My Commons Life

News & features about the Vanderbilt Commons from the students who live here

Archives for January 2018

Andy Warhol Has Arrived

by

FAMOUS! (And not-so-famous): Polaroids by Andy Warhol

Located in Cohen Memorial Hall, (January 11 – March 2, 2018) 4-7 pm

 Andy Warhol is a big deal. Think technicolor Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson, soup cans, and the colorful collection of celebrities, drag queens, writers, and scholars that filled his galas. Think one of the most influential artists of the modern art world. And his artwork is being shown 10 minutes from your dorm.

Even if you’re not usually much of an art person, if you’re a person who likes the interesting and the funky then spend a few moments in Cohen Memorial Hall from now till March 2. FAMOUS! (And not so famous) is an exhibit comprised of polaroid pictures taken by Andy Warhol of celebrities and non-celebrities with short backstories included in plaques next to the artwork.

 

People like Dolly Parton, Georgia O’Keefe, and O.J.Simpson are on display, as well as Andy Warhol’s lovers and even some anonymous shots of body parts. Not only will you get to experience artwork, you’ll also be experiencing history: Warhol’s history, as well as modern America’s. Through Warhol’s polaroid camera you gain an intimate view of each subject; you feel as if you know each one as lose as a friend. In a tiny frame, O.J. clutches a football in an casual, personal way no photo shoot could ever capture.

 

 

The celebrities Warhol exposed with his polaroid were all flamboyantly famous, some involved in scandal, such as accusations of OJ Simpson murdering his ex-wife, Georgia O’Keefe’s romantic involvement with a man 50 years younger than her, and in the case of Dolly Parton, a woman whose every appearance draws excitement and drama.

These iconic celebrities hung next to polaroids of people that might not have been known to the entire world, however were a part of Warhol’s experience of the world. Walking amongst this mix of characters feels like you’re attending one of Warhol’s infamous galas, rubbing elbows with all walks of life. 

On January 25th you can become part of the exhibit by snapping a polaroid of yourself and adding your picture to one of the walls. So come enjoy this amazing and extremely close exhibit housing the work of one of history’s most controversial and intriguing artists.

A down-to-earth look at the busiest First year on commons

by

This is Gabrielle Blackburn.

Her response to hearing about the random events on campus most of us ignore?

“Oh that’s really cool, let me try that. Oh that really cool, let me do that. And so i have a

tendency to get veryinvolved very quickly...Tango club’s on my calendar. It doesn’t mean I go every week, because sometimes it’s not in the cards. But, because I wanted to learn how to dance tango, I do these things because it makes me happy.

The Google Calendar

“So you know how the background is white, and then the default things you add are blue? Its like 90% blue. Yea,  the only white is between 11pm and 9am. But, I’m okay with that… it changes week to week… I’ve been trying to keep it all in my head but there’s like no way…  so i actually started using (an agenda) and it changed my life.

I switched to google calendar so I can see everything… it’s all in my phone, so if someone like, when are you free?, I can say, Monday at 7… scheduling things, and being intentional about how you use your time. If being in all these things is what you want then you have to be willing to make sacrifices of things you consider less important.

Is it for you?

I don’t think you should try to cram yourself full or join 8 billion clubs just to join 8 billion clubs. I was talking about this with someone earlier and she said There’s no need to have a resume which can bench press the weight of all your hopes and dreams. There’s not reason to fill up your time if that’s not what you want you want to do and is going to make you satisfied.

I am not someone who watches Netflix, but some people like having an hour of just chill watching a show in their day. It has to do with what fulfills you; what you can reasonably do and still be a functioning human being, because that’s also really important

(Gabrielle then laughed) 

Because sometimes I forget that too.

There’s no point in being in every club if you’re not present, its not meaningful to you… It’s better even just from a resume standpoint. It’s better to have something that you’re invested in rather than something to check another box, take up another line.

How to Juggle a full google calendar, friendships and self

 

Taking a moment

So I’m trying to be very intentional about it (self care). Today I stopped doing my work, took a long shower, did a face mask. It was like, okay, I feel better.

I feel like that’s my biggest form of self care, when like, I mess up, when i forget somethings, when I let someone down. I try not to beat myself up over it; I’m like, okay this is what i have to do next time to be successful… I’d say improvement is growth.

Eating

Life hack: schedule meals with people. ‘Cuz then you get to see friends you wouldn’t see otherwise and someone holds you responsible for making sure you don’t forget to eat. You have to eat anyway, so you may as well make it friendship time.

One of my friends has all her social media in her phone in a folder, its called time wasters and i love that…. Its not a replacement for real interaction  with people. So if I’m gonna having fulfilling, full friendships its not going to be liking everyone’s Instagram post, its gonna be texting “hey when are you free for lunch this week”. So i have a running list of people in my phone of people I want to eat food with in the near future and I thought I was the only one… (she is not; I myself have one).

Friendships

If a friendship is important, you’ll make time for it. And this is a side note, but I’m not going to put effort into spending time with people who don’t want to put an effort into spending time with me…. It’s okay to let something go if that friendship isn’t meaningful and the other person isn’t willing to meet in the middle. I’d rather focus on..those really good people that  add things to my life. It’s the same thing as like having a resume that can… there’s no point in having a resume that is miles long but not deep. So I feel the same way about friendships as I do about that.

Sleep

Its easy to fool yourself, like yea I’m doing fine, or lie to yourself and be like yea, 5 hours of sleep is plenty of sleep for me. So if you have something objective telling you (she showed me an app she uses), like, no you only slept this much last night, that was dumb. THAT’S helpful.

I am a person who needs more than average amount of sleep to function, like some people are good on 6 hours a night; I am not one of those people, but I’ve also recognized that, so sometimes I have to say no i cant go out tonight, like, rain check, next time I’ll go out, but tonight I need to take care of myself.

Journaling

I try to journal because if I just go go go go go, I don’t have time to process all the things that are happening, and when its things that involve my relationships with other people, I want to work through everything in my head, and so physically writing it down forces me to  actually think about it, because if I just do it mentally, its like, okay THAT’S done, even if I didn’t actually work on myself… 

Efficiency

I found out in High school that if I wanted to keep doing all the things I was doing -(like not die of not sleeping)- if i wanted to keep that level of involvement, I had to maximize my efficiency. Its such a nerdy thing, it sounds so dumb, but choosing if I want to be able to be apart of this organization, if I want to work on this show, I need to not watch Netflix. I need to not be on my phone that dead time between classes; I need to be working on my stats homework instead of just sitting there on my phone until the professor shows up.

Growing

I’d like to think I’m pretty self aware… we’re in this time of transition, becoming real adults. (I’m) working on that process of being more responsible and taking care of myself.

I’m also optimistic to a fault, so sometimes I’m like yea, yea I can do 4 things in 1 evening, and I get to the first one, and I’m like I’m going to go home, and do my homework as soon as possible and go to sleep. This GBM for something isn’t… i can prioritize something else, I can prioritize my own health.

Her final message

“I believe in everybody. I believe in you you can do it.”

Commons Cribs, Season 2 Episode 5

by

My Commons Life presents its newest episode of Commons Cribs, a mini web series that provides an inside look into the humble abodes of those who reside on the Vanderbilt Commons. This episode features freshmen Marie Margauritte and Becca, residents of Crawford House.

Concert Review: A7X The Stage Tour

by

On Friday, Jan.12, Nashville was the first stop on Avenged Sevenfold’s “The Stage” tour. It was no surprise that the show sold out due to the popularity of A7X as well as the other two tour headliners Breaking Benjamin and Bullet for My Valentine.   The inclement weather couldn’t even stop the thousands of people like me who were ready to have a great night rocking out.

As a huge fan of all three headliners, I’m happy to say that it was a great show and by far one of the coolest concerts I’ve ever been to. The Bridgestone Arena truly transformed and the energy from the pit was unreal.

Starting off the night was a popular metal band from Wales called Bullet for My Valentine. Due to the genre difference it seemed like many people were unfamiliar with the majority of Bullet’s songs, but it was a seamless set that was perfect in getting the crowd pumped and ready for the rest of the night.

After BFMV, was Breaking Benjamin a well known rock band that has come to Nashville multiple times in the past. Prior to their actual performance I had the chance to meet Breaking Benjamin which was definitely a childhood dream come true and for sure added to the closeness I felt during their performance. All of the members were nice and Benjamin proved to be just as cool as he always seems. During their set, the audience was given a nice surprise when Morgan Rose, the drummer for the rock band Sevendust, came on stage to play drums during the song “Failure”.

Avenged Sevenfold went on last playing an almost two hour long set that featured the use of multiple large screens that showed various short scenes and graphics to accompany the live songs. The stage presence of the band enhanced by the effects and crowd participation showed that the longtime band still had the ability to rock out just like they did in their early years. Like Breaking Benjamin, A7X had a guest perform with them. The guest was none other than the lead singer of the rockband Halestorm who covered “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd with the band. A special moment of the night was when a memorial slideshow to a band member who passed away played to the song made in his honor. Many tears were shed but it was a magical moment in which strangers at the concert were able to come together and feel something more than just general concert happiness.

Fellow freshman student Ethan Beaty said the following about the night: ” The entire concert was surreal. Each band contributed an energy that fused the entire concert into an amazing, unforgettable experience. The venue fit perfectly, and the crowd reacted in such a way as to carry the energy provided by the bands’ performances.”

Overall, the first night of the tour was a big success and I can’t wait to see more photos and videos as it continues to 20 other locations in the USA and Canada.

MCL News Minute, January 17, 2017

by

Grace is here to give you tons of information about the various events going on at Vanderbilt as we get back into the swing of the semester, including events celebrating Black History Month as well as the Maymester semester!

MCL Top 5: Sitcoms to watch at the beginning of new semester

by

5. We Bare Bears:

If you like bears and cute cartoon, this is definitely your choice. Three bears—Grizzly, Panda, Ice Bear—live together in a cave. One is a restless and outgoing brown bear. One is an otaku panda who spends all day on Internet. One is a silent versatile ice bear. They always bump into different troubles, but as they unite together and support each other, they overcome those difficulties every time.

4. Bojack Horseman:

Feeling stressed out or lonely or lost? Watching Bojack Horseman certainly makes your life happier. Many sharp characters and ridiculous situations in film industry are portrayed. Life is full of unexpected ups and downs for Bojack, the once-famous horse actor with terrible drug and drinking problems but also a good-natured heart. He sleeps with random girls, falls in love with his friend’s girlfriend, and finally regains popularity by his biography and acting in a movie about his idol. Every line in this sitcom is a hurtful truth that no one wants to admit. However, you may be encouraged by those truths somehow.

 

3. Young Sheldon:

I bet you all heard about Big Bang Theory. The story about four Caltech geek scientists’ job and how they meet their Mrs. rights. Tons of scientific facts, dirty jokes, and eccentric characters of Sheldon must bring you tons of joy. If you are not satisfying by just watching grown-up sheldon, you are more than welcomed to explore his childhood. The sitcom Young Sheldon season 1 is already released. A cute boy with super intelligent mind and weird habits tries to be an adult and cope with the environment he dislikes—Earth. This time, we can also dive into his family—capricious meemaw, simple-minded father, devout Christian mother, and not-as-smart-as-him siblings,.

2. Joey:

Enjoy the time hanging out and living with best buddies? Love watching Friends and upset that it doesn’t have sequel now? Don’t worry. Joey will save your laughter. Remember Joey, the Italian actor in Friends who always screw up his job and have sex with women? This sitcom is about his career in LA after his five other friends settle down in different places. With his sister Gina, nephew Michael, neighbor Alex, Joey learns to live on his own,  begins to have a successful actor career, and finds his true love.

 

 

1. Modern Family:

As we are leaving home for the new semester, do you still miss your family? I bet most of us do. Modern Family season 9 is on show now. It’s about how three distinct small families of a big family deal with their daily troubles and support each other. A reconstituted family with elder husband and younger wife. A family with various tricky children—indolent social queen, geek, boy who constantly play tricks. A gay family with an adopted Vietnamese girl. Despite the diversity, bizarre relationships between family members, and everyone’s selfishness, the three families always care and help each other out. It’s all about love, responsibility, trust, sacrifice, and happiness.

LifeSTYLED by Sophie: Let it Snow…Day

by

Hello hello!!

I hope you are all as excited to be back reading these posts as I am to be back writing. I have lots of new intentions for this semester, and I can’t wait to share them with you over the next few months. To quote Bon Jovi “ohh we’re halfway there.” So, make this your best (styled) term yet!

Yours Fashionably,

Sophie

 

EAT

Nashville’s eating scene can best be described as the good, the better, and the great. I mean seriously, we are in a bustling city with such a lively food scene. My intention for this semester is to try as many new places as possible. I hope to discover some wonderful gems to share with y’all along the way.

 Caviar & Bananas

This is the ideal catch-all spot to eat. All types of eaters can find something pleasing to their palates. Located right next to campus, Caviar & Bananas is also a quaint study spot. Grab a fresh salad and settle down in this trendy eatery. You just might catch me there too.

  

 Adele’s Nashville

Something about this restaurant feels like home. The pop of blue from the chairs at the bar and the open kitchen make it very instagramable. This is the ideal place to catch up with new friends or reconnect with the old. As far as menu, the amount of options is short, but lovely. I opted for the kale salad with a side order of Brussel sprouts. Both of these plates were exceptional given their plain nature, and the other menu items such as redfish and rabbit came highly recommended! If you want something quintessential Nashville, give this place a shot.

 

Milk and Honey

The name of this restaurant is just as endearing as the food inside. Whether you want a southern breakfast or a light juice cleanse affair, this establishment has you covered. If you are looking for a new Sunday brunch spot, look no farther. I recommend the power muesli bowl or the avocado toast. Both will leave you happy and will make you check your calendar to figure out when is too early to come back for breakfast again.

WEAR

I thought it could not get any colder than it was during finals week. Needless to say, I was horrifically wrong. So lets focus on what you are wearing under the layers of coats and literal snow gear! I am a big fan of the funky basics that can STILL fit under my huge coats. Style is made to make a statement, even in the cold. So, what do your clothes say about you? Don’t be afraid to take a fashion risk. In this ice age, your clothes should at least be fun! Linked below are some of the pieces I am loving this week.

Pom Pom Sweaters are light hearted and lovely.
Pearl embroidered denim is ALWAYS the move.
Forget glass slippers, I want Prince Charming to show up with these.

 

DO

Barre3

I will admit, I was tentative to try this place as I am not a major Barre girl. That being said, I adored this workout! Very upbeat, yet dynamically intense, barre3 will tone your body so incredibly fast and leave you “sore in a good way” for days after your first class. Looking to kick off your new year new body? This is a fabulous place to start.

 

Take Care of Your Body

In 2018, I am going to revamp my daily routines to include more self care. With the first year cold (aka the “Plague”) and the flu out in full force, it is time to put yourself first. My go-to drink is hot or warm lemon water. This is known to improve the overall health of your body and strengthen your immune system. I am also focusing on moisturizing face masks and lotions to help repair my skin from the cold damage. Find what fits in your schedule in the least amount of time, yet optimizes your self care.