Must-Read Features
Above: Sequoias from the feature story "In the Land of Giants." Photo by David Benjamin Sherry.
By Jullian Aiden Bravo and The Breeze staff
@Mr_Reporter_
The Atlantic: "The Brilliant Incoherence of Trump's Foreign Policy" by Stephen Sestanovich
This feature article is incredibly timely, considering the recent rise in populist politicians from the left and the right. But, more importantly, Sestanovich details how Donald Trump was able to capitalize on the collective disillusionment with the global, neoliberal order. Interestingly, with Obama and Putin framing the context of his ascent, Trump seized a historic contradiction in which a sizable minority of our domestic electorate "wanted relief from the burdens of global leadership without losing the thrill of nationalist self-assertion."
- Chris Salazar (Opinion Editor)
Mother Jones: "My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard" by Shane Bauer
This feature piece is an amazing example of investigative journalism. For those that argue that investigative journalism is dead have clearly not read Bauer's work. Bauer goes undercover to get insight on what a private prison entails and the power and accountability a prison guard has in his role. This is written in long form and broken up into five chapters. With each chapter that progresses, the readers can see the metamorphosis of Bauer from journalist to prison guard. The way that Bauer engages his readers is addictive which makes a great asset to investigative journalism. I won't ruin too much of the story but if you're familiar with the Stanford Prison Experiment there are some startling parallels.
- Charlie Vargas (Baseline Editor)
i-D: “The Transformative and Terrifying Role of Gowns in Film” by Mel Campbell
The topic of whether femininity and poise behind wearing a dress can ultimately affect the way a women perceives herself physically and emotionally and how this can cause an identity crisis. Campbell discusses Beauty and The Beast and how the drastic “makeover” scene can be a demonstration of the way women can potentially find love and acceptance by changing the way they appear. I think this article is an important read, simply because the younger generations are more so focused on physical features and beauty. With movies that highlight this concept, quite like the ones that focus on Disney princesses, the push of an unrealistic image is more prevailing than ever.
- Jessica Villalvazo (Life & Style Editor)
Vox.com: Youtube Channel
This one's a bit of a cheat, as it's not really an article. With a little over half-a-thousand videos, the channel features subjects ranging from Politics, Art, Pop-Culture, History, Education and many more. They're expertly edited, and have great production value, specifically in sound and animation. It must be said that the animation done in these videos are absolutely inspiring in visual storytelling and information. It's literally the ideal way to learn and retain information.
- Hanajun Chung (Multimedia Producer)
Waypoint: "The Dying Man Who Found Hope in 'Breath of the Wild,'" Patrick Klepek
The best stories are always intensely human. In this feature, Patrick Klepek documented the final weeks of Gabe Marcelo, a man with a terminal life-long heart condition. Marcelo's dying wish was to play the then unreleased new Zelda game, and Nintendo was kind enough to let him. The story tells of Marcelo's past challenge with his condition and how he found escape from it through video games. It's a heartbreaking story and does not require any knowledge of video games to appreciate.
- Daniel Steele (Online Editor-in-Chief)
The Los Angeles Times: "NFL player Konrad Reuland died at 29. But his heart saved baseball legend Rod Carew" by Mike DiGiovanna
A heart transplant is pretty amazing itself, but when a heart, that at one time pumped blood though an NFL tight-end saves the life of a baseball Hall of Famer, it is even more special to sports fans. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports not about two professional athletes, but about two people who have shared the same heart and what it means to the families. In the article, he writes about the death of Konrad Reuland from his mom's perspective, and the moment she met Rod Carew, who now has Reuland's heart inside his chest.
- Kyle Smith (Editor-in-Chief)
The New York Times: "In The Land of Giants" by Jon Mooallem
Close your eyes and imagine yourself wandering through an ancient, mystic-like forrest. Its trees tower at a height of 300 feet; their width: 30 feet. In this forrest, the trees predate the English language and most of the world’s major religions. They are a humbling reminder that mankind is ever so small. This place, believe it or not, exists, and is not very far away. The Sequoia National Park is exactly that—an old forrest with towering trees. "In The Land of Giants" by Jon Mooallem, is a feature story that explores the history and beautiful nature of the Sequoia National Park in California's southern Sierra Nevada mountains. The photos, taken by David Benjamin Sherry, show a place that can be described as mystical, dreamy, and spiritual. The story is very well-written and conjures vivid images and scenes the writer experienced. And at the same time, Mooallem’s writing style creates a sense of nostalgia for a place I never visited before. Perhaps it’s his vivid descriptions or his soft, novel-like tone paired with the brilliant photography that creates such a feeling. This piece is a must-read for anyone interested in history and adventure. Upon reading the final sentence, exploring the Sequoia Nation Park will definitely be on your bucket list.
- Jullian Aiden Bravo (Managing Editor)