VARIANT Magazine Vol. 5 Issue 1: Nostalgia

Editor

LETTER FROM THE

This summer marked many transitions for VARIANT magazine. As spring semester wrapped up, we worked diligently to finalize our new executive board. This involved establishing a new Heads Team with last year’s team. Naila Latham was brought on as our creative director.

Ellie Roberto was promoted from copy chief to executive editor, and Margaux Augier advanced from copy editor to associate editor.

displayed enthusiasm during a time in which summer jobs and internships often hold most of our attention. This team cares about growing the magazine’s brand and reach, which proves only positive things for what we can accomplish during the school year. Head of Video Cole Kovalchik was inspired to create Variant’s Tik Tok presence, and filmed creative, trendy videos to introduce us to the platform.

It also involved the creation of some new positions for the organization. We brought on an art director, Emily Squance to help manage creative roles. The public relations team also expanded with the addition of a PR associate, Ashleigh Bublinec.

With a new team eager to work together, discussion began about producing a summer issue. With two semesters’ experience of working remotely, communication was smooth among all of our committees this summer. Our team decided on the theme of nostalgia, drawing inspiration from all spheres of the word: vintage music and fashion, retro video games, missing certain feelings, the Tumblr era, fairytales and more. After a year of navigating a pandemic and

One thing is already evident about this year’s executive team: the passion and willingness to take on new projects. Every member has

finally being able to return to some of the events we loved and missed, nostalgia seemed a good fit.

To inspire the editorial team, Roberto shared a definition of nostalgia from author Michael Chabon: “the most emotional experience - always momentary, always fragile - of having what you lost or never had, of seeing what you missed seeing, of meeting the people you missed knowing, of sipping coffee in the stored cafés that are now hot-yoga studios. It’s the feeling that overcomes you when some minor vanished beauty of the world is momentarily restored.”

The Nostalgia issue was submission-based, so that fellow creatives from the university or elsewhere, and Variant alumni had the opportunity to send in their work. We were pleasantly surprised at the response we received, upwards of 20 submissions. Creative pieces ranged from writing to photography, to graphic art and video. I think it’s safe to say our team was unanimously impressed by the quality of the work artists shared with us.

Many Variant alumni were excited for the opportunity to send in work for the issue. John Pierron and Grace Dearing explore their nostalgia over the Tumblr era of 2014, covering music, movies, fashion and more from the coming of age time-period. Former organization heads and photographers, Madison Salyer and Sophia Daugherty-Muñoz shared their photography styles with us on pages 11 and 95. Mikaela Woods paired with model Lilah Gagne for a compelling photo series.

More ideas for the issue started flowing as our team got to work. Head of Styling Kayla Edwards had the idea to make a mixtape that readers can access through a Spotify code and listen while they explore the issue. We opened song requests up to our Instagram audience, and asked what songs make you nostalgic.

Outside of the organization, we were eager to collaborate with fellow artists who were interested in

submitting. Eli Burris, social media coordinator for the Ohio University Alumni Association, shared breathtaking views of Athens that can make any Bobcat sentimental (71). Audrey O’Donnell, a photographer based in Brooklyn, New York, lent us her eye through a colorful series with model Tiger Darrow (1). Rona Chang, an artist and business owner from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, shared a street-style photo series she conducted with many different faces (31).

We hope you love the issue and it sparks some nostalgia. Reflecting on the past only gives us insight and hope for what’s to come. Variant is looking forward to a beautiful fall in Athens and connecting in-person once again.

Regards,

Jordan Schmitt Editor in Chief

NOSTALGIA NOSTALGIA SPOTIFY SPOTIFY PLAYLIST PLAYLIST

You can scan the Spotify code above to acces our Nostalgia playlist. Just go into the app and hit the camera icon to scan the code.

1.

“He Could Be the One” - Hannah Montana

11.

“Come on Eileen” - Dexys Midnight Runners

2.

“Your Love Is My Drug” - Kesha

12.

“So Good” - BOB

3.

“Superbass” - Nicki Minaj

13.

“Boom Boom Pow” - Black Eyed Peas

4.

“Sarah” - Alex G

14.

“Ribs” - Lorde

5.

“Boyfriend” - Big Time Rush

15.

“Nights” - Frank Ocean

6.

“One Thing” - One Direction

“No Role Modelz” - J. Cole

7.

“Love is in the Air” - John Paul Young

16.

17.

8.

“Whatcha Say” - Jason Derulo

18.

“Hotel California” - Eagles

9.

“Ventura Highway” - America, George Martin

19.

“Cigarette Daydreams” - Cage the Elephant

10.

“Pork and Beans” - Weezer

20.

“Electric Love” - BORNS

“I Like It Like that” - Hot Chelle Rae, New Boyz

V

VARIANT MAGAZINE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JORDAN SCHMITT EXECUTIVE EDITOR ELLIE ROBERTO ASSOCIATE EDITOR MARGAUX AUGIER CREATIVE DIRECTOR NAILA LATHAM CHIEF OF PHOTOGRAPHY ELLIOT MAGENHEIM PHOTO ASSISTANTS ASHLYNN MCKEE PHOTOGRAPHERS ASHLYNN MCKEE, AUDREY

˜ O’DONNELL, NATE SWANSON, ELLIOT MAGENHEIM, EVIE

COPY EDITOR ANNA BIRK WRITERS RONA CHANG, GRACE WILKINSON, SAMANTHA KRUSE, LUCAS STRUNC HEAD OF VIDEO COLE KOVALCHIK

SEARS, BRENT NEWLAN, JULIE GRAHAM, NAILA LATHAM, VIDEOGRAPHERS COLE KOVALCHIK, KAYLA

˜ RONA CHANG, SOPHIA MUNOZ PHOTO EDITOR CHERI MARSHALL WEB EDITOR MADISON KOPP

EDWARDS, NICK THOMPSON, HANNAH MAZANEC, CYDNEE LIVINGSTON HEAD OF STYLING KAYLA EDWARDS

DIGITAL TECH EVIE SEARS

HEAD OF EVENT PLANNING ERICA TRAPASSO

HEAD OF PUBLICATION DESIGN OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH

HEAD OF PUBLIC RELATIONS EMILIE BURCH

DESIGNERS ASHLYNN MCKEE, JORDAN SCHMITT, CHERI MARSHALL, OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH, ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC, ELLIOT MAGENHEIM, EMMA DENGLER, MADDIE JAMES, ELLIE ROBERTO, NAILA LATHAM, MACEY ELDER, SOPHIE ELRICK, AUDREY O’DONNELL, KAYLA EDWARDS, LUCAS STRUNC, TURNER BURTON

PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATE ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC PUBLIC RELATIONS EMILIE BURCH, ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC, ANNA BIRK, EMILY SQUANCE, JORDAN SCHMITT ART DIRECTOR EMILY SQUANCE

HEADS OF MAKEUP CYDNEE LIVINGSTON, HANNAH MAZANEC MODELS

˜ TIGER DARROW, CHERI MARSHALL, NATE SWANSON, HANNAH MAZANEC, CONNOR GABLE, SOPHIA MUNOZ, NIA CALDWELL, HANNAH BURKHART, LILAH GAGNE, MADISON SALYER, CHRISTINA BETAS, CY WHITMORE, ETHAN HESS

STAY CONNECTED WITH US! VRNTMAGAZINE.COM / @VRNTMAGAZINE

EXECUTIVE BOARD

JORDAN SCHMITT

ELLIE ROBERTO

EDITOR IN CHIEF

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

ANNA BIRK

MADISON KOPP

EMILY SQUANCE

COPY EDITOR

WEB EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR

ELLIOT MAGENHEIM

CHERI MARSHALL

PHOTO CHIEF

PHOTO EDITOR

ASHLEIGH BUBLINEC

KAYLA EDWARDS

ERICA TRAPASSO

PR ASSOCIATE

HEAD OF STYLING

EVENT PLANNING

MARGAUX AUGIER

NAILA LATHAM

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

EVIE SEARS

HEAD OF PUB DESIGN

HEAD OF DIGITAL TECH

ASHLYNN MCKEE

COLE KOVALCHIK

EMILIE BURCH

PHOTO ASSISTANT

HEAD OF VIDEO

PR DIRECTOR

CYDNEE LIVINGSTON

HANNAH MAZANEC

COHEAD OF MAKEUP

COHEAD OF MAKEUP

VARIANTMAGAZINE 2021

OLIVIA DUTKEWYCH

CONTRIBUTOR

PAGE

AUDREY O’DONNELL / ‘WELCOME TO MY WORLD’

1

NAILA LATHAM

5

MADISON SALYER / ‘HOLLYWOOD GLAM’

11

EVIE SEARS / ‘VIDEO GAMES’

15

ELLIOT MAGENHEIM / ‘NOSTALGIC TECH’

17

MIKAELA WOODS / ‘GLAMOUR NOSTALGIA’

21

HANNAH MAZANEC / ‘SOMETHING SWEET’

27

SAMANTHA KRUSE / ‘CAMP NOSTALGIA’

29

RONA CHANG / ‘EVERYBODY’

31

COLE KOVALCHIK / ‘[AS]’

37

ASHLYNN MCKEE

45

SOPHIE ELRICK / ‘SURE JAN’

53

GRACE WILKINSON / ‘THE ELEGY OF MECHANICAL MIKE’

55

CHERI MARSHALL / ‘FAIRYTALE’

59

ELLIOT MAGENHEIM / ‘1980X PORTRAITS’

61

NICK THOMPSON / ‘NOSTALGIA’

65

GRACE DEARING AND JONATHAN PIERRON / ‘BEST OF 2014 TUMBLR ERA’

67

ELI BURRIS

71

JULIE GRAHAM / ‘REMINISCE’

77

CHERI MARSHALL / ‘Y2K FASHION’

83

EMMA DENGLER / ‘NOSTALGIA’

85

KAYLA EDWARDS / ‘DENIM’

89

˜ / ‘NOSTALGIA’ SOPHIA MUNOZ

95

1

PHOTOGRAPHED BY AUDREY O’DONNELL

2

3

4

5

PHOTOGRAPHED BY NAILA LATHAM 6

7

8

9

10

Hollywood Glam PHOTOGRAPHED BY MADISON SALYER

11

12

13

14

Singin' in the old bars Swingin' with the old stars Livin' for the fame Kissin' in the blue dark Playin' pool and wild darts

15

It's you, it's you, it's all for you Everything I do I tell you all the time Heaven is a place on earth with you" - Lana Del Rey

16

Nostalgic Tech PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLIOTT MAGENHEIM

17

18

19

20

GLAMOUR 21

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MIKAELA WOODS DESIGNED BY NAILA LATHAM

22

23

24

25

NOSTALGIA

26

Something Sweet PHOTOGRAPHED NEWLAN PHOTOGRAPHEDBY BYBRENT HANNAH MAZANEC

27

28

p ia m g a l C ta s o N WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA KRUSE 29

a

C

amp: a place for kids to be free, challenge themselves, and most impor tantly, learn who they are as people. When I was younger, I looked forward to my one week of camp during the summer. The place was magical and I swear as soon as I got there, I was engulfed into a different world. The world consisted of becoming friends with your cabin mates instantly, having the best counselors, swimming at the lake, swinging on the ropes course and dancing on tables during meals. One of the beautiful things about camp was the glorious nature. Being able to hike on trails, go exploring in the creek and just being able to breathe in fresh air felt amazing. Not to mention, living in a cabin with poor screen doors and windows forces you to become friends with the spiders under your bunk.

I remember looking up to my counselors and hoping that one day I would be just like them.

Not only did I see them as the epitome of a fun person, but I also looked to them for their camp fashion: their arms strapped with friendship bracelets and makeshift spoon and fork bangles, Birkenstocks and Crocs paired with some funky socks, Chacos that left the classic tan lines, sneakers that were once

white, oversized tacky tees, and the occasional overalls. Those looks screamed “Camp Counselor,” and just so happen to be a part of my camp fashion now as I fulfill my childhood dream. The fashion remains, allowing me to try these wacky trends for myself.

The style of camp has been very influential in the world of art and fashion. Susan Sontag, a writer known for her essays on culture and whose first major work was called “Notes on ‘Camp,” said that the definition of camp is the idea of “an intentional over-the-topness, a slightly (or extremely) ‘off ’ quality, bad taste as a vehicle for good art” (The New York Times, 2019). Camp was the style was the theme of the 2019 Met Gala, and the outfits were as extravagant and flamboyant as ever. Camp is the opportunity to dress gaudy and playful, and it relates to the nostalgic childhood memories of seeing camp counselors dressed in tacky and funky clothing, showing the more exaggerated side of themselves (NBC News, 2019). The idea of over-the-top fashion expressing exactly who you are embodies the idea of camp.

Whether it be the fashion style or the fond memories of childhood, camp trends stick with you, eventually shaping the person you grow to be.

30

everyBODY PHOTOGRAPHED BY RONA CHANG

everyBODY is a street style fashion photoshoot created by Otto Finnand Safran Everyday. Everyone is invited to join the fun by trying on Otto Finn jackets and jewelry by Safran Everyday and get their photos taken. Par ticipants will receive copies of their images and they will be featured on Otto Finn and Safran Everyday.

Malian photographers Seydou Keita and Malick Sidibé were famous for their black and white portraits of everyday people dressed in beautiful prints in front of backdrops full of patterns. We consider each picture in front of our Kantha blankets to be a nod to these two artists and Rona’s photographic roots.

Otto Finn is a sustainably made clothing and accessories brand that allows you to manifest who you are distinctly and comfor tably. Their featured products are locally made kimono style jackets that are primarily made from vintage kantha blankets, wool blankets and American quilts. The textiles have

31

a storied past and their uniqueness allows the wearer to empower and embrace their individuality. They are made by women for all folks, one of a kind, and a conversation piece.

They use their production cut offs to make wearable pieces of ar t.

They are conscious creators, mindful of our resources. Rona Chang created Otto Finn to normalize outfit repeating with a snazzy jacket on top.

SafranEveryday is a woman run, fresh, small scale shop with thoughtfully made home goods and jewelry at a surprisingly affordable price. Inspired by the industrial materials such as steel, porcelain, and silicone, the resulting pieces add a distinctive and graphic quality to your outfit or home. Maia Leppo created Safran Everyday to provide fun, bold and color-driven choices for everyday living.

Follow them on IG @ottofinn and @safraneveryday

32

33

34

35

36

[as]

37

38

VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK

[as]

39

40

VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK

[as]

41

42

VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK

[as]

43

44

VIDEO BY COLE KOVALCHIK

45

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ASHLYNN MCKEE

46

347

48

49

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ASHLYNN MCKEE 50

51

52

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIE ELRICK

53

54

The Elegy of Mechanical Mike WRITTEN BY GRACE WILKINSON

55

She came on a June morning, pushed by a man with teeth of sparse quantity. Her escort wore a bandana, a goatee and denim cutoffs. He laid her brown and white speckled body on the hot asphalt, trekking down the driveway to collect the rest of her. My family gathered around the newly arrived, gawking. We blushed at her strong back and dared to touch her antlers of steel. The man began operating the beast; turning her up, down, side to side, and swinging her 360 degrees. My aunts looked at the magnificent barrel in disbelief. My thighs burned as I imagined the exertion of my sartorius and vastus medialis gripping onto the metal saddle. My posse of cousins, clad in wimpy cowboy boots, waited to see who would be the first to mount the beast. I, the youngest of the 13, pulled up the strap of my overalls and mosied to the great brute of the West. I nodded towards the operator, and my journey on the mechanized creature began.

This is how I preferred to spend my summers. Not necessarily always riding a mechanical bull, but always with my family. For years we have pulled together nickels and dimes to let one night of mayhem reign. We would buy something as simple as a ping pong table, or as complicated as a dunk tank.

56

Then, a summer passed where my driveway did not dawn an outlandish structure. While my immediate family of four had a problem entertaining each other, I longed to see my Aunt Kathy reprimand a kid for using their hands to scoop fruit from a bowl. I yearned for my cousin Kevin to discreetly pour me a White Claw.

We filled our voids by FaceTimes, drive-by birthday parties and texts. Instead of making new memories, we would reminisce on the summers we have shared. We would dance around phrases like, “When this is over” and “next year,” as the future was too unknown to assume it would exist. But alas, 2021 arrived and the summer party lived on.

Aunts embraced, cousins gossiped, and uncles crowded the grill. Corn hole made its summer debut, cheaters were shamed in card games, and dances were choreographed.

Smiles plastered everyone’s face, yet they were tainted with the loss of a year’s worth of memories. It was hard to resume our usual party antics after being out of business for a season.

There was tension between those who received the vaccine and those who denied it. It suddenly felt inappropriate to give a mechanical bull operator the nickname “Mechanical Mike,” as we had no idea what kind of year he had.

57

As family members slowly began to trickle out, we didn’t know when we would see them next. We had gone so long without each other, it was almost like we didn’t know if we needed to get together anymore.

But then someone would mention “she-who-came on a June morning, pushed by a man with teeth of sparse quantity.” Her escort wore a bandana, a goatee and denim cutoffs – fitting for the occasion. He laid her brown and white speckled body on the hot asphalt, trekking down the driveway to collect the rest of her.

All would be well with this family that I love.

58

long time ago in a far-away magical land, the spirits of the Enchanted Forest existed together in harmony. The Guardian of the Forest lived in the form of an elegant swan, and all of the fairies and the creatures of light watched over the Guardian when the spirit took her physical shape, as she was more vulnurable in this state. Creatures of darkness always watched hungrily from the shadows as the Guardian spread her light throughout the land, keeping the night creatures in check. Everything changed one day when the natural balance of light and darkness was threatened by an unforeseen magical phenomenon.

A

WRITTEN BY CHERI MARSHALL ART BY CHERI MARSHALL 59

60

1980X

61

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELLIOTT MAGENHEIM

62

63

64

VIDEO BY NICK THOMPSON

65

66

WRITTEN BY GRACE DEARING & JONATHAN PIERRON

67

ULTRAVIOLENCE

LORDE

PURE HEROINE

THE 1975

68

69

THE HUNGER GAMES

CATCHING FIRE

THE MAZE RUNNER

70

CAMPUS NOSTALGIA 71

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELI BURRIS

72

When I think of Athens, I think of the rich natural beauty of Southeastern Ohio and Appalachia, quirky celebrations like the PawPaw Festival, local artists and that signature Athenian hippie culture!”

73

All of the access to nature"

74

75

“How pretty the campus is

The wonderful people it brings together.”

76

r e m i n i s c e 77

PHOTOGRAPHED BY JULIE GRAHAM

78

79

80

81

82

Y2K fashion

From halter tops to low-rise jeans, styles from the late 90s to the early 2000s are back in full swing!

Fashion at the time was heavily influenced by pop princess icons such as Destiny’s Child and Britney Spears. Crop tops, tiny purses, matching sets, rhinestones, and butterfly clips have all made huge comebacks, partly thanks to the influence of Gen Z trends on the video sharing app Tik Tok. You don’t have to trade your iPhone in for a flip phone to rock these nostalgic trends. Match your shoes to your bag or wear a miniskirt and frosted lip gloss.

Channel Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, or Freaky Friday!

83

PHOTOGRAPHED BY NATE SWANSON WRITTEN BY CHERI MARSHALL

84

COMIC BY EMMA DENGLER

85

86

87

Nostalgia — a comic by Emma J. Dengler Thank you for reading

PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAYLA EDWARDS

X

VRNT DENIM

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

NOSTALGIA ˜ PHOTOGRAPHED BY SOPHIA MUNOZ

96

97

98

99

100

Website vrntmagazine.com Instagram @vrntmagazine Twitter @vrntmagazine