EXPRESSIONS

Express yourself! In Expression, you’ll find fun and thought provoking opinion pieces on pop culture, fashion, self-expression, and so much more!

Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

4 Reasons You Should Be Proud Of Yourself Today (Yes, You)

Ok, the world is going through a lot right now: basic human rights are being threatened and violated, there’s the increasingly plausible threat of the next World War looming over us, everything feels like it’s getting more expensive, and we all seem to hate each other; sometimes we really do, and sometimes (sometimes. In my belief, this shouldn't be normalized) with good reason. Some may say we have collectively lost the plot. Some of us––so many of us––are just plain tired, anxious, and/or scared. 

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Why Summer Is My Least Favorite Season

With the arrival of Summer also comes, for many (myself included), feelings of anticipatory dread for what’s ahead. Summer is but a brief interlude, after all––as much as one may love this season, everyone knows that it won’t last forever. For students, especially, it feels so temporary, because it is. It is but a blimp, a pause from what society tells us (and I’m not necessarily arguing) really matters: hard work, perhaps in the form of academics, employment, or various duties that one may be subject to fulfill throughout the year. For people who dread such things, for various reasons, this can make Summer nothing more than a season of anxiety and apprehension. It can be hard to live in the moment when you aren’t looking forward to the future.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Let's Talk About The Last of Us, Bella Ramsey, and Online Bullying

I’m not a veteran TLOU fan. However, I know what good acting looks like. I personally believe that Bella Ramsey is a good actor. A great actor. So far, their portrayal of Ellie has made me laugh, cry, and made me truly invested in this character. Ramsey is, to me, the perfect person for such a role. I’ve been doing a lot of reiteration, but again, people can have their own opinions on a performance––the issue is when it overlaps into attacking someone’s appearance.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Should We Separate Art From The Artist?

Many of us grew up with the Harry Potter franchise. We read the books, watched the movies, took the “What Hogwarts House Are You” quizzes, and interacted with the Wizarding World in so many ways. I was in my early teens when I first got into it, perhaps later than many others, but I still feel a connection to Harry, his friends, and his world. so what does one do when the creator of something like Harry Potter, something you love and cherish, something that brings you comfort and makes you feel less alone, isn’t exactly the world’s best person?

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Five Common Misconceptions About Asexuality

Why is International Asexuality Day necessary? Among many other reasons, such as actual discrimination, asexuality is severely misunderstood by many. Even those who consider themselves allies––and actual aces!––may have a myriad of misconceptions about what it actually means. Today, I want to shine a light on a few of these common misconceptions, which I hope will lead to greater understanding, empathy, and education for everyone.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

4 Things To Do Instead Of Doomscrolling

The world is scary. Overwhelming. Exhausting. I could think of at least fifty other words to describe our current situation, but I digress. Instead of turning to our phones for temporary and unsatisfying solace, let’s instead focus on ourselves and on each other. It’s the only way we can collectively stay sane, if it’s not too late, which it’s not. It’s never too late. 

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Did Yoko Ono Break Up The Beatles? (Short answer: No)

While none of us will ever 100% know what transpired with the infamous Beatles breakup, many fans have historically pinned the blame on one person: artist, singer, and activist Yoko Ono, who happened to be John Lennon’s girlfriend, and eventually his wife. For decades, this so-called “fact” has been tossed around, and Ono has become the subject of endless criticism and discourse. It doesn’t take much actual research or critical thinking to conclude that this is false.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Stop Using AI To Replace Writers

A major issue I have with AI-generated writing is that much of it comes from real people. It steals people’s work and essentially passes it off without crediting the creators. In fact, many AI models are trained by taking information from the internet – information that comes from real people and their research and creativity.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

4 Things Stardew Valley Taught Me About Life

In my experience, Stardew Valley isn’t just a time killer––it offers lessons that can be applied to the real world. When digging deeper into the game’s themes, one can appreciate that this is far more than a cozy pixelated utopia.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Minecraft and the Gaming Gender Gap

Over the years, Minecraft’s audience has shifted and become more diverse, attracting people of all ages and genders. However, despite the gradual rise in female gamers, there are still significantly more male players––only 32% of players are female. Why? 

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

What Is the "Sonder" Sensation?

Sonder: “The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness…”

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Why We Need Empathy

We need to remember that we’re all human beings with unique experiences and ways of seeing the world. We need to recognize each other’s struggles. We need empathy. Lots of it.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

When a Celebrity Dies, a Piece of Our Childhood Dies With Them

We should recognize that celebrities’ deaths are bigger than them. They were someone’s childhood. But please remember, they were also someone’s friend, partner, parent, sibling, and child. We can grieve the person we knew while respecting those who knew the person they really were.

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

Why Are Dolls So Gendered?

There’s no need for prejudice in Doll Land. Everyone can live how they want to. So why should this experience be deprived of others because of the exact same prejudices that exist in the real world?

Read More
Jessica Cohen Jessica Cohen

My Keyboard Is My Best Friend - A Musician’s Perspective

I don’t need to be gifted, or even decent, at playing classical songs. I don’t need to beat myself up for messing up the left hand, thereby messing up the right hand, thereby the entire song. I can just play. I can just write. I can just…be.

Read More