Tuskan Times Volume 9 Issue 4

TUSKAN TIMES

CULTURE

SCIENCE

POLITICS

ISF

IN THIS ISSUE

1

COVID AND MENTAL HEALTH

ANNA SVERCHEVSKY

THE SPRING BOARD FORUM

DEVAKI MENON

SPORTS INTERVIEWS

AVERY FERNIE

3 5

ZEYNEP PENCABLIGIL

9

EDOARDO CARIATI

11

JACK BACH

13

JUSTICE FOR PRINCESS LATIFA WHITE SUPREMECY GAMESTOP STOPS STOCKMARKET

EDOARDO CARIATI

15

THE WEALTHY: FIRST IN LINE FOR VACCINATIONS

NELSON MATOS

17

FEAR OF COVID

FILIPA GAMEIRO

19

DEADLY WINTER STORMS SWEEP THE SOUTH

SOPHIA LOVATO

PUTIN STRIKES BACK

A NEW ERA OF MARS EXPLORATION THE MANY PROJECTS OF ELON MUSK THE PSEUDOSCIENCE OF PHRENOLOGY

"THE PLATFORM" MY THEORY

21

JACK WANG

23

ALISIYA ERMOLENKO

25

DEVAKI MENON

27

TAMARA PRONINA

29

ON THE COVERS THE MAIN IDEA BEHIND THE MENTAL HEALTH/HELL COVER IS THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE CAN EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ESPECIALLY DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. EACH PERSON PROCESSES STRESS DIFFERENTLY, SO I MADE EACH FIGURE A DIFFERENT COLOR. THE YOUNGEST STUDENT IS THE ONLY FIGURE OUTWARDLY EXPRESSING HIS PAIN BY CRYING

EVA GOULDER MY INTENTION FOR THE WHITE SUPREMACY PIECE WAS TO CREATE A GRAPHIC, HAUNTING IMAGE AND TO MAKE THE VIEWER UNCOMFORTABLE.

EVA GOULDER

MEET THE TEAM

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

LAYOUT

WRITERS

BERNARDO PETOCHI

SOPHIA LOVALVO ZEYNEP PENCABLIGIL ANNA SVERCHEVSKY

JACK WANG JACK BACH NELSON MATOS DEVAKI MENON AVERY FERNIE ZEYNEP PENCABLIGIL EDOARDO CARIATI SOPHIA LOVALVO ANNA SVERCHEVSKY ALISIYA ERMOLENKO TAMARA PRONINA FILIPA GAMEIRO

ASSISTANT-EDITOR KATHERINE DICK

LAYOUT EDITORS GIUSEPPINA LOPEZ ANNA PAPINI

SUPERVISOR JOHN PITONZO

EDITORS JACK BACH AVERY FERNIE NEREO LORETO LUISA REGO STELLA FRANCESCHI SELINA MARTON

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEAR READERS, WE ARE AWARE OF HOW LONG YOU HAVE WAITED FOR THIS LATEST ISSUE, AND WE HOPE TO CLARIFY THE NATURE OF THIS DELAY. ONE OF OUR WRITERS, JACK BACH, HAS WRITTEN AN ARTICLE THAT ANALYSED THE STATE OF THE WELLBEING PROGRAM HERE AT ISF; DUE TO PROLONGED DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE CONTENT AND OTHER CONCERNS OF THE ARTICLE, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE THE ARTICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS MEANT THAT WE COULD NOT SHOWCASE THE HARD WORK OF ALL OF OUR WRITERS, EDITORS, ARTISTS AND MEMBERS OF LAYOUT. THEREFORE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO RELEASE THE EDITION WITHOUT THE ARTICLE ON WELLBEING AT ISF. JACK IS AN EXCELLENT WRITER, AND HAS SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS ON THIS ARTICLE; WE HOPE THAT SOON WE WILL BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE THE RESULTS OF HIS HARD WORK. IN THE MEANTIME, SIT BACK, RELAX, AND ENJOY OUR LATEST ISSUE! SINCERELY, BERNARDO PETOCHI

The class of 2021

ISF

In this section of the issue, our writers explore topics related to ISF and our community as a whole

The class of 2021

ISF

MENTAL HEALTH

THE UNSPOKEN REPERCUSSIONS COVID-19 HAS ON OUR MENTAL HEALTH

BY ANNA SVERCHEVSKY 22' We all first heard about Covid-19 as the year 2020 began. News arrived that in China there was an outbreak of the so called “Wuhan virus”, which most of us didn’t think much of - at least until it began to spread around the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization had declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. That date marked the beginning of a trail of death and suffering, as well as the start of a succession of lockdowns across the globe that followed the example set by the first one in China. Of course, at first most teenagers were ecstatic that school was closed for a couple of weeks and that spring break had been extended.

However, once the first couple weeks of lockdown turned into months, fear began to seep in. Things turned for the worse when many people lost their jobs or saw their incomes cut.

Unemployment rates increased across major economies as the recession began. Covid had changed the socio-economic landscape of the planet.Human beings don't do well with change, it scares us, because we are creatures of habit. With Covid, we live under the constant uncertainty of what's next: When will we go back to school? Will we lose our jobs?

When will we be able to have a meal out or go to the cinema? When will we be able to simply take off our masks?

Faced with new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, homeschooling, and the lack of physical contact with our family members and friends, it is important to understand the repercussions this can have on mental wellbeing. It often goes unsaid how severe the effects of isolation are to the human brain and body.

According to the World Health Organization, it can lead to feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, frustration, changes in appetite and energy, difficulty concentrating and making decisions, difficulty sleeping, nightmares, worsening of chronic health problems, as well as increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful substances.

1

TUSKAN TIMES

ISF

MENTAL HEALTH

It is evident that all age groups are affected by these negative symptoms of isolation. For instance, young adults have experienced a number of pandemic-related issues, such as closures of universities and loss of income, that likely contribute to poor mental health. During the pandemic, a larger than average proportion of young adults (aged 18 to 24) reported symptoms of anxiety and or depression (56%).

Research from prior economic downturns also shows that job loss is associated with increased depression, anxiety, distress, and low self-esteem and may lead to higher rates of substance use disorder and suicide due to high pressure. During the pandemic, adults who have lost their jobs or have decreased income reported higher rates of symptoms of mental illness than those who had kept jobs and whose incomes had remained unchanged (53% to 32%).

Research during the pandemic points to concerns around poor mental health and well-being for children and their parents, particularly mothers, as many are experiencing challenges with school closures and lack of childcare. Women with children are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and or depression than men with children (49% instead of 40%). Many essential workers continue to face a number of challenges, including a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus than other workers. Compared to non essential workers, essential workers are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety or depression (42% vs. 30%), starting or increasing substance use (25% vs. 11%), and suicidal thoughts (22% vs. 8%) during the pandemic.

TUSKAN TIMES

2

The statistics listed show the sudden and devastating impact isolation and change have had on the community. In fact, nowadays there are even terms for these symptoms such as “covid fatigue” or “covid depression” to let all of us know we are not alone in our struggles.

Ways to stay serene and positive: 1. Get a good night's sleep 2. Practice gratefulness and mindfulness 3. Seek social support 4. Keep a routine 5. Be productive during your free time

ISF

SPRING FORUM

THE SPRING BOARD FORUM

BY DEVAKI MENON '24 The spring board forum that was hosted on the 10th of March was an occasion for the management of the school, the parents and students to come together to celebrate some of the achievements, describe future pathways and assess progress against past objectives, that the school made. Members of the board, as well as members of our school administration, presented each accomplishment and step forward that the school has made over the past year, as well as highlighted important changes and things to look forward to in the future.

Some things that have been achieved in the last year, among other things, a new curriculum, timetable, and a new literacy program have been introduced, all of which have affected our school life and academics at different levels. New staff have also been inducted in, and a new leadership program has been established.

The teacher appraisal system has continued to be rolled out, along with the ISF Research Program. The increase in online teaching has also allowed the school to invest in better technology for teachers, and I do believe that all these moves have been beneficial to our learning!

Emma Hommerlein, the Junior School principal, presented the initiatives being taken forward at the Junior School. These include introducing a new program, Toddle, as part of the Primary Years Program, as well as a new written curriculum and a literacy course.

I’m sure that these courses will be extremely helpful to students, especially as they transfer to the Middle Years Program.

Marco Fazzini, treasurer of the board, also illustrated the impact the pandemic has had on the finances of the school, both positive and negative. Due to the shift to online learning, fixed costs such as cleaning, utilities and security were reduced, allowing ISF to save money, and use it for necessary things to do with keeping the school safe and sanitary, such as E-learning expenditures, COVID sanizatation and supplies. Although a lot changed within the school’s budget and expenditures, teachers were continued to be paid as normal.

"

These include introducing a new program, Toddle, as part of the Primary Years Program

"

3 TUSKAN TIMES

ISF

SPRING FORUM

"

A new curriculum, timetable, and a new literacy program have all been introduced

"

A substantial portion of the forum was dedicated to the important role of wellbeing in our day to day lives. With over 30 families having reported serious issues relating to mental health, this year the effort on improving wellbeing within school has increased.

As a requirement by the IPE, there has already been hard work to provide support for everyone.

More exciting developments are in the works as well. Very excitingly, the school is introducing 5, highly anticipated, new IB courses for the next school year - Global Politics, Psychology, Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Film, and Theatre. These are all extremely awaited, and I am looking forward to seeing new courses that will be introduced in the years to come!

Another extremely innovative initiative is the school’s new partnership with Palazzo Strozzi, that provides a unique opportunity for 12 students to learn how to curate and present a selection of art, within the overall exhibition on American Art.

There will also be a special evening for ISF families! A new principal will be joining our school community in August, who, I am sure, will fit in with the community well, and help the school advance further.

The Board Forum was a great way for the board and administration to communicate the road that has been taken recently, as well as the road ahead for our school, parents, teachers and students. Despite the past year having been a difficult one, it has definitely given us a lot to be grateful for and a lot to look forward to in the future!

TUSKAN TIMES

4

ISF

SPORTS INTERVEIW

SPORTS INTERVEIW

BY AVERY FERNIE '22

ISF is a school filled with talented students.

Whether it’s art, science or sports, our school has it all. In this article, we interviewed a few of the biggest sport stars in swimming, rowing and much more.

What has been the highlight of your sports career? - My biggest achievement was in 2016 when I was ranked 10th in Tuscany for the 100br.

Nereo Loreto, Swimming, 11th Grade When did you start your sport? - I have been swimming since I was 6.

Do you see a future with your sport? - I’ve significantly improved since last year so... I don’t know about a future in the sport, but I am hopeful.

Is there someone who inspired your love for the sport? - Nobody inspired me to love it. I was taking swim lessons and worked my way up to competitive swimming. I never felt like quitting What is the best part of competing? - The best part of competing is seeing improvement and, of course, winning. Also competing is cool because you can see how you swim compared to people from other teams from around the country.

Is it difficult balancing your sport with your social life and school? - I have no problem balancing swimming with my life. I get school work done even though I leave early and see friends as much as I would if I didn’t swim. Many friends also swim with me. Doing all this I have no time to relax. I get to Saturday completely exhausted.

Swimming two hours a day and doing school afterward is quite tough but I’m used to it.

5 TUSKAN TIMES

Giacomo Mezzogori, Swimming, 11th Grade When did you start your sport? - I started taking swim lessons when I was 5, but I didn't start swimming competitively for a team until I was 8.

Do you see a future with your sport? - In the future, I hope that I can swim in the United States for a college team.

Is there someone who inspired your love for the sport? - There is no one that inspired me to swim, rather I just fell in love with the sport when I saw that hard work was directly linked to results.

ISF

SPORTS INTERVEIW

Is it difficult balancing your sport with your social life and school? - It is definitely not easy to balance school, sport, and a social life, but it is doable. The hardest part is not being able to go out because you have practices or races.

What has been the highlight of your sports career? - My highlight in swimming came last year when I was ranked 5th in Italy for my age group

What has been the highlight of your sports career? - My biggest achievement was winning my first international competition.

William Aspin, Racing, 10th grade

Sophia Bremner, Horseback Riding, 10th Grade When did you start your sport? - I started horseback riding about 5 years ago.

Do you see a future with your sport? - Yes, I’d love to continue even during university if I can.

Is there someone who inspired your love for the sport? - No one really but I’ve always wanted to do it because I love horses.

What is the best part of competing? - When you do well and the hard work is worth it.

Is it difficult balancing your sport with your social life and school? - I usually don’t go out on school days because my sport takes about 2-3 hours of my day and I go 6 days a week but I make time on the weekends for my social life.

When did you start your sport? - I started racing when I was 11.

Do you see a future with your sport? - I hope I can have a future in Motorsport, but only time will tell!

Is there someone who inspired your love for the sport? - My dad and Micheal Schumacher What is the best part of competing? The thrill of driving fast and racing other people at high speeds Is it difficult balancing your sport with your social life and school? - For me balancing school and my social life has been ok, I have definitely improved at keeping up with my school work.

TUSKAN TIMES

6

ISF

SPORTS INTERVEIW

What has been the highlight of your sports career? - Having the opportunity to race!

What is it like working with a team? Working with my team is an absolute joy but also we take things very seriously but have a good balance of fun and me and all my teammates are very competitive against each other on track and also off.

Domenico D’Elia, Rowing, 12th grade When did you start your sport? - I started rowing in the beginning of the 10th grade because it seemed like such an interesting sport. In the first few months however, I started thinking that the sport just wasn’t for me. The long hours put into the work, the hard workouts... These were all things that in the beginning seemed somewhat too much compared to the fun and satisfaction I wanted to have. Then I participated in my first competition, a winter national championship, and even though I didn’t get very good results, I had so much fun and I enjoyed the competitiveness so much that I just had to have some more and I had to keep going.

7 TUSKAN TIMES

Do you see a future with your sport? Rowing is something I would like to keep doing for the rest of my life. Everyday I see people of all ages rowing and enjoying that gentle feeling of the blades fencing the water surface. Seeing even very old people doing it makes me think that I too in 60 years time will want to still be on the water.

However I think that for as much as regards the competitive part of it, I will not be continuing long after university, considering that the sport takes a lot of time to do and after some years it becomes hard to conciliate it with the rest of one’s everyday life. So to answer your question more directly, I don’t see a professional future in rowing.

Is there someone who inspired your love for the sport? - I think that there really isn’t someone that inspired me, considering that rowing is not such a renowned sport as soccer for example, and therefore before starting I didn’t really know any famous athlete to be inspired from.

What is the best part of competing? - My favorite part in competitions is the beginning and the end of every 2000m race. In the beginning everyone is the same, we are all waiting for that starting signal and everyone’s heart is rushing like crazy until you hear the honk, then, I really like the ending because you really are as tired as it gets, many scream from the effort, considering that you do 7 min to your maximum, and what I enjoy the most about it is that the feelings about the race are all shared with your boat partners, whether you win or you lose, you do that together (even if the best part is when you win of course.

ISF

SPORTS INTERVEIW

Is it difficult balancing your sport with your social life and school? - It was very hard at first to organize myself with school, however, I was lucky enough to start rowing before the start of the IB, so I really don’t know IB without rowing. I consider that an advantage since I can manage to do everything without giving up on any aspect of my life.

What has been the highlight of your sports career? - I think my favorite moment in rowing was when I ranked second in Italy last year. I’ve had a pretty tough 2020, this is because in march I tested positive for covid and it was pretty tough from the physical point of view. As soon as I could I got back racing but it wasn’t the same, I had to put in a lot of effort and hard work in order to at least get back to the level that I was at before getting Covid.

Because of the restrictions, me and my boat didn’t manage to practice much before the championship and that was why our hopes weren’t at all high. Everything was ready when suddenly, the day before the race, we got the news that one of the members of the boat had been in contact with a covid positive person and therefore had to go back home to Florence to be in quarantine, it was a bad hit, if our expectations were low, now they were even lower. Another athlete filled in on the same day and after a quick training we went to bed ready for the race the day after. The next day we found ourselves at the starting buoy very afraid of how it could have gone.

All of a sudden we were racing, the boat that ended up first was very fast and passed us right away, we were left to fight with another team for the silver medal, it was a fight to the last 250mt, a fight that we won by 0.4 seconds. I remember smashing my hands on the water and just screaming from the joy. It was truly great.

TUSKAN TIMES

8

POLITICS

Our passionate writers cover issues of global relevance. From the search for Justice For Princess Latifa, to the unequal distribution of vaccines.

Covid-19 Vaccince

POLITICS

PRINCESS LATIFA

JUSTICE FOR PRINCESS LATIFA

BY ZEYNEP PENCABLIGIL, '22

A secret video, filmed by the Princess of Dubai, was leaked in February, 2021. In the video, the daughter of Dubai’s ruler says she is being held hostage in a villa and fears for her life. The surfacing of this video has brought the interference of the UN, which have asked the United Arab Emirates for proof of life.

The story of Princess Latifa begins in 2000 with the escape of her elder sister Shamsa.

Princess Latifa is one of the dozens of children of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum. The daughters of the Sheik live restricted lives, and in July 2000, Latifa’s older sister Shamsa escaped to the UK while on a family vacation. Her freedom was shortlived and she was obtained by her father’s men a month later. Shamsa was kidnapped off the streets of Cambridge, and was forced back to Dubai where she was imprisoned for years.

The Princess explains her surreal life in a 40 minute video released in 2018. Princess Latifa’s first escape attempt took place in June 2002 at the age of 16. She was quickly caught and brought back to Dubai and imprisoned under the orders of her father. She was tortured and later on says in her video,

"

They told me that your father told us to beat you until we kill you.

9 TUSKAN TIMES

"

"

Basically one guy was holding me while the other was torturing me, and they did that repeatedly.

"

The details of her torture are gruesome: “they told me that your father told us to beat you until we kill you.” She remained in prison for three years, where she was constantly both physically and mentally tortured. Latifa explains how, when the physical torture would stop, she would be put in solitary confinement for days with the lights off. Left with no change of clothes, hygiene products, and only a thin mattress to sleep on, the circumstances of her imprisonment were inhumane and sickening.

In 2018, the princess attempted to run away once again. In the years prior, she had begun to plan her second escape and allegedly saved up £315,000. She and her friend, Tiina Jauhiainen, drove to the border of Oman, where they fled to international waters by riding a dinghy and jet ski. Once they arrived at the yacht, the plan was to sail across the Indian Ocean, and later fly to the United States for political asylum. The boat was invaded eight days later, and the Princess was taken away.

POLITICS

PRINCESS LATIFA

Her friend Tina created the campaign group "Free Latifa" and brought the case to the UN. In the recently released video, the princess accused her father of holding her hostage. She explained how the villa had been converted into a jail with the barred shut windows and policemen permanently surrounding the house.

The princess added that she is not even allowed to go outside and get fresh air, and has no clue when her release will be. The disturbing videos filmed by the princess have created concern for the UN. The situation remains unresolved, and the latest update was a statement issued by the United Arab Emirates saying that the princess is now being cared for at home.

TUSKAN TIMES

10

POLITICS

WHITE SUPREMACY

WHITE SUPREMACY. A CENTURY AGO, MARCHING ON WASHINGTON HOW DID IT START? WHAT IS IT TODAY?

BY EDOARDO CARIATI, '21 During the month of January, we saw a large group of demonstrators protesting the verdict of the Court Appeal and the confirmation that Mr. Biden will be the 46th President of the United States. This article is not going to argue the extent to which the protests in and of themselves were right in their purpose, but it will compare a similar march that took place in Washington around a hundred years ago.

The march was held by the White Supremacy group, the “Ku Klux Klan”, in Washington D.C. in August 1925. The Ku Klux Klan was quite mainstream in 1920s America and their inane hate and gross acts of violence have reverberated in the country’s culture ever since. The Ku Klux Klan used its social-political status to host a broad range of endorsements and activities ranging from sport events to weddings.

The club as a whole brings racism and hate to its extreme. In the 1920s, a large part of US citizens flirted or - even at times - loved the "group of hate." A whole embracing culture led to the fiercest discrimination until the 1929 crisis, after which the group quickly declined - The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that there are 8,000 active KKK members (or fewer).

Going back to the comparison, what was the purpose of their march on Washington, and how is it similar, or different, to the events of January 6th, 2021?

11 TUSKAN TIMES

"

Ku Klux Klan did not stop after 1929.

"

The 1925 protest was the largest in the history of the Klan, grouping an estimated four to six million protesters supposedly upholding their White values and rights, while taking a stand against other social groups. Although viewed as extremists, at the time, members were the mainstream population who truly believed in white values and conservative religious traditions.

Kelly J. Baker, writer and scholar, argues that the Ku Klux Klan did not stop after 1929; the feeling that it used to bring to the population was still there, although present in a more subtle way. The Capitol Hill rioting did not come out of the blue, but rather was the natural consequence of a perpetuating feeling amongst most conservative Americans, who feel their values are under threat.

Since the 1930s, the subtle influence of the Ku Klux Klan has primarily spread across White religious groups. The two were often, as a consequence, commonly linked. This led to an all-embracing homogeneous spread of nationalism but, more specifically, white sentiment.

POLITICS

WHITE SUPREMACY

What we saw some weeks ago was just a frightening similarity. The groups have rioted to take a stand against what they consider to be their rights, that are being taken away. If you take a look at the purpose of the two rallies, they are in no way different; they both protested to defend their “rights”. Their methods do not differ either; the only distinction between the two protests were that the January riots were more violent and rebellious. In the end, the 1925 rioting encouraged nonviolence emphasis on white values, and going to the church. On the other hand, on January 6th countless laws were violated, journalists were attacked, and freedom was threatened.

If you ask Doctor Baker, the movements are the same; the social group's prominence and status have not changed.

What has changed though, is the violence that these protests now involve. Although the KKK as a whole is undoubtedly a more violent and extremist group, its extremist methods have never spread to such a large extent. The influence these movements have are the same, but the sentiment across the population seems more violent.

As a whole, one statement can be made with certainty: the United States is more divided than ever, and there is a lot more to expect if this general feeling continues to grow towards its extreme.

TUSKAN TIMES

12

POLITICS

GAMESTOP

GAMESTOP STOPS STOCK MARKET MEET THE MISFITS CREATING CHAOS ON WALL STREET

BY JACK BACH '22 GameStop (GME), a business that was slowly dying in recent years, exploded on Wall Street around January 20th with a peak evaluation of nearly 24 billion dollars. The company, prior to its unknown ascension to financial bliss, was sold on the stock market for roughly 50 dollars a share. Fast forward to one week later, and GameStop’s stock price hit an all time high at 483 dollars a share. The company’s evaluation increased nearly 20 billion dollars in less than a week, yet, none of it had anything to do with the company’s actual performance. Instead, GameStop’s 1000 percent stock price increase follows the story of a crusading internet mob, whose individual investments successfully drained the pockets of cutthroat and entitled Wall Street suits.

The GameStop “discussion” has become a very polarizing topic itself. Depending on who you ask, GameStop’s stock price’s surge is either a cautionary story about a bunch of reckless nerds turning the stock market upside down for a laugh at their own expense, or a modern David vs. Goliath tale about a group of rowdy retail investors who beat the hedge funds and financial elites at their own gain. Either way, the story of a struggling business setting big-money hedge funds back billions of dollars starts in a very peculiar place: an online Reddit forum. The now-infamous forum is known as r/WallStreetBets.

13 TUSKAN TIMES

The followers of the Reddit forum are mainly young millennials, many unapologetic and cash-seeking capitalists themselves. Since the GameStop explosion, the Reddit forum has exploded with millions of members joining in hopes of becoming part of the next group of young and savvy financial tyrants. But before that, r/WallStreetBets’ demographic mainly consisted of three groups. First, there were the aspiring and idealistic investors, too young to occupy a Wall Street desk but eager to get in the game. Second, there were the nihilists, convinced the entire financial system was rigged against them their whole lives. They wanted to directly hurt the checkbooks of the billionaire capitalists who’d been manipulating the stock market for decades. And finally there were the “memers”, the anarchists, the people who made a joke of the stock market as they poured their money into GME stock for no other reason than…

“YOLO!”.

POLITICS

GAMESTOP

Despite the groups’ unaligned agenda within the Reddit forum, they all had one thing in common: they were ready and willing to shovel heaps of cash into GameStop stock. And since mid-January, that is exactly what they’ve been doing; members of the forum and self proclaimed “irreverent degenerates” have been shoveling cash into GME stock. But why GameStop? Why did GME become the newest battleground between cutthroat corporate giants and small armchair investors?

Prior to GameStop skyrocketing, Melvin Capital, a private equity investment group, applied a heavy short position on the stock.

Neary 140 percent of the GameStop shares available to public investors were sold for a short position. That meant that some stocks were re-lent and then shorted a second time. An investment of this kind was atypical; analysts at Goldman Sachs revealed that short positions exceeding 100 percent of the company’s public equity had only occurred 15 times in the last 10 years.

Upon receiving the knowledge of Melvin Capital’s extremely overzealous and risky position on GME, the users of r/WallStreetBets initiated a short squeeze; that is when they dumped their cash into GME. The result was devastating for Melvin Capital and their short positions, but extraordinary for everyone else.

The stock price increased 1,500 percent over the course of two weeks and caused Melvin Capital to lose a total of six billion dollars. Since the start of 2021, the investment fund decreased 30 percent in value, and by the end of January, 53 percent of their total investments were lost. On the other side of the spectrum, Reddit users and other GME investors made colossal gains; the scheme's originator known as “RoaringKitty” on YouTube turned his 50 thousand dollar investment into a fortune close to 40 million dollars. Anybody quick enough to hop on the GameStop train was able to make a pretty penny.

The surge in GME stock price and demolition of Melvin Capital’s evaluation is the result of a new and empowered group of retail investors. The establishment of easy-to-use investment apps like RobinHood have bridged the gap between savvy millennials and Stock Market trading.

With the establishment of these apps, a whole new area demographic of investors has been born. This demographic has come to an enlightened realization; M.B.A’s in fancy suits on Wall Street are just as likely to give good investing advice as average Joe armchair investors with names on Reddit like “dumbledoreRothIRA” and “coldcutcombo69”. The investment firms on Wall Street no longer have a monopoly on stock market manipulation. Many of the newly empowered investors were kids when they watched their families’ suffer from the 2008 financial crisis. Young retail investors will continue to try and create chaos for the Wall Street elites, who they felt have profited from their own expenses for decades. GameStop has served as a catalyst for any such revolution to begin.

TUSKAN TIMES

14

POLITICS

PUTIN

PUTIN STRIKES BACK WHY PUTIN IS SO AFRAID OF ALEKSEJ NAVALNY

BY EDOARDO CARIATI, '21 Friday, 20th February 2021, Moscow. The Russian Supreme Court announces Aleksej Navalny's last sentence: he is condemned to 29 months of penal colony for “not having been present to a checkup ordered by the Russian police'' in December 2020.

The reason why he was not there for the checkup? He was in a hospital in Berlin, convalescent, following a poisoning on Russian soil. Why couldn’t the court have acknowledged that? What was the real reason behind Navalny’s arrest?

The story behind Navalny’s arrest goes back a long way, and it is not one that started last month, nor a month ago. It has been gaining significant attention worldwide, especially in the eyes of countries like Germany and the United States. You will, hence, be wondering

"

Who is Alexej Navalny?

"

Navalny is an influencer, a nationalist politician, a YouTuber, and most importantly, he is Russia’s most prominent protester against Putin and his corrupt government. He is against the government enforcement of strict censorship and denial of freedom, to play its corrupt games and obey Russia’s wealthiest industrialists who support Putin, and the entire Russian government’s house of cards. ne that Navalny is confident to tear down.

15 TUSKAN TIMES

However, Navalny’s aim is not that of overthrowing Putin or running for president against him. Although he presented himself as a candidate for president, his most prominent goal is tearing down the Russian system and convincing its people to follow him and revolt against Putin’s longstanding repression of the population.

Navalny is by no means the best political leader one can find. Nevertheless, his bravery and perseverance to hamper the Russian government is admirable. In fact, as a result, Navalny is one of the top 3 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize 2021.

He has significant chances of winning against Greta Thunberg - for her commitment to stopping world pollution and the World Health Organization (WHO), for its commitment towards promoting the production of a vaccine against COVID-19.

POLITICS

PUTIN

I am not here to promote why Navalny should win the Nobel Prize, but he is the right man at the right time. American political analysts say that Trump left the US in an international stalemate. Not only did he detach himself from some of Europe’s most important agreements, but he has also increasingly worsened the West’s relationship with China and Russia, to the extent that many agree the world is on the edge of a ‘New Cold War’. In this political landscape, Navalny could become the West’s pawn to overthrowing one of the world’s largest superpowers: Russia. Not to mention, it would not be the first time the West backs up the overthrow of a government. It already happened in 1953, with the Ajax Operation in Iran, and in 1976, with the U.S backing of Videla, and it could therefore occur again in Russia in the following years.

Navalny's efforts to unveil Putin’s unfair rule of Russia through his documentary “Putin’s Palace”, where he exposes some of Kremlin's greatest scandals, and his street protests that have grouped thousands of people, have led to him becoming a vital person in Russia’s strained socio-political landscape. His actions have not only had repercussions for him, like his poisoning of novičok - a poison only the Russian secret agency owns - but have had equally devastating reactions on Putin. These repercussions are shown by his drastic decline in popularity, from 85% to 62% in the past two years. Moreover, the failed attempt to kill Navalny has attracted further attention from foreign countries who want to suppress Putin’s fierce rule.

The whole show trial put in place on February 20th is just an additional confirmation of how Putin will do anything to get rid of his opposition, no matter how honest or right their cause is. Like a soldier, he must now shield his house of cards from the winds and storms of democracy.

TUSKAN TIMES

16

POLITICS

VACCINES

THE WEALTHY: FIRST IN LINE FOR VACCINES

BY NELSON MATOS '21 With more than a year of the world being affected by COVID, it’s safe to say that many of us would like to see a cure-all panacea become available to everyone. Until then, the initial COVID vaccines are being implemented with the intention of directing them towards the most vulnerable populations. This includes the elderly and economically hindered neighborhoods. Despite this, the clinics serving these communities were met with applications from people that didn’t meet the criteria of citizens who needed help. Mr. Jones, head of the Washington D.C. front-line agency Bread for the City, commented “Suddenly our clinic was full of white people. We’d never had that before. We serve people who are disproportionately African-American”.

Essentially, residents of wealthier neighborhoods are searching for any opportunity for COVID vaccines and then flooding in on the limited supply.

Since the United States continues to be ravaged by COVID, which has devastated the working class more than anyone else, it only makes sense that the limited number of vaccines be provided to those who make up the majority of the population.

17 TUSKAN TIMES

Unfortunately, even though the ideal scenario would be that a diverse population receives the vaccine, the reality is that the perpetual racial divide in the U.S has left non-whites to be among the most common victims of the virus. As Kenyan McDuffie, member of Washington State’s City Council has pointed out, “We want people regardless of their race and geography to be vaccinated, but I think priority should be getting it to the people who are contracting Covid at the highest rates and dying from it”.

The greatest reason for why working class communities, or other groups most affected by COVID, couldn’t reach these vaccinations first, despite them being more local, is due to applications being more accessible to richer communities.

POLITICS

VACCINES

The availability of an appointment is accessed by those who can sift through websites or find time off between their work hours, which is easier for those who have faster internet speed or less timeintensive work. In other words – the wealthy. According to the New York Times, counties like Wake County in North Carolina have to use costly methods such as manually identifying ZIP codes of people over the age of 75 to see where the highest rates of COVID are and prioritizing them.

Stacy Beard, spokeswoman from Wake County, said that “We weren’t going to prioritize those who simply had the fastest internet service or best cell provider and got through fastest and first,”.

"

We weren't going to prioritize those who simply had the fastest internet service or best cell provider and got through fastest and first.

"

This scenario in the United States presents an issue regarding the economic divide in recent years, where the wealthy have an advantage over those in need simply because they have an advantage in the physical and digital world, with the help of money.

TUSKAN TIMES

18

POLITICS

COVID-19

FEAR OF COVID-19.

BY FILIPA GAMEIRO '22 We live in a world where people care about themselves. We’re so individualistic, that it is getting hard to accept other points of view. A world view outside of ours is scary, and the truth is sometimes disturbing. We don’t want to see it, and we don’t want to think about it. In a world where so many people are telling you what’s good and what’s bad, and how to live your life, there is something that controls people subconsciously: fear. Fear does incredible things to people; fear makes people do what they’re told to do, be controlled, it makes them lock themselves away, or avoid what they don’t want or what they don’t understand.

In a pandemic like this one, people use fear as a manipulative tool to drive others into doing what they are told, making it feel like it’s their responsibility for the outcome of their actions. We don’t talk to other people, nor show physical affection.

People walk around in the streets and look at each other with unease, judged by whether they wear a mask or not.

Fear is something interesting, yet dangerous. It turns people against each other. And in times like these, the world has stopped for Covid. It is the reason, the excuse, and the explanation for everything. School was interrupted because of Covid.

19 TUSKAN TIMES

People don’t get standard health check ups or don’t get treated at hospitals because of the fear of contracting Covid.

People die not only from Covid, but because of Covid. I start to wonder what these responses to COVID will bring in a matter of 4 or 5 years. The fear of COVID is taking over us. We can’t keep living in a bubble where the only thing we learn is to be absorbed in ourselves. Everyone wants positivity and wants to hope that a pandemic will end. But maybe hope isn’t enough, and we don’t look very well into what this is doing to us psychologically and emotionally.

With respect for overall public health something I absolutely defend - what I think is really happening, is sacrificing health for health. Being on lockdown made it difficult to live inside the walls of a house.

POLITICS

COVID - 19

I like to look into reality and understand it better. That is why I like to be outside, talk to people, observe people, and react to people. I don’t live in fear; if I live scared of Covid and afraid to die or get sick, I’d also be afraid of living. Sometimes I think about all those hugs I could have given to some people, but I didn’t, because of Covid. Does a hug matter? Yes, affection between people is important. In some cultures perhaps not so much, but from my perspective, it is a necessity for humans and other species to thrive. When I think of my family, close relatives, and grandparents - whom I wouldn’t want sick and infected by anything - I think that when they eventually don’t come around anymore, and leave, I’ll regret perhaps not giving them that hug that would have made them happy, in their last couple of years. It’s true, we don’t know how our bodies will react to Covid, and that haunts us, because it’s something we don’t understand and is out of our control. What I would prefer is that, from now on, I still go outside, not wear a mask, and still hug and still be close to people. At home, I don’t learn. I learn by responding to the real environment, the daily routine, and the people on the streets. I won’t let Covid take that away from me. Not Covid, and not anyone else. I don’t want to stop my life because of Covid; living in comfort and away from my community scares me. I’m avoiding obstacles, in other words, I’m not living. I want to live, and all these restrictions are not allowing me to live to my fullest. I want affection and people living together, and not separated from one another, because if not, it ruins us, and our mental health. Fear ruins people, it makes them addicted, like discriminating against others, and being controlled by a higher power. I hope one day I won’t come to find someone on the ground having been run over, asking

"

"HELP ME!”, and having to say: “Sorry, I can’t, because of Covid".

"

In the future, I don’t want to ding out that if, for instance, another virus is caused by either people with blue eyes, people with a gap between their teeth, because of the colour of their skin, or any kind of health problems they may have, and looking at those people differently because of it.

That would be letting fear conquer me. I wonder sometimes how many other differences between us fear could really create.

Luckily, this virus was not selective: between poor and rich people, and the young and the old, everyone was drawn into the walls of this virus. But, I myself wonder how different the effect on the population would be if the decisions and actions of the world leaders had been other ones. Fear is temporary, and for this reason, the phase of being afraid of Covid, for me, is over. I want to live. I don’t want to skip another year of my life, because that’s what 2020 felt like: the year that did not exist. Well, if we think about it, 20-20 equals 0. I was deprived from learning so many things in the outside world, because of Covid.

TUSKAN TIMES

20

An eastbound view of East Stassney Lane in south Austin

SCIENCE

Our writers provide fascinating insight on new scientific breakthroughs, as well as updates not only on our planet, but on Mars

SCIENCE

WINTER STORM

DEADLY WINTER STORMS SWEEP THROUGH THE SOUTH

BY SOPHIA LOVALVO 22' On Saturday, February 13th, some of the most powerful winter storms swept through the United States, including Southern states which have not seen snow or frigid temperatures akin to this in years.

During the storms, the National Weather Service declared over 150 million Americans to be under winter storm warning, and 73% of the United States to be covered by snow.

These extreme weather conditions had adverse effects nationwide resulting in 21 one deaths, countless car accidents, tornados, and power outages reaching into Mexico.

Texas, including its southernmost counties, was hit especially hard, and experienced its lowest temperatures in thirty years, causing president Biden to send it into a state of emergency. As a result of its geographical location, Texans are used to a relatively mild winter and little to no snowfall depending on the region. It is because of this, and their aversion to the federal government, that Texas is the only state situated on a standalone power grid which never crosses state lines.

The United States power system is divided into three main networks, The Eastern Interconnection which includes the east coast and the central region of the country, the Western Interconnection which encompasses the Western most states, and Texas which is by itself.

21 TUSKAN TIMES

Because of the power grid setup in Texas, when unexpected winter weather hit, and caused statewide rolling blackouts, there was no way to “borrow” power from neighboring states. Additionally, 75% of the state's power grid is run by one company, so when high demand kicked in and caused the grid to fail, almost the entire state fell victim to the outages at once.

The failure of power grids left thousands of families freezing, and desperate, but things took a turn for the worse when the storms knocked out the state’s second leading source of power: wind generation.

At the time of this crisis, over 4.3 million people were snowed in with no power or water due to frozen pipes. Texas governor Gregg Abbott revealed the severity of the situation saying, “Every source of power Texas has has been compromised.” To add to the mess, power outages and burst pipes also affected the small amounts of available water, as various countries across the state of Texas issued “boil water advisories”, recommending residents to boil their water due to concerns of contamination.

As the storm raged on, many Americans remained powerless for up to a week and turned to desperate measures; they melted snow on the barbecue for water and slept in cars for warmth.

SCIENCE

WINTER STORM

A few families even fell victim to carbon monoxide poisoning after leaving their cars running to create heat and falling asleep in their garages.

These vicious storms have also drastically affected the status of Covid-19 vaccine distribution across the country. Due to weather conditions, residents nationwide were encouraged to stay off the roads, some states even shutting down highways.

Many hospitals and labs administering the vaccine were also closed due to the weather for the week, along with various airports shutting down completely for the duration of the storm.

In New York, many clinics closed indefinitely and vaccine shipments were cancelled, resulting in the delay of thousands of vaccination appointments, and stopping many new vaccination sites from even opening.

Because the storms have stunted the already limited rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations nationwide, the Biden administration is pushing governors to allow vaccination sights to operate under extended hours, and to take immediate action in compensating for the effects of these unexpected events.

TUSKAN TIMES

22

SCIENCE

MARS

A NEW ERA OF MARS EXPLORATION

BY JACK WANG 22' “Is there life on Mars?” David Bowie used to sing in his famous song “Life on Mars?” in the 70s. Mankind has always expressed the need to seek for other forms of life in the universe, particularly on Mars. This planet has exerted a special attraction to scientists who have joined forces in the past in order to point towards the apparently unreachable dreams of exploring the red planet. "When we put our arms together and our hands together and our brains together, we can succeed. This is what NASA does. We need to work together to do these kinds of things and make success happen." Rob Manning, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory chief engineer and landing veteran, said on NASA TV. Shortly after 8:55 P.M. Greenwich time on Feb.18, 2021, “Perseverance”, NASA's Mars 2020 mission’s rover captured thrilling footage of its rover landing on Mars. They recorded major milestones during the final minutes of its entry, descent, and landing (EDL) on the Red Planet as the spacecraft plummeted, parachuted, and rocketed toward the surface of Mars. EDL began when the spacecraft reached the top of the Martian atmosphere, traveling nearly 20,000 kilometers per hour and ended about seven minutes later with “Perseverance” stationary on the Martian surface.

23 TUSKAN TIMES

Actually, it takes more than 11 minutes to get a radio signal back from Mars, so by the time the mission team hears that the spacecraft has entered the atmosphere, in reality, the rover is already on the ground.

“Perseverance” handles everything on its own during the EDL process: the "distance trigger" technology calculates the distance between the spacecraft and the landing target, and automatically updates the reasonable opening time of the parachute according to the navigation position, thereby forming a smaller and more accurate target landing area, a 3.5-billionyear old, 50-kilometer-wide bowl of rock, dust and volcanic ash called Jezero Crater.

People might wonder why scientists chose this place? There is evidence that a river once poured into the Jezero Crater, forming a delta that has long since dried up.

While “Perseverance” landed here, one of the significant goals is to identify and collect sedimentary rock and soil samples in the area, explore the value of possible Martian life, and test the technology of human survival on Mars.

SCIENCE

MARS

“Perseverance” is meant to trundle across the terrain for at least a Martian year, equal to about two Earth years, following an ambitious to-do list: explore the environment by identifying and collecting sedimentary rock and soil samples in the area with rock-vaporizing lasers, groundpenetrating radar, 3-D stereograms and microscopic close-ups; explore the value of possible Martian life and test the technology of human survival on Mars by testing a device for manufacturing oxygen from the suffocatingly thin air.

“Perseverance” will also perform a special mission: the release of the "Ingenuity," first-of-its-kind interplanetary helicopter.

The unmanned aerial vehicle will be separated from the rover about 60 to 90 days after “Perseverance” landed. It relies on solar charging and can get about 90 seconds of flight time per Martian day, and each flight does not exceed three minutes.

The “Ingenuity” is the reconnaissance aircraft of “Perseverance,” which can provide high-precision maps for “Perseverance,” thereby greatly improving the efficiency of Mars rover exploration.

“Ingenuity” will meet the challenge of the harsh natural environment of Mars. In order to be able to fly in the thin Martian atmosphere, compared with helicopters of the same mass that can fly on the earth, the “Ingenuity” propeller blades are much larger and rotate at a higher speed. In fact, its blades have to spin at about 2,800 revolutions per minute, 10 times faster than helicopters on Earth, in order to push enough air downward to create upward lift.

"For those who wonder how you land on Mars – or why it is so difficult – or how cool it would be to do so – you need look no further.” said acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk. “'Perseverance' is just getting started, and already has provided some of the most iconic visuals in space exploration history. It reinforces the remarkable level of engineering and precision that is required to build and fly a vehicle to the Red Planet.” A truly remarkable achievement which will become a milestone, especially when thinking that it has been accomplished during these unprecedented times. Even celebrations after a successful landing have become a luxury these days, yet the successful landing of “Perseverance” is exciting, marking its first step in a long march. In the future, there are more challenges awaiting it, and scientists expect "Perseverance" to further unveil the mystery of Mars.

TUSKAN TIMES

24

SCIENCE

ELON MUSK

THE MANY PROJECTS OF ELON MUSK

BY ALISIYA ERMOLENKO 24'

Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and the Chief Executive Officer of Tesla, has big plans for the future. The billionaire has many ongoing projects, the most renown in the making being Musk's plan to send 1 million people to Mars by 2050. With his numerous companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, OpenAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, Elon Musk seems to be filled with ideas that look like they came out of a futuristic science fiction book. Tesla aims to create electric vehicles with renewable energy resources, SpaceX to help humanity explore our universe, The Boring Company to bring forward less time-consuming transportation methods such as the Hyperloop, OpenAI to revolutionize artificial intelligence, and Neuralink to enhance the human brain.

As previously mentioned, Elon Musk wishes to colonize Mars by 2050 with a population of 1 million people. To do so, he will send 3 Starship rockets per day, each able to carry 100 passengers and around 100 tons of needed equipment, provision, advanced life-support systems, building materials, and tools. To use the least amount of fuel possible on the way to Mars, Musk is planning to take advantage of the opportunity presented every 26 month in which for 30 days in which the orbits of Mars and Earth align. Musk promises that anyone willing will be able to go on a trip to the Red Planet, even those who don't have enough money as they will be provided with a loan.

25 TUSKAN TIMES

Below is a theoretical image of how the launchpads for the SpaceX launched Starship rockets would look like:

Neuralink is working on a project that is something out of science fiction. Experts and scientists are currently working on a small neural implant which will allow you to connect yourself to your device, mouse, or keyboard and control it hands-free. The way it works is the electrode threads pick up neural signals transmitted by the implant which are then set to the designated area of the brain responsible for movement, enabling you to control your iOS device simply with the power of thought.

SCIENCE

ELON MUSK

In order to function, this implant has a wireless charger which connects to it from the outside. Along with the implant there comes also a Neuralink app that will teach you how to use the implant to the maximum extent possible. The surgery is supposedly done in under an hour and is performed by a Neuralink designed robot as the threads are so delicate that it makes the job impossible for a neurosurgeon. It is said that the surgery can cost anywhere between 10 to 20 million dollars. Another of Musk's projects is the Loop. This project was initially announced by Elon Musk in 2013 where he explained his vision of creating a tunneling system with 30 layers where vehicles can go from one place to another in a short amount of time.The example he gave was to make the tunnels run from San Francisco to Los Angeles so cars could travel the distance within a 30 minute drive for a price of 20$

This amazing tunnel system is estimated to take 10 years to complete and cost about six billion dollars to make. The Washington Post described, the Loop is "a solarpowered, earthquake-resistant, pod-based transportation system." To get to the underground tunnel, there would be streetlevel elevators for drivers which would bring them underground to a sealed lowpressure tube. Then, using magnetic levitation, these capsules glide at a speed of 190mph. Cyclists and pedestrians can also access a self-maneuvering glassplated vehicle powered by electricity. This rather new form of transport would cost from 3$ to 5$ dollars for a single ticket.

According to Elon Musk's comment in 2018, he believes that his solution could possibly fix traffic congestion in large cities.

The series of accomplishments that make him one of the most rich and famous figures of the 21st century do not insure that Elon Musk will fulfill these promising projects. We still have a long journey ahead of us to see how much more Elon Musk can do.

TUSKAN TIMES

26

SCIENCE

PSEUDOSCIENCE

THE PSEUDOSCIENCE OF PHRENOLOGY

BY DEVAKI MENON 24'

Imagine having the shape of your skull determine your psychological attributes.

Imagine having the bumps on the back of your head detect whether you are more likely to be secretive or benevolent, or likely to be cautious or firm. Franz Joseph Gall, a German anatomist and physiologist wondered the exact thing in 1796, and decided to look into it further. Before long, he developed the idea of ‘phrenology’, which was a process that determined one’s characteristics based on the physical construction of that person's skull. The idea of phrenology spread immediately, and soon, Gall had many clients wanting him to show them their best traits, and in reality, often ‘comfort’ those clients with good things about themselves.

Gall suggested that the brain was composed of ‘organs’ and ‘muscles’ that were in charge of a characteristic; the more one part was used, the larger and stronger it would get, and vice versa. He further developed the notion of phrenology with research when it came to the indentations of people’s skulls. He once examined the heads of pickpockets, and found that most of them had bumps above their ears, which he associated with acquisitiveness, something that further proved his point. He divided the brain into 27 different parts, ranging from

27 TUSKAN TIMES

"

'The love of one’s offspring’, to ‘poetic talent’, to ‘religiosity’.

"

Each section of the brain governed a respective trait.

Phrenology was very popular in the 19th century for a few reasons. Firstly, it reinforced the upper class’s idea of their indefinite superiority on the social hierarchy, and that they were ‘naturally’ meant for the top. The lower and middle classes liked it, as it restored their hope and showed them who they could be. Most people admired it, with the exception of some, including scientists. By the mid 19th century, scientists had begun to question the accuracy of phrenology. Gall was known to have ignored all contradictory evidence against it, though after his death in 1828, scientists like Marie Jean Pierre Flourens started reversing peoples’ opinions on it. The theory that the skull had anything to do with the psychological attributes of a person was debunked by every experiment and test, but that doesn’t mean that Gall’s idea was completely lost.

SCIENCE

PSEUDOSCIENCE

Even though Gall’s theory was generally debunked, and phrenology is now considered a pseudoscience, it still has contributed to the field of neurology. It has sparked scientists’ interest in the construction of the brain, and has allowed scientists to unearth and understand the idea of cortical localization, which showed that the brain was divided based on psychological functions.

Although Galls’ theory wasn’t accurate, he paved the way for neurologists and neuroscience, and allowed us to uncover something that had never been explored previously.

TUSKAN TIMES

28

CULTURE

New media and how it inspires people.

This issue looks further into the theories behind the film "The Platform".

TUSKAN TIMES

28

Behind the scene of a film production

CULTURE

THE PLATFORM

"THE PLATFORM" MY THEORY

BY TAMARA PRONINA '24

SPOILER ALERT. If you haven't watched The Platform yet, don't read this because it will contain many spoilers as well as what happens at the end. I encourage you to watch this movie and come back to read this review and my theory about the ending.

This movie drew me while I was in quarantine, and has pulled me in countless more times. The Platform is a Spanish Netflix original film, directed by Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, and described on Netflix as violent and dark.

"There are three kinds of people, the ones above, the ones below, and the ones who fall." A very captivating quote, right?

29 TUSKAN TIMES

"

There are three kinds of people, the ones above, the ones below, and the ones who fall.

"

Well, this is the first quote of the movie and it is already making us wonder what will happen next. The film starts off with classical music, a big kitchen, and numerous fancy chefs cooking extravagant food. Then, the screen switches to a blank room with suspenseful music and a scary vibe.

CULTURE

THE PLATFORM

The concept "The Platform" is extremely clever. The setting is a futuristic prison with hundreds of levels and an opening in the middle called "The Hole." This is where a platform full of food descends, allowing the two individuals on each level to feast. The platform goes down full of food, but slowly gets torn apart by hundreds of people until it gets to the lower levels. There, food is scarce and the platform is empty. If people on each level would eat what they needed, then there would still be food on the platform on the last level. However, there is a twist. Every month, the inmates switch floors. One month they could be happily feasting on level 9, and starving the next day on level 126.

The main character, Goreng, enters the prison as a rehab to stop smoking, but he isn't aware of what the prison actually offers. His first cellmate introduces him to the grisly reality of the prison. Goreng has a positive attitude and tries to convince other prisoners to ration the food.

His cellmate, however, has been in the prison for countless months and has already adopted the rude and selfish ways of the inmates.

I am not going to summarize the whole movie, but what I will do is mention some parts of the movie that relate to my theory.

Goreng spots a woman sitting on the platform. She was sitting in the middle of the platform, crouched into a tight position in order to not be a burden to the cellmates.

She doesn’t move or bring harm, but she is still attacked by Goreng’s first cellmate. The woman fights back and later in the movie saves Goreng from being eaten by a starving cellmate. Near the end of the movie, the platform descends to the very bottom of this prison and reveals a small girl crying in a cell. She seems to be the woman's daughter, who was riding on the platform.

Many watchers are confused on how the little girl ended up in this prison considering the fact that real contenders have to be over 16 years old.

What if the girl was the object her mother brought with her? For example, one of Gorengs cell mates brought a live dog, so why couldn’t you bring someone who isn’t a real contender?

The little girl could be a message— or she could just be a hungry human who depends on her mother for food. This movie twisted my mind and the minds of many others.

TUSKAN TIMES

30