Photo by Milan Loiacono I knew it was a problem when the birds started to sing … as I started to get ready for bed. Most everyone in my life has told me I’ll grow out of it; nocturnality is an element of youth that will fade under the strict regularity of a 9-to-5 job. But I’ve done 9-to-5, and it hasn’t gone away; more than that, I don’t want it to. It’s not a question … [Read more...] about Letter From the Editor
Fall 2019: Challenging Perceptions of Light & Dark
Flipping the Script: Challenging Motifs in Literature and Film
From the opening pages of Genesis to the opening scenes of Western movies, media has traditionally associated light with positivity and darkness with negativity. Across literature and film, authors and directors use literal light and darkness to suggest figurative meanings about characters, plots and themes. Villains sneak in shadows, dwell in dungeons and cloak … [Read more...] about Flipping the Script: Challenging Motifs in Literature and Film
Written in the Stars: How Cultures View the Cosmos
Art by Bethany Wilson. People have always been drawn to the sky. “The stars, the peacefulness, the beauty,” Physics Professor Gerard Fasel said. “It makes you marvel, it makes you wonder. That’s what the night sky does for me.” Cultures around the world have developed different interpretations of celestial bodies, crafting intricate myths and stories to explain the … [Read more...] about Written in the Stars: How Cultures View the Cosmos
Silhouetting Sound: Light and Dark in Music
Art by Jordan Smith. Milan Loiacono contributed to the reporting in this piece. Music has the ability to elicit a wide spectrum of emotions. It can create suspense in a film scene. Evoke nostalgia from a middle school dance. Help someone cry through their first heartbreak. Music as an art form is an experience, a mood, a feeling. Musical styles express … [Read more...] about Silhouetting Sound: Light and Dark in Music
Creatures of the Night: California Rallies for Wildlife Restoration
Art by Milan Loiacono and Savannah Welch. While the Malibu community falls into a deep sleep, a frog calls for his lover; a mountain lion hunts for her cubs; an owl sings for all of the Santa Monica Mountains to hear. The night is alive. Although unseen to many, nocturnal animals continue to play a vital role in the Santa Monica Mountains — keeping ecosystems balanced … [Read more...] about Creatures of the Night: California Rallies for Wildlife Restoration
