What happens when you take an ancient story and refigure it for the modern world? What would you do if, all of a sudden, a baby appears right in front of you and is eventually revealed to be a princess from the moon itself? Columnist Joon Kim PO ’26 explores these strange, yet fascinating questions in a brand-new entry of his anime film column.
Columns
American in Reims: Searching for the Magical Abroad Experience
Stuck in a foreign land, Otto Fritton PZ ’27 finds himself confused. After hearing months of promises about the “study abroad” semester, he wonders if he held his expectations too high. The champagne city of Reims has given Fritton his first experience of smaller-town life, and he remains uncertain if it is the person or the place that makes study abroad? Or, is it both?
Office Hours for the Soul: Professor Lisa Auerbach threw away her phone — and lived
Siena Giacoma PZ ’27 profiles Pomona professor Lisa Auerbach, whose work in the darkroom and on her front gate argues for a more focused, physically present creative life. Through her photography, textiles and political art, Giacoma shows how Auerbach’s practice is a model for creating space for curiosity, focus and real-world connection.
The Feline Stare: Understanding Complications in Color
Meiya Rollins PO ’29 reflects on the exhibition, “Complications in Color,” at the Claremont Lewis Museum of Art. Sadness strikes as Rollins admires the work of Rachel Lachowicz, a Californian abstract artist who uses makeup to address femininity, as she reflects back on her art portfolio that followed a similar theme, to a specific art piece as a kid.
Jazz that breathes: Finding Connection Through J Dilla’s ‘Donuts’
For columnist Sinan Walji PO ’28, J Dilla’s Donuts became a way of understanding how one melody can hold different histories at the same time. Walji traces his first encounter with the album at fourteen and follows the story of sampling from Dilla’s era to today.
Office Hours for the Soul: Propaganda, soccer, and Pitzer’s Andre Wakefield
Siena Giacoma PZ ’27 takes us into the world of Pitzer history professor Andre Wakefield, whose winding path to academia is anything but conventional. Giacoma captures the curiosity that drives Wakefield’s teaching, from his class on propaganda to the unexpected intersections he builds — like linking soccer to economics.
Rooted and Restless: What if my blind spots are bigger than I realize?
Moving to the United States for college, Rochelle Lu SC ’28 once believed she carried a “suitcase full of nuance.” In her latest column, she reflects on her political and cultural blind spots, uncovering what happens when perspective meets its limits.
The Mainstream Fringe: Framing my confusing journey through pop
BRAT is everywhere. Charli xcx’s new album has detonated across the internet, dragging older tracks like “party 4 u” back into the spotlight. But before the tidal wave, before the raves, before Charli’s lime-green takeover, there was just a kid in the backseat of his mom’s Honda — Parker DeVore PZ ’27 — completely obsessed with the pop she blasted through those worn-out speakers.
Reverb: 2026 Grammy nominations — surprises, snubs and reactions
The Grammys are back! Tomy Helman PO ’28 breaks down this year’s nominations with a mix of praise and disdain, highlighting Kendrick Lamar’s excellence, Billie Eilish’s questionable appearance, and the omissions of artists like Sombr, Raven Lenae and Alex Warren.
So I had this dream last night: sketches of the people who make up my life
Do dreams make up who we are? Back with her weekly column, Alison Barrera PO ’29 explores the concept of dreams, specifically, how the people in our dreams make up who we are. With the help of a strange airport and the unexpected return of childhood friends, Barrera highlights how our past selves shape the person we’re becoming.