Share: At the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana in September, prolific radio host Larry Mantle moderated a live broadcast of ‘AirTalk’ focused on the changing face of Orange County, both politically and journalistically. The discussion began exploring how local reporting has evolved, but then quickly devolved into a heated exchange on a split interpretation on whether the county’s apparent shift to purple in the 2024 election reflects a lasting political realignment. An intriguing deep dive into the topic soon turned hostile, drowned out by threats …
‘Black Phone 2’ leaves moviegoers grabbing onto their seats in suspense
Share: In the horror movie genre, sequels are frequently only seen as a cash grab and tend to receive harsh criticism as they are often not needed and more often than not are subpar. Creating a movie that follows up an amazing first part has come to be very difficult. “Black Phone 2” managed to improve in almost all aspects that a horror movie needs as it leaves viewers with an eerie and daunting feeling throughout the film. Director and screenwriter Scott Derrickson delivered a …
Undocuweek reminds PCC that empowerment begins with being seen
Share: Undocuweek at Pasadena City College brings together art, activism, and community to emphasize the experiences of undocumented and mixed-status students. Through creative expression and education, the week aims to spark visibility across the campus. This year’s Screen-Printing Party on Thursday, October 16, at noon, co-hosted by BSSC, Pride, APIDA, and MOCAN, showcases that spirit of empowerment. Students were invited to bring T-shirts, tote bags, or other fabric items to be printed with designs that symbolize identity; a hands-on act of resistance through art. “We’re …
‘The Smashing Machine’ knocks out expectations
Share: The Smashing Machine movie was based on the private life experienced by the two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, Mark Kerr, including his UFC career, personal hardships, drug addiction, friendship with Mark Coleman, and tumultuous relationship with former model, Dawn Staples. This movie followed the timeline during the 1997-2000 years. The film showcased topics covering the time when UFC was deemed violent, aggressive, dangerous, and with 36 states banning “no holds barred” fighting and cable providers refusal to air the fights. The biopic was centered …
‘What are we doing wrong?’ How to build a healthy relationship in the modern era
Share: Ross Szabo looked back at the students gathered in the Circadian and opened with one question: “Are college students having more situationships or relationships?” A brief silence filled the room as students reflected on their own experiences before pulling out their phones to vote through a shared link. Moments later, the results appeared on the projector behind Szabo. The verdict? Situationships – and by a landslide. Laughter and knowing sighs rippled through the room, a shared acknowledgment of the modern dating scene’s blurred lines. …
Want to network? PCC’s internship fair hooks you up
Share: The ever-growing crowd of students filing into the Creveling Lounge engulfed the room with a steady buzz of chatter and curiosity. Just outside the room’s double doors, a long line of incoming attendees stretched down the hallway, wrapping around a corner, to check in for PCC’s very first Internship Fair. Aware of the high demand of students interested in translating their skills into practical experience, Internship Developers Noel Gonzalez and Isabel Ochoa understood the need to host an event where students could network, ask …
In with the old and out with the new at ASPCC’s swap party
Share: For any student who walked into the WiFi Lounge on September 29 and 30, what was once a serene study room became a makeshift thrift store right before their eyes. Tables around the room were heavy with various items such as dresses, coats, books, CDs, and more. The Secondhand September Swap Party, held by the ASPCC Sustainability Committee transformed the space into a secondhand shop where students could take home items they liked that other students had donated. Influenced by the Lancer Closet, a …
Have a slice of Mid-Autumn mooncake at the International Student Center
Share: Colorful origami moons, rabbits, paper lanterns, and fall leaves transform the International Student Center’s (ISC) room for the Mid-Autumn Festival. With soft music playing in the background, participants were greeted with themed coloring sheets and paper mooncake cutouts to color and entertain themselves. In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar, which falls on Oct. 6 this year. During this time families reunite in celebration of the harvest while enjoying mooncakes, akin to …
‘The Paper’ is not ‘garbage clickbait nonsense’
Share: In recent years mockumentary sitcoms have been on the rise, with shows like “Abbott Elementary” gaining profound success and Peacock’s new mockumentary series “The Paper” appears to be on the same path. “The Office” spin-off follows The Toledo Truth Teller (TTT), a virtually dead newspaper that new Editor-in-Chief Ned Sampson is tasked with reinvigorating. Overall, “The Paper” succeeds in its comedy, characters, and sitcom mockumentary humor, however, it leaves more wanting in its journalistic representation. One thing that makes “The Paper” stand apart from …
Paul Thomas Anderson’s masterpiece guides us through the culture war, one battle after another
Share: “Permanent revolution”, as coined by Friedrich Engels, is generally a concept far divorced from American action blockbusters, but Paul Thomas Anderson marries the two beautifully. ICE agents are threatened at gunpoint by a Black woman within the first ten minutes. Immigrants rally against swarming police in military fatigues and win. A cartoonishly evil Peter Thiel-like stand-in is shot by a teenager’s newfound love for her dad. And, it turns out, Anderson’s been hiding that he’s a great action director for decades, too! Anderson has …