Pepperdine’s literary magazine Expressionists held their first coffeehouse of the year on the eve of Halloween. The event occurred in the HAWC and included an intimate crowd of Expressionists staff members, Expressionist Faculty Adviser John Struloeff and students who came out to hear a wide variety of student performers.
The evening presented an eclectic mix of poetry, monologues and short stories, giving the audience plenty of variety for the night. In honor of Halloween, the host Shae Collins announced each performer’s favorite Halloween costume before they presented. Some of them included a Powerpuff Girl, a fairy and a ghost.
Many performers read personal poetry. The evening began with Diana Losen, who presented a comedic monologue in which she pretended to be speed dating and switched personalities each time she sat down to a new, imagined suitor. Her characters ranged in personality from an overly confident British woman to a “Call Me Maybe”-singing date, and got plenty of laughs, particularly with a dig at Kristen Stewart.
Another presenter, Seheri Swint, shared her interpretation of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” which she explained was the first poem she truly loved.
For a change of pace, Collins sat down to read us a short story she had written for class, which explored themes of growing up, poverty and race.
Each of the presenters commanded the stage and left the audience with food for thought while they enjoyed their complimentary coffee and Halloween cupcakes. Overall, the coffeehouse was a worthwhile way to spend a Tuesday evening.
Expressionists magazine has been a part of the Pepperdine community for 42 years, making it a longstanding and cherished Pepperdine tradition. The literary magazine will be hosting several other events throughout the year, including another coffeehouse in the spring semester. The annual Expressionists magazine is released every April. It houses student poetry, stories and photographs. After a rigorous submission process, those who make it into this year’s magazine will read their published work at a gala, where the magazine is first revealed.
Any student interested in submitting a creative piece of work for publication can email expressionists@pepperdine.edu.
Be sure to pick up a copy when the magazine is published in April, or in the meantime, you can pick up last year’s magazine on the third floor of the CAC.
