Photo by Flickr user Tedi

Even though some have their own set path and don’t care what the media says, many are influenced by it and let the media control what they think.

Shows like Gossip Girl and NYC Prep are taking over television. Don’t get me wrong, those shows are hilarious, amusing and addicting, but I can’t help but laugh at the desires of these elite teenagers.  It’s even obvious to see that the characters of Gossip Girl are becoming the role models of the teenagers on NYC Prep. Chuck Bass is a fantastic character… for a fiction show. But the fact that PC, from NYC Prep, clearly attempts to be Chuck Bass, a partying, out of control rich kid, is disgusting and I’m sure he’s not the only one who looks up to a glamorous character from Gossip Girl. The idea of having money and doing whatever one wants with it is alluring, but it’s not realistic.

The fact that NYC Prep is a “reality” show really gives people an excuse to act like Kelli, Taylor, PC, Sebastian, Jessie and Camille. As long as one doesn’t do anything as horrid or  as them, people think it’s acceptable.  But, is it really? If one’s main priority in high school is their social status, is absurd. Taylor, from NYC Prep, even said “Sebastian’s in prep school, and it would be better for my social status. He also has money.” When comparing Sebastian, and Cole, her previous boyfriend from public school. How shallow can one get?

When watching shows about the elite, the characters tend to dress over the top, and always look like they spend hours on their appearance.. The girls are a size two and always have the latest clothes. The boys always have the coolest pairs of sneakers. Out of personal experience, I will say, people do go through their money to look like them, because it’s one step closer to living the exciting lives we see on TV.

It’s one thing to drink and party, but to drink underage on national television? The cast of NYC Prep show the teenagers going clubbing, drinking and hooking up with random strangers.  It’s not only ruining the futures of the adolescents, but its convincing teenagers to follow their actions. Statistics have shown that 74/3% teenagers have had one or more drinks in their life time.  The cast makes it look like they’re having the times of their lives, so of course the people watching at home go out and emulate them.

Even though we loathe the lives of those on television, they miss out on the simplest things. It’s clear the characters from Gossip Girl and NYC Prep, with the exception of a few, aren’t close with their families. Though they’re allowed to go clubbing and spend millions of dollars on clothes, they have parents that aren’t ever home. They have to learn to be independent at the age of ten. The teenagers of NYC Prep lack privacy. If they do one stupid thing, it’s on television, there’s no going back and erasing it. These characters don’t have boundaries, and even though one might take that as a good thing, being raised without any structure causes people make bad decisions. They may be minor like failing tests, or drinking a cup of alcohol, but they may be drugs and becoming unconscious in a room of scary people. They lack the security that most have.

Even though TV is a significant cause in the rise of media, but it isn’t the only thing that should be blamed. I know from where I live, teens are constantly on the internet, for school or in their spare time.

The internet is probably the main cause of the expansion of media. Almost everyone uses it and even though it’s extremely important and useful, it’s also uncensored. When I picture a little kid on the computer, I see him/ her playing a game that comes with the computer, but if there aren’t any parental controls, kids can look up anything they want. If a little boy or girl types in a wrong URL in the address box, there’s no way of knowing what he/she figures out or witnesses. The internet causes children to not fully comprehend what they’re learning on it, and causes children to lose their innocence at an earlier age.

Now, everyone is part of a social networking website, whether it’s Facebook, MySpace or Friends or Enemies, and with the internet advertising it so much, it’s hard not to get addicted to them.  Almost everyone I know has a Facebook; it’s one of the main ways to communicate. If someone doesn’t have a Facebook, he/she is totally out of the loop and often doesn’t know what the latest news is. The media makes it necessary for everyone to have a Facebook, MySpace or Friends or Enemies account in order to be relevant.

Blogs or personal websites are where one person or a group of people are able to put whatever they want on the internet. If someone stumbles across the blog or website that’s subject matter is controversial, argument can start up. And, most know that if word gets out, the argument about the internet will be all over the internet.

Kids and teenagers also come across websites that put themselves in danger. Of course, it comes in many different forms. One website may be about suicide where the other may be about starving oneself to lose a couple pounds. Kids, of all ages, may just stumble across a chat room and give too much information. There are definitely ways one can hurt himself on the internet.

Media is extremely important in the society we live in today. But, slowly it’s starting to ruin some the mind of people and if it progresses the way it does, the media will focus on less important things and it will be all anyone yearns for.

Since the beginning of civilization, one of the foremost issues experienced women has been the idea of gender bias in the form of discrimination. In nearly all societies, with the exception of tribes such as the Bantu in early Africa, the majority of civilizations were patriarchal- with women usually treated as a lower class all together. 

New ideas and innovations of later centuries has brought the world to the idea that women are not inferior to men in any way, shape or form. Sure, it took thousands of years, but the idea in itself has become manifested in on a global scale. We now live in world with an open mind and documents such as the Declaration of Human Rights (created in 1948), which extends ethical principles to every person born on this planet.

(AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

Yet, in existence are countries, which put women under strict laws and religious structure that often mimic times comparable to the beginnings of Islam. At this forefront is Saudi Arabia, along with a number of similar Middle Eastern Countries. 

Just to give you an idea of women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, whenever in public, or even in the presence of their own homes, Saudi Arabian women are required to wear certain dress, called an abaya- all parts of the body covered with only a slit or sheer material covering the eyes and nose. Women are allowed to go to school and study, but are not allowed to study subjects such as law and engineering. They cannot travel or vote without permission from a male guardian or some sort of government office. 

So the real question is, where do these customs come from? Although believed to be religious, much of such Saudi Arabian ideals are of interpretation of Muhammad’s writings and political aspects of life. In fact, according to Muhammad, who made many sentiments about human rights, “The best of you is the best to his wives” in addition to, “God commands us to treat women nobly. The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect of faith he is.” It is easy to deduce in this sense that Muhammad never told his followers to treat women as a lower class and as inferiors. In any case, it is somewhat a proof to the sentiment that women’s rights (or more specifically, lack thereof) is more of a political policy than religious. 

In the realm of dressing, the Quran states, “Say to the believing women that they should not display their beauty and ornament except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosom and not display their beauty, except to their husbands, their father, husbands’ fathers, sons, their husbands’ sons, their brother’s sons or sister’s sons, their women, their slaves or male attendants who lack feet as to revel what they hide of their adornment.” As positively seen in this quotation, Islamic law does not state that women should wear shapeless robes which cover their entire body. As in numerous cultures, women must be modest and not indecorous in dressing and manner. It is understandable to say that Saudi Arabian law is that of the Quran, but it is a general belief that such ideas are somewhat radical and extreme. It is easy to see that the overlooked part of this quotation is the fact that men should outwardly show modesty to women as well; only family members can see a woman without such overbearing clothing. Muhammad wanted modesty, as did many other religious leaders and deities of other religions around the world. 

Regarding social, political, and economic activity, the Quran states minimal information. In accordance with the time it was written, the holy book did not necessarily lay down any laws for what women could and could not participate in. As according to the Quran, once again, “And they (women) have rights similar to those (of them) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them.”  Noted in the words of Muhammad is the idea that men do have superiority- but that is not to say that women are inferior beings. At the time of its conception, women’s rights and suffrage was unheard of- therefore it is expectation that men would be the bread winners of most civilizations during Muhammad’s revelation. 

One facet of Saudi Arabian life, which is seen as untraditional from the sense of countries such as the United States is the fact that women, when allowed to study, are extremely limited in choice and career. As quoted from the Quran, “Seeking of knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim man and women.” According to teaching, women are more than encouraged to take up education. It would even be more specific to say that all of the believers and followers of Muhammad were and are encouraged to obtain any sort of learning. Yet, women in countries such as Saudi Arabia are not allowed to study a great amount of subjects due to unquestioned male superiority. 

Luckily, however, women in Saudi Arabia are slowly seeing their lives turn for the better in consideration of women’s rights. The level of education in places like Saudi Arabia has slowly increased since 1991. More and more women are campaigning for their rights on a political scale. Books such as The Dawn of Saudi, by Homa Pourasgari, has opened up a new horizon for change. 

Works cited: 

Al-Hariri, Rafeda. Islam’s Point of view on Women’s Education in Saudi Arabia. 1st ed. Vol. 23. Ser. 10. Taylor and Francis, Ltd. JSTOR. 10 June 2009.

Ask anyone in a record store, at a concert, or on a band’s chat room and they’ll tell you “music is my life.” But for Nick Sylvester, it actually is. In his office where he produces online video for the Colbert Report, band posters, a stack of records, drumsticks and a standing drumpad illustrate that though Sylvester has put music writing on the backburner, music has not left him.

When he’s not working for the Colbert Report, Sylvester plays drums in a band called Mr. Dream, runs a zine called Perineum, and opines on music on his blog Riffmarket.

Sylvester’s band formed last year after a Jay Reatard concert in early 2008 at the Club Europa in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn.

“Adam [Moerder] and Matt [Morello] were both friends of mine, and they were both interested in making music with me.  They both ended up getting along well and all of our tastes overlapped enough that we were able to form Mr. Dream,” Sylvester said.

Before producing video for the Colbert Report, Sylvester wrote for several esteemed music publications such as Pitchfork, The Village Voice, and The Phoenix. Sylvester’s years as a music journalist firmly entrenched him in the Brooklyn music scene, and he believes these connections have helped Mr. Dream greatly.

“We’ve been really lucky in knowing people who are involved [in the Brooklyn music scene]. “Friends have helped us make demos, get our first gigs, and learn about the recording process,” Sylvester said.

“We’re very lucky. We can put out something that sounds less shitty,” he added.

Sylvester is well aware of the pressures of being both a critic and a musician.

“I’ve definitely thought about [being a critic and a musician]. I’ve seen what happens to other critics who put out records. It’s so atomized, some people tend to view them as ‘critics who make music’, not musicians,” he said.

“I think about what it’s like being a musician in relation to the bands I’ve torn apart [in reviews], and I think I’m a lot more sympathetic about the process of being in a band and producing even just one or two songs.”

Sylvester described the experience of going to a rehearsal area, and how it shifted his perspective on music criticism.

“When you walk down the hallways of these multi-room rehearsal spaces, and you hear all of this different music, and you haven’t heard of a single band that’s rehearsing there, and you think that there are these bands whose music you actively disagree with, and yet you see them working so hard, and you know that this is just rehearsal, this isn’t even getting gigs (which is a whole different process), you definitely back off after seeing that,” he said.

“I’m aware of the struggle, and why they’d be upset if a 19-year-old writes bad things about their music,” he added.

Sylvester views this shift as positive in his criticism of music.

“I think [being in a band] makes me a better critic. I can hear frequencies I didn’t hear before. I can hear and I can articulate why I like or don’t like the music and specifics like why a bridge in a song fails or why it lacks this indescribable energy. Playing music every day, you become a better listener,”

Sylvester’s history with music harks back to his younger years.

“[When I was younger] I was a professional trumpeter in a Bar Mitzvah band. I imagined myself doing this and becoming one of those old people who talks about jazz records.  I got my wisdom teeth pulled, the surgery was botched and that sidelined that career.”

“My entire family’s been involved with music. My father played drums for Philadelphia general business bands, so on the weekends he’d always be going to play. My mom’s family also was very musical. My biggest influence was my grandfather though,” he said.

“My grandfather was a serious jazz trumpeter, like 1^st chair in the army, one of those weirdos with perfect pitch, and he paid for my private trumpet lessons,” he said, “We didn’t have a lot to talk about except jazz. It was never criticism, just talking about things in the music. When I gave up trumpet it was a really big deal. We ran out of things to talk about, and in an interesting way our relationship sort of nosedived. Even today my grandmother will say, straight out: ‘he wouldn’t be happy with you playing drums’.”

Sylvester’s teen years were when he became interested in rock, particularly Nirvana.

“I was upstairs listening to Nirvana’s Bleach when I was fourteen years old, and my mom didn’t understand why I was listening to it. She knew what rock was, but she felt like I should be listening to jazz. I would have to hide it by listening to it on my headphones and recording punk bands on Princeton radio and then listening to them on the bus the next day,” he said.

The music of his teen years formed the groundwork for the sound Sylvester aims for with Mr. Dream.

“I think we want to be this intense clash of beautiful and disgusting. I never liked music that was merely pretty or merely violent. We’re trying to find a beauty in one form emerging from another.”

“We’re in line with what Nirvana was trying to do. Granted, I’m sure they didn’t sit there and say ‘we’re trying to mix pretty and nasty’, and I know I don’t when I’m writing a song. Great songs are beautiful but not sappy.”

Nick Sylvester’s band Mr. Dream is recording their first 7-inch record this summer. Information about purchasing it can be found here.

Walk down any street in New York City and you’ll find the remnants of hundreds of different cultures, brought to the city by millions of immigrants. Those cultures have mixed together into one that is unlike any other in the world.

I came to this city from a rural town in Idaho; there are 338 people in my hometown and very little diversity among them. Here see all types of people from all walks of life, and while I love it, I have felt the shock that comes with New York City. People here talk, dress, and have fun in many different ways.

The Columbia University High School Summer Program is a macrocosm of New York City. There are students representing hundreds of countries and all fifty states, and they all come from different backgrounds. And, even if they don’t want to admit it, everyone experienced culture shock as they left their home towns for the Big Apple.

I found nine students, including myself, representing seven states and two countries. They talked candidly about their hometowns, their thoughts on the city, and the differences between here and home.

Almost every student was quick to mention the size of New York City. Lauren Dunmore from Montclair, New Jersey, a suburban area, said, “New York City is a lot bigger, but that also makes it more fun.” I have thought, “There are more people on this block then live in my hometown. This place is huge!” I cannot imagine going back to little Declo, Idaho, but Valerie Meyer from Colleyville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, looks forward the cleanliness and safety of her hometown. Olivia Dupasquier from Sao Paulo, Brazil, population 17 million, thought the opposite, “The biggest difference between my hometown of Sao Paulo and here is the safety. Back home you cannot be out on the streets because you would be mugged.”

Three students that I interviewed considered their hometown to have an urban setting, five lived in the suburbs, and I represented the minority from rural areas, and that affected how my diverse group viewed the city. I thought New York was scary and crowded while Matthew Van Melikian from San Francisco, California said, “This place is awesome!” Students from rural and suburban areas were also more likely to be homesick about a week into the program.

As I have said, the students I spoke to came from many different backgrounds, but when asked if they were ready to go home, the answer was unanimous. No one was ready to leave Columbia University. We came from places as different as Turkey and Connecticut, yet we have meshed together to create this culture just like immigrants have created New York City. The culture shock phase is over, and we cannot imagine going back to our dreary hometowns. Lauren Dunmore said, “What am I going to do in Montclair, New Jersey?”

For women, shopping has been an addiction that cannot be ignored. Fashion has been used as a tool to express oneself without words: making a silent statement. Designers have built an industry based on customer demands. For example, a woman wants to be comfortable but at the same time elegant. As the years progress, customer demands change with the erratic trends of our modern world.

Behnaz Sarafpour Collection 2007

The fashion industry consumes approximately 300 billion dollars a year. Recently, the global warming crisis has been drastically effecting our environment and one of the main causes is the corporate factory. Factories are major producers of clothing lines that are an essential to the industry. At first, to protest global warming, individuals would create their own designs for cheap. For example, one shirt would depict an earth helplessly sweating and the caption would read…. SAVE THE ONE MOTHER WE ALL SHARE. This “green” trend not only caught the attention of the media, but also caught the clever attention of the designers. In the 2008 NYC fashion week some of the most prestigious names in the business, such as Marc Jacobs, Versace, and Stella McCartney incorporated eco-friendly designs into their runway lines. It started on the runway, but today is built for the everyday comfort of the average woman.

The fashion industry was successful enough without this eco movement so why go green? The answer is…everyone now-a days seems to care. Today, if you aren’t somewhat and just the slightest bit earthly considerate with your designs you’re frowned upon.

A past interview done by Vis-à-vis magazine with American Apparel’s Organic Program’s
Development Liaison, Erika Martinez about their recent attempts at giving back to the planet.

LJ: How do your eco friendly products help the environment while helping the consumer?
EM: The more alternative fabrics we use, the less chemical pollutants go into the planet and atmosphere. Organic fabrics are less irritating for people who have sensitive skin. Consumers can use their buying power to support causes they feel are important to further the future quality of our lives. Also, by buying organic cotton products you get the satisfaction of doing your part to help.
LJ: What differs from organic cotton to regular cotton made in the United States? Does organic fabric cost more to use?
EM: Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides, herbicides or insecticides. Conventional cotton, on the other hand, requires about 25 percent of the world’s chemical pesticides, thus making the cultivation process very toxic. Cotton seed from heavily sprayed plants is used in most of the processed food we eat, including snack foods and salad dressings. Organic cotton is currently more expensive although we retail our organic tees for the same price as the conventional tees.
-Vis-a-vie Magazine

Behnaz Sarafpour Collection 2007

Organic cotton is one of the new steps that designers are taking to become green. Designers such as Stella McCartney and Adidas have somewhat converted to fashion vegetarianism or boycotting the incorporation of leather in some of their collections. Another famous sports brand Nike, has mixed organic cotton into all of its clothing. Then, it dedicated an entire line to 100% organic cotton. “ Organic cotton not only gives back to the earth, but it feels better on the skin, my entire closet is filled with organic t-shirts. I feel good, but I feel even better about giving back to the environment,” says Photo Director at Glamour Magazine Suzanne Donaldson.

So what can you do to get involved in the environment movement? Here are a few big tips to become eco-friendly in the fashionista sense….

1. Start Going Green From the Depths of Your Closet: Every girl has a favorite article of clothing so why not make it regular in your week special? If you love it wear it. Not only will it attribute to having a signature look that makes you unique, but also you will save money shopping for new clothes. The minimum amounts of shopping you do means the less mass production of clothes resulting in smaller factory emissions or carbon footprint (which contribute to polluting the environment).

2. As You’re Fishing Around In Your Closet… If you are looking around in your closet and you find an old t-shirt that is out of style, make it into something new. Be artsy! Creating your own stuff is not only fun, but it saves money instead of shopping for new clothes. And if you’re smart about it, you can start selling your designs! Claire Elizabeth Read, a friend of mine, started selling homemade t-shirts and they were a huge success in New York City. Be creative because it will pay off!

3. If Tempted to Shop, Shop Organically: For every taste in fashion there is a designer who has gone green (see list above for ideas). To ballpark price range for an all-organic t-shirt from American Apparel (Baby Rib Basic Short Sleeve T) is $15. The non-organic (Baby Rib Basic Short Sleeve T) is $15. The two shirts cost the same, but one helps the planet. Brands like American Apparel are making it hard for Americans to use the excuse “shopping green is too hard”. If the shirt costs the same the only smart way to be organic.

4. Be Smart With Your Feet: Especially in a hot summer like this one, be conscience of the footwear you choose. Materials such as leather, and canvas crack easily in the heat. They are also not the most comfortable of shoes for long walking distances. If your going to buy a new pair of shoes in the summer, or even this fall, go for shoes that can last in all weather circumstances, that is also thoughtful of the environment. Converse, a favorite shoe for over a decade, are shoes that withstand the heat and the cold you name it. They are sold at almost every footwear store in New York City so try them out. They are also not very expensive which makes them even more desirable.

Although America has not fully converted to green-ism it has taken the fashion world by full force, and there really is no stopping it. Almost every well-known designer has either designed a line strictly based off of organic materials or is in the process of doing so. In a few years, fingers crossed, that the entire industry will become fully organic. Although each designer converting to green seems like one small step in a global scale, eventually it will be one huge leap for the industry in contributing to saving the planet. ….

For the lovers of Italian cuisine, a drive into Hope St in Stamford, Connecticut will offer you a restaurant with all the airiness of eating at a relative’s house. No formality here—just good food, and hopefully good people to spend the meal with. I came to Bella Luna knowing little of what to expect; I did some homework, and I was able to deduce that the majority of customers considered the place to lack atmosphere, yet supply a generous feast that would have you coming back for more. As I observed Bella Luna from a glance, I could automatically see why the general ambiance was questionable. Frankly, the location is a busy, suburban street and the front of the place appeared more like a store than a restaurant. Despite the dreary impression I got from the exterior (Perhaps a little pizzazz would draw more people in?) the interior was welcoming and casual. Nothing special—typical whitewashed walls, Italian pottery and depictions of scenes from Tuskany. I must admit, the shelf with pictures of the owner’s daughters and wife was a nice touch; it bolstered the homey feel of the place quite nicely. First impressions? Casual, fun, family style. Good place to take a load off after a strenuous day at work, catch up with some buddies.

I was greeted affably by a heavyset woman, who directed me to my seat. Comfortable chairs, normal décor, and an air conditioner working on overdrive. Can’t do much about that one—try asking someone sweating like a pig to lower the AC. I didn’t dare try. She asked me what I wanted to drink, and being underage as I am I ordered a Diet Coke. After she left I had a few minutes to observe my surroundings. There were a scarce amount of tables, with only one fourth of them full. Who am I kidding? It’s a Tuesday and ten to six. I’m sure it’s a relief to them that they aren’t empty. I took a look at the menu, which had an extensive list of appetizers and various entrées that seemed absolutely mouthwatering. Some appetizers included a Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with gorgonzola cheese, sauteed spinach with a fine herb crust, as well as fried calamari served with marinara sauce and tossed with parmigiano. I decided to go with the calamari, hoping it wouldn’t be too fishy (I normally hate seafood, but calamari tastes more like chicken to me than anything).

My Diet Coke came rather quickly, and the lady took my order for the appetizer. Considering the place was quite empty, I hoped my dish would come soon—I was famished. The entrée list offered a variety of seafood, pasta dishes, and meats such as chicken and pork. Unaware of portion sizes, I decided to go with the Gnocchi Alla Casa, which was a dish of homemade potato dumplings tossed with a fileto tomato sauce, butter, fresh basil and topped with fresh mozzarella. After the waitress took my orders (apparently she is the sister of the owner, and quite friendly) I had some time to sit and ponder over the place. More people had trickled in as time went by, and to my immediate surprise a party of six—no wait, seven? Eight? Apparently someone was hosting a party. The waitress appeared overwhelmed, and directed the group to another room which I hadn’t even noticed before. A restaurant being packed on a Tuesday is definitely a good sign; I was getting my hopes up before the food even came to the table. When it did come, or at least the appetizer, I was first struck by the size of the plate. I almost asked if she had given me an entrée by mistake. The plate, for one thing, was gigantic, and the mound of calamari on it was enough to feed at least two or three people. Looks like someone is going to have leftovers, I thought to myself. I took a bite and instantly there was an eruption of flavor—the crispy exterior and the chewy calamari were simply delicious. Maybe they served large portions for a reason.

After devouring the calamari and forgetting that I ordered more food, I was struck by how quickly my food actually came. New record, anyone? Despite the place being full, I was getting my dish served hot and yummy. My entrée took a little more time, but that can be expected—and once again, I was baffled by the sheer size. The gnocchi was generously coated in a thick, gooey orange sauce of mozzarella and tomato. Eager to dig in, I poked my fork into one of them and took a bite. The first thing I noticed was the sweetness of the cheese, and the smooth texture of the sauce. The flavor was exquisite, and the gnocchi cooked to perfection. I was ready to say it was the best dish I ever tasted—and I’m pretty sure it was. Sadly I could neither finish my gnocchi or my calamari, and once I was full I had to neglect the dessert selection (which looked very tasty, I must say). Despite my stomach ready to explode, I was satisfied with my meal and had a substantial amount to take home for lunch the next day. The prices, roughly $16 dollars for an entrée and $9 for an appetizer, were a deal considering the amount of food given. I felt as if I was ordering two meals, and not one. After paying the bill, the waitress gave me a cordial goodbye and exited the still bustling restaurant. I entered the now dark street, hearing the roaring engines of cars and feeling a light breeze on my cheek. I yearned to be back in that relaxed and carefree atmosphere, enjoying what Bella Luna has to offer. Somehow, I knew that in the near future I would—they gave me enough to lure me back once more. Overall? Get yourself right over there next time your stomach grumbles; no restaurant can feed you more than this one.

An encroaching metallic figure rises above human height. Organic pockets of space are shaped between the reaching sections of the limbs. The slick metal of the figure glistens knowingly under the falling sun. The branches circle and separate at nature’s surprising angles. Viewing the sculpture is reading into humanity’s modern interpretation of Earth’s original artwork. The stainless-steel sculpture presented is a brilliant re-creation of something already awe-inspiring—the growth of trees. “Maelstrom,” Roxy Paine’s most recent artistic work, is an exhibit at the Met Museum of Art that cannot be missed.

Roxy Paine's "Maelstrom"

“Maelstrom” is the twelfth consecutive single-artist installation to occupy the rooftop space of the Met. The new exhibit, which consists of several stainless-steel sculptures of trees, is atop the museum in the Canton Roof Garden. They are only several of the fifteen sculptures of their type that have been created by Paine, shown in over five different exhibitions worldwide. Paine says the roof is the perfect spot for his exhibit because the surrounding skyscrapers remind viewers of the dwindling natural world. “Maelstrom” is Paine’s largest and most ambitious project to date. He claims that the piece is so large, extending 130 feet long by 45 feet in height, because he was determined that the surrounding landscape not dwarf the statement of the artwork, but work with it instead. Like other works in the series, “Maelstrom” explores man’s stubborn desire to impose order on nature and to sculpt the world’s natural beauty to fit his own standards of modernity. The exhibit runs through October 25^th.

The individual plant figures in Paine’s metal gardens, often referred to as “dentroids,” are all inspired by the same idea. Almost a desperate attempt to understand the mysteries of nature, Paine sought clarification by manually recreating the curves of plant growth himself. A second face of the study also aims to examine the transformation of environment due to human impact. Paine describes his study as learning the “language” of how a tree grows. He meticulously observes a variety of tree species and their forms throughout their lifetimes. In an analysis of how natural spaces are transformed into man-made ones Paine translates his own perception of trees, into pipe and rod.

Paine was born in New York City in 1966. Beginning in 1985, Paine attended college at the University of Santa Fe in New Mexico and afterwards studied at the Pratt Institute in New York. Since 1990, he has had work exhibited in cities worldwide, including New York, Jerusalem, and Tilburg. Other prominent museums which have shown Paine’s work include De Pont Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art. Currently Paine lives and works on his art in Brooklyn, Long Island City and Treadwell, New York. Born a New Yorker, always a New Yorker, the artist is as dedicated to his city as to his work.

Roxy Paine's "Maelstrom"

On the roof of the Met, opinions of the masterpiece were plenty. Sara Mark, a rising high school senior from San Diego, California, who is interested in the representational messages of artwork, was struck by the exhibit. When asked to describe “Maelstrom” in her own words, Sara responded, “I found the exhibit to be extremely thought-provoking because it is interesting to view a world where something we know as natural is now human made.” She said that the modern tree sculpture evoked emotions of “fear” for a man-made environment that may become our future and “awe,” simply because the artwork is breath-taking. Another high school–aged girl, Rebecca Erde, a native New Yorker like Paine, expressed separates views. A passionate artist herself, engaging most heavily in photography and sculpture, Rebecca loves to view the work of other artists. The sculpture reminded Rebecca of “an Alice In Wonderland scene.” “It’s a mysterious world, and I like it a lot,” she said. Rebecca was also able to recognize Paine’s craftsmanship in the form of the sculpture. “I like how positive and negative space,” she said, “were used in contrast with the sky.”

An extremely interesting and persuasive artist, Roxy Paine creates work that easily holds the eyes of his audience members. The single reward of an artist is to interest other people. An in depth study of human influence on our own living environment, tourists and inhabitants of New York City alike should seek the Canton Roof Garden at the Met Museum of Art as a destination for artistic exposure. The trees of “Maelstrom” are waiting.

Sally Miller, an up and coming designer, grew up in a small suburban town right outside Philadelphia. Ever since she was a little girl, she has aspired to be a fashion designer, though at the age of five, the thought of being a movie star did cross her mind.

Sally Miller, Fashion Designer. Courtesy of Celebrity Spotlight Radio

When asked at what age she started designing clothes, Miller responded, “Well I used to design clothes for my Barbie dolls…using scraps from my moms sewing kit, I was probably about nine.” Even at a young age, she used bits and pieces of cloth to help turn her Barbies into runway divas. Then, when Miller began attending the Rhode Island School of Design, she was tasked with a more difficult assignment; making clothing out of anything except fabric. Her final result ended up being a coat out of coffee filters.  Talk about starting from scratch.

Miller Designs For the Ages

Miller started officially designing in 1987, creating a new brand called Sister Sister. She now has different lines that not only run in her boutique but also stores like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. Her clothing consists of both a couture line and a more sporty casual line. Although it isn’t the cheapest, buying a few pieces is completely worth the money. First off, the clothes are very transeasonal, so you are able to wear them throughout the year. Also, the quality of the clothing is excellent, giving you a long lasting fashionable article.

According to Miller fashion is, “Any type of art is a form of self expression so I consider it an art because it’s a way to express yourself.” HerHew first muse was Cher. She used to watch the Sonny and Cher show in the ‘70s and thought all of Cher’s outfits were so inspiring to her. She also came to admire artists Christian Dior and Karl Lagerfeld; thinking they are very creative, therefore helping the self-expression thought.

Going Local

Photo by Rachel Eck

Miller has recently opened a boutique in Milltown, NJ right near her home. Huddled between a pizza shop and a law office, the cute little store gives the town a splash of color. Although very small, Milltown is now known for being home to a great designer. Her life has changed though since she opened this new hot spot. Miller was able to move her entire office out of her house and into her own space at her store, “It’s been a big change, but I love it,” she exclaimed.

Walking into her store, one is able to easily find exactly what they are looking for. Although it is small, the boutique offers a range of both clothing and accessories. The clothing stationed along the right wall is mostly her couture line, more classy and dressy. With colors of black and royal purple, girls feel more sophisticated slipping into the trendy outfits. In the center of the store, Miller’s more casual clothing can be found and to the far left there are the items on sale, which are total steals. Next to the cash register, items like watches, earrings or necklaces can also be found which although they are not designed by Miller, are very adorable. The jewelry is all very simple, with thin chains and small charms to thick watches embedded with rhinestones. Overall, her between the fabrics and cuts her tops, dresses and skirts are very comfortable. It makes a young girl feel more like a lady because she is able to dress more maturely which most girls love.

If media, friends and family influence your style, they shouldn’t. Many people may feel self-conscious going against the grain when it comes to what’s in and what’s out. It takes confidence to wear something outrageous that most people have not seen. Yet with most teens these days, the new thing is showing a lot of skin. This dilemma that most parents and tweens stumble upon has now been solved. Miller works hard to make sure she provides girls with clothing that is comfortable, appropriate and chic. “Sometimes the clothing manufacturers are very inappropriate for what they provide for teen girls. I wish there was more choices but at the same time, teen girls are going through a lot of changes so they want to show more because they are growing into themselves. Their beautiful,” Miller explained when asked if she thought teen girls felt pressure to show a lot of skin. She also agreed that the media influence right now is a lot better then it has been because teens in the spotlight now are more appropriate then the older celebrities.

For the past twenty years, Miller has been designing clothing for the tween line. In order to make sure her clothing wears just right, Miller fits the clothes on live models. This guarantees that girls have a comfortable fit when wearing everything. With an everlasting style and a great input on tween fashion, Sally Miller is definitely rising to the top.

When a person starts to talk about art, the usual images that pop into one’s mind consist of breathtaking landscapes or sculptures of strong, muscular men. However not everyone’s understanding of art is made up of these typical images. Although new styles can face brutal criticism, they can also be the beginnings of new eras in art. The paintings of Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992 ) are an excellent example of just that.

When you first look at Francis Bacon’s paintings your reaction is most likely to be “What the hell is this?” or “This is art, really?” But as you find out more about what the artist is trying to convey in his work, the paintings actually start to make sense. Because Francis Bacon was an atheist, he believed that without that fear of or belief in God, humans were in fact no different than the wildest of animals. They had the same want for violence, lust and fear. He tried to reflect that belief in his art, which is why his work is dark, violent, brutal, bloody and bold. For instance one of the series of his paintings, named “The Head Series” , portray human heads which are reduced from human form, mostly containing fangs, rhino like skin and other animal qualities. Critic, Robert Melville, describes the skin seen in paintings as “the color of black snakes, lightly powdered with dust.”

The second painting in The Head Series courtesy of The New York Times

As an artist, Bacon had some difficulties in launching his career. During the earlier years of his work, then critic commented on his work, saying: “the images are vivid and meaningless.” However in 1948 Francis Bacon’s career successfully took off by selling a painting to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art). His work was vastly appreciated after WWII drew to a close. WWII soon became an important inspiration for his paintings. He was also inspired by “the wounded nurse” in Sergei Einsteins’ film “Battlestar Potemkin” for many paintings, including the third painting in the head series. Battlestar Potemkin is a silent film which has often been considered one of the greatest films of all times. It is loosely based on a mutiny in Batllestar and therefore contains many violent scenes. This might just be one of the reasons this film affected Francis Bacon in such a strong way.

Although in his earlier work his attention in his paintings were focused on strangers, during the years 1963 – 1969 that attention shifted towards his friends. In these paintings, the figures were mostly distorted and sometimes traditionally erotic. One of the people that he focused in his paintings for these years was his great love: George Dyer, a petty thief in the publics’ eyes. His presence in Bacon’s work only increased after George died of overdose in the hotel room which he and Bacon shared in 1976. At this time his paintings were more brutal as he was consumed with guilt and grief.

In his last years, although Bacon faced no health issues, he was constantly reminded of mortality by those who were around him. As a result of this his paintings underlined the vulnerability of flesh. Although this mood reflected on his paintings, a new relationship with John Edwards and new sources of material, such as the poetry of “Frederico Garcia,” overcame that reflection and henceforth he ended up producing some of his best work yet.

Francis Bacon, who passed away in 1991, was an exceptional artist and a critic. He was bold and outspoken when he broke the rules of the art we commonly and perhaps changed the interpretation of art for many and still continues to do so as the exhibit is on display at the MET (The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art). Even though some people may not appreciate the bold criticism that leaps out of the paintings I can honestly say that his paintings have changed my understanding of art forever.

Jodi Picoult’s first novel adapted to a screenplay, “My Sister’s Keeper”, has gotten very mixed reviews.  This is because of the interesting decision of director and screenwriter Nick Cassavetes to change the ending of the story that millions of readers loved.  Cassavetes is well known for directing “The Notebook”, and his latest project is “Alpha Dog”, starring Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, and Emile Hirsch.  His daring move with the end of “My Sister’s Keeper” may not have been the best decision.

The cast of “My Sister’s Keeper” includes Abigail Breslin, Cameron Diaz, and Alec Baldwin.  Diaz’s character Sara Fitzgerald takes overprotective to a new level as mother of Kate, Anna and Jesse.  Breslin delivers a stunning performance as Anna Fitzgerald, a child who was created as a genetic match for her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer at a young age.  Anna has been a donor for her sister from the moment she was born when they took her umbilical cord fluid to give to Kate.  Baldwin plays Anna’s lawyer, Caldwell Alexander, when she sues her parents, because she desires a life without medical treatments.  The strong cast and plot carry the movie, but some important details are lost.

Book versus Screenplay

The book explains a lot of important points about scientific research and genetics which the movie does not delve into as much, which ends up making the movie more interesting. However, one thing that is a problem in the adaptation is that the relationship between Anna and her lawyer is not well developed, whereas in the book they are best friends.  This changes the plot because in the book, when Anna needs an outlet, she can always turn to Alexander, but in the movie there is not enough time with them together to develop a strong relationship.

Another weak point of the adaptation is that Jesse Fitzgerald, Anna and Kate’s brother, does not have a large role in the movie, and without knowledge from the book you would not understand the loneliness that he was feeling.  Also, it was hard to understand that he was taking drugs from the one shot of him sitting alone on a street corner.  In the book the brother is the lost child, which causes even more conflicts for the parents.  The decision was probably made to keep the movie on a PG-13 scale, but it took away from the plot.  Also, the fact that he dropped out of school was not mentioned until the very end of the movie, when he gets re-accepted into school.

Cassavetes uses flashbacks to tell the story, which make it more interesting and help the audience get into the minds of different characters, as did the book. Some of the adaptations of the screenplay were necessary, but one that wasn’t is the change in ending.  In the book, Anna dies in a car accident, and the reader does not know what will happen to Kate, but Anna’s organs will be donated to her.  In the movie, Anna does not die, whereas Kate dies of cancer.  The ending of the book is much more powerful because it shows the reader that we are all destined to die.  As sad as that is, it was a very important message that the ending to the movie did not convey.