Category: Arts & Entertainment

Categories
Arts & Entertainment

Are Books Better Than Their Movie Adaptations? Settling the Debate

The debate over whether books or their movie adaptations are better has been ongoing for years. To get a better understanding of both sides, I asked people around campus about their favorite and least favorite book-to-film adaptations. The responses varied, but a few stood out as clear favorites (and disappointments).

Books Are Better: The Case for Harry Potter

One of the most popular responses I received was that the Harry Potter books are far better then the movies. Many fans felt that the films left out too many details that made the books special. J.K. Rowling’s writing brings the wizarding world to life in a way that the movies, despite their visual magic, simply couldn’t capture. The inner thoughts of characters, side plots, and deeper lore of the wizarding world were often cut or altered for the sake of time, leaving book fans feeling like the films, while enjoyable, didn’t do the books justice.

Movies Are Better: The Case for The Hunger Games

On the other hand, many people I spoke to preferred The Hunger Games movies over the books. Interestingly, some admitted they had never read the books, which might explain their preference for the films. However, even those who had read Suzanne Collins’ novels still found the movies more compelling. They praised the way the films were put together, from the performances of the actors, particularly Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. The films managed to capture the intensity of the story while streamlining certain elements to make it more visually impactful.

Final Verdict: It’s All About Perspective

So, are books always better than their movie adaptations? Based on my conversations, the answer isn’t so simple. It largely depends on what you value more in a story, depth and detail, or visual storytelling and performances. While books allow readers to immerse themselves in the author’s world, movies have the power to bring those stories to life in ways that can be just as powerful, if not more so.

At the end of the day, whether a book or its adaptation is better is entirely subjective. Some stories work better on the page, while others shine on the screen. Maybe the real takeaway is this, instead of choosing one over the other, why not enjoy both?

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

The Most Analytical Love Letter to Theater Ever

Dear Audience…

We all have our own areas of expertise, and to my parents’ playful displeasure (they always joked about me becoming a lawyer), my area of expertise is theater. I have spent most of my life being involved in some sort of way, though it’s only recently that I’ve gotten to be properly involved in theater projects, from earning more substantial acting parts to even directing a short play. And with my extensive love for all things performing arts, I could gush and rant about every theater show I see. Being in shows as a full time student are difficult and opportunities are rare, so I have found solace in simply watching shows as I fantasized about my future career paths. Sitting in the audience, I would often think, theater is so wonderful, there’s nothing like a live performance to connect an audience to a story, this show could be so impactful to others my age or younger, and other wistfully naïve thoughts that made me reflect: what made theater so wonderful to me? Do others see it the same way? After hearing from the community, I have decided to try to see why those matinees I’ve been going to have had more and more open seats.

A young, naïve version of myself, performing in two different shows in high school. Apparently, I had some range back then.

The Data

I sent out a survey trying to make sense of the theater community in Ventura County and the biggest reason people go to the theater is to support people they know working in/on the show. That makes sense. I’m sure that along the way of seeing high school shows for younger siblings or community shows for friends, there was something to be gleaned from the techniques, the story, the art of live theater. But sadly (and obviously), I am alone as I wax poetic about the artistic impact of theater shows. Once an outcast, I suppose. Still, I found solace in the fact that the majority of people who saw shows were able to appreciate them, regardless of the reason they bought a ticket. Their reasoning for seeing a show and their takeaways were different than my own. But when we’re in the moment, the only thing we need have in common are the wonder and fantasy we feel as the audience is thrown into a story.

Samantha still remembers the “great actors and an amazing set” from Mamma Mia! at the Pantages. Leila remarked on the music and lighting from A-Train at the Rubicon (lighting is always the unsung hero of any show). Brooke talked about the “vibrant community, theatrics, and comedic effects in [The Book of Mormon]” at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Theater is impacting and shaping our community not because of profound stories with insightful metaphors. I had forgotten about the fun of theater; entertainment is an art! I cannot impart a deeper understanding of society or some high concept idea to anyone from any show. Art is what the audience makes of it. And I’m just thankful that others could enjoy it alongside me, even if not in my analytic ways.

Hurray, I’ve proven people enjoy theater! Now what? Well, I wish I could say that my job here is done, having evidence of theater’s impact as a source of community engagement and entertainment. But the survey brought up a problem with theater bigger than just the impression of a show. Over half of the survey respondents had only see between one and three shows in the past year, with 15% having seen none recently. And with the price of some theater tickets, that is very fair. I’ve seen shows cost upwards of $180 for some seats. Theaters, especially professional ones, have always been advertised as an old-world luxury, a place for the wealthy older generation to go on weekends (this is evident enough by the amount of octogenarians I see at matinees in LA). Though, I’ll admit that local doesn’t always equal cheap. But do you know the one thing Ventura County has that LA doesn’t? Free parking at their theaters.

More analytics from the survey.

The Love

This is to say, I have seen shows in LA that have left me wanting and I have seen local shows that have blown me away. The area, price of tickets, and level of the company have nothing to do with a good show. SO GO TO THE SHOW. See that local high school’s rendition of The Addams Family. Support your friends’ siblings in The Nutcracker. Go to the premiere of a brand new play at the local theater written by a local playwright, no matter how odd the plot may sound to you. Go for date night, go for family, for friends, for yourself. Go to support art programs in schools. Go to meet people in your community. Go for a night out of silly stories. If you are able to, then go and enjoy what you can. Some local theater companies may surprise you.

A show I saw recently that I absolutely loved: American Idiot at the Mark Taper Forum. No thoroughly studied critique to be shared, just the love of a good rock opera.

I’ve always considered myself lucky to be able to see professional shows in LA, whether at the grand Pantages, the intimate Mark Taper Forum, or the surprisingly huge Ahmanson. But anyone who can go see any show at any level is lucky to be apart of both the art and its audience. Live theater is special because it’s fleeting. When was the last time that character that pulled you in was physically right in front of you? Can you say that a main character tossed you a handkerchief stained with their makeup, for you to keep? Has a character roasted you on your choice of clothes? Have they walked past you, brushing your shoulder, blowing you a kiss? Not a camera like a POV shot in a film, but you, physically you.

The audience is a part of every show, a part of every theater experience. Sure, sometimes you sit next to a family with young kids who are a little too enthusiastic. But sometimes you sit next to a stranger, shedding tears alongside them at the bittersweet climax of the play. Sometimes you go with your friend and discover they have a soft spot for criminally misunderstood (and chaotic) characters. Sometimes you just discover something small about yourself, a new insight unlocked. But that discovery is shared live with actors, crew, ushers, and audience. Each laugh, gasp, and clap has an impact on how the show plays out. That collaboration between art and audience is what makes live theater such a unique event. But that’s simply how I see it, the view of a theater major, slightly pessimistic but still painfully hopeful for my (and many others’) future theater career. May we all keep telling and hearing each others stories.

Become a Part of the Art

To help you on your way of discovering art, stories, people, and any enjoyment one may get from theater, here are just a few of the theater companies local to Ventura County (and some that are a bit father away, just for good measure).

Ventura County:

Los Angeles County:

Santa Barbara County:

And as a special treat for those who have made it this far, here are some super secret special programs for students to get free or discounted tickets!

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Feeling Moody? Just Hit Play!

Music has always been the universal language. No matter what country of origin, listeners are able to distinguish an emotional presence and overall feeling from the melodies, rhythm, and movement of the song. So this got me thinking about the overlooked behavior of choosing music when we have those emotional moments. What makes people put on certain songs? Specifically, when you are feeling sad, happy or angry, does the listener choose music to lift them out of that emotion or stay present in that mindset. I decided to set out get some answers!

The Psychology behind music selection

A lot of different choices can be made based on mood. Picture this, two people are having the exact same awful of a day then return to their respective places of living. They decide they want to decompress their day by turning on their speaker and putting on some music. Regardless of them going through the same awful day, even then, they would still most likely choose music from opposite sides of the spectrum. One might put on more of a Midwest Emo/EmoViolence/ Emo Hardcore and sit in their respective emotions and ride it out. The other might put on more 80s New Wave/ Synth Pop/ Goth Rock and dance it out right there in their living rooms to exert that awful day away. Why does this happen? I wanted to find out what music listeners choose based on their moods.

Instagram poll results

I took to my instagram, posted some polls on my story, and gathered my own data. These polls were centered around 3 major emotions. Sadness, Happiness, and Anger. Respondents were asked about their music choices when experiencing any of those three emotions. Do they choose music that matches the mood or do they choose music that pulls them out of that given emotion. About an average of 50 users participated in the research below. Heres what I found.

Sadness

First up, we have everyone’s good old companion, sadness. When asked about what music they choose, most people chose music that matches their mood. This means they are pressing play on the tunes that make them shed a tear or amplify those sad thoughts. In this way, they’re riding the wave and getting off it when they feel ready to. I think it is important to think about how a lot of the music in the mainstream, regardless of the genre, has a reoccurring run in with sadness. Whether this would be with an Electronic Pop hit about a breakup or a Indie Rock song about hating your 9-5, that all point to the same baseline of sadness. It’s a more normalized emotion within the music sphere and in our everyday and one to be processed, this is where music is often the helpful tool. When in comes to the other 19 percent in the poll, they are the ones to put the tunes to get them out of the pit of sadness. This would consist of upbeat, pop, bright songs to pump up the energy to move through it.

Happiness

When respondents were asked about they hit play on when it comes to happiness, there was also a huge gap that presented itself across the data. It appears that when users felt that they were having a good energy in their day where they felt energetic, happy, and joyful most users wanted to continue that vibe with some tunes to encourage rather than mellowing themselves out. In this instance more fast paced, high energy, bright songs would be in the rotation rather than some stripped back, calm, and grounded songs. This again would be another emotion that would be normalized in our mainstream with songs being used to get us hyped up and happy. This would be considered a more accepted emotion alongside sadness to be able to process through music in a healthy way. Feeling warm, joyful, and excited? Great put on some ABBA!

Anger

Here’s where it gets interesting! Given that the previous polls had a rather huge gap between the answers, this one was actually cutting it quite close. When users were asked about moments where they felt Angry, 55% of them said they would much rather choose music to continue on the rage. 45% said they wanted to put something on that would help them calm down and get to a better headspace. I think with the other emotions in the study, I can’t help but notice how Anger is more of the emotion that is not as easily accepted in the mainstream and in our everyday. It’s violent, its dark, and it can be visceral. As we should know, Anger can and is a healthy emotion to experience yet many user were wanted to choose music to calm them down and contrast the anger overall. When it comes to the choices for matching the mood this could consist of Hardcore, Metal, and maybe even a sprinkle of something Punk adjacent. Those wanting to calm themselves down are going more for the soft and mellow tones of Jazz, Acoustic, or Folk.

Let’s Rewind

At the end of the day, music choice is all subjective and changes from person to person! As mentioned previously, but two people feeling the same emotion and going through the same type of day, won’t neccessarilay mean that they will end up choosing the same music to decompress after a long day. That in of itself is really interesting! The main take away from this study was really the curiosity of how people make their moody music choices and present the findings. This is to get us to be a bit more aware of what we hit play on when we are feeling emotional. Do we go with the flow or go against it?

Moody Playlists

To finish things off here are some of some playlists of songs from my personal library that I would put on for when I fell Happy, Sad or Angry. When comparing myself to the results, I am definitely more of the listener to choose music that matches the mood entirely. I think this is a pretty good representation of myself but I encourage you to make some playlists to have ready when those emotional moments happen!

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Local Business Spotlight

5 Must-Visit Indie Bookstores in Ventura County

Are you planning on traveling to or are currently living in the Ventura County area? Are you searching for book bliss? Then you have come to the right place! This is your guide to the five bookstores in Ventura Country that you must visit. And hey, if you only go to one because it fits your niche, that’s fine! I’m not here to judge you, I’m only here to inform you. I’ll save the judgment for another time.

Bart’s Books

  • Screenshot

302 W Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023

4.8 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love basking in the sun as you browse, if you love fresh air while you read, Bart’s Books is the place to be. According to their website, “Bart’s Books is the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, serving the Ojai community since 1964. Bart’s hosts a collection of over 130,000 used and new books, ranging from rare out-of-print gems to well-loved paperbacks.” Before you enter the main area, you will find books on shelves lining the outside walls. Both used and new books can be found at Bart’s making it affordable for many budgets. Bart’s hosts events and offers a fun book-buying program. Bring a book, they buy it, and you leave with cash (or a new book).

From its warm-toned, brick red, and velvet green bookshelves adorned with foliage, to housing books from every major genre, Bart’s is truly for the outdoorsy bookworm.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 22 – A. Kendra Greene No Less Strange or Wonderful: Essays in Curiosity

April 5 – Michael Arkush The Golf 100

April 26 – Indie Bookstore Day

The Bookworm

  • Screenshot

93 E Daily Dr, Camarillo, CA 93010

4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a porch-style reading nook and rows of children’s books, this is the place for parents looking to find a book for themselves and their little ones. Bookworm has a sizable collection of Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction. However, the children’s section is where it truly shines. From board books to picture books, all the way to chapter books, any kid of any age can find something they love! So, if you’re looking to get a book for a child in your life it’s a must-visit bookstore.

The Bookworm also occasionally hosts events, so make sure to keep an eye on their socials. Although on the smaller side, Bookworm packs a punch, carrying books in the major genres most would be interested in. If you’re looking for a fun family outing, visit Bookworm because it is truly for the parenting readers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Drew Daywalt Reading

Calico Cat Bookshop

  • Screenshot

495 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you love a challenge, I toast to you! This bookstore is not for the claustrophobic. You are surrounded by literature the moment you step through the door. If you do venture inside, Calico is going to be your new home for the next few hours. Thousands of used, rare, signed, and collectible books flow from the shelves to the ground and all around. Although they don’t have events, they update their website with new arrivals, so you can browse online before you head over (if that tickles your fancy), but being there is an experience you won’t want to miss.

It takes a special kind of book enthusiast to love and respect a bookstore like Calico. It’s welcoming and sweet and demands that you take your time and browse slowly. Although there is organization and tables with labeled genres, Calico is truly for the patient book hunters.

RECENT ARRIVALS

Responsibilities: Poems and a Play by William Butler Yeats

Theosophy by Rudolf Steiner

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari

Point Omega by Don DeLillo

Smitten Bookstore

  • Screenshot

365 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

While other bookstores on the list offer many genres, Smitten knows love and intimacy only. The colors are bright and the name is cute, but this is not the most child-friendly of bookstores. Though many of their books have cartoon couples on the covers, what lies within the pages is much less PG. That said, there is a small children’s section for the little ones to browse, just be cautious.

The bookstore offers the typical modern romance, classic romance, romantasy, and academic books on modern sexuality. You can also find tarot cards, tote bags, bookmarks, and so much more. The bookstore has an active event calendar that is definitely worth checking out.

As Jane Austen once said, “My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” That is exactly what a romance connoisseur will feel about the book oasis that is Smitten Bookstore. Smitten is truly for the romantic book lovers.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Rebecca Thorne – Tea You at the Altar Book Release

March 9 – Book Swap

March 15 – Kate Tilney Author Signing

Timbre Books

  • Screenshot

1910 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

4.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With a bright reading room attached to a robust children’s section, Timbre is the perfect place to pick up a book and stay for a while. There is outdoor seating if you are interested, but a seat by the window indoors is just as appealing.

If you are looking for a new release, check with Timbre. Their shelves are filled with new releases and incredibly popular BookTok books. That being said, they also sell books that aren’t targeted just toward the BookTok audience. They have older and newer memoirs, books on music, books on art, etc. They also have two full bookshelves that display Timbre employee book recommendations, some even have notecard descriptions.

The space is warm, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing, with new events held each month. Timbre is truly for the modern bibliomaniac.

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 8 – Pierpont Book Fair @ Timbre

March 13 – Poetry Book Club

March 18 – Lewis Robinson in Conversation with Antoine Wilson

________________________________________________________

This has been your guide to the five bookstores in Ventura Country that you must visit. Thank you for spending part of your day with me and I hope you are eager to get outside and into the community.

As an active reader and an employee of a book publishing house, I like to think I know a thing or two about bookstores. So, if you read through this entire article and are not convinced to visit at least one of these incredible spots, know that I am judging you quite heavily. See, I told you I’d save the judgment for another time.

Until next time, I’ve been me, and this has been lovely.

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Ventura College Mural Project – 100th Year Celebration and $3,000 AWARD!

The Ventura College Art Department with Sharla Fell as Chair, continues to evolve, expand and launch more opportunities for Art students. With the support and enthusiasm of Philosophy Professor Ron Mules, Sharla and her team of professionals in the department and supportive administration have an announcement.   

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Ventura College, history and inclusivity of its students, we are proud to announce a collaborative large scale Mural Project! This 20’ x 16’ painted exterior mural on the New Media wall will enhance our campus environment. The Art department is now calling on local Artists to beautify the campus by Designing a Mural!

A non-profit mural painting company, muralism.org, will be painting the large work of art with the help of our Ventura College students in fall 2024. To oversee the mural process, there will be a new class offered here as well. Mural Painting: History and Practice, ART V21. There are no prerequisites for this Mural class but any of the the following are recommended prep: ART V11A, ART V13A, ART V15A and V16A. 

“This is something for everyone to enjoy, from the Art Department, that will be enjoyed for many years.”  said Chair Sharla Fell.

Furthermore, this involves an AWARD of 3,000 for the Best Design!  

This is a unique opportunity for Ventura County residents, students and faculty. Eligible artists must reside in Ventura County. Please join us as we participate as a local community in sharing creative visions. It’s time for a Call for Entries NOW! Get creative, design and submit your vibrant, diverse, thought provoking imagery/artwork. Entries are due by August 2nd, 2024 ~ 5:00pm 

Please Email your submissions to: VCSocialSci@vcccd.edu Include your full name and cell phone.  

Submission Details 

  • File size – No larger 20mb.
  • Format – JPeg or PDF
  • Include short description of the artwork and how it meets the Mural Details section
  • Artists must be residing in Ventura County

 Mural Details

Mural must include elements celebrating:

  • Ventura College and its History
  • Ventura Colleges 100th Anniversary
  • Diversity and inclusivity of our students

Projects Specs

  • Location: Ventura College New Media Gallery ~ Exterior Wall
  • Mural size: 20’ width x 16’ height

Due Dates

  • Submission Deadline : Friday August 2nd by 5:00pm
  • Date of Mural Completion: October 2024

         www.venturacollege.edu     www.VCSocial.com 

   There will be a special unveiling ceremony at completion in respect to the 100th Anniversary, TBA

For further information or inquiries regarding the project, please contact: Sharla Fell at sfell@vcccd.edu or (805) 289-6265

   

Categories
Arts & Entertainment

Artist Spotlight: The Frights at Ventura Music Hall

On February 23, 2024, the Ventura Music Hall hosted a musical phenomenon, The Frights. They’re a band that seamlessly blends some elements of surf rock, punk, and alternative sound. In combination this creates a feeling that is both nostalgic and refreshing in a modern way. What sets The Frights apart from other bands is not just the way they strum their guitars, but their commitment to staying authentic since the very beginning. In today’s day and age artists find popularity by using auto tune. The Frights on the other hand embrace the imperfection of their raw and unfiltered voices. This approach to sound is a great reminder that music is really just another art medium.

A very intriguing aspect of The Fright’s music journey is how they are able to achieve an inherently timeless sound that has found its way into the ears of the new generations through social media platforms. Most notably TikTok has become an unexpected ally in introducing the band’s surf rock sound to a wider audience. Songs like “You Are Going to Hate This” and “Tungs” have become one of their most popular performances and a great contributor to the new exposure was from rising social media platforms like TikTok.

Photo by Jorge Padilla

The band released their first EP “Dead Beach” and their first ever studio album “The Frights” in 2013 and have become a household staple in the surf rock community.  Although the band has seen some changes throughout the years, they still manage to maintain their raw unfiltered sound. The lead vocalist Mikey Carnevale has been with the band since the very beginning and is joined by Richard Dotson, Marc Finn, Jordan Clark, and Elias Avila.
For those who are not very familiar with The Frights, here are their
Top 5 most streamed songs, and for good reason.

5. Kids
4. Crust Bucket
3. Tongues
2. You Are Going to Hate This
1. Tungs

Missed the show? Have your own!

Live At The Observatory is a great album to listen to if you want to experience or relive the feeling of hearing The Frights live.

Photo by Jorge Padilla
Categories
Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

LEARN HOW TO “LIGHT UP BIRD CAGES”

Want a relaxing activity to do while drinking mimosas by a harbor? This upcoming event will be just that. I found out about this event through the visit Ventura CA website. They have lots of different events and other things to do in Ventura. If you are ever wanting to go out and find something to do in Ventura that site is a good place to start.

This event will show you a step-by-step process on how to create a beaded wire wrapped bird cage. It’s meant to be a decretive piece for your garden or even your room. It will be held in Ventura on April 26th from 1pm to 3pm. The entry will cost $35 per person and everything will be supplied. It’ll be a nice way to relax because on top of it being by a harbor they will also have complimentary mimosas.

For the location or more information about the event(s) click on the link(s) below.

LIGHT UP BIRD CAGES

VENTURA COUNTY EVENTS

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Student Life at VC

Diversity in Culture Festival

The Ventura College Diversity in Culture Taskforce is committed to recognize, celebrate, and promote awareness and appreciation of the value of diversity at our college and in our community.

Diversity in cultural festival is an event that takes place every year at the Ventura college some time around april. The festival’s main goal is to create and provide awareness as well as understanding of diversity both globally and locally. This festival enables the opportunity to promote, connect, present, display, and to engage with staff, faculty and the students. Diversity stands for including people from a range of different ethical and social backgrounds and genders. Diversity is a space for equality amongst each and everyone one of us. Culture means the different ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of groups that get passed down from generation to generation. All of these concepts together create diversity in culture.  

Arts Department: Ceramics Class selling pottery at the festival

What was your experience throughout the festival and what did you enjoy the most? 

Cory: “Our experience was positive throughout the festival. We had a good time walking through and saying hello to the vendors ,and decided on 2  booths that we wanted to do interviews for.”

Sydney: “My experience was positive and I believed I learned more about the community surrounding me in Ventura County. I enjoyed interviewing 2 vendors who were selling their unique products that were handcrafted by them. It was not that crowded so it was easier to guide my group through the different vendors and have our chance to interact with them.”

Mixtli: “My experience at the diversity and cultural festival was a good experience. I enjoyed walking around campus while listening to the different poetry slams presented at the festival by different participants. As well as looking and appreciating the vendors at the event that bring out their unique art pieces to sell. My favorite part of the festival was probably seeing the participation of the community that actually took the time to stay at the festivals and also the ones that participated in the festival. Furthermore in future festival i would really like to see more vendors.”

Bella: “My experience at the Diversity in Culture Festival was an overall great experience. I was able to fully enjoy the event at Ventura College and get an understanding of how important it is on being informed in different cultures through music and dances. Also experiencing my first poetry slam and heard people’s personal writing was inspiring. My favorite part of was being to see how lively the campus was during the festival as well as seeing vendors show support to our school.”

IG: @francescopalmieri_us

What will you anticipate for the future festival at Ventura College? 

Cory: “I am hoping for many more diversity festivals in the future that include different cultures in a more intimate way by solo events that highlight different nationalities.”

Sydney: “I anticipate more diversity festivals that have more vendors with even more cultures to highlight more ethnicities and other groups at the college. I think it will be a great opportunity for the college to have more exposure to, as we could perhaps get an even more inclusive and accurate representation of the county’s community.”

Mixtli: ” Furthermore, in future festivals I would really like to see more vendors.”

Bella: “Overall from a student perspective it was a fun way of learning and getting to know more about the different cultures. As well as getting to see more vendors in the future”

Follow Isabella’s Instagram

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/bellaeruiz/

Follow Mixtli’s Instagram 

VC Social: vcsocial.biz/author/mixtlimedina1/

Follow Cory’s Instagram

VC Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/corypaul1/

Follow Sydney’s Instagram

Follow Social: https://vcsocial.biz/author/sydneymbull/

Categories
Arts & Entertainment Local Business Spotlight

Cultural Curation at it’s finest: The Dated ‘N Faded Experience

Image depicts the market’s March event linked from dnfmarket

From nostalgic toys to hip hop dancing, the Dated ‘N Faded night market is not your typical pop-up event. Vendors, performers, and attendees from and around Ventura County come with eagerness looking for the next big thing. Dated ‘N Faded is a free night market open to all ages and is hosted every 3 months at Ventura’s Topa Topa Brewing Co. With about 40 vendors of all sorts, this night market builds its own cultural curation through live entertainment, fashion, music, food, drinks, and more! 

Dated ‘N Faded Origins

Established in 2023 and soon approaching their one year anniversary, Dated ‘N Faded is more than just a night market. It is where one brand brings three friends closer together to serve Ventura County, all starting with the South-Oxnard based brand, Retour. Retour is a streetwear clothing brand inspired by Oxnard culture founded by clothing designer Ryan Yere, and co-founders Byron Bucao, and Steve Rivera, all of whom share the same vision for the brand: “Our story, through product, vintage curation”. This mission statement is extended onto the Dated ‘N Faded market, as Ryan Yere described during his time on the Capsul Talk podcast. Retour embodies the story of the city of Oxnard and its culture, bringing forward the talent in the community and strives to carry that purpose with Dated ‘N Faded. While all the creators are multi-hyphenates, this market heavily reflects the creators’ main influences: Ryan in clothing design, Steve in vintage clothing, and Byron in choreography and photography. They venture to showcase the community’s creativity by opening up this platform in collaboration with local talent. 

The Experience  

After having attended their fourth event, I can confidently say that talent from the Ventura County community reflects identity through their craft. Every event hosted comes with its own unique theme, and coincides with the Retour merch drops posted on their main Instagram accounts dnfmarket and retourco. The announcement of this recent event, which took place on March 16, 2024, featured a Chicano-esque theme along with the market’s reappearing astronaut figure. (see above image)

Navigating through the bustling crowd during the live stream on vcsocialbrand‘s Instagram account, I saw both the revival of old trends and timeless fashion. One of my favorite booths I came across was a ‘90’s/00’s photo-op with airbrushed backdrops, hosted by pdogs00snaps, showcasing this trend that is resurgent, predominantly within the Latino community.    

Chiquesfc had a creative storefront display (in collaborations with serhumano.ig and apartworldwide), featuring day-to-day products found in Latino households, to represent a part of their clothing brand De un Campo a Otro. The other part is represented through their clothing designs which highlight the story of hardworking field workers from Oxnard. The word “Chiques” in the brand name refers to an Oxnard nickname coming from the city’s first established neighborhood, La Colonia. As a connection to the mexican community, “Chiques” is a term that has been recoined from being a gang related label to a positive form of identity in which Pacifica High School teacher Cesar Calderon told the VC Star journalist Wendy Leung, “Chiques means Oxnard […] it means that fighting spirit of you making it out and proving them wrong.” All this comes together as a form of empowerment where providing representation for farm workers carries that identity of a fighter who pushes through with resilience. 

Images linked from dnfmarket featuring pdogs00snaps photo service (Left) and Chiquesfc storefront display (Right)

Of course, we also saw the partnership between the co-founder’s businesses, Retour and Stevescloset99 as they shared the same booth. Besides sharing the same brand vision, story through product, co-founders Ryan and Byron collaborated with Capsul Talk to host a Q&A panel where selected local business owners and creatives got to interact and share answers to the public’s questions.

Multiple booths displayed their best curated streetwear, vintage apparel, jewelry, toothgems, tattoos, dance and music performances, food, drinks, and much more than I could describe here in this blog. Thanks to the teams at Topa Topa Brewing Co., Retour and Dated ‘N Faded who support the mission of providing a platform for cultural curation and storytelling in collaboration with local creatives and small businesses, curating a space for all.  If you’ve made it this far into the blog, follow dnfmarket on Instagram, where you can follow along to hear more about their first upcoming anniversary event in May 2024, and connect with the rest of the previous vendors, with their own resilient stories to share.

Experience the Dated ‘N Faded Night Market here:

Categories
Arts & Entertainment

How to Enjoy Your First K-pop Concert

You have been either streaming their latest albums, or watching their performances online a little more often than usual, and never thought the day would come that you could even see them live. And suddenly you are finally going to your first K-pop concert.

While they have finally released information about where they are going on tour you realize it is only a couple months away. This can cause you to wonder if you will be traveling to a new city or even going out of state, too. Also, consider going with people you know or even mutuals you have met on social media as well. There is no need to worry because we all been there and a reason why I want share some tips to make your first K-pop concert enjoyable!

  1. Arrive early

In K-pop, a big priority is merchandise so I’d advise getting some official gear. Depending on the venue, the merchandise booth will open early before the concert starts. It’s better to show up a few hours early to get a good spot in line especially since merchandise sells out fast. Make sure to check official venue, social media, or website for updated information.

2. Check the venue’s bag policy

This is the most important information you will need especially with the clear bag policy if you’re not aware of it. I would make sure to visit the venue’s website so you know which back to buy before the concert.

3. Dress comfortably

A common thing in the K-pop community is wanting to look cute, but if your feet are hurting by the time when you get to the venue, you probably won’t enjoy the concert. Especially when the concert involves a lot of dancing, and jumping, you would want to wear comfortable clothes.I would want to be realistic about what you’re going to wear which you can always find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest, X, or Instagram.

4. Stay hydrated

Depending on how long you’ve been at the venue, concerts especially can be long and crazy make sure you stay hydrated by bringing a water bottle with you and also bring snacks to keep yourself energized throughout the show.

5. Bring extra batteries and a power bank

Since we’re at a time where we’re always on our phones and taking pictures and recording every movement at concerts, it’s important to keep your phone charged so make sure to bring a power bank. A popular thing is having a light stick to always bring extra batteries for it as well.

6. Be present & have fun!

From personal experience, we sometimes get a little carried away between trying to record and sharing all of our favorite moments on social media. It’s okay to put your phone down during one or two songs just sing along and dance because you never know when your artist will come back again to enjoy the moment. This also being your chance to experience magic of K-pop live, so make the most of it!