Fall 2021 00 Fall 2021 Cedarville University Student Magazine MATT PAPA Papa Uses His Talents to Pour into Cedarville Students ALSO FEATURING AARON COOK TATTOOS & CHRISTIANITY A TALE OF TWO REFUGEES
Fall 2021 02 03 04 06 07 08 10 13 16 18 20 22 24 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chuck’s Grill Recipes Students have Unique Reicpes For the Grill in Chuck’s Dining Hall Tattoos and Christians Tattoos are Leaving Their Mark on Chrisitianity Soccer Missions How Three Missionaries Spread the Gospel Message Using a Small Leather Ball Aaron Cook Aaron Cook Lives as Evidence of God’s Grace Streaming Services The Binging Revolution and Its Consequences A Tale of Two Refugees Finding New Life in America Art Gallery A Space Set Apart: Cedarville University Opens First Permanaent Art Gallery Just Sayin’ On New, Nomadic Roots Christian’s & Horror How Should Christians Handle Horror? COVID Spike The Spike of COVID-19 Memorable Traditions Thanksgiving May Be a Day Matt Papa Papa Uses His Talents to Pour Into Cedarville Students MCU vs Other Franchises The Making of a Franchise: Why Fall 2021 / Vol. 73 / Issue 1 Cover Design – Lydia Paris
Fall 2021 Thank you so much for picking up our first magazine of the year. The other editors and I have worked so hard on this and hope it finds you well amidst a busy semester. Cedars has been a source of great growth for me in my 3.5 years at Cedarville University. First semester freshman year I walked into a Cedars interest meeting in the old journalism lab right outside the chapel, where I decided to write for the sports section which would end up being the career I pursue. Most of you won’t know what I’m talking about - where that lab once stood is now extra chapel seating. Kind of sad, isn’t it? The place where my love for sports journalism started doesn’t even exist anymore. But just as that room is not where my career is found, my career is not where my identity is found. In fact, that room was replaced by the place that has helped me learn just that. I’m graduating 29 days after this magazine is published, and I have no idea what to do with my life from the world’s perspective, but in an entirely different sense, I know exactly what I want to do. I want the grace upon grace that flows so deeply through me to be evident to everyone around me. I want them to ask and know that Jesus saved me and He changed me. That He came down to earth, lived a perfect life, took the weight of our sins and died on the cross, rose again three days later and ascended into heaven. I want to be in a local church, trudging through life arm in arm with other believers as we fight to be children of light. I want to counsel and disciple as so many at Cedarville have done for me. So thank you Cedarville, for Cedars, for Rinnova cubans, for godly mentors and bosses like Charlotte Burcham, for Printy and Willetts and janky houses off campus, for Lexi and Joe and Niko and so many others who have walked alongside me and made me more like Jesus, for chapel where I felt closer to heaven than ever, for Dr. Kimble’s theology class, for tennis and spikeball and rock climbing and volleyball. Thank you for making me love Jesus more. I know these are the days I’ll remember forever, but I also know the Lord is faithful to continue to draw me near to Him in the days ahead. I pray this magazine encourages your heart and makes you smile. I pray it gets you excited about Cedarville and all the Lord is doing here. Enjoy this place and these people, but know they aren’t your hope or your identity. When your journalism lab gets torn down, replace it with a chapel. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Hey Cedarville! Chris Karenbauer Campus News Editor Abigail Hintz Editor-in-Chief / Sports Editor Ben Hiett Arts & Entertainment Editor Hunter Sweet Digital Editor Hannah Deane Off - Campus News Editor David Kollmar Photo Editor Lydia Paris Head Designer
Fall 2021 02 GRILL RECIPES Students have Unique Recipes for the Grill in the Chuck’s Dining Hall by Kristina Birt Check out our Instagram page to see the editors try these recipes! Supplies: • Aluminum Foil from Sub Line (optional) • A Spoonful of Butter from Power Bar or Breakfast Bar • A bowl of Marshmallows from Breakfast Bar • A bowl of Cereal of your choice Steps: 1. Take the foil and fold up the edges to make a ‘boat’ shape. 2. Melt some of the butter in the foil on the grill. Spread the butter all over the inside of the foil to help prevent sticking. 3. Add marshmallows into the foil. 4. Mix until the marshmallows are completely melted. 5. Pour the marshmallows over the cereal. 6. Put some butter on a spoon and mix the marshmallows and the cereal together. Rice Crispy Treats by Kyrstin Stadel Fried Rice by Deborah Raczykowski Supplies: • Oil from the Grill • Vegetables (can include: onions, peppers, edamame, broccoli, spinach) from Salad Bar or from the Grill • Rice from Habanero or the Grill • Chicken from Power Bar • Water from the Grill • Eggs from the Grill • Garlic from the Grill • Salt • Pepper • Teriyaki Sauce from the Grill Steps: 1. Pour cooking oil on the grill. 2. Add vegetables and season with salt and garlic. 3. Shred chicken from Power Bar while cooking the vegetables, making sure to stir them every few minutes. 4. Add water on top to steam the broccoli. 5. Add ginger and other seasonings. 6. Add spinach and rice, mixing it with the vegetables. 7. Add oil to the side and pour eggs over, making sure to season with salt and pepper. Scramble eggs. 8. Add teriyaki sauce to the main mix of rice, chicken, and vegetables. 9. Mix the cooked eggs with the rice mixture. 10. Add cheese and cook until it melts. The Mish-Mash by Seth Eroshevich Supplies: • Chicken from Habanero or Bourbon Chicken from Home Cooking • Brown Rice from Habanero or the Grill • Mushrooms, carrot slices, and green pepper. Can also include spinach, cheese, broccoli. • Egg from the Grill • Sausage from the Grill • Cooking Oil • Soy sauce • Salt • Pepper • Teriyaki sauce Steps: 1. Put cooking oil on the grill. 2. Add rice and chicken. 3. Pour egg over the rice and chicken. 4. Add vegetables and mix. 5. Add desired seasoning, including soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and pepper. Salt can be added for taste. 6. Continue mixing until the eggs and vegetables are thoroughly cooked. Graphics – Caroline King
Fall 2021 03 tell my dad that I was dating someone new; I buy shampoo and pay for it myself. Let no parent read this and, in a rage, lament my critique of parents boxing children out of their homes. It is time for us to be boxed out, to endure the scraped knees and credit card bills of adulthood. We need calluses. I was walking with my mom over fall break, pushing my niece in her stroller, wiping select tears from my cheeks as I teased this concept out. I love her. I love my stepdad. I love that I know my hometown without Google maps. But I’d also stood in my childhood shower the night before, the same height and weight as I’ve been since eighth grade, convinced I’d outgrown it. It’s terrifying and exciting, sobering and exhilarating. We have the opportunity to build something new. Might I encourage the college nomad, shifting between couches and bunkbeds and hotels and tents: taste the discomfort. Go home, sleep in the room that feels once-yours, and use the time it takes to fall asleep to dream of what you might build, where you might go. Invite boyfriends and classmates over for Thanksgiving. Go somewhere new for spring break. We can build something new and still cherish our roots. They have earned our homage. Let’s tend to them as we also strive to put down our own. JUST SAYIN’ On New, Nomadic Roots It started because of COVID, for me. The polite kick-out we received in March 2020 sent everyone into a frenzy as we tried to figure out plane tickets and carpooling partners. Where would we go? For how long? What was happening? I answered these questions from my then-boyfriend’s basement in Cincinnati, a suitcase of clothes and textbooks (and a cardboard box of my plants) the only company I could bring from my dorm. Four days later, I continued answering those questions from my friend Dean’s house near Columbus, grocery shopping with his mother while reassuring my own that Dean’s house was a safe place for me to weather out the pandemic-crazy. I still remember the clincher about his parents: Gary has guns and Jamie will force-feed me pasta before I go hungry. I’m in as good a spot as I can be. I stayed there for three weeks. I’d slept in odd places before COVID: a peach-colored couch in Upland, Indiana; a rogue queen mattress (without sheets) in Peotone, Illinois; a camping cot, set up as a guest bed, in an Oskaloosa, Iowa, nursery; a pull-out couch at The Wisconsin Dells; a damp sleeping bag off the coast of Lake Michigan. These pitstops always seemed to be conscious choices, though. Visits to friends and vacations to waterparks and nights under the stars were calculated hiatuses. I could leave whenever I wanted. Home was a known place, a definitive foundation. Dean’s house was different. I had to learn how to use a new washer and dryer because I’d run out of underwear. I made the bed every morning because though claiming it for weeks, it still wasn’t mine. Very little was mine. I’d been evicted from my dorm room. My parents didn’t want me home if I was sick. Our plan was to find me a hotel room if I got the Rona (still not mine). I had few places to go, entirely dependent on the hospitality of others. The world isn’t as fretful as it was in March. People are allowed back in the dorms. I’m not suspicious when my friends sniffle. My parents would welcome me home whether I was yakking or coughing or feverish. I have a consistent, predictable place to sleep. And yet as I return to my apartment each night, I’m struck by how temporary it still feels—yearlong leases, holiday breaks when the village vacates, weekends where my peers sleep in cars and brush their teeth in gas stations. We are untethered, ever-moving, the generation yet to be bound. I talk about it with my friends often. We’ll congregate around the couch that came with our fully furnished apartment (thanks Rob) and talk about how odd it feels to go home. Our bedrooms are being turned into offices and grandkid play-rooms. When we come back, there may be a mattress for us, but not the same space—physical or social—that was there when we left. But this also isn’t a manifesto against empty-nesters moving on. Mine is also the generation that forgoes family Thanksgiving for a road trip to Daytona Beach. Everyone is adapting. We feel it when we stop moving. When the road trips and camping weekends are over, when RA’s remind dorm-goers that they must be moved out by 3 pm, when our closets at home are filled with boxes that are not ours—we are facing the transition. Home is more than the place we are welcome; my friends share more meals with me than my parents; my professors have been the ones offering advice and wisdom; I forgot to
Fall 2021 As believers, discernment in entertainment can be a daunting task, with the seemingly endless amounts of music, shows and movies to filter through and pick from. It’s an important task, however, as Phillipians 4:8 instructs us to be careful about what we dwell on and let into our minds. Right off the bat, there are some fairly obvious rejects, such as the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series. Other properties are more controversial: some Christians refuse to watch “Harry Potter” due to its presentation of witchcraft. Nonetheless, these blacklists are typically very specific, aimed at particular franchises. There is, however, an entire genre most Christians seem to reject regardless of the franchise: horror. This genre has found itself in a rather odd predicament within the Christian community, as it has gone largely unexplored. For many years, avoidance was a viable approach, as most of these movies were smaller, niche productions. That isn’t the case today, as horror has become incredibly popular over the last few decades. In 2021, so far, horror has comprised nearly 18 percent of the movie market share, compared to 3 percent of the market ly. Dr. Eckel explains, “A Christian’s responsibility in evangelism is only to cast the seed, sometimes to water or fertilize the seed, but we are not in charge of bringing the seed to fruition. In our culture, with so much adversarial verbiage thrown about, it is best simply to ask questions.” Dr. Eckel also noted how horror, especially gothic horror such as “Frankenstein,” “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” or “The Picture of Dorian Grey,” teach us about the depravity of man, that, in reality, we ourselves are monsters due to our sin nature. That is the very point of most of the classic horror stories. The whole point of “Frankenstein” is that Dr. Frankenstein, not his created “monster,” is the truly evil one. “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” demonstrates man’s capability for evil while “The Picture of Dorian Grey” shows us how we can become monsters even if we are only seeking our own happiness. Christians who are wary of horror often point to verses like Ephesians 4:27: “give no opportunity to the devil.” The worry is that horror opens us 04 CHRISTIAN’S AND HORROR How Should Christians Handle Horror? By Sam Acosta share in 1995. Horror can no longer be ignored or pushed aside. Christians can no longer ignore the growing genre of horror; rather, they need to determine how to engage with it, whether to support or combat it. To understand this issue better, I turned to an expert in the subject: Dr. Mark Eckel. Dr. Eckel is a man well versed in both literature and theology. He holds a Doctorate in Social Science from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology in Old Testament from Grace Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in English from IUPUI. Before taking on his current position at IUPUI, he taught at Moody Bible Institute and Crossroad Bible College. He also is currently the president of The Comenius Institute, a Christian education program in Indianapolis. For years, he has studied the connection between the Christian faith and horror, writing frequently on the subject. From the start, what Dr. Eckel had to say was rather surprising, as it contradicted nearly everything most young Christians grow up believing. “The horror genre is the closest movie genre to the Christian worldview” he explained. “Every horror movie… has a supernatural world to which we must give an account. Second, every horror movie identifies an evil that must be overcome.” He went on to explain that horror movies can be amazing evangelistic tools. Atheists typically don’t believe in a supernatural world, yet they compose a majority of the horror fan base. Discussions about horror movies must almost always address issues like the origins of evil and the existence of the supernatural, issues a biblical worldview speaks to directGraphics – Caroline King
Fall 2021 up to evil and leads us astray. Yet Dr. Eckel argued that the reality of evil is something every believer must grapple with. “My concern for the Christian is that you understand that this reality exists, and you can’t simply bypass it as if to say it doesn’t exist and it’s not important.,” said Dr. Eckel. I asked him if we needed to be careful to keep a balance between the light and darkness in what we choose to watch. He corrected me almost immediately, telling me not to use the word “balance.” Rather, he argued, there is tension between light and darkness; as soon as you turn on a light, the dark immediately vanishes. Light always wins. In the same way, God always conquers evil, and evil can never truly win. We know that because God tells us so in His Word. That idea makes horror even more of a potential evangelistic tool because the light of our worldview will only shine brighter in dark places, as Paul tells us in Phillipians 2:15. Case in point, the Hayes brothers, the writers of the first two “Conjuring” movies and both followers of Jesus, said in an interview, “What we’ve tried to do is create films with redemption. They have happy endings. There’s no sex. There’s no violence. There’s no swearing. It’s rated R because it’s a very scary story that happened to real people. This movie is not about glorifying evil, but it’s about the triumph of good over evil”. This philosophy of framing horror stories as desperate struggles between good and evil has become more prevalent in recent years. Personally, I avoided horror movies for years, but then I took Dr. Eckel’s course on Gothic Horror Literature in high school. His class pushed me to explore the genre more, and I have found some incredible films that tell not only amazing stories but also demonstrate valuable moral lessons and give nuanced commentary. Films such as “Get Out,” “The First Purge” and “Upgrade” are films in this genre that surprised me with what they had to say about human nature, morality and society. As Christians, watching such films can help us not only understand the culture we are witnessing to but also better understand ourselves and our need for Christ. Dr. Eckel recognizes that some horror filmmakers take it too far, condemning certain types of horror movies for being gratuitous. He pointed to the “Saw” films as examples of violence for violence’s sake. While he believes that violence can be an important part of telling a story or conveying a message, it becomes gratuitous without that distinct purpose. In the end, Dr. Eckel recognizes that horror isn’t for everyone. His argument isn’t that everyone should become horror fans overnight but that Christians should recognize opportunities for evangelism, artistic expression and the furtherance of the 05 Kingdom that horror films present. And if there are Christians who are drawn to this genre, they should have the support of the Christian community rather than feeling pushed to the fringes. As Dr. Eckel put it, “Everybody’s got their opportunities that they have to invest in the lives of other people, and this is just one arena.” Sam Acosta is a Junior Theatre Comprehensive Major and an A&E writer for Cedars. He likes spending his time watching movies, drinking Dr. Pepper and writing plays.
Fall 2021 THE SPIKE OF COVID-19 By Anna Harman Since March 2020 with COVID-19, Cedarville students were ready to get back to normal on campus this semester. For the first week on campus, all students attended chapel and classes without COVID-19 protocols set in place. Then on August 24th, 2021, Cedarville announced that masks were once again strongly encouraged in all indoor public spaces. Chapel would not meet, students who tested positive for COVID-19 would have to isolate themselves at home and outdoor activities were encouraged whenever possible. These changes were disappointing to many students because they got used to normal chapel meetings and classes without masks. Now, after barely a week of normalcy, they were going back to the COVID-19 protocol temporarily. The amount of COVID-19 cases spiked in a short period. According to University Medical Services, UMS, around 575 students tested positive for COVID-19 overall. The spike hit its climax on August 30th, with the number of cases on campus reaching 426 at one time. The director of UMS, Rhonda Evans, played a crucial role in how UMS decided to administer COVID-19 tests quickly and efficiently to students. “God woke me up at 2 a.m. with a plan,” said Evans. “I got up and hurriedly wrote down details that were streaming into my head and even drew out a plan of the rooms and where everyone would be stationed. The next morning I presented the plan to the UMS team that we were going to reschedule all appointments that could be postponed, and we were going to operate as a mass testing clinic.” Between 20 to 30 tests were administered per hour once this plan was in motion. “If the university had not been so well set up from the prior year with automated tracking sheets and messaging, there’s no way we would have been able to manage the outbreak as smoothly and as quickly,” added Evans. Due to the overwhelming amount of positive cases, quarantine housing became an issue. Faith Hall was filling quickly, and the university had to open up an additional isolation space for students who tested positive. If at all possible, students were encouraged to go home if they had been exposed to the virus so beds were available on campus for people who could not go home. “I was excited to have a ‘normal’ college experience and loved that many restrictions were lifted. I was looking forward to meeting new people, and it was very nice to not have to sit every other seat from people in class,” said sophomore Jy Klein. “When the cases started to rise, I was extremely nervous and fearful that we would get sent home quickly. But by the grace of God, they were able to come up with more housing, and the cases eventually started to dwindle.” As of October 1, cases have dropped down to three people isolating off campus, a significant drop since that last week of August when cases were at their peak on campus. It was important that the university acted quickly and made the most sensible decision for the health and safety of both students and faculty, no matter how disappointing it was to be restricted by COVID-19 protocols once again. UMS highly recommends students get vaccinated. Even with breakthrough cases, vaccinated people are not being hospitalized nearly as often as non-vaccinated people. UMS also encourages keeping close contact groups as small as possible. Students, remember to thank UMS, the food services, the residence life staff, faculty and everyone who made it possible for the overwhelming amount of students to be tested quickly during the outbreak, who found a way to provide more space to house students in isolation, who gave so much of their time, brainpower, wisdom and compassion for the sake of the people at Cedarville University. Anna Harman is a sophomore Biblical Studies major and also a reporter for Cedars. She appreciates writing, getting coffee and going to concerts. 06
Fall 2021 07 and her family used to get together with their friends from overseas when they were living in China. They spent time remembering the history of the first Thanksgiving. Her parents would create a trivia game about the history and her mom would read through some of the history. They also had gatherings for their Chinese friends who became Christians to introduce them to Thanksgiving. There would be Thanksgiving food there and they would sing Thanksgiving songs and hymns. At the international school Read went to, she said the would watch “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and the building would have Thanksgiving decorations Different food traditions can also make the experience more memorable. Burns’ grandma makes a cranberry relish and they serve a sweet cinnamon roll and sweet potato. Gordon’s mom makes a sweet tea from the part of Africa her family used to live in. One thing that ties all three of these different people’s experiences together is an emphasis on thankMEMORABLE TRADITIONS Thanksgiving may be a Day, but its Traditions Live on for Generations By Michael Cleverly Thanksgiving is an American holiday that holds an important spot in the year. However, it seems to hold a less important spot with Christmas occupying people’s minds. Despite this many Thanksgiving traditions remain memorable. “Before the Thanksgiving meal we’ll go out and play football,” said Josh Burns, a Cedarville University student and RA of Marshal 1. “After the meal we’ll settle into the living room. The people who want to take a nap lay down behind the couch, and the people who want to talk come into the main part of the living room.” Nicole Gordon, a Cedarville University student Psychology major, talked about how her family begins preparing for Christmas in the days following Thanksgiving. The day after Thanksgiving her dad starts putting up Christmas lights and decorations. Then the next day they go to the electronics stores, like Best Buy to get good deals without having to deal with Black Friday crowds. Gordon’s family also goes Christmas tree shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Every year they get a different tree. “We go out to this little Christmas tree farm,” Gordon said, “Either my dad or my brother will chop it down and my sisters and I will carry it.” Cedarville University student and Chinese Club president, Megan Read, fulness. Gordon and her family have everyone share what they’re thankful for from the whole year. Read’s family would pass around dry kernels of corn and think of things they’re thankful for. This is because of a story about the first Thanksgiving that the Pilgrims only had five kernels per person. Her father created a thankfulness tree, a tree drawn on a piece of paper, on the wall. They would write what they were thankful for on a leaf and put it on the tree. “As we’re eating Thanksgiving dinner we’ll go around the table and thank God for the blessings He’s put in our lives,” said Burns, “ I think that’s the real spirit of Thanksgiving.” Michael Cleverley is a junior Journalism major with an Asian Studies minor and writer for Cedars. When not studying or working on a story for Cedars he likes to write, knit and hang out with friends. “As we’re eating Thanksgiving dinner we’ll go around the table and thank God for the blessings He’s put in our lives” -Josh Burns Graphics – Natalie Cherry
Fall 2021 08 On July 13, 2021, Cedarville University was excited to announce that Matt Papa will serve as the Artist-In-Residence for the coming school year. Cedarville students had the opportunity to hear him speak and sing in chapel, teach in certain classes and even interact with him personally. Papa is a two-time Dove-award nominated Christian music artist and songwriter. He is best known for his recent songs “His Mercy is More,” “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery” and “Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor,” which he co-wrote with Matt Boswell. These modern hymns reflect what Papa described as his mission: “To write songs that are singable, beautiful and timeless.” Assistant Chair of Worship and Associate Professor of Worship, Roger O’Neel said that this is something that the Music Department has been looking forward to for “quite some time.” “Having Matt on campus when he can be to teach classes or to hang out with our students or perform–it’s just very meaningful, because it’s one thing to sing someone’s song, but it’s another thing to get to know the person behind the song,” O’Neel said. Cedarville University is dedicated to providing its students with relevant instruction that prepares them for their chosen career. Having an artist-in-residence is just one opportunity to allow the Worship majors to develop their personal and professional skills. In addition to his role on campus, Papa provides information about Cedarville at his concerts and on his website, mattpapa.com. O’Neel says that this also is a great opportunity for people to hear about the wonderful programs that Cedarville offers its students to learn and grow both inside and outside of the classroom. This year, Papa will be a guest lecturer in at least three classes for Worship majors. He will feature as both a performer and worship leader during the Worship 4:24 conference on January 28-29, 2022, and he will lead a one-day songwriting seminar on March 19, 2022, which will be open to the public. The chance that students have to learn from his experience reaches beyond the classroom and extends to chapels, concerts and rehearsals. O’Neel said, “To have our students see him in multiple contexts, I think, is a real benefit to having an artMATT PAPA Papa Uses His Talents to Pour into Cedarville Students by Kathryn McDonald
Fall 2021 09 ist-in-residence.” On October 4, Papa led the student body in a worship chapel where he had the opportunity to share his heart for what he does. Papa says that the reason he does what he does is because he still believes that author and pastor A.W. Tozer got it right when he said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Whatever that is for each of the students shapes where they are heading in life, and who they will become. “That’s why I write the songs. That’s why I do what I do,” said Papa. Papa hopes that his songs plant the seeds of God’s character in our minds. So as we sing, we understand Him better and more fully. As artist-in-residence, Papa seeks to extend beyond drawing others into worship. The students who Papa interacts with can learn from his ministry and passion to do just that. For Papa, the moments where he heard from experienced songwriters and musicians was formative at the beginning of his own career. Now, he has the chance to pour into students what was poured into his own life and share the lessons he learned with a new generation of songwriters and musicians. Papa noted that for many professional musicians, they choose either to continue their careers as musicians or to teach what they know. His position as an artist-in-residence allows him to do both. Investing both inside and outside of the classroom is rewarding for Papa as he enjoys what he describes as “seeing the light bulbs go on.” “College kids are in such a unique season of life, and I love the ability to influence people and what they’re doing in life,” said Papa. “Here on campus is just a closer touch point to pour into these kids who are just awesome and are just going to be culture-shapers.” Papa said, “If I can help pour into those guys and shape what they’re doing, then hopefully it will have a ripple effect through future artistry and song writing.” This forward-thinking mindset drives Papa to share his experience with young people seeking to enter the music industry and make a big impact for God. Kathryn McDonald is a junior Psychology major and a Campus News writer for Cedars. When she’s not at her desk studying, you can probably catch her in the library writing a letter to a friend, Photos – Esnest Toh
Fall 2021 10 It feels like everything is a franchise nowadays. Every movie sets up a sequel, and more often than not, it gets one. Few franchises, however, are truly successful. Most fizzle out thanks to underwhelming sequels that drag on far beyond where they should. What about those few franchises that are both long-lasting and successful overall? What makes them succeed where so many fail? First and foremost, the movies are usually connected. Though seemingly obvious, creating a unified story across multiple films is easier said than done. There has to be a vision and a concentrated effort to keep storylines cohesive. This could be accomplished by having a particular producer, director, and writer be involved across multiple movies or simply by using an accepted formula. The Bond films, for example, don’t have a single person at the helm but instead use a triedand-true formula to achieve cohesion and success. Yet a successful franchise is also constantly evolving. Even in more formula-following franchises, each addition progresses the stories and characters further and gives audiences something they’ve never seen before. Franchises that get stuck in a rut will either die out or drag on THE MAKING OF A FRANCHISE Why Some Succeed Where Others Fail by Janie Walenda Graphics – Claire Xu
Fall 2021 11 needlessly. The opposite can also be true, with a franchise having so many new ideas that it speeds through them and ends up being an unsatisfying mess. The sequel trilogy of “Star Wars” fell into this trap, squandering potential storylines with the addition of weaker new ones. A franchise’s greatest strength, however, is its characters. Beloved characters can carry even weaker entries and keep audiences invested. One of the advantages of a franchise is getting to watch characters grow and learn over multiple installments, and audiences will sometimes follow these journies for years. What are some examples of franchises that work? The most obvious answer is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU started with smaller, character-focused films and built towards team-up stories. This Marvel formula led to “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” two movies with massive ensemble casts that still packed hefty emotional punches. Having made the most of this formula, Marvel has decided to lean into more creative, ambitious, and risky projects in its Phase Four lineup. The success of the MCU stems from the creators’ understanding of the characters and the source material. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios and chief creative officer of Marvel Entertainment, got his first job as associate producer on “X-Men” because of his knowledge of Marvel Comics. The shared universe of the MCU was his idea, and he has been a producer on every MCU film to date. The MCU is almost the largest interconnected movie franchise at 25 films, matched only by Bond films. There is no other franchise like it, though many have tried to replicate it. Speaking of Bond -- James Bond -- the first film premiered in 1962, while the most recent installment debuted on October 8 of this year. This franchise has introduced too many tropes to mention, but that’s part of the charm. Even as Bond has
Fall 2021 12 been modernized, there is still always going to be the monologuing villain and the witty one-liners. In a similar market, “Mission: Impossible” is another long-running franchise that relies on its formula. As of late, the main appeal of the “Mission: Impossible” movies have been its innovative action pieces and Tom Cruise’s unyielding commitment to doing his own stunts. If there’s a single thing that these long-lasting franchises have in common, it’s having a good formula and sticking with it. Knowing what fans liked about previous films and what they want to see in future films keeps audiences happy and ticket sales high. Each of the franchises mentioned so far has a great understanding of what audiences expect. Formulas can be experimented with and altered but are nevertheless essential to a successful franchise. “Shang Chi” and “What If…?” are perfect examples of this. “Shang Chi” uses the classic MCU origin film formula as a backdrop to a compelling family drama unlike any that has come before in this universe. Meanwhile, most of “What If...” acted as a mini Phase One, with each episode setting up a new character for the epic team-up in the grand finale. So, what about the franchises that haven’t worked? Firstly, this category is not absolute. Many lackluster franchises today were successful up to a point but had major missteps that they have yet to recover from. Others have struggled to get off the ground in the first place. Universal’s “Dark Universe,” a planned series of monster films using classic properties such as “The Mummy,” “Frankenstein” and even “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” has been a victim of these struggles. After the absolute failure of “The Mummy” reboot starring Tom Cruise, most of these films have been shelved or remain with an official release date. The DCEU is a more complicated story. After the success of the “Dark Knight” trilogy, Warner Brothers decided to create a shared universe to compete with the MCU. The original plan was to build a universe around director Zack Snyder’s creative vision. However, Snyder’s first two DCEU projects, “Man of Steel” and “Batman v Superman,” proved incredibly divisive among fans. On top of that, “Suicide Squad” was panned, leaving “Wonder Woman” as the only positively accepted film of their initial lineup. After Snyder stepped down from “Justice League” due to a family tragedy, “Avengers” director Joss Whedon stepped in to oversee reshoots and post-production. “Justice League” was not well received and led to cries to release the Snyder Cut, which tells an entirely different story. Ever since then, the DCEU has favored directors’ autonomy over a shared universe. While this has resulted in many unique projects, it has kept the DCEU from building upon previous stories and having one consistent storyline. Abandoning a shared storyline makes it harder for audiences to follow along, meaning the mainstream appeal is slim. However, the experimentation of the DCEU has resulted in darker, more stylistic films, something that the MCU is now trying to recreate. By no means is the DCEU a failed franchise, but as long as it lacks interconnected characters and stories, its ultimate fate will be uncertain. What about “Star Wars?” What about all the “Harry Potter” and “X-Men” movies? Well, these franchises can all be classified as “good until they weren’t.” “Star Wars” has struggled for decades to expand beyond the original trilogy, only recently finding consistent success in properties like “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “The Mandalorian.” While the original “Harry Potter” films were a massive success, the recent attempt to revitalize the franchise through the “Fantastic Beasts” movies has fallen flat. Meanwhile, the “X-Men” movies never quite understood the iconic characters and plots, with few notable exceptions, such as “Logan” and “Deadpool.” While the early films were essential to the development of the comic book movie, the franchise eventually fizzled out with disappointments like “Dark Phoenix.” There are numerous other film series worth discussing, and there are many factors that can make or break a franchise. Making one good movie is hard enough, and making a sequel or a trilogy is even harder. In this age of interconnected universes, many films are rushed into becoming franchises, with each mildly successful property getting sequels and spinoffs. The best franchises are the result of patience, planning, and knowing how to tell an entertaining story. Janie Walenda is a freshman Global Business major and an A&E writer for Cedars. She enjoys musicals, movies and rereading the same books ten times.
Fall 2021 13 TATTOOS AND CHRISTIANITY Tattoos Are Leaving Their Mark on Christianity By Maggie Walker Tattoos---hate them or love them, the art form is now prevalent in America. In 2020, over a third of Americans aged 18-29 had at least one tattoo. What used to be controversial has entered the mainstream. What thoughts do people have about tattoos today? Emma Waywood, a senior Social Work major, has gotten several tattoos, starting with a colorful wrist tattoo when she was 16 years old. “I wanted it to be a reminder to me about God’s providence in my life. It has my life verse on it, Philippians 1:20-21,” she said. “All of my tattoos I can point back to Christ somehow. I’ve made that a point with all the tattoos I have because I know that tattoos are here-there with the church so I wanted to be able to say, ‘well, all my tattoos glorify God.’” Waywood has several other tattoos, including one of 2 Corinthians 12:19 and one of her favorite names for God drawn from Jeremiah 23:23. Joseph Mattackal, a senior IT Management major, has a tattoo of a name on his forearm. “The tattoo I have is my mom’s name in Hindi,” Mattackal said. “ I wanted to get a tattoo for a while just because it was something I was interested in, but I was not interested in permanently marking my body for absolutely no reason. I felt there had to be a reason to have the tattoo, and my mom was a very important person to me. She passed away when I was 12; I wanted to get something to commemorate her by, so I got her name phonetically spelled in Hindi on my right arm.” Photo – Trey M Lahmers Photo – Trey M Lahmers Photo – Trey M Lahmers
Fall 2021 14 Aaron Gosser, Associate Professor of Studio Art, has multiple tattoos, all in type. Two standing out specifically are the words, “choice,” and “TRUTH”. Explaining the “choice” tattoo, Gosser said he was greatly impacted by John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” and the Genesis 4 story of Cain and Abel. “The idea of this choice to be overcome or overcome sin that free will has necessitated all this pain, evil, ugliness -- free will is responsible for this world in which we live, and everything kind of flows out moment by moment from our choices,” he said. Gosser has another tattoo on his arm of the word “TRUTH” in all capital letters framed by a crown. He said, “There is that which supersedes, undermines my own concepts. There is an absolute to life, to existence, that makes relative my own choice. I like that those [two tattoos] are on opposite sides. Truth is king, there is an ultimate reality. It’s sort of fun, I’ve gotten into all sorts of interesting conversations because of both of those, but definitely the truth.” A theme arising in all three conversations was the idea of tattoos as a tool for witnessing and sparking conversations with nonbelievers. Gosser pointed out that most conversations he’s had surrounding his tattoos have been with unbelievers. For Waywood, a social worker, her tattoos help her connect with her clients. Waywood said, “My tattoos help me a lot withmy clients becausemost of my clients have tattoos. [Having tattoos] helps me connect with them more because they see me more on their level than as a pious, high-andmighty Christian.” Because of the artistic nature of his tattoos, Mattackal has been able to have many conversations with non-Christians. He shared that many people of the world believe that Christians are uptight. So, some people are surprised when they see a Christian with tattoos as it makes them perceive the Christian as being more laid back than they expected. “I can tell them my testimony,” Mattackal said. “I think there are a lot Photo – Elena Mendez Photo – Elena Mendez
Fall 2021 of cases where tattoos can help other people who are not Christian empathize with you because they don’t expect to see Christians with tattoos.” Is the idea that Christians are against tattoos an accurate one? It depends. For Gosser, who got his tattoos after college and attends a church where most attendees have tattoos, there were no negative reactions from his church or community to his tattoo. Waywood and Mattackal’s experiences were a bit different. Waywood met with resistance and unapproval from her extended family, who are Catholic, and the Evangelical church she used to go to. Waywood experienced negative stigma around the fact that she was a woman with tattoos. “Tattoos are typically seen as masculine,” she explained. “If I was a man in the military it would be more acceptable than as a 16-year-old girl in high school.” While there was some support in her community, it was split between the approving and disapproving. She further remarked that different denominations and countries have “their own stigmas, their own thoughts on tattoos. I think it’s just a lot of the traditionalist views you find in the evangelical church.” According to Gosser, views that people have of tattoos is dependent largely on context. “Where we live, here, in the middle of the cornfield, we tend to be a 15 pretty conservative sect,” he said. “It makes sense that people might be a little resistant.” Mattackal had a similar perspective, remarking that in contemporary Christian circles tattoos are very common. But in other places tattoos are seen as unprofessional. In these places, he believes that tattoos are viewed as a symbol of a secular culture. Mattackal experienced some apprehension coming from his “conservative, Christian, Indian [family and community]” about his tattoos, but only initially. He said, “in the end, it’s just skindeep...After a couple of weeks, they all got over it.” Historically, Leviticus 19:28, which forbade the Israelites from getting tattoos, has been brought up in debates over whether or not Christians should have tattoos. Waywood admitted that there are historically negative connotations surrounding tattoos but pointed out that the argument that says tattoos are sinful is taking scripture out of context. Verses such as Leviticus 19:28, however, were referencing historical tattoos aligning with witchcraft. In contrast, today, tattoos aren’t generally associated with witchcraft and pagan practices. Waywood said that she would obviously never want a tattoo of something like swastikas or witchcraft, but tattoos pertaining to the grace of God in her life are something entirely different. Waywood said, “I think there’s something really beautiful about having permanent reminders about God’s grace etched on my body. We all kind of have our own scars that we carry in a lot of ways, and we don’t consider scars sinful. And I don’t think God considers tattoos sinful, either.” The general consensus was that tattoos are a form of art. Since they’re permanent, it’s advisable to think through whether or not you want to get one, but a tattoo can glorify God and be a useful tool for witnessing to people. Gosser views tattoos as art and art always has meaning. Good design glorifies God, who is the ultimate designer. Gosser said, “We create because we are placed here as tenders of this garden, that’s our whole purpose. That was the original purpose in us, cultivating. And how do we cultivate but through design? We do this everywhere; any kind of aesthetic undertaking is a part of the initial purpose we’ve been given. Of course tattoos can fall into that.” Maggie Walker is a junior Political Science major. She loves both spontaneous and planned adventures with friends, art, dinosaurs, green tea, and indulging in the occasional rant, political or otherwise. Do you think it’s wrong for Christians to have tattoos? Do you have a tattoo? Do you think tattoos are edgy? Graphics – Corrissa Smith
Fall 2021 16 SOCCER MISSIONS How Three Missionaries Spread the Gospel Message Using a Small Leather Ball by Chris Karenbauer girls knowing that God used her team to share the Gospel message. “You see a lot of people whose complete and utter identity is wrapped up in soccer,” said Lichty. “For them to see how much this sport still means to me, but how much it doesn’t have control over my life is one of the coolest bridges to the Gospel I have ever had the opportunity to see.” **** How can a small, leather ball change so many people’s lives? For so many developing countries, soccer is the key out of poverty because it is one of the only means for making money. The people also form their identities in the sport. “For us Christians, we love the game of soccer,” said Jonathan Meade, the head coach of Cedarville’s women’s soccer team. “We see it, though, as a gift.” This gift God bestowed upon Christians is used in many ways. For Duerr, he used it to reach government officials who close themselves off to Christians. “It’s funny,” said Duerr, “because mission organizations can go up to a government and say, ‘we want to do this, this and this.’ And they say, ‘well of course you cannot do that. You’re Christians.’ But you bring to them a small, leather ball filled with air. It opens all kinds of interesting doors. Doors that wouldn’t be open to me now as an academic.” Soccer is also a gift that becomes a gateway to build a relationship between culturally diverse people. It has become a universally common language because almost every country is familiar with the game. Even for people who know the Gospel, soccer is an open door for spiritual growth. Trent built friendships with the orphanage boys through their common love of soccer. He helped these boys understand the Gospel message. On his last trip to Haiti in 2019, after a game of soccer, Trent explained to the kids he continues to return to Haiti, despite the political unrest. “I was just sharing the Gospel with them and talking about what the Kingdom was,” said Trent, “and how the kingdom was this promise that everything that’s wrong with the world is going to be undone. And we wait for that. Jesus is coming back, and he’s going to make that a reality. At the same time, one of the reasons we’re here in Haiti is we believe that the Kingdom also exists now.” Three years after her mission trip, Lichty signed to play professionally in Costa Rica. Many people ask why she decided to play in a country like Costa Rica because even though soccer is popular, players, especially womIt was the summer of 2018. Cedarville University’s women’s soccer team went on a mission trip to Costa Rica. Through Global Outreach, they connected with a mission organization called Thrive Vision, which organized games between Cedarville and professional soccer teams. Lauren Lichty was a junior at the time. At the beginning of their mission trip, they played the University of Costa Rica, a professional women’s soccer team. But as memorable as it was to play a professional team, what set them apart was the moments after the game. Both teams piled into the Costa Rican coach’s house. Lichty stood among the crowd to share her testimony to her new Costa Rican friends. “Essentially, I just kind of shared with them, in my life, how God used soccer to show me that my identity is in him and not in soccer,” said Lichty. Lichty’s testimony began a chain reaction. The Costa Rican head coach came forward. He shared his testimony to his girls. Then, the assistant coach stepped forward to share his testimony. All three of their testimonies watered the seeds in eight girls, who gave their lives to Jesus. Lichty’s heart swelled with pride with these Graphic – Corrissa Smith
Fall 2021 17 en, do not get paid much, if at all. Their identity is in soccer, but Lichty does not see it that way. Lichty said, “It’s provided a really cool opportunity for me to be like, ‘yeah, soccer is awesome, but if this was my everything, I couldn’t be here. If this is what I’m living for, I couldn’t be here’.” Besides playing professional soccer, Lichty does volunteer teaching at a local school. And she is also working to open a home for kids rescued from sex trafficking. Soccer is a great sport. It brings people from all over the world together. It may bring temporary happiness to someone’s life, but it is not the key to joy. For athletes or anyone who wants to go on a mission trip for sports, Trent said, “If you have these opportunities, don’t over-spiritualize it. Don’t sit here and be like, ‘Well, I just don’t know if I’m supposed to go here, or I’m supposed to go here.’ “Just go .” Chris Karenbauer is a junior Journalism major and the Campus News Editor for Cedars. She enjoys reading and writing, hanging out with friends and jamming out to music.
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