The JuntoJanuary 2020

I had form'd most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the Junto - Benjamin Franklin

1

2

“Prosper Clothing Co. is an independent design company out of PA. We strive to make the best looking designs for apparel of all sorts while you Live and Prosper. We are founded on the belief of be-ing stylish, true-to-self, and motivated. Our name is more to us than just a brand, It's a lifestyle. Starting in early 2018 I wanted to create original and stylish streetwear, for people with similar interests and am-bitions to mine. I started Pros-per Clothing Co. with my love for designing clothing and urban streetwear and I make it for the people who are constantly hustling and love fashion. This love has enabled me to begin a new project, which provides the homeless with our shirts and hoodies via fundraising, so that they can blend into society without being outcasted.” - prosperclothingco.com

Junto: What is Prosper?

Adam: It is my online clothing brand, where people can buy shirts, hoodies, hats, stickers, and more. 

Junto: How did you come up with the name?

Adam: To prosper is to become successful and to flourish. On the website is my defini-tion of it- to flourish in your own element.

Junto: When did you start Prosper?

Adam: At the end of winter/early spring of 2018.

Junto: What inspired you to start it/why did you start? 

Adam: I was doing a project in my Graph-ics 1 class about creating my own fictitious business. I really enjoyed the idea behind it and making designs, so I decided to make it real.

Junto: What are the steps to creating a clothing item?

Adam: It depends on if it is a shirt or a hat. In simpler words, I have to pick how big my canvas will be. I will have an idea for a de-sign, and I sketch it out on paper first. Then, I print it or put it onto the computer. I always show people and look for ways to improve my designs before I put it out. 

Junto: How many hours a week do you work on the website?

Adam: When I first started working on the website, I was on vacation, and I would go on every single day. Now, I don’t tally my hours, but I put in so much work and time into it. 

Junto: What is the hardest/your least favor-ite part about the process?

Adam: The hardest part is putting so much effort into doing something, even though it’s

not showing immediate return. I know at one point it’s going to pay off at some point, but that’s definitely the hardest point. 

Junto: Would you like to continue to work in the graphic/fashion design field after high school?

Adam: Yes, I do. I plan to attend Millers-ville University to continue my graphic de-sign career.

Junto: What is your dream goal for your company?

Adam: To have fun and to make clothing that people like and enjoy. It doesn’t have to blow up, but as long as I can supply to the market that is there, that’s all I want to do.

ProsperThe JuntoCover Story January 2020

Mallika Pal- Contributing Editor

By Adam Pysher

3

Criticism

We did not like the modern ideas integrated into the movie. We felt that Amy’s speech and ideas about marriage were not of the time. In the movie, Amy only accepted the proposal after a speech of anger and defiance that reflected Jo’s character more. In Alcott’s novel, Jo’s even-tual husband, Professor Bhaer, is older, not the most attractive, German and soft spoken. Louis Garrel’s Bhaer was definitely soft spoken, intelli-gent, and a man that Jo could really love.  However, the movie portrayed him as younger and more handsome. We think that Bhaer was sup-posed to be the opposite of Laurie- older, quietly intelligent, unattractive, poor, and self-sufficient. 

Final Review

When we at the movie theater, we saw elderly ladies, mothers and daughters, and groups of girls like us. The book and movie appeal to many people and over the generations so many have loved the book. The movie captured and brought out this spirit and love. The movie was overall was one of our favorites we have seen recently. It was very similar to the book in many ways and brought us back into the book we both loved. The scenes were magical. It is a classic tale of sisterhood and growing up. It will make you laugh, cry and gasp. For us, it was seeing the charac-ters we enjoyed so much come to life. It is a wonderful movie to watch this winter and we highly suggest it.

Little Women, Big HitThe JuntoPoints of View January 2020

Rachel Arzoumanian ~ Copy Editor

Points of View

Little Women, a novel by Louisa May Alcott, is a classic tale that has been told for decades. It is a story of early feminism, strength, com-ing to age, and womanhood. It has been adapted for the screen in 12 television specials and six movies, including Greta Gerwig’s, made in 2019. As long-time fans of the Little Women, we decided to check out the Oscar-nominated film, starring break-out stars such as Saoirose

Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, and Florence Pugh, as well as old favorites, like Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and Emma Watson.

Colette Potter ~ Contributing Writer

Praise

Little Women made us cry- multiple times! It was filmed beautifully. The lighting and the angles were stellar. When a cheerful scene came on, the entire picture was bathed in a warm yellow light. When a somber scene came on, a gray, dismal light covered the setting. The mu-sic, all classical and instrumental, was beautiful, and perfectly expressed the emotion of each scene. 

We saw the girls develop into their own person, distinct from the other and where their lives took them. The actresses were spectacular at por-traying these beloved characters and made them come alive. The same actors played the girls over a seven-year span of their lives. However, this worked. The character development was spot-on. Saoirose Ronan played Jo perfectly. Jo’s adventurous attitude and tomboyishness were dis-played well. Emma Watson and Meryl Streep did the most they could with their relatively limited roles. Eliza Scanlen played the perfect Beth: timid, gentle, and kind. 

4

My name is Branden Cunard, and Australia is burning. It’s turning into a continent full of ash. Precious native species and wildlife are perishing by the hundreds of millions, some even climbing to the top of the endangered species list. This, however, is an act of human defiance. A group of humans, our very own species, is at fault for this horrific incident. I am writing this to anyone who stumbles upon my article; act now. Australia may be wiped off of the map, and these roaring fires will not be stopping any time soon. It will continue to burn. 

Every tree, koala, kangaroo, and even our own humans, are in grave danger. Koalas, for example, have become functionally extinct, which means they are not necessarily extinct, but have little-to-no purpose in the ecological and biodiversity chain. Koalas used to be a highly populated native species in Australia, and to think that in less than a month, they became functionally extinct due to hazardous wildfires. 

Not only are Koalas growing scarce, the native Camel population in Australia is on the government’s hit-list. Because of water being such a needed resource for living creatures on the continent, camels are becoming a dwindling population, but not how a normal person would think. The Australian government has issued a genocide-like mass killing of 10,000 camels. Marksmen, who should be labeled as assassins rather than a marksman, were ordered to kill these animals on sight. Simply put, the human populations are asserting their unnecessary dominance in this time of terror, when they should focus on caring for any living organism left. To think this series of wildfires has grown big enough to the extent of slaughtering a grave number of species solely for drinking water. 

There is also a series of roads near the town of Batlow where, on the side of the road in what used to be grasslands, thousands of dead and burnt animals lay at rest. Massive amounts of animals, who had such precious and peaceful lives, burnt to a crisp and just so happen to be in the side of the road as if the fires swept them up like they were nothing but a mere speck. This is a worldwide problem that needs all hands on deck in order to be solved. Governments around the world paid billions of dollars for a historical church, but only a few countries can donate even a little with the trillions that they supposedly have? It makes me laugh and cry sometimes. Australia needs our help. They are burning, and it’s up to us a planet to come together. Wake up, and smell the aroma of a burned nation.

A Nation on Fire

The JuntoPlaces January 2020

Branden Cunard ~ POV Editor

Australia’s dry season this year has led to an unprecedented amount of bushfires, which have been destroying the country since September 2019.

Photo from CBC.ca

5

New year, new movies! There are an average of 700 films that come out every year in America. With that many movies, there is bound to be something coming out this year for everyone! Take a

look at some of the highly-anticipated films of 2020.

*All synopses belong to IMDB*

Mulan- A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. A live-action feature film based on Disney's 'Mulan.'

Dolittle- A physician discovers that he can talk to animals.

Black Widow- A film about Natasha Ro-manoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War.

The Turning- A young governess is hired by a man who has become responsible for his young nephew and niece after their parents' deaths. A modern take on Henry James' novella "The Turn of the Screw."

Emma- Based on the classic Jane Austen novel.

Birds of Prey- After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Ca-nary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

Wonder Woman 1984- Plot unknown. A sequel to the 2017 superhero film 'Wonder Woman.'

Like a Boss- Two friends with very different ideals start a beauty company together. One is more practical while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle.

Eternals- The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.

The Grudge- Disheartened since her ex-husband's affair, Grace Waters feels restored by a new romance. But when secrets erode her short-lived joy, Grace's vulnerable side turns violent.

Tenet- An action epic revolving around in-ternational espionage, time travel and evolu-tion.

A Fall From Grace- Disheartened since her ex-husband's affair, Grace Waters feels re-stored by a new romance. But when secrets erode her short-lived joy, Grace's vulnerable side turns violent.

The Lovebirds- A young couple (Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani) is pulled into a bi-zarre (and hilarious) murder mystery. Work-ing to clear their names and solve the case, they need to figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

A Quiet Place Part II- Following the events at home, the Abbott family now face the terrors of the outside world. Forced to ven-ture into the unknown, they realize the crea-tures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path.

No Time to Die- James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix

Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with danger-ous new technology.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife - When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connec-tion to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Stargirl- A boy becomes intrigued by a mys-terious and quirky student named Stargirl and spends his time trying to know more about her.

Godzilla vs Kong- As the gigantic Kong meets the unstoppable Godzilla, the world watches to see which one of them will be-come King of the Monsters.

I Still Believe- The true-life story of Chris-tian music star Jeremy Camp and his jour-ney of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope.

West Side Story- An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of dif-ferent ethnic backgrounds.

20 MoviesThe JuntoPoints Of View January 2020

Alania Mariano- Photography Editor

Coming Out In 2020

6

This month brought a host of new things to Easton Area High School-a new semester, new classes and new rules. There are many opinions on the cell phone rules in place at our school. When the Junto staff first found out about these rules, we were shocked and disgruntled. In school, our phones are our digital escape from the demands of high school life. Before the new rule, which stipulates that we cannot use our phones at any time in the classroom, was put into place, we’d listen to music in class, send a quick text, take a snapchat before the bell rang, or watch YouTube during free time. 

The thing is, these rules have always been in place but have never been properly enforced. If they had been enforced all along, there would not have been such negative feelings toward them. Essentially, change is hard. Cell phones are a form of in-stant gratification and allow us to break from taxing school work and forced socialization. When we get used to freedom, we ex-pect it, and get angry when it’s taken away.

Strangely, many students who were formerly angry have become content, and maybe even grateful for the rules. They remove the

temptation of using them when you are supposed to be working. Since phone usage is punished, we have no choice but to be pro-ductive. The rules also force us to socialize during periods of downtime, which some may like and some may not.

However, there is still a big discrepancy over the banning of cell phones before class starts and during homeroom. It is nice to be able to wind down and listen to music or scroll through Insta-gram before you face the rest of the day. Or, sometimes you need to shoot out a quick text while sitting in class before the bell rings. It just does not make sense that we have to be off our phones when we won’t be learning or doing school work any-ways. There needs to be a clear cut reason for this other than it just makes things easier for administration to control our phone usage.

What do you think of the cell phone usage crack-down? Does it increase or work ethic, or take away our freedom of communica-tion and relaxation?

The Junto January 2020Points of View

We Know What We’reTalking About

7

At the end of 2015, Disney and Lucasfilms

released the first movie of the new Star Wars

Trilogy-- a movie which acted as a

launchpad for Star Wars to reach a new gen-

eration of young people, as well as maintain

the attention of fans who grew up with the

original trilogies. On December 20th, 2019,

the trilogy wrapped up with the release of

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The film was met with mixed reviews, as is

every major movie, but for many hardcore

Star Wars fans, the verdict was the same--

AMAZING! Even fans who were less than

thrilled with the previous films walked out of

the theaters in awe. Longtime viewers loved

the references to older movies, and newer

followers fell in love with the characters and

watched a new generation of characters’ sto-

ries wrap.

Personally, I was a little less excited with the

movie as a whole after I watched it for the

first time. I went in with a set of expectations

and a list of things I was hoping to see come

out of the movie, and it became evident

early on that my hopes wouldn’t be fulfilled.

After that, I watched the movie through a

more critical standpoint, but barring a few

camera shots that appeared blurry, the qual-

ity of the film was undeniably high, as any-

one would expect from a Star Wars film. 

By the time I was in my theater seat to view

it a second time, I was ready to take a step

back and just enjoy the film from an objec-

tive point of view, and it worked! I fell com-

pletely in love with the storyline and the way

the character’s developed. It went from one

of my least favorite movies to one of my top

three, and while nothing beats The Force

Awakens in my book, The Rise of Skywalker

was a fantastic way to close out Disney’s first

Star Wars trilogy.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

The JuntoPoints of View January 2020

The Movie Trilogy That Swept the Galaxy

Ally Fuller ~ Editor-in-Chief

8

Hits and MissesThe JuntoPoints of View November 2019

Lizzo won Time Magazine’s Entertainer of the Year (and killed her performance at the Grammy’s!)

Billie Eilish won all four major categories at the Grammy Awards!

Suzanne Collins announced that she is writing a prequel to her Hunger Games trilogy, taking place sixty-four years before the originals.

To kick off the New Year, tensions with Iran were running high, which sparked rumors of another World War.

Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash, along with eight others, including his daughter, Gianna.

The Coronavirus made it’s way into the United States.

Staff of The Junto

Editor in Chief - Ally Fuller

Advisor- Jeannine N Capecci

People- Sera Seta

Places- kellie painter

Points of View- branden cunard

Photography- Alania mariano

Copy Editor- Rachel Arzoumanian

Issue Contributors

Colette Potter

Mallika Pal

grammy.comNBCnews.com

9