If you’re anything like me, you’ve been social distancing for a little bit now. For me this means going for walks around the local park and playing Pokémon for extended periods of time. But after a day or two of the same routine, you might be looking to try something new. Well, look no further because I’ve come up with suggestions to help your self-isolation be the most fun it can be!
Bob Ross Wine and Paint Night
Courtesy of Netflix
There’s nothing like sitting down with some snacks, a glass of wine, painting, and the smooth voice of Bob Ross to help you relax. If you have the supplies kicking around your house then why not give this fun activity a try? Netflix and YouTube have plenty of his videos available so there’s nothing stopping you from grabbing your paint supplies and getting to work.
Warning: Bob Ross paint tutorials are harder than they seem, so try not to give up right away.
Make a mixtape
Photo: Flickr
Now this doesn’t have to be made on an actual tape — this can just be a digital playlist to send to your significant other or friends while you’re stuck in your house. Not only is finding the perfect music a great way to pass the time and potentially discover new artists, but it can also show someone how much you care about them. Remember, social distancing does not mean completely cutting yourself off from everyone else. Find new ways to connect with your loved ones.
Not feeling the love? No worries, you can make the theme of your playlist whatever you want. My favourite one I’ve come across so far is Madeleine’s playlist “Songs to dismantle the establishment to.”
Learn that musical instrument that’s been collecting dust for the last couple of years
Photo: Tim Walker / Flickr
I know plenty of people who have gone out and bought a keyboard or guitar with the intention of learning it, only to have it become more of a decoration than anything. Take this time to finally learn how to play it, even if you learn just one song. You’ll also find that the time will pass by super quickly while you’re jamming out. If you’re feeling confident enough, you can even host one of those Instagram Live concerts that other musicians (like John Legend, Coldplay, and Charlie Puth) are doing right now. For newcomers to the music world, I recommend starting out with a ukulele. Plus, by the time summer rolls around, you’ll be ready for those summer bonfire jam sessions.
Yousician is a great resource to help you learn lots of instruments and they offer a free seven-day trial. You can also find tutorials pretty much anywhere on the internet.
Macaroni art
Photo: Michael Homan / Flickr
What are you going to do with those 20 boxes of pasta that you panic bought last week? You can channel your inner kid and make some first class macaroni art. Now there is no guarantee that this will look better than the one you made in kindergarten; this is a fun activity that you can do with whoever you’re isolated with. All you need is pasta (personally I enjoy bowties but feel free to go crazy), glue, and construction paper.
Read The Peak
Have you heard of SFU’s student paper, The Peak? It can be a real hoot and there is a new crossword and sudoku you can do every week.
“But Marco, how can I get the paper if I’m stuck at home?” you might ask.
Well lucky for you, you can check out all previous issues of The Peak on our Issuu site (issuu.com/peaksfu) or by checking out our own website at the-peak.ca. I particularly like the arts section the most, but I’m sure you’ll find something interesting to read regardless.
Looking for more to do? Check out these links for more resources.
As someone who has killed a cactus before from feeding it too much water, I am just as surprised to be proclaiming myself today as . . . a Plant Mom™. Now before you dismiss me of my lack of credibility in writing this list, I must say that over the years, I have come to learn a thing or two about plant parenting. While I’m certainly not an expert at plant parenthood, I have had lots of experience tending to the 10 plants (and counting) that live inside my bedroom. If you’re looking to begin your own plant family or are wanting to add some easy-to-take-care-of plants to your collection, here is my personal list of favourite low-maintenance indoor plants.
Possibly the easiest (and most obvious) option is the succulent. They come in various shapes and sizes — from those with pointy leaves to ones that form a lotus-like circular arrangement. No matter the case, these plants require very little care, making them the absolute go-to for any beginner plant parent. In the colder seasons when there is a higher humidity, watering them can be as infrequent as every two weeks. As for the summer and drier weather conditions, once a week will do just the trick.
Since cacti are part of the succulent family, and they are typically found in warm climates, you may think that these plants demand plenty of sunlight. However, just about three hours of light daily will keep these plants happy for the rest of the day — much to my surprise as well. It’s even advised to avoid too much direct sunlight as the heat could scorch their precious leaves. Ideally, these plants are best situated on a windowsill or on a nearby desk. Considering just how low maintenance they are, you could place them pretty much anywhere you choose and they are sure to last you for a long time.
If you thought succulents were the embodiment of lazy plant parenting, wait until you hear about this next one. Snake plants, otherwise known as the sansevieria or the mother-in-law’s tongue, are quite possibly the toughest plants out there. Their sword-like leaves stick up vertically from their pots, giving them a literal edgy look. Known for their extreme environmental versatility, these bad boys will never die on you, no matter how hard you try. I barely remember the last time I watered my own snake plant, and somehow, it still sits on my shelf looking healthy as ever. While I definitely don’t approve of neglectful plant parenting, this just goes to show how completely adaptable these babies are to any conditions. Depending on the lighting and temperature of your room, watering them can be as infrequent as every two weeks, to really infrequent as every six weeks. As for sunlight, their preferences are non-existent as they can tolerate anything from low light to high light. If these reasons aren’t enough, may I also add that snake plants are known for filtering out toxic air at night? I’m sure we’re all needing to cut a little bit of toxicity out of our lives, and this plant will do just that for you.
Owning plants that barely require caring are great and all, but if you’re really looking to dive into the life of plant parenting, consider the lovely peace lily. With dark green leaves spreading out of the pot, and white lilies blooming in the spring and early summer, these plants will certainly liven up any room. My peace lily taught me everything there was to learn about being a true Plant Mom™! There’s a bit more commitment needed, as watering is required every three to four days, or once the soil is completely dry. The benefit, though, is that these plants prefer low light and are even sensitive to direct sunlight. This makes them perfect for spaces that may not have access to windows. It may sound as if taking care of these plants is a lot of responsibility, but I kid you not, these babies will literally communicate all of their needs to you. If they’re feeling thirsty, their leaves will droop until you provide them with sufficient water, to which they will quickly rise back up. If they are too warm or are given too much direct sunlight, they may develop brown tips on their leaves to let you know. This one is definitely a good starter plant for those looking to up their plant-parenting skills.
Despite my dislike for coffee — shocking coming from a college student, I know — my coffee plant is probably one of my favourite plants that I own. And yes, before you ask, they do grow coffee beans too. However, I wouldn’t suggest waiting on these guys for your next caffeine fix, as they will require at least three to four years to come in. It has only been a few months since I received this plant from my boyfriend, and already, he has grown twice the size as to when I first got him. As a tropical plant, this one does require the most watering out of all the plants mentioned in this list. It prefers to live in moist soil, which means that you may find yourself replenishing him nearly everyday or every other day. In terms of sunlight, I would strongly urge to keep it away from any direct sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight could keep its leaves looking brown on the edges, as you can tell from my poor choice of placement by the window when I first brought him home. At this point, you may be thinking that I’m stretching the definition of “low maintenance” with the last one on this list. You are absolutely right, but hear me out. Seeing this plant grow from all the hard work I’ve put in is one of the most gratifying feelings I have ever felt. And if that’s not the epitome of plant parenting, I don’t know what is.
Though many SFU Sports teams have had their seasons postponed or cancelled prematurely due to the COVID–19 pandemic, there were a lot of successful moments for Clan athletics during the spring semester. Below is a breakdown of some of these achievements from a successful, albeit shortened, season for SFU Athletics.
Softball:
Due to the timing of the beginning of their season, the SFU Softball team was one of the hardest hit by the COVID–19 pandemic. Though their season was cancelled after just their eighth conference game, the Clan showed impressive potential by winning seven of these games, including all six that were played at home. The team finished their 2020 GNAC season with a 7–1 record in conference play and a 13–5 record overall.
Women’s Basketball:
The SFU Women’s Basketball team was able to complete its 2020 season, just days before the COVID–19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of the remainder of the season for all GNAC sports. After an extremely successful regular season that saw the team finish fourth in its conference, the Clan travelled to Seattle to compete in the GNAC Championship tournament. However, despite facing a lower seeded Central Washington team in the quarter finals, the Clan fell in their opening game of the tournament and finished their season with a record of 18–13.
Men’s Basketball:
A solid 2020 season for the men’s basketball team was tempered by a comparatively poor performance in conference play. Despite an overall record of 16–13, the Clan were only able to win nine of their 20 conference games on the season, which resulted in an eighth place finish in the GNAC standings. Because of this, the Clan fell short of a berth in the GNAC Championship tournament.
Hockey:
After multiple years of frustrating performances that saw the team fail to meet expectations, the 2019–20 British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) season saw the Clan put together one of their most successful campaigns in recent memory. After finishing second in the league with a 15–7–2 record, SFU was set to host the Vancouver Island University Mariners in the first round of the playoffs before the cancellation of the BCIHL postseason due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was an unfortunately abrupt ending to the season for a team that appeared to have its best shot at a league championship since it last secured the BCIHL title in 2013.
Unfortunately, students will have to wait until the pandemic eases to try this class. — Photo: SFU Health and Counselling
By: Lubaba Mahmud, Staff Writer
Like most people, I’ve been a little burnt out by the challenging social and economic conditions we find ourselves in on top of the usual stress of work and school. Because of this, I’m always looking for a way to disconnect from the world and reconnect my mind and body — even if it’s only for an hour or two.
Before the COVID–19 pandemic forced most of us into social distancing, I found SFU Health & Counselling’s Yoga for the Mind to be a great option for reducing stress. Yoga for the Mind is one of the many drop-in style wellness programs that SFU Health & Counselling offers. It is meant to be a gentle yoga class that teaches relatively simple stretching and breathing exercises, as well as some meditation techniques.
I attended a Friday offering of the class that was taught by Kealani. She began by conducting a Sun Salutation routine that consisted of backward bends and forward folds. These served as a quick warm-up and helped get our blood flowing in preparation for the rest of the class. Following the warm-up, we were introduced to common yoga poses such as Warrior I and II, Downward-facing Dog, Cow Face, and Camel. The bulk of the class time was allocated to practising these poses in a complementary order. This combination of exercises helped students get a deep stretch of shoulders, spine, ankles, calves, hips, and thighs. I found this section particularly helpful since it also helped to correct posture and strengthen the body.
Next, we moved on to the breathing exercises and meditation portion of the course. Here, Kealani instructed us to focus on different parts of the body, one at a time, while breathing slowly and deeply. This practice is based on the philosophy of yoga nidra (known as yogic sleep), which guides participants through a meditative process of becoming self-aware of each part of the body and the sensations within it. This was a great way to end the class, as it gave the body some time to rest after the deep stretches while invigorating the mind at the same time.
If you’re interested in trying Yoga for the Mind once the social distancing and self-isolation measures related to the pandemic are lifted, classes are normally held at the Burnaby campus on Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. You can check the Yoga for the Mind websitefor the most recent updates on class times and locations.
The view from the top of the powerline ridge. — Photo: Prematflucchy
By: Dylan Webb, Sports Editor
As social distancing and other pandemic-related compromises begin to take their toll on our social, emotional, and physical well-being, it’s important to take time to consider the things we can still do. Hiking, as far as I can tell, is definitely one of those things. What better way to clear your mind and get some fresh air, while continuing to adhere to pandemic minimizing guidelines, than to take a stroll in the woods? However, due to the strenuous nature of trekking through the wilderness, many hikes aren’t necessarily an activity accessible to all, or even most, people. For this reason, I thought it might be a good idea to review one of the more attainable hikes that I’m aware of: the Burke Mountain Powerline Ridge hike.
Beginning at the Harper Road gate, which is adjacent to the Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club, this hike is just a few kilometres long, can take just under one hour to complete (not accounting for time spent enjoying the view from the ridge), and, most importantly, can be done entirely on flat, gravel trailbed. While there are a handful of alternative routes that, by way of more difficult terrain and trails, also lead to the Burke Mountain Powerline Ridge, I wanted to focus on the least arduous path to maximize the amount of readers that could benefit from this review.
After walking past the yellow Harper Road gate, you’ll start your stroll with the most difficult part of the hike. Though the entire journey takes place on gravel trailbed, the incline for the first 500 metres of the hike is relatively steep. Depending on your hiking ability, you may want to take a couple breaks on this portion.
After ascending this steep, opening portion of the hike, you’ll see another yellow gate on your left, while the trail you are on continues straight ahead of you. Take a left turn and pass by the yellow gate to get to the main portion of your journey: a couple kilometres of relatively flat trekking through a thickly wooded portion of Burke Mountain. Enjoy this stroll through the woods until you reach a fork in the trail with a sign that indicates routes for the Woodland Walk and the Coquitlam Lake View Trail (CLVT). While the Woodland Walk is certainly another trek worth trying, this time you’ll want to take the high road and follow the signs for CLVT. Just a few hundred metres later, the forest thins out rapidly and the trail opens up into the Burke Mountain Powerline Ridge. You’ve arrived at your destination.
While the Burke Mountain Powerline Ridge is something of a grand central station for a variety of other, more arduous hikes in the region, it’s also an exciting destination itself. The ridge is quite expansive, and hikers can ascend a few hundred metres up the ridge to get a more panoramic view of the valley below. The quality of the view from the ridge relative to its accessibility is definitely the best part of this hike — even the most novice hikers can enjoy an amazing view just a few kilometres from their car.
Please stop asking me if I know someone you know from SFU
SFU is a very large academic institution. We span over three campuses, offer a whole slew of programs, and have over 30,000 students. So what I truly don’t understand is why some people believe that everyone has met everyone else who attends our school. I’ve been asked countless times if “I know so-and-so who’s a blah, blah, blah major at SFU” and it irritates the hell out of me!
For clarification, I recognize how bringing the topic up is an attempt to make some sort of connection, or even just initiate a friendly discussion. But if the person I’m being asked about is in a completely different faculty or year, what are the odds of me having come across them? This only leads to me responding, “No, sorry,” then a painfully awkward silence ensues.
Honestly, if people just mentioned that they know someone who goes to SFU it would suffice. No one needs to waste time on wondering whether or not I know the individual when there’s a sporting chance that I don’t. For the rest of my time here, I only have one request, and it’s for anybody who’s thought of asking, or ever asked this question: please do us both a favour and save the conversation from predictable awkwardness by not bothering to ask it.
– Tiffany Chang
Time changes need to go so I can rest and enjoy the sun
Give me back my sleep schedule, time changes! Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
Why does an artificial time construct get to dictate whether I sleep well or when I see the sun?
I am (literally) tired of having days in the winter when I wake up and only have four to five hours of daylight. It’s like daylight saving was like, “Oh? Do you have seasonal depression? Here, every November let’s make it worse. And then every March, once you’ve fully adjusted, let’s fuck up your sleep schedule.”
People may read this and think, “Why don’t you wake up earlier?” but bitch, I am a night owl through and through and nothing can change that. I am certain many other people are as well. I shouldn’t have to pry my eyes open at an early hour to be able to soak in vitamin D (AKA vitamin dopamine). My sleep schedule, my mood, and my mental health shouldn’t also be something that shifts with the biannual time change. The ghost of Simon Fraser knows there’s already so many other factors that contribute to that.
Time is as fake as most students’ commitment to attend every class anyway. Tradition needs to shut the fuck up and die already, like the fragile gatekeeper it is, so everyone can finally be free from this temporal hellscape.
– Madeleine Chan
Reviews don’t tell me what your book is about
Don’t give me bling to increase book sales, give me an actual blurb of your novel. llustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
I walk into a bookstore, ready to treat myself after a long week. I browse through the shelves and pick up an interesting looking book. Eager to know what it’s about, I flip it over to read the back cover, only to come across the following:
“The most amazing book you’ll ever read.” — Jack Verde
“An amazing tale of family, love, identity, and death. This is a fabulous page-turner.” — Hayley Labour
Okay, great. But what is the book really about, besides the generic themes of love and all that? Am I going to meet a quirky character with a unique perspective on life, or will I accompany a brave warrior as he fights for his kingdom? I’m trying my best to find out, but I’m hit with “New York Times Bestseller” or “Odyssey Award Nominee.”
Where’s the damn plot?
Don’t give me 300 lines of praise from other authors and then throw in a list of awards and accolades on the cover. I really don’t care what John Green thinks; I just want to know what the book is about. These days, I have to go on a treasure hunt to find the mini blurb — if that exists at all — about the actual content of the book. Is it on the front-flap, hidden somewhere in the introduction, or is it buried somewhere else? I’d ask Mr. Green, but he’d probably get lost in the maze too.
In the quest to sell more books, publishers have been prioritizing glowing reviews over detailed descriptions of the story for the book cover. This steals the joy from the experience of book shopping. If I were to review this tragedy, I’d sum it up with the following: “A heart-wrenching tale.” — Bookworms.
– Lubaba Mahmud
I’m tired of always having to be the mother at the club
When a group of friends goes to the club, party roles start filling up. There’s the
Clubbing friend by choice, mother by force. Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
Adventurer, who decides to walk down Davie at 1:38 a.m. alone after downing seven Jäger bombs. Not far behind is the Signature Hoe™️, who spends the first half of the night flirting with anything with a pulse. This is also the one who later ditches their friends to get laid by a 4/10 that looks like a 9 under the club lights. Then there are those who don’t ever know their limits, downing another double directly after leaving the washroom stall with mom’s spaghetti still on their top.
My role, nine times out of 10 in these instances? Not one of the aforementioned archetypes, oh no. My destiny? I’m the club mom.
I’m talking about being the psychiatrist, the nurse, the one who holds a friend’s hair as they chundy for 30 minutes straight. While my friends get into trouble, or states of emotional distressed (often self-induced via texting exes), or blackout from drinking, I’m the one there to provide support. The whole night.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to help however I can. Sometimes. But when I go out with the same group multiple times a semester, I don’t want them to assume that their ol’ pal Mom will come to their rescue, thus never feeling the need to correct their own dumbass behavior. Give the club mom a night to be an idiot, too!
This isn’t a call-out for anyone in particular, but hey, if the uncomfortable club outfit fits . . .
– Paige Riding
Civil disobedience is supposed to be inconvenient
Step outside your privilege and take a look at what’s really going on. Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
To all the people who have complained about the Wet’suwet’en protests: demonstrations like these are meant to disrupt your life. That’s literally the whole point! Civil disobedience is used as a last resort when (largely marginalized) groups have exhausted all other methods of trying to get governments to listen to them.
In the case of the Wet’suwet’en protests, you feel what it’s like to be inconvenienced in an incredibly minor way in order to bring attention to the major ways in which the Canadian government has and continues to dismiss the concerns of Indigenous people.
In addition to making you understand an iota of what the Wet’suwet’en people are dealing with (disruption to your life for a few hours vs. disruption to their whole lives), protests are supposed to make you ask why and who is to blame. In this case, the why is rooted in colonization and cultural genocide, and the who is the Canadian government.
Google it and educate yourself before slinging your ignorant and frankly racist remarks all over comment threads.
– Meera Eragoda
Not all tattoos have to mean something, some of them can be skin-deep
As a person with 42 tattoos, it’s pretty easy for my first conversation with someone to be about the art on my arm. While most interactions are relatively lighthearted, there’s question in particular that I’m truly tired of answering:
“So, what do all of these mean?”
I get this question a lot, and, frankly, I tend to give the same answer every time: “Some of them have meaning, but most of them don’t really mean anything.” This is received by one of two responses: either the person asks me to tell them the story behind the ones with meaning (which I begrudgingly do) or they insist that tattoos should mean something because they’re permanent. Tattoos? Permanent? Groundbreaking.
While I’m not the tattoo police, I will insist that someone shouldn’t feel like what they want or have on their body has to have some deep explanation to it. It’s annoying for me because I have so many, and thus need to vouch for multiple dumb ink children, but even a person with one or two tattoos doesn’t need that.
If you’re a person who asks someone what their tattoos mean, try holding yourself back to merely complimenting the artwork upon their fleshy canvases. While gawking is appreciated, questioning is not.
People should be able to get meaningless tattoos without being questioned for it — we’re the ones paying for these tattoos to be put on our bodies, we should be the ones deciding whether they need to mean something or not.
– Juztin Bello
Are you out of ur(inal) mind? Put your phone away!
Now is not that time to use that. Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
There’s little else that confuses and disgusts me more than witnessing the cultural phenomenon of guys using their phones at the urinal. I cannot stress this enough: the urinal is not a place to go on your phone. It is a sacred space — a space for release, a space for a person to unleash their inner animal. It is not, I repeat, not a space to watch the end of the Netflix episode you couldn’t finish last night.
Just think about it for a second. The droplets of urine that splash against the urinal and then onto you are going to seep into the cracks of your device and permeate the depths of your Netflix episode. Then you place your phone back into your pocket, wash your hands (if even), and later, place your hands in your pockets. It’s an asinine cycle.
Not only is it unhygienic to whip out your phone at the urinal, it is astoundingly disruptive for those around you.
I am trying to spend the few minutes I have in my break from class in a space of privacy, only to hear KJ Apa’s voice as the wall of the third urinal down is glazed.
I do not need this in my life.
If that is not enough, the potential danger of dropping an expensive phone in the urinal should steer anyone away fromeven thinking of doing such suspect activity.
But perhaps that is what urinal cellphone users deserve.
– Harvin Bhathal
Do we really need all these SFU watering holes?
This is not how I pictured my time at SFU. Illustration: Tiffany Chan/The Peak
One reason why I don’t hike so much anymore is because of one hike years ago, when I ended up going through a swamp. During that time, my feet and socks got soaked through my supposedly waterproof boots. The feeling of walking for eight hours until the next stopping point with water sloughing through my boots, and my subsequently itchy feet for weeks afterwards is something I would rather not repeat.
Yet, for whatever reason, SFU is determined to give me the opportunity to relive my experience in tiny, piecemeal moments. I’m talking, of course, about the random pools of water collecting at exits from Convo Mall going to the WMC. With all other paths blocked off by construction, I get to waddle through those “cute” little ponds, often inescapably near an outdoor staircase or doorway.
Seriously, whenever I met with people from UBC and they bragged about their school, I used to be able to tell them “at least I stay dry on campus when it rains.” Indeed, that was apparently Gordon Shrum’s vision for students when SFU’s design was first being considered. As a UBC professor taking over as Chancellor of the brand new university, he felt it best for students to stay dry in Raincouver.
Unfortunately, those deep quagmires, combined with my broke-ass shoes with extra holes for “breathability,” means that while my body stays dry, my feet do not.
– Nathaniel Tok
If only one person is talking at a meeting it should really just be an email
I really, really value efficiency in my life. The reality of my own mortality has made me realize that there are far better uses for my time than jam-packed commutes, uncoordinated errand running, and yes, sitting in on a meeting simply to be an extra butt in a chair.
Not all in-person meetings are pointless; let’s get that out of the way. Sometimes, it’s actually good to get a group of people together and hear everyone’s input on a project that’s right there on the table in front of everyone. I’m not talking about those meetings: I’m talking about the meetings where one person does all the talking to a group of half-zoned-out placeholders; the meetings where thoughts from the group are discouraged or shot down. In short, the meetings that could just be an email blast.
These meetings are especially irritating when they involve a long commute, like, for example up to SFU. I’m not just wasting an hour of my life sitting here listening to what I could read in 15 minutes, but I’ve lost three hours total in getting there and back as well!
If we take nothing else from our current pandemic situation (aside from good hygiene — seriously people, wash your goddamn hands!) could we at least in the future reevaluate mandatory attendance meetings? Could they really not just be an email afterall?
It’s difficult to make a film well-received by both mainstream audiences and more critical viewers, especially with a sense of originality. In the case of Uncut Gems, the directing and cinematography alike attempt to please both of these groups. This story about a jeweller who places a bet that could change his life forever is shot in a totally original way. The Safdie brothers (Josh and Benny Safdie) use consistent movements and fast cuts throughout to create a sense of urgency and intense realism in each shot, making each film this duo directs stand out.
But standing out isn’t always a positive.
Although the film contains moments of calm as a means to balance the riveting pace, it is offset by an ill-fitted style of cinematography. This isn’t to say the cinematography of the film as a whole is an issue, just in certain scenes. Despite being visually stimulating, it just doesn’t mesh with the film’s concept.
This poorly executed story about an individual addicted to gambling, whose priorities are painstakingly mismanaged, is not worthy of the artistic endeavour the Safdie brothers went for. It gives the impression of a loading scene in a video game like Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto that’s only real focus is the action of actually playing the game. Here in the film, any scene that does not involve action feels like a wait for the next exciting thing, rather than pushing the story forward. Video games that emphasize action don’t always put enough effort in the story, and while the effort of Safdie brothers is present in Uncut Gems, it does not come to fruition.
In and of itself, this is not a negative. If incorporated well into the fabric of a film, this artistic cinematography will make it memorable. But because the story did not warrant this idea, it made for scenes that were equivalent to those that gamers skip to get back to the action of gameplay.
Furthermore, continuing the video game theme is in moments where Howard Ratner (played by Adam Sandler) is faced with making difficult decisions. The film feels similar to a choice-based video game where each choice has a subsequent consequence. It’s as if Howard progresses through his given options, and a decision triggers a transition and consequence.
Whether it was intentional or not, the parallels between Uncut Gems and action-based video games are obvious. With interactive television shows and film-style video games, it was only time until a film came along that resided in between this dichotomy. Overall, Uncut Gems is still worth the watch, but it’s artistic style just does not gel with the story.
Dear Evan Hansen rolled into town a few weeks ago, and I was ecstatic. If you weren’t wistfully staring out a window while listening to this musical’s top track “Waving Through a Window” in 2017, then I don’t know what you were doing. But I guess if you haven’t somehow heard of this musical or its music, then let me break it down for you. Evan Hansen, a socially outcast high school senior, pretends to be the best friend with Connor Murphy who had recently died by suicide.
Sound complicated? Because it is. But the show handled the topics of suicide and mental health with nuance and depth, which were incredibly accented by Sam Primack’s perfect performance as Evan. I appreciated how complex the story was and how it was not just another tale of “social outcast is not outcast anymore.” There were also no clear antagonists, as the story’s perspective and direction changed constantly. This may have made it difficult for people who know nothing about the show to follow, but for me, it was plot paradise.
The jokes weren’t as great, though. It didn’t sit right with me that gayness was used as the punchline multiple times. It didn’t help that they were also punctuated by the audience’s uproarious laughter.
However, this unease was quelled by the incredible stage production. Having only listened to the soundtrack prior to seeing the show, I was amazed at how much the set brought the production to life. The stage was dressed with multiple sliding screens at different depths and heights that would shift and slide depending on the setting. Along with this, the seamless scene changes were enhanced by the seemingly floating set pieces, which consisted only of furniture like beds and couches. They were so seamless in fact I had no idea how they moved them. My running theories are that they were moved by a complex system of magnets beneath the stage or they were being remote-controlled like a toy car. In any case, it was visual nirvana.
Another aspect that breathed life into the show was the dynamic and emotional music. One of my absolute favourite musical devices is recurring melodic and lyrical themes, and this show had them in spades. From the numerous reprises to the call back to “Waving Through A Window” in “Words Fail” at the end of the show, this musical is great at bringing back bits of music to signify the multiple changing themes of the story.
Though, the standout song for me was “Requiem” because it embodied the show’s complexity and dynamic perspectives. The song featured Stephanie La Rochelle as Zoe Murphy questioning why she should grieve the brother that was so horrible to her. Meanwhile, in consecutive verses, her parents are trying to not grieve their beloved son. Their words synchronize at the chorus as they sing “I will sing no requiem” — but all for different reasons. The layers in this song are truly a phenomenal feat that add so much clever contrast.
I don’t know how I feel about the musical’s mixed ending, it was almost too abrupt. I would have liked to see more of the fallout of the major conflict, and the strong “You are not alone” message seemed to get lost by the end. But I think, overall, the show delivered a solid story that was enhanced and almost overshadowed by the exceptional production and magnificent music. Dear Evan Hansen has left town now, but I suggest listening to the soundtrack as a primer to when this popular musical inevitably returns.
Students at over 30 schools across Canada walked out of class on March 4 in support of the Wet’suwet’en nation. At SFU, students rallied in Convocation Mall to hear Indigenous youth speak. Some students proceeded to walk down to Gaglardi Way where they partially stopped traffic up and down the mountain. Here are 15 song lyrics, chants, and quotes from the event. As many speakers spoke of demonstrators feeling unsafe and shared experiences of being followed or harassed due to their activism, speakers are only identified by an initial.
“As academics at this university, we have the privilege of being here and we are the ones who are going to make change.” — M
“Canada has no interest in its laws. It has signed onto many of the United Nation conventions. Convention of the Right of the Child, they signed onto that in 1990 and they closed the last residential school in 1996, six years later [ . . . ] They signed onto UNDRIP and they have broken all of those articles, they have violated all of those articles [ . . . ] Familiarize yourself with the laws of this land because they are a lie.” — S
Photo: Gabrielle McLaren / The Peak
“The Wet’suwet’en are under attack in their own land [ . . . ] it’s not right to be attacked on their own land, in their own homes.” — I
“This is not a fight for pipelines or against pipelines, this is a fight against white supremacy, genocide, imperialism. This is a fight to save our ecosystem and our water — that is what they arrest us for.” — S
“The media is focusing on how there’s a tentative agreement, but that doesn’t mean that [the RCMP has] left. You need to be critical of all information you’re receiving on social media [ . . . ] It’s a technique to stop us from gathering and standing in solidarity with those who need support right now.” — M
“This is a system that was meant to destroy us, and we have not let it.” — S
Photo: Gabrielle McLaren / The Peak
“It is Indigenous law versus colonial, imperial law of Canada . . . ” — E
“It is not an Indigenous principle to be violent, but it is for Canada.” — E
“I’m going to say ‘fuck’ and you guys all say ‘Justin Trudeau’ [ . . . ] Come on guys, this is all protected under freedom of expression. [ . . . ] ‘Fuck’ is a form of art and expression.” — T
“We need to make sure that we’re letting those who have priority in spaces, that we’re protecting Indigenous youth, that we’re protecting Indigenous women and Elders when they’re in those spaces.” — M
SFU has just six games left before the GNAC Championship tournament. — Photo: SFU Athletics
By: Dylan Webb, Sports Editor
The SFU Women’s Basketball team continued its strong run of play with consecutive victories over St. Martin’s University and Seattle Pacific University last week. The Clan secured a 65–55 victory over St. Martin’s University at the Marcus Pavillion in Lacey before defeating Seattle Pacific University 75–68 at the Royal Brougham Pavilion in Seattle two days later.
In the first win of the week, the Clan shrugged off a sluggish start thanks to strong performances from Sophie Klassen and Jessica Jones. Klassen poured in 15 points and added seven rebounds and three steals, while Jones scored 13 points, including three three-pointers. The biggest story of the game was a 19-point run in the fourth quarter by the Clan that pushed the game out of reach to secure the win.
Riding a wave of momentum from their big win in Lacey, the Clan moved to Seattle to take on Seattle Pacific University. Once again, SFU struggled early in the game and were down nine points by the end of the first quarter. However, another impressive shooting performance from Jones, which included an astounding seven three-pointers, kept the game close enough for the Clan to put together another late run that would allow the team to extend its winning streak to four games. On top of Jones’ team-leading 21 points, she also added six rebounds, four assists, and two steals to round out one of her most impressive performances in a Clan uniform.
With the two wins in Washington, the Clan improved their 2019–20 GNAC record to 11–4. This impressive record has the team in the top three, alongside Northwest Nazerene University and the powerhouse Anchorage Seawolves. While the Clan hasn’t officially clinched its berth in the GNAC Championship tournament, which is slated for March 5–7 at the Royal Brougham Pavilion, one or two more wins over their remaining six games will likely be enough to do so, depending on the performance of the other teams that are close to them in the standings. After playing their final two home games of the regular season, the team will make their only trip of the season to Alaska on February 20–22 to take on both University of Alaska teams.
