The ceremony’s humiliations might be leading toward an equally humiliating end

By JACOB ANDERSON — arts@theaggie.org

The bourgeois game of Hollywood award shows is in a sad state: with the Oscars’ plummeting year-over-year ratings and the Emmys facing annual accusations of racism, the Golden Globes fits right in with its ever-ballooning rap sheet of nepotism, structural racism and unpopularity, topped off with a despicable incorrigibility. 

Following the revelation earlier February of last year that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), which is responsible for the show, is comprised of absolutely no Black people, as well as various other accusations of self-dealing among member journalists and studios that resulted in a number of high-profile boycotts from Netflix and WarnerMedia, NBC has decided not to air the ceremony.

Given that the Globes have been the habitual target of ridicule by comedians and actors and social commentators for years already, the HFPA’s tepid attempts to placate its critics with new diversity policies (only for the organization’s diversity consultant firm to quit) have been unsurprisingly rejected by observers, which was the primary impetus behind NBC opting to break their 25-year agreement.

But even as the nominees for this year’s awards are announced, it’s unclear whether the HFPA will be able to secure a broadcast agreement with another network, which could leave the show online only or perhaps unbroadcasted altogether.

On top of the show’s issues with even getting aired, prominent nominees have been ignoring the event entirely, with a sparse number even acknowledging its existence. It’s tempting to view these optical nightmares as one of many portents for the apparently oncoming death of the Hollywood award show, but the HFPA’s situation is uncommonly egregious, even within the onanistic world of industry awards. 

The HFPA has also attempted to resuscitate their image by contracting Snoop Dogg to read the nominations on Dec. 13, 2021, a move so transparent as to be humorous — doubly so given Dogg’s repeated failures to correctly pronounce nominees’ names. It’s clear that the HFPA believes such sycophantic moves will convince the celebrities and onlookers who have all but completely abandoned them to return, but if anything the situation only appears to be getting worse.

The awards remain scheduled for Jan. 9, but given the tumult both in and out of the organization, the precise details of the event remain evasive. The HFPA seems to believe that a return to the earlier glory of the Globes isn’t an impossibility, but even somewhat more reputable events such as the Oscars remain on an unprecedented decline without controversies of comparable magnitude. 

It could be that the Globes are on an intractable downward course even without their current embarrassments, and that there are huge cultural movements taking place that are invalidating it and similar events such that these are funny little bumps, extra humiliations on the ineluctable path toward irrelevancy. In either case, it would be in the Globes’ best interest to give Dogg some more prep time before future speaking engagements.

Written by: Jacob Anderson — arts@theaggie.org

The ethically-focused cosmetic company cites concerns over negative mental health impacts as their reasoning behind the decision 

By CLARA FISCHER — arts@theaggie.org

Prominent body and skincare company Lush Cosmetics recently made the decision to almost entirely remove their corporate presence from social media. In a statement released on their website, the brand revealed that as of Nov. 26, they would be leaving Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

The accounts haven’t been deleted, so social media users can still scroll through content that has been posted prior to the company’s departure from the aforementioned apps. In a story highlight posted to the Lush Cosmetics Instagram account, the brand informed followers that “[they] will remain active on channels that have shown a willingness to change or adapt their practices to prioritize the safety of their users, like Youtube, Twitter and Pinterest.”

 The move has been met with mixed feedback — some commend the brand for showing their dedication to the issues they promote, while others are less convinced and see it as a strategic move on the businesses part. 

It’s worth noting, however, that the move does genuinely seem aligned with the brand’s core values. Lush propagates practices built on ethics, and is well-known for being politically involved. 

“Over recent years especially, people are looking for authenticity in a brand and more transparency. Most brands are political in some way but keep it hidden,” said Simone Constantine, head of buying at Lush, in an online interview with The Guardian.

Most also know the cosmetic company for its emphasis on environmentalism, clean ingredients, transparency surrounding supply chains and commitment to ending animal testing. Clearly, the brand is not shy with its political views, and has even made them a part of their business model. The shift away from social media seems to make sense for them (even when considering that they are estimated to lose about $10 million in sales), but will other, less outwardly socially conscious companies be bold enough to follow their lead?

“People are looking for brands living their values and prioritizing the right kind of relationship with customers rather than any relationship for easy bucks,” said Sabrina McPherson, senior MD and management consultant lead for consumer products at Publicis Sapient, in an article written for Vogue Business. 

It’s certainly possible that other brands will follow Lush’s suit, though it’s hard to say who will be the first to make the risky move. Leading brands in the fashion world have already started turning away from marketing powered by social media hype, but it remains to be seen how many will hit the ground running on the anti-social-media front.

Instagram and Facebook have come under heated scrutiny recently for research that supports the idea that the platforms specifically have a negative impact on the mental health of teenage girls. In a presentation slide formulated by The Wall Street Journal, it was reported that among teenagers who reported suicidal thoughts, 13% of British Instagram users and 6% of American Instagram users traced these desires back to the app. 

“There is now overwhelming evidence we are being put at risk when using social media. I’m not willing to expose my customers to this harm, so it’s time to take it out of the mix,” said Mark Constantine, co-founder and CEO of Lush Cosmetics, in the company’s electronically published social media statement. 

With new research coming out at an increasing rate, it seems critical that companies stick to their guns, especially if they claim to have ethical values at heart. Lush is sending a clear message to anyone listening — they’re tuned in to social issues, and don’t seek to promote a facade of activism without sparking action behind it.

Written by: Clara Fischer — arts@theaggie.org

It was a big year for music, and with it came some extravagant, show-stopping music videos

By ANGIE CUMMINGS — arts@theaggie.org

While they can often go overlooked, music videos are a huge part of an artist’s brand, helping them solidify themselves as entertainers and creatives for all their fans (not just the ones who get to see them perform live). There was a definite dip in music video quality over the past few years, but over the course of 2021, it has become clear that many artists are dedicating themselves to raising the music video bar. Because there was such a plethora of videos to choose from this year, and since so many of them are vastly different from each other, this list is randomly ordered and in no way entirely comprehensive.

1. “Wild Side” by Normani (feat. Cardi B) 

Everything Normani does is just pure art, and this entire music video is no exception. The song being only one of her first couple singles since going solo really just solidifies her future as a superstar. This music video pulls out all the stops, from the top-tier wardrobe and set design to incredible camera work and choreography. I realize I said this ranking is not in any particular order but this music video is definitely one of the top 3 of the year. 

2. “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X

There is no list of top music videos without Lil Nas X’s extraordinarily controversial video full of biblical references alongside explicit lap dances. Of course, this was met with quite a lot of outrage from the conservative Christian community, prompting many to say Nas X is a follower of the devil and is intentionally “corrupting children.” While it is obvious that this video was purposely made to be controversial, the use of Christian imagery to visualize queer experiences in dating, hookups and love is a powerful tool that Nas X has wielded perfectly since coming out in 2019. This wonderfully campy and primarily CGI music video is one of the most unforgettable releases of this year. 

3. “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo

What made this music video an instant hit was undoubtedly the director, Petra Collins, who has been a verified “it girl” since the mid-2010s (mainly on Tumblr) for her notable dreamy and feminine-oriented visuals. This music video is the perfect visual homage to teen-girl angst and the “badassery” possible when that angst is unleashed. Complete with a reference to the cult classic “Jennifer’s Body,” this music video tells a twisted story with Rodrigo front and center deviously smiling right at you for most of the song. This is just a great music video regardless of your opinion on Rodrigo, or pop music at all, since its production value feels much more akin to that of an experimental indie movie. 

4. “Thot Shit” by Megan Thee Stallion

This music video is one of those amazing short films reminiscent of Lady Gaga’s iconic “Telephone” video. Every video Megan has released this year could have easily made this list, but this passionate embrace of doing “thot shit” takes the cake for many reasons. Not only is it thoroughly visually appealing (it’s Megan, she always looks amazing) but the whole narrative of her essentially tormenting a misogynistic old politician is just an incredibly fun way to take a jab at all the people like him who attack Megan (and many other women) for immodesty, or just being hot and having fun. 

5. “Kiss Me More” by Doja Cat (ft. SZA)

This song and music video are still one of the great collaborations of the whole year — a perfect introduction into the magic of “Planet Her” (Doja’s album that was released a few months later) and the level of amazing visuals we have come to expect from Doja. The premise of the video is giant alien versions of SZA and Doja Cat dancing in silks and flowers as they trap a human man in one of their test tubes — there’s just no way this couldn’t be a great video. The looks are amazing, the story is fun and the song is still so incredibly catchy.  

6. “Family Ties” by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar

It might be more appropriate to deem this a piece of video art than simply a music video because watching it is such a powerful experience. Every single aspect of its creative direction, editing and choreography is absolutely sublime. It has been a long-accepted fact that Lamar is a rap legend, so it is only fitting that his first feature in over a year has a legendary visual. There are countless beautiful technical aspects in the video, from beat-aligned layering to amazing camerawork and fine art level compositional balance in many scenes. If you’re into the visual arts and video editing, or just cool music videos, I would highly suggest checking this one out.

7. “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift

I feel the need to preface this by saying that I am not a Swiftie, but I still consider this music video/short film to be one of the most important pop culture events of the entire year. As everyone has probably heard ten times over, this song is (rumored to be) about Swift’s relationship with the (now hated) actor Jake Gyllenhaal when she was 20 and he was 29 years old — and this video depicts that in all its utter creepiness and heartbreak. It’s pretty common to be enthralled from the first second to the very end of this 15-minute long video, and while this might only loosely count as a music video, every part of its narrative and visual qualities make it deserving to be on this (extremely important) list.

8. “Need to Know” Doja Cat

Apologies, I couldn’t keep myself from including two Doja Cat videos in this list (I easily could have added more), so I’ll keep this one brief. This video depicts five alien ladies (including Doja Cat and Grimes) having a night out and meeting some cool blue-haired alien-boy. Just like “Kiss Me More,” there is simply no denying that this is an awesome concept for a music video regardless of its other positive aspects. Perhaps Doja Cat is simply the reigning queen of music video concepts? Hard to say, but if she keeps dropping videos on par with those from “Planet Her,” she will definitely be a top contender. 

9. “Transparent Soul” by Willow Smith (ft. Travis Barker)

Willow Smith’s mastery of the entire pop-punk genre of music was made clear with the release of this song, and when she dropped the music video in April it was set in stone that she belongs in the grunge hall of fame. In the video, we follow Willow into a dark and grunge-y concert where none other than Willow (now with shorter hair and red face paint) is performing. We are then greeted with a mysterious silver being that Willow (version one) tries to escape. It should be clear by now that the actual premise of the video doesn’t really make sense but I do believe that is part of its appeal. You’re left guessing as to what’s going on and what might happen next, and the only things that are for certain is that Willow looks cool while freaking out in the club’s bathroom and that we would all be lucky to be in the crowd of that show.

10.“LUMBERJACK” by Tyler The Creator

At this point, some people might know Tyler more for his visuals (including his clothing line) than his music. With the release of his album from this summer came five top-tier music videos, and while this might be one of the shortest videos of the entire list, it is the most powerful. Even though the video is just a little over one minute long, the fantastical world we see and outfits donned by Tyler make this one of those music videos you can return to again and again just to be reminded of its beauty. I honestly could have easily included any of the music videos from “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” for all the same reasons, but this one just seems to stand out. 

11. “Working for the Knife” by Mitski 

I’ll admit it — this one might be a slightly personal addition, but Mitski is in no way an underground artist (if you have never heard of her, sorry). Not only is the first fifth of this whole video full of references to her previous albums, but contains some of Mitski’s iconic interpretive dancing (interpretive movement is perhaps a better description). As the queen of sad indie music’s first single in three years, a symbol-filled expression of her struggle with being in the spotlight is the perfect way to announce her next album. It’s confusing, and it’s slightly uncomfortable to watch all the way through… which is the whole point. 

12. “Ungodly Hour” Chloe x Halle

Last, but certainly, not least is the long-awaited music video to the title track of Chloe x Halle’s flawless 2020 album. The music video was released in February of this year, and 100% did this incredible song justice. In line with their other videos, there are several breathtaking looks throughout the video, along with choreography that makes you think that is exactly how you should dance to their song. This sister duo never disappoints with their visuals, and if this list was ranked in an actual order, best believe this video would be incredibly high up.  

Written by: Angie Cummings — arts@theaggie.org

The California Aggie and other college campus publications met the show’s four protagonists over Zoom to discuss underrepresented truths of the female experience in college

By ALLIE BAILEY — arts@theaggie.org

Warning: The following contains spoilers about the TV show “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”

Quotes from the interview have been edited for length and clarity.

The final episodes of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” premiered on HBO Max on Dec. 9, concluding a season full of navigating friendships, heartbreak, social stigma and of course, sex. 

From an inexperienced yet sex-positive daughter of conservative parents to a closeted, emotionally unavailable rich girl, the show delves into the personal lives and the sexual desires of four young roommates from various backgrounds. Each is entering freshman year with their own set of ambitions and hardships, making for a captivating, if slightly exaggerated, depiction of what it’s like for young women to start college. 

The title, while perhaps jarring at first, is blunt for a reason: It reminds us that in the media, we don’t see complex, intelligent collegiate women who are also sexual for purposes other than pleasing men. What’s missing, as is the case with most other topics on screen, is a look through the female gaze, where the sex lives of college girls transcend sexed-up sorority sisters and drunken, barely-consensual nights out. 

And the cast agrees. When The Daily Bruin asked about changing the status quo around discussing women having sex, Renee Rapp, who plays Leighton, said “I think it starts the conversation, whether that be a positive conversation or not,” she said. “There are so many different conversations around sex and around identities and how those coincide. I love the fact that there’s so much more room to keep going [on the show].”

Alyah Chanelle Scott, who plays Whitney, shared how a show like this could help young people build healthier relationship with sex: “I think also just demystifying the idea of women having sex and young women having sex and not oversexualizing us just because we’re women having sex — we’re people,” she said. “And just removing the shame around it… I wish I had been able to see something like this growing up to help me deal with that. Take the shame out of it, and let it be sex.”

In answering a question asked byThe Massachusetts Daily Collegian about how expectations differ from reality in sexual situations, Scott said, “There’s so much shame and embarrassment and lack of information surrounding sex at that age that you go into it with false expectations.”

Rapp continued: “For the longest time, when I was having sex, I never felt empowered to [say] ‘this is me in this space, this is what I want and need’… and I always [felt like] I needed to sit back and hope that the other person [was] happy… now that’s changed, just by nature of getting older and understanding a lot of the times what we see about sex is to service a very specific evil.”

The show also doesn’t shy away from some the hardest topics to discuss when it comes to sex. Notably, one of the main characters experiences sexual assault and harassment by someone in a club she’s a part of. The Aggie asked about why it was important to include that in a show about college women’s sex lives, and what the cast hoped people could take away from the depiction of that experience. 

 “I think what’s beautiful in Bela’s journey is that in this situation, what she’s experiencing is gray; it’s in the gray area,” Amrit Kaur, who plays Bela, said. “That can often be challenging because there’s so many triggers and history and traumas related to that… I thought it was sensitive and very brave of the writers to explore the gray area.”

In response to the idea of the assault falling in this gray area, Rapp added: “I like that it’s acknowledged that it is sexual assault on the show,” she said. “To see it called out as what it is is very powerful.” 

Pauline Chalamet, who plays Kimberly, also shared thoughts on the differences in how people can react to an assault. “There are so many nuances in the aftermath of sexual assault,” she said. “We accept it as assault, but then the nuance comes in — what does it mean for this character to be going through this? That’s one of the things I love most about the show, is that predicament.” 

Through their willingness to share personal experiences about sex and how they relate to their characters, the cast proved to be as open as the show was in discussion these topics, contributing to the greater goal of destigmatizaiton of women’s sexuality. Between the storyline, the characters and the actors themselves, “The Sex Lives of College Girls” is paving the way for a shift in how we view women and sex, starting with an authentic perspective, straight from the source. 

“I could hear the female writers in the writing,” Kaur said. “It’s nice to have [them] writing about female sexuality, that’s empowering the female voice.” 

Written by: Allie Bailey — arts@theaggie.org