Nostalgia for 2020?

It was the best of times, It the worst of times. But mostly the worst of times

December is often a month of reflection, a celebration of the old year as we hopefully descend into a new one. However, I think we can all agree that the beginning of the decade did not start on the right foot. Between a global pandemic, killer hornets, and fires in the Amazon, it feels as if we are living in a dystopian nightmare.  As we wrap up these final days of 2020, we remain cautiously optimistic about the new year- probably more cautious than optimistic. But despite all the hardships we endured throughout the last 365 days when we look back in five or ten years, will we have nostalgia for 2020?

2020: A Bitter Sweet Memory

I’m sure those who survived the plague didn’t look back and say, “Hey, remember the Bubonic plague? That was fun!” I am positive that no one will bask in the memory of a province-wide lockdown and wearing face masks. Anyone who is an essential service worker or a health care provider can tell you first hand that there is nothing fun about a pandemic. But 2020 reminded us that the human race is resilient.

In an election that brought the world to its knees, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden made history by earning 80 million votes. At the same time, Kamala Harris, VP-elect, will become the first woman to be vice-president. While across the globe, over one-hundred COVID-19 vaccines are in development. Students and professionals worldwide are continually adapting to an online environment, and they are thriving- suffering, but making it work.

Everyone has their definition of nostalgia. Zoom presentations may not give us that warm and fuzzy feeling, but there are key moments that we will fondly look back on.

Suppose the only memory you have of this year is surviving. Let that be your greatest accomplishment. In five years from now, you can say with pride that you survived 2020. Like director Brad Bird once said, “It’s not fun crossing the Gobi desert, but at least you can say you made it out the other side.”

New year, Now What?  

2020 was no doubt a challenge for pretty much everyone. As we reach the end of this dismal year, it’s hard to stay optimistic when it seems as if life is getting worse instead of better. We are still living through uncertain times. This pandemic isn’t going to end just because the clock strikes midnight. The calendar is not going to restore the economy. Most of us are still longing for the days before masks and social distancing.

However, the start of a new year is like a blank page in the story that is your life. Okay, that’s cheesy, but there is an opportunity to start over come January 1st. Of course, that is much easier said than done. Depending on how you experienced the last twelve months, it’s natural to feel a bit anxious, lost and even hopeless. But as we try to carry on, we must recognize that we have the absolute power to choose what we take with us. So, what will you remember? What will you leave in 2020, but more importantly, what will you take with you?    

“Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you.” – Taylor Swift, New Years Day  

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Liz Marion

Liz is a full time student with a background in illustration and concept art. She is currently trying her best.

Seasons that leave you Nostalgic for your Childhood

Seasons have a special way of leaving you nostalgic for your childhood. Summer, reminding you of visits to the swimming pool. Fall, reminding you of how you used to jump in leaf piles. Winter, reminding you of making your first snowman. Spring, bringing you back to splashing in puddles. In each season, children find a way to embrace it. As we get older, we forget the simplicity. At the same time seasons make us feel nostalgic towards the times where it was simpler. To a degree, children embrace change. They are more flexible to it and have wider imaginations. As you become an adult, you become more resistant to change. You forget to indulge in simple childlike wonders. 

A lot of people are particularly nostalgic for summer. People love the summer heat and pulling out the t-shirts and swimsuits. It is a time full of camping, summer camps and family trips. People are also nostalgic for ice cream, cottages, lake swimming and so forth. Personally, I’m very nostalgic for winter. Being French Canadian and having lived in Ottawa and Montreal, I grew up around many winter festivities like Bonhomme de Neige and Winterlude. 

I grew skating on the Canal, occasionally going skiing with my Uncle’s family and eating lots of beverages. My family embraced winter as much as I did. We loved playing in the snow, going tobogganing and snow shoeing. To this day, I love to play in the snow and throw a good snowball. I remember so many snow days as a child, especially living in Montreal. Winter will always leave me nostalgic for those days where I could play in the snow all day.

I feel as though seasons connect adults to the days when their imagination was wide, the possibilities seemingly endless. Adults experience seasonal nostalgia because it reminds them of when they had imagination and they made things fun. Adults long to go back to a time where everything was an adventure. The seasons change connects you to your inner child. 

What seasons make people feel more nostalgic and why? I feel as though winter and summer make people feel nostalgic the most -- winter because of all the festivities and summer because of all the travel. No matter the season, we experience nostalgia. When the seasons change, do not forget to indulge in it and live in the moments, and the childlike experiences that leave you forever reminiscent. 

What seasons leave you feeling nostalgic? What childhood memories do you have associated with them? Leave a comment below and do not forget to go and make a snowman with your best friend!

The Making of a Memory

Some memories feel like they just happened yesterday. Yet others can feel so far away.

I remember just about everything from the trip my then-boyfriend and I took last summer. I remember the clothes I wore, the food we packed, and the name of the sweet lady who’s cabin we stayed at. I could tell you the name of the park we were visiting, the path we were hiking, and even the exact time that my boyfriend got down on one knee and became my fiancé. 

I knew that entire weekend that we were making memories I would want to hold onto forever. For some people, remembering details like these may seem like a breeze. But I am what you could call a poor historian — I struggle to hold onto my long-term memories. The fact that I can remember these specific details that happened 16 months ago is a small but mighty victory for me!

I’ve always wondered why long-term memories are easy for some to hold onto and not for others, so I did a little digging. What actually goes into making a memory?

Short-Term Memory: the RAM

The brain is a complex organ, so of course the answer to this question is complex as well. But to make this easier to understand, let’s compare the brain to a computer. Our short-term memory is like the RAM in our computers, only holding onto information that we are currently working with. Our short-term memory is probably a lot shorter than you think, lasting only between 15 to 30 seconds! 

For example, if someone tells you an address or phone number, without repeating the information to yourself until it’s been committed to memory you will eventually —and fairly quickly— forget this information. It’s super easy to interfere with our short-term memory with new incoming information, but if you take the time to attend to the information it might just make it to the next stage —long-term memory! 

Long-Term Memory: the hard drive

We have a love-hate relationship with our long-term memory, don’t we? It can hold super sweet moments with loved ones, but it can also cling onto things we might wish we could forget. 

Warning: we’re about to get scientific! Long-term memories actually have a physical presence in the brain. Neurons make physical connections and synapses with each other when a new long-term memory is made. This connection exists whether it’s being used or not. 

There are even different categories for these types of memories: explicit and implicit memories. Implicit memories are those habits and skills that our mind and body does automatically. Like driving a car or or typing on a keyboard.

Explicit memories on the other hand are things that we are consciously aware of. This is also split up into two different groups: episodic and semantic memories. Semantic memories are our general knowledge of a variety of things, such as knowing that the capital of Ontario is Toronto. Episodic memories are memories of things and events, like remembering when you got lost on your trip to Toronto. 

We have the hippocampus to thank for regulating our memories. This region of the brain links all of the information it believes to be relevant and encodes it into memories for us. So the next time you’re frustrated about being kept up late at night reliving a memory you would much rather forget, curse your hippocampus! 

Memories need homes too!

Unfortunately, like your computer, the brain does not have an endless amount of space to store all the memories you could possibly make in your lifetime. While newer memories can hang out in the hippocampus for a while, eventually they have to migrate further into your cortex. Consider this your brain filing things away for you. But unlike a book you can file away and come back to read the same old story again, memories are constantly being updated and tweaked. 

So where do memories go when we forget them? Can we get them back again? It often feels like some memories are gone forever, but they’re just like a lost shoe in your house. It’s there, somewhere, you just can’t use it! When we try to access forgotten memories, signals are sent from our frontal cortex and our computer —I mean brain— reconstructs the memory from the information available to it. The more often you use the memory, the easier it will be to find. 

Our senses often help to rebuild memories too. Our sense of smell is a wonderful tool to help us with memories, but simply being in the presence of any elements that were in your original memory will help with retrieval. So if you’re trying to remember something that happened during a pizza party, order yourself a pizza. This isn’t an exact science, but even if it doesn’t jog the memory you were hoping for, at least you have a pizza! 

Let’s remember, it’s okay to forget

Now that I’ve overloaded your brain with information, please don’t feel pressured into remembering everything you’ve just read. If you take away anything, let it be this: you can always relearn things, but you can’t always relive them. Our memories are precious to us because we can’t go and relive the same thing twice, not truely. 

Even when our memory fails us, we find ways to remember — from photographs and journals, to blogs and conversations. We have friends that will gladly remind us of all the embarrassing things we did on a night out. We have family that can retell that childhood story from when we were nine. 

Fond memories will find us, one way or another.

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Peyton Scott

Peyton is a full-time student, part-time writer, and partial night owl. She falls in love with everything at least once, but especially (and in no particular order): words, furry creatures, empty notebooks, true crime, hikes (and probably you).

Instagram: @peyyscott

Twitter: @peyytonscott

Methinks We All Remember Learning Shakespeare

Shakespeare is probably rolling over in his grave right about now

Whether you have fond memories of having to read Shakespeare in high school, or you have dread, you have memories nonetheless of being assigned to read his work. For the rare few who have not needed Shakespeare in order to pass English class, this post is not for you – and wow, how did you manage to get away with that?

His work came to be considered classics (I’m sure if he was alive today, he would be thrilled). However, I find that once you break down the plots, they always seem quite simplistic and, dare I say, a little boring *cue the gasps of every English teacher*.

Here is my ranking of best to worst based on what I had to read in high school.

1. Hamlet

We have to give this win to none other than Hamlet. You really can’t go wrong with an all-knowing spooky ghost, good old-fashioned revenge and family drama. Not to mention insanity, oh the insanity, a bunch of epic sword fighting and a whole lot of poison and murder. And we can’t forget about the iconic questioning of life and death. All in all, Hamlet shapes up to be probably the only redeeming Shakespearean play I’ve ever read. I have very little complaints in terms of overall plot and general ridiculousness. Some questionable takes on mental health, but overall, I’m not mad. 

I grant thee 8/10. 

2. Macbeth

Speaking of murder, Macbeth comes in second place. No all-knowing ghost, but instead we have three all-knowing witches. Macbeth wants to be top dog, and he’s under the impression he can be, so he murders a lot of people in the name of power. Lady Macbeth is all for the murdering, as any supportive wife would be. Although, she disappears for a while after the beginning. I have this suspicion that Shakespeare forgot about her mid play and in order to make ends meet, kills her off – because what’s another death to this play?

Needless to say, not a lot of characters survive and there’s a very questionable “gotcha” moment at the end. A word to the wise, caesarean section is still the act of being born from a woman, but hey, you do you Shakespeare! He sure did love his technicalities, didn’t he? I don’t know if I would consider Macbeth to be a bloody good time, but I will consider it a bloody okay time – nonetheless it comes in second, and second isn’t the worst.

I grant thee 6/10.

3. Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet – forbidden love at its finest! Boy and girl fall madly in love, but their families despise each other and forbid marriage. The Montagues and the Capulet’s did the olden times equivalent of “as long as you live under my roof, you follow my rules”. And of course, Romeo and Juliet decided, well, not to. But I guess you do anything in the name of true love. Even if that means faking your own death in order to fool your parents, therefore allowing you to then sneak away with your husband – of course the kicker being not telling your husband your genius plan beforehand. Perhaps Romeo might’ve checked her pulse first?

If I’ve learned anything from Romeo and Juliet, it’s to not believe fake news. And maybe also to not get married as young as thirteen, but hey, to each their own – and I understand it was the cool thing to do back then. 

Side note: who else remembers watching the 1968 movie adaptation and thinking, Zac Efron?

I grant thee 4.5/10.  

4. Merchant of Venice

That’s right. The only comedy on this list (aka the one with no deaths) is the worst one. Anti-Semitic stereotypes in the plot aside, we need to discuss the atrocity that is the character Portia. Her fiancé Bassanio has to leave town to go help a friend out in court. Before he leaves, she gives him this ring and tells him essentially that if he loves her, he will not give up this ring.

She then dresses up as a man and pretends to be a lawyer’s apprentice in order to help the friend of Bassanio (without his knowledge) and ends up winning the case for him.

Seems nice and selfless enough, right? Well, then afterward a very grateful Bassanio asks what he can do to repay this lawyer’s apprentice. A disguised Portia then pressures him into giving her the ring as a test.

Long story short: Portia is petty. Although, I guess I’d be petty too if my father controlled my love life, even from the beyond. 

I grant thee 3/10. 

Parting is such sweet relief (no sorrow here, folks)

Safe to say, I don’t miss analyzing Shakespeare.

My sincerest apologies to English majors, teachers and enthusiasts alike.

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her to. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

Transforming Nostalgia through Aesthetics

Nostalgia isn’t simply something that remains in our past. Creators like artists, game designers and fashion designers can actually transform nostalgia into something entirely new through the use of aesthetics.

Aesthetics, often spelled out as A E S T H E T I C S, is a term that’s a little hard to describe. It’s a combination between worldbuilding and genre, each aesthetic having a strong visual and auditory signature. It can be applied to any medium, though as we’ll discuss, some mediums showcase certain aesthetics better than others.

The best way to understand aesthetics is to dive right in, experiencing the aesthetic for yourself. In lieu of that, I’ll do my best here to describe some of these aesthetics to you.

The “Waves” – Vaporwave and Synthwave

Vaporwave

an example of the blur effect often used in Vaporwave.

Vaporwave is an aesthetic that simply oozes the ‘90s, though it was actually created in the early 2010s. It’s actually a bit of a nostalgia scene for both eras since there’s a lot of internet culture from the past decade included.

In fact, this aesthetic isn’t meant to be taken 100% seriously. It embraces its ironic status, juxtaposing drug and memes with heavy anti-capitalism themes.

Retro technological glitches are a staple of Vaporwave. It often uses muddled colours, screen flickering and even those blurry lines you get when you fast forward a VCR.

There’s a lot of old pop culture used in Vaporwave, like Sailor Moon and The Simpsons — because of the anti-consumerism message behind this aesthetic, brands and commercials are used a lot as well. Jingles and elevator music are often used, remixed ironically to riff upon capitalism.

Synthwave

There are other types of “waves” as well, from Retrowave and Chillwave to the one we’ll discuss here — Synthwave.

Synthwave is one of the more well known “waves”, having a few key differences to Vaporwave.

Here’s a great royalty free playlist by Envato Elements, which includes some nice examples of Synthwave and Vaporwave music.

1. Synthwave embraces the ‘80s over the ‘90s. The lines between the two aesthetics are often blurred, however, so ‘90s Synthwave exists.

2. Far less memes!

3. It often goes for a crisper neon colour scheme, while losing some of the blurring effects that Vaporwave takes advantage of.

4. Synthwave is far less cynical, having a more positive, earnest outlook towards mass consumerism.

5. The music typically doesn’t use jingles, going instead for a smoother electronic sound.

I truly love both Vaporwave and Synthwave. Even though I’m a ‘90s child and clearly have a soft spot for this form of nostalgia, aesthetics aren’t limited to just the past few decades.

The “Punks” – Steampunk and Cyberpunk

Steampunk

WHAT A COOL OUTFIT! steampunk cosplay is a great way to use this aesthetic for self expression

Let us go all the way back to the 1880s. Well technically 1837-1901 – the Victorian era. Steampunk innovates upon the distant past, pairing modern inventions and machinery with steam power and Victorian flair. And lots and lots of gears.

Interestingly enough, Steampunk doesn’t have a strong musical presence like the other aesthetics on this list. While there are songs labelled as Steampunk, the main auditory elements of the aesthetic are mechanical sounds – gears turning, tools clanging, steam whistling.

This makes sense when you consider that Steampunk was originally a science fiction subgenre before evolving into a full-blown aesthetic, with popular TV and movies, fashion and video games embracing its whimsy.

Steampunk is an aesthetic that asks us many questions. What would society be if the Victorian era never ended? What kind of progress could we as the human race make with only steam power? The answers to these questions are at the crux of the Steampunk aesthetic.

Cyberpunk

Set in the future, Cyberpunk mixes high tech with dark themes — alcohol/drug abuse, poverty and cynical takes on capitalism. It embraces its dystopian nature. It crawls through the underbelly of this future society, and in doing so, making poignant commentary on society today.

VA-11 Hall: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is both a perfect example of Cyberpunk and a gem of a gaming experience. Link to the PC (Steam) version HERE

Cyberpunk is also inspired by the 1980s – embracing the neon colours much like Synthwave but set in a dark moody cityscape. Using punk inspired electronic beats, Cyberpunk creates a slightly dated, grungier version of what we once thought was the future.

One of the best ways to experience Cyberpunk is through video games. It is prime for dark storytelling, which accompanied by strong visual signatures and electronic music creates a wonderful gaming experience.

Really though, all of these aesthetics have great video games. I could easily write another blog just on video games with strong aesthetics!

Overall, I had a bunch of fun covering these aesthetics. The potential for creativity and self expression are truly endless with aesthetics. They are a powerful way to not only unlock, but actually evolve nostalgia into new art forms.

If you’re still curious about aesthetics or want to learn more about aesthetics in general, the Aesthetics Wiki is a great user created space to explore.

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Emma Cayen

Emma is in her final year in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin. Looking forward to her future in the writing world, she even finds herself dreaming of plot bunnies in her sleep. Emma also enjoys beating her sister at a good game of Mario Party, well as spending time with her beloved cat George.

Movie Memories

The Movie Experience  

There is something about watching movies. Whether it's in the comfort of our own home or the top row of a cinema, we all have fond memories of eating overpriced junk food and discovering our favourite films.

The Drive-In

In 1933, the first drive-in movie theatre opened in the state of New Jersey. During their peak popularity in the 50s and 60s, over 4,000 theatres popped up across North America.

Illustration by Liz

The drive-in was and is still a unique movie-viewing experience. Unlike attending a traditional movie theatre, where you are discouraged from talking to your neighbour, the drive-in can be a real social affair. Family's pile into their cars, friends gather on lawn chairs and blankets. There is no wrong way to experience the drive-in.  

Pulling up to the lot is almost like entering another time. Most drive-in theatres today have kept their vintage aesthetics. They are usually not renovated or remastered. The sound system is as good as your radio, and the picture quality is often grainy (in some cases). But the low quality and greasy foods are what makes the drive-in special. It is less about the movie and more about the experience.

Although its popularity has dwindled over the last thirty years, the drive-in has never faded out of the entertainment industry. Ten percent of drive-in theatres still exist across North America.

Renting Movies at the Local Video Store

Before Netflix and Disney+  ruled home entertainment, renting movies from the local video store was the original Friday night ritual. From 1977 to 2010, rental stores such as Blockbuster and Rogers Video brought movie buffs closer to the films they love. With rentals, you didn't have to wait for your favourite movie to premiere on cable tv to watch it again.

For anyone who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, renting movies was a whole experience. On a Friday night, you would head over to your local rental store with your family or friends and browse the shelves.  Most people didn't have internet, so discovering the perfect Friday night movie was either by recommendation or pure chance. After about 45 minutes, you would bring your pile of movies and snacks to the counter. The sales associate would remind you that new releases are a two-day rental, and a two-dollar fee would be added to your account if you did not return the movie on time. You would then leave with twenty dollars worth of quality weekend entertainment. Life was good.  

Since the rise of streaming services, video stores have become a novelty. Blockbuster, which once had over 9,000 locations, now has only one store left.

Good Old Fashion Movie Theaters

Although traditional movie theatres are not extinct, the theatre experience has drastically changed over the last decade. There once was a time when you would have to stand in line for hours to get the best seat for the latest summer blockbuster. Now with the touch of a button, you can order your tickets months in advance. Remember when you had to save your friend's seat with a jacket as they got their snacks? Now you can order your entire meal right from the comfort of your reclining chair. Back in the day, we had seats with worn-out cushions. If the movie were longer than 90 minutes, you would hear from your tailbone.

Movie theatres have gone through incredible technological transformations—Ultra AVX, IMAX,  and of course, epic surround sound. However, there was nothing quite like experiencing a 3D movie before RealD 3D debut in the mid-2000s. The flimsy cardboard glasses with blue and red plastic lenses weren't the highest tech or the most comfortable. But it was exciting and, for some of us, an entirely new experience.

 As we continue to navigate these strange times of social distancing and streaming services, the cinematic experience is continuously changing. But it's not about how we watch movies. It's about creating a memory that will last longer than any pandemic.

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Liz Marion

Liz is a full time student with a background in illustration and concept art. She is currently trying her best.

Nostalgic Foods

Have you ever thought about what makes our favorite foods our favorite? I believe a factor in determining our favorite foods are the memories we attach to them. I think nostalgia influences us in what foods are our favorite. We all have fond childhood memories of eating our favorite snacks. I remember loving foods like Pogos, Kraft Dinner, Pizza Pockets and Lucky Charms. I know I’m not alone in indulging in these snacks! Even today, I continue to carry a soft spot for these foods – there's nothing special about it except I used to enjoy them as a kid.

Sometimes certain foods can leave specific memories and impact our taste for them. There's a particular food I discovered at a young age that has always given me fond memories. I used to enjoy receiving poutine as a treat, and still do. My family is French and for a time I lived in Montreal. I remember first having poutine there with a friend and I fell in love with all its cheesy goodness. It reminds me of my French background and is something that always reminds me fondly of Quebec. Memories of foods shape the way we perceive and think of them.

I think our favorite foods are more about the memories we associate them with. The experience of eating is more impactful to how you feel about the food. For example, the atmosphere greatly influences the memories we associate with our food. Atmosphere is used to create experience and memories. That is why food tastes better at a restaurant, because they make it an experience. This associates memories with the food and it's the overall memory that leaves you nostalgic.

Nostalgic foods give you a sense of comfort. They give you a warm fuzzy feeling and make you feel like you're reliving your childhood. They can bring back memories and leave you feeling content. People buy these foods to make them feel a certain way. Nostalgia influences the foods people buy. When I started grocery shopping for myself, the first thing I wanted to buy was all my comfort foods. It was the first time living on my own and they made me feel warm inside and reassured. 

I also think the smell of foods can also leave us very nostalgic. I know when I smell a McDonald’s it brings me back to my childhood. All you need is the smell of these foods and you're left with all the nostalgia and wanting more. Scent is a part of the experience of food and helps create memory of these foods and how they make you feel. Smells of food are everywhere and constantly giving you nostalgia. In combination with the food a nostalgic experience is created.

We center our food on sharing and creating memories. When we get together with people it often involves  food. Holidays are all about the food and the memories that are created by sharing food. Nostalgia and food go hand in hand. Whether it's the specific memories and feelings they bring up or the people we share it with, food creates memories. 

What memories do certain foods bring up for you? What foods make you nostalgic? How do they make you feel? Leave a comment below!

Don't Be Fooled by Nostalgia: Your favourite childhood movies might just be okay

Don’t let nostalgia disrupt the underlying message

Nostalgia can be a heartwarming feeling. However, it can easily blur the lines of your ability to address problematic contexts. If you remember something so fondly, it’s hard to differentiate the good from the bad, because you have developed some sense of bias. We often struggle to adjust our thinking after the fact in order to critically think about things. 

When it comes to things like movies, we all have some that we hold dearly from childhood. Due to nostalgia tied to certain movies, we sometimes forget or blur out aspects that are in fact problematic. Re-watching movies from the past today can really shed some light on what we missed or what we didn’t account for. It can be hard for us to think poorly about movies we loved so much, even after learning of their issues. It is important to understand, nostalgia aside, what we have internalized from a young age. 

 Here I will (hopefully) ruin some childhood classics for you in order to prove my point.

1)    Sixteen Candles

To sum up just a few of the many problems:

The main love interest (Jake) decides to pursue the main character (Sam) whilst he is still very much in a relationship with his then girlfriend (Caroline). Then at a party he takes advantage of his very drunk girlfriend by allowing someone he barely knows (Ted the “Geek”) to drive her home, all while a drunk Caroline is thinking it’s Jake taking her home. Safe to say let’s stop idolizing Jake as the “dreamy” love interest he’s meant to be!

Ted the “Geek” proceeds to take advantage of the situation by getting his friends to take pictures of an unconscious Caroline and him as “proof” of the situation. Not to mention the next morning there is an implied occurrence of sexual assault that took place with an intoxicated Caroline and sober Ted.

And if all of that isn’t bad enough, there is the foreign exchange student character (Long Duk Dong), who was solely used in the movie as an exacerbated racist stereotype for a cheap laugh (I suppose). Update: it’s not funny.

2)    Most Disney princess movies pre early 2000s 

These movies as a whole are clear cut examples of childhood classics that are particularly problematic for their age demographic – mainly young girls. Movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas, are just a few of the movies in this genre that convey problematic and concerning messages that are easily internalized at a young age. These movies depict instances of kissing without consent, needing a prince to make your dreams come true, giving up one’s own voice to be able to be with a man, lack of female independence and autonomy or support of that, racialized stereotypes and eroticized depictions of women of colour, and many more concerning messages and plot points. I would think twice before showing these movies to young kids nowadays. 

3)    Space Jam

Continuing on the topic of negative portrayals of female characters I thought I’d throw in Space Jam. I agree, the movie is a classic for many, however there is a lot to unpack in terms of female-based objectification. Let’s remember Lola the Bunny, who although is not technically human, is still very much depicted in the same regard as a human woman. Is she really an empowering female character? Sure, they emphasize her basketball abilities – but just remember what she wears, and how she acts. It’s not hard to come to the conclusion that she is an overtly sexualized character solely there as a love interest of Bugs Bunny. If you re-watch the movie, I promise you won’t be able to unsee this fact.  

Nostalgia aside

As much as we fondly recall these childhood movies, there needs to be clarity in terms of understanding what is really being conveyed. Think to yourself: what am I learning? What is being normalized? What is the main takeaway? If nothing good comes from such critical thought than it’s clear that these movies lack progression. It’s perfectly fine to still watch them and still love them because of the memories that they bring, just don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgement. 

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her to. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

The Charms of Obsolete Technology

The inside tray of a five-disc CD pLAYER. Picture COURTESY of Petervis.com

Center stage in my childhood bedroom, I had one of those five-disc CD players. Even now, I can almost hear the whirl of the CD Player, going from one song to the next.

The shuffle button was my favourite part of my CD Player. From the Spice Girls’ Spiceworld to Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby One More Time, I could dance around my room for hours without ever having to switch discs.

The idea of being able to shuffle my songs, even in such a limited form, was the coolest thing I could think of back in the day. Combined with my bright red Walkman, I truly experienced the heyday of late ‘90s music technology.

Now with services like Spotify and Amazon Music, we all have the ability to listen to an endless number of songs with a few simple clicks. Why rely on such limited technology when you can listen to those same songs on your phone or computer? 

For the nostalgia of course!                                          

There’s just something so charming about outdated tech. I’m fascinated by how much functionality was possible on such limited hardware. It’s not just old CD players that holds this nostalgia for me either — pretty much any technology from the ‘90s to the early ‘00s have a special place in my heart.

Thrift stores are much more than places to find CHEAP clothes!

One place I indulged in my love of obsolete tech was the thrift store. Pre-pandemic, I often found myself looking around my local Value Village. I would often walk out without buying anything, simply enjoying looking around at all the interesting things.

From old computer parts to rotary phones and cassette players, I felt like an explorer finding these relics of the past. I enjoyed the feeling of the buttons and knobs underneath my fingertips, giving me a tactile experience that heightened my nostalgia.

Thrifting isn’t nearly as fun these days though…

It’s not always practical to find this stuff in person, especially during a pandemic. Often the best way to find old technology is online.

It’s long past the days of dial up Internet and AOL subscriptions after all, and the very thing that made this technology obsolete actually helps keep the nostalgia alive. People can buy, sell and trade nearly anything online these days, making it easy for anybody to get a collection started.

There are also countless ways to connect with others via the Internet. I usually find myself watching YouTube whenever I’m feeling particularly nostalgic. I enjoy the longer format of YouTube videos over places like TikTok or Instagram — I find myself more invested with both the content and the creators themselves.

Below are two of my favourite YouTubers, both of whom focus heavily on nostalgic tech.

I didn’t even know there were vhs camcorders before Brutalmoose’s videos!

Brutalmoose is a variety channel that covers topics such as old television commercials, retro food recipes and ‘90s PC games. He combines funny editing with his laidback yet charismatic personality.

I really enjoy Brutalmoose’s Mystery Tapes videos. Not only does he cover VHS tapes with various ‘90s television shows and commercials on them, the YouTube video itself is filmed with an old VHS camcorder. This gives the video a slightly discolored blurry aesthetic that in itself invokes a lot of nostalgia.

Click here for the first Mystery Tapes video.

LGR is a channel that focuses primarily on retro PC hardware and software, although he also reviews video games.

LGR’s videos are very chill and informative, showing off old tech I didn’t even know existed! While I enjoy all of his content, the LGR Thrifts series is definitely my favourite. It allows me to reminisce about both old technology and thrifting, two topics that truly go hand and hand.

Click here for the most recent LGR Thrifts video, an eThrifts video that’s very fitting in the pandemic.

If you’re interested, please check out both of these wonderful creators. I hope that this article has brought out some nostalgic tech memories of your own, as it did for me. Feel free to share some of them in the comments!

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Emma Cayen

Emma is in her final year in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin. Looking forward to her future in the writing world, she even finds herself dreaming of plot bunnies in her sleep. Emma also enjoys beating her sister at a good game of Mario Party, well as spending time with her beloved cat George.

Nostalgia, Relationships, and Heartbreak: a sweet and sour cocktail

In the light of day, a walk down memory lane can be a dream. Under the cover of night though, it can feel more like a nightmare. 

In the quiet hours of the night, you remember what it was like to hold their hand in public. You can’t help but reflect on the late nights and early mornings shared together or the way their voice brightened even the darkest of days. You don’t stay lingering on what caused it all to crumble; your mind can only showcase your highlight reels. Nostalgia has gone from friend to foe, a bitter drink that you must now swallow.

If you romanticize the past like I do, moving on may feel like the most challenging journey you’ve ever had to take. Nostalgia can get us through the toughest of times, but it can also be our demise. And when you stir in nostalgia with a heaping of heartbreak, you may be in for a long ride to healing. 

I know you may want a quick fix—an easy answer. So you may not be thrilled when I say that the trick to healing your wounded heart is trust and time. Trust that you’ve gone with your intuition and made the right decision; let time cascade over you like a band-aid.

“You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let them go. I tie no weights to my ankles.”

— C. Joybell C.

But can nostalgia keep us in a relationship past its expiration date? Or is it the saving grace a couple needs?

The simple answer is yes—to both.

“The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too.”

— Ernest Hemingway, Men Without Women

Looking back on the good ol’ days in a relationship can give us the warm fuzzies we need to plow through rough times. We know that nostalgia can provide us with the power to be resilient, and when days get dark within a relationship, nostalgia can be the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Looking back on the honeymoon bliss at the beginning of your relationship or the fun adventures you’ve had together can remind you of the effortless love and admiration you had, and may still have, for each other. A good bout of reminiscing may be the remedy for your relationship woes!

But, like a double-edged sword, reminding yourself of your past can magnify the unhappiness you may currently feel in your relationship. Realizing what you no longer have or need can be a painful stake to the heart. A wound one may struggle to heal from. 

Although research hasn’t been able to confirm or deny whether nostalgia is more beneficial than it is harmful, I say it goes both ways. Like most things, nostalgia and reminiscing should be enjoyed in small doses. Couples that find themselves fighting for their relationship may find that reflecting on fond memories is a great motivator—in the short term. In the long run, though, a good blast from the past will most likely not be enough to undo any current damage. 

Maybe nostalgia will be the spark of hope you and your partner need to persevere through hard times, or perhaps the contrast between where you were and where the two of you are now will be too disheartening to bear. At the end of the day, though, if the days behind you seem brighter than the ones ahead of you, it’s probably time to reevaluate. 

Shake things up! Fall back in love with all the possibilities the future can hold. Let go of anyone and anything that may not get you to where you want to be. Put happiness first and foremost.

You’ll thank yourself for it later. And maybe, hopefully someday soon, memory lane won’t seem so dark. 

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Peyton Scott

Peyton is a full-time student, part-time writer, and partial night owl. She falls in love with everything at least once, but especially (and in no particular order): words, furry creatures, empty notebooks, true crime, hikes (and probably you).

Instagram: @peyyscott

Twitter: @peyytonscott

X-Men the Animated Series: A Nostalgic Review

Cue Theme Song

Before earth's mightiest heroes dominated the big screen, one super team saved Saturday mornings, Xavier's gifted youngsters­­- The X-Men. The series follows the titular group (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, Beast, Rogue and Jubilee) as they fight for mutant-kind, save the space-time continuum and stop intergalactic forces.

The 90s was, no doubt, the golden age of cartoons. Fox Kids and Cartoon Network kick-started our superhero obsessions, with classics such as Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995), Spiderman (1994-1998) and The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005). Nickelodeon proved that cartoons could tug at the heartstrings with Rugrats (1990-2006) and Hey Arnold! (1996-2004).

 But in a decade full of epics, what made this show about a ragtag team of mutants in yellow and blue spandex so memorable?

A Unique Depiction of Humanity

"You, fools! Heroic fools. The brave are always the first to die." -  Magento

Using the word "human" to describe the X-men may sound a bit peculiar. The mutant condition is a vast topic that carries across the entire Marvel universe (in the comics, not the cinematic universe) and is not associated with humanity. However, you do not need to be a die-hard comic book fan to notice that the X-men has always been an allegory for social injustice and prejudice. Stan Lee even based Charles Xavier and Magneto loosely on Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

Amid the flashy suits, snappy quips, and dinosaurs (yes, I said dinosaurs), the series was not afraid to dig deep into social commentary without losing its fantastical elements. After all, it is a show about superhumans fighting aliens and time travellers.

Season two introduces "The friends of humanity," an anti-mutant terrorist group lead by Greyson Creed (season 2, episode 1, Till Death, Do Us Part, Part One). Out of all the X-Men villains, this group is the most provoking because it is a clear illustration of extreme prejudice against minorities. Twenty years later, the image of this cartoonish mob burning down buildings and chanting "no more mutants" has never felt so real.

 We Are All A Little Weird, And That's Okay

Since the shows ending in 96, Marvel has produced many animated films and series, but nothing quite hits home like this adaption of the X-Men.

No matter what whimsical adventure the team embarked on, the show at its core is a celebration of individuality. These dynamic characters illustrate that in our differences, there is strength and unity. It is not easy standing out from the crowd. People often fear what they don't understand but we don't have to feel isolated. We are more alike than we are different.  

You Don't Have to Be a Fan to Enjoy The Series

“It's adamantium tasting time, boys'!”- Wolverine

 You don't have to be a comic fan to appreciate the animation, humour and action (if your confused, fear not. A recap or a flashback will catch you up to speed). Here's a list of five episodes that any cartoon fan or action buff can enjoy.

5. Night of The Sentinels (part one and two), season 1, episode 1 and 2

We are introduced to the team as they fight mutant-hunting robots at the mall.

4. Captive Hearts, season 1, episode 5

The queen of the Morlocks kidnaps Jean and Cyclops while challenging Storm to a lightsaber battle.

3. Red Dawn, season 2, episode 4

Professor X  and Magneto fight dinosaurs in the Savage Land. Meanwhile, Colossus and Wolverine team up to save Russia.

2. Old Soldiers, season 5, episode 3

The Wolverine, Captain America crossover we all deserve.

1 .Repo Man, season 2, episode 5

The Canadian Avengers kidnap Wolverine.

Just don't skip the intro.

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Liz Marion

Liz is a full time student with a background in illustration and concept art. She is currently trying her best.

The past taken out of context: A conclusion on modern music and its influences

The former always influences the latter

It’s not a new concept for music and culture from the past to make an impression the future. Seeing as music inspires far and wide, it only makes sense for some past trends and styles of music to rub off on newer artists and bands. Like anything, we evolve, and we take into consideration the past when moving forward. There are some notable musical talents who have incorporated nostalgic personas and sounds for the purpose of their own branding. Let’s take a look at some modern artists who are heavily inspired by the past and discuss their inspirations, and whether or not they are really their own artist given the circumstances.

Here are three examples for you.

1.     The glamorous Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey has taken to producing music based predominantly on nostalgia of past time periods she admires, and she’s extremely popular and loved for doing so. Her music as a whole contextualizes American imagery from the 50s onward, and its iconic history and figures – including that of jazz, Woodstock, groupies, Norman Rockwell, cult leaders and New York City, among many other mentions. Whether she’s using specific nostalgic imagery, or simply singing in a simplistic dated way, Lana makes it very clear what she considers to be her muse — that being the past and all it entails – the good and the bad.

Despite her evident consideration and idolization of the past, which is strongly incorporated into her branding, I would say this has ultimately helped to make a name for herself – one that is specific to her and her only. Right off the bat you can pinpoint whether a song is by Lana Del Rey.

To sum up, in very Lana like fashion, as pulled from her tune Brooklyn Baby, “I’m talking about my generation… And if you don’t like it, you can beat it, beat it, baby”.  

2.     Greta Van Fleet or Zeppelin Van Fleet?

Greta Van Fleet, like Lana Del Rey, seems to be quite reminiscent of the past – specifically 60s and 70s-esque rock eras. It’s something that you can definitely tell when seeing them perform live. It’s obvious they embody the style and musical elements of the past. It’s quite interesting to listen to Josh Kiszka, lead singer of the band, because he sounds uncannily similar to Robert Plant, iconic lead singer of Led Zeppelin. So much so, that it’s hard for people, myself included, to differentiate between the 24-year-old Michigan native and the 72-year-old English rock legend just by listening alone. Their heavy allude to former rock eras has gathered them a huge following of fans – specifically a lot of young people who enjoy and appreciate the representation of that genre and culture as a whole. A lot of criticism has been made in terms of whether or not they are copying Led Zeppelin and simply profiting off of something that’s already been done. It’s debatable as to whether their brand as a whole is truly their own.

3.     The groovy Dope Lemon

Perhaps a lesser known band, Dope Lemon is an Australian indie-folk group formed by former Angus & Julia Stone member Angus Stone. The first thing I thought of when I heard their music was a) I like this, and a little after the fact, b) this is very reminiscent of psychedelics, if psychedelics and Bob Dylan had a love child. It’s evident what inspiration Dope Lemon is pulling from. The music is incredibly nostalgic of the psychedelic rock era, where the lyrics are simplistic and mellow, while the music alone is dazed and entrancing. I would argue that not everyone would necessarily put two and two together in terms of the nostalgic elements, and because of that I feel like they have a relatively unique sound despite the notable influence. 

So what’s to be said about musical influence? Is it really a bad thing?

I think it’s crucial to understand that old music and culture is not the pinnacle of greatness, and modern forms are not merely a copy. Sure, there are influences and takeaways from the past, but this has been happening for centuries, and is not something to criticize given the fact. Inspiration from the past incorporated into new music forms can really enhance the overall nostalgia of the work. I think it really comes down to the fact of the matter: do you like the music or do you not? It’s that simple. Music is subjective, and everyone can learn to appreciate the past in all its forms -- whether in the past or brought into modern day.   

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction novels, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

The Places That Leave us Nostalgic

I recently visited a place that has always been very nostalgic for me. I did an outdoor learning program in my youth that was an extracurricular school program. It was a program that greatly shaped who I am today because of the experiences, the friends I made and the values of the program itself -- therefore leaving a nostalgic place in my heart. A friend of mine who also participated in this program reached out to me to return to camp, so we could experience nostalgia. I have fond memories of my friend and I giggling and sharing gossip in the forest while I was supposed to be doing school!

I was immediately fond of this idea as I haven’t returned for seven years. Just anticipating being back, a flood of sweet memories returned. We drove out with anticipation. When we arrived, we found that it was now abandoned and there were “no trespassing” signs preventing us from going further. It made me realize that the places that leave us nostalgic are most likely never the same as they once were. A place I was expecting to leave me with sentimental feelings instead just looked sad and dreary as the paint on the cabins were rusting and the cabins just looked damaged.

It's not what it once was. My friend and I reminisced about funny memories, but it also made us sad to think it wasn’t the same anymore. Have you ever visited somewhere nostalgic and felt as if it's not the same as you remembered? Why is this? Is it perhaps because we romanticize our memories? Is it because we change and when we return it's different? Memories are never the same as what actually happened because they’re your perception of things. How you remember things changes over time, as well as the feelings you associate with them.

So, is how you remember experiences ever really how they are? It can be hard to return somewhere that you experienced such life altering experiences, only to realize it's all different from how you remembered it. Many of you probably experienced this. It's like when you go back to your old high school or somewhere you used to work and it's not the same. It can feel like some of your memories died with it. The places that leave us nostalgic are comfortable but are also bittersweet. 

What Brings us Back?

Why do we feel the need to return to these places? I feel we often want to return because it gives the feeling that we can bring back the past. Like we can go back to the way it all was without physically doing so. It gives the illusion that we're there, reliving our former experiences for the first time again. We eventually realize, however, that this isn’t possible. We want to remember the experiences that shaped us – it is a source of comfort. We want to look back on who we were then and who we are now.

What is it that makes us keep coming back? I think we go back because we want to hold on to whatever it is we can. We do not want to let go. Almost like if we did not go back, we could lose grip of these memories. Like they hold them sanctum and when you go back you unlock all the feelings again. These places help us remember who we are,  almost becoming a part of our identity. 

What kinds of experiences do we have that make us want to go back? I think there's many different kinds of experiences we can have that make us want to go back. They can be transitional experiences that make us who we are today. Perhaps it was a place where you made life changing connections, or it was somewhere that positively influenced you. These experiences made an impact, making us want to relive the past. What places leave you nostalgic? What experiences would you relive? Follow us on our Twitter and Facebook and leave a comment below!

Nostalgia and Memories

Do you need memories in order to be nostalgic?

The default answer to that question for most folks would be yes. After all, how can you be nostalgic for something you have no memory of? Yet my own memories, or lack thereof, causes me to think that the answer is far less black and white than it appears to be.

I have a condition called Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory (SDAM). It is a syndrome that describes the lifelong inability to use a type of memory called episodic memory. It isn’t a sign of brain damage or dementia — it simply means that I can’t remember things in the same way other folks do. 

But what is episodic memory?

Whenever people use their memory consciously to think back upon something, there are two types of memories that they use.

Episodic memory is when you remember things in a first-person perspective. It’s the memory that lets you live out your past and relive your memories. This is the type of memory I’m lacking with SDAM.

Semantic memory is the memory that holds onto your general knowledge of things. It’s the memory that helps you study for tests and remember facts and figures. It can be used to piece together your day if you’re unable to rely on episodic memory. This type of memory I have plenty of.

I’m going to dive into my personal experiences now, so if you have any questions about SDAM that I didn’t cover above, click here.

What’s it like having SDAM?

My mom on her 56th birthday. We celebrated at Casino Du Lac Leamy, which was her favourite casino.

Having SDAM often makes me feel like I’m an outsider in my own life. If I were to write an autobiography, it would be full of blanks and question marks. 

On the right, I have a picture of the last birthday I celebrated with my mom. For most folks, this would be memorable, especially since she passed away the following year.

So what do I recall about that evening?

Well, we were supposed to go on a cruise funded by my mom’s work that coincided with her birthday. The so-called “cruise” ended up being a dinky little boat and we all refused to go on it. After a bit of disappointment, we decided to salvage the night and went to the casino. We had dinner and then we enjoyed some lighthearted gambling.

This makes it sound like I remember a lot about that evening, but truly I don’t. I wouldn’t have even recalled what I told you without the picture as a reference – my semantic memory would have failed me without the prompting.

Despite my best efforts, I can’t remember more. I couldn’t tell you how the boat looked, just that it was too small. I don’t recall what anybody was wearing or what they said that evening. I certainly don’t remember that chocolate cake. Where my episodic memory should be, there’s nothing but a few vague feelings to go along with my knowledge of the evening.

And yet, I feel nostalgic for that day.

Too bad my villagers don’t love my casino as much as I do. it’s almost always empty.

Despite my lack of concrete memories, I have a warm fuzzy feeling when I think back on that day. I have a nostalgic feeling towards the casino because it reminds me of my mom, back when she was happy and healthy. I even made a little casino in my Animal Crossing: New Horizons island as a way to remember that day as best I could.

My theory is that episodic memories are simply a way to easily prompt nostalgia. You can’t be nostalgic for something that you’ve never experienced, sure, but the type of memory that triggers nostalgia doesn’t necessarily need to be episodic.

Have you ever smelled a scent that you could swear seems familiar, but you can’t quite remember where it’s from? Or have you hummed a song, the name of which is on the tip of your tongue? That’s what nostalgia feels like to me. It’s this longing to go back to a time, a time that I can’t quite remember but miss all the same.

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Emma Cayen

Emma is in her final year in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin. Looking forward to her future in the writing world, she even finds herself dreaming of plot bunnies in her sleep. Emma also enjoys beating her sister at a good game of Mario Party, well as spending time with her beloved cat George.

How to cope with homesickness

Some days, the longing for home sinks in like a winter chill. Other days, it can hit you like a freight train. No matter how it settles in though, homesickness can lead you down a path to heartbreak. 

Homesickness doesn’t discriminate. It’s something that any of us that who have snuck away from home can fall ill to. Some feel it for the first time when they jet off to college or university, while others carry it with them after they’ve relocated to a different county. Knowing what we do about nostalgia, it’s easy to see how homesickness and nostalgia can go hand in hand. 

Nostalgia makes us long for the past. It can make us miss particular times in our life, people we no longer see, and places we’ve previously been — including home! Maybe you’re missing your mom’s home cooked meals, or yearning to drive to your favourite lookout in town. Maybe you feel disconnected from your culture and long to have a conversation in your native tongue.

No matter the journey you’ve taken that led you to feel homesick, here are some tips and tricks that can help soothe your ache for home.

1. Let yourself feel it

   Embrace it! As with any emotion, hiding from homesickness may prove to be futile. It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to miss something that you can’t physically hold in your hands. This feeling may be all consuming at times, but it certainly does not make you weak.

   Let yourself reminisce about your favourite things back home. While I wouldn’t recommend wallowing all day, a good cry can be therapeutic. Take some time for yourself. Whether you believe it or not, you know what’s best for you.  

2. Distract yourself

   On the flip side to embracing your emotions, I also recommend giving yourself some sort of distraction. Isolating yourself tends to intensify negative emotions, so putting yourself out there in the world can be very soothing. Get yourself out of the house by taking a walk, running errands, or calling up a friend to go grab a coffee. 

   Immerse yourself in the place you are now instead of trying to climb back to the place you were. 

3. Call a friend

   Or your mom, or your grandpa, or your cousin — whoever’s voice it is that you need to hear to soothe that ache you feel in your chest. My favourite thing to do when I’m missing home is to call up my mom and listen to her chatter about the mundane comings and goings of her life. She’s my one-stop-shop to get all the updates I need from my hometown. 

   Expressing your feelings to someone you trust can be extremely therapeutic. Even if they can’t understand your exact situation, an empathetic ear goes a long way.

4. Bring home to you

   Though we live in a digital age, my love for physical copies of photos and photo albums is as strong as ever. When I’m feeling nostalgic, I find myself being pulled towards my photo albums, travelling through them like a visual time machine. I surround myself with picture frames of friends and family — people that I can’t see every day. It makes me feel less alone and keeps them present in my life, even when they can’t be here. 

   If you’re yearning for your home country, consider visiting a local shop that carries grocery and lifestyle items specifically from your country. There’s Dutch Groceries and Giftware, and The Scottish and Irish Store, among others that are here in the Ottawa area for those that are far from home! 

5. Plan something to look forward to

   It doesn’t have to be anything big or extravagant, it can be as simple as picking up a coffee and donut from your favourite coffee shop. Try and sneak simple joys into your day.

   Scheduling a video chat with a friend or family member back home is my go-to whenever I need a pick-me-up. With busy schedules, it’s nice to plan ahead and carve out time for a dose of home and companionship that we might otherwise miss out on. 

6. Don’t compare yourself to others

   It’s nice to hear this every now and again: everyone copes with things differently — including homesickness. That, and you never know what others are going through. It’s all too easy to look at other people that have been through similar situations and compare them to your own hardships. That said, it’s easy to look like you have your shiitake together.

“Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.”

— Jodi Picoult, Handle With Care

If I leave you with one thing, let it be this: it’s nice to have something to miss. As painful as it can be to be far away from the people and place we love, having something we cherish enough to be homesick over is a beautiful thing.

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Peyton Scott

Peyton is a full-time student, part-time writer, and partial night owl. She falls in love with everything at least once, but especially (and in no particular order): words, furry creatures, empty notebooks, true crime, hikes (and probably you).

Instagram: @peyyscott

Twitter: @peyytonscott

The Nostalgic Trend

New Year, Old Trends.

As we enter a new era, we become more fascinated by the past and less inspired by the future. If there is anything the last six months have taught us, is that the world changes rapidly, but the past does not. A global pandemic did not kick off the nostalgic mega trend, but the concept of “retro,” as the name suggests, is anything but new. The last 10 years have proven how marketable and influential nostalgia has been on modern trends. Major film studios invest in reboots and sequels of successful franchises, while the fashion industry is known for recycling old ideas and calling it “vintage.”

So, why did Jurassic World make $150 million in 2015? Why do Converse high-tops never seem to go out of style, and why is Friends one of the most watched shows on Netflix? The answer is obvious; large corporations know their demographics, but consumers also know what they want.

Who is Buying into Nostalgia Megatrend?

It is no coincidence that the turn of the decade brought back Tamagotchis and VHS themed notebooks. According to an article on BBC Ideas, millennials are the most nostalgic generation.  Generation Y are nostalgic for the late 90s to early 2000s, a simple time, before the age of smartphones and high-speed internet. This era represents a unique time in history. The housing market was in good shape, college was affordable, and the golden age of Saturday morning cartoons was at its peak. But after 9/11, the raging war in Iraq and the financial crisis in 2008, life became more complicated. The boomer mentality of going to school, getting a job, and buying a house was fleeting. As millennials transition into adulthood, it is only natural that this generation reflects on a time when life wasn’t so difficult.  

So, Why Go Backwards?

Corporations have profited on happy memories of sad adults and angsty teenagers, that is for sure. But perhaps the real question is, in a world full of innovative technology, why is the consumer looking backwards instead of moving forward? Why does the past inspire us? Maybe it is less about finding inspiration and influence in trends and more about seeking a sense of familiarity. As we try to navigate this new world of masks and social distancing, one thing remains untouched: our memories.

We may not have a time machine to take us back to Saturday mornings in 2003, but streaming services and Eggos come pretty close.    

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Liz Marion

Liz is a full time student with a background in illustration and concept art. She is currently trying her best.

Moved on But Not Forgotten

It seems as though the younger generations have a nostalgia for times they have not lived in. People today are nostalgic for vintage cars, technology like Polaroids. Records and dated hairstyles are making a comeback. Young people today in particular seem to be really into the 90’s. Teens are now decorating their bags and laptops with stickers and badges – something that was very popular in that time period. Adding to that, they are even wearing friendship bracelets and scrunchies. 

As for myself, I am very nostalgic about the type of clothing people wore in the 1950’s. I have collected quite a few long skirts and dress coats in my wardrobe that I wear from time to time. Where does this nostalgia come from? If these younger generations did not live in these era’s, why the nostalgia? I certainly did not live through the 50’s, and yet I feel a connection to it. I think people are nostalgic for simpler times. There is a sense of sentimental longing. People simply long for times that are not their own. They romanticize the idea. 

People like comfort and familiarity. It is no wonder that other eras are always making a comeback, especially in a world that is so complex. People often assume things were easier in the past. There is also uncertainty and mystery about the future, and it can bother some people.

Over the years, the patterns in fashion and trends are always making a comeback. It seems each new trend has some remants of past decades. Newsbreak.com predicts  that 70’s fashion will make a comeback in 2020. 

What makes these eras nostalgic? 

I believe the 90’s are so nostalgic to millennials because they were just being born at this time. Eras are generally nostalgic because people idealize the past. It impacts us greatly; it influences our style, memories as well as our future. It impacts how we think of today.

I believe that millennials are the most nostalgic generation and are the ones bringing back the past the most. There is an allure to times otherwise not experienced. Does nostalgia leave us trapped in the past? Does it inhibit us from moving on? I think it definitely could. One might say constantly having nostalgia for a generation not living in ourselves prohibits us from enjoying and experiencing what we have right now. I think this could be very true but nostalgia also reminds us of what we have right now as well. 

I think it is good because it connects us to the past and makes it a part of the future. The future would not be the future without connecting us to the past. Nostalgia unites us. It is how we relate to each other.  

What eras do you think will make a comeback? What eras leave you nostalgic for the past? Leave a comment below. If you’re interested in the trends that are making a comeback, check out this article by Little Things.

https://www.littlethings.com/20-vintage-fashion-trends-that-have-made-a-comeback

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Josée Leclair

I am a Creative Writing student at Algonquin College. In my spare time, I like to read, knit, and watch lots of YouTube! :)

60's, 70's, 80's Galore: A Listen Down Memory Lane

 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — but either way, I remember

Music can spark many emotions – it can make you nostalgic for the past. It can bring up memories of the good old days, bittersweet emotions or things that you’d rather leave be in the past. There might be that one song or artist that you can’t listen to without wanting to bawl your eyes out, needing to crank up the volume or simply needing to sit and digest it as a whole. Everyone has a different story – a different song from the past – a different reason to listen. The experience of listening to music, for better or for worse, can ignite something within you (which is pretty cool if you ask me).

A blast from my past

It was the 90’s to early 2000’s. My dad was blasting yet another album on the home CD player. He always needed the volume to the max. He rarely played the same music twice – his music collection was quite extensive. It was clear that whatever he played was considered top notch and worthy – something that I often took to heart. His main muse was none other than rock n’ roll. 

Stevie nicks

Some classics for you

1)     The Rolling Stones

I cannot express to you how many times I’ve heard them on full blast in my youth – whether it be from at home or in the car. “Gimme Shelter”, “Beast of Burden” and “Sympathy for the Devil” were personal favourites, even if I was too young to really understand the lyrics at the time.

2)     The Who

They were constantly on repeat. Back when I had a paper route (my first ever job), I used to play “My Generation” and “Magic Bus” exclusively while putting papers in mailboxes. 

3)     Fleetwood Mac

When I was younger, I genuinely thought I was so cool for knowing more songs than just “Go Your Own Way” (many friends of mine knew it from Guitar Hero). Their album Rumours is and always will be a classic. I remember sitting on my carpeted living room floor, hearing “Rhiannon” and “Never Going Back Again” for the first time, and just thinking “wow”. 

4)     Peter Gabriel

Who can forget “Solsbury Hill”? I know I will always cherish that song, along with “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer”. I remember (innocently) wondering why Gabriel wasn’t the one chosen to sing for Disney soundtracks (anyone who’s familiar with Genesis or Phil Collins might understand this reference).

5)     Bruce Springsteen

My dad and I shared the mutual love for “Atlantic City”. As a young girl who glamorized angst and moodiness, it seemed like the perfect song. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “I’m on Fire” seemed to coincide well too.

6)     Led Zeppelin

My brother and I were heavily influenced by Zeppelin. My dad made sure to instill their music into us at a young age. “Kashmir”, “Going to California” and “Stairway to Heaven” were game changers for us.

7)     Tom Petty

I’m sure many might share this same nostalgic memory: picture yourself on some kind of road trip and “Free Fallin’” starts playing on the radio. Iconic, right? “Don’t Come Around Here No More” is also a classic – I remember loving the music video because it had Alice in Wonderland elements.

And on that note

I would like to personally thank my dad who, although extremely biased, refused to let me listen to anything else at the time. I still fondly listen to all of this music to this day.

I listen to music constantly, no matter how I’m feeling — so for me there is and always will be that connection.

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction novels, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

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Going Back in Time, Gaming Edition

Here’s a picture of me as a kid, playing my Gameboy Advance with some friends.

Gaming often brings up lots of memories

Throughout my childhood, video games were a constant companion. From playing Sonic Adventure 2 Battle at the daycare to watching my sister kill zombies in Resident Evil 4, games were like my best friend at times.

I loved when I was allowed to bring my portable consoles out at recess. I could just hang out with other kid gamers, bridging the gap between me and them without having to say a word.

What decides gaming nostalgia?

That’s a tricky question. From the original days of Ping Pong to games with hyper realistic graphics like Grand Theft Auto 5, there are just so many eras of gaming out there. My own nostalgia lies somewhere in between, when 3D gaming in its infancy and portable systems were still newfangled concepts. It really depends on the individual — what games did you play and enjoy back in the day?

Anybody else remember these? Credit to user 81toog on Reddit.

You don’t have to have owned a console to have nostalgia towards it either. I never owned a N64, but I still have some great memories around it.

My local McDonald’s used to have some N64 machines set up in the restaurant, similar to the one in the picture. There were three of them, all in varying states of stickiness and disrepair.

I spent almost all my time at that McDonald’s avoiding the PlayPlace, waiting for my turn at one of these machines. I played games such as Pokémon Snap or Super Mario 64 there, games that I otherwise wouldn’t have nostalgia for.

So…what does all this nostalgia talk mean for gaming today?

Gaming companies have caught on that nostalgia sells, using it to their advantage. Gamers who want to relive some of their favourite games without digging out their old consoles can often find those games remade or remastered.

Don’t know what a remake or remaster is? That’s alright!

A remake means that the game has been, well, remade! The game is created in a new engine and often include new features as well as prettier graphics, while a remaster is more of a fresh face of paint on the original game. A remaster typically keeps the game as is, but often adds upgraded graphics, music, and menus/UI.

Still confused? This wonderful TechRadar article should help clarify things.

https://www.techradar.com/news/game-remakes-vs-remasters-whats-the-difference

Before you go, let’s look at some suggestions on what to play

When looking to play games for nostalgic reasons, I would generally just recommend just going with any game you remember fondly. If you’re stuck though, listed below are some great recent remakes and remasters.

Super Mario 3D All Stars - a remastered collection with three retro 3D Mario games, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy available on the Nintendo Switch.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Team Rescue DX - A remake of the DS game Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team (it’s also a remake of the GBA version, Red Rescue Team) also available on the Nintendo Switch.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 - A remastered collection of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 as well as its sequel Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, available on PC, PS4 and Xbox 1.

References Used:

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/6um7v0/nintendo_64_at_a_mcdonalds_in_2017/

https://www.techradar.com/news/game-remakes-vs-remasters-whats-the-difference

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Emma Cayen

Emma is in her final year in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin. Looking forward to her future in the writing world, she even finds herself dreaming of plot bunnies in her sleep. Emma also enjoys beating her sister at a good game of Mario Party, well as spending time with her beloved cat George.

Nostalgia: our secret survival tactic

What is Nostalgia?

Whether you recognize it or not, we’ve all felt nostalgic for something. But have you ever stopped to wonder why? Or what it really is? If you asked people in the 18th, 19th, and even in the 20th- century, they would have told you that nostalgia was a form of psychosis. If you asked a certain Swiss doctor by the name of Johannes Hoffer, he would have originally told you that it was a “neurological disease of essentially demonic cause.” Yikes, right? But that was back in 1688, and we’ve certainly come a long way since then. 

A simple dictionary definition says it best: nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with a personal association. But I believe that it’s different for everybody. 

For me, nostalgia is as much pain as it is a pleasure. I can hear John Mellencamp singing Hurts So Good in my head when I think about it. It’s the comforting memories of the past coming forward to hug you in the present, mixed with the harsh realization that you’ll never get to relive it. At least not in the same way. 

I think of singing Spice Girl songs in my living room with my best friend. It’s sneaking downstairs early on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons before my family was awake. Nostalgia to me is riding shotgun down a dirt road with my friend for the first time when they got their license, or going to the bar to have my first legal drink. Nostalgia is achingly personal, but yet we all feel it.

“Nostalgia is a powerful drug. Under its influence, ordinary songs take on dimensions and powers, like emotional superheroes.”

— Kate Christensen

Now let’s take it back to the beginning

Johannes Hoffer, who I mentioned earlier, was actually the first person to start chipping away at what we know to be nostalgia. Back in the late 17th- century, he noticed what he considered to be a “strange illness” affecting Swiss mercenaries serving abroad. There were physical symptoms to this illness: including fatigue, irregular heartbeat, indigestion, and even fever. More often than not, the symptoms were so strong that the members had to be discharged and treated. 

Hoffer soon discovered that there was nothing physically wrong with the patients, but that they all had a mental yearning for their mountain homeland. It was actually believed that this condition was something only the Swiss suffered from. Funnily enough, doctors even proposed that the constant ringing of cow bells in the Alps caused trauma to the eardrums and brain. Military commanders even forbid that their soldiers sing songs or play music, worried that they would fall ill to nostalgia.

It wasn’t until people started immigrating to different countries that doctors realized that nostalgia wasn’t just occurring for the Swiss, but for people all over the world! As time and science progressed, nostalgia went from being considered a neurological disease to a mental condition similar to depression. Along the way, he coined the term that we know today, nostalgia. This comes from the Greek word nostos, which means homecoming, and algos, which means pain or longing. If you’ve got some time, check out this quick video that, quite literally, illustrates how nostalgia came to be.

Nostalgia as resilience 

Though nostalgia used to be compared to depression, scientists and health care professionals now know now that it is not. While it is true that people who are sad or suffer from depression are more likely to feel nostalgic, they do not go hand in hand nor are they similar. Correlation does not imply causation, after all. In fact, it’s been found that nostalgia is a crucial part of the continuation of the human species!

When we remember fond, meaningful memories, it boosts our mental well being. If we let ourselves be nostalgic for our childhood, milestone, or time in our life, it increases our feeling of self-worth and belonging. It encourages us to grow, be kinder to one another, and to cope with our ever changing world. It’s been proven that when we experience negative emotional states, we tend to naturally use nostalgia to reduce our stress. An act of self love, if you will. 

Nostalgia is not about being stuck in the past, it’s about remembering that life is worth living. It allows us to pull moments that made us feeling something and it gives us a glimpse of what we might feel again. Nostalgia makes us resilient; it gives us the confidence to keep going, especially when we may not want to. 

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Peyton Scott

Peyton is a full-time student, part-time writer, and partial night owl. She falls in love with everything at least once, but especially (and in no particular order): words, furry creatures, empty notebooks, true crime, hikes (and probably you).

Instagram: @peyyscott

Twitter: @peyytonscott