Photo by Caroline Conder After a devastating breakup with the woman he thought would be his future wife, and a surgery to place a stent in his kidney in early 1989 when he was 25, Adjunct History Professor Randal Beeman reached one of the lowest points in his life. “I was taking pain medication, I was sad, I was drinking,” Beeman said. “And I come home one night, and I'm … [Read more...] about Love Brings Randal Beeman out of the Dark
Darkness
Letter From the Editor
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
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
Seeing the Value in Dark
Cemetery flowers in "Dark Spring" | Photo courtesy of Katherine Parsons Out of the darkness, bright tulips bloom. Others wilt and whither. In "Dark Spring," Digital Art Professor Katherine Parsons' art project, she explores how cemetery flowers reflect both life and death. This VR experience for Coaxial Arts in downtown Los Angeles focuses on the relationship between … [Read more...] about Seeing the Value in Dark
Stories from the Shade: When Light Hurts
Photo by Milan LoiaconoIn a land of perpetual sunshine, it’s not easy to avoid light. And most don’t want to.But for some, light harms, prompting or worsening conditions like migraines, malignant skin growths or joint pain to such an extent that retreating to darker surroundings is necessary for relief. Senior Veronica Lempert has experienced chronic migraines since … [Read more...] about Stories from the Shade: When Light Hurts
