We’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is that SUMMER IS HERE! The bad news is that The Wave has been relatively quiet for the past few weeks as we have begun training a new set of contributors to take over our internet airwaves for the new Summer session. But before we begin rolling out work from our new summer contributors, we invite you to take a look at our favorite posts from the past six months, covering everything from an original music video, reimagined sea creatures, an illustrated trip to Alcatraz, intense short stories, some practical college application advice, lego constructions, an experimental gif, and a simply delicious noodle recipe.
So, without further ado, allow us to present to you the first ever Waveys (a.k.a. the best posts from our Spring 2017 class of contributors)…
Between the Seams: Go With the Flow
by Alicia Ng
With her Between the Seams column, Alicia has shown us a side of K-Pop we didn’t know was there—beyond the music and the international fame, there are distinct artistic approaches and even social messages that exist just beneath the surface of most every K-Pop project. In perhaps her most illuminating analysis, Alicia’s Go With the Flow post focused on the way gender fluidity has intrinsically been a part of K-Pop culture, and furthermore compared and contrasted how gender divisions differ in Western pop music. And, of course, the best part is Alicia’s original artwork!
BookME: By Myself (Chapter 1)
by Michelle Chu
This is where it all started. This is the beginning. This is Chapter 1. With the arrival of every consecutive chapter, Michelle’s BookME series unfolds in new and surprising ways, but Chapter 1 is the anchor where we first meet the characters that we’ll follow along on this emotionally tumultuous journey. Be warned, this story is not for the faint of heart: there is struggle, there is conflict, and there are deep questions asked throughout this series. But for those who can relate to a life of struggle and doubt, there is a lot to relate to here.
The Builder’s Block: Projects and Tablescraps
by Jasmine Liang
There is no one better to serve as your guide into the wide world of LEGOs than Jasmine. Seriously, she is the closest thing we’ve ever had to a resident expert here at The Wave. A LEGO artist herself, Jasmine’s Projects and Tablescraps post gave us some keen insight into how she maintains her workspace. Oh, and it has many awesomely colorful photos that are just plain fun to look at!
Earth to Belle: Noodle Bug
by Belle Zhao
Earth to Belle is one of the longest-running columns The Wave has ever had, so singling out just one post as our “favorite” is hard. Still, as Belle’s time as a Waver comes to a close (*****REAL TEARS HERE*****), it is Noodle Bug that sticks out in our mind. Hidden in this simple (but truly delicious) recipe are pieces of Belle’s family history and a story out how food can be more than just sustenance, it can be a way of connecting people and generations.
Find Your Voice: Gal Pals Music Video
by Hannah Liu
Hannah’s “Gal Pals” video was a long time coming. The song, which she entirely wrote and produced (along with some help from the SMW crew) last cycle, was begging for a video. AND SO SHE MADE ONE! After weeks of filming, followed by weeks of Hannah more-or-less teaching herself how to edit video, followed by more weeks of her moving clips a few seconds forward and back to get just the right balance, and then a few more days of filming… the “Gal Pals” music video finally arrived! But we feel confident that you’ll agree, it was well worth the wait.
From Zero to a Game: First Steps
by Hiroya Gojo
After launching the excellent Preschool Philosophy column last cycle, Hiroya elected to switch gears for Spring and take on a new and large-scale project: to create a video game from scratch. With his game still in the works, Hiroya has been documenting the development process along the way, beginning with his very first steps. Essentially this one is a masterclass on how to start making a game, so get your pads and pens ready because it’s time to take some notes.
Love Out Loud: Who Are You?
by Leticia Zhao
In Leticia’s first post for Love Out Loud, she was not afraid to ask some big questions, mainly: Who are you? Not who you are in the sense of what your name is, how tall you are, or what is the color of your eyes, but really what makes you you? What makes you like the things you like? What makes you act the way you act? What makes you the unique human being we all know we are? Leticia is not afraid to think about how she herself has come to answer these deep questions and encourages you to do the same.
The Meme-ing of Life: My One Day Escape from Chemistry Class
by Melina Diaz
We’ve never had a Waver with a better grasp of memes than Melina. Yes, we are talking about that topical neologism coined by Richard Dawkins which represents any prevailing idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture. In her column, The Meme-ing of Life, she wonders whether life imitates meme or meme imitates life. One of our favorites concerns a trip to Alcatraz and some lessons that could influence a generation.
Mint in Canthem: Funky Fish
by Erin Ichimura
Mint is such a loaded word. It has been feared by connoisseurs of halitosis and adored by Trident addicts. It reminds us of a plant, of a breeze, of freshness, of associations with bill-printing and money-making. It’s a heavy word from one of our waviest wavers. Combine it with the mystery of Canthem, and you may be tempted to picture a tribe of sprites sprinting through an evergreen forest. You wouldn’t be far off. Turn those sprites into singing sea urchins floating through fields of seaweed and you’re on your way to finding Erin, possibly drawing inside a giant conch shell
Mission to Ambition: Lost in the Clouds
by Marvin Elazgui
Most people in the world probably know Marvin from his conquests on the Badminton court and his signature jumping smashes and delicate tumbling net returns. But we here at The Wave, we rely on him for regular doses of inspiration. Most of us don’t have the resources to hire a personal life coach, but we no longer need one. Marvin has a gift. He sees your soul and knows how to deliver that which you require. What makes this post stand out above the rest is how he peels back the curtain and gives you a deeper look into the man, the myth, the Marvin.
Mixed Vegetables: Getting Started
by Hannah Cosselmon
We live in a world that has forgotten Waterbeds. Waterbeds were beds from the 80’s that had mattresses filled with water. They were a trend, and quite useless, but they did lead to the invention of foam beds. Some refer to them as Memory Foam Beds (MFB’s). Memory foam combines the best aspects of the ancient Waterbed with the technology of memory-based mattresses. This post is important because most people think that foam beds are made from fermented waterbed mattresses, but they’re not. They’re their own thing. Like Hannah. Hannah is her own thing and her movie is her own experimental thing. It’s kind of a Free-Association Association (FAA), which isn’t too common around here, but we are learning. We are becoming more foam-iliar.
Paper Planes: France
by Jennifer Cheung
France is the city of many things. Many important things. Critical things like romance, baguettes, the Gauls, the Louvre, the resistance, berets, Sartre, Napoleon, Francoise Hardy, Louis times Twenty, Huguenots, maternity leave, cabernet, long meals, cave paintings, romance, Versailles, The Guillotine, Mona Lisa, Belgium, love, Air France, Mont Saint-Michel, Renault, Normandy, the Eiffel Tower, gypsies, Monet, Bordeaux, Nice, brie, romance and Daft Punk. Despite it’s reputation for so many wonders, no single illustration has quite captured them all in a single image. Until now. That’s right. Jennifer Cheung took a trip to France this year and brought her mastery of nuance and jois de vivre. Do not open this post unless you are ready to become a full on Franco-phile!
Quiet on Set: Intermission
by Emy Gepilano
Before discussing this fine biographical review of a Panic! At the Disco concert by Emy, can we back up a bit and discuss disco? Disco, that ’70s and ’80s genre of dance music containing elements of funk, soul, pop, and salsa! Popularized by the Bee Gees, Donna Summer, and John Travolta, we would be lost today were it not for disco. House and techno would be lost without that four on the floor kick drum. Society would be stuck in half-time. Life would be sleepy and slow. Along those lines, let us take another tangent and cover the oft-overlooked topic of the disco nap. This midday nap which has been restoring partiers since the beginning of time, comes into play as well because Emy happened to take a disco nap before seeing Panic! At the Disco in concert, which nearly cost her a friendship. Life is a circle and everything is related. Now read this post and connect all the dots…the disco dots.
Reel Snacks: Hidden Figures
by Nelson Poon
Most people have no idea how popcorn became the official food of the cinema. Most people have no idea how Coke became the official beverage and you can bet your bottom dollar that no one has any idea why they are ridiculously expensive. Fortunately, Nelson’s column doesn’t spend any time on any of these subjects. Instead, he wraps himself in sacred blankets and talks about way more important subjects: the ones that are shaping the current generation. Using film as his canvas, Nelson has a talent for putting his finger on issues like sexism, racism and social inequity. We highly recommend this post because it uses the film, Hidden Figures to explore his thoughts and questions on all three of these subjects. Mandatory reading for our times.
Symphony of Epiphanies: College Application Process & Hearing Back
by Aceline Chiu
If applying to colleges is so important, why is there so little information that looks at things from the high schoolers’ perspective? Every article seems to be about test scores, majors, campuses, financial aid and class lists. Too often, guidance counselors offer generic advice based on survey results. This article is sure to grace the pages of Sunset Media Wave’s blog for years to come. Why? Because Aceline has paid close attention to the entire process of considering ones college choices and shared this information in a clear, useful format. Whether the advice applies directly to you or not, it’s a great place to start making your plan and shedding light on the murky waters of shopping around.
Tip Jar: Sketchbook’d
by Amanda Kallenbach
Though we miss Amanda’s D&D adventures from previous cycles, it’s a real gift to dive into her artwork and receive her art advice. People with large cheeks are just the beginning, whether they are wearing berets, head scarves, hoods or mysterious caps, the message is clear: The Illuminati hide their secrets inside their mouths. Also, we have learned that a huge percentage of people look at cell phones with neutral expressions and that animals often watch them in disbelief. We’ve also learned that Amanda is seriously talented, not only at overcoming procrastination, but at capturing the profound humor and meaning behind seemingly everyday moments. Perhaps she will become famous for elevating the Post-It note to the level of high art? Perhaps she will return to dungeoneering and illustrate the next Monster Manual? Only time will tell!
Train of Thought: Expired Parking Meters
by Johanna Klaiman
When Johanna came to The Wave and was like, “Hey guys, I want to write poetry,” we were like “Yes, that sounds rad!” And Johanna did write poetry for the first few posts of her appropriately titled Train of Thought column. Then she wrote this. Parking Meters is just an amazing story. Short but not simple. Sweet but not silly. As far as we’re concerned, all of Johanna’s column is essential reading, but if you’re only going to take one trip on her Train of Thought, this is the one to take.
Wandering on Cloud Nine: Travel Essentials
by Janelle Paredes
Most of us were forced to read Around the World in 80 Days, the classic travel novel by Jules Verne. The technological innovations of the 19th century opened up the possibility of rapid circumnavigation and this prospect fascinated Verne and his readership. The book accompanied the start of an age of global tourism that could be enjoyed in relative comfort and safety. It sparked the Victorian imagination and introduced the idea that anyone could sit down, draw up a schedule, buy tickets and travel around the world, a feat previously reserved for only the most heroic and hardy of adventurers. Enter Janelle. (Possibly a distant relative of Jules Verne?) but definitely a teenager with an appetite for the road. What makes this post so special, and what Jules Verne forgot to do: make a list of travel essentials for the modern age. Depicted in visual and written format, we highly recommend that you read this before venturing off of the beaten path.
