Photo Collage of the best three pieces of entertainment for this great week by Arts and Entertainment Editor Olivia Cusick.
Hello! As the 2022 – 2023 Expressions Arts and Entertainment editor, I wanted to use the wonderful reporting team to reflect the media that students at San Luis Obispo High School enjoy. In the modern age of technology, new media is constantly being created. The Expressions team is excited to give reviews on a few of these every week. Music, film, television, books, and any art form that students and staff want to discuss, are given a free space to do so. You too can join the team for the Sunday Showcase! If you are passionate and want to talk about art, email me at [email protected]. I thoroughly hope you enjoy this edition of the Sunday Showcase!
“Bad Prescription” is the Prescription Listeners Needed by reporter Lauren Weyel
“Neutrality Acoustic” is just a guitar, a voice, and the most cutting lyrics that a student at San Luis Obispo High School will ever hear. Hospital Bracelet is the stage name of Eric Christopher, who self-released the EP “Neutrality Acoustic” in 2019. The EP is only six songs long, but each one contains deeply reflective lyrics that more than make up for the rough production value (which is only a basic recording of Christopher singing and playing the guitar at the same time — no post production, nothing else).
The first song on the EP, “Bad Prescription”, has a chorus full of thoughtful metaphors and self-reflection: “You are the tumor that’s sitting in my brain / You are the poison blood in my veins / And I am the nasty pill you used to take / But then you feel better and you threw the prescription away.” These metaphors paint a gut-wrenching picture that anyone who has had a relationship gone wrong can relate to. However, their songwriting nuance appears when the chorus repeats at the end of the song, where they realize that they were not the solution, but the problem: “I am the tumor sitting in my own brain / And I am the poison blood running through my tired veins / And I am the nasty pills that I still take / And I hope that one day I can throw the prescription away.” This change in the chorus provokes listeners to think about how their emotions are not just a product of other people’s effects on them, but also impacted by their own outlook on life. Others can not be blamed for one person’s lack of happiness, which this chorus reflects on.
My personal favorite, “Sent From My Toyota Tacoma”, has only two chords for the majority of the song but has an inherent nostalgic feel. The guitar picking in the intro hooks listeners, but it’s the lyrics that keep listeners tuned in. In the first verse, Christopher says “When your mouth moves, saying that you care about me / I’m programmed to just shut down and leave”, a painful description for any listener who has struggled to accept love in their life. The chorus deals with similar themes. The line “Cause you make me want to be a better person, and a year ago I wanted to die” mirrors the last line of the chorus, “I’m happy you want me alive”. These sentiments, while potentially triggering for some students after the mental health issues that came along with the COVID-19 pandemic, reflect how there is still hope even after a dark time. It only takes one person’s hope to inspire hope in another person, which can help improve mental health, which this chorus reminds us of.
“Neutrality Acoustic” is relatable and down to earth. Its simplistic production encourages young songwriters to get their music out into the world even if the production is imperfect. Relatable and emotional lyrics are more valuable than high-cost music production, which makes “Neutrality Acoustic” a hidden gem for music gurus everywhere.
Comedy, genuinity, and news. “The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert” has it all. By reporter Nico Aebischer.
For San Luis Obispo High School students, keeping up with recent events can be difficult. Reading articles simply takes too much time and effort nowadays, especially for teenagers. Podcasts, on the other hand, are much easier to take part in. Not only can people listen to podcasts whenever and wherever they want, podcasts are often more entertaining and interactive for listeners. One such podcast is “The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is a late night talk show hosted by comedian Stephen Colbert, with “The Late Show Pod Show” being the official audio recording of certain segments, mainly interviews. One of the drawbacks to this style of podcast is that the actual show sometimes has visuals that provide information or context, so in the podcast version of the show, sometimes the listener can feel like they’re missing information.
In the episode “Clarissa Ward (Extended Cut),” Colbert interviews journalist Clarissa Ward, a former Russian-based news correspondent, about recent developments related to the war in Ukraine. Colbert asked Ward about the possibility of nuclear weapons being used in Ukraine. Ward responded saying she thought it was unlikely, but that it is also important to note that some “hardliners inside Russia support the [potential] use of a tactical nuke.”
Students who want to get a quick summary of the news now and then, mixed in with some light-hearted humor, would certainly enjoy this podcast. Listen to “The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert” today.
Source:reuters.com
New on Izzy’s Bookstore Front: “Chameleon in a Candy Store” By Izzy Nino de Rivera-Krieger
“Chameleon in a Candy Store” by Anonymous
Genre: Memoir
Izzy’s Rating: ☆☆☆☆ ½
Length: 208 pages
Any warnings?: Strong language, graphic depictions of sex, PTSD relating from child abuse. If you read my last review on “Diary of an Oxygen Thief”, it isn’t as intense as that book was with the long list of triggers. However, you do need to read the first to really understand this book, because some of the triggers that weren’t prominent are brought up again.
I only bring one or maybe two reading books with me to San Luis Obispo High School every morning. I used to be the type that could juggle maybe reading three books at a time, but I think the more I grew up and the more prominent my ADHD became the older I got, I could only really keep track of one book at a time, two if I was reading something for class.
I noticed this more in April this last year when I spent a week in the hospital more than ever though. I was only able to get through “Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus in the six days I spent in the hospital.
It’s funny how the brain works, because it seems like even though I’ve found more neurodivergent people to relate to, this seems to be a unique experience I have that came with the ADHD (to my knowledge).
Even through treatment, this fact rang truer and made me have even more cause to self-reflect on my habits. I really wanted to juggle more than one book but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was like being in a monogamous relationship – committed to one, but onto the next when it’s over. Or not.
Onto the book, though. Speaking of moving onto the next thing.
Again, shocker, but I liked “Diary of an Oxygen Thief”. Not a ton, but a lot.
To read things from the abuser’s perspective was interesting. To have read books from the victims my whole life, and then to get this unapologetic abuser explaining what he did and how he enjoyed it… It was an experience, to say the least of it. Speaking from a victim of abuse as well, it didn’t trigger me at all but not everyone’s the same. I’ve been so desensitized to trauma that it doesn’t faze me to read about it.
Bottom line of that book, as far as you need to know, is the old cliche: Hurt people hurt people. It’s absolutely true. Every time I’ve hurt people, it’s when I’m hurting about something else in any situation. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever hurt anyone without my own pain being the underlying reason why I hurt someone. You don’t need to read the book to know that, of course, but from my experience, the book also gave me more perspective and added more nuance to that statement.
I think, in terms of judging “Chameleon in a Candy Store”, I liked it more than its predecessor. And that’s a pretty bold statement.
It felt more like a one-by-one account of his dates and his life, more like itemizing each woman that comes across in his life after the events of “Diary of an Oxygen Thief”.
I also appreciated the more-structured plot line this book had, rather than the unwarranted tangents and the sudden flashbacks the other book had in the middle of the central plot. Because he itemized each hookup and experience he had, it made the book easier to follow and it was just more pleasant and less stomach-churning. There was no part in this I had to read twice to fully understand.
The content was slightly toned down from the last book as well, which made it much easier to process. When you’re constantly getting thrown really difficult topics or taboo topics, as an empath, it’s hard to read without empathizing or really feeling for that person, no matter how awful they may be. Although, I will say, there are a lot of sex scenes that are pretty explicit… And I mean a lot.
“Diary of an Oxygen Thief”, probably for the right reasons, also got categorized as erotic literature because of its depictions. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is taken as erotic literature moreso than a memoir.
Viewer (or reader) discretion is advised. I know most of my audience is minors – which is why I’d tell you to hold off on reading this book. I like writing about it just to pique your interest and if your parents are cool with you reading the book AND you’re mature enough to handle it, I’d say go ahead. Otherwise, for the rest of you, hold off a little longer. It’s for your own good.
It’s funny how it takes me the first page to really know whether I’m hooked on the book immediately or not. Because this book, signature to his last book, starts off rather boldly with a shocking first line that grabs you and pretty much tells you what the rest of the book is about.
“I knew if I wanted to have sex with a girl within the first three seconds of meeting her. After that, it was just a matter of how much I was willing to put up with to make it happen. This period of putting up with their bullshit is what women called charm.” (1)
The narrator/author, using his experience in advertising for online dating. At first, it’s to fuel his sex addiction and to come across women to use for his own pleasure. However, later in the book, he turns to the same platform to sell his book, “Diary of an Oxygen Thief”.
What never fails to stun me about the author is his cleverness and how sly he is about things. I consider myself sometimes witty or a smartass, sure, but the things this guy thinks of are craaaazy. It pretty much tells the story up to his current life right now, living in the East Village of New York City as a writer now. This book left me feeling not as upset as the last one did, for all the reasons I talked about earlier and its resolution.
My favorite parts of it though weren’t really the story, but the cuts over to his ideas for commercials in the most random moments. Those always got a good chuckle and they were annotated in my book because I liked coming back to those and just reading them when I need a pick-me-up and I have the book in my room when I’m about to hit it for the night.
My stomach didn’t churn that much in this book. I could eat and still not feel nauseous, you know? In fact, there were a few lines in there where I laughed or chuckled, so much so that the other patients in my treatment leaned over to look at what was so funny to me. I typically don’t react much as a reader, but this book had more humorous parts. Or maybe, I learned the author’s humor and appreciated it much more.
I’d only recommend this book if you’ve read “Diary of an Oxygen Thief” before and if you think you have the maturity/permission from parents. Otherwise, go read that first and if you can stand to read the sequel, which I do recommend, go ahead and read this book.
I’m available for some book recommendations/consultations at [email protected] or through Instagram at @starryybella. Feel free to email me or message me about books, or to maybe recommend some books for me to talk about in this column. I’d also love to hear about your reactions to this book if you read it. It’s definitely one that warrants discussion. Just please, send your name and your grade level (or if you’re a staff member) in the email. No, I won’t make a Viagra joke this time. What do you think I am, ten years old? I’ll just make a joke that if you sign me up for silicone boob enlargement, I’ll find you.
Until next time, readers.
