Another week of social distancing down means another week of fantastic tweets on the timeline. With some about the coronavirus and quarantine, and some simply derived out of the boredom of our circumstances, Twitter never fails to entertain.

For starters, no one can stop eating.

There are many insightful, scattered thoughts about the situation.

Some are making very good use of their time.

While some are making art and history at the same time:

And here’s an optimistic take on society’s recovery:

And finally, this poor, poor dog that’s hard not to smile at:

The COVID-19 outbreak and its increasing effect on college campuses has taken a toll on many UMaine organizations and events. A few groups, in particular, have been hit hard, with a handful of spring events canceled or changed, forcing them to seriously alter plans as they move forward into the summer. 

All Maine Women, an inclusive honors society for women on UMaine’s campus, has taken precautions to make sure their students and members can still enjoy their experience and participate in everything the honors society has to offer. 

“The biggest change we’ve put in place as of right now has been moving all of our communications, meetings, and events to an online platform, mostly Zoom at this point; we’ve all become experts by now,” President of All Maine Women and fourth-year biomedical engineering student Lauren Ryan said. “This has been kind of tricky to adapt to, but we want to make sure that we’re making the safest decisions for ourselves and our community and it’s our duty to follow the guidelines put in place by the university and the federal government.” 

The honors society also had to move their previously scheduled “tapping” ceremony that was planned for early Spring. Tapping is a form of initiation for new members into the society and is a yearly tradition that had to be altered by the virus outbreak. 

“Just before Spring Break, we made the quick decision to tap the Class of 2021 on Friday, March 13 (initially planned for March 24) so we would be able to do it in person instead of online,” Ryan said. “I really commend the current class of All Maine Women for coming together to make this happen, because tapping is a really special and emotional day for us and the incoming class, and I am glad we didn’t have to miss out on the full experience.”

One collaborative event that took place on UMaine’s campus before the school closed was “Coronamencement,” a celebration organized by many groups on campus to honor the graduating seniors who will not have the opportunity to walk in May of 2020.

“Sophia Palangas planned Coronamencement in less than two days to bring the entire Class of 2020 together. Taylor Cray worked towards organizing volunteers to provide childcare for working parents before the state imposed its ‘Stay at Home’ order,” Ryan said. “Even still, we’re spending time during our weekly meetings to try and brainstorm ways that we can help our community, even though we are all apart now, which I think really speaks to the nature of the organization, and the type of people who represent our campus as All Maine Women.”

Among those also affected is the University of Maine Honors College. The Honors College has also been making changes during the university shift to online instruction and working from home.

“Our primary change has been the transition to remote learning for all of our Honors courses. It has been going well so far, thanks to the hard work of our staff and faculty, as well as the flexibility and intellectual drive of our students,” Honors College Associate Kim Crowley said. “Some other changes have included shifting to remote thesis defenses and canceling some of our signature events like the Honors Celebration and Maine Day Meal Packout. However, despite having to cancel in-person events, we are planning remote initiatives to reach our Honors community and remain connected to one another.”

The Honors College has been working to help advise students and raise awareness of the many available resources the university offers during this time of need. Honors courses, per the closure of the university, have been moved online or altered to fit social distance guidelines, as have Honors-sponsored events like the year-end celebration for graduating seniors. 

“Completing the semester online is challenging, but I am seeing students, faculty, and staff rise up to meet the challenge,” Crowley said. “It is being met with creativity, flexibility, commitment to quality education, and above all else, compassion.”

Crowley advises students who are facing challenges with their coursework or thesis research to be open and honest with their professors and advisors. 

“If their professors are aware of their challenges, the faculty and staff will be better able to serve and support the student,” Crowley said. “We are all here for you!”

All Maine Women and the Honors College are just two of the hundreds of organizations, clubs, programs, departments, sports teams and groups on campus that have had to make adjustments due to the virus outbreak. By continuing to be flexible and by adapting to changing situations, the students on campus are able to participate in their extracurriculars and pursue educational goals despite the circumstances.

While Gov. Janet Mills issued an order for Mainers to stay at home beginning Thursday, April 2, she did include an exception: getting outside for some much needed fresh air or exercise. With many parks and beaches closed, not to mention gyms being way out of the question, the University of Maine community is left with the opportunity to get creative in terms of getting a workout in, or simply getting outside. Here are a few options within reach of Orono for both.

The UMaine paved bike trails

Beginning by the tennis courts, the main trail goes straight through the woods in the direction of Stillwater Avenue in Old Town. It’s fairly flat and is perfect for windy days, as the trees provide some shelter from the wind and shade for hot, sunny days (though we aren’t quite there yet here in Orono). If you continue straight, you’ll eventually come to the end of the path, ending on campus approximately a mile and a half in. Here, you’ll find a T-intersection with a new path that runs parallel to Stillwater Ave. Whether you take a right or a left, and if you decide to complete this full perpendicular section of the path and return to the main trail that heads back to campus, once you return to the tennis courts again you’ll have done exactly 5.35 miles. Not bad for a run, a walk, a bike ride and if you know how to, it’s just about perfect for inline skating. You’ll likely see some deer along the way as well.

The track and football bleachers

An obvious choice for exercise, the track is a great place to get out and do some sprints or a full-on workout. The turf in the middle provides cushioning for anything that requires jumping, lunges, abdominal work and anything of the sort, but it’s also just a great place to get out and be social while social distancing. It’s a great place to be on a beautiful spring day. And, rumor has it, a turf is one of the best places to get a tan!

If you’re looking for a track workout specifically, here’s one that’s guaranteed to leave you pretty beat: start with a warm-up slow mile (take your time with this — it’s the last time you’ll be able to breathe for a little). After that, run as fast as you can while keeping a consistent pace for one full lap. Upon completion, immediately continue onto another lap, but this time at a jogging pace. Continue at this pace until you have completed the jogging lap and then run half a lap as fast as you can. At the end of that, complete that lap at a jogging pace. That’s one “set,” and you can repeat it as many times as you wish… or can! The workout looks like this: 400m run, 400m jog, 200m run, 200m jog, repeat.

Penobscot River Walkway

On both the Bangor and the Brewer side, the Penobscot River has a relatively new paved path called the Penobscot River Walkway. Though short, just a half a mile long on each side, the walkway is a beautiful place to spend some time, whether walking the full loop, which will bring you over both bridges in downtown Bangor, part of it or just sitting on the grass near the path on the Bangor side. For those of us who have been spending most of our time in Orono, it’s a great way to get a little change of scenery without going far. It’s also a perfect place to take your dog for a walk.

Stillwater River Trail

This trail begins just past downtown Orono if you are going towards campus, right before crossing the bridge and ending up by the University Inn. It runs parallel to the river and nearly parallel to Bennoch Road, ending just before the Stillwater Avenue bridge. The trail is perfect for biking, walking and running – especially if you’re not interested in running hills. It’s a beautiful path, flat with a view of the river, and it’ll really make you appreciate the beauty of our little college town.

Chick Hill

This is a particularly easy-going hike up to the top of the Clifton, ME “hill,” as there’s a gravel path that brings you all the way up. So if you’re looking to get some beautiful views without breaking too much of a sweat, this is your place. The trail is technically called “Fire Road 32” on Google Maps, and it’s about 1.3 miles long in total, making it a very feasible hike for most. The views at the top of the hill are some of the best around, so although it’s a bit of a distance from Orono (about a 40-minute drive), it’s worth it.

Here’s another batch of quarantine Tweets that are relatable, laughable or just plain absurd. 

Once again: what is time?

Whatever it is, here are some ways we’re killing it:

And mourning the way things used to be:

Some are asking very key questions:

And some of us are just trying to get by:

With the stay at home order in effect, and most of us stuck inside a little more than we would prefer right now, everybody’s looking for something to do. Some have turned to puzzles, some are binge watching Netflix’s “Tiger King,” and some have decided to take up running out of pure boredom. If you’re trying to stay in bed, but want to give your brain some exercise, here are a few book recommendations from the Culture section staff that might be the answer for you.

“Dune” by Frank Herbert

If you are seeking a reprieve from the harsh realities of the current times, “Dune” might just be the escape you need. While certainly a lengthy read, Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic is well worth the investment. The narrative centers around Paul Atreidies, an intergalactic prince of sorts who is plunged into an adventure on a far-flung desert planet revered for its resources. The story follows Paul as he navigates assassination plots, Machiavellian-like power struggles, environmental issues, religion and mythology, all the while fulfilling a mystical prophecy. Herbert weaves all this together in a digestible fashion, notably building out the terminology and lore behind many of the events and practices in the book, which help to fill out the narrative. It’s also worth noting that the Denis Villeneuve (director of Blade Runner 2049 and Sicario) silver screen interpretation, starring Zendaya and Timothee Chalamet, is due to be released later this year, so what better time to verse yourself in the source material than now. 

“The Secret History” by Donna Tartt

A cozy Vermont college provides the perfect background for this thrill ride of a novel from Donna Tartt. Set during the 80s, the book opens when a group of college-aged kids kill one of their close friends. The narrative then jumps back to before the murder, to focus on the main character, Richard Papen. At first, he admires from afar a group of close-knit Greek studies students, eventually working his way into the group and developing a number of complex relationships along the way. As the novel plays out, it’s interesting to see Richard uncover and eventually take part in the group’s odd tendencies. The group’s members are all written brilliantly and with their own motives and idiosyncrasies that help move the plot along. Though the group may examine beautiful and rich intellectual literary works, the life the characters lead is far from ideal, ultimately culminating in the aforementioned murder. The subject matter in this regard has a lot to do with the tone; much like a Greek tragedy, there is beauty in watching the characters slowly collapse under the weight of such a secret. Donna Tartt’s novel is exceedingly well-written and is a page-turner until the bitter end. 

“White Noise” by Don DeLillo

I would caution that this pick, while an exceptional read, is perhaps the exact opposite of what one might want to read to put their mind at ease during a pandemic. Don DeLillo’s “White Noise” is an irredeemable dark and moody postmodern novel centered on character Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler studies at a liberal arts college in the midwest. As Jack navigates both family and university life, a strange toxic cloud descends upon the region causing mass hysteria. The troubles that follow seem to uncannily parallel much of what we have collectively experienced within the past month. DeLillo breathes life into the characters and scenes of chaos like no one else could, combining themes of existentialism, commercialization and consumerism in flawless fashion. “White Noise” is certainly a heavy read, but one that nonetheless raises intriguing questions without easy answers.

“This Is Where I Leave You” by Jonathan Tropper

If you’re looking for something a bit on the lighter side, this one’s for you. Tropper’s “This Is Where I Leave You” tells the story of the Foxman siblings, who have just found out that their father died, as they return to their childhood home for the first time in years to sit shiva. Sitting shiva is a Jewish tradition that involves the immediate family coming together and staying home for seven days after a death while friends and family visit and pay their respects. The story is narrated by one of the sons, Judd Foxman, who is going through a bit of a mid-life crisis. Through a rollercoaster shiva experience, Judd brings the reader through his time at home with his three siblings and mother, all together for the first time in years, as the experience helps him get his life back on track. Light, funny and incredibly wholesome without ever being cheesy, Tropper created a masterpiece that you won’t be able to put down. And, with extra quarantine time on your hands, you can watch the 2014 film adaptation once you’re done, but the book will certainly be the better of the two. 

“Mrs. Fletcher” by Tom Perrotta

Now an HBO series, “Mrs. Fletcher” jumps around to the perspectives of a handful of characters as it tells the story of a divorced woman and recent empty-nester, Eve, and her son Brendan, whom she has just dropped off at college. Now alone, Eve begins to try new things and meet new people, and in the process, she rediscovers herself, all while unaware that her son is going off the rails a bit in college. The novel switches perspectives from Eve to Brendan, and sometimes to Brendan’s friends in college or to Eve’s coworkers. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the writing is Perotta’s ability to take on every one of these perspectives in a realistic way. Whether he’s writing as a college student spending his nights partying or one of Eve’s female coworkers who organizes lectures for a senior community center, Perotta’s writing is authentic and accurate. While authors sometimes overdo it when writing about younger generations, missing the mark just enough to make you cringe, Perotta nails the college student perspective, as well as that of a middle-aged female. “Mrs. Fletcher” is a fun and light read that, again, is kind of hard to put down once you start it.

4 stars

The Weeknd’s new album “After Hours” was released on March 30. The deluxe version of the album includes 22 songs, while the original includes 14 songs with a total run time of 56 minutes. This is The Weeknd’s fourth studio album since the start of his rise to fame.

Born in Ontario, Canada, the now 30-year-old singer began his career in 2010 at the age of 20, when he began freestyle rapping in collaboration with producer Jeremy Rose. His first album, titled “Kiss Land,” was released on Sept. 10, 2013, by Republic Records and XO, a record label in Canada founded by The Weeknd. Many of his songs on the first album centered around his troubled past and many serious issues that he continues to deal with today. Sensitive topics like drug addiction, depression and sexual violence are just a few of the things mentioned in his latest album release. Although saddening and sometimes X-rated, his music is always honest and often relatable. 

“Alone Again,” the first song in the album, is one of the slowest and my personal favorite. The Weeknd sings openly about his struggles with substance abuse in the past, and how he has recovered from an overdose. Synthesizers are used to give it an 80s throwback vibe that seems to be common throughout the album and makes it sound very techno. The Weeknd’s music fits in genre categories of rap, R&B, hip-hop and electronic.

“Heartless,” the seventh song on the album, was released before the initial album release date. Released to the public on Nov. 27, 2019, it quickly became a chart topper and had fans eager for the rest of the album. “Blinding Lights,” currently No. 2 on Spotify’s Top Hits, was the second song from the album that was also released on Nov. 27. Both of these songs are two of the most well-known on the album to date, and they include The Weeknd’s signature high notes, a techno instrumental sound and an energetic dance beat. 

In a heartfelt confession full of stories from his past, The Weeknd discusses old relationships and stories in “Save Your Tears.” His lyrics are honest and emotional, paying tribute to an ex and his feelings of not being good enough or able to be in the relationship. In his repeating lines, “Girl, take me back ‘cause I wanna stay / Save your tears for another day,” The Weeknd addresses a loved one who used to be a large part of his life while exposing us to the rawest parts of himself and his emotions towards that relationship. 

The cover of the album is jarring, but it fits well with the tell-all confessional style of “After Hours.” The artwork features The Weeknd smiling with his head tilted backward and his face covered in blood. This could be a tribute to his past overdoses or the struggles he has dealt with regarding violence and substance abuse. This, in combination with the title of the album and The Weeknd’s heartfelt lyrics, makes for an unforgettable listening experience.

“My camera operator is my wife … and uh, we have my dog, Gary. My dog Gary is my first guest,” Jimmy Fallon announced to the camera in his March 17 episode of “The Tonight Show: At Home Edition.” When the camera pans to Gary, he sticks his face in the camera. 

This episode of the show, posted on YouTube, was the first of its kind from Fallon but is just one of the many examples of how entertainers and comedians have adapted to the constraints that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the world. 

In times of high stress, tragedy and anxiety, people often turn to humor for a little comic relief, and as the coronavirus has spread throughout our world, temporarily altering life as we know it, the need for humor is clear. Within the broad realm of comedy, there is a specific brand that applies to situations like this. It’s called coping humor, and its uses and effects are numerous.

Coping humor is known to be used by ER doctors, firefighters and in plenty of other stressful work environments. It can also be traced back to times of tragedy, such as wars and the Holocaust, among others, and it often has a dark tinge to it as it employs the tragic material directly for jokes. But despite its dark roots, coping humor has a knack for bringing people together and creating a community out of tragedy. It speaks to the fears and anxieties of people involved and has a bonding effect. 

In these times of quarantine and COVID-19, well-known entertainers, such as Fallon, have adapted their shows to provide some comic relief. Fallon’s show from home not only provides his viewers with laughs from the intentionally-awkward scripted jokes but also provide a community feel, a notion that we’re all in the same boat, even celebrities. As he performed his monologue with his wife behind a hand-held camera, fending off his daughter’s occasional questions and dealing with her slight lack of cooperation, he shows his viewers that during this time, he’s just like the rest of us.

But Fallon and his late night counterparts (Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah, Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien, who all filmed from their homes as well) are not the only ones bringing some coping humor into the world right now. The University of Maine community’s own “UMaine Memes for Drunken Teens” Facebook page has highlighted the creativity and sense of humor from UMaine students during this unique situation. The page, unaffiliated with any official University of Maine System campus or administration, has given students an opportunity to turn frustrations and fears into humor, with jokes about room and board refunds, uncertainty regarding online classes, boredom during quarantine and more. 

Delving briefly into humor theory, there are a few explanations for jokes about these unusual circumstances, but to keep this out of scholarly article territory, we can stick with just one: the transfer of excitation. This concept maintains that when there are heightened emotions present from one stimulus (something causing anxiety, fear, sadness, anger, etc.), it will amplify the result of another stimulus. In plain terms, this means that when we’re feeling any of those aforementioned emotions (or others) to a great degree, if someone presents us with something funny, we’ll find it funnier than usual. So right now, these jokes, amplified by the boredom of quarantine, are providing some serious comic relief, as we’re using our built-up negative emotions for laughter instead.

There are a handful of other routes to take that display the importance of humor in these unusual times, but perhaps the main takeaway is that humor brings people together. While Jimmy Fallon used his platform to show himself as an average man in the same boat as the rest of us and UMaine students are cracking jokes about the current situation to ease their own frustrations and fears, it all gives us something we can laugh about. Humor in weird and uncertain times, humor about our own frustrations, fears and anxieties all falls under the umbrella of coping humor, and it helps us maintain a sense of community while we all laugh together, alone in quarantine. 

5 stars

I started the Netflix original series “Cheer” while looking for something to watch on the treadmill that was exciting and drama-filled enough to distract me from a workout. Thankfully, “Cheer” turned out to be all that and more. 

Directed by Greg Whiteley, the six-part series hit Netflix in January. It follows the triumphs and tribulations of the Navarro Junior College cheer team, giving viewers a very personal, candid perspective on the sport of cheerleading, helping to reveal a side to the sport that not everyone is familiar with. The documentary-style series provides much-needed exposure for the sport at every level, highlighting the intensity, athleticism, and dedication that it requires. 

Beginning a few months out from the National Cheer Championships, held in Daytona, Florida each year, the show introduces viewers to the Navarro Bulldogs team athlete-by-athlete. The series develops the viewer’s connection to the characters through not only individual interviews but also footage from the group at practice, in the classroom and in their dorm rooms. With each episode, the team inches closer to perfecting their skills and routine for Nationals. 

I knew nothing about cheerleading before watching the series, but the particular brand of the sport displayed in this show is one that, as the show stresses, not nearly enough people are familiar with. The stunts and routines are physically taxing, testing the athletes’ bodies in ways few sports do. Injuries are incredibly common, highlighted in nearly every episode, as athletes get kicked in the face, dropped from midair, break bones and strain muscles. There are no pom-poms involved, just bodies flying and individuals flipping back and forth across the mat.

In addition to showing footage from the Navarro team, “Cheer” also traces the path that athletes must take to get to the highest level of the sport, and stresses that the dreams of a cheerleader end after college, which is a factor of the sport that many either don’t know or simply overlook. With no professional cheerleading options or Olympic teams, the athletes pour every ounce of passion and talent they have into their college cheer experience, and the show illustrates this beautifully. Interviews with coaches showcase not only the intensity but also the time and commitment college-level cheerleading requires. It’s cutthroat and competitive but, if all goes well, incredibly rewarding.

But the show sends a message beyond just showing viewers the ins and outs of the sport. It is aimed at Varsity Spirit Corporation for making it nearly impossible for the sport to gain exposure. Varsity Spirit is an American organization that essentially owns the sport of cheerleading in the United States. It puts on camps, competitions such as Nationals, sells apparel and oversees the entire sport. But it also restricts the spread of the sport and all its publicity. Under the rule of Varsity Spirit, competitions are no longer shown on ESPN and cameras are not allowed inside the events. The show displays this by showing event footage taken with iPhone cameras, a contrast to the professional filming used throughout the series. 

With no actors or actresses, just honest interviews and candid footage, a documentary series like “Cheer” is not what would immediately come to mind when looking for a gripping, drama-filled escape from reality. But, as viewers will discover very quickly into the first episode, it is just that. The footage included from practices will have you rooting for the team to land every trick and perfect every skill, allowing viewers to develop an intense and unexpected level of investment in each person in the show, something not always anticipated in documentaries. 

And at the end of the show, when you’re recovering from the intensity of the final episode, you remember: these are real people, real athletes and this is their reality. Once again, you’ll be impressed beyond belief.

3 stars

There are some faces in acting that are difficult to separate from what we know of them in the past. For example, it’s hard to watch Steve Carrell in a serious role without picturing Michael Scott from “The Office,” just as it’s a small hurdle to move past the ever-present playful connotation of Ben Stiller when he’s not acting as a comedian. In the 2020 drama “Downhill,” directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus attempt to disentangle themselves from their previous comedic personas. The ratings are certainly not great, only netting 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, but digging a little deeper, I can’t say the actors or directors are to blame. In fact, the movie itself is, in its own way, a bit of a masterpiece.

It’s pertinent to understand two things heading into the movie. The first is that it is a remake of a 2014 Swedish film, “Force Majeure,” and the second is that it is certainly not a comedy. From the moment Ferrell appears on screen, you will want to laugh at most things he says and does. His character is certainly ridiculous; he’s an adult who acts like a teenager. He’s obsessed with his phone and the social-media appearances of his peers, and his lack of maturity is clear relatively quickly. But, it’s crucial to note that it’s not supposed to be funny. His lines are part of his role, and his role is not a funny one.

Ferrell and Louis-Dreyfus star as the parents of two pre-teens who take their family on a vacation to the Swiss alps. From the first minutes of the movie, there’s a nearly tangible discomfort in every scene. Throughout the film, little things seem to go wrong left and right; Louis-Dreyfus plays Billie, a relatively uptight woman who’s a stark contrast to her overly relaxed husband Pete, who seems to put his own needs first in a rather un-fatherly manner. Billie, albeit uptight, is certainly doing her job as a parent. Pete, on the other hand, is not. This is not to establish Pete as the bad guy, he simply doesn’t have his priorities straight. 

As consumers, we’re used to getting what we want out of movies; we see faces like Louis-Dreyfus and Ferrell and we expect a lighthearted film, perhaps a comedy with a few hurdles for the characters to get over in a humorous manner before it all wraps up at the end. We may even expect slight discomfort at the more intense parts of the movie, when things start to go wrong, but it’s usually minimal. As viewers, we also expect satisfaction.

This movie may have received low ratings from viewers because it is simply not what they expect. It’s genius in that it’s incredibly realistic, but this doesn’t make it an entirely pleasant viewing experience. Billie and Pete clash with each other in the real ways that a couple does when the seeds of doubt about their relationship have been planted; they get on each other’s nerves, they snap at each other and they look at other couples and want what they have. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s real. 

In one particularly memorable scene, Pete attempts to plan an exciting activity for the family to do together, one that makes him feel as though he’s doing what the younger, adventurous couples he so desires to be like would do. But, leading up to the activity, one thing after another goes wrong: small, realistic things, like a kid losing a ski glove at the last minute and not having enough time to eat breakfast. It all adds up to a climactic scene that accurately represents all of the frustrations of being in a family and a relationship that you’re trying to salvage as it continues to go rapidly downhill. 

Overall, the movie is uncomfortable, but it is incredibly real. It’s not going to be loved by most viewers, because it’s not pleasant; it’s anxiety-inducing, and it certainly isn’t an escape from reality. Instead, it shoves reality in the face of its viewers, and when you go to the movies, that’s typically the opposite of what you’re there for. But this accurate reality that Faxon and Rash have crafted, with the help of Ferrell and Louis-Dreyfus, is, in its own way, a work of art. Just don’t go see it after a stressful day at work, or in the midst of any stress at all. 

5 stars 

Since the start of the new year, Netflix has added a handful of movies, new and old. One of these additions combines the feel of both. “Miss Americana,” a documentary about international superstar Taylor Swift’s rise to fame and time in the spotlight, gives a fresh look at a star that many of us have grown up with. Directed by Lana Wilson, the movie sheds a new, largely unexplored light on what it’s like to be a celebrity, giving insight on the loneliness of being at the top and reminding viewers that celebrities aren’t merely icons to be publicly picked apart; they’re human beings, and they see and feel everything send at them. 

As is the case with any documentary that gives an approved look at the inside life of a celebrity, there’s a certain angle that the director is taking, a certain image of the celebrity that they want the audience to take from it. It’s hard not to be skeptical of this as the movie begins, but Swift has taken the opportunity presented in “Miss Americana” to show the world the most honest version of herself.

The documentary leaves viewers with more questions answered than they could have expected to ask. To be candid about my views on Swift prior to watching the documentary, I will disclose that I have been a fan of Swift’s music since day one, but have taken just about every opportunity in the past six years to explain that her music is the only thing I’m a fan of. Her stance as a self-declared feminist irked me because, when I felt that it mattered most, particularly in election seasons and with other big public issues or movements, she seemed to disappear. I watched celebrities like Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson and even Kendall Jenner get involved during the 2016 election, with Perry even performing at Clinton rallies, and waited for Swift to speak out. She never did, and I undeniably held it against her as a person, thinking I knew best. But “Miss Americana” gives insights into why she made the decision to stay away from politics and other heated topics for as long as she did. Her reasoning for doing such is sound and genuine, opening viewers’ eyes to the scrutiny celebrities receive for their every move.

From the beginning of the movie to the end, Swift is explaining herself, and she does so as someone who knows she’s lost much of the adoration she once had. Without coming off as defensive, she essentially uses “Miss Americana” as a platform through which to defend herself from the harsh criticisms she has received over the years. She describes her need for acceptance and praise, and hearing her talk so openly about her own personality, needs and flaws explain a great deal about her demeanor, decisions and reputation. “Miss Americana” takes footage from years of Swift’s fame and organizes it to tell the story of a girl becoming a woman under the constant scrutiny of the media and the effect that has on a human being. Skillfully, Wilson’s documentary shows what the public eye misses. It details Swift’s every decision and does so with just enough footage of her performing her craft to remind viewers why she’s in the spotlight to begin with.

With a handful of songwriting scenes sprinkled thematically into the movie, giving an inside look to the stories behind some of her songs, the documentary has moments that remind viewers that it’s still about a musician. From the perspective of someone who doesn’t write music, these inside glimpses, when done well, are intriguing and inspiring, showing the craft of songwriting and how some people, like Swift, seem to simply be blessed with this gift. “Miss Americana” gives viewers a three-dimensional look at Swift, reminding us that we can’t simply reap the benefits of her gift without treating her like a human being, too. Swift and Wilson team up to give us an incredibly raw and honest look at this superstar’s highs, lows, strengths and weaknesses, and we are once again indebted to Swift for giving the world more art.