Articles reflect the opinion of the individual writer and is not a representation of the opinion of the publication as a whole.
“In the summer of 2024, I signed up to take an anthropology course offered at Missouri State University. Once we got to the unit over gender and sexuality, the book “The Velvet Rage” by Alan Downs was mentioned in one of our assignments. It piqued my interest, but after the course came and went, I had forgotten about the book until late August when I was in Bookmarx, a local bookstore in Springfield.”
Read MoreIn a small, one-story house on Grand Street in Springfield, a group of musicians and artists came together to create a space for jazz and R&B. Samuel Wise and Apollo Harris, both juniors at Missouri State, formed Our Friends Media in an effort to bring together their community of music lovers and jazz enthusiasts.
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When I first came to Missouri State University, I had no clue how large the coffee scene was because I had never been an avid coffee drinker. Within my first couple of weeks, classmates and friends wanted to try the different coffee shops around Springfield. I had a couple of classes downtown, so it became routine to try a new spot each time. Week after week, groups of students in class would say, “Wanna go grab a coffee?”
In the last decade there has been a substantial shift in how we consume our media. Currently, most Americans consume news on social media, entertainment on streaming services, all at the tip of our fingers. Between 2002 and 2020, revenue for DVDs decreased by 88.5%, magazines fell by 40.5%, and newspapers by 52%. This decline of physical media is unfortunate because there is so much opportunity for connection across all types, from music and movies to newspapers.
The album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 on Sept. 3 and is her first album to debut within the top 10. The airy nu-disco track “Espresso” was the first single to be released from the record, and it became an instant summer hit. The witty lyrics — a Carpenter signature — are a large part of what made “Espresso” so intoxicating. The rhyming phrases “Is it that sweet? I guess so” and “That’s that me espresso” made for an instant earworm.
Throughout the last couple of years, I have noticed an insane amount of rhetoric about overconsumption and the right or wrong ways to navigate through consumerism. Social media is one of the biggest contributors of spreading so much contradictory information. It can be exhausting to even open your phone sometimes as there seems to be a new TikTok video, Instagram infographic, or news article telling you a different narrative every day.
Read MoreWith an homage to the gut-wrenching 2004 film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” Ariana Grande has captured the media's attention following the release of her seventh studio album, “Eternal Sunshine.” In fact, Grande drew significant inspiration from the film for the album. The movie’s themes of memory and emotional connection resonated with her, influencing the lyrical content and emotional depth of the album.
Read MoreIn the past few decades, having brightly colored hair, piercings, or tattoos wasn’t considered “professional.” But things have changed. Today, many workplaces are more open to these unique styles. It's time that these things should be recognized as forms of personal expression, even in formal workplaces. Here’s how you can confidently rock your style while maintaining a professional appearance.
Read MoreThe posthumous, self-titled album from SOPHIE — a visionary for experimental music and hyperpop — was released on Sept. 25. With the help of her brother, Benny Long, and many former collaborators, we get one last look at her and the legacy she brought to the world.
Read MoreClosing the Miu Miu runway show at the end of Paris Fashion Week was the last place I expected to see Willem Dafoe — but that’s his charm. Dafoe, whom Unknown Vlog stumbled upon in the streets of Soho, surprisingly appeared in one of their “What are people wearing in New York City?” YouTube videos. In it, he describes what he is wearing: a Prada Sweater, blue jeans, and some shoes from Mexico.
Read MoreI remember applying for my first job when I was 16. My hairstyle at the time was what the African American community calls a "messy fro." There are many ways to achieve this look, but I used a hair sponge, which gave my hair a spiky or bumpy texture, and I liked it because it made me feel like Sonic the Hedgehog. I thought it was great, but my mother warned me that it might come across as unprofessional to potential employers.
Read More“In the 1920s, the modern world saw the rise of women’s independence alongside economic, political, and artistic revolution. A century later, the same is true. Amidst a fast-paced sociopolitical scene, we are seeing minority groups (namely women, people of color, and queer people) revolutionize what it means to free oneself through radical self-acceptance.”
Read MoreBritish indie rock band The Last Dinner Party has taken the internet by storm over the past year. Their hit single “Nothing Matters” made its way through trending videos, leading new fans to their eccentric album. This summer, they appeared at music festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury.
Read More“Aftersun” is not your typical coming-of-age film: It is a true think piece, a gear turner. Charlotte Wells’s debut film follows a father and daughter duo on what we assume is their last holiday trip with one another to a run-down resort in Turkey. The opening scene is filmed by Sophie (Frankie Corio) who reveals that she has recently turned 11 years old. She asks her dad Calum (Paul Mescal) what he thought his life would be like today, days before his 31st birthday, at the ripe age of 11. The filming halts soon after, leaving us with no answer. Many clips in this film were recorded by the actors themselves on a 35mm MiniDV camera, giving a strong sense of intimacy and connection to viewers.
Read MoreRemakes, prequels, sequels, adaptations, reboots — the unoriginality in entertainment has felt particularly inescapable within the past few years. Even some of this year’s most anticipated releases were all adaptations or continuations of some sort: “Dune 2,” “Mean Girls,” the live action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series and season 3 of “Bridgerton”. This seeming void of recycled content feels like a ravishing plague that studios are spreading without a cure.
Read MoreHailing from Richmond, Virginia, Dogpark is your new favorite indie-rock band to make the soundtrack for your summer city escapades. Their first major release, an EP titled “Breaking In Brooklyn” features bright rhythms balanced with subtle, angsty lyrics that any young adult can relate to.
Read MoreImagine you stick your hand into your pocket where you normally keep your phone, and nothing is there. You pat all your pockets, frantically looking for your phone as a wave of anxiety flows into your body. You then realize you just left your phone in your purse — now you can breathe.
Read MoreThe Malefactors (pronounced Mah-leh-factors) is a three-piece Dublin band. The trio consists of frontman Lucille, drummer Wren and bassist Henry. Due to privacy concerns, members of the band have wished to be identified by first name only. The three have been releasing music since 2022, and have since released two singles and one EP.
Read MoreThroughout history, cats have consistently been portrayed as a representation of femininity. In Ancient Egypt, cats were displayed as gods and put on a pedestal. During the 16th-century witch craze, cats were feared, and seen as a symbol of evil and witchcraft — they were worshiped and mistreated all in the same breath. Both of these perceptions built the modern portrayal seen today.
Read MoreDo pets really look like their owners? This idea has circulated for a long time and has recently gained traction on social media. You might see a video of someone with a very round face owning a pug or someone who likes the goth aesthetic owning a black cat. It is a funny juxtaposition, though, when a particularly masculine person has a bunch of cute little bunnies. Still, pets can be a reflection of your lifestyle, or personality.
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