Mount Hood

Fall playlist

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

“Being Cool” — Kimya Dawson

“Rhiannon” — Fleetwood Mac

“All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” — Taylor Swift

“Oh Klahoma” — Jack Stauber

“Motion Sickness” — Phoebe Bridgers

“The Yawning Grave” — Lord Huron

“Whistling Tree” — Haunted Like Human

“Blood Orange Morning Light” — Andrew Montana

“In a Bad Way” — Haunted Like Human

“Tree Hugger” — Kimya Dawson & Antsy Pants

“Eleanor Rigby” — Cody Fry

“Harpy Hare” — Yaelokre

“the fruits” — Paris Paloma

“Tire Swing” — Kimya Dawson

“Massachusetts” — Jensen McRae

“this is me trying – the long pond studio sessions” — Taylor Swift

“Which Witch” — Florence + the Machine

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Here there be. . . dragons?

Written by: Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor

This year saw a resurgence of dragon-based media. Author Rebecca Yarros’ Empyrean series — following Violet Sorrengail at Basgiath War College as she and her friends become dragon riders  — has sold five million copies globally. 

Season two of Max’s “House of the Dragon” — based on author George R.R. Martin’s book “Fire and Blood” — premiered this summer, drawing nearly eight million viewers per episode. Other books that featured dragons, such as “When the Moon Hatched” by Sarah A. Parker and “The Priory of the Orange Tree” by Samantha Shannon, also sold extremely well this year with the latter selling more than one million copies in English worldwide.

What sets all these stories apart is their depiction and definition of dragons. So, time to answer the question: what defines a dragon?

Traditionally, dragons are flying lizards with at least 11 different subspecies, with the most common being wyverns, basilisks and hydras. Most have the ability to breathe fire or water, two elemental abilities that set apart Western and Eastern dragons. 

However, what defines each subspecies of a dragon is not its abilities but its number of limbs. Commonly, dragons have four legs and two wings, meaning any other number of legs and wings would classify the creature as something other than a dragon. For example, the dragons in “House of the Dragon” have two legs and two wings, which would technically classify them as wyverns instead of dragons, although the show never mentions this.

In interviews, when questioned about his choice to only give his dragons two legs, author George R.R. Martin was quick to defend his creative liberty. “No known species in the natural world has four legs and two wings,” Martin said. In doing this, Martin believes he has brought a more realistic feel to his fantasy world.

The Empyrean series has a more traditional definition of dragons and wyverns, dragons with four legs and wyverns with two, as well as having the wyverns occupy a traditionally evil role. The series even goes so far as to classify the dragons by color and tail types. 

With how popular dragon media is, one can’t help but wonder why they have remained so steadfast in pop culture. 

Professor Emily Zarka at Arizona State University has a few ideas as to why this is. “One enduring reason dragons continue to appear in our world could be because they represent the power of nature,” Zarka said, before adding, “More importantly, I believe, the beauty, terror and power of the dragon evokes mystery and suggests that not all phenomena are easily explained or understood.”

Whether fans agree or disagree on the definition of a dragon, one thing is evident: dragons will always be an important part of Eastern and Western media. The creatures are practically ingrained in the cultures and don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon, especially from the reading community.

The third book in the Empyrean series, “Onyx Storm,” is set to release in Jan. 2025, with copies available for preorder now. “House of the Dragon” has been renewed for another two seasons, with filming for season three starting in early 2025. 

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

“The Silence” anaylsis

Chrys Weedon | Entertainment Editor There seems to have been an uptick in pieces of media that feature characters with disabilities, and storylines that depend on them, in post-apocalypse worlds. “A Quiet Place” was immensely popular — popular enough to warrant a sequel, according to vanityfair.com. Recent Netflix release “Black Summer” features a Deaf character who is challenged by his “disability” in a world infested with zombies. “Bird Box” is based on the premise that being “blind” is the biggest asset one can have when looking at a monster can kill you. Netflix’s newest release, “The Silence,” follows this trend. Released April 10, “The Silence” follows a family, who happens to have a deaf daughter, through the onset of an apocalypse wherein ancient bat-like beasts escape from caves deep within the Earth and viciously attack anything that makes noise. Sound familiar? Similarities between “The Silence” and “A Quiet Place” seem to end there, however. The main character of “The Silence,” Ally, is recently deaf after a severe car accident that led to her deafness. Ally still speaks clearly, has some residual hearing, favors speaking with her voice to her family and even narrates bits of the movie. Ally’s rudimentary signing skills and her preference for speaking aloud fit in well enough with the storyline, since it is mentioned that only three years have passed since she became deaf, but it’s more apparently related to the fact that her actress, Kiernan Shipka, is hearing. Other than the disappointing fact that a Deaf actress wasn’t hired — of which there are many — there were other inconsistencies and unfortunate stereotypes that “The Silence” seemed to play into. Whenever the perspective switched to Ally’s point of view, sounds were muffled — because apparently there’s no other way to show that she is deaf — and there was always a sharp ringing noise that overpowered everything else. The ringing noise had no obvious or necessary reason to exist, as it didn’t tie into the storyline or character development. Although “The Silence” was technically a book before “A Quiet Place” even came out, the film used a lot of the same storytelling techniques that “A Quiet Place” used, with more of the “can you only believe if having a disability wasn’t the end of the world?” sentiment. Other than the tired tropes about disability, “The Silence” used very quick and convenient plotlines to move the story, which is understandable since the movie only runs an hour and 30 minutes. Stanley Tucci did a great job, but the film overall left much to be desired.   Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu Photo courtesy of Netflix.com

“Down the Drain:” a biography of Julia Fox

Written by: Ruth Simonsen | Digital Media Manager

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

Julia Fox, once known as Kanye West’s rebound girlfriend, is best known for donning head-to-toe black latex outfits and hand-drawn eyeliner. In the media’s eyes, she was no more than arm candy to the controversial rapper. 

Since their split in 2022, however, her fame continued to skyrocket and she saw her following grow. Now, she proudly calls herself a female sex symbol, with her bleached eyebrows and lilting voice. 

Once Fox released her recent biography, “Down the Drain,” the world was surprised she was not always this famous.

Julia Fox spent much of her early years in the small town of Saronno in Italy. After moving to New York City to live with her father, her life quickly began to grow rockier by the day. Between her father’s verbal and physical abuse and her mother’s spontaneous wrath, Julia spent most of her childhood couch-surfing and searching for solace in any place that promised even the slightest bit of happiness. 

This mindset frequently landed her in unsafe situations — including a relationship with a controlling drug dealer who stalked and threatened her. However, through her ex boyfriend, she was first introduced to narcotics, many of which would haunt her for the rest of her life. 

The rest of her teen years were spent traveling between Italy and New York City — working as a dominatrix — then settling down as a sugar baby for an extremely wealthy client. Through this resource, she gained her footing by creating a clothing brand leading to a life of extravagance — only to realize she was the one truly being taken advantage of. 

As Julia continued to grow and age, she met and lost many people in her life. Between her near- death experiences and the deaths of many she knew and loved, Julia weaves a cautionary tale with heroin, its use and addiction, as one of the primary villains.

Now, at Julia’s celebrity status, I thought of her as another Kim K, Megan Fox or Hadid sister. I was quick to judge and even quicker to dislike. It was not until I saw an excerpt from her book that my curiosity was piqued. From there, it was pure, unabashed adoration of her and the life she persevered through. 

I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster, first laughing at her snark, then suddenly crying as she described her feelings and experiences of loss. Now, as she finally feels comfortable in who she is and the role she plays in the world today, she ends her biography with this: “Sometimes you just have to say f-ck it and throw your whole life down the drain just to see where you come out on the other side.”

9/10.

Contact the author at howldigitalmediamanager@mail.wou.edu

A new version of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” comes to Netflix

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers and mentions of murder.

Film fanatics may be familiar with the title “The Talented Mr. Ripley,” a thriller that stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law in an unconventional love triangle. Netflix has taken on a noir remake of the story with the leading man played by Andrew Scott, who is well known for his roles in “Sherlock,” “Fleabag” and more recently, “All of Us Strangers.” The director’s choice to make the show in black and white was due to the original book cover by Patricia Highsmith. Set in the 1960s between New York and Italy, “Ripley” is a captivating story that is hard to look away from.

In addition to Scott, the new Netflix series also stars Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn. Each actor delivered a unique perspective to the remake of the classic story within their individual roles. The chemistry between the trio was undeniable.

Andrew Scott’s stoic performance as Tom Ripley gave the series its unsettling tone. In contrast to Matt Damon’s portrayal of the character, Scott plays Ripley as a calculated, apathetic man with little remorse for his actions. In the 1999 film, Ripley is more frantic after his murders and genuinely seems to be upset about his wrongdoings. Both interpretations are incredible portrayals of the multi-dimensional character, but the passiveness of Scott’s performance is almost terrifying to watch.

The most uncomfortable scene in the series was the practically silent 20-minute murder sequence of Greenleaf, as Ripley tediously and clumsily carries out his plan. The blood on Ripley’s fingers looks black, but the audience can see its unmistakable deep red color as they experience the brutal death of Dickie Greenleaf. Ripley goes on to steal Greenleaf’s identity for his wealth and status. 

Every few minutes there is a shot of religious art, whether it is Greek, Roman or Catholic, a statue or a painting on a church ceiling. Tom Ripley walks in the shadows of these works of art, and at some points, he silently ponders them. This could be interpreted as a higher power looking down at him as he continues to commit acts of sin, whether he chooses to acknowledge it or not. He views himself as the puppetmaster of everything around him, but truly knows he is on the verge of spiraling out of control. Characters such as Marge Sherwood, Dickie Greenleaf’s girlfriend, can see right through Ripley’s actions but have no way to prove his wrongdoings. Something is not quite right with him, which all the people he interacts with take notice of.

The juxtaposition of Tom Ripley’s character is what made the 1955 novel and the 1999 film unique. Though he is a con-man and murderer, the character is also described as a sensitive man. The 90s movie depicts Ripley as a queer man, in his odd relationship with Dickie Greenleaf, and even gives him a lover at the end of the movie. His acute awareness of the people around him is what makes him the enticing villain he is. 

With an all-star cast, unique filming style and an incredible setting, “Ripley” is a must-watch for any fans of the original film or audiences interested in the noir genre. The eight-episode show goes into more depth than the movie was able to, and it did not disappoint.

8/10.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Summer ’24 concerts

Written by: Sierra Porter | Staff Writer

It’s been almost four full years since the Covid-19 pandemic, when lives were completely changed in an instant — forcing people to stay inside, away from friends, family and the things they love most. One of the many things that were missed was amazing concerts. This year, artists and bands everywhere can finally perform, once again, with no restrictions. Here are the summer concerts coming to Oregon: 

June Concerts: 

Vampire Weekend — The “Only God Was Above Us” tour is June 19 at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater located in Bend, Oregon. 

Third Eye Blind & Yellowcard — The “Summer Gods” tour is taking place June 14 and will also be at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater in Bend. 

Cavetown- Indie-rock artist, Cavetown, is stopping by June 14 to perform at McMenamins Historic Edgefield Manor in Troutdale, Oregon. 

Cage The Elephant — Cage The Elephant is performing their “Neon Pill” tour at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater June 24. 

July Concerts:

Noah Kahan — Up-and-coming artist, Noah Kahan, is performing his “We’ll All Be Here Forever” tour July 1. The venue is located in Ridgefield, Washington, but if one can make the drive it would be worth it.  

YG — Rap artist, YG, is coming to the Roseland Theater July 10 in Portland. 

Amtrac — American DJ, Amtrac, is bringing his electric music to Portland at the Holocene nightclub, on July 11. 

Blink-182 with Pierce The Veil — Mainstream rock band, Blink-182, shocked the world when they announced their “One More Time” album tour, featuring legendary rock group, Pierce The Veil. This tour will be July 13 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 

A Day To Remember — Florida rock band, A Day To Remember, is performing their “The Least Anticipated Album” tour July 14 at the Moda Center. 

Portugal The Man — Adding to their hundreds of previous tours, Portugal The Man is performing July 20 at the McMenamins Historic Edgefield Manor located in Troutdale, Oregon. 

August Concerts: 

Alanis Morissette — The “Triple Moon Tour” will be taking place Aug. 4 at the Moda Center. 

Wallows — The “Model Tour” is Aug. 6, and the group will be at the Moda Center in Portland. 

Jhene Aiko — Performing her “Magic Hour” tour, Jhene Aiko will be taking the stage at the Moda Center Aug. 8. Tickets are selling fast, so get them while still available.

Olivia Rodrigo —  Recent up-and-coming pop artist, Olivia Rodrigo, will be performing her “GUTS” world tour in Portland at the Moda Center Aug. 10. 

Fitz And The Tantrums — This iconic pop group will be performing their “Good Nights” tour Aug. 12 at the Roseland Theater. 

Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers — Rap artist, Hobo Johnson, is bringing his crew to perform at the Roseland Theater Aug. 14. 

Foo Fighters — Legendary group, Foo Fighters, is performing their “Everything Or Nothing At All” tour, Aug. 16, at Providence Park in Portland. 

Peso Pluma — Latin artist, Peso Pluma, will be bringing his “Exodo” tour to the Moda Center Aug. 17. 

Elle King — King is taking the stage Aug. 20 at the Revolution Hall located in Portland. 

Twenty One Pilots — This iconic rock group is performing their “Clancy World Tour” at the Moda Center Aug. 21. 

$NOT w/ Cochise — These two up-and-coming rap artists are performing at the Roseland Theater Aug. 22. 

Kid Cudi — “INSANO: ENGAGE THE RAGE” tour will be stopping at the Portland Moda Center Aug. 22. 

$uicideboy$ — The $uicideboy$ are bringing their highly anticipated “Grey Day” tour to the Moda Center Aug. 25. Tickets are selling fast, get them while still possible. 

Dave Matthews Band — Still performing after 27 years, the Dave Matthews Band will be continuing on their legacy at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater Aug. 27. 

Kings Of Leon — The “Can We Please Have Fun” tour is coming to Portland this summer as the band will be performing at the Moda Center Aug. 28. 

Bonus September Concerts: 

Jelly Roll — Performing his amazing “Beautifully Broken” tour, Jelly Roll will be performing at the Moda Center Sept. 1. 

Def Leppard w/ Journey — These iconic rock groups took the world by storm announcing this duo tour. They will be performing at the Moda Center Sept. 3. 

Future w/ Metro Boomin — Rap artists, Future and Metro Boomin, are performing their “We Trust You” tour at the Moda Center Sept. 7. 

The Script — This soul rock group will be performing at the Roseland Theater Sept. 8. 

Mitski — Alternative artist, Mitski, is bringing her beautiful music to Portland Sept. 21, performing at the Moda Center. 

Childish Gambino — Shocking fans everywhere with his “New World” tour, Gambino will be performing at the Moda Center Sept. 24. 

Green Day — This alternative rock band will be performing their “Saviors Tour” Sept. 25 at Providence Park. 

Boogie w/ a Hoodie — Performing his “Better Off Alone” tour, Hoodie will be taking the stage at the Moda Center Sept. 25. 

Contact the author at howlstaffwriter@wou.edu

Poetic justice

Written by: Taylor Duff | Staff Writer    Sophie Taylor | Designer

Content warning: this article contains mentions of violence and sexual assault/grooming.      

Kendrick and Drake have a tangled past that includes almost 10 years of static. As Kendrick Lamar’s popularity increased, Drake embraced him — giving him an interlude on his 2011 album, “Take Care,” and inviting him on the ensuing Club Paradise tour. 

The beef between the two began when Kendrick made a personal attack on Drake and 11 other rappers during his feature appearance on Big Sean’s song, “Control,” in August 2013, and tensions escalated. In October 2023, Drake, with fellow rapper J. Cole, released “First Person Shooter.” In the song, J. Cole boasts about his proficiency at rapping. He calls himself, Drake and Lamar the “big three.” 

Lamar responded to “First Person Shooter” in March 2024 by criticizing Drake and J. Cole during featured verses on “Metro Boomin” and Future’s song, “Like That.” Lamar rejected the notion that there was a “big three,” stating, “f–k the big three, it’s just big me.”

In response, Drake released a song titled “Push Ups (Drop and Give Me 50),” in which he mocked Lamar’s height. Within hours of Drake’s diss, Rick Ross responded with a single called “Champagne Moments,” claiming Drake had undergone plastic surgery, including a nose job, false abs and a Brazilian Butt Lift.

Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” implied that Lamar was too cowardly to release music in the same week as Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.” Drake used artificial intelligence to hurl insults in the voices of Lamar’s heroes: Tupac and Snoop Dogg. 

Lamar released “Euphoria” — after the HBO show of which Drake is an executive producer — which read like a laundry list of grievances against his sparring partner. Lamar described Drake as “predictable,” a “master manipulator” and a “habitual liar.” Less than 72 hours after “Euphoria” dropped, Lamar released a second song, “6:16 in LA.” In this track, he alleged that someone within Drake’s organization was leaking negative material.

Drake’s response was the song, “Family Matters,” which elevated the conflict to new heights. He quotes: “You mentioned my seed; now deal with his father,” Drake said. “I gotta go bad, I gotta go bad.” Drake hypothesized in the song that Lamar could be a perpetrator of domestic abuse — the star has never faced such an allegation. 

Within 20 minutes of Drake’s release of “Family Matters,” Lamar responded with a third diss track, “Meet The Grahams,” which began with the foreboding warning, “You messed up the minute you called out my family’s name.” Each verse was addressed to one of Drake’s closest family members, including his mother, father and six-year-old son, as well as an alleged “daughter” no one knows about. Lamar claims Drake covertly fathered a second child and was hooked on gambling, sex and drugs.

On his fourth diss track, “Not Like Us,” Lamar accused Drake of having connections with underage women. This is one of Lamar’s most popular quotes from “Not Like Us”: “Ain’t you tired? Tryna strikes a chord and it’s probably A Minor.” Drake alleges that an informant purposefully fed Lamar several statements with the expectation that the star would rap about them. 

The “Not Like Us” cover art is also an overhead picture of Drake’s house marked with red tags that would normally represent sex offenders on such websites, making more allegations about Drake. Producer Metro Boomin entered the battle by releasing a beat dubbed “BBL Drizzy,” urging fans to rap over it. Drake had previously criticized Boomin on “Push Ups,” instructing him to “shut up and make some drums.” 

Drake countered with “The Heart Part 6” May 5, denying Lamar’s claims of grooming accusations and saying that his crew deceived Lamar over the secret child. Matters took a bad turn when a security officer outside Drake’s home was shot. It is unclear whether the incident was related to the rappers’ dispute. The latest, Drake raps over “BBL Drizzy,” halfway through his part on Sexyy Red’s “U My Everything.” Shots going back and forth make this a rap battle for this generation and it’s apparent everyone has chosen a side: Kendrick or Drake. 

Contact the authors at tduff23@mail.wou.edu or howldesigner@wou.edu

Divorced dad rock

Written by: Ruth Simonsen | Digital Media Manager

“Comedown” — Bush

“Nutshell” — Alice In Chains

“Superunknown” — Soundgarden

“Show Me How to Live” — Audioslave

“Let Down” — Radiohead

“Heart-Shaped Box” — Nirvana

“Under the Bridge” — Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” — Deftones

“Falling Away from Me” — Korn

“Chop Suey!” — System Of A Down

“In the End” — Linkin Park

“Second Chance” — Shinedown

“2112: Overture/TheTemples Of Syrinx/Discovery/Presentation/Oracle/Soliloquy/Grand Finale” — Rush

“Owner of a Lonely Heart” — Yes

“Land of Confusion” — Genesis

“Solsbury Hill” — Peter Gabriel

“Tom Sawyer” — Rush

“Mr. Roboto” — Styx

“Black Hole Sun” — Soundgarden

“The Spirit Of Radio” — Rush

“Peace of Mind” — Boston

“Burnin’ for You” — Blue Öyster Cult

“Message In A Bottle” — The Police

“Roundabout” — Yes

“Toxicity” — System Of A Down

“Cherub Rock” — The Smashing Pumpkins

Contact the author at howldigitalmediamanager@mail.wou.edu

Middle-Earth cinematic universe expands

Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor

Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” rejoice: Warner Brothers Studios has confirmed a new batch of live-action films set in the Middle-Earth cinematic universe. The first of these, titled “The Hunt for Gollum,” is slated for a 2026 release and will focus on Andy Serkis’ character, Gollum. Serkis played this role between 2001 and 2003 in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and later reprised it in the 2014 prequel movie, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

Peter Jackson, the filmmaker for both “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing the movie and are quoted as being involved every step of the way.” Walsh and Boyens both worked on the first two trilogies with Jackson, and Serkis is set to direct and star in the film. 

Other live-action films have yet to be revealed but are likely to explore author J.R.R. Tolkien’s works that have not been touched by the industry. 

Warner Bros. announced in February of 2023 that the new studio leaders, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, had brokered a deal to make multiple films based on Tolkien’s universe, which will be developed through the New Line Cinema label.

An animated Middle-Earth movie is set to be released into theaters on Dec. 13, 2024, from director Kenji Kamiyama — best known in the United States as a background artist for “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and lead animator for the “Star Wars: Visions” episode, “The Ninth Jedi.”

Set 183 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” “The War of the Rohirrim” will follow a legendary king of Rohan and his family as they defend their country. Brian Cox is set to voice King Helm Hammerhead, and Miranda Otto will reprise her role of Eowyn, who narrates the film. 

But even before “The War of the Rohirrim” premieres, season two of “The Rings of Power” will launch on the streaming service, Prime Video, on Aug. 29. The show takes its source material from Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion” and follows elf queen Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, as she and her allies defend Middle-Earth from Sauron and his forces. Season one of “The Rings of Power” was first released in September of 2022 and ran for eight episodes. 

On May 14, a trailer for season two was posted to @ringsofpower on Instagram, with the caption “Darkness will bind them. The Rings of Power returns August 29 on Prime Video.”

Whether this new lineup will stun audiences following the first two trilogies will be something only time will tell.

Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu

Western’s spring dance concert

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

On May 9, 10 and 11, Western hosted its Spring Dance Concert in Rice Auditorium. Each choreographer, costume designer, lighting designer, professor and dancer brought their all to the concert.

The show opened with a lively number, titled “Not a Tango,” choreographed by Les Watanabe, a professor of dance at Western. The dance was composed of four dancers: two wearing red dresses and two wearing black suits, preening for attention. The dynamics and expressions of each character made the audience laugh throughout the show.

Tim Cowart, the department head of Western’s Department of Theatre and Dance choreographed a meaningful piece, titled “Slump.” The dance engaged the audience right out of the gate with a projector screen depicting the busy, loud streets of a big city. One could observe the pressure of society weighing down on each dancer through their intricate mannerisms. Each was trying to make themselves stand out from the crowd; a futile attempt.

“Hold on…,” choreographed by graduating senior Alia Takashima, was a spiritual, grounding piece memorializing community and friendship. The dance featured incredible formations such as using the dancers’ arms to look like tree branches in their green and brown costumes and holding each other up in lifts.

A “Hunger Games” themed piece, titled “MEMENTO MORI,” choreographed by Charlotte Hreha, was captivating and intense. The iconic whistle that sounded before the music even kicked in gave the audience a hint as to what was to come. The music also utilized the line “enjoy the show” from the arena in “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” An ear-piercing scream at the end of the performance left everyone speechless.

“Wabash 64130,” choreographed by Winston Dynamite Brown, was a nostalgic performance based on Brown’s mother, siblings and hometown, Kansas City. The dancers lined up and posed for a “family photo” partway through the dance, illustrating each family member and their unique personalities.

After the intermission, “Melt,” choreographed by Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas, immersed the audience in an ever-shifting night sky, then an ocean and finally, a forest. A featured dancer donned a pair of pointe shoes, weaving between the other dancers. The choreographers stated that the dance was an “…urgent cry to protect our climate and an homage to the beauty and wonder of our natural habitat.”

As a tribute to their grandmother, Manda Oliver choreographed “Annee des Marguerites,” which translates to “Year of the Daisies.” The dance utilized flower props as a symbol of healing, along with beautiful green and purple costumes. Every dancer lifted each other up and made sure nobody was left behind.

“CYCLICAL,” choreographed by senior Madison Malveaux, began with no music, only the carefully composed rhythm of stomping feet. The piece had the perfect combination of chaos and order and conveyed how the two interacted with each other. 

Before the last dance, it was revealed that Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner, a beloved dance professor, will be leaving Western after 14 years. “Las Caras Lindas” featured eight dancers in bright, traditional dresses sitting around a table. Gutierrez-Garner said, “Thank you for sitting at the table of my pedagogy.” It’s safe to say that Gutierrez-Garner left her mark on all of Western.

Every single dance was unique and stood out from one another. The crowd could never guess what was coming next and was entertained for the full two hours of the show. Thank you, Western Department of Theatre and Dance, for your incredible effort and continuous talent.

10/10.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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