Mania

mania DISCOVER the Land of Ooo Conventional

COSPLAY A Look Into the MORTAL INSTRUMENTS

MAGIC SHOWS ITS MIGHT The Magic From Harry Potter Lives On June 2013

Mania Summer 2013

Pictures by: Midgard (left), Creative Commons (left center), Sony Pictures (right center), Harper Shapiro (right)

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FEATURES

cosplaying the part

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magic is might The Harry Potter books and movies have ended, but the fandom

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kingdoms and wastelands

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immortalized

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Characters fresh off the pages and in Comic Conventions around the world.

hasn’t.

People of all ages go on adventures with Finn and Jake.

Attractive guys, sparkly warlocks and demon hunting; what more could a teenage girl want?

Mania Summer 2013

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

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Take a look into our funny little brains.

ABOUT THE MANIACS

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MOUSTACHES THAT GROW ON YOU

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BUTTERBEER: BROUGHT TO LIFE

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A STUDY IN SHERLOCK

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Meet the people behind Mania.

Iconic moustaches and their personalities.

Madame Rosmerta’s finest, in five minutes or less.

The past and present Sherlock Holmes.

PERCUPSSION

Clap along to the rhythm of “You’re Going To Miss Me.”

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Letter from the Editors

Picture by Marijka Tilton

Together the Mania Staff can deafen anybody in a 20 mile radius with their squeals.

Hello Fangirls and Fanboys, Thanks for picking up this magazine! If you are in the fandom world, you have made a good choice. We Maniacs are known for our ability to stay calm under unbelievable pressure from our feels...not. But we do have the ability to pick amazing fandoms to report on.

This magazine has articles and content specifically designed for those who have a nearly unnatural love for books, TV shows, and characters. If you don’t participate in the fandom world, do not fear. Flip through these pages and you may discover something new to develop an obsession for.

However, sadly there are more fandoms than there are us Maniacs, so we do not have the ability to talk about every fandom. However, if you want ask the staff a question, you can contact us at maniafandom1@gmail.com. Thank you again for taking the time to check the magazine out.

May you have a day filled with feels.

The Mania Staff Harper Shapiro, Lizzie Eller, Suyi Lim, and Lesley Martinez Mania 2013

5

About the Maniacs Lizzie Eller

just recently lost any resemblance of a life she had, thanks to Netflix, Tumblr and anything else internet related. In fourth grade, her teacher handed her Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and as they say, the rest is history. When asked about her bad mood, she automatically responds “Usually I’m remarkably good natured, try me on a day that doesn’t end in -y.” She resides in the fandom worlds of Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments, Sherlock, and Psych, and occasionally surfaces from her cave of a room to read, listen to music, play soccer and attempt some algebra.

Suyi Lim fell into borderline obsessions when she was just a wee young lass, and had nothing to do; so, she picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and it just snowballed from there. She doesn’t really understand what goes on in other people’s funny little brains, let alone her own.

Her biggest accomplishment: writing two thousand words in two days (for an online roleplay). Suyi tends to produce inhumane noises and constant flailing when watching anime, British TV shows or K-pop music videos.

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Ever since her brother left his unread collection of Harry Potter books 1-4 in her room, Lesley Martinez has obsessed over the series. She even attempted to create a Harry Potter club at her Elementary School, but to no avail. Recently, she finished watching all of A Very Potter Senior Year and quotes the play to no one in particular.

Proud Hufflepuff, she agrees with Cedric Diggory’s claim, “Hufflepuffs are particularly good finders.” She also obsesses over Psych and the “Internetainers” Rhett and Link.

Lesley spends her free time either reading, listening to music, or roleplaying online.

Sucked into the fandom world through Doctor Who, Harper Shapiro resides in the dark realm of the internet, and hisses at any light that doesn’t come from his laptop. He currently watches vloggers on YouTube, shows on Netflix, and reads the infamous webcomic Homestuck. He reads books by John Green, George R.R. Martin, and more. He runs a fantastic blog on Tumblr and loves Comic Sans with a fiery passion.

Mania 2013

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MOUSTACHES

that grow on you

By Harper Shapiro

Moustaches have reemerged in the past decade, making them a large part of popular culture.

They come in many forms, and differ greatly between individuals. Some have grown on upper lips for centuries while others have appeared only within the last few years. What does your style of moustache say about you?

NATURAL MOUSTACHE

IMPERIAL MOUSTACHE

You live somewhat as a purist. You value your looks, but don’t want to get sucked into some sort of “fad.”

You always go for the classics, and for that, people respect you deeply.

No one can come close to your exceptional nature.

You definitely like to be noticed.

You pride yourself on your outgoing nature, and stand above all others.

You spend at least 2 hours every day styling your facial hair. Nonmoustachioed people mean nothing to you. Their lowliness amuses you.

ENGLISH MOUSTACHE Only people of impeccable style dare to wear this special moustache. Your incredible tastes tend to rub off on others, making your friends stylish as well. Because of this, your friends love you.

Sources: London’s Handlebar Club campaigns against sacking of Indian airline steward Feb. 16, 2008 Great Moustaches and Moustache Types World Beard and Moustache Championship results 2011

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HANDLEBAR MOUSTACHE You greatly admire old things. You wish you could have lived in a time where people took photographs in black and white, or perhaps did not take them at all. This hirsute appendage builds upon your style well.

CHEVRON MOUSTACHE

The Chevron remains a serious moustache for a serious individual.

You arrive on time and always get straight to the point. Did someone make you angry? You will take care of the situation swiftly and with great skill.

WALRUS MOUSTACHE

You don’t take yourself too seriously.

People may say mean things about you, but you just laugh it off.

You know that it does not matter because you, in actuality, display the attributes of a 1.5 ton, water dwelling mammal with tusks.

FU MANCHU MOUSTACHE

You strike fear into others with your moustache. It acts as a security system for you, which you take advantage of. People who see your beautiful whiskers may go into shock paralysis. This moustache is demanding, forcing you to become a strict and serious person overall.

Mania Moustache of the Month

MAGNIFICENT CURLS

Art by Harper Shapiro

Mania 2013

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c

download

comic sans “It’s ok, I guess.”

-The President

“For any occasion.”

-Anonymous

comes with papyrus

Cosplaying the Part Cosplaying the Part

From Cloth to Costume

to Costume From Cloth subtitle

By Suyi Lim

By: Suyi Lim

A

t Ikkicon in Austin, Texas, varied characters from different fictional realms, ranging from animes like Naruto to video game characters from Bioshock, seem to leap off of the page.

Fans wear intricate clothing and jewelry that was meticulously designed by the creators, holding weapons that look like they could cut foes right in half. They parade around the convention, talking with other characters, and take pictures while in their trademark poses. In actuality, fans have brought their favorite characters to life, with a rapidly growing type of performance art called cosplay.

Cosplay, short for Costume Play, allows people to dress up as and emulate popular characters from their favorite books, TV shows, video games, and other forms of media. Nov Takahashi, created the terms cosplay and cosplayers (the people who cosplay) in 1984 at a Los Angeles Convention. Cosplay gained its popularity in Japan during the 1980’s, and spread to America and other countries soon after.

Today, at Comic Cons all over the world, people come dressed as one of their favorite characters, ready to compete in Best Costume competitions and socialize with other fans.

“Basically, all sorts of fans get to get together and do what they love! It’s quite magical,” a cosplayer, Andrea Pepper, says.

Even though fans have fun getting together to show off their finished works, cosplaying requires work and dedication.

Creating a costume from scratch requires a lot of planning beforehand, starting with choosing a character to cosplay as. When choosing a character, A cosplayer has to take many things into consideration, such as the people who will attend the Con, like a certain cosplay group or a voice actor from a show, and if the Comic Con has a certain theme. Cosplayers will usually

12 Mania 2013

want to cosplay their favorite characters, and can narrow down their list of characters through the character’s design and the personality of the character.

“I first think of characters I like a lot, or who remind me of myself,” teenage cosplayer,

Picture by Naraku Brock

Rachal Newberry, says.

After a cosplayer has decided on a character to cosplay as, they research the character’s image and personality. Cosplayers take note of all the details of official reference images online, which depict the character from different angles, to help with planning each individual garment piece. At Comic Conventions, people mimic the mannerisms of the character that they are cosplaying as, and interact with other cosplayers in character.

Researching all aspects of the character becomes crucial to the designing phase of the costume to adhere to the original character.

“The cosplay I’m working on right now is of a ballerina from

the 1800’s or so.” says Megan Pratt, freshman at LASA and cosplayer. “The series she’s from is based on Swan Lake, so the way I’m designing her costume for creation is really influenced by 17th century Swan Lake costumery.”

To help plan out each costume

Props are usually homemade, using materials from around the house.

piece, Newberry draws her design by hand. Pratt creates a shopping list of what she needs to buy, and obtains each piece that she needs to make the costume over the course of a few months due to her budget. Naraku Brock, a veteran cosplayer of twelve years, says that she always starts with the fabric, specifying what colors and the textures. She then orders her fabric samples, and researches the other elements of the costume.

“I usually have to look at a lot of reference images of the character, and then match it to sewing patterns,” Newberry says.

A cosplayer’s budget can

Picture by Megan Pratt

Picture by Carter McKendry

halt the process of creating a costume, with insufficient funds to buy materials for the costume.

With all the materials for the costume, the average Cosplay can reach over a hundred dollars. However to combat a tight budget, cosplayers reuse patterns and props from previous costumes, and they shop at thrift stores. “[Cosplay] can get expensive, so buying it all at once isn’t an option for me,” Pratt says.

Cosplayers say that hand-sewn costumes take the longest, with complications involving fabric, sewing machines, restitching items, making the entire process sporadic. Alterations from existing pieces also pose difficulties, creating problems with restitching the design or adding more detail to the already existing piece.

“The worst thing about creating things by scratch is that you have to hope it’s going to work,” Pratt says. “If you’re making something by hand, there’s a fifty-fifty chance it’s going to completely flop and you’ll be out of materials.”

Props, such as wigs, shoes,

A cosplayer tries on all aspects on of her costume.

People get together in Cosplay groups and take pictures..

jewelry, and weapons, that complement the finished outfit are either handmade or bought from the store; the process of making a prop mimics that of making a costume, but with some differences. Brock describes how she makes her Hades brooch out of Fimo, a type of modeling clay.

To start, she creates a reference image of the size that she needs, and then she kneads a block of Fimo into the correct size. Step by step, Brock adds details to her brooch using sculpture tools to her brooch, and when finished, she paints the dried model.

“Sometimes making [the props] stay and having the right details can be difficult,” Pepper says.

Makeup brings the finished product all together, with the cosplayer changing their eye color or their skin color to fit the character’s appearance. Some female cosplayers have to bind their chests, using chest binders, if they decide to cosplay male characters.

“First think about the characters personality, then how this would translate into a certain makeup style,” a cosplay makeup tutorial maker, Kaiyashi, says.

To show off their finished products, many cosplayers attend year round Comic Cons held all around the world. The most popular Comic Cons’ attendance can reach a maximum of one hundred thousand people with anime fans, ravers, gamers, and steampunks talking about what they love. At Comic Cons, Friends get together and take pictures as a group, and walk around the convention center to spend time with each other and buy merchandise.

“It’s kinda like walking into a dream,” Pepper says.

Though, the Comic Con experience can overwhelm some cosplayers. Newberry recalls at some Cons, people blatantly disregard etiquette and make cosplayers uncomfortable by taking photos without consent or running up and hugging them. After spending extensive amounts of time on their cosplay, cosplayers worry about how other attendees will react to their costumes, with making an impression being one of the most stressful parts of going to a Con. Pratt says that she stays up early in the morning right before a Con running through every aspect of her cosplay, rehearsing skits and making sure that makeup and props look ready for the morning of the Con. “Being so proactive and highstrung makes for a lot of tension between me and everyone else,” Pratt says.

With the completion of one costume for one Comic Con, many cosplayers, like Pratt feel relieved and rewarded when they finish, but still believe in improving their skills through helpful tutorials that cosplayers have posted. Cosplay continues to grow today, with novice cosplayers starting to plan out their first costumes. “There is always so much to improve upon so I’m sure I’ll learn more as the years go by,” Newberry says.

Mania 2013 13

Butterbeer: Brought to Life

By Lesley Martinez

Since butterbeer first appeared in the Harry

Potter series, fans from around the world have tried to create what this sweet, frothy drink would taste like. The recipes vary from cold to warm, alcoholic to non-alcoholic. Universal Studios recreated butterbeer for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, taking three years to perfect the recipe, even having J.K. Rowling herself taste the final options. Ecstatic fans have flocked to taste this delicacy, a must-have when visiting the park. Below, a recipe (taken from MuggleNet, with a few additions from Mania) recreates the theme park’s version – non-alcoholic, of course. Easy to follow steps allow anyone to brew this tasty concoction. Cheers!

PREPARING THE BUTTERBEER

Measure half a tablespoon of the butterscotch topping into each cup/mug. Pour a ¼ of a cup of cream soda into each cup/mug. Stir well so the butterscotch topping and cream soda is mixed thoroughly. Set this aside.

Picture taken by Lizzie Eller

INGREDIENTS

Cream soda

1 ½ tablespoons of butterscotch (ice cream topping preferred) ½ cup whipped cream (canned whip topping works well)

Before preparing, place cups or mugs in the freezer. This makes for a nice, cool drink. Prefer a warm drink? Don’t freeze the cups, instead, heat the butterbeer mix (without the foam).

PREPARING THE FOAM

Combine the whipped cream, the remaining tablespoon of butterscotch topping, and half a tablespoon of cream soda in a small bowl.

Stir until well mixed.

Picture taken by Lizzie Eller

FINISHING TOUCHES Sources: Butterbeer: How the Harry Potter Beverage Was Made Real July 11, 2011

by Jim Hill Butterbeer Recipe Jan. 22, 2012 by Cici on MuggleNet Universal’s Wizards Tap Into Harry’s Favorite Froth Feb. 15, 2011 by Andrew Kaplan, Beverage World

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Pour cream soda into the cups/mugs. Stir the foam into the drink and let it set, or simply place it like a topper.

In the books, butterbeer contains a small portion of alcohol, enough to intoxicate a house elf.

Picture taken by Brandi Harrison

Magic is

MIGHT Potterheads keep the magic alive in more ways than one might think.

By Lesley Martinez

Picture by Lesley Martinez

Sorcerer’s Stone, Chapter 14, “The Egg in the Fire”.

Picture by Lesley Martinez

S

tupefied by the Harry Potter interactive site Pottermore, sixyear-old Emiliano Martinez kneels, instead of sits, on his chair in front of the bright computer screen. His eyes focus upon all the little details of Hagrid’s hut, searching for that one item with his cursor that will glow purple, signifying that he can click on that object. He zooms in, hovers over the dragon egg, and clicks. He collects the egg, earning himself a house point to Ravenclaw. Smiling, he goes onto the next page, eager to see more of the wizarding world, and to collect more items and win points.

“Harry Potter isn’t just a story, J.K. Rowling created a new world. When you read the books, you become a part of that world,” said Isabel Clark, a longtime fan of the Boy Who Lived.

Like many other Potterheads before them, the magical world of Harry Potter sucked Martinez and Clark in and refused to spit them back out.

Even after the movies ended and all hope of J.K. Rowling creating a new Potter book vanished, fans still find ways to entertain themselves with activities that pertain to Harry Potter. Emiliano accomplishes this by playing on Pottermore, watching Harry Potter parody videos, and every now and then wanting to dress up like Harry himself. Clark also enjoys spending time on Pottermore, and visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter this past year. But, Emiliano and Clark only participate

in a small amount of Harry Potter related activities that exist. Other activities include roleplaying, creating fanart and fanfiction, playing Quidditch, and cosplaying.

“I find that [Pottermore] is like

“

Harry Potter isn’t just a story, J.K. Rowling created a new world.

When you read the books, you become a part of that world.

-Isabel Clark

Facebook, only less helpful in the real world.” Pottermore devotee Elizabeth Hauglie said, “I tend to get sucked in and the real world doesn’t matter anymore.”

Hauglie describes Pottermore perfectly; Rowling has succeeded in creating an entertaining website with over four million users. Pottermore users everywhere rejoice in the ability to participate in things such as getting a wand to choose them, flinging gnomes over the Weasley’s wall, and competing for the house cup, and many more. Getting sorted into one of the four houses remains one of the most lookedforward to aspects about the site.

Brandon Hill, a roleplayer, said he stopped exploring Pottermore after getting sorted, for he didn’t

want it for anything else. Like Hill, some Potterheads only create a Pottermore to finally know what house they truly belong to. Beyond the sorting, one can experience the life of a Hogwarts student during the time Harry attended, mimicking what Harry did throughout the books. Enjoying the site takes a love for online games, and most of all, patience. Each Harry Potter book releases in installments, and the wait often drags on for weeks.

Nonetheless, while they wait, users enjoy in dueling each other, making potions, and conversing in the great hall or in their house’s common room. Pottermore brings back memories, and many find it a suitable replacement for the books.

Albeit, older Potterheads look to something more thought-provoking as a replacement.

Erin McElroy, a roleplayer, said, “I would recommend [roleplaying] to anyone who enjoys geek-culture and acting and writing.”

Visualize going online and finding a website where everyone acts like a character from Harry Potter.

People interact with each other as the characters, creating entirely new stories from what Rowling originally gave her fans, even creating entirely new characters.

McElroy, along with friend Brandon Hill, participate in such a thing; roleplaying. Roleplaying expands from the stories, allowing people to manipulate characters and plot

Mania 2013 17

lines however they want. McElroy and Hill roleplay together, and have given completely new characteristics to Draco Malfoy and Zacharias Smith, respectively. All their roleplaying happens on Tumblr, where they can post pictures or GIFs of their characters that brings life to the words they type. Places other than Tumblr, also host roleplays.

McElroy said she first began roleplaying on Omegle, and then made the switch to Tumblr once she had found a roleplay of one of her favorite shows. To newcomers of a roleplay, she suggests developing a character and diving into plot. Hill agreed, “learn the rules and then dive in. Take on more than you can chew and even some things that are different and just go with it.”

Roleplaying takes thought and effort, one should not try it if they don’t have enough dedication and time.

But Harry Potter themed classes don’t take as much dedication, and Potterheads can now assist a class without falling asleep.

Megan Hart, English teacher at Austin, Texas’ Kealing Middle School started a Harry Potter elective for all students who want to take the class.

She said, “Kids were just so excited about the books... I knew it would be a fun class to teach.”

Potter fans attending Kealing Middle School think themselves lucky to have a Harry Potter elective available at their school. They get the chance to get sorted into the four houses, and compete for the house cup at the end of the semester. By winning competitions, each house gets awarded with paper points shaped like Harry’s lightning-shaped scar. They then tape them onto the banners they created for the house they got sorted into. Primarily, the kids teach the lessons, with help from Hart. Lessons mainly consist of learning about specific characters and each of the seven books, and classes taught in the books, such as Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures. Sometimes the class takes a break by having a movie

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day, where they watch movies, eat food, and bring Harry Potter-related board games. Towards the end of the semester, kids participate in Quidditch matches out in the fields, and the winners attain glory and the Quidditch cup. But the class might change, for Hart will teach a new elective next year and might not have time to teach the Harry Potter-based elective. But students can look forward to classes about the Chosen One in college as many universities begin Harry Potter themed classes of their own. Such as “Finding Your Patronus” offered at Oregon State University; “Christian Theology and Harry Potter” at Yale University; “The Science of Harry Potter” at Frostburg State University; and “Rhetoric of Harry Potter” at University of Texas at Austin. In the meantime, one can enjoy other Harry themed leisurely activities such as

Picture by Cam-Fu HP Brand estimated worth: $15 billion.

taking a stroll around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, writing fanfiction, and drawing fanart. “[The Wizarding World of Harry Potter] is on my bucket list of places/ things to do before I die.” Hauglie said.

What Potterhead hasn’t listed going to the Harry Potter theme park at Universal Orlando Resort on their bucket list? The theme park replicated Hogwarts, the castle where magical students attend school; Honeydukes, the sweet shop; Ollivander’s, the wand shop where a wand chooses the wizard; Zonko’s, the joke shop; The Three Broomsticks, the cavern where one can order authentic British food

and butterbeer; and Dervish and Banges, the wizarding shop where one can find all sorts of souvenirs.

Tickets range from $200 to $6000, all depending on amount of days one stays, the amount of people visiting, and the kind of access wanted. If one has the money to go, they won’t regret the visit. Many visitors to the park say they would go back if given the chance. But rather than spending a large sum of money, one can enjoy creative activities, such as creating fanart and fanfiction. Creating new interpretations of characters through art and writing could bring more enjoyment than other luxuries.

One could also listen to or start their very own “wizard rock” band.

Wizard rock bands give themselves a name that pertains to Harry Potter, such as Harry and the Potters and Ministry of Magic, and sing about various topics discussed in the books. Looking for something more active? Try cosplaying. Simply, one dresses up as a character from Harry Potter (or any other fandom character) and flaunt the legitimacy of their costume. To go more indepth on cosplaying, read “Cosplaying the Part”.

“I think [Harry Potter] is an important part of my life that I would love to share with people.”

McElroy said.

Since the first book came out in 1998, Harry Potter has enthralled many readers, young and old alike.

The stories captured the attention of many people from all around the world. The magic that began with that first book has not ended; it goes on in each and every Potterhead by the activities they do and by spreading their love for Harry Potter to others. Harry Potter brings joy to many, and while there will no longer be movie premiers to attend, or book releases to go to, people will continue to relish in the world of Harry Potter.

Like Rowling said, “Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

A Study In

Sherlock

By Suyi Lim

PAST HOBBIES Victorian-Era Sherlock Holmes boxes, plays singlestick, and spars with swords. He carries a gun for self-defense. Holmes serially takes cocaine and opium.

DEERSTALKER Doyle never described Holmes to wear this type of hat, but his companion, John Watson described something similar. Paget drew the detective wearing the hat only in rural settings. Traditionally, people wear the deerstalker for hunting.

CALABASH PIPE JOHN WATSON A skilled surgeon while serving in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, he caught a fever, and had to return to London. John believes that Sherlock Holmes does not get the credit that he deserves for solving these cases, so Watson started to write about Holmes’ cases.

Common in the 19th century, Sherlock Holmes, and his companion, John Watson often smoke tobacco. Holmes is an expert at identifying tobacco ash, and has written a paper concerning the subject.

INVERNESS CAPE Worn more as a heavy-duty coat than formal wear, Paget only drew Holmes in his best-known outfit when Holmes visited the countryside for cases, like the “The Baskerville Hounds”.

Art by Suyi Lim Sources: Designing Sherlock: The Influence of Sidney Paget. by Teresa Jusino Dec. 26 2011 Times have changed but crimes are the same for new Sherlock Holmes by Brian Pendreigh July 19 2010

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The original Sherlock Holmes has paved the way for other fictional detectives, such as Hercule

Poirot and Lord Peter Wimsey. Other detectives have alluded to his tobacco pipe, deerstalker hat, and deducting skills. From the Sherlock Holmes that Arthur Conan Doyle imagined at 221B Baker Street, to the BBC modern day adaption of Sherlock, the popular series written from 1887 to 1927 still continues to inspire people worldwide. However, the way the first illustrator of the series, Sydney Paget imagined the detective has changed over the years as Sherlock Holmes continues to be changed to fit modern times.

PRESENT SCARF The actor playing Sherlock Holmes in the BBC adaptation of Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch, chose the scarf, which contributes to the overall crisp image of Sherlock, along with his eccentric character.

HOBBIES Sherlock plays the violin, and keeps people up to date about his cases with his blog, the “Science of Deduction”. Sometimes he helps out Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the London Police Force, with cases.

NICOTINE PATCHES Instead of having his usual pipe, the creators of the BBC adaptation of Sherlock decided to go with nicotine patches. Sherlock sometimes rates the difficulty of his cases on how many nicotine patches he is on at the time.

COAT

JOHN WATSON John Watson has just returned from Afghanistan, where he served as an army doctor. Trying to find a place to stay, his friend introduces him to Sherlock Holmes and 221B, where he blogs about the cases that he and Sherlock embark on.

BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) winning costume designer Ray Holman chose the three identical coats. Fans associate the coat with the BBC adaptation, being one of the most recognizable aspects.

Sources: Dress Like Sherlock and Watson by Andy Morris.

Sherlock Holmes Ditches His Deerstalker by Michael Osborn Dec. 25 2009 From Arthur Conan Doyle to New York City’s “Elementary” Sept. 12 2012

Mania 2013 21

NEVER

WORRY ABOUT FINDING YOUR

FAVORITE MOVIES

Colorful Kingdoms and Dark Wastelands A Show To Bring People Together

By Harper Shapiro

J

ake the Dog and Finn the Human walk down the wooded path of Mount Cragdor in search of the mystical hero’s book, the Enchiridion. The book lies atop the highest peak waiting for a righteous hero to claim it. “This way!” Finn shouts, hearing screeches from somewhere past the trees. He trips over a wall of thorns, falling to the ground. “Yo Finn, are you alright?” Jake asks, “Did you get brain damage?” “I’m fine,” Finn says.

Finn and Jake look ahead and see three small gnomes drowning in lava. “I gotcha!” Finn exclaims, pulling the gnomes from their fiery doom. “Thank you for saving us,” the red gnome says, “Now we can destroy this old lady!” Finn’s expression quickly goes from proud to shocked. For no apparent reason, the gnomes proceed

to zap numerous old ladies and make them vanish. “Say you’re sorry!” Jake screams. When they refuse, he stuffs them back in the lava. Finn and Jake begin to realize that the gnomes had tested them, and their heroism. They continue along the path, waiting for a new test. This trainof-thought flow appears throughout the show Adventure Time, in the majority of episodes. Events sometimes pop up out of nowhere, which surprises viewers. Adventure Time’s abstract way of telling a story attracts an unexpected audience for a kid’s show, which includes kids and adults alike.

Created by Pendleton Ward for Cartoon Network in the spring of 2010, Adventure Time combines dark and whimsical elements to make viewers feel emotions from exhilaration to heartbreak. The show revolves around Art by Harper Shapiro

the two main characters, Finn and Jake, and their exploits in a kingdom called the Land of Ooo. Jake has the ability to stretch and contort his body in many different ways, and Finn possesses a large imagination and sense of adventure. Other inhabitants in the Land of Ooo include Princess Bubblegum of the Candy Kingdom, the evil but pathetic Ice King, and a vampire named Marceline who has lived for 1000 years. Combined with its large cast of characters, the show tends to migrate from a simple idea to something complex and strange, which makes it attractive to viewers.

“I think the flow of the story is very all over the place, but that’s just kind of the show,” LASA Freshman Connor Kordes says. “You know, completely random, and that’s why people watch it.”

The seemingly out-of-the-blue storylines in Adventure Time compose the foundation of the show in an important way. They can make the show more interesting to viewers because they express a typical part of peoples’ daily lives; confusion. The way the show turns strange plots and characters into relatable and exciting stories draws an audience that consists not only of kids, but adults as well. Older viewers admire this aspect because it makes confusion exciting. Tim Harrison, a forty five year old Austinite, says that he enjoys the off-the-cuff storytelling.

“It’s that ‘anything can happen’ weirdness that I find enjoyable,” Harrison says.

Adventure Time can have abnormal stories but the setting of the show may shock uninformed viewers.

Upon first glance, the Land of Ooo simply acts as a mystical realm where anything can happen.

However, Ward has stated in numerous interviews with media websites such as io9.com that the continent of Ooo resides in a post apocalyptic earth, set one thousand years in the future. In July of 2012 Ward stated to io9 that he didn’t present the dark side of the show to the network.

“I didn’t pitch the apocalypse

24 Mania 2013

part of it — just the fun part... and then I put the apocalypse in the background.” Ward says.

The remnants of the present day reveal themselves in many instances throughout the show, from dud bombs lying around to a massive crater in the earth seen from space.

15 year old Augie Stromberger admires the decision to set the show on a future earth. He says the variation in landscapes bodes well for versatile scenes.

“The setting is quite amazing, having both colorful kingdoms filled with Candy people and dark post-apocalyptic wastelands.”

Stromberger says.

Along with dark themes comes dark characters. Inside a prison of amber resides an evil, undead sorcerer named The Lich. One thousand years before Adventure Time takes place, the present day, The Great Mushroom War erupted.

The cause of this war remains secret, but its players used nuclear weapons to battle. The war ended with a devastating doomsday bomb that created the Lich and his power.

To cast him down, the great warrior Billy put him in a mass of amber. In the episode “Mortal Folly,” the Lich hypnotizes a snail and escapes his bonds, but Finn and Jake manage to vanquish him, or so they think. The Lich proves resilient, returning in many episodes.

“I think that the Lich perfectly compliments the oddity of the characters,” Stromberger says. “And [it gives] the show a darker villain to contrast with the goofy Ice King.”

The Lich

Picture And Art By Harper Shapiro

While Adventure Time can have dark episodes, most of them exhibit exciting and laughable antics.

People connect to Finn and Jake as fun characters, but relatable individuals live throughout the kingdom of Ooo. The audience of the show can relate to each character, even the seemingly evil ones.

“The show has a way of presenting most of the characters in a well rounded manner allowing me to relate to almost any of them,”

Harrison says. “Even the Ice King, who is basically just a lonely old man with anger management issues.”

The excitement, complex characters, and relatability of Adventure Time makes it more than just a simple kids show. Although aimed at children, people of all ages watch the show.

It contains many lessons, some for kids and some for adults. This gives the show such a diverse audience.

Kordes thinks that it challenges the idea of routine and similarity for older viewers.

“It can teach them how to react to change and that it isn’t always a bad thing,” Kordes says.

While Finn and Jake move on to new adventures, viewers small and large share in one of their own.

They see the characters navigating dungeons and fighting evil beings, and learn from their successes and mistakes, all the while shortening the gap between young and old.

Sharing Adventure Time references like “bacon pancakes,” or calling something “algebraic,” can let

different aged viewers see that they are not so different from one another.

Adventure Time will continue to spread imagination and excitement to all who need it, showing people their that age doesn’t determine whether or not they can enjoy something made for kids. As more secrets about the characters’ backstories and the Mushroom War are revealed, kids, adults, and everyone in between will watch each Monday night to find out what happens next.

Mania 2013 25

Percupssion

By Lizzie Eller

This tutorial teaches the cup percussion part of the popular song, “You’re Gonna Miss

Me,”written by Lulu and the Lampshades. The song, made famous by Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect, has caused many a fangirl or fanboy to attempt to leave behind their uncoordinated ways and lose themselves in the rhythm.

For this song, the necessary materials are 1 plastic cup, 2 hands, a flat surface and a little bit of space. When originally learning the song, Mania staff recommends not singing or looking at the lyrics until the cup part is learned.

SET UP: 1.) Make sure you have a little bit of space.

2.) Section off the area into thirds. (Actually marking the areas will be helpful at first) 3.) Place the cup upside down, in the middle third, and position yourself directly behind the middle third.

STEP 3

SONG PART 1: 1.) Clap twice.

2.) In rapid succession, tap the top of the cup like a drum once with the left hand, once with the right, and then once with the left.

3.) Clap once.

STEP 2

4.) Grab cup with right hand.

5.) Move cup and set it down in the right third.

YOU NOW KNOW THE FIRST HALF OF THE CUP SONG! MANIA STAFF RECOMMENDS PRACTICING THIS MOVEMENT A COUPLE TIMES UNTIL IT FEELS NATURAL.

STEP 4 Pictures taken by Suyi Lim

To see a video of the song go to: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qa4BUtsATsg

26 Mania 2013

YOU ARE NOW READY FOR PART 2! TAKE IT SLOW AND PRACTICE, AND IT WILL BECOME EASIER. SONG PART 2: This part is supposed to follow directly after the first, so the cup will start off to the right, where the cup ended in the last part.

1.) Clap once.

2.) Grab with your right hand the left side of the cup with your thumb pointed down. (This will feel really weird at first. But do not change the hand positioning, as it will affect your ability to do the rest of the part.)

3.) Pick up the cup and bring the open lip to the palm of your left hand, to make a hollow drum kind of sound.

STEP 2

4.) Keeping the cup in your right hand, hit the bottom of the cup on the flat surface in any third.

5.) Bring the cup back up, and pass to off to your left hand, flipping it in the process.

6.) Hit your right hand on table in the left third.

7.) Place the cup to the right of your right hand, in the middle third.

STEP 4

YOU NOW KNOW THE ENTIRE CUP SONG! NOW, PRACTICE PART TWO AND THEN PRACTICE STRINGING THE TWO PARTS TOGETHER. ONCE YOU GET THAT DOWN, TRY DOING THE ENTIRE THING MULTIPLE TIMES IN A ROW. THEN YOU CAN ADD THE LYRICS!

To get the lyrics for the song go to: www.songmeanings.net

STEP 6

THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1.) Don’t get frustrated. It will only make it harder to learn. Instead try taking a break.

2.) Don’t try to play along with the song until you have the song down at a fast tempo.

3.) Don’t be afraid to curse at or throw the cup across the room. Mania staff learned some new words that week...

4.) Have fun!

Mania 2013 27

Immortalized A FRESH SERIES TO CHALLENGE THE FANDOM WORLD

By Lizzie Eller

E

lla Pettichord sits cross-legged at her desk in her Spanish class, studiously ignoring her teacher speaking spanish with a Turkish accent. Instead of listening to the explanation of subjunctive verbs, Pettichord sneakily reads the Mortal Instruments series underneath her desk, trying to avoid getting caught.

Cover Art by Lizzie Eller

Suddenly Pettichord lets out a squeal, causing everyone in the classroom to jump and stare as she turns beet red from both the stares and the scene she just read out of her book.

“I got really excited, just from like the very first chapter,” Pettichord said.

Many fangirls besides Pettichord experienced this rush from the Mortal Instruments series.

Sometimes referred to as “the New Harry Potter,” the Mortal Instruments series captivates fangirls around the world.

Picture by Sony Pictures

The Mortal Instruments series, written by Cassandra Clare, quickly became one of the most popular teen series, with over two million book sales in over 30 countries.

Filming of the first book in the Mortal Instruments Series, the City of Bones, started in late 2012. (Release date: August 23, 2013) The sixth book of the series, City of Heavenly Fire, comes out in 2014. All of these developments in the fandom have caused uncontained enthusiasm and impatience in the community.

“I really couldn’t be more excited for the movie. I was one of those people refreshing the page every few seconds on Monday [April 5] waiting for the new trailer to come out,” Cate Parker, entertainment/intellectual property lawyer, and avid fan of the series, said.

Parker, along with most other fans, anticipate the movie release.

Many fans express excitement and apprehension about the movie because they want the movie to portray the book perfectly, which no movie can accomplish.

“I mean of course as any book

the roles accurately, fangirls worry about the actors bringing some of the most well-loved characters in teen literature to life in a way they don’t like.

“I thought a lot of the people they chose like Jamie Campbell Bower were kinda weird choices,” Pettichord said.

The trailer, released on April 5th, put many readers’ fears to rest, convincing fans that the actors do have the ability to bring their favorite characters to life.

“As far as the cast goes, I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive about the

New York City, the setting for the Mortal Instruments Series.

reader is, when the book gets turned into a movie, you’re picky about certain things, about how Isabelle is brunette and has black hair, and Simon’s some, tall, really attractive guy, when he’s really not supposed to be that attractive,” Cat Llamas, LASA student, said.

Many fans struggle with their feelings about the casting for the movie. With the movie’s impending release, many fans wonder about character accuracy. Whether the actor doesn’t look right or questioning the actor’s ability to play

cast, but the trailers have really won me over, particularly Jamie, Lily, and Kevin,” Parker said.

Besides the characters, fans barely contain excitement excited about seeing some of their favorite scenes from the book come to life on the big screen.

“Any fight scenes, because I can’t wait to see any of them,” Pettichord said.

Pettichord, an action fanatic, says the same about the sixth book in the Mortal Instruments Series, City of Heavenly Fire. Fans impatiently wait

Mania 2013 29

Cassandra Clare, author of the Mortal Instruments series.

Picture by Renae McKenzie

for the book’s release, but fear the book will not satisfy their wishes.

“I really hope [Magnus and Alec] get [back] together, because if one of them dies I’m going to cry,” Llamas said.

The last book in the series, City of Heavenly Fire, set to release in 2014, has made many fans nervous because fans want the series to end in a way they want and it might not do that. The ending does mean one other thing though: a monumental war between good and evil. Fans hope the battle does more than satisfy their yearning for action, and hope the battle will bring some of their favorite characters together in new ways.

“I think it’d be really interesting to see what [Clare] does with Jace and Clary, with the upcoming book,” Llamas said.

Besides romance and epic battles or fight scenes, fans really like the Mortal Instruments series because its a series readers can reread, take in their own way and enjoy.

“I love these stories because, for all their angels-vs-demons and supernatural elements, both series are the stories of families not by blood, but by soul. It’s all character driven, and the characters are so incredibly layered and compelling that I really feel for them. It’s a story, told over the course of two series and 150 years, about all the different forms love can take, whether friendship or family or romance,” Parker said The above statement captures most Mortal Instruments fan’s reason why they like the book as well.

The books connect with fans so well because Clare writes books in a style that really speaks to teenagers. Clare does this by giving her characters so much depth and personality that a reader feels like they truly know them.

Besides characters, plot, and setting, Clare goes above and beyond as an

author with her writing style.

“Although it can stray a bit flowery at times, the writing in the books is vividly descriptive, dryly witty, and generally quite enjoyable,“ Parker said.

Clare’s writing style reflects her personality: funny, nice and charitable. These qualities resulted in her title as “one of the best loved teenage authors.” These qualities present themselves in her above average involvement in the Mortal Instruments fandom. Clare will not hesitate to post fan art, fan fiction links and anything fandom related on both the Mortal Instruments website and her own personal sites.

Besides that, Clare consistently answers fans questions and posts updates about the movie and upcoming book on her Tumblr, which has over 2000 followers.

Many fans write to Clare, about the books, or how the books affected them.

“

I really hope [Magnus and Alec] get together, because if one of them dies I’m going to cry.”

-Cat Llamas “Reading these books, I realized that that is part of the Shadowhunters’ mandate: to put their unique skills and talents to use so that others can live their lives peacefully and safely,” said Parker, “[this made] me feel more assured about my choice to become an entertainment/intellectual property lawyer.”

The Mortal Instruments series has affected many fans’ lives, either by helping them decide on a profession or getting them in trouble in class.

The Angelic Power rune. Shadowhunters wear runes to protect themselves and increase their power. Placed on the skin with steles, runes go onto the skin inky black, but once they take effect lose their color, leaving only a scar as proof they were ever there.

Art by Sony Pictures

30 Mania 2013

Mortal Instruments Who’s Who JACE, a Shadowhunter, lives in

the New York Institute, (Kind of like a Shadowhunter school, hotel, and place to meet all combined in 1) with the Lightwood family. Jace projects a snarky and arrogant exterior, due to a very traumatic childhood, but to a select few, (Clary, the Lightwoods) he proves that his exterior does not show his chivalrous and funny side. In the City of Bones, Jace and Clary start dating.

CLARY is the daughter of Jocelyn

Fairchild and Valentine Morgenstern.

Jocelyn tries to keep Clary out of the Shadowhunter world, but one day Clary sees Jace, Isabelle and Alec out on a demon hunting mission.

She gets thrown into the world of Shadowhunters, where she learns about magic and how to fight demons, while also trying to juggle her new boyfriend Jace, her jealous best friend Simon who’s liked Clary for forever, and her new best friends Isabelle and Alec.

Picture by Sony Pictures

Jace and Clary, the hero and heroine of the story, are the main romantic pairing in the series.

ALEC defines the typical eldest

child personality and demeanor, except for one problem: he’s gay.

Alec’s exemplifies the nice but shy and fiercely loyal person. Alec lashes out at people, because the Clave (the Shadowhunter Government) shuns gays, which makes Alec really angry.

But Alec, eventually comes out with his (ex-) boyfriend Magnus, and they end up not facing any consequences from the Clave.

MAGNUS is an 800 year old

warlock. Magnus makes odd fashion choices such as covering himself in glitter daily. Magnus’s shows a snarky but loyal exterior, and occasionally shows his interior of a sweet, kind and caring man.

SIMON, the nerdy boy next door

Picture by WeFancyBooks

Clary Fray

kind of guy, plays video games until two in the morning and plays bass in a band that’s name changes every week.

Simon and Isabelle start dating in City of Fallen Angels.

ISABELLE, the middle Lightwood

child, defines the strong-willed, beautiful, bad ass, stereotype. She carries a golden sparkly whip that also functions as a bracelet, that she kills demons with. She dated many guys, mostly to make her parents mad, but eventually realizes she loves Simon, so they start dating.

JORDAN, a werewolf, participates

in the Praeter Lupus, a group of werewolves sworn to help protect humans from Vampires. Jordan looks like a rocker, with long floppy hair, and he exemplifies the nice, funny, loyal guy. Jordan and Maia start dating in City of Fallen Angels.

MAIA, also a werewolf, plays a

crucial part of the New York pack.

According to Jordan, Maia exemplifies the nice, funny, and smart girl.

Mania 2013 31

Your experience will be Mythical!

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