Although the pandemic has had very real and negative effects on the entire world, it’s offered many of us the opportunity to reevaluate our priorities. For some of us, it’s a new hobby or spending extra time with loved ones. For me, it’s been both of those things and more. Here are a few things that have brought me joy while existing in a global pandemic.
Nurturing My House Plants
My love for plants developed out of a finals week panic and desire to try something new. In the midst of a small breakdown, I gave myself two choices to change up my dorm situation: buy a plant or get a fish. Four hours later, driving back and forth between several plant nurseries, a Lowes, and a Walmart, I became a plant dad according to my favorite coffee mug. I started out with a succulent garden to see if I could even keep a plant alive. I painted their pot yellow, my favorite color, to make them feel at home and have had them for over a year now!
Photo of my succulent garden.
Testing my green thumb, I’ve since expanded my collection to plants that require more attention and maintenance. My current collection consists of my succulent garden, sunflowers, forget-me-nots, daisies, a moss rose garden, and an asparagus fern. With nothing but a failed attempt to grow a bonsai tree in my way, practicing self-control in efforts to not turn my dorm room into a greenhouse has been one of my biggest accomplishments yet!
Creating Podcasts
Savanna and I have been creating content together since my first year at Drake. She’s my DMP buddy and we’ve worked on radio shows, podcasts, and video packages together for class and just for fun. This year, the radio show has been difficult to do, but we discovered a new love for podcasting!
Photo of my co-host, Savanna, and I.
Focusing on powerful female artists in the music industry, we’ve had a lot of fun discussing our love for music and female success! We’ve covered Lizzo, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. We plan to cover Doja Cat, Victoria Monet, and Taylor Swift in the future! We’ve had a lot of fun covering a topic we’re passionate about without the added stress of being live. I’m excited to see what future projects we’ll work on together!
Taking Drives
I’ve always been one to enjoy long drives to destress. In a pandemic, I’ve really come to appreciate the freedom and sense of escape such drives can bring. Especially with good company. My good friend Allyn shares my love for cruising around and her bright red Mustang convertible makes it even more enjoyable.
Photo of Allyn and I cruising in her mustang at sunset.
Whether we drive around Des Moines or travel outside city limits to new places, we always have the best time. Even running errands becomes more fun with the top down and a great playlist. With both of us being RAs and busy students, sometimes we just need to get off campus to relax. Most of our favorite destinations are no longer an option due to social distancing, but this has only made me appreciate the simple pleasure of taking a drive.
Exploring New Trails
As discussed in my previous posts, many of my favorite off-campus activities aren’t an option during a pandemic. But one still remains. Taking hikes or walks outside has been a safe and fulfilling activity I’ve really enjoyed. I’ve always enjoyed getting out in nature, but recently it’s been my go-to. And it’s always better with some friends.
Photo of my friends Allyn, Sabrina, Austin, and I walking the High Trestle Trail Bridge.
In my previous blog, I mentioned my love for the High Trestle Trail Bridge. This year, I’ve made it my mission to bring some of my favorite people to enjoy one of my most treasured escapes. Similar to taking drives, creating podcasts, or adopting plants, exploring new places is something I’ve enjoyed sharing with those closest to me.
I’ve had several people ask me how my interest in production and rhetoric connect. For me, it is obvious. I view production as a creative and technical skill that I love learning more about. With rhetoric, I enjoy debating the why’s and how’s in life and also believe it is my duty to explore experiences outside of my own before putting content out into the world. As much as I love journalism and media, it has a bad reputation for excluding marginalized identities and experiences. I don’t want to make the same mistake.
It’s not a perfect science, but I think it’s really important. My studies are something I not only take seriously but something I have a lot of fun with as well. Including binging existential films! I am currently taking a course taught by Leah Kalmanson called Existential Films. Here are some of the films I’ve enjoyed so far!
The Truman Show is a commentary on how we invest in “reality” tv and if we are living in a simulation. The film follows Truman in a world where he is supposed to believe he is living a successful and normal life. But in reality, Truman lives on a fake island in the middle of Hollywood in a giant dome where everyone is in on a big secret, except him.
Truman is the single unknowing subject of a live broadcast that follows his every move, captured by hidden cameras. Every person in his life is a hired actor and everything he does is heavily influenced by the executive producer, Christof. Manipulating Truman since he was born, Christof dedicated his work to convincing Truman why he needs to stay on the island. As he begins to see some cracks in the illusion presented to him, he gets a strong urge to leave the island.
After multiple attempts trying to leave, the main characters in his life begin to crack. Christof begins to make a few desperate attempts to keep Truman in the narrative. One of these attempts including pretending to reunite him with his believed-to-be-dead father. This appears to be Truman’s breaking point and makes he his escape in the middle of the night. Finally, Truman reached the edge of his world and realizes exactly what his life has been. And he decides to leave it all behind.
The Truman Show addresses questions of what powers dictate our state of being and if we are living in a simulation, does that really change anything? Christof clearly plays the perceived role of God, as he has the ultimate power over this world he created. It’s up to Truman to see the control he is under for what it is. He is the only one who can advocate for himself, as everyone else is reaping the financial benefits of broadcasting his life.
The movie plays on this idea of does the prisoner know he’s imprisoned if he knows no other way of living. Christof seems to believe that if you make the cell nice enough, that he’ll prefer to stay in it. But even in a “perfect world,” one begins to itch to live in some form of perceived freedom when they feel too heavily controlled. The film creates the question of “what would you choose?” If you knew you were in a simulation created for you, would you stay in it? Or would you leave to a life of uncertainty that could possibly lead you to freedom?
I Heart Huckabees follows Albert in his questioning and arguable discovery of the meaning of life. The existential detectives, which Albert meets by “coincidence,” use the term universal interconnectivity to describe how we are all connected and everything matters. Later, we meet “the french nihilist” that proposes Tommy and Albert enter a non-thinking state of “pure being,” to avoid daily human drama. She believes everything we do is meaningless and has no connection. In the end, Albert concludes that everything really is inextricably connected, but necessary to arise from inevitable human suffering.
The movie intentionally or unintentionally points out the humanistic extremism of life’s most challenging questions. It’s very human of us to think of the answers to existential and even everyday questions as all or nothing. This way of thinking causes such disappointment for us that actually reaching said extremes hardly happen. Like a strict diet, we yoyo throughout our lives trying to attain the unattainable that we are often left disappointed.
As the movie wraps up, I found Albert, the French Nihilist, and the existential detectives’ theories to be a gross oversimplification of a timeless philosophical debate. It felt a little rushed and taken over by Hollywood’s interpretation of meaning for my liking, but it was entertaining, which I believe to be their main goal.
The french film opens with Mona (Sandrine Bonnaire) frozen in a ditch. The movie then flashes back to the beginning of when those interviewed can recall her existence. This pseudo-documentary or “mockumentary” style film shows Mona’s travels across the French countryside during the previous weeks. Rejecting societal norms, Mona is independent to the point where she prioritizes freedom over comfort.
Time and time again, Mona turns down opportunities to return to society and live comfortably by maintaining a job and earning her keep. Instead of accepting or pursuing any offer made to her by those she encounters, Mona’s desire to be free wins each time. Instead, she chooses to live by the will of whoever will put her up for the night or feed her. Some envy her and some despise her way of living, but in the end, it’s her pursuit of freedom that leaves her hungry, exhausted, and leads her to her cold and lonely death.
The film shows that Mona is both more than just a dead body in a ditch while simultaneously being nothing more than a stranger. This contradiction fuels the popular existential question of “do we matter?” Exploring themes developed by Simone de Beauvoir and critiques by Steven Cahn, the film critiques true freedom and meaningfulness. Similar to what Mona believes she was doing, Simone de Beauvoir believes that absolute freedom comes from individual spontaneity and not from an external institution, authority, or person.
Mona truly believes that the way she lives has abandoned all societal ties, but in all actuality, she still has needs of the flesh that need to be fulfilled. Relying on strangers to provide her with the essentials is still relying on human decency, and that in itself is still being enslaved to the rules of society.
Grizzly Man, a film created by German director Werner Herzog, follows the story of Timothy Treadwell’s final years living among wild grizzly bears on an Alaskan reserve. Claiming to be their protector, Treadwell was a self-proclaimed conservationist who believed he could bridge the gap between human and bear. Documenting his time in the wilderness, Treadwell caught almost every moment on camera, including his and his girlfriend’s tragic death by a bear attack in 2005.
The film actively includes critique and support for Treadwell’s decision to live among the grizzly bears for 13 summers. It highlights the fact that Treadwell’s background does lead us to believe that he may have had some form of mental illness or long-term effects from his drug and alcohol use that may have contributed to his unique mind.
The film leaves the audience with mixed emotions about Treadwell’s morals and ethics when it comes to the grizzly bears. Some would argue his “protection” really led to the harmful conditioning that led the grizzly bears to feel safe in the presence of humans, even hunters.
Political philosopher, Jane Bennett, acknowledges that even the human body is but material. It’s easy to question Treadwell on several fronts, but it is undeniable that he was aware of this concept. Several times throughout the documentary, he believed that the longevity of the grizzly bears depended on human sacrifice, even if it meant his own. And he was perfectly okay with that. As Bennett states “any action is always a trans-action,” (101) and in the end, it seems that Treadwell’s 13 summers living among the grizzly bears in Alaska was paid in full with his life.
Ship of Theseus is a film written and directed by Anand Gandhi that explores existential questions of “identity, justice, beauty, meaning, and death” through the tales of a photographer, a monk, and a stockbroker. This film is a story that plays out the riddle of the Ship of Theseus, as the title insinuates. We see how each character’s identity is tested and changed with the organ replacements they received. We often view our personality with our mental values and experiences, but this movie encourages us to see how our physical ailments or abilities contribute to what makes us who we are.
The film opens by introducing us to a photographer who lost her eyesight due to a cornea infection. We follow her frustration and struggle with photography, both before and after her eye transplant. After her eye transplant, she loses her “eye” for photography. Seeking new inspiration at a beautiful destination, the next step in her photography journey is left a mystery.
Next, we meet a Jainist monk who is battling a failing liver but has vowed not to use medication or get an organ transplant due to his dedication to not harming any organism. In the end, he decides it’s not his time to go and the film alludes to him seeking a new liver.
Last, we are introduced to a stockbroker who, after having undergone a kidney transplant of his own, seeks justice for a man whose kidney was stolen while undergoing appendix surgery. After finding the recipient of the kidney, he tells the man he needs to make the situation right and pay for a new surgery. In the end, the man who had his kidney stolen decided to keep the cash sent to him by the recipient, and the outcome is left a mystery.
In the last scene of the film, we see all of the characters who received organs viewing a short film that represents the Allegory of the Cave, or Plato’s Cave. The clip shows a shadow of the man in the walls of the cave he is exploring and in the end, he did not make it out of the allegorical prison/cave described by Plato.
What working for Drake University’s student newspaper has meant to me.
I came to Drake University having taken every photo and broadcast class my high school could offer. Joining one of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ student-led organizations was one of the biggest goals I had for my college experience. After walking around the activities fair my first semester at Drake, the Times-Delphic stood out to me. I marked my name on their contact sheet that I was interested in joining their photography staff.
An application, interview, and a congratulatory email later, I was hired as a photographer for the Times-Delphic a month into my college career! Working as a photographer my first year at Drake helped enhance my eye for photography and discover a love for working for a newspaper.
This photo of me was taken by Savanna Bouson October 24, 2018 while shooting a photo assignment.
Towards the end of the academic year, the position for photo editor opened up and I devoured the application in minutes. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, as this position is one I highly respect, and at the time I was “just a first year.” Yet, after another application, interview, and congratulatory email, I managed to secure the photo editor position!
From the beginning of my sophomore year to now, I’ve worked very hard to make improvements in the position and for the team of photographers, I oversee. Some of the changes I’ve made in my time as the photo editor are giving the photographers more freedom to choose photo assignments that reflect their interests, rather than assigning them and constantly pursuing opportunities to improve my abilities.
Selfishly, the opportunities available for professional development have been one of my favorite parts of the job. Before the pandemic, traveling to conventions and competitions was a great way to learn what more I can contribute to our creative department and how I can continue to improve as a photojournalist. The Times-Delphic took me to the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in Washington DC and FIRE Student Network Regional Conference in Chicago.
The editor-in-chief and I in Chicago for the FIRE Regional Conference.
We made new friends, Luke and Brittney, at the convention and toured the capitol together.
The editor-in-chief and I in Washington DC.
Our final night in DC, our group of four met Hadley and Laura, and took one last stroll around the area.
After both of these opportunities, a passion for other aspects of journalism blossomed. With a lot of help from SJMC’s most beloved adjunct instructor, Lindsay Gilbert, I began writing for the TD. One of my proudest moments, as both a photographer and writer, was covering the Trump Rally and protest at Drake University. In full transparency, the events of that day took me out of my comfort zone for multiple reasons, but I am very thankful for the experience.
I wrote and photographed the front page article for the Times-Delphic on February 5, 2020.
My experience at the Times-Delphic has allowed me the opportunity to be a writer, photographer, photo editor, and social media manager. Along the way, I’ve made a lot of friendships that I value and will take with me beyond my four short years at Drake. Working on this paper has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve had during my time here.
Hopefully, I haven’t done anything during these past three years on staff to jeopardize my shot at the position for my senior year. Being the optimist I am, I look forward to what this next year will bring doing what I love.
Take in this scenic view just 30 miles northwest of Des Moines, Iowa.
This Madrid attraction overlooks the Des Moines River Valley. At 13 stories high and half a mile long, the High Trestle Trail Bridge allows you to experience nature from a unique perspective. Cranes, geese, hawks, and many other birds invite you into their airspace as you walk the very windy and beautiful path. The bridge is accompanied by plaques that help you identify the different animals in the area, as well as give a history to not only the bridge but Iowan geography. For me, experiencing nature becomes so much richer with provided context that allows me to get a better understanding of the environment I’m in.
Video can be found on Travel Iowa‘s YouTube channel.
The best part of this experience, for me at least, is how the bridge lights up every evening at sunset. The unique architecture of the bridge is lined with a blue glow that creates an entirely different experience after dark. This additional feature allows for brilliant photographs and an overall amazing experience that can only be viewed if you stay after sunset. The last time I visited the bridge at sunset, I witnessed a man propose to his girlfriend under the blue light, further proving the magic of this place leaving its visitors feeling rather inspired.
Photo by Autumn Osia. TakenMarch 9, 2020 in Madrid, Iowa.
Whether you decide to make the trip during sunrise or sunset, I promise this trail will not disappoint. I know for myself, this trail and bridge have become a go-to attraction to relax and get out in nature while also respecting social distancing. I’ve brought numerous friends to this astonishing view that have added the High Trestle Trail Bridge as the perfect spot to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities. Such activities include walking, jogging, or biking. As the trail was formally a “rail-trail,” or a decommissioned railroad line, it is a very flat path that has been converted into a multi-use trail.
Photo by Autumn Osia. Taken March 9, 2020 in Madrid, Iowa.
Aside from the obvious main attraction of the bridge, the High Trestle Trail runs for 25 miles through five towns: Ankeny, Madrid, Sheldahl, Slater, and Woodward. Such a trail has garnered international attention when in 2015, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) named it one of the “Eight Amazing Footbridges in the World.”
Photo by Autumn Osia. Taken November 18, 2019, at Howell’s Greenhouse & Pumpkin Patch at the “Bathtub Train” attraction.
Coming to Iowa from St. Louis, Missouri, I was unfamiliar with what all Iowa has to offer. One of the easiest ways to find such attractions is Travel Iowa’s website. Notable mentions from the website that I’ve traveled to are:
