“Fitspo” accounts harm users’ self-perceptions
May 10, 2019
Juice cleanses, kale chips, spin classes and Lululemon apparel: these represent the epitome of fitness in 2019. Fitness and wellness bloggers frequently display these health ‘standards’ on social media through fitness inspiration, or “fitspo,” accounts. According to Pew Research Center of Internet...
Pop-up museums offer unique spaces for photography
May 10, 2019
To make the most of their social media feeds, users often “do it for the gram.” Pop-up museums promote Insta-fame, especially during warmer months. In a colorful room filled with candy, sugar and sweets, one visitor jumps off a diving board at the end of a giant tub filled with sprinkles. Th...
“Finstas” allow for self-expression, but create a new platform for cyberbullying
May 10, 2019
Failed selfies or embarrassing stories won’t be found on a normal Instagram account. Instead, teens have turned to ‘finstas’ to post the truest content about themselves. The name finstagram, commonly shortened to “finsta,” comes from the combination of “fake” and “Instagram.” Accordin...
True crime media turns the evil into misunderstood celebrities
May 10, 2019
You binge watch Netflix for hours only to end up with burning eyes and a strong, confusing appeal to the series’ attractive and emotionally broken serial killer. People are sometimes more inclined to empathize with serial killers after gaining a greater perspective into their lives and mental states...
Selfies: more than just a snapshot
May 10, 2019
While self-portraits have existed since cave drawings, the popularization of the ‘selfie’ as society now knows it didn’t happen until the 21st century. This photo, in which an individual takes a picture of themself, stands to commemorate every holiday, vacation or birthday. But, the selfie g...
Tumblr upsets users with new censorship policy
March 15, 2019
Ever since Tumblr first launched in 2007, it has been a home for storytelling and self-expression. But this all changed in December of 2018, when the social media platform decided to rid itself of “adult” content, sparking controversy. According to Newsweek, Tumblr’s explicit content first became ...
Movie sequels don’t always live up to the originals
March 15, 2019
Look at the show listings for any movie theater and there’s bound to be a sequel. From “The Avengers” to “Harry Potter,” the movie industry has recently seen too many sequels to count. Since the film industry began, the success of sequels has been a widely debated topic. According to Den o...
Pen names allow writers and artists to share their work while still maintaining privacy
January 25, 2019
Known to avid Harry Potter readers as J.K. Rowling, author Joanne Kathleen Murray published her notable wizarding novels disguised by a pen name. According to the Sun, her publisher thought the book would appeal to a wider audience if they masked her gender. The publisher believed readers would be less ...
CHS photographers say their craft can be a form of art, just without the paintbrush
January 25, 2019
CHS is one of the most artistic high schools in Monmouth County. But even though artists of all types make up a large percentage of its student population, most don't immediately think of photography as an art form. In a survey of 115 CHS students, 47 percent said painting was the first form of art that ...
New charge for Met admission starts talk about the price of art
January 25, 2019
Family photos. A grandfather’s camera. A mother’s ring. Society deems these items priceless, along with notable works of art, not because of their worth, but because of their meaning. But what happens when the priceless becomes priced? The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, known for its...
Music therapy helps patients to cope with their mental illnesses
January 25, 2019
When it comes to mental illness, most think of medication and talk therapy as typical forms of treatment. But, a new and vastly different approach has recently gained notoriety, supplementing what is known as standard regimen. This practice is known as music therapy. Music therapy is the use of music in a thera...
Eco-friendly brands reduce, reuse and recycle to put an emphasis on sustainability in the fashion industry
January 25, 2019
Day in and day out, garment workers show up to work for very little pay. Major clothing corporations not only fail to provide their employees with proper compensation, but also harm the environment. With these factors in mind, millennials have started to question whether their #ootd is really worth the...