true to yourself without change; without learning from your mistakes or learning who you are. the importance of growing into yourself and adapting to who you were meant to be, should be a concept easily accepted by all. sadly it isn’t, but that’s a key part of finding you. you can’t change who you were meant to be, you just have to accept who that person is. it’s hard to accept yourself in a world like this, where differences are despised and conformity is praised. well, i say, fuck your conformity. there is no beauty in this world without differences. there is no beauty in this world without you.

the importance of growing into yourself and adapting to who you were meant to be, should be a concept easily accepted by all. sadly it isn’t, but that’s a key part of finding you. you can’t change who you were meant to be, you just have to accept who that person is. it’s hard to accept yourself in a world like this, where differences are despised and conformity is praised. well, i say, fuck your conformity. there is no beauty in this world without differences. there is no beauty in this world without you.

Written by Rae Goergen Designed and Illustrated by Sid Tsui

ADAPT

Photographer & Designed by: Taylor Puckett Models: Autumn Bell, Jade Morrison Creative Directors: Rian Lounsbury, Taylor Puckett Stylists: Carlin D’Ambrosio, Rian Lounsbury, Taylor Puckett Makeup: Grayson Vick

Serena & Venus Williams

Well known for their powerful force in the world of tennis, Serena and Venus Williams bring their personal style on and off the court. Whether they are playing side by side with one another or playing against one another, their strong, sporty fashion on the court has been recognized by all. The two sisters have become unstoppable, taking over the sport and the fashion industry, mainly the athletic realm. Venus and Serena have both developed their own clothing lines, consisting of athleisure and formal pieces. The two sisters have also attended the infamous Met Gala multiple times together, establishing their role in the fashion industry.

Bella & Gigi Hadid

Rising to fame due to their mother’s past of being a young model and a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills, Bella and Gigi Hadid have become two of the most well-known models in the world in less than a decade. Stepping into the scene as teenagers definitely came with room for learning, but they are now the two highest paid models in the world due to the amount of work they put into their craft. They have been in a significant number of runway shows, red carpets, and campaigns together, truly proving that they belong in the field of fashion. Since being a heavy presence and strong influence, they have indulged in their own creative processes, one being recently releasing their own set of clothing lines. This duo is a powerhouse in the fashion industry, shaping the rules and trends by simply discovering their own personal styles daily.

Tia & Tamera Mowry

These Sister, Sister stars are a set of twins that took over the mid/late 90s and the early 2000s. Starting off as child actors on Disney Channel, Tia and Tamera were able to jump start their career at 15 years old, allowing them to grow their audience at a young age. It was rare to see the two apart from one another at red carpets or other events, occasionally presenting themselves in coordinating outfits, making them style icons of the late 90s. Additionally, as they grew older, they have morphed into beautiful mature women, who both are raising children. Nowadays, the two act from time to time, and Tamera has been a significant contribution to the talk show The Real for the past seven years. Their legacy and representation is actively present in today’s day and age, proof being the song Tia Tamera by Doja Cat.

designed and written by max stafford

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

Taking over the early 2000s, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have turned their role in Full House into being an established pair of fashion moguls. From being babies in a TV show to fully growing up in the public eye, they were often on red carpets or being captured by paparazzi whenever out of the house. They profited off their career by starring in numerous films, designing clothes, and having their own makeup line at such a young age. The pair of twins have gone on to create The Row, their very own fashion brand that focuses on the details of garments, accessories, and handbags. As compared to their style from a young age, the sisters have developed a respect from the fashion community that now describes them as mature and chic.

Devon & Sydney Carlson

Co-Founders of Wildflower Cases, this pair of sisters are currently on the rise as fashion “it” girls. Devon and Sydney founded their company over ten years ago and have become fierce with the designs and collaborations to further their family business. The two have gained their following from being consistent on Instagram and YouTube, expressing themselves and indulging in new ways of fashion. They have worked with numerous commercial and luxury brands, which has given them freedom in creating content as well as being invited to fashion weeks all over the world. Devon and Sydney are best friends and they compliment each other with their distinct styles so well, making them the perfect yin and yang pair.

Beyoncé & Solange Knowles

Two of the most talented sisters are Beyoncé and Solange Knowles. Beyoncé’s big break was being a powerful voice in the girl group Destiny’s Child, which she eventually stepped away to focus on her solo career. Solange, being the younger sister, didn’t have her career kick start until she released her debut album in 2003, following in her sister’s footsteps while embellishing her entirely different vibe. The set of sisters have been to many events together, such as red carpets, the MET Gala, fashion weeks, and many more throughout the early 2000s up until now. They maintain their status by being authentic and unproblematic. Beyonce and Solange deserve their icon status due to the magnitude of their impact on the world, individualistic representation, and ability to unite.

Kendall & Kylie Jenner

As a part of one the most famous families in the world, Kendall and Kylie Jenner had to prove themselves as more than just following their sisters and parents’ footsteps. The duo started off on reality television on the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians when they were just 11 and 9 years old. Their entire teenage years were filled with limited privacy, being forced to grow up at a young age, and developing themselves to reach their final form. Kendall was the highest paid model in recent years and has been working actively since she was 14 years old. Now being 27, she has had massive success in her career, as well as having an important impact in the fads of the past decade. Kylie took an alternative route, being the youngest billionaire ever due to her personal company Kylie Cosmetics. Her makeup line was a massive hit since its launch, and her significant influence on pop culture and fashion is notable with everything she does.

For The ex-

Athlete,

Written By: Brooke Zarzycki Designed By: Jaelin Hilliard

health after adolescent sports

There are a lot of transitions in life that are frequently addressed. They warn us about the awkward first year of high school, and the homesickness pit in your stomach as your family drives away from your freshman year dorm. We know we aren’t alone, and the resources to cope with these times of change are accessible. What there is no warning label for, is the last time you put away your childhood sports jersey, and the long ebb and flow of physical and mental adjustment that follows.

A lot happens at once. You are becoming an adult; the active structure of your sport dismantles and hours of your day that were once filled with practice and workouts are now at your disposal. Most find themselves with more freedom than they’ve ever had, living in a dorm, states away from home, surrounded by other kids in the same position. Those first months of college are filled with lots of new temptations. Dining hall food, new friends, parties, alcohol and not a whole lot of self-discipline. And for those first couple of months for a fresh 18-year-old, it’s practically heaven. By no means am I shaming this time period and lifestyle that often accompanies it. It’s crucial to go through different stages to learn and grow, and I even find myself feeling nostalgic for that era of pure, ignorant fun. But in a timely fashion, life moves on and reality hits...hard. Once that honeymoon period of fun tapers away, a lot of people find themselves in an interesting intersection of two paths of life. You no longer are the agile teenage version of yourself that “could have gone far if you stuck with it,” or the “hometown hero,” that had a big reputation in town. This can be a hard pill to swallow. Add that realization on top of months of poor nutrition and absence of a physical outlet. You might feel like a stranger in your own body, and this can be an extremely hard spot mentally. But as I said, this is a transition, a time of learning. When a sport was a large part of your identity growing up, it’s hard to move on and fill the void that the end of that season of life can bring. The point of this is to not criminalize these changes. Change is inevitable, and you cannot beat yourself up, or let yourself slip into a harmful, negative headspace. But health, and positive outlets, are crucial in order to be the highest version of yourself. For many of us ex-youth athletes, this means completely relearning how nutrition and physical activity best fits into our lives, as well as finding new outlets that we identify with.

This journey is purely individual, and what matters most is finding the balance of what makes you feel good inside, and out. When you’re young and extremely active, it feels as though you can get away with eating anything and still feel energetic and spry through the day and have restful sleep through the night. When you get older, you might be able to feel the mental and physical consequences of a non beneficial diet a little more. When it comes to reconstructing your diet, I can’t stress enough the importance of intuitive eating; all this means is listening to your body. Eat when you’re hungry, eat foods that make you feel energized, and eat a wide variety of food groups and colors. Focus on whole, unprocessed foods to heal from the inside out. It’s amazing the effect that our nutrition can have on how we function throughout our day, physically and mentally. Much of poor nutrition purely comes from people being uninformed. Educating yourself is extremely important, as well as some trial and error to find what works for you. Aside from diet, moving your body is crucial for your health and longevity. Finding a way to be active that you truly enjoy can be monu- mental when it comes to mental health. Having that outlet throughout stress- ful times and having something to work towards and be proud of, is important. When you play a high-level sport while growing up, you might not know how to be active outside of that sport, or poten- tially become physically burned out. My advice would be to try as many new things as possible. If running, weights, or HITT workouts are not your jam, there are so many fun ways to keep moving that don’t even feel like working out. Join new gyms or clubs, try a new sport, or simply go on a walk with some friends. You might find something that sparks the same joy that you found in your child- hood sport. The most important thing is that it is something you enjoy doing, and this will ensure that you stick with it. Now the internet can be a blessing, or a curse, when it comes to information on health and fitness. Diet fads, 30-day shreds, impossible standards, and impractical regimens are a definite culprit to disordered eating, overexercising, and overall decline in mental health in young adults that find themselves in this vulnerable position. When you go searching for answers, be skeptical of who you get your information from, and what credentials give them the scope of knowledge to inform you. If you sort through the masses with a criticizing lens, you can find beneficial resources online and people with certifications to coach you through this journey. Most importantly, go on this journey for yourself, with a healthy headspace. Love your body by nourishing it properly and tune in with your inner child through movement. Find a new version of your previous athlete with something you can carry through all stages of life.

By Cecilia Moushey

JENNIFER EATS MEAT, NOT BOYS

Designed by Arianna Larsen

In western art, a woman’s presence has been their body. These bodies are tortured, murdered, raped, harassed, for sale, for voyeurism, and of course consistently naked. Though the male gaze has always been a part of visual art, lm theorist Laura Mulvey o cially created the term “male gaze” in her essay, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” She de nes this patriarchal structure in cinema by exploring how lm neatly combines “spectacle” and “narrative” (Mulvey 809). The spectacle being the woman “as an erotic object” and the narrative being “the ow of action in moments of erotic contemplation” (Mulvey 809). With the rise of lm and TV, this form of looking at women’s bodies has become more evident and eye-catching than ever. The medium of the lm creates a full immersion into the illusion of narrative. Cameras are able to capture “the male gaze, which depends on the image of ‘the castrated woman’ in order to make sense of the world“ with style and nesse like no other medium (Sassatelli 2).

In Karyn Kusamar’s cult classic horror lm, Jennifer’s Body, Kusama creates the feminist lesbian gaze by deconstructing the classic framing of the male gaze. This sarcastic, splash-in-the-face, 2009 lm was originally brushed over by the masses being deemed another sexy Megan Fox movie teen boys could drool over. Critics of the time called it “a showy piece of writing that doesn’t have that all-important ballast of sincerity” (Tobias). Teen boys and grown men who indulged in Megan Fox’s over-sexualization were disappointed with the lack of sexiness and focus on the genuine depth of love between the two girls. However, today’s assault survivors, queer lovers, and horror fans are reclaiming Jennifer's Body as a bloody rape-revenge plot with complex female leads. Furthermore, the male gaze originally expected of the movie has now been recognized as the feminist lesbian gaze it truly is.

Jennifer is at the top of the food chain, a popular cheerleader who is best friends with Anita or ‘Needy.’ The duo goes to an indie concert where Jennifer irts with the singer and Needy sinks into the background. During the show, the venue catches on re causing mass death within their small town. Jennifer and Needy escape the re when Jennifer is coerced into the band’s van. Needy is left speechless as the van pulls away ominously and Jennifer, clearly out of it, is in the back. After this night, Jennifer is never the same. Needy gures out the band sacri ced Jennifer and she is now “possessed by a demon, and she craves human esh.” As Jennifer “begins to hunt boys” her and Needy’s relationship becomes tumultuous and explores the bounds of teen girl love (Grady).

L

The lead actress in Jennifer’s Body, Megan Fox’s early career was swallowed up by this gaze so commonly found in the lm. At just fteen she played an extra in a scene from Bad Boys 2 in which she wears six-inch heels, an American ag bikini, and dances sultrily under a waterfall in a bar. Further in her career, she plays the role of Mikela Banes in Transformers in which there are constant shots of her low-rise jeans and bursting-at-the-seams tops. Her most iconic scene in the lm is dripping with the classic male gaze. It's in the way she arches her back while holding onto the car, the way the lead male character stares down her body oblivious to anything she is saying, the way the camera follows his eyes up and down her scarcely covered body for the audience to gawk at. Within this scene, her body functions on two levels. One being as an “erotic object for the characters within the screened story.” The second being as an “erotic object for the spectator within the auditorium” (Mulvey 809). Fox’s history of constant over-sexualization makes her the perfect actress for the role of Jennifer in Jennifer’s Body.

Feminist lm theorists often read Jennifer’s Body in two di erent ways. On one hand, it can be read as a “validation of patriarchal discourse as a means of warding o feminine monstrosity” (Kooyman). By killing innocent men and using her sexuality to lure her victims Jennifer’s actions can be perceived as “monstrous and abject behavior [that] is not feminist but is, in fact, a product and endorsement of misogynistic patriarchal discourse” (Kooyman). While on the other hand, “it can be read as a radical de ance of the patriarchal social order” (Kooyman) Jennifer’s every move is about her carnal desires and that often is Needy or power over boys.

This movie’s gaze is not about Jennifer’s snacks (men) and how they are so excited to sleep with her. It is all about “women looking at women, and men mainly existing to be a great source of protein” (Blanchet). For instance, in the opening shot, Needy is peaking in the window of Jennifer’s room. The framing of the scene was setting up the viewers to expect “the fragmentation of the woman’s body and the voyeuristic separation of the viewer from the female character” (Blanchet). However, this classic voyeurism viewers expect is ipped when the person in the window is “sweet Needy” (Blanchet). This quick tone shift implies “that women have taken over the viewers of other women as objects of desire” (Blanchet). In quintessential 2000s teen lm fashion, a voice-over of Needy speaking starts to introduce all the characters; Needy’s boyfriend, Chip, is brie y mentioned while “Jennifer gets a slow-motion entrance and close-ups which lovingly showcase her gorgeous face–by cutting between Jennifer and Needy’s adoring gaze” (Blanchet). Even the song that plays during the opening sequence which sings ‘You are the girl, that I’ve been dreaming of / Ever since I was a little girl.’ highlights the two girls' deep relationship. Furthermore when the opening sequence ends the rst line is a student commenting on Jennifer and Needy’s friendship saying, “You’re totally lesbigay.” This small remark is used “to establish and emphasize the very deliberate intention of queer subtext” (Ho man). Throughout the lm “Jennifer’s constant needling of Chip and undermining of their relationship hints at a deep insecurity and jealousy, as well as a certain level of competition.” Needy skips a date night with her boyfriend to go to the indie concert with Jennifer. She also stops kissing Chip in order to get ready so Jennifer can pick her up. Needy experiences a deep tie with Jennifer that allows her to see visions of Jennifer’s feedings. The rst time this occurs is when Needy and Chip are having sex. Even when Needy is with her boyfriend, “Needy’s thoughts are not with Chip – they are with Jennifer” (Hexpot). Needy is attached to Jennifer more than any man she ever interacts with.

“The male gaze gets all its power from being able to slice and dice the image of the woman, manipulating the picture of femininity for the pleasure of the male spectator, and never acknowledging the real person who was the subject of that picture” (Blanchett). Audiences came to the theaters expecting just that, an objectifying horror lm that implies the sexualization of Megan Fox’s mutilated body. However, Jennifer’s Body confronts this archetype through a “deceptive and cunning main female character who cuts up and consumes the men in her life, nding her most ful lling and complex relationship with her best girlfriend” (Blanchett). This is not a movie about boys. It is not about how they need to be defeated or defended or how they are useless or useful. This movie centers on sandbox love. Sandbox love is sapphic love. It is soft kisses and heart necklaces. It is tightly holding hands and cuddling under soft blankets. It is sexy, and gentle, and passionate, and, completely, and underly queer. It is not crude or ashy, but it does always exclude men. Through the use of subversive camera work, centering on female love, and using a women’s sexuality as her power this lm inverted aspects of the male gaze into a feminist lesbian gaze. This movie is the angsty queer love story every fteen-year-old lesbian dreams of.

The Body Shop

Photographer: Lillianne Hogsten Creative Director: Jaelin Hilliard Models: Arianna Larsen, Kelsey Lian, Ashna Patil Stylists: Jaelin Hilliard, Rian Lounsbury, Taylor Puckett Makeup: Grayson Vick, Rae Goergen, Kylie McNamara Hair: Dinadja Davis

Designed By: Jaelin Hilliard & Taylor Puckett

Written By Ginny Smith Photography by Taylor Puckett Designed by Dinadja Davis

If you fall anywhere in the gen-z category, like myself, then you probably have somewhat of a sizable collection of CDs or DVDs stowed away in the corner of your parent’s attic. Part of me was a bit sad upon the destruction of my once-beloved Bar- bie and the 12 Dancing Princesses DVD, as well as a 2004 Ange- lina Ballerina series special recording becoming a casualty in my crafting rampant. But nonetheless, I was very happy with the results of my CD Mobile.

Starting off, I know I wanted my CD’s to be free of old designs- and was going for that iridescent, sun-catcher like shine that plain CD/ DVDs have. If you have plenty of disks to spare, I found it easiest to hot glue the sides of two different disks with writing on them to- gether, facing each other, so the blank sides would face outward.

For the base of my mobile, I hot glued 5 disks together to create sort of a platform. One in the middle, and two on the left, and two on the right. I would eventually run out of hot glue, and found that gorilla glue is equally as effective, except it will take a bit longer to solidify compared to the hot glue. Patience is of virtue with this project, I recommend fully waiting for the glue to dry before moving forward.

Once your base is prepared, and you have your disks (or any other object you desire, really) that will be hanging from the base, you are ready to assemble your mobile! I found that yarn was a good, strong, string to use–but I am sure various other types of string could work. I simply threaded the yarn through the middle of the CD, so it looks like a CD necklace. I then took one end of the yarn up through the center of the middle CD in your mobile base, and knotted it.

Pressed Flowers

I repeated this all around the center of the mobile base, in order to ensure the weight of the disks would hang evenly, and the mobile would not hang too far right or left. You can add as much or little as your heart desires, just make sure the weight of the disks is evenly distributed on all sides of the base for best results. Manipulating the length of the string creates a neat, asymmetrical look I really enjoyed.

If you have some beautiful blooms you want to preserve, there’s no better way to do it than pressing them.

I simply picked my flowers and leaves of choice, and laid them out on a sheet of tissue paper, one below the flowers, and one covering them.

Festive Heart Garland

I then found a big, heavy book and put them in the middle of the pages, ensuring you have a good amount of pressure on your flowers. I would recommend leaving them alone for at least a week–possibly even longer–to achieve that satisfying, perfectly pressed flower.

I then took my flowers and arranged them on a piece of sturdy cardstock and covered them in 3 layers of modge podge.

Take some construction paper, or whatever kind of paper you desire and cut out as many hearts, stars, or whatever shape you want. I decided to cut doubles of whatever shape I decided to make, so I could easily glue the shapes together between the strings. I used yarn for this project, but various types of string could work. I found this to be such an easy and quick way to create a fun addition to any empty space in a room.

SUSTAINABILITY IN NYFW

WRITTEN BY ANNA WILLIAMS DESIGNED BY MAX STAFFORD

Collina Strada

Collina Strada has taken the fashion industry by storm as a self proclaimed “platform for social issues and awareness”. They are a New York based brand that has become known for their ready-to-wear and eco-friendly styles that often feature reused products. In the Spring/Summer 2022 collection, some models had a unique accessory as they walked the cat-walk: a reusable water bottle! The mastermind behind the brand, Hillary Taymour, is known for her ability to repurpose already existing pieces into eclectic, colorful, ready-to-wear fashion statements.

Bevza

Bevza is another fashion house that has been turning heads lately. The Ukrainian-based brand showcases womenswear made from a variety of sustainable materials from water bottles to plastic bags. The brand even uses an “eco-friendly digital printing process on coats as an alternative to fur coats”.

Sustainable brands are becoming more common everywhere we look, but high fashion seems to fall behind in its ability to be environmentally friendly. Hopefully, the guidelines from the Sustainability by Design study will encourage high fashion companies to make decisions that prioritize the environment rather than perpetuating a cycle of waste.

A Tarot Reading for December

Based on Your Zodiac Sign

Aries received the Two of Pentacles. This means Aries may struggle with balancing things in their life. Whether that be school and work, school and social life, etc. Overall this month, Aries will probably be very busy with not a lot of time on their hands. Aries should be warned to try to organize their life better, utilize good time management skills, and prioritize what they need to be doing otherwise it may get a little bit overwhelming. Make sure you give yourself time to rest to avoid burnout.

Taurus got the Wheel of Fortune. This means a sudden change of fate is happening for Taurus this month. Originally this card came out reversed, however I usually do not read reversals. Although, sometimes I can feel if the card is supposed to be in reverse meaning the energy may be blocked. This blocked energy represents what I am gathering for Taurus in December. A sudden change might not happen until later in the month as there may be some obstacles in the way. Overcoming these obstacles will allow the path for change to open up and it will most likely bring very positive change that is inevitably going to happen.

Coincidentally enough, Gemini received the Magician card. This card is ruled by Gemini. This month, Gemini will likely feel very much in their own power. However, they may struggle with expressing emotions, but decisions won’t be hard to make. Manifesting what they desire will come naturally. For example, Geminis may intuitively pick up on something and it will happen shortly after. Or perhaps, Gemini will become closer to their higher self and more spiritually involved. Gemini may feel very creative, and should definitely harness that energy into their craft or field of work.

written by victoria martins

designed by taylor puckett

Cancer got the Ten of Cups. Cancer will likely find happiness in friendships or interpersonal relationships. This will be a very good month for Cancer. They will feel very content in their home or within their support group. Personally, I feel that this card and the sun card emphasize the happiest energy in tarot. This may signify a long healing journey finally coming to an end that may have taken a while. Their vibration will most likely be very high at this time.

A wish may be fulfilled for Leo. Two cards flew out for Leo, the Star card and the Nine of Cups. This could signify that something they have been trying to manifest for a long time is coming into fruition this month. The Star card often signifies healing or a healing journey so this wish may not be a physical thing within our tangible reality, it may be spiritual healing. As I was shuffling for Leo, I got a vision of the Strength card, which is ruled by Leo. After I pulled the Nine of Cups and the Star card, the Strength card was on the bottom of the deck. This tells me that this journey was not an easy one for Leo and there have been a lot of challenges that needed to be overcome. Leo may have been wishing for these tough times to be over and like Cancer, it is finally coming to an end.

Virgo got the Eight of Swords. Virgos may struggle a lot with overthinking and should be careful not to get in their head this month. Virgo should be careful of this because oftentimes, their thoughts aren’t true. Virgo are usually naturally very smart, however the intellect is like a knife. For example, a knife can be useful for cutting food, although using a knife to do everything in your life is not wise and may end up cutting you in the end. Virgo should trust their intuition and their heart at this time.

Virgo should try to get outdoors more or start going for walks to clear their mind as it will help. Staying trapped indoors with your thoughts is not wise this month.

Libra received the Four of Wands and the Ten of Pentacles.

These cards signify a solid foundation that is being laid down for the future. Libra will be heavily investing and making plans for their future in regards to their career or life path. Libra will likely feel very steady and stable this month as far as career, work or home life. If they are not investing or planning their future, they will be gaining a sense of stability and feelings of gratitude that all of their work has finally paid off and they can finally relax.

Scorpio got the Four of Cups. This represents that there could be feelings of discontentment or boredom emotionally. Scorpio could be feeling stuck wherever they are in their life–feeling like nothing is moving forward for them. However, this card signifies that those feelings are just illusions. This card depicts a person sitting underneath a tree with their head down avoiding eye contact and the cup of water that is being given to them. This is interpreted as, although it may seem like nothing is happening for you this month there are always things that you can be grateful for. New opportunities are showing themselves to you, but you may not be noticing them or are just plain ignoring them. Pay attention to the signs and synchronicities at this time, as well as try to find the silver lining in your situation.

Sagittarius received the Six of Pentacles. This could mean that there will be a rewarding exchange from someone in their life. Someone may be offering Sagittarius more of their energy, time, material wealth or even just making more effort in their life. With the Ace of Pentacles on the bottom of the deck, this could signify a new beginning. Something new is entering your life whether it be a person or a tangible thing, like money or a gift. The Ace of Pentacles commonly symbolizes someone giving you a gift or an offering, so paired with the Six of Pentacles here, I definitely see this as a possibility for you this month.

Capricorn received the Eight of Cups as their card. When I first shuffled for Capricorns, the Eight of Cups and the Ten of Swords came out. That energy is not the best, so I put the cards back in the deck and reshuffled. Strangely enough, the Eight of Cups came out again with the Ten of Swords on the bottom of the deck despite shuffling the deck before pulling again. Spirit definitely wanted to convey this message to Capricorn that this month may not be easy.

These cards signify an ending or a loss and walking away from something that is no longer emotionally fulfilling. This combination can manifest as walking away from toxic friends, a toxic relationship, or just toxicity in general. This is not all bad though–as tens in tarot represent completions. This means although this may be a painful situation and may hurt in the moment, it will only be temporary. Along with the Eight of Cups, Capricorn will soon be able to let go and move forward by the end of December. It will be hard to walk away, however Capricorn is making the right decision as they are choosing their heart and self love.

Aquarius received the Seven of Cups. There may be a lot of opportunities and options regarding their life path and career this month. However, it could be hard for Aquarius to make these decisions. Aquarius may also experience a lot of vivid dreams or catch themselves daydreaming often. New people could come into their life, new things, responsibilities, and/or different kinds of energy will all be thrown at Aquarius this month. It may also be hard for them to clear their mind. Aquarius may desire to do a lot of different things at this time–starting new projects or trying to multitask. Do not overburden yourself with too many different things at once because it can make you quite Pisces received the Universe card in my tarot deck. The Universe card is the same as the World’s card in the traditional Rider Waite tarot. However, the significance in my deck is a little bit different. This card symbolizes a spiritual awakening or a revelation. On the bottom of the deck Pisces received the Chariot card. To me this means that emotionally Pisces have been very strong in fighting a lot of hardships or obstacles in their life in the late past. Similar to Cancer and Leo, Pisces will be pushing past these obstacles and cycles that may have been going on for a long time. Pisces are finally breaking some sort of karmic cycle that may have made them dwell on the past for quite some time and has prevented them from evolving. This is a fated event and Pisces will probably not notice it in this reality, as it is happening within your spirituality. Pisces may notice, however, a shift in how they deal with their emotions and how they perceive the world.

Artwork by Lauryl Meile

Cover Photographer Taylor Puckett Models Autumn Bell, Jade Morrison