December 14, 2016 | The Clarion
Arts & Life
Page 3
'Arrival' is Clarion
pick for best film
of 2016
By Michael Heiskell
Opinion Editor
2016 has been a hot mess of a year. Socially,
politically, and even mentally. One would think
the perennial wet blanket of a year would have
sullenly draped itself over the film industry as
well. However, 2016 has been a fun and event
ful year in the film industry that has produced
a lot of memorable and exciting features. I’ve
watched a lot of movies this year, and there is
one in particular that I think represents the best
of2016.
When using blanket words like ‘best,’ one has
to consider a lot. What exactly defines best? Isn’t
the movie going experience supposed to be fun
and subjective? Well, in my opinion, one just has
to look a little back on the history of film to see
why my choice can be called the best.
The Lumiere Brothers kicked the film industry
off by startling audiences with a train barrel
ing towards the camera. Films originally were
meant to be a spectacle. It wasn’t long before
they transitioned into an entertainment and
moneymaking powerhouse. Films of the early
Hollywood era were all about making money
and making people happy. It was the birth of
the arthouse cinema scene in Russia and France
that truly convinced people that film could be a
conduit into the human condition. Films really
could have something to say and people were
starting to realize it. They could move us, inspire
us, and even change our ideologies. Famous film
critic Roger Ebert once referred to films as a
great empathy machine. Giving us insight into
a world and people we didn’t understand, but
maybe now we could. Films can help us connect
and understand each other.
A film that can be categorized as the best in
any given year has to embody all of these traits.
In my opinion, the film “Arrival” has all of these
unique qualities that make a film stand out. It
is a spectacle film that truly moved and amazed
me. It had some of the best writing of the year
and a truly outstanding message.
Film became an art as a byproduct of people
starting to understand acting and film direction.
“Arrival” was a powerhouse in both categories.
It’s an exciting, smart, and powerful film that
doesn’t remove itself from its audience. It helps
that it’s incredibly entertaining and fun as well.
I highly suggest that people go and see this
movie because it could not have been more
timely. We live in a world where people have
prejudices and are suspicious of each other. This
is a movie that shows the power of language and
how it connects people. The beautiful message
is only helped by powerful film making and
stirring performances.
14 years in,
Annual WLEE
cookie party
still a hit
By Jessica Wiegandt
Arts & Life Editor
Each year, WLEE professor Robert Dye hosts
the annual department cookie party, inviting
students, friends and alumni to spread some
holiday spirit. This year was no different as about
50 people gathered at Dye’s house on Sunday,
Dec. 11,2016.
Dye has been hosting the cookie party for 14
years now, with the exception of last December,
when he was in Hong Kong for the International
Sea Kayak Educators Symposium. Each year,
those invited are encouraged to make, bake or
take favorite holiday cookies. Usually at the end
of the evening, a competition is held to deter
mine the best cookie of the night, however there
wasn’t one this year due to the crowd.
“It’s so great to see everyone again,” sopho
more Kate Stephens said. “A lot of these people
have been on Immersion or I just haven’t seen
this semester. It’s a super fun way to catch up.”
Dye had the Immersion team for next semes
ter, Spring 2017, come half an hour early to the
party to meet up and give updates for the start
of the semester. The team next semester will be
led by Dye and has nine students. “We’ve had
a few changes,” Dye said to the group, “We’re
going to push back our departure date for the
21-day excursion so we can attend BANFF
Film Festival.”
Originally, the group was going to leave the
Friday before BANFF Film Festival, which is a
popular outdoor film tour that Brevard hosts each
spring. Dye chose to depart after the festival was
over, meaning the group will return on April 9.
The party was well attended with the current
Immersion team represented, as well as many
previous WLEE students from 101 classes and
skills classes, such as rock climbing and white-
water kayaking. “It’s a great way to get people
to mix,” freshman Sam Munson said, “As a
freshman I get to meet a lot of the upperclass
men students and alumni. Plus there’s cookies
and who doesn’t like cookies?”
This tradition for eating cookies and building
the community within the WLEE Department
seems to be a popular one. “It’s my pleasure to
host this,” Dye said. “We have a lot of fun here
and it’s always great to see everyone connect,
professors, students, friends and alumni.”