Distinctive sounds coming from The Balcony
By Hugh Prentice
(Photo: 89xradio.com)
On January 6th the band Catfish and the Bottlemen released their first full length album, The Balcony. Catfish and the Bottlemen officially started in 2010 in Llandudno, Wales. The band started out by playing Beatles covers for a while until they realized that the locals were unimpressed with their sound. The four members started to make their own music, which was a great idea. Catfish and the Bottlemen released three singles before teasing The Balcony with the single Kathleen. Kathleen was a hit and when it was released in the U.K. it debuted at number 10 on the U.K. charts.
The Balcony opens up with Homesick which begins with lead singer Van McCann’s smooth vocals accompanied with simple guitar riffs and light drum taps, but the calm ends when the chorus comes in and adds a weight to the song as the band builds cathedrals of sound until the end, where McCann’s smooth vocals return. The 2nd track on the album, Kathleen, starts off with a rhythmic drum beat that is the base for the almost wild guitars throughout the song as McCann pours into the lyrics as the speed of the song increases after each chorus. The 5th track, Pacifier, starts out fast and loud and brings to mind the pub scene of many English cities as McCann’s lyrics depict the cheeky responses he had towards someone he met, as the song closes McCann and the band finish with a calm repeat of ”I’m a pacifier”. The 6th track on the record, Hourglass, is a heartfelt acoustic ordeal that is almost like an open letter to a loving partner. The 8th track, 26, is based on a heavy guitar presence and feels like a hectic night out on the town as it slows to lyrical and percussive grace as if you had just stepped back into your home after that long night out. The 9th track, Rango, focuses more on pairing the drums with the guitars throughout and the two work together to create a heavy sound that slows just before the chorus brings them crashing together again. The 10th track, Sidewinder, bases itself on a high wine and twang of guitars at the start and pairs with choppy vocals to give a sad feeling when listening intently to the lyrics. The last track on the album, Tyrants, starts with a touchy guitar solo that is joined by progressive percussion that breaks at each vocal inflection to give a sad, yet chaotic feel to the song.
Overall The Balcony is a powerful balance of Indie influences and Alternative uses of instruments that make for a very pleasing listening experience. Guitarist Johnny Bond and bassist Benji Blakeway know how to combine their sound to make a heavy string presence but without drowning out the percussive beats of Bob Hall that give headphone users something to focus on.
-Hugh Prentice (16’) is an Interactive Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Hugh Prentice
(Photo: 89xradio.com)
On January 6th the band Catfish and the Bottlemen released their first full length album, The Balcony. Catfish and the Bottlemen officially started in 2010 in Llandudno, Wales. The band started out by playing Beatles covers for a while until they realized that the locals were unimpressed with their sound. The four members started to make their own music, which was a great idea. Catfish and the Bottlemen released three singles before teasing The Balcony with the single Kathleen. Kathleen was a hit and when it was released in the U.K. it debuted at number 10 on the U.K. charts.
The Balcony opens up with Homesick which begins with lead singer Van McCann’s smooth vocals accompanied with simple guitar riffs and light drum taps, but the calm ends when the chorus comes in and adds a weight to the song as the band builds cathedrals of sound until the end, where McCann’s smooth vocals return. The 2nd track on the album, Kathleen, starts off with a rhythmic drum beat that is the base for the almost wild guitars throughout the song as McCann pours into the lyrics as the speed of the song increases after each chorus. The 5th track, Pacifier, starts out fast and loud and brings to mind the pub scene of many English cities as McCann’s lyrics depict the cheeky responses he had towards someone he met, as the song closes McCann and the band finish with a calm repeat of ”I’m a pacifier”. The 6th track on the record, Hourglass, is a heartfelt acoustic ordeal that is almost like an open letter to a loving partner. The 8th track, 26, is based on a heavy guitar presence and feels like a hectic night out on the town as it slows to lyrical and percussive grace as if you had just stepped back into your home after that long night out. The 9th track, Rango, focuses more on pairing the drums with the guitars throughout and the two work together to create a heavy sound that slows just before the chorus brings them crashing together again. The 10th track, Sidewinder, bases itself on a high wine and twang of guitars at the start and pairs with choppy vocals to give a sad feeling when listening intently to the lyrics. The last track on the album, Tyrants, starts with a touchy guitar solo that is joined by progressive percussion that breaks at each vocal inflection to give a sad, yet chaotic feel to the song.
Overall The Balcony is a powerful balance of Indie influences and Alternative uses of instruments that make for a very pleasing listening experience. Guitarist Johnny Bond and bassist Benji Blakeway know how to combine their sound to make a heavy string presence but without drowning out the percussive beats of Bob Hall that give headphone users something to focus on.
-Hugh Prentice (16’) is an Interactive Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
“The Interview” Review
By Kyle Stermer
(Photo: usatoday.com)
Ever since I started seeing the trailers for this movie, I knew I had to see it. It looked hilarious, plus it featured a story plot that centered around assassinating the leader of North Korea. If you haven't heard, a couple days before the movie came out, Sony, the producer of the film, was hacked. Many movies were leaked, and hundreds of employees’ information was compromised. Automatically, everyone associated the blame to North Korea. It was the most obvious answer; who else would do it? North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, also said that showing the movie would be “an act of war that we will never tolerate”. After all of this, Sony decided to play it safe and pull the movies from theatres. However, Barack Obama responded to the whole thing and said “Sony made a mistake” and that he wished that they would have talked to him first. So after all of this, who wouldn't want to see the movie even more?
The movie starts out by the cast and crew of a celebrity gossip show finding out that Kim Jong Un is a big fan of their show. Following this, the shows producer arranged an interview with him. In this process, the shows hosts are contacted by the CIA. The CIA wants to make it into an assassination by using a strip that, when shaking hands with Kim, would expose him to ricin. The movie takes an unexpected twist however, when one of the hosts becomes friends with Kim and guiltily throws away his ricin strips. He then realized that Kim is more malicious than he thought. So what would they do now, they have no ricin strips?
I give this movie a 8/10. It was funny, yet sketchy enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would watch it again.
-Kyle Stermer (‘16) is an Interactive Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Kyle Stermer
(Photo: usatoday.com)
Ever since I started seeing the trailers for this movie, I knew I had to see it. It looked hilarious, plus it featured a story plot that centered around assassinating the leader of North Korea. If you haven't heard, a couple days before the movie came out, Sony, the producer of the film, was hacked. Many movies were leaked, and hundreds of employees’ information was compromised. Automatically, everyone associated the blame to North Korea. It was the most obvious answer; who else would do it? North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, also said that showing the movie would be “an act of war that we will never tolerate”. After all of this, Sony decided to play it safe and pull the movies from theatres. However, Barack Obama responded to the whole thing and said “Sony made a mistake” and that he wished that they would have talked to him first. So after all of this, who wouldn't want to see the movie even more?
The movie starts out by the cast and crew of a celebrity gossip show finding out that Kim Jong Un is a big fan of their show. Following this, the shows producer arranged an interview with him. In this process, the shows hosts are contacted by the CIA. The CIA wants to make it into an assassination by using a strip that, when shaking hands with Kim, would expose him to ricin. The movie takes an unexpected twist however, when one of the hosts becomes friends with Kim and guiltily throws away his ricin strips. He then realized that Kim is more malicious than he thought. So what would they do now, they have no ricin strips?
I give this movie a 8/10. It was funny, yet sketchy enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would watch it again.
-Kyle Stermer (‘16) is an Interactive Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Unbroken
By Daniel Neff
(Photo: imdb.com)
Angelina Jolie’s second run at directing was on the movie Unbroken. Unbroken is a WWII story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Based on the hit novel, this movie follows Louis Zamperini throughout his incredible life. Zamperini was a bombardier during WWII who ends up getting captured by the Japanese and taken as a prisoner of war. By the end of this movie, you can’t help but feel uplifted after watching what this man went through, while still remaining hopeful and determined to live.
The movie shows Zamperini as he grows up in Torrance, California. As a boy he was very mischievous, stealing things and getting into fights. Then, his older brother, Pete, got him into the school track team to try and place his focus somewhere else. Zamperini ended up being a track star, beating many records throughout high school. He was so good, he went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. He got eighth place for the 5000-meter dash. He later decided to enlist in the U.S. army in 1941. While on a rescue run, the plane has mechanical problems and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The crash killed the entire crew except for Zamperini and two others. They wind up adrift on a raft for 47 days, facing ocean storms, sharks, and starvation. On the 47th day a ship finds them, but it’s a Japanese ship. This starts two more years of nightmarish torture at prisoner of war camps, or POW for short. He was especially tormented by a prison guard nicknamed “Bird.” This guard was so much more vicious than the other guards, beating Zamperini almost everyday.
From shots inside of the B-24 during fight scenes to huge ocean storms, the visuals in this movie are also nothing short of fantastic. They also did a great job capturing the filthy, dreadful living conditions at the POW camps. Even in shots with hundreds of prisoners, each has their own personal amount of blood, mud, and more smudged across their bodies.
Unbroken is about 137 minutes, which is 2 hours and 17 minutes. This alone of course isn’t a bad thing, as I’ve seen much longer movies. But about 90 minutes is spent with him at POW camps. The movie tries to keep you interested, but it just ends up getting a little old, watching Zamperini get tortured, beaten, and worked over and over again. This doesn’t make it a bad movie, but could turn off some viewers.
If you want a good drama biography movie to watch, this is your answer. For Angelina Jolie’s second time directing, I’d say she did a great job. I give this film overall a 8/10, “would watch again.”
-Daniel Neff (16’) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Daniel Neff
(Photo: imdb.com)
Angelina Jolie’s second run at directing was on the movie Unbroken. Unbroken is a WWII story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Based on the hit novel, this movie follows Louis Zamperini throughout his incredible life. Zamperini was a bombardier during WWII who ends up getting captured by the Japanese and taken as a prisoner of war. By the end of this movie, you can’t help but feel uplifted after watching what this man went through, while still remaining hopeful and determined to live.
The movie shows Zamperini as he grows up in Torrance, California. As a boy he was very mischievous, stealing things and getting into fights. Then, his older brother, Pete, got him into the school track team to try and place his focus somewhere else. Zamperini ended up being a track star, beating many records throughout high school. He was so good, he went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany. He got eighth place for the 5000-meter dash. He later decided to enlist in the U.S. army in 1941. While on a rescue run, the plane has mechanical problems and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The crash killed the entire crew except for Zamperini and two others. They wind up adrift on a raft for 47 days, facing ocean storms, sharks, and starvation. On the 47th day a ship finds them, but it’s a Japanese ship. This starts two more years of nightmarish torture at prisoner of war camps, or POW for short. He was especially tormented by a prison guard nicknamed “Bird.” This guard was so much more vicious than the other guards, beating Zamperini almost everyday.
From shots inside of the B-24 during fight scenes to huge ocean storms, the visuals in this movie are also nothing short of fantastic. They also did a great job capturing the filthy, dreadful living conditions at the POW camps. Even in shots with hundreds of prisoners, each has their own personal amount of blood, mud, and more smudged across their bodies.
Unbroken is about 137 minutes, which is 2 hours and 17 minutes. This alone of course isn’t a bad thing, as I’ve seen much longer movies. But about 90 minutes is spent with him at POW camps. The movie tries to keep you interested, but it just ends up getting a little old, watching Zamperini get tortured, beaten, and worked over and over again. This doesn’t make it a bad movie, but could turn off some viewers.
If you want a good drama biography movie to watch, this is your answer. For Angelina Jolie’s second time directing, I’d say she did a great job. I give this film overall a 8/10, “would watch again.”
-Daniel Neff (16’) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
American Sniper
By Brad Wilson
(Photo: imdb.com)
A true American classic movie was recently filmed. This movie was based on the true life story of Navy Seal Sniper, Chris Kyle. The movie can be described as an emotional rollercoaster and this is a very accurate description in the sense that one moment, you can almost be on the brink of an anxiety attack from the action, to another where you can be holding back tears. Many would say that in order for a movie to be great, it has to make you experience as many emotions as possible, and American Sniper does just that. You can experience anything from joy and courage to fear and suffering. Although its not a movie that is for the weak of stomach, it is a wonderful portrayal of life like battle situations. It has many bloody and gorey scenes, but these scenes just add to the gravity of the situations.
In the movie, Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, is a cowboy from Texas who sees what is happening over-seas and instantly feels the need to do something about it. He enlists in the navy Seals program and he eventually finds his way behind the trigger of a sniper rifle. Chris goes on multiple tours and he doesn’t always come back mentally.
This movie provides a great insight to the possible outcomes of being a brave soldier. It shows all of the unbelievable training they go through, all the tough situations they learn to adapt to, but most of all it shows what effects war can have on a human. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is all too common among soldiers who return from war and that is what takes the largest toll on the life of Chris Kyle.
-Brad Wilson (‘15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Brad Wilson
(Photo: imdb.com)
A true American classic movie was recently filmed. This movie was based on the true life story of Navy Seal Sniper, Chris Kyle. The movie can be described as an emotional rollercoaster and this is a very accurate description in the sense that one moment, you can almost be on the brink of an anxiety attack from the action, to another where you can be holding back tears. Many would say that in order for a movie to be great, it has to make you experience as many emotions as possible, and American Sniper does just that. You can experience anything from joy and courage to fear and suffering. Although its not a movie that is for the weak of stomach, it is a wonderful portrayal of life like battle situations. It has many bloody and gorey scenes, but these scenes just add to the gravity of the situations.
In the movie, Chris Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, is a cowboy from Texas who sees what is happening over-seas and instantly feels the need to do something about it. He enlists in the navy Seals program and he eventually finds his way behind the trigger of a sniper rifle. Chris goes on multiple tours and he doesn’t always come back mentally.
This movie provides a great insight to the possible outcomes of being a brave soldier. It shows all of the unbelievable training they go through, all the tough situations they learn to adapt to, but most of all it shows what effects war can have on a human. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is all too common among soldiers who return from war and that is what takes the largest toll on the life of Chris Kyle.
-Brad Wilson (‘15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Seniors mourn lost classmate
By Hunter Adkins
As senior leadership students and their senior classmates mourn the loss of their friend and fellow senior Matt West, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Dec. 23, several activities are being planned to honor Matt’s memory.
The whole senior class met in the media center, and many of the ideas generated by Matt’s classmates are being carried out by the student leadership class.
Already, students went to the primary building to paint the faces of young students in honor of the OSU national championship game for $1 each. Seniors Megan Hatfield, Hunter Adkins, Alexis Absten, Regan Turner, Joy Goodman, and Katelynd Havice managed to raise $200 for the Matt West Scholarship, which will be awarded to a graduating senior this May.
T-shirts memorializing Matt will soon be available for purchase, featuring several of Matt’s favorite things. Anyone can purchase one, with funds from the t-shirts also going toward the scholarship.
A three-on-three basketball tournament will be planned here at NHS in the coming months with a bake sale. A few students are working on scrapbook pages for Matt’s family, and the entire school will be asked to help contribute photos. Look for a flyer coming out soon with more information about the scrapbook.
A car show will also be held in Matt’s honor this spring for the whole community.
-Hunter Adkins (15') is the Features Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Hunter Adkins
As senior leadership students and their senior classmates mourn the loss of their friend and fellow senior Matt West, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Dec. 23, several activities are being planned to honor Matt’s memory.
The whole senior class met in the media center, and many of the ideas generated by Matt’s classmates are being carried out by the student leadership class.
Already, students went to the primary building to paint the faces of young students in honor of the OSU national championship game for $1 each. Seniors Megan Hatfield, Hunter Adkins, Alexis Absten, Regan Turner, Joy Goodman, and Katelynd Havice managed to raise $200 for the Matt West Scholarship, which will be awarded to a graduating senior this May.
T-shirts memorializing Matt will soon be available for purchase, featuring several of Matt’s favorite things. Anyone can purchase one, with funds from the t-shirts also going toward the scholarship.
A three-on-three basketball tournament will be planned here at NHS in the coming months with a bake sale. A few students are working on scrapbook pages for Matt’s family, and the entire school will be asked to help contribute photos. Look for a flyer coming out soon with more information about the scrapbook.
A car show will also be held in Matt’s honor this spring for the whole community.
-Hunter Adkins (15') is the Features Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Education or grades?
By Kaycee Campbell
Many say the purpose of going to school for 12 years is to get an education, but are you really receiving and participating in the education that you are promised?
Nowadays I think most students view 5th- 12th grade as a series of passing classes, getting good grades and making it to your next step in life. Teachers, parents, and even students seem not to be entirely focused on education but more on grades.
Kids get in trouble for getting bad grades, which is understandable to a certain extent. If you’re failing all of your classes then it’s a reasonable expectation that you would get into trouble. But if you’re not able to learn in a certain style the teacher chooses and struggle to retain the information, then is punishment truly fair?
With so much focus on getting good grades, kids find themselves tempted to cheat. If it’s a completion assignment, then kids will even put down bogus answers rather than engage in an actual learning experience.
Many jobs or colleges require the knowledge that you gain in high school, but what if you don’t retain any of it? You spent so much time just trying to get a passing grade that you didn’t focus on the information that you were supposed to be gaining.
I believe any kid can relate to the feeling of coming back from summer and not remembering anything from the year before. The reason for this is kids are not focusing on gaining the knowledge. So what’s the point if you have to learn so many things over again?
The test on whether you are considered “smart” or not is grades. What if you are brilliant, but cannot show it, due to lack of testing or assessment skills? There goes half your grade with test being weighted more, and even exams being weighted for 20% of a final grade.
The sad reality is, you can graduate high school with a 4.0 and still feel like you didn’t learn much. A student’s success is measured by grades, but it’s time to ask ourselves … success at what? Success at filling in random answers for completion grades? Success at memorizing facts without being able to apply them to real life situations? Success at playing the game of school? This isn’t an easy fix. But maybe parents could spend as much time really delving into what is being learned each day instead of whatever number is popping up on Progress Book. Maybe teachers could make sure their students are truly learning through effective assessment and, if they’re not getting it, they could try teaching it another way or spend extra time with a student who needs help. And finally, maybe students could take responsibility for focusing and putting effort into their work and into retaining information.
It really shouldn’t be all about grades. We’re here to learn.
-Kaycee Campbell ('17) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Kaycee Campbell
Many say the purpose of going to school for 12 years is to get an education, but are you really receiving and participating in the education that you are promised?
Nowadays I think most students view 5th- 12th grade as a series of passing classes, getting good grades and making it to your next step in life. Teachers, parents, and even students seem not to be entirely focused on education but more on grades.
Kids get in trouble for getting bad grades, which is understandable to a certain extent. If you’re failing all of your classes then it’s a reasonable expectation that you would get into trouble. But if you’re not able to learn in a certain style the teacher chooses and struggle to retain the information, then is punishment truly fair?
With so much focus on getting good grades, kids find themselves tempted to cheat. If it’s a completion assignment, then kids will even put down bogus answers rather than engage in an actual learning experience.
Many jobs or colleges require the knowledge that you gain in high school, but what if you don’t retain any of it? You spent so much time just trying to get a passing grade that you didn’t focus on the information that you were supposed to be gaining.
I believe any kid can relate to the feeling of coming back from summer and not remembering anything from the year before. The reason for this is kids are not focusing on gaining the knowledge. So what’s the point if you have to learn so many things over again?
The test on whether you are considered “smart” or not is grades. What if you are brilliant, but cannot show it, due to lack of testing or assessment skills? There goes half your grade with test being weighted more, and even exams being weighted for 20% of a final grade.
The sad reality is, you can graduate high school with a 4.0 and still feel like you didn’t learn much. A student’s success is measured by grades, but it’s time to ask ourselves … success at what? Success at filling in random answers for completion grades? Success at memorizing facts without being able to apply them to real life situations? Success at playing the game of school? This isn’t an easy fix. But maybe parents could spend as much time really delving into what is being learned each day instead of whatever number is popping up on Progress Book. Maybe teachers could make sure their students are truly learning through effective assessment and, if they’re not getting it, they could try teaching it another way or spend extra time with a student who needs help. And finally, maybe students could take responsibility for focusing and putting effort into their work and into retaining information.
It really shouldn’t be all about grades. We’re here to learn.
-Kaycee Campbell ('17) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Under the Desk: Feminist artists
By McKenzie Messer
(Photo: "Breakfast in Bed" by Mary Cassatt. Photo from huntington.org.)
If you aren’t very familiar with me, you may not know that two of the most important things in my life are art and feminism, and since I wrote a feature article on feminism for this issue (see above), I deemed it appropriate to write about feminist artists and how they’re important to the art world.
Despite there being so many amazing female artists, the percentage of women artists in large museums (Louvre, MoMA, Art Institute of Chicago) is shockingly small. In 1989 when the feminist art activist group Guerrilla Girls posted their first, and one of the most effective, billboard. With their statistics being cited and a in-your-face woman with a gorilla mask on, it was hard to ignore. While it helped (the billboard is actually currently hanging at MoMA), that doesn’t take away from the fact that women still only have a small fraction with less than10% of the artists being female.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an amazing impressionist in a man’s world. She showed real women living their life instead of a staged portrait. In her paintings, you can see women kissing, cleaning, comforting, even naturally feeding their children whereas men’s depictions of women and children staged and the subjects seem distant despite the close relation. By showing that a woman was just as good, if not better than a man in this fine profession, she opened many doors for women artists at the time and throughout the future.
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) painted flowers, but not like Monet’s water lilies or Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Her flowers were made to look like female reproductive organs. Her goal was to set herself apart from her male and masculine competition, so she created work that was claimed as “audaciously sexual and innately feminine" by art critics of the time. O'Keeffe's paintings helped pave the road for feminist artist because it empowered women to take charge of the world for themselves. She also was a part of the pro-suffrage National Women’s Party and said “I believe in women making their own living. It will be nice when women have equal opportunities and status with men so that it is taken as a matter of course.”
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was an amazing feminist and artist. Her art dealt with problems such as taboo cultural norms and feminine beauty ideals. She painted subjects such as abortion, miscarriage, gender inequalities, and the sexual lives of women. Because of her thick hair, she had a faint unibrow and mustache, but she took pleasure in these because she didn’t believe women should fit in a box of beauty and pushed the limits. She actually darkened them in with a black pencil to make her facial hair more noticeable.
Wangechi Mutu (1972- ) is a sculptor, but her most famous and powerful pieces seem to be her collages. In her works, she puts topics like race, gender, technology, and colonization on display for all to see. She especially likes to challenge and tear down cultural depictions and expectations of women, especially African women since she is from Kenya. He art is unsettling and slightly uncomfortable to look at because of it’s power, but that’s exactly why it’s important. Art isn’t supposed to be pretty or pleasant. It makes you feel something. Mutu’s work does just that is the most intriguing way possible.
Tameka Norris (1979-) is a performance and visual artist. In her photos she displays how ridiculous society and the media sexualizes women. She brings humor to some like letting a piece of fruit drip over her face wearing a bikini. But in others she goes straight to the gut by taking self-portraits in a push-up bra with a look of pure anguish and despair. In one piece titled Venus of the Rags, Norris stands in front of a pile of clothes nude with a man saying things about her body. She tells the Guardian that while she asked the man to simply press record, he took it upon himself to start talking. Norris says, “I'm the model and the director here … But it's like he's discrediting a woman for her ability – and that's happened in art for ever."
Feminism in the art world is important because there are still huge inequalities. While in most professions women make 77% of a man’s wage, women in the art world make about 10-13%, according to Guerilla Girls. If that seems a little silly, name some artists that weren’t listed here and count how many were men, because there’s a good chance majority were. Women have it much harder than men in the world of art. Feminism is working towards the goal that women and men will be recognized equally in art because art is meant to express oneself, but without this freedom women go unseen.
-McKenzie Messer (‘15) is the Print Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By McKenzie Messer
(Photo: "Breakfast in Bed" by Mary Cassatt. Photo from huntington.org.)
If you aren’t very familiar with me, you may not know that two of the most important things in my life are art and feminism, and since I wrote a feature article on feminism for this issue (see above), I deemed it appropriate to write about feminist artists and how they’re important to the art world.
Despite there being so many amazing female artists, the percentage of women artists in large museums (Louvre, MoMA, Art Institute of Chicago) is shockingly small. In 1989 when the feminist art activist group Guerrilla Girls posted their first, and one of the most effective, billboard. With their statistics being cited and a in-your-face woman with a gorilla mask on, it was hard to ignore. While it helped (the billboard is actually currently hanging at MoMA), that doesn’t take away from the fact that women still only have a small fraction with less than10% of the artists being female.
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) was an amazing impressionist in a man’s world. She showed real women living their life instead of a staged portrait. In her paintings, you can see women kissing, cleaning, comforting, even naturally feeding their children whereas men’s depictions of women and children staged and the subjects seem distant despite the close relation. By showing that a woman was just as good, if not better than a man in this fine profession, she opened many doors for women artists at the time and throughout the future.
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) painted flowers, but not like Monet’s water lilies or Van Gogh’s sunflowers. Her flowers were made to look like female reproductive organs. Her goal was to set herself apart from her male and masculine competition, so she created work that was claimed as “audaciously sexual and innately feminine" by art critics of the time. O'Keeffe's paintings helped pave the road for feminist artist because it empowered women to take charge of the world for themselves. She also was a part of the pro-suffrage National Women’s Party and said “I believe in women making their own living. It will be nice when women have equal opportunities and status with men so that it is taken as a matter of course.”
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) was an amazing feminist and artist. Her art dealt with problems such as taboo cultural norms and feminine beauty ideals. She painted subjects such as abortion, miscarriage, gender inequalities, and the sexual lives of women. Because of her thick hair, she had a faint unibrow and mustache, but she took pleasure in these because she didn’t believe women should fit in a box of beauty and pushed the limits. She actually darkened them in with a black pencil to make her facial hair more noticeable.
Wangechi Mutu (1972- ) is a sculptor, but her most famous and powerful pieces seem to be her collages. In her works, she puts topics like race, gender, technology, and colonization on display for all to see. She especially likes to challenge and tear down cultural depictions and expectations of women, especially African women since she is from Kenya. He art is unsettling and slightly uncomfortable to look at because of it’s power, but that’s exactly why it’s important. Art isn’t supposed to be pretty or pleasant. It makes you feel something. Mutu’s work does just that is the most intriguing way possible.
Tameka Norris (1979-) is a performance and visual artist. In her photos she displays how ridiculous society and the media sexualizes women. She brings humor to some like letting a piece of fruit drip over her face wearing a bikini. But in others she goes straight to the gut by taking self-portraits in a push-up bra with a look of pure anguish and despair. In one piece titled Venus of the Rags, Norris stands in front of a pile of clothes nude with a man saying things about her body. She tells the Guardian that while she asked the man to simply press record, he took it upon himself to start talking. Norris says, “I'm the model and the director here … But it's like he's discrediting a woman for her ability – and that's happened in art for ever."
Feminism in the art world is important because there are still huge inequalities. While in most professions women make 77% of a man’s wage, women in the art world make about 10-13%, according to Guerilla Girls. If that seems a little silly, name some artists that weren’t listed here and count how many were men, because there’s a good chance majority were. Women have it much harder than men in the world of art. Feminism is working towards the goal that women and men will be recognized equally in art because art is meant to express oneself, but without this freedom women go unseen.
-McKenzie Messer (‘15) is the Print Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
How to be alone
By Megan Dalton
Valentine’s day is fast approaching, and if you are a single old fart, then this is what you need to know.
First off, you will not be “forever alone” by not having a significant other by February 14th. You are in highschool you haven't even met a small fraction of anyone, so don't count yourself off as “forever alone.” Chances are you haven’t even met the love of your life yet.
This is the day of “love,” so there will be tons and tons of posts on social media about how wonderful their significant others are. They will post all their gifts and flowers and chocolates and teddybears and ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey symbols of their love for one another. But the joke’s on them because you don't have to spend any money because you don't have anyone!
But if you do want to buy things for yourself, it’s all good because all the gifts people buy on Valentine’s Day will be on sale. So stuff your lonely face with low-priced chocolate while you watch chick flicks and wonder why you are alone! But again, the joke’s on them because you don't have to share your chocolates and tissues. So in your time of eating your feelings away, do it cheaply. Make sure you take advantage of the half-price meals some places have on this day.
“When you are single as a pringle then you don't have to answer to anyone, you can be as free as a bird. When you are alone you don't have to dress to impress, the only person you have impress is yourself. You can be a strong independent woman. This isn’t the 19th century, we don't have to have a man in our lives at all times,” says the highly independent Savannah Legg (‘16).
Valentine’s days doesn't have to be a day of tears if you are single. Valentine’s is just another day, don't put all your happiness into being in a relationship, there is other things in life that can make you happy besides a “bae.” So this Valentine’s Day, celebrate and be happy whether you are with someone or not.
-Megan Dalton(‘16) is a Junior Sports editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Megan Dalton
Valentine’s day is fast approaching, and if you are a single old fart, then this is what you need to know.
First off, you will not be “forever alone” by not having a significant other by February 14th. You are in highschool you haven't even met a small fraction of anyone, so don't count yourself off as “forever alone.” Chances are you haven’t even met the love of your life yet.
This is the day of “love,” so there will be tons and tons of posts on social media about how wonderful their significant others are. They will post all their gifts and flowers and chocolates and teddybears and ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey symbols of their love for one another. But the joke’s on them because you don't have to spend any money because you don't have anyone!
But if you do want to buy things for yourself, it’s all good because all the gifts people buy on Valentine’s Day will be on sale. So stuff your lonely face with low-priced chocolate while you watch chick flicks and wonder why you are alone! But again, the joke’s on them because you don't have to share your chocolates and tissues. So in your time of eating your feelings away, do it cheaply. Make sure you take advantage of the half-price meals some places have on this day.
“When you are single as a pringle then you don't have to answer to anyone, you can be as free as a bird. When you are alone you don't have to dress to impress, the only person you have impress is yourself. You can be a strong independent woman. This isn’t the 19th century, we don't have to have a man in our lives at all times,” says the highly independent Savannah Legg (‘16).
Valentine’s days doesn't have to be a day of tears if you are single. Valentine’s is just another day, don't put all your happiness into being in a relationship, there is other things in life that can make you happy besides a “bae.” So this Valentine’s Day, celebrate and be happy whether you are with someone or not.
-Megan Dalton(‘16) is a Junior Sports editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Ask Aili
By Aili Barbee
Q: What are some good ways to deal with depression?
Sincerely, Feeling Blue
A: One of the best ways to deal with depression is to talk about your feelings and experiences with someone you trust: a counselor, favorite teacher, best friend, or parent. If you don’t feel like talking to someone you can always write your emotions down in a journal. Exercise is found to be very helpful for people with depression because it releases natural chemicals that create a feeling of happiness. Try finding a hobby that relaxes you such as painting, reading, or volunteering as well.
Q: My friends peer pressure me into doing things that I don’t necessarily want to do. What should I do to make them stop urging me to participate in activities that could be harmful to my well-being?
Sincerely, Peer Pressured
A: If they are truly your friends they will understand if you do not want to do something. Real friends respect one’s wishes, while sour friendships typically force one to go against one’s will. Also, if these “friends” did actually care about you, they would want to protect your well-being just as much as you do. Try explaining this to them, and if they don’t receive it well find some new friends with similar interests as your own.
Q: What are some fun things to do on Valentine’s Day when you’re single?
Sincerely, Me, Myself, and I
A: If you are looking to spend some quality time with yourself on this day of love, try spending it with something you love, whether that be a favorite book, movie, or ice cream flavor. You can also spend the day with your single friends and make a party of your own by going bowling or seeing a movie. This is also a great night to go out and meet someone new who you can spend next year’s Valentine’s Day with!
-Aili Barbee ('16) is the Jr. Print Editor-In-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Aili Barbee
Q: What are some good ways to deal with depression?
Sincerely, Feeling Blue
A: One of the best ways to deal with depression is to talk about your feelings and experiences with someone you trust: a counselor, favorite teacher, best friend, or parent. If you don’t feel like talking to someone you can always write your emotions down in a journal. Exercise is found to be very helpful for people with depression because it releases natural chemicals that create a feeling of happiness. Try finding a hobby that relaxes you such as painting, reading, or volunteering as well.
Q: My friends peer pressure me into doing things that I don’t necessarily want to do. What should I do to make them stop urging me to participate in activities that could be harmful to my well-being?
Sincerely, Peer Pressured
A: If they are truly your friends they will understand if you do not want to do something. Real friends respect one’s wishes, while sour friendships typically force one to go against one’s will. Also, if these “friends” did actually care about you, they would want to protect your well-being just as much as you do. Try explaining this to them, and if they don’t receive it well find some new friends with similar interests as your own.
Q: What are some fun things to do on Valentine’s Day when you’re single?
Sincerely, Me, Myself, and I
A: If you are looking to spend some quality time with yourself on this day of love, try spending it with something you love, whether that be a favorite book, movie, or ice cream flavor. You can also spend the day with your single friends and make a party of your own by going bowling or seeing a movie. This is also a great night to go out and meet someone new who you can spend next year’s Valentine’s Day with!
-Aili Barbee ('16) is the Jr. Print Editor-In-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Some words about books
By Mat Scott
(Photo: treamitchell.com)
Have you ever picked up a book and not been able to put it down without crying a little bit? Don’t worry, I’m not going to judge. In fact, I’m probably going to give you a pat on the back and sit down and have a very emotional discussion with you.
That’s my dirty little secret: I love books. And fictional characters. And plot twists and romance and deception and mystery and suspense and just about anything you can throw at me in a literary fashion. I love having conversations about them, I love reminiscing about them, and occasionally (Mrs. Grow, you’re going to love this), I love analyzing them.
I tend to get really into whatever book I’m reading, whether it’s some science-fiction or fantasy thing from the 25th century, a mystery taking place in England, or even a romance thing in the middle of California. Yeah, I know. But hey, they’re books and I can get really into them.
One of the last books I read was Catherine Coulter’s Tailspin. It’s a crime thriller, part of a series that revolves around FBI detectives Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock. It was quite intriguing, and there were some twists that I didn’t predict. I was impressed, and she’s an author whom I’ll probably be going back to when I need a filler book.
If you’re really into fantasy, A Song of Ice and Fire is an extremely long series. Most of you probably know it from the HBO show Game of Thrones (which is actually the title of the first book, not the series itself). I will warn you now, though: they are very, very, very long and are not for the faint of heart. (By “not for the faint of heart” I mean “not safe for work or small children.”) If you can get into the plot, though, you’ll find several characters you like and then subsequently have your heart torn out, ripped to pieces, and trodden upon by several hundred soldiers.
I know it’s going to sound ridiculous, but if you haven’t read Harry Potter yet, you need to put down this article, go to your nearest library or bookstore, get out the whole series, and read it in one weekend. I’m serious. Go. Right now. Until then, I have nothing further to say to you.
...
...
...
Are you done yet? Good. Now that that’s out of the way, we can continue our discussion. It may seem like a children’s series, but Harry Potter will always be one of the timeless classics in the realm of fantasy. Plus, who can’t love Dobby?
Since I would guess that you’re sick of me yammering right now and you probably have books to go back to, I’ll let you go back to your enjoyment. Have fun!
-Mat Scott (’15) is the Web Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Mat Scott
(Photo: treamitchell.com)
Have you ever picked up a book and not been able to put it down without crying a little bit? Don’t worry, I’m not going to judge. In fact, I’m probably going to give you a pat on the back and sit down and have a very emotional discussion with you.
That’s my dirty little secret: I love books. And fictional characters. And plot twists and romance and deception and mystery and suspense and just about anything you can throw at me in a literary fashion. I love having conversations about them, I love reminiscing about them, and occasionally (Mrs. Grow, you’re going to love this), I love analyzing them.
I tend to get really into whatever book I’m reading, whether it’s some science-fiction or fantasy thing from the 25th century, a mystery taking place in England, or even a romance thing in the middle of California. Yeah, I know. But hey, they’re books and I can get really into them.
One of the last books I read was Catherine Coulter’s Tailspin. It’s a crime thriller, part of a series that revolves around FBI detectives Dillon Savich and Lacey Sherlock. It was quite intriguing, and there were some twists that I didn’t predict. I was impressed, and she’s an author whom I’ll probably be going back to when I need a filler book.
If you’re really into fantasy, A Song of Ice and Fire is an extremely long series. Most of you probably know it from the HBO show Game of Thrones (which is actually the title of the first book, not the series itself). I will warn you now, though: they are very, very, very long and are not for the faint of heart. (By “not for the faint of heart” I mean “not safe for work or small children.”) If you can get into the plot, though, you’ll find several characters you like and then subsequently have your heart torn out, ripped to pieces, and trodden upon by several hundred soldiers.
I know it’s going to sound ridiculous, but if you haven’t read Harry Potter yet, you need to put down this article, go to your nearest library or bookstore, get out the whole series, and read it in one weekend. I’m serious. Go. Right now. Until then, I have nothing further to say to you.
...
...
...
Are you done yet? Good. Now that that’s out of the way, we can continue our discussion. It may seem like a children’s series, but Harry Potter will always be one of the timeless classics in the realm of fantasy. Plus, who can’t love Dobby?
Since I would guess that you’re sick of me yammering right now and you probably have books to go back to, I’ll let you go back to your enjoyment. Have fun!
-Mat Scott (’15) is the Web Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
What is feminism?
By McKenzie Messer
(Photo: exmedia.ex.ac.uk)
What is feminism? When Northridge students were asked there were many answers along the lines of “girls who hate men,” “an oddball,” and “women who believe their gender is superior to men.”
Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality with men. That’s it. If you support equal rights, congrats. You’re a feminist.
Many people believe that feminism is strictly from the past and that women and men are complete equals as of 2015. However, these sweet wishes aren’t true. Women still have a hard time in the world because of years of being degraded and sexism saying that they are the weaker sex.
Amal Clooney is a great representation of the degrading of a modern woman. Clooney is a lawyer, activist, and author. She’s been in high-profile cases representing the state of Cambodia, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and former Libyan intelligence chief. She turned down a great opportunity for her career because she was morally opposed to the happenings that would be associated with her. She is a brave, intelligent, strong woman at the young age of 36, but when you look her name on Google, the top three searches will be pertaining to topics of her hair and makeup routine and what she wore on the red carpet. Her entire life of hard work can be pushed to the side simply because she married famous and the only time people want to talk about women in the media is if they’re discussing their beauty.
The newest Twitter account which people seem to adore is the Meninist account. They enjoy unoriginal, sexist tweets like, “take a girl to swim on the second date to see her true face.” People laugh at this. They retweet, favorite, reply, and eat this kind of thing up on a daily basis. The Twitter was set up as a parody, but many of their 615,000 followers seem to take this seriously. "Meninists" are seen as funny guys who support gender equality, whereas feminists have the notorious stereotypes of hairy man-haters. People think their tweets that shame and mock girls are funny, but push real-life female problems under the rug. Also, they make waterproof makeup.
Because of the lack of feminism in 2015 USA, men believe that if they like a woman, they HAVE to date her. If they are denied this promise, the automatically go, “Ah, man. I was friend-zoned!” Now listen closely. The "friend-zone" does not exist. The "friend-zone" is a place that someone made to feel better after being denied a date. The majority of the imaginary land’s population is made up of boys who became friends with a girl hoping they’d become something more, but when he was aware that she liked him as a friend and didn’t think they would work as a romantic couple, he wanted nothing to do with her. This imaginary zone is dangerous because people believe they have rights over women and their minds, whereas we are independent thinkers who want to live their lives freely.
Women are expected to be the weaker sex. After hundreds of years of women staying at home doing the chores and taking care of the kids while their husbands are off at work, people still are stuck in the mindset that women are the lesser beings in heterosexual relationships. This is thanks to internalized misogyny. Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. Growing up in a society where women are expected to be thin, beautiful goddesses 24/7, it’s hard. With sexism subtly showing its face in everyday life, internalized misogyny grows. This extremely dangerous to women because it harms us professionally, in relationships, and we’re seen as the target for sexual violence with an entire culture built up around it (if you want to learn more on this culture, check out one of my previous story on rape culture http://thevikingvault.weebly.com/2-2-colrev.html). It’s tough for women to be seen as the owner of a business or the head of a committee because men are supposed to take charge. Women in charge are bossy. Catty, whiny, babies. Men in charge are bosses. Refined, dignified, gods.
Despite many people believing that feminism is a women only club, it can help men. They are told all the time to “be a man.” What does that mean? Be strong, don’t cry, suck it up. Why? Because they’ll be seen as weak. What’s so wrong with being sentimental? We’re all human, we all have emotions, we all cry from time to time. They’re supposed to be strong because women are the lesser gender, so if you’re too weak, women will better than you and we can’t have that. By fighting for equality, it allows men to be stay-at-home dads without the embarrassment, they can indulge in candles and bath bombs and sappy romances because it’s alright to be in touch with your emotions. Men are more than welcome to help join the cause. Emma Watson recently addressed the UN with the campaign HeforShe which asks men to support feminism. Northridge male students also chimed in saying things such as, “Progressive feminism is cool” and “I love the idea of men and women being equals.”
Every woman has walked down the street and cringed when she’s heard the words, “Come on, hunny, smile for me!” drip off the tongue of the man walking past her. These are some of the kinder things that can be said when someone is forced to accept a catcall. There’s also many wildly inappropriate remarks based on physical appearance alone. Catcalls are not compliments. Compliments would be saying kind things such as “I like your shirt” or “I like that color on you.” Catcalls are demanding. They’re made to let the man direct you. A man from Fox News said he likes to clap as a beautiful woman walks by to show his appreciation. She is on her way to lunch, work, meeting friends. The sidewalk is not a catwalk and she’s not there for your entertainment. It is the woman’s body, not yours. You have no right to talk to her as if she was a piece of meat with no soul. It’s dehumanizing, invasive, disempowering, and quite frankly scary. Many women actually fear being cat-called because there’s no good way to respond. If you ignore, you get called crude words. If you smile, they think their actions are alright and justified. But the worst is if you fight back, there’s a chance they’ll take it too far. Women have been violently harmed and/or stalked after refusing catcalls. They’re not sweet or charming. People are affected by this. If you’re ever wondering if something is a cat-call, ask yourself, “Would I say that to a man?” If the answer’s no, then keep your mouth shut.
Feminism is extremely important to not only women, but the earth as a whole. Men have been privileged for many years, and women simply want to earn equality with them. It’s not an attack on men, it’s a plea for a better world.
McKenzie Messer (‘15) is the Print Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By McKenzie Messer
(Photo: exmedia.ex.ac.uk)
What is feminism? When Northridge students were asked there were many answers along the lines of “girls who hate men,” “an oddball,” and “women who believe their gender is superior to men.”
Feminism is the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality with men. That’s it. If you support equal rights, congrats. You’re a feminist.
Many people believe that feminism is strictly from the past and that women and men are complete equals as of 2015. However, these sweet wishes aren’t true. Women still have a hard time in the world because of years of being degraded and sexism saying that they are the weaker sex.
Amal Clooney is a great representation of the degrading of a modern woman. Clooney is a lawyer, activist, and author. She’s been in high-profile cases representing the state of Cambodia, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and former Libyan intelligence chief. She turned down a great opportunity for her career because she was morally opposed to the happenings that would be associated with her. She is a brave, intelligent, strong woman at the young age of 36, but when you look her name on Google, the top three searches will be pertaining to topics of her hair and makeup routine and what she wore on the red carpet. Her entire life of hard work can be pushed to the side simply because she married famous and the only time people want to talk about women in the media is if they’re discussing their beauty.
The newest Twitter account which people seem to adore is the Meninist account. They enjoy unoriginal, sexist tweets like, “take a girl to swim on the second date to see her true face.” People laugh at this. They retweet, favorite, reply, and eat this kind of thing up on a daily basis. The Twitter was set up as a parody, but many of their 615,000 followers seem to take this seriously. "Meninists" are seen as funny guys who support gender equality, whereas feminists have the notorious stereotypes of hairy man-haters. People think their tweets that shame and mock girls are funny, but push real-life female problems under the rug. Also, they make waterproof makeup.
Because of the lack of feminism in 2015 USA, men believe that if they like a woman, they HAVE to date her. If they are denied this promise, the automatically go, “Ah, man. I was friend-zoned!” Now listen closely. The "friend-zone" does not exist. The "friend-zone" is a place that someone made to feel better after being denied a date. The majority of the imaginary land’s population is made up of boys who became friends with a girl hoping they’d become something more, but when he was aware that she liked him as a friend and didn’t think they would work as a romantic couple, he wanted nothing to do with her. This imaginary zone is dangerous because people believe they have rights over women and their minds, whereas we are independent thinkers who want to live their lives freely.
Women are expected to be the weaker sex. After hundreds of years of women staying at home doing the chores and taking care of the kids while their husbands are off at work, people still are stuck in the mindset that women are the lesser beings in heterosexual relationships. This is thanks to internalized misogyny. Misogyny is the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women. Growing up in a society where women are expected to be thin, beautiful goddesses 24/7, it’s hard. With sexism subtly showing its face in everyday life, internalized misogyny grows. This extremely dangerous to women because it harms us professionally, in relationships, and we’re seen as the target for sexual violence with an entire culture built up around it (if you want to learn more on this culture, check out one of my previous story on rape culture http://thevikingvault.weebly.com/2-2-colrev.html). It’s tough for women to be seen as the owner of a business or the head of a committee because men are supposed to take charge. Women in charge are bossy. Catty, whiny, babies. Men in charge are bosses. Refined, dignified, gods.
Despite many people believing that feminism is a women only club, it can help men. They are told all the time to “be a man.” What does that mean? Be strong, don’t cry, suck it up. Why? Because they’ll be seen as weak. What’s so wrong with being sentimental? We’re all human, we all have emotions, we all cry from time to time. They’re supposed to be strong because women are the lesser gender, so if you’re too weak, women will better than you and we can’t have that. By fighting for equality, it allows men to be stay-at-home dads without the embarrassment, they can indulge in candles and bath bombs and sappy romances because it’s alright to be in touch with your emotions. Men are more than welcome to help join the cause. Emma Watson recently addressed the UN with the campaign HeforShe which asks men to support feminism. Northridge male students also chimed in saying things such as, “Progressive feminism is cool” and “I love the idea of men and women being equals.”
Every woman has walked down the street and cringed when she’s heard the words, “Come on, hunny, smile for me!” drip off the tongue of the man walking past her. These are some of the kinder things that can be said when someone is forced to accept a catcall. There’s also many wildly inappropriate remarks based on physical appearance alone. Catcalls are not compliments. Compliments would be saying kind things such as “I like your shirt” or “I like that color on you.” Catcalls are demanding. They’re made to let the man direct you. A man from Fox News said he likes to clap as a beautiful woman walks by to show his appreciation. She is on her way to lunch, work, meeting friends. The sidewalk is not a catwalk and she’s not there for your entertainment. It is the woman’s body, not yours. You have no right to talk to her as if she was a piece of meat with no soul. It’s dehumanizing, invasive, disempowering, and quite frankly scary. Many women actually fear being cat-called because there’s no good way to respond. If you ignore, you get called crude words. If you smile, they think their actions are alright and justified. But the worst is if you fight back, there’s a chance they’ll take it too far. Women have been violently harmed and/or stalked after refusing catcalls. They’re not sweet or charming. People are affected by this. If you’re ever wondering if something is a cat-call, ask yourself, “Would I say that to a man?” If the answer’s no, then keep your mouth shut.
Feminism is extremely important to not only women, but the earth as a whole. Men have been privileged for many years, and women simply want to earn equality with them. It’s not an attack on men, it’s a plea for a better world.
McKenzie Messer (‘15) is the Print Editor-in-Chief and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
The perfect Valentine’s Day gift
By Jamie Swickard
Valentine’s Day is so close, and many couples are stuck wondering what their significant other would like.
By Jamie Swickard
Valentine’s Day is so close, and many couples are stuck wondering what their significant other would like.
What to get girls:
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What to get guys:
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Whatever you end up getting your girlfriend or boyfriend, they will love! Don’t spend too much time worried about what to get your boyfriend or girlfriend and remember, Valentine’s Day is February 14th!
-Jamie Swickard (’16) is the Junior Web Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
-Jamie Swickard (’16) is the Junior Web Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
2015 cinema premiers
By Savannah Legg
The New Year doesn’t bring only confusion when writing the date on school assignments, but also much-anticipated cinema from day one to day 365. With all these new films coming this year, it may be hard to keep track of them all. Don’t worry movie goers, here’s a breakdown of cinema soon to come within the year.
First on the list we have Disney’s new Cinderella hitting theatres March 13th. Inspired by the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, Walt Disney Pictures will bring us Cinderella like we’ve never seen it before. The movie is the same story that we grew up hearing as a child in which a servant step-daughter (Lily James) goes to the ball and wins the heart of a prince.
Next on the calendar is Insurgent, the sequel to the film Divergent, a movie that hit movie screens in 2014. The movie continues the story of a young woman named Tris (Shalene Woodley) trying to find her identity while living in a society that defines its citizens by their social and emotional compatibility with 5 different factions. The motion picture will hit theatres March 20th, seven days after the release of Cinderella.
The next large scale movie to hit theatre will unfortunately not be until May 1st but have no fear because when May rolls around the Avengers will assemble once more to fight their biggest enemy yet in the movie Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. In the cinema Tony Stark (Iron Man) attempts to start a peace keeping organization when things go awry. The Avengers will have to work together once again to defeat Ultron, a technological enemy bent on human extinction.
Although the second Avengers will be hard to follow, I believe Jurassic World, the third sequel to the original film release in 1993 is up to the challenge. In the movie, the park is opened once again by Masrani Global Corporation in what is to be believed its greatest opening yet. The researchers have worked harder than ever to make the park bigger and better than it has ever been before. With that in mind, they genetically modify the genes of long extinct creatures to create Indominus Rex, a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, to boost visitor attendance, but their inability to contain the beast creates drastic problems, in the park and visitors have gotten themselves into a huge problem when they try to escape the tight grasp of the dinosaurs in the park.
Next on the list is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 which will hit theatres November 20th of this year. The fourth and final movie of the series will involve Katniss Everdeen’s final chance at defeating the Capital, finding lost friends, saving everyone she loves, and trying to stay alive.
Last but certainly not least is Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, which will be released December 18th. Although the story line has yet to be released for the highly anticipated film, we know that the terrific trio of Han, Leia, and Luke all played by their original actors will be in the film. I, as well as millions of others around the world will be waiting vigorously for the 18th of December to roll around.
-Savannah Legg (’15) is the Photo Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Savannah Legg
The New Year doesn’t bring only confusion when writing the date on school assignments, but also much-anticipated cinema from day one to day 365. With all these new films coming this year, it may be hard to keep track of them all. Don’t worry movie goers, here’s a breakdown of cinema soon to come within the year.
First on the list we have Disney’s new Cinderella hitting theatres March 13th. Inspired by the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, Walt Disney Pictures will bring us Cinderella like we’ve never seen it before. The movie is the same story that we grew up hearing as a child in which a servant step-daughter (Lily James) goes to the ball and wins the heart of a prince.
Next on the calendar is Insurgent, the sequel to the film Divergent, a movie that hit movie screens in 2014. The movie continues the story of a young woman named Tris (Shalene Woodley) trying to find her identity while living in a society that defines its citizens by their social and emotional compatibility with 5 different factions. The motion picture will hit theatres March 20th, seven days after the release of Cinderella.
The next large scale movie to hit theatre will unfortunately not be until May 1st but have no fear because when May rolls around the Avengers will assemble once more to fight their biggest enemy yet in the movie Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. In the cinema Tony Stark (Iron Man) attempts to start a peace keeping organization when things go awry. The Avengers will have to work together once again to defeat Ultron, a technological enemy bent on human extinction.
Although the second Avengers will be hard to follow, I believe Jurassic World, the third sequel to the original film release in 1993 is up to the challenge. In the movie, the park is opened once again by Masrani Global Corporation in what is to be believed its greatest opening yet. The researchers have worked harder than ever to make the park bigger and better than it has ever been before. With that in mind, they genetically modify the genes of long extinct creatures to create Indominus Rex, a genetically modified hybrid dinosaur, to boost visitor attendance, but their inability to contain the beast creates drastic problems, in the park and visitors have gotten themselves into a huge problem when they try to escape the tight grasp of the dinosaurs in the park.
Next on the list is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 which will hit theatres November 20th of this year. The fourth and final movie of the series will involve Katniss Everdeen’s final chance at defeating the Capital, finding lost friends, saving everyone she loves, and trying to stay alive.
Last but certainly not least is Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, which will be released December 18th. Although the story line has yet to be released for the highly anticipated film, we know that the terrific trio of Han, Leia, and Luke all played by their original actors will be in the film. I, as well as millions of others around the world will be waiting vigorously for the 18th of December to roll around.
-Savannah Legg (’15) is the Photo Editor and staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Things to do on a snow day
By Chad Campbell
Snow days are something many kids look forward to, but the only bad thing about snow days is finding something fun to do when they come around.
I’ve got some ideas for things to do on snow days.
One thing you could do is go sledding. A lot of kids’ parents won’t let them drive anywhere on snow days because schools obviously got canceled for a reason: the roads are probably pretty bad. This is why sledding may be a great choice for you to do on your snow day. All you need is a hill by your house and a sled.
Another fun idea you could do on a snow is go snowboarding/skiing. Snowboarding/skiing is a great way to spend your snow days because it is a great form of exercise and a lot of fun. The only thing is that there aren’t many mountains close to the Northridge school district, so you may have to drive awhile to get to one. Otherwise, this is another great way to spend a snow day.
“I have spent almost all of my snow days at snow trails since I was a little kid and always have a blast”, says Evan Wilkoski ('15).
Playing video games or board games with your family or friends are some other ways that you could spend snow days as well.
Also, if you are feeling like doing something productive, you could always go out and shovel your driveway and sidewalks.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Senior Sports Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Chad Campbell
Snow days are something many kids look forward to, but the only bad thing about snow days is finding something fun to do when they come around.
I’ve got some ideas for things to do on snow days.
One thing you could do is go sledding. A lot of kids’ parents won’t let them drive anywhere on snow days because schools obviously got canceled for a reason: the roads are probably pretty bad. This is why sledding may be a great choice for you to do on your snow day. All you need is a hill by your house and a sled.
Another fun idea you could do on a snow is go snowboarding/skiing. Snowboarding/skiing is a great way to spend your snow days because it is a great form of exercise and a lot of fun. The only thing is that there aren’t many mountains close to the Northridge school district, so you may have to drive awhile to get to one. Otherwise, this is another great way to spend a snow day.
“I have spent almost all of my snow days at snow trails since I was a little kid and always have a blast”, says Evan Wilkoski ('15).
Playing video games or board games with your family or friends are some other ways that you could spend snow days as well.
Also, if you are feeling like doing something productive, you could always go out and shovel your driveway and sidewalks.
-Chad Campbell ('15) is the Senior Sports Editor and a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
Black lives have always mattered, many are just now realizing
By Ana Carpenter
When I was a little girl, I saw the flashing lights in my peripheral vision and watched my father slow the vehicle with a mechanical, rehearsed compliance; his nonchalant expression told me: this is normal, no need to panic, expect this to happen again.
And it did, far too many times; my father has been accused of hiding drugs (while driving to work in his business suit, driving a Cadillac). He has been treated like a dog by prejudiced officers, humiliated by requests to put his hands up and open his mouth for a drug search, when he had done nothing but turn the corner on the way to his next business presentation.
This is the same mentality shrouding the perceptions of those officers who stop to interrogate him as he takes a walk down the block. It is absolutely unacceptable if he is walking alone at night, whereas my mother--a pretty white woman--would not be suspected for a second.
Unless she is with my father. Mom was driving with Dad in the passenger seat, and going under the speed limit when they were pulled over. The officer stumbled over his words, red faced, when she rolled down the window. He stuttered that he thought my dad had a baby in his lap. My dad simply responded with: "Um, that's my coat." The officer proceeded to come up with another excuse: "Well, are your kids buckled up?" Of course, there weren't any kids in the backseat. The officer apologized awkwardly and went on his way.
I could go on for a while. I could talk about how my brother was confronted by a store manager for "attempting to shoplift some candy," or how the n-word is carelessly dropped on my school bus. But then I might have to recount my entire life's story. So how does this connect to the current events rocking the U.S.? How does my story correspond with the Ferguson outrage? It's a lifestyle which I have found only people like me, living with a black family on my dad's side, will understand. It's a lifestyle that causes one to be leery, to be aware of their surroundings and most of all-- it teaches fear; you have to become aware that many people's perceptions of you are determined by your appearance alone. And you must take measures to look as non-criminal as possible.
This has been going on all my life. These type of instances are common, and it is a little disheartening that people have only realized this after the unjust deaths of several young black men.
I remember watching several of the ever-popular "vines," six-second videos, in which a pair of black boys jokingly warned each other of the cops' arrival, though they had done nothing wrong; I've seen other statements posted by blacks with the same comedic regard for segregation. It has become so common that it is a way of life for these people; it has become so much a part of their lives that it has been reduced to a trivial truth.
Some of the ugliest truths are hidden from the public; it's just a matter of time before the irrational actions of twisted individuals reveal a multitude of truths that only some of us have been exposed to throughout our lives. The others, often ignorant to the lifestyles of those whom they don't understand, only become aware of this complicated style of living when it is called to their attention, or when a white cop illegally choke-holds an unarmed, young black man. It just goes to show: it's all about perspective. Until someone gets killed.
-Ana Carpenter ('15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.
By Ana Carpenter
When I was a little girl, I saw the flashing lights in my peripheral vision and watched my father slow the vehicle with a mechanical, rehearsed compliance; his nonchalant expression told me: this is normal, no need to panic, expect this to happen again.
And it did, far too many times; my father has been accused of hiding drugs (while driving to work in his business suit, driving a Cadillac). He has been treated like a dog by prejudiced officers, humiliated by requests to put his hands up and open his mouth for a drug search, when he had done nothing but turn the corner on the way to his next business presentation.
This is the same mentality shrouding the perceptions of those officers who stop to interrogate him as he takes a walk down the block. It is absolutely unacceptable if he is walking alone at night, whereas my mother--a pretty white woman--would not be suspected for a second.
Unless she is with my father. Mom was driving with Dad in the passenger seat, and going under the speed limit when they were pulled over. The officer stumbled over his words, red faced, when she rolled down the window. He stuttered that he thought my dad had a baby in his lap. My dad simply responded with: "Um, that's my coat." The officer proceeded to come up with another excuse: "Well, are your kids buckled up?" Of course, there weren't any kids in the backseat. The officer apologized awkwardly and went on his way.
I could go on for a while. I could talk about how my brother was confronted by a store manager for "attempting to shoplift some candy," or how the n-word is carelessly dropped on my school bus. But then I might have to recount my entire life's story. So how does this connect to the current events rocking the U.S.? How does my story correspond with the Ferguson outrage? It's a lifestyle which I have found only people like me, living with a black family on my dad's side, will understand. It's a lifestyle that causes one to be leery, to be aware of their surroundings and most of all-- it teaches fear; you have to become aware that many people's perceptions of you are determined by your appearance alone. And you must take measures to look as non-criminal as possible.
This has been going on all my life. These type of instances are common, and it is a little disheartening that people have only realized this after the unjust deaths of several young black men.
I remember watching several of the ever-popular "vines," six-second videos, in which a pair of black boys jokingly warned each other of the cops' arrival, though they had done nothing wrong; I've seen other statements posted by blacks with the same comedic regard for segregation. It has become so common that it is a way of life for these people; it has become so much a part of their lives that it has been reduced to a trivial truth.
Some of the ugliest truths are hidden from the public; it's just a matter of time before the irrational actions of twisted individuals reveal a multitude of truths that only some of us have been exposed to throughout our lives. The others, often ignorant to the lifestyles of those whom they don't understand, only become aware of this complicated style of living when it is called to their attention, or when a white cop illegally choke-holds an unarmed, young black man. It just goes to show: it's all about perspective. Until someone gets killed.
-Ana Carpenter ('15) is a staff writer for The Viking Vault.