TOW #21- Nonfiction: All About That Bass

Meghan Trainor is only one of many young and rising female vocalists who have crafted a catchy song taking the charts by storm. However, Trainor, unlike others, tries to focus her attention and melodies on feminism, urging women away from the status quo. However, in one of her most popular songs, "All About That Base", Trainor fails in her attempt to empower women and encourage feminism as she glorifies female anatomy and the desires of men toward degrading features. While some defining lyrics such as "It's pretty clear, I ain't no size two" provide a refreshing jingle for women who do not consider size a defining feature, counteracting lyrics such as "I'm bringing booty back, go head and tell them skinny bitches that" cause a great deal of concern. These words try to take away the pressure for women to become skinny and hold love for themselves no matter what shape or size, but they also end up shaming skinnier women and repeating the viscous cycle of body shaming. Trainor now makes the "it look" one in which women have large butts and those who are skinny are merely self conscious snobs, an unfair statement. On top of this, traitors feminism fails when she uses this pride in ones body to glorify the benefit of attracting men through it. When she says things like "Boys like a little more booty to hold at night", she makes women out to be boho get more than objects for the desire of men. It creates a sad visual for what women must aspire to be to men and objectifies them more than it helps. While the intention for an empowered female civilization is clear, artist Meghan Trainor actually makes a mugs uglier picture for women and their role in society. By making women seem like nothing more than objects to please men and by glorifying a larger body and shaming smaller ones, she does not succeed in her purpose

TOW #20- IRB Half of Helter Skelter

Many books which focus around murder mystery earn a badge which deem them "gripping" or "suspenseful", "Helter Skelter", by Vincent Bugliosi, is no exception. Throughout the first half of the story, Bugliosi guides the reader through different aspects of the Manson murders case. He explains the background of Charle's Manson, a maniac with a herd of followers to serve his every, radical whim, including murder. As a prosecutor against Manson, Bugliosi does a great job providing accurate and articulate facts which support his overall image of an unstable nation in the 1960's who

were often hypnotized by this man who's passion for destruction can only be compared to that of Hannibal Lecter himself. Bugliosi explains how many believed Manson had the power of mind control as he could successfully convince people to do his dirty work and make them feel like it was all their idea. However, Bugliosi also manages to lay out an credible theory of this mystifying quality which defeats the immortal reputation that Manson acquired. This theory shows how Manson gained followers by praying on the lonely, "self-seekers", who needed something to believe in. The chilling anecdotes within the story create a eerie, yet seductive story which drags all readers in.