In another round of Feeds to Follow, I’m focusing in on Ashley from her Youtube channel, bestdressed, and Instagram, @best.dressed. Her channel and internet presence has blown up these past couple months, and it’s no surprise with her sassy and utterly genuine personality, stunning videography, and unapologetically original content.
Read MoreUpcoming Exhibits in Chicago this Spring
Looking to expand your horizons and venture out into the city this Spring? Check out one or more of the many exhibits, lectures and programming coming to the city’s acclaimed cultural and artistic institutions.
The Hyde Park Art Center focuses on engaging the community with its variety of program types. Its exhibition Health Club focuses on the ways civic spaces can interact with humans wellness. Two Hot Mess Yoga sessions will be hosted on February 27 and March 13. Additional, Super Sunday on March 31 contains a variety of activities that includes exhibition receptions.
The Chicago Cultural center has robust programming that focuses on current and past movements in Chicago and many of its exhibitions and programs ask for input from the community. For Chicago Theater Week, it asks visitors to stick flags of Chicago theater resources into a giant map on the wall. Its current exhibition is about black artists and their role in Chicago’s consumer culture.
The MCA’s latest exhibition will be opening soon. Big Camera/Little Camera explores how changes in scale play with a sense of triviality. It opened February 23rd and admission is free with a UCID.
Finally, the Art Institute provides a variety of Gallery Talks, where visitors will be guided for an hour through collections in a gallery. While some are general, like the Gallery Talk on Highlights of the Art Institute, others explore specific themes, like Light/Dark/Ugly/Beautiful, which discusses works of art that push the boundary between the tragic and the luminous.
Talks are free with museum admission. Personally, I’d attend the talk on Modern Wing Highlights to gain some perspective on Modernism and why Modern pieces are valued. On the 21st, there will also be a lecture called Art, Illusion, and Control in the Roman Villa presented by the Classical Art Society. Lea K. Cline, associate professor of art history at Illinois State University, will discuss a Roman villa from a slave’s perspective.
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Atelier MODA Setlist
Relive the Atelier MODA fashion show with Laila Aziem’s exclusive setlist for the show. For more information, recaps and photos from the event, keep an eye on the Blog and our Facebook page in the coming days.
And don’t forget to check out Laila's Spotify and Soundcloud accounts for more playlists, mixes and singles!
*Note: not all songs are available on both streaming services
2019 Designer Profiles: Kathryn Hicks
Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. This edition features Kathryn Hicks, a fourth year Chemistry & Philosophy double major.
Meet Kathryn
Kathryn is a fourth year Chemistry and Philosophy double major from New Jersey. She’s also involved with MODA Blog and has a love for pale pink, mid-century chair design and birds.
What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?
In general, I'm a huge fan of mid-century design and drew a lot of inspiration from old-school sketches of mid-length full-skirted dresses and the angularity of furniture design (ask me about my affinity for chairs in design museums if you have an hour to kill). As cliche as "mid-century modern" has become, I did want to modernize the silhouettes with metallic fabrics and constructing geometrically structured elements built off of the shoulders and waists. I also definitely wanted to build upon my designs from last year and challenge myself with more intensive sewing in this collection.
Have you ever done fashion design work before?
My first time designing for the show was last year, and I am still so happy that I kicked my butt into gear and crossed this off my college bucket list. Other than that, I've never done any official fashion design work - although, I have made some simpler garments for myself in the past and frequently mend/alter old or thrifted pieces.
What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?
My attitude towards sewing and designing in general is honestly a chaotic medley of creativity (read: you're literally transforming a flat rectangle of fabric into some crazy cool wearable art form) and frustration (read: you frequently fall into the trap of mis-measuring and ruining one of those flat rectangles of fabric you found while at home and can't get more of #TooSpecificToNotHaveHappenedToMe). It sounds like a deadly mix as I read this back now, but it's what I find so enjoyable about the process.
I've recently realized that, since coming to college, I have developed a horrible tendency to take too much on and rush through things to get them done, completely conflicting with my perfectionist habits. Sewing has truly been such a formative hobby for me, as it is one of the few activities I force myself to be patient with (again, so many yards of fabric have been left in my wake from hasty cutting).
I have come to adopt a little mantra of "always press your seams" and think that sums up things nicely. It's true on the surface level–yes, please, always press seams at each step in sewing projects–it makes everything run smoother and look nicer. But it's also true in the general life sense. Just taking the time to do things fully and creating something you're completely proud of is an amazing feeling and something I'm trying to bring back to my non-fabric-oriented life.
A semi-inaccurate group of sketches - I’ve focused mainly on the middle style!
What are you looking forward to most about the show?
I'm so excited to see everyone's designs! I've been making the little featured image collage things for these designer profiles, and I have been so inspired by seeing all the sketches while doing so. I'm seriously so hyped to see how everything materializes!
What’s your favorite aspect of the design process?
My favorite aspect is just being able to do whatever your heart desires and express yourself. Although it can sometimes be complicated and frustrating to translate the image you conjure up into reality (@SlipperyMetallicFabricThatHasBeenTheDeathOfMe), it's still such a cool and proud feeling to look at the final product when you finally get things pieced together. You didn't ask, but my least favorite aspect is seam-ripping–the literal perfect punishment to wish upon your enemies.
All images courtesy of Kathryn Hicks.
Your Atelier MODA Pre-Game Playlist Is Here!
The jams and bops to listen to before the show
Read More2019 Designer Profiles: Anita Obasohan
Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. For this feature we’re focusing on Anita Obasohan, a 4th year Econ major and Visual Arts minor.
Read More2019 Designer Profiles: Andrew Chang
In preparation for the upcoming MODA Show (Friday, February 22nd - get hyped!), we’re doing a series of features on the student designers currently putting together looks. This edition features Andrew Chang.
Read MoreHighs and Lows of the 2019 Grammy Awards
The Grammys delivered its predictable mix of questionable choices re: fashion, tributes, and snubs, but this year also gave us a few glimpses into the light at the end of its fraught tunnel. Crowd favorite albums like Childish Gambino’s This is America and Ariana Grande’s sweetener both took home prizes—or rather, were later sent the prizes, as neither artist attended the show. In fact, there was a considerable chunk of absent star power with artists like Beyonce, Jay Z, Rihanna and Taylor Swift joining the list of no-shows. The winning artists who did attend didn’t fare that well, as the show featured many cut off speeches and production issues.
After the awards show mutinies of 2018, all eyes were on the Recording Academy to finally adapt to the current landscape and reward artistic exploration, especially by women and minority musicians who are consistently robbed of accolades. Last year #GrammysSoMale went viral, and this year could have been subtitled “revenge of the women.”
In comparison to previous years’ shameless disregard for innovation, this year’s Grammys definitely delivered. The package may have gotten lost in the mail and arrived a little beaten up, but it was delivered… eventually. Here are my five most notable moments of the 2019 Grammys:
Michelle Obama’s cameo
No, she’s not a musician, but anyone who doesn’t think her appearance elevates any event is kidding themselves. My First Lady joined Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, J.Lo and host Alicia Keys onstage to express her love of music. But there’s absolutely nothing I can say about her that’ll sound better than her own words. I miss you, Michelle!
J.Lo’s Motown tribute
Notable for all the wrong reasons. I’m thinking of suing for emotional damages… whichever old white man who chose Jennifer Lopez to deliver a tribute to Berry Gordy’s groundbreaking black record label needs a serious talking to.
As someone who grew up on the likes Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight and the Temptations, there is positively no reason to have J.Lo’s 00’s R&B/showgirl stylings in the ring for a tribute to Motown Records. Yes, she is a super talented artist, but put the “soul” in Motown’s “soul music” she does not. Please sit down, Smokey. To add insult to injury, Berry Gordy received no shoutouts? Producers, Diana Ross was literally in the room! Speaking of Miss Ross…
The Diana Ross tribute, by the only person qualified to do so…
…Diana herself! Rather than get J.Lo’ed, Miss Ross took her legacy into her own hands and performed a few of her hits as she approaches her 75th birthday. The palate cleanser we all needed. A true daughter of Motown, Diana’s mark on pop culture is as undeniable. Her lilting voice, big hair and seemingly bigger eyes have been stopping the world in the name of love for 50 years and counting.
Though nominated 12 times and eventually recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, none of her music ever received a competitive Grammy, but nothing has ever held Diana down. She’s the ultimate definition of a legend.
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Cardi B in general
Belcalis Alamanzar was the indisputable champion of the 2019 Grammys. Her red carpet look was easily the best of the night, a 1995 Thierry Mugler haute couture look inspired by the birth of Venus. Paying homage to one of the finest works of art is a perfect middle finger gesture to those who write her off as nothing more than a ghostwritten hoodrat.
Never one to do things halfway, Cardi further discredited her haters by cinching her first Grammy for Rap Album of the Year, Invasion of Privacy. But for me, the icing on the cake was her transcendent performance of hit single “Money.” From the moment that pianist looked straight into the camera, we didn’t stand a chance. The costumes (all three of her Grammys looks were Mugler!), the dancers, the synchronization, the instrumentals, THE COSTUMES… show-stopping is too tame a word.
All of the other performances
Besides the Motown tragedy, the night’s performances really consistently delivered. The rise in visibility of public opinion and outrage on social media has rendered the awards themselves much less relevant than the performances. The Dolly Parton tribute was beautiful and demonstrated a great understanding of her legacy, the Aretha Franklin tribute was perfectly casted by women clearly influenced by her sound, and Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer” medley was an entire production. A personal favorite was Camila Cabello opening the show with “Havana” featuring special guest Ricky Martin.
All in all, the Grammys are bouncing back in a major way. Who knows, in a few years artists may actually be receiving awards show credit directly proportional to the quality of their work! Stay tuned!
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Album Review: thank u, next
Find out what we think about Ariana’s highly anticipated album
Read MoreA Blast from the Past: Interpol at Chicago Theatre
On February 8, New York based band Interpol came to town for a night at the Chicago Theatre, much to the delight of former Living and Travel Editor Emilia, who kindly bought us both tickets to the show. We haven’t been to a concert together since October for Brockhampton, and June previously for Depeche Mode (we do love a good boy band), so it was high time for us to yet again brave the crowds of fans and go rock out for a night.
Having grown up in the aughts and had all my pivotal developmental milestones when bands like The Killers and The Strokes reigned supreme over the hearts of us moody kids, Interpol’s crowd was remarkably comprised of people of all ages. The show was exactly as my pre-teenaged self would have hoped, with the suited band performing a mix of their most popular songs and their newer songs following an opener by Sunflower Bean.
Energy remained high throughout their two hour set, with plenty of chances to hear Interpol’s greatest hits while taking in the the beauty of the classic landmark that is Chicago Theatre. Their setlist never fails to disappoint, especially with “Obstacle 1” in the encore.
As far as the venue goes, it’s safe to say it never hurts to arrive just in time to grab an organic vodka Red Bull before the show starts and take some mirror pics in front of the chintzy red velvet couch on the second floor mezzanine. The concert ended around eleven, giving Emilia and me plenty of time to grab some post-concert bubbly at Cindy’s Rooftop.
In the mean time, give their most recent album, Marauder, and their latest single “Fine Mess” a listen.
All photos courtesy of Joe Ruffalo, including featured image.
What Will You Choose? How 'Bandersnatch' Is Transforming TV
When you hear the iconic dun-dun opening of Netflix, you’re usually prepared to sit back, relax and watch a television show or movie with no contribution. However, with the advancement of technology and the public’s increasing demand for something new and fresh, who but Netflix would devise an new way to consume entertainment?
Instead of the traditional way of watching films, Netflix took one of their most popular shows, Black Mirror– known for its incredible storytelling and foreshadowing of the dangers of technological advancement in society–in for a brand new direction.
The psychological thriller Black Mirror: Bandersnatch centers around the idea of choice. The viewer is given a role in determining the narrative of Stefan (played by Dunkirk’s Fionn Whitehead) as he designs a meta, choose-your-own-adventure video game called Bandersnatch in 1984 (I allotted myself five hours to explore this project).
Although Bandersnatch fits squarely into a dystopian world seeped with horror, science fiction and ‘80s nostalgia that Black Mirror is known and beloved for (including references to past episodes such as “White Bear” and “Metalhead”), this movie stands alone from the television series.
The film took over 18 months of planning and production, beginning with Netflix working with show-runners from animated children’s’ programs, such as Puss and Boots, to create a form of media with branching narratives. Once the children’s’ programs went through, adult programming was fully fleshed out in this new medium of explorational and interactive entertainment.
When Netflix approached Black Mirror creators Charlie Booker and Annabel Jones, there was initial pushback. Concerns over “gimmicky” prior examples of interactive storytelling soon dissipated after ideas for future episodes that only worked with an interactive narrative came to the fore.
The viewer has 10 seconds to make decisions for Stefan, ranging from choosing what type of cereal he eats for breakfast to whether or not he should murder his father (I won’t give too much away). Once a play-through ends, the viewer is given the option of going back and making a different choice. The average viewing is 90 minutes, though the quickest path ends after 40 minutes.
According to IGN, there are five "main" endings, with variants within each ending; such endings may be intercut with credits, similar to other Black Mirror episodes. The interactive material is innovative in exploring the fact that not only does Stefan lack agency over his actions (and at times is aware of this), but the viewer also finds themselves constrained by the writers’ options.
Twitter user @Storni_Ale is one of many fans who have mapped out the endless possibilities with the choose-your-own-adventure film. Some of the diagrams show that when you draw the branch off of an option, you get the same symbol referred to first in Black Mirror’s “White Bear” episode, which is also referenced in this episode; a slight nod to the viewer who lacks almost as much freedom as Stefan.
The narrative branching storytelling method Bandersnatch utilizes has caused a massive social media frenzy. #Bandersnatch started trending on Twitter, with thousands of tweets, posts and memes created from the new storytelling phenomenon. Many fans loved the film, while come critiquing the gimmicky nature of the choose your own adventure component.
With all this hype around the film, one question emerges: will Netflix expand upon creating interactive media similar to Bandersnatch? Rumors began to circulate that they would begin working on video games after the company’s partnership with the now-defunct gaming studio Telltale. However, Netflix executives claim the intent was to advance storytelling and offer new innovative mediums to think of entertainment. As one Netflix exec claims, “we think we are onto something that could be really exciting.”
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is now streaming on Netflix.
Media credits: thumbnail, Netflix, Stefan’s choice, Choice chart
A$AP Rocky Injured Generation Tour Review
It was hard for me to imagine seeing A$AP Rocky in person. Being so used to zoning out to his music with my headphones in, I couldn’t imagine myself before him, feeling the bass of his set charge through my body. But in fact, on the 9th of January, 2019, what I thought could never be was happening.
I got lucky, I got to the floor, and I pushed through a jam-packed crowd to the front. Playboi Carti, accompanying A$AP, rallied the crowd and the mosh began. And A$AP continued that rally throughout the night.
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Jumping out on stage with a mask, he set the crowd into a frenzy. Throughout the set, A$AP performed in a flurry of endless movement and emotion. And the crowd echoed this energy, from bangers and top hits to more chilled out tracks. He kept the crowd engaged for the entire performance, ending with his more recognizable hits.
For a complete list of the cities A$AP will be touring in, click here.
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Winter-Friendly Things to Do in Chicago This Week
As you probably already know, winter is in full swing here in Chicago, which means your desire to step foot outside has probably plummeted. If you’re anything like me, you’ve done all you can to avoid the outdoors (so a very special thank you to UberEats for feeding me and supporting me in these trying times), but being stuck indoors for an entire season can still be pretty difficult. So in an attempt to convince some of you that the outdoors don’t have to be boycotted in the winter, I have found some fun winter-friendly activities that Chicago has to offer.
wndr museum
For those of you that haven’t heard of the wndr museum, it’s Chicago’s most Instagrammable museum. With exhibits like the Infinity Mirror room, its definitely worth buying a ticket (still available for January and February!)
Concerts
Enjoying live music shouldn’t have to wait until the summer, take advantage of the Chicago music scene year round! Some exciting upcoming concerts include: Travis Scott: Astroworld, Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Cher: Here we Go Again Tour, Panic! At the Disco, and Gryffin.
Food Halls
Food Halls are basically just indoor markets filled with food, so you really can’t go wrong. Some of the best ones in Chicago include the Chicago French Market, Eataly, Revival Food Hall, and Foodlife. With multiple vendors all in one location, there’s definitely something for everyone.
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2018: A Year in Review
MODA’s Recap of 2018 is here!
Read MoreAre You a Fan of 'You'?
Netflix has been a little disappointing in the latter weeks of 2018 (with the grand exception of Bandersnatch), with movies that were lesser knockoffs of classic Disney movies or memeable movies that had a better meme following than the movie itself. Almost entirely converted to Hulu at this point, I took a leap of faith when I decided to try out this show that I kept seeing trailers for on Instagram: You.
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Starring Penn Badgley, probably much better known as Lonely Boy or Dan Humphrey, You is about a stalker who pursues someone who he believes he has experienced “love at first sight” with. Without giving any plot spoilers, the majority of this show focuses on the skin-crawling, at times deadly chase of bookstore manager Joe Goldberg (Badgley) into tricking troubled English student Guinevere Beck (played by Elizabeth Lail) into falling for him. The show is currently at one season with ten episodes, though there are already rumors spreading about its second season, as the show has been received with intense popularity.
It was interesting enough that Badgley took another role in which he portrays an obsessive creep, but this show goes far past the absurdity of Gossip Girl and takes it to the next level of intrusiveness and shock value. Badgley’s character should be easily condemned by societal standards of dating etiquette, but the public reception to his character is more than unsettling. In the Twitterverse, the actor has had to shut down many romanticizations of his character, blocking any fan appreciation of Joe Goldberg’s attachment and twisted views on “romance.”
Here’s just an example of such tweets:
Fans seem unable to grasp the reality and gravity of the situations that play out in You. Perhaps it is the internal dialogue that Joe uses to rationalize his behavior in the show that allows him to easily share his vulnerability and desires with the audience. However, this certainly should not welcome empathy for such a demented character. What are your thoughts?
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Feeds to Follow: @tasteofstreep
In 1983, Meryl Streep sported a golden caftan with sequined embroidery for the Oscars. The shimmery design coupled with her pregnancy gave her that dazzling, expectant-mom glow. What Meryl probably didn’t expect is that years later, her look would be redesigned into that of a churro.
The image is simultaneously bizarre, intriguing, and magnificent. The description for it is completely nonsensical: “Meryl Streep is posing alongside life-sized churros.” But, in all honesty, the picture just works. The color scheme is cohesive; the warm gold is even throughout and the churros somehow seem to be the exact same color. The texture also matches—perfectly. The embroidery of her dress stems outward as it transitions into sharp, shiny specks of sugar coating each and every churro. Someone, somewhere, somehow managed to make Meryl Streep surrounded by churros look aesthetically pleasing.
Enter @tasteofstreep, an Instagram account run by Samantha Raye, a Brooklyn-based actor and graphic designer. Raye, in an interview with The Cut, recalled how the whole account started with her photoshopping Streep (from a scene in She-Devil) into a strawberry-frosted doughnut. That one creative spark led to the creation of @tasteofstreep. On there, one can scroll through hundreds of Streep + food focused pictures—with the occasional slip of a new celebrity figure (the latest one to appear is Lady Gaga).
Here’s a personal favorite of mine:
All images via @tasteofstreep.
'Bird Box': Blind to Our Fears
Horror films have collectively monopolized the technique of the jump scare. Those peak scary moments all seem to feature elongated bouts of silence and blur followed by the unexpected, albeit very expected, appearance of some villainous entity or character. It’s this element of inevitable ambush that sparks our fears, but simultaneously comforts us knowing that what is feared has finally been seen. But what happens when we are unable to see at all?
In Bird Box, Sandra Bullock stars as Malorie, a woman who lives in an apocalyptic world suffering from global mass suicides called “The Problem.” The film takes place in three different timelines: five years prior to “The Problem,” the time period shortly before the birth of Malorie’s child, and the present day, in which Malorie carries her child and another woman’s child through the wild in seek of refuge.
A majority of the film comprises of transitioning between the past, where Bullock’s character initially finds shelter in someone’s home and is accompanied by other survivors, to her traveling with the children in the wild, all while blindfolded. In the present day, while the group is rowing through the river rapids, they carry a box of birds that can signal when danger is near.
The suicides in the film are caused by looking at mysterious “creatures,” which never explicitly appear in the film. Only soft after-effects, such as leaves whirling in the wind to signal their presence, are visible. To survive is to not see, and so Malorie and the children wear blindfolds throughout the entirety of the film. Bird Box’s perspective is rooted in blindness: the survivors are unable to see the root of their fears, and so the movie never shows it.
Arguably the most despairing element of Bird Box is that fear will never be truly conquered; it can only be internalized as some non-confrontational afterthought.
I applaud the skillful manipulation of time in this film, which requires precise forethought to coherently connect each time period. The themes presented in the movie are harrowing, and I sometimes wish Bird Box could have been directed as a silent film; the script wasn’t horrible, but I feel as if the silence could have exacerbated the artistic, apocalyptic mood in conjunction with the recurring aspect of blindness.
For me, what remains most memorable about the film is be the blindfold, and despite whatever humor the general public might strike up with it (such as the Bird Box challenge), it touches on the horrible consequences of an inability to act upon our fears.
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The Magic of Tidying Up
How tidying up will make you a happier person
Read MoreGet to Know the Photographer: Aisha Rubio
My name is Aisha and I’m a first year originally from Barcelona, having spent the last five years living in London. I plan on pursuing an Econ major, and potentially exploring the Urban and Environmental Studies field. You can usually find me at the gym, or immersed in some sort of content-creating endeavor–mostly filmmaking, photography, and travel journals, as well as contributing as a writer and photographer for MODA on campus!
Why (and when) did you become interested in photography?
Over the years, I’ve become more and more aware of how ephemeral moments are. I discovered that photography serves as the perfect gateway to congeal these moments and create a sense of timelessness.
Ever since cameras became readily available, my family has been capturing memories for generations. In our households, you’ll find shelves upon shelves of albums, packed with moments that were shot to last into the years.
My grandfather was an avid photographer himself; in fact, he carefully took care of all of his cameras until my grandmother eventually passed them on to me. I believe this is also the reason why I prefer shooting film rather than digital; it seems to be an old-school family tradition! But most importantly, having a limited number of exposures makes you pause for a second and soak in the beauty of a moment before deciding to immortalize it.
Where do you find inspiration?
I’ve often been told that I have an eye for detail. Who knows, perhaps it’s the perfectionist in me. What most inspires me is probably the Sun and how it subtly works its way into different settings. I realize that this sounds extremely obtuse, so I should probably elaborate a little bit more... By ‘Sun’ I mean natural light, and how it sheds an air of beauty into practically any subject. My favorite example is an average city alley, and how the afternoon rays piercing through the side streets or buildings suddenly make it seem so dream-like. If you’re ever walking down from North or Ratner on your right, just before the Book Store (where the UPS trucks sometimes park) and are lucky enough to catch the sunset spilling through the alley, you’ll definitely understand what I mean!
In terms of other creatives in the field, I look up to Dennis Stock (in particular his 1950s rolls of James Dean), Robert Capa (a war photographer whose shots of the Spanish Civil War are very close to my heart) and Sebastião Salgado when it comes to all-time idols. Younger photographers whom I also admire are Cole Sprouse (@colesprouse) and Damon Baker (@damon_baker) for their take on tones and contrast. You should definitely have a look at their works if you have a minute!
Which cameras do you like to use?
On a day by day basis I always have my phone on me, so if anything catches my eye I will often use it to snap a shot. However, if I’m travelling or going urban exploring, I’ll take my grandfather’s 1981 Canon AE-1 Program and shoot 35mm rolls, alternating between B&W for portraits and colour for landscapes. I’d love to learn how to develop my own film this year! Every now and then I like to take advantage of living at the core of modernization and use my DSLR – Canon 100D – to experiment and get creative, especially with Lightroom during the post-production process.
What do you like to photograph?
Mostly people, be they family, friends or complete strangers going about their lives. There’s something about human emotion and movement that never fails to amaze me. I’ve also been very lucky to travel all around the world, which allows me to capture all sorts of cultural diversity, architecture and landscapes. I would really like shooting in deserts and underwater when I get the chance.
Do you have a favorite shoot you've done?
I’ve done a couple of shoots mainly with close friends and family, exploring the different features of each type of camera and I love to play with location and angles. My favourites are from Botswana (wildlife) and some B&W rolls that I shot of my grandmother on a sunny Spring afternoon. Both of these were just so raw and organic. I felt like they really embodied what drew me to photography in the first place.
How do you see photography working into your life here in Chicago and in the future?
Moving to a new city is definitely going to bring out my love for shooting in urban settings and capturing diversity. I look forward to exploring different neighborhoods and learning from other photographers on campus!
All images courtesy of Aisha Rubio.
Feminist Memoirs to Read this Winter
Sometimes it can be easy to forget that reading is not just the act of last-minute cramming 400 pages of Hobbes or Marx. This winter break, find some time in your schedule to read books that will inspire you, make you laugh, teach you about life and politics in the present day (and not 300 years ago), and most importantly, give you something to be happy about! For me, this takes shape through memoirs written by some of my favorite feminists. Here are my suggestions:
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Michelle Obama's Becoming
Obviously. Becoming is one of the best books I have ever read. Michelle Obama's memoir follows her life from childhood in the South Side all the way through her life post-White House. Each sentence is filled with meaning and is beautifully composed, providing insight on growth and transformation, the state of American politics and community, race in Chicago, and what it means to be a woman. I cannot recommend this book more.
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Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Simultaneously hilarious and so relatable, reading Mindy Kaling's memoir feels like you're talking to your best friend or wise-but-funny sister. With chapters ranging from unfortunate anecdotes in middle school to discussions on developing her career, I re-read this book whenever I want to laugh, lift my mood, and remind myself that everything will be ok–given that Mindy was a self-proclaimed "terrible intern," endured countless, relatable, embarrassing moments, and still ended up as a successful writer and actor. All things considered, I feel like I can have hope for my future!
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Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle
The Glass Castle reads more like a novel, with incredibly beautiful, detailed descriptions of Jeannette moving through childhood and into adulthood. Growing up, she and her siblings learned to take care of themselves as they moved from state to state with their free-spirited, often unemployed parents. Jeanette goes on to receive an elite education and work as a journalist, while her parents remain homeless. A story filled with trauma, but also many moments of beauty, nostalgia, and resilience.
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Angela Davis' An Autobiography
A funny and wise account of Davis' life, experiences and the important people that influenced her future as a political activist. In her autobiography, Davis shares an important account of race and politics in 1972, which stills feels necessary and relevant to read in today’s turbulent times.
Get reading! Whether you want to feel politically charged, inspired to overcome personal obstacles, or just want to laugh and relate with a badass woman, these are all great options to distract you from your post-finals lull.
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