The Ozarks is a vast geographical region spanning much of the southern half of Missouri and northern Arkansas, with small parts reaching Kansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Like the Appalachian region, the Ozarks is a cove of unique folk traditions and culture, the most prominent being folk music.
Read MoreBeing a member of the LGBTQIA+ community can come with the fear of not being accepted by family, peers, or your local community members. Luckily for us, Springfield has begun to tackle this problem by providing a safe place for anyone facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The GLO Center, located on Commercial Street, has warm and welcoming members of your community who can be a shoulder to lean on, a helpful hand, and a resource center for anyone who may need support.
Read MorePicture this: You’re at a loss for words while talking to a friend. You can’t seem to collect a simple thought to form a satisfactory sentence. Your friend then says, “What, cat got your tongue?” To those of us that may not be familiar with this wacky phrase, a head scratch would only be natural. You might think to yourself, “Why would a cat have my tongue? I don’t even know what that means.” This is because the human language is a complex and intertwined form of expression. That might be hard to wrap your head around, but it’s true!
Read MoreBefore there was Halloween, there was Samhain. Samhain (pronounced SOW-win) is a holiday with Celtic origins. The length of the celebration has been debated, but it’s generally said to be around three days and three nights, starting at dusk on Oct. 31. In 2024, it’s being celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. Samhain marks the halfway point between the fall equinox and winter solstice, a time believed to be where the veil between the human and spirit realms is lifted.
Read MoreDía de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2. It honors deceased loved ones and celebrates their lives through a blend of Indigenous and Catholic customs. The holiday is a time to communicate with the dead and to entice their spirits to return to celebrate with the living.
Read MoreA man stands on a lonely French stage, his face concealed beneath a gray hood, the audience silent and thrumming with anticipation. He embraces a weeping woman as she sobs over an end that is soon to come. The man puts a hand to her cheek with the softness of a lover and says, in a voice like honey, “No pain.” The woman’s eyes soften, and she eases into the complete understanding of this embrace, this promise. As the man's canines elongate through his tender smile, it becomes apparent to the audience that he is no man at all; rather, he is Death, come to hold her in her last moments, to see her, love her. Do you know what it means to be loved by death?
Read MoreA brand that promotes sustainability, creativity, and ethics within the world of design may seem harder to find nowadays than it once was. With so many brands pushing fast fashion practices or showing a lack of transparency regarding the production of their clothes, most consumers are at a loss with where to purchase clothing that is honest. However, some brands, such as Oddli, are providing its shoppers with a breath of fresh air within the fashion industry.
Read MoreA Brat Summer is all about embracing messiness, passion, and unapologetic authenticity. This concept, inspired by Charli XCX and her album "Brat," encourages living life on your terms with confidence and flair. The tracks on the album exemplify her evolution into hyperpop and exploration of self-discovery. However, “Brat” is an introduction to the massive hyperpop space. This genre dates back to the early 2010s and is characterized by its experimental production and artists. The music is coined by its unconventional beats, auto-tuned vocals, and excessive dissertation.
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If one gets close enough to Springfield, Missouri’s campus-strewn center , they will likely encounter a wide array of bumper stickers adorning tinny cars and trucks belonging to some sardonic limb of a student body. Often, these are quick gags: “If you ride my tail, you’re ugly,” said one sticker on a car parked downtown. A sticker on a different car read, “My son plays guitar in Pomfret, and I am so proud of him.”
Read MoreHispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to honor the heritage and significant contributions of Latinos and Hispanics. Often, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the hard work required to achieve success. Even in what may seem like small milestones, such as graduating from college or receiving a promotion, negative stereotypes can sometimes lead us to doubt our accomplishments or feel unworthy of pursuing greater goals.
Read MoreFor many Latinx immigrants, the journey to the United States is fraught with unimaginable challenges and sacrifices. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this story is about one of Springfield’s own, a Honduran man who will be referred to as Josue in this story, as he wishes to remain anonymous to protect his privacy.
Read More"The music genre, drums n’ bass, has been on the rise thanks to PinkPantheress and her recent explosion of popularity. You may know her from her 2021 hit single, “Break It Off,” but the PinkPantheress debut album is long overdue. Having released only a couple of singles each year for the past three years, while also leaking music on Soundcloud, fans have been desperately waiting for this time to come."
Read MorePhotos, scrap paper, old receipts, pressed coins, plane tickets — hell, maybe even some old notes your best friend wrote you in eighth grade. These are the components for a great junk scrapbook page.
Read MoreOn September 13, 1969, a pop culture giant was born. Four teen detectives and their talking dog hopped into their psychedelic hippie-mobile for the first time, set up a couple of traps, and unmasked their first phony villain. Immediately upon release, audiences across the United States were absolutely wild about Scooby-Doo. Since then, we have seen hundreds of iterations of this story.
Read MoreRecently, it has been difficult to find people who empathize with others. A large portion of this problem can be caused by our unhealed inner child. According to Oxford Languages, an inner child is “a person’s supposed original or true self, especially when regarded as damaged or concealed by negative childhood experiences.” For many people, the inner child holds onto seeking joy and finding wonder in the world around us, but this part of our subconscious can also grasp onto feelings of harm, fear, anxiety, loneliness, or insecurity in youth.
Many college degree paths lead those pursuing them to work a 9 to 5. Personally, my degree does just that. Going down this path means there will be a lot of monotony, which will be a swift change from the diverse schedule of a college student. This realization kick-started my need for finding ways to keep my mind and body happy and creative, even when I am in an area where that is not the status quo.
Throughout history, women have always been under the microscope of society's expectations. This has caused us to become very meticulous in how we get ready. But today, there is a bigger shift: the story of beauty and empowerment is being rewritten. Throughout past centuries, beauty standards have largely been shaped by the male gaze, imposing restrictive ideas on women and how they should look.
Read MoreIt does not take much for Gen Z to feel nostalgic. Growing up in the digital age has made it so easy for Gen Z to look back on old memories. The yearning for times when things were simpler and more comforting is a part of Gen Z culture. It is hard coming to terms with the fact that we are growing up and life is only getting harder. We are constantly searching for the anchor that will ground us during the crazy moments happening around us.
Read MorePeople hold value in memories and nostalgic moments. Whether written on paper or found online, recipes are a gateway to remembering and creating special moments. Despite simply being a list of ingredients and steps, they contain memories embedded in the cooking process.
Read MoreWalking into Stick It In Your Ear, a swarm of posters advertising local music events cover the shop window and customers are greeted with a wave of “hello”s from the Stick It In Your Ear staff. Music in the store accompanies guests on their vinyl journey. For over 30 years, the local record store has been welcoming customers from all walks of life, providing the Springfield community with their vinyl and music needs.
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