Social media has been a way for people to spread awareness for years. From Instagram to TikTok, there is a social media account for practically everything. West Albany has an abundance of social media accounts. 

     West Albany’s Bistro Instagram account is @Westabistro. Senior Jack Spencer runs the account, taking photos of the staff who run the Bistro and spreading awareness for Bistro-related activities. Being a staff member at the Bistro helps him create incredibly personalized content that shows what the Bistro is, and allows him to get candid photos of the Bistro staff. 

      “You can take as many pictures as you want of something, and compile as many photos as you want, but you’ll never get the same experience as living that,” Spencer said. “Even then, it’s still important to photograph memories, and keep those things alive so you can remember them.”

     While some use social media to highlight the more personal side of their activity or organization, others see it as a vehicle to spread information.  The class of 2027 account is run by sophomore Iris Rowe, who takes a rather professional approach to media creation. 

     “For the class of 2027, whenever we have events, like air guitar, black light dance, and prom, we make posts, and then just post them on there to spread information for students of the school,” Rowe said. “And we repost stuff for sports, clubs, and everything.”

WW: What was your favorite movie you have watched from the past school year, and why did it stand out?

Senior Eli Duquette: “The Matrix” was good. This guy named Neo [is] a hacker and goes through a bunch of hoops. There are some challenges. He eventually finds the truth, [which] completely changes the entire movie. 

WW: Which movie you have watched from the past school year do you think had the most impactful storyline, and why?

Junior Maia Ervin: “The Shawshank Redemption” is a prison movie about redemption, feeling trapped, and overcoming that. There’s a subplot about a long-term friendship between two men.

WW: Which actor or actress delivered the best performance from movies you have watched in the past school year, and what made it memorable?

Sophomore Amaryllis Zarzosa-Grier: Gregory Peck. He played Atticus in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. I thought he was a great actor because he completely nailed how that character carried himself, was educated, and was an advocate for colored people in the times of Jim Crow and all those other nasty laws.

WW: What trend do you think will stick around/make a comeback?

Freshman Elisa Marteeny: “The camo print style.”

Sophomore Caetlyn Rose: “I could see skinny jeans [are] coming back because; it’s wide-legged right now, that’s popular. It’s gonna come back because that’s how the world works.”

Freshman Ana Martinez: ”I think the 2020 fashion trends because I’ve been seeing them a lot on my TikTok ‘For You’ Page.”

WW: What’s your favorite fashion trend?

Marteeny: “I like bows a lot. They’re very cute and pink.”

Rose: “I like wide-legged jeans.”

Martinez: “I don’t have a favorite fashion trend because I think they’re cute, but I probably won’t wear it.”

WW: What’s your least favorite fashion trend?

Marteeny: “Jorts, because they’re too big.”

Rose: “Yeezys, those shoes [are] ugly shoes.”

Martinez: ”My least favorite fashion trend [are] those puffy short skirts.”

WW: If you could see anyone in concert in the future who would it be?

Freshman Tanner Stone: “$uicideboy$”

WW Do you have any songs at all that remind you of important moments or memories apart of your life?

Senior Brandon Thomas: “Paris by The Chainsmokers. Its so nostalgic, every time i hear it i always think back to around 6th grade during the summer. It was such a memorable summer to me.”

WW: This past year what has your favorite song been and why?

Sophomore Kia Portray: “I’ve gotten into Hamilton [the soundtrack] lately, I really like the upbeat music.”

Throughout the past year, West Albany High School’s (WAHS) favorites in movies, music, fashion, and social media show how entertainment and pop culture impacted the people at WAHS and influenced society as a whole. 

     From the cinematic limelight, WAHS standout films include “The Matrix” and “The Shawshank Redemption”, along with Gregory Peck’s performance as Atticus Finch in the film adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird”, which are only several examples of how cinema shapes the viewer’s perception of the world. These films not only explore the deeper aspects of life, such as friendship, or try to examine the truth of the world, but they also show how cinema engages with inspiration from the past, present, and future. Additionally, society’s varied film interpretations show how movies often translate big ideas and questions onto the screen, emphasizing the importance of being fully immersed in the movie to play with the takeaways the movie had intended. In other cases, the audience may disagree with the film’s message, which allows different voices and perspectives to be heard and recognized in society. 

    As for music, nostalgia, mood, and loved ones are several influences that shape the top songs selected this year. Whether it’s hyping up for a sporting event or to sharpen the mind for a study session, people’s song selections can reflect the moment they’re experiencing in their lives and the dreams they strive to fulfill in their lifetime. In other cases, music is vital in remembering moments spent with family or friends. As films translate questions and ideas onto the screen, music can translate the feelings a person has into an experience that other people can listen to and empathize with. There are also times when music takes a person back to a memory they had. Whether the memory is good or bad, music can serve as a time travel agent for society as they listen and recall a defining moment in their lives. Therefore, some parts of society, such as relationships, past memories, and feelings can be felt under the universal experience of music. 

     This year, fashion also established its industry in West Albany with a statement for personal identity. The fashion world has encountered its highs and lows in trends, but that can only be made possible by its participants. While society can look at the same wardrobe, style, or piece, individuals have opinions about the trend. What some people thought was the top trend then could also be considered an eyesore for other individuals. This diversity in fashion preferences shows individuality that blends with the popularity shifts in fashion. When an era of fashion ends, the next one invites another opportunity for people to explore what’s popular and define what suits them personally.

     Lastly, social media has allowed WAHS students and society to interact with the broader world. The use of social media in West Albany and other places showcases how social media users are given an opening to leave their impression on society. Their interest and purpose can be expressed in a way accessible to anyone who owes an account. Those who follow them, whether for personal or business reasons, can build on a new project that starts with a vision that can spread through social media. With the aid of social media, visionaries and communities can transfer their message from their hometown to other countries across the globe. Therefore, it makes social media’s impact on society valuable in spreading a cause or one’s personality across international boundaries.

     The highlights of movies, music, fashion, and social media recapped can show how West Albany students and society are impacted by the entertainment world. In movies, cinematic favorites and other films can be used to entertain and discuss broader ideas and themes. Music helps bridge people’s feelings and relationships together in a way that expresses the ineffable parts of day-to-day life. Trends in the fashion side of West Albany balance individuality and popularity, which reflects the emerging values in society. Through West Albany’s social media, students can not only connect their message with the world but also define themselves in a world that’s constantly shifting. As trends emerge, so does individuals’ and society’s understanding of how entertainment can impact their lives.