It Slowly Slipped Away 

by The Cowl Editor on October 28, 2021


Features


person holding a mirror
Photo courtesy of pexels.com

by Grace O’Connor ’22

 

She looked in the mirror and took a deep breath

Today was the day her life would change

She looked down at her newly polished nails as her heart drummed in her chest

Time was going by painfully slowly yet too fast

 

She stood up slowly and walked down the stairs in silence

The silence in the air weighed her down with every step

The last time she saw her she was in her arms, the most beautiful thing alive 

It felt hard to breathe every time she thought about her

 

She sipped the coffee slowly as her mind kept running rapidly

She wanted more than anything another chance

A new relationship, one that she could cherish rather than one that bares the emptiness 

Of a relationship that was nonexistent 

 

The ring of the doorbell echoed through the house

She stood up slowly and walked to the door at the end of the hall

She put her hand on the cold door knob and twisted it hesitantly

She gasped when she saw her face

 

It was the day that changed everything

One that she had tried to delete from her memories for years

But also a day she could never get back, all the emotions that she had buried inside

Sometimes would bubble up to the surface

 

All she kept was that one photo

That one memory

It slowly slipped away

Until that one moment, the day that changed everything

 

Remembering Ruthie Tompson

by mpalmie2 on October 21, 2021


Arts & Entertainment


Remembering Ruthie Tompson

The Pioneering Animator’s Legacy Lives On

By Grace O’Connor ’22

Animator Ruthie Tompson’s contributions to Disney did not go unnoticed over the course of her lifetime, and will continue to be honored after her passing. Through her work on films from Snow White to The Rescuers, she proved herself to be a dedicated and talented woman. As Walt Disney Co-Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board, Bob Iger, expressed, “While we will miss her smile and wonderful sense of humor, her exceptional work, and pioneering spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all.” 

During her long life of 111 years, Tompson saw Disney evolve from its humble origins to its status as a mainstay of American culture today. She lived near Disney Brothers Studio in the 1920s. According to Deadline, when reflecting on those years, she said, “once Roy [Disney] asked us, neighborhood kids, to play tag in the street, while he photographed us with a movie camera.” She recalled how he insinuated it was for character studies in movement, explaining how she “supposed it was for the Alice Comedies.” She added how “he paid each of us a quarter, which I was glad for because I could buy licorice.” This early experience ignited Tompson’s interest in Disney, and she went on to become a painter in the studio’s Ink & Paint Development Department. 

Tompson started her career with Disney at 18 years old, quickly working her way up through the ranks. She is best known for her animation work in Disney’s first full-length animated feature, Snow White. As Walt Disney World News Today explains, she went on to work on Disney Classics such as Dumbo, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and The Aristocats. According to Disney Insider, Tompson was then promoted to the final checker position, where she reviewed animation cells before they were photographed onto films. Notably, in 1948, Tompson made history in Disney’s camera department when she became “one of the first three women admitted into the International Photographers Union.” This impressive accolade speaks to her skill and hard work. 

Tompson dedicated 40 years to Disney, eventually retiring in the 1970s. She was honored by Disney Legends Program in 2000 for the incredible work that she did throughout her time with the company. As Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks expressed, “Ruthie was a true Disney Legend. As a young girl who began as an ‘extra’ in the 1920s Alice Comedies—she was directed by Walt Disney himself and watched over the shoulders of Roy O. Disney and [Disney Legend] Ub Iwerks, working the silent cameras—and living to 111 years old, she was the only person still alive who had known Walt Disney since his earliest Hollywood years.” Tompson’s contributions will always be remembered as monumental, and for helping to make Disney what it is today. 

Be Patient

by The Cowl Editor on September 23, 2021


Poetry


a woman hiding under a pile of blankets
Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

by Grace O’Connor ’22

 

Being patient makes her head spin and her nausea take over. 

Being patient makes her feel like she is locked in a small space, 

With the walls closing in on her, darkness preparing to give her a suffocating hug. 

 

Being patient leaves marks on her skin of irritation and fear. 

Being patient leaves her forgetting how to breathe, 

As she attempts to force air into her shallow lungs, her heart pounding for mercy. 

 

Being patient makes her forget how to live. 

Being patient makes her thoughts stab her brain like nails, 

Piercing through soft tissue, paving the way for her lifeline to trickle down. 

 

Being anxious feels more natural to her. 

Being anxious allows her to give in to her own worst enemy, 

Providing herself temporary relief and a quick moment to breathe. 

 

What’s the difference between the two? 

Being patient is how she is told to act and being anxious is instinctive to her. 

What’s worse one may ask? 

 

She doesn’t know, and will she ever? 

She craves a quick fix, giving in to her inner vices, 

As patience looms in the far distance, unreachable from darkness’s tight hug. 

 

She yearns for normalcy, 

Wondering day by day if she’ll ever feel that true bliss.  

Every year she is one step closer in this taxing marathon.  

 

She knocks down barriers that her mind puts in her way. 

Stopping herself from giving in to temporary fixes, 

Learning how to embrace patience despite how excruciating it may be. 

 

Be patient. 

Stop worrying.  

Why do you care so much? 

 

If only her overworked mind was willing to listen all the time, 

This battle would be easy. 

But does growth come easy? Never. 

 

She will never stop fighting. 

 

The Healing

by The Cowl Editor on September 16, 2021


Poetry


by Grace O’Connor ’22

A sunrise over the ocean
Photo courtesy of pexels.com

She slowly heals as time pulls her forward.  

She holds tight onto the past like an old stuffed animal, 

As she is afraid of what the future will hold. 

The future is a sky stuffed with millions of stars. 

 

She is mesmerized by the stars that look down at her. 

She tries to connect how her past got her here, 

As she connects the stars in her mind making shapes, 

She tries to make sense of her life, her purpose. 

 

Little does she know she’s a minuscule part of something much bigger. 

Her voice is silenced in a large sea, 

She can decide if she wants to make her voice count or be held back, 

By her thoughts that glue her in place. 

 

She lets the glue tear her skin as she pulls away, 

It is painful and she is vulnerable, 

But she needs to breathe. 

She escapes from the glue’s tight hug, naked. 

 

She’s been trapped in a glass box, 

Put hate marks on her skin, 

Been pinned down, 

Blinded with rose-colored glasses, 

Refused to swallow solid food for months, 

A bubble stuck in time, 

Unable to breathe, 

Only comforted by string lights swimming through the air. 

 

She always had the power to pull herself away, 

From her own abusive thoughts which held her back 

From true bliss her entire life. 

She learns to love herself slowly, but hesitantly.  

 

Her mind craves the comfort of the glue. 

She craves infinite possibilities like the stars that glimmer in the sky. 

She made her decision and it is to live every day to her its fullest, 

Even when times get hard and unbearable. 

 

She does this because she owes it to herself, 

No one can replace her in this world, 

Because she is not replaceable. 

Once she finds her internal confidence she will be unstoppable.  

She is Grace, and she is no longer ashamed.

 

A Preview of Ed Sheeran’s Anticipated New Album

by The Cowl Editor on September 3, 2021


Arts & Entertainment


A Preview of Ed Sheeran’s Anticipated New Album

The Musician Returns to the Spotlight With ‘=’

By Grace O’Connor ’22

 

Ed Sheeran is once again in the spotlight, this time with the anticipation surrounding the Oct. 29 release of his new album, ‘=.’ It has been four years since he released his last traditional album, ‘÷,’ so fans are excitedly awaiting the day that they can enjoy his newest release.

The Guardian describes how “Sheeran had trailed the album with an image of a chrysalis, with butterflies featuring on the album cover itself. Speaking on Instagram Live while on holiday with his family, he said the imagery represents ‘new life – I’ve been through, over the last four years, different experiences in life, including getting married, having a kid, losing a friend.”

Evidently, these major life events have given Sheeran plenty of inspiration for ‘=.’ Fans and music critics alike are expecting it to be an impactful record and a strong representation of Sheeran’s talent based on the previews the musician has offered so far.

On Aug. 25, Sheeran performed a small show at hmv Empire in Coventry, England. He introduced two love songs, “First Times” and “Overpass Graffiti.” The hit-heavy set also featured recent singles “Bad Habits” and “Visiting Hours.” A close examination of the lyrics and composition of these songs reveals that they were put together with focus and contemplation. Sheeran reflects on small, impactful moments, turning them into works of art that are both meaningful to him and relatable to fans around the world.

‘=’ features 14 new songs. Interestingly, the album’s final tracklist was significantly cut down from an original set of songs. According to The Guardian, Sheeran described the process of making final decisions about which tracks to include on the album as “painstaking.” However, of the songs that made the final cut and the album as a whole, he said, “‘They all have their place – I love it, I think it’s the best piece of work I’ve done, it’s cohesive and it feels great.” It certainly seems that this album has been carefully crafted and will truly represent Sheeran’s hard work and the growth he has experienced over the course of his career.

Indeed, the amounts of time between the release of each one of Sheeran’s albums highlight different turning points in the singer’s life, making his discography uniquely heartfelt and impactful. In a recent statement, Sheeran described ‘=’ as “a coming of age record” and stated, “I’ve never been more proud of a body of work.”

For those eager to learn more about the upcoming release, Variety offers a sneak peak. The magazine describes that “thematically, ‘=’ finds Ed taking stock of his life and the people in it, as he explores the varying degrees of love (‘The Joker And The Queen’, ‘First Times’, ‘2step’), loss (‘Visiting Hours’), resilience (‘Can’t Stop The Rain’) and fatherhood (‘Sandman’, ‘Leave Your Life’), while also processing his reality and career (‘Tides’).”

Sheeran’s career has been filled with many highs. For instance, his 2014 album ‘x’ was the 49th best-selling album ever in the UK. After releasing his third album ‘÷,’ he embarked on a world tour that would become the highest-grossing and most-attended tour of all time.

Much of Sheeran’s success has to do with his dedicated fans who not only relate to his music, but are also in awe of his unique, pure talent. Over the course of the past ten years, his career has skyrocketed and he has become a household name.

His career is being especially celebrated this year as the tenth anniversary of the release of ‘+,’ his debut album, approaches on Sept. 9. Loyal fans who have been with the musician all these years, as well as the fans he’s won during this time, are excited to see where Ed Sheeran’s career will take him, and are counting down the days until they can hear his latest masterpiece on Oct. 29.

Chloe Zhao Wins Best Director for Nomadland

by Sara Conway on May 6, 2021


Film and Television


Her Journey from China to Pine Ridge to Hollywood

by Grace O’Connor ’22 A&E Staff

Chloe Zhao is an impressive Chinese director, screenwriter, and producer who recently earned the Academy Award for Best Directing for the film Nomadland. After growing up in Beijing, Zhao made her way to the Pine Ridge Indian Reserve in South Dakota. According to Vulture, “Zhao wasn’t the first artist to come from outside an Indigenous community with the intention of telling a story set within it. But she was coming from far outside it, so far that she felt unconstrained by both American colonialist history and the legacy of guilt that comes with it.” 

Written and directed by Chloé Zhao, 'Nomadland' is the Best Picture nominee  that's both timeless and timely - CLTure
PHOTO COURTESY OF SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

With her background and passion for film, Zhao eventually made a name herself. She used locals in her films, giving them fictional parts that closely related to their own experiences. Zhao produced some films before Nomadland including Songs My Brother Taught Me and The Rider. Over the past four years, she has become one of the most pursued directors in Hollywood thanks to a trio of devoutly noncommercial features. By the time she started shooting Nomadland in the fall of 2018, she had attracted the attention of a major star, Frances McDormand, who co-produced the film and plays its heroine. Nomadland was not considered a typical Oscar movie, but with Zhao’s great eye and talent, the film was an inevitable success. Vulture again states that Nomadland “follows a loose collection of nomads for whom “retirement” means traveling the country for seasonal work after losing their savings in the 2008 recession or never having any to begin with. It’s an exploration of tattered safety nets, stubborn individualism, and economic decay in the heartland.” This unorthodox plot brought the story close to home for many individuals.

In the 93 years that the Academy Awards have been around, fewer than two dozen Asain performers have been recognized. Additionally, only 18% of directors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films are women. Zhao is the first woman of color in history to win the Academy Award for Best Director, both an exciting and historic achievement. 

However, not everyone is celebrating Zhao’s well-deserved win. The New York Times cautioned that although “Zhao’s success has been praised as a major step forward in representation behind the camera this awards season, efforts to celebrate these firsts appear to have been dampened in China, where reports of censorship and media silence emerged Monday.” Chinese social media sites began censoring Zhao following a comment she made in a 2013 interview, calling China “a place where there are lies everywhere.” Growing up in China, Zhao felt constrained and unable to tell the truth, which strengthened her desire to move out of the country so that she could speak her mind. These desires made her who she is today: a woman who embodies resilience, intelligence, and talent.

Rip Tide

by Elizabeth McGinn on May 6, 2021


Poetry


hand holding an octopus
Photo courtesy of pexels.com

by Grace O’Connor ’22

He shimmers in the golden sunlight,
As she looks at his ripples from the light breeze, mesmerized.
The dip in the ripples is a dark blue with a light blue exterior that the sun accentuates,
He cools her feet, welcoming her into his bountiful abyss.
She steps in, and the water wraps her in his silky balminess.
She slowly swims out, guided by his riptide.
The riptide pushes her out further as she looks at the land becoming smaller.
She starts to panic as she slowly looks for the floor he pushed away.

He is a ravenous beast, trying to pull her down to his deep, dark, depths.
He is frigid, forceful, and has fingers that claw at the shore, constantly searching for more.
Grabbing her legs, dragging her down to the darkness that lingers below,
As her arms move in circles to keep her up, his waves consistently rumble her way,
Pushing her down, and tossing her around, like a plastic bag in the wind.
Her lungs are begging for air, as the saltwater screams around her.
Her eyes beg for help as she looks at the people on the land.

He pulls her back as she reaches for land.
He is everywhere, successfully drowning her in his malice.
He is the water keeping her afloat but slowly dehydrating her.
His hand slices through her like a knife when he slaps her with his weight.
Her tears silently melt away in the water as he rumbles,
Marks of his anger are sheared onto her skin from the debris he spews.
Her arms and legs are weak from pain,

As he pulls her away with his foamy arms, grabbing her from all sides.
She stops swimming, looking at the land bobbing in the far distance,
Filled with people smiling as they savor their lives in the warm sun.
Her home, her safety, no longer could be even through persistence.
He pulls her under, blinding her with murky water from the sea,
As quickly as a wave covers up a footprint,
Gone as can be. 

 

Buzz Builds Around Bridgerton Season Two

by Patrick T Fuller on April 22, 2021


Arts & Entertainment


Fans Speculate About the Future of the Hit Netflix Show

by Grace O’Connor ’22 A&E Staff

PHOTO COURTESY OF FSUNEWS.COM

The show Bridgerton became an instant hit when it was released to the public on Dec. 25, 2020. Bridgerton takes place in London in the early 19th century, narrated by an unseen gossip hound called Lady Whistledown. This show highlights the challenges of fitting in and finding love in a hierarchical society. The first season focuses on the character, Daphne, who is entering society in search of a husband. This proves to be a challenge for her with her protective older brothers and the expectations of her.

Many fans have been anxiously waiting for season two and looking out for hints. As claimed in Marie Claire, “Several moments of Bridgerton’s first season all but confirm that the next installment will revolve around Anthony. Those familiar with [Julia] Quinn’s series know that bees play a significant role throughout the books: In the second, The Viscount Who Loved Me, we learn that patriarch Edmund Bridgerton, whose death was only rarely mentioned in the show’s first season, died of a bee sting at the age of 38. As a result, his two eldest sons are understandably very wary of bees, with Anthony especially terrified of the insects, a fear that continually arises throughout his search for a bride.” Many viewers felt for Anthony as his quest for love proved to be challenging in season one.

Season one focused heavily on Daphne’s relationship with Simon. Their romance was powerful, leaving fans anxiously waiting for more. In April, the show confirmed that Simon, played by Regé-Jean Page, would not be returning. This is largely due to the fact that each novel in the Bridgerton book series which the Netflix show is based on focuses on a different Bridgerton sibling and their love story, with Daphne and Simon being the focus of book one. Page explained to Variety that “it felt like a limited series. I get to come in, I get to contribute my bit and then the Bridgerton family rolls on.”

This omission in season two will significantly change the direction of the show. Many fans are wondering if Daphne and Simon’s romance will even continue. Phoebe Dynevor, the actress who plays Daphne, claimed in Radio Times, “There’s no such thing as a happy ending, is there? I think love’s always shifting and changing. So who knows? I’d like to see what happens next. And also, I’d like to see Daphne get involved in Anthony’s love life since he was so involved in hers.”

The show will be welcoming Kate Sharma—played by Simone Ashley—in season two, who will be making her own debut into society. Quinn commented in Radio Times, “Kate had known from the outset that she wasn’t the sort who would capture the attention of the town. She wasn’t pretty enough to overcome her lack of dowry, and she’d never learned to simper and mince and walk delicately, and do all those things other girls seemed to know how to do in the cradle.” This description imbues Sharma with an underdog power that will inject the show with refreshing new energy.

As season two of Bridgerton approaches, expected to air in 2022, devoted fans are both excited and intrigued to see the upcoming changes. With the popularity of the first season on Netflix, people are optimistic that this show will continue for seasons to come, giving fans their dose of romance, comedy, and drama as these London elites find love in their society.

Broken Glass

by Elizabeth McGinn on April 15, 2021


Poetry


hand on glass
photo courtesy of pexels.com and graphic design by Sarah McLaughlin ’23

By Grace O’Connor

She pounds her fists against the glass desperately,
As the clarity in front of her becomes increasingly distorted.
She forces herself to scream, but no one can hear her,
The water starts to fill up her lungs and drown out her voice.

The water eliminates all sound around her,
As the vibration of her pounding fists comes back to slice her.
The water molds her in place like glue,
Pushing her down, refusing to catch her drowning body.
Her mind races to find a solution.

The darkness bleeds through the edges of her eyes,
Blinding her slowly, stopping time.
She prays silently for peace,
As she accepts her fate.

The glass cracks slightly and shatters all at once,
She is pushed to the ground, guided by the water,
Covered in prickly, pale skin.
Her body fills with instantaneous relief and wrath.

She resents herself and her ability to cause this perpetual fear.
As she slowly lifts her shaky body up from the ground,
She is both numb and vulnerable.
She looks at the glass she shattered and feels a pit in her stomach.

She knows she will have to use her strength once again to break glass,
To make her fists bleed in order to let herself take a full breath.
But the water is not her enemy,
It has always been herself.

 

In Memoriam: Paul Ritter (1966-2021)

by Patrick T Fuller on April 15, 2021


Arts & Entertainment


Legendary Film, Television, Theatre Actor Passes Away at 54  

by Grace O’Connor ’22 A&E Staff

PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN

Paul Ritter, a Tony-nominated actor in theatre, passed away from a brain tumor on April 5 at 54 years old. Ritter’s agent stated in Mirror, “It is with great sadness we can confirm that Paul Ritter passed away last night. He died peacefully at home with his wife Polly and sons Frank and Noah by his side. He was 54 and had been suffering from a brain tumour.” 

Ritter is most well known for his appearance in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Friday Night Dinner. In Friday Night Dinner, Ritter played the shirtless husband and father of two sons, Martin Goodman. Ritter was known for being private, as he kept his personal and professional lives separate. Ritter was also described as having a unique personality and a great sense of humor. Isabel Riggs recalled in USA Today, “Paul was an exceptionally talented actor playing an enormous variety of roles on stage and screen with extraordinary skill,” a statement added. “He was fiercely intelligent, kind and very funny. We will miss him greatly.” 

PHOTO COURTESY OF FREE PRESS JOURNAL

Creator of Friday Night Dinner, Robert Popper, remembers Ritter as “a lovely, wonderful human being. Kind, funny, super caring and the greatest actor I ever worked with.” Ritter’s talent was no secret, as he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance (2009), New York Drama Critics Circle Special Citation (2009), and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Ensemble (2009). 

In Harry Potter, Ritter played Eldred Worple. He also was a “devious political operative” in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace (2008) and ill-fated nuclear engineer Anatoly Dyatlov in the HBO miniseries Chernobyl (2019). Although his role was small in well-known American films, he was more well known for appearing in British productions. Ritter worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing at London’s National Theatre. 

Ritter also acted in British productions including All My Sons, The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time, and The Audience. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 2009 for his notable performance in The Norman Conquests. This was a British production written by Alan Ayckbourn in 1973. After this production, Ritter took his role in Friday Night Dinner, spanning from 2011 to 2020. This show highlighted his versatile ability to play in different roles throughout his acting career. Ritter’s memory will live on for his talent and contribution to the film industry. He will be missed by many who have watched him grow throughout his career.