Pursuit | Winter 2018

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Cultivating Authentic Artistry in the Desert

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surviving the ride Tips for Overseas Travel

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happy gut happy life A Recipe for Better Mental Health

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art begins where language ends Creating to Cope with Loss

Fashion identity How Clothing Shapes Personality

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seeking purpose in pain

pappy & Harriet s pioneertown

36 A Journey of Illness

48 Cultivating Authentic

and Redemption

Artistry in the Desert

F E AT U R E S 48 PAPPY & HARRIET'S

Cultivating Authentic Artistry in the Desert

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FASHION IDENTITY How Clothing Shapes Personality

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SEEKING PURPOSE IN PAIN A Journey of Illness and Redemption

CONTENTS LIFESTYLE

T R AV E L

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BEHIND THE CANVAS

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CLEAN BEAUTY

20

PALM SPRINGS

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

ARTS

The Shift Toward Organically Sourced Products

A Local’s Guide to the Perfect Getaway

24 TRENDS

Integrating Body Art and Faith

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MORE THAN YOU KNOW Anaheim Hub Offers Popular Foodie Paradise

SHATTERING TYPE Thinking Differently About Personality Tests

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TEA, TAPIOCA AND TRENDS

40

FITNESS FIX

44

SOCIAL MEDIA AND LONELINESS

54

LA MURALS

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FROM SCRIPT TO SCREEN

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PURSUIT RECOMMENDS

Breaking Down the Boba Bubble

An Addiction to Progress

Communication in the Digital Age

How Walls Connect Cultures

An Introduction to Filmmaking

Must-Reads of 2019

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S TA F F

LAUREN SHELBURNE

HEATHER FINNIGAN

PHILLIP NDOWU

Managing Editor

Design Editor

Photo Editor

KRISTA ABRAHAMSEN

DANYELLA WILDER

SARAH DEAN

Relationships & Arts Editor

Travel & Trends Editor

DR. MICHAEL CHUTE

SONYA SINGH

JIM VENEMAN

Director of Student Publications

Assistant Director of Student Publications

Photojournalism Consultant

Lifestyle Editor

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EDITOR’S NOTE lauren sawdey Editor-in-Chief

No man is an island, entire of himself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

— John Donne

John Donne, in the forthright quote above, observes the basic and fundamental need of every human to engage with and abound in community — a theme that was not only present among the stories but also in the process of creating this issue. Throughout the production of this magazine, it has become so evident the role community plays in its success. Every detail is carefully and thoughtfully crafted, molded and reviewed by a body of individuals to create this collection of stories that you now hold.

Just as so, this issue, although perhaps not intentionally, has subtly interwoven a story of community within its pages. It is present in the stories of laughter and memories made when friends gather, in remembering the past, through navigating identity, in creating meaningful art, and even in moments of isolation and loneliness. This selection of stories embodies that “every man is a piece of the continent” — we are designed for and thrive in community.

Lauren Sawdey

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FAS H I O N I D ENTITY HOW CLOTHING SHAPES PERSONALITY Written by Danyella Wilder Photos by Sage Zbinden

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Chanel bag, leopard-print skirt and ballet flats. A beanie, chino pants, worn-in Vans. A floppy hat, bellbottoms and tall heels.

A list of clothing transforms on each person it adorns, becoming his or her personal style identities. It is called “appearance style,” which explains the complex metaphor for identity that involves clothing. What people wear serves as the visual articulation through how they may appear to others.

However, appearance style is not always a conscious decision for everyone. To some, clothes hold very little, if any, personal value.

For others, fashion – whether high-class purchases, or thrift-store finds – is used to let their true identity come to life. What they wear and how they wear it speaks volumes.

Long hair spills out of his beanie and Vans push off the sidewalk as a skateboard flies by under chino pants. Patrick Lau, junior civil engineering major, never leaves home without his skateboard. 8

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He’s been a skater since he was 7 years old.

“I would describe my style as skater with lots of thrift-store items,” Lau says. “It’s mainly influenced based on many musical artists, such as Paul Klein from LANY. I take their style and incorporate it into my own.”

You might be thinking how easy it was to get a sense of his personality by simply examining his clothing. There’s good reason for that. This phenomenon explains that people are good at using perception.

“A lot of people make their first judgment based on what a person looks like,” Lau says.

“When you dress a certain way, people will perceive you a certain way, too.”

This is absolutely true. The way we perceive other people is largely due to what they are wearing. Fashion, in and of itself, serves as the visual information we use to make a judgment about the people around us. When we look at a person’s outfit, the information gets sent to our brains. We analyze and interpret the information, then use it to formulate assumptions and sometimes place a bias on that individual.

Judging other people for what they choose to wear, however, can be daunting. Our perceptions of people don’t always match who they really are and how people appear doesn’t always match their true identity.

Take Lau, for example. The fact that he wears beanies and Vans isn’t what makes him a skater. At the end of the day, his choice of fashion doesn’t fully define his personal identity but is rather just a small layer that shapes it.

Previous page: Jiajing Dai, senior psychology major, wears a patterned, long-sleeve shirt from CAREFREE while holding onto her brown leather Gucci handbag. Left: Andriani Sugianto, junior architecture major, displays her thrifted, striped button-up from ARC and coordinates an orange matching beanie from H&M. Right: Patrick Lau, junior civil engineering major, pairs his beanie from Yea.Nice with a matching thrifted, knitted sweater from Savers. He added a pop of color to his look with coral-blue pants from Dickies.

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When we consciously use fashion to shape our identity, it brings out the part of us we think should be seen by everyone else. We naturally want to be noticed. How we appear to others is crucial to identity, but in fact, how we appear to ourselves is even more fundamental to personal identification. It controls the type of person we want to become. Thus, we dress in such a way to properly suit that mold.

“Through my clothing, I think the identity I want to communicate is positive energy,” says Miranda Mattson, senior graphic design major.

“I can express and show a lot of who I am

without using words.”

Whether we wear designer bags and heels, or skater shoes and sweatshirts, the fashion choices we make when presenting ourselves to the world is how we connect to who we are. It is all part of the process of identifying oneself.

A person who wears bright colors may be communicating that he or she is a happy and joyful individual, and another person wearing athleisure and running shoes may want other people to notice their love for sports and working out.

Whatever the scenario, most times, 8

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what people choose to wear says a lot more about them than words ever would.

When shaping identity, fashion lets individuality speak for itself.

“I dress for myself and I’ve always been that way,” Mattson says. “That’s the most important thing about clothing.”

Dressing for oneself, without the approval of other people, can be one of the most rewarding things about finding personal style and expressing true personality. It is a great way to dig deeper and explore the internal understanding of personhood.

Fashion, in its different forms, also has the ability to make us feel good about ourselves.

Like any other art form, mastering a sense of style takes time and practice; however, once fully understood it becomes something people do not want to keep to themselves. It becomes something worth sharing.

“I love when my friends compliment my clothing,” says Jessie Dai, senior psychology major. “Sometimes they ask, ‘How do you dress so nice?’ So I like to give them the tips I learned from my mom.”

The unique thing about fashion is not only how it impacts the person wearing the clothing, but also the people with whom they are in contact. It bounces back and forth between being a reflection of ourselves and of our friends, peers and any other people with whom we associate. For this reason,

How we appear to others is crucial to identity, but in fact, how we appear to ourselves is even more fundamental to personal identification.

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fashion connects people and brings about the authenticity of every person who wears clothing.

After finding her own sense of style while growing in a relationship with Christ, Mattson says she grew more confident in herself. This realization helped her to also help others.

“I started noticing that when I grew in my relationship with Christ, while also finding my style, I definitely started to have a more positive view of myself and was able to encourage others more in their walk to find themselves — especially when it comes to fashion.”

Throughout history, clothing and fashion have played meaningful roles in how people shape their identities. From Queen Marie Antoinette to iconic designers such as Coco Chanel, and even modern music moguls such as Pharrell Williams, fashion has proven to be a constituent part of one’s life. Without realizing it, people use the garments on their backs to express who they are — or who they believe they are meant to be.

Throughout generations fashion continues to shape identities and cultures and is often the thing many people trust will best represent their individuality.

Choice of clothes, whether an all-black attire or more colorful palette, has the power to determine much of who we are, and most importantly, reflect our personality. ◆

Left: Alexandra Creed, junior public relations major, shields herself from the light while modeling a beige, long-sleeve, ruffled shirt from Free People. Right: Samual Soine, sophomore architecture major, picks a bold print with a retro, thrifted button-down from Centro, tucked into his black PacSun pants to match his overall color scheme and foster an aesthetic he can call his own.

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Behind Written by Sarah Dean Photos by Phillip Ndowu

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alking around California Baptist University’s campus they are not hard to spot. Crosses. Countries.

Hot air balloons. On wrists, arms, legs, ankles and more. Students have adorned themselves with all different types of body art. Tattoos, once excluded from Christian culture, have found their way onto the bodies of believers.

GAINING POPULARITY In past decades, tattoos have been confined to specific subcultures, never entering mainstream consciousness. In 2005, Miami Ink premiered on lifestyle television network TLC and became a major success, propelling tattoos to the forefront of American society. It has inspired countless spin-off shows.

Celebrities soon began showing off high-profile ink. Tattoo artists themselves became celebrities, aided by the advent of social media. Suddenly, tattoos had emerged in popular culture with bodies becoming a canvas for all types of art.

As tattoos permeated secular culture, they slowly began to seep into Christian circles.

Whether sporting crosses on wrists, symbol-

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ic imagery or simply designs with aesthetic appeal, believers now have more freedom and acceptance if they choose to go under the tattoo gun.

Dr. Jeff Mooney, pastor and professor of Old Testament interpretation and theology, says he believes Christian culture has simply followed on the heels of secular culture when it comes to tattoos.

“The church culture simply just rode the wave of culture at large, which is often the case,” Mooney says. “It’s the case with dancing.

It’s the case with music. (The church is) always a little bit behind the culture but we always tend to catch up.”

DIVISIVE PERCEPTION However, there is still a clear divide in the perception of tattoos. Many students have experienced firsthand the distaste their parents’ and grandparents’ generations have for this permanent body art. This generational divide is one that Jeremy Duket, senior sociology major, has experienced with his 10 tattoos.

“I definitely see a difference in how my tattoos are viewed by the people in my 8

lifestyle

the Canvas Integrating Body Art

and

Faith

Top Left: Joshua Carter, junior biology major, and Miguel Iniesta, junior applied theology and film double major, walk together from Wanda’s discussing their interests and upcoming events. Above: Iniesta showcases his sleeve of unique tattoos.

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This idea that tattoos are not only acceptable but a platform for God’s glory is radically new.

life,” Duket says. “My grandparents have always expressed their distaste for tattoos and have on multiple occasions reprimanded me for getting them.”

Duket’s experience is not an uncommon one. Though Jonah Ross, senior accounting major, has no tattoos, he still has older relatives make clear they are not fans of body ink, while the attitudes expressed among his friends are far different.

“I have rarely heard anything negative against tattoos from peers of my age group, even at CBU,” Ross says. “Personally, I firmly believe you can use tattoos to honor God and further his kingdom.’

GOSPEL PLATFORM The idea that tattoos are not only acceptable but a platform for God’s glory is radically new.

Brittany Sherman, sophomore behavioral science major, she says uses her tattoos as a way to share the gospel with others.

“I use my tattoos as conversation-starters and for gospel sharing,” Sherman says. “I was able to share the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection to my tattoo artist because of one of my pieces she did. When the tattoo was done, I went to look in the mirror and I started crying happy tears. Right away (the tattoo artist) asked me what it meant.”

Sherman explained to the artist that her tattoo of daffodils with the word “promise” scripted beneath represented Christ’s sacrifice and promise on the cross.

“I was able to share what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ meant for the world that day in her tattoo shop and it wasn’t something either her or I were expecting,” Sherman recalls.

Elizabeth Johnson, junior liberal studies major, has two tattoos and echoes these ideas saying she believes tattoos can be a means for self-expression and creativity that should be celebrated.

“Tattoos are a really beautiful way to express oneself, whether it be tools to share the gospel or symbols or words that represent a season

Left: Jeremy Duket, junior sociology major, proudly displays his forearm tattoo as he worships with fellow students.

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lifestyle of life that was meaningful to that person,” Johnson says.

SHIFTING IDEOLOGY Where 20 years ago tattoos were often seen as a marker of a sinful past, today Christians are using them to glorify God and share their faith. This change in ideology around tattoos in Christian culture is still evolving even as many Christians hold to older traditions.

Madeline Klepzig, sophomore exercise science major, says in the community where she grew up tattoos were clearly antithetical to Christian culture and not having them was seen as a way to set yourself apart as a believer.

“I was surrounded by a church culture that basically shuns tattoos,” Klepzig says. “Not openly, but it was a general assumption that Christians, or at least those in my congregation, don’t get tattoos.”

This rejection of tattoos is usually well-intentioned, as believers seek to act in all ways according to what God and the Bible would outline. Often the Scripture cited as a biblical basis for rejection of tattoos is found in the first five books of the Bible — or the Pentateuch — specifically, Leviticus 19:28, which reads, “Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord.”

However, Mooney says that this Old Testament definition of tattoos is vastly different from how people think of tattoos today.

“Tattoos are really just not important,” Mooney says, remarking that there is no biblical foundation for or against tattoos.

Miguel Iniesta, junior applied theology major, sports several tattoos including a nearly full sleeve on his left arm. He says that Christians should be careful not to misinterpret Scriptures.

“When it comes to the Old Testament, you’ll find a lot of the Pentateuch laws are supposed to be followed within a closed system of ethics.

Therefore, we cannot shape and twist Scripture to form into our thoughts,” Iniesta says.

SECULAR INFLUENCE The greater question begged by this new acceptance of tattoos in believing circles is that of secular culture’s influence on Christian culture. Is there a negative aspect to how Christians follow the lead of the world? As society

continually evolves, how do believers discern what new conceptions of modern culture are acceptable in which to partake?

“With something this benign, I don’t think there’s any problem with it,” Mooney says.

“There’s an element you can just roll with culture. There are elements in which you have to reject culture all together. There are elements in which you critically affirm the role of culture in the church’s life.”

While tattoos are no longer rejected by some in Christian culture, the implications of their acceptance are important to acknowledge. As the beliefs of secular culture are integrated with a Christian worldview, believers must constantly discern what aspects of modern society align with Scripture. ◆

Above: Abigail Cathcart, senior early childhood studies major, and Monica Overton, senior applied theology major, review a lesson on the Hebrew language.

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Written and photographed

by Lauren Shelburne

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Clean Beauty S hift Toward O rganically Sourced Products

H

ydroquinone. Phthalates. Isopropyl alcohol. Dimethicone. Diethanolamine.

These words may seem foreign, but they

their “Your systems. skin is your biggest organ, so everything “Your youskin put is onyour yourlargest body soaks organin,” so everysays Ursie you thing Candelario, put on your nurse body andsoaks owner in,” of says RiverUrsie

are a part of many people’s everyday routines, lurking inside their favorite skin-care skin care products products and cosmetics as users are left in the dark on their potentially harmful ways. effects.

With the Food and Drug Administration havhaving ing not not updated updated beauty-industry beauty industry regulations regulations since 1938, the realities of the effects of many products that fill bathroom countertops are ignored and unregulated. The Environmental Working The Environmental Group, a non-profit Working advocacy Group, agroup that provides non-profit advocacy research group and that education provides about rethe world search andaround education us and about thethe chemicals world around we may encounter, us and the chemicals published we a survey may encounter, that stated that the averagea woman published survey that usesstated 12 products that the every average day as part of woman uses her12routine products which every amasses day as to part 168 unique of her routine, ingredients. whichMany amasses of these to 168 ingredients unique harbor harmful carcinogens and chemicals that ingredients. areMany beingofabsorbed these ingredients into our skin harbor andharmposing as threats ful carcinogens to our health. and chemicals that are being absorbed Lauren into Sucher, our askin press andofficer posing for threats the FDA to confirmed our health. to the Today Show that key marketingLauren phrases Sucher, like, “natural,” an FDA press “pure,” officer, “botanical” conand “eco” firmed on are the not “Today regulated Show”before that key hitting marketing shelves. It phrases such is now as “natural,” up to consumers “pure,” “botanical” to read the labels and “eco” of their are not favorite regulated beauty before products hitting to truly know what shelves.

It isisnow going upinto to consumers their systems. to read the labels of their favorite beauty products to truly know what is going into their skins and into

Candelario, side all-natural nurse skin and care owner company, of a RiverUrsie’s Apothecary. side all-natural, “Youskin-care should try company, to avoid any Ursie’s kind of chemicals“You Apothecary. or preservatives should try tobecause avoid any it soaks kind straight of chemicals into your or preservatives endocrine system because and it soaks can cause health straight into your care problems.” endocrine system and can cause Candelario health problems.” started her skin care line three years Candelario ago afterstarted a lifelong herlove skincare for natural line three skin care, making years ago after her a lifelong own face love and for hair natural masks skin as a youngmaking care, girl. After hergetting own face into and thehair world masks of esas asential girl. After oils, getting she went into onthe theworld createofher essential first line of chapsticks. oils, she went on After to seeing create her first success, line Canof lip delarioAfter balms. looked seeing to theher future success, and brainstormed Candelario what else looked to the she future could create. and brainstormed what else Her shebusiness could create. became not only a therapeutic, de-stressing Her business hobby became alongside not only herabusy therapeutic life but also a way hobby to help to integrate her destress more inorganic her busy beauty life but products also a wayinto to integrate her life and more theorganic world around beauty her. Her line products intohas hernow life and expanded the world to soaps, around face masks, her.

Hertoners, line has blush, now creams, expanded deodorants to soaps, face and more. toners, blush, creams, deodorants and masks, more.

Since switching to a natural, oil-based skin care Since regimen, switching Candelario to a natural, has seen oil-based an improveskin mentregimen, care to her previously Candelario acne-prone has seen an skin. improveUrsie’s Apothecary ment to her strives previously to use acne-prone as few ingredients skin. Ursie’s as possible in its Apothecary strives line, commonly to use as few introducing ingredients shea as butter, mango possible in its line, butter, commonly essentialintroducing oils and local shea orangesmango butter, and honey butter, into essential their products. oils and local oranges and honey into their products. 8

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All products remain toxin-free and biodegradable. Candelario encourages reading the label of every product you are using on your skin beforehand.

“It’s almost like food; most people know to read the ingredients and try to eat cleaner but they tend to forget about clean skin products,” Candelario says.

Dangers of Chemical-Rich Products Francesca Paige, an esthetician and formulator of the all-natural skincare line FP Skin, shares that 85 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 will suffer from acne at some point. While stress, diet and environmental factors can be regular contributors to problem skin, often the products used to combat pre-existing skin problems just exacerbate them.

Benzoyl peroxide has been used to treat skin problems since the 1890s for its strong bacteria-killing agents. This synthetic chemical derived from petroleum is the primary active

ingredient in many favorite skincare products, school industrial chemicals, why would anyone but has been banned in the European Union continue to place petroleum distillates on their since 2003 for its strong side effects. skin?” Paige says.

Still approved by the FDA, benzoyl peroxide cannot tell the difference between good and bad bacterias in our skin and burns them all away, Paige says. This elimination of good bacteria results in the drying of the skin, which can lead it to peel and flake, leading to further infection and pre- — Francesca Paige, esthetician and formulator of FP Skin mature aging. Clean, organic brands such as FP Skin and Ursie’s Apothecary stay away Finding Balance from harmful chemicals such as these and find between Synthetic, naturally occurring ingredients that achieve the Natural Products same results without the harmful side effects on user’s bodies or the environment.

Laura Babcock, senior vice president and “With modern plant-derived acne treatments chief formulator of Essential Wholesale, reoffering safe and effective alternatives to old

With modern plant-derived acne treatments offering safe and effective alternatives to oldschool industrial chemicals, why would anyone continue to place petroleum distillates on their skin?

Left: Ursie’s Apothecary carries a wide range of natural skin care products all made in the owner’s home. The “Orange Blossom” body scrub highlights Riverside local oranges. Her wide selection of products cater to a variety of skin types and needs. Top right: Candelario mixes every product by hand with each specialized recipe tucked away in her memory. Her work station is organized chaos primed for creative genius. Bottom right: The Rose Gloss features a natural selection of organic castor seed oil, rose hip seed oil, safflower oil, peppermint essential oil and wintergreen essential oil highlighting the dried rose petals throughout the bottle.

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quires full transparency in the purchasing of any ingredients that pass through her lab so she knows everything is ethically and sustainably sourced before passing it along to consumers.

“We are very aware of our industry’s impact on the environment and we make careful choices to avoid ingredients that end up endangering wildlife and habitats,” Babcock says.

juice, bananas, avocados and fermented rice water as a few of the innovative routes she has taken to wash her hair instead of using silicone- and paraben-rich drug

She acknowledges that the debate between natural versus synthetic ingredients in the beauty world is not simply black-and-white but dependent on how ingredients are mixed, sourced and used. Many naturally mined minerals are high in lead because of the high concentration on this element in the Earth’s crust. This means lab-generated versions of potentially high-lead minerals can actually be healthier, Babcock says.

“Honestly, I might be one of the few people who work in the natural ingredient world who doesn’t necessarily think natural is better than synthetic,” Babcock says. “Each has its uses and place.”

If companies are not able to sustainably source their ingredient, crafting synthetic versions can be a viable option if they are done carefully without harsh chemicals or additives harmful to our bodies or the environment.

store shampoos that are known to harm our health.

Influential bigbox stores such as Walmart, Target and Whole Foods are introducing initiatives to push for safer cosmetics from the brands they stock.

With clean beauty products becoming more readily available, it is still an option to create your own products at home. Lee has experimented with crafting her own serums, sprays and face masks, and she says she has achieved healthy, acne-free skin for once in her life.

“Do some research about your skin-type and what types of oils will benefit you and custom-build a beauty routine that’s entirely yours,” Lee says. “It feels good when I look at my bathroom sink and see it full of things that I made myself.”

Everyone is unique in his or her skincare needs and must experiment to find what is best according to skin type, but using clean, organic ingredients is always a safer route when taking care of skin, bodies and the environment.

As brands and stores take steps to make clean beauty products more readily available, consumers must continue to read the labels of their favorite products and educate themselves on the ingredients presented to them. ◆

Clean Beauty Lifestyle Natural, clean beauty products are a step toward a healthy lifestyle that benefits the world around us. These goals were part of the incentives that drove Katey Lee, California Baptist University alumna, to become a vegan and to start to follow a clean-beauty routine.

“There are so many simple changes to make being vegan and striving to lessen my waste impact is something more I can do for the environment and to have consistency in the way I live my life,” Lee says.

Lee says she has experimented with various methods to create her own beauty and skincare products at a cost-effective price. She lists baking soda, apple cider vinegar, rye flour, aloe

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Written and photographed

by Lauren Sawdey

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A Local s Guide to the Perfect Getaway 20 | Pursuit

t r av e l

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ith the windmills and mountains in sight, you know you’ve arrived at Palm Springs — the land of sunshine, palm trees and eternal vacation. The epicenter of all things modern and unique, this town boasts eccentric and lively hotels, shops, restaurants and attractions that tantalize any traveler’s taste for desert adventure.

Whether you come for the festivals or the pools, this local’s guide to the treasures hidden throughout Palm Springs features everything you need to keep from leaving.

Stay Palm Springs is known as a resort destination because of its extensive list of colorful, charming and unique hotels, which include incredible amenities and range in price so any visitor can relax at his or her perfect oasis.

Here are the hotels to book on your trip to Palm Springs: + The Saguaro Palm Springs This colorful hotel proves a stark contrast from its dry, desert surroundings. Unable to miss, this hotel is easily recognizable thanks to its bright façade of yellows, oranges, pinks and greens. Known for its lively pool scene and active events calendar, The Saguaro has plenty to keep you busy during a desert getaway and is affordable for any vacation from a girls’ trip to a weekend escape. + Ace Hotel & Swim Club Renovated from a modern, former Westward Ho and adjacent Denny’s, Ace Hotel & Swim Club is a bohemian-dream resort located close to downtown Palm Springs. The year-round outdoor pool is the main attraction of this hip resort, remaining open nightly until 2 a.m. with live music or DJs. + Parker Palm Springs Under the Le Meridien brand, the Parker Palm Springs is a top travel destination for design-enthusiastic visitors. This hotel has gone through several transitions and boasts a diverse history. In 1959, the property began as California’s very first Holiday Inn and was bought by several others, including Gene Autry and Merv Griffin. The hotel was finally sold to hotelier Jack Parker, who renovated it into the “hippie chic” hotel as it stands

today.

Included in the Parker are two delicious restaurants, the Mister Parker and Norma’s — a brightly colored, open-air terrace restaurant that serves decadent portions at decadent prices. + Korakia Pensione The Korakia Pensione is a romantic retreat with Moroccan and Mediterranean influence.

An oasis perched in the desert, this hotel remains a popular migrating spot for an eclectic crowd, including renowned writers, photographers and actors. Whether you desire to lounge with a vintage book from the library, refresh with the Moroccan tea service, or watch classic and foreign films on a nearby screen, Korakia Pensione offers a uniquely relaxing hideaway sure to impress.

Shop The luxurious and exciting amenities offered by Palm Springs hotels are matched with the endless opportunities to acquire vintage threads, antique finds and individually crafted home goods in the town’s one-of-akind shops. + The Frippery The Frippery offers racks of vintage clothing to satisfy any vintage junkie’s needs. Along with antique accessories, this vintage shop bodes all types of clothing – bohemian wear for festivals, rock ‘n’ roll threads for a night out and any other occasion. The collection at The Frippery reflects the desert lifestyle, including modern and resort attire, to adapt to any fashion whim. + Thick as Thieves This Palm Springs boutique offers self-described “contemporary Americana” décor in a tiny, restored Spanish-style bungalow. The shop’s carefully curated selection of home goods will make visitors buy something they didn’t know they needed. Included in the collection are necklaces, books, candles, pottery and more.

Past the hall of the bungalow, an intimate event space for small gatherings also doubles as a clothing store. Stop by this tiny gem in the heart of Palm Springs to add thoughtfully sourced home goods to your personal collection. 8

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+ Sunny Dunes Vintage Row Dubbed the “Mod Mecca,” Palm Springs is one of the most stylish cities in America. Therefore, it is only fitting that there is an entire district allocated to showcasing modernist furniture and décor.

The Sunny Dunes Vintage Row, also called the Sunny Dunes Antique District, hosts a dozen or so quirky and stylish antique shops for locals and travelers to stroll through. This small enclave of shops is unknown to many locals despite the range of treasures found in every shop.

The shops, including the Little Shop of Treasures, the POP Shop and

appetite and budget. Here are just a few local favorites and more recent rising stars. + Koffi If you need a midday boost while you’re adventuring around town or simply want to connect with the community, Koffi is the perfect place. One of four locally owned locations, Koffi roasts its coffee beans onsite and partners with local restaurants who serve its blends. Stop in for a quick breakfast or dose of caffeine from a diverse menu of food and drink options before heading out to explore. + Kreem Ice Cream + Coffee Opened last spring, Kreem is a unconventional take on a traditional ice cream shop. Kreem delivers gourmet treats in a mid-mod atmosphere. The shop has six ice

I Remember This offer funky retro memorabilia and furnishings from all eras — enough to satisfy any shopper’s needs.

cream flavors always in the freezer with four to six flavors on a seasonal rotation. The mouth-watering flavors, some of which are vegan, include Earl Grey, cold-brewed Heart coffee, lemon meringue pie and s’mores, among others.

If you are in the mood for a little more than ice cream, sample an ice cream sandwich with locally baked cookies or stop by the coffee station and add ice cream-inspired accompaniments to your drink. + Cheeky’s With a small interior and a larger patio, Cheeky’s restaurant is a local’s favorite eatery with a sizable menu and affordable prices. With arguably the best breakfast in the desert, Cheeky’s boasts urban-style dining and intriguing food pairings. The menu changes weekly and features seasonally

Indulge Aside from eclectic and modern shops that one can spend days in alone, Palm Springs offers an expansive variety of restaurants, coffee shops and sweet spots for any

and locally sourced food. If you choose to stop by, especially on the weekend, be prepared for a possible line full of hungry locals eager for their food. + King’s Highway This roadside-style diner inhabits the former Denny’s that was attached to the current Ace Hotel & Swim Club. A staple for Palm Springs locals, King’s Highway is a hip-casual spot that features a menu of elevated diner food.

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t r av e l The refined diner celebrates the ineffable, bohemian spirit of the desert and is the proud home of Fabulous Bingo with Shirley Claire every Monday night. If the atmosphere isn’t enough to make you stay, the food and community of locals at King’s Highway is sure to keep you from leaving. + Azucar Not unlike other interesting restaurants scattered across the city, Azucar Restaurant and Bar at La Serena Villas stands out for its Mediterranean-style and white-framed Frida Kahlo portraits adorning the dining room walls. This restaurant shares the Mexican painter’s passion for color, with vibrant hues, bold wallpaper and varying textures throughout the space.

The vision for the food offerings reflects tapas-style Mediterranean plates with fresh flavors and a fun, light presentation. Add this to your list of must-eats during your next visit to Palm Springs.

Explore Although locals and visitors alike stop in the city for the delicious eateries and shopping, it is often the experience Palm Springs offers that entices travelers worldwide to make the trip. The modern, laid-back city offers endless activities and expeditions for any traveler’s taste.

Whether that is exploring the art, landscape or famous modern architecture, Palm Springs is sure to the incite the adventure in any individual. Aside from adventure, these local spots also boast the appeal of snapping Instagram-worthy shots. + Moorten’s Botanical Garden and cactarium This spot is a favorite Palm Springs attraction and is the legacy of Patricia and

Chester “Cactus Slim” Moorten. The garden exhibits more than 3,000 desert cacti and other desert plants. In the Cactarium greenhouse are more cacti and succulents — it is inside the greenhouse that offers idyllic desert photo opportunities. Be sure to stop by this attraction to gain a deeper understanding and admiration for the unique landscape surrounding the city. + Modern Architecture Tour Also dubbed the “Door Tour,” this self-guided tour is sure to pique any design-lover’s interest. Including houses such as the hashtag famous #ThatPinkDoor, this tour offers insight into the city’s roots of mid-century modern architecture and design. This tour offers endless photo-ops with friends or of the standalone homes and doors. Being self-guided, this tour allows you to move at your own pace and take in the beauty of these quirky doors known for their individuality. + Palm Springs Art Museum As a cultural leader in the desert, the Palm Springs Art Museum houses extraordinary creativity and artistic connection to the community. Located in downtown Palm Springs, the museum offers an extensive permanent collection, featuring works from contemporary and Western artists and a continual rotation of temporary exhibitions from internationally-known artists.

If you want to experience more than the art in the gallery, take up one of the museum’s art classes or workshops for a memorable interaction with the community’s most-loved museum. ◆

Top left: Koffi’s fresh pastries and organic, home-roasted beans offer a fresh alternative to popular coffee chains with a Palm Springs exclusive. Top right: On the Modern Architecture Tour, visitors can snap a picture with the iconic #ThatPinkDoor, following in the footsteps of locals and social media influencers alike.

Bottom left: The Saguaro Palm Springs is home to beautiful architecture and design throughout the space, as well as eateries and poolside activities.

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you know Written by Alyse Messmer Photos by Alyse Messmer and Phillip Ndowu

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hough Anaheim is mostly known for being the home of Disneyland, the Anaheim Packing District is another jewel worth visiting. The district is home to many local shops, distinctive restaurants, farmers markets and the famous Anaheim Packing House.

The Anaheim Packing House is one of the last remaining citrus-packing houses, established in 1919. This two-story-white warehouse has now been transformed into the home of 27 vendors.

The four-year renovation from an empty building with broken windows and equipment into a popular upscale food court has brought in large crowds by creating a beautiful venue for photo shoots, study dates or a fun meal off campus.

With more than 70,000 posts on Instagram, foods such as bubble tea, gelato popsicles, sushi, crepes and much more have been receiving trend-setting attention.

The swinging benches, hanging plants, colorful walls and glass ceiling also offer an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for those who want a refreshing new place to enjoy.

Brianna Bouchet, senior public health major, says she enjoys visiting the district when she has the chance.

“I usually go at night with friends with the mission of finding good food at the Packing House. I’d love to bring more of my friends there,” Bouchet says. “It’s a good chance to just get off campus to do something, and there’s so much great food this place offers that you can’t get on campus, or even down the street.”

Shop the Market In addition to the indulgent food items the Packing House offers, inside is also SEED People’s Market, a shop full of eco-friendly and responsibly sourced home goods and accessories. This shop also has a small, four-person movie theater that plays classic cartoons.

Madison Smith, freshman photography major, says she enjoys SEED and everything it has to offer customers.

“The shop is so cool; they have cute, handmade items that make my wanderlust come out,” Smith says. “They have mugs, handmade candles, stationary and many more things that are beautiful to look at.”

Whether customers are craving grilled cheese from the Black Sheep Grilled Cheese Bar, wood-fired pizza from Ecco Pizza, smoothies, snowballs and shaved ice8

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from I Am Smoothie and Shaved Snow or famous fried chicken sandwiches from Sweetbird, this upscale food court is great for visitors of all ages with any tastes.

Kristin Thoroddsen, freshman worship arts and ministry major, visits the Packing House frequently for Monster Boba’s bubble tea.

“Monster Boba is a super cute and trendy boba place. I tried their Thai tea and loved it,” Thoroddsen says. “They also have cute reusable cups and decor if you pay a little extra so you can make a cute Instagram post with your friends. It’s one of the best boba shops I’ve found around Riverside.”

Events & Experiences The Anaheim Packing House also hosts events for locals and tourists alike year-round.

These events range from live music by various artists, such as Elephant in the Room and Soul Tribe, gardening and indoor plant-care classes and “World Taste” events, which invite guests to tour different vendors to taste delicacies from all around the world.

As the Anaheim Packing District is not

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confined to one building, it continues to spread out among the block to give visitors a more tasteful experience.

Right next to the Anaheim Packing House is Farmer’s Park, which features outdoor yoga and gardening classes, and 18 Folds, a delicious dim sum restaurant. The garden blossoms year round with different fruits and vegetables and the lawn is a great play yard for dogs.

Around the block is the Packard Building, which contains Umami Burger and Anaheim Brewery. Across the street from the Packing House is the MAKE building, another restaurant hub with Jav’s Texas-Sized barbecue which visitors can smell blocks away, Unsung Brewing Co. and Pali Wine Co. The Packing

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District continues to grow as more businesses are being added to the buildings, such as Cultivation Kitchen and Stone Groove Stillhouse.

Local flair While walking the string light-covered streets near the Packing House, every Thursday from 11 a.m. — 4 p.m. there is a farmers market features a variety of local food trucks and stands selling jewelry, antiques and clothing.

One of these vendors is Popsikle, whose teal, vintage-stripped trailer travels around Los Angeles and Orange County selling newly found thrift clothes at low prices that appeal to college students’ budgets.

Crystal Rey, owner of Popsikle, says she likes providing ’80s, ’90s, and ‘00s fashion, along with accessories such as handmade mouse ears perfect

for Disneyland.

“Popsikle aims toward trending styles and prints and carries all sizes,” Rey says. “We are Orange County’s first mobile thrift boutique, serving up handpicked, up-cycled vintage and thrift clothing at an adorable and affordable price.”

The Anaheim Packing District is also known for more than 30 culturally unique restaurants and beverage shops all scattered among a few blocks.

From Pop’s Comic Store, House of Chimney Cakes or the OMG! Dessert Lounge, the Anaheim Packing District’s reputation goes farther than the Packing House alone.

Whether looking for exciting food to try, the perfect place for an Instagram photo or new trendy finds, the Anaheim Packing District is a trending location college students, especially, should not miss. ◆

Top left: Employee Josh Singh of Pandor, inside Anaheim Packing District, has precise focus for his craft when making specialty coffee drinks for customers. Bottom left: Orange County resident Aster Baker says, “I love coming to the Anaheim Packing District because of all the different food options available.” Above: Patrons enjoy all the various food options from around the world inside the Anaheim Packing District.

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TYPE THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT PERSONALITY TESTS Written by Korah Robinson Illustrated by Tyler Bradley

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hroughout history people have studied the brain, developed theories about personality, and even created tests to decipher exactly who they are. According to the Institute of Psychometric Coaching, personality tests, in particular, give the test-taker a set of covert questions that relate to more specific aspects of his or her personality.

For example, a response to a question about how you behave at a party can indicate your ability to work as part of a team. These questions, though, have no way of capturing who an individual is as a whole and have the power to affect a person’s psyche in a negative way.

In recent years, personality tests have been gaining popularity online. One of the most famous of these personality tests is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or the MBTI. It sorts people into 16 personality types based on several preferences — introversion versus extroversion, sensing versus intuition, thinking versus feeling, and judging versus perceiving.

It is used by most of America’s Fortune 500 companies as a tool to find out more about the people they are hiring and how to work together more effectively. Nearly two million people take the test each year.

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Hannah Curtis, sophomore biomedical sciences major, says she found the test to be accurate in labeling her as an ENTJ — extraversion, intuition, thinking and judgment.

“When I read my results, it sounded like the person I wanted to be,” Curtis says. “I felt validated by them.”

As a part of California Baptist University’s FOCUS program, freshman and transfer students under the age of 20 are required to take the CliftonStrengths personality test for a grade. Curtis said that her results, while accurate, made her question what the tests actually measure.

“When I compared my results to the other people’s in my FOCUS group, their (results) were all interpersonal and communication skills and I didn’t have any of those,” Curtis says. “It made me question how I come off not only in talking to other people but also in regards to the test. What did I do to get the results I did? Why were my results all analytical, and didn’t they account for attributes like my outgoing nature? In my experience, the tests don’t really encompass the entire individual.”

Surprisingly, Curtis, who took the test at a more mature and developed time in her life, says she has heard some elementary8

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schools now incorporate these tests into their learning environment.

“It can be dangerous to tell an impressionable child about who they should be,” Curtis says. “If you tell a child that June is actually named October and that October is named June, they will believe you. So, if you close them into a box with the results from a test at a time in which they shouldn’t have to worry

another. Because you’re a person, not a onedimensional character.”

Erin Smith, associate professor of psychology and director of research for the Center for the Study of Human Behavior at CBU, says this is exactly the case.

“I was an undergraduate student when I was first exposed to the scientific side of personality-testing. I remember I took a class

about figuring out who they are, it can be more damaging than helpful.”

Erin Gilmore, sophomore liberal studies major, says she disagrees.

“From a future teacher’s perspective, I don’t think something as simple as personality test results could affect a child dramatically,” Gilmore says.

Gilmore recalls the first time she took a personality test — fifth grade English class.

Gilmore smiled, recalling the giddiness she felt when she saw the computers set up in the classroom. She answered the simple questions and compared her results with the classmates around her.

“It was a very simple test,” Gilmore says.

“You were grouped into one of four color categories: Gold, Blue, Green and Yellow.”

Gilmore was a Gold. Golds are loyaltydriven, organized and responsible. But she also fell under the Blue category, which made her creative, sympathetic and emotionallydriven.

“Looking back, that test didn’t really do anything for me because I already knew a lot about myself,” Gilmore says. “Sometimes, personality tests are like (zodiac) signs.

They’re vague and could apply to a lot of people, but not everything about it is true. It may be similar to you, but you could also see yourself in another result. And another. And

called assessments and measurement. In that class, we had to put together a psychological portfolio of ourselves,” Smith says. “After that semester, I went back to those tests and took them again to compare my results. In theory, those shouldn’t change. So when they did change, it gave me something to think about.

What is it about today that made my answers different?”

Smith says she used these tests as a “point for self-reflection” rather than a direct indicator of who she is as an individual. She says she would sit down with her husband and ask what he thought about the results and whether or not he thought they were accurate.

“Sometimes, those conversations would reveal aspects of myself of which I wasn’t aware, sometimes things I didn’t like,” Smith says. “It gave me an opportunity to shine a mirror on myself, without which, I would have never changed. But it wasn’t the test itself, it was those conversations afterward and all of the self-reflection I did.”

Smith says the biggest fault in personalitytesting is the tendency of in-grouping and out-grouping.

“As people, we are inclined to make groups.

If you and I were wearing the same color shirts, we would automatically like each other a little bit more even if we never thought that,” Smith says. “The point of tests such as these

trends

is to highlight that we are all different and that there is value in all of the strengths. If everybody only had one set of strengths, that wouldn’t be useful to know. Everyone would be the exact same so we wouldn’t have to measure (our strengths).”

“Because of our tendencies toward forming groups, it’s really easy for someone to not feel like they belong while that’s exactly why they

“We should hold these results with a little more open-handedness.”

Smith says this problem extends far beyond simple personality tests — grouping and onedimensional thinking damages our perspective of all that surrounds us.

“To solve that, we’ve got to get people to think in a more nuanced way, which would not only solve the issues with personality-testing,

belong — because they’re a little different but also solve (many) problems with how we from everyone else. That is their primary engage with science, how we engage with our contribution, but as people our psychology faith, and how we engage with both of those is wired such simultaneously,” that we don’t Smith says. “We inherently value need deeper differences.” thinkers; we need This, Smith people who aren’t says, is our OK with settling greatest fault with the trite or because while the obvious or grouping the easy because makes it easy reality is very rarely for us to find definitive.” people similar Personality to ourselves, tests should not be that kind of used as a precise — Erin Smith, associate professor of thinking misses measuring tool the Scriptural as that causes psychology and director of research for the importance of division between Center for the Study of Human Behavior diversity in the people and can body of Christ. stunt the growth “We cannot function as people unless we and understanding among collective groups inherently value diversity to the extent that and societies. Instead, they should be seen as labels cause us to miss. We need to get people exactly what they are — tools to help us better to change how they think about these tests understand ourselves and the world around us.

— that rather than being this prescriptive, With that in mind, the next time you take a defining, sorting mechanism, they’re a tool personality test, examine your results with this that can help us figure out how to best engage mindset: “What can I learn from this that can and play people to their strengths,” Smith says. help me relate to those around me?” ◆

We cannot function as people unless we inherently value diversity to the extent that labels cause us to miss. We need to get people to change how they think...

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Tea, Ta p ioca Breaking Down the Boba Bubble Written by Tess Schoonhoven Photos by Kelsie Stevens and Abigail Cathcart Illustration by Matthew Medina

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riginating from the island of Taiwan in the ’80s, boba tea has quickly taken the Riverside area by storm.

With more than 10 boba shops in the city of Riverside alone, not including the greater Inland Empire and Los Angeles areas, this specialty drink attracts all ages to enjoy a diverse, communal food experience.

Boba itself consists of small balls of chewy tapioca, often sweetened with honey and brown sugar. Most shops offer other topping options in addition to the tapioca pearls, such as popping boba, fruit, lychee chunks, egg and taro pudding and crystal boba, a vegan boba option.

The classic drink is a sweetened, black tea with milk, but many stores specialize in other drinks, such as fruit slushes, flavored teas and shakes, such as oreo, mocha and chocolate.

Ty Tu, assistant manager at Zero X, a boba shop in Riverside, explains why he thinks boba is so popular in Riverside, in particular.

“There’s RCC, UCR and CBU so Riverside is catering to all those colleges. That’s the age demographic,” Tu says. “Boba can be enjoyed by everyone, all ages, but college people want to go somewhere to hang out and study so they get boba.”

Tu says that the draw to boba shops is also because not everyone likes coffee, but they still want a place to go and enjoy time with friends.

“A lot of people may say it’s parallel to Star-

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bucks but boba is its own category,” Tu says.

“You’ll always have coffee places and you’ll always have boba places because we fit a different niche that Starbucks doesn’t fit. Not everyone likes coffee.”

Similar to coffee shops, the trend of boba has risen with the influence of social media. Staying in constant connection with friends is the driving force behind the popularity of these media, catching no one by surprise when each newsfeed fills up with the talk of the latest boba shop in town. Photos with aesthetically pleasing cups, lighting and decorations at boba shops flood Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook.

But the visual trend is not the only element that keeps this drink around and popular. The drink’s sustainability in a constantly changing food market remains because of the large cultural draw.

“It is a trend with hype-foods because it is something that can be put on Instagram, but at the same time it will last because it’s always been a staple with Asian people,” Tu says.

“Regardless of whether or not the trend lasts for the general public, people will always be buying boba.”

Charnell Newman, senior nursing major, says that because the universities in Riverside have a large Asian population it creates a high demand for boba shops. In addition to the universities, Newman says she enjoys boba because it is different than coffee and offers more options.8

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Above: Ding Tea customer picks up her order, a speciality tea known as Hokkaido Oolong Milk Tea.

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Regardless of whether or not the trend lasts for the general public, people will always be buying boba.

Above: Dominique Lesch, junior biology major, and Frank Weiss, junior biochemistry and molecular biology major, enjoy late-night boba with William Galeana and Daniela Marquez at newly opened Ding Tea boba shop in Riverside.

— Ty Tu, assistant manager At Zero X

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trends “It’s easy to get access to and its really good,” Newman says. “It’s different than coffee, which is our typical, go-to thing.”

The multiple options for boba tea in Riverside give students the opportunity to try many versions of the classic drink and food options.

Each shop in the Riverside area brings a different take to the drink and most also sell classic Asian cuisine options such as popcorn chicken, rice plates and ramen or udon noodles.

Other students were introduced to boba for the first time when they moved to Riverside to attend CBU. Maddison Voyles, sophomore worship arts and ministries major, says she tried boba for the first time with a friend who invited her to go to Boba Cafe, a shop in downtown Riverside.

Voyles says her first experience was a last-minute decision, but she was excited to finally try the drink all her friends raved about.

From the suggestions of her friends, Voyles tried a Thai milk tea with regular-sized tapioca balls.

Voyles says that since trying Thai tea for the first time that night, it is now her consistent order that she gets almost every time.

“When I first drank it everyone was staring at me,” Voyles says. “Everybody’s eyes were super-wide, wondering what I thought about it.”

Voyles says that the boba itself was something she grew to like more each time she tried a new drink, but her consistent order stays the same

— a thai tea with regular-sized boba.

“Some people get caught off (guard) by the texture of the boba,” Voyles says. “But for me I thought it was pretty good and really enjoyable.”

Experiencing the drink with friends is what makes boba a lasting tradition in college life.

Friends come together to try new drinks from various local shops not only because of how much they actually enjoy the drink but because of the memories that are made with each new flavor.

“I’m glad I met people at CBU who introduce me constantly to new foods like boba,” Voyles says. “I was unsure at first but now I love it.”

Voyles says that her favorite part about boba is the opportunity for community it brings.

When she does get boba, it is with a group of friends and they always hang out at the shop or drive around Riverside afterwards.

“For me and my roommates, especially, boba is a bonding experience,” Voyles says. “Many late-night conversations have happened at the tables of Boba Cafe, our usual spot, and a lot of crazy memories all center around a time we went and got boba.”

For most individuals who are willing to try new things and broaden their tastes, boba continually proves to be an engaging experience that weaves culture, rich flavors and community all together. ◆

Left: Lesch captures memories from her night at Ding Tea, framing the remnants of her boba tea to immortalize on social media. Right: Ten Ren employees fill the base of their drinks with a wide variety of boba, jelly and tapioca balls to satisify the desires of their customers.

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SEEKING

PURPOSE IN PAIN

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A JOURNEY OF ILLNESS AND REDEMPTION Written by Maria Gamez Photos by Phillip Ndowu and Madison Santana Photos Courtesy of Rodney Chew

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he sun is radiant. He notices the light’s reflection bounce off the downstairs window as his lanky and burned body is delicately lifted. He dangles helplessly off the corner of his bed as his youngest brother wraps his muscular arms around his bony waist.

Any movement is agonizing. He is feeble from the constant vomiting and throbbing against his skull. The bathroom door swings open. He finds a shred of dignity and disrobes alone. With a bit of help, he lies inside the bath, resting motionless. He questions the value of his life.

“Will I ever get my pride back or has cancer finally won?” he asks himself.

Rodney Chew, senior public health major and Army E4 health care specialist, was diagnosed at the age of 24 with Stage-4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma in August 2016. This aggressive form of cancer is located at the upper part of the throat, which is placed at the base of the skull.

That dreadful day in the hospital, as the doctor grievously yet calmly revealed his diagnosis, all Chew’s thoughts went blank.

He suddenly released a loud cackle that filled the white walls of the cold hospital room. His reaction to death was bizarre, yet he accepted the hysterical laugh as a breaking point.

“I remember the nurse coming in on the verge of tears as she was telling me the bad news,” Chew says. “I could literally hear my heart beating inside my ears.”

Left alone and terrified, being told that his

chance of survival was at a mere 20 percent was not on his mind. As the oldest of four children, he immediately put on a strong face and bottled his fears, redirecting all concern toward his distraught mother.

“My mother brought me back to reality because she literally broke down crying, fell to the floor, and once I helped her up, she walked right out of the hospital,” Chew says.

on the journey Then began the most dreadfully enduring 10 months of his young life.

Encountering this rare disease left countless doctors baffled. Their preferred treatment could potentially cure him or force him to gasp one last breath. They concluded to treat him with the maximum dosage of chemotherapy and radiation his body could physically handle.

His mother, Djuanna Matthews, was enraged when countless doctors appeared unknowledgeable to Chew’s particular cancer.

Her heart ached in the thought of ever losing her eldest son. Her blood boiled as everyone accepted his illness as a lost cause.

“I didn’t think about all he had to go through because all I could think about was the limited time I had left with him,” Matthews says.

For the first couple of months, it was in Chew’s best interest to receive chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously. This accelerated the process of hair and weight loss. Hair regression came quick and although half his face was seared, he was too exhausted to care. 8

Left: Rodney Chew, senior public health major and Army E4 health care specialist, gazes toward the ocean in anticipation of a brighter future.

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His starting weight was 250 pounds and rapidly diminished to under 120 pounds.

“I had an itch and went to brush my head as a handful of hair came off. I had my mom call my barber to cut it all off,” Chew says. “I looked into the mirror and I was distraught when I saw my face cooked like a microwave and my rib cage popping out. I was more upset to see my muscles gone.”

Although Chew felt lonesome, he had a helping hand that never left his side.

His friend of five years, Ryan Ramoneda, says he never lost faith in the Lord, but it was still dreadful to witness him wither away, leaving scorched skin and fragile bones.

“It was really hard to watch someone as physically and emotionally strong be broken down by something out of who knows where,” Ramoneda says. “It is like he was a totally different person.”

battling illness Sitting inside a chilly room, filled with patients who became a daily reminder of his illness, was the last place a young adult in his 20’s expected to be. As he sat down, in the surprisingly comfy chairs for the hundredth time, the liquid from the intravenous therapy dripped through his brittle body. The fluid poison of chemotherapy had an unsettling sensation, like ice needles piercing him.

“I didn’t want to be talked to; I didn’t want to be pitied; and I didn’t want to be looked at,” Chew says. “I honestly wanted to be left alone.”

Although he vigorously tried to keep to himself, across the room a friendly face caught his eye. Unlike him, this much older gentleman kept a smile and constantly made the nurses giggle. One evening, as he received the routine dose of poison, he shook anxiously from his seat. A nurse had notified him that the once

Right: The effects of chemotherapy were visible as Chew underwent intensive treatment in an effort to rid his body of the rare cancer.

Opposite Page: Chew tightly holds his army cap as he reminisces about his time spent in the US Army before his health declined. Bottom: Prayer before dinner ignites gratitude and hope for Chew and his family, Micah and Djuanna Matthews, as they continue to rebuild after his cancer journey.

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happy-go-lucky man had passed away. This opened his eyes, forcing him to believe he was next in line to die.

Months of mental and physical pain had pushed him to his breaking point of losing trust in the Lord.

“God has a really dark sense of humor and although I like a good laugh, he was pushing it with me,” Chew says. “They always say God has a plan for everyone and I had endless questions like where I went wrong, did I upset you, did I go off the right path, and is this a sign?”

He spent night after night staring at the ceiling, fully pumped with drugs and constantly crying out to God. “I felt lonely, like the world went on and no one would stop for me,” Chew says. “My sister

Will I ever get my pride back or has cancer finally won?

— Rodney Chew, senior public health major and Army E4 health care specialist

r e l at i o n s h i p s and little brothers all had their own lives to live, while I was wasting away watching the sun go up and down.

miraculous results One lonesome night, God finally consoled him with the aroma of perfume his late grandmother would wear. This triggered a distant memory of the woman who once adored him. Day by day, she slowly faded from his muddled mind. He knew this divine presence was a sign, a colossal welcoming from the other side. He inhaled the sweet, yet distant scent one last time. His famished body rushed with a sense of relief. He finally accepted his fate to wither away and die just like her.

“I don’t really care much about me. If it’s my time to go, it’s my time to go, but please God just make sure my family is going to be OK,” Chew says.

“I was ready to pull the plug and I said, ‘Stop the treatment’ because I was tired and hallucinating.”

His loved ones did not take the news lightly; they argued day and night trying to convince him to fight for his life. Not having control over his own health, he was determined to make a final choice to end the suffering.

“I accepted dying and my mom was screaming and pleading,” Chew says. “I welcomed it through the doors because chemotherapy is by far the worst agony and I do not wish that on my worst enemy.”

With a slight dose of energy, he walked slowly into his final check-up to see if the cancer had retreated. After countless tests, a swarm of doctors and nurses huddled nearby. Miraculously, his cancer had indeed vanished.

As a strong believer of medicine and science, he did not believe the Lord would put him through constant agony, loneliness and dark thoughts for no reason. He has been humbled immensely through the experience and recognizes that God was trying to construct a message.

“With five to six doctors telling me I’m likely going to die, I believe them because medicine is to what they dedicated their lives. When they tell me a mass the size of my fist disappears, the only thing I can believe in is the work of God,” Chew says.

seeking purpose Today, he has embraced the pain and his newly found faith to seek his calling. As a soldier in the US Army, a student and citizen he is working tirelessly to serve others with various illnesses. He has directed his focus toward affordable healthcare.

Although he is certain the Lord communicates through him to support others, he has also begun to love his own life again. He says he fully understands that God redirected his life drastically, allowing him to open his heart to a world filled with suffering.

“Like my favorite song in chapel says, we need that reckless love,” Chew says.

Still, in remission, Chew regularly prays and counts his blessings. With Christian faith, he continues to work toward finding God and himself; slowly but surely recognizing a glimpse of his old athletic self. ◆

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FITNESS an addiction

Written by Sonia Luiz Photos by Phillip Ndowu

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ive-minute workouts to get flat abs.

Body-boosting workouts to do at home.

Muscle-building workouts that will get you noticed. Messages like this swirl around society today as people are becoming more interested in physical exercise. Joining gyms and classes such as cross-fit and pilates, or even trying out body building, is becoming common and even fashionable. Toned abs, protein shakes and heavy lifting are seen and promoted on all platforms and it is increasingly difficult to get away from the fitness world’s influence.

But is this wave of exercise enthusiasm based on how healthy we are or on how many likes we can get on Instagram?

On the surface this fitness fix is a beneficial trend. Society should encourage people to be healthy, active and achieve their fitness goals.

Although people often take on an active lifestyle in order to promote better health or grow stronger physically, there are also many people who take

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these desires too far and fall into an addiction or obsession over exercise.

For many such as Kourtney Rockey, graduate student in school psychology, getting involved in fitness has had a mostly positive impact on her life but it does come with its challenges.

Rockey has been pursuing fitness and various competitions since her freshman year at California Baptist University. After growing up participating in competitive cheer and gymnastics, she chose to actively stay fit in college, discovering a love for the gym and lifting.

“My dad has always been into lifting so I knew a lot of the basics from him,” Rockey says. “In my junior year of college, I started getting on YouTube and I found women who did bikini competitions and who became something I was interested in.”

Moving categories from bikini to figure-

competitions, Rockey saw her body at a variety of levels and expresses some of the issues she experiences in that world.

“I was actually told by a trainer (at a gym my freshman year) that I could lose about 15 pounds.” Rockey says. “Now, knowing as much as I do, that was completely incorrect and I actually weigh 10 pounds heavier now than I did back then.”

Rockey has learned that her body type is not what that trainer thought and to reach her health and fitness goals actually meant putting on pounds in muscle instead of losing weight.

F itness C ulture Looking back, this instance has shown Rockey some of the harsh aspects of fitness culture. There is immense pressure, especially on competitors, to analyze and hyper-focus on their bodies. Weight, measurements and

muscle-mass are all strictly monitored, twisting with competitors’ minds.

“Maybe 1 percent of bodybuilders do not suffer from some sort of body dysmorphia at one level or another,” Rockey says. “There is not a competitor in the world that when they got close to a show didn’t look in a mirror and think they were not lean enough.”

For many individuals who are extremely into exercising it becomes a problem of progress never being enough.

“It manifests in different ways in different people,” Rockey says. “A lot of times you have women who think they can’t get small enough and (for) guys a lot of times it’s that they can’t get big enough.”

Rockey explains how unrealistic and unhealthy this fitness lifestyle is. There is constant criticism of your body and an expectation to push it to its limits. Even outside of the competitive world there are8

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It comes down to being content with yourself and knowing you are a child of God, and who he says that you are.

— Kourtney Rockey, graduate student in the school psychology program

these same kinds of pressures that lead people to take exercising too far.

Devon Samuel, sophomore kinesiology major, says he felt that pressure to be perfect during his time in the US Marine Corps, which carried on into his first few years of experience with fitness.

“I felt the need to hold myself to the concept that whoever works the longest and the hardest is usually the best,” Samuel says.

“The military had a big part in that (idea). You always have to be perfect.”

C hanging M entality After four years of what Samuel describes as over-training, he realized that his lack of accurate knowledge about working out and living a healthy lifestyle caused him to have a skewed mindset. During the summer his job as a personal trainer opened up his mind to a different idea of exercise, one with balance and rest.

“There is the societal concept that you have to work almost constantly to be successful, but really rest is important, too,” Samuel says. “You build muscle when you rest, you recuperate all your functional systems when you rest, and you digest when you rest.”

This mentality of constantly pushing the body in order to get it to look a certain way can reveal other underlying problems.

Dr. Amy Miller, associate professor of kinesiology, comments on why some people take exercising to the extreme. There are three main factors: body image issues, control issues and spiritual issues.

“Body image is huge,” Miller says. “A (need for a) sense of control when things feel out of control. And it becomes who I am. I am the

Left: Kourtney Rockey, graduate student in the school psychology program, completes strengthening workout circuits throughout the week to diversify her routine. Right: These circuits allow her to build muscle tone and condition her body.

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strong one… And that becomes my identity rather than who God has created me to be.”

Miller discusses that mental struggle around body image might be the most prominent and common issue. Today, it is rare to come across a person who has never experienced negative thoughts about his or her body image. It is a sad reality of our society.

“In our culture, we celebrate people looking a certain way and right now it is the fit, athletic person,” Miller says about body image issues.

“So, working out helps me look a way for which society then praises me.”

When a person works out, and especially when he or she sees physical results, it can be easy for that person to allow one or more of these issues to manifest itself in an addiction to exercising.

Maintaining a fitness lifestyle without being taken over by these issues is possible.

Understanding your own body, its limits and

unique shape can help prevent “body shame.”

Even with the exact same workout and diet, there is no guarantee two people will get the same results from exercising because of the multitude of differences in each person.

Fixating on weigh, body-fat percentage, maxrep weight or any other exercise aspect in order to get that “perfect body” only cultivates the negative, harmful side of the fitness journey.

Instead, the emphasis must move to body positivity and promotion of health over looks and addiction. Ideally, weight and size should not be taken into account, and society should only focus on being healthy rather than the numbers on a scale or body-fat percentage.

However, that is not reality.

“The concept is good as long as you are practicing healthy behaviors,” Miller says, “but it is still a focus on how I look. It’s still a focus on the body.”

F inding B alance Rockey says that she has dealt with these kinds of issues to some extent in her own journey, but she says the support of a community and a good spiritual mindset are great steps in separating herself from them.

“It comes down to being content with yourself and knowing you are a child of God, and who he says that you are,” Rockey says.

“The gym is a really good coping method for a lot of people when done in the right way, but just like anything else, things can get extreme.

It is about finding that balance in your life.”

Exercise can be a vital aspect of a healthy body and healthy mind. However, in order to maintain a balanced lifestyle in fitness we must take the focus from physical appearance and make an effort in first accepting ourselves and others wholly. ◆

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SOCIAL MEDIA AND

LO N E L I N E S S COMMUNICATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE Written by Diana Corona Photos by Reagan Lee

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S

crolling past the photo updates of strangers, consumers cannot dismiss their curiosity: What would my life be like if I looked like them?

Traveled to the places they have seen? Was a regular at the latest coffee shop trending on Instagram? What would it be like?

The lives of these strangers are entrancing and colorful, full of new experiences and valuable investments — homes, degrees, families, marriages and shoes.

The Explore tab on Instagram seems to have mastered the art of algorithms, providing audiences exactly what they want to see and a vision for who they want to be.

Social media consumers sit on the couch, slowly losing touch with reality while brainstorming their next move to impress those around them. Users strategize to impress an old friend with whom they have lost contact because he or she is too busy traveling the world, or that expartner who no longer follows them but on occasion checks their intentionally-public profile.

Society has resorted to

living through a phone in an attempt to distort reality by sharing with others who they wish they could be.

An Oxford study of “Loneliness and Health” defines loneliness or social isolation as “a subjective experience relating to dissatisfaction with one’s social relationships.” Often, the people who define their relationships and seek affirmation through social media are the same people who find dissatisfaction with their personal and social relationships, leading to this experience with loneliness and isolation.

effects of loneliness This study, along with many others, shows the detrimental health effects of loneliness and the importance of real interpersonal, human interaction. In more recent studies, research suggests loneliness rates are at an all-time high and are especially relevant in young adults, regardless of access to quick communication.

So why is society lonely? What is stopping people from connecting with others?

Research suggests the reasons for this sense of loneliness varies and social media is a driving force. Modern life has changed radically in a matter of decades, but lack of human interaction and an increase of social interaction through media is thought to be one of the most relevant causes of social isolation.

“With social media, we’re trying to connect or feel like we’re connecting but without the physical interaction, the face-to-face contact, the body language, the opportunity to have physical touch and physical connection (and) we’re missing the important part of relationships,” says Dr. Veola Vazquez, California Baptist University professor of psychology.

Vazquez says that technology should not be thrown away completely, but points out how detrimental comparing their personal lives with the lives of others can be for one’s mental health. From personal experience, Vazquez says she has witnessed how effective social media can be in creating close-knit communities, and how damaging it can also be to individual mental health.

“Emotionally, seeing what others put online is causing us to feel unhappy, angry, or even annoyed,” Emily Estrada,8

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marriage and family therapist for the CBU Counseling Center says, “and we begin believing that their life is ‘better,’ which psychologically may produce feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression.”

Quick access to communication often eliminates the need to communicate inperson, thus placing more importance on the superficiality of relationships.

Many individuals are not socialized to care deeply about the lives of others if it does not fit within a character limit.

Some people have also become socialized to believe that the substance of relationships is dependent and defined by the social media lens. This lens presents to the audience an illusion — strategically planned, coordinated outfits, calculated body language, laughter, witty captions.

“People go on social media and change who they are, their image, to fit into society,” says Shyan Mosqueda, junior psychology major.

“They take pieces of themselves that people might not like and change them to fit into people’s groups.”

S elf -I dentity I ssue The issue of self-identity through the lens of social media has long been studied, and the idea of people creating a persona online is a recurring one. The magic of social media comes with the power individuals have to

“choose” what they publish. People might choose to upload a photo of their new shoes, the same way one might choose to not publish the photo of the old ones they have been wearing for the past few years.

As humans, the ability an individual has to adapt to different social settings comes with practice. With quick access to technology and social media, the adaption to this form of communication is at the palm of one’s hand.

O nline P ersonas When one adapts to that social setting, whether on social media or in-person, selfidentity may become lost in the traces.

“People in college go on social media and try their best to pretend that their lives are together,” Mosqueda says. “The problem surfaces when people change their social media and, ultimately, who they are.”

As users continue to conform to the societal standards of social media and the peer pressure to paint a perfect picture of who they should be, self-identity and individuality are left in the distance.

“If you don’t know who you are as a person, then how can you connect with other people?”

Mosqueda says.

This connection and value in face-toface interaction is what is lost without the understanding of oneself as a social-media consumer. “Who doesn’t like approval through

media? It’s easy with a tap of your finger — the more likes the better the approval is,” Estrada says. “It is found that the moment we get a like from our posts we release dopamine, which is responsible for the feelings of reward and pleasure, so the more we post and get likes, the more dopamine is released and the more our body wants it.”

This desire to fulfill the sense of affirmation or approval often leads to a dependence on mobile devices. Whether it’s at a concert or during dinner, the need to capture every moment is a part of the way individuals have become socialized.

“Everyone is so scared of missing something on their phone that they’re not living their lives to the fullest potential,” says Taylor Schamber, junior nursing major. “It’s changing the culture of communication. It has become normal to pull out your phone at a dinner or gathering, which limits the relationships you’re able to build with one another.”

Social media, in this case, becomes addictive. It intrudes on the ability to spend quality time with people and the possibility of “living in the moment.” Instead, every moment is recorded and photographed in an attempt to feel some sense of affirmation about the way others live life.

Although social media has the capacity to become a place of toxicity, comparison and self-destruction, it can also be a place to uplift and encourage growth in people. ◆

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Pappy & Harriet s Written by Alexandra Applegate Photos by Reagan Lee and Lauren Shelburne

Cultivating

Authentic Artistry in the Desert

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ne couple stood up, sauntered onto the wooden dance floor and began to square dance. The guitarist had slowed the tempo for this song and was singing in his falsetto. The man spun his partner gently while other listeners swayed in their seats or tapped their shoes to the soft drum beats.

Deep into the desert of Southern California stands a quaint, wood-and-brick building with large windows that look out onto the mountains surrounding it. Although first built as a Hollywood set for western movies, Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace has evolved into a popular restaurant and small venue for musicians.

The hot-spot is tucked away in the middle of

O

After starring as the backdrop for more than 50 films between 1940 and 1950, Francis Aleba, Pioneertown local, bought the building in 1972 to transform it into an outlaw biker bar with delicious burritos.

After its first 10 years running, Aleba’s daughter, Harriet, took over the family business. She and her husband, Claude (or Pappy, as he was known to most people in the high desert), opened Pappy & Harriet’s in 1982 with a new kitchen, freshly-painted sign and a modest stage to continue its desert legacy while also infusing their family atmosphere with it.

Pappy and Harriet were the venue’s first live performances. Pappy would play the piano,

a mountain range, past a point where visitors might think they are lost and need to ask for directions.

The neon-red sign that points to the dirt parking lot and the delicate string lights that decorate Pappy & Harriet’s ceilings are the only sources of light for miles. The lack of street lamps helps millions of desert stars shine brighter and enhance the dark sky.

with his pet raven sitting loyally nearby, as Harriet sang to their guests.

Harriet’s cooking drew in people from miles away. She carried on the recipes of her mother’s Tex-Mex cuisine but also introduced classic, Southern barbecue that could make anyone feel at home in a place off the beaten path.

When Pappy died in 1994, hundreds of people made the trek to Pioneertown 8

Above: Matt Adams, guitarist for Steven John Taylor and the Free Reign and a Joshua Tree resident, glides his fingers up and down the neck of his guitar as he hammers out original solos and memorable cover songs.

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Willams sings: “We’re sad to see you go / But we’ll always remember you, don’t you know / Yeah yeah yeah, who’s the one / Who’s the one that made my life so fun.”

Linda Krantz, current co-owner of Pappy & Harriet’s, had first visited Pioneertown and Pappy & Harriet’s when she was working on a film in 1994. Although she lived in New York City — Steven John at the time, Krantz says she continued to visit the restaurant and became infatuated with the amazing little town around it.

Krantz and Robyn Celcia finally bought the club when it was up for sale in 2003, and both

of them traded their hectic, busy lives in the city for a slower, more relaxed pace of life in the West.

Krantz says they never intended to change Pappy & Harriet’s but only wanted to focus on bringing in great, live music.

“Pappy & Harriet’s has always stayed true to its roots,” Krantz says. “Present-day consumers enjoy taking a break from their fast-paced, plugged-in everyday lives.”

Although Pappy & Harriet’s is a small and seemingTaylor ly “run down” local barbecue spot, it has also hosted significant artists such as Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Vampire Weekend, Leon Russel and the Arctic Monkeys.

The assortment of knick-knacks 8

It’s a different world here. It’s got a roadhouse, honkytonk feel. It has a lore and an energy.

They’ve created that culture here.

Left: Taylor, lost in the music, plays to the crowd. Above: The couple sways to the gentle strums of Taylor’s guitar.

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sitting on shelves, the brick columns in the middle of the room and the frames of all the people who have played on its stage give Pappy & Harriet’s a hometown, laid-back feel — something one might not experience in a bustling city such as Los Angeles.

Steven John Taylor, lead singer of Steven John Taylor and the Free Reign, has performed at Pappy & Harriet’s five times and says he likes how someone could not find a place like this in Los Angeles.

“This is a really nice destination where you can get out of the city. It has a good vibe, an appreciative audience,” Taylor says. “It feels different than LA, which is pretty jaded. It’s like an audience there wants you to do something crazy to entertain them. I’m just trying to play heartfelt music.”

Pappy & Harriet’s has become a legendary spot for music fans of any genre and was declared one of the Top-Ten Hidden Gems in the Country by Billboard Magazine in 2012.

Despite its blooming renown in the music world, Joshua Tree and Pioneertown locals still consider Pappy & Harriet’s their go-to spot in

town.

Matt Adams, Joshua Tree resident, says he frequents the restaurant at least a few times a month, if not more often, and still sees many members of the local community there.

“It’s a real special place. It’s definitely the hub of the High Desert,” Adams says. “It’s a great place for bands to play. There’s definitely a lot of people from out of town who come here nowadays, but it’s still a local spot.”

Although the venue has hosted notable artists, Pappy & Harriet’s has refused to conform to popular trends or expectations, but rather stays completely true to its history of genuine, live music and authentic barbecue.

“It’s a different world here. It’s got a roadhouse, honky-tonk feel. It has a lore and an energy. They’ve created that culture here,” Taylor says. “I feel like I can come here and give up my best music and do things as soulfully as possible and people will be more receptive.

Other places, people might not pay attention no matter how good you’re playing.”

With no smoke machines, bright, flashing lights or booming sound systems, Pappy &

Harriet’s chooses to focus on the music and the people there to enjoy it.

Abby Cathcart, senior early childhood studies major, visited Pappy & Harriet’s to see City & Colour and says she was mesmerized by its simple aesthetic and the atmosphere it created.

“The venue has a magical feel, especially when it got dark because you could see the vast amount of stars while listening to live music,” Cathcart says. “It’s something special to have the opportunity to be at the exact same place where a part of music history occurred.

Concerts are special to begin with, but putting the beauty of nature along with it is something unforgettable. Pappy & Harriet’s creates that unforgettable experience for you.”

Pappy & Harriet’s continues to host artists Wednesday through Sunday, some concerts requiring tickets, some free. If one is looking for an escape from the populous, crowded city, head out to simple Pioneertown, order some barbecue and embrace the slow, magical atmosphere at Pappy & Harriet’s. ◆

Left: Taylor plays a guitar solo to the beat of the drums as the crowd cheers him on.

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olling through crowded city streets, buildings pass sluggishly outside smudged car windows as traffic inches forward. Brick and concrete, the solid gray of corporate offices and condo complexes blend together seamlessly — a colorless void. Without art, cities are boring, mundane, inhuman. But with murals, cities have personality.

When the faces of Frida Kahlo and Bernie Sanders stare out from the facades of offices, when chameleons and tigers practically crawl off the walls, when new galaxies and ethereal wings adorn apartment exteriors, cities come to life.

Murals give life to an otherwise dull Los Angeles. For years Los Angeles has been considered the mural capital of the world — miles of color accessorizing the formerly drab city blocks like jewelry. With a city as diverse and changeable as L.A., murals have become a way to showcase the different cultures and people represented throughout the city.

This connection between people and where they live, which murals establish, is not distinct to Los Angeles. Murals have always been a tool to reflect culture. When Michelangelo painted

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the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he reflected the religious values of the people in his artwork.

When Diego Rivera created “The History of Mexico” mural in the stairwell of the National Palace in Mexico City, he illustrated political ideals of the period. When Keith Haring filled the streets of New York with his neo-expressionist art in the ’80s, he pressed on social issues of the day.

Murals act as a tool for social, political and religious commentary. They can be the enactment of freedom of expression, a fluid form meant to relay public concerns. They allow an element of social engagement that other art forms do not. No one needs to pay an admittance fee.

No one has to make his or her way to a museum.

Anyone walking by can appreciate the aesthetic value of a mural and engage critically in the ideas it presents. Murals, more than anything else, connect people to a place — the exterior of a city becoming like the individuals who make it up.

Simply, murals make a city belong to its residents. Expression through art causes a city to become like its inhabitants, with its walls and streets slowly morphing into an amalgamation of who the people are.8

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Written by Sarah Dean Photos by Sage Zbinden

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Above: Luis Mateo, 22-year-old Culver resident, sits in front of the “Your Place in the Galaxy” mural waiting for the nearest bus stop. Below: A mural of South Street in Los Angeles is hidden among various shops unseen by many passersby. The piece remains unnamed and unclaimed by any artist, leaving it for viewers to interpret.

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Gouveia posits that this kind of censorship kills creativity within a city.

“It’s our natural habit to scream, ‘I exist,’ by scratching our name, our image, our creation onto the surface of the city. Cities think they can bypass this and keep it sterile, but they close off the chance to showcase positivity, as well,” Gouveia says.

Years went by as lawyers and artists fought in court for the right to their streets. Solutions were suggested and attempted with no fruitful outcomes. Then, in 2010, an appellate court upheld the city’s right to regulate “supergraphics,” allowing the city to distinguish between murals and commercial signs. As of Oct. 15, 2013, more than 10 years after the start of the ban, LA began reissuing permits for murals.

New murals now adorn city streets, reviving the connection LA has to its inhabitants. A wall in downtown on Main Street sports a white background overlain with confetti and block-lettering declaring, “NOT OUR PRESIDENT — ” a jab to the Trump-era. In the epicenter of the arts district on the back of the Neptune building, a pair of multicolored hands holding flowers honor the late Joel Bloom, an activist who helped shape the culture of the arts district. Along South Venice, a wall features hands releasing two doves taking flight in different directions, symbolically bringing peace to the surrounding community.

As the public art community in LA has been given new life, the social, political and cultural influence of murals is still ever-present in the work being created. The spirit of creativity and activism displayed in murals has been invigorated and renewed, allowing artists to once again shape the city to reflect its people. ◆

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“Art is for everyone,” muralist Geoff Gouveia states. He says that his passion for murals came from a rejection of the typical gallery system of art. “I love that murals are interacted with as opposed to ‘sold’ or behind closed doors.”

Chelsea Byers, creator of Mural Map LA, says that she was moved to develop the guide to LA’s murals because of her own connection to them and the city.

“I was inspired to create Mural Map LA after spending so much time immersed in the streets of Los Angeles and realizing the value and feeling the impact of the art that I was seeing on a regular basis. The art made me feel connected to LA,” Byers says. “I better understood the city and felt a stronger sense of connection to different places because of it. I wanted to give other people an opportunity to feel the same impact.”

Cameron Cash, junior graphic design major, says that she appreciates murals because of the originality and individuality expressed in each one.

“I love murals; they are by far my favorite kind of art.

The reason people like them is because they are personal to the community. There is no other mural like that in any other place and it builds this sense of uniqueness,” Cash says.

When the city of LA banned murals in 2002, the people were robbed of connection to their city. In an effort to crack down on the amount of advertisements placed around the metropolis, a new ordinance was passed that banned commercial signs, which included any new murals, as well.

Los Angeles, which had previously been a thriving leader in public art, forced the continued growth of civic creativity to come to a screeching halt. The rapid pace at which the city walls had been evolving and growing ceased.

An innocent bystander in a battle over the regulation of commercial signage, murals became collateral damage.

Top Left: “Red Galaxy” mural by @KATCH1 and @RICHUNO near Venice Boulevard and Colonial Avenue stands outside a parking lot near an open house coffee shop. Bottom Left: “Your Place in the Galaxy” mural on the side of Davis Brothers Tire Pros in Los Angeles brings creativty and art to a usually uneventful bus stop.

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Photos by Lauren Shelburne

T An Introduction to Filmmaking

From Script to Screen

Written by Michael Hansen

he lights start to dim and conversations settle down as the audience prepares to be transported into the world showcased on the silver screen. The familiar roar of the cinema fills the theater after nearly 20 minutes of trailers. The featured film begins and reality is put on hold.

Michael Duggan, Nathan Rierson, Allen Fletcher and Jonathan Cadenhead, sophomore film majors, and David Ramos, senior film major, felt the demand of the silver screen and took up the craft of short film-making. At the seventh annual CBU Student Film Festival, Duggan, Rierson, Fletcher and Cadenhead won the Best Screenplay award for their movie aptly named “Film School.” Ramos’ movie, “Purple Pen,” won the award for Best Picture.

Before awards are presented, the process of short film-making always begins and ends with three things: planning, filming and editing.

reproduction Bella Shary, a University of Southern California alumna of the School of Cinematic Arts, assumed the role of organizing all three of these steps in the form of director and producer while shooting a music video for the band Mother and came away with mentionable advice for first-time filmmakers.

“If I ever wanted to direct again, I think I would have to have someone exclusively producing. It’s really hard to do both (directing and producing),” Shary says.

Planning involves the sculpting of ideas and stories from which a script is formed, actors are hired, and shooting locations are decided.

Ideas and stories are inspired by anything from the familiar to the unexpected. They come from distant memories, indescribable feelings, scribblings on a napkin, and even the seemingly insignificant details of daily life.

Rierson says once the story or idea is stable enough to build upon, it can move on to the drafting phase.

“Your first draft is essentially someone vomiting all over the page and saying we 8

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have to reorganize this so it makes sense,” Rierson says.

Reorganizing the first draft is both a destructive and formative time for filmmakers.

Stories that were thought to be award-winning end up being thrown out and unassuming ideas transform into award winners.

“Everyone wants to make the next big story,” Ramos says.

Although every filmmaker aspires to achieve “the next big story” through an award-winning film, expectations for stories and the drafting process should be realistic and grounded.

Alongside drafting, the script itself is an essential part of most films. When the script is finished, it is generally read at a table where the cast and crew get together to read the script in its entirety and give input — similar to a trial run for the shooting process.

Because short filmmakers often work around a budget, they look to recruit students like themselves through social media or casting sites.

Without a large budget, it is difficult to utilize quality filming equipment. CBU film students, however, are afforded the option of using studio-grade filming equipment.

However, good equipment does not always lead to a quality film.

With this equipment, “instead of (solely) making something that says something, the film itself is saying I know how to make a film,” Ramos says.

Location, Location, location Sets and film locations can make or break a scene, and are notoriously difficult to deal with. They can be ruined by weather or someone denying access to the location. It is a necessity to get proper clearance and permits to film on any private location. With that said: compromise, compromise, compromise.

Shary’s initial filming location was ideal but with budgetary constraints, she learned that money, or lack of it, could make one comfortable with compromise.

Left: Bacani adjusts his exposure on set of the newest music video for emerging artist, McCall. Top Right: Shary reviews the shot list for the next hour with Miriam Sachs, first assistant director.

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“We thought we could have a prom setting in a gym and get all these extras and production design and then we realized that was so expensive,” Shary says.

Short films are creatures that evolve from when the film is written to when the film is shot, and then, when the film is edited. Filming is an art in which filmmakers negotiate details, ranging from camera lenses to keeping cast members happy and fed.

Filmmakers arrive on set with actors and equipment, and if circumstances permit, they start filming. Setting up a shot can take minutes or hours at a time. Lighting, angle and sound are just a few things that must be considered by the crew. Mics, booms, gimbals and tripods are important to filming, but there is one tool Cadenhead says he cannot go without — gaff tape. It is a universal tool that is a cross between electric and duct tape that can be used anywhere on set to hold camera parts in place

Sometimes dozens of takes must be done.

Regardless of the number of takes, Ramos says that “there’s an energy to saying action.”

In between these takes, actors can change costumes, reapply makeup and rehearse lines, simultaneously.

Coordinating all of these moving parts takes skill and calls the director to wear many different hats. A set’s morale is important, as well, to keep the film-making process rolling. Ramos likened it to riding a bike — it’s hard to balance when not moving forward.

Sometimes all that is needed on set, though, is a little unpredictability from those maybe not so familiar with “riding the bike,” as Shary explained when needing a punchbowl to be spilled on an “unsuspecting” actress.

“My friend, he’s not an actor, so he’s not aware of all the cues. They said ‘camera rolling,’ so he went and bumped into her,” Shary says.

“But in the end, the actress was genuinely

weeks, and even months apart, are pieced together as a seamless collage.

Many feature-length filmmakers command legions of editors, but many times, short films are edited by one or two people.

“I love all processes (of film making), but if I had to pick one that frustrates me most, it would probably be editing,” Ramos says.

Editors take the bulk of what was filmed, imperfections and all, and use editing software, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, to pick out the best takes and “sew” them together through angle changes and transitions. Throughout this process, there are multiple stages, including the rough edit, similar to a rough draft. In the rough edit, the film may not be a cohesive sequence of scenes but is split up into different sections.

After the rough edit, sound, music and titles are added to bring the film together.

Filming is an arduous process that requires

or mark places for an actor to stand.

surprised.”

The major end goal for the filmmaker is something referred to as “filming for the edit.”

Editing is the culmination of all that go into film-making in which scenes filmed days,

skill and perseverance. Sometimes its beginning is “sitting down with the cursor blinking at you and you don’t know what to do,” Ramos says. But it is all in pursuit of that first inspiring moment — seeing it on the big screen. ◆

Patience in Creativity Filming is anything but one-time shots.

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p u r s u i t r e c o m m e n ds must-reads of 2019 Written by Sarah Dean For The Old Soul:

For The History Buff:

For The Inner Child:

‘Brown Girl Dreaming’

By Jaqueline Woodson

‘The Underground Railroad’

By Colson Whitehead

‘Saint Anything’

By Sarah Dessen

Combining artistry with grounded anecdotes, Jaqueline Woodson’s beautiful memoir, “Brown Girl Dreaming,” follows her early life as a young black girl being raised in South Carolina and New York during the Civil Rights Movement. The acclaimed novel won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2014, and both the John Newberry Medal and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in the youth category in 2015. Through Woodson’s masterful use of language, her poetic retelling will capture your imagination and make you walk in her shoes.

Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Underground Railroad,” imagines what it would have been like for an escaped slave in the 1800s with a slight twist — the underground railroad is an actual railroad, a vast network of locomotives running beneath America. Cora, a teenage girl enslaved on a plantation in Georgia, decides to run away with the help of the underground railroad and is forced to overcome enormous obstacles as she attempts to reach freedom. Whitehead’s magical realist approach to history keeps the reader constantly guessing and rooting for Cora until the very end.

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Prolific young-adult author, Sarah Dessen, brings her typical cleverness and charm to her 2015 novel, “Saint Anything,” which follows protagonist Peyton. After her brother’s drunken driving accident and subsequent jail sentence, Peyton is left to fend for herself.

With her parents so focused on her brother’s problems, Peyton finds herself becoming attached to the hospitable Chatham family, who own and operate a local pizza parlor.

In a story rife with both heartache and heartwarming moments, readers will find solace in the fantastically developed characters and deep relationships built throughout the story.

PURSUIT Pursuit magazine is a student-produced publication of California Baptist University that works to utilize professional, balanced journalism to tell the stories of CBU’s community and the real-life, relevant factors that affect that community.

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