“Will You Go to Homecoming With Us?” in collaboration with DJ Dom Top, Kumquat, Duke Diesel, S. Rodriguez and Sara Balabanlilar. I Photo by Junior Fernandez

“My name is Antonius-Tin Bui, and I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams.”

Antonius-Tin Bui, a former University of Houston student, is a queer, nonbinary, Vietnamese-American artist who says their work finds the beauty of being an “intersectional amalgam of history and colonization.”

Twenty-six-year-old Bui was born and raised in the Bronx before moving to the “suburban dystopia” of Sugar Land at 14. Whether putting on homemade fashion shows with their many cousins or working on art projects with their mother, Bui has always been a creative spirit.

“Almost all my aunts and uncles have four kids. Everywhere I’ve lived, it’s always been a party, especially after school,” Bui said.

“I think one of my oldest childhood memories is staying up with my mom to finish diorama projects, just transforming paper, glitter and toys into another dimension. Being able to create a world and tell narratives just using a hot glue gun and a shoebox was always so fascinating to me,” they said.

Journey through community

It’s that very ethos that led Bui back to Houston after attending the Maryland Institute College of Art. They currently have a residency at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, a shrine to the human ability to create fantastical worlds out of the ordinary.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with them at their open-door office to discuss their craft, social practice and path from being a pre-med student at UH to an emerging experimental artist.

We started off discussing their recent event Burning 100 Demons, a Lunar New Year community-focused performance ritual held at the Lawndale Art Center. The event was co-organized by Bui and Ching-In Chen in conjunction with Bui’s current Lawndale exhibit, “yêu em dài lâu (me love you long time).”

“With every single show, you’re allowed to create a program, and I knew that I wanted to definitely collaborate with some of the artists who have taught me so much about the Houston scene,” Bui said.

“I wanted to create an event that would create space for queer AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) folks, since Houston is such a diverse city,” they said. “With this platform, why not create an event that allows us to just slow down, especially in this day and age, and to reflect upon our demons from the past year?”

Much of Bui’s work similarly centers around LGBTQ+ AAPI communities. Their tandem “me love you long time” exhibit is a series of intricate, life-size paper cutout portraits of queer AAPIs in Bui’s inner circle.

“Everyone in that show has shaped my sense of gender and sexuality,” they said of the subjects. “Many of them are artists and activists who have taught me so much about what it means to build community, live an authentic life and how to have intergenerational conversations.”

Collaboration and community is a consistent priority throughout Bui’s life and practice. This much is best exhibited on their major-minor platform, on which Bui interviews and celebrates queer and trans people of color. Their yearning for intergenerational dialogue, however, has been “more of a recent endeavor” for Bui, who just last year visited their parents’ home country of Vietnam for the first time.

“We’re robbed of our history,” they said. “So much of my work and the way I live is an active search for my ancestors, for histories that have been actively erased or bleached.”

“Will You Go to Homecoming With Us?” uses a 1999 Britney Spears doll, penis water gun, ball gag with leather collar, Félicette portraits, text by S. Rodriguez, polyester/satin/acetate/nylon/metallic ribbon from Arne’s, bell chimes, plastic garlands, glitter letters and feather boas. l Photo courtesy of Antonius-Tin Bui

Art made by marginalized and oppressed groups has been more widely accepted recently, with many museums actively pushing for more diversity. While Bui recognizes this as vital and empowering to both the artists finally receiving recognition and their communities at large, they remain hesitant of giving blind praise to museums and programs pushing for shallow inclusion.

“I really love that more than ever you see an influx of POC artists and queer artists showing, but I’m really afraid that it just might be a trend,” Bui said. “I wanna see more institutions, instead of just offering temporal opportunities, put people of color in positions of power. Give us a seat at the table, but also provide the seat, and provide the meals and that glass of rosé.”

As the conversation shifted from their current place in the art world to their college years, I was surprised to learn just how much Bui continues to value their previous pre-med undergraduate education.

“I think eventually, as I became more comfortable with myself at MICA, you realize how no class or course ever goes wasted, that everything you learn that semester really informs your future, regardless of whether or not it’s your job or it relates to the major or minor you have,” Bui said.

“I think that throughout my STEM education and time at UH, I really made it a point to cultivate many aspects of myself,” they said.

In fact, Bui is a staunch supporter of blending STEM with the arts through education and collaboration.

“Art is another platform to approach many of the topics STEM covers,” Bui said. “I think now more than ever, collaboration is really important in achieving anything, and so I’m like, okay, how do artists and politicians work together? Artists no longer have the privilege of being apolitical, and I wanna say that no one has the privilege of not being collaborative. I just can’t imagine the world moving forward without intergenerational, intercommunity, inter-everything conversation.”

Moving forward

What’s next for Bui? Their residency at HCCC ends in March, with “yêu em dài lâu (me love you long time)” and “Will You Go to Homecoming With Us?” staying up until the third and first of the month, respectively. After that, they’ll be heading to Saratoga, New York, to do a residency at Yaddo. 

As far as advice for other college students goes, Bui said it’s important for individuals to remember that they need to be creative in the ways that best align with their goals and opportunities.

“I understand everyone has to navigate their own lives according to their financial situation, their safety, their need to be independent on their own,” they said. “Cliché as it is, it’s never too late to go for a different dream, but realizing that your life might require a different timeline, or you might have to secure yourself in a certain situation before embarking on a new journey. You should never feel shame for being late, or not late, because you’re never late. Feeling behind is inevitable, but don’t ever apologize for who you are and the way you love yourself.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“A candid conversation with artist Antonius-Tin Bui” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Help I’m drowning in a sea of responsibilities! Between work and school students find it difficult to balance their workload, relationships and mental health while still deeming themselves productive. l Illustration by Fiona Legesse/The Cougar

Many students are burning the candle at both ends to meet the demands of their responsibilities.

Mountains of homework, deadlines and debts pile up and swallow people whole. Despite this, students seem to compete with one another and compare who has more on their plate. Instead of pursuing their usual hobbies and recreational activities, many students find themselves in an unintentional contest of “I’m more tired because I did ____!”

Where did this trend come from, and why are we allowing our lives to be run by it? When did it become cool to be sleep deprived and overworked?

Origins

It’s unclear where student burnout came from, but a good place to start is the transition from a child to young adult. The change from high school to college is a big one, which can knock even the sturdiest of students off their feet. From moving out and leaving your parents’ home, to having to study full time with a job, it’s easy to get swept under the current.

Pursuing a degree can be difficult at times, and classes can be stressful for all majors. A ResearchGate study found that “stress has been shown to be correlated with college students’ health behaviors, anxiety concerning exams, self-esteem and coping strategies that students use.”

Coping

In an effort to keep themselves on at all times, students have taken to caffeine and nicotine. A study from the San Jose State University shows that “after the ingestion of 6g of caffeine, there was a clear tendency to report sleep as ‘less satisfying.’”

The more coffee students drink to keep their energy up, the less satisfying their sleep will be. Bad sleep can have adverse effects on people of all ages. A lack of sleep can cause irritability, mood swings and stress. If it gets serious enough, sleep deprivation can occur.

Nicotine is also a widely-used coping mechanism. With the rise of e-vapes and Juuls, nicotine is more accessible than ever. A study by the Centers for Disease Control shows a “negative association between tobacco use and academic achievement.”

The use of caffeine or nicotine to combat burnout pushes students further into the burnout cycle, which is why finding healthier coping mechanisms is a surefire way to get better.

Overcoming

If you find yourself stuck in one of those one-upping loops, don’t fret. Getting help for yourself is as easy as talking to your friends.

If talking to your friends is not your desired route, reach out to a school therapist or designated mental health program. Trained professionals are available to help you and your friends get on the right path.  

Along with help from professionals, consider planning your days more thoroughly. Get a planner and start writing everything down. This is one way to make sure nothing slips your mind, especially if you get busy. If you give yourself set times for homework, exercise or errands, you’re more likely to hold yourself accountable if you go over time.

There are tons of ways to do this. If you want to go paperless, there are plenty of apps to help you keep your activities in order. Google Calendar, Timepage by Moleskine and Cal are a few examples of what’s out there.

Finding a solution that works for you will take rounds of trial and error, but if it means you won’t overwork or overextend yourself, I say do it.

Overextending yourself and burning out is not, and never will be, cool. Don’t let societal fads stop you from getting the sleep you deserve.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“Self-sabotage: Why do students spread themselves so thin?” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

We all know the hungry and tired college stereotype but is this really healthy? How do we balance this? I Illustration by Fiona Legesse/The Cougar

How do I find healthy food options on campus? – Angry in Agnes

McKenzie: If you don’t live on campus or have a meal plan the answer is, basically, you kind of don’t. I mean, maybe I’m not the best person to talk to because I’m extremely unhealthy and don’t make an active search for healthy foods, but I know the dining halls have more healthy options than other places on campus. You can also try the C-stores, some of them have fruit and other items as well.

Greg: I got a pretty good ab workout from laughing at this question. Healthy food on campus? Order a salad or try some vegetarian options. I know certain members of The Cougar swear by Freshii. The best I can recommend is eating at Moody and making liberal use of the salad bar.

Laura: Aside from the Nature Valley granola bars in the vending machines, your other options are… nonexistent. Everything is either expensive or not remotely healthy. Your best bet is to start meal prepping or sending a strongly worded email to our president.

I got some seriously loud upstairs neighbors that keep me up every single night. Like, I’m talking stomping so loud it’s rattling the gates of hell and even the devil is shooketh. Now they’re screaming like you know you used to back in 2008 at a Jonas Brothers concert (#FutureMrsJonas). I’m not even joking, as I’m typing this up they’re like throwing a bowling ball on the ground to make sure gravity still works in this plane of existence they think only they live on. I can’t even. What the hellllllllllllll am I supposed to do about this?! Me and my neighbor can’t sleep, and mama needs as much beauty rest as she can get! Oh my God, I’m so tired. – Amber

McKenzie: OK, what you have to do is go up to the people above your upstairs neighbors. Knock on their door. Hopefully, they’ll answer. Now you hand them some nice cookies you made, you introduce yourself and you explain your situation. You ask if they can maybe attempt to crash some chairs, bounce a few balls, do jumping jacks, anything of the sort so that the people above you can endure the same pain you go through. Or you could just complain to their RA, but where’s the fun in that?

Greg: As someone who probably is THAT upstairs neighbor in my apartment, I’m sorry for my fellow loud person’s actions. I come from a family that’s averse to conflict avoidance, but even I recognize that dealing with everything directly has its downsides. I’m going to recommend a middle-of-the-road solution: buy a broom and hit the ceiling with it next time they get loud.

Laura: Honestly, if you’re not trying to have an awkward rest-of-your-lease with your upstairs neighbor, I would recommend investing in some earplugs. If the problem persists, do not leave a note. My neighbors did that to me and I started making more noise, but maybe they’re not like me. Try the earplugs and if things don’t get any better definitely go talk to an RA.

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“Ask at your own risk: Hungry and tired” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Look familiar? Have you gone through a traumatic breakup or stressful situation lately? Cutting your hair is just one of the many outlets for built up emotions. I Laura Contasti/ The Cougar

Do you really want bangs, or do you just want to feel in control?

The answer, I have found, is both. Or rather, I want the bangs because they make me feel in control. Cutting my own hair to the sound of One Direction’s saddest songs is an experience I never knew I needed.

The first time I dyed my hair was when I graduated high school. I scheduled the appointment before I graduated, and when I walked in two weeks after crossing the stage, I dyed my hair a seafoam green.

My friend group had disintegrated, and I felt lost. I was out on my own for the first time and college was a decision I hadn’t made yet. But altering my hair was something that made me feel safe — it helped me embrace the change with something tangible: my appearance.

Coloring my hair didn’t solve my problems, but the simple act of doing something that let me be in control of my appearance was comfort enough. It made the rest of the choices I had to make seem attainable.

So, what is it about body modifications that make us feel in control?

From body piercings and tattoos to hair cutting and coloring, body modifications are there for us when our lives feel like they’re spiraling out of control. A traumatic breakup or a life changing interview gone bad are powerful enough to send us in a downward spiral, which is how you end up searching for do-it-yourself hair cut tutorials on YouTube at 2 a.m.

In a Google survey of 32 students, 96.9 percent said they had modified their body as a coping mechanism. From those, 13 had dyed their hair — some even had a combination. Hair coloring and hair cutting seem to be the most popular among students.

Hair has been linked to our concept of self-image, and changing hair can be seen as a way to “exert a sense of authority following a relationship breakdown.” Hair cutting and coloring have seem to become the norm after breakups, especially for women. While some male celebrities have made drastic changes to their hair styles, it remains that femininity and hair are intimately tied.

Hair is one of the many ways with which we present ourselves, it’s how people perceive us and it can impact how we feel about ourselves immensely. Long hair in particular is seen as a sign of femininity, causing them to be linked. This can explain why some women have taken to chopping their locks after a difficult or upsetting breakup.

It’s even become an Instagram trend. Hundreds of women post before and after pictures of their hair transformations under the #breakuphair hashtag, though variations of the hashtag do exist.

Not all hair transformations are due to breakups, however. Twelve years ago, the iconic Britney Spears shaved her head in the final leg of her downward spiral. Spears, who was “rebelling against…the people who handled and molded her,” used her hair as a form of expression. By shaving her head, she rejected society’s views of her and liberated herself from the suffocation she felt.

Body modifications, however, can sometimes provide a temporary solution to a deeper rooted problem. Coloring or cutting your hair can help you feel immediate relief, but unfortunately, it isn’t going to solve all of your problems.

But if Britney can get through it, so can you.

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“Bald and broken: Students cope through hair cutting, coloring” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

As the beloved Valentine’s Day approaches, as Billy Ray Cyrus would say, “Don’t tell my heart, my achy breaky heart.” I Illustration by Khalid Al-Alawi/The Cougar

For some, Valentine’s Day is a designated time to celebrate the people around them and express their love — whether romantically or platonically — with their significant other and loved ones. For others, the thought of the day creates anxiety, can cause depressive thoughts and serves as only a reminder for their loneliness.

Over the years, Valentine’s Day has become over-romanticized with extravagant expectations. Romance doesn’t equate to a dozen red roses or a box of chocolates in a heart-shaped box. Nowadays, people seem to be equating love with materialistic items rather than loving gestures.

Valentine’s Day wasn’t always this way. While hailed as the most romantic day of the year, the history behind it is a little darker than may be expected of a holiday about love.

Where it all started

There are tons of myths about St. Valentine, but the most common is that he was a Roman priest who was imprisoned for performing secret weddings against the wishes of the Catholic Church in the third century. Church authorities sentenced him to death for his actions. Before he was put to death, he sent a lady of his adoration a note signed “Your Valentine,” thus starting the Valentine’s Day tradition.

The holiday has evolved since then, but according to the History Channel, “Valentine’s Day only became associated with love in the late Middle Ages, thanks to the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer.”

In the late 1300s, Chaucer wrote the poem “Parliament of Fowls,” which contains a line that reads, “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day when every bird comes there to choose his mate.” Is this where the term ‘love bird’ comes from? Aha! Everything is coming together.

By the 1400s, nobles inspired by Chaucer had begun writing poems known as valentines to their love interests.

The madness

Valentine’s Day sounds good in theory, but the heightened expectations for performative romantic gestures can cause people to feel more stress and less love. Back in the 18th century, poems and handmade cards were the primary form of exchange between lovers on the holiday. Nowadays, consumers spend an average of $161.96 on Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

This number varies, but it shows the extent to which people are fixated on the material aspect of the holiday.

Some couples are choosing to opt out of the holiday altogether. According to a National Retail Federation report from January 2019, more than “60 percent of American adults planned to celebrate the romantic holiday a decade ago, today only about half expect to.”

It is almost like now that the holiday has become over-stigmatized by media and retailers, people are beginning to opt out. The whole holiday itself has become over-stigmatized over the years, resulting in more and more people flocking from the holiday.

The “three overwhelming reasons that (people chose not to participate) were that: there was a sense of feeling among some consumers that Valentine’s Day is over-commercialized; people also tend not to participate if they do not have a significant other, and then they just weren’t interested anymore,” said Director of Industry and Consumer Rights for NRF Kathrine Cullen.

In order to avoid the over-commercialized, pressurized aspect of the holiday, people are deciding to take a more laid-back approach, maybe even going back to the roots of the holiday and handwriting poetry to express their love. 

Why the stress?

Why is there still stress associated with Valentine’s Day, even as couples move away from pressure-driven expectations?

This has to do with the practice of constantly comparing oneself to others. One of the reasons behind this has to do with our society’s tendency to post everything on our social media accounts. If we don’t post about it, then it didn’t happen. This especially happens on holidays though because now people have a reason and excuse to post every aspect of their everyday happenings.

“It’s hard, both for those in relationships and those single, not to compare ourselves to the loving couples shown in the commercials,” according to Psychology Today. “We may feel a deep loss if our lives don’t measure up.”

The important thing to remember is that everyone is different. Some individuals get excited about dressing up and having a fancy night on the town, some would rather stay in and order takeout and some want to disregard the holiday altogether. It is all personal preference.

This Feb. 14, avoid a case of the Valentine’s Day blues by remembering that love is subjective and can be expressed any day of the year in a variety of ways. It’s the thought that counts.

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“Got a case of the Valentine’s Day blues?” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Tons of local Houston artists remain undiscovered and unappreciated, but how do we combat this problem? l Photo by Emily Hubbard/The Cougar

Whether you’ve been here your whole life or moved into town recently, if you’re into any medium of creativity you might have noticed Houston’s lack of payoff in the art scene. Often times if you come across genuine creativity, it’s packing its bags for New York or California — or any other major city that’s willing to invest in its work.

The unfortunate fact remains that Houston does not invest in its artists, and its artists don’t invest in each other either. It’s a cyclical mindset that furthers unhealthy competition and creates an unproductive space for artists of all genres to be inspired or to inspire. What should we do we do with a city so full of potential? Mobilize.

So, why don’t we?

No one predicted the massive force Houston would become, with a growing population that soon will mark us as the third largest city in the United States. Besides few exceptions like the Project Row Houses and the non-profit Menil Collection — spaces created specifically to stimulate a potential focus on creativity — the general rule in Houston is that we are energy funded and energy driven.

More spaces for creativity and interaction among each other are a must in the process of utilizing Houston’s creative communities.

Many of us meet others via Instagram or Twitter, but “unless you actually shake hands with another person, you don’t really know them,” says digital media junior Nemo Takleab. “A growing population doesn’t necessarily mean a growing art scene, and a growing social media following doesn’t necessarily mean a growing network.”

However, many continue to find themselves complacent among a group of people who don’t put others on. The competition is high, but the stakes are low. With so little payoff, most people cling on to any semblance of recognition they can get. We aren’t greedy, we’re just deprived.

Houston’s lack of artistic innovation is a result of many different things, little to no funding being just one of the few. Without creative spaces or investment, many Houston artists might feel they’re just fending for themselves.

As artists, we must hold each other accountable as well. Lack of funding isn’t the only reason we have such a divided community.

I spoke to various students at the University of Houston, some who make music, some who make art, some who are only just getting their feet wet. Many don’t necessarily feel as if they are a part of any scene at all, but rather consider themselves to be spectators of a “cliquey” and “aimless” conglomerate of internet personas that glorify an art scene that doesn’t really exist to the extent its portrayed.

Mobilizing is hard. It becomes even harder in a fractured community that seems unwilling to grow together. We see examples of cooperation within production and clothing collectives such as InHouse Interactives, Time Zone Global, GreaterGoode Lab, and even films like Connor Cleveland’s unreleased ‘Be Someone’, a documentary about artists in Houston.

These are creators who want to move mountains in impossible places, and they’re willing to work together to get it done. Perhaps we should be inspired. They’re not our competitors, they’re our peers. Keeping that in mind may be what propels Houston’s art scene into something worth talking about.

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“A message to Houston’s art scene: Show us what you’re made of” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

The Chicago rock band, Campdogzz, will be coming to White Oak Music hall this Sunday. Join them to rock out! I Courtesy of Campdogzz

Chicago’s Campdogzz is set to open up for Cursive in celebration of their most recent album “In Rounds,” which came out in early August. The album was released on the Cursive-owned label, 15 Passenger Records, and ever since has been a hit with outlets such as Under the Radar, Pop Matters, The Alternative, Chicago Reader and more.

The indie-rock group consists of lead vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Jess Price, guitarist and backup vocalist Mike Russell, guitarist Nick Enderle, bass player Andrew Rolfsen and drummer Chris Dye. 

After forming in 2014, the band self-released their first album “Riders in the Hills of Dying Heaven” in 2015 and recorded with Audiotree Live in 2017 for the first season of the amazing Netflix series “Easy.” They have toured with Cursive, Meat Wave and Field Report and have opened up for Big Thief, Sam Evian, and Ohmme.

The groups portrays the “bleak yet spirited heart of the industrial Midwest in a five-piece band propelled by driving rhythms, insistent dual guitars set in intriguing arrangements and the haunting, evocative songs,” Campdogzz said.

While the group is still fairly new, they have covered a ton of ground, literally. As their most recent album “In Rounds” was in the making, Russell and Price took a post-tour break to travel the southwest in a school bus that served as their band van at the time. At this time, during the break between albums, each member experienced dramatic shifts in life that led to “In Rounds.”

The album is a tangible reflection of that period, as they all experienced growth.

Campdogzz was a new find for me, but man am I glad I discovered them. There is something folky and soulful about the group that leaves one with a joint feeling of haunting and comfort. The juxtaposition of the rough guitar rifts and Prices’s lines of love makes the songs feel properly balanced.

The group will be performing with Cursive here in Houston at White Oak Music Hall on Feb. 10. Doors open at 7 p.m. so make sure to get there early and catch a glimpse of the up-and-coming Campdogzz. To purchase tickets, please visit here.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“Chicago’s Campdogzz set to play at White Oak with Cursive” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Contemporary Focus: Trenton Doyle Hancock opened Jan. 25 at The Menil Collection. l Photo by Paul Hester, Courtesy of The Menil Collection

The Menil Collection opened its doors Jan. 25 from 7-9 p.m. to artist Trenton Doyle Hancock’s Epidemic! Presents: Step and Screw! The series includes 30 pieces of work that combine drawings and texts in black and white acrylic paint.

Born in Oklahoma and raised in Texas, Hancock attended Texas A&M University and received a BFA in 1997 before receiving his MFA from Temple University in 2000. This was just the beginning of his art career.

“Featured in the 2000 and 2002 Whitney Biennials, Hancock became one of the youngest artists in history to participate,” according to The Menil’s website. With many solo exhibitions in his name, Hancock’s work is spread across various art museums all over New York, California and Texas.

Hancock dedicated this exhibit to one of his alter egos, Torpedoboy. It showcases his clash with racial injustice growing up in North Texas and the history of racism in the South.

This exhibit not only references his experiences of racial injustice in America but is heavily influenced by the work of modern painter Philip Guston.

Guston was the youngest of seven and born from a Jewish couple who were fleeing Russia and arrived in America for a new life.

“In 1919, the family moved to Los Angeles with hopes of better fortunes, but they only encountered more hardship and also met with the racism that surrounded the growth of the Klu Klux Klan in the period,” according to The Art Story.

After the suicide of Guston’s father, his passion for comics and drawing spurred him to begin his training into the world of art. He is best known for his works such as “The Studio” and “City Limits.”

All of Hancock’s work comes together to tell a story of the Mounds. The Mounds are “a group of mythical creatures that are the tragic protagonists of the artist’s unfolding narrative,” Hancock said. Every new piece of work is added to this saga showcasing life, death, afterlife and birth.

Hancock’s paintings and overall process stem from biblical stories passed down from his family, local community and church. Hancock uses these as inspiration and reworks the stories into his art. Immersed in the stories, myths and narratives he read as a child, his art is unlike many others.

“If you look at the grouping of the stories and belief systems that I learned from growing up, I wanted to take them, breakaway from them and apply them to my own art project based around a series of myths and symbols,” Hancock said. 

His love for comic books, toys and the “Masters of the Universe” series helped shape him into the artist he is today. Trenton Doyle Hancock’s exhibit at The Menil is free and available until May 19, so if you’re interested you don’t want to miss an opportunity to witness this amazing artist’s work.

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“The Menil Collection opens Contemporary Focus: Trenton Doyle Hancock” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Ellen Degeneres, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Gloria Steinem are just some of the strong female leaders in today’s climate I Illustration by Fiona Legesse/ The Cougar

Leaders are commonly described as “confident” and “assertive,” and more often than not these traits are linked with the male gender. A double standard still persists when women are described in a similar context, and suddenly good leadership traits in a man become unfavorable for women.

Why does this phenomenon continue to persist well into the 21st century? It’s a part of traditional gender roles, where men were often leaders taking on ambitious roles like presidents, scientists, engineers or CEOs while women remained at home. These images contribute to the status quo of equating males to a position of leadership more often than females.

In the workplace, disparaging connotations of women in leadership positions intimidate future female leaders. These women try to avoid being typecast as  “controlling” or “bossy” – a caricature of the “horrible female boss.” 

Women looking to climb the ranks to the top must combat unfavorable stereotypes. They must fight the historically male dominated image of leadership by slowly changing the language used to describe men and women. 

1. Subtle power is not weakness. 

The modern world is still adjusting to the image of a woman in power. To smoothly transition into a place where women become leaders, we need to think about power differently. Men tend to wield power in a more aggressive manner, showing strength to communicate authority. We must challenge that connotation by encouraging cooperation and teamwork.

Female power is often less showy and more subtle, stemming from a desire to build a consensus. 

A difference in wielding power does not make women weak or ineffective leaders. Accepting a different approach to leadership as neither weak nor strong is a good step in the right direction.

2. Showing emotion is not bad thing.

There is a pervasive stereotype that women are too emotional to be in power. It is a common stereotype that women are unstable because of their “hormones” or prone to changing their mind constantly because of their fleeting nature. In truth, women can be just as objective and rational as men.  

Women aiming for the stars must not be afraid to be seen as more than a one-dimensional character. Instead, they should be viewed as a complex individual. To combat this stereotype, we must stop linking our idea of emotional strength with leadership ability. A good leader does not equate a leader who is emotionless or struck by emotion too often.

Instead, a good leader is a person who can make rational decisions despite their feelings.

3. Tough leaders can be women.

Another stereotype around female leaders stems from the idea that women fit into three or four roles: the mother, the seductress, the pet or the tough “mannish” woman.

Women can subvert these stereotypes by incorporating the best qualities of all these roles. A female leader can offer support and advice to her employees like a mother and be allowed to take on male attributes such as assertiveness and confidence. More women breaking boundaries and being who they want to be would expose people to the complex world of female leadership.

A woman can be tough, assertive and controlling without it making her less of a woman or turning her into a man. Allowing women to create their own identities exposes people to different ideas of female leadership.

A young woman with leadership ambitions should not be afraid to be tough or girly, or even tough and girly. It is important to subvert ideas of women fitting into one-dimensional roles. This will profoundly shape how we view women in comparison to men, allowing women more than a simple role.

Negative stereotypes about female leadership continue to thrive in our subconscious. It is vital to push against negative connotations of women in power. A young woman starting her career must subvert stereotypes by presenting herself as a complex individual. As more women take on leadership positions, our unconscious biases will fade from a strict link between men and leadership to a more flexible definition that includes both men and women. 

arts@thedailycougar.com 

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“How to combat female leadership stereotypes” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Seasonal Affective Disorder impacts 5 percent of the U.S. population, but there are treatments available. | Fiona Legesse-Sinha/The Cougar

From James Blake playfully opting to claim the title SAD boy instead of sad boy to Ilana Wexler using light therapy to combat her depression in “Broad City,” seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD or seasonal depression, has been the talk of the town recently — and rightfully so.

Every year, approximately five percent of the U.S. population is affected by SAD. Women and people with previous mental health problems are particularly vulnerable. The destigmatization of mental health has been a long time coming. Inoffensive jokes about a disorder that affects this many people seems like an obvious step in the right direction.

Though the open and lighthearted discussion of seasonal depression is new, the disorder itself certainly isn’t. It’s human nature to crave humor to relieve the tension of breaching uncomfortable subjects.

Comedy has always been the Wild West in terms of discussing the new and taboo, whether it’s coming from the mouth of a beloved comedian or the Twitter page of a depressed rando. Mental illness is simply the newest sheriff in town. It’d be disingenuous to say these jokes pose no social good, but if jokes are all we’re getting, we’re not getting the full story.

SAD is categorized as a type of depression with a consistent seasonal pattern. In most, the depressive episodes occur throughout late fall and winter, with symptoms alleviating during the spring and summer months. Though we have a tendency to think of SAD as “depression-lite” since it only arises 40 percent of the year, that is not the case.

The symptoms of seasonal depression are almost identical to those of major depression, and the fact that they’re gone by the time spring rolls around doesn’t make them any less severe. Common symptoms include low energy, insomnia or excessive sleep, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest and suicidal thoughts.

The direct cause, beyond the simple explanation of your brain chemistry attempting to sabotage your holiday plans, is unknown. This makes treatment complicated, but we are aware that the reduction of sunlight during the winter exacerbates symptoms.

Less sunlight equals less serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates your mood, and less melatonin, the hormone that sends you those “go to bed” signals you ignore. The result is a sleepier, sadder you – just in time for all of the stress that accompanies the start of the new year and spring semester. Yay!

Though it’s always best to see a professional and get officially diagnosed if you have the resources to do so, it doesn’t always take a medical professional to know something is not right with your mental health. However, that still leaves the question: Once you know or suspect you have seasonal affective disorder, where do you go from there?

Seeing as we’re unable to control the seasons (at least for now – NASA, if you’re working on something to fix this, please let me know), all SAD treatments must be based on changing your own individual surroundings, thoughts and/or patterns of behavior.

Fortify your support system

Though depression, seasonal or not, may make the simple act of leaving the house feel daunting, a helping hand will always remind you that it doesn’t have to be. Whether it be a friend, family member or just that nice girl you sit next to in class who sends you her notes when you’re not feeling up to the task, reaching out to someone can dramatically alleviate depression.

Light therapy

Make like Ilana in that aforementioned “Broad City” sketch and invest in a SAD lamp – that is, a lamp that mimics natural sunlight to trigger those regulatory brain chemicals you’re missing out on. Though they have mixed reviews and vary in quality, many suffering from SAD have found these lamps extremely helpful.

Set up a stable routine

This has absolutely been the most helpful for me in my regular, plain ol’ depression. Sometimes, forcing yourself out of bed and right to class or the gym for those sweet, sweet endorphins at the same time every day is the best thing you can do for yourself. Plus, a regular schedule radically improves poor sleep habits, making it more difficult for you to sleep all day or stay up all night.

Don’t be afraid to seek professional help

UH’s very own Counseling and Psychological Services exists for this very reason. Initial appointments, referrals and all group sessions are absolutely free to current students. The brain is the most complex organ in the body, and maintaining its health should be as shame-free as getting your teeth cleaned. It’s never too late to reach out and ask for help, and there is an abundance of resources at your disposal.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“The reason why you’re SAD: seasonal affective disorder” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar