Your Magazine Volume 11 Issue 1: March 2019

VOLUME 11 | ISSUE 1 | MARCH 2019

YOUR MAG VOLUME 11 | ISSUE 1 | MARCH 2019

N ATA L I E G A L E Managing Editor

DAY S I A TO L E N T I N O Editor in Chief

ELEANOR HILTY Creative Director

M O N I K A DAV I S Editorial Director

BOBBY NICHOLAS III Co-Head Designer

KARINA SANCHEZ Co-Head Designer

CAROLINE BRODERICK Romance Editor

L I L Y WA L S H Photo Director

TALIA SMITH Living Editor

ISABELLE BRAUN A&E Editor

DELIA CURTIS Style Editor & Street Style Director

Y E L I Z A V E TA R O G U L I N A Art Director

TIANNA LOVERDE YourMagTV Director

GLORIA PEREZ Co-Web Director

LEE ANN JASTILLANA Co-Web Director

RANA SAIFI Talent Manager

BAILEY BOUCHARD Co-Marketing Coordinator

ALAN PÉREZ Head Proofreader

NICK BUNZICK Co-Style Director

A D R I A N A A L AV I Co-Marketing Coordinator

HANNA EL-MOHANDESS Asst. Talent Director

GINA YORK Co-Style Director

L I N D SAY H OWA R D Copy Chief

EMILY KING Asst. Photo Director

DITI KOHLI Asst. Romance Editor

EMILIE KRONE Asst. Living Editor

ABIGAIL NOYES Asst. Copy Chief

ANDY CAIRA Asst. Style Edtior

A M A N DA H A M P TO N Asst. A&E Editor

COPY EDITORS: THERESA MIELE, KAITLYN HACKETT, CATE HAYES, LIU ESTHER, NATALIE MICHAUD, ANNA MOON, SHAWNA KONIECZNY, MEHER GUPTA, TIVARA TANUDJAJA, ALLISON CARAVELLA, MADELYN MULREANEY, KATIE POWERS DESIGN: TATIANA GUEL, OLIVIA HEINZE, SELINA HSIAO, SOFIA MURZIN PROOFREADERS: NATALIE MICHAUD, ESTHER LIU, MADELYN MULREANEY, KATHERINE POWERS, OLIVIA SMITH STREET STYLE: CAROLINE BRODERICK, CARRIE XU, SONALI ANAND, TAINA MILLSAP, KEREN HE, SOLEIL EASTON, ANDREW TAETS, OLIVIA CIGLIANO, EMILY KING, CAITLYN ONG, RONALD CRIVELLO-KAHIHIKOLO, LIPSKY ZHOU, KATRINA DIZON, MARLENA LERNER

CONTENTS ROMANCE 4 PERILS OF SERIAL MONOGAMY

8 12 STYLE 14 16 20 22 STREET STYLE 24 EDITORIAL 28 LIVING 38 40 42 YOUR THINGS 44 EDITORIAL 46 ARTS & ENTERTAIMENT 54 56 58 60 YM ADVISES 62

HEART TO HEART OUTGROWING YOUR EX’S CLOTHES SELLING SECONDHAND THE PROMISE OF A PERFECT PALETTE EASTERN INFLUX INSTA BADDIE CULTURE STREET STYLE COLOR RUSH BETWEEN TWO WORLDS WHEN “TREAT YOSELF” TAKES OVER QUATER LIFE CRISIS NATALIE GALE & LINDSAY HOWARD BATH BOMBSHELL SERIAL FOR BREAKFAST THE FEMALE FANDOM DILEMMA THE BOSTON LITERARY DISTRICT LET’S LEAVE THE LIGHT ON FOR MAGGIE ROGERS HOW WE DO SPRING CLEANING

YMEMERSON.COM | INSTAGRAM: YOUR.MAG | TWITTER: @YOURMAGEMERSON

2 | YOURMAG

EDITOR’S letter

T

he beginning of every semester brings new voices

in “Between Two Worlds,” and Katrina Dizon ponders what it

and, therefore, a new vision for Your Magazine. While

means to be a young person navigating an economically dismal

acknowledging and appreciating the creative and

world in “Quarter Life Crisis.”

editorial direction that our predecessors put into this publication,

we’ve worked to build upon that legacy and grow as a brand,

glittery waters of our photo editorial “Bath Bombshell,” directed

magazine, and creative outlet. Transition can be an exciting

by Eloisa de Farias and photographed by Your Mag Creative

(albeit scary) thing, but each volume we strive to create something

Director, Eleanor Hilty.

different and meaningful.

changes that come with it. Happy reading.

This spring, as you’ll see, we are trying a few new things.

While you’re soaking all of that in, immerse yourself in the

I hope you enjoy the first issue of Volume 11 and the new

Most noticeably, we’re changing our magazine’s dimensions to a cozy 7’x10’ format. We’ve also added a new feature, “Street

Best,

Style,” organized by Your Mag Style Editor Delia Curtis, to showcase Emerson’s fashionable student body. As always, we are working to be more inclusive as a publication and bring unique perspectives into these pages.

That being said, personal growth and discovery are

common themes in this month’s issue. Diti Kohli questions the idealization of a single “forever” partner in “The Perils of Serial Monogamy,” Madison Goldberg reflects on her biracial identity

Daysia Tolentino

YOURMAG | 3

WRITTEN BY DITI KOHLI

ART BY ENNE GOLDSTEIN

W

e are leaving the season of coupling-up behind and transitioning to a period of literal and figurative romantic blossoming. Now it’s time to

question whether our winter-era mindset of monogamy has left us ready for the potential dates to come.

Monogamy is the practice of pursuing one relationship at a time. For those who loathe the over-glamorized practice of casual dating between relationships, serial monogamy is the answer. In an effort to leave as little time as possible between being in love, serial monogamists find a new “forever” romantic partner the minute they get over the last one.

We stick with monogamy because it’s as far from danger as can be. Humans largely rely on it because of the certainty and security it presents. According to Psychology Today, being in a romantic relationship allows people to devote their resources—such as time, energy, and focus—to other important things. When we don’t have to dedicate hours per day to inventing witty texts to send to our Tinder matches or to going on dates that sadly may amount to nothing, there’s more time to work on ourselves, our skills, our habits, and our passions.

I’m a serial monogamist myself. On the surface, the classification seems romantic and almost noble, where the individual is committed to an endless quest to find “the one.”

Though I am lovingly fulfilled in my current relationship, serial monogamy has posed an undeniable threat to my emotional stability and the strength of my romantic connections.

Kayla Randolph, a freshman writing, literature, and publishing major, says long-term relationships can drain a person’s trust in others. “After giving so much of yourself to one person, to all of a sudden not have that anymore, it does mess with your head a little bit. They know all these things about you, and then you’re just not together anymore,” says Randolph.

Serial monogamists rarely give themselves enough time to emotionally recover from the psychological entanglement of ending a long-term relationship. Dr. Wyatt Fisher, a psychologist who spoke to Women’s Health Magazine, says

ROMANCE | 5

that “without self-reflection, healing, and growth, most people

Dani

Jean-Baptiste,

a

sophomore

theatre

and

continue to repeat their pattern in subsequent relationships.”

performance major, says humans have normalized themselves

People who don’t mentally remove themselves from past

into a cycle of monogamy, not because they truly want or need

relationships before moving on are likely to make the same

it.

mistakes with future partners.

Jumping from relationship to relationship doesn’t allow us to separate specific qualities from a partner. Before planning an elaborate wedding in my head with another partner, I have

“It’s been perpetuated by humans as a civilization for an extended period of time,” says Jean-Baptiste. “We believe we aren’t equipped for polygamy.”

In

fact,

this

unspoken

one-person-for-a-lifetime

to take the time to make sure I’m not still hung up on memories

restriction has sometimes been used as a tool of gendered

from the one before. Our emotional attachment to individuals

oppression. Society expects women of “marrying age” to be

lingers, and this stops us from being able to determine which

serial monogamists and often shame them if they choose to

characteristics we dislike to begin with. As a result, serial

divulge in the pleasures of casual dating. This is one of the

monogamists like me never decipher what they want and need

reasons serial monogamy is not always a personal choice, but a

from a significant other.

subconscious act of conformity.

Freshman writing, literature, and publishing major

It’s becoming more widely accepted that casual dating

Audrey Iocca says people can only figure out what they want in

and hooking up is truly a feminist power move. An article

a partner when they take time to figure out themselves. “There

in the Scientific American series “Feministing Friday” proves

is a point in life where you need to be able to be by yourself

that these casual dating strategies lead to finding “the one”

and understand who you are as a person without being in a

more quickly. Individuals are exposed to several options early

relationship,” says Iocca.

on, rather than naively believing their early loves are their

On top of all that, our dreams of a monogamous haven

forever loves. And even more important than that, as a serial

are not normal in the natural world. According to an article

monogamist who has never explored the realm of quick dates,

in the New York Times, only 9 percent of mammal species on

cheap dinners, and constant flirting, this lifestyle seems fun and

Earth stay together for more than one breeding season and

worthy of pursuing, even if just for a little while.

even fewer bond for life. Though it’s common knowledge that

“It’s undeniable that monogamy is not the perfect

people need social interaction and affection, there’s no natural

answer,” says Iocca. “We have to remember it’s not all we

law that limits us to finding it from only one person.

have.” YM

6 | ROMANCE

ROMANCE | 7

heart to heart conversations about first loves WRITTEN BY DITI KOHLI PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY KING

R

euniting and settling down with the person on the receiving end of our first genuine “I love you” is a sweet thought. In the chaos that is one’s

often lifelong experience with love, dating, and sometimes marriage, defaulting to the partner who introduced us to all these feelings may seem like a scenario straight out of a dream.

Illicit Encounters, a British dating site, conducted a

1000-person survey that found only 25 percent of people end up with their first love. To me, even that result seems exceedingly high.

So when most of us inevitably move on to other

people, we are left with the problem of how to deal with the feelings from our first love that still plague both us, and sadly, our new partners. Talking about previous relationships, including significant ones from early on, is an essential step in establishing a connection with another person. But it can also turn into a divide between you and your new significant other.

Angela Wright, a freshman at Berklee College of

Music, said the talk about first loves is inevitable for a couple.

“It’s not like you plan on having that conversation,” says Wright. “It just comes up, and you have to tell the person the truth if you want to be taken seriously and show that you care.”

There’s a reason our feelings for first loves dwindle in

our memory even after we have moved on. According to an

8 | ROMANCE

“It’s not like you plan on having that conversation. It just comes up, and you have to tell the person the truth if you want to be taken seriously and show that you care.”

ROMANCE | 9

“I don’t think love is something that necessarily ever leaves you. You learn how to cope and move on, but there’s always going to be those memories.”

- Erik Martinek, 18

article in the Washington Post, our first experiences with

a significant other are stamped in our brains because “for

old relationships, these conversations can hurt a new couple

many, it happens during adolescence, when hormones are

more than help.

raging, and every life experience feels magnified.”

Maria Sato, a freshman journalism major, said her

off these feelings of overstepping and emotional confusion.

experience with her first love left her emotionally unstable,

“It was kind of a hard line to balance and tiptoe around.

hurting her ability to date new people. “For a while, I felt like

I always found myself steering away from using [my ex’s]

I could never love anyone else,” says Sato. “And that was a

name so it didn’t cause drama with the person I was dating

real problem for me, because I didn’t feel anything honestly.

now,” says Wright.

I was numb.”

As a newly established adult––only 18 and in my second

frankly a little upset after retelling his unique story of love

real relationship—my first experience with romantic love is

and loss. Though there was no reason for me to be, I felt

still fresh in my mind. The relationship lasted through high

faintly jealous of the new love he had felt for her.

school but quickly ended after we parted ways to colleges

across the country. In the four years we were together, every

reasoning behind these complicated, enduring emotions. “I

laugh and every argument was bold. Together, we explored

don’t think love is something that necessarily ever leaves you.

what sex and romance were truly like and came to know

You learn how to cope and move on, but there’s always going

how they were supposed to be. My fond memories with my

to be those memories and that excitement that you always

high school boyfriend are similar to how many, if not most,

remember.”

people remember their first love.

When the topic of first loves came up with my current

our lives should not stop us from sharing these sweetheart

boyfriend, we were sitting in the kitchenette in my Piano Row

stories with our new loves. Our experiences explain who we

suite on a late night. He told me about little letters he wrote

were and frame who we continue to be, so sharing the effect

to a girl he fell for at summer camp and saw occasionally

of this history with our partners can only bring us closer

later on—cliché yet true. It was weird hearing someone talk

together. YM

about the feelings they now have for me, while seeing the faint glimmer of past emotions in their eyes. I felt protective even though I knew he now lived over a 1,000 miles away from where they had initially met.

After hearing the story, I almost regretted contributing

to the initiation of the conversation about first loves. In an odd way, I thought I was overstepping my boundaries into a confined part of his life he rarely revisited.

10 | ROMANCE

Though in the moment it may be nice to briefly relive

Wright said she would avoid mentioning her ex to stave

I couldn’t blame my boyfriend for being nostalgic and

Berklee freshman Erik Martinek summed up the

But the messy nature of first loves and their impact on

ROMANCE | 11

“I don’t think about him.

Really, I think about myself.”

12 | ROMANCE

OUTGROWING YOUR

EX’S CLOTHES

WRITTEN BY OLIVIA HEINZE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARRIE XU, TAINA MILLSAP, &OLIVIA HEINZE

I

have plenty of my ex-boyfriends’ clothes. A navy reversible

she wears the swapped sweatpants all the time.

Lacoste coat, a vintage striped red knit Ralph Lauren

“Because they’re not my ex’s clothes, I don’t have an

sweater, a big gray T-shirt with the words “PEACE TAKES

emotional reaction to them,” Lara continues. “It’s funny though,

COURAGE” sprawled across the chest. I wear them all the

because her ex-boyfriend was actually my ex-boyfriend, too, but

time.

like, I dated him when I was in 9th grade, so technically, these are These articles of clothing don’t have much emotional

my ex’s sweatpants.”

significance to me and besides, my exes had good taste; they

Egyptian psychologist and author M. Farouk Radwan notes

did date me after all. There isn’t a right answer for what one is

that keeping an ex’s things may show a failure to recover fully

supposed to do with the clothing left behind by an ex. Some may

from that relationship. However, it’s also possible to recover fully,

keep them, even wear them like I do, or return them, even trash

but want to respect the ex and those memories.

them.

“I worked at a summer camp and it was my first year,” says

“So, um, this was sort of a complicated relationship,” begins

marketing major Andrew Willoughby ‘22. “So she was there

theatre and performance major Jack Miller ‘22. “The reason why

and she was obsessed with me, I had no clue. I gave her one of

the scarf was left in my car is [because the relationship] ended

my shirts and it was this Playstation shirt that was fire hipster

very abruptly. One day he just decided, ‘I need to stop sinning. I

material.” In exchange, Willoughby was given one of her bras.

need to be a better person in God’s eyes, so I can’t keep on seeing you.’”

“I don’t really have a need for a bra, surprisingly enough,” Willoughby laughed. “Now it’s just something that I have.”

This scarf is olive green with ornate, floral embroidery.

Journalism major Miles Schuman ‘22 was given a baseball

Miller’s ex was religious, and he had girlfriends throughout high

hat from his ex as a gift. “I genuinely forget that she gave it to me

school before and after their relationship. Miller’s relationship

because I just like it as a hat. It’s in my rotation of my regular hats

lasted about six months, carried out in complete secrecy. When

now,” Schuman says.

asked if he still wears the scarf, Miller replies, laughing, “Um… when it’s cold?”

His ex-girlfriend has some of his clothing as well. “Some stuff that I’d like back, too, but if you give it to someone it’s not

It’s essential to get rid of clothing from dysfunctional

really cool to ask for it back. Just be cautious of what you give

relationships, according to marriage author and divorce mediator

up because you never know, you might be wanting it someday,”

Debra Macleod. Media psychologist and passion coach Dr.

Schuman says.

Cheryl Foster advises that getting rid of articles of clothing

We grow immensely from the relationships we create with

associated with bad memories will prevent psychologically

others. In caring for another person, you learn to care for yourself,

clinging to the past.

and how to be cared for. We shouldn’t dwell on the past, or get

“At the end of the summer, my friend and I broke up—both at the same time—with our now ex-boyfriends,” says visual and

choked up every time we wear their old jacket, but we shouldn’t forget.

media arts major Alyssa Lara ‘22. She was left with a box full of

I asked Miller if the scarf his ex-boyfriend left behind

her ex-boyfriend’s clothes, which her friend returned to the ex on

brings back painful memories. He thought for a minute and said,

Lara’s behalf. Lara gave her friend her ex’s socks and her friend

“It makes me think of that time in my life, which brings back

gave Lara her ex’s sweatpants.

certain emotions that I felt during that time, but I don’t think

“Personally, I knew that I was done with that relationship.

about him. I don’t think about what he’s doing or where he is.

I didn’t want to wear them anymore. Plus, I was moving out of

I know so much more now. I’ve grown so much as a person and

my home and going to college,” Lara says. She didn’t want to be

I’m a different person now than I was during that time. Really, I

reminded of him, of the stories behind any of his clothes. Now

think about myself.” YM ROMANCE | 13

Selling Secondhand WRITTEN BY EMILIE KRONE PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLIVIA CIGLIANO

14 | STYLE

W

e all know the stereotype about secondhand clothing

stores

and

their

employees:

Check their website

the

Be sure to check in before heading out to sell. Company

standoffish, snooty clothing buyers who pick

websites are another great source of information and can often be

through used clothing and refuse to take any of it. Maybe

helpful as you finalize your selection when choosing which items

you’ve even lived that experience, dragging bags of old

to sell. Check to see if the store you plan to go to purchases based

clothing to your local Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Exchange

on the upcoming season, or if they accept vintage or retro pieces.

only to face complete rejection. It’s a frustrating experience,

Websites will also tell you what you need to have with you. Most

expecting to make a decent amount of cash and ending up

secondhand stores operate under pawnshop laws and therefore

with nothing.

require customers to bring a current government-issued ID.

As a buyer for Buffalo Exchange, I totally get it. There’s nothing more uncomfortable for us than pushing an Ikea bag’s

Consider your clothing

worth of used clothing back across the counter and telling a

Before you add an item to your selling pile, ask yourself, “Who

customer we couldn’t take anything. But if my job has taught me

would buy this?” If you can’t see anyone wanting it, the store proba-

anything, it’s how to sell clothing secondhand.

bly won’t want it either. In the wake of the craze inspired by organiz-

If you’re cleaning out your closet and looking to make a

ing consultant and author Marie Kondo, this is especially important.

couple bucks, selling your old clothing is a great option. Getting

Secondhand retailers want the clothes that “spark joy” just like you

rid of those pieces you don’t wear anymore gives you the money

do. They don’t want your old sleep shirts, underwear, or things with

and the space to add new clothes to your collection. For anyone

stains or holes. Remember to wash clothes before bringing them in

looking to clear out their closet and make a little extra cash, these

and to check them ahead of time for stains or tears.

are my top tips for success:

If you love it, don’t let it go. Buying is completely trendbased, and because fashion is cyclical, trends often come back in

Understand the business

style. If a secondhand store doesn’t take something you consider to

It’s easy to get irritated with a picky clothing buyer when

be cute and in good condition, hold onto it! Maybe they aren’t able

you don’t consider their perspective. As buyers, we are being

to take your bootcut jeans right now, but if bootcuts come back,

entrusted with someone else’s money to invest in clothing items

you’ll have yours ready to sell.

that we believe will sell within a set amount of time. For my job, it’s generally about two months, though I can’t speak for other

Donate

businesses. Many companies require their stores to donate unsold

Once you’ve gone through the selling process, you may want

merchandise after a few months, resulting in a direct loss of

to donate some of your leftover clothing. Boston, the location of

potential revenue. Buying is based solely on clothing conditions,

the original Goodwill, is home to many donation centers and peo-

brands, and trends, and, as easy as it is to take a buyer’s selections

ple in need of more affordable clothing. While most secondhand

(or lack thereof) personally, it isn’t fair to either of you. Remember,

stores do not accept donations, the employees will be able to direct

it’s not you: it’s the clothes.

you to the nearest donation center, such as a Goodwill, Urban Renewals, or Boomerangs.

Call ahead

Don’t be afraid to drop by your local secondhand retailer to

If you’re not sure what to bring with you, call the store ahead

try your hand at selling. Just like anything else, it’s a process that

of time to ask questions. Store employees will know what sorts of

takes time and practice to master. If you aren’t able to sell your

things they’re looking for, and more importantly, what they aren’t

unwanted clothing, donating them can be an equally rewarding

looking for. You won’t get any information about pricing over the

option. And though not everyone is entirely successful in this purg-

phone, but you may be told that they don’t need more sweaters or

ing process, the simple act of cleaning out and making space can

anything else from Forever 21.

be the catharsis you’ve been craving. YM

STYLE | 15

W

hether it’s Too Faced, Urban Decay, or Anastasia

Beverly Hills, there’s a common phenomena

paired with each other within a cosmetic company or

This issue also comes out in the way that colors are

among those who wear makeup to only use a

individual palette. In particular, this poor pairing is evident

few colors of an eyeshadow or highlight palette. But why do

in the Kourt x Kylie collaboration by Kylie Cosmetics. The

palettes only have a few wearable shades? The rest fall short.

Kardashian-Jenner duo announced a partnership with

The problem, first, starts with quality. Depending on

three eyeshadow quads and three liquid lipsticks. When

the brand, some colors can be more pigmented than others.

Manny MUA did a Youtube review featuring the collection,

When testing it at home, I personally found the Clinique

he specifically used multiple palettes to complete the look,

Party Eyes palette is dull at best—my friends were in

complaining that they didn’t go together and should have

agreement. The colors don’t transfer well to the lid and all

been organized differently. Unfortunately, to create the look,

seem to look the same when applied, as opposed to how they

you’d have to buy them all.

appear in the packaging.

sophomore journalism major Julia Christian admits. “I’ve

Sophomore theatre and performance major Margaret

“I definitely haven’t found the perfect palette,”

Kaplan-Earle says that “I definitely lean towards brands

found that most of them have too many neutral shades and

that are… consistent in their quality all the way through the

then a few shimmer ones. I usually use like three palettes at

palette.” She looks for the palette with majority of what she

once.”

likes; solid, neutral, day-to-day colors. “I understand that some

colors are harder to make than others, but at the same time,

actually use? Maybe we’ve used them at some point, just to

why wouldn’t you just go for quality all the way through?”

see how they looked. One may be worn down to the metal

But, how many shades of our go-to palette do we

The Promise of a Perfect Palette

WRITTEN BY LILLIAN COHEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILY WALSH

16 | STYLE

STYLE | 17

“We get lost in routine. If something works, then it works.

If we like a color or the way a few colors look together,

we’re going to do it again.”

18 | STYLE

underlay while others only have a single stroke shoveled out.

in terms of foundation and concealer thanks to brands like Fenty,

We get lost in routine. If something works, then it works. If

but they don’t always sell an abundance of eyeshadow in nude

we like a color or the way a few colors look together, we’re going

variants. They still work, but they give a different look, sometimes

to do it again. That’s just one way makeup brands make money.

not even being visible on the skin and everyone deserves that

We use a few colors to the bone and get a new palette to do

perfect smokey eye.

the same with, perhaps using an old neglected shade from the

former.

taking over the internet and social media, it’s easy for companies

While Kapla-Earle says that she hasn’t found the “perfect

to overload us on new releases. By industry standards, it’s a

palette,” she knows what works for her. She uses what she has to get

smart business decision. More product means more business,

In the age of YouTubers and beauty bloggers quickly

the desired effect. “I wouldn’t say that it’s perfect, but my go-to is

considering the growing statistics of cosmetic e-commerce.

Kat Von D Shade and Light… And then I have sparkles that go on

top of that.”

that the industry had $6.2 million of its business occur online,

A.Stanton admits that eyeshadow is her favorite kind of makeup.

according to NBC. The number is estimated to hit $429.8 billion

A study by Fung Global Retail and Tech found in 2015

She claims to have found the “perfect palette” in Anastasia

by 2022. Products go on sale and sell out in a matter of minutes.

Beverly Hills’ Soft Glam palette. “It has golds and browns and

New launches and Instagram promotions mean more money,

pinks and oranges...It even has a black,” something she points out

whether or not new colors are similar to older ones. People crave

that most palettes usually don’t have.

the rush that comes with the promise of the “perfect palette.”

“I find myself using all the colors on that palette, but with

most ones, I only use a few that fit my needs. They don’t all fit with

Does the “perfect palette” really exist? Maybe. We all have

our favorites; the ones we use for an everyday look; the ones with

my skin tone.”

our favorite sparkles for going out. But, every person is different.

What works for someone, may not for other. Maybe that’s all

Representation has long been an issue within the beauty

cosmetic industry. Many companies have variety in lighter tones,

we can ask of our makeup; to be just as perfectly imperfect as

but forget people of color. Representation has been getting better

ourselves. YM

STYLE | 19

eastern influx

The rise of Asian visibility in fashion WRITTEN BY RIDDHIMA DAVE

E

ART BY JONAH HIGAONNA

uropean fashion has always controlled the fashion industry

globalization. Since this affects culture too, fashion has become

in a matter of all measures: from clothes and shoes to

more interchangeable within the industries.

leather works. Three of the four main fashion weeks—

Globalization also leads to the intermingling of the

Milan, Paris, London and New York--are held in Europe. This

entertainment industries. International film festivals like the

European dominance, however, is diminishing as more designers

Cannes Film Festival is a space for fashion designers to showcase

from across the world are showcasing their talents. Asia has

their work. Global celebrities like Bingbing Fan and Priyanka

become a power player globally whose influence has risen to

Chopra play a role in displaying the work of fashion designers

significance only in the last decade. Many Asian designers have

of their native countries, giving their styles broader and more

become a mainstay in global couture culture. The list includes

expansive coverage.

powerhouses like Alexander Wang (China), Rohit Bal (India),

Visual

media

and

arts

freshman

Smruti

Tarana

Prabal Gurung (Nepal) and Guo Pei (China), among others.

Thirunavukkarasu, an international student from Chennai,

These brands have gained widespread international recognition

believes that celebrities like Priyanka Chopra are a worldwide

and are now on par with several European brands in terms of

phenomenon. “If she wears Indian designers, they will garner

prestige and revenue.

more attention and they will regularly get more exposure.

The swell of Asian designers is evident when looking through

Through Indian celebrities entering Hollywood, there is a lot of

designers list for the 2019 New York Fashion Week. The shows have

scope for Indian designers to get exposure.” Thirunavukkarasu

plenty of Asian and Asian-descent designers and is a boost from

said. “Celebrities photographed in [native designer clothing] will

last year. There are about 40 lines of Asian designers on the roll

gather more attention for the designers.”

for the event like Naeem Khan, Lanyu, Bhibhu Mohapatra and

Asian fashion designers have also found a base in celebrities

Indonesian Diversity. Although this trend was previously limited

native to the Western World. Celebrities like Michelle Obama,

to Asian designers who made their designs to appeal to a western

Kate Middleton, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga have worn garments

audience, other ethnic designers are also receiving international

by Prabal Gurung, Naeem Khan and Guo Pei. With more names

acclaim. The recent collaboration between shoe giant Louboutin

turning up at the Met Gala, Cannes, and other red-carpet lists,

and Indian bridal couture designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee is a

the future only looks brighter for Asian designers. Coupling that

testament to this widespread movement. Sabyasachi is famed in

with the growing presence of the designers at Fashion Week and

the Indian subcontinent for his gorgeous lehengas—a form of

a global interest in Lakme and Shanghai Fashion Weeks, it seems

Indian skirt and statement jewelry. Ethnic designers have had a

plausible to assume that Asian designers are going to increase their

history of catering to a smaller national audience but that has

influence on the global market.

changed.

“I think they definitely will be more influential,”

Guo Pei is a Chinese couture designer. She actively

Thirunavukkarasu said. She believes that this is due to the fact the

incorporated elements of Chinese culture in her collection ‘East

Asian designers are also adapting to the preferences of the western

Palace.’ According to visual and media freshman Hannah Zhong,

world. “Indo-western is appealing to the [rest] world. If you find

an aspiring designer originally from China, Pei’s collection brings

the right colors and styles for the global market, it works. I think

Chinese patterns into the clothes.

that is what Indian designers are doing right now.”

“Because fashion is a global thing. It is a multi-cultural thing.

Zhong seems to agree with this opinion saying, “Asian

Everyone from different cultures and backgrounds can design their

designers, when designing for a broader market will change their

own fashion pieces and bring their background,” Zhong said.

styles a little, their concept, which would be inspired a little more

Several key factors in the industry can be attributed to

from the global aspect.” With this exchange of cultural elements,

the influx of these up and coming designers. Trade relations

it seems definitive that Asian designers will have more global

between the East and the West in the last decade and the rapid

influence in the future. “Asian power is a piece of art and fashion

industrialization of these places have led to an accelerated rate of

we need to respect.” YM

20 | STYLE

STYLE | 21

INSTA BADDIE COUTURE WRITTEN BY OLIVIA HEINZE ART BY ELEANOR HILTY

W

hat makes Insta baddies so bad? Fast fashion is

Kim Kardashian, with her 127 million followers, earns around

faster than ever, accelerated by online brands and

$500,000 per sponsored post. Cardi B not only posts about her

self-made, online models. There’s a lyric in rapper

Fashion Nova line, but she recently dropped a bar about it in her

Aminé’s “DR. WHOEVER” that goes: “Look at my generation

song “She Bad” rapping, “I could buy designer but this Fashion

and think that fashion’s over, I kill my sister if she ever model

Nova fit.” Cardi B has been partnered with Fashion Nova even

Fashion Nova.” Certainly there has been a rise in popular culture

before she blew up as a rapper and now makes $20,000 a month

opposing Insta model culture. Insta baddie style is not only

to rep the brand. It’s arguably the most popular “Instabrand,”

ingenuine, but destructive.

operating almost exclusively online, with the exception of five

Instagram baddies are gorgeous, with perfectly peaked

physical stores in California.

brows, clear skin, lashes, and curves. They have big eyes, big lips,

big asses, big tits, and most of all, big followings. With incredibly

who fit (or want to fit) the Insta baddie archetype and body type—

symmetrical faces, jawlines, and selfies perfectly lit by the glow of

the slim thick models and the relatively cheap clothes that are

the setting sun, they pose in vacation destinations, with cute, flirty

made to take pictures in, maybe wear out once. These clothes

captions topped with hashtags like #poolside and #fitnessaddict.

are not liveable. Reviews of the brand are mostly negative from

The hashtag most frequently used by Instagram baddies is #novababe. This comes, of course, from the brand Fashion Nova

Upon visiting the site, it is obvious that it is made for those

consumers, many making sure to mention the poor fabric quality and sizing.

and the hashtag is used by both current and aspiring #novababes.

When brands focus on rapidly producing new collections at

Fashion Nova was started by Richard Saghian and has grown by

low costs, they tend to cut environmental corners, increasing water

600 percent in 2017 with the help of a network of 3,000 instagram

and textile pollution. In addition to this, polyester, which is a fabric

influencers, and has accelerated fashion to ultrafast, putting out

frequently used by Fashion Nova, sheds plastic microfibers when

1,000 new styles a week. Some of the most popular internet

washed, which end up in the ocean.

baddies are sponsored by Fashion Nova and are given paychecks

Self-expression is key to style, and fast fashion companies

and free clothing to post about the brand. Instagram baddies

like Fashion Nova take away from individuality, with heavy social

and influencers are able to make between $250 and $100,000

media marketing and low prices. Clothing should be made to be

per sponsored post, depending entirely on their follower count.

worn, not just posted in. YM

22 | STYLE

STYLE | 23

YOUR MAG STREET STYLE INTERVIEWED BY ANDREW TAETS & SOLEIL EASTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY OLIVIA CIGLIANO & KEREN HE DIRECTED BY DELIA CURTIS

24 | YOURMAG

griffin fisher he/him/his | Visual Media Arts Class of 2021 How would you describe your style in three words?

Hand-me-down, found, cheap.

Awesome, and where do you typically get inspiration for your outfits?

The backs of old books are fun, I don’t know, magazines, construction workers.

Any brands that you highly recommend for people?

I have some Tevas that I love, I’m a huge Tevas fan, but I think that’s it.

AIXUE ZHANG she/her/hers | Visual Media Arts Class of 2022 Do you have a celebrity style icon who you love?

Um, celebrity? No. How would you describe your style in three words?

Optimistic, Chinese, and outstanding.

Awesome, I love those words. Are there any brands you can’t live without?

Some of the brands that I like are Cereal and Moschino.

YOURMAG | 25

Kayleigh Waters she/her/hers | Writing, Literature, and Publishing Class of 2020 How would you describe your style in three words?

I wear a lot of black, a lot of jewelry, and I have bright pink hair.

Who’s your celebrity style icon?

I honestly don’t even know.. I follow a lot of Depop models on instagram. I don’t think I have a favorite. I just save stuff that I like.

Any brands that you highly recommend to people?

For shoes I really like Dolls Kill. The shoes I am wearing right now are Cultomonia and it’s probably my favorite brand. Other than that I just thrift shop.

What’re three pieces of your wardrobe that you can’t live without?

I can’t live without these shoes I’m wearing, for sure, I have a black choker with fake girls and studs that I wear all the time, and these huge silver hoop earrings that I can’t find right now, so I am living without them.

Instagram: @s0wet

Jeyrie Rodriguez she/her/hers | Theatre Education Class of 2020 Who’s your celebrity style icon?

Lemme think about that. I really like how Rico Nasty dresses. I don’t really dress like her but I really like how she dresses.

What are three pieces of your wardrobe that you can’t live without?

I can’t live without my black hoodie, my white Nike Air Maxes, and my sweats.

Tag yourself! What article of clothing would you be if you had to choose?

If I were an article of clothing I would for sure be a pair of Nike Air Maxes.

Instagram: @jeyrie

26 | YOURMAG

Nazia Perry she/her/hers | Theatre and Performance Class of 2020 How would you describe your style in three words?

My personal style is innovative, colorful, and ever-changing.

Where do you typically get inspiration for your outfits?

I get my inspiration from Japan because the looks are so creative and bold.

If you could only shop at one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?

If I could only shop at once place for the rest of my life it would definitely be at Dover Street Market.

Instagram: @naziaperry

nina fisher she/her/hers | Writing, Literatire, and Publishing Class of 2019 How would you describe your style in three words?

Hold on, I got this. Simple but fun. There. That’s three words.

Awesome. Any brands that you can’t live without?

Um. Dang. I don’t have any go-to brands really. I try to try new brands. I do a lot of thrift shopping, Buffalo Exchange and Depop shopping because I’m really trying to shift away from fast fashion right now, so currently I’m in an in-between for brands that I really like to use.

And where do you get inspiration for your outfits and accessories?

A lot of instagram and celebrity pages and fashion magazines. I really like looking at magazines for fashion tips. I like looking at what new trends will be because there are so many bold and fun style things that I wouldn’t necessarily wear on the street but give me inspiration for what I could build my style off of.

Instagram: @ninafisher

YOURMAG | 27

cco l r or olo rru h ussh PHO TOGRAPHED BY DIRECTED ANDDIR EDAND PHOTOGRAPHED AND DIRECTED BY PHOTOGRAPH ECTED BY WALSH LILLY LILY WALSH LILL Y WA LSH

BY ASSISTED ASSISTED BY ASS ISTED BY DAVIS MONIKA MONIKA DAVIS MO NIKA DAV IS BY MAKEUP MAKEUP MA KEUP BYBY DILLOW LAUREN LAUREN DILLOW LAU REN DILLOW BY STYLED STYLED STY LED BYBY YORK GINA GINA YORK GIN A YOR K LEIBOWITZ TESSA TESSA LEIBOWITZ TES SA LEIB OWITZ MCMANN EMILY EMILY EMI LY MCMCMANN MANN BY MODELED MOMODELED DELED BYBY ECHEVERRIA VICTORIA ECHEVERRIA VICVICTORIA TORIA ECH EVERRIA KEEFE JOESPH JOESPH KEEFE JOE SPH KEE FE

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BETWEEN TWO WORLDS WRITTEN BY MADISON GOLDBERG PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALLIE KENNEDY

38 | LIVING

“R

eally? But you’re just so...white.”

It’s always a surprise when I tell people

tell me that I look like something else. Despite these things, I love being a part of two completely different cultures.”

that I am half Puerto Rican, and most times,

Throughout my own school years, I was often the only one

I am met with disbelief. My father is white and Jewish, and

with curly hair. It was not difficult to spot me in old class photos.

my mother is Puerto Rican. My pale skin, auburn curly hair,

When it came to filling out forms for school, I would always check

and last name all make me appear to be completely white and

off both “white” and “Hispanic.” When the forms were returned

Jewish. People are shocked that I was raised Catholic and that

to me, I would sometimes only see a check next to one of those

I am bilingual.

categories. I became a pawn that they used; I was whatever they

I vividly remember doing a family tree presentation about my ancestry in the fourth grade. That day on the playground, the

needed that year for the quota, despite accuracy to my identity.

My multiethnic narrative had been covered up.

other kids from my class were all talking about their ethnicities. At

The two sides of my family are drastically different. At times,

the young age of nine, I began to realize my differences. I heard

I knew that my Jewish relatives might have been disappointed that

my classmates speaking of their own backgrounds: Irish, Italian,

I didn’t have a bat mitzvah. And at times I knew that my Puerto

Polish, Jewish with a European background—all typical of my

Rican relatives wished that I had learned Spanish earlier on in life

New Jersey hometown. When I said that not only was I half

(I did not become fluent until my senior year of high school). And

Catholic and half Jewish but that my Catholic side was Puerto

at times in middle and high school, when both sides of my cultures

Rican, one girl came up to me and said, “that’s not possible.”

had traditional milestones that I was expected to choose between,

That was the first day I recognized that being biracial would be a

I felt torn. I wished that people could just see me—my personality,

different experience for me and that not everyone could relate to

my interests, and not just my ethnicities and cultures.

or understand my identity.

When I was eight years old, there wasn’t even an American

But despite what I may wish for, appearances are what people see and judge first. And physical appearances are only

Girl doll that looked like me. They were all solidly one thing:

part of being biracial.

white, black, or Asian. Some blond, some brunette, and one

important. Sophomore Marketing major Julianne Stein, who

redhead. And that was all. I was American—born in Long

identifies as Asian American with Chinese heritage, was brought

Island, NY and raised in New Jersey. So why wouldn’t American

up in a mixed Jewish and Asian household.

Girl have a doll that looked like me? I couldn’t grasp the fact that other people did not acknowledge biracial individuals.

I spoke to Emerson freshman Business of Creative

The cultural practices are far more

“I definitely think that my childhood was different from my friends who identify as one race. I have simply been exposed to more different cultures and traditions than them,” said Stein.

Enterprises major Xea Myers, who is half Italian and half

Despite the fact that balancing two cultures can be

Jamaican. She too has felt disregarded and invalidated due to

challenging at times, at the end of the day, the two halves of

being white passing.

my culture are major parts of my identity. I feel lucky to have

“It was difficult at times. I would go to New York to

experienced many different cultural practices-- a gift that not

visit my dad’s side, and his family would make comments like

everyone gets the chance to experience. I get to have Jewish

‘you’re so white, why isn’t your hair curly anymore?’ (I use a

latkes on Hanukkah, and traditional Puerto Rican pastéles on

keratin treatment because I prefer my hair straight as it is more

Christmas, followed by my mother’s famous temblequé for dessert.

manageable), and that I had lost my Jamaican accent,” recounted

Learning about different cultures, even down to the small details,

Myers. “My friends from school wouldn’t understand why it took

has allowed me to have a more well-rounded understanding of

me longer to do my hair in the morning, and why it was so thick,

the world, and more compassion for others. They are a part of

coarse, and curly despite my very fair complexion. People always

my story. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. YM

LIVING | 39

A

s college students, especially in Boston, we make

At what point does this never-ending cycle of stress-buying

little to no money, but still find ourselves having

reach an unhealthy point?

an excessive amount of expenses. A part of those

When I first arrived at college and started my work study

expenses is from resorting to emotional spending due to all of

job, I had the wholesome intentions of putting all of my

the stressors in our lives. It becomes so easy to say, “I deserve

earnings towards my tuition. That plan ended fairly quickly.

to treat myself,” after a long day of work, classes, or writing a

What I didn’t bring into account was all of the extra expenses

mind-boggling essay.

I would have on top of tuition and the days I decided I needed

The phrase “Treat Yo’ Self,” coined by characters Donna

to treat myself a bit. The National Association of College

Meagle and Tom Haverford on Parks and Recreation,

Stores (NACS) estimates that the average college student will

expresses this desire to buy what you would normally talk

spend $655 per year on extra expenses. The College Board

yourself out of. Even though this iconic term first came

puts that number even higher at $1,168 per year. Coming to

about in 2011, it still resonates with viewers, especially college

college is a life changer and you don’t realize how much money

students.

you will need to not only stay healthy, but to also thrive in this

With all of the stressors stemming from college, I find myself

whirlwind of an environment.

spending a little more money on a new sweater from Primark,

Between work, school, and organizations, I found myself

a useless mud facemask, or even paying that extra $2.09 to

throwing away self-care from my list of priorities. As a

add a chocolate chip cookie to my order at Panera. Being a

replacement, I would aimlessly scroll through Amazon Prime,

college student in and of itself is exhausting and draining. It

and with the click of a button, my “self-care” products would

seems harmless to let this infamous Parks and Rec phrase out

arrive in two days time. Being so busy, my methods of stress

every once in a while—but when does it become too excessive?

relief turned from writing in my journal or doing yoga, to

Spending money is most often used as a coping mechanism

buying into capitalism and getting a $15 face mask that I only

and as college students, we seem to have a lot of coping to do.

used twice the whole semester.

Zoe Constantinidis, a first-year journalism major, says,

Finishing your first ever semester can also be a calling to

“The first semester I found myself spending money on things

splurge and treat yourself a bit. Tere’ssa Fleming, a freshman

I don’t necessarily need and I would justify it by saying it’s on

writing, literature, and publishing major, says, “I haven’t found

sale.”

myself spending more money at school compared to when I go

As an incoming college freshman, experiencing life as an

home for breaks. I didn’t realize until I came home how much

adult and acclimating to the numerous types of demands

money I spent over break just because I had a good semester

placed on them can be a truly overwhelming experience. It

and deserved it. It is a tricky balancing act because the self-care

can also lead to unhealthy amounts of stress. A study from the

industry encourages us to buy everything simply because it is

Anxiety and Depression Association of America found that 80

self-care, not because it is necessary. It is really just feeding into

percent of college students frequently or sometimes experience

the consumerism of our time.”

daily stress. This often causes the “Treat Yo’ Self ” mantra to come into full effect.

Although it is nice to “Treat Yo’ Self ” every once in a while, we need to make sure that it doesn’t take over and give us an

Last semester, I would find myself reminiscing over what a

excuse to buy useless material objects whenever we are feeling

horrible day I had, then following that thought with something

stressed. While self-care is a positive addition to one’s life, it

along the lines of, “I should buy this, I deserve it after the

shouldn’t be overused or focused specifically on buying new

day I’ve had.” The day after would then consist of a mini

things. Overspending in college is a problem that can be fixed

mental breakdown over the amount of money that had been

by enjoying the people around you. Take some time to breathe

heartbreakingly removed from my bank account. On beat with

and write for yourself. Most importantly, don’t forget to study

the constant and vicious “Treat Yo’ Self ” cycle, the stress from

because we are still college students and there is probably an

my draining bank account spiraled these indulgent thoughts.

essay due soon. YM

40 | LIVING

WHEN “TREAT YOSELF” TAKES OVER WRITTEN BY LAUREN BJELLA ART BY ELEANOR HILTY

LIVING | 41

42 | LIVING

Quarter Life Crisis WRITTEN BY KATRINA DIZON

T

ART BY SOMARI DAVIS

he term “quarter-life crisis” is nothing new. Dictionary.

be avoided. “Adulting,” which many older generations believe is

com defines “quarter-life crisis” as: “a crisis that may

just a term that describes young people’s laziness, is really a term

be experienced in one’s twenties, involving anxiety over

that describes how difficult it is to do everyday errands because

the direction and quality of one’s life.” People often experience

of generation burnout.

this soul-searching transition period in their 20s and early 30s

The author of the article, Anne Helen Petersen, writes “It’s

when things don’t turn out as expected, and they feel a little lost.

not as if I were slacking in the rest of my life. I was publishing

The Friends theme song even includes the line: “Who would’ve

stories, writing two books, making meals, executing a move across

thought that life was gonna be this way?” But as millennials

the country, planning trips, paying my student loans, exercising

are experiencing adulthood, and as Generation Zs approach it,

on a regular basis. But when it came to the mundane, the medium

“quarter-life crisis” takes on a more serious, stressful meaning.

priority, the stuff that wouldn’t make my job easier or my work

Today, it is less about “soul-searching” and more about trying

better, I avoided it.”

to survive a broken economy and coping with the overwhelming

To add, the rise of social media has contributed to this

presence of social media. It appears that Generation Z will be

generation burnout. By being presented with idealized versions

experiencing the same thing. Nowadays, the “quarter-life crisis”

of people’s lives on social media, we become dissatisfied with our

has become synonymous with the young adult burnout and has

own lives. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association

much higher stakes.

of America, obsessive social media use causes depression,

Millennials have been deemed the “Burnout Generation”— and for good reason. Millennials and Generation Zs have been

paranoia, loneliness, etc because of the pressure to share things with others as well as the comparison of each other’s lives.

conditioned by previous generations to believe that if they are

“Social media has an impact on people’s sense of wellbeing

not struggling, they are doing something wrong. As a result, they

and social integration,” Hosman said. “We’re seeing snippets of

pile up obligations, leaving little time for sleeping or eating. This

people’s lives. It’s a very constructed sense of reality that people

internalized “struggle to succeed” mindset seems to be doing

present.”

more harm than good. Sarah Hosman, a sociology professor at

We feel as though everyone else’s lives are perfect but our

Emerson College, explained how the competitive nature of the

own. Life becomes a competition, a race to see who’s more

current job market due to economic changes contributes to young

successful. This sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) and the

adults’ tendencies to overwork themselves.

dissatisfaction of one’s reality leads to young adults questioning

“There’s an increased expectation for higher education, which means more people are going to universities, which leads to increased competition [in the workforce] to differentiate themselves and make themselves stand out,” Hosman said.

if the direction of their lives is going the right way and if life will forever be this stressful.

The quarter-life crisis is not just an episode of Friends anymore. Because of the current state of the economy, being a

With today’s dismal economy, overwhelming student

young adult in America today is as stressful as it has ever been.

debt, and the spike in home prices, life for young adults is

Millennials have not been prepared for the drastic economic

not as easy as it once was several years ago. Owning a home,

changes because the previous generation expected a better future.

getting married, and having kids is no longer the expected,

Generation Z will have an even more difficult time, as no one

anticipated future for young adults. These are now aspects

knows how to solve these economic issues yet. It can be difficult

of a future that is not necessarily unattainable, but certainly

to be optimistic about the future, as student debt continues to

unrealistic.

rise, the job market becomes more competitive, and affordable

BuzzfeedNews

published

an

essay

entitled

“How

housing becomes less affordable. As young people approach

Millennials Became the Burnout Generation” in which they

adulthood, however, we must hope that they can do what the

discussed millennials’ constant preoccupation with work and

previous generations couldn’t, and perhaps the quarter-life crisis

their careers. This causes simple, mundane tasks like voting or

will no longer be associated with burning out before your adult

sharpening knives to be considered a burden and something to

life even begins. YM LIVING | 43

YOUR

ILLUSTRATION BY ENNE GOLDSTEIN

WITH MANAGING EDITOR NATALIE GALE AND COPY CHIEF LINDSAY HOWARD

ROSE COSMETICS

LARGE ORANGE SCARF

Rose is not only extremely on-brand, but is also extremely

My large burnt-orange scarf, which I got during a trip to

hydrating to my dry skin. I bought C.O. Bigelow’s Rose Salve

Copenhagen, has quickly become one of my favorite accessories

at Bath & Body Works in the seventh grade when $6 was a lot to

in my closet. I wear it any and every day which is below 50

spend on a cosmetic, and I haven’t looked back since. That little

degrees! I can wear it as a long scarf around my neck or I can

tin got me through puberty, Catholic school, and years of New

open it up and wrap it around my shoulders like a shawl—it has

England winters. I will repurchase until I’m at least 97. Fresh’s

totally become a sort of comfort blanket for me!

Rose Face Mask gets me through the winters too, but at the least the others are over.

JANE AUSTEN MUG Anyone who knows me knows I am slightly (obsessively) in love

PRETTY. ODD.

with Jane Austen. Not only was she a female author in an era

This is the best album ever written. No one can argue me on this.

where that was almost unheard of, but she was a bold and radical

Panic! at the Disco’s psychedelic pop, Beach Boys-esque melodies,

critic of her society. Every time I enjoy a hot cup of tea in this

and colorful lyrics are so deeply woven into the fabric of my

mug, I get a happy reminder of the strength, courage, and sass

adolescence that I won’t be reasonable about this. Give it a listen

which she embodied, all traits which I hope to emulate.

if you never have; it feels like a fairy tale. When it was repressed a couple years ago and copies of the vinyl were finally $20 instead

A BOOK

of $200, I snagged one at Newbury Comics. No, I don’t have a

I never leave my house without a book. Ever. I have enjoyed a

record player. Yes, it looks cute on my wall.

life-long love of reading and have come to the point where I don’t feel whole unless I have a book with me. I can always be caught

DELFT MUG

reading, even in just a few moments of free time—during my

I picked up this mug at Keukenhof Botanical Garden in Holland

daily commute on the T, those few minutes of downtime between

in 2017. Keukenhof is the largest flower garden in the world,

classes, or my breaks at work. All perfect times to catch up on how

so, needless to say, I was in heaven. When I saw the Delft Blue

my fictional friends are doing.

mug in the gift shop, I immediately saw it years and years in the future in my future kitchen holding future coffee with future light streaming through the windows. For now, it’s lovely for holding a pour over in my dingy little Boston apartment.

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bath bombshell DIRECTED BY ELOISA DEFARIS ASSISTED BY MONIKA DAVIS STYLED BY TAINA MILLSAP ELOISA DEFARIS TIANNA LOVERDE PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELEANOR HILTY HAIR AND MAKEUP BY KAITLYN SHOKES MODELED BY CLAIRE FARNSWORTH OLIVIA HEINZE

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SERIAL FOR BREAKFAST

WRITTEN BY LAURA PHILIPS PHOTOGRAPHED BY DASHA GERMAN

“W

hat have you been up to today?” I texted

widely infamous serial killer who committed a series of at least 30,

my friend Julia from home. “Not much, just

if not more, homicides against young women in the 1970s, and

binging Netflix shows about serial killers

was sentenced to the death in the 1980s.

honestly,” she replied. It’s an activity I know many of my friends

Previous to watching the Netflix series, all I knew about Ted

and I could relate to, the obsession with serial killer stories.

Bundy was that he was a serial killer in the 70s, known for being

From movies and TV shows to podcasts, the killer storyline has

handsome and charming. He had been used as a general kind

always been among the public’s favorite genres. There is a certain

of warning about “stranger danger” especially when it comes to

intrigue with cold cases and the feeling of victory when the villain

being a young woman being approached by men. The series did a

is caught. But has Hollywood taken this fascination too far with

very thorough job of covering the whole story. Through watching

the abundance of serial killer documentaries and biopics being

the tapes the audience gets inside details of Bundy’s childhood,

released just in the last year?

relationships, murders, victims, psychological issues, and the legal

The public is currently obsessed with the story of infamous

proceedings surrounding his case. It includes interviews with

serial killer Ted Bundy. Netflix recently released a short

his childhood friends, prosecuting and defense attorneys, police

documentary series about him,“Conversations with a killer: The

officers, witnesses, and more people involved in his timeline of

Ted Bundy Tapes,” as well as purchased the streaming rights

crime. There is even one of his kidnapping victims, who luckily

for the upcoming Ted Bundy biopic film starring Zac Efron,

escaped death, who speaks on the experience in the series. I was

“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Vile and Evil.” Ted Bundy is a

really enthralled watching the series, especially by the way that

54 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bundy himself talked about his crimes as if he was not responsible

a person and the heinous crimes he committed. It was intended

or wrong. Even knowing that all the events being documented

to inform and document a story that comes with important

were in the past, and Bundy died in 1989, there was still a real

warnings, that younger generations like my own, wouldn’t know

element of fear I had while watching, and was so horrified by each

today from just being around during the news coverage or trials

murder they “revealed” in the series.

of Bundy. There was no doubt throughout that Bundy was guilty

Emerson freshmen Emma Paluso speaks to what she thinks

and cruel. However, The Zac Efron film, which hasn’t even been

makes these stories and a series like this so interesting. “They’re real

released yet to public audiences, is currently facing backlash for

life horror stories, and it’s so hard to wrap your head around the

the trailer being too upbeat and romantic seeming to be a movie

fact that these really screwed up things can happen/are happening

showcasing one of the most heinous serial killers of all time. I have

in real life, but it’s important to try to learn as much as we can

also read that reviewers who have already seen the movie say

from them.” In a story like Ted Bundy’s, there’s lots of elements

the trailer is misconstruing and the film does its job of making

that come together to make it work as entertainment. There’s

it clear that Ted Bundy was not a favorable person or worthy

background, a “main character,” a main conflict, action and

of forgiveness by the public. There is a dilemma that exists

horror, as well as legal/courtroom proceedings (which SVU and

with focusing a film like this so much on Bundy as a charming

many more shows have proven is an audience pleaser). However,

kind of character, and casting someone like Zac Efron, where

a detailed documentary style is not for everyone, and so movies

it is not wrong of audiences to question how much it will end

like Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Vile and Evil, or My Friend

up romanticizing or glorifying a known serial killer and rapist,

Dahmer- a 2017 film exploring another notable serial killer, Jeffrey

whether intended or not. In my conversation with Emma

Dahmer, in his teenage years leading up to his first murder—

Paluso, she also made a very good point about the direction

come to be, providing a more typically cinematic depiction of

this genre takes. “My problem with them is they give too much

these stories. Would probably put interview with VMA or psych

attention to the killers themselves and seeing as most of them

professor here about what makes these profitable and interesting

have narcissistic personalities this attention would’ve been

for filmmakers.

something they loved. There’s not enough focus on who the

The main question to be considered is: What makes it okay

victims were other than victims.” I agree, and would say that

to produce this genre of entertainment? There are certainly

as easily as society is interested in series like the Ted Bundy

boundaries and ethics one must consider in regard to using a true

Tapes, I Am a Killer, or the films and other forms of media

story in which many people died as “inspiration” for what will be

focusing on these shocking and horrendous people/stories,

consumed as mass media entertainment. A lot can come down to

it’s important to recognize that people have died, and families

intent as well as execution of the intent. The Netflix series on Bundy

have suffered because of them and by no means can we ever

was a non-extravagant, detailed, accurate telling of Ted Bundy as

forget that. YM

They’re real life horror stories, and it’s so hard to wrap your head around the fact that these really screwed up things can happen/are happening in real life.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 55

The Female Fandom Dilemma WRITTEN BY MOLLY GOODRICH ART BY YELIZAVETA ROGULINA

56 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

I

t’s 1963, and “Beatles Hysteria” has taken over

despite the fact that the band’s whole existence rides

the world. In one of the most famous segments

on making music for a younger, female audience,

displaying this new so-called epidemic, CBS News

that same female audience is mocked and ridiculed.

airs a black and white clip that showcases a large crowd

Though more often than not, girls find a connection

of girls waiting outside in the cold for hours, trying to

with a certain artist due to their lyrics hitting partially

get one glimpse of the four-person band that had just

close to home, it always seems to turn into what the

landed in America. All across the states, news outlets are

celebrity looks like, especially if they’re male. Because

calling these female fans insane, psychotic, hysterical,

obviously, the only reason girls would show interest in

and obsessed. It doesn’t matter, of course, that the girls

something men would produce is if they’re attracted

they do bother to interview have a clear passion for

to them.

music and are eager to have an intellectual conversation about the lyrical content in the Beatles’ songs. No, the

So, if girls can’t like anything geared towards girls, can they like what’s made for men? Apparently not.

only thing the media cares about covering is that a

Meagan Lee, also an Emerson freshman, faced

group of girls are going crazy over something, and it

equal amounts of teasing in her younger years for

happens to be over a group of men.

what she liked. And this time, it wasn’t for a boyband.

Cut to the Boston streets of 2004 when the Red

It was for her love of sports. Meagan recalls girls her

Sox won the world series. The rioting and celebrations

age calling her weird when she would wear her hockey

after the game were so intense and violent that one fan,

jersey to school, and that boys would berate her with

an Emerson student, ended up dying in the efforts of

questions trying to disprove her sports knowledge.

trying to calm the crowds down.

Meagan’s story, unfortunately, isn’t an uncommon

And yet women are the hysterical ones. Right.

one. Far too often, girls are challenged by their male

Despite the fact that we have come a long way

peers when they admit they’re fans of things they’re not

since the days of Beatles Hysteria, women are still

“supposed to be fans of.” Instead of acceptance, girls

shamed and ridiculed for liking things. And this means

face interrogation, and it makes these male-orientated

anything. From boy bands to pop stars to actors on

spaces feel unsafe, as if females are unwelcome.

the big screen, chances are if women has positive

Girls will get teased for liking things specifically

feelings towards it, the media will find a way to laugh

geared towards them, and ridiculed for liking things

at them.

that aren’t. It’s almost like our society wants us not

Joy Freeman, a freshman at Emerson, recalls both the positive and negative experiences she has had as a

to like anything at all—or at least, not be vocal about it.

fan of the boyband One Direction. “One Direction for

We cannot keep living in the type of world that

me, at least when I was 12, was a form of escapism.

says women only enjoy something because they’re

It was something my friends and I bonded over. The

trying to impress a man, or that they only like a movie

memories that it gave us created a sense of sisterhood.

because the actor is conventionally attractive. We have

But the fact that this sisterhood and the innocence of

to do a better job at encouraging the young girls in our

our connection to this band was impeded by the taunts

lives to be fans of things unabashedly, to love without

of our male classmates was incredibly disheartening. I

caring what their peers may think of them, because

felt as though I was chastised for indulging in something

passionate, “obsessed” young girls turn into powerful,

that made me happy. I wish that our enthusiasm for

strong ,young women. YM

music could have been understood as the same thing as the enthusiasm that the boys in my town had for hockey.”

One Direction, all things considered, are a band geared towards females. Their songs are meticulously designed in a way that allows young girls to fantasize about being Harry Styles’ future wife and are definitely marketed for the typical tween to swoon over. But

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 57

K

it Haggard chooses the word “siloed” to describe Boston’s literary world, and that’s a fairly accurate description. Although the city’s literary history is arguably one of the most unique and culturally

rich in the nation, it has ended up segregated into various subsections.

Since the Boston Literary District has garnered such a reputation for its rich literary culture, it is incredibly important for this community to be unified. This means giving equal recognition to writers of all colors and all organizations, from a small business level to a corporate level.

Haggard, director of the Boston Literary District, believes that her organization, “is doing its best work and reaching its full potential when it is helping to bridge those gaps.”

When I sat down with Haggard and asked her to explain the goal of the organization, she smiled before launching into a passionate discussion about her experience. “One of the coolest things I’ve been able to do is help facilitate programming for other organizations,” says Haggard. “We maintain a calendar that makes it a lot easier for people to find literary events in Boston, because it is difficult for some organizations to expand their reach beyond their pre-existing community.”

In addition to this calendar, the organization keeps a map on their website of 88 important historical literary sites in the city. One such site is Brattle Book Shop—both its address and the following description list: “Established in 1825, the Brattle is one of America’s oldest and largest antiquarian booksellers. It features two floors of general used books, a third floor of rare and antiquarian books, and an outside sale lot.”

When reflecting on the sites, Haggard says, “I think it is really important to think about the history of this area. I hope in my position to make the sites a more critical reflection [and ask] how we can think about that history in a way that honors and respects the writers who were foundational to shaping American literature at the time, but also look

58 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WRITTEN BY ANDREW TAETS PHOTO BY KENNETH COX

back and say that people were excluded. [We need] to think about those things critically, too.”

And though this oversight does exist, Haggard plans to alleviate that. “I’m thinking about introducing new sites...we really need to display a broader range of voices. There are no Latinx writers in the district, there are no Asian-American or East-Asian writers, and no Native American writers, and I want to begin to work to correct that.”

Although the organization is small, it is making strides to be incredibly active. Coming up, they are offering free writing classes at the Boston Athenaeum, which is especially exciting for the typically membersonly institution. They are also giving regular tours of the Omni Parker House, a place where the Saturday Club met and where Dickens stayed and gave the first public reading of A Christmas Carol—even Malcolm X and Ho Chi Minh briefly worked in the kitchens there.

The Boston Literary District also helped launch the Boston Lit Crawl, which is happening this spring and which Haggard describes as “a night of literary events on Newbury Street and untraditional events in untraditional spaces—things that are kind of interactive.”

After my conversation with Haggard about the organization and all of its upcoming events, I went to take a look at some of the many sites they catalogue, beginning at Beacon Hill. These beautiful streets are home to the original office of Little, Brown and Company and the residences of many famous literary figures, such as William Hickling Prescott, Sarah Wyman Whitman, and Henry James, all of whom played a large part in the literary community of Boston.

I snaked my way through Downtown Crossing, where the shopping has been a source of inspiration for many incredible novelists. Most famously, Edward Bellamy wrote of it in his novel Looking Backward, where it says, “Stores! Stores! Stores! Miles of stores!”

I finished standing before the Jacob Wirth restaurant near Chinatown, a restaurant-bar that Jack Kerouac frequented to write and a place he later honored with a cameo in one of his novels. The building shows its age in every detail down to the worn sign out front where the restaurant name is scrawled into curving wood in a font that looks like it was pulled from a movie set in the ‘50s.

When explaining why Haggard found her work with the Boston Literary District impactful, she says that it was formative to the way she saw Boston because it “helped [her] feel more connected to the literary history.”

Standing in front of the restaurant and staring at a piece of the past still sitting in the pulsing heart of Downtown Boston, I understood just what she meant. YM ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 59

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WRITTEN BY TIFFANY CARBON ILLUSTRATED BY OLIVIA KELLIHER

2

her life, supported by the heavy beating drums reflecting and emulating the sound of crashing waves and water.

Contrasting that is “Burning.” Its blissful lyrics are

019 is shaping up to be the year of “pop girls” and

supported by wistful beats and instruments as she sings about

Maggie Rogers’s debut album Heard It in A Past Life

being in love and wanting everyone to know. “The Knife” is

proves it. Rogers released the album on January 18th,

another carefree and upbeat song with a genius use of wind

yet it has already cemented its spot as a favorite of listeners.

This isn’t the 24-year-old’s first taste of fame and

chimes and distant echoes “about dancing it all off with your friends,” according to the singer herself.

recognition. The singer showcased “Alaska”—which she

Listeners see the progress of Rogers’s mental health in

claims as the song that changed her life—to Pharrell during

“Back In My Body” with the use of her intensely strong and

a February 2016 masterclass at her alma mater NYU. She left

passionate lyrics. She starts the song off with “I was stopped in

the songwriter and producer in awe of her talent and ability

London when I felt it coming down, crashing all around me

to do her own thing. When the video hit the internet in July of

with a great triumphant sound.” She uses this line to speak

that year, she quickly went viral.

about the panic attack she once suffered during rehearsal while

So, what happens when Pharrell, who has been an

on tour. She exposes herself to listeners, even telling them how

important voice in the music industry for more than twenty

she once almost ran away from it all while in Paris. The rest of

years, blesses your song? Maggie continued writing, recording,

the song details the battle she suffered against her own mind

and releasing music as the number of people who supported

and her audience can see the effect that becoming a known

her grew. This eventually led to her first tour in 2016.

musician has had on her.

On her debut album, she writes a lot about her quick

In the last chorus, she sounds exasperated yet determined

rise to fame following her viral video and the mental and

as she sings, “I found myself when I was going everywhere, this

emotional effect it had on her. In “Light On,” she puts the

time, I know I’m fighting.” Rogers explained the meaning of

overwhelming feelings of her life, which was so suddenly

the songs as “being able to do the things I love, but do them in

transformed, in the form of a song. She sings, “Oh, I couldn’t

the way I love, and in my way, and in my time, giving myself

stop it, tried to slow it all down, crying in the bathroom, had to

the opportunity to just be me.” Fame isn’t something that

figure it out.” Her evident vulnerability easily allows listeners

many can handle just being quickly thrown into and Rogers

to become absorbed by her words and voice.

doesn’t pretend that she was okay with what was happening

I spoke to Kenny Cox, ‘22, a student at Emerson, who

to her. There’s a very powerful reason as to why “Back In My

became a fan after listening to the album. When I asked him

Body” is the last song on the album, as her growth not only as

to give his first impression of the album, he was silent and

an artist but as a person shows throughout the thirteen songs.

remained so for quite a while with a smile on his face before

Regardless of the admiration that Rogers got for

finally screaming, “There are simply no words!” With only

this album, top music critics didn’t seem to agree with her fans.

one listen, he easily fell in love with anything and everything

Pitchfork rated the album a disappointing 5.9, describing it as

Maggie Rogers. His favorite song on the album is “Say It,” a

“overproduced,” and a review from The Guardian gave the

feel-good song about a crush that surprises you with its bass

album two out of five stars. However, what critics don’t seem

fueled chorus that perfectly meshes folk and pop with a slight

to understand is the way that Rogers’s hauntingly raw voice

hip hop beat. Kenny regrets not getting into her earlier, saying,

and lyrics connect with her teen and young adult listeners who

“One of my friends had an extra ticket to see her last year and

share and relate to her struggles.

I didn’t go because I had only listened to a couple songs.” He

As Pharrell said, Maggie Rogers is doing her own thing.

now wishes he could see her live in her upcoming tour, but the

Heard It in A Past Life is truly unlike anything else I’ve heard

sold-out shows heavily prevent that.

before. She takes me back to when I was fifteen, listening

The songs on the album vary in tone: some cover the

to Lorde’s Pure Heroine and crying over the deeply powerful,

dark times she went through while others are happy in the way

emotional effect the music had on me. In this album, I’m so

that listeners can just enjoy and dance along to. “Fallingwater”

easily able to hear Maggie’s personal narrative through her

is a personal standout on the album. She again sings about

music in a way that stands on its own and I can’t wait to hear

the rapid transition she went through in the past two years of

more. YM

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 61

Ym HOW WE DO SPRING CLEANING Start small when it comes to cleaning out your space. Trying to get everything done all at once can be super overwhelming and end up leaving you feeling disappointed. Set attainable goals: “Today I will clean the bathroom,” or “If I have fifteen minutes, I’ll wash all the dishes.” P.S. Clorox wipes are a lifesaver!

Delia Curtis, Style Editor and Street Style Director Create a spring cleaning playlist! This will not only turn a chore into a jam sesh, but it can also help you keep track of time.

If you want to spend an hour cleaning your room, make the playlist about an hour long. This will help prevent you from falling down a rabbit hole of nostalgia and old knick-knacks... not that that has ever happened to me!

Lindsay Howard, Copy Chief As you clean your space, put everything you don’t know what to do with into its own box/drawer and deal with it later.

Bobby Nicholas, Co-Head Designer Use the two minute rule. Set a timer for at least two minutes, or five, or ten, or whatever you have time for and just START. It at least gets you started and usually you feel motivated to keep going, or at the least you’ve gotten something done. Or just pick one section/thing! Whether it’s dishes, your bedside table, having one part of your space cleaner can really make a shift. Also using cleaning as a break from homework for ten minutes gets your body moving and gives your brain a rest!

Bailey Bouchard, Co-Marketing Director As far as actual cleaning goes, I’m currently obsessed with Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies (not sponsored content, but…I wish). It’s 98% plant-derived and doesn’t have a ton of chemicals— plus it smells super good! Personally recommend the lemon verbena vinegar gel for those gross AF stains coating your apartment kitchen countertops.

Eleanor Hilty, Creative Director It’s crazy how beneficial making your bed can be. People often say that a lot of creativity comes from having a peaceful bedroom, so extending that into starting your day on the right foot can only be beneficial. Pull up the covers and fluff the pillows—it just might make your day brighter.

Monika Davis, Editorial Director Reorganize your dorm/bedroom to make everything look a little brighter. Switch out your winter clothes with your lighter pieces, swap the heavy blankets for simpler breezy fabrics, and use an oil diffuser to bring “springy” smells into your living space. Even adding a few cute succulents and mini green spaces makes a difference and will boost your mindset for the upcoming sunny seasons!

Talia Smith, Living Editor Everyone has clothes that never see the light of day. Grab your old high school event shirts, that pair of pants you never dared to wear, and that outgrown tube top, then head straight to Goodwill! There are clothing donation boxes all around Boston; you can give back while decluttering.

Caroline Broderick, Romance Editor

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ART BY BOBBY J. NICHOLAS III

YOURMAG | 63

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