Strike Magazine Volume 7

STRIKING / adjective: attracting attention by reason of being unusual, extreme, or prominent.

instagram / @strikemagazine

website / www.strikemagazines.com

email / eic.strike@gmail.com

EDITOR’S LETTER I

n early December 2019, I was sat in Barnes and Noble, flipping through magazines, when I decided that the theme for my sophomore volume for Strike would be: House. I didn’t know where the idea came from or why I was drawn to it so fixedly, but I couldn’t shake it. At the time, I only thought it would be “cool”—a motif that would inspire a plethora of ideas. Genuinely, it felt as if I had no other option. Three months later, I realized the full weight of that decision—baffling, is an understatement.

On March 13th, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency due to the already devastating and increasingly dangerous impact of COVID-19. Soon after, all non-essential public meeting grounds and social interactions were completely shut down. All of the United States, and almost all of the world, were being told to stay home, meaning everyone, everyone, would be spending a majority of time in their houses.

This historic pandemic is no joking matter. The wake this disease is leaving behind in its trail, is dark, heartbreaking, and life-altering. It is like nothing we have ever seen before. We mourn and pray for the lives that have been taken by this deceptive virus, for the ones who are still struggling emotionally or financially, and for the loved ones who have been equally distressed. We send love, light, and hope for the day where everything clears, and all is better once again. Likely, we may never go back to normal, but rather, a new normal will be established. Our innate abilities to adapt will flourish, and perhaps they are already beginning to do so.

Before this stay at home order was enacted, we admittedly had only completed half of what was planned prior for this magazine. With all the sudden news, lifestyle changes, and emotional baggage, it seemed almost impossible to finish what we had started. But then we, at Strike, innocuously decided to adapt.

In this volume, you will find our original, and our new, quarantine-inspired ideas. We explore the persistent issues that pollute our homes, both on land and sea, further educate ourselves in understanding family dynamics and gender roles, and lather over famous architectural and design feats. We then present to you, Xtina, a-Britney-Spears-loving drag queen, on the precipice of stardom. Our three editorials, Staying Home, House Party, and What Makes You Feel At Home with Yourself?, were all produced per the CDC guidelines via iPhone, Zoom, and proper safety precautions.

It has been the utmost pleasure to serve as Editor-in-Chief for Strike this past year. My colleagues, Hali Azpeitia, Grace Alexander, and I, have been so lucky to be part of this organization since its conception over three years ago. We have grown alongside this magazine, but as we begin our next chapter of life and adapt to the “real world,” we leave you with our parting gift, Volume 7: House. — janna mccabe

Contributors lexi delgado

“Shooting with Strike was such a great opportunity for me as a photographer. This was my first time photographing for them, and they were all so welcoming.

The collaborative effort that goes into a shoot is very motivating. Working with this team, and seeing such diverse talent in so many different roles, was something that I definitely want to experience again.”

lisa osorio

“It was such a fun experience to shoot for this volume of Strike. During these unusual and scary times, shooting for this magazine was something I looked forward to and really enjoyed!”

libby bekins

“Strike has been such an eye-opening experience for me this past year. I’ve learned so much about art and creativity, which will carry on with me throughout my life, and I owe it all to Strike.”

lily fox

“Strike continues to push me outside my comfort zone shoot after shoot. Getting to grow as a photographer with the help of so many creative minds was by far the highlight of my semester.”

chase adler

"Confidence is the most important part of creating.

Sometimes I don't feel confident in my ideas and the things I create, just to realize that the final product is everything you pictured and that this feeling of doubt is what everyone feels. We are all equal and may feel like others are better than us, but it comes down to believing in the creative process, and believing what you create will be better than the last thing you visioned.”

08

Sinking,

18

What Makes You Feel At Home with Yourself?,

27

Under Construction,

28

Womb Mates,

36

Xtina,

44

The Mansion,

50

M.A.S.H.

51

Casa Perfect,

53

Homeless,

54

Roles Reversed,

lily fox

64

House Divided,

lexi fernandez

66

Staying Home,

74

House Music,

76

House Party

82

Thank You

tabitha labrato, chase adler

alyson brinkley

audrey estupinan, libby bekins

claire reed, lexi delgado maggie kanan, lily fox

brittyn dion

joey flanagan

gillian mckendree, lisa osorio yosa whitney

Volume 7

Table of Contents

gillian mckendree

Editor In Chief, Janna McCabe Managing Editor, Hali Azpeitia Director of Productions, Grace Alexander Art Directors, Gabriela Llanes, Megan Guasto Communications Director, Savannah Tindall

Production Assistant Claire Boender

Blog Editors Emily Waters, Tabitha Labrato

Financial Director, Lauren Kacperski

Staff Writers Joey Flanagan, Alyson Brinkley, Maggie Kanan, Yosa Whitney, Alyssa Cuevas, Ellen Dominy, Brittyn Dion, Lexi Fernandez, Audrey Estupinan, Claire Reed

Financial Assistants Natalie Pearson, Reese Jackson, Nichole Dere Public Relations Director, Lyra Durr Public Relations Assistants Haley Hansen, Ellie Cissel, Colby Milchin, MarySylvia Hinnant Art Assistants Martha Mendoza, Samantha Shear, Lauren Horner, Jordan Wiener Layout Assistants Teaghan Skulszki, Gabriela Llanes, Fashion Directors William Tamayo, Hans Kiper, Lucy Jane Hurley, Emily Russell, Mary Delorenzo, Diane Fish, Bijan Adili, Jonathan Santos Beauty Director, Amy Dantin Beauty Assistants Cameron Fricke, Helen Trawick, Genevive Book, Abby Wright Writing Director, Gillian McKendree

Digital Directors Emily Jensen, Carson Howl Digital Director Assistant, Ashley Freeman Digital Assistants Popi Tsalickis, Ansley Stevens, Clara Trednick, Isabella Puskas, Lucy Kealy, Mikayla Parsons, Sloane Kiely, Megan Sinisgalli, Alyssa Goldman Media Directors Alexis Poulos, Lisa Osorio Media Assistants Chase Adler, Lily Fox, Alex Pagan, Libby Bekins, James Mihalik, Claudia Craig Social Media Director, Christina Diniaco Merchandise Director, Christina Diniaco

It’s time to stop polluting our oceans. by tabitha labrato photographer chase adler fashion editors bijan adili, jonathan santos, diane fish

8

9

10

A

s the emergence of industries such as fast fashion or one-wear items become the social norm in the name of all things trendy, it is easy to be fashion-forward instead of future-forward. Many believe that there is no harm in buying an entirely new wardrobe for every season if they can afford it, such as celebrities or fashion icons, and that cutting back would not make a difference. I hate to burst your Burberry bubble, but that is far from the truth.

The fact of the matter is that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world after the Petroleum industry. While cotton, one of the two most popular fibers found in our clothes today, only amounts to 2.4% of the world’s cropland, it still consumes 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of insecticides.

As harmful chemicals enter soils and waterways, they quickly contaminate freshwater and destabilize ecosystems.

Not only are chemicals released by the croplands that materials are grown, but toxic chemicals are also commonly released from textile factories as well, increasing the amount of water polluted by big companies. Wastewater containstoxic substances such as lead, mercury, and arsenic, among others, that are extremely harmful to the aquatic life and the health of the millions of people living by those rivers’ banks. These pollutants are toxic to the developing brain and nervous system and can cause congenital disabilities if contact is made with a developing child. Contamination can also reach the sea and eventually spread around the globe.

11

12

13

Water pollution caused by the fashion industry is not limited to chemicals discharged when growing materials. More than a half-trillion gallons of freshwater are used in the dyeing process of textiles each year, amounting to 20% of global industrial water pollution. It takes around 7,000 liters of water to produce one single pair of jeans – equivalent to the amount of water one individual drinks in 5-6 years. According to Stephen Leahy from The Guardian, 85% of India’s daily water needs would be covered by the mass of water used to grow cotton in their country; 100 million people in India do not have access to drinking water.

It is also important to note the damage to our waterways that clothing does, even after it is created. Every time we wash a synthetic garment (polyester, nylon, teflon), about 1,900 individual microfibers are released into the water, making their way into our oceans. Scientists have discovered that small aquatic organisms ingest those microfibers. These are then eaten by small fish, which are later eaten by bigger fish that eventually end up on our dinner plates. Scientists have found microplastics in 114 aquatic species, half of which are consumed by humans.

One example of a commonly enjoyed seafood snack is mussels, with avid mussel eaters eating up to 11,000 microplastics a year.

Another large problem with the fashion industry lies with how we, as consumers, handle the products. The average lifetime of a garment of clothing today is only three years. That means that, on average, after three years of wearing a particular item, we throw it out because it is “out of style.” The short lifetime the clothes combined with the mass amounts of articles produced each year leads to an astronomical amount of clothes in landfills. Only 15% of our clothing is recycled, so the rest of this makes up 5.2% of landfills that are only textiles/cotton. As landfills get larger, more carbon is emitted, furthering the impending doom that is climate change.

As we inhabit this Earth, we must take it upon ourselves to be conscious of how we treat the place we call home. While fashion is significant in popular culture, expensive one-wear items would not be as sought after if audiences did not merely expect them from celebrities; as more fans romanticize unsustainable brands, more carbon is admitted, more garments are discarded, and less time on this Earth is promised.

15

17

WHAT YOU

MAKES AT WITH YO U R S E L F ?

As an ode to the only house that will forever be our own, our bodies, we asked five students to photograph and ask themselves the paramount question: fashion editors bijan adili, jonathan santos, diane fish

18

nd s a ea lif self y m

S T H ?

ith myself when I realize that this bo t home w dy ha a t s o lm s be can always be at hom I w o n k I “I fee en w , t e in m tha h t i W . y ith e s m k ed in a me dge it as home, it alwa e l r fail w o n n e k c a v u d o e y all y e n s c c n w O ill be an m space. . e l ” f a o y s a ok to

19

f wh ysel

en I am

surrounded by t

hm w it most in this world e I love .� om s g h n i at th e t os g th l m doin e e, fe “I I lov le op e p

he

her

h myself when I am surroun at home wit ded by t s o m l recip “I fee roca s m i r o p , l f y l e t s h y e m t h , e i f n i l g s that s te d in my e l p u o r e lov roun the p dm e-e.” wh et

y

eb

it b

how nd as ,a k ay be eo to ill b g in , I w e

“ K no w each of those v in g w ersions of ho I m e was is beau long as I re , wh tiful i member n her oI and co own ntinue am way ,w to fo . No ho cus o I’ m nm y pa matter s si o wh still ns. at ” ma grow yc om

dy

the is

a um

e I’v

sh

iful aut be

” n s.

me ho

t annoyed with the way es, I ge m I lo i t e ok “Som w l a I a y t u s b r , e n m i k i s n d my own self n my ch beauty in ou u i m l o e s t ha r un ’s fe e r d e tm i n qu a Th . n e yb e n v i es g o n s e a be

23

al on ei n m . A es e yr fte mo oo m. rm m e It’ ov nts si in c nt g m an his sh y ak eo ff ab ad

h g in e. T c n spa da mov iss “I ce f l m e Ia I’ an re b m r el m o c n e t st at em i day pu wh home i or c inded ow It’s n my body h ele . bra of the p and dent

y t o d e i w f er of my bo l bod con y an ife’s joy d n s d da a . ncin I feel strong le.” g, I f eel unstoppab

24

my

n ive

ess

. Yo

ave always be e n h a ly, I h ppy ical and con hys “P ooked, but I think the l I th how behind the e ing that m x t ill hide e r i or, b le w ut insid eo p

yp quote: ‘Confro n s i t t h an e da by th M rk parts o life illingness to w w r e r s t u l e wi th your d e liv

rg fo

nt w

.’ -

. rength al s t ent oose to . I ch ym ves sel and em ination m illu th Wilson.” wi gu s t Au

ng

ith m es m y bo et dy n e fee o ma h ey l at h fy tter are h ome em ourse t u h r e t l i f on s mos n will and wor g and no t is k to caus t m l ovin bani e yo gt sh t ur an he h gels m to si ak

fid e

25

lender apparition staring down differ s; one s ence d l o f r throu nte e c gh t n i m he t u e s . e m elev u t a y no n a s isio d y e a h T n. red o h W e r r e a m I? ir m

ces Fa be there.

I should

orphosis coming to fruition Metam .

lic, dates, and ging r a g , s er. lum p , s he ishes and spreads beyond t c a he pr nce flour a t p e e c im p c P n of a i

cke t fe nce i e g s o l w o p i l a l d e n s c a , a y p l e s these . iou r o l g l i ps n oom r s i o h t mo I fill re. ncing around the a d s d u o l c ; e m ir bel thanks oved loset c Sun y m . o t t h n e o m g , n i A nd g n i i v h s i n s g y a color, My r bend

ing sha pe s.

e gard The

e Th

ss a l g

the cracks broadening , g n i r day atte h s by s i

nd spinning amongst all the freedom. r arms wide a i e h t g n i d sprea us being A glorio I have always deserved this.

Voices shrieking otherwise fading in this warmth binding itself to me . r into defeat.

They withe

by gillian mckendree

day .

UNDER Renovating Our Bodies to Fit Societal Constructs

Gender, femininity, masculinity, and overall identity is a personal and simultaneously fluid choice. Yet, why is it consistently challenged by the little containers we are put in by others? As we fight to destigmatize fluidity and overall security of identity, we sometimes find ourselves being the ones holding the lids over these containers.

Our bodies are constantly under construction. Whether this is more surface level in changing our overall style or changing due to deeper-rooted insecurities, renovations aren’t always a bad thing. Plastic surgery can completely change the way people carry themselves and function on a day to day basis. It is important to accept our bodies and natural flaws; however, improvements are not always negative or coming from a place of self-hatred. The changes we undergo fall on a spectrum of ones we choose and ones we have no control over. This considers a new stretch mark on your left thigh, your middle school puberty phase, or a nose job you saved up for. We must accept and become content with the idea that ours and others’ bodies change; whether we choose for them to or not.

One thing that has been an uphill battle is the fight towards destigmatizing sex reassignment operations and the overall campaign for “Trans Rights are Human Rights.” As more stories of gender identity and the hardships of these sex reassignment surgeries are shared on more accessible platforms, the awareness and education of these identities increase. The fact of the matter is, this is a strong community going through internal and external conflicts when making the personal decision to put their bodies under construction. After the physical trauma they go for to fight to feel comfortable in their skin, they then often have to face these even more emotionally taxing externalities. Some of these include adequate healthcare, familial acceptance, and inclusion in educational and work

environments. In this sense, sex reassignment surgeries take a toll on the body physically and emotionally. However, the fight for tranquility in identity is worthwhile. If our body is our home, no one else has a say in what makes us feel most comfortable when we are alone.

With that said, the other end of the spectrum includes these reconstructions we fall victim to. Like the interior design of a home, we feel obligated to reconstruct our bodies to feel an internal gratification from “fitting in.” Trends have their upsides: they can make us feel part of a group and overall included in our generational movements or statements. However, certain trends we blindly follow leave us empty and apart of superficial groups and identities that make us feel alienated and not at home, as our bodies are supposed to be.

Nowadays, ads seem to be shoving tools to reconstruct ourselves down our throats. Log on to any social media platform, and not only will you fall down a rabbit hole of Instagram models and dieting TikToks, but you will also probably see ads perfectly tailored to your insecurities. Logging onto Facebook or Instagram, I am often floored at the number of ads tailored to physical appearances I had mentioned through text or over the phone. Ads for CVS Beauty, Biore blackhead strips, and Billie razors litter my feed. These often serve as a constant reminder of the little ways in which we dedicate time to renovate our appearances every day. The pressure for perfect skin, hair, nails, and bodies seems to follow us. As if these thoughts don’t often weigh heavily on our minds, they even follow us into the free time we spend on the apps on our phones.

Not only do we have a say in reconstructing our physical appearances, but we can also find ourselves consumed in constructing a perfect digital aesthetic. Just as physical reconstructions should not always be looked down upon, building our digital personas should be viewed in the same light.

These days, our online presence can be responsible for our livelihood. Countless Instagram personalities make money off of sponsorships and ads. Additionally, as we saw with the renowned Brittany Tomlison, aka “Kombucha Girl” in 2019, even being candid and allowing our quirks and personalities to rule our online presence can open doors for our careers.

Overall, putting ourselves under construction can be used to our advantage in finding and seeking comfort in our own identities. Our bodies are our homes, and feeling uncomfortable in them will spread like a virus to every aspect of our lives. Feeling the discrepancy between what we are and want to be can be suffocating, and making these changes to feel more one with ourselves will ultimately make or break us. It is important not to change our unique compositions. Authenticity and listening to how we feel about ourselves is key to feeling the most optimal comfort in your own home.

CONSTRUCTION: by alyson brinkley

27

Womb Mates 28

photographer libby bekins fashion editors emily russell, mary delorenzo by audrey estupinan

bmoW setaM The infrangible bond.

29

P

sychic connection, sharing common thoughts and actions, an endless understanding of each other. Twins have been able to use this connection to share experiences and feelings. Scientifically there has not been any proven evidence that the stories are actually a mystical transference. Still the true-life occurrences told by the people that surround us feed our need for the paranormal.

A set of twins are made from similar genes, leading them to have similar brains. They lived with each other before birth and experience the same life even when thousands of miles apart. We question if being together for most of their life is the key to their unique connection or if it is ESP. The communication between twins is ever surrounding.

The Gemini Twins represent exchange and interaction, with the sign being correlated with the exchange of ideas, communication, and trade. When we see a visual depiction of Gemini, the two lines are continually joined, even when apart the twin’s minds have a strong bond.

In several cultures and mythological stories, twins are illustrated as ominous and are molded as two halves of a single whole. They are either closer than ordinary siblings or are on opposite ends of the spectrum, like the Civilized Gilgamesh and Wild Enkidu, different but still come together and create a balance.

“Julia and I try not to buy two of the same outfit since we don’t wear matching clothes anymore, but sometimes it still happens. Multiple times, we’d show up somewhere wearing the exact same thing! One day it was crazier than usual; our hair was done the same way, wearing the same t-shirt from a senior year retreat, wearing the exact same jeans, and wearing the same shoe style. We hadn’t spoken yet that day at all, not even a hint about what the weather was like before we got ready, and even left out of separate dorms! Neither of us is totally convinced it was telepathy, but it was crazy!” --Meredith and Julia Freeman “We were ten and playing hide and seek over at our neighbor’s house. Our friend, who was “it,” was chasing us, and in the process of getting away, I [Joshua] clipped the concrete planter—which was easily a couple hundred pounds—knocking it over. This pushed me into the pool under it because it sat at the edge, and as I managed to get up from underneath it and swim-up, I severely crushed my left hand’s index finger. Before I [Noah] even saw it, when he came up to the surface, I immediately sensedsomething was gravely wrong. Inside, I felt like I had turned green. Then, when I finally saw it, my whole body felt overwhelmed with fatigue, out of nowhere. I had a much more emotional reaction than he did, and sensed his pain in my own hands.” -Joshua and Noah Gilberstadt The way twins can have this type of connection remains unanswered. The portrayal of it continues to flood media as it has for decades. Represented in everything from film to sports, it has shown us that twins can survive without each other, but together they are complete.

31

32

33

34

35

36

Tina! photographer lexi delgado

fashion editors william tamayo, hans kiper, lucy jane hurley

by claire reed

37

38

Xtina Taylor: student by day, drag queen by night.

Completely commanding the room with an energy that is truly sui generis, she performs with the confidence of a queen who has been on the scene for at least a decade. Xtina, though, has only been on the scene for roughly three years and thrives in the environment. Britney Spears was blasting throughout the bar’s speakers, and we knew that we weren’t just taking photos and doing an interview at that point. We were getting our own show. As said during the photo shoot, “I know [Xtina] is a performer, but damn—what a natural.”

S (Strike): You started drag your freshman year, and you’re now about to graduate. What about you has changed the most since then?

X (Xtina Taylor): My confidence. My connections in the drag world and outside of it. Moving down to Orlando to focus on drag really helped shape that. I was able to meet so many amazing people who shaped me into the queen I am today.

S: Describe your first show for me; what was it like?

S: Of course, you were nervous. What was a fear you that didn’t expect to have going into all of this?

X: Messing up. I prepared everything so much in the first few months that I would forget all of it as soon as I got on stage. I’m such a Leo that I already knew I had the confidence and the star power, but I’m also so meticulous that I over-planned.

S: You just didn’t want to forget something.

X: Yeah, and it just goes to show that you will find your knack as you do it. I didn’t listen to Britney Spears a lot before I started doing drag. I became obsessed with her.

S: How tedious does the process get? The getting ready, calming down your nerves, etc.?

X: At first, it took four hours. Now I’m down to two.

But the process sucks. At first, I’m into it, and then I hate the process, and then I end up looking fierce, and I love it again. Very flip-floppy.

X: It was here at 926. It’s completely full circle. I remember my song, exactly what I was wearing, my hair, my makeup. I spent my financial aid refund on costume, hair, and makeup for that first show. My parents had no idea about me doing drag for, like, eight months. They still don’t know about the refund. I practiced my makeup before I went out, and I thought I looked fierce. I did not.

S: Could that be representative of your journey in drag?

S: They do say that hindsight is 20/20.

S: Is there something about your drag persona that you don’t have in your day to day life?

X: It was awful. I was a nervous wreck. I did a Lilly Allen song, and I was a little slut. What’s crazy is that some of my best friends now were in the audience, and I had no idea. They’re from Tampa, and we didn’t know each other at all, but now they’re some of my best friends.

X: I’m awkward. It’s hard to spark a conversation in the club when I don’t know you because I’m a little awkward. Drag is a suit of armor that I wear that gives me confidence. When somebody matches that confidence, I feed off of that energy.

X: Yes, absolutely. I started and never thought that I would get good. I had so many times where I wasn’t happy with what I was doing. I changed what I didn’t like and kept what I did. I did my homework on it. My end goal is for you to walk down the street, and I catch your eye. I want you to feed into the illusion of it.

39

[about my work] because art is subjective, and S: Is there a favorite memory?

X: It’s so much of my life. The best memory, though, is getting able to film Cosmo Queens in New York.

I remember watching them when I was younger and dreaming of being able to make those. Being able to do it—it was the coolest shit ever. It solidified that what I’m doing is for me.

S: You were fulfilling a dream.

X: There are so few opportunities to be able to dream something and then be able to do it.

S: How long had you been doing drag for, at that point?

X: Two and a half years. It wasn’t very long. And I’m there. I’ve reached what I think of myself as a star. But I wouldn’t be there without my drag mom (Jade Embers). She taught me everything I know regarding makeup and movement. And then I was able to tweak my look from that. She’s my best friend.

S: Is there a piece of advice that she’s given you that you would give to others?

X: Oh my god, stop caring about what others think.

It’s something I’m still figuring out too.

40

“I spent my financial aid refund on costume, hair, and makeup for that first show. My parents had no idea about me doing drag for, like, eight months. They still dont know about that refund.�

41

S: And you’re in college too. There are so many doubts about being in college that I couldn’t imagine adding doubts about your drag career to that.

X: I used to be a music education major. Now I’m in business. I want to help shape the sustainability of the fashion industry. It’s the second-largest polluting industry in the world.

S: Do you try to reflect the sustainable element through your drag?

X: It’s hard. I reuse my costumes and buy pieces that can go with other things. Drag is about making it work. But it’s also so much. You need hair dye, nails, eyelashes, makeup, hairspray. I try to be particular, though. I pay attention to labels and stick to cruelty-free.

S: After the glamour ends, what’s your biggest takeaway from all of this?

42

X: Somebody told me that everything happens for a reason. Be open and yourself. Be appreciative of everything you have. It’s so crazy, and I’m so grateful that I have my drag family and my biological family to support me. Some people aren’t as lucky, and to be able to follow your passions is incredible. Be nice, and be humble. Ask for help and give that help.

43

44

Inside the Grotto.

photographer lily fox beauty editor amy dantin by maggie kanan

45

Standing high and mighty in the depths of the Los Angeles Hills lies a house filled with years of infamous tails in its pale brick walls. A home to boozy blondes, promiscuous partiers, and the mogul behind it all, Hugh Heffner. The Playboy Mansion. A home acts as a place to gather with family and friends and in Heff’s case, models, and celebrities. The sanctuary of a house provides an escape from the public eye. Whether sharing family secrets, battling with domestic disagreements, or expressing intimacy and passion, a home offers to protect one’s most personal moments. For the residents of the Playboy Mansion, quite the opposite rings true. Hugh publicly kept his house full of action and life by allowing in his likeminded playboys and playmates. With parties galore and an abundance of new faces, there was no growing old for Heff.

Movements such as “Me Too” and acts for equal pay chipped away at the Playboy franchise, which notoriously negates women’s rights. By 2016, the magazine went bankrupt, and the mansion sold for $100 million to a neighboring millionaire, Daren Metropoulos. However, Metropoulos granted Heffner permission to remain a resident on the premise for the duration of his life.

Rumors that Heff would leave behind his iconic lifestyle ebbed and flowed in the media, yet he stayed true to his long-established brand until the day he died.

Was it the endless champagne and debauchery that kept this house a home for Heff as he reached his final days? Heffner did not stay in his house because of its reputation, location, or façade; he stayed because it was his home.

Back in 1974, when Heffner moved into the mansion, he represented sex, carelessness, and eternal youth. These factors carried throughout his brand for years as he remained the top provider in the pornographic magazine industry. Celebrities would lineup to get a spread in Playboy as its popularity made it an undeniable platform to launch to fortune and fame. After over 40 years of surrounding himself with this lifestyle that embodies the spirit of Playboy, it was a part of who he was.

Through the formation of connections to memories, the Playboy mansion elevates from a house to a home. One of the most infamous happenings of this household includes the regular pool parties held at the Playboy grounds. Unique to the mansion property lies an immense pool with a rock encapsulation accurately named: The Grotto. After taking a dip in the lagoon-style pool (which was the first of its kind), partygoers can find the Grotto through a swim-up entrance shaded under rows of ivy. This world-renowned feature built in the 1970s was designed by Suzanne and Ron Dirsmith, who were in charge of developing many projects for the Playboy brand. They ensured consistency in the scheme of the fantasy-land that is the Playboy grounds. Guests can swim through a tunnel in the lagoon to find a secret whirlpool. This hidden gem has gained an infamous reputation as the beacon for Playboy scandals and seduction.

Some of the accounts from Playmates describe the Grotto as the epicenter for corruption in the household. In a People Magazine interview, Jenny McCarthy, a former Playmate, claimed: “the famed Grotto… it’s not sexy. It’s, like, David Hasselhoff with an 18-year-old. It’s not pretty. It’s really gross.” The glamorization of the Grotto came to an abrupt halt in 2011 after over 200 party guests were exposed to Legionnaire’s disease–a bacteria leading to a form of pneumonia–from the water of the Playboy pool. The warmth from the enclosed Grotto mixed with wet conditions and poor cleaning habits lead to an outbreak of fever and chills.

Near the end of Heffner’s life, his brand began to collapse due to the competition from online pornography. As the brand took a downward turn, the mansion started to crumble, eerily echoing the decline of Heffner’s health. His neverland was coming to an end, and the era of Playboy and the Playboy mansion faded into the background as time moved onward.

Heffner’s legacy remains locked in the bounds of the mansion that sits quietly in the Hollywood Hills, representing the impermanence of the coveted “bachelor pad.”

50

image courtesy of douglas friedman

by brittyn dion

Casa Perfect

Once owned by Elvis Presley, this Beverly Hills home finds humor in perfectionism.

The functions of our world today are fueled by screens, digital posts, and capitalist efforts. Models for domestic living are no longer made during spontaneous face to face encounters or even Sunday evening soap operas. Instead, aspiring frameworks are made in almost every moment, with the unrelenting presentations of ideals through humanity’s novel and constant exposure to marketed media. Between 2010 and 2015, the years in which smartphone accessibility rose, visits to collegiate counseling centers jumped by 30%. In a world where every image can be retouched, every pose can be captured from hundreds of angles, and every sentence can be edited, why wouldn’t the impressionable generation strive to curate perfection to match? It is no secret that mental health disorders have risen in congruence with the rise of social media.

Every day the average American social media user is bombarded with images. These images are meant to draw curiosity and intrigue their viewer’s gaze with tempting placements

and visual appeal. After short exposure, the viewer begins to internalize the image. Soon enough, viewers find themselves subconsciously recreating the images, aspiring to their aesthetic asymmetry and meticulous messes. Recent trends push for transparency from the subjects in social media photos. “Natural Beauty” is a term that stems from this push; but, what is natural beauty when a subject can take hundreds of photos, choose the most perfect one, and rely on many free apps to edit the image further? Due to this technological determinism, we are now able to change what ‘natural’ means. Long gone are the days of a quick, candid snapshot’s honest depiction of a lazy beach day. Now a candid picture entails 15 minutes of changing angles and even more time devoted to free tuning apps; the photo tinged rosy with light filters and edges smoothed with a single screen tap. From Glossier advertisements to messy buns and greenery, all Instagram photos captioned with ‘natural’ ooze perfection.

51

Casa Perfect, an annual art gallery hosted by The Future Perfect, attempts to embrace imperfections for their truth. Sometimes the things that don’t fit a standardized mold are what makes a space, person, or event sensational. These galleries, installed in beautiful and inaccessible homes, capitalize off of the same tactics utilized by colonized social media. They state: “Conceived with a comedy performance in mind, the Wonky collection is made using only basic tools, without precise measurement. This playful approach in response to materials and process leads to a sometimes uncertain outcome for each piece - imbuing the collection with a sense of chaos. Bubbles appear in the fiberglass, neither surface nor paint is perfect, and symmetry is never achieved. The triumph of the Wonky collection is in how its forms express the hand, humor, and vulnerability of the author.”

The February 2020 gallery, hosted in a Los Angeles estate, melds contemporary design with 1970s architecture, a strategy central to the ‘natural beauty’ style much of the western world is trapped in. The exhibit features a peculiar lamp that seems unfinished. Only when lined perfectly with the closet doors behind it, does it become apparent that this lamp boasts a grin. It becomes a smile under two round handles on the sliding closet doors. This image comes together to the audience only when viewing from a singular angle, one that may take a while to find.

Peculiarly a dining room/kitchen area frames three pieces made of multicolored balloons reminiscent of childhood balloon animals. Even a cooking appliance, made of this toxic and dangerous flammable plastic, looks right inside of such a lavish home.

images courtesy of douglas friedman

One of the first rooms entered by visitors touches on this same theme of flammability with heat. A lighting fixture, which seems to have once been quite pretty and ornamental, loses its privileged connotations by its visible melting, the prongs of light slowly bend toward the floor away from their fixed positions. Before entering the climactic backyard, guests are confronted with an uncomfortably stuffed couch, perhaps mirroring the bodies of those privileged enough to live in a home such as this one- overstimulated and too filled with media to digest appropriately. The couch offers a final nod to the oddities of the house.

The Casa Perfect gallery seems to laugh at the new and dangerous standardization of perfection. This push for natural behavior in a world that offers such accessible ways to edit and curate only feeds the same beast it intends to confront. Perhaps The Future Perfect senses the dangerous path and uses this art to alleviate the want for perfection. It’s okay to break the mold.

In speaking of her own society’s hegemonic ways, Virginia Woolf wrote her famed short work of nonfiction, A Room of One’s Own. It’s doubtful she required literal exhibitioned rooms in her feminist call to action; however, her ideas are reflective of Casa Perfect’s message. In her words, there’s “No need to hurry. No need to sparkle.

No need to be anybody but oneself.”

HOMELESS While the sole catalyst of stress for many students lies in academia, the number of those who have the additional pressure of finding shelter is rising every day. by joey flanagan

A home is different to many. For some, it’s a house, a condo, an apartment or a car. According to financial aid applications, more than 68,000 students claimed to be homeless in 2019. The numbers are predicted to be even higher, considering not everyone in the country filled out an application. It is a harsh pill to swallow when we live in college towns fettered with plush apartment complexes.

We tend to think about ourselves. It’s human nature. We put ourselves first and forget about how others perceive this world. When we get angry about something, we forget how little the problem actually is when there are people who don’t even know where they’re sleeping or when they’re getting their next meal. Because college is such a high expense, we assume that each person that passes us is financially stable in some way. In reality, not every student has parents that are helping them out through any factor of the college experience, or simply life in general: food, rent, a car, textbooks, computers or even basic supplies like toilet paper. Some students self-provide at such a young age, using every bit of their being to get through school every day. In addition to scholarships and taking out loans, these students rely on whatever money they can scrape up from some sweaty job to be able to live in whatever means they have.

Over the years, there have been multiple documentaries and interviews with struggling college students that genuinely embody the ignorance surrounding what they go through to survive everyday life, while others are breezing right through theirs.

Not much more than a year ago, Jasmine Bigham, a senior at Humboldt State University in California, was interviewed by many news outlets like CBS and Now This News about her struggles in the epicenter of young homelessness. Even on a full-ride scholarship, it’s still hard to find a place to live.

Jasmine states, “If you don’t have credit, if you don’t have a lot of money, how hard it is to get a place.” In contrast, we find that most of us have parents who are willing to use their credit to support our living situations versus Jasmine, who has had to make a home out of a van in one of the school’s parking lots. A day in the life for Jasmine consists of waking up, visiting the women’s locker room, cleaning up, and visiting the library to study, and going to bed all over again to repeat the cycle – that’s it. Jasmine recalls being emotional at times and only has the bond of friends, and her goals set ahead to get her through her current situation, while others get dressed up and throw pre-games at their apartments to blow off stress and steam. Even something as simple as going out to eat with friends and having a drink is too much of a luxury to slip away from the pressures of academics. However, Jasmine and her friends find comfort in the welcome warmth of her van or even the walks to class through the school’s beautiful nature and architecture.

When that “financial aid finally comes in,” take a moment and reflect on what this means for others who are less fortunate than yourself. Many memes have come from this quote on Twitter, and also how, when Spring Break comes, people say, “I’m telling FAFSA!” Yes, these tweets are relatable and funny at first for some, but there are people whose lives depend on financial aid and do not have families that send them on luxurious trips or use that extra money to self-indulge.

If interested, please consider donating to some of our favorite non-profits, including the Human Rights Campaign, Happy Hippy Foundation, Covenant House, and Pride Foundation. If you are reading this article and need help or know someone in need, please feel free to contact these foundations via phone or email. The information may be found on their websites.

53

ROLES

54

REVERSED What if?

photographer lily fox fashion editors mary delorenzo, emily russell 55

ACT 1: Breakfast, Breakdown

ACT 2: Garden Party

58

ACT 3: Indulgence

fin.

Though it is not an unusual circumstance, the impact of divorce takes a hefty toll on children and their parents.

by lexi fernandez 64

I

was raised in an environment where having divorced parents was more normalized than having married ones. Just about every last one of my grade school friends spent Monday through Thursday with Mom, and they would gather their belongings to visit Dad every other weekend. Toward the start of my senior year, I distinctly remember one Friday evening when my friends and I were painting signs for the Homecoming football game. One of them had to press pause to pack that duffle we knew all too well to bring their belongings from their father’s house to spend the weekend with their mother. Our other friend laughed and said, “Getting the Divorce Duffle is, like, a rite of passage when your Mom and Dad split,” the other girls agreed, endless laughter sounding throughout the car.

“Like, on the first Christmas after the break-up, your Dad can’t figure out what to get you, so, boom. Enter the Divorce Duffle. They’re usually Vera Bradley.”

The laughter among my friends was genuine; however, my mind could not help but wander elsewhere. I remembered the moments in which I held those same friends in a strong embrace as they grieved over the pain of their parents’ separation. I remembered the occasions when they complained about their parents at our favorite lunch table. I remembered the hurt and uncertainty they felt as they navigated such an unfamiliar, unpredictable path between their parents.

We all know someone who has endured emotional distress that is far too familiar to many as they witnessed the loss of love that was once unbreakable, separating the two most trusted people in their lives. Such a situation turns a child’s world upside-down, splitting it into two households in the process. Every experience is forever divided. Even though many firmly believe that children of divorced parents bounce back quickly and can transition into adulthood without difficulty, such a strenuous experience has the potential to impact a child’s future relationships. Trust issues, fears of commitment, and emotional isolation may surface during their partnerships; however, mirroring the behaviors they witnessed during their parents’ separation should not come as a shock, for most children subconsciously follow in their parents’ footsteps. More often than not, an unhealthy image of what a romantic relationship should be develops, resulting in struggles throughout adulthood. Children are products of their environment; they learn by watching those around them and mimicking the examples presented to them at an early age. Typically, a family is viewed as something unbreakable. It is the foundation of support and unconditional love for both children and their parents.

To suffer a loss of such a deep connection built upon trust and respect is devastating.

A handful of my closest friends’ parents separated when we were older and more mature. With maturity comes increased awareness, increased empathy, for

better or for worse. Witnessing the parents’ struggle was just as heartbreaking as that of their children, my best friends; there is no winning in a divided household. Parents, the radiant figures in most children’s lives, turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms to suppress their struggles. It is easier to place the blame entirely on the parents. Still, we must recognize that they are encountering an entirely different life, dulled by loss and grief similar yet separate from the whirlwind of emotions their children face. Putting on a brave face for their children quickly results in burying years’ worth of suppressed emotions below the surface, ignoring them and hoping they will go away. The potential for disagreements and conflict increases with divorce, and it is mainly seen in custody agreements.

In most cases, the children will spend the majority of their time with one parent, and the other will have a significantly less prominent role in their lives.

This puts both a physical and an emotional distance between the children and said parent; to go from being an integral person in each other’s lives to only seeing one another every few weeks creates a barrier, a divide, between the parent and their child. The love between a parent and his or her children is of significant value. Although the separation of a household may place strain on relationships within the family, it can encourage the parents to do their best and be a role model for their children..

Some of the most remarkable people I have met come from a separated household. I have known parents who fought tirelessly for their children’s wellbeing following a divorce. Despite the complex nature of their situation, they have flourished. I have watched them vow to be the best parent they can possibly be.

I have seen them thrive, proving that learning from their mistakes is possible. Some of the strongest individuals I have come across have felt the impact of their parent’s divorce. They continuously lend a hand to others without question. I have seen them succeed in all that they do as they approach life with a shining smile and an open mind. Even though divorce was widespread in the environment in which I was raised, both the parents and the children exhibited resilience.

Mistakes will be made, and obstacles will be faced as a family works through a divorce; however, I have seen proof that good can come of it. Those girls I mentioned previously are some of the greatest friends I have ever come to know. I had their back through the trials and tribulations of their parents’ separation and watched as they became the empowered young women they are today. The adversity faced as a result of a divided household is taxing for anyone involved, there is no arguing that. Divorce causes shock and heartache, but there is always a chance for unconditional love to prevail, even in two separate households.

65

Staying Home When trapped inside, stay occupied with arbitrary activities and sporadic journaling.

creative director janna mccabe photographer lisa osorio by gillian mckendree 66

Monday

3/16/2020 Every day, life has changed drastically, and while there are no reanimated corpses roaming the streets, I can’t help but feel displaced. This was my year, my semester. I was set to walk across my university’s stage in robe and tassel, waving at my family somewhere behind the blinding light glare hovering over the stands. I’d toss my cap amongst my peers in one last cheering motion. I’d take pictures in front of those cliché red bricks where black fence spokes pierce the cloudy sky. I went to my last class without realizing it. I packed my car up and traveled down I-10 for the last careless time. And while I’m home when it’s usually Spring Break, it most definitely is not as it seems. I’m in a grey sweatsuit, the wrong kind of suit; local beaches being some thirty minutes away from me, not that it matters though. A new virus has taken the medical industry—society overall—by storm, creating a pandemic and leaving families shut inside their homes, hopeful it will make a difference. With beaches, bars, and bistros closed indefinitely; I’ve had to recreate my schedule to find some sort of grip amongst this. I’ve decided to turn off the news today and dedicate my newly emptied Mondays to reading. And writing, if this counts.

I didn’t realize how dusty my bookshelves were. I thought I read more than I actually did. Spines ranging every color beckon as I wipe them down and straighten their placements. I wasn’t near a pool, but still, I dove.

67

Tuesday

3/17/2020 I know we’re living through a historical moment, but I can’t help but laugh at how easy we have it, considering how life was like amid previous pandemics ago. I’m still in my grey sweatsuit; I have white socks on today, though. I’m on my mother’s dated tapestry couch with a pink Tupperware filled with popcorn. While my social life is looking bleak, passing the time isn’t too much of a chore. With Netflix, Disney, or Hulu, the options are virtually endless. I wince thinking about the times where television sets came in hefty boxes, and your hands could glide across the tubes lining the screen, creating static before a parent barked at you to stop. Today, hours are marked by episodes, and I can’t remember how many I’ve watched. What was that? Two on Netflix, one on Hulu; I can’t even discern where one Simpsons episode ended and the next began. I guess I haven’t looked out of the window for a while because it’s dark now, and Mom’s calling from the Kitchen signaling that dinner’s ready. We’ve been talking more around the table as of late. It’s been nice.

Wednesday

Thursday 3/19/2020 My family and I woke up with newfound vigor. Breakfast consisted of eggs and toast, and we joked about the monopoly tribulations we faced the night beforehand. The closeness I felt didn’t stop once we hit our pillows, and we decided to take a walk around our quiet neighborhood. Walking out the front door felt strange, I’ll admit, but after seeing not one face, we agreed that hearing the birds chirp--and not through a glass pane—was pleasant and soothing. We felt like tourists, almost. We spotted the neighborhood children’s doodles of rainbows and sunflowers pasted in their windows, and the ferns and oak trees that lined the road had a new excitement to them. Our three-mile loop came to an end, so we laid out in the grass of our backyard, desperate to draw out our time in the fresh air as long as possible. We needed this. What was customarily resented or thoughtless brought out a youthful giddiness, as if the desolate outdoors was now a rebellious act. I keep thinking about how we saw not one car. I’m sure the Earth is embracing that as much as we are.

Friday

3/20/2020 My family and I woke up with the slightest of tan lines from our walk yesterday. We all joked about if we could continue this by basking in our windows for long enough. Probably not. Today is a bit harder for me. I know if everything were still normal, I’d be securing my black western belt and pulling on my booties, getting ready to share drinks in the presence of friends before migrating to our favorite bars. We made so many memories in those spaces, and I never got to appreciate all of us going out to play the last time we did. I send the group chat a text, and I sigh as it blips into deliverance. The cotton of my sweatpants feel more cumbersome, and I make my way to the kitchen to root around the fridge. Dad picked up beer. The cans and even the plastic tying the pack together have all been wiped down with Lysol. I close my eyes and crack it open. I snap a photo and send it to the girls.

Within seconds, I’ve started a “See a Chug, Send a Chug,” and I can’t help but feel my eyes get hot. There is no replacement or comparison to the friends you make in college. One jokes about creating a social distancing Happy Hour Zoom session. Another is more serious about that idea and sends a link; we all join. Seven girls in loungewear are reclined in their childhood beds and cheering with beverages in hand. We talked until Mom called for dinner, and I said my goodbyes feeling lighter than ever; I promised to text as soon as I hung up. The family noticed how relieved I seemed. I was.

Saturday

Sunday

3/22/2020 It’s 9:38 a.m., the news is on, and I can hear the same redundant headlines filtering down the hallway. That’s all the channels have been filled with lately, even the commercials too. New trends are popping up everywhere, orienting around this new normal. I did an excellent job preoccupying myself for the week, but I’d be lying if I said the severity didn’t weigh down heavily. All you can really do is take it a day at a time. Knowing that this upcoming week might very well mirror the past one, I felt driven to reset my room and prepare for it. Allow a blank slate, I guess, refresh it all. I get to it. In my bathroom, I see my workout clothes from Thursday hanging limp in the hamper, and that boardgame piece from Wednesday hiding underneath the couch. The book I chose that Monday—which feels so long ago at this point—sits slightly askew on the shelf I left it on, and I realize how all these gentle reminders are showing me that while normalcy is changing, I have lived life—a week even—differently. It was a pleasant change of pace. I’ve done things I haven’t done in years and find myself oddly regrounded, while the world around me most certainly isn’t. In light of this historical moment, I’ve discovered that maybe, just maybe, if you take away the terror of it all, this is how life should be. We aren’t just living inside our homes these days, we’re living in our heads too, and it’s wise to take the best possible care we can. I know I will.

A history lesson about the music of the future.

House music unites us all under one roof. Its ability to bring together people of all different cultures and ethnicities is revolutionary. It has evolved from its humble beginnings in the 1970’s urban club scene to the modern day music festivals that garner international attention. But house music is not only for festivals or the fist-pumping club life experienced on a wild night out. It is versatile. House music moves with the people that create it, which is why low-key house music parties with fresh mixes that introduce a new sound are another popular way that house music is enjoyed. The different ways to listen to house music have made it easier for people from all walks of life to appreciate the genre.

House music got its foot in the door of America’s music scene in the late 1970s at a Chicago club called The Warehouse. The club’s mostly African American club-goers visited The Warehouse to experience the nightlife and hear music by DJ Frankie Knuckles, nicknamed the “godfather of house.” DJ Frankie Knuckles began to create house music when he ran into a problem: the music he had wasn’t enough to get the whole club moving. He started to create new mixes by splicing some of his favorite tracks using tape and a knife. The Warehouse clubbers couldn’t get enough of DJ Frankie’s new beats, and soon enough, word started to spread of his new innovative take on music.

Even though house music started with a bang, appreciation for the genre throughout the years wasn’t so rosy. Lurking in the shadows was the ‘Disco Sucks Movement,’ which soured the public’s view of house music, causing it to become a dying fad almost overnight. Record companies overwhelmed the market with house music, and anti-disco DJs who felt threatened by the up and coming genre held anti-disco rallies. One of the most notorious anti-disco rallies was ‘Disco Demolition Night’ in 1979. The night of the rally was held the same night of the baseball game between the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Anyone who brought a disco album to be trashed would get into the game for only 98 cents. All of this begs the question: will history repeat itself? Will house music and EDM one day suffer the same fate it did in the late 1970s? It looks

74

like house music is here to stay. House music’s popularity has been growing for years with the help of social media and is now more popular than ever before. It has gained the admiration of many and doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon.

Millions of hearts are jamming to the same beat, and they can’t seem to get enough.

Although the Warehouse was where house music got its start in North America, the iconic house music clubs of the ‘70s and ‘80s were not limited to locations in the United States. The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester, England, closed 20 years ago but is still fondly remembered for its music and rave culture, which impacted the way we view house music today. In 1986, the Hacienda Nightclub had its visitors lining up around the block for a taste of the newest up and coming genre in England, house music. The Hacienda also introduced a new type of house music to British people called acid-house, a spedup disco with no song structure. This music attracted people for its sound and deviant feel. It was underground- meaning many of the parties were illegally held in empty warehouses, attracting thousands of people through the exclusive rave culture. British officials tried to halt the new trend in its tracks by making arrests and shutting down parties, but nevertheless, acid-house survived and gained a foothold in Britain.

The clubs and underground music of the ‘70s and ‘80s built the foundation for the house music, and EDM people enjoy today, but there are still differences between the rave culture that started it all and modern-day EDM. The underground character of EDM in the late 20th century differs wildly from the rave culture of today that is characterized by tens of thousands of people at huge venues. Fireworks, glitzy festival fashion, and grandiose stages have defined the rave culture of the 21st century, but if you look close enough, you can still find small venue shows that are similar to the raves held back in the day.

Because house music is so accessible, some self-starters make their own music and hold house shows that many enjoy for their low-key nature and charming feel. Sometimes, it’s good to drop all the distractions and just enjoy the music.

House & Pressure – Route 94 You Little Beauty – FISHER It Makes You Forget (Itgehane) – Peggy Gou Tondo – Disclosure, Eko Roosevelt Pump It Up – Endor Bill Muray – Eats Everything Be Sharp Say Nowt – Patrick Topping Godspell (feat. Taiki Nulight) – Tchami Pizza – Anti Up, Chris Lake Chris Lorenzo Who Got The Keys – KKIY Riverside 2099 – Oliver Heldens, Sidney Samson Along Came Polly - Rebukew

www.billclintonswag.com

House and EDM have impacted the music scenes of many different countries around the world. It connects people. It helps some find a tight-knit community of friends, discover a unique career path, or even just some music to boost their spirits. House music has made a big splash in the music world and fostered terrific experiences, from house parties to Ultra. It has come a long way from DJs splicing records with a knife, and as technology advances, it will only grow to new heights. by yosa whitney

75

Let’s zoom. fashion editors lucy jane hurley, william tamayo, diane fish *No CDC guidelines were broken in the making of this shoot. Feel free to try this at home.

76

Everyone has left the chat.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE ESSENTIAL BUSINESS WORKERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, NON-PROFIT VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYONE WHO HAS LENT A HELPING HAND. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

STRIKE MAGAZINE SPRING 2020