HOLIDAY MOVIE, PODCAST, AND GIFT RECOMMENDATIONS

Though traditional Thanksgiving food might be boring, these Turkey Day podcasts sure aren’t.

Hana Saad Student Writer

Thanksgiving is officially upon us! It is a busy time of year for sure, with everyone rushing to complete final projects and study for exams amidst general holiday busyness, but I urge you to find the time to listen to one or two of the podcasts. In the spirit of Julianne’s article about cake, make your listening experience a relaxing one. Light a candle or something and put on your comfiest clothes. Settle on the couch with a steaming cup of tea, cocoa or coffee. We all deserve a break. Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or not, here is a list of podcasts about Turkey Day that are sure to delight.

This delightful episode is hosted by Samin Nosrat (author of the cookbook “Salt Fat Acid Heat”) and Hrishikesh Hirway (creator of the podcast “Song Exploder”). This episode is warm, friendly and emblematic of everything a perfect Thanksgiving Day makes you feel. The hosts answer questions from the audience, giving tips about how to prepare the perfect dinner and inspiration for unique vegetarian recipes that take on the flavors of fall. Guest Demi Adejuyigbe joins to detail his baking adventures in quarantine. Although this episode is a year old, it is still a wonderful thing to listen to, especially on a rainy day. You’ll find yourself smiling as the joy and happiness of the hosts and their guests is palpable.

The holidays can be a stressful time, especially when food and family are involved. Is it even Thanksgiving if someone isn’t arguing at the dinner table or acting weird about the latest family drama? This episode helps you figure out ways to enjoy the holiday even when challenges crop up at family gatherings. They bring in research from social sciences, like psychology, to explain why people get into arguments over intense topics. There are a variety of different studies covered in the episode that offer helpful tips for keeping your calm at holiday gatherings. Host Shankar Vedantam will help you calm down with his gentle tone and sciencebased tips that are sure to give you relief in a stressful time.

Most people should know that the history of Thanksgiving is not the one so sweetly told in the Charlie Brown stories. This podcast breaks down the history of Thanksgiving and how the myth of Thanksgiving that schoolchildren hear across the U.S. is an attempt to erase the reality of the relationship between colonial settlers and the Indigenous people of the U.S. This conversation features artists from Third Space Collective, which aims to reimagine what America could be like through “deep listening, shared acts of renewal, and true Democratic collaboration.” The show notes also list the variety of sources that they drew from in their conversation, with many articles that are definitely worth the read to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving.

This is just a tiny sampling of the podcasts available on your favorite streaming platforms about Thanksgiving. A simple search reveals dozens of episodes, from cooking shows to true crime stories. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of Thanksgiving, you just might find an interesting podcast to help you get through the holiday.

courtesy Radiotopia This podcast was first released in September 2020.

courtesy Third Space Media This podcast is now on its second season.

courtesy Public Domain Pictures It’s the perfect time to start compiling your gift list and getting ideas on what to gift others.

Buying or asking for gifts can be stressful, but this guide can give good ideas for any need or person in your life.

Myranda New Student Writer

With the holiday season just around the corner, your mom may have started asking what’s on your Christmas list. Or maybe you’re trying to come up with gift ideas for the other members of your family and your friends. Either case, gift giving can be tough, especially as you grow older, and it seems like you already have all that you need. I hope this holiday gift giving guide takes some of that stress away.

Starting with the basics, I know that no one was too excited to be gifted socks as a kid, but as an adult, that is a great present to open. Socks and clothes are so much more exciting as an adult to unbox. You could get socks with animals, plants, reindeer or one of a hundred other things on them. Getting new shoes is also always fun, either a nice pair of sneakers or some boots that you’ve had your eyes on. Pajama sets could be the perfect gift to wear the night after Christmas, and there’s nothing better to sleep with than a weighted blanket. Especially for college students, weighted blankets are great to begin easing anxiety. It also wouldn’t be a 2021 holiday gift guide without mentioning squishmallows, the stuffed animals taking the world by storm that come in all different shapes and sizes.

Moving on to the kitchen, I know that I’ve had my eye on a mini Keurig for my dorm room, and last year for Christmas, my family gifted me the microwave that’s now in my dorm. Air fryers also make great gifts for the family due to the vast number of recipes that can be made with them. I’m also a big fan of mini waffle makers and egg cookers seen at Target and Kohls. If you want to look into something extra special for your parents, try a cast iron pan, a dutch oven or a number of Pampered Chef products to make cooking easier.

For entertainment, there are numerous gift ideas ranging from books and movies to workout gear. Look into a yoga mat or weights to really dedicate yourself to that workout routine you’ve been trying to stick with all semester. While you’re working out, you could have a himalayan salt lamp on in the corner of the room for some ambiance. Or maybe for some family fun, ask for a puzzle, card decks or board games. The game aisle at Target is very long with tons of fun options whether you want something deeply involved or just for fun.

For the scholarly learner in your life, look up the Goodreads Book of the Year lists and consider getting some of those novels. They’re on the best books list for a reason. Some beneficial technology investing could be in a Smart Watch to track all sorts of health-related things or getting a tablet or iPad. iPads are helpful for taking notes in class, organizing your schedule but also for simply watching television. Printer ink could also be a great gift to ask for due to the price tag, and stationary sets always make for something fun to open and use throughout the year.

Sometimes part of gift giving is the mystery behind what it could be, and for some gifts, the mystery can last long after the holidays. By getting subscription boxes, the gift giving can continue all year round. There are subscription boxes for all sorts of things, from Book of the Month club where you get a new hardback book every month to Ipsy where you get new makeup. If you research subscription boxes, there’s going to be one for all tastes. Magazine subscriptions are also fun if you have a specific company in mind, like “National Geographic,” “Good Housekeeping” or “Popular Mechanics.” Scratch off posters are exciting and come in all different types, from yoga poses and vacation destinations to movies and books.

Maybe someone doesn’t want a physical gift, but an experience instead. Gift cards are a great way to start. There are gift cards for favorite restaurants, shops and entertainment destinations. The movie theater or roller rink would be great places to get gift cards for. Also look into spas and nail salons for those in your life who need to take a break. Getting an AirBNB trip in order or a hotel room for the weekend could also be fun to give everyone a break in a new location.

Of course, I must mention that we have one of the best places to get gifts right here on campus. The University of Tulsa bookstore is an amazing place to get clothes, accessories and collectibles for everyone in the family, while also asking for some things for yourself. You could ask for a sweatshirt or pajama pants. There is a wide assortment of baseball caps, beanies, stuffed animals, scrunchies and drinkware. During the holiday season, the bookstore begins selling ornaments and stockings.

It may seem daunting at first to begin drafting your Christmas list or theorizing what to get others, but these are some great places to start. Every gift is special and will look beautiful wrapped up with a bow under the tree. Happy holidays!

As we head into the most sentimental time of the year, nothing sounds better than curling up with a holiday classic.

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I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this movie. I have, however, read the poem a couple times and can confirm that this is one of the best stories to enjoy during Yule. They say that Charles Dickens started the trend of Christmas ghost stories, but this beautiful poem fell upon ears centuries before he was born. I hear the Dev Patel adaptation has a bit more lewd content than the original written work, but if anything remains of the themes on willpower and composure, the movie certainly suffices. Any iteration of this piece should do the trick for a holiday selection.

The last work of a legend, this film saw director Stanley Kubrick die before the theatrical release. If you plan to watch any of these with family though, make sure it isn’t this one. The whole movie explores topics of infidelity and marital contentment with graphic nudity and sexual imagery. I would definitely recommend mentally preparing yourself for a movie like this: it does not affect the palate lightly. The Christmas aspect seeps through in the setting, which adds to the theme an interesting nostalgic feel that makes the movie read like a modernist masterpiece. This one takes some maturity, but it is a solid choice.

The second of the Tim Burton Batman films, and arguably the better of the two, is an often forgotten Christmas classic. With the holiday providing the means of the first scorn to send the villain, the Penguin, on a spiral toward iniquity, a bittersweet atmosphere forms around the holiday as a centerpiece. One of the most memorable images (and definitely one of the most fitting for Burton) comes at the end of this film with penguins carrying their dead caretaker into the water. If you’re looking for a superhero movie to watch this year, this is the one for you.

Hot take: this is one of the most beautiful films ever created. I have no qualms about double dipping and taking two Burton movies for this list, especially as this movie is so different from his take on the Batman universe. The pastel world he creates screams suburbia and the collective crime of the town against the protagonist makes for a semi-sweet, melancholy ending that makes its viewers appreciate their loved ones just a bit more. I love this movie with my whole heart and would suggest it to anyone for a holiday film, no matter their taste.

“Edward Scissorhands” is a fantasy and romance movie. courtesy 20th Century Studio

Easily the greatest Christmas film and perhaps the greatest film in general of all time, the fourth contribution to the Rocky film franchise never ceases to amaze. The Italian Stallion becomes the poster child for American patriotism as he seeks to go into the Soviet Union and beat their machine of a boxer. The premier himself, modeled after premier of the time Mikhail Gorbachev, presides over the match from a darkened seat that looms over the ring like the superpower over a multitude of developing countries and neighbors. Rocky trains in Siberia during late autumn to fight Ivan Drago in this Christmas Day fight. I could watch this movie every day for the rest of my life.

With directors piecing together every film, here the five I wish to commend for their work.

Student Writer

Every film takes a lot of different people to help it come together, but one role behind the camera manages to captivate audiences almost as much as the stars seen on the screen. The director helps to bring every piece together to form these great pictures, and has done so throughout history. In my

Wong Kar-wai has directed some awesome films throughout his career. Films like “Chungking Express” and “Fallen Angels” are very similar in story but equally amazing films. His unique editing and camera work set his films apart from most of the mainstream directors who often just point the camera and shoot without much thought for how the composition of the shot affects the story. His stories themselves feel like deeply personal dives into the characters and they often diverge into multiple different stories. I can’t recommend that you check out these wonders of the Hong Kong cinema scene enough.

view, these are, without question the greatest directors of all time.

Few directors’ styles can be as recognized as much as that of Wes Anderson. His quirky tight shot composition and weird stories have helped him stake his claim as one of the few mainstream directors able to make unique films. A master of live action and animation, films like “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and his newest film “The French Dispatch” display his creative and quirky style previously mentioned. One of my favorite Wes Anderson films is fairly unique in this regard, the least like any of his other films, “Bottle Rocket.” This was his first feature film, based off of a short film he had previously made. What makes this film so special to me is that it’s more like any other movie from another director being made in that you don’t see the same exact editing style or shot composition, which might sound like a bad thing, but you get to see his iconic style being formed. You get little sneak peeks of what’s to come from him style wise. Seeing his frequent collaborators Owen and Luke Wilson on the screen together is also very fun.

What can really be said about Hitchcock that hasn’t been said already? One of the preeminent masters of suspense in film, Alfred Hitchcock helped revolutionize aspects of film and storytelling. Almost everyone could reference the infamous stabbing from “Psycho.” His films are all unique and his composition of the shot is often second to none. His ability to write intricate thrillers and amazing twists just add to his filmmaking arsenal. Films like “Vertigo” and “North by Northwest” just give proof to how great a director he was.

Guillermo Del Toro is a director who has consistently impressed throughout his career. He directs a variety of different films, from comic book adaptations like “Blade II” and the “Hellboy” movies, to fantasyhorror films like “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “The Devil’s Backbone.” His film “Shape of Water” was nominated and won an Academy Award, showing how well respected his films are. He is able to blend elements of things like sci-fi, fantasy and horror and somehow make it work. His fantasy horror films take more from the classical fantasy

“Ikiru” was released in 1956. courtesy Toho Co., LTC

children’s stories, rather than our often happy idea of children’s fantasy tales.

Akira Kurosawa, to me, is the quintessential film director. His films transcend cultural lines, able to be enjoyed by so many around the world. His career spanned from the late 40s all the way to the 90s, when he was still making great films. Many directors lose their touch eventually, but not Akira Kurosawa. His samurai films like “Ran,” “Seven Samurai” and “Hidden Fortress” are top notch and have inspired the western renaissance of the 70s as well as inspiring George Lucas in making the first Star Wars film. Where he really shines for me is his slower films. Films like “Ikiru” and “Madadayo” are very slow emotional burns, with “Ikiru” telling a story so relatable in today’s culture of overworking ourselves, while the latter can be seen as a sort of retrospective on Akira Kurosawa’s career as a whole. If you picked one film of his out of a hat, no matter what you drew, you would be in for a fantastic film experience.

Philbrook’s “This is an Adventure: Accidentally Wes Anderson” exhibition displays photography with never-before-heard music.

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Wes Anderson is one of the most famous and prolific filmmakers in Hollywood, nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, as well as two more for Best Animated Feature. He has won one Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture and another for Best Director, among other awards. Whether he is making live-action films like “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (2014) or stop-motion movies such as his adaptation of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009), Anderson’s creativity and style stand out showcase photography of architecture, natural landscape and more inspired by this director’s films in terms of vibrant colors that are almost eccentric, symmetrical imagery, etc. Submissions have continued to be sent to Koval over the past few years, growing a whole community dedicated to creating a lasting tribute to a filmmaker and movies that they love dearly. Koval has received so many pictures by this group he founded that he was actually able to publish a book in Oct. 2020, titled “Accidentally Wes Anderson,” after the social media account that started it all. This book has been authorized by Anderson himself, and showcases over 200 of the photography submissions that Koval received from his community of over 1 million people, as well as telling the stories behind the pictures and the photographers who took them.

But the inspiration does not stop there. Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum has worked in

in the eccentric nature, unique visuals and original narratives of his works.

Anderson’s work has been able to inspire many others as well. In 2017, the Instagram account Accidentally Wes Anderson, created by Wally Koval, was made specifically to collaboration with the Accidentally Wes Anderson community to put on an exhibition of the photography that the movement has shared, titled “This is an Adventure: Accidentally Wes Anderson.” The photos showcased in the exhibition are a mixture

courtesy Wikimedia Commons Wally Koval started the @AccidentallyWesAnderson community on Instagram in 2017. The cover of “Accidentally Wes Anderson” feautres Hotel Belvédère in the Swiss Alps. courtesy Voracious

of photo submissions from Tulsa and Tulsa County that were hand-picked by Philbrook’s community inspired by Anderson’s work, as well as photos submitted to Koval.

But the exhibition goes further than just displaying photography. This exhibition collaborates with new wave band Devo’s keyboardist Mark Mothersbaugh, who has composed the soundtracks of many of Anderson’s films, to contribute a collection of never-before-heard compositions that were unused in final cuts of these movies, including outtakes and rough drafts, to create a unique and original soundtrack for this exhibition. This alone should be enough to peak one’s interest in checking out Philbrook’s latest collaborative project.

According to their website, the Philbrook describes that this exhibition allows viewers to “Find inspiration to explore the world, but also to take a closer look just where you are. With an open mind and broadened perspective, adventure awaits us all.” This is such an amazing opportunity for Tulsa to be involved in a larger community of artists around the world, all inspiring, each centered around a tribute to one of the best filmmakers of his generation. This is a wonderful way for Tulsa to support local artists trying to make a career out of their passions, and connect with others who are trying to do the same. The exhibition will remain open until Jan. 2, so there is plenty of time for you to drop by the museum and check out this display of a very unique artistic community.

is gonna be alright,” “Pollyanna” is an uplifting song that chooses to focus on the positives rather than the negatives, which is a drastic shift for the band. Green Day never heavily relies on darkness or strife for their music; it’s just baked into the songs by what inspired the song’s creation. “Pollyanna” seems deliberate as if Armstrong knew that Green Day’s fans needed a pick-me-up. The phrase “everything is gonna be alright” is something that everyone has desperately wanted to hear the past few years. Judging by the music video, which focused on different audiences from the Hella Mega Tour, the Pollyanna effect definitely spread to the crowd as smiles can be seen for as far as the eye can see.

This past week, Green Day released their newest single “Holy Toledo.” Beginning with a slow, melodious ballad, the song soon launches into an energetic pop-punk anthem. Sharply contrasting “Pollyanna” with lyrics like “I’m killing myself just to

Green Day released “Holy Toledo” on Nov. 5, 2021.

With new single “Holy Toledo,” Green Day sharply contrasts their past style of music.

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This past week, Green Day released its newest single, “Holy Toledo,” which is featured in the film “Mark, Mary, and Some Other People.” This marks the fourth single Green Day has released just this year. Their first single “Here Comes the Shock” released in late February with the band’s partnership with NHL. The second single “Pollyanna” saw its release date in coordination with the beginning of the Hella Mega

courtesy Mark, Mary, & Some Other People

Tour earlier this summer. In the middle of the same tour, the band released a cover of Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Night,” celebrating the return of live music. It’s safe to say that Green Day has definitely been keeping themselves busy this year as it appears the band is beginning to rebrand their music. 2020 saw the release of Green Day’s latest album “Father of All...” which was unlike anything Green Day had ever released before. The music style was similar to that of their “Kerplunk” album, but what was different were the lyrics. Green Day exists as an extremely political band as its albums “American Idiot” and “Revolution Radio” critique the former President Bush administration and former President Trump administrations respectively. “Father of All…” shakes off these politically charged thoughts in exchange for a more carefree attitude.

While “Father of All…” received mixed reviews from fans and reviewers, it is an extremely impressive album. Rather than singing within his own vocal range, Armstrong opts to sing in falsetto for the majority of the album, which is something he has never done before on a Green Day album. Within the same vein, Tre Cool’s consistently clean drum fills and the level he holds himself to while playing these songs is awe-inspiring; no track is more evident of this than the titular “Father of All,” which sees Cool playing an exceedingly complex piece of music at a breakneck tempo of 164 BPM. Despite all this, a large portion of fans never warmed to the album. Perhaps this has something to do with how different the album is in relation to previous albums; “Father of All” sees the band make the shift into pop-punk territory, though echoes of the band’s inspirations, such as Joan Jett, the Clash and the Beatles, can be heard.

Green Day followed up with a new single “Here Comes the Shock” with its fitness themed music video, choreographed by Hilken Manchini of Punk Rock Aerobics. “Here Comes the Shock” sounds like it was a B-side song leftover from “Father of All…” Steeped with musical influence, this song is energetic and fun, but it lacks any of the musical craftsmanship present within their last album. When it comes down to it, “Here Comes the Shock” is just three friends who have known each other for 35 years, having fun.

“Pollyanna” sees the band shifting into a different direction entirely. Taken from Eleanor H. Porter’s novel “Pollyanna,” the name has become synonymous with an overly optimistic viewpoint on life. With lyrics like “It’s wonderful to be alive” and “everything live,” “Holy Toledo” concerns itself with trying to feel a spark of life—to feel alive again. Brutally honest and highly relatable, “Holy Toledo” stands as one of the strongest songs the band has released in years. In fact, it feels like one of the most “Green Day” songs that the band has ever released as it is reminiscent of their Trilogy albums and Green Day side-project, Foxboro Hot Tubs. Despite these similarities, “Holy Toledo” teases fans with a new direction and era for “God’s Favorite Band.”

With all this in mind, Green Day has recently been spotted hanging around the BBC Recording Studios in London. It seems as if the upcoming year will usher in the band’s 14th studio album and, along with it, a new era for Green Day.

“Red” was initially released in 2012.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” is the the bittersweet fall soundtrack you’ve been yearning for.

Student Writer

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” could not have come sooner. This past week, I found myself humming “All Too Well” as I walked around on campus, watching autumn leaves fall down like pieces into place, daydreaming about what the new songs on Taylor’s re-recorded album would sound like.

This is Taylor Swift’s second re-recording of her albums. Early this year, fans were thrilled to hear “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” but something about “Red (Taylor’s Version)” feels different. Maybe it’s the fact that Swift included nine bonus tracks, with six never heard before tracks on this sort-ofnew album.

In an interview with Jimmy Fallon, Swift explained that these were songs that she had cut from the original album. She thought they might make it on future albums, but because she took such a turn with “1989” and “reputation,” the songs languished in the vault for a few years.

“Red” was a mosaic of heartbreak and intense emotions, spanning from euphoria to sadness. These new songs paint a greater picture of the story that Swift tells with this album. Songs like “I Bet You Think About Me” and “The Very First Night” bring Swift’s heartbreak into focus, with hyperpersonal lines that translate effortlessly into the universal.

It’s classic Swift to create songs that are both catchy and well-written. “The Very First Night” along with “Message in A Bottle” have a production that turns them into perfectly danceable songs, with honest lyrics about regrets and new crushes, respectively.

There’s also the long coveted 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” This is the original version of the song, a raw and powerful story about the heartbreak that ensues when you lose someone you thought could have been the one. You might think a 10-minute song is too long, but every line is expertly crafted and adds depth to the story.

Details like “you were tossing me the car keys/fuck the patriarchy” and “I was thinking on the drive down/anytime now, you’d say it’s love/you never called it what it was” are sung in an almost ironic tone, with a strong feeling of remorse. It’s easy to see connections between the themes and tone of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” “Nothing New” and “Forever Winter” with the songs in “folklore” and “evermore.” Swift worked on these songs when she was about 21, and it’s satisfying to see her prowess as a writer was building even then.

It’s even more pleasing that fans finally get to hear the album in the way that Swift wanted it to be. Now that she has more power as an artist, she can choose which songs to include on the album, regardless of whether or not her record label thinks it might fit in

with the rest of the album or disappoint fans looking for a simple radio friendly single.

This is the album that many Swift fans, aka “Swifties,” have a soft spot in their heart for. It’s a fan favorite and for good reason. This is the album that is about heartbreak, with masterful songs that demonstrate some of Swift’s best writing.

This album definitely has a special place in my heart. I first listened to it in high school and played the songs on repeat as I drove home from school through the red and gold tree-covered hills. It was the perfect fall soundtrack, happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time, if you will.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” is well worth the listen, especially the new songs which round out the album and turn it into something that is truly magical. You can listen to “Red (Taylor’s Version)” on all streaming platforms.

courtesy Kitty Committee