Author: n.caropolo

Comic Conventions: For Geeks Of All Types

By: Nicole Caropolo

Rows of pop culture merchandise, hour-long lines waiting to meet the drool-worthy cast of the latest film, and 40 people dressed like Thor taking pictures with awe-inspired kids. No, you’re not in Times Square. This is a scene straight from a comic convention.

When you think of comic conventions, what do you think of? People running around in capes debating the relationship dynamic between Harley Quinn and the Joker? Maybe you picture lots of light saber fights and yoda talk from people bashing the “Star Wars” prequels. Well there is much more to comic book conventions than meets the eye. Pop culture from every topic, and from every medium, is embraced and celebrated by the attendants. Comic conventions are centered around “geek” culture, but expand to so much more.

Comic conventions are generally geared towards fans of comic books, superheroes, and science fiction. As years have passed since the first one in 1964, which took place in New York, the world of comic conventions has spread out to all masses of entertainment.

Merchandise, discussion boards, and celebrity meet-and-greets can be found in a place where things that may be considered “geeky” are honored. Comic conventions represent what it means to be proud of being a “geek” and showing off your interests.

Cosplay is a huge segment of comic conventions. The word cosplay refers to dressing up as a character from a movie, television show or video game. Most people cosplay for fun, but there are actually people that make a living off of it. At most conventions, you will find professional cosplayers that are often paid for appearances and photos.

Rae Allen, 23, doesn’t get paid for her cosplay (yet), but she takes it very seriously. Allen has been attending conventions for anime, Japanese cartoons, for the last 10 years, but recently began attending comic conventions like New York Comic Con and Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia.

Her recent cosplay costumes include Spider-Gwen from Marvel Comics, Maya from the Borderlands 2 video game, and Harley Quinn from DC’s Bombshells’ comics.

“What I personally enjoy most about it is showing what I can do, showing what I’ve made,” Allen said.

The cosplayer also loves how the costumes break her out of her shell.

“One of the most important things I enjoy about cosplaying is the confidence it gives you. In person, I’m a very shy person with social anxiety who also happens to be quite self-conscious,” Allen said. “But in cosplay, I’m outgoing. I make new friends. I don’t have an issue talking to new people. Most importantly, I feel confident in myself.”

Anime and manga, Japanese comic books, are huge communities in the world of “geek” culture. For example, Dragon Ball Z, an extremely popular anime cartoon, is a common topic at conventions, and the voice actors from the show often make appearances.

Alina Palubinskas, 20, attends conventions because anime is one of her greatest passions in life, often cosplaying as the characters.

Her first convention was called MegaCon in Orlando, and she was instantly taken by the amount of anime fans.
“It was hugely busy, with thousands of people in wigs in every color,” Palubinskas said. “I’d never seen anything so exciting as a little kid.”

Daisy Elise Feddoes, 19, is a manga lover who loves the international interest it brings to the conventions.

Feddoes said, “TV shows and comics are pretty regularly covered in the US, but comic con makes it a lot easier to get cool merchandise more common to Japan.”

These conventions are also seen as a think tank for people to debate and share ideas about topics that may not be seen as important or influential in common day-to-day conversations.

Sheraz Farooqi sees the deeper meaning in comic books and science fiction. He is so passionate about the ideas that stem from them that he created an educational course on it.

Farooqi is a 22-year-old finance major at Baruch College that created a Marvel and DC course for the Resource and Opportunity Center, referred to as the ROC, for homeschoolers. The course idea was sparked by a twitter page that Farooqi created, called ComicBook Debate, that quickly gained over 5,000 followers. His professor recommended him to the ROC, where his pitch for a class about superheroes and comic books was approved.

Farooqi said, “I think getting kids to think and get their imagination going is awesome, and the school director is very positive on programs like this that deviate from the normal curriculum.”

Topics at conventions can range from Doctor Who to Disney to science fiction literature, and everything in between. The expansion of interest in entertainment has translated into events that are attended by thousands of people every year.

The reason why so many people flock to comic conventions is because they find it has a sense of community and excitement in the air that just can’t be ignored.

Gabriel Nash, 21, has attended Tampa Bay Comic Con for the past three years, and plans on continuing the annual tradition because he enjoyed how it felt to walk in for the first time and see his favorite pieces of entertainment being celebrated by other people that he can relate to.

Nash said, “I thought it was my whole imaginative world come to life.”

He is not alone. Over 180,000 people attended the New York Comic Con in 2016, and 130,000 fans swarmed the San Diego Comic Con in 2015.

The New York and San Diego Comic Cons embody what it means to bring together different communities of pop culture.

The pop culture diversity really stems from the meet-and-greet aspect of the conventions. At the large city comic cons, such as New York, San Diego and Tampa Bay, hundreds of people line up for hours to meet well-known celebrities and voice actors. These are places where the term “fangirling” run rampant. The term refers to the excitement and nerves a fan faces when they meet one of their favorite stars.

Imagine being face-to-face with your celebrity crush that you’ve been daydreaming about for years, or your idol that inspires you. That is where the term “fangirling” comes into play at comic conventions.

And don’t be fooled by the word either. Men are just as prone to getting excited over celebrities as any other “fangirl.”

“My favorite memory would probably have to be meeting Jack Gleeson, also known as Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones!” Nash said.

Nash says he will never forget when he met “King Joffrey” at Tampa Bay Comic Con in 2016, known as one of the most hated characters on television, and was actually the nicest celebrity he met.

In 2016, New York Comic Con had guests like Christopher Meloni from “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”, Alano Miller from “Jane The Virgin”, and the “Impractical Jokers” from the popular TruTV show. These shows stand out from the typical “comic nerd” world, and bring people together with all different entertainment tastes. Your mom definitely watches at least one of those shows.

Pop culture fans also find comic conventions to be a spot for business opportunities. Hundreds of small town businesses, vendors, and artists set up shop at convention centers every year to get their name out there. Fans buy homemade fan art and merchandise faster than Avengers’ movie tickets. At every large convention, there is even a section of the venue dedicated to original artwork, called “Artists’ Alley.”

Don’t just think that comic conventions are a place to blow all your money on Big Bang Theory t-shirts and meeting the cast of “Sherlock.” At nearly every minute, there is an event, a competition or a live show happening.

Discussion panels are often the main event. For instance, San Diego Comic Con is known as the “mothership” of conventions due to the high-leveled stars that attend panels. For a majority of their airtime, hit shows like “Teen Wolf” and “Supernatural” have had the main stars hold panels where they discuss the past, present, and future of the show, as well as answer questions from their adoring fans. Events like these bring the television world to life for the viewers.

Caitlin MacDougall, 21, has attended Tampa Bay Comic Con due to her love of all things Doctor Who. She enjoyed how the parts of the British science-fiction fantasy world were brought to life at the conventions for her to admire with her fellow “Whovian” friends, the name that Doctor Who fans have dubbed themselves. They even posed with the phone-booth time machine that is featured in the show, the TARDIS, which stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space.

“When we came across a professional photo-op with a life sized TARDIS, I didn’t even think twice to shell out the money for the two of us to have our picture taken,” MacDougall said.

Television and movie sneak peaks are not uncommon at conventions, and what many attendants look forward to the most. Devoted fans are rewarded for their support with screenings of future episodes or movie trailers. This year’s New York Comic Con was choc-full of exclusive looks at movies like “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” and the FX shows “Legion” and “Archer.”

There can be many misconceptions about the reality of comic conventions that may make people feel wrongly excluded or like an outsider, but con-goers think the opposite.

“I think it’s generally a nice, judgement free space for adults who consume video game and cartoon media to fully embrace what they enjoy!” Feddoes said. “I think it’s very important to have that space as adults and teenagers who can often feel marginalized.”

Due to the ever-expanding content coverage, Allen thinks that conventions are finally being seen as a place for not only “geeks,” but for everyone who enjoys entertainment.

“I think the misconception is that the only people who go to these things are people who dress up are often socially inept people who live in their parents’ basements. I think that misconception has slowly started to fade as more and more casual fans or just people who are curious about conventions have started going.” Allen said. “Sure, you might see a person or two who fits the stereotype of the misconception, but honestly, it’s a lot of “normal” people who just want to enjoy their hobbies.”

At the end of the day though, the “geek” community is at the heart of these pop culture events.

“Sometimes people say that ‘Oh, only nerds go to cons’ is a misconception, but honestly it’s completely true,” Palubinskas said. “You have to be some degree of nerdy to have fun at a convention and to keep going back year after year.

So whether you are a proud nerd, or just an average pop culture admirer, comic conventions welcome you into a place to let your inner “fangirl” out.

Comic Conventions: For Geeks Of All Types

By: Nicole Caropolo

When you think of comic conventions, what do you think of? People running around in capes debating the relationship dynamic between Harley Quinn and the Joker? Maybe you picture lots of light saber fights and yoda talk from people bashing the “Star Wars” prequels. Well there is much more to comic book conventions than meets the eye. Pop culture from every topic, and from every medium, is embraced and celebrated by the attendants. Comic conventions are centered around “geek” culture, but expand to so much more.

Comic conventions are generally geared towards fans of comics, superheroes, and science fiction. As years have passed since the first one in 1964, which took place in New York, the world of comic conventions has spread out to all masses of entertainment.

Merchandise, discussion boards, and celebrity meet-and-greets from the most popular shows and movies can be found in a place where things that may be considered “geeky” are honored. Comic conventions represent what it means to be proud of being a “geek” and showing off your interests.

Cosplay is a huge segment of comic conventions. The word cosplay refers to dressing up as a character from a movie, television show or video game. Most people cosplay for fun, but there are actually people that make a living off of it. At most conventions, you will find professional cosplayers that are often paid for appearances and photos.

Rae Allen, 23, doesn’t get paid for her cosplay (yet), but she takes it very seriously. Allen has been attending conventions for anime, Japanese cartoons, for the last 10 years, but recently began attending comic conventions like New York Comic Con and Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia.

Her recent cosplay costumes include Spider-Gwen from Marvel Comics, Maya from the Borderlands 2 video game, and Harley Quinn from DC’s Bombshells’ comics.

“What I personally enjoy most about it is showing what I can do, showing what I’ve made,” Allen said.

The cosplayer also loves how the costumes break her out of her shell.

“One of the most important things I enjoy about cosplaying is the confidence it gives you. In person, I’m a very shy person with social anxiety who also happens to be quite self-conscious,” Allen said. “But in cosplay, I’m outgoing. I make new friends. I don’t have an issue talking to new people. Most importantly, I feel confident in myself.”

Anime and manga, Japanese comic books, are huge communities in the world of geek culture. For example, Dragon Ball Z, an extremely popular anime cartoon, is a common topic at conventions, and the voice actors from the show often make appearances.

Alina Palubinskas, 20, attends conventions because anime is one of her largest passions in life, often cosplaying as the characters.

Her first convention was called MegaCon in Orlando, and she was instantly taken by the amount of anime fans.

“It was hugely busy, with thousands of people in wigs in every color,” Palubinskas said. “I’d never seen anything so exciting as a little kid.”

Daisy Elise Feddoes, 19, is a manga lover who loves the international interest it brings to the conventions.

Feddoes said, “TV shows and comics are pretty regularly covered in the US, but comic con makes it a lot easier to get cool merchandise more common to Japan.”

These conventions are also seen as a think tank for people to debate and share ideas about topics that some may not be seen as important or influential in common day-to-day conversations.

Sheraz Farooqi sees the deeper meaning in comic books and science fiction. He is so passionate about the ideas that stem from them that he created an educational course on it.

Farooqi is a 22-year-old finance major at Baruch College that created a Marvel and DC course for the Resource and Opportunity Center, referred to as the ROC, for homeschoolers. The course idea was sparked by a twitter page that Farooqi created, called ComicBook Debate, that quickly gained over 5,000 followers. His professor recommended him to the ROC, where his pitch for a class about superheroes and comic books was approved.

Farooqi said, “I think getting kids to think and get their imagination going is awesome and the school director is very positive on programs like this that deviate from the normal curriculum”

Topics at conventions can range from Doctor Who to Disney to science fiction literature, and everything in between. The expansion of interest in entertainment has translated into events that are attended by thousands of people every year.

The reason why so many people flock to comic conventions is because they find it has a sense of community and excitement in the air that just can’t be ignored.

Gabriel Nash, 21, has attended Tampa Bay Comic Con for the past three years, and plans on continuing the annual tradition because he enjoys how it felt to walk in for the first time and see his favorite pieces of entertainment being celebrated by other people that he can relate to.

“I thought it was my whole imaginative world come to life,” Nash said.

He is not alone. Over 180,000 people attended the New York Comic Con in 2016 and 130,000 fans swarmed the San Diego Comic Con in 2015.

The New York and San Diego Comic Cons embody what it means to bring together different communities of pop culture.

The pop culture diversity really stems from the meet-and-greet aspect of the conventions. At the large city comic cons, such as New York, San Diego and Tampa Bay, hundreds of people line up for hours to meet well-known celebrities and voice actors. These are places where the term “fangirling” run rampant. The term refers to the excitement and nerves a fan faces when they meet one of their favorite stars.

Imagine being face-to-face over your celebrity crush that you’ve been daydreaming about for years, or your idol that inspires you. That is where the term “fangirling” comes into play at comic conventions.

And don’t be fooled by the word either. Men are just as prone to getting excited over celebrities as any other “fangirl.”

“My favorite memory would probably have to be meeting Jack Gleeson, also known as Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones!” Nash said.

Nash says he will never forget when he met “King Joffrey” at Tampa Bay Comic Con in 2016, known as one of the most hated characters on television, and was actually the nicest celebrity he met.

In 2016, New York Comic Con had guests like Christopher Meloni from “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”, Alano Miller from “Jane The Virgin”, and the “Impractical Jokers” from the popular TruTV show. These shows stand out from the typical “comic nerd” world, and bring people together with all different entertainment tastes. Your mom definitely watches at least one of those shows.

Pop culture fans also find comic conventions to be a spot for business opportunities. Hundreds of small town businesses, vendors, and artists set up shop at convention centers every year to get their name out there. Fans buy homemade fan art and merchandise faster than Avengers’ movie tickets. At every large convention, there is even a section of the venue dedicated to original artwork, called “Artists’ Alley.”

Don’t just think that comic conventions are a place to blow all your money on Big Bang Theory t-shirts and meeting the cast of “Sherlock.” At nearly every minute, there is an event, a competition or a live show happening.

Discussion panels are often the main event. For instance, San Diego Comic Con is known as the “mothership” of conventions due to the high-leveled stars that attend panels. For a majority of their airtime, hit shows like Teen Wolf and Supernatural have had the main stars hold panels where they discuss the past, present, and future of the show, as well as answer questions from their adoring fans. Events like these bring the television world to life for the viewers.

Caitlin MacDougall, 21, has attended Tampa Bay Comic Con due to her love of all things Doctor Who. She enjoyed how the parts of the British science-fiction fantasy world were brought to life at the conventions for her to admire with her fellow “Whovian” friend, the name that Doctor Who fans have dubbed themselves. They even posed with the phone-booth time machine that is featured in the show.

“When we came across a professional photo-op with a life sized TARDIS, I didn’t even think twice to shell out the money for the two of us to have our picture taken,” MacDougall said.

Television and movie sneak peaks are not uncommon at conventions, and what many attendants look forward to the most. Devoted fans are rewarded for their support with screenings of future episodes or movie trailers. This year’s New York Comic Con was choc-full of exclusive looks at movies like “Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders” and the FX shows “Legion” and “Archer.”

There can be many misconceptions about the reality of comic conventions that may make people feel wrongly excluded or like an outsider, but con-goers think the opposite.

“I think it’s generally a nice, judgement free space for adults who consume video game and cartoon media to fully embrace what they enjoy!” Feddoes said. “I think it’s very important to have that space as adults and teenagers who can often feel marginalized.”

Due to the ever-expanding content coverage, Allen thinks that conventions are finally being seen as a place for not only geeks, but for everyone who enjoys entertainment.

“I think the misconception is that the only people who go to these things or people who dress up are often socially inept people who live in their parents’ basements. I think that misconception has slowly started to fade as more and more casual fans or just people who are curious about conventions have started going.” Allen said. “Sure, you might see a person or two who fits the stereotype of the misconception, but honestly, it’s a lot of “normal” people who just want to enjoy their hobbies.”

At the end of the day though, the geek community is at the heart of these pop culture events.

“Sometimes people say that ‘Oh, only nerds go to cons’ is a misconception, but honestly it’s completely true,” Palubinskas said. “You have to be some degree of nerdy to have fun at a convention and to keep going back year after year.

So whether you are a proud nerd, or just an average pop culture admirer, comic conventions welcome you into a place to let your inner “fangirl” out.

I read a longform article from GQ called “Graduation Day.”

This lengthy feature is worth the time put into reading it. It’s a profile of 8 young students who experienced the deadly earthquake that occurred in Japan in 2012. Over 25,000 people were killed, but these children survived. And they shared their stories and memories with Chris Heath from GQ. The memories of principals and bus drivers are also written about, adding additional depth.

I was so intrigued by the article’s structure. Not only did he go from discussing one student to another, and how they contrasted from one another, but he spaced it out in 4 major sections: Before, March 11, 2011, 2:46 P.M., After, and Since. I think this was an incredible idea because it walks you through the events leading up to the event, how it was in the moment, the immediate aftermath, and how the future was affected by the earthquake. This is an effective method for a reader that knew little, or maybe even nothing, about the disaster.

I also think Chris used his own personal voice very professionally in the piece. He used an appropriate amount of sympathy that is needed in natural disasters. There was also one point in the story where he described his own personal feelings as he was traveling to meet one of the principals. I think this put an outsider’s thoughts into perspective that brought something extra to the story.

http://www.gq.com/story/japan-tohoku-tsunami-earthquake-disaster?printable=true

I would like to write a feature/op-ed geared towards Complex magazine about comic book conventions. I think my article would fit in will with Complex because it discusses normal pop culture as well as popular video games, comic books, and superhero movies.

Comic book conventions have more to them than meets the eye. They have expanded to so many different mediums of pop culture, and there is something for everyone. It isn’t just Star Wars and superheroes. You can meet celebrities from popular shows and movies and find merchandise from just about anything. A lot of the fun of the conventions is the sense of community and excitement, and everyone should go at least once!

I will discuss the different topics covered at conventions and interview multiple convention goers, as well as try to reach out to popular comic con vendors.

Drawing the Line in Pop Culture: Fascination or Unhealthy Idolization?

In this celebrity-crazed culture, we all know what it’s like to go all “heart eyes” over our favorite celebrities like melting at the sight of Channing Tatum’s perfect bone structure or envying Kate Hudson’s body. Unhealthy behavior has been on the rise in pop culture by blurring the lines of celebrity fascination and harmful idolization, especially in terms of personal body perception and modification.

An issue that has become increasingly common in our generation is being so awe-filled by celebrities that we allow it to warp our own behavior and lifestyle. This is especially true when it comes to body image. We always want to look like our favorite celebrities on the cover of every magazine, but many fans have taken this body envy to the extreme with permanent physical changes.

A prime example of this unhealthy behavior is Kylie Jenner. Over the past few years, Jenner has become a well-known socialite and social media star. She has become known for many of her physical attributes, but especially her thick lips. Lip augmentation has become a sought after procedure for many women due to idolization of Jenner. This also resulted in the “Kylie Jenner challenge,” where people plump their lips by sucking the air out of a glass. This resulted in many dangerous consequences, including popped blood vessels.

Other people that have modified themselves to look like stars include Toby Sheldon, who died at 35, and got plastic surgery to look like Justin Bieber, and Jack Johnson, a 19-year-old who spent close to $30,000 to look like David Beckham.

This comes down to the constant desire to look like society’s definition of “perfect,” and low self-esteem due to impossible physical goals. Instead of being happy with who we are, both inside and out, we change to look and act like the celebrities that everyone loves. We think, “Well they are loved for their looks, so I should just look like them.” It’s so unsettling that people focus all of their efforts on people that they never even met, instead of becoming comfortable with who they are.

The key is to figuring out how to be a fan of a celebrity, without allowing their image to physically and mentally change who you are as an individual. Instead of changing your body to look just like Scarlett Johansson, figure out how you can be healthy and confident like her while still being like you. Instead of getting plastic surgery to look like Demi Lovato, you can work on how to be strong and optimistic like she is an example of. Look at them as personal inspirations for the characteristics they portray, not a body to copy.

Idolization can be extremely dangerous in many different ways, but it’s especially strong in the world of pop culture. It becomes an issue when young girls care more about who Taylor Swift is dating than their own grades. People are becoming so obsessed with the lives on reality television, like the Kardashians and the Real Housewives, that it takes over their own lives.

A prime reason that leads to unhealthy celebrity idolization is the fact that social media and media coverage allow us to feel like we know them personally. Like we know their deepest secrets and thoughts. It allows us to feel like their best friends.

According to Medical Daily, an experiment tested 348 college students on both their personal self-esteem and their favorite celebrities. The self-esteem scores greatly increased after writing about the stars they love.

The psychologist that ran the experiment, Shira Gabriel, said, “Because people form bonds in their mind with their favorite celebrities, they are able to assimilate the celebrity’s characteristics in themselves and feel better about themselves when they think about that celebrity. And that is something these individuals can’t do in real relationships because their fear of rejection keeps them from getting close to people.”

On the video platform of YouTube, there are people known as “YouTubers” or “vloggers,” which are people that post daily video blogs, where viewers can follow them along in their day-to-day experiences and adventures. This breaks down the third between a “celebrity” and their fans.

This has resulted in fierce communities of YouTube fans that will not only defend the social media personalities, but look up to them as role models. This all leads back to aspiring so greatly to be like our favorite stars, that we allow it to change how we think, act, and look.

Alexa Carrollo, 21, has been an avid YouTube subscriber since she was 15, especially of the beauty vlogger known as Zoella.

“She is an inspiration to me. Not only does she give incredible beauty and fashion tips, she speaks about deeper issues such as her anxiety,” Carrollo said.

Carrollo is very adamant about remaining true to herself and not allowing her fan appreciation for Zoella turn into a dangerous idolization.

“It’s possible to be a fan of a person without wanting to be exactly like them,” Carrollo said. “I can appreciate the beauty of a model or YouTuber without thinking ‘I need to look just like her.’ “

Body modification inspired by celebrities is both unhealthy. We need to learn how to love ourselves without a comparison to a star. We need to put more focus on ourselves and our loved ones more than those of the rich and famous.

Crossing the line from celebrity appreciation to unhealthy obsession stems from deep insecurity. Celebrities are people just like us with feelings and flaws. Just because they can sing high notes or captivate a movie theater audience doesn’t mean that we are any less of a person for not being just like them.

Drawing the Line in Pop Culture: Fascination or Unhealthy Idolization?

In this celebrity-crazed culture, we all know what it’s like to go all “heart eyes” over our favorite celebrities like melting at the sight of Channing Tatum’s perfect bone structure or envying Kate Hudson’s body. Unhealthy behavior has been on the rise in pop culture by blurring the lines of celebrity fascination and harmful idolization, especially in terms of personal body perception and modification.

An issue that has become increasingly common in our generation is being so awe-filled by celebrities that we allow it to warp our own behavior and lifestyle. This is especially true when it comes to body image. We always want to look like our favorite celebrities on the cover of every magazine, but many fans have taken this body envy to the extreme with permanent physical changes.

A prime example of this unhealthy behavior is Kylie Jenner. Over the past few years, Jenner has become a well-known socialite and social media star. She has become known for many of her physical attributes, but especially her thick lips. Lip augmentation has become a sought after procedure for many women due to idolization of Jenner. This also resulted in the “Kylie Jenner challenge,” where people plump their lips by sucking the air out of a glass. This resulted in many dangerous consequences, including popped blood vessels.

Other people that have modified themselves to look like stars include Toby Sheldon, who got plastic surgery to look like Justin Bieber, and Jack Johnson, a 19-year-old who spent close to $30,000 to look like David Beckham.

This all boils down to the constant desire to look like society’s definition of “perfect,” and low self-esteem due to impossible physical goals. Instead of being happy with who we are, both inside and out, we change to look and act like the celebrities that everyone loves. We think, “Well they are loved for their looks, so I should just look like them.” It’s so unsettling that people focus all of their efforts on people that they never even met, instead of becoming comfortable with who they are.

The key is to figuring out how to be a fan of a celebrity, without allowing their image to physically and mentally change who you are as an individual. Instead of changing your body to look just like Scarlett Johansson, figure out how you can be healthy and confident like her while still being like you. Instead of getting plastic surgery to look like Demi Lovato, you can work on how to be strong and optimistic like she is an example of. Look at them as personal inspirations for the characteristics they portray, not a body to copy.

Idolization can be extremely dangerous in many different ways, but it’s especially strong in the world of pop culture. It becomes an issue when young girls care more about who Taylor Swift is dating than their own grades. People are becoming so obsessed with the lives on reality television that it takes over their own lives.

A prime reason that leads to unhealthy celebrity idolization is the fact that social media and interviews allow us to feel like we know them personally. Like we know their deepest secrets and thoughts. It allows us to feel like their best friends.

On the video platform of YouTube, there are people known as “YouTubers” or “vloggers,” which stands for daily video blogging, where viewers can follow them along in their day-to-day experiences and adventures. This breaks down the third between a “celebrity” and their fans.

This has resulted in fierce communities of YouTube fans that will not only defend the social media personalities, but look up to them as role models. This all leads back to aspiring so greatly to be like our favorite stars, that we allow it to change how we think, act, and look.

Alexa Carrollo, 21, has been an avid YouTube subscriber since she was 15, especially of the beauty vlogger known as Zoella.

“She is an inspiration to me. Not only does she give incredible beauty and fashion tips, she speaks about deeper issues such as her anxiety,” Carrollo said.

Carrollo is very adamant about remaining true to herself and not allowing her fan appreciation for Zoella turn into a dangerous idolization.

“It’s possible to be a fan of a person without wanting to be exactly like them,” Carrollo said. “I can appreciate the beauty of a model or YouTuber without thinking ‘I need to look just like her.’ “

Crossing the line from celebrity appreciation to unhealthy obsession stems from deep insecurity. Celebrities are people just like us with feelings and flaws. Just because they can sing high notes or captivate a movie theater audience doesn’t mean that we are any less of a person for not being just like them.

Body modification inspired by celebrities is both unhealthy and sad to witness. We need to learn how to love ourselves without a comparison to a star. We need to put more focus on ourselves and our loved ones more than those of the rich and famous.

Marcello Oliveira said, “I was going to look into how athletes have an unfair bias in the judicial system.”

“If my dad hits my mom, and an athlete hits his wife, how come my dad would go to jail but the athlete won’t?” Oliveira asked.

“Just because they are your favorite athletes, that doesn’t mean they are good people,” Oliveira said. “It makes me sick.”

Oliveira exclaimed, “The system is out of control!”

We are all looking for ways to make quick cash, and gambling is one of the most popular attempts at walking out with a lot of reward for a bit of risk. Sports gambling is a way to support your favorite teams while making a few bucks, but it’s not legal in most states. That might change very soon though, and it should.

New Jersey Rep. Frank Pallone is advocating for the legalization for sports gambling across the country. The only states that currently allow any sort of sports betting on individual games are Nevada, Oregon, Delaware, and Montana.

The most common reason that people are against any type of gambling is because it can become an addiction that can lead to illegal activity in order to obtain more money. The issue with that type of thinking is that absolutely anything can become an addiction. Nearly everything is good in moderation. It can also trace back to the argument that cigarettes, one of the most dangerous and addictive substances, is sold legally.

I will be discussing why sports gambling should be legalized and the information that surrounds it such as statistics, the current laws, and the lawsuit on the online sports betting platforms FanDuel and DraftKings. I will also interview a FanDuel user.

A Voice on Politics From a Military Police Officer

Gabriella LoDico tightened her bun and slipped on her boots as she got ready to head to her Army Reserves unit, thinking about the future of the country that she is fighting for.

She joined the Army Reserves in January of 2016 because she felt there was no greater contribution to the country than enlisting.

“I believe that there is no higher honor than serving your country. There is nothing more important in this world than giving back to your community and protecting your country,” LoDico said.

LoDico has a six-year contract with the Army Reserves, but will most likely not reenlist once it is up. She was based at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri during her six months of basic training. As a military police officer, she does drills once a month and training for two weeks out of the year where she freshens up her skills from basic training.

As the military police officer plays her role in the country, she is also thinking about other people who are taking on responsibilities of the country. The presidential election is a current topic that everyone has something to say about, and LoDico is one of those opinionated voters.

LoDico is a registered conservative voter. She comes from a very Republican family, even though she admits that she agrees with several liberal views such as marriage equality and the legalization of marijuana, both of which she supports.

The question of whether she is voting for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is very quickly answered when she shouts, “TRUMP 2016!”

LoDico’s preference of Trump over Clinton stems from the candidate’s actions and opinions of the Military.

“I prefer Trump because Hillary Clinton is a disgusting human being in my own belief,” LoDico said. “Hillary Clinton does not care about us and she does not care about this country. She left four Americans to die in Benghazi. If you can leave your own behind, there is no way that you can stand there and say you are for Americans.”

As Trump is often seen in a negative light, LoDico has something to say to those who dwell on his flaws.

“At least he didn’t let four Americans die in Benghazi. At least he didn’t defend a rapist.” LoDico said, referring to Clinton’s past career as an attorney. “At least I know he stands for America. At least I know that if I was deployed, and my unit was going down, he would do whatever he could to save my unit, to save my people, to save my joes, to save me.”

She is also adamant about the fact that she is not a fan of Trump as a person, only as a candidate.

“I believe he is the lesser of two evils,” LoDico said. “I’m not saying that I’m a Trump supporter because I believe in what he stands in. Him as a person, I don’t necessarily agree with some of the things that he says.”

As a Republican that leans towards conservative views, she does not want a Democrat in the White House who will not care for the military.

“Democrats hate war. When a Democrat is in office, the military loses funding,” LoDico said.

Democrats believe in decreased spending on the military that took place during President Obama’s term, which Republicans fiercely opposed according to Republican Views.

“Republicans will send us to war, will give us more funding,” she said. This refers to the Republican Party often being called the “War Party.”

Military families also benefit from a Republican as president.

“They will give us what we need. In case I’m deployed, my family will get money for compensation. More than they would,” LoDico said.

Current benefits for military families include a healthcare plan called Tricare and a death gratuity, if the soldier is killed, for up to $100,000.

Her views and candidate choice also line up with most people enlisted in the military. According to a Military Times Poll, all four branches of the military prefer Trump over Clinton. In LoDico’s Army branch, 56% of surveyed soldiers will vote Trump, winning over the 24% that prefer Clinton. The other 20% will not vote if they only have the two candidates to choose from.

“I have never met somebody that is a Hillary supporter in the military,” LoDico said. “Everybody that I have met has personally agreed with me. And, if anything, have enlightened me more on Trump and given me more reasons why Trump is better than Hillary.”

Other political issues that she believes need more attention revolve around taking care of the nation’s debt, as well as the school systems, and the homeless population.

“We’re leaving veterans to die on the streets,” she said. “We’re leaving families to die. We’re leaving dogs, children. We need to take care of our own first.”

As a military police officer that comes from a line of law enforcement, who enjoys hunting season as well, LoDico is passionate about the issue of gun control. While Trump believes in the Second Amendment for the right to bear arms as stated in his platform, Clinton stated in the democratic debate that guns “will not make America safer” and plans to restrict the number of concealed carry permits.

“It’s not okay to take away what I need to keep my family safe,” LoDico said.

She had some advice for fellow voters, regardless of who they decide to vote for.

“Choose wisely, listen to the evidence, listen to them speak, do their background checks,” LoDico said.

“I love this country. This country is way more freed than we think. People think that we are not free but we are,” she stated. “I’m just a 21-year-old girl from Long Island, New York who’s trying to make a difference, and trying to make sure that my family, for my niece, for my nephew, and my future kids, that they are safe.”

Her career goal is to become a cop, following in the footsteps of brother, sister-in-law, and father.

A Voice on Politics From a Military Police Officer

Gabriella LoDico tightened her bun and slipped on her boots as she got ready to head to her Army Reserves unit, thinking about the future of the country that she is fighting for.

She joined the Army Reserves in January of 2016 because she felt there was no greater contribution to the country than enlisting.

“I believe that there is no higher than serving your country. There is nothing more important in this world than giving back to your community and protecting your country,” LoDico said.

As the military police officer plays her role in the country, she is also thinking about other people who are taking on responsibilities of the country. The presidential election is a current topic that everyone has something to say about, and LoDico is one of those opinionated voters.

LoDico is a registered conservative voter. She comes from a very Republican family, even though she admits that she agrees with several liberal views such as marriage equality and the legalization of marijuana.

The question of whether she is voting for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is very quickly answered when she shouts, “TRUMP 2016!”

LoDico’s preference of Trump over Clinton stems from the candidate’s actions and opinions of the Military.

“I prefer Trump because Hillary Clinton is a disgusting human being in my own belief,” LoDico said. “Hillary Clinton does not care about us and she does not care about this country. She left four Americans to die in Benghazi. If you can leave your own behind, there is no way that you can stand there and say you are for Americans.”

As Trump is often seen in a negative light, LoDico has something to say to those who dwell on his flaws.

“At least he didn’t let four Americans die in Benghazi. At least he didn’t defend a rapist.” LoDico said, referring to Clinton’s past career as an attorney. “At least I know he stands for America. At least I know that if I was deployed, and my unit was going down, he would do whatever he could to save my unit, to save my people, to save my joes, to save me.”

She is also adamant about the fact that she is not a fan of Trump as a person, only as a candidate.

“I believe he is the lesser of two evils,” LoDico said. “I’m not saying that I’m a Trump supporter because I believe in what he stands in. Him as a person, I don’t necessarily agree with some of the things that he says.”

As a Republican that leans towards conservative views, she does not want a democrat in the White House who will not care for the military.

“When a democrat is in office, the military loses funding,” LoDico said. “Republicans will send us to war, will give us more funding.”

Military families also benefit from a republican as president.

“They will give us what we need. In case I’m deployed, my family will get money for compensation. More than they would,” LoDico said.

Her views and candidate choice also line up with most people enlisted in the military.

“I have never somebody that is a Hillary supporter in the Military,” LoDico said. “Everybody that I have met has personally agreed with me. And, if anything, have enlightened me more on Trump and given me more reasons why Trump is better than Hillary.”

Other political issues that she believes need more attention revolve around taking care of the nation’s debt, as well as the school systems, and the homeless population.

“We’re leaving veterans to die on the streets,” she said. “We’re leaving families to die. We’re leaving dogs, children. We need to take care of our own first.”

She also had some advice for fellow voters, regardless of who they decide to vote for.

“Choose wisely, listen to the evidence, listen to them speak, do their background checks,” LoDico said.

“I love this country. This country is way more freed than we think. People think that we are not free but we are,” she stated. “I’m just a 21-year-old girl from Long Island, New York who’s trying to make a difference, and trying to make sure that my family, for my niece, for my nephew, and my future kids, that they are safe.”

LoDico has a six-year contract with the Army Reserves, but will most likely not reenlist once it is up. She was based at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri during her six months of basic training. As a military police officer, she does drills once a month and training for two weeks out of the year where she freshens up her skills from basic training.

Her career goal is to become a cop, following in the footsteps of brother, sister-in-law, and father.