Dear McGill Students Who Ignore the Pandemic

As we all know (or as I hope we all know), Montreal has been going through it with respect to COVID-19. Indoor and outdoor gatherings have been long forbidden. In October 2020, our restaurants were closed and remain closed to date. In December 2020, our stores closed for a month. In January, we entered a curfew which we’ve now been living in for over 10 weeks. Today, in March 2021, one year since the pandemic was officially declared, it’s safe to say that we are all going a little crazy in our beautiful city. Things seem to be looking up though…curfew has been pushed from 8:00pm to 9:30pm, the sun sets later, the weather is warmer and spring has sprung. Spirits have been high, and cases have been low. But, suddenly, with this warm weather has come subsequent stupidity. 

Spring in Montreal (https://i0.wp.com/www.thebraininjane.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/montreal1.jpg)

Recently, myself and my fellow Montrealer’s have seen hundred-person gatherings on St. Patty’s, a full-blown slip-and-slide party at the park, and even a fake “OAP” where unmasked individuals set up speakers and posted up until they were kicked out of the park. 

And who do I see at these gatherings? McGill students.

I interviewed my room mate and friend, Dani Michelin, who was witness to some of these events over the last week and asked her how she felt seeing this occur in her hometown: “As a teacher, I feel so offended coming home from my stage every day and seeing hundreds of McGill student most of who aren’t even from here gathered like that and not caring at all how it affects others. I go to school every day where I am required for my job to be in close contact with so many students in order to properly educate them and it’s so frustrating seeing students have no regard for that whatsoever and to continue partying in the middle of the pandemic. It makes me so disregarded and undervalued”.

(https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digital/montrealgazette/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/9999-city-students-masks-1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288)

So, to all you McGill students, particularly those who are not from Montreal, why is it that you feel entitled to disobey public health guidelines and put our city at risk? Is it because you do not feel morally responsible for the outcome of our city? Do you simply not care? 

I understand the temptation, it’s been a long couple of months and I understand how isolating restrictions can make you feel. You are not alone in that feeling, but your recklessness will only delay our recovery. I urge you to reconsider your actions, if not for yourselves, then for the people who permanently call Montreal ‘home’. As someone who was born and raised in Montreal, I feel a personal duty to protect my city from the effects of the pandemic. Our city is trying to keep our numbers down in hopes of securing some sense of normalcy this summer. Not all of us get to ‘go home’ to potentially safer cities to escape the damage that has been done. I know that many of you will be returning to your home once the semester ends, and many of you will be eligible for vaccines upon return. Please keep in mind that Montrealer’s, particularly students and young adults in Montreal, will likely not be vaccinated for a while to come. As cases finally went down, they’ve managed to start going right back up. Though you may not be here to experience it, we are headed towards a third wave and I hope you keep this in mind before you act.

Though this letter is riddled with anger, I hope what you take from this is that we need to do better. Please don’t drop the ball right before you go home, leaving us to pick up the pieces while you’re away. 

With (a little less) love,

(A very frustrated) Jenna

Backgrounder: The “Distracted Boyfriend” Meme

Here it is, in all of its glory, the original picture behind the “distracted boyfriend” meme. This image was taken in 2015 by Antonio Guillem, a photographer from Barcelona. It was initially posted to Shutterstock with the caption “Disloyal man walking with his girlfriend and looking amazed at another seductive girl”.

Two years later, this image began to circulate the internet in thousands of different forms across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Reddit in a new meme format. It first appeared in meme-form in January 2017, as it was posted in a prog (progressive rock) Facebook group originating in Turkey. In February, the image made its way to Twitter and later that month received over 30,000 likes on Instagram. Since then, it has become a hallmark of meme culture and can surely be recognized by anyone familiar with these social media platforms.

When asked of what he feels about the meme-ification of this image, the photographer explained that this kind of recognition doesn’t mean much to him. Rather, he credits whoever “had the great idea to turn it into a metaphor that works for almost anything”.

It’s hard to imagine that this plain stock image would come to rule the internet, but if you’ve seen the variations of this meme, I’m sure you understand this picture’s full potential. I think the attraction behind this meme stems from its adaptability. While other popular memes are designed to appeal to a very specific audience, individuals and creators alike have the power to transform this image into pretty much whatever they want. I’ve seen this meme touch on a range of topics from politics, to literature, to pop culture and every nonsensical thing in between.

I think its value is rooted in its ability to allow creators to attract and connect with likeminded individuals – it inevitably sparks a dialogue no matter its context as it explores two usually opposing realities. The first of its nature to be seen on Twitter presented itself as follows:

This was the first “Distracted Boyfriend” meme to really go viral on Twitter, as it explored something as intense as our generations shift away from capitalism in such a casual and laughable way. It has allowed people to mask vulnerability through comedy while opening a dialogue in regard to some taboo subjects. After its debut on Facebook, this meme was the first to receive thousands of likes on Twitter. Just a few weeks following, the same meme format received over 30,000 likes on Instagram.

With the rising presence of social media in our lives, I believe young people have developed an aversion to voicing their opinions in a direct manner, and memes have been our generations go-to outlet to delve into so many touchy subjects. This meme has been used to spark discussion among the younger generations about mental health, political views and personal outlooks on life. While I myself have found comedic relief through memes, I believe it is important to understand that as young adults, we have resorted to communicating through memes because we feel there is a lack of space for our voices to be heard as individuals. In this day and age, you pretty much need to go viral to make a lasting point or impact. I’ve seen this meme become very effective in sparking discussions about mental health, particularly on Twitter, as we acknowledge our inability to communicate about such topics in more traditional ways.

In contrast to these existentialist memes, this format has been used to represent all sorts of nonsense, from silly grammatical preferences, to movie references, and so much more, as you can see below. It has been used as a means to discuss various trends in pop culture. Remember that phase in our lives where we used avocado toast as a means to solve all our problems? Well guess what? There’s a “Distracted Boyfriend” meme for that.

And there you have it! Everything you need to know about the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme in all its glory. As a parting gift, I leave you with this: my own version of the “Distracted Boyfriend” meme. If it makes you laugh, feel free to give me a follow.

With love,

Jenna

HOW TO: Make Fashion Sustainable

Hello and welcome back to Jen’s Den! Today, I’ll be giving you a little tutorial on how to make fashion more sustainable.

Lets be real…retail therapy is REAL. Being a fashion lover during the pandemic, I know how satisfying it has been waiting for that package to come in the mail. it’s not like there’s much else to look forward to at the moment! However, I feel that I’ve always struggled with the ethics of fashion, as I understand that fast fashion is extremely detrimental to our environment. Given this tricky reality, I’ve devoted myself to finding ways to make fashion more sustainable, so that I can enjoy this satisfaction while also doing my part to protect our environment.

If you’re seeking to do the same, look no further! Below I will provide some tips and tricks on how to make fashion more sustainable!

1.     Rework your clothing

If you’re feeling like you have lots of time on your hands and would like to get crafty, this is the option for you! You’d be shocked at what you can transform your old clothes into with just a little bit of love (and perhaps a sewing machine). YouTube has been my saviour for reworking clothing. I’ve found a video that can teach me pretty much anything. Basic sewing, patchwork, hemming, beading, you name it!

Reworking your clothes is a great way to get longer use out of them once you’ve gotten bored of the original piece. And, it will allow you to create a look that is one-of-a-kind and unique to you.

Rework your old tshirt by adding a lettuce hem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfs1HY2BVlw

2.     Support local

If you’re looking for an easier and less time-consuming way to be sustainable, you can simply shop local! Instead of supporting large-scale retail stores, go take a look at that boutique around the corner from your place, or try and find a Montreal-based business that you can support! Local shops are struggling now more than ever and can use our help! By shopping local, you are lowering the carbon footprint associated with your purchases.

However, you do have to be careful when looking to shop locally; if your aim is to reduce your environmental impact, it is important to make sure that local businesses are actually sourcing their products from your hometown, and not simply importing them from somewhere overseas. You can simply ask your local storeowners and they will be able to provide you with this information.

Marché Floh: collective of 18 local vendors of street wear https://img.nightlife.ca/fFAX9SKBUhbiwwwD1fjRucOeLrA=/2280×1282/smart/filters:format(webp)/https%3A%2F%2Fnightlife.ca%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F11%2Ffloh-shoppe.jpg

3.     Buy/sell second-hand

I know I’ve been quite glued to social media throughout the pandemic, and I decided to utilize it as a means to buy and sell second-hand.

I’ve noticed more and more that people have been using Instagram as a marketplace and this summer I decided to join the club! I felt that I was so bored of my closet and felt that my clothing could go to better use, so I created an Instagram page with a couple friends, and we sold our clothes so they could go to a better home.

Too lazy or overwhelmed to create and manage your own platform? Don’t fret! There are resources online who will take your old clothes, market and sell them and give you a percentage of the sales proceeds.

Charityclosetmtl: second hand charity clothing sale
https://www.instagram.com/charityclosetmtl/?hl=en

4.     Organize a clothing swap

Tight on money, but still want to explore your creativity through fashion? Organize a clothing swap! You can use this opportunity to go through all those items in the back of the closet that you haven’t looked at in years and give them a better home.

Organize a zoom call with your besties where you all show off your chosen pieces and swap them for another! Then organize a contactless pickup and welcome home your new (and pre-loved) pieces!

That’s all for today! I hope this inspires you to make more environmentally conscious decisions in your future fashion endeavours. Follow me for more like this.

With love,

Jenna

Let’s Get Dance-y!

5 Summer Song Recommendations To Make You Move Your Feet

2020 was an interesting year to say the least – there were ups and downs (…mostly downs) but through it all, I have found solace in music. While I’ve always been captivated by music, I’ve typically used it as a tool to “wind down” rather than to “pump up”. During the pandemic, however, its been difficult to find outlets to let off some steam, leaving me feeling under-stimulated and full of energy just waiting to be dispensed!

With this, I took the opportunity to discover a whole new genre of music that I had yet to explore: Dance/Electronic music. Now I know this genre often dissuades people, as they fear listening to another song riddled with a repeating mm-ts-mm-ts-mm-ts beat that they associate with dirty, sweaty clubs. But, if you hear me out, I will help you discover a whole new realm of electronic music that will surely leave you feeling dance-y! I’ve managed to unleash the benefits associated with this genre, and I hope you will to.

In no particular order, here are my song recommendations for Summer 2021:

Back in the Day – Erykah Badu (2003)

Back in the Day is Badu’s second single off of her album “Worldwide Underground“. This song reminisces on simpler times, when you didn’t need much more than good company to have a good time. Its funky-smooth R&B beat will surely up your mood as you reminisce on the good old summer days spent in good company.

Erykah Badu (https://media.newyorker.com/photos/590975ff1c7a8e33fb38f63a/master/pass/160425_r28041.jpg)

Music Sounds Better With You – Stardust (1998)

Music Sounds Better With You might be Stardust’s only released song, but it is a masterpiece nonetheless. The tempo picks up right off the bat, and will surely have you ready to dance by the first verse. It’s tone is happy and excited, as it highlights the beauty of appreciating music in good company.

Both Of Us – Jayda G (2020)

Following suit to Stardust, the beat of this song will leave you hooked for more. This track is not very lyrical, but is still so catchy. Its funky beat persists throughout the entire song, and will absolutely leave you in a trance (and maybe wanting to dance with that special someone!)

Jayda G (https://d23sy9fe9womrt.cloudfront.net/0/32470_1_jayda-g-interview-get-into-the-groove_ban.jpg)

Starry Night – Peggy Gou (2019)

If you’ve made it this far, I introduce you to Peggy Gou, the queen of electronic music! Starry Night is a perfect example of a feel-good song that strays from the typical EDM club music. It’s tone is breezy and tropical and will surely have your head bopping!

Peggy Gou – Starry Night Cover Art (https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000506983938-yq66v0-t500x500.jpg)

Casio – Jungle (2018)

To end things off, I leave you with Casio. In this track, Jungle takes an R&B twist to the more classic electronic music that you may be used to. Its funky soul vibe is perfect for those who might have an aversion to typical electronic music. The lyrics are smooth, and his voice even smoother. If you’re looking to step up your dance moves, seek inspiration from the video below.

Jungle – Casio (Official Music Video) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nJRGARveVc)

As we welcome in the new year, I leave you with this. I hope these songs will inspire and encourage you to stay dance-y and let off some steam. Remember: all you need to start a dance party is yourself and some funky tunes. Until next time!

With love,

Jenna