talk

A picture can say a thousand words….! Needless to say, I LOVE THIS CAMPAIGN, and I don’t even smoke.  Mario Testino, thank God we have you out there. V Magazine, you get what i love. I’m buying whatever your selling…!

Written By: Gabrielle Smedes

Mainstream television continues to be one of the largest driving forces of our culture today. What we watch affects decisions about what we wear, what we eat, where we go. Even further, television can control the way we spend our time: how often have we cut plans short so we can be home for our favorite shows? Television networks recognize this dependent relationship, and as a result are choosing to take fewer and fewer risks.

One example is the spin-off: a show developed with characters already proven popular from an earlier show, placed in new situations, yet capitalizing on audience familiarity and loyalty. Spin-offs have been around since the 1960s—The Andy Griffith Show is one of the earliest and most successful examples—however, as television programming shifts to favor reality rather than traditional, studio-produced shows, the concept of the spin-off is going in an entirely new direction. continue reading “Putting a New Spin on Spin-offs”

By: Catherine Marie Cuello

If equality benefits everyone, even those in the upper class, then why do we not work towards improving basic living standards? Today’s media has a responsibility to promote consciousness about this issue in an increasingly-interconnected world. Reality television, the gossip trade and other similarly low-brow forms of entertainment have sabotaged attention spans and created meaningless issues to distract public concern. But what if this trend could be turned around, and used for the greater good? For example, why not use the power of celebrity to inspire, motivate and encourage people to get involved?

This is where we come in - holding almost quasi ‘consciousness advocate’ degrees. Our goal should be to constantly reach out and entertain with inspiring messages, challenging change in people’s daily lives.

More than 10% of the U.S. population today is Hispanic, the largest ethnic minority in the United States. In many cases these immigrants have come here to escape poverty and oppression in their home countries, and have been forced to find better living standards elsewhere. Thus, it is our responsibility—as educated citizens, as Hispanics and simply as human beings—to represent our people wherever we are, however we can. continue reading “Basic Standards”

To begin with, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance- formed by the Indian National Congress and its allies) had rallied to win resoundingly in 2009 because of two important factors. First, the BJP (Bharatiya Jantha Party) had made a mess of things with shady management if not propagation of the Gujarat riots (2006) coupled with blatant corruption during its tenure. Second, India’s people were tired of a government that preached an extremist Hindu stance excluding minorities’ like- Muslims and Christians, chastising them for practicing and preaching their beliefs.

In 2009, relief came in the form of the UPA. Headed by a cast of veteran leaders and fresh young faces the UPA’s campaign promised change for the better. Least to say, they won and took over office. So, post 2009 where does India stand? Touted to be the next political and financial superpower has the UPA been able to stick to its guns, implement reforms and turn India into a well oiled machine? continue reading “India and the UPA’s promise of Utopia by Alexander Mathew”

Anyone who has been near a television the past two months has some idea of what is happening when the words “BP” and “oil spill” are in the same sentence. The recent oil spill, considered the worst in US history, is agreed to be a travesty in terms of environmental safety and regulation, government policy, and corporate responsibility. What appears to be most controversial among people close to the subject is what the British energy company should be doing about the predicament they are now in. With the world watching closely, BP has been trying and failing via different means to stop the oil from spreading and to remove as much as possible from the Gulf coast.

The oil spill’s long term effects on marine life habitats are long-ranging problems that will take several years to rectify. Damage on Eastern coast coral reefs is expected and effects on the ocean floor are currently unknown. If the contaminated sea currents go into the Atlantic Ocean, the spill will harm animals even if BP manages to contain the oil away from shorelines. With these issues in mind, I am by no means arguing or expecting that oil companies should or would ever plan on putting the environment’s intrinsic value over their own economic and fiscal gain- that would be naïve and unrealistic! continue reading “BP Oil, Friend or Foe? by Stephanie Yu”

With New York Fashion Week fading away in the rear view mirror, the new fall must-haves are sure to spice things up this season. From sequin tops to fur skirts, this fall is certain to be a great one – at least in the fashion world! Designers like Burberry Prorsum, Michael Kors, and Marc Jacobs showed the fall’s new trends in a chic, integrated way. Marc Jacobs created his own version of the classic schoolgirl with a black sequin cardigan, a long gray skirt, and tall gray socks – all hit items for the fall! (Image above)

Another new trend, gray! Lots and lots of gray pieces layered with black and khaki.
The mixture of different neutrals gives it a new twist – continue reading “My Gray Space by Meagan Phillips”