Currently...

Aaaaaaand… we’re back for another week of student responses. I got so many responses from you guys that I couldn’t fit it all in just one article, and I’m sure you’d rather hear from your close friends than from, well, me. I promise we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming after Thanksgiving break, and don’t you worry, I will be talking about the movie of the year: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”! Keep your eyes peeled for my breakdown of just what makes this movie so freaking awesome and make sure to catch it in a local theater over break. I can’t promise no spoilers. <3

Movies
Saving Face, Amazon
Abigail Kim (senior, psychology and Spanish)
Directed by Alice Wu and available for rent via Amazon Video, this romance/drama tells the story of a gay Chinese-American daughter and her widowed mother who doesn’t know. When her mother discovers she is pregnant at the age of 48, she is kicked out of her parent’s home and forced to move in with her daughter. It’s a movie about cultural expectations and the love that can transcend them.

Killer Sally, Netflix
Kathryn Donaldson (junior, pre-physical therapy)
Calling all true crime aficionados! This limited series from Netflix details the story of famous bodybuilders Sally and Ray McNeil’s seemingly happy marriage that ends in a gruesome Valentine’s Day murder. Join director Nanette Burnstein for a thrilling three-episode look into the dynamic duo and how it all played out. 

Robots, Hulu
Alaina Burghardt (senior, Spanish and global studies)
Nobody said Currently… had to be new releases. Fan favorite animated classic “Robots”, starring Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, and Robin Williams, tells the tale of how a young robot with dreams of becoming an inventor must take on a corrupt corporate monolith to achieve his goals. With truths that are still relevant today, this film makes for a relaxing evening activity.

TV
A League of Their Own, Amazon Prime
Alannah Tjhatra (senior, biochemistry)
A brand new TV series based on the 1992 film, the show chronicles the real-life story of the female professional baseball league that arose amid the chaos of World War Two. Watch the show for good writing, female empowerment, an underdog sports story sure to warm the heart, and much-acclaimed queer representation.

Grey's Anatomy, Netflix
Erin Trutwein (junior, business management)
Who can forget a classic like “Grey’s”? If you’ve never tried out the soapy doctor drama, take a moment to try it today. Personally, I am not sure I know anyone who hasn’t at least given the show a chance. Maybe you’ll be as much of a Meredith stan as the rest of us.

Music
Midnights; Taylor Swift
Liz Polanco (junior, business)
No one can deny that Taylor Swift knows how to make a good pop song. A singer-songwriter legend from Tennessee, her most recent album feels like she has finally found the balance between all her alter egos. While each of her former album’s hold a distinct sound – “Reputation” is voracious and hard hitting, while “Folklore” is soft and introspective –  “Midnights” feels like a little bit of all of them.

Un Verano Sin Ti; Bad Bunny
Karla Torres (junior, graphic design and Spanish)
The most recent album from global pop sensation Bad Bunny, “Un Verano Sin Ti” (A Summer Without You) spent a whopping 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard’s Top 200, equaling heights formerly attained only by Drake’s “Views” and the “Frozen” soundtrack. Listen to the album to find balance between heartbreak and happiness, and maybe find yourself along the way.

Selfish Machines; Pierce the Veil
Nahzoni Haycock (sophomore, biophysics)
Pierce the Veil, an American rock band that grew out of the San Diego punk rock scene, released “Selfish Machines” a little over 10-years ago, in 2010. For their sophomore album, the band allows their guitar technicals and instrumentation to join, resulting in a truly enjoyable classic rock listen.

Musicians
Ichika Nito, guitarist
Aiko Ayala Rios (sophomore, music performance)
Nito, who has been releasing guitar originals since 2017, is a bit of a niche Internet sensation. His music transforms what you might consider to be the classic sound of a guitar, giving its notes an almost lyrical quality. Nito’s tunes make for great background music for a study sesh or a more detailed listen with friends.

Giveon, singer-songwriter
Chris Mata (senior, behavioral science)
Say what you want about Giveon, the man can croon. From the first mournful notes of “Heartbreak Anniversary” to “Like I Want You,” his debut album “Take Time” was an instant hit. Take a moment today to check out his most recent album “Give or Take” to get in your feels.

Books
Cloud Cuckoo Land; Anthony Doerr
Solana Campbell (junior, business management)
From the author who gave the world “All the Light We Cannot See,” the heartrending fictional tale set in WWII about the connection between a blind French girl and a bright German orphan boy who gets recruited into the military due to his fascination with technology, comes “Cloud Cuckoo Land.” a tale that interweaves many differing perspectives of that place up in the sky, where anything is possible.

Jane Eyre; Charlotte Brontë
Grace No (junior, English)
A classic is a classic for a reason. A novel of intense power and intrigue, “Jane Eyre” has dazzled generations of readers with its depiction of a woman's quest for freedom. The story engages with themes like marriage and independence, and an in-depth reading can uncover all kinds of important points about the society we live in today.