Opinion
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
4 — Friday, February 21, 2020
Alanna Berger
Zack Blumberg
Brittany Bowman
Emily Considine
Jenny Gurung
Cheryn Hong
Krystal Hur
Ethan Kessler
Zoe Phillips
Mary Rolfes
Michael Russo
Timothy Spurlin
Miles Stephenson
Joel Weiner
Erin White
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ARJUN LAMA | COLUMNIST
Shaping the power of cinema
T
he
92nd
Academy
Awards mark another
year of cinema in an
ever-changing social climate,
one that does not embrace the
cinematic experience in the
same way it used to. For this
reason, two of the Best Picture
nominees provide particular
interest in this day and age.
Both Martin Scorsese’s “The
Irishman” and Quentin Tar-
antino’s “Once Upon a Time
in Hollywood” are films that
attempt to restore themes
of old cinema. For Scorsese,
“The Irishman” represents a
final collaboration between
the classical acting legends
Robert De Niro, Al Pacino
and Joe Pesci. “Once Upon a
Time in Hollywood” attempts
to recreate the old Hollywood
style of film and demonstrate
its impact in the culture of
the film’s period. Today, with
the rise of short-form enter-
tainment and the increased
“Netflix culture” of college
students, can cinema truly
impact our lives like it used
to, and moreover, should it?
Over Winter break, while
bickering over which movie
to watch together one night,
my family, mainly under the
jurisdiction
of
my
parents,
chose “The Irishman.” I spent
the first twenty minutes on my
phone, having made up my mind
that a three and a half hour
movie starring actors all over
70 could only be a snoozefest.
Throughout
the
course
of
the film, however, I became
fascinated with the plot and
particularly the mood. Having
never
watched
“Goodfellas,”
“The
Godfather”
or
any
other prominent mob movie,
I was enthralled by the loud
personalities of the characters
shown and the stark contrast
in theirs to any sort of life I had
lived or witnessed before.
Films like “The Irishman”
make
one
question
the
values that are drilled into
us early in our lives about
the ramifications of morally
unjust
actions,
what
true
loyalty means in friendships
and how much we can judge
others for living societally
frowned upon lifestyles. Frank
Sheeran, as portrayed in the
movie, fits the description
of
someone
engaging
inpsychopathic behavior on
the surface. He killed men
for a living without thinking
twice about some of their
deaths. Yet De Niro is able
to demonstrate an extreme
rationality in the character
in that his ultimate goal is to
provide for his family and only
kill when he has to, without
celebrating
the
deaths
of
his victims. His decisions
throughout the movie are to
protect those he loves and they
ultimately backfire toward the
end of his life, when he ends
up alone as a consequence of
the violent actions of his past.
He is forced to ask if it was all
really worth it.
Too
often
we
watch
movies
as
an
isolated
experience,
nothing
more
than an extended amusement
park ride, meant for pure
entertainment
over
the
course
of
a
few
hours.
However,
movies
often
provide clues about society
and the state of the culture
at their time. The movies that
are able to transcend time,
however,
have
the
ability
to shape society and set its
course for the future rather
than reflect what society is.
Cinema is also unique in that
it can open up new lenses
and perspectives on life in
ways no other medium can.
Nowhere else can you live
through someone else like in
the theater and understand
their struggles, motivations
and most of all emotions —
without driving to the closest
theater and buying a movie
ticket, that is. Literature and
physical artwork can paint
a picture in a viewer’s head,
but there is something to be
said for the ability to see a
thousand
mixed
emotions
in a character’s expression
and, in a literal sense, see
the picture the creator of the
work intended.
As the rising generation,
our ability to propel the
future depends on an ability
to see the present clearly
from
different
points
of
view. Cinema can provide
the opportunity to do that,
and actually do so in a way
that
captures
attention
and passion, if we have the
patience to let it. By showing
interest
and
appreciation
for
cinema
that
moves
culture forward, artists with
revolutionary ideas can be
given a platform and continue
to benefit the world around
us. In the world of short-
form media — from news on
Twitter to communication
via Instagram memes — it is
easy to get sucked into the
short-term rush of instant
entertainment.
While
this
form of media consumption
may have some effect on
society, much of the time
there is little thought given
to what those effects may
be. As a result such mediums
do not drive us forward as a
people. Netflix was the only
company willing to fund “The
Irishman,”
an
indication
of the course that today’s
audience is paving. So as I
write this article from the
sudden all-knowing position
of a college student who has
seen one Robert De Niro
movie, I end with an equally
pompous,
but
nonetheless
true, reminder to my peers:
Art can only continue to
shape the world around us if
we allow it to.
EASHETA SHAH | COLUMN
Stop and smell the coffee
FROM THE DAILY
Resist disillusionment in the wake of the Iowa caucus
O
n Feb. 3, millions of Americans, including many in the University of Michigan
community, tuned in to watch the first votes of the 2020 election cycle. The
Iowa caucus was supposed to be a night that provided clarity in the crowded
race for the Democratic nomination and demonstrated Democrats’ first step in their quest
to win back the White House. Instead, Iowa provided more questions than answers as an
under-tested app severely delayed the results of the caucuses and underscored concerns
about Iowa’s spot as the nation’s first primary.
Results from the caucuses were
delayed by almost 24 hours as a
hastily built app, meant to expedite
the tabulation process, made
reporting more difficult. Iowa
Democratic Party spokesperson
Mandy McClure clarified that
“the app did not go down,” but
users at the precincts said they
were unable to connect to the app’s
central server, and phone lines
were so busy that in some cases
the workers were on hold for more
than an hour.
Iowa is not the only state
pushing to implement technology
into the election cycle. West
Virginia,
Oregon,
Colorado,
California and Utah are all at
different stages of testing new
remote voting systems, despite
strong warnings from leading
cybersecurity experts. However,
the decision to use an app in the
Iowa caucus showed a significant
failure in judgement. The app was
the result of a $60,000 contract
with a software company called
Shadow Inc., and was put together
in a matter of months. In such a
critical and contested election year,
it’s shocking the Iowa Democratic
Party decided to implement an
untested, vulnerable app that could
have jeopardized the integrity of
the election.
The fiasco in Iowa has also
reignited the debate over Iowa’s
role as the first state to vote in
the primaries and the caucus
system in general. Since 1972,
Iowa has been the first state to
vote for both the Democratic and
Republican nominees. Being first
gives Iowa outsized influence in
the nomination process, as well as
a massive financial windfall, with
campaigns spending on everything
from TV ads to hotel rooms.
Additionally, there are some
valid concerns about the fairness
and accessibility of the caucuses.
Just as the outdated nature of the
caucus system has been mentioned
across the country, many voters
have voiced their desire for a more
representative state to begin the
primary process as the Democratic
Party stands to represent a wide
swath of minority groups. 90
percent of Iowans are white, much
higher than the national average
of 60 percent. The Iowa caucus
is also held on a specific night at a
specific time with no exceptions.
There are no early voting or
absentee ballots for the caucus, and
people are forced to spend hours
participating in them. This can
be difficult for parents, minimum
wage workers, students and people
with disabilities. This year the Iowa
Democratic Party tried to address
these problems by adding caucuses
in places like nursing homes while
implementing satellite caucuses
— including one in Ann Arbor.
However, questions still remain
about whether the caucus system
should continue, given that its
structural inflexibility can be a
barrier to many voters. States like
Nevada, which also has a caucus,
have taken even more proactive
steps to address these problems by
instituting early voting and putting
caucus sites in casinos to give
casino workers the chance to vote.
It is changes like these that could
help make nominating a candidate
more fair and democratic.
With the Iowa caucus debacle
remaining
unresolved,
the
Democratic National Convention
(DNC) head was forced to call for
a recanvass, causing the race to
remain in largely the same place
as it was before voting began
in
the
immediate
aftermath.
Despite the claims that Iowa is
unrepresentative and that it only
has 41 delegates up for grabs, its
significance has persisted. Iowa
has long been used to filter the
field and narrow the choices for
the following primary states, and
for Iowa to signal to the rest of the
country which candidates have
support and momentum that can
be used in the general election.
The quintessential Iowa success
story comes from 2008, when then-
Senator Barack Obama increased
his profile by winning 37.6 percent
of the vote in Iowa, a result
which propelled him through
the primaries and into the White
House.
While
candidate
Pete
Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend,
Ind., ultimately boosted his profile
by winning one more delegate than
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the
results and delegate allocation
shifted multiple times in the days
following the caucuses and both
Buttigieg and Sanders have since
asked for a recount of select caucus
sites. Buttigieg and Sanders each
declaring victory eliminated the
opportunity for a clear frontrunner
to take hold before the race moved
on to the New Hampshire primary
on Feb. 11.
While New Hampshire only
has 24 delegates in contention, its
results stood in as the Iowa of the
2020 election, helping determine
which candidates have support as
the primary schedule heats up —
again, Buttigieg and Sanders. The
failure of the Iowa caucus leaves
the race crowded for voters making
decisions in early voting states,
such as California, where 15 million
ballots were sent by mail the same
day Iowa voting commenced.
The results of the primaries
moving
forward
will
be
increasingly called into question
and dragged out due to the
failure of Iowa out of the gate.
The Democrats cannot afford
any more mistakes in the coming
primaries and caucuses. On Super
Tuesday, one-third of the total
delegates are available, as 16 states
and territories will take to the
ballot booths. A crowded field of
candidates into New Hampshire
and a close race into Super
Tuesday hinders the decisiveness
that the primaries are meant
to show to voters moving into a
pivotal year for the Democrats.
The DNC’s failure in the Iowa
caucus reflects the need for
precision and care moving forward.
The purpose of early primaries
and caucuses is to signal
to the coming states which
candidates have widespread
support. We, as The Michigan
Daily Editorial Board, call for
greater
transparency
from
the DNC and more careful
consideration
of
how
the
primaries are to be carried
out. Through this, we can
ensure the voices of the nation
are heard and represented
equally. Despite the setback in
the Iowa caucus, we encourage
our
readers
to
remain
politically informed and not to
let this disappointment deter
them from exercising their
political vote. Further, we also
urge voters to resist becoming
disillusioned with the electoral
system and to continue to stay
engaged and up to date ahead
of the Michigan primary on
March 10.
A
s a self-proclaimed cof-
fee
enthusiast,
I’ve
always had an inces-
sant curiosity for coffee shops
— the people, the atmosphere
and of course, the coffee. The
process of examining the menu
of roasts, consulting a barista to
validate my decision and sipping
my selection over good conver-
sation is my definition of heav-
en. Unfortunately, as school gets
busier, heaven becomes a little
harder to recreate, and good
conversation is replaced by a
hurried “please,” “thank you”
and “have a good one.” Coffee
culture as a whole has taken on
a new meaning where the only
connection we’re seeking is the
WiFi.
College has taken my caffeine
intake to new heights, and I’ve
learned to embrace my routine,
from the cup that starts my
day off to the unapologetic
second and third coffee runs at
the UMMA Cafe or Espresso
Royale. I’m hardly alone in my
tendencies: Nearly 22 percent
of all college student beverage
consumption is coffee, and of
students who drink “pick-me-
up” beverages, 52.4 percent
prefer
coffee.
Whether
it’s
staying holed up at a corner
table
of
the
ever-crowded
Starbucks on State Street for
hours on end or running in and
out of the store gulping down a
Venti-sized drink, trips to the
coffee shop have simply become
an intermediate between the
person and their beverage of
choice. Even the role of baristas
has been diminished to acting as
a middleman. As if headphones
and hectic schedules weren’t
enough to distract customers
from
engaging
with
their
surroundings,
mobile
orders
have granted us a far more
convenient way to minimize
any face to face interactions.
With the introduction of mobile
orders now making up about
30 percent of all Starbucks
transaction
payments,
any
potential
barista-customer
conversation has come to a
screeching halt. I too, the coffee
aficionado myself, am guilty
of giving in to the quick swipe
on my phone, too preoccupied
with chemistry homework to
be bothered to walk the five
steps toward the register. It
took me several occurrences of
picking up the wrong drink and
being envious of the occasional
customer who was on a first-
name basis with their favorite
barista to realize that I have a
problem — never with my intake
of course, but with my method.
In all the madness that is
college, I realized I’ve been
cheating myself out of the coffee
culture I was once so excited
about
experiencing
here
in
Ann Arbor. I’m surrounded by
coffee joints at every corner,
but there’s something missing:
I’m in the coffee shop, but
I’m not all there. None of us
are. We’re too engrossed in
textbooks to notice the barista
calling our order. We’re too
consumed by deadlines to hear
the girl standing in front of us
ask, “Is anyone sitting there?”
The campus coffee shops have
become a place where heads are
down, and people are not really
people.
But this is not how coffee
shops are meant to function.
Coffee shops are an example
of what urban sociologist Ray
Oldenburg considers a third
place. Third places, like bars,
bookstores and cafes, are meant
to be an escape from work and
home life. They foster a sense
of
community,
spark
lively
conversation
and
encourage
creative interaction between
the people inhabiting the space.
Per this theory analyzed in
Oldenburg’s book, “The Great
Good Place,” people must find
their balance between their
domestic place, their productive
place and their socially inclusive
place.
Leading
a
healthy
lifestyle suggests harmonizing
these
“three
realms
of
experience.” For me, that means
Mary Markley Residence Hall,
the Chemistry Building and
Espresso
Royale.
Oldenburg
emphasizes the importance of
differentiation between these
three spaces, and therein lies the
problem. Markley Hall becomes
so socially inclusive it seems
to expel a need for the third
place. The long hours of back-
to-back lab, lecture and study
group
make
the
Chemistry
Building seem too much like
home. And the coffee shop run
ends up becoming a quick fuel
recharge of the exhausting two-
model system Oldenburg warns
against.
College
students
have
become so reliant on coffee as
a source of caffeine that we
lose sight of the rich culture
coffee shops provide us with.
We forget that it can serve as a
third place, as it does in so many
countries. A coffee shop in the
Netherlands would mock the
“to-go” order endlessly. There,
caffeination occurs gradually,
in
small
sips,
surrounded
by good company — which
sounds much more relaxing
than downing a triple shot in
the Hatcher Library reference
room staring at an outline for
a nine-page philosophy paper.
Third places are meant to serve
as a leveler where inclusivity
thrives, where workers and
non-working individuals tread
the same ground and where the
purpose of gathering is “pure
sociability.” The characteristics
of third places are so vividly
present in coffee shops, if only
we had the time to notice them
and engage in them.
Of course, I understand that
as college students, we don’t
have the luxury of being able
to spend two hours over a dark
roast pour-over, reminiscing
about life. We’re busy, and for
us, coffee is just a means. The
constant need for a pick-me-up
is ingrained as part of the college
student experience, but it’s time
we reclaim our favorite coffee
shops on campus. It’s time we
reinstate coffee culture as a sit-
down experience. We need that
third place to unwind from our
busy lives, so why not seek out
that relief in something that is
already so heavily incorporated
into daily routine? Next time
you’re having an “I need coffee
in an IV moment,” take a second
to engage in that superfluous
conversation with the barista.
Glance up from your textbooks
once in a while and notice the
regulars. Peel away from your
laptop screen and admire your
home away from home. For
your own sake, stop and smell
the coffee.
Easheta Shah can be reached at
shaheash@umich.edu.
The Democrats
cannot afford any
more mistakes
in the coming
primaries.
Arjun Lama can be reached at
arjunl@umich.edu.
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