Welcome to the feature that poses three questions to students regarding works of art or culture they’ve recently enjoyed and provides us with insight as to why we should (or shouldn’t) check them out. Freshman Matthew Stevens (‘29) and Sophomore Ella Budelli (‘28) weighed in on the questions below:
1) What is one new idea that you’ve heard recently that has you thinking…
Matthew Stevens ‘29:
“An idea that has me thinking is the fact that the US has only been going for around 300 years which isn’t super long compared to other dynasties in our life. My history teacher, Ms. Kelly, brought it up and it had me wondering if we would last longer than other nations in the past. When you think about civilizations like the Roman Empire, which lasted over 1,000 years, it raises the question of whether the United States will have that kind of longevity or if we’ll eventually face the same decline. It’s interesting to compare the strengths and weaknesses of our government with those historical examples and imagine what the future might hold.”
Ella Budelli ‘28:
Something that has me thinking is how the brain dreams at night and why dreams are sometimes remembered and sometimes not. It makes me wonder where the storyline of the dream is sprouted from. For example, sometimes my dreams feel like they are based on events from my day, but other times they seem completely random, almost like my brain is pulling pieces from memories I didn’t even know I had. I find it fascinating that scientists still don’t fully understand dreams, which makes me even more curious about how they actually work.
2) What is one work of art or piece of culture (can also be in technology or media etc) worth checking out (or not)?
Matthew Stevens ‘29:
“A piece of art that is interesting is the Ice Cream Museum in San Francisco. It is a very vibrant and colorful museum and after going I can say it is totally worth checking out. However it is only open Wednesday through Sunday from 10-5. Inside, there are interactive exhibits that make the museum feel playful and creative, like diving into a pool of sprinkles or walking through pastel-colored rooms filled with giant popsicles. The entire experience feels more like stepping into a piece of living art rather than just a normal museum visit.”
Ella Budelli ‘28:
The new Taylor Swift movie caught my interest that I feel is worth checking out. It shows the behind the scenes of her music video and it shows me how much work goes into making a single scene, let alone an entire movie. Watching it made me realize how many people are involved in the process, from costume designers to camera crews, and how much collaboration it really takes. It also gave me a new appreciation for her creativity and dedication, because what looks effortless on screen is actually the result of months of hard work.
3) One book or article you’ve read recently that caught your interest.
Matthew Stevens ‘29:
“A book I am reading right now that is very interesting is called I Hope You Will Be Very Happy by the previous UVA lacrosse coach. He goes in depth about different aspects of his coaching career, whether it’s about a “winning culture” or messages he sends to parents trying to help their kids. It’s very intriguing to hear insight from a very successful college lacrosse coach and a fantastic writer. What I find especially compelling is the way he connects lessons from the field to broader lessons in life, like resilience, teamwork, and how to build relationships both on and off the team. The book not only gives a glimpse into college sports at the highest level but also inspires me to think about how those lessons could apply to my own experiences.”
Ella Budelli ‘28:
The book, Hamlet, which I read recently for school, caught my interest because the way Ophelia had to drown because of the pressure on her can be seen in people’s everyday life and can be relevant to today’s issues to spread awareness. Her story reflects the impact of expectations and how overwhelming it can be when someone feels trapped by the roles society puts on them. Reading it made me think about how those pressures still exist today in different forms, and how important it is to recognize the struggles people face beneath the surface. It also made me appreciate how timeless Shakespeare’s themes are, since they still connect to issues we see in the modern world.
