Lamar is a muse for the ages, a lens through which we can explore the love within both our hearts and others'.
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This cast does an impeccable job at mirroring the problems our newer generations have and the romanticism that comes with it. Jacob Elordi's hegemonic portrayal of Nate Jacobs allows young viewers to understand that toxic masculinity and abuse are ugly from all perspectives, regardless of the attached physicalities. Sydney Sweeney's capture of a young girl that we all know would do anything to please the boy she loves, even if it chips away at her mental health and perception of herself. The way that it is gravitationally easy to remark one for being a 'slut' than to critique those who may have the power to demand sexual acts is a conversation that Sam Levinson brings to light. Hunter Schafer is one to watch as Jules represents the voice of love, femininity, along with the frustration of having to play both the enabler and the hero. We can't forget the Rue that Zendaya brings to the screen. From the sarcastic narrations to the manic detective behavior, Rue is one character that you can't seemingly describe but find oh-so mesmerizing. As so did the Emmys. We can't forget the honorable mentions of Maude Apatow, Algee Smith, Nika King, Colman Domingo, Angus Cloud, and Storm Reid. In this new season, especially after watching and re-watching the promos; there's much to expect. So, here are our predictions.
Predictions
Rue & Jules — We know the rollercoaster of their friendship and relationship is not over yet. In the teaser, we get a new character with turquoise hair and tattoos that's stirring the pot. This new character is knocking over racks at gas stations, sitting in bathrooms with Rue, sharing dances and pills; so, Rue and Jules might have another obstacle impeding on their romance. This time, it just might not be Jules' Tyler.
Maddie, Cassie & Nate — This pair of three seems to be of much destruction. A tsunami is coming in the form of a weary and teary-eyed monologue that Cassie exclaims in their pink public school bathroom. Why? Her besties take one look at her Dallas cowboy pageant outfit and make corrections. Nate finds Cassie sitting outside at night and asks her, "you're a relationship kind of girl, right?" or something of that nature that allows us to connect the celestial dots. Since in the main trailer, we get a glimpse into a car ride where Nate drives, and we presume, Cassie feels the wind. This won't end well.
Fezco & Lexi — Hmm, something's cooking here. In the newer promos, we get a look into our beloved drug dealer's eye-view. In two different POVs, surprise, surprise, they all stare back at Lexi. It's an exciting plot point that two characters we edged to know more about were in Rue's shambles may find love where others find chaos. We wonder how this will trickle into the robbery that Fez mandates in the season one finale, as well as the sizzling rivalry happening between Nate and him.
Rue, Gia, Leslie & Drugs — In the opening of the first new trailer, Rue sings to herself, dusts off the table, and her old dance moves in a high state. This trailer ends with Gia blankly asking, "Rue. Are you high?" Which, if Rue doesn't answer this question soberly and maturely, will push over those family dominoes. It also won't end well since Rue may not only be drinking the Kool-Aid; she's selling the Kool-Aid. She strolls down the streets with her bicycle in stripes and a blazer pushing luggage. This potential action might even combust over rehab and her relationship with Aali as he asks, "Now, for the million-dollar question. What's in the bag?"
We know more and more theories will unravel after this finale. The million-dollar question is, where will this first episode start? Will it take off where we left with Fezco? Will it bring us back to square one with our sometimes dishonest narrator, or will it bring us back to Jules? Also, even though McKay and Cassie are no longer taking shots with live fish or sitting on stairs, will we see this struggling football player? We can expect more to come out of Kat's character and hopefully see a friendship blossoming for her in the directions Maddy isn't in. All we can say is, stay tuned. See you on Sunday.
The first night caught sight of House of Vans Mexico City’s inaugural slate of workshops and skateboarding classes. Movie screenings featuring the premier of Para Ti and Tony Alva Story from Jeff Grosso’s “Loveletters” series lived in the day. And at night, the HOV Mexico City stage saw spirited live performances from Noa Sainz, Girl Ultra, and its main act, Japanese Breakfast performed in front of an enthusiastic crowd. The next two nights continued in the same high spirits to monumentalize the new space that will live on.
House of Vans Mexico City is located at Ruben 6, Col. San Juan. For all the latest updates on House of Vans Mexico City, including upcoming programming and events, visit vans.mx.
"The reason why I got this studio is because this is where I grew up, on the border of East LA and Monterey Park, but this is like, I'm very familiar with this area, and that's what I was attracted to. I was also thinking about, okay, if I were to have a community archive space or our own library, right, what would be the most ideal?" she explains. Carrying pieces of her upbringing stretching from East LA to Boyle Heights (specifically at the crossroads of Hunter and Lorena), Rosales meditates on her relationship with a city fueling passionate work. The multidisciplinary artist details the urge to carve out a physical space where the community can show up without restriction, immersing oneself in the richness of Latinx culture and the history it houses.
"I want to have a space where people can come in, hang out, engage with the archive. It's really hard for us to have a space like that for many reasons. My experience going into these spaces is also like, you have to go through so much. You have to register. You have to tell 'em exactly what you're looking for. You have to make an appointment. You have to wear gloves. You only have an hour, and someone's watching over you, like all these things. So, we're all like hanging out and putting in work. Let's say if you wanted to come and look at some archives, and maybe we can do an exchange where like, okay, you can come whenever you want, but you can also volunteer, like scan, help me scan some magazines, you know what I mean?" she elaborates. Community is always at arms reach for the artist whose mission is to visualize narratives that may not rest at the forefront. Rosales's offerings span various outlets and expressions, yet increasing social engagement has been with her digital archival spaces.
Nearly seven years ago, Rosales established Veteranas and Rucas, where she began posting submissions including portraits isolating moments that speak to specific eras of Los Angeles history. Through the submission process, Rosales connects with her followers, contextualizing moments through simple questions that lead to conversations and occasional bonds. "I build or create some sort of relationship with the person that's sending pictures or wants to share their story. I'm not just gonna post your picture, and then it's done, you know, I ask questions that people might also wanna know. Like simple questions could be, 'where was this picture taken?', 'Tell me what you were, you know, what that day was like, 'Just walk us through this moment.' And a lot of people really elaborate, which is amazing," she says.
Stemming from her personal stash of photographs and family memorabilia providing solace, Rosales acknowledged the collective grief that others felt who grew up Latinx during the late twentieth century in Los Angeles— a time battered with injustice and governmental neglect. Aiding these remembrances of dark times, Rosales needed to share the importance of archiving. "I wanted to have that experience with other people outside of my family, close friends, and stuff because I knew that certain moments in the eighties and nineties were so specific in a way that a lot of us stopped talking about what happened. We were growing up when violence was at its peak, you know, and we also grew up with shame. I wanted to overcome that, not just move past that, but also acknowledge it, like okay, let's talk about that too," she says. While the archive is anchored in this form of catharsis, the digital platform contains thousands of stories.
Scrolling through Veteranas and Rucas will have you transported to a backyard barbecue set in the late 80s, then immediately at a strip mall in El Monte. These submissions connect the greater Los Angeles area, which Rosales knows very well. Around the same time in 2015, Map Pointz was founded, providing an outlet to highlight the culture of underground clubs in the late twentieth century. At a time when Black and Brown party-goers threw on their most vibrant outfits and accessorized with hairspray, the underground scene provided safety from society's woes. Map Pointz documents the origins of house music that transpired in these raves and offers insight into sub-cultures that defined a whole genre of music.
While Map Pointz showcases moments of the 90s embellished with neon flyers and sweating silhouettes, Rosales continues this legacy through the work of programming — the Florentine Gardens in Hollywood hosted the most recent event that brought together LA ravers hinged on nostalgia. Providing safes spaces where individuals can bask in their individuality, specifically queer folk and femmes, Rosales understands the power of sexual exploration and finding havens that mirror one’s identity — reflecting on moments where she came into her own. Navigating a journey of self-exploration and cultural revelations, Rosales reveals a moment in time where she found herself living in New York, a time which opened her eyes to an art scene informing the archives we see today. "I do want to give credit to that community, my time in New York because living in LA, and I do also get like, I have this other part of me. I want to honor and give thanks to and celebrate, you know? So, I feel like maybe these two worlds collided, and in some way, like this is where these archives started. I'm like, let's just go with the flow; let's be poetic about it. Let's, let's be gentle, you know? And that's the beginning of what you're seeing now," she says.
Physical and digital archival practices have pieced together Latinx history, refocusing a narrative that Los Angeles is home to a diverse culture unfortunately undercut by years of gentrification, homogeneity, and injustices. Speaking to these decades of resistance and culture that sustained her community, Rosales's conceptual art hones in on the interconnectedness that makes this area so beautiful, resting not only on the past but the present and future.
The multidisciplinary artist has exhibited work in major cities, including Los Angeles, New York, and Mexico City. Focalizing narratives of familial intimacies, generational bonds, and cultural acknowledgments, Rosales presents art in the form of installations, sculptures, videos, and audio experiences. Through acts of celebration and collective power, the multi-talent continues to provide visibility to a community that has contributed to her growth.
As I look around her studio occupied by in-progress pieces, Rosales gets ready for an exhibit at the Dallas Museum Of Art. Drifting on a Memory is a mural series marrying her archival work and artistry speaking to Chicano/Latinx history in the late twentieth century, including magazines, letters, posters, and other period ephemera. Bridging her passions of art and connectivity, Rosales occasionally speaks to academic audiences interested in her worldview and mission. Uplifting her community and honoring cultural roots deeply planted within her, Guadalupe Rosales continues to paint a picture of love, resilience, and memory.
