Download Report

OCTOBER 2013
THE NEW JESUIT
In this issue:
Politically incorrect p. 3
Celebrating Mastership p. 5
SWAG p. 9
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
EDITORIAL
OCTOBER 2013
Nadia Blostein, Yves Blain-Montesano, Peter Chung, Alessio Marcogliese and
Davide Spinato would like to thank you all for reading the first, but definitely not the last,
edition of this year’s secondary five English newspaper, The New Jesuit. The newspaper
has had tremendous success since it was founded over ten years ago! The staff, as well as
its numerous writers, techies and artists, intends to pursue this long-standing tradition of
an excellent English paper at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf.
We aim to cover numerous topics ranging from art, to sports, to film, all the way
to student life. This is a true testament of the diverse interests of secondary five students
at Brébeuf! In keeping with the spirit of free speech, we promote freethinking and warmly
welcome your input and feedback. We urge you all to share with us any suggestions,
questions, criticisms, and/or thoughts.
The New Jesuit will offer different points of view and will provide information
that you, the students, need to know, all the while conserving our proud Jesuit culture and
tradition. Another of our endeavours is to promote school pride, by displaying the work of
our phenomenal artists and the wit of our writers and by informing readers about upcoming sporting events of our prolific athletes. Enjoy, and please write to us!
Very special thanks must go to Mr. Richard Michon, vice-principal of secondary
4 and 5, and Mrs. Cathy Brazeau, principal, without whom this project would not have
been possible !
Sincerely,
Your English Newspaper Editors
The New Jesuit
October 2013
Current events
1 Only in America: A Meditation on Twerking and Modernity
By Bhavish Beejan
1 Grappling with Themselves
2 The War on Guns
By Clara Champagne
Current events
Politically incorrect
Sports
3 AN OPEN LETTER TO “DEMOCRACY”
By Camaradissime
4 Die-Hard Fans of the Dynamiques
By Alessio Marcogliese
5 Ready to Impact Montreal
By Jia Liang Shen
5 Celebrating Three Decades of Hard Work and Excellence
By Christopher Lu
Short Story
Entertainment
6 The Haunting of Red Fells House
By Jonathan Classen-Howes
7 ROB ZOMBIE: THE BEETHOVEN OF HORROR
By Davide Spinato
8 American Horror Story
By Nadia Blostein
8 The Undying 70s Cult Phenomenon: Rocky Horror Picture Show
By Gabriele Del Busso
9 Urban Contemporary
By David-Dan Nguyen
Halloween Special
10 Trick or Treat?
By Kevin Yip
10 Wicked Halloween Playlist
By Nadia Blostein
11 Halloween Crossword Puzzle
By Nadia Blostein
12 Top Ten Thriller Movies of All Time
By Gabriele Del Busso
Current events
Only in America: A Meditation on Twerking
and Modernity
To my home girls here with the big butt
Shaking it like we at a strip club
Remember only God can judge ya
Miley Cyrus
Thomas Cole, in his brilliant 1833-36 five-piece set of
paintings "The Course of Empire" perhaps best captured the
pastoral Weltanschauung that shaped the ideals of Republican
government in America, presenting a civilization at various
stages of its development, from virtuous modesty to opulent
decadence, that which the Founding Fathers feared most.
Nearly two centuries later, as America basks in its successful
post-Cold War predication of liberal ideology, one can only
wonder if occidental society has finally reached the proverbial
breaking point of degeneracy.
Miley Cyrus’ performance at the MTV Video Music
Awards has been scrutinized, dissected, deliberated ad nauseam, in a debate as ludicrous as it is polarizing. Cyrus, a twenty
-year-old pop performer who rose to stardom during her run
as the lead on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana,
danced in a pale latex bra and panties and rubbed herself with
a large foam finger to fellow entertainer Robin Thicke’s
“Blurred Lines”. This shockingly risqué routine rapidly succumbed to the craze and outrage of Internet and media outlets,
which both criticized the hyper-sexualized performance and
hailed the young singer’s striking energy. What Cyrus did
onstage was less a song-and-dance routine than a series of
unbalanced movements and absurd facial expressions and the
reactions to the candid and shameless singularity named Mi-
Grappling with Themselves
Why the U.S. government shutdown isn’t all that
it’s cracked up to be
On October 1, 2013, Congress failed to reach a consensus on the budget for fiscal year 2014, and thereby thrust the
United States government into a state of lockdown. The news,
unsurprisingly, made worldwide headlines and reinforced the
capricious and fickle image the government seems to radiate
these days. Irresolute, dithering and puerile, is it surprising
that Congress’ approval rating is at an all-time low? More
entertainingly perhaps - or worryingly, depending on your
perspective - recent polls have found that Americans hold in
higher esteem root canals, NFL replacement referees, lice,
Nickelback, colonoscopies, traffic jams, cockroaches, Genghis
Khan, used-car salesmen, and, most surprisingly, France. You
can only truly begin to grasp how frustrated Americans are
with their elected representatives when France exceeds them
in popularity. To their credit, however, Congress did manage
1 - The New Jesuit
ley quickly became far more fascinating than the nearly habitual reality of the objectification of women.
What does all this attention mean? It is a symptom of
the screen-bound society that we have shaped ourselves to
become; an online community where accessible communication renders the reaction to the performance more important
than the act discussed. After all, are we not constantly requested to tweet, share, like, and comment our thoughts on various
platforms? We increasingly require immediate reaction to the
latest event, whether it is national stories or personal posts on
networks such as Facebook or Instagram. The veritable plethora of memes, caricatures and posts responding to social phenomena such as Ms. Cyrus’ performance is but a testament to
the sentient impatience and hunger for discussion that characterizes modernity in the 21st century.
This uncontrolled and libertine diffusion of opinions
and images is unquestionably a little daunting. Yet there is a
sense of excitement and hope in this strange new wildness that
is Internet 2.0. A new aesthetic, vulgar, collage, assembled
from heterogeneous realities – the very diversity, which is
humanity – has developed on the Web, and now begins to
typify the zeitgeist of our generation. Would the 18 th century
Puritans that enacted the Empire of Liberty have been shocked
by the results of the virtuous civilization they had intended to
create? Unquestionably. Does it matter? Not really. The idea
of a degenerate modernity merely stems from a rigid moralistic view on social trends, which considered in the optic of
progressive and liberal thought, the ideology of Internet-age
occidental society, is an obsolete point of view. As maven Jay
Z best put it in his song “Somewhere in America”: “ Twerk,
Miley, Miley, Miley. Only in America.”
- Bhavish Beejan
to beat telemarketers, North Korea, the Ebola virus, Fidel Castro, meth labs, communism and gonorrhea. The U.S. Government shutdown is but the latest of the antics that have rocked
the Capitol this past year: on March 1st, after Congress failed
to reach an agreement to renew the American Taxpayer Relief
Act of 2012, automatic spending cuts were enacted across the
board. With a drunken Uncle Sam at the wheel, the United
States careened over the fiscal cliff.
Fortunately, it proved to be, at least until now, a short
fall. The pundits who had decried that the 1.2 trillion dollar
spending cuts would throw the still-convalescing economy
back into a recession either retracted their statements, or conveniently moved on to other topics. But what about the shutdown? Despite being touted as a major calamity by the mainstream media, it is by and large merely another episode in the
unfortunately petty and divided world of American politics. It
is neither the first time such an event has occurred - recall the
shutdowns of 1995 and 1996 under the Clinton administration
- nor in all probability will it be the last. In the increasingly
factional and dogmatic atmosphere at Congress fostered large-
Current events
ly by fringe extremism within the Republican Party, it comes
as little surprise that basic measures such as the passage of a
budget or the guarantee that America can pay its bills, become
laborious and protracted.
Whilst the shutdown of the government is undoubtedly
unpleasant and completely unnecessary, it is frankly just not
that big of a deal. Despite the furloughing of several hundred
thousand government employees and the closure of national
parks and monuments, essential government services are
maintained and day-to-day life goes on for most Americans.
On a lighter note, Newt Gingrich has even offered to personally cover the cost of running the camera that follows the activity of pandas in the Smithsonian National Zoo, which was
turned off following the government shutdown. At least some
Republicans acknowledge the consequences of the quagmire
we’ve tumbled into. But in all seriousness, something must
be, and inevitably will be, done to end this farce. Moderate
Republicans will be forced to see reason if the emergence of
The War on Guns
“A belief is not merely an idea the mind possesses.
It is an idea that possesses the mind.”
–Robert Oxton Bolton
In light of the numerous recent shootings in the United States, several people have voiced their opinion about
whether or not there should be stricter gun control laws in the
United States. While it’s certainly important to develop an
opinion in today’s society, I find it unfortunate that most do so
without informing themselves on the subject beforehand. That
is why, after hefty reflection, I have decided to focus on presenting this touchy and controversial issue. It might not be the
easiest subject to start off with, considering the multitude of
arguments on both sides of the debate - if one agrees that there
are two sides - but it’s without a doubt one of, if not the
“hottest” issue in American politics today.
To start off, we must go back to the roots of the problem – why on Earth are Americans so passionate about this?
Canadian gun laws were introduced more than 140 years ago;
why is it that Americans still can’t “get to it”? In a nutshell,
Americans are obsessed with their guns mostly because they
strongly believe that firearms are what got them through the
hard times back in the day – that is, during their Revolutionary War in the 18th century. It’s hard for gun control fanatics
to admit is that it’s true – these weapons are the pillars of the
stereotypical American way of thinking, as crazy as it sounds.
What’s not true, however, is the belief that guns can
protect you as much as they possibly did during the Revolution. Actually, according to the Harvard School of Public
Health, a gun kept at home is 43 times more likely to be used
to kill a family member than an intruder. The presence of a
gun in a home more than doubles the odds that an adolescent
member of the family will commit suicide. Every year, nearly
20,000 Americans shoot themselves to death using a gun kept
at home and that over the course of the next two years, more
impending default is staring right in their faces, however ideologically tempting it may be to blackmail the Obama administration into postponing the Affordable Care Act, commonly
known as “Obamacare”, by refusing to pass a budget. Default
is not on the horizon, because no one - or at least we hope - is
foolish enough to let it become a reality.
But even with default off the table, what does this situation say about American politics today? Well, it speaks volumes about the gridlock that so frequently paralyzes the upper
echelons of American leadership and shows that lawmakers
are much too eager to quibble over trivial matters when assertiveness is most needed. How can America credibly promote
the democratic model abroad when its results are so disappointing at home? But, with approval rates so low, we can
only hope that the next time American voters hit the ballots,
they will elect representatives that are actually capable of
reaching bipartisan agreements and collaborate to further
America’s interests. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait another two
years.
- Tomas Langsetmo
Americans will die from gunshot wounds than the total number of U.S. soldiers killed during the entire Vietnam War. So,
while the need for guns to “protect” oneself is minimal, the
number of annual deaths due to the lack of gun control just
continues to rise.
Even though it’s always fun to watch gun lovers
squirm as they attempt to come back with statistics to top antigun statistics, it’s important to go back to the ideological and
moral debate that surrounds guns. People use demagogic arguments to refute the simple fact that guns are made to kill people and that by favoring guns they are favoring murder, suicide, rape, and overall violence. It’s unthinkable that so many
can accept the fact that guns are used to kill other human beings, to take away another person’s life. When it’s considered
“legal” for a white man to stalk and murder a black teenager
using his “legally” obtained and carried handgun, then maybe
it’s time to stop using “Well it’s legal.” as the ultimate last
word in any argument.
We can keep calling the 400 school shootings in
American history “accidents”, or we can accept the responsibility and acknowledge the fact that every shooter who woke
up one morning and decided to murder school children just
took a path carefully carved for him by the seemingly lack of
concern coming from pro-gun lobbies and citizens.
As far as I’m concerned, weapons should not be
available to citizens. Although I have a feeling that the progun side will not see the light during my lifetime, I have hope
that gun control laws in the United States will be implemented
in the near future. As Thomas Paine said in 1776, “If there
must be trouble, let it be in my day, so that my child may have
peace.”
- Clara Champagne
The New Jesuit - 2
Current Events
Politically incorrect
WARNING: This article is NOT meant to be offensive in any way. The
sophisms and outrageous fallacies are only there to add a touch of drama
and humour. I’ve only written it to entertain, not to express my personal
opinions. Any attempt to take it seriously and/or literally will result in bad
mood, anger and the dark side of the Force.
AN OPEN LETTER TO “DEMOCRACY”
Dear Democracy,
Get it together.
Weren’t you supposed to be like mankind’s best invention - of all time? Now, I can only hear about recession and eavesdropping and
comrade-dictator-terrorist-Obama. Where did all the fun and liberty and bald eagles go?
Since the Communists and Nazis left us, who is there left to blame for all the things going wrong? Our parents’ generation? Arab
oil? Immigrants? Bad music trends? The only thing you’ve not thought to blame is – surprise, surprise – yourself.
Just look at the mess you've made in the United States. As though one civil war were not enough! Because of you, the former cradle
of human rights and liberty is now a police state. Because of you, their politicians spend the hard-working taxpayer’s billions to bicker amongst themselves. Because of you, they gave carte blanche to fanatical consumerism in order to ruin people’s lives. Because of
you, they’ve accumulated enough debt to solve world poverty and illiteracy, cure every disease, achieve world peace, pay Justin
Bieber to shut up and build a mini Death Star –. TWICE! Because of you, they’ve banned the Kinder Surprise. What kind of country
bans the Kinder Surprise? The kind that allows automatic firearms instead. #secondAmendment
And did I mention the Middle East? Remember when the whole world – by that I mean the West, as the Russians, Chinese and deposed dictators weren’t too happy to hear it – was so hyped because we thought that democracy was finally coming to restore civilization and order to those poor “sand people”? Well, I can’t say you didn’t show up. Your drone strikes were real convincing. But
after all the fighting and half-hearted resolutions at the UN, not a fraction of the rebels have had a taste of real democracy yet and
those who did, well, they rebounded to the older and simpler way of politics: military coups and assassinations.
The Arab Spring, successful or not, had a very significant impact, even back home. Some proud Quebeckers were so determined to
practice democracy that they even decided to start their own little revolution because they could no longer pay for their Canada
Goose and daily $14 latte. Yeah, welcome to Quebec, the glorious land where our taxes go fill the bottomless potholes and politicians’ potbellies. You know, we were quite all right before you showed up and decided to give us a budgetary deficit and a brand
new charter of Quebec “values”. Thanks! You've just brought us a step closer to the socio-economic context of the Third Reich
(please do not take this last sentence seriously).
What happened to glorious days of old when you stood off honorably against the phantom menace of Communism, when you were
involved in a couple of not-so honorable wars against harmless third-world countries you decided to invade, when only the important
people were assassinated? Sure, it rained napalm and hailed bullets for a few decades, but at least back then we had good ideas for
movies! Now, the only entertainment we’ve got are pictures of cats on the Internet and Photoshop, because of the NSA (National
Security Agency).
Every now and then, we should take a lesson or two from our Korean brothers. They understood. And yes, by Korean, I mean the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea –U mad, Peter - ? Their citizens are so equal that everyone starves – except for Kim, he was
voted too sexy, too sexy to starve – and they’re so courteous they actually give us warning shots before they launch real nukes. I
don’t remember the U.S. warning Japan in 1945.
I now realize that I couldn’t have survived to write this letter without you, Democracy. Back in China, I would have been sent away to be “re-educated” in some kind of booked-out vacation camp. But
let’s keep our hopes up: maybe someday you’ll be smart enough to bring camps to Canada!
Much love,
Camaradissime
P.S. Isn’t it ironic that this letter, published in a free country, has to be censored?
3 - The New Jesuit
SPORTS
This Time of Year Again!
It’s that time of the year again! The time where we
are crammed with last-minute school work, the time where we
are totally bewildered by exams, the time where the weather is
getting cold and icky. Oddly enough, it is my favorite time of
the school year.
It’s a time when we can all feel united, come together
and demonstrate our school pride, all thanks to one event: our
Varsity Basketball homecoming game. At any other institution this wouldn’t be particularly interesting, but at the
Collège, for years on end we have been supporting the Dynamiques with unyielding zeal. Let me just say: we fans, we
do our part to encourage our team, but the players also rarely
disappoint as they put on an awesome show. They have a reputation for excellence and glory all across our province. Bas-
ketball at Brébeuf is not only a sport, but a passion; our players practice almost every night and have strenuous workouts
in the gym. They are also blessed with a phenomenal basketball "IQ" due to the stellar coaching they receive. It is no surprise that Brébeuf barely ever loses the provincial championship.
After a dismal performance in the past provincials,
our team hopes to start off the season on a good note to capture the title of Champions once more. They will have their
plates full as they are challenged by their Western Conference
rivals, Collège Charles-Lemoyne. I urge you all to attend this
game and encourage our fellow students. I assure you that you
will be entertained.
Alessio’s Factor Players to Watch
Jerome Lavallée



Had a phenomenal junior year by leading his age
category in scoring at our school.
Streaky player, when hot, is unstoppable, and to rival
players, highly recommended to get out of his way .
Perfect hybrid: strong, athletic, a sharp shooter and a
smart player (2012-2013 league Student Athlete).
Aymeric Gaba-Idiamey


Third best rebounder in the entire league last year and
lead of all juniors.
Great size and among the cream of the crop in the
finishing of the paint.
Alex Ferraro



Brébeuf’s basketball team
Alex is the definition of athleticism.
Will assume an important role as Shooting Guard,
and is vital for team’s success.
Good things come in small packages; he will always
find a way to get to the hoop.
-Alessio Marcogliese
[email protected]
The New Jesuit - 4
SPORTS
Ready to Impact Montreal
2012 was the Montreal
Impact’s inaugural season in
Major League Soccer (MLS).
They finished seventh in the
league and missed the playoffs.
2013 was supposed to be
no different. Experts predicted a
middle-of-the-pack finish for this
rejuvenated team that brought
along a new coach and a different roster. Marco Schällibaum,
also known as the Swiss Volcano, proved them dead wrong.
Earlier this season, the team won
the Voyageurs Cup, made their
way into the CONCACAF
Champion’s League and, as the end of the season approaches,
stands third in the MLS with forty-five points and fewer
games played than any other team. They are now aiming even
higher: the MLS Cup. Without a doubt, they have the gear and
artillery to make it. Not only does the Italian striker Marco Di
Celebrating Three Decades of Hard Work
and Excellence
When 2014 hits, Brebeuf’s Dynamique fencing club
will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. The prestigious club
was founded in 1984 by former Olympian Jean-Marie Banos
who until this very day still runs the club as head coach. Even
after three decades, “Maestro”
Banos has maintained the energy
and enthusiasm to pass on the
knowledge and skills of a sport
that first appeared half a millennium ago.
Many club alumni remember the old fencing room next
to the boys’ lockers in the basement. However, today, the club,
with its ever-growing number of
fencers, has its own spacious room
in the new Pavillon Coutu. The
number of strips or playing areas, doubled from six to twelve,
and the electric equipment was modernized and incorporated
into an underground electronic system. The training room
even has a large window for spectators!
Fencing isn’t the most widely known of competitive
sports, but it has made its place at Brébeuf. Winning over 100
5 - The New Jesuit
Vaio excel as the best goal scorer in the league, but Patrice
Bernier and Troy Perkins are also stronger than ever and
ready to assume the leadership. Even more notable is the fact
that although this team is only in
its second season, it has already
set a Canadian record in the
MLS. Then there’s the great Joey
Saputo who’s ready to give everything for his team, from signing
new
international
players
(Hernan Bernardello) to tolerating an out-of-control coach
who’s been suspended four times
in twenty-eight matches.
The Montreal Impact is
going to make a huge impact - no
pun intended - on North American soccer. With great ambitions
and a bright future ahead, soccer
is becoming a significant sport in
Montreal, and the Impact has the potential to prove haters
wrong.
Forza Impact!
- Jia Liang Shen
medals annually, the Dynamiques ,the school team, has left its
mark in Brébeuf’s sport history. Many Canadian champions
and Olympians started fencing under the current coaches’
guidance. Philippe Beaudry, the club’s most recent Olympian,
participated in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and London
2012 Olympic Games.
A new fencing season has just started and the four
coaches, Banos, Cardyn, Badea,
and Moore, are determined to
reach higher goals and new horizons. As Brébeuf opens its doors
to secondary one girls, the Dynamique fencing club welcomes
its first official U14 girls fencing
team.
Thirty years ago, JeanMarie Banos built a club founded
on perseverance, excellence and
respect, and he still devotes himM. Jean-Marie Banos self relentlessly to it. Let’s hope
we can see another thirty years of
Maestro Banos as head coach of one of the best fencing clubs
in Canada.
- Christopher Lu
SHORT STORY
The Haunting of Red Fells House
by Jonathan Classen-Howes
Late into the night, bathed in the light of the full moon,
the great boats continued to drift in and out of harbour, gliding
across the calm, dark bay. Their silence was only troubled by
the occasional sound of a horn, a faint tremor rippling through
their somnambulistic journey. As Eve observed the tranquil
night-life of the harbour through the large windows of her
house, high up on Red Fells hillside, a sense of serenity overcame her. The scene was so
beautiful, so peaceful!
No! She wrenched herself awake. Had she been
asleep? She shot a panicky
glance across the room. The
table was in the corner, exactly
where she had left it. That was
good. What about the couch? It
was still lined up against the
right wall. Eve heaved a sigh of
relief. Her friends and family
hadn’t believed her when she
had told them about the event.
After all, it had only happened
once, when she had been asleep.
But tonight, there was a full
moon, like the last time. She was
certain it would happen again.
This time, she would see it with
her own eyes. So, even late into
the night, Eve waited, and waited, forcing herself to remain
vigilant for hours on end. But
the air felt so heavy; her eyes so
leaden that she could not help
but drift slowly away, like one
of the ships floating on the bay.
Then the nightmare returned. A sound of screeching, a
feeling of profanation, of anger, of hate, rumbling, objects
moving, and her eyes opened. She caught a glimpse of a
ghostly figure with piercing eyes. Then a ray of light from the
rising sun struck it and it vanished. Eve jerked upright and
looked around. It had happened again: the furniture had
moved. Every item had reverted back to its original position,
the way it had been when she bought the house fullyfurnished, before she had rearranged the furniture. It was almost as if the house itself were frozen in time. Eve looked
around, dumbstruck. All the doors were securely locked.
Nothing could have gotten in from outside. Who, or what,
was moving the furniture?
Eve decided she must find out about the past. She tried
to contact the man who had sold her the house, but he had
seemingly disappeared. In the library, however, she came
across an old newspaper article entitled Dead Body Found in
Secluded House. She read with horror how the body of the
owner of Red Fells house had been found, long after death,
seated in her favourite living room chair, her blank eyes staring out over the bay. The article stated that Delores Winterstone, who lived alone, had refused to leave her isolated home
to go to a seniors’ residence, because she was too attached to
the house which she had built. There was a photo of Delores
sitting in her chair, a faint smile
etched on her lips. Eve recognized the piercing eyes and
shuddered.
The next day, Eve left
Red Fells House and moved into
an apartment in the town eight
kilometres away. She hoped to
never see the house again; but
she didn’t sell it. She didn’t
dare.
Months passed, eventless
full moon after full moon, and
Eve began to forget her bad experiences. Finally, she agreed to
sell the house to a construction
company whose owner wished
to demolish it and then build a
condominium project. However, she made a terrible mistake
with the date. The night before
the signing, there was a full
moon.
It was a cold, autumn
night. Eve had spent the evening
out with some friends from
work and was heading home when she suddenly felt a strange
pulling, an immense urge. She began to walk, not home, but
away, far away from the town, into the wilderness, up the
barren, lifeless slopes of Red Fells Hill. She walked for hours.
She was cold. She was tired. She wanted to stop; but she
couldn’t.
After what seemed an eternity, she finally confronted
the terrifying silhouette of her old house. The door was open.
The pull was too strong. She entered.
The mysterious force led her to the very living room
where Delores Winterstone had died. At Eve’s back were the
immense windows which looked out onto the bay. No moonlight shone in this time: they were covered with red velvet
The New Jesuit - 6
SHORT STORY
curtains. In front of her, at the other end of the room, stood the
tall, ghostly figure of Delores Winterstone. Its dark eyes glowered. In one hand it held a knife.
“I will not let you destroy my home,” whispered the
ghost as it advanced slowly. Eve backed up, trembling. A
pale, clenched hand raised the knife. Eve felt frozen with
fear, unable to run. The ghost’s immense power was too much
for her. She could feel all its rage and hatred. It pressed the
knife against her throat. Eve fell back against the red velvet
curtains - .
A week later, at noon, the house on the hillside still
stood, proud, defiant, and unconquerable. All was quiet: no
bird cried, no leaf rustled, silence. But then, with a resounding
crash, the majestic home was reduced to nothing more than
Entertainment
ROB ZOMBIE: THE BEETHOVEN OF
HORROR
If you are a horror or gore enthusiast, then you are
surely familiar with Rob Zombie. If you haven't heard of him
or are simply faint-hearted, then you should know that he
stands as one of the most influential artists in music and filmmaking, most notably for his contribution to the horror genre.
So, who is Rob Zombie anyway? Robert Cummings
- not so scary, huh? - was born on January 12, 1965, in Massachusetts. He started off his career in the early 1980s as the
singer and songwriter for the band White Zombie, and since
1998, he's been a solo act. During his career, he wrote and
directed six films and even published a few graphic novels.
Why does this make him a prominent figure in today's
pop culture? It is simply because he changed and radicalized
the way that horror genre has been seen or heard since, and I
am certainly NOT speaking of the type of radicalization found
in films such as The Human Centipede. In fact, Zombie's
scripts are works of art. The characters are actually welldeveloped instead of hacked and slashed, and their fates are
intertwined by misfortune, tragedy and pure evil.
broken glass and timber. Delores’ creation lay in ruins at the
feet of demolition workers.
As Eve watched the destruction of Red Fells House
from her car, she recalled the horrifying events of her last
night in the house: how the ghost had advanced, wielding the
knife; how she had fallen back against the curtains pushing
them to the side; how the light of dawn had shone in; and
then, how the ghost had disappeared, crying out in despair as
the knife clattered on the ground.
Eve wondered what would become of Delores Winterstone now that her house was gone. She started up her car
with a feeling of release. Whatever happened, Eve knew that
she herself was finally free. It was only at that moment that
Eve felt something cold and soft brush her arm, raising goose
bumps. She looked into the rear-view mirror. Piercing eyes
stared back.
any well-informed film fanatics. I'm not talking about your
friend who just watched Scary Movie 7 or Paranormal Activity 5! They can all tell you that movies such as The Devil's
Rejects and The Lords of Salem are unforgettable. Zombie’s
films aren't all so bad; his cult-classic Grindhouse combines
humor with exaggerated characters and action, accompanied
by the eerie feeling of an outdated horror flick.
Onto what he is most known for: his music. His songs
and albums are all about horror as well. I wish you luck on
finding a song published by Rob Zombie that doesn't have
heavy electric guitar melodies or lyrics that don't mention the
undead. After Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, and his
band Black Sabbath paved the way for the heavy metal Mecca
of the early 70s and late 80s, Rob Zombie showed that performers needed to move on from Ozzy eating a dead bat on
stage.
Zombie goes balls to the wall in his live performances. Hell-like fire burns throughout the whole show; there are
explosions, band members dressed as if they were straight out
of a Goth-horror pageant, multiple giant screenings of scary
movie scenes, and, of course, his contraptions. These are giant
steam punk monsters ranging from 10 to 20 feet in height, on
which he rides as he sings. A different song means a different
monster. His shows can portray over 15 different colossi all
assembled before the show.
Sure, there is a fair amount of gore and, of course,
there is an endless body count, but the highlight of it all is the
story. Rob Zombie doesn't attract viewers through devices
such as nudity or outlandish death scenes; he chooses to implement scenes that bring up questions, not your last meal.
However, don't underestimate the fear factor, these are movies
to be taken seriously and are definitely not for the faint of
heart. In case you haven't quite yet grasped the mechanics,
these films will affect you psychologically. Not just “pop-up
scary”, they will rake your mind and make you wish that what
was portrayed was strictly confined to the very depths of hell!
The realistic settings, atmospheres and attitudes will have
already convinced you otherwise.
I was fortunate enough, or unfortunate enough, to
attend one of his shows. It was without a doubt the scariest
thing I have ever witnessed and left me scarred for life. If I
had to give a short description of what happened: Rob Zombie
literally raised Hell. The huge mosh pits and “walls of death”,
and the cold atmosphere of the blood moon night - it was an
outdoor concert - took all spectators out of the real world.
Ask anyone who knows about the horror genre or
- Davide Spinato
7 - The New Jesuit
And that is why this Halloween, if you're up for a true
scare, or want to experience an appropriate art form, then look
no further than the works of Rob Zombie. You will not be
disappointed.
Entertainment
Nowadays, the first things that come to mind at the word
“horror” are Freddy Krueger, Saw and a lot of blood. What
happened to the good old classics such as Psycho or Cape
Fear? It is sad to see that the original goal of causing fear
through quality suspense has gradually vanished from modern
cinema. Although the prospect of horror today seems bleak
and gory, do not despair. There is still hope with the future of
quality thrills. Just plunge into American Horror Story, a gripping television series currently airing on FX.
The setting of the first season, an eerie 100-year-old
mansion in 21st century L. A., may seem a little cliché at first
glance. But the gripping mystery of the plot, enhanced with
the introduction of every new character, will keep the viewer
hooked. Full of astonishing plot twists, this season is notable
for its smooth jumps in time, all the way back until the 1920s.
Although a fantasy thriller, some episodes try to emulate real
appalling historical events, such as the cryptic Black Dahlia
Murder. The creators skillfully terrify the audience, yet they
maintain a pretty high intellectual level to their show.
The second season, American Horror Story: Asylum,
takes fear a notch higher in an American asylum set in the
60s. Conflicting rigid tradition with fresh, yet weak, liberal
values, this season gets a little more controversial as it explores religion.
The Undying 70s Cult Phenomenon: Rocky
Horror Picture Show
Halloween-themed movies have left major impacts on our
society for over nearly a century. These movies have brought
us great thrills as well as gut-busting chills. Why, you can tell
if a movie will be scary or not just by reading the title. For
instance, take Tarantula, a film about a giant spider which
takes over the state of Arizona, or Attack of the 50 ft. Woman,
whose title basically explains the premise of the film. And
who can forget I was a Teenage Werewolf starring Michael
Landon? These films knew how to dish out a great scare, but
the film I am going to recommend you watch this Halloween
is far from a thrill ride. It is none other than the famous cult
70s film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, starring the notable
Susan Sarandon in one of her earliest works.
This film is perhaps the strangest satiric movie ever
known to mankind. Its very unusual plot is so complex and
convoluted, that it will leave you pondering about the big
mystery of the movie: what kind of drugs was Richard O’Bri-
The combination of horror and spirituality has a petrifying effect. It leads the audience to experience awe and
disgust, as well as a deeper reflection on their personal beliefs.
Thrill loses its subtlety as old methods of torture are exposed
and sadistic nuns and doctors face the evils of the Devil himself. As Jessica Lange hypnotizes the audience as a dubious
and controversial nun, the multi-dimensional, grey characters
are fascinating to follow from the perspective of a viewer.
Through this melting pot of demoniac powers, sadism and
inhumanity survive ever-present, useless and shattered hopes.
It is hauntingly beautiful to see this terrifyingly dark world
unfold.
Recently, on October 9th, the third season officially
premiered. Very little has been revealed of what is yet to
come in American Horror Story: Coven, but expect the unexpected in a historical setting of the Salem witch trials 300
years ago. The demoniacal, perverse and epic producers Ryan
Murphy and Brad Falchuk most probably have some very
terrifying surprises in store.
It is through many details, such as a brilliant plot, a
witty script, realistic character development, a haunting
soundtrack and a dazzling cast - including the notable Jessica
Lange and oddly attractive Evan Peters - that American Horror Story makes for a terrifically horrifying watch.
- Nadia Blostein
en on while writing the musical this movie is based on? It’s a
question most people still can’t answer today. In the film’s
overture, a big bright red pair of lips sings the classic “Science
-Fiction/Double Feature” song. Afterwards, a middle-aged
criminologist narrates the lives of a newly-engaged couple,
who are forced to spend the night in an eerie nearby mansion,
once their car breaks down.
Upon their arrival, they are welcomed by a creepy hunchbacked-man, two peculiar maids and two dozen freaks who all
suddenly break into the song The Time Warp, considered to be
one of the greatest songs in film history. Then, the couple is
greeted by the famous “Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual,
Transylvania” who then proceeds to remove the couple’s
clothes because it is “customary to do so in his home”. Tim
Curry as the transvestite gives the audience an utterly legendary performance.
Events take a stranger turn when the transvestite engages
in intercourse with both newly-weds and creates a monster or,
as the title clearly states, “Rocky” - in the style of the 1931
film Frankenstein. The plot just keeps on getting wilder as
The New Jesuit - 8
Entertainment
jealousy, mayhem and slaughter ensue. While the crazy ending helps elucidate some elements of the movie, it may end up
plunging the viewer into even deeper perplexity!
I suggest that you view the film this year, not so you can
study the artistic point of view, but rather for the astonishing
cult status it has obtained throughout the last three and a half
decades. Every Halloween since 1975, thousands of movie
theatres have screened the film all across the globe. What happens in the movie theatre is actually far more interesting than
the movie itself. In fact, every year, people arrive in the theatre dressed up as their favourite characters, most commonly as
Urban Contemporary
“Fresh, smooth and ****** swagged out!’’ is how alternative
rapper Tyler, The Creator, describes fellow OFWGKTA
member of Frank Ocean’s major label debut, CHANNEL Orange.
Frank Ocean titled the album as a reference to the neurological phenomenon of associating feelings to color, synesthesia, and the color he perceived when he first fell in love
one summer - with another
man. Revealed in the hit song
Forrest Gump and confirmed
by an open letter posted on
Tumblr, Ocean’s coming out
was perceived as a great step
forward for Hip-Hop and R&B
that accurately pride themselves on “sonic progression”
though it can be woefully conservative when it comes to
sexuality.
Channel Orange won
the Album of the Year Award
at the 2012 Soul Train Music
Awards and also earned Ocean
nominations for the 2013
Grammy Awards in the categories of Album of the Year, Best
New Artist, and Record of the
Year for Thinkin Bout You. It
won a Grammy Award for Best
Urban Contemporary Album.
the famous transvestite. If you are a newcomer and have never
seen the film before, viewers will yell out mocking comments
at you. To make matters worse, they will also write
“VIRGIN” on your forehead using red lipstick and will make
you run across the aisles of the theatre holding a water balloon
between your legs. As the movie is shown, the fans will yell
out call backs at specific moments in the film, throw rice
grains at the screen during the start of the wedding scene and
also happily dance along to the song “Time Warp”. “The
Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a wild ride! Don’t forget to
reserve your tickets for the live performance given in Montreal at Cinéma Impérial on October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd. You’ll be in for a heck of a treat!
- Gabriele Del Busso
with his own dark fantasy, in a 1980-esque universe. His music captures that feel perfectly, pulsing with electro-soul
grooves and vintage jazz-funk, recreating that vibe of riding in
an old convertible on a lonely highway with ocean view, with
a lot of problems on your mind. His stories are scripted in
decadent, sun-dazzled L.A., a landscape teeming with privileged slackers.
Music journalist Sasha FrereJones noted "a combination of
decadence and spiritual ache
similar to Prince's". Indeed,
Frank Ocean’s swagger might
be demonstrated with the following quote: “I miss you,
missing you insane, but if I got
with you, could it feel the
same?” It is exquisite and painful. Indeed, the question isn't
who, but how he loves: ardently, recklessly, and with a mordant philosophy way past his
years.
For Frere-Jones, discovering
Frank Ocean was also discovering a renewed love for music.
Ocean’s originality is changing
the game. As described by the
Rolling
Stone
magazine,
Thinkin Bout You is a bisexual,
black, Bohemian, New Orleanian-turned-Angeleno's, avantR&B torch ballad. But, what
really appeals to me about
CHANNEL Orange, Def Jam, 2012 Ocean’s style is simply and
Off the bat, in throwing his emotional locker wideArtist : Frank Ocean
plainly its swagger.
open, Frank Ocean has made a tender, engrossing classic.
However, he's above the “vividly realized lost souls that
slouch, preen, and weep throughout his album”. That's just not
- David Dan Nguyen
who Frank is. Ocean is less concerned with urban realism than
9 - The New Jesuit
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Trick or Treat?
All Hallows' Eve is right around the corner, and who wouldn't
get excited when faced with the prospect of obtaining free
candy and having an excuse to stay up late with their friends
on a weekday? Whether it is your fifteenth or sixteenth year in
a row or your first time since grade six, everyone who enjoys
trick-or-treating is going to return home bags or buckets filled
with sugary delicacies. Others prefer to stay home and hand
out candies to younger generations of youth, while they reminisce about their past Halloween memories. Trick-or-treating
has been a customary tradition practiced on Halloween since
the 1950s in North America. As people fall into a state of
frenzy over the appeal of their costumes or the worry about
not having enough candies to satisfy the general demand, the
question "what are the dangers of trick-or-treating?" is often
asked by parents. Well, they are rare, if not nonexistent, but it
never hurts to be informed before heading out, right?
The most common fear is that everyone might for some
reason or another find themselves in possession of "tainted"
candy. This belief may have originated from an event that
occurred around 1964, when a woman allegedly handed out
dog biscuits, steel wool pads and ant poison to teenagers she
found too old to be trick-or-treating. However, the notion of
psychotic strangers handing out poisoned or contaminated
treats has been proven false by history, since over the last fifty
years, only 100 or so cases of poisoning have been reported,
all due to allergic reactions. Other problems related to these
sugary delicacies involve excessive consumption which leads
to a killer bellyache or a trip to the dentist’s office. People
may laugh at this, but for some the temptation of wolfing
down free candy is no joke at all.
Other dangers and fears include the usage of body
paint and makeup to enhance a costume. Many sites on the
internet propose different recipes that recommend mixing
"some type of thick lotion" with food colouring that may contain dyes harmful for the skin despite being non-toxic. It technically is though, if one considers the ingredients. In fact,
some can even cause severe allergic reactions to kids and
adults alike. So, before you paint your face black and white
like Mickey Mouse, or green like the Hulk, please do try to
apply a small quantity on your skin first.
Car accidents also pose a real threat to children on Halloween. According to a study conducted by Safe Kids USA in
2012, children are more likely to suffer from collisions on the
31st. As the sun sets earlier and families and friends usually go
out between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., the darkness actually
becomes even deadlier. As responsible adults or teenagers,
you should make sure that your children or siblings do not
wear any pieces of clothing or props that may hinder their
movements or cause them to trip. Always keep an eye out for
the children.
Although there are only a few dangers when trick-ortreating, we should still be careful and alert both when we
walk down the street to request candy and before we apply
makeup for a costume. We should take responsibility for our
safety and that of the younger generation. However, this is not
a reason for parents to complain and ban their children from
having fun. After all, simple precautions can be taken to avoid
the worst. So to all those who desire to be Superman or Wonder Woman on the 31st, start by being vigilant and informing
others of your newfound knowledge. Happy Halloween, everyone!
- Kevin Yip
Wicked Halloween Playlist
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
This is Halloween – Marilyn Manson
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
Helloween – Dr. Stein
Monster Mash – Boris Pickett
Thriller – Michael Jackson
Time Warp – Richard O’Brien, Patricia Quinn &
Little Nell
Where Did Jesus Go? – The Pretty Reckless
Make Me Wanna Die – The Pretty Reckless
Shadow Moses – Bring Me the Horizon
Dead City Radio And The New Go – Rob Zombie
Living Dead Girl – Rob Zombie
Dragula – Rob Zombie
Fear of the Dark – Iron Maiden
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Feed My Frankenstein – Alice Cooper
Devil In a Midnight Mass – Billy Talent
The Dead Can’t Testify – Billy Talent
American Horror Story – Cesar Davila Irizarry
& Charlie Clouser
Special Death – Mirah
Lose Your Soul – Dead Man’s Bones
Found Love In A Graveyard – Veronica Falls
Kids In Cars – Thee Oh Sees
Dazed And Confused – Led Zeppelin
Enter Sandman – Metallica
Sweet Dreams – Marilyn Manson
Science Fiction/Double Feature – Richard
O’Brien
- Nadia Blostein
The New Jesuit - 10
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL
Halloween Crossword Puzzle
By Nadia Blostein
Vertical
Horizontal
*Spaces between two words answers are to be removed
*Spaces between two words answers are to be removed
1. Vegetables used to carve Jack-o’-lanterns before
pumpkins took over the tradition.
2. Term used to designate cotton candy in Australia.
3. This terrifying character began the horror cliché of a
psycho killer in a goaltender mask.
5. First of a series of comedy/horror spoof film, it came
out in 2000.
6. Mouth-watering combination of marshmallows and
chocolate melted on Graham crackers.
7. Legendary thriller directed by Steven Spielberg.
9. Famous and macabre short story writer (last name).
10. This notable novel is at the base of what became the
21st century vampire pop phenomenon.
11. Main antagonist of movie Nightmare on Elm Street.
14. First name of the scientist who created the Frankenstein monster.
17. Place where a series of famous American witch trials
were held in 1692-1693.
19. City in which the Hitchcock movie Frenzy is set.
4. Nickname of the famous John Kramer.
8. The fear of Halloween.
12. Most famous song from the Rocky Horror Picture
Show.
13. “Halloween” is actually a contraction of this term.
15. This candy company was founded in 1896 by two
brothers.
16. The holiday of Halloween is of this origin.
18. Ghost named after British queen renowned for viciously persecuting Protestants.
20. Last name of the man who invented Reese’s Peanut
Butter Cups.
21. Female protagonist from the movie Psycho (last
name).
11 - The New Jesuit
Top Ten Thriller Movies of All Time
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Psycho – Alfred Hitchcock (1960)
Jaws – Steven Spielberg (1975)
The Exorcist – William Friedkin (1973)
The Shining – Stanley Kubrick (1980)
Alien – Ridley Scott (1979)
Poltergeist – Tobe Hooper (1982)
The French Connection – William Friedkin (1971)
Cape Fear – J. Lee Thompson (1962)
The Silence of the Lambs – Jonathan Demme (1991)
The Great Escape – John Sturges (1963)
ANSWERS (Horizontal) 4. Jigsaw 8. Samhainophobia 12. Time Warp 13. All Hallows’ Eve 15. Maynards 16. Celtic 18. Bloody
Mary 20. Reese 21. Crane
ANSWERS (Vertical) 1. Turnips 2. Fairy floss 3. Jason Voorhees 5. Scary Movie 6. S’mores 7. Jaws 9. Poe 10. Dracula 11. Freddy Krueger 14. Victor 17. Salem 19. London
The New Jesuit - 12
THE NEW JESUIT
TEAM
SPONSOR
Mrs. L.
EDITORS
Yves Blain-Montesano
Nadia Blostein
Peter Chung
Alessio Marcogliese
Davide Spinato
DESIGN EDITORS
Zixin He
Alina Ivlev
ILLUSTRATORS
Yves Blain-Montesano (back
cover colour)
Eric Luu (cover)
Davide Spinato (back cover)
Simon Zhang (“The Haunting
of Red Fells House”)
WRITERS
Bhavish Beejan
Nadia Blostein
Clara Champagne
Jonathan Classen-Howes
David Dan
Gabriele Del Busso
Tomas Langsetmo
Christoper Lu
Alessio Marcogliese
YongMu Ouyang
Jia Liang Shen
Davide Spinato
Kevin Yip
Feel free to contact us through our Facebook page for questions, suggestions and/or comments.
We have a few columns coming up in our next edition that would require our readers’ participation, such as a Dear Abby Column, a Shoutout section, etc.
www.facebook.com/TheNewJesuit