Cheap nostalgia: Disney live-action renditions lack fresh interpretations

Within the past decade, there has been an increase in the production of live-action remakes of many beloved animated films. Disney is by far the largest contributor in this phenomenon, as they appear to be working through their collection of classic animations, most recently debuting the live action “Snow White,” released last month.

Disney has the ability to revamp stories because the company is not the creator of the tales they showcase, many of which are based in folklore. While we understand the immersive appeal of live-action movies, there seems to be a level of halfhearted handiwork on Disney’s part. Many of these live-action remakes include changes that aren’t really significant enough to bring a fresh or interesting take to the source material. Rather than watching a well-coordinated adaptation of animated films or an experimental take, viewers are left with recycled remakes that don’t respect their source material.

In our view, Disney doesn’t seem able to consistently churn out films that are either innovative or thoughtful in their retellings. This dilemma results in remakes that feel like a cheap attempt to appeal to nostalgia rather than create renditions or expand on beloved fairy tales. It’s our view that Disney should be more intentional with their remakes instead of throwing in unnecessary additives. We believe Disney should honor original films with quality shot-for-shot remakes or clearly offer consistent, fresh renditions in an effort to not muddle people’s perceptions of beloved tales.

To read more of the Lanthorn staff’s editorial, click here.

Political polarization leads Kendrick Lamar halftime critiques

Shortly after sweeping the Grammys with the diss track “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar took the stage at the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans for the most-viewed Super Bowl Halftime Show in history. This wasn’t Lamar’s first time performing at the Super Bowl— he appeared alongside Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem during the 2022 Super Bowl, which marked the first halftime show to focus entirely on hip-hop. With guests including SZA, Mustard, Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams, Lamar used his performance to make a statement; against Drake, of course, but also about greater themes of patriotism and political division.

Jackson, who served as a narrator through the performance, was decked out in a patriotic suit, and personified Uncle Sam. As the Root reported, “Uncle Sam was supposed to represent the ‘sanitized’ America. The America that makes most of the Super Bowl viewers comfortable.”

The show was filled with symbolism, with dancers on the main stage dressed head-to-toe in red, white and blue. During the opening notes of Lamar’s 2017 hit “HUMBLE,” the dancers arranged to form an American flag. The choreography continued, and the flag formation split down the middle, which we see as symbolizing the division within our current political system.

To read more of the Lanthorn staff’s editorial, click here.

Brat or not brat: “We’re bumpin’ that”

Ranking No. 3 on the Billboard music charts, the album “brat” by Charli xcx is more than the soundtrack to our summer. After “brat” released on June 7, the chaotic, high energy album became a viral sensation, and has transformed into an aesthetic and lifestyle trend called “brat summer. Brat summer has swarmed social media and truly took on a life of its own. We are certainly “bumpin’ that.”

One of the trends associated with “Brat” is its lime green album cover– the new color of the summer. The color has had an impact similar to the aesthetic trends of last summer’s blockbuster movie release, “Barbie.”

The singer has defined brat summer as an aesthetic for messy and rebellious party girls to embrace a lifestyle of being your perfectly imperfect self. The trend has been deemed by the general public as an opposite of the “clean girl” aesthetic of 2022, which popularized a groomed and filtered version of femininity. Here at the Lanthorn, we think this acceptance of a real and sometimes messy lifestyle is “so Julia.”

To read more of the Lanthorn staff’s editorial, click here.

Columns

Ranking every Michigan record store I’ve visited

Since starting my music collection in 2018, visiting record stores has become one of my favorite activities– whether that be shopping with friends or my dad, who’s also restarted his own collection. I’ve made a habit of stopping at shops while on mini-vacations or driving through new towns. That being said, I’ve taken the time to rank all of the 13 stores in Michigan that have had me flipping through vinyl. A majority of the shops I’ve ranked are located in West Michigan, however there are a couple exceptions. My list is, in-part, determined by both my preferred selection and the type of shopping experience I enjoy most.

To read more of Hailey Hentz’s column, click here.

Written rivalry: What the Anchor-Bone Classic means to our newspapers

When talking about rivalries in sports, there are plenty of options. Michigan and Michigan State or Michigan and Ohio State are easy answers for Michiganders. Those aren’t the rivalries the Torch and the Lanthorn have the honor of covering.

Our small, midwestern newspapers get to say that we cover the Anchor Bone Classic. It’s built into the DNA of Bulldogs and Lakers to have the date of the Grand Valley and Ferris game circled, either mentally or physically.

Every fall, the Lanthorn releases an article about the Grand Valley versus Ferris game– an article that encapsulates the antagonism and excitement that repeats with unfaltering intensity. With a corresponding photo on the newspaper’s cover, the yearly edition arguably represents school spirit and what it means to “be a Laker” better than any of our editions.

In pages divided up between the latest news, club features and individual Lakers’ columns, pride for Grand Valley normally takes many forms. But when it comes to the edition highlighting the rivalry game, devotion to school spirit is in one substantial place, taking the form of a two-page blue, black, and white compilation.

To read more of Hailey Hentz and Dylan Rider’s column, click here.

Beyond ceasefire: Advocating against apartheid is a continued fight

More than 471 days since Oct. 7, 2023, the day so many of us have been asking for, praying for and demanding, has finally come to pass. A ceasefire has successfully been brokered between Israel and Hamas, ending the former’s genocidal slaughter of the Gaza Strip. For many, and certainly myself, this is cause for celebration. We’ve witnessed war crimes unlike anything our generation has ever seen broadcast daily on our devices. After over a year, we can finally look forward to an imminent ending of the terror and a relative return to “normal.” However, I must urge you to look at what this “normal” entails. While the bombing may stop, we still must continue to advocate for the Palestinian people.

To read more of Jace Perroud’s column, click here.

GV administration should protect students from Trump’s agenda

Like other students at Grand Valley State University, I have become increasingly anxious about the state of America following the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump on Monday, Jan. 20. The inauguration was notably attended by wealthy tech executives and several high-ranking politicians from both parties. The occasion was also filled with much of the hyper-nationalistic rhetoric we have come to expect from Trump, who declared that America would “pursue (its) manifest destiny into the stars.” While the speech captured many people’s attention, it was Trump’s actions soon after that became the main cause of alarm.

Within hours of entering office, Trump began a wave of executive orders and plans, including, but not limited to, the pardoning of all involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a requirement that all federal employees stop working remotely and even a rename of the Gulf Of Mexico to the “Gulf Of America.” Most concerning, however, are Trump’s attacks on immigration and diversity.

To read more of Jace Perroud’s column, click here.

Reducing financial burdens could improve the college experience

Being broke is a common stereotype for us college students. In most cases, this stereotype reigns true with many of us living paycheck to paycheck and feeling the constant stress of finances. I believe that without the extremely high cost of course materials, housing and tuition we wouldn’t be in such a bad situation. I feel that almost all things related to college should be more affordable.

High costs of university expenses cause major stress and anxiety. Nearly every four-year student has some kind of debt stacked up before the end of their college experience. If the cost of college and materials were cheaper, I think the number of students with debt would be drastically decreased. I can attest to the anxiety that having future debt gives students.

I personally worry about my future and the financial burden my student debt might cause me. Students worry not only about debt, but also semester bills they don’t take out loans for. I’ve had friends cry over expenses and wonder how they’re going to pay. Not every student has the benefit of financial aid– they have to pay their bills immediately. While many students do barely manage to pay, there’s still a large number of students who end up dropping out because they cannot afford the cost of college.

To read more of Gabrielle Ray’s column, click here.

High costs of university expenses cause major stress and anxiety. Nearly every four-year student has some kind of debt stacked up before the end of their college experience. If the cost of college and materials were cheaper, I think the number of students with debt would be drastically decreased. I can attest to the anxiety that having future debt gives students.

I personally worry about my future and the financial burden my student debt might cause me. Students worry not only about debt, but also semester bills they don’t take out loans for. I’ve had friends cry over expenses and wonder how they’re going to pay. Not every student has the benefit of financial aid– they have to pay their bills immediately. While many students do barely manage to pay, there’s still a large number of students who end up dropping out because they cannot afford the cost of college. 

Without expenses for college students being lowered, talented students who earned their spot at their respective universities have to pack up and leave because they cannot afford extreme charges. Some students might not feel confident financially to apply for certain higher-ed institutions, meaning very talented individuals are discouraged to pursue academic goals they’ve dreamed of. By lowering the cost of tuition we could open up more opportunities for these students to pursue their academic prowess. In a perfect world, I’d even go as far as to argue that tuition should be free for all students who meet academic requirements and were accepted into a university. 

Without the cost of tuition students can have a better chance at focusing on their education. In my opinion, here at Grand Valley State University, housing is already packed to the brim. Most students who weren’t quick enough to secure housing for the following school year find themselves living off campus. The stress of having to pay rent and utilities is already damaging to students enough, but with added tuition on top of that, it’s even worse; however, even on-campus housing can be pricey.

To combat these financial struggles, some may suggest students work more to pay off debt and bills, but the reality is that sometimes this option is not applicable to everyone’s situation. Having time for a job can be a double-edged sword, as you’re able to make money but you might not have time for clubs or a full-time schedule. Dropping to anything lower than a full-time schedule can cause issues with financial aid, which would just cause more financial stress. Similarly, leaving activities can hurt a student’s resume or potential outreach opportunities. 

Getting a job may also be difficult due to limited opportunities. Students might find it difficult to secure an on-campus job due to the competitive nature of student employment. If you don’t want an on-campus job, going off campus can be difficult. GVSU is located in the small town of Allendale and finding jobs within a close range of the University can be difficult. Students usually have to travel to neighboring cities like Walker, Grand Rapids or Grandville to find jobs. Travel accessibility can be tough for students and those with a car may find traveling 20-50 minutes for a job to be troublesome. 

I think that lowering costs of tuition, housing, course materials and other college expenses would have a positive effect on students’ experiences and mental health. College is already difficult without the extra costs and it’d be helpful to give students one less thing to worry about.

For over 25 hours, breaking segregationist Strom Thurmond’s record, Booker railed against mass deportations, federal worker layoffs, the gutting of welfare programs and attacks on both trans rights and DEI initiatives that have been a staple of this administration. Many in the Democratic Party have celebrated Booker’s impressive feat, with many of his colleagues congratulating him as he broke Thurmond’s record.

More than anything, this action was symbolic, as Booker spoke passionately about his own experiences, as well as the legacy of John Lewis, a former congressman and prolific civil rights activist. The speech acted as a full-throated defense of policies and ideals the Trump administration has made its mission to destroy. 

As such, many Democrats have jumped at the opportunity to herald this speech as a rallying point for a party on life support. While, for the Democrats, this speech was a decent start at igniting a fire within the party, I would like to bring the perspective of someone who wants to not just fight against Trump, but all the systems and institutions that enabled and empowered him. 

Firstly, while Booker talked about many things during his speech, there was one, fairly large issue that seemed to have slipped his mind. At no point during his record-breaking speech did Booker care to bring up the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people by the settler-colonial Israeli state. While I commend him for rallying against the mass deportations, the fact that he never brought the same energy regarding one of the worst genocides ever perpetrated on this Earth can only be explained as willful ignorance or horrific apathy. 

I will not waste any time in arguing why Booker should be in support of Palestine, as I fundamentally do not believe there is any real persuasion anymore. The only truly moral stance is to demand an end to this genocide, especially when it pertains to the most horrific policies of the president he was speaking out against.

That being said, how can abolitionists and movement builders against oppressive systems view this speech, especially as it relates to creating the change we wish to see? In my view, this is honestly the type of “resistance” I would like to see from Democrats. 

While I would also love to see more attempts to actually disrupt the business of the Trump administration, I feel as though symbolic actions like this are probably the best we can ask for from Democrats while striving for lasting change. These acts can spur people to get active in resistance, while also remaining an arms-length away from actual activism. I would far prefer the moderate Democrats like Booker to remain at arms length from popular movements on the ground organizing against Trump.

Recall the George Floyd uprisings of 2020, where people around the country took to the streets demanding change to the violent, racist police forces across the country. Many Democrats were all too happy to jump to the lead of this movement, using it as a springboard for their own campaigns, leading to a blue wave across the government. However, the radical message of the movement was watered down to be palatable for an election and very few of the limited number of policing changes stuck, or even had any effect. When the dust of the movement settled, next to nothing was done to combat the issues in America’s policing system, resulting in more killings of Black people, such as Patrick Lyoya in Grand Rapids.

No matter how much resistance the Democratic Party puts up, only movements led by the working and oppressed people of this country will be able to not just defeat Trump, but salt the Earth to ensure a movement like his can never rise again. Fascism cannot be combated with progressive capitalism and reform, it must be combated with socialism and liberation. With the stakes so high, as democratic institutions crumble around us and markets sink as rapidly as our futures, we cannot afford cooptation and halfhearted resistance this time around.

Due to the smaller and typically older audience of music I listen to, many fans believe older hits and genres are undeniably better than any current hits being produced. They tend to believe that older music is “real” music and that new-age music is hypersexualized, and only serves the purpose of promoting negative actions and behavior. While some current artists aren’t my favorite, I believe the critique of hypersexuality only existing in current music is flat-out hypocritical. Music in the majority of genres have rarely maintained a sense of purity. 

Most people consider “Oldies” music to be from the 1950s-1980s, and see these eras as more moralistic. However, the truth about these eras is that they spearheaded a more liberal approach to music. Take one of the largest stars of the late 1950s, Elvis Presley, for example. He was controversial during his time for his on-stage, sexual hip movements and provocative lyrics. Looking back, we see his stage presence as having only minor sexual themes. Yet, it was artists like Presley that cracked doors open for present-day expressions of sexuality.

I believe that by claiming music should only focus on modest themes, we are disrespecting those artists who introduced the idea of pushing the boundaries of societal norms about sexuality and liberal expression. This should be true for all genres, whether it be Oldies rock and roll or current rap and hip-hop. I find it ironic to try to categorize certain genres or eras of music as being too sexually explicit or deviant, or to stick your nose up at current, popular hits. In any art form and any era, you are going to have people who push the boundaries of norms.

Due to my personal taste, I don’t really like listening to current music in the pop, rap and hip-hop genres. However, I recognize the value of expression in those genres, as well as the artists I normally tune into. Not only that, but I completely support my friends who listen to new music, and hold no judgement over their tastes. This makes the superiority complex that many Oldies listeners have very frustrating to me.

Music, or any art for that matter, isn’t always going to be based on conservative or modest values, and that doesn’t make it wrong. Deviant and explicit expression in art should be normalized, as artists tend to approach boundaries in expression by pushing back against them. Rather than viewing this as wrong or less than compared to other art, it is simply ignorant. As they say, rules are meant to be broken.

Ended federal union collective bargaining

Warming everyone up for the entries to come, I think it would be appropriate to start with one of the worst attacks on organized labor in our country since the Haymarket massacre. On the morning of Friday, March 28, Trump signed an executive order cancelling collective bargaining for a swath of federal employee unions. This is the first time in my recent memory that state-sanctioned union-busting has taken place so blatantly at this level. While this is likely to be challenged in court, labor unions should take this as a sign they will not be able to count on winning their labor struggles the traditional way, lest Trump steps in to save his rich buddies on Wall Street.

Erasure Of Black And Queer History 

Presumably because they couldn’t think of anything better to do, in mid-February,  the Trump administration ordered the removal of any mention of LGBTQ+ people, people of color and women from government websites, such as NASA and the Arlington National Cemetery pages. This includes, among many other things, an article highlighting the military service of Jackie Robinson, who famously broke the MLB’s color barrier. This is a small chapter in the administration’s broad war on diversity, but it bears mentioning to show how all-encompassing Trump’s attacks on DEI have been, even in terms of seemingly minuscule elements like one-page tributes on federal websites.

Greenland

One of Trump’s goals since taking office has been his seemingly unwavering dedication to annex Greenland, despite most of Greenland being against this plan of action. This lack of consent from the people of Greenland has done little to dissuade Trump, who has dug his heels in the sand and channeled his inner Veruca Salt from the film  “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” droning on and on about how we simply must have Greenland. Trump has also gone on record stating the U.S. having Greenland would make the whole world safe. Personally, I can’t really see how. This debacle would honestly be a lot funnier if it didn’t also have massive implications for U.S. alliances abroad. If a U.S. invasion of Greenland happens, which Trump has alluded to, it would essentially torch NATO’s alliance with the U.S. and any goodwill toward Europe.

“Terrific” Operations Security

In one of the most laughable moments from Trump’s presidency so far, top-secret government information was leaked to the public due to several officials not knowing how to use Signal. This chat, including people such as JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, Mike Waltz, Marco Rubio and a few other high-ranking officials, was used to discuss plans to bomb Yemen. What they didn’t realize, however, was that a reporter from The Atlantic had been included in the chat by mistake, and was witness to the top-secret discussion. These discussions were held in a manner that seemed as if they were part of a fraternity, planning their weekend blowout. The utter surrealism of Waltz using emojis to discuss a bombing campaign is without description. After the Trump administration denied the chats and questioned the legitimacy of the reporter, The Atlantic released the entire Signal conversation, which revealed that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was not included. This entire, embarrassing debacle can be summed up with one group chat text from Hegseth, the Fox News host masquerading as a military official, “100% OPSEC” (Operations Security).

Political Deportations

Finally, one of the most horrifying and cruel moments from this presidency is Trump’s weaponization of deportation to remove those who are actively working against the administration. Specifically, he has worked to deport students involved in pro-Palestine activism across the country. Most notably, the abduction of Mahmoud Khalil at the hands of ICE has grabbed the nation’s attention in an unprecedented attack on the student movement. Several abductions followed soon after, and almost all individuals have been waiting in jail without trial. All this comes as the Trump administration has been looking to strip due process in deportation cases, which would essentially allow the government to deport anyone as long as they’re accused of being an illegal immigrant.

While this is by no means a complete list of all the noteworthy actions from Trump and his administration, I hope it illustrates just how insane, cruel and seemingly stupid this administration has managed to be in just over two months.

In January, I wrote one of my first articles for the Lanthorn on my thoughts regarding the ceasefire in Gaza. While I still stressed the importance of continued activism in all arenas against Israeli apartheid, I was thankful that the horrific, inexcusable violence against Palestinians in Gaza would be coming to an end. Clearly, I had far too much faith in the powers that be to stop the genocide. True to form, the Israeli Defense Force, which I will henceforth be referring to as the Israeli Occupational Force (IOF), mainly attacked residential buildings used as shelters, as well as makeshift schools– once again leaving many mothers and fathers in Gaza forced to search through the rubble for their dead children. 400 lives were extinguished in a matter of minutes, and the situation’s horror set in for the Palestinian people, who have been plunged back into the depths of hell they had momentarily escaped from.

It should be made perfectly clear that President Donald Trump gave his tacit approval of the genocide’s reescalation. Just like his predecessor, Trump gave the IOF an open check to daily inflict despicable crimes against humanity. Among his many enthusiastic statements of support to Israel was his suggestion that Palestinians in Gaza be “relocated” to surrounding countries. To be completely clear, this is an example of ethnic cleansing, otherwise known as genocide. It should not be surprising that Trump, who has mainly accumulated his wealth on the back of the empire built by his racist, landlord father, advocated what is essentially large-scale gentrification in the Gaza Strip.

The situation in occupied Palestine is only getting more dire by the second, as the IOF has already launched a ground campaign into northern Gaza– a campaign likely to kill thousands more. This invasion has been coupled with a truly dystopian video of the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who warned that the IOF is ready to attack “with a force beyond anything you have ever seen.” Considering what we have borne witness to over the past year and a half, I shudder to think of what his statement entails. 

Despite the hopes of all who advocated for and celebrated the ceasefire several months ago, the genocide in Gaza has reverted back to its horrifying form from before the ceasefire, with unmitigated acts of cruelty sure to be perpetuated on a regular basis. The main difference this time around, however, is the viciousness of dissent being crushed in the United States. Take, for example, the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a recent Columbia University graduate who had been legally obtaining his education in America on a green card. At Columbia, Khalil played a large role in the university’s student encampment last spring. Without warning, federal immigration agents showed up and detained him. Trump soon proudly took to social media to announce his plans to deport Khalil, despite his having a green card. Weeks later, Khalil is still being held with zero charges.

Now, just as when the ceasefire was first announced, our priorities must remain firm. Despite pathetic, authoritarian attempts to silence us, we must continue to speak out for Palestine in all forms available to us. We must continue to boycott all companies that do business with the criminal Israeli government. We must continue to pressure our local governments and schools to divest from this genocide. We must keep the lives of Palestinians in our hearts, as they stare down the barrel of horror once again. Free Palestine!

Looking back, I wasn’t fully committed to a lot of my friendships. I found that because of my people-pleasing tendencies, I often sacrificed my own opinions and morals just to make others happy with me. This kind of behavior makes it difficult to form genuine bonds with the people around you. Anxiety had driven my fear of people disliking me, which was ironically the only thing that stood in the way of me being liked for who I truly am. Due to my old tendencies, my friendships used to be faulty. In the end, a friend to all is a friend to none.

As I realized the implications this behavior has had on my relationships, I’ve stepped away from people pleasing, and finally see the personality I’ve been hiding all this time. More importantly, I have learned how to make balanced and healthy friendships that will make it past a couple of years. Instead of needing everyone to like me, I instead choose my friends by making careful decisions about who I want to spend my time with, and I think everyone should do the same. It’s important for your friends to truly know you and like you for you. While this seems like an obvious statement, it’s easy to fall stray to conforming to other people’s personalities and behaviors. Ultimately, doing so can draw you into a toxic friendship. 

While I am no expert on socialization and relationships, I have come a long way from where I was before. I find it much easier to dictate whether a friendship will positively or negatively affect me and I’m happy to share the ways I choose to do this. 

One component of building positive friendships is to surround yourself with a social circle that is truly aware of the importance of support systems. Since every person is different, finding out the best way to support a friend, especially during tough times is important and can teach you about each other. Some of the closest bonds are created by someone offering support in a time of need. In my opinion, the best way to know how to offer this support to someone is to just ask, and dedicate a conversation to knowing what a friend needs. 

In addition to discovering methods of support, it is also important to find people who have similar interests or values. This might seem like a crystal clear observation to some people, but I believe that people often overlook this important aspect of building friendships. As I said before, in the past, I used to make my friendships based on convenience so that I wouldn’t have to eat lunch alone or struggle to find partners in group work. I decided to be comfortably uncomfortable and stayed in a friend group where I felt like I didn’t belong, just so I wouldn’t be lonely. However, friendships are solely for kinship, so you should be able to bond with your friends, not just use them to make your daily life easier. Putting aside your values and interests for friends who don’t agree with them is a direct hit to your morality. You should be able to think for yourself. Therefore, waiting a little longer for friends who care about your interests and values is extremely important. 

Lastly, working on being a good communicator is one of the final pieces of the puzzle that makes a good friendship. It’s also important to communicate with honesty and integrity. You should be able to have open discussions with friends about a plethora of topics without the fear of being judged. To be a good communicator, you must actually be willing to initiate conversation with your friends without conforming to their ideas or thoughts, even in terms of tough topics.

When making friendships as adults, there is no room for people pleasing, gossiping and forming fake bonds. It’s time we all embrace our true personalities, and communicate with our peers unapologetically. This mindset allows us to find people who share our values, interests and lifestyles more authentically. I believe that, in turn, this leads to better and more fulfilling relationships for all people involved. 

The United States has gone from being, at the very least, a respected country, to an embarrassment at best and adversary at worst, considering Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and the pathetic tariff slap fights. To be honest, the Trump administration’s horrors have been so extensively covered that they hardly need any further direct mention in this column. Instead, I would like to examine the action, or lack thereof, from the other side of the proverbial aisle. 

The Democrats have essentially been controlled opposition against the Trump administration. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, for example, has expressed great frustration toward grassroots democratic organizations who dare ask Democratic leadership to develop a confrontational approach against the man they spent all 2024 branding as a fascist. While the Democratic Party’s leadership has been embarrassingly timid in the wake of the Republicans’ hostile government, they have been happy to shut down any genuine left-wing opposition any chance they get. 

This is evident in the party’s voting to censure Al Green for berating Trump during the State Of The Union, publicly expressing their wish to abandon the progressive causes they have held electorally hostage for years and their utterly shameless capitulation to Republicans surrounding the threat of a government shutdown.

Clearly, for all of us who are at risk by the Trump administration, the tactic of hoping and praying the Democrats will care about these issues as much as we do is a failing strategy. For us to secure our futures and our freedoms, we must look elsewhere. We must look beyond the charade of electoral politics, which has so clearly been shown to be ineffective toward lasting solutions.

To achieve this, I believe we need to look toward our communities instead of elected representatives who give their word they will protect their constituents, but may not hold up their end of the deal. For example, queer folk should organize around their shared protection instead of putting their trust in politicians of either party. Similarly, rather than electing representatives who promise to raise the minimum wage, working people should organize and strike until their wages are raised according to their work. 

When I think of the face of the Trump resistance, I don’t think of Democratic figures such as Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, John Fetterman or Gary Peters. Instead, I think of a photo I saw, in which an unnamed Cincinnati resident used a burning swastika flag to light their cigarette, following the takeover of an Ohio overpass by Neo-Nazis. The display of hatred was soon interrupted by a wave of armed and masked community members swarming the scene. It is important to remember this example of communal resistance if we are to push back against the Trump administration’s agenda.

As a result of scrolling through our feeds and consulting comment sections for additional interaction, I believe people have lost the ability to think for themselves. Influencers often base their platforms around a hobby, and work to build trust among their audience. Yet, they ultimately scheme to push a certain product or agenda on their followers. Influencers promote their hobbies in the hopes of gaining an online fanbase. Oftentimes, this is paired with an attempt to get viewers to buy products. Influencers use certain language to make their audience believe that they need to engage in certain shopping habits and lifestyles. 

For example, a fitness influencer may post many videos of their weight loss journey. They show amazing before and after results that make viewers feel inclined to follow in their footsteps. The influencer will then promote a product they used, and are often sponsored by, as their secret to weight loss. Many audience members might be impressed by the creator’s success, and have a sense of trust in them. In turn, some people will jump to buy the same products, and engage in the same lifestyle as the influencer they admire. This behavior then creates a flattened hivemind among an influencer’s millions of followers.

I believe this phenomena is in relation to code-switching, where you alter your mannerisms or appearance to fit the norms of a specific social context or to optimize comfort and gain acceptance. To create a more “socially palatable” appearance, we are inclined to conform to the opinions of those around us, and engage in the same sort of activities as them. While this is not a brand new thing for our generation, I do think that social media and our increasing online engagement, have created a hivemind among social media users.

I think we are relying too much on people across social media to complete human tasks like forming opinions and branching out into new hobbies for us. When we don’t engage in lifestyles that are personalized to our true interests, we are not expressing our individual prowess. We all have the ability to discover new hobbies, and shouldn’t waste our energy consulting popular creators on how we should life our lives.

While I never turn down an opportunity to see live music, especially for artists I like, there is a list of around 10 artists and bands that I would move mountains for in order to see before I die. At the top of that list is the band My Chemical Romance. Their discography led me down the rabbit hole of punk music that I listen to now, and I will always revere them for that fact. Several months ago, My Chemical Romance announced their “Long Live The Black Parade” tour, where they plan to pay homage to their legendary 2006 album “The Black Parade.”

Many of the band’s fans began to clamor for tickets to see the group play their most iconic album, only to be met with a crushing realization. Most fans would have had to pay either hundreds of dollars or even several thousands of dollars for tickets. Some of the high costs were the true price of the tickets, while many of them were the result of reselling on sites like Ticketmaster.

Essentially, resellers use a computer program to buy as many of the original tickets as possible, causing the originals to sell out quickly. Then, they resell them on sites like Ticketmaster for hundreds or even thousands more than their original price. This is a problem, especially for big concerts like the My Chemical Romance tour, which may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for those able to go. This practice, known as “scalping,” works so well for these events because even if the price is wildly unfair, dedicated fans will still pay that amount.

However, this still does not explain the high prices many fans experienced before the tickets hit the resale market. It is unclear why the original tickets were so pricey, but the issue remains. Ultimately, high prices put once-in-a-lifetime concerts financially out of reach for the average fan. The average fan, mind you, is the bedrock of any band’s success. It is the millions of average, non-millionaire fans that allow for a band to grow to the point of headlining a tour across the country. Fans deserve better. The average, working-class fan who doesn’t have hundreds of dollars of disposable income should not be denied seeing their favorite band, as that artist would be nothing without fans’ support.

To fans who want to see live music, but don’t have an arm and a leg to spend on it, I highly recommend getting involved in your local music scene. I guarantee you that anyone reading this article lives near a thriving music scene. In downtown Grand Rapids, there is a venue called Skelletones. There, the thriving punk, metal, rock, hip-hop and emo artists of Grand Rapids and the surrounding areas regularly perform. These shows rarely, if ever, cost more than $20 to attend. I highly suggest you make a trip there if you have a free evening. You very well may find your next favorite band.