Mount Hood

Bite of ’89

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Two well-loved fan bases are celebrating simultaneous, monumental releases on Oct. 27. Both horror video game and pop music fans are being brought together by this fateful fall Friday. The ultimate question is which one will one be indulging in: the release of the live-action “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie, “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” or both?

Taylor Swift, currently one of the most well-known artists in pop music, announced she was going to re-record her first six albums in November of 2020. Swift’s old label sold her music to her manager, Scooter Braun, meaning she no longer owns the rights to any of her music. It’s no wonder that fans of the singer/songwriter are excited about the re-recording of the albums.

Fans of Swift — Swifties — everywhere are proud of this empowering transformation of their favorite artist.

“It’s one of her most iconic albums. This is the year she really embraced pop… I’m just really excited to be back in that era again,” said Kayla Smith, a sophomore at Western.

Though Swifties are ecstatic, some still look down on Taylor Swift and her music. “Even if you’re not a Swiftie… be supportive. You don’t have to listen to it if you don’t want to, but try not to be mean to Swifties out there who are really excited,” said Smith.

On the same day, fans of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” will be in theaters for the release of the movie adaptation of the horror game. The video game was first popularized in 2014 by gaming Youtubers who streamed videos of themselves playing “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” Was that the bite of ’87? Players have to survive five nights alone as a security guard at a pizzeria — avoiding animatronics in the dark and learning the many years of intricate game lore.

The ultimate lesson to take away from this encroaching date is to be supportive of each other. Whether it’s pop star Taylor Swift, or horror game turned movie “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” both have made large advances in the last few years. Though both are very different, there is much to celebrate this fateful October weekend.

Contact the author at howlenterrtainment@wou.edu

Best in the pacific northwest

Written by: Liberty Miller | Lifestyle Editor

Here’s what all three of our Twilight enthusiast readers have been waiting for — a playlist catered to the rainy weather of the pacific northwest. Picture walking to class on a cloudy day, just for a sliver of sun to hit the vitamin-D deficient skin of a student by Todd Hall. They light up like a disco ball and run away at the speed of light. Tune in to this spotify playlist and that just might happen. Key word: might – but it’s still worth a shot. 

“Full Moon” — The Black Ghosts 

“From Now On” — The Features

“Neighbors (Soundtrack Version)” — Theophilus London 

“Friends” — Band of Skulls 

“Cover Your Tracks” — A Boy and His Kite

“Monsters” — Hurricane Bells 

“Slow Life” — Grizzly Bear, Victoria Legrand 

“What Part of Forever” — Ceelo Green 

“Hearing Damage” — Thom Yorke 

“Atlas (Soundtrack Version)” — Fanfarlo 

“How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep” — Bombay Bicycle Club

“Jonathan Low” — Vampire Weekend 

“Roslyn” — Bon Iver, St. Vincent 

“Requiem On Water” — Imperial Mammoth 

“Turning Page” — Sleeping At Last 

“The Violet Hour” — Sea Wolf 

“Speak Up” — POP ETC 

“The Antidote” — St. Vincent 

“Endtapes (Soundtrack Version)” — The Joy Formidable

Plus a few extras that fit the same vibe!

“Open Season” — High Highs 

“Kenny” — Still Woozy

“Dawn Chorus” — Thom Yorke 

“Daylight” — David Kushner

“Evergreen” — Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners 

“Fade Into You” — Mazzy Star 

“Two Weeks” — Grizzly Bear

Contact the author at howllifestyle@wou.edu

Western’s Cannon Gallery displays incredible art, sparking childlike joy

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

At the beginning of October, nine different artists from the Salem area showcased their pieces in the Cannon Gallery in Western’s Campbell Hall. The exhibit’s works of art used media such as paint, embroidery, clay and even coins and plastic figurines. 

The exhibit was titled “The Red Thread” — referring to the connection between the diverse group of artists. Inspired by a Chinese proverb, the red thread is said to connect people who are destined to meet. Following such, a literal red thread was hung throughout the Cannon Art Gallery.

Many of these artists collaborated, but each of their pieces displayed their unique personalities. Two artists, Susan Napeck and Jessica Ramey, had a similar theme to their art — returning to childhood. 

Napeck decided to embroider over the nostalgic drawings by their six-year-old self, depicting themself, their family and their home at the time. 

Ramey created a wondrous fortune-teller out of wood and clay, so anyone could come and find something out about themselves. 

Napeck discussed the connection between them and their art. Napeck’s inspiration came from the idea of “…letting go of old things and making new things with them,” Napeck said. 

Though the piece was sentimental, Napeck said they were alright with letting it go: “…once you make it into art, sometimes it’s easier to let go… once you’re done with it… you can let it fly.”

The fortune teller piece, titled “Elemental Fortune” and embellished with fake eyeballs and bright colors, drew many people in. Ramey had a different approach with their interactive sculpture. Though it was a fortune teller focused on reading personalities, they wanted to make sure it was unlike typical zodiac tropes. 

“The idea is just playfulness, and as adults, we kind of lose that a little bit,” Ramey said. 

The nine artists that showcased their work in the Cannon Art Gallery were part of a collective group from the Willamette Heritage Center. 

Both Napek and Ramey shared their thoughts on working alongside the other artists. “We all do very different things, but are equally curious,” Ramey said. 

In response to comparing their colleagues’ art with their own, Napek said: “as an artist, you try to give back to that facility without being self-conscious.” The idea of the red thread was present in both the profound words and work of the artists.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Fun fall watchlist

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

“Gilmore Girls” on Netflix

“Practical Magic” on Hulu

“Charmed” on Netflix

“Dead Poets Society” on Prime

“Coraline” on Max and Hulu

“Coco” on Disney+

“Over the Garden Wall” on Hulu

“The Shining” on Max

“Knives Out” on Prime

“Wendell and Wild” on Netflix

“The Birds” on Prime

“The Golden Bachelor” on Hulu

“Halloweentown” on Disney+

“What We Do In the Shadows” on Hulu

“Haunted Mansion” on Disney+

“Black Swan” on Prime

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Season two of “Our flag means death” dives deeper into the difficult topic of address emotions

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Content warning: this article contains spoilers

The Max original, “Our Flag Means Death,” has won hearts and captured the attention of many. The relatable characters, charming relationships and lots of piracy, offer something for everyone. Though many scenes deal with the typical pirate activities, such as stealing and murdering, the newest season of the show dives into the murky depths of the characters’ emotions.

The first season of the show ended with a heartbreaking split of the main characters, Ed, also known as Blackbeard, and Stede, played by Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby. What some fans may not know is that these two characters are real-life historical figures, and while they may not have had a romance as the show depicts, they definitely met. A new historical character introduced in season two is Zheng Yi Sao, a pirate queen. 

Zheng, played by Ruibo Qian, brings a whole new level of comedy to the show, such as the iconic line: “Girl, how are you?” This question forces Stede to reflect on his past mistakes, and he even offers relationship advice to another character. 

On the other hand, Ed is struggling with negative feelings of self-worth and learning to accept the fact that he is lovable. Who would have thought that Blackbeard, the world’s most infamous and feared pirate, secretly had these emotions deep down?

Lili Minato, a Western sophomore and an avid watcher of “Our Flag Means Death,” shared what she liked about the show in comparison to others that try to tackle the topic of mental health. “This show is showing you pirates in the 18th century and allowing hard subjects to be shared without bumming you out too much because it’s a comedy,” Minato said. “There’s a level of fun to it that allows these harsher, more draining subjects, to be shared to a wider audience without it being too depressing.”

Both the cast and crew work hard behind the scenes to ensure everything is smooth sailing. Taika Waititi, the New Zealand director and star of “Our Flag Means Death,” has taken similar approaches in his past work. His shows, such as “What We Do in the Shadows,” tend to be representative of many communities, so it’s no wonder they have reached a broad audience.

“Our Flag Means Death” offers a new perspective to historical, comedy and drama television fans. It will make viewers laugh, cry and gasp. The show will inspire its audience to create their own “safe space,” as the pirates aim to do on their ship and with each other. It’s a heartfelt comedy that reinvents the stereotypical perception of pirates and will make its audience reflect on the way they love themselves and others.

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

Lessons from the school of SAW

Written by: Aubrey Laine Baker | Freelancer

The late September release of “Saw X” met box office success and critical acclaim as the film grossed $29.3 million worldwide on its opening weekend. Long-time fans of the “Saw” franchise have rejoiced at its return to the limelight, inciting countless sentimental reflections on its colorful history and cultural relevance. For almost 20 years, the continuing saga has dispensed dopamine fixes and unified audiences across the globe through their insatiable desire for psychologically unsettling storytelling, complex moral quandaries and labyrinthine narrative twists. Or, maybe they’re simply brought together by their hardwired, human hunger for ultraviolence.

While some critics dismiss the films with labels such as “torture porn,” others praise them for their deeper philosophical outlooks and metaphorical explorations of redemption — needle pits, anyone? But whether one is binging on gore or strung out on the subtleties of cinema, “Saw” leaves viewers of any disposition with a timeless takeaway: life is to be cherished.

I want to play a game. The game I want to play is not unlike the game of life. There’s a slow-acting poison coursing through the world that each and every person has the antidote for.

Are they going to watch themselves die, or are they going to do something about it?

Thankfully they’re not typically strapped by their teeth to a home-brew head shredder on a timer, and they don’t need to face their most personal flaws in a grimly ironic, gruesome death room. They don’t need to push the limits of self-mutilation or sacrifice the well-being of others for their survival.

But they will have to do some surgery. Somewhere inside of them is the glow of their passions. Can they find it?

Will they tend to it and radiate with its warmth? Or let it dwindle and die, and rob the world of their brilliance.

Life is a gift and it’s not to be squandered. In our contemporary world of nihilistic persuasion and ever-rising suicidal tendencies, it can be easy to forget that. 

In the words of John Kramer, “Congratulations, you are alive. So many people are ungrateful to be alive, but not you. Not anymore.”

Contact the author at

albaker23@mail.wou.edu

Basic needs and fun games — what more could you need?

Written by: Claire Phillips | Entertainment Editor

Abby’s House, the gender equity center located in the Werner University Center, provides students with resources for basic needs and other sorts of support — such as food and transportation. At Western’s Pack Welcome Week Game Night on Sept. 25 Abby’s House introduced students to a quirky card game called “Radical Queer Witches.”

The game is played almost exactly like “Cards Against Humanity,” but appeals to a more female, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ audience. The goal of the game’s creator was to address issues of oppression in a humorous fashion and avoid the offensive aspects of Cards Against Humanity. Examples of response cards include “gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing” and “dissociating in the grocery store.” 

Hailee Carmody, the Basic Needs Peer Educator of Abby’s House, commented on the importance of the game: “It takes out a lot of insensitive answers and puts in some modern and way more fun ones,” Carmody said. 

Carmody and other Abby’s House employees are fervently trying to increase student involvement. “If you like Taylor Swift and games, please come to Abby’s House.”

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu

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