ENTERTAINMENT

by Vianey Perez

Korean dramas may be more addictive than sugar. If you’re someone who likes to binge watch but doesn’t know what to watch, then here are five Korean dramas you should watch with your time off.

Right now the Korean film industry is booming. This happens to be because people in other countries, such as America and Mexico have been discovering these entertaining dramas.

They have great actors, are culturally educational, and are generally G-rated.

 

“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”

Number of episodes: 16

Being an athlete is hard — especially if you’re female. This series can help when you’re feeling stuck, or dealing with something emotionally. The show can also be helpful on the subject of first love.

Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) is a university student attending an athletic school. She’s there because she loves the smell of chalk particles and the feel of bars, and weightlifting is her entire life. Being a weightlifter can bring some difficulties; it’s not a very feminine sport. In the show, Bok Joo learns that being a woman is hard, and so is falling in love.

I loved this drama because I could relate to the main character. Doing sports makes you seem less like a girl, and sometimes you can get teased for it. It’s especially hard when you want to impress someone but you know that being an athlete may not be the best way. It also shows how athletes can suffer from trauma and what they do to overcome it. They talk about subjects that can relate to different communities.

“Relationship isn’t like sports. Effort doesn’t guarantee success.” – Jung Joo Hyung, Weightlifting fairy Kim Bok Joo

 

“Call Me Mother”

Number of episodes: 16

Children are the future, and often, we depend on them for success. This drama is about taking family for granted. Too often, we fail to see that some people are there for us with love.

Soo Jin (Lee Bo-Young) is a bird researcher who just got laid off her job. While trying to maintain some kind of cashflow, she becomes a homeroom teacher (she was supposed to only be a science teacher). She then meets a shy kid named Hye-Na (Heo Yool), who is picked on at school and home. Soo Jin can see that the child is reaching out for help and decides to take a role as her mother.

I love this drama because I’m used to life where home feels lonely and scary. I could relate to how both Soo Jin and Hye Na were feeling.

I also love how this Kdrama talks about topics that are serious in the world child abuse and neglect. It is a Kdrama that has shown me that children always need love, but so do the people raising them. We all need someone to be good to us and to helps us.

“I didn’t cry. At times like that, you should think of something you like. Then you might stop crying.”  — Hye Na, “Call Me Mother”

 

“My Love From Another Star”

Number of  episodes: 21

Wondering if anyone has lived for more than 100 years? Are there really any life forces outside of earth? This Kdrama is a must see, no matter the season. We see stars, we dream upon them, and we admire them. This Kdrama involves someone who comes from the stars; someone who lived upon them.

Do Min-Joo (Kim Soo- Hyun) is an alien who has lived on Earth for 400 years. He looks and acts like any other human being, but he hates them all. He despises who they are and the actions they make. Despite this, he falls in love with an actress named Cheon Song-Yi (Gianna Jun).  

“Five stages of grief: anger, denial, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Going through the agony of loss, a person goes through these stages of grief to cure the pain.” —Do Min Joo, “My Love From Another Star”

 

“Pinocchio.”

Number of  episodes: 20

The future is something many people worry about. In a world pressured to be honest and pure but also be successful, it can be hard to choose what to do for the rest of your life. “Pinocchio” shows you how hard the real world can be. It is all about a world of reporting competition. It can be hard to make it in the news business, and even harder when deciding what the truth is. 

Choi In-Ha (Park Shin-Hye) is a female looking to become a reporter like her mom. She’s young, brilliant — but the one flaw she has? Pinocchio Syndrome, which causes people to only tell the truth. (Whenever they lie they hiccup.) Dal- Po (Lee Jong-Suk) is her “uncle” in the shows and wants to also become a reporter, but only to avenge his family.

I love love this Kdrama because it shows how hard telling the truth can be, and how we sometimes rely on what we see rather than what we gather. This also goes into my interest in journalism and how we tell the “truth” — but how do we do that if we don’t know what it is?

This Kdrama helped me understand that we can’t rely on the news and if we were, we have to make sure the information is credible.

“For the past six months, my life has been nothing but a lie. But… the truth is ten times more comforting than a lie.”  — Choi Dal-Po, Pinocchio

 

“Let’s Eat”

Number of episodes: 16

Are you a person who is all about food? “Let’s Eat” is the perfect Kdrama for you because it deals with delicious meals. This Kdrama shows different foods from Korea, and how to eat them. Watching this show would help you learn how to eat some Korean cuisine or how to look for good restaurants.

Lee Soo-kyung (Lee Soo- Kyung) is a 33-year-old woman who got divorced in her 20s. She likes to have pride but often loses control over food. Her next door neighbor suddenly dies, leaving the apartment for rent. The new tenant is a girl named Yoon Jin-Yi (Yoon So-Hee) who has never lived alone. While being new in the apartment, she tries to befriend Lee Soo-Kyung and another tenant,Goo Dae-Young (Yoon Doo-Joon). Lee Soo-Kyung wants nothing to do with this friendship until food is involved.

I love this drama because I am also a big food addict. I love learning things about food, and maybe the techniques involved when eating it. This show helped me learn how to eat some traditional Korean dishes, and how to know if food is good or not. I also love all of the characters because they contrast one another but they are put in the same friend group which makes an interesting scene.

 

“To you who eat a lot of rice because you are lonely. To you who sleeps a lot because you are bored. To you who cries a lot because you are sad. I write this down. Chew on your feelings that are cornered like you would chew on rice. Anyways, life is something that you need to digest.” — Chu Yang Hee, “Let’s Eat”

 

 

by Stephanie Galicia

“Friends” – Netfllix

If you’re looking for a fun throwback, friends is the way to go. From personal experience, I can tell you that this show gets you hella invested into each of the characters’ lives. The show begins with Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) sobbing from both relief and terror from leaving a fiancé at the altar.

 

 

“The Office” – Netflix

 

At first being a little awkward, “The Office” is about a group of oddly interesting coworkers who go about their daily lives and having equally oddly interesting conflicts. This isn’t your ordinary office (and if it is, I’m really sorry); it’s an office that contains as much humor as it does paper.

 

 

“The Good Place” – Netflix and Hulu

 

Ah, The Good Place. You’d think that it would be good — until you find out that you’re not actually supposed to be there.

 

 

“The 100” – Netflix and the CW

 

“The 100” is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story about humanity and how it can come to its most darkest and its most lightest parts of life through literally almost any scenario you could think of realistically.

 

“How I Met Your Mother” – Netflix

A funny, realistic show about the many twists and turns that take place on the way to finding The One.

by Calvin Holmes

This  list has been determined by impact, influence, accolades, classic albums, public consensus and more. These artist have released classic projects, have won Grammys and more, have impacted the rap community, have influenced their peers, and are people the generally public knows and understands.

 

Starting off this list is Jay Z.  He has three cemented albums, and many would argue that every album is a classic. He also has 21 Grammy awards and 74 nominations. He was snubbed recently at the 2017 Grammys — he was nominated eight times and didn’t win.

Jay Z has impacted the rap community in a wild way. He was a part of one of the most iconic rap beefs ever. His peers adore, or at least respect, him. Also, he has contributed to many rappers’ careers including Kanye West, Rihanna, J. Cole, Cam’ron and more.

The general public knows, respects, and would agree Jay Z is one of the greatest rappers ever.

 

Second is Kanye West, he has five cemented classics, and some would argue that out of his eight albums, six are classics. These only count for his individual albums but his collaborations (“Watch the Throne,” “Kids See Ghost”) are also debated classics.

West has won 21 Grammy awards and has been nominated for 68. He is recognized as a musical genius by his peers and has influenced arguably every artist of this generation with his project “808s & Heartbreak” where he pretty much invented the sound that’s being displayed by his peers today.

He has also produced Big Sean, as well as brought Travis Scott and Kid Cudi to a broader audience. His artistry is truly gorgeous and unprecedented in hip-hop.

 

Third, we have Eminem. He’s by far the best technical and lyrical rapper on this list. He has 15 Grammys and 43 nominations. He has rapped beside the likes of Biggie Smalls and showed him up, as well as Jay Z.

Eminem’s impact in the industry is very evident. He is the only rapper on the list with an Oscar Award. He also is the only rapper to win Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. He is lyrically ahead of his peers. He has three debated classics and possibly one that’s cemented. He brought 50 Cent to fruition, as well as other artists.

 

Coming in fourth is Lil Wayne. He’s an insanely great lyricist and better than the majority of his peers lyrically. He has a huge discography of mixtapes that could be considered classics.

But for the sake of this piece, let’s stick to albums. Wayne has two cemented classics and will forever be perceived as a legend. This runs perfectly into my next spot, which is occupied by two artists.

 

Coming in fifth are Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Both of these artists have at least two classic albums. 

Drake’s mixture of R&B and Rap influenced the culture of rap music in America, while Kendrick’s chants of freedom influenced black minds and his lyrical prowess is unmatched by his peers. Drake currently has a plethora of awards which include three Grammys, and he has one classic album and multiple other projects that are considered great pieces. Kendrick has 12 Grammys and one Pulitzer Prize. He is the only rapper to get this award.

Kendrick also has three classic albums. Kendrick and Drake have been praised by their peers and are very much so respected as artist and even more so creative geniuses. It has been a toss-up between who truly deserves this final spot so it’s only fair I let the reader decide.

by Maria-Isabel Allen-Cardona

“Dirty Computer” by Janelle Monae

I listened to this album all summer. All the songs blend into the next so well, and they tell a story. The album is about self-expression, love, confidence, and being free. It’s a great self-esteem booster that tugs at the heartstrings.

 

“Coming Home” by Leon Bridges

I discovered this album two years, and it’s become one of my favorite albums of all time. This album has elements of doo-wop, soul, and jazz. It dapples with various emotions, and can resonate with many people.  

 

“Matangi” by M.I.A

M.I.A is an artist I’ve known since I was a child, but I never payed attention to her music (besides “Paper Planes”) until she released “Matangi.” It’s an electronics-heavy album that is bound to make you bounce up and down to the rhythm.

 

 

“Oro” by ChocQuibTown

 

This album takes a more political turn because the artists talk about their life in the rural, ignored areas of their country Colombia. They mention racism, corruption in the government, and foreign countries coming in to take the gold that is rich in this country.

 

“Yed El Henna” by Fnaïre

Fnaïre is a hip-hop group that hails from Morocco. Their unique spin on hip hop really captured my attention because their music incorporates unique sounds, and flowing raps.

 

by Nick Joy

“Love, Simon” is a romantic comedy that was released March 6, 2018. It centers around a teenager named Simon Spier (Nick Robinson), who is facing the struggles of being a closeted gay teenage boy.

Sorry to pour flaming hot tea on your praises, but “Love Simon” is pretty toxic for actual gay teens. Even though this movie should be commended for cultivating relatability with heterosexual audiences flooding out to watch this movie, this has to be said: “Love, Simon” is super unrealistic.

First off, there is no real struggle that Simon faces. He is a white, cisgender, masculine guy, who is loved by his family and is good at making friends and is generally popular.

The main struggle he faces is being in the closet, and finding acceptance from others. The stakes for the main character are so low, I could care less if he comes out or not.

Simon is just another white teenage upper-to-middle class boy with a lot friends and an open family. There is no real struggle for this character in a movie that is representing a community that is so diverse.

There were some opportunities for the story to be different. A supporting character, Ethan, is a person of color, feminine, and was not accepted by his family, and was actually bullied for being gay. All signs point to Ethan’s bullying being a lot more severe than Simon’s. This was a complex, interesting character — who was in the movie for all of three minutes.

And speaking of bullying: There is a scene after Simon came back to school from winter break and two bullies (Aaron and Spencer) start to harass Simon and Ethan because they’re both the only gay guys. They get stopped by some people, and in turn they get sent to the office with Ethan and Simon. I’d argue that Simon actually plays the bully in the scene outside the principal’s office. The conversation after a brief silence ensues.

Simon: Hey, I’m sorry, Ethan. None of this ever happened when just you were out.

Ethan: You know what they say, one gay is a snooze, two’s a hilarious hate crime. You could’ve told me you were gay.

Simon: I guess I didn’t think we had very much in common.

Ethan: [Laughs] You’re telling me, Simon. It’s not like your all-hoodie wardrobe rocks my world.

Simon: [Laughs] I don’t know, I — maybe I was jealous. You’ve been out since you were 16, and it always seemed so easy for you

Ethan: Easy? Are you kidding me? My mom still tells my grandparents about all the girls I’m dating when we go over to their house for dinner every Sunday. She says it’s because they’re old and religious and it’s just easier that way. I don’t know, maybe that’s true. But you should hear her voice when she talks about the girls.

This character needs his own show or movie. He’s much more interesting than Simon.

I’m mad that the directors even added this scene at all. It shrugs off the harm that Ethan has went through and that Simon (Mr. Privilege over here) saw and did nothing about. It’s horrifying that Simon dares to call what Ethan went through as “easy.”

All in all, it is annoying that one of the first mainstream teen films that is realistic with a gay protagonist (sorry, “Call Me By Your Name”) is so vanilla. I feel like we all need to see more diversity in mainstream film directed towards teenagers and LGBTQA+ people.