ARTS & LIFE

STYLES

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“When I first saw it, I was annoyed. I guess it makes sense because traveling and performing would be hard,” O’Dell said. “At the same time, if he can do 15 shows in such a short time, he could just travel around instead of doing them in one place.” According to a poll conducted on Instagram, 38% of the 403 respondents stated that the farthest they would travel for a concert is one to three hours. However, 16% of respondents answered that they would be willing to travel more than nine hours for a show. In 2011, Ticketmaster and Live Nation announced that their websites will use dynamic pricing. This increases ticket prices when the demand for tickets increases. The success of Styles’ newest album, “Harry’s House”, expanded his already large fanbase, and this rise in fame created a high demand for tickets to “Love On Tour” shows. Therefore, the dynamic pricing tool on ticket websites skyrocketed the price of these tickets. Many of Styles’ fans can not afford expensive concert tickets and travel expenses. “I would want to go if he comes to Atlanta, but the tickets are so expensive,” said Allie Cole, junior nursing major. “Stadium concerts don’t feel personal enough to spend that kind of money on.” All of the days sold out almost instantaneously. According to an article written by Billboard, the United States tour grossed $94.7 million dollars, and Styles sold 719,000 tickets. “I tried to get tickets for this tour during the presale,” O’Dell said. “I actually had a really hard time getting tickets, and I normally pride myself on being good at that.” Large artists’ tours not only bring in big profits for the artist and the city they take place in, but they also bring in jobs for the local communities. If residency tours in large cities become the standard for artists, fans of lower socioeconomic status will not be able to see their favorite artists in concert, and the economy of smaller cities could potentially suffer as well.

Courtesy of Emma O’Dell

Styles performing in Atlanta in 2021.

The return of fall flavors

Autumn Arnette Staff Writer

Though Milledgeville heat may say otherwise, fall is creeping around the corner, and the restaurants and coffee shops downtown are prepared for the fall craze. Personal GC student and Milledgeville local favorites like Blackbird Coffee, Starbucks, The Brick, Downtown Milledgeville Nutrition, and Amici all feature fall-flavored beverages. Starbucks has been producing a fall line of coffees for 19 years now. This year they feature a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino, Apple Crisp Oat Milk Macchiato, and a Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. Starbucks reviews about their fall drinks are nothing short of flavorful. “I look forward to Starbucks fall line drinks every year, nothing beats their Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew before an early class.” said Carly Henderson, junior mass communications major. A closer location from campus to enjoy a fall favorite drink is Blackbird Coffee. Blackbird has their own Pumpkin Pie Latte, a huge Milledgeville fan favorite. The Pumpkin Pie latte is worth the craze, stop by after a long afternoon and enjoy the seasonal beverages. “We had people come in weeks ago already asking about when our pumpkin pie drink will be back,” said Bailey Warr, a Blackbird employee. “When the weather cools down it draws more attraction for people to be out, it’s usually the first drink we sell out of.” Coffee may not be everyone’s choice of beverage, which brings us a corner away from Black Bird to Downtown Milledgeville Nutrition. Featuring assorted flavors of teas and protein milkshakes, this fall they feature an Apple Caramel protein shake. Though this nutritional beverage café has not been around in downtown Milledgeville for long, the taste of this drink is exactly what you think of when you think of the fall season. The added benefit is that this drink is a healthier choice that satisfies your taste buds for a fall treat. The Brick and Amici in downtown Milledgeville feature plenty of fall-themed alcoholic beverages as well. The Brick features a Pumpkin Spice Martini that customers continue to rave over. “Our Pumpkin Spice Martini is a local favorite for game day watchers,” said Chipper Benit, an employee of The Brick. “We have thought about making it a yearly drink because it’s so popular.” Amici has a handful of September specials, some including Caramel Apple Gin, Autumn Red Sangria and a Spicy Apple Martini. If you want somewhere to enjoy a Saturday game day and a beverage to fit the season, stop by The Brick or Amici and try these featured beverages. The Autumn Red Sangria has been very favored by Amici customers these past two weeks,” said Macee Smith, an employee of Amici. The weather will be cooling off and the pumpkin spice has officially hit Milledgeville and GC’s campus. Restaurants all around provide at least one to three of the best fall-flavored beverages, and you won’t want to miss the personalized fall flavors.

TikTok’s “Fire Challenge”

Cara Radosevich Staff Writer

According to FOX 5 Atlanta, police arrested an unnamed 14-yearold girl who is suspected of setting fire to a Walmart in Peachtree City on Wednesday, Aug. 24. The blaze began before 7:20 p.m. in the paper goods section of the store. Investigators are puzzled as to whether the girl was motivated to commit arson by the TikTok challenge known as the “Fire Challenge.” This challenge encourages TikTok users to set fire to objects. Mia Scarbrough, senior mass communication major, is from Peachtree City. She considers Peachtree City a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other and their businesses. Scarbrough is a member of the “Life in the PTC Bubble” Facebook group. In this group, community members condemn the suspect and her parents. Community members blame the social media platform, Tik Tok, for being a bad influence on impressionable children. “I work for The Citizen, which is the newspaper in my town,” Scarbrough said. “We’re getting a lot of emails about ‘it’s a TikTok trend to set the paper aisle on fire or set something on fire in Walmart.” The Walmart was busy when the fire was set, so the citizens of Peachtree City were furious that people were endangered and could have died. Fortunately, no one was injured or killed in the fire, but there was extensive damage to the store. According to Scarbrough, the Walmart pharmacy is in operation so that the community has access to essential items. However, some citizens have complained on Facebook about the fire affecting their ability to receive goods. She also sees the possibility of rumors leading to community members discovering the identity of the girl and her parents. Scarbrough thinks that they could be ostracized and forced to move in this situation as the community grapples with the legal consequences the fire starter should face. “There’s a lot of debate if the 14-year-old girl should be tried as an adult or tried as a child,” Scarbrough said. Although police are unsure if the girl was motivated by the TikTok challenge, parents are convinced the app is responsible. Some psychologists see TikTok as a bad influence on children because they are too immature to gauge the riskiness of viral challenges. According to Psychology Today, “However, for those who crave social validation and lack the critical thinking skills or developmental maturity to judge risk, TikTok and TikTok challenges can be a less positive and sometimes dangerous experience.” Some members of the Peachtree City community believe the age minimum on TikTok should be raised to 18 as children are trying risky challenges unaware of possible consequences. Others deem the girl’s parents responsible for her setting the fire because they believe her parents should have been monitoring her TikTok account. “A lot of people are saying this is a time to check in on your kids and see if anyone is trying to convince them to do other stuff like this,” Scarbrough said. Some mothers of the community wrote on Facebook that they feel distraught for the girl’s parents, and they do not blame their daughter for setting the fire.

Horoscopes for Sept 9-Oct 1

Jennifer Crider A&L Editor

Mercury retrograde occurs about 3-4 a year when the planet of mercury appears to move backwards in the sky. This year, one of the retrogrades will occur from Sept 9-Oct 1. Unfortunately, mercury retrograde can cause a lot of issues for each sign, so read more to see how this will affect your sign. Virgo: This retrograde will affect you the most out of any other sign. You might experience unexpected roadblocks in your typical routine, and this can be overwhelming for a typically organized virgo. Don’t let this manifest into frustration, and try to use this to improve yourself. Also, be careful of purchasing extravagant items in this period because it will only hurt you later. Libra: Be careful who you trust with your secrets and avoid confrontation at all costs. Be warned, your ex relationships will reach out to you, and this will cause a lot of realizations about why previous relationships didn’t work out. Scorpio: Scorpio’s tend to hold grudges, and you will have to confront these suppressed feelings during this period. Issues from your past are going to arise, and you will have to revisit a lot of old emotions. Although it might not seem like this now, this will be good for you in the long run. Sagittarius: Release all of the emotional energy you have been building up from issues in your social life. Spend this time learning how to cope with your emotions by yourself rather than relying on your friends for support. Capricorn: There will be issues in communication in professional environments such as work or school. To fix this, try to be more accepting of other people’s ideas, and do not give into petty drama. Aquarius: This retrograde cycle will be really good for you. It will bring a lot of creativity and intellectual stimulation into your life. The last week of Sept will be a good time for you to travel or to plan a future vacation. Pisces: It is time for a break. Life has been chaotic for you, and you have been experiencing a lot of petty drama recently. If you move your energy into focusing the positive aspects of your life, mercury retrograde will bring you peace. Aries: It is not selfish to set boundaries in your closest relationships, and this retrograde will bring you the confidence to actually follow through on this. Don’t assume you know everything, trust your intuition, and this will bring you luck. Taurus: Spend this retrograde reflecting on your self care routines. Are they actually beneficial or are they just a way to escape from the problems you’re experiencing? This period will bring blocks in your creative process, but this is only temporary. Gemini: People you have unresolved business will reappear in your life during this period, and do not give into this temptation. These people are in your past for a reason. This is a bad month to pursue romantic relationships for you, so focus on your own mental wellbeing. Cancer: It is very important that you avoid arguments with your family this month. The communication between you and your family will not be productive, so avoid confrontations as much as possible. This month, you may receive information that could lead to a boost in your finances. Leo: Use this time to reflect on the ways you let your pride take control of you. This month, you might feel extra social. Be careful not to spend all of your money on social outings. Remember to balance your time well between your friends.

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

Thrifting saves the world one purchase at a time

Emily Williams Contributing Writer

As environmental concerns become more of an anxiety, thrifting begins to elevate some of the negative effects of fast fashion. Fast fashion is the mass production of products at a low cost that follows popular trends and is supplied to retail stores quickly. According to the UN Environment Programme, fast fashion is responsible for 8-10% of carbon emissions, and 85% of textiles end up in landfills. A study done by Princeton found that fast fashion accounts for 20% of water waste worldwide. Anna Sampson, junior liberal studies major, advocates for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and has found that thrifting is a helpful way to achieve that mindfulness. “By thrifting, you extend the life of a piece that was once worn by someone else rather than having it be thrown away and put into a landfill,” Sampson said. “Shein and Cider may have cute clothes, but at the end of the day they aren’t ethical or sustainable which is something I aim for when choosing to shop for clothes.” Scientists have warned we have less than seven years to manage climate change and while most of the effects come from larger companies, individuals’ environmental footprints matter too. “I started thrifting when I was in middle school because it’s more sustainable and is a cool opportunity to find unique pieces,” Sampson said. Sampson’s most effective thrifting tactic involves having an open mind and trusting the process. “I find good pieces by going thrifting regularly,” Sampson said. “Sometimes I won’t find anything good and sometimes I’ll hit the jackpot. I found a vintage green Master’s sweater vest and I am in love with it. This was an awesome find because you can only get Masters apparel at the Master’s golf tournament.” Mary Hayden Hughes, sophomore mass communications major, started thrifting at Goodwill after thrifting became trendy. “I think people are valuing their individuality and they can find that in thrifting because everything at goodwill is one of a kind,” Hughes said. Shopping on restock days allows shoppers to have a wider option when shopping for trendy pieces rather than having to turn to companies that rely on fast fashion to stay in style. “ I like to go thrifting on restock days. I know my local thrift store back home restocks on Wednesday nights, so I like to go on Thursdays to get first pick on trendy pieces,” Sampson said. “I have found a lot of cool stuff that doesn’t fit right but I’ve made it fit better by learning how to alter clothes. Nothing crazy, but things can make a big difference in how you look and feel in clothes.” Hughes learned creative ways of making the most out of her shopping experience. “I like to get creative with my thrifting by going into different sections of the store. For example, I enjoy looking at the men’s section for t-shirts and sometimes the children’s section for shoes,” Hughes said. There are many great thrift stores in Milledgeville that students can shop at. For instance, Maranatha Thrift Store in Milledgeville raises money for the non-profit organizations, Maranatha Mission Home and StagVets Inc. By thrifting, customers can strive for creativity and individuality while lowering unnecessary waste and harmful emissions. The next time a fashion trend comes around, go to a thrift shop to ensure that the community and the environment benefit from the purchase.

A fall full of fantasy

Cale Strickland Staff Writer

This fall marks the release of Amazon and HBO’s dueling spinoff series, “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” and “House of the Dragon”. Chances are, if you are an avid reader, TV junkie or film buff, you are familiar with “Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones”, as the franchises are two of modern entertainment’s greatest successes. Now, streaming services are interested in capitalizing on Middle-earth and Westeros’ status as household names. Although Amazon and HBO staggered the shows’ premieres, the series’ overlapping release schedules and similarities invite comparisons from both audiences and critics. Also, it is important to note both franchises returned after less-successful installments. The final season of “Game of Thrones” has a 55% critics approval rating and a 30% audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Peter Jackson’s final film in “The Hobbit” series received a 59% critics’ approval rating. Just for reference, each film in Jackson’s original “Lord of the Rings” series received above a 90% critics’ approval rating.

Moussa Seck, a GC French professor, enjoyed the first few seasons of “Game of Thrones”, but he was not impressed with the show’s conclusion. He hopes watching “House of the Dragon” will be a better experience. “I enjoyed ‘Game of Thrones’ in its first seasons,” Seck said. “I believe they dragged on the story unnecessarily — for financial reasons, maybe. I am currently watching ‘House of the Dragon’. My experience so far is that it is a bit slow, and the story is not clear yet. In terms of video effects, I think they can do a better job. Having the dragons fly around a couple of times is not enough to keep the audience’s attention.” George R.R. Martin, whose books served as the foundation for “Game of Thrones”, has cited J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings” novels as major inspirations. Dr. Brooke Conaway, an associate professor of economics, is a massive fan of both “Game of Thrones” and “Lord of the Rings”, but she prefers Westeros to Middle-earth. She has read all the books in Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series and revisited the show’s seasons multiple times. Although the series is far from over, “House of the Dragon” is living up to her expectations. “I am watching and loving ‘House of the Dragon’,” Conaway said. “It is still too early to compare it to ‘Game of Thrones’, but so far, it has helped to scratch that ‘Game of Thrones’ itch I have had since the show ended.” Apart from the show’s fantastical dragons and elves, the series’ record-breaking budgets are drawing attention. Amazon’s budget for the first season of “Rings of Power” is reported to be $465 million, which makes it the most expensive series of all time. On average, each episode cost $58 million. By comparison, Jackson’s original trilogy of films cost a combined $281 million. HBO’s “House of the Dragon” is not cheap either, as the series’s first season cost a reported $20 million per episode. Grace King, a junior criminal science major, was not shocked to hear the shows’ record-breaking price tags. She thinks it is a sign of what is to come. “It does not surprise me,” King said. “I feel like soon there will be no cable, and everything will be moved to streaming services. If HBO does not pay that, someone else will and make a huge profit.” Conaway’s view sees the series’ massive budgets as Amazon and HBO’s investments in the future of streaming. “Competition in streaming services has increased in recent years,” Conaway said. “Differentiation generally requires investment, so it seems Amazon is trying to one-up big-budget shows offered on other streaming services. This kind of investment is risky and does not always pay off, but a big risk can lead to a big reward.” In the so-called “streaming wars”, content is content, and the franchises’ fans are responding. The premiere of “House of the Dragon” marked HBO Max’s most-viewed premiere to date, as the episode debuted to 10 million viewers. Amazon boasted even stronger numbers for the opening episode of “Rings of Power”, as a reported 25 million viewers checked in within the episode’s first 24 hours of release.

Lila Hacklander, a sophomore mass communication major, believes fantasy storytelling’s intrinsic, universal appeal might allow “House of the Dragon” and “Rings of Power” to attract new viewers. “It is a way for people to escape the world they are in and experience something new,” Hacklander said. “People are so curious to get attached to a new world other than their own —especially if their world is not one they want to be in.”

Claire O’Neill | Art Director

GC to Denmark

Annie Roper Staff Writer

This past summer, the mass communications department hosted a two-week-long study abroad program in Denmark led by Dr. Mikkel Christensen and Dr. Jan Hoffman. The group visited places such as the Danish Parliament, Amalienborg Castle, a traditional Danish folk high school and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. They also went on short excursions to Flensburg, Germany and Malmo, Sweden. Christensen holds Denmark close to his heart; born and raised in the country, he spoke about how much the opportunity to share his home with GC students meant to him. “I used to work as a reporter in Denmark. Obviously, I’ve got a lot of contexts since I’m from there,” said Christensen. “In the time I’ve been in the US, I’ve been really well treated and have got so many cool experiences. I’ve learned a lot.” Christensen and Hoffman took the students to the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. They met with editor Peter Korsgaard and learned about public service media which is a type of broadcasting funded by the country’s income tax. They also visited the Parliament to learn about their multi-party system, meaning the country has two or three major political parties accompanied by other smaller but still significant parties. No single party has held a majority of legislative seats since 1903. Towards the end of their tour of the Parliament, they happened to run into the prime minister, Mette Frederiksen. Kaite Holtz, junior mass communications major, commented on how informal meeting someone of her status felt compared to if the same had happened in America. “We were outside reflecting on everything we did in there, and two very average cars pulled up behind where we had just come out from. One of them was two security guys, and the other was the Prime Minister,” Holtz said. “She took a picture with us, and then she went back into the office, I guess. It was like saying ‘hi’ to your neighbor or something.”

Holtz mentioned the Danish term “hygge” several times. Hygge refers to a type of lifestyle practiced by many Danes; it centers around the feeling of cozy contentment, taking the time to relish the little things in life, and the pursuit of happiness. “We learned about it the first week we were there, but I didn’t experience it or feel it until I was at the school because all the kids were so welcoming,” said Holtz. “They wanted to know about America and everything. I felt like I had known these people forever.” After the program was over, Holtz stayed in Europe an extra two weeks and visited Florence, Amsterdam, Barcelona and the Netherlands. She commented on the stark contrast she noticed after returning to America, especially when she compared it to Denmark. “It was pretty depressing, if we’re being honest. Being from Atlanta then going abroad and seeing how people live over there made it so weird coming back here and sitting in a classroom and just continuing on with my normal life,” said Holtz. Rose Wagner, senior mass communications major, spent an entire year in Denmark. She attended a folk school which is a boarding school for adults centered around gaining experiences and hobbies. She commented on how different the things she focused on at the school were when compared to her studies at GC. “Different schools have different concentrations of subjects and themes. You don’t have any grades, so the main focus is learning,” said Wagner. “How much you put into it is how much you’re going to get out of it.” Christensen emphasized the importance of fresh perspective, and how he intended for the trip to do just that. “The goal was to make Americans learn a lot more about America, and American media,” said Christensen. “A fish doesn’t know it’s in water until it’s out of water.” If you’re interested in studying abroad, be sure to look into it on the GC website. The idea of international schooling may be daunting, but it is truly the experience of a lifetime.

LIZA

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Eliza Fletcher, marathon runner, kindergarten teacher, mother of 2, and wife to Richard Fletcher, should have been able to finish her run. Laura Smither should have finished her run in Texas in 1997. And Chaundra Levy, who disappeared in Washington D.C. in 2001. And Ally Brueger, who was found shot and killed in the Detroit area in 2017. And Karina Vetrano, whose family found her half naked body after she did not return home from a run in Queens, New York in 2016. And Mollie Tibbetts, who was found stabbed to death after a failed rape attempt in Iowa in 2018. Women, like myself, use running as an outlet to escape, to feel strong and healthy, to feel like ourselves.Because of these deaths plaguing this sacred time for us, the death of Eliza Fletcher has hit home hard. We have all come to the realization that any one of us could have been Eliza Fletcher. On the morning of Sept. 9, thousands of women from all over the country gathered to “Finish Liza’s run” because she was not able to. This was a way to honor her life and raise awareness that women

In a way, a lot of women that were there relate to her story, looking back, that is the most emotional part for me, as a woman. We do have to watch our backs, and my head is on a swivel. It is just a terrible feeling

-Catie Grusin, Eliza’s Cause attendee should be allotted the right to safely run alone in their communities. This event started in Memphis on Eliza’s 8.2mile path at 4:20 a.m., the last time she was seen alive. However, Fletcher’s run was not just held in Memphis, it spread across the country with over 20 groups gathered to celebrate the life and run that ended too soon. The Colorado State University lacrosse team tweeted: ‘Enough is enough! Tired of the “why is she running alone?” “Why is she running so early.” Men do not have have to worry. We run for Eliza Fletcher.’ Like many women who gathered on this day, and continue gathering to celebrate Eliza’s life, running has made me feel strong, empowered, more myself than ever. This feeling can be stripped away all too soon with one leer comment, a threatening bystander, and news of women being targeted during their runs. No woman should ever have to be fear-

Abigayle Allen | Opinion Editor

GC students gather to run in honor of Eliza Fletcher

ful of what makes them

feel more alive. No person should be catcalled, attacked, kidnapped, or murdered during a run. No one should forget Eliza Fletcher and the run she was

never able to finish.

Andalusia farmhouse in 2021

GC takes Andalusia for granted

Abigayle Allen Opinion Editor

As a young girl, I knew Flannery O’Connor as one of the greats. She was the type of writer I aspired to be someday, the person I looked up to. Her work is trademarked around the world as some of the best poetry and works of Literature to be produced. Flannery O’Connor was diagnosed with lupus in 1951and moved home to Andalusia farm where her mother resided. While under the care of her mother, O’Connor produced the bulk of her work including 32 short stories and over 100 literary critiques. “It came with the steady pace of dusk, slow shadings in the distance, a sense of light growing soft at the center of her body. It came like evening to the farm bearing silence and a promise of rest.” (Skloot, “O’Connor at Andalusia” lines 1-5) O’Connor was known for her unconventional juxtaposition of religious themes, violence, and expectations of both religious and southern gothic literature in production of her works. Because of her individualism shown in mending types of writing, many scholarly programs returned to and study her work. O’Connor used Andalusia farm as an inspiration for characters and settings in her works. This is easily recognizable through the 32 short stories she produced during her last years. In 2017, the GC Foundation was gifted this farm by a private foundation. Since then, it has undergone minor changes in hopes to preserve the original glances that Flannery O’Connor would capture within her writing. On Feb. 24, 2022, the National Park Service deemed the Andalusia Farm as a National Historic Landmark (NHLs) because O’Connor was one of the most influential American authors of the mid-20th century. Cathy Cox, GC’s president, spoke out saying “We are so pleased that Flannery O’Connor’s home has gained national attention through this distinction,” said Cathy Cox, GC’s president, in (cite the speech where she said this.) As a creative writing student myself, why did I read online that this site was deemed as part of the NHLs? This should have been a celebration if not just in the creative writing community, but campus-wide as well.

“A notable figure in the literary world, her creative works continue to impact many of our students and aspiring authors throughout the world,” Cox said. It is true that I, as I am sure many of my peers, honor Flannery O’Connor as an inspiration for many of myworks produced now. But rather than using this farm as a site to inspire and produce our own works, it is used as a recruiting tactic on GC’s website. It is our job as a student body, honoring our culture and our school, to raise awareness for such a creative and historic landmark. Why are there no school wide service projects to maintain the farm? Why does the creative writing program not take more interest in the NHLs? These are all questions that I point at GC’s foundation, creative writing communities, and the people in charge of keeping the student body educated and involved not only in our campus life but in our community’s life. Historic landmarks die without the upkeep of the present. This is our time, as students of GC, to take the steps necessary to spread awareness.