*The Tower has retracted a previous version of this article that appeared in the issue published on May 1, 2024, headlined “Ishaan Banerjee ’24 prepares to turn a passion for jazz into a career,” and republished a new version. The previous writer fabricated Banerjee’s responses, and The Tower has communicated our sincerest apologies.*

When I met Ishaan Banerjee ’24 for this interview, I found him fixated on one of the practice room pianos, his saxophone in the corner of the room — undoubtedly part of a rehearsal I had just intruded on. Ever since the third grade, Banerjee has been dedicated to jazz and his instrument, the saxophone. He sees band as a team effort, where supporting each other is key to success — Banerjee has twice switched the type of saxophone he plays to cater to the band’s needs. His devotion to jazz has certainly paid off, having given him back a plethora of life experiences. Through his time in high school, he’s toured with the PHS Studio Band and Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra, traveling to Disney, Italy, Monaco, France, and Abbey Road Studios in England. This coming fall, Banerjee is off to Manhattan, where he will study jazz at NYU.

**What first got you into jazz? Or just band in general?**

I was playing piano when I was four years old, and then I got really bored of it. Once I started playing the saxophone in third grade, I had a couple private teachers that got me into jazz. They introduced me to the music, and since I love listening to the music, I figured it’d be great to start playing.

**Do you ever struggle with confidence on stage, and if so, what do you do to deal with it?**

A lot of times in competition, it’s easy to get super nervous and lose confidence, but it’s really nice to have a lot of people around me, just like building me up before a performance and making sure that they know or that I know I can sell it really well.

**What would you say is your favorite memory in band or Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra?**

Going on tour with everyone is super fun. PJO, it's 13 nights of just constant playing and being in a different city all the time. Getting to play in front of a bunch of different diverse groups of people is really cool. And for Studio Band as well, playing in front of really big crowds and seeing crowd reactions is always super fun.

**How was changing from alto saxophone to barry and back to alto? Why did you change?**

I first started playing alto in third grade, and then changed to barry sax in seventh grade because we didn’t have a barry sax player, and I figured I could help out. It was pretty funny, because the instrument was bigger than me at that time. And then I continued throughout high school because they needed a barry sax player in Studio Band. And then this year, because we didn’t have a lead alto saxophone, Mr. Bongiovi thought it’d be a good idea just for me to switch back, and it’s been super helpful, because I think I’m gonna keep playing alto sax in college.

**What are your plans going forward, in relation to jazz?**

I’ll be studying jazz at NYU in the fall, and I don’t know if I’m planning on making it a career yet, but studying jazz was always something I wanted to do so I could get better at my instrument. And yeah, we’ll see where it goes from there.

**Do you think the role of jazz in the has changed over time, and how do you see it’s role in music today?**

You hear a lot of times like the jazz [is] dead thing, but I think that if you look a little deeper, there’s a lot of people that maybe aren’t necessarily doing traditional jazz, but are taking concepts from jazz and incorporating it into popular music.

Ishaan Banerjee ’24 remains resolute in his passion for jazz

Lights, camera, action—the three famous components of a movie. As an aspiring movie director, Todor Pophristic ’24 prioritizes the latter. Whether it’s by riding around town on his bike until he finds the perfect set, or filming on his mom’s iPhone, Pophristic has always chased after his dreams, rather than waiting around for them to be realized. Taking this initiative has allowed Pophristic to expand his filmmaking skills and create a repertoire of his own films that began in the fifth grade. He’s also explored his love of visual arts through other mediums, evident in his role as Editor-in-Chief of The Ivy and his previous position as a staff writer for the Tower’s Arts and Entertainment section, frequently writing movie reviews. In college, he hopes to display the knowledge he’s gathered throughout his experience directing and collaborating by getting into big film festivals, and eventually turning this passion into a career.

**What inspired you to start filmmaking?**

   I started mainly out of boredom. In 5th grade, I was at my cousin's house and we had this app where you could create movies on my mom’s phone. And, after that there was the “Walnut Lane Film Festival” in 6th grade, which made me think, “oh, I should keep doing this”. [The film festival] died after COVID, [but] just last year, me and my friend Finn Neuneier [’24] re-started that for the middle schoolers.

**How would you describe your creative process? Do you start off with the story or how you want it to look, etc.?**

It depends. It can always just start with a specific image I have in mind for a scene, it can start with a line of dialogue, a character. It starts with one specific point, and it grows from there. I don’t know how much brainstorming I have to do, it’s really over the course of you know weeks, I have a few ideas in mind, and as I’m walking, thinking, just going about my day, they’ll usually expand to the point where I can sit down and start writing a script and expanding upon them that way.

**Is there any movie director’s style who you take inspiration from? Would you say it’s more their aesthetic/filming technique that you appreciate, or their storylines?**

   I’d say generally the filmmakers I’m inspired by, Safdie brothers are a big inspiration, so is Refn, Guy Ritchie, and a few others. I like really anxiety-inducing movies, you know something that keeps me on the edge of my seat, very suspenseful, and generally these movies are also about the underbelly of society, things that are usually not cultures and subsections of society that are really looked at.

**Do you cater your movies to that same specific audience? What genre do you think your films fit into the most?**

   Definitely. I mean, I could say crime is a framework, but generally the majority of my movies, most of the time aren’t spent on the actual crime, the actual violence, but what comes before and after, which is kind of a more psychological thriller-drama, it would be more in that category. I guess what I’m trying to do, and what a lot of these filmmakers are trying to do, is give the audience a character or scenario that is vile, that is disturbing, and that the audience can immediately react and say “that’s bad, that’s evil”. Then slowly as you get to know the characters and immerse yourself in the narrative, you kind of see yourself in those characters, you see what you do on the day-to-day, the immoral actions that you have and that you go through with. It’s like a self-reflection, through awful extremes.

**As a student director, how do you manage to balance your time between school, script-writing, and filming/directing?**

I’d say I spend the majority of my free time, when I’m not like doing homework and stuff. It’s not work, you know what I mean. So, in the same way that somebody would log onto a video game and play for like three hours, you would be like “how do you make time for that?” And obviously, you make time for fun, and for me, film is fun. So I spend a lot of my time either, writing scripts, or planning out things. I have a notebook where I’ll write down all of my ideas when I’m going through brainstorming, whether that be images I have in mind, characters, lines of dialogue.

**How does the budget work for student films? I noticed in your most recent film, “21st Century Spunk,” there’s quite a lot of props and setting changes, so how do you manage all that? Do you collaborate with anyone, or do you source most of it?**

It’s kind of two things. One, is I have a minimum wage job, and I spend a lot of that money, I put it into savings for props, camera equipment, and whatnot. But, a lot of the time, when it comes down to location and props, it’s all free. It’s all free, you just need to ask the right people. I see a lot of student filmmakers resort to the people around them. In the work I’m gonna be doing moving forward, and in some films I’ve already done thus far that just haven’t been released yet, I’ve been using “Backstage” or “Actors Breakdown”, which is where you can get real actors for free, who are looking to build up their resumé. But it’s the same for locations and everything, you just need to be looking at what’s interesting. Can you find someone at your school who has a farm? Can you find someone at your school who’s really rich and has a mansion you can film in? Or, in my case, for “Téte-a-téte:” for example, I was biking around for a long while, just trying to find a parking lot that has one light shining down, which is, the set piece. And generally just a lot of asking people, a lot of nagging people, being annoying, and you can kind of get what you want for free.

**Having a soundtrack is a big part of a good movie, in fact, many movies are most memorable for their soundtracks. How do you incorporate music into your own films? Do you ever run into issues with the loyalties to songs/ownership?**

So we have two different tracks. For YouTube, where we show movies with students in our high school, we choose whatever songs we want. How we find those songs is through the creative process itself, I’m usually listening to music, and the songs fit in very well from the beginning, they’re not added in after, they’re not an afterthought, it’s something that has been kind of planned from the beginning, what music we use. But then when we’re sending it off to festivals, there are a few different websites we use that let us get copyright-free music.

**Your latest film, “21st Century Spunk,” is made up of multiple short stories. How were you able to keep a cohesive feel throughout, while the stories were changing?**

   I think by virtue of the mindset I was in junior year, as with anybody that’s been making movies, music, or any kind of visual art, your art is gonna be a reflection of where you are at mentally, your perspective at the time. And by virtue of my perspective being how it was, and all those films being made in such a short period of time together, over the course of a few months, although they all differ a lot, in terms of genre and sometimes even visual style, they all have elements that connect them in terms of theme, narrative, and just kind of the personality of the film. I feel like a lot of the time, people think about the purpose of the film and they don’t think about personality. All those movies have a very similar personality and that’s my personality, where I was at junior year. 

**Any advice for aspiring directors?**

Don’t try to perfect everything, don’t wait for the opportunity to arise for you to make a movie. You have everything you need. Even if you think you don’t, you do. You can make a movie on your iPhone even, you can’t wait for everything to be perfect for you to start making your movie. Things are going to fall apart, all of these movies that I’ve made, even “21st Century Spunk”, there have been a myriad of issues that have come about in the process of production. And I’ve built up a lot of resources and connections, and even then, I run into a lot of problems. You are going to run into problems inevitably. Don’t try to wait for the perfect moment when the stars align to make your movie, because you can make it right now. And then after that make as many movies as you can. Don’t wait for opportunities to arise for you, just create them.

**What are your current plans for the future? What do you hope to do with your love for film?**

I’m going to do this as a career. I know that for a fact. I know a lot of people talk about living their dreams, like “my dream is to be a lawyer,” “my dream is to be a doctor.” I’m in a very lucky position where I’ve known what my dream is since I was in 5th grade, which is to make movies. And an even luckier position is that I’ve been able to live my dream since fifth grade, because I’ve been able to make movies the entire time. So really I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and I know that if I keep working as hard as I am and whatnot, I’ll be able to support myself with this. For specific goals, I’d really like to go to university, get into some significant film festivals like Austin, or South by Southwest, where I can sell myself.

Behind the screen with Todor Pophristic ’24

 “Black Orpheus” (1959) is a romantic tragedy set in Brazil in the 1950s, based on a play inspired by the ancient Greek legend of Orpheus, “Orfeu da Conceição,” by Vinicius de Moraes and Antônio Carlos Jobim. The story is about a girl named Eurydice (played by Marpessa Dawn), who has been chased out of the countryside by a stalker and is forced to run away to her cousin, Serafina, who lives in Rio de Janeiro, during the busiest time of year, Carnaval. While in Rio de Janeiro, Eurydice meets a man named Orfeu (played by Breno Mello). Orfeu and Eurydice immediately fall in love, despite his recent engagement to another girl, Mira, and are forced to conceal their relationship.
   Despite the film taking place in a favela, or poverty-stricken neighborhood, the characters are filled with explosive joy, a result of the movie’s romanticization of tragedy. This idea, that on the brink of despair, one can always find jubilance, is best displayed through the character Orfeu, who uses the little money he has to buy something he loves: a guitar. The heartbreaking story uses Brazilian bossa nova, also known as samba-jazz, to enchantingly weave a tale of love and loss. Throughout the film, Orfeu makes the sun rise and children smile by strumming his guitar and singing his new song, “Manhã de Carnaval” (by Jobim and Luiz Bonfá). Even when tragedy strikes upon the two star-struck lovers, his song plays and the lyrics “manhã tão bonita manhã, de um dia feliz que chegou” (“morning so beautiful morning, of a happy day which has arrived”) lets the sun rise once more, an eternal metaphor that in one’s sorrow lies another’s joy.
   Though some may say the film slightly idealizes a life of poverty, beneath it lies the touching message that despite hardship, one can find contentment. The director, Marcel Camus, and his contributors — de Moraes, Jobim, and Bonfá — do a wonderful job at weaving together the animated traditions of Carnaval, the Brazilian Candomblé religion, and one of Ancient Greece’s most depressing tales in a movie that is sure to make you laugh, and maybe even shed a tear.

The Impact of Black Stories on Literature - Black Orpheus

Sky:
	Every year, when the leaves turn yellow and the air turns sweet, my family starts making room in our trunk to start packing for our annual hike. While it may be common, going hiking during fall has been my family’s Thanksgiving tradition ever since I can remember. Out of all the places we’ve set foot in, our favorite reserve is the Mohonk mountain, and the endless photos in our camera roll and albums on our walls prove its merit. Usually, the tradition will start a week before, with a family discussion in our group chat or at the dinner table. Because both my parents work and my brother and I are juniors, it has gotten a little harder over the past years to schedule a time that works for all of us, but we try our best to be considerate of each other. After deciding on the day we’ll go, my dad will start going through each box in our garage and basement, trying to find the right hiking shoes for my mom, small bags we can  carry, hiking sticks, etc. While the drive to the reserve is a bit painful, when you get on the mountain itself, your mind goes blank — almost like someone just emptied your trash. The crisp fall air strikes your nose the more you hike and the heavier you breathe, and your feet start to latch onto the rocks and dirt on the ground. There are some routes on the hike that my family has found to be more interesting, so sometimes we change sides as we go. By the time we get to the top of the mountain, there is a sense of unity and bonding even through the sweat and tiredness, and I always end up sitting on the ground, breathing in and out, trying to catch every glimpse of the fall scenery. The leaves are so small, yet they fill such a big portion of the sky, and every time the breeze shakes them, it looks as though they are dancing. It is not long from then, we start unpacking our bags and enjoying the food we packed that morning. Taking selfies and group photos, we talk about how we think this year went, and hope to come back next year.
	

Avery:
	If I am being completely honest, Thanksgiving has never been my preferred holiday. By this time of year my mind is already shifted to snow, gingerbread cookies, and listening to “Last Christmas” by Wham! on repeat. For me, it was a dinner in which all my aunts and uncles would barrage my brother and I with endless questions, and the only thing on the table I was interested in was the mashed potatoes. 
	Most years, my family alternates celebrating holidays between my mother and my father’s side. This usually means Thanksgiving with my mother’s family in New Jersey, and Christmas with my dad’s family in Virginia. 
However, this year is a special case in which both groups will be gathered at my own house. People of different backgrounds and cultures will be in the same place at the same time. I couldn’t be happier, and I have come to realize that my changed feelings surrounding this year’s Thanksgiving are largely due to the fact that my appreciation for gathering with loved ones has grown. Although things have improved in the last two years, the pandemic put my extended family at a reach that is much greater than just the distance separating us, in that most of our interactions involved FaceTimes and six-feet-apart greetings outside. My brother left for college just this August, leaving me as an only child and the only teenager in the house. 
So as I look forward to November 24, I visualize the warm lights in the living room, faint yet cheerful laughs over the jazz music, a smörgåsbord of pies and cookies spread out across the wooden table, and most importantly, the faces of both sides of my family bonding together when they would have otherwise been in two completely different states. 
Something I will encourage my father to play again is my favorite piece of music traditionally used at fall gatherings: the Charlie Brown theme music by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The subtle yet peppy piano layered into each song always puts me in a fall mood. In terms of dessert (my preferred part of the meal), my aunt always brings pies of extravagant flavors to the table. The bakeries she gets them from are unfamiliar to me yet deserving of a Michelin star. This year there will be flavors such as honey and chocolate chess, both of which already make my mouth water. 
With all this to look forward to, I imagine myself in a painting that seems perfect, a glittering masterpiece that encapsulates the joy of getting to catch up with one another over a special meal. For that, I am lucky to recognize the art my family seems to create on Thanksgiving. 
	
Marina:
	On most days, turkey would be near the bottom of my list of top choices of food to eat since I’ve always thought of it as one of the blandest proteins. But, Thanksgiving is not one of those days.
	My parents and I, having moved to the U.S. from Brazil in 2009, have no historical family tradition or connection to Thanksgiving, which allowed us to create our own reasons to celebrate this day. From the moment we moved here, we have met countless Brazilian families in the area, and though some have moved away and many new ones have arrived, we have always maintained a group that is our found family abroad, the people who we celebrate our “friendsgiving” with.
	Unafraid to stray from classic American food traditions, my parents and the other adults have made many attempts at different Thanksgiving menus. However, after tantrums by five-year-olds over duck instead of turkey and ceviche instead of stuffing, and one year’s somewhat underwhelming suckling pig (though nowadays I would love both options), the turkey somehow remained champion. However, by no means does this mean my dad makes your standard, basic, dry turkey. Every year he has always strived to do better than the last, putting all his energy into a five-day cooking preparation. And without fail, whenever he pulls the 25-pound turkey out from his Big Green Egg barbecue grill, it comes out with a beautifully crisped, caramel-colored skin, and with the most tender meat that will melt off the bone. The turkey is always the star of the show at our dinner, and all 30+ guests marvel throughout the rest of the year, waiting for that Thursday in November when they actually feel like eating turkey.

Sophie:
 Other than the anticipation of finally seeing old friends, eating delicious food, and getting a break, the most wonderful part of Thanksgiving is none other than the feeling of togetherness. It’s the one day designated for us to take time off just to spend time with the people we love. 
Unfortunately, my extended family lives across the world in China, so they don’t get the pleasure of getting this day off. My parents, having no experience with preparing Thanksgiving dinner or the “conventional” traditions of this holiday, started their own by blending our two cultures: American and Chinese. 
For starters, my parents would wake up early in the morning to prepare a meal for all of our family friends, and the aroma of green beans, bok choy, potatoes, beef, and lasagna — a strangely eccentric combo — would fill up our kitchen. As well, instead of the classic turkey, my parents would boil a chicken and soak it in rice wine to bring out its tangy flavor. Friends would start coming by late afternoon, with the adults chattering and relaxing on the couch while children played ping pong and watched whatever was on the TV. 
Aside from my favorite dish, tiramisu, we would end the night with a bit of karaoke. Mostly the adults would start playing around with the machine until they found a pop song or nursery rhymes — all in Chinese — and soon everyone else would be giggling and waiting for their turn to choose a “good” song. Although I am fluent in the language, reading Chinese characters is quite a struggle for me, so I just watch and lay on the couch, marveling at my parents’ annual concert and laughing with everybody. 

Seasonal sentiments: a collection of Thanksgiving traditions

Telenovelas:
Hispanic countries are all full of diversity, and no one is like the other, despite all having the same language in common. However, one thing any Hispanic country can relate to are telenovelas. The word “telenovela” comes from the genre of being a novel (novela) performed on screen/television (tele). A Spanish equivalent to soap operas, telenovelas are always defined by their over-dramatic romances. The complex plot twists involving common themes of revenge and familial drama, leading up to the final, happy ending, were what originally resulted in widespread viewership of the genre in all Hispanic countries. The presence of telenovelas has been a staple in Hispanic households for generations now, uniting Hispanic nations though pure nostalgia.
Looking back on telenovelas today, it is evident that in the last decade or so, the genre has come a long way. The original telenovelas are now being called out as antiquated as many of them portray sexist ideals, with common plot lines of a lower class woman being “saved” by a wealthy man. Equally numerous telenovelas have long had solely light-skinned lead actors. Thankfully, in the last decade, there have been many developments in the genre, and more inclusive stories have commonly been depicted. One example of a telenovela that has rejected the patriarchal plot of a woman being “saved” by a man is Telemundo’s “La Reina del Sur,” a Spanish telenovela telling the story of Teresa Mendoza, a woman who deals with grief by becoming one of the world’s most powerful self-made drug lords. Another revolutionary telenovela is Netflix’s “The House of Flowers,” a story set (as well as filmed and produced) in Mexico, revolving around the upper-class de la Mora family. The show is one of the genre’s first to include multiple LGBTQ+ leading characters, molding a promising future for the genre. Considering how telenovelas are expected to reflect Hispanic peoples, it is reassuring to see a more diverse demographic appearing, showing the masses just how unique and varied Latinx culture can be. By replacing the antiquated shows of the past with ones like “La Reina del Sur” and “House of Flowers”, telenovelas have been able to maintain their relevance, securing their place as a treasure in Hispanic culture for many decades to come.
One thing that telenovelas undoubtedly deserve credit for is providing representation of Latinx people to non-Latin countries, such as the United States. Most of the successful telenovelas in Spanish were turned into American replicas, which still starred Latinx actors but took place in the United States. Though it seems strange to keep remaking a show, these American adaptations were one of the first ways Hispanic culture was showcased in US television. For example, “Yo Soy Betty, la Fea,” a telenovela from Colombia, was made into ABC’s show “Ugly Betty” starring America Ferrera in 2006. The show was one of very few shows in the United States at the time that starred a Latina as the main character, and it quickly picked up success just as well as the Spanish original, “Yo Soy Betty, la Fea”, so much so that Ferrara became the first ever Latina to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Show. A more recent example, The CW’s adaptation of the Venezuelan “Juana la Virgen”, “Jane the Virgin,” starring Gina Rodriguez, is undoubtedly the most successful American adaptation of a telenovela since “Ugly Betty.” 
The American telenovela has reached a diverse audience across the country, even here at  PHS, where students can be heard avidly speaking about their investment in the show; 
“There are all these plot twists and so much drama that it keeps you watching,” said Melody Strum ‘25, which goes to show just how much Hispanic telenovela culture has evolved North American culture in recent years, and not just that of Latin Americans.
 Not only has the show spread Hispanic representation by being binge-watched by masses around the world, but it also has been exceptionally educational, teaching lessons on telenovelas to its viewers. The importance of telenovelas in Hispanic culture is conveyed in “Jane the Virgin” through the character Rogelio (Jane’s father), a telenovela star, and lessons on how to analyze and understand telenovelas and their most common plotlines are conveyed through the third person narrator’s analytical storytelling. With telenovelas like “Ugly Betty” and “Jane the Virgin,” Hispanic-American people have been given more screen time and representation in the United States’ media, and on the televisions of students here at PHS. The presence of these shows gives hope for greater education on Hispanic culture in the United States.
   Aside from telenovelas, dance is another facet of Hispanic culture that has made an impact on our lives. For years, dance has been used and passed down through multiple generations in Latino culture. It can be a form of celebration for occasions such as weddings and birthdays. It brings people of all ages together and continues traditions that are specific to certain countries and their culture. 
   As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through the many aspects of Hispanic culture, much of this commemoration is expressed through dance. PHS’s club Latinos Unidos will be performing their own choreography for an assembly on October 18. 
   Latinos Unidos, a group that celebrates the cultures and traditions of the Latinx community, is presenting the Hispanic Heritage Month assembly. For many, it is a welcoming and positive experience that unites Latinos at PHS. It is a space where students with similar interests can share their experiences, even if they come from different Latino backgrounds. Hispanic Heritage Month is an important time for everyone to become closer with the Latino community, appreciate its culture, and share it with others. 
   “It’s a collection of various dances that are prominent and well-known in most spanish-speaking countries,” says Regina Sakar ’24.
    A dance routine has been created by Sakar and Ozzy Morales ’25, which their group practices during lunch to ensure that everyone involved has the steps down before adding in new ones. For Sakar, dancing and choreographing have become some of her favorite pastimes. This performance is meant to represent various well-known dances from Hispanic countries. 
	“Preparing for this dance has been relatively fast-paced as we have only practiced for about a week so far,” said Sakar. “We’re excited to finalize the dance as we get closer to the performance date.” With the help of Morales’ prior knowledge about Hispanic dance, a few reference videos online, and other members of the club, the two were able to create their own dance that reflected elements of Spanish culture while also demonstrating their own style.
“When it comes to dances like merengue, cumbia, and bachata, the meaning ultimately comes down to just having fun and letting the music bring our community together,” Sakar shared. 
   The routine is filled with rhythm, passion, and connecting with whoever is around you. Some types of Hispanic dance can be done more easily, although other types can be very challenging if they include quick movements such as rapid turns. Furthermore, dances that include partnerwork tend to be more intricate and complex. Some dancers devote their life's work to training in Hispanic dance. It is very influential, considering that the music and steps that are used have also been incorporated into current pop music and dance styles.  For example, there can be some connections between Reggae and Reggaeton music through their beat and rhythm. 
   The Latinos Unidos dance performance was a captivating display of Latinx culture, as dance is so integral to their expression and traditions. 


How Hispanic culture has influenced our lives— in ways we never realized

Marina- You’ve Got Mail (1998):
	Taking place in a cozy bookstore during late autumn in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, “You’ve Got Mail” has the best setting for those moments when you feel like indulging in a jovial and comforting rom-com. This movie brings a refreshing spark of individuality to the worn-out enemies-to-lovers trope as there is an added twist: Kathleen (Meg Ryan) and Joe (Tom Hanks) may be enemies in real life, but online, an intimate relationship is blossoming. The involvement of the internet into the plot is a key ingredient in making “You’ve Got Mail” so one-of-a-kind. In the 1990s, online dating wasn’t nearly as normalized as it is nowadays, so the film was one of the first ever to add this aspect to the big screen, and now modern rom-coms have followed suit.
	With frequent co-stars Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks (previously seen together in both “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Joe Versus the Volcano”), the movie was set for success right from the start. Their chemistry was as impeccable as in the other films mentioned, if not more. Even in scenes when their lines consisted of spiteful bickering, their banter flowed perfectly, making you believe they were meant to be despite the hateful words flowing out their mouths. If I wasn’t fully convinced that they were my favorite 90s co-stars when I watched cult-classic “Sleepless in Seattle,” I most certainly was with “You’ve Got Mail.” Their relationship was as real as it gets in film. 
The relationship between both main characters in real life is quite standard for rom-coms: Kathleen is a small business bookstore owner, and Joe is part of the family behind Fox Books, a chain of huge bookstores. His multi-million dollar family company now poses a threat to Kathleen, as their new store is about to run her own out of business. However, online the two mutually decided that they’d keep information of their identities entirely secret in their email relationship under fake names “Shopgirl” and “NY152.” When they start crossing paths in real life, they hate each other, but a tangled web is slowly woven by their anonymity. Though Joe and Kathleen eventually do work past their career conflicts as their identities are gradually revealed to each other, it demonstrates that the situation that two people are in affects their perception of each other. When they were simply getting to know each other online, despite missing key details of the other’s identity, was when Joe and Kathleen really learned what the other was like personally. As career rivals, they simply let their situation as competitors blind them into assuming they knew everything about the other based on a few encounters. It really makes me wonder how many different peopleI could be closer to now, if it weren’t for the awkward positions that we have been given in each other's lives. 
“You’ve Got Mail” questions relationships in the most feel-good way possible, by demonstrating how a perfect pair can act so differently based on a different set of encounters, framing all this in the wonderful nostalgia of late-fall holidays. For bookworms and those who love fall aesthetics alike, “You’ve Got Mail” is sure to deliver!

Luca- Election (1999):
	In the political world, autumn doesn’t mean beautiful foliage, school beginning, or the end of summer, but rather election season. In my opinion, one of the greatest movies to focus on the time-honored tradition of American democracy isn’t a historical drama or political thriller, but rather unexpectedly, a 1999 teen comedy by the name of “Election.” Although the concept may seem simplistic on the surface, the plot of “Election” plot is layered with commentaries on not just democracy, but also morality and ethics (the distinction between which is made clear throughout the film).
	Directed by satirist Alexander Payne, “Election” follows a high school student-government election in the all-American city of Omaha, Nebraska. Specifically, the movie focuses on teacher Mr. McAllister (Matthew Broderick, bringing to mind a broken-down Ferris Bueller) who is horrified by Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon), the ruthlessly ambitious central figure of the film, running unopposed. McAllister persuades popular football player Paul Metzler (Chris Klein) to run against Tracy. Simultaneously, Paul’s sister Tammy (Jessica Campbell) runs on a platform to dismantle the student government.
	Although this may seem straightforward enough, Election becomes a much more complex film through its exploration of each character’s motivations and its examination of ethics. A prominent theme throughout the film is the extent to which sexual desire and frustration influences the titular election, most exhibited in the character of Mr. McAllister. The root of McAllister’s antipathy towards Tracy is ambiguous, and is one of the central mysteries of the film’s plot. Although he justifies it to himself as simply exasperation with her ambitiousness, McAllister is well aware of a sexual relationship between Tracy and a former colleague and friend of his. This sexual undercurrent also drives Tammy’s spiteful run for president, after her best friend and crush Lisa begins dating her brother following an unwanted romantic declaration by Tammy (“It's not like I'm a lesbian or anything. I'm attracted to the person. It's just that all the people I've been attracted to happen to be girls.”) Additionally, while Tracy runs to maintain the system and Tammy runs to dismantle it, Paul seems to be the only candidate running with a genuine interest in improving the school while in office, obviously making him the least based in reality.
	“Election” also poses the question of ethics versus morality throughout the film, both hypothetically and in real-life situations, such as Tracy’s relationship with McAllister’s colleague. As the motivations and actions of the main characters become more and more questionable, we as the audience ask ourselves the same questions about ethics and morality and apply them to the characters in question. 
	All in all, “Election” is a lovely and funny film whose hidden complexity is exemplified by Alexander Payne’s occasionally eccentric stylistic choices. As this complex web of interactions, hidden in the banal landscape of a Nebraskan high school, is revealed, it prompts thoughts about whether or not our democracy works, what prompts someone to break their morals, and what makes a good leader.



Foliage and film: two reviews of autumnal favorites, “You’ve Got Mail” and “Election”

On June 10th, the PHS Choir performed their last concert of the 2021-2022 school year. The concert is their annual cabaret performance, which is traditionally primarily a singing performance, but in a nightclub/restaurant/club: it demands that the singers dance and act while performing. The PHS Cabaret has been a tradition for around 15 years now and is one of the most unique choir events of the year as it also allows for genres that are less expected in most choir concerts to be brought into the choir atmosphere. 
“The music itself every year is pulled between a pop artist and some kind of like mainstream music artists and then two musicals. This year it's Once and Hadestown [both are musicals], and then OneRepublic and Pink. So, it’s just nice because the whole year we do sort of more opera, classical, kind of French whatever music, so getting to sing with my choir like songs like Taylor Swift or Pink, or getting to clash between musicals and pop, so it’s really fun,” said PHS Choir member Stephanie Moon ’22.
The variety of different genres in cabaret (mostly pop) allow choir members to be more free with their style and voice control. 
“I think cabaret brings a lot more fun in terms of movement and engagement between other singers,” said Rowan Gilmore ‘23, a singer in PHS Choir. 
“My favorite part of cabaret is just getting to hear everyone. Because we get like the whole list of who’s singing what, but then actually getting to hear people sing on that song for the first time is always so exciting,” Moon said.
“I am really looking forward to hearing the Pink set because it’s cool to hear pop songs sung with a band,” Gilmore said. In addition to a band appearance, all the songs all have soloists, duos, or trios, allowing each PHS choir member to stand under the spotlight with their very own applause, as long as they audition. The repertoire is 28 songs long, giving every singer a chance to showcase their own unique voice.
Though it certainly seems like a very fun and rare task for most students in choir, cabaret is very rigid when it comes to multitasking skills, as the choir members (many of which do not dance frequently) have to keep up with the choreography in the midst of singing. Multitasking can be a challenge, but is doable depending on the singer’s attitude.
“A lot of it is the mentality, it’s the type of show where you see a lot of the spotlight so you have to rise to the occasion. But I’m confident and excited,” said PHS Choir Vice President Kyle Keegan ’22.
Cabaret is the last concert before the summer primarily because it is one of the most well-attended events of the year. It is particularly special for seniors as it is their final opportunity to perform before they graduate. 
“At the end of the day, I just really want to have fun at our final concert. PHS Choir has given me my best friends and I’m so grateful for my time here. I’m so proud of everything the seniors have accomplished and can’t wait to hear everyone’s songs. We’re such a supportive community and I’m excited to celebrate the three years we’ve had together,” said PHS Choir President Lucy McCulloch ’22.
The sentiment seems to be shared among all seniors when asked about the excitement they have towards the concert. 
“I think there is (some anticipation), I think it’s not as much as other seniors, because I’m in an a cappella group [called] The Cat’s Meow, so we still have other performances, like The Final Arch. I am still anticipating it because it’s our last time as a choir performing, and I’ve been through the choir program since freshman year, and choir overall has been a big part of my life since like my childhood, so it’s crazy that a chapter of it is coming to an end. I think Cabaret is the most fun and perfect way to have a closure,” Moon said. 
Keegan echoed Moon’s sentiments, reflecting on his time with choir coming to a close.
“I’m very excited for my final concert, it is somewhat emotional but I know I’ll remember it fondly. I just wanna have my best possible show one last time.” Keegan ‘22 said.


PHS Choir prepares for their annual final end of the year cabaret performance

The soft indie rock sounds of local band Darnabee Jones draw crowds of students, parents, and community members with every performance. Always on the lookout for new opportunities to perform, this band has immersed itself in Princeton’s arts community since elementary school, making it the kind of band that quite literally grew up together. With an impressive list of gigs under its belt, this local band can trace its roots back to the town’s Littlebrook and Riverside Elementary Schools, where Sara Carson ’23, Sophia “Snowy” Grossman ’23, and Jane Bennett ’24 first started playing together along with a few others. Now, with weekly rehearsals and occasional performances, this small band has a repertoire of covers wide enough to cover a variety of genres, although they mostly play indie pop and rock.

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With Carson on guitar, Grossman on bass, and Bennett on drums and lead vocals, their small size allows them to create a beautiful blend and balance while letting each member shine individually. But besides their amazing musicianship, the band means much more to its members.

“Playing with these two is relaxing, and so it’s good that it has no pressure. I look forward to relieving stress with them [the other band members],” Carson said.

The band has no definite plans for the future years after high school, as they prefer leaving as many opportunities open as possible.

“I kind of like that there is no direction, it’s kind of just like having fun. In the future, if we’re all in one place at the same time I would love to get together,” Carson said.

What is clear is that they are all willing to put in the effort to keep playing together, even after high school.

“I think it would be fun to play with [Carson and Grossman] in college, if we went around to each other’s colleges,” Bennett said.

“We’re definitely gonna; we have to meet up again,” Grossman added.

Playing together for seven years has helped the band grow as musical individuals.

“We’ve totally advanced, like kind of as a unit, since we’ve spent so much time together.” Grossman said.

“It’s been a really, really good experience to get to know them, and I feel like all of our preferences and some of the stuff we know has merged,” Carson said.

Both Carson and Grossman are currently in the school’s top band, PHS Studio Band, and Bennett is enrolled in a Manhattan School of Music pre-college program, all high-level positions for  young musicians to achieve.

Students, teachers, and parents alike are impressed with the quality of music that such a small group of students is able to achieve, and their local performances at town hubs such as Small World and the Ivy draw many listeners. Though they don’t have any gigs planned out for the next few months, once the last quarter of the school year is over, they plan on having a summer full of concerts. Follow them on Instagram @darnabeejones for updates on their next performances.

Darnabee Jones: growing together as musicians and as friends

We all rely on the media to find role models and inspiration for our day to day lives. However, many girls, including many at PHS, grow up without seeing any women that look like themselves in the media. Thankfully, many women, such as poet Amanda Gorman, singer Alicia Keys, and actress America Ferrera are working to change societal norms and misogyny in the industry to ensure following generations of women don’t have to face underrepresentation in the media. From when we were younger girls to now, these women have impacted our views on feminism and representation. 

Amanda Gorman is currently the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. However, her success did not come without challenges. For example, as a child, she had a speech impediment, and she currently has an auditory processing disorder. When I first learned this, I rewatched her recitation of “The Hill We Climb,” where I could not hear any sign of a speech impediment. As a woman of color myself, it was comforting to see someone that had her own challenges during her childhood was able to overcome them and gain such notability. At 16, she experienced her first success when she became the Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles. Since the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden, she’s experienced great success, with two of her books achieving best-seller status. I remember when I first watched her during the inauguration; at first, I couldn’t fathom how much work she must have had to put in as a woman of color to recite a poem in a place where people like her had always been unwelcome. However, I soon simply enjoyed the poem and its message, all the while amazed that a person of color was being recognized for her creativity and talent. In 2014, Gorman reported that she “aspires to be a human rights advocate” and pursued this by founding a nonprofit in 2016 called “One Pen One Page,” which strives to eliminate inequality through education. Gorman is an inspiration to many, including myself. Her success as a young woman makes me realize that my age doesn’t prevent me from reaching milestones. She serves as a role model for girls of all races, especially those at PHS, to look up to. She uses her voice to talk about her experiences with racism and sexism, intertwining her two identities to influence her work. 



Alicia Keys: Singer

Alicia Keys is a singer most known for her R&B songs including “Empire State of Mind,” “Girl on Fire,” and “If I Ain’t Got You.” Keys is a very outspoken activist and she has always connected this to her lyrics. Though she has multiple songs that beautifully express her personal feelings towards hardships in equality, I think the one that I resonate the most with is a classic, “Girl on Fire.” Though it may be considered “basic” to think of Alicia Keys and instantly connect that thought with “Girl on Fire,” I personally believe it is her most empowering song because of its lack of personality. Unlike some of her other popular songs, “Girl on Fire” uses no personal pronouns, making it applicable to any and every girl. The lyrics label her as “just a girl,” but throughout the song this “Girl on Fire” escapes a messed up world and creates new beginnings. There is no specific criteria to be the “Girl on Fire,” presenting a timeless message to every woman that they all have what it takes to influence the world and to find great success. Though it may be considered one of Keys’ most overplayed songs, I believe that “Girl on Fire” is one of her most influential, because it made every girl believe in themselves and the power they hold. 

I also personally resonate with “Empire State of Mind.” The song launches you into NYC, “the City that Never Sleeps”, and makes you feel like you could accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. Sometimes I like sitting alone in my room and trying (and failing) to hit the high notes. Overall, the song just makes me feel empowered and I never get tired of it. 



America Ferrera: Actress

America Ferrera is a Honduran-American actress, most known for her breakthrough roles in Ugly Betty, Superstore, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Since the beginning of her career at 15, she has heard people tell her to be “more latina” in order to fit stereotypical roles of latina side-characters. Because of the prejudice she has faced in the industry, America has made it a point to be a role model for other girls to be themselves, and not the mold that others want them to fit. As a latina myself, watching Ferrera’s 2019 Ted Talk on “My Identity is a Superpower, Not an Obstacle” was so inspiring because she has been fighting to end clichés of ethnic people playing stereotypical side-characters for nearly 20 years and consistently continues to make that her first priority in terms of work. Even in 2000s teen dramas, which are notoriously known for lacking in diversity, she has starred as main characters who reflect herself, and not what the world expects of her. When Ferrera said that her being the first and only Latina to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series “is not a point of pride, that is a point of deep frustration,” I think the perspective I have always had on award shows changed a lot because I began to take more notice of how milestones in the entertainment industry are really a sign of getting rid of a stigma that shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Ferrera won that Emmy 15 years ago, and no Latina has won it since. Now however, many companies have been much more aware and have taken a lot more action on the need for more diversity, Ferrera’s “win” is a clear example that there is still a long way to go, and it is people like her who are paving the path to success.

The emergence of female artists in the media

Whether it be on the street or on the runway, fashion is everywhere. Many students at PHS are immersed in it, but if you ask them where their favorite styles came from many would not be sure. In honor of Black History Month and celebrating fashion origins, we have gathered some of the most influential fashion styles, comebacks, trends, and accessories that emerged from Black culture and icons like Destiny’s Child and Diana Ross.

Streetwear arose from the hip-hop movement, which emerged in the Bronx during the 1980s as a new style of music and dance, eventually becoming a prominent part of black culture. It was originally created as a response to whiteness being the standard of the “ideal citizen” in the 1950s–60s. Eventually, streetwear became the visual form of hip-hop and rap culture, pushing boundaries that allowed the Black community to express culture and style without conforming to what was “acceptable” at the time. It became even more integrated in the fashion industry with the emergence of luxury, high-end streetwear brands such as Off-White, a Milan-based and Black-owned fashion house founded by the late Virgil Abloh. Streetwear has evolved since its beginnings and has elevated to become a strong influence in fashion.

Y2K is shorthand for “the year 2000,” and it is making a comeback! Staple pieces like lace camisoles, low rise jeans, metallic clothing, baguette bags, and butterfly hair clips were linked to the mid-1990s to early-2000s era, inspiring the Y2K style that began right when the Internet started booming. Many would think that this vogue surfaced with Bratz dolls or “Mean Girls” but in truth, it was Black culture – specifically Black artists – that shaped the aesthetic into the phenomenon it is today. Michael and Janet Jackson wearing shiny and futuristic clothing in their music video “Scream,” Black girl groups like Destiny’s Child sporting vivid tank tops and low-waisted jeans, and rapper Missy Elliott in athleisure are all examples of this.

Velour tracksuits were the new norm in the 2000s with brands like Juicy Couture and Baby Phat being in the spotlight. Like tracksuits, scripted necklaces were also associated with the Y2K era. A notable example is when Carrie Bradshaw wore a nameplate necklace in “Sex in the City,” inspiring people to join the trend. However, this trend truly originated from Black and brown kids, and it was popular within their communities much earlier on. The scripted necklaces were a way for people to express themselves and their identity; a symbol of pride in their culture. Y2K is one of the prominent aesthetics of the past few decades, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Black culture.

Sneakers as we now know them made their first appearance in the 1970s and became a trend around a decade later. Originally, they were made for only playing sports, but that all changed when Michael Jordan launched his Air Jordans line, produced with Nike, in 1985, causing the popularity of sneakers to surge in hip-hop culture. Even now, Jordans are still sought after. These sneakers are featured prominently in the music industry by Black artists in their everyday wear and performances. Sneakers have become so popular because of Black culture to the point that they are spotted globally.

Bucket hats are the perfect versatile and stylish accessory. At first, like trainers, bucket hats were only for practical use. Fishermen used them as protection from rain and soldiers wore them in combat. As the mod subculture of soul-loving hippies known for their love of motorized scooters and fashion rose to prominence in London, the bucket hat took on a more refined and elegant style and quickly spread throughout Great Britain. However, it was the bucket hat’s incorporation into Black culture that made it rise in prominence. Icons like Rihanna, who paired a pink bucket hat with a Dior slip dress, and LL Cool J, who is known for his red Kangol bucket hat, contributed to the beginning of this newfound trend. Now, luxury brands like Dior and Prada sell them in a variety of patterns and textures. Bucket hats may not have been invented by Black culture, but it’s because of Black culture that more and more people are adding bucket hats as an essential piece to their outfits.

Hoop earrings are some of the most common accessories today, but they have been a symbol of Black women’s empowerment since the 1920s. The large and lavish jewelry piece was created in the fourth century in North Africa (around Sudan). Centuries later, Black women in the United States chose to use this piece of their heritage to showcase their beauty. Beginning in the 1920s–60s, hoop earrings were worn by activists for civil rights and Black power. However, later in the 1970s–90s they became associated with music and were showcased on Black disco and soul artists such as Diana Ross and Evelyn “Champagne” King. As different genres became more popular, hoop earrings were later seen on many rap and hip-hop artists. Additionally, hoop earrings have been a symbol of power and feminism pioneered by Black women, especially in the last century. In recent years, they have influenced people of all ethnicities and races.

With their colorful, glossy, and bold designs, pictures of acrylic nails on Pinterest are often the first we save to show our friends. Today, they are considered to be a fashionable statement. However, in the late 20th century, many people considered wearing acrylic nails “cheap” and “trashy.” Over time, they were shown off in the media by influential people like famous runner Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo Jo), who showed off vibrant patriotic colors through acrylic nails at prominent races in the 1980s. With this prominent appearance of acrylic nails in the media, they eventually became more mainstream and popular. From famous celebrities such as Lizzo to people in our day to day lives, acrylics can be seen everywhere. This trend was made possible by Black women who normalized and popularized them.

The overlooked origins of fashion


I have been dancing for as long as I can remember. Whether it was escaping restless nap times in preschool by going to ballet classes or spending time performing for the public at Communiversity, dance has always had a place in my life — I spent 12 years wholeheartedly committed to ballet. Although I quit last May due to the heavy commitment, I still carry the musicality and skill by dancing flamenco.

Seven years ago, my mother, who danced flamenco 30 years ago, encouraged me to start taking flamenco lessons every Saturday at the Arts Council of Princeton. I remember being nervous and unenthusiastic when I went in for my first class. But as soon as I stepped into the studio, my idea of dance completely changed. I learned that dance is a lot more than just a sequence of steps — it is an emotional response to the music. Flamenco itself is an entire musical genre, so everything I do in a performance has to connect to the music. I could be dancing to a slower guitar solo where I have to convey sadness or introspection or to a faster, more rhythmic beat where I focus on complex footwork to express liveliness and excitement. But what remains true in all choreography is that flamenco serves as a physical embodiment of music.

Throughout my years dancing, flamenco has helped me grow into a confident performer. When I step onto the stage, it’s as if nothing matters except moving to the music. At the beginning of a show, I am always a bit nervous that something will go horribly wrong, and sometimes it does. The speakers may not work, the stage might be too small or, even worse, we might have to dance on carpeted or tile flooring (which is dreadful, considering flamenco shoes are heels with miniscule nails stuck into the bottom of them). But the show must go on, and if the crowd is pleased by the end, I am exhilarated. Performing in front of a live audience is a rewarding experience, especially the applause after hitting my final pose. Flamenco means a lot to me because it is not something that I’m being pressured into; it isn’t for a grade, and I’m not forcing myself to dance. I simply want to perform.

Although I dance alone on stage, I spend more time with my mom thanks to flamenco. Together, we’ve gone to flamenco shows and concerts, shopped for new frilly polka-dotted skirts and fiery red shoes, and listened to flamenco music. Because of this connection with my mom, we constantly try to help each other when we are having trouble with choreography. By giving me feedback, she has made me a better dancer, and I’m incredibly thankful for her. Flamenco has made my love for dance greater than it originally was and, for that, I am eternally grateful that my mom made me go to that one dreaded lesson seven years ago.

Flamenco dancing: thrills and fril


The intoxicating scent of chocolate cake wafting from the oven kindled kindled a love for the kitchen in Meredith Hirschman ’22 from a young age. Observing her older sister, Leah Hirschman ’19, along with using Pinterest for inspiration, Hirschman gained confidence steadily – and it is reflected in her treats. With her sister’s encouragement, she now follows in her footsteps and serves as Editor-in-Chief for Spork, the PHS food magazine.



How did you originally start working for Spork?

My oldest sister was the Editor-in-Chief as a freshman. I had known about the magazine prior to even entering high school. I knew I wanted to do that because I always had a passion for baking. I applied, and I got to be a member. Then I worked my way up; I was Social Media Manager, then last year I was the Production Manager, and now I’m Editor-in-Chief.



What is the process of writing and creating each issue of Spork magazine?

The first thing we do is we come up with ideas of what themes we want to do. This past one, we did a strawberry and lemon theme. So we had strawberry lemonade, strawberry-lemon cake, something like that. And then we would ask our contributors to find those recipes specifically. They would write them down and format them correctly. We then buy the ingredients from those recipes and have recipe testing days, which are usually over the weekends. It’s one day, and we get everyone together in one kitchen. We make the recipes and set up the shot. So we make the food and then we put it all together and make it look pretty to take the picture. And then after that it’s production, which is about four days long, maybe longer. We take those photos, and we put them into Adobe InDesign. Then, we add all of the text and all of the needed recipes, and then we print them.



What is you favorite dish that you have made?It was a strawberry lemon cake, which, actually, I made earlier in March 2020. In between those three layers of strawberry cake was a strawberry-and-lemon curd. On the outside, it was strawberry buttercream. And then for decoration, I piped cartoon stuffed flowers with yellow buttercream petals, and a white center. Not only did it look good, but it tasted great as well!



During quarantine, at-home cooking and baking took over the internet, with trials of sourdough bread and dalgona coffees. Do you feel that in quarantine, you also gained more creativity in your cooking?

Yeah definitely. I also had more time to bake and cook, so I used that time. I followed the trends and made all the recipes. I made a frog bread, which was definitely trendy then. With all of that extra time, I also looked up pictures of food. I like to look on Pinterest, and I just like to search for something to make next.

Marina Yazbek Dias Peres's Work