The Minecraft Resurgence
Earlier this year, Minecraft overtook Tetris in number of games sold, becoming the best selling video game in history with 176,000,000 copies sold worldwide. Everyone has heard of Minecraft, and almost every young person has either seen or played the game at one point. Minecraft’s hegemony in the gaming industry and the broader culture is … Continue reading
The Controversy of Peter Handke
In the era of #MeToo and cancel culture, we are used to finding out that one of our favorite artists or creators has a problematic past or a despicable secret. It’s not an easy scenario to deal with; can I listen to “Thriller” anymore without thinking of thinking of Michael Jackson’s pedophilia? How about watching … Continue reading
An Ode to the WRA
One of the locations that stands out most clearly in my mind when I think of my first time visiting Western Reserve Academy has since been lost to time. I can recall walking along brick row in my winter boots, tense with cold, as I followed my shadow into a building without looking where I … Continue reading
Apollo 11: Could This Be Real?
This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of men landing on the moon. If you know me, you won’t be surprised, but I think that’s a pretty big deal. This summer I had two opportunities to watch the CNN film Apollo 11, one of them in IMAX, and it was a breathtaking experience. Imagine: you are … Continue reading
Tik Tok
Tik Tok seems to be the greatest internet phenomenon of our day and age, creating memes, quotes, and songs that have infested everyday life. It seems many conversations or jokes begin with “have you seen that one Tik Tok…” (and most of the time, people have seen it). Notably, Tik Tok has shaken up the … Continue reading
The Psychology Behind Luxury Brands
Purchasing habits are often studied, whether it is for marketing reasons or for a desire to learn more about human behavior. It is often the case that the overall amount of goods purchased tends to fall dramatically during times of economic difficulties and recessions. However, somehow paradoxically, the number of luxury goods purchased is unlikely … Continue reading
Blood Orange: An Artist and An Activist
Dev Hynes as “Blood Orange” released his fourth album Negro Swan, on August 24, 2018. It is his most intimate, political, masterful album yet. The sounds are heavily influenced by the jazz, funk, soul, dance-pop of the ‘80s, but it takes on a contemporary R&B vibe with a range of styles and genres present. Perhaps … Continue reading
The History of Making America Great Again
If you go to any Trump-related event whatsoever, you will be sure to be greeted by a rolling sea of excruciatingly bright red hats, printed with the infamous slogan “Make America Great Again!”, popularized by Trump during his campaign. MAGA for short, has become a cornerstone of the president’s policy. But what does it really … Continue reading
The Eggplant: Long Live Long House
Long House Storage has been extinct for two years now. Only two remaining classes of WRA students remember the days of trudging in the heat to move chairs and fans and such into the cool, comforting basement of Long House under the watchful eye of a vigilant faculty member. As many know, last year the … Continue reading
Students Attend Classes Through Temps in the Negatives
On behalf of the Powers That Be…” A greeting that sent chills down the spines of many already very cold students. On January 4th, the Western Reserve Academy community received an email from Dean of Students Wendy Skinner who confirmed WRA would be holding classes the following day despite the forecasted weather. The Dean’s Office … Continue reading
