Ghostly strobe lights illuminate the dark figures onstage and a swarm of people below as the lead singer proclaims: “Boys Don’t Cry.”

On June 10, The Cure continued their “Shows of a Lost World” tour at the United Center in Chicago. The show, encompassing the band’s long legacy, was gorgeously haunting.

The Cure is an English rock band that formed in the late 70s. Having since amassed a nearly cult-like following, their recent tour was highly celebrated. 

Upon arrival, the massive venue was packed with people: an array of generations dressed in the same black clothing and dark makeup, standing in merchandise lines that snaked around the whole building. Excited chatter reverberated throughout the arena over the light rain sounds playing from the stage as the audience made their way in.

The Twilight Sad, a Scottish band, performed the opening act. Combining dark lyricism …
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An unknown man steals movies online on a computer.

Pirates used to be great swashbucklers who were chased through the seven seas, but now they are teens in their living room.

Piracy is the unauthorized use or reproduction of the movies, television, music, books, or any other trademarked products. Piracy started as the counterfeiting of money, but slowly evolved into something that does not seem illegal. Piracy has plagued most countries and entertainment production companies around the world from Disney to Nintendo which, as reported by the United States Chamber of Commerce in 2021, caused an 11% to 24% revenue reduction.

Lately, there has been a rise in teens pirating their favorite television shows and music. Hamilton Southeastern High School junior Max Johnson engages in piracy to catch his favorite shows and movies. He said he engages in piracy mainly to …
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The “Benadryl challenge” and the “milk crate challenge” are two of the most dangerous trends on TikTok. Both of these challenges come with a high chance of injury and various health risks. Since the majority of users on TikTok are impressionable teenagers, it leads to a higher chance of users partaking in these dangerous challenges

TikTok is on many teenagers phones across the country. Photo by Solen Feyissa.

While the “milk carton challenge” has a slightly lower risk of injury due to some level of skill being involved, all participants have a high chance of risk. The “milk carton challenge” involves stacking milk cartons into a staircase formation going up and then down with the goal being to walk up and down the cartons without falling. Milk cartons are not very sturdy, which leads to a lot of the cartons …
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by Maggie Phelps, Central Hardin High School

“The 39 Steps” tends to be a production that most people are unfamiliar with.  The Alfred Hitchcock inspired play usually implies that it is a show relating to thrillers and horrors.  However, this could not be farther from the truth.   

HSJI Feature and Opinion writing class attends the July 13 performance of “The 39 Steps” at Wells-Metz Theater. Photo used with permission of Kris Brown.

Indiana University Summer Theater (IUST) brings the production to life at the Wells-Metz Theater from July 7-30. The cast and crew has worked diligently to produce their interpretation of the show, especially during moments of hardship.  The team was able to persevere through illness on staff and a delayed opening in order to deliver a memorable performance. 

The book was published in 1915 and the movie adaptations followed in 1935 …
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By Brooke Mantone, Sherman Hall, Lianna Levine, and Paola Santos

“Gee, it sure would be swell to get outta here/Bid the gutter farewell and get outta here/I’d move Heaven and Hell to get outta Skid/I’d do I don’t know what to get outta Skid Row,” eerily sings the male protagonist Seymour Krelborn of the musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” in its opening number.

Through the musical direction of Terry LaBolt, Indiana University Summer theatre has put on Howard Ashman’s musical rendition of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The show runs from July 5 to 28 in the Wells-Meltz Theatre. Although the actors dazzle on stage, it is essential to know this production is no easy feat. Behind the scenes, dedication and creativity have made its success possible.

For instance, the renowned talking-plant, Audrey II, comes to life thanks to the puppeteer, Michael Bayler, a …
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by Alissa Firestone and Kelsey Pease

Tucked away on the top floor of a cooking supply store, Goods for Cooks, is a true example of the magical and unique treasures you can find in Bloomington’s busy hub, Kirkwood Ave. Scott Kellogg Tarot began all with just a single deck of cards that was given to his wife, Karen Knight, as a gift. This deck didn’t mean much to either of them, until, Kellogg decided to take a deeper dive into the world of Tarot. 

It was 1988, when he happened upon this deck of Tarot cards at his wife’s house. He began looking through the cards and observing each piece of art, noticing that there were some similar to Dungeons and Dragons, a game he had been playing since 8. It was at this very moment, Kellogg had become instantly fascinated. He …
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By Brooke Mantone, Sherman Hall, Lianna Levine and Paola Santos

To read our article on sustainable clothing efforts in Bloomington and see our photo collage, click below.

To learn how you can be more sustainable and become aware of current efforts and crises, check out this Padlet.

To learn more about Bloomington vintage stores, take a look at our Canva!

Sitting in the soft, cushiony seats surrounding the “thrust stage”, the audience for Indiana University’s production of Little Shop of Horrors was in great spirits; they appropriately roared with laughter at Audrey’s crazed, nightmare-of-a-dentist boyfriend Orin Scrivello, and squirmed with fear at Audrey Two’s sinister, human-like persona in the form of a monstrous plant. The audience seemed pleased – but probably did not see the show on the same mechanics level as Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera. 

However, what the audience does not see is the intense and agonizing lengths that the actors behind these beloved roles go to behind the scenes, just for a smile. Upon speaking with some of the people behind the craft, a multitude of surprising behind-the-scenes secrets were revealed.

Michael Bayler, a third-year MFA student at IU, is the talent behind the wise-cracking plant …
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