Down On The Bloc

Highlighing the work of The Writer's Bloc, a Jiménez-Porter writer's house publication focusing on literature and the arts at the University of Maryland, College Park, and in D.C.

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Battle of the Bands Brings Eclectic Sound and Energy

Dimmed lights, a relaxed crowd and live music of all genres dominated the Baltimore Room of Stamp March 24 for Student Entertainment Events’ Battle of the Bands.

SEE hosted the second round of the competition, deciding which band would perform at this year’sArt Attack! The finalists included The Radiographers, the Tomato Dodgers and The Hip-Hop Orchestra. Each band brought a different sound and energy to the crowd.

The Radiographers opened the night with melodies about love and mental illness. Lead singer Devin Ganey brought up stigmas associated with mental illness and called for change. He said society needs to start treating mental illnesses with the same importance as physical ailments. The crowd applauded in response.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Blog: The Sinister Saga of Donald Trump - Part Three

November of 2015 was ending. As the brisk autumn air began to give us forebodings of the winter ahead, Donald Trump recovered his momentum on the campaign trail, having briefly stumbled behind fellow outsider candidate Ben Carson in Republican polling.

For months, the Trump campaign had dominated other Republican candidates’ efforts in the presidential primary race. Trump succeeded overwhelmingly by tapping into fear and loathing from voters on the right who were galled by both the progressivism of the Obama years and byRepublican officials in Congress, whom they saw as spinelessly bending to Obama’s agenda.

Days after the terror attacks in Paris, Trump claimed to have seen “… when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched it in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down.”

Specifically, Trump claimed that thousands of Muslims cheered as the World Trade Center collapsed.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Questioning Women’s Identity and Ability in Athletics

Women athletes have faced severe stereotypes and discrimination throughout history.

Today, they continue to struggle with this oppression. Rebecca Jordan-Young spoke about this oppression in her presentation, “Racing with Testosterone: What’s at Stake in the Controversy over T levels in Women Athletes,” centered around her own research about a series of policies regulating the levels of naturally occurring testosterone in the bodies of elite women athletes.

Her presentation was part of  the Department of Kinesiology’s annual Women’s History Month lecture. Professor Bradley D. Hatfield of the Department of Kinesiology introduced the event by honoring the woman who the lecture series is named after, Joan S. Hult. Hatfield said Hult is a legacy of the Maryland kinesiology department, an advocate for women’s athletics and took an important role in the history and advancements of women in sports.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Review: Vance Joy Brings Songs of Bittersweet Love to 9:30

The voices of 9:30’s attendees swelled as opening acts Jamie Lawson and Blind Pilot set the lovingly mellow tone for the evening, reaching their peak as the flashing signs depicting Vance Joy’s name shone brightly on the backdrop behind him as he entered the stage. Joy’s songs relate to his audience so seamlessly.

As many artists choose to do, Joy utilizes love as a common theme. However, his incredible charisma and ability to speak to his audience are far from mundane. Each and every one of his songs beautifully tells of the desire, the longing, simply the sublime qualities of love  we  experience, yet cannot find the words to describe.

It is this deep-rooted emotion and heart that pulled fans to see him. This deep-rooted emotion made the first show sell out in a record breaking eight minutes. This deep-rooted emotion made his passion and heart palpable in the venue that evening.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Artist Jefferson Pinder: Exploring Blackness Through Unique Media

Six African-American men sat in rowing machines in the center of a gallery, rowing until they could row no more. One by one, each man reached the point of exhaustion and stopped.

This performance artwork was inspired by ‘slave galley’ scenes in old movies where slaves row themselves to the point of collapse. The artist behind this public display of physical labor as a work of art was this university’s alum Jefferson Pinder.

The “Ben-Hur” piece was one of many works Pinder discussed March 24 at the David C. Driskell Center in Cole Field House. It was also the most memorable.

READ THE FULL STORY AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Writers Here & Now: University Faculty Share Their Work

Imagine a utopian, alien planet where there is no crime or prejudice, no stress or illness. The planet’s inhabitants are deeply cultured and have an intense appreciation for the arts. Their race is far superior to humanity in every possible way.

Now imagine these aliens come to take over earth because they need a new planet to call home. They need to destroy the human race to preserve their own (which is, again, far superior to ours). The only way humans might be spared from this fate is if you prove to the alien race that humanity has value to offer. What do you show them that would stop them from destroying the human race?

That was the premise of assistant professor Emily Mitchell’s short story she read at Writers Here and Now March 9.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Activist Kevin Powell on the Power of Race, Other Social Inhibitions

During “There’s No Safe Place Called Careful: A Conversation on Race and Racism in America,” activist Kevin Powell welcomed the audience as his brothers and sisters, no matter their race, gender, sexuality, religion or disability at the university’s discussion.

Powell, an activist, public speaker and author, came to the university’s Hoff Theatre March 8 as part of The Maryland Dialogues on Diversity and Community.

Rhys Hall, senior sociology major, began the introduction for Powell’s speech. He told the audience about the depth and importance of this discussion.

“[I am here] to inform you that all the money in the world cannot get closed minds to become open or make cold hearts become warm; that is something only people can do, so I strive for you to be excellent,” Rhys said.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Blog: Racism, Sexism and ... Ghostbusters?

Since the initial reports of production in 2014, the dialogue surrounding the new Ghostbusters film has been anything but positive. Never in all my years have I witnessed so much backlash and distress over a simple comedy film.

In 2014, Paul Feig, creator of the original 1984 blockbuster of the same name, announced he wanted to remake his classic film, but with women playing the leads. People were immediately angry. The film pushed forward,  and, over the past year, the new Ghostbusters was created despite angry comments from men who didn’t want to see their original favorite film tarnished by female actresses.

I am hyperbolizing, but you get the picture.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Review: Troye Sivan Brings Love to all During Blue Neighbourhood Tour

Under Australian singer Troye Sivan’s spell, the multitude of voices in 9:30 Club swelled to a powerful wave unified in love, acceptance and empathy.

Sivan’s aura surrounded and encompassed all in attendance, evoking passion and emotion from each and every member; setting the tone for the meaningful night that lay ahead.

With his debut album, Blue Neighbourhood released last December, Sivan kicked off his first world tour in January, and was fondly greeted in the nation’s capital with two consecutive sold out shows March 7 and 8.

Sivan put on a show like no other, conversing with his audience between songs, telling personal anecdotes, accepting artwork from the crowd and borrowing a lucky fan’s hat.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Review: Matt Corby Releases his Much Anticipated Debut Album

After years of anticipation, Australian singer/songwriter, Matt Corby, has released his debut albumTelluric today on Elektra Records. Corby made his presence known in 2011 with his EP, Into the Flame featuring the emotional track “Brother,” which went six times platinum in Australia. Since then, Corby has continued to release music, all leading up to Telluric.

Before today, Corby had already released three of the 11 tracks, “Monday,” “Knife Edge” and “Sooth Lady Wine,” all of which speak to the varied sounds on the album, capturing his deep soulful voice and honest lyrics.

The amazing thing he is able to avoid, unlike so many artists today, is sounding redundant. No two songs are alike and each can stand on its own, telling a very different story with each listen.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Blog: Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone Represents Color Hierarchy in Hollywood

I’m not the only one who’s unsure how to feel after watching the trailer for Nina, a biopic about the late Grammy Award-winning singer, classical pianist and civil rights activist Nina Simone, set to premiere April 22.

Controversy originally sparked after pictures surfaced of Zoe Saldana, a famous actress of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent chosen to portray Simone, on set wearing dark makeup and a prosthetic nose in what many are calling blackface.

Nina Simone was an iconic African-American vocalist and performer from North Carolina who represented black power and beauty during the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement. Many even called her the voice of the Civil Rights Movement. Her songs became anthems within the black community  during a time of outright oppression and dire hope.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

 Blog: #TheWalkingDead - Challenging Eurocentric Beauty Standards in Romantic Hollywood

The Walking Dead aired an episode two weeks ago called, “The Next Worldd,” where an unlikely couple got together, leaving fans with mixed feelings.

Rick Grimes, the white male lead protagonist, hooked up with Michonne, a black female main character.  

The episode begins with Michonne asking to borrow toothpaste from Rick.

Michonne stands at the door of Rick’s room with a towel around her head, Rick is buttoning up his shirt, and Judith, Rick’s daughter, is sitting on the floor playing with a red cup. It’s the picture of an average family on any given morning.

Michonne and Rick don’t consummate their relationship until the end of the episode when Rick reveals he could not find any toothpaste so he got her mints instead. As he hands her the mints and their hands linger in one another’s, they make eye contact and go in for the long overdue kiss.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

 Blog: 'Fuller House' - A Solid Satisfactory Comedy

What ever happened to predictability?

So went the opening to the iconic ABC sitcom Full House. Audiences around the nation adored the tale of a single father raising three young daughters with the help of his two goofy best friends. The show quickly rose to the Top 20 in the Nielsen ratings.

Yet the show’s success was not enough to save it from the chopping block, and in 1995 ABC axed it, citing rising costs as the main reason. Thus, like many other staples of the ‘90s, like N’Sync and Moon Shoes, Full House slipped into the nostalgia vault, another relic from the past to be remembered fondly and occasionally binged on a Wednesday night.

Fast forward to 2016. Netflix reached its franchise saving hands into Full House and has brought us Fuller House, the sequel/spin-off nobody really needed or wanted but by George, it’s here anyway.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

 Mental Health in College Park: Students Talk Stigma and Experience

Valerie Onifade, a senior fine arts major at Howard University, sometimes hears and sees things that are not there.

She has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and explained how her experience escalated from depression.

“It’s been a part of my life for longer than I thought it has,” Onifade said. “The worst part of mental illness is feeling really alone and that nobody else is going through what you’re going through.”

Ateret Sultan-Reisler, a sophomore psychology major, helped organize the Mental Health Open Mic event as part of a Public Leadership program. She wanted to focus not only on the number of people on campus who have mental illnesses, but on the personal level of the issue, being “there’s a huge stigma and people don’t even feel like they can speak to their close friends and family about it.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

 Condom Conversation: Debunking Taboo With Salacious Fashion

A typical, awkward sex talk between a teacher and student or parent and child differed from the dialogue that occurred at this university’s 3rd annual Condom Fashion Show held in the Grand Ballroom of Stamp March 2.

The Condom Fashion Show featured models from nine different clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities decorated in outfits made mostly from condoms.

UMD’s Sex Week held the event in anticipation of National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on April 10. Sex Week is a student-run organization that provides sexual health and wellness information to students and aims to create meaningful and healthy dialogues.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Mixed Monologues: Marginalized Voices and Exploration of Identity

“ … To remind ourselves that we are still here and to remind ourselves that we can still heal … ”

This was just one line of slam champion and University of Maryland Alum Elizabeth Acevedo’s introduction to the Mixed Monologues. In 17 words, she captured the heart of spoken word poetry.

Students gathered in the Stamp Gallery March 3, to listen to poetry by TOTUS students. TOTUS (Latin for whole, all, total, every part, all together, all at once) is a weekly course that teaches students to explore marginalized identities through poetry.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC

[umdwritersbloc-blog]

Blog: Beyoncé - Fox & Friends Strike Back

We live in an interesting time. As I write this article, a bellicose billionaire resembling Charlie Chaplin’s character from The Great Dictator is bulldozing his way to the GOP presidential nomination; meanwhile, Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson is running for the mayor of Baltimore.

The past few years have been particularly tense for race relations not only in Maryland, but also in the rest of the United States. The deaths of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland and many others at the hands of local authorities have spurred natioal outrage and sparked  protests against police brutality and systemic oppression against the black community.

Enter Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. She performed part of her new song, “Formation” during the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 7, joining Bruno Mars and headliner Coldplay.

This song is meant to be an empowering anthem for African-American women. When Beyoncé boasts, “I got hot sauce in my bag, swag” she’s taking a stereotype and owning it with panache.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT UMD’S WRITER’S BLOC