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In more recent years, popular culture has associated college campuses as places averse to figures and concepts with controversial backgrounds, inflammatory personalities, or what some perceive as politically incorrect and anti-social justice sentiments. While that claim has experienced some overreaction by conservative news outlets, pundits, and comedians, it is safe to say that many college campuses are not in favor of supporting individuals or groups with ties to Donald Trump and/or persons accused of sexual assault or anti-LGBTQ+ behavior. With that logic in hand, it makes it all the more subversive that Kanye West’s new album Donda has caused so many college students to engage with the 44 year old’s 10th album; a record that focuses on West’s relationship with God, his marital struggles, and, like every Kanye West album, himself. However, Donda attempts to look at the artist known as Ye and Yeezus in a different light than previous albums. At face value, Donda utilizes the sounds and concepts from Ye’s previous works and slams them together to create new sounds out of familiar ones, whether it be the gospel stylings from Jesus Is King, the rock-based electric guitar and powerful percussion from Kids See Ghosts, or the angry, reflective but egotistical lyrics and vocals from The Life of Pablo and Ye. When a Kanye fan listens to "24", the track is likely going to remind them of gospel music with the echoing choir and organ-backed melody, but the pitching and distortion of the singers’ voices and the mixing invokes memories of moments from Yeezus, which is compelling because of how diametrically opposed these albums are in terms of content and themes (While recording Jesus Is King, Kanye West asked that singers abstain from premarital sex; on Yeezus he included a track called "I am A God"). Donda does not seem to even take notice of such musical and conceptual contradictions, and that disregard of such fundamental principles of mass-appeal art by West forms truly thought-provoking music, even if it means Ye is participating in extreme hypocrisy. The fourteenth track, "Heaven and Hell", is a perfect summarization of the double-sided nature of Donda, a track that opens with a distorted, high pitched sample from the 1975 song "Heaven and Hell is on Earth", then delving into both a condemnation and appreciation of wealth, before transitioning to a call to “burn false idols, Jesus’ disciples”, and other calls to the Lord, culminating in Kanye making gunshot noises leading to instrumentals. That summary is without a doubt an oversimplification of what Kanye West is trying to convey, but it is representative of the erratic, complicated mixture of concepts displayed in each song. Only Kanye West could compare himself to Bezos and Jesus in the same song, and only Kanye West could make it sensical and not completely repulsive. Most of the album is like Heaven and Hell, filled with hypocrisy, contradictions, callouts, and calls to praise God. These themes are so powerful (especially to college-age listeners) because it feels realistic, imperfect and sensitive (adjectives not typically associated with Kanye West’s music), with Ye usually focusing on his life and experiences in a very egocentric, self-appeasing fashion. While Kanye still shows some of that self-centeredness, he feels weak and open in many of the tracks, and he accomplishes that without disregarding his musical past, instead relying on those sounds. This perception of Kanye is not detached from his previous works; rather, it is dependent on them. "Believe What I Say" and "Lord I Need You" rely on West displaying himself as weak and dependent whilst also attempting to tell the listener to be wary of his rich and famous lifestyle, and in addition to all of that, seemingly condemning his estranged wife and referencing intimate details in the process, such as with the lines, “Too many complaints made it hard for me to think Remember, this is the same album that has the chorus “Tell me if you know someone that needs Jesus”. Donda may present itself as a dark and complex work, and the previously mentioned tracks all call on a certain darkness and combination of thematic elements, but that does not keep the album from being extremely corny. A lot of these lyrics stick out and can even trip up some of the songs, but for the most part they act as reminders of the genuine nature of Donda and the overall positive image the songs possess. More importantly, lyrics like “best collab since Taco Bell and KFC”, “hi with a bunch of I’s”, “You had a Benz at sixteen, I could barely afford an Audi”, and “Some say Adam could never be black ‘cause a black man’ll never share his rib” remind the listener that Kanye is still Kanye; he may be showing a somewhat different, more confusing perspective of himself, but he is still the creator of The College Dropout, still the man that made "Bound 2". On Donda, Kanye is not alone in his mixture of religiousness, political commentary, corny jokes, and humble brags. Donda is chock-full of features by some of the most decorated and famous artists on the planet, with verses by Jay-Z, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Fivio Foreign, Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, The Weeknd, and Jay Electronica, to name a few. Kanye continues to bring the best out of his features, enhancing all of the tracks and showing enhanced versions of these talented artists, making it clear why so many musicians choose to work with West. "Off The Grid" is essentially a spotlight on Fivio Foreign that will undoubtedly lead to whatever he drops next being greatly anticipated. All of the guest artists create a momentum to the album, never slowing down and instead acting as catalysts for ye’s music, with the artists’ energy bouncing off each other to invigorate the listener. There is a dark side to the features, that being the controversy surrounding the inclusion of DaBaby, Marilyn Manson, and Chris Brown, artists experiencing backlash in media and culture for obvious reasons (DaBaby’s homophobic rant, Marilyn Manson’s rape and abuse allegations, Chris Brown’s history of domestic abuse), and these artists’ inclusion, even when minor in the case of Manson or major with Chris Brown, furthers how representative Donda is of Kanye West. Ye is a habitual line stepper, a MAGA hat-wearing devil’s advocate who will say George Bush doesn’t care about black people as well as that slavery was a choice. And college kids understand that, not because they agree with Kanye’s words or think what he is saying is inherently truthful, more just that he is constantly willing to be himself to a fault, and that is something so powerful on college campuses where there are feelings of insecurity and students scared to confess their own opinions. That environment makes Donda intoxicating; it touches the soul of young adults because they feel like they are just beginning to experience an inundating level of indoctrination, groupthink, and loss of identity. It is the only album that addresses spiritualism while embracing narcissism, openly praising God, talking about the prison industrial complex, cancel culture, and Junya Watanabe. It is confusing, it is powerful, it is contradictory, and it is how it feels to go to college, at least to me. ● The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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By Thomas Gessner
Everybody needs a cheerleader, someone in their corner that will defend them and remind everyone why they are the best. The same can be said for North Carolina colleges and universities, most of which have actual cheerleaders, but nonetheless deserve some help in hyping themselves up. For that reason, I have created below a list of arguments for each North Carolina college on why they are the best in the state. Enjoy.
Appalachian State University: That’s right, besides having the most baja jackets in the country per capita, they also get to wake up on a mountain. East Carolina University: They are located in the best Greenville in the Carolinas, and in addition to that, Mr. Beast lives here, so odds are you will get some free stuff. Elizabeth City State University: Home to the only four-year aviation science degree program in North Carolina. Enough said. Fayetteville State University: Blueface went there, that’s about as good as you can get in terms of famous alumni. North Carolina A&T University: The university of the Greensboro Four, this school got to be a part of a historical moment in the civil rights movement. Also they were too good to stay in the MEAC. North Carolina Central University: It’s in the name. They are the center of the state, and therefore the best. If you like community service, NCCU was thefirst UNC-system school to require community service to graduate. North Carolina State University: The biggest college in the state surely has to be the best college in the state, and if the enrollment numbers aren’t big enough, their mascot is not just one wolf, but a pack of them. University of North Carolina at Asheville: The only university in the coolest city in the state, and they get to wake up to the mountains too. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Only the G.O.A.T. basketball player Michael Jordan could go to the G.O.A.T North Carolina university, and that takes precedence over a former president going there. University of North Carolina at Charlotte: There are only five words needed: Regional Banking Capital of America. Also the fastest growing university in North Carolina. University of North Carolina at Greensboro: DaBaby spending two years at UNCG would be enough to put them at the top, but also having a tradition where the word rock is misspelled puts them even higher. University of North Carolina at Pembroke: Hail to UNCP is an absolute banger. University of North Carolina Wilmington: Oh yeah, they are only located 6 minutes away from the beach, and oh yeah, their main school color is teal. University of North Carolina School of the Arts: Without a doubt this school contains the most famous alumni list, seriously, it is a crazy list. Western Carolina University: As they say in California, West is Best, and that remains true for the only North Carolina college with Western in the name. Winston-Salem State University: The first historically black college to win the NCAA Basketball championship. Barton College: Student faculty rate of 12:1 means that a student here will be getting to know their teachers. Belmont Abbey College: Their newspaper name is the Crusader, and I call upon anyone to find a college newspaper name cooler than that. Bennett College: People may hype up the Greensboro Four, but do not forget the Bennett Belles, which is a far better name considering the alliteration. Brevard College: Since Brevard is located in Transylvania county, I would argue they are the best college out of fear that a vampire will kill me if I say otherwise. Catawba College: Their nickname the “Catawba Indians” is approved by the Catawba Indian Nation, and because of that the college stands as a visionary, doing something the Washington Football team could never accomplish. Davidson College: https://youtu.be/TGQID66agH4 Gardner-Webb University: They invented Pancake Bingo, can any other NC college say that? Greensboro College: The mascot for Greensboro College is “The Pride”, which doubles as a group of lions and one of the seven deadly sins. Pretty metal, I know. Guilford College: Alma Mater to the coolest name in the history of professional sports, World B. Free, a name that is even cooler considering the Quaker roots of the school. High Point University: The most luxurious school on this list, and it is not even close. I mean, how many colleges can say they have a steakhouse with live music on campus? Lees-Mcrae College: One of the only colleges to be named after two women, and the college used to accept livestock to pay for tuition. Lenoir-Rhyne University: They have both a male and female mascot, so the school is truly progressive. The school also has what is believed to be the largest Martin Luther statue in the world. Mars Hill University: A university you can attend and then tell people you went to Mars. Meredith College: The first female university to adopt a campus-wide laptop program. Montreat College: To quote Emilie Miller Vaughn: "I wish I could tell you of the scenery around here and at the retreat. People who have traveled say it is only equaled by Switzerland". I have no idea if that is true, but I am choosing to believe it. North Carolina Wesleyan College: The yearbook name for North Carolina Wesleyan College is The Dissenter, and for some reason that just makes the school a cut above the rest in my book. Salem College: The oldest women’s college in the United States, and everyone should respect their elders. University of Mount Olive: Have you ever eaten an olive? One of the more underrated snack foods, and I choose to believe there is correlation between that and this university. Since it is the only university located in Mount Olive, it seems no other school listed can make such claims. Warren Wilson College: Work builds character, and at Warren Wilson College, every student has to work on campus to graduate, meaning that the school is filled to the brim with character. William Peace University: A school with peace in the name deserves great recognition, even if it was just the name of the founder of the university, and he luckily made sure that the school would be located in downtown Raleigh, one of the most lively areas in the state. Campbell University: When you attend this school, it is hump day everyday, and you do not have to worry about being surrounded by people not from North Carolina, because Campbell enrolls more North Carolinians than any other private institution in the country. Carolina University: Carolina University did not feel the need to subcategorize itself by having its name contain the location of the school. No, Carolina University is so confident in their abilities as an academic institution, that they define themselves as THE Carolina University. Chowan University: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed only attended the school for one semester, so it's safe to say that his values and the university’s values did not align. Duke University: The only school in the state that people across the country believe is an Ivy League member. Elon University: The school’s colors are maroon, and gold? That is just too exquisite and fancy to not make this a premier university. Not to mention their mascot is a phoenix, and real or not, those things are powerful. Johnson C. Smith University: Not one, but two Harlem Globetrotters attended Johnson C. Smith, and their nicknames were great to boot, that being Twiggy and Curly. Johnson and Wales University: This university is the only college in North Carolina to have its main campus be in Rhode Island. Livingstone College: There has never been a “living stone”, but Livingstone College gives me hope that one day there may be one, and if there is one, odds are it will be at this campus. In terms of real arguments, the school has produced three firsts: First African-American neurosurgeon, first African-American President of the National Education Association, and the first African-American mayor of Salisbury. Methodist University: A man by the name Chip Dicks attended Methodist University; that is simply breathtaking. Mid-Atlantic Christian University: North Carolina is not even in the Mid-Atlantic, but the effort is greatly appreciated and noted. Pfeiffer University: The nickname of the school is the Falcons, which might not be an alliteration, but ingeniously utilizes the “f” sounding Pfeiffer to make you think it is alliterated. And if that isn’t enough, the mascot is named Freddie, which boosts points in the alliteration department. Queens University of Charlotte: Since no Kings University exists in North Carolina, by default the Queen is the highest authority. St. Andrews University: The university could have easily made a mistake and called it St. Andrew’s University, but they smartly avoided that pitfall, showcasing some great insight and critical-thinking. St. Augustine’s University: This university could have easily made a mistake and called it St. Augustine University, but they smartly avoided that pitfall, showcasing some great insight and critical-thinking. Shaw University: One of Shaw University’s school colors is garnet, and that distinction they chose instead of settling with maroon or dark red is impressive. Wake Forest University: A test-optional school, which makes up for their participation in the National athletic scandal in 2019. Wingate University: Mascots are important, and respecting them is even more important. That is why Wingate University is the best college in North Carolina, because they gave their mascot a full, christian name: Victor E. Bulldog. What the E stands for, we may never know. Every school listed clearly has a well-defined and thought out argument for why they are the best college in North Carolina. Every argument is equal in terms of weight and importance, and at no point are the claims made sarcastic, intentionally witty, or humorous. In all seriousness, North Carolina houses an incredibly diverse college education system with some of the best schools in the world, and you cannot go wrong with these appreciable options. ● The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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By Owen Sizemore
CHAPEL HILL – Last week, I had the pleasure of traveling to Chapel Hill and ordering takeout from Cosmic Cantina, a staple of Franklin Street college eats well-known for its inexpensive yet plentiful portions of Mexican classics. Nestled in a cozy space inside the Franklin Centre section of shops, the restaurant offers a wide variety of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and more late into the night, closing at 2 a.m. on weekends.
I should preface this review by stating that I am not a first-time customer of Cosmic. When living in Durham I was a frequent patron of their hole-in-the-wall location on Perry Street, enjoying many burritos after high school soccer games and on the weekends. My expectations for the Franklin Street location were quite high, but needless to say the experience did not disappoint my taste buds – nor my wallet. One reason that I have been such a longtime fan of Cosmic Cantina is due to their excellent variety of vegetarian and vegan options. I’ve been vegan for several years now and understand that finding Hispanic fare that is both authentic and accessible to my eating preferences is often an impossible task; such tacos and burritos are seldom made without meat, cheese, or beans and rice that isn’t cooked in animal fat. However, Cosmic does an incredible job of stepping up to the plate and knocking this challenge out of the park, boasting a wide variety of options for those with strict dietary needs. Cosmic offers several vegetarian burritos and tacos served with a selection of beans, veggies, rice, salsa, cheese, sour cream and guac that can be ordered as-is for vegetarians or without dairy for vegans. I ordered two vegetarian tacos without cheese and loved the taste of the made-in-house flour tortillas and savory salsa. They came cheap, too, at a price of less than $2.50 a taco.
If you’re looking for something a little more filling, the tofu burrito is an excellent option. Served with rice, beans, salsa, and soft tofu wrapped in a crispy flour tortilla, the burrito alone might be enough to constitute a meal but nonetheless is served with a modestly generous side of yellow corn tortilla chips and salsa.
For those still not satisfied, Cosmic also boasts “deluxe” burritos with sour cream and guacamole inside. Surpassing those are the “giant” burritos which are closer in size to a newborn baby than a meal for one. Each of these options are very affordable, with the tofu burrito sitting at just over $4, deluxe burritos at $8-10 depending on your protein, and giant burritos at about $11. The best deals, in my opinion, are the deluxe and giant vegetarian burritos, sitting at about $6 and $8 respectively.
I also took the opportunity to try a menu item I wasn’t as familiar with. Cosmic’s vegan platter is served with black and pinto beans, rice, and generous portions of guacamole and salsa for around $4.50. The platter definitely doesn’t have as much of an excitement factor compared to an item like the “giant burrito”, but the generous portion for such a low price is quite a convincing deal for a college student on a budget.
I tried the platter with my girlfriend, who was not the biggest fan of Cosmic’s guac, so it might be a good idea to try a side of it for about two bucks before adding it to your burritos or other items. The final item in my Cosmic spread was the simple yet powerful addition of tortilla chips and salsa. If you’re worried that a burrito or pair of tacos might not be enough to hold you over until tomorrow’s breakfast, it might be a good idea to throw this in for two bucks. I will say that the salsa is best served in another item like a burrito or taco as opposed to eaten plainly with chips, but regardless I found it very tasty.
I almost forgot one last item that was included in my order: my girlfriend, who is not vegan, ordered a glass of horchata, a traditional, creamy drink made of milk, rice, vanilla and cinnamon. She described it as one of her favorite horchatas, second only to that made by her own family. If you are looking to try something new or simply in need of some authentic horchata, Cosmic provides an excellent option.
All in all, my experience at Cosmic Cantina on Franklin Street was an overwhelmingly positive one. For around $20 I was able to make three meals out of my tacos, burrito, platter and chips, and I would certainly order each of them again. If you find yourself on Franklin Street – or on Perry Street in Durham, for that matter – and looking for a delicious budget meal, Cosmic Cantina is a student favorite for a reason. ● The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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By Thomas Gessner and Owen Sizemore
After a much-needed break to finish out the spring semester, the NC College Beat staff are back to write and create content for our Summer 2021 newsroom. Here’s what to expect going forward:
Story Releases The Summer 2021 Newsroom staff plans to release at least one story every weekday, Monday through Friday. As most college students in North Carolina are currently on break, our overall story themes will be shifting away from informational pieces on university happenings and more towards unique student perspectives and ideas. Our stories will include opinion pieces, college guides, student interviews, restaurant and media reviews, podcasts, videos, photo galleries, and much more. Upcoming Stories For Summer and Beyond Colleges and vaccines. Like many other pandemic obstacles, North Carolina schools are tackling vaccines differently, and a question many people have is which schools require vaccination and which do not? That question will be answered in an upcoming article, as well as what the process is for students that do not get vaccinated at schools where it is optional. Best food on college campuses. Food has always been an important part of the college experience, and at and around college campuses are some of the best places to get a variety of cuisine in the whole state. That is why NC College Beat will be publishing pieces reviewing the restaurants of North Carolina campuses, from Appalachian State to Wilmington, with the goal of addressing better local options that students can support when they return in the fall. Preseason football prospects. The college football season is quickly approaching, and many teams have made big decisions and adjustments for the fall, whether that be through scouting or making changes because of players graduating. Luckily for North Carolina, the state has had many emerging programs that will be competitive in the upcoming season, and all the D1 teams in North Carolina will be ranked in the preseason. The return to pre-pandemic life on college campuses. Since North Carolina colleges and universities are in the process of returning to an in-person, on-campus format, NC College Beat will be covering more stories about the approaches different schools are taking for events that the pandemic halted or diminished. The website will be publishing articles on classes, sporting events, concerts, and other activities, with the goal of analyzing the decisions each school makes, how they compare to one another, and the effect of such decisions. Summer 2021 Newsroom Staff Our staff for this summer’s newsroom will be a smaller, focused group of a variety of backgrounds and writing interests. We hope to provide a balanced and insightful set of perspectives that all readers will enjoy. Lucas Thomae, Copy Chief
Lucas is a second-year Journalism Major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He works for the sports deck of The Daily Tar Heel, with his work also appearing in the Greensboro News and Record. Lucas will serve as the primary editor for summer stories and will also collaborate with other writers on important features.
Owen Sizemore, Webmaster
Owen is a second-year Computer Science and Political Science Double-Major at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is an active member of UNC Charlotte’s Student Government Association and is pursuing a career as a Software Engineer. Owen will be maintaining the NC College Beat website and social media accounts as well as occasionally writing stories.
Isabella Reilly, Staff Writer
Isabella is a second-year Media & Journalism and English and Comparative Literature Double Major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She hopes to become an overseas news correspondent, author and poet in the near future. This summer, Isabella will be writing pieces on her perspective as a UNC Chapel Hill student, as well as covering features and culture stories from around the state.
Thomas Gessner, Staff Writer
Thomas is a second-year Economics student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is originally from Greensboro, North Carolina. Thomas will be covering feature stories on culture, sports, as well as writing opinion pieces.
Are you interested in contributing to NC College Beat this summer as a writer, photographer, videographer, or other position? Apply now! Social Media Stay up-to-date with everything NC College Beat has planned this summer by following us on Twitter and Instagram, and liking us on Facebook! The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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By Thomas Gessner
Dating apps have quickly become a staple of phone lock screens around the world, and they are being used by all types of people, different genders, sexes, and age groups more than ever. But how are these apps being used amid a pandemic? The antithesis of romance that is the COVID-19 virus, a disease that spreads through close contact and touch, stifled many lovers' options to meet potential partners in conventional manners. But, apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble are providing new opportunities for individuals to participate in dating and relationships. In particular, one large demographic taking advantage of these services has been, none other than, college students.
Robert Kelchen, a blogger, professor and researcher who discusses higher education, has said that “campus life will be a combination of a monastery and a minimum-security prison”, and while there is plenty of evidence to support the latter comparison, college life for many is not celibate. Perhaps Kelchen underestimates both the lack of control and oversight a college has on its students, as well as the determination of students who may be away from any parents or guardians for the first time in their lives. This series of anonymous interviews with college students (all North Carolina residents who attend four-year institutions) asserts the idea that college-aged youth are continuing, or attempting, a proactive lifestyle.
The students were asked questions about their usage of dating apps in college during the pandemic, and from among that group there were a range of reasons for downloading these apps (Tinder being the most popular), but still, plenty of commonality remained. Hookups while being in an open relationship, friends with benefits, friends with no benefits, new relationships, long term sexual relationships; all were goals given in regard to dating app usage.
“The pandemic has made it hard to meet people so I’ve met some guys through there who I’m just friends with,” one interviewee said. Every student interviewed said that they intended to physically meet people they met on dating apps, despite the potential dangers involved with such an act. This is something not supported by most major dating services, who have been advocating for socially-distanced meetups or online dates, but college students are not on these apps to keep their distance from people. Every interviewee had already met someone they found on the app in person with the intention of a relationship and/or sexual activity. They also clarified that using these apps was “not necessarily because of the pandemic,” however. Maybe these excursions aren’t something that’s premeditated or particularly thought out, as one student seemed to infer. “I don’t really think about why I’m using dating sites, I just kinda use them,” he said. This statement suggests that this new crop of Tinder and Bumble users might not have a plan, especially in a more spontaneous period of their lives.
Every student interviewed cited COVID-19 as a reason why they began using dating apps, or started using them more frequently, but that’s not to say that students wouldn’t be on these apps if the pandemic never happened. In general, the college lifestyle has an undeniably large influence on the usage of dating apps. The middle section of Generation Z is entering a time in their lives without the same levels of supervision, and with a continued desire to connect with people on a romantic, platonic, and sexual level.
That being said, college-aged students are having less and less sex, per a 2018 study by the National College Health Assessment, which showed a five percent drop in sexual activtity among college students since 2000. For the fall of 2020 survey, only 6.7 percent of surveyed undergraduate students said they participated in vaginal intercourse in the past year, but this is higher than the percentage for the spring of 2019, which was 5.5 percent. Now, it seems counterintuitive, but maybe people like Robert Kelchen are looking at the impacts of the pandemic incorrectly. An age group that has been participating in sexual intercourse less and less every year could be motivated by a greater lack of human interaction to become sexually and romantically active. In this respect, the pandemic almost serves as a catalyst for college-aged kids using dating apps. Maybe the pandemic has reinvigorated college students, students who grew up with iPods and cell phones, students with a more intimate understanding of technology and apps than anyone else on the planet, and because of that have turned to something they can understand: Tinder, Bumble, etc. Of course, what is being seen here is a lot of correlation and circumstantial conclusions made using rational thought in the absence of hard facts. But the small group of students interviewed is helpful on an anecdotal level for comprehending this movement to dating apps. My hope is that these ideas presented will allow for greater thought and contemplation of how students have found connection in a world lacking just that. So don’t brush off these students’ mid-pandemic dating lives, because maybe they’re just ahead of the curve. Pretty soon, your own phone screen may be filled with some more yellow and red. ● The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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I love North Carolina, and more importantly, I love North Carolina being represented in popular culture. Too many shows are set in New York City or Los Angeles, and since so many filmmakers have covered these two locales, there really isn’t much left to say about them. Why make another movie about LA after Chinatown or Heat? Or make another police procedural about the NYPD? North Carolina is a state rich with history and a variety of different cultures and perspectives that are wholly unique to the region. I’m not saying it’s easy to make a show or movie about North Carolina; Outer Banks is a gross misrepresentation of the Carolina coast and its inhabitants, something I hope to cover later. Even though it was not a high quality work of art, Outer Banks inspired me to look deeper at my home to discover works that honor NC. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to go through a list of great films set in the Tar Heel State that exhibit a level of knowledge and comprehension of the area, as well as ones that might miss the mark or almost get to the level I’m searching for. I thought a great way to begin this conversation would be to talk about one of my favorite heist films: Logan Lucky. Also known as Ocean’s 7/11, Logan Lucky follows the Logan family as they attempt to rob a NASCAR event, while fighting a family curse. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film gives a stark alternative to the flashy nature and fast-talking suave of Ocean’s 11, instead opting for a tone that is much more fitting for North Carolina. The Logan brothers, played by Channing Tatum and Adam Driver, both have thick Southern accents, dress in hunting camo and trucker hats, and speak about as slow as gravy. Because of this, many people were confused and challenged the story written by Jules Asner, along with the direction, since it did not make sense to them that rednecks could pull off a heist involving intricate timing, scheming, and masterminding. If you are from a Southern state like NC, then this isn’t a problem. Southerners are just as intelligent as anyone else, and heavy accents and bad haircuts don’t change any of that. This is part of why the film is so great for North Carolinians, it gives us non-stereotypical Southern characters that are competent. In addition to all of that, the film highlights NASCAR racing, a sport originating in NC and a great way to integrate Carolina culture into the plot. The pacing of the film is slow and methodical instead of the typical fast-paced flashiness in Soderbergh’s Ocean’s movies, and this structure and presentation of the plot fits the calm and comedic nature of the environment, and is a perfect match for Carolina. Before I continue, I must go on a tangent about a very important character in Logan Lucky. The casting of Daniel Craig as Joe Bang is some of the wildest fence swinging I’ve ever seen. He has quite possibly one of the worst Southern accents, but it just doesn’t matter. He steals every scene he’s in. He cranks it up to 100 and overacts everybody else off the stage, and he does so with a level of undeniable charm. Craig might not sound like a southerner, but he embodies the qualities of one in this film, and to me, that’s far more important than any vocal mistakes. Every time I watch Logan Lucky, I break into a rare laughter when Bang exclaims, “We are dealing with science here!” as he holds a bag full of gummy bears and fake salt. Besides Daniel Craig, the rest of the performances are surprisingly subtle, save for Seth MacFarlane’s energy drink mogul with an equally wacky British accent and hairdo. But that notwithstanding, Channing Tatum and Adam Drive are both very believable as brothers, and they offer the viewers different energy to connect with; Clyde Logan is “the one arm bartender”, and Driver carries this role with a heap of sincerity and tepidness, an ex-marine amputee who is aptly wary of his brother’s grand scheme. And that brother, Jimmy Logan, someone easy to root for, a father trying to look out for his daughter while struggling with a knee injury that ultimately gets him laid off from his job working construction at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Lastly from the Logan brood, there is Mellie, played by Riley Keough, who works to dispel some of the masculinity and bring an always appreciated feminine touch to a heist movie. She is the Logan’s bubblegum-chewing wheelwoman when she is not working as a hairdresser. With all of the major players introduced, excluding some more minor ones that I will surely bring up later, it’s time to cover the basic plot in relation to our great state. After Jimmy Logan is fired from his construction job because of a failure to report a knee injury that prevented him from having a college football career, he enlists the help of his hapless brother, who just got fired from his bartending gig that he was surprisingly proficient at, all things considered. They begin planning to rob the Charlotte Motor Speedway’s pneumatic tube system, and require a demolitions expert (guess who that is), and must work around Joe Bang’s prison sentence, Clyde’s prosthetic limb, and Hilary Swank in a pantsuit. I do not want to delve into the plot much more, but would like to add that Katie Holmes, Sebastian Stan, and Macon Blair round out the cast, giving the audience a better sense of the world that Soderbergh has invited them into. Now, I have given this film a lot of praise, and while this exercise is meant to mostly be positive, I have to point out my issues with the story and production, in particular, the inaccuracies that fall upon North Carolina. I mentioned him before, but now is the time to add that Seth MacFarlane does not add much to the movie, and he does not add much in the most exasperated way. His performance is both quite similar to Craig’s with a silly accent and great overreacting, but he fails to be fun, and that is what makes overreacting work. He also just stands out; it becomes difficult to not think about MacFarlane the celebrity, instead of MacFarlane the actor. Besides him, the cast fits together like a beautiful mosaic, but he comes across as a big, missing tile. A much smaller issue relating to NC is that the Charlotte Motor Speedway is listed as being in Charlotte. While this may seem obvious, the CMS actually is located in Concord. The last criticism I really have about this film is that the last half hour drags, spending too much time away from the main characters and away from the exciting heist and outcome. With that, I implore everyone to see Logan Lucky while it is available on Amazon Prime, and next time, I will be covering an Oscar-Nominated sports film. ● The Recommended Content Widget will appear here on the published site.
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9/3/2021
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