DU Clarion Volume 125 Issue 01

JAN. 10, 2018

WELCOME BACK PIONEERS!

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| WELCOME

DU CLARION

JAN. 10, 2018

BACK EDITION

DU Athletics competes hard through winter break D

U Athletics continued to compete through the six-week winter break with hockey, skiing, gymnastics, basketball and swimming and diving attending and hosting events.

Joensuu (Kuortane, Finland) turned things around on Jan. 5, scoring first place with a time of 3:23.88. Skiing for the Pioneers on the women’s side was sophomore Kristine Karrsrud (Oppland, Norway), who earned Caitlan Gannam l Clarion

DU’s Nordic ski team earned a first place finish in the sprints for the women and a second place finish on the men’s side at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage.

After finishing ninth in the freestyle 10k on Jan. 3, junior Jasmi

eighth place. In the freestyle sprint Karrsrud raced for a finish of 3:34.34.

“Today was a lot of fun,” said Joensuu. “I have felt really good the last couple days, so I knew that I could have a good race today. The podium was a

little surprise though.”

DU’s hockey team fell to the Miami University RedHawks 4-3, on Jan. 5 at Steve Cady Arena. Denver outshot Miami, 47-19 but was unable to establish a lead in the game. Dylan Gambrell (Bonney Lake, Wa.) scored twice and junior defenseman Blake Hillman (Elk River, Minn.) recorded three assists.

“Special teams were huge and we didn’t come back hard enough to our net,” Denver’s head coach Jim Montgomery said. “Their first two goals are rebound goals and they’re beating us to the net.

Our effort and intensity for 98 percent of this game was really good and it shows how slim the margin of error is. If you want to be successful, we can’t have guys thinking that the play is done. You have to play right to the whistle.”

The No. 8-ranked women’s gymnastics team opened its 2018 season on Jan. 6 with a trip to Arizona. The Pioneers are celebrating 20 years under the leadership of Head Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart. With Kutcher-Rinehart, Denver has advanced to NCAA Regionals in 19 consecutive seasons and to the NCAA National Championships four times including

last season.

Denver enters the 2018 season ranked No. 8 in the preseason coaches’ poll, which is the program’s highest-ever preseason ranking. DU finished 2017 ranked No. 9 following a trip to the NCAA National Championships. Additionally, the Pioneers finished last season ranked inside the top 20 on all four events, including in the top 10 on vault, bars and beam.

DU’s women’s basketball team struggled early against Utah Valley, but a strong second half quickly changed things around, as the Pioneers won 72-53 inside Hamilton Gymnasium on Jan. 2. DU improved to a 9-7 record, while the Wolverines fell to 6-9 in the 2017-18 season.

Support your Pioneers at home this upcoming weekend as the women’s basketball team will face South Dakota State at 7 p.m. in the Hamilton Gymnasium on Thursday, Jan. 11, and North Dakota State at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. On Sunday, Jan. 14, the women’s gymnastics team will take on Air Force in Magness arena starting at 2 p.m.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

CO gubernatorial candidates DU Clarion

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his new year brings an election season that is influential to Coloradans on a federal and state level. One of the decisions Colorado voters must consider is that of the governor. With currently over two dozen names in the race, narrowing the options down to a key few to highlight may assist voters in their research process to see who will be their preferred candidate to support this year.

A current frontrunner for the Democratic Party is fifth term congressman Jared Polis. A wealthy tech entrepreneur residing in Boulder, Polis has big ambitions for the state. According to The Denver Post, Polis wants to see Colorado use 100 percent renewable energy by 2040.

He also wants to give parents access to full-day preschool or kindergarten and persuade companies to offer stock to their employees.

Perhaps the most controversial candidate in the Republican nominee race is Tom Tancredo who, this year, will be his third attempt at the title. Pro-gun and anti-immigrant, Tancredo holds values that align with the current president which may benefit him in this third go-around.

Before announcing that he would run, he has met with former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. Earlier last year Tancredo made headlines when he defended white supremacist group VDARE’s first amendment right to free speech after the group’s conference--where Tancredo was scheduled to speak-- in Colorado Springs was cancelled. A progressive

name to consider in the same party is Cynthia Coffman. Coffman who is Colorado’s first-term attorney general holds moderate stances on immigration and LGBT+ rights. As reported in The Denver Post, Coffman, “Is representing the state in its defense of a gay couple denied service by a Lakewood baker in a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court and has worked to protect people living in the U.S. illegally from becoming victims of fraud.”

Colorado Lieutenant Governor Donna Lynne, although a former president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado with notable efforts in developing a health care plan alongside current governor Hickenlooper and other governors, may be viewed as an underdog besides the other democratic challengers. Despite this, her close relationship with the current democratic administration grants her a close view at how the position functions and what is needed in 2018 and beyond.

Other names running include Bush relative and state treasurer, Walker Stapleton and Doug Robinson, first-time candidate and nephew of Mitt Romney. Both will compete with Victor Mitchell, a former state lawmaker and Greg Lopez who, if elected, could be the first Hispanic governor in the state’s history. On the Democrat’s side the prominent competitors include former senator Mike Johnston and former state treasurer Cary Kennedy.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

EDITORIAL STAFF

JOHN POE, Editor-in-Chief RYAN NINESLING, Executive Editor DANIELA SANTOS, News Editor NIKKY JOHNSON, Sports Editor ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions Editor TARYN ALLEN, Arts & Life Editor KENDALL MORRIS, Arts & Life Editor CAITLAN GANNAM, Photo/Video Editor GRACE HOUSER, Photo/Video Editor MONICA MCFADDEN, Podcast Editor JUSTIN CYGAN, Copy Editor MAYA PINON, Copy Editor ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser

JAN. 10, 2018

DU CLARION

WELCOME BACK EDITION | 3

Counting down the must-watch films of 2017 W hile 2017 may have been another rough year, it had no shortage of truly spectacular films. From the jungles of the Amazon to the beauty of northern Italy, 2017 in cinema took us on some unforgettable journeys.

This guide takes a look back at the very best.

15. “The Lost City of Z” This overlooked gem harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood adventure films with an added existential twist. Retelling the true story of British explorer Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnam, “Pacific Rim”), a World War I veteran obsessed with discovering the ruins of an advanced civilized buried deep in the Amazon, director James Gray (“The Immigrant”) handles the proceedings with patient and meditative hand. The lush cinematography and riveting slow boil of a plot is bested only by the performances of Hunnam and Robert Patterson (“Twilight”), who had a career year starring in this and the excellent crime thriller “Good Time.”

14. “Baby Driver” Comedic directing legend Edgar Wright (“Shaun of the Dead”) got the toes tapping with this high octane caper fueled by an out of this world soundtrack. Following tetanus-stricken getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort, “The Fault in Our Stars”) as he attempts get out of the business and hit the road with his sweetheart Deborah (Lily James, “Cinderella”), the film is an edge-ofyour-seat charmer that pumps up the volume and never stops. While tainted by a role from Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”), who is mired in sea of sexual assault allegations, the film is still worth checking out for the pure genius of its music-driven execution.

13. “A Ghost Story” A cosmic tale of love, loss, and time, this indie darling follows a deceased Casey Affleck (“Manchester by the Sea”), drawn in Charlie Brown style ghost attire, traveling through the history of his home while observing the grief of his widow (Rooney Mara, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), the families who come after and more.

An admittedly strange but profoundly beautiful examination of life itself, this is a haunting to remember.

12. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” The latest entry in the “Star Wars” saga follows Rey (Daisy Ridley, “The Force Awakens”) as she trains with a broken and isolated Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill, “Star Wars”) in an attempt to turn the tide against the First Order and a tortured Kylo Ren (Adam Driver, “Girls”). Masterful director Rian Johnson, who has long been turning heads with his gritty films (“Brick”, “Looper”)

and some legendary episodes of television (“Breaking Bad”), takes the franchise in a bold and much needed new direction with this risky subversion of what it means to be a “Star Wars” film. Ignore the online fury, this is a smart and superb blockbuster that rivals even its classic predecessors.

11. “The Beguiled” A dark, sensual Southern gothic which follows a handsome injured Union soldier (Colin Farrell, “The Lobster”) as he recovers in an all-female Confederate boarding school where the entire house cannot help but desire him, this tale of jealousy and seduction will make your typical Saturday night rom-com look like child’s play.

10. “The Florida Project” Following the poor young

his feelings for her and must confront his cultural conflicts with his family and identity as he grows close with Emily’s concerned parents (Ray Romano, “Everybody Loves Raymond” and Holly Hunter, “The Piano”). The film is a frequently hilarious and surprisingly poignant story that is the best romantic comedy to hit screens in quite some time.

7. “The Shape of Water” The master Guillermo del Toro returns with this unconventional love story between a mute cleaner (Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”) and amphibious man plucked out of the Amazon and kept prisoner where his new lover works. A homage to cinema from top to bottom, this gorgeous and meticulously crafted fantasy is a compelling blend of the Photo courtesy of A24

residents of a Florida motel and the complex adults who raise them, this brilliantly acted and gorgeously shot take on childhood in impoverished America is a thought-provoking and heart-wrenching film that will stick with long after you’ve left the theater. Oh, to be young again.

9. “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” An utterly insane follow-up to his genius film “The Lobster,” director Yorgos Lanthimos directs (“Dogtooth”) this modern-day take on an ancient Greek play follows a duel of wills between an arrogant surgeon (Colin Farrell) and the disturbed teenager (Barry Keoghan, “Dunkirk”) whose father he killed in a botched surgery. To reveal how the boy torments his enemy’s perfect family, which includes a sharp-tongued Nicole Kidman (“Big Little Lies”), would be to spoil the fun of deliciously twisted nightmare.

8. “The Big Sick” Based on his actual relationship with his wife Emily (played by Zoe Kazan, “Ruby Sparks”), comedian Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley”) writes and stars in this retelling of the complex beginning of their lives together.

When Emily falls into a coma, Kumail realizes the extent of

conventional love story and the monster films that del Toro clearly has deep affection for.

If you’re looking for romance a little on the peculiar side, this is the escape you need.

6. “Get Out” If you thought horror was already on the upswing, “Get Out” arrived to shake the genre up even more. This ruthlessly efficient takedown of “closeted” racism is not only a pitch perfect scarefest, it’s a haunting and intelligent exploration of race relations in America, particularly a rich, liberal America convinced its “moved past” racism when in reality people of color continue to suffer under their thumb just as any stereotypically racist individual. The film is darkly funny, scary and smarter than most dramas aspire to be.

5. “Blade Runner 2049” Somehow, as if by a miracle, a sequel to arguably the greatest science fiction film ever made is not only worthy of the original, it may even rival it. While this new “Blade Runner” is vastly different than its predecessor, this new iteration rests easy on the laurels of amazing performances from Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”) and Harrison Ford (“Star Wars”) and next level direction and cinematography from Denis Villeneuve (“Sicario”)

and Roger Deakins (“Skyfall”).

4. “Dunkirk” Christopher Nolan’s (“The Dark Knight”) unique take on the battle that changed European history forever is a tightly constructed masterpiece that intertwines three narratives into one breathless set piece.

Nolan’s steady hands guides the proceedings with the help of top notch cinematography, a tick-of-the-clock score and human performances from a hugely talented cast to create one of the most superb war films in recent memory.

3. “Phantom Thread” In what he says is his final role, Daniel Day Lewis (“Lincoln”) stars as an obsessive fashion designer caught in the throes of an unexpectedly intense relationship. Lewis, the actor of our generation, is on the top of his game as usual here, but the real star is the worthy sparring partner he finds in newcomer Vicky Krieps. Their intoxicating battle of wits and desire is a surprisingly multifaceted examination of the toxicity of masculinity and the madness of love. If you thought master writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood”) would actually settle down for a routine period drama, you’re in for a surprise.

2. “Call Me By Your Name” An effortlessly divine tale of first love, this Italy-set tale of an affair between a charming graduate student (Armie Hammer, “The Social Network”) and the reserved son (Timothee Chalamet, “Lady Bird”) of the professors hosting him is a slow build that aches with the quiet passion only this kind of love can inspire.

Chalamet turns in the performance of a lifetime, conveying every feeling with a raw intensity only the finest actors can achieve. Add on an intoxicating soundtrack, the most beautiful shots of Italy perhaps ever produced and a cast and crew that clearly respects the tender and special nature of a film that feels as rare as this and you have a certified masterpiece.

1. “Lady Bird” Without a doubt one of the finest coming of age stories ever produced, Greta Gerwig’s (“Mistress America”) solo writing and directing debut is why films are made. This story of the complex relationship between a precocious teenager with her eyes on anywhere but home (Saoirse Ronan, “Brooklyn”) and her brash but deeply loving mother (Laurie Metcalf, “Roseanne”) is the sort of film that seems resonate with every viewer. It’s a loving and warm homage to all the confusion, joy and pain of growing up.

It’s more than just the best film of the year; it’s a shining example of human drama.

Call your mom.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

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| WELCOME

DU CLARION

BACK EDITION

JAN. 10, 2018

Steps for managing Seasonal Affective Disorder S

easonal depression, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder that causes people to exhibit signs of depression during the winter months of the year. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), SAD effects about 5% of the U.S. population.

For anyone who has ever experienced seasonal depression, they not only know how difficult it is to manage, but they also know how much harder it becomes when you have to manage your schooling as well.

As we enter into the winter quarter, here are some tips to help you manage your SAD and still handle school.

First and foremost, you need to clean. According to Psychology Today you should try to take a shower or at least use some baby wipes and dry

shampoo to make yourself feel a little more normal. Clean up your dorm; you don’t need to vacuum and dust but remove the clutter and take out the trash. Do your laundry. Cleaning yourself and your surroundings may help boost your natural serotonin levels and make you feel less overwhelmed and stuck in your depressive cycle.

Sit outside and breathe. It sounds very cliche, but sometimes it works. Find a quiet place and sit down with something warm like (decaf) coffee or tea.

Make sure you are in the sun and let your body relax and warm up.

The warmth from the sun and whatever you are drinking may help you feel more alert and help to ground you. Plus, according to NIMH, one major contributor to SAD is a lack of Vitamin D so sitting in the sun will help you to replenish these levels in

your blood. While you are sitting take some time to focus on your surroundings. Look at the sky or maybe people watch. Ground yourself in the reality that is surrounding you. Try not to think and just sit for a while.

Go to the Health and Counseling Center. Seek out therapy.

According to the Mayo Clinic, discussing your depression with a therapist is a good way to determine where your depression stems from and how best to handle it. Going to the HCC will let you talk about your feelings to someone who can actually help you. They dont push and they really do understand what you are going through. Sometimes just talking to someone, anyone, will help you feel more connected to the world.

Lastly, try to eat healthier.

You may just want to eat carbs all of the time foods that are

high in carbs but low in nutrients will lead to mood crashes that make you feel exhausted.

According to Psychology Today, you should try to eat healthier foods that are high in Vitamin D, Omega 3s or tryptophan as they have all been proven to improve people’s overall wellbeing and mood. On the other hand, you may not want to eat at all. If you never seem to be hungry or you have lost interest in eating try to carry healthy snacks in your backpack so that you don’t end up sick and there is a chance that you may feel up to eating a full meal later in the day.

Seasonal depression is hard to kick. You won’t wake up one day and be “cured.” There may be days where getting yourself to do anything on this list is impossible.

That is okay. Take small steps and over time you will get better.

Caitlan Gannam | Photo/Video Editor

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

How study abroad returnees can best reacclimate W ith a look around DU’s campus this Winter Quarter, one will find it noticeably more populated and full of old familiar faces: the third year students have returned from study abroad. If you are one of these many returnees being welcomed back to Denver and you find yourself stumbling through the process of getting back to “normalcy,” here are a few tips to hopefully smooth the transition and tackle “reverse culture shock.”

Remember to give yourself breaks. Due to varying program lengths and the hectic nature of the holiday season, a lot of returnees had shorter winter breaks.

Many students accustomed to the six week vacation between quarters have this year been given only a few days at home, or perhaps no time at all, to rest, recharge and reacclimate. Make time to care for your mental and physical health if you want to have a happier and healthier quarter and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Find yourself a routine.

Depending on how different your

host country was from the United States, you may find your concept of “daily life” to be altered and unfamiliar. The feeling of independence may be more or less prominent at DU. The best way to slowly adjust to your new (old) life here is to get into a nice routine; going to class, hitting the gym, planning dinners with friends, etc. all help keep your calendar full and your mind and body sufficiently busy.

Make time for friends.

Reunions are great, so make an effort to reconnect with old friends in Denver. Go to your favorite restaurants or hit the slopes just like old times. Don’t forget, though, that you’ve all acquired immensely different life experiences in the past few months.

Acknowledge that, exchange stories and photos, and talk about any difficulties you’re having in the transition; odds are, you’re not alone. Also keep in touch with new friends you may have made while abroad to keep those relationships and stay connected to your time there.

Come up with an answer for “How was study abroad?” This

question has undoubtedly already been posed countless times, and it can be a bit stressful to answer, trying to fit three or four months of ups and downs into one response.

You may get tired of repeating the same things over and over again, but having a good broad, generic response like “It was quite the experience!” can come in handy.

A good tip is to inquire further, saying “What do you want to know about?” That way, you can have a more specific discussion, too.

Stay involved at DU and your host university. Here at DU, the Office of International Education (OIE) is always looking for Global Ambassadors, volunteers, panel participants, focus groups, presenters and more. There are often ways you can stay connected with your study abroad university, as well, through alumni networks, as a representative and the like. You may even consider going abroad again in the future.

Check out the OIE website for articles and resources to help with reacclimation.

Taryn Allen | Arts & Life Editor

Taryn Allen | Clarion

DU CLARION

JAN. 10, 2018

WELCOME BACK EDITION | 5

The pros and cons of a long DU winter break

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fter a fast-paced, tenweek quarter and the scramble of finals and trip arrangements are finalized, many, if not most, DU students simply cannot wait for the six-week winter break. This unique time in the academic calendar allows for students to only have to worry about one transportation plan for several major holidays and grants a generous amount of time off. It also, however, is misaligned with most other people’s schedules, leaving DU students on break while others are still well ahead of theirs. Any way you look at it, though, it is spare time to fill.

Like anything, the aspects that some students tend to enjoy about the long break are the very aspects that others hate. One such aspect is the fact that it is so lengthy. Some students find that the six weeks is a refreshing break from the hustle while others find themselves being bored with the extended period of down time.

Yet, one of the most important factors when considering how to evaluate one’s lengthy time off is the location where it was spent.

For a significant portion of DU students, it is spent at home— wherever that may be and under whatever definition they use.

The idea of returning home can evoke feelings of excitement or

dread. Even if one is excited to be reunited with their home, they may find that their holiday delight is all but extinguished much earlier than anticipated. This could be because they are bored since everybody else seems to be busy with school and work. This could be because they are becoming annoyed by the seemingly constant interaction with relatives. It could be a combination or something else.

Because of the long break, it is critical to spend it how you want.

No matter where you spend your time, it is relatively easy to find something to do. Six weeks is a perfect amount of time to return to an old job and earn some extra money while not fearing missing out on hanging out with old friends who are still in school or family members still on a busy workweek. It is an opportune time to catch up on some reading and TV- or movie-watching. It is a gap in which you can explore parts of your hometown or home state you have not before. You can shadow someone in a career in which you are interested. You can just relax and try some new recipes.

Winter break can also be a time to rejuvenate and look forward to all of the enjoyable things to come in the new year upon return to DU.

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

Maya Pinon | Copy Editor

New motivation for the new year

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e are all credit seekers in one way or another; college students can be especially intense about finding ways to get recognition for what we do; but with New Year’s resolutions still on the mind, now is a good chance to consider, too, the worthwhile activities for which credit may not be given. When time is tight, priority usually falls to the narrower set of efforts that are going to get us something: we receive credit for the classes we take, we find experiences for our resumes, we strive for rewards for our achievements. But there are other meaningful, less-visible things

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

that need our time, and even when these pursuits are worth the time, they can fall by the wayside. So, a suggested (late) resolution: in the new year, don’t seek out credit to the detriment of activities that are rewarding but not rewarded.

There are a lot of ways to keep this resolution, and here are just a few: Take a class in a subject you are not good at, and do it for the sake of learning something even if you aren’t conventionally good at learning it.

Volunteer your time in the service of someone who needs it, and do it not for validation from friends or to list in an application

but because someone who is not you is truly in need.

Call your relatives and check in with them, and instead of talking about yourself, listen to what is going on in their lives.

Get to know your family history so you may one day pass it on, even if you are not the hero of the story.

Exercise and eat well in the full knowledge that you probably won’t lose weight or clear up your skin.

Take up a hobby, old or new, that you will enjoy even if no one knows you do it.

Read, and read a lot, not to look smarter but to be smarter.

Remember, also, when you do something that will get you recognition or credit to do it because it really interests you or because you think that the lives of others will be better for it. To only put time towards goals and not also towards values is to narrow a long list of opportunities. Also remember that acts of selflessness or personal curiosity can be rewarding in their own way. In the spirit of New Year’s and reflecting on our priorities, consider what will motivate the things you do, not what you will get from being good at them.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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BACK EDITION

JAN. 10, 2018 Taryn Allen | Clarion

Discover fun winter activities in Colorado A

rguably one of the most significant reasons to attend school in Colorado is to fully experience winter in the mountains. As students return to DU after the long break, they are met with colder temperatures, bare trees and snow, but unlike any other place, it remains bearable and sunny, allowing students to continue to get outside on the weekends and destress from classes.

Skiing and snowboarding is one of the most talked-about winter activities for the people of Colorado because it is the hub of so many incredible ski resorts right in Denver’s backyard. Within a couple of hours, students can get

to Keystone, Breckenridge, A-Basin, etc. Some get more into the sport than others, but it is definitely worth trying at least once whilst in Colorado.

For students without an Epic Pass or even gear, Winter Carnival is a perfect opportunity to try out skiing for a day or two without a bigger commitment. This is a DU tradition where students head to Keystone for the weekend of Feb. 10 this year to spend time with friends and experience the mountains up close. There are discounted rates on lift tickets and lessons that are usually the lowest of the whole ski season so students on a budget can get a better chance of being able to participate.

There are also many other reasons to go to Winter Carnival other than solely to ski. They also offer tubing in the evenings and ice skating around the clock for those not looking to ski or snowboard. DUPB also arranges buses to Keystone so all students have the opportunity to go even if only for a day.

Other than skiing and Winter Carnival, there are always other things to do in the mountains such as snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating. Colorado also has some hidden treasures of unique experiences such as the Ice Castles in Silverthorne and Dillon.

These ice castles are exactly what they sound like, constructions of

ice that allow visitors to walk and sometimes crawl through with ice surrounding them. They are open day and night with the difference being that at night, they light off the ice with different colors to highlight the features of the ice.

There are also several clubs at DU that help students to get outside on the weekends such as Alpine Club, DU Backpacking Club and DU Outdoor Photography. Whichever activity students choose to participate in, there is always something to explore in the Colorado snow.

Grace Houser | Photo/Video Editor

Recap of the 2017 popular music scene I

n 2017, the way we consumed music was different than ever before: paid subscription streaming exploded, rising 54 percent from 2016. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” was streamed over one billion times, the first song to reach that mark, and other songs such as Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” and Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” followed close behind. We also bought more vinyl than before, up 20% from 2016. The way we discovered new music changed along with the uptick in paid streaming subscriptions. Long gone now in our digital age are the radio DJs who decide what new music we hear, the curated playlist is the new discovery platform.

In our first year post-election, music was full of confusion and resistance, of inward looks at good vs. evil. It was full of struggles with modern constructs, romance, gender, what’s right and what’s wrong. It was full of a clear struggle with identity, whether

Photo courtesy of Live For Live Music

in nationalistic terms as represented by album titles such as “ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$” by Joey Badass, “American Dream”

by LCD Soundsystem, “American Teen” by Khalid and “All American Made” by Margo Price, or racially as postulated in fantastic rap albums by Jay-Z, like “4:44,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” Identity was also explored on other levels, such as in the dreamy R&B sounds of SZA’s “Ctrl,” wherein she struggles with the world of femininity and seeks to paint a balanced, realistic and self-determined picture of womanhood. On BROCKHAMPTON’s three album run, “Saturation I, II,III” the hip hop group’s members traded bars about belonging as young black, queer and just different people over stylized, modern beats.

The most interesting branch of music this year was far and beyond R&B/Soul, where artists seemed to create the most interesting sounds and moved the genre to a peak of artistic vision, such as on the

aforementioned “Ctrl.” On Moses Sumney’s warm, vibey “Aromanticism” for example, he seeked to create a sonic landscape meant to evaluate the modern condition of romance and love, the longing for affection and the fear of loneliness. All accomplished beautifully on the concise album where songs drift into one another. Frank Ocean, who blessed us with the fantastic “Blonde” and “Endless” in 2016, spent 2017 dropping singles that further cemented his firm grasp on the peak of R&B. Sampha, who has gifted artists such as Kanye, Drake, Beyonce and Solange with his vulnerable songwriting and producing, crafted an intimate, deeply felt immersive album, “Process,” that carried tough themes of grief and loss through his soft voice and impressionistic metaphors.

It was identity that was also at the core of one of the year’s most surprising and most appetizingly warm and happy albums, Tyler, The Creator’s “Flower Boy.”

Tyler’s fifth album is a jazzy, beautiful sonic experience that blends his deeply soulful collaborators and chords with his deep, and at times aggressive vocal delivery. It’s lyrics concern growing up, losing friends, making it as an artist and as far as it can be inferred, coming out. It is the culmination of the talents showcased on Tyler’s past albums, but with a more mature backing.

Music brings us together, it gives us a sense of belonging, it allows us to feel things powerful and necessary that are hard to attain during the day-to-day struggle. Music is important in these ways, and so in 2017 music was quite important to us. While the year is over, the struggles we all faced during the year still remain, and the issues of identity and other divisive issues that we fight over remain to be further expanded in the new year.

Justin Cygan | Copy Editor

JAN. 10, 2018

DU CLARION

WELCOME BACK EDITION | 7

Ten concerts for your calendar

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rom the local, underground and undiscovered, to the favorite and familiar, this concert list has got all the bases covered up into mid-February. Get out the gel pens and the Lisa Frank stickers, it’s time to break in your 2018 agenda with concerts to buffer those exams and quizzes.

St. Vincent, Jan. 15 at the Fillmore Auditorium: The femme-fatale Annie Clark crafts dancy, delicious art-pop under the stage name St. Vincent. A multi-instrumentalist and poet, Annie Clark is highly original and an artist on the forefront of the indie pop movement.

John Maus, Jan. 19 at the Marquis Theater: Singer, songwriter and retrofuturist philosopher too?

The talented and eclectic John Maus is known for his use of vintage synthesizers to craft ethereal and dramatic soundscapes.

Passion Pit, Jan. 22 at the Ogden Theatre: American indietronica Passion Pit may have graced your car’s radio waves once or twice before. Their sophmore Gossamer hit No. 4 on Billboard 200 in 2012, and since then they’ve steadily maintained their electropop LCD Soundsystem, Jan. 25 during the X Games at Buttermilk Mountain (Aspen): “Dance Yrself Clean” during this year’s X-Games with the electronic art-rock band LCD Soundsystem, Marshmello, Martin Garrix and Method & Redman.

Boulder Philharmonic, Feb. 3 at the Macky Auditorium: A high-caliber professional symphony orchestra performs on the CU Boul-

Photo courtesy of i-D Vice

der campus with world-renowned artists, regional collaborations and performances of two works by major American composers.

The Killers, Feb. 5 at the 1ST BANK Center: The Killers continue their tour of recent release Wonderful Wonderful in Denver with Albert Hammond Jr., Amanda Brown. Be warned, they may or may not play “Mr. Brightside.”

Tyler, the Creator with Vince Staples, Feb. 6 at the 1ST BANK Center: Rapper, producer and music video director Tyler, the Creator is on his “Flower Boy” tour with Vince Staples, who also recently dropped Big Fish Theory.

Last of the Easy Riders, Feb. 10 at the Hi-dive: A local psychedelic folk rock group whose sound is at times earthy, tranquil, and reminiscent of an era in which Steven Stills and Buck Owens still graced the stage wearing leather fringe.

DeVotchKa, Feb. 14 at Washington’s: DeVotchKa, originally from Denver, made their big break when their song “The Winner Is” was featured on the soundtrack of Little Miss Sunshine. Their lighthearted and experimental compositions are not to be missed, and representative of Denver’s homegrown best.

MURS, Feb. 15 at the Black Sheep: MURS, active since 1996 and from South Central Los Angeles, has collaborated with The Grouch, Living Legends and numerous others.

A seminal member of the underground hip hop scene of the late 90s to the early aughts, MURS is not to be missed.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor

Photo courtesy of Problogger

2017 podcasts you don’t want to miss O

ver the past few years, podcasts have risen to the forefront of media consumption.

The medium is both old and new, using the decades-old format of radio while utilizing the ease of production and distribution allowed in the new tech age. With everyone and their sister making podcasts, it can be hard to wade through and find ones worth listening to.

Here’s a cheat sheet to a few of the best podcasts of 2017 to carry you into the new year.

The Daily For a quick, daily dose of the most pressing news, check out “The Daily” from The New York Times.

It’s the perfect podcast for walking to class in the morning, giving a rundown of the number one story of the day from top Times journalists.

Listen to: Today’s episode.

Radiolab presents: More Perfect A spinoff from the incredible podcast giant Radiolab, More Perfect unpacks stories of the United States Supreme Court. Host Jad Abumrad asks questions before the audience even realizes they have them, and the producers seek out fascinating untold tales and tidbits swirling around the legal world. This is a podcast about the Supreme Court for amateurs and scholars alike.

Listen to: “The Architect,” which

pulls back the curtain shrouding Edward Blum, the legal mastermind behind Fisher v. University of Texas, the infamous affirmative action court case.

Reply All “Reply All” is a podcast about the internet, but that description fails to encapsulate the wide variety of topics the show covers. Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman have segments that range from troubleshooting strange tech problems, exploring international political events as they play out on social media, and explaining Twitter memes to an older producer—and their hilarious and quirky rapport is what makes the show.

Listen to: “Long Distance,” in which Alex Goldman gets a scam call and decides to personally give them hell.

Crimetown Crimetown has all the fun and insane twists of an old mob movie, but it tells the true story of Providence, R.I., as led by corrupt mayor Buddy Cianci throughout the last decades of the 20th century. All the mob accents and over-the-top personalities are real—it’s a wild ride from beginning to end.

Listen to: The very beginning of the story, “Chapter 1: Divine Providence.”

Monica McFadden | Podcast Editor

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Explore the intersection of social justice and sustainability.

JAN. 10, 2018