“Songwriter showcase” evokes an image of a one-man band in a quiet, Dylanesque acoustic set, but PCC’s Songwriter Showcase was far from a quiet and predictable event. Hosted by the Music Entrepreneurship class, the PCC Songwriter Showcase featured original music from PCC students whose influences range from The Grateful Dead to Radiohead to Pantera and every genre and style in between on Wednesday, April 12 in Westerbeck Recital Hall. Nine acts, both solo and group, performed at the showcase: The Friendly Strangers, Rafael Hutajulu, Maio, …
Directors of ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ verse jump to PCC
It was one message. In fall 2021, Haein Shim checked Canvas to find an announcement from her film history professor, Marcel Giwargis. He shared information about the Ruth Batchelor Scholarship. Presented by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and supported by Rotten Tomatoes, the award honors underrepresented voices and aspiring film critics. Born and raised in Gwangju, South Korea, Shim came to the United States in 2016 and began studying sociology and women’s studies at PCC in 2021. She is a renowned artist, published journalist, …
PCC showcases diverse cultures during International Week
PCC students weave a unique tapestry of different cultures, languages and interests. To celebrate these various perspectives, PCC hosted “International Week” which began on March 20 and came to a grand conclusion at the “International Cultural Fair” on March 28. The celebration offered opportunities to view foreign films, meet foreign language professors, and explore different cultural clubs and activities. The week kicked off with a Foreign Languages Career talk on Monday, March 20, where professionals who use foreign languages in their careers shared their experiences. On …
Five fingers, four hands, two pianists, one night only
The lights dim at seven in the evening inside a sold-out Westerbeck Recital Hall just south of the Pasadena City College campus. Walking in from stage right were Dr. Phillip Young and Dr. Jocelyn Chang welcomed with a round of applause. Dr. Young wore a standard tuxedo and Dr. Chang wore a chic gradient dress that started from black and ended in pure white. They sat down together playing on just one Steinway & Sons grand piano with Dr. Young playing on the lower keys …
PCC Armenian Student Association brings change and unity in regional summit
Amongst the buzzing Student Success Center of the D building, Director of External Relations for the PCC Armenian Student Association Andre Dionysian shares how the purpose of the club has changed since he became a part of its leadership this past fall. “Since we’ve taken over, the Armenian Student Association has had a major refocusing effort,” Dionysian says. “In the past, the ASA at PCC and other community colleges were more focused on sharing Armenian culture with the community of the college. We wanted to …
Getty Villa opens doors to students for free night of ancient wonder
Explorations of ancient customs beguiled student guests Wednesday March 22 at the Getty Villa. The doors opened for an evening of gaiety specifically for collegiate attendees. The opulent halls were filled with music and laughter as patrons from community colleges and universities alike mingled in their laurel wreaths as peers, all brought together to enjoy College Night at the Villa. In a room tucked beneath the marble staircases, Wayne Perry, Los Angeles based artist, educator and PCC alumni, taught students the art of the amulet. …
Queer Alliance’s Promapalooza: ‘It’s always a good idea to have a party’
Lady Gaga and Britney Spears’ music cloud the hallways at PCC’s Promapalooza. The Queer Alliance at PCC held a Promapalooza Thursday March 23, 2023 at Pasadena City College. “In general it’s always a good idea to have a party” Jaren Rhodes (he/him/his) pre law major says. A common theme among those who graduated in 2020 and 2021 was not being able to attend prom at all regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity due to Covid-19. Rainbow balloons and pride flags covered the Creveling Lounge …
Occidental’s bird specimen lab exhibits expansive biodiversity
An old urban legend used to justify the abundance of parrots in Pasadena goes like this: Back in 1959, a pet store on Colorado Boulevard caught on fire. The owners, scurrying in the face of the blaze, set the parrots free before they could perish in the flame. Since then, the surviving parrots settled across Pasadena and reproduced in flocks, much to people’s annoyance. The legitimacy of this story is up for debate. What it gets right is the long-standing rivalry between residents and many …
En garde: Lunge into PCC’s fencing club
Coach Daryl Taylor provides swift demonstrations for a dozen students on the proper techniques of fencing. After the demonstration, it becomes the students’ turn to replicate these moves with strength and agility. These students are members of PCC’s very own fencing club named Salle Lancier Fencing Club. Vice president Catherine Rivera became a part of fencing last year in the Beginning Fencing class. From there, she joined the club after having heard about it. Rivera spoke on how fencing benefits her. “I’m not really a …
Beam me up: AlienCon attendees encounter otherworldly experiences
Dressed up as little green men and stormtroopers, humans ages 0 to 100 gathered in the Pasadena Convention Center to share a collective fascination for all things extraterrestrial. There are several people who claim to have seen aliens up in the sky or theorize how these creatures could potentially look like. AlienCon is for those with an interest beyond fictional space conflicts. Held in the Pasadena Convention Center, AlienCon opened its doors to thousands of fans on March 4 and 5. Many discussions were held, …