Mischief Monthly: September 2024

Welcome to the second edition of Mischief Monthly! We’re mixing things up by combining The Watchlist with a new books section, now called Shelf & Screen. Campbell is continuing his monthly reflections on community life, joined by Noah in the new Side Notes. Finally, Jacia shares a short poem she wrote, compiled with Riona’s thoughts on Homunculus.

Shelf & Screen

Sam: Donnie Darko & A Second Look at Oppenheimer

I’ll be honest. Donnie Darko is not a fun film to watch. It portrays a highly disturbed boy with real mental health problems. The protagonist ends up essentially being crucified.

So, too was J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb. After being celebrated as a hero for ending the war, and like Donnie was for exposing Jim Cunningham, he ends up dying and Oppie regretting his choices.

Both Oppenheimer and Donnie Darko have incredible(and now iconic) musical montages.

But from a technical perspective, both films manage to pull off an incredible sense of tension that keeps you bouncing your knee the whole time. Donnie Darko builds up and then continues building up; there’s never quite the “impact” that relieves it; even when Gretchen is run over and Frank is shot. Oppenheimer, on the contrary, builds tension through quick cuts showing Oppenheimer’s perspective and flashes of the bomb exploding.

Both are masterpieces, and while Oppenheimer doesn’t have the same following that Donnie Darko does, it is certainly still worth watching. In your room. With headphones on. On PureFlix.

Riona

Sometimes, the cosmos make the inexplicable decision to teach you about the deformed little man living in your perinatal lobe.

As was the case with me. As I wandered in dejection around the back shelves of Columbine Library, my eyes caught on crude letters, strewn across the spine of a hulking manga. I recognized the title from its infamy, and knew the story only as ‘disturbing.’

It was close enough to October for a spooky read, wasn’t it?

I tucked it under my arm.

Homunculus.

Without giving away any spoilers, I can at least tell you that the hook was masterfully crafted, the art was excellent, and the atmosphere was wholly immersive.

I only stopped reading when psychology homework necessitated.

However, as I began my textbook, I realized something:

The concepts is spoke of were nearly word for word what the manga had just covered.

Those concepts were the ideas of neuroplasticity, the way sensation is interpreted by the brain, and the scientific concept of the Homunculus- one of the most alluringly off-putting figures I’ve learned about as of late.

In brief, the Homunculus is a representation of how strongly different parts of the body experience physical sensation, all mapped onto a semi-human form. It possesses incredibly large lips and hands, giving it an eerie appearance which has led to its breakthrough into the world of fairytale.

The manga, however, takes this in a different direction, toying with the idea of a Homunculus for the emotional, rather than the physical. Characters take on warped appearances reflecting their deepest traumas and motivators. And, while I haven’t gotten the chance to read very far into the story, I have a feeling it’s going to go some interesting places! A new hyperfixation may be on the horizon.

Recent Shenanigans

Sam

I checked my instagram recently.

A notification I had: @napsatumary started following you.

The only post: Rating the booths in the lower level of UMary’s Lumen Vitae Newman Center. I do not follow any UMary accounts.

I took a nap there last week.

WHO ARE THEY?! HOW DID THEY FIND ME, AND WHAT DO THEY WANT

Sedona

I’m about to finish the sequel to The Other Side of the Sky, which I’m really enjoying. I’ve also been watching Spy x Family (it’s so silly I love Anya) aaaaand I just finished another sketchbook, so I’m off to a new one!

Side Notes

Campbell

Community in College(and why it’s not where you think it is)

Community cannot be defined. It is dependent on the person and how they view it. However, aspects of community that satiate human social needs include: loving people, a comfortable environment, and a consistent pace of life. In the first year of college, finding a community is an important goal to focus on, but it can be difficult to accomplish. For this reason, many first-year students stick with the first place they find, but this can often be wrong. It’s very possible to find a place to call ‘home’ in college, but this requires searching for environments that suit these qualities. The best community is college is the one that cares for you the most, not the one you care to go to the most. 

Greek life is not the best community. This lifestyle is often the most searched out or popular destination for many young freshmen looking for friends, fun, and family. Greek life is not a bad community; however, it is also not the best one for you. It does provide friends, fun, and connections, but it will never be able to fully provide wholeness to one’s life. A place where one must compete to be themself, earn affection, and be put into dangerous situations causes mental and emotional exhaustion. That is why, even though it is the place that you might care to go to the most, it will never fulfill the needs of a community. The best place to go, then, would be smaller groups which offer more love where they may lack fun. Find groups that, though they may not seem as like-minded as you at first, are happy to see you each week, know who you really are, and offer the compassion you need to feel whole in the oftentimes harsh environment that is college. This group does not have to be religious–though oftentimes the best ones are–but finding people who can love you for who you will always be more important in life over the people who will stick with you in your best. Greek life will always be there to meet people, but take root in the people who encourage you.  

It is very difficult to find a place that can consistently uplift and uphold you, but searching for it will always be worth it. During freshman year of college, there will be many good and very bad moments. College works in a way that provides many highlights, but because of the nature of it, there will be bad moments too. The best way to fight against these discouraging moments yet also reinforce the best moments is by finding the people who will be there for you everyday. This is not an easy task, but it is one that provides a fullness of life that other places, and mainly places who claim to have this, do not.

Guest Writer: Noah Honek

              One of the first groups of friends that I became a part of this semester was formed by having a long, genuine conversation about philosophy and religion. I was sitting with my roommates Sam and Karl on the second day of the semester because I didn’t know anyone else. On the table next to us, a small group had sat down at different times. I heard one of them mention he was currently a Protestant, and just turned around and joined the conversation. I sat and talked with this group of about six people at the time, and we were charitable and kind to him. After he left, the rest of us stayed and continued conversation among ourselves for just over three hours. The six of us are still friends a month later, and we continue to expand so more people can join in the friendship.

              I have gotten close with about half a dozen other groups of friends in similar ways. If you put yourself out there in college, it is easy for people to accept you and be comfortable sharing thoughts and troubles around you. The circle of people I can rely on, and I believe can rely on me has rapidly grown in the last month. As a result of these relationships I have formed with so many great people, I have not felt lonely or homesick in college yet. I still miss my family, but in a way my peers have become my family in this new temporary place.

Thanks for having a read. Until next time, remember: if you’re not causing a little trouble, are you even having fun?