Red Scare - My Top 5 50s Horror Movies
#Film #Horror #Cinema
The 1950s marked a significant era in the history of horror films, bringing forth a unique blend of fear, suspense, and social anxieties. This period saw the rise of science fiction-infused horror, capitalizing on the fears and uncertainties of the time. The nuclear age, Cold War tensions, and the fear of communism created a fertile ground for filmmakers to explore themes of mutation, invasion,…
The op-ed notes that the problem isn't that guns are a threat in their mind. No, the problem is that law-abiding people want them at all.
our Democrats are motivated by one unassailable fact, they don’t trust us. Their disdain for guns has little to do with public safety. If it did, they’d at least acknowledge the existence of data that goes against their claims. They’d at least admit that yeah, maybe guns are used a whole lot more to defend life than to take it.
Walk into any alternative rock concert and you’ll notice it immediately: there are a number of women screaming lyrics from the audience, but where are the women screaming lyrics on stage?
The alternative rock scene is known to be a second home for misfits. After all, the origins of rock music and its subgenres come from movements that embrace individuality, inclusivity and self-expression. Although the music may draw in people from all walks of life, the industry does not yet seem to reflect their audience’s diversity. This hypocrisy regarding inclusivity within the scene is especially clear with the glaring lack of female presence in the industry.
However, this issue is not ignored by Shelby Chargin and Courtney Siwek, the founders of Girls Behind The Rock Show (GBTRS). Based in Los Angeles, California, GBTRS is a non-profit organization that strives to integrate women into the music industry. They connect women with internships and opportunities in the industry that might not otherwise be available for women.
According to Chargin, the idea for GBTRS stemmed from the challenges both she and Siwek encountered while breaking into the industry. Realizing sexism is alive and well within the music world, they then decided to do their part in changing that.
“We want to be there to help aid [women] in the process of getting their foot in the door and being able to actually do things without feeling the pressure of sexualizing themselves or having to be something they are not to impress a bunch of dudes who aren't that impressive in the first place,” Chargin said.
GBTRS hopes to deconstruct stigmas involving women in the industry, such as fangirl culture. According to Chargin, the “fangirl” label can be damaging to a woman’s career, as the word immediately conjures an image of a crazed, delusional teenage groupie. Thus, the term oftentimes overshadows a woman’s hard work, since it detracts a quality of professionalism from a woman’s reputation.
“The music industry is primarily held together by women. It wasn’t 40-year-old men that made One Direction multi-millionaires. It was the 15 to 25-year-old girls who would dedicate days at a time to buying their things, who would wait in line for 48 hours just for the chance to meet them in front of a table,” Chargin said. “You get to a point where you wonder when do people realize that the fangirl notion is the same thing as telling a little boy…who grew up obsessed with his favorite baseball team…that he can't play in the MLB because he was a fan, because he was obsessed and met all the players on the team when he was 15. I mean, it's the same concepts, just in a different venue.”
GBTRS focuses primarily on a person’s work and merit, as they believe that hard work should speak for itself. Thus, GBTRS has not only become an operation for helping women in the industry, but it has also become a platform where they can combat against other oppressing forces in it.
“When you're breaking down feminism especially in intersectional feminism, you really want to look in all of the people who you do see working hard. We want [GBTRS] to be like nothing matters, but your hard work. That's why I love Fifth Harmony, because they're beautiful and [they] all are popular despite having different body types. Even Meghan Trainor and Adele, although they are white, they are bigger girls,” said Chargin. “Courtney and I have faced crappy situations [in the industry], but we also know there are women who are not just fighting misogyny, but they're also fighting racism, ageism, and there's a lot of things to be fought against and we want to make sure we confront them all for sure.”
Also LA based, Ashly Nicole, Elizabeth Rae and Jewel Payne are roommates as well as female concert photographers in the alternative scene. Though the LA scene offers plenty of opportunity for photographers to shoot, the opportunities are more limited as a female photographer.
“I’m not going to lie, it’s hard,” said Rae. “I’ve been turned down for a show because I am a woman. Or a lot of times they don’t think you’re as good because you’re a woman. And one of the biggest fears is that I hope a band doesn’t bring me on because I’m a woman and they try anything.”
There are also negative misconceptions surrounding female concert photographers, such as having unprofessional relationships with band members. This popular misconception–similar to fangirl culture–overshadows their work.
“A lot of people assume that myself or a lot of girls in the scene sleep with band guys to get where we are at and and that's not the case at all,” said Nicole. “For me and for most girls in the scene it's professional, it's an actual job, it's what we're passionate about and it's actually what we want to do so we try our best to remain professional about it regardless of the accusations and assumptions.”
Some bands even have policies where they do not bring women on tour. Although discouraging, Nicole and Rae both advise female photographers to remain professional and to persist with their passion.
“Sexism and inequality of the genders is everywhere, not just in photography. You’re going to come across it anywhere,” said Rae. “You’re going to have to remind yourself like ‘Okay, if they don’t believe I’m good enough solely because of my gender then I don’t want to work with these people.’ You just have to push past it and be like ‘Well, I’m going to find someone who want to work with me regardless of my gender, and they just like my work.’”
Sexism doesn’t just stop behind the scenes, it also affects female musicians as well. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Kristina Schiano is a female drummer with over 60,000 subscribers on her Youtube channel. However, by being labeled a “female drummer,” Schiano and other female drummers frequently find their hard work being discredited.
“Girl drummers are not always taken seriously,” Schiano wrote in an email interview. “I would be setting up my kit at a gig and I would have a guy come up to me saying that I’m doing something wrong or I’ll go up to the sound engineer to talk about my mix, and he’ll respond by talking about the mix for the singer because he assumed since I’m a girl that I must be the singer…To some people, girls simply only serve one purpose in life and that is to look good.”
Drums are known to be an unconventional instrument for women, as Schiano explained they are “not the most graceful instrument”, since they are “bulky” and “loud”. Thus, to combat people’s assumption of female drummers, Schiano holds the motto, “It’s best to hit like a girl.”
“My goal in my career is to eliminate the entire taboo of a ‘female drummer’. People don’t go up to a guy and say he’s a male drummer. They just say he’s a drummer. Why should it be any different for girls? We should just be referred to as drummers. My motto is ironic because I’m pointing out the fact I’m a girl drummer, but in reality, I’m trying to get that idea out of people’s heads to make it just a normality,” Schiano wrote.
Everywhere–behind the scenes, on stage, in the crowd–it is clear that sexism is present in all parts of the music industry. The alternative scene is starting to highlight and cover some instances of sexism within itself, but as Chargin said, we need to take it a step further: “[Courtney and I] were trying to work with a relatively prominent company and they made a comment to us where they said ‘we have female staff so we're not part of the problem.’ …It hurt because if you're not part of the problem, you can be part of the solution. If you're not part of the problem and you're a bystander, you're creating the problem.”
Still, it seems that the same advice also holds true across all facets of the music industry: for women who are looking to pursue a career in the music world, hold your head high, actively dispel any negative rumors and be persistent. Women representation in media is incredibly important. Music is about connecting with one another, and diversity is what enables an audience to relate to the music.
“Girls add a new spin to music that needs to be embraced,” wrote Schiano. “There are plenty of female musicians out there that just need a little push to go out and do what they love! Music is meant to bring people together. Girls should never be ridiculed or feel uncomfortable to rock out!”
You May or May not know this, but the month of May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! I’d like to take the opportunity to highlight some awesome bands in the music scene that feature Asian members. Growing up as an Asian American, I wasn’t really introduced to anything music related (other than the local radio’s Classical station) until high school. And it was incredibly discouraging to discover the lack of Asian presence in that side of the entertainment industry as well. Often stereotyped as the “quiet race,” the Asian artists and bands listed below are anything but, and definitely deserve to be heard.
Japanese Breakfast (a.k.a Michelle Zauner)
Japanese Breakfast, the solo project of Little Big League’s Michelle Zauner, really embodies lo-fi indie pop, creating light, colorful melodies layered with dreamy vocals and emotive lyrics. A current favorite song of mine is “Everybody Wants to Love You,” which is a definite bright, catchy summer jam. Zauner, who is actually Korean despite the name of her project, also showcases her songwriting expertise in her other band Little Big League, which has a clunkier, emo sound, but is also worth listening to. Japanese Breakfast will release a new album titled Soft Sounds From Another Planet on July 14th.
Jay Som
If you heard of Japanese Breakfast, you probably already know about Jay Som, a Filipina American dream pop artist. As demonstrated through her recent album, Everybody Works, her sound features a range of genres, rotating between prominent R&B bass lines, shoegaze-tinged vocals, and sweet, pop-influenced keyboard or synth. Som’s lyrics are often intimate and familiar, which is shown through, “Baybee,” a funky, warm tune that I’d highly recommend listening to.
Mitski
Mitski is a Japanese American indie rock artist, who often explores the turmoil of being Asian American and reconciling with each identity, as she reflects on her most recent album, Puberty 2, “[Being] half Japanese, half American but not fully either.” Her raw, melancholic lyrics really hit home, and are reinforced either by distorted guitar playing or swelling vocals. Mitski’s sound dips between punk and dreamier, ghostly sounding tracks, but her sincere, introspective lyrics stay true throughout. I’d recommend listening to her punk rock hit, “Your Best American Girl,” which most explicitly displays her angst with heartache and being Asian American, and how the latter caused the first.
Yuck
Hailing from London, England, Yuck is everything ’90s rock. Whether their sound includes urgent, fuzzy guitar playing or smoother, stripped melodies, they maintain a refreshing, youthful rebellious energy. Yuck also features bassist Mariko Doi, who immigrated from Hiroshima, Japan. I recommend listening to “Cannonball” off of their most recent album, Stranger Things. Or have a listen to their Southern Skies EP, which deviants from their usual high energy songs, but still offers a chill, shoegaze vibe.
Dum Dum Girls
Dum Dum Girls are a rock band whose sound is comprised of crooning vocals, heavy reverb, and traditional rock guitar rhythms. In terms of Asian representation, the band includes a Vietnamese American bassist, Sandy Vu. Their track “Coming Down”, which is a love song that has grounding, head-bobbing drum beats, is absolutely worth listening to.
Tangerine
Tangerine sites their influences as “The Clash, Sky Ferreira, Mazzy Star, Charli XCX, the Pixies, and more.” This ’80s sound is the most apparent in their recent EP, Sugar Teeth, which contains a strong, rocking guitar presence and matching, drifting vocals. The band features two Korean American sisters: lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Marika Justad, as well as Miro Justad, who sings backing vocals and plays drums. Regarding her ethnicity, Miro said in an interview with Korean Indie, “Being multi-racial, female musicians means that [my sister and I are] pushing into territory that’s not commonly occupied by people who look the way we do, and I’m always aware of that. How can you not be?”
No Vacation
This five-piece band features three Asian Americans, including frontwoman Sabrina Mai, synth player Nat Lee, and drummer James Shi. Their sound is described as a combination of “college nostalgia and surf-tinged bedroom pop.” I’d give their song “Lovefool” a listen; its sunny vibes will make you feel like you’re having a lazy day in a summer afternoon. No Vacation is set to release a new album in June, so be on the lookout!
SALES
Since summer is practically here, nothing feels more appropriate than binge-listening to SALES. The indie pop band creates simple songs, accompanied by easy rhythms and breezy vocals. SALES is comprised of two members, vocalist Lauren Morgan and Jordan Shih, a Chinese American guitarist and sample programmer. My favorite song of theirs is “Chinese New Year”, which showcases light, upbeat bass and guitar riffs.
Yuna
If you like Glass Animals or Sylvan Esso, be sure to check out Yuna. Yuna is a Muslim, Malaysian indie pop artist, whose music is a fusion of smooth vocals, honest lyrics, and a multitude of genres. While her earlier work can be described more as folk-pop, her most recent album, Chapters, has more of a smooth, R&B sound. Definitely have a listen to “Crush”, and the entirety of Chapters while you’re at it!
Cathedrals
Laced with cheerful synth and powerful vocals, Cathedrals is an electro-dream pop duo composed of vocalist Brodie Jenkins and Johnny Hwin, a Vietnamese American multi-instrumentalist. Their sound inspires movement and energy; you can’t help but dance along to their songs! You can check out their most recent piece, “Try to Fight.”
The Naked and Famous
You’re probably already familiar with the bright, synth-infused hit “Young Blood,” by The Naked and Famous, but you may not know that the lead singer, Alisa Xayalith, is Laotian. If you like “Young Blood,” you’ll like the band’s most recent record, Simple Forms, which maintains their youthful, upbeat vibe.
Conan Gray
Known as a vlogger on Youtube, Conan Gray is gay, half-Japanese and posts covers as well as original songs on his channel. He recently released his single “Idle Town” on music sharing platforms, and he announced an EP is in the works. From the simple lyrics to the full, slow melody, “Idle Town” perfectly captures the feeling of nostalgia. Gray’s vocals remind me of Florence and the Machine or Seafret, drawing upon comforting, indie rock vibes in his music.
Run River North
Run River North is an all-Korean American indie folk-rock band that formed as a way to provide “conversation for immigrant family kids to talk about, or just to have some kind of space to share their family histories,” according to lead singer Alex Hwang. They are active advocates of Asian representation in the scene, and their lyrics reflect that. Accompanied by sweet, violin harmonies and warm vocals, I recommend listening to their song “Monsters Calling Home.”
Young Rising Sons
Young Rising Sons’ sound includes fun, folk-rock melodies and relatable, comforting lyrics that can be belted down the freeway. This pop rock band also features Julian Dimagiba, a Filipino American bassist. I recommend listening to their catchy, hit song, “High”, but also be sure to check out their recent single “Carry On.”
Hunter Hunted
Similar sounding to Young Rising Sons, Hunter Hunted is an indie pop band that has an uplifting sound, incorporating driving guitar rhythms and sometimes ukulele or lively synth. Their music really has that classic summer, pop rock sound, and is paired with simple, pleasant lyrics. This band duo includes vocalist and keyboardist Michael Garner, as well as Dan Chang, who is a Taiwanese American bassist and vocalist. Have a listen to “Lucky Day,” to immediately put yourself in a good mood!
The Good Book tells us that “[a] good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,” but good luck attaining those riches in a rock band if your name isn’t a good one. Ever heard of the Polka Tulk Blues Band? Probably not, so changing their name to Black Sabbath probably was a sound career move. The Pendletones? Okey-dokey, but “Beach Boys” has a better ring to it. “Rat Salad” isn’t bad, but…
If you’re going to reach the big time with your rock band, choosing the right name for it is essential. Chance are, no one would ever have heard of the Beatles if they’d kept calling themselves the Quarrymen, but by the time they were telling each other with real conviction that they were headed for “the toppermost of the poppermost” (it sounded better at the time, when they were drunk and hopped…
Revenge cinema is a genre that delves into the primal human desire for justice, often through violent and cathartic means. It’s a narrative archetype that has captivated audiences for decades, tapping into the universal theme of vengeance and its consequences. Films within this genre typically feature protagonists who have been wronged, often brutally, seeking retribution against those who have…
