Share: In the dimly lit ambiance of the Piazza Dining Hall, a magical Wednesday evening unfolded as the Jazz Supper Club Show took center stage. The spotlight shined brightly on the hard work and dedication of the college’s jazz program, showcasing the extraordinary talents of the Vocal Jazz Combo and the sensational ensemble, Jazzadena, accompanied by the brilliant band. Under the expert guidance and direction of Professor Mary Durst, the students of the jazz programs practiced their craft for 16 weeks, devoting hours to perfecting …
‘In A Violent Nature’ proves to be a bloody mess
Share: Attempting to breathe new life into the slasher subgenre in 2024 is a little like trying to kill Michael Myers. No matter how strong or creative you may be, you’re probably going to wind up having to take another stab at it in the sequel. Or, in the case of veteran horror director Chris Nash’s most recent film, “In A Violent Nature,” deliver another swing of the ax. At first glance, the plot of the film is relatively straightforward and follows the slasher formula …
From DC to D.C.: How one professor integrates comics into the classroom
Share: Javier sat pensively in the back row of his English class as an old and grainy YouTube upload of the “I Have a Dream” speech played one morning, early in the 2014 fall semester at PCC. While initially very quiet and reserved in class, it was clear to professor Dustin Hanvey that Javier always had a lot more he wanted to say. As the fuzzy video continued playing, Javier proved his professor right. He raised his hand and jokingly suggested the class take a …
West End’s new Juliet doesn’t owe you beauty
Share: The internet has gone crazy with misogyny, racism, and featurism over the casting of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as Juliet in Jamie Lloyd’s “Romeo and Juliet” play. Time and time again, the internet seems to find a woman of color to criticize for her non-European-centric features. With Avantika Vandanapu receiving immense amounts of hate for a fan-cast of a Rapunzel remake that wasn’t even confirmed, and both Rachel Zegler and Halle Bailey receiving backlash for simply not being white, it is becoming evident that women of …
Incoming student trustee finds her spirit at PCC
Share: During her years at Temple City High School, Irene Wong immersed herself in the rules and procedures of Model United Nations. “I tried out [for student government in high school] but I didn’t have enough spirit,” Wong said in an interview, laughing. In the diplomatic, collaborative environment of Model UN, Wong discovered a passion for social and political advocacy. “I really got into political advocacy around high school,” Wong said. “I think that ingrained interest is what drew me to being a part of …
Feel empowered by the roots of Black music this June
Share: Black music, black joy, black love, black excellence, what is it? What does it look like, feel like, sound like? How is it portrayed, thought of, and looked upon? Without any intention or purposeful action, success while being black has been limited to certain jobs and genres by everyone but black people. But when taking a dive into the underground utopia of black music the mind is taken to places that are vaguely familiar but aren’t often visited. June is “Black Music Month,” and …
A national title is great, but PCC Forensics finds purpose in advocacy
Share: Although it’s definitely not, the PCC Forensics Team makes debating and performing look like a cakewalk. Forensics as a whole falls under three categories, speech debate and theater. In the club, students are encouraged to explore all of the different facets of debating and performing to find their own stride. For the students in this club though, the most important aspect is advocacy and the life lessons learned. “When we write our speeches, act out our interpretations or when we debate, we’re looking for …
Twin is 1 of 1: Faith fuels fire on the court for basketball standout
Share: In the world of sports, stories of resilience, determination, and faith often shine the brightest. Antuanae Garrett, affectionately known as ‘Twin’, a rising star in the women’s basketball program has a journey that transcends the boundaries off the court. Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri, Garrett’s path to success has been marked by challenges, triumphs, and a steadfast commitment to her passions everywhere she goes. Garrett’s introduction to basketball began far from PCC. She first played two years of collegiate basketball in Iowa where she …
People, please pursue passion over practicality and prioritize personal pursuits
Share: It is only natural for people to flip and flop through various passions and hobbies during different phases through life. What causes people to switch their passions or to lose them even? One big reason could be the fact that many people from young ages are deterred from pursuing their passions to instead pursue something more “practical”. Websites such as Forbes have shared this perspective to some degree, arguing that “following your passion” is nothing more than a dead trope and “garbage advice”. The …
Professor, I shrunk the art
Share: A new style of art is being created in Pasadena City College’s sciences division, just out of our field of vision. The dynamic duo of professors Nick Schultz and Jillian Blatti are using fluorescent microscopes to show students the beauty and intrigue of a world usually too small to see. Under the polarized light of the microscope, students are able to capture images of very tiny samples of their choosing. The resulting images are then colorized using Photoshop, creating what the professors call “microscopy …