Many Mumblings With Makayla

In a world where society is ruled by social media engagement and algorithmic programming, Director Jeff Orlowski's "The Social Dilemma" pulls back the curtain we have used to shield ourselves from the price of our lives in the digital world. The documentary was released in 2020, conveniently around the time when just about everyone in the country was glued to their phones. It complies interviews with social media experts that highlight the dangers and manipulation tactics used by our favorite platforms.  I am a firm believer that social media can do a lot of good when used properly. I may be a little biased in that opinion due to the fact that I know when I need to put my screens down and just live in the moment. This film, while clearly dramatized, genuinely revealed to me just how harmful social media can be. So many individuals can be targeted by certain algorithms that spread misinformation and hate, creating poor social media experiences. Subconsciously, I am aware o...

I can't wait for this summer vacation! For some reason, this semester has felt like it's been 2 years long already. Even though we've had multiple breaks, I am absolutely drained from school and need a 3 month long break from this place.  Thankfully, I have a lot planned for the summer. I say a lot, but will most likely end up sitting in bed doing nothing for hours. My goal this summer is to NOT do that as much...I'll let you know how that works out for me later.  A super exciting event that will happen this summer is my birthday! It's on July 6th and I will be turning 20 years old. I don't exactly know what I want to do for my birthday, but I have ideas. I always usually celebrate with my family on one day and with my friends another. Last year, I had a big party where all my family members came over and my dad made tacos. I don't think I really want that this year, but I love parties and hanging out so I'd be happy either way. This year, I think I want...

In a world where traditional news outlets are fighting to keep the attention of younger audiences, TikTok has emerged as an unexpected but powerful player in the realm of news outreach. What started off as a platform for dance trends and funny videos has rapidly evolved into the go-to source of information for millions, specifically Gen Z.  The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but it’s undeniable. Scroll through TikTok today, and in between comedy skits and beauty tutorials, you’ll find users breaking down Supreme Court rulings, live streaming debates or providing real-time updates on global events. Whether it’s the war in Ukraine or political scandals, TikTok users get it all with a few quick scrolls and searches.  There are a few reasons why this method of receiving news works: 1. Traditional news can feel overwhelming. TikTok thrives on being concise, offering digestible updates that fit seamlessly into a world that gravitates toward short attention spans. 2.  ...

Here at ONU, we have a fraternity called TAP, or Theta Alpha Phi, for those involved in the theatre department. TAP events help fund the New York trip the seniors take at the end of the year to audition for casting directors. I was inducted last year as the only freshman because of the amount of credits I came in with. The actual induction ceremony was...strange to say the least, but definitely a lot of fun.  Since then, we've hosted some fun events like themed cabarets where students sign up with a song they want to sing that fits the theme. It's all meant to be fun and we've gotten to see some pretty entertaining performances. We also sell flowers for the family members and friends of students involved in the shows we put on to buy. You can choose to buy them one or two flowers and write them a nice note that we deliver straight to them backstage. Usually we try to host events for the entire ONU community to attend or participate in, but this year has been extremely hard ...

We are officially two days away from Easter Break! Technically only one day because I'm leaving after work on Thursday, but we're almost there. It's hard to believe that once we're back from break there will only be three weeks left of school before finals week. But, that is the furthest thing from my mind right now because I'm so excited to go home and see my family! All three of my sisters will be home this weekend plus my niece and nephew, so it'll be a full house, which I prefer. Family can be a lot sometimes and I'm sure they'll drive me crazy in the three short days I'll be home, but I love when we're all able to get together. When you're the youngest child, you don't cherish those moments when all of your siblings still live with you and when they move out it gets so lonely. It feels even more lonely now that I'm also moved out and two hours away from home. So the times when we can all be in one house for even a weekend are the...

Two weeks ago, our social media class attended the 2025 Social Media Workshop in McIntosh. We got to listen to a number of speakers from various backgrounds in social media and marketing.  We started the day off with our first speaker, Jason Therrien who is the founder and CEO of thunder::tech. He gave his presentation on how social media has changed the trajectory in which we get information and how to use it to our advantage. Since it was early in the morning, the energy was a little down, but Jason was able to keep everyone engaged in his presentation and made it fun to listen to with his charisma and enthusiasm. Funny enough, that is a skill he said was crucial to master within the world of social media. If you cannot keep your viewers engaged with your content, they'll immediately forget about you and continue scrolling.  My favorite speaker of the day was definitely Rebecca Jenkins who spoke to us about AI and how it's being implemented into most workplaces and is becomi...

When you watch a YouTube video, how many advertisements can you count? Does it feel like you watch more ads than the actual duration of your video? In recent years, this seems to be true for most YouTube watchers. This is why a significant portion of viewers on the platform have resorted to using ad blocking software in order to block ads entirely to get straight to their videos with no interruptions.  The issue with this is that it deprives creators of the pay they'd earn from the advertisements specifically put in their videos for people to watch. But believe me, I get it. I hate ads when I just want to watch my videos and constantly get advertisement after advertisement, especially when they're unskippable. But, the money does go to the creators who spent time recording and editing their videos for their viewers. For a lot of people these days, YouTube is their only livelihood and the only means they earn to support themselves. Sometimes that 30-second ad is what puts food o...

This last weekend I racked up 17 hours of work in our scene shop for the theatre department. I know that doesn't seem like a lot, but for someone who can only work 4 hours a week because of school, it is a great amount of hours. The scene shop is where we build the sets for the shows we put on here at ONU. We do everything from building the sets and painting them, to hanging and focusing the lights where they're needed on the light plots and running cables for sound. Basically anything besides costuming (they have their own shop) that is necessary for the shows to be ready to go on stage happen in the scene shop.  We also set up and run any events that go on in the Freed Center, like Orange and Black Day, music events and lectures.  I've worked in the scene shop for almost 2 years now and have learned so much about scenery and the technical aspects of theatre. I can confidently say that I know how to work most of the tools we have, which I didn't really think was possib...

As most people know, LinkedIn is not a very valuable platform for those in the performing and visual arts and only really works for people who go into careers such as business or STEM. However, there are aspects of LinkedIn that can be utilized in a way that does work for us Theatre folk.  Networking Opportunities LinkedIn allows artists to connect with other creatives, directors, producers, curators, gallery owners and professionals across the performing and visual arts industries. It can be difficult to make those connections off of only LinkedIn, but it is possible! It's a platform made for discovering and reaching out to potential collaborators, whether that means partnering on projects, performances, exhibitions or commissions. LinkedIn can be a direct line to institutions or companies in the arts world. It helps artists build relationships with galleries, production houses, museums and performance venues, who may be scouting for new talent or collaborations. Many ev...

Don't be thrown off by the title because I'm a little bit of a dummy too when it comes to Shakespeare. This year is the first time I am taking a deep-dive into his works. I am currently taking Acting III: Shakespeare, which is all about...well, Shakespeare. I started off deciding I didn't like it because I just didn't understand it very much, but now that I've taken the time to explore the language and characters, I can confidently say I like it a lot more than before.  In class, I've been studying the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" the most because I was assigned a soliloquy from it and did intensive work on the character I was playing, Helena, and the play itself.  I also have been cast in the Fall Shakespeare play, "As You Like It" so I will continue on my learning journey next semester. Okay, here's the fun part. I'm gonna give you all a crash course on Shakespeare's plays and who he was. William Shakespeare was born Apr...