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Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Vol. CLV, Issue 4
Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Whitman news since 1896

Whitman Wire

Illustration by Elena Kaminskaia

Can the artist be separated from their art?

Sydney Bellon, Columnist February 6, 2020

Michael Jackson was an incredible performer who made ingenious contributions to pop culture and the music industry, which gave him tremendous power. In the prime of his career he allegedly sexually abused...

Jane Kern (left) and Megan Gleason (right) recording their Harry Potter themed show,  Witching Hour, on KWCW

KWCW Spotlight: The Witching Hour

Varinia Balkins, Staff Reporter November 16, 2017

Walla Walla’s one-and-only Harry Potter themed radio show airs right from Whitman’s very own KWCW radio. Sundays, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., seniors Megan Gleason and Jane Kern co-host Whitman’s...

“Fantastic Beasts” an enchanting “Potter” prequel

Eric Anderson, A&E Editor December 1, 2016

Mixing the charms of its characters, an engaging narrative and grandiose visuals to strong effect, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” a prequel to the “Harry Potter” franchise, is an uncommonly...

Illustration by Meg Cuca

Living in a Post-Cynical Age

Nikolaus Kennelly, Columnist December 1, 2016

To the outcasts of the earth, blue-collar intellectuals, protégés of Salinger and Kerouac (if any of you are still around), know this: cynicism is dead. No longer is it fashionable to lament the decline...

Back to School, Back to Movies: Fall Movie Preview

Back to School, Back to Movies: Fall Movie Preview

Nathan Fisher September 11, 2014
Whether you are stressing out over papers or exams, worrying about life after college, or maybe you just need to get away from campus, here is my crash course list of the big fall movies that have potential to be a worthy substitute to alcohol and parties.
Violence in Harry Potter Community Calls for Barrier between Fans, Stars

Violence in Harry Potter Community Calls for Barrier between Fans, Stars

Anuradha Lingappa April 17, 2014
Wizard rock is a genre of music generated by the fan culture surrounding the "Harry Potter" books. Since J.K. Rowling and the books themselves are so universally popular, many fans look closer to home to find new ways to channel their love for the series. Wizard rock songs are all about things that happen in the Harry Potter universe. As a genre, it has gone through many different incarnations, and its uniting theme is the content, not sound or quality. Though wizard rock fills a very specific niche, the fandom is big enough that it has a huge cult following and fan base of its own. There have also been spin-off bands playing music about "Doctor Who," "Lost" and the "Hunger Games." Only a handful of bands actually get known for their music, but famous wizard rockers have between several hundred thousand and over a million subscribers on YouTube and other forms of social media.
Gisten Tavin and the Order of the Duck

Gisten Tavin and the Order of the Duck

Melina Hughes April 3, 2014
Students of Whitman College, led by Gisten Tavin, Ryan Bro and Sathan Nanny, have banded together in order to form Watercrossings's Army in support of our wronged president and in order to learn truly how to defend themselves from Whatshisname.

Chamber of TKErets Has Been Opened

Melina Hughes October 20, 2013
Watch out for the Brosalisk
Alternate Universe Spells Trouble

Alternate Universe Spells Trouble

Nathan Fisher September 26, 2013
So another Harry Potter movie? See how movie reviewer Nathan Fisher feels about that.

Trains: Pukerangi and Platform 9 3/4

Lindsey Holdren April 22, 2013

And so the family departed from Queenstown and began the journey to Dunedin. As fate would have it, upon leaving the hotel lobby I heard the same song - a girl band remake of ELO's Mr. Blue Sky - that...

Illustration: Ruth Hwang

‘Pirates! Band of Misfits’ brings nonstop laughs for all

Nathan Fisher May 3, 2012
After years of “maturing” and stretching way outside my comfort zone, this week I retreated back to my roots with the innocence of kids’ movies. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” a claymation wonder filled with clever wit and humor, was spot on.
Infographic by Sara Rasmussen

End of an era: The life, death of Harry Potter fan culture

Sara Rasmussen March 13, 2012
Wizard rock enthusiast Sara Rasmussen writes on the end of Harry Potter fan culture's golden age.
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