Category: Arts

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Spot: Boom Roasted

Thank you (pause, followed by mood-setting piano music) Colin Lauer and Graeme Little (pause) for being one of the very few original and genuinely funny SPOT acts of the night.
My own opinion aside, from what I’ve heard, the general consensus among upperclassmen who have witnessed some very popular previous SPOTs is that the annual Purple and Gold variety show fell flat this year. The jokes were repetitive, the show was too long, and some humor was in bad taste.

“I think this year’s show had some issues,” said senior SPOT performer Sarah Jacoby. “It did not seem as well organized as past years. I know there was some trouble getting auditions, which I think was a factor.”

If the unsuccessfulness of the night can be partially attributed to disorganization, another key influence was duration. “It definitely went too long,” said Jacoby. “I know there have been SPOTS that have gone longer, but by the end people were ready to go. I think the length contributed to how people felt about the night.”

In response to how the show could have been better executed Jacoby said, “More cowbell. But seriously, I liked the SNL theme and thought that if the hosts stuck to that it would have given the night more structure.”

Despite difficulties, according to Jacoby there were some featured strengths of the night. “Mike Amico did a great job. Also, I really enjoyed the stepping act and the pitch perfect medley, because it’s nice to have things that are actually more talent than comedy,” she said.
“The community sweater was unique and funny, but overall the community jokes have been beaten to death. Colin’s last thank you was very appropriate.”

Senior class president Sydnie Cunningham shared similar sentiments to Jacoby’s.
“I did not enjoy SPOT as much as previous years,” said Cunningham. “I felt that most of the acts weren’t funny and some were border-line offensive, especially regarding Sodexo.”
Cunningham enjoyed having a DJ in place of a stage band, but thought that the organizers should have been more selective concerning the acts. One aspect of last semester’s SPOT which Cunningham found to be effective was its cohesiveness and she wished that tactic could have been employed this semester.

“In the fall Anthony and Scott went above and beyond to plan out a theme and create good transitions,” said Cunningham.

Cunningham also commented that SPOT may have been stronger if it were less Houghton-conscious. “It was a good idea to have Shirley Mullen in the weekend report, especially since that is a consistent act, and it was nice of her to participate, but people need to realize that you don’t have to make fun of Houghton to be funny,” said Cunningham.

Senior Liz Chevalier agreed with Jacoby and Cunningham’s overall assessments.
“It was longer than it needed to be and there were some acts we could have done without,” said Chevalier.

Chevalier acknowledged that she wishes the hosts would have done more skits themselves. She also echoed the praise for Amico’s remixes and the thanks to Lauer for “putting the community joke to rest,” and commented that the offenses committed during this SPOT were more implicit than explicit.

Like Cunningham, Chevalier speculated that future SPOT skits may be fresher, more creative, and better received if they do not exclusively revolve around Houghtonisms. “We should think about what’s funny to people outside of Houghton, things that you don’t have to go to Houghton to understand,” said Chevalier. “Most of the Houghton jokes are way overused, so for the sake of originality we should step outside of what is normally joked around about.”       

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Pops is Synthesis of Music and Dance

The theme of tonight’s Houghton Pops Orchestra concert is Hearts of the Highlands II: A Song to Remember, directed by Robert Martin.

“The concert has a Celtic theme with different varieties ranging from traditional Celtic music to pieces from How to Train Your Dragon and The Boondock Saints,” said second violinist Nathan Sircy. “This concert will be very similar to the first one that Houghton Pops performed.”

arts&sports_pops2 The concert won’t simply be a classical performance of music, but rather a synthesis of music and dance. A troupe of dancers from Seneca Falls will be showcased, and Houghton alum, Alastair Hutton, will be playing the bagpipes. Different students will be featured with solos, including sophomore Rachael Anacker, who will be performing an Irish dance.
Junior Rachel Spak is highlighted as the fiddler in all the Celtic violin solos. Having played for thirteen years, Spak’s experience and that of the other musicians will bring professionalism to the production.
“It’s going to be an incredible night. It is not like the other concerts we have around at Houghton because it’s not so classical and uptight,” said Spak. “Rather, it will be laid back and a lot of fun!”
Each member of the performance has put in a significant amount of time to prepare. Martin has particularly devoted a lot of his time and energy to the show, as he has been writing the music since last summer. The music was given to the orchestra to learn before winter recess. Aside from the weekly two-hour rehearsal on Wednesday nights, all the participants have been putting in their own time since Christmas break. arts&sports_pops1

“It will be exciting and a relief to finally perform this music. We have all worked really hard to put this concert together, especially the director Rob Martin, and we hope that the crowd will enjoy the performance as much as will performing,” said Sircy. “We had a really positive reaction from the crowd last year so we hope to keep it going through this year and the years to come.”

“The greatest thing about this music is the audience can react however they want whenever they want. If they like something they can scream and shout. The orchestra feeds off of the energy,” said Martin, “So, the normal rules of concert etiquette don’t really apply in this type of concert.”

Everyone involved is eager to execute what they have worked so hard to prepare. Emotions have permeated the production as the performers are a mixture of nervous and excited, yet are still confident of a solid performance.

So join the Houghton Pops Orchestra this Friday night in their tribute to our Houghton Highlander tradition tonight at 7:30pm in the Wesley Chapel. As Rachel Spak said, “We will be [ready]. It always pulls together at the end, no matter what.”

 

 

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Arts

Intricate Ceramics Exhibit

An exhibition by Jason Green entitled “Past and Present” is currently on display in the Ortlip Art Gallery.  The exhibit is open until March 7, and there is an opening reception on February 23.
Entering the exhibit evokes a sense of quiet.  All but two of the pieces on display are mid-sized and evenly spaced along the walls, leaving the center of the gallery open and empty.  This bare space is oddly inviting.  It draws the eye to the individual pieces and necessitates movement to examine each work up close.
“Jason’s work is pretty exciting for our gallery, we haven’t had an exhibit like it in a while– a full ceramics show,” said Hannah Jennings.  According to Green’s artist statement, his current work grew out of his “experience as a builder, renovator and maker of temporary architectural installations.”

Ceramics piece by Jason Green
Ceramics piece by Jason Green

Green’s work in this show is comprised mostly of tiles, “thick, gorgeous, and oversized,” described Jennings, and the pieces do seem to hearken to a tradition of building and construction.  They are raised slabs on the wall, coated in designs that call to mind Eastern temples.

Indeed, Green cited travel as one of his main influences, listing off China, Mexico, France, and Italy as major sources of inspiration.  He works to incorporate “themes, ideas, and motifs that are shared between different cultures and different time periods.”

The two pieces on display that most notably reflect this concept are the two free-standing pieces.  Green has created stacks of interestingly shaped, repetitive tiles that are coated with ornate texture.  They look as if they had once been part of an ancient greater structure, now worn away.

Green himself reinforced this impression by sharing his intent behind the patterns, stating, “Decorative patterns lifted from history recall how layers build up over time, each having given a contribution to the memory and story of the space.”  The two free-standing pieces are by far the most conservative in color choice, as the rest of the wall-mounted tiles integrate bright blues and greens.

In addition to the color, close examination reveals that these tiles are also covered in intricate, overlapping patterns and textures.  In some cases, the clay itself will create a 3D texture that contrasts with glazed designs, and in others, multiple layers of glaze create depth and crisscrossing patterns. Some of these forms are geometric, repeating, and solid, while others are more organic and flowing, and the two styles work together within the clay.

Green said, “The geometry of my arrangements is tempered by the fluid characteristics of glazed surfaces that evolve during multiple applications and firings.  Some works use fields of modular units that suggest the vastness of landscape and the results of weather and erosion.”  The pieces are both beautiful and also intriguing, making it a mystery as to how they are created.

“His work would be interesting to a lot of people, I think, because of the process, which is something he’ll be talking about during the opening reception,” said Jennings.

The reception will be from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Ortlip Gallery on February 23.  Green’s artist talk will start at 7:30 p.m. and there will also be live music and refreshments, so be sure to check it out and find out how Green makes such stunning and intricate artwork.

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Arts

Indie Rap Goes Mainstream

Don’t waste another minute if you haven’t yet heard Macklemore’s album The Heist; get on iTunes, YouTube, Pandora, Grooveshark, or Spotify and listen to it.  It is by far the best rap album of 2012.

Courtesy of http://respect-mag.com/
Courtesy of http://respect-mag.com/

Ben Haggerty, known by his stage name Macklemore, in conjunction with young producer Ryan Lewis, released his first studio album on October 9th 2012. The Heist quickly rose to the top of the charts, landing number 1 on iTunes within hours of its release, number 2 on US Billboard 200, and selling over 78, 000 copies within the first week, all without any mainstream promotion or support.

Macklemore is not your typical rapper. He studied at Evergreen State University, and during his time as a student he worked with Gateways for Incarcerated Youth. He is an intellectual humanitarian activist and gay rights advocate, and he is concerned with reaching the younger generation and educating youth about cultural identity.

The most notable aspect of The Heist is its vulnerability. Macklemore doesn’t simply expose his life in any voyeuristic fashion, nor does he get carried away whining about the hardships of wealth and popularity. Instead, he is honest about the socio-economic issues that affect so many of us.

While Haggerty did check himself into rehab for drug-addiction in 2008, this only further fueled his desire to take a stand against drug use. With lyrics like, “That’s the same stuff Weezy’s sippin’… And tons of other rappers that be spittin’ hard,” he calls out Lil Wayne and other mainstream artists whose work makes light of drug abuse. He continues to sing in “Starting Over”, “If I can be an example of getting sober, then I can be an example of starting over.”

The Heist is also filled with theological and philosophical contemplations that have been lacking in popular music. In his single “Same Love,” he addresses the long lasting homophobia that exists not only in our culture but especially in rap, singing, “If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me.”

Courtesy of http://act.mtv.com/
Courtesy of http://act.mtv.com/

He continues to write, “It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion, gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment, the same fight that led people to walk outs and sit ins, It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference… No freedom till we’re equal, damn right I support it.”

Another issue Macklemore engages with is our cultural addiction to consumerism. He addresses this with a hint of humor in his hit single “Thrift Shop,” attacking the ridiculousness of consumerism with witty lines like, “oh that Gucci – That’s hella tight. I’m like, “Yo – that’s fifty dollars for a T-shirt… I call that getting tricked by a business.”

Macklemore doesn’t stop there, though; in “Wings” he continues to discuss how consumerism does more than just take our money — it destroys lives. He raps about a boy being killed for his Nike Air Force IV’s. He writes, “I’m an individual, yeah, but I’m part of a movement. My movement told me, be a consumer and I consumed it… I look inside the mirror and think Phil Knight tricked us all, these Nikes help me define me, but I’m trying to take mine off.”

Macklemore’s music is refreshing. The Heist, as its name suggests, is attempting to “steal back” any preconceived notions in regards to rap. Macklemore is concerned with the socio-economic, gender-based, racial and religious issues that plague us as a society. This album is more than just a chart topper; it is one of the most important critiques of our society and a fantastic piece of artwork.

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Arts

Things to Do: Skiing

It’s that time of year again; Houghton’s campus is blanketed in snow (well except for the rain earlier this week) and the air has a harsh winter chill.

Houghton ski club. Courtesy of Graham Bitzer
Houghton ski club. Courtesy of Graham Bitzer

Many would consider this weather to be a nuisance, but as an avid skier I would encourage you to embrace the exciting sports that this season has to offer. After all, you wouldn’t have as much appreciation for the gentle melting into springtime and the bulbs stubbornly pushing through the snow without the ice and cold beforehand.

There are plenty of activities available to the adventurous Houghton student during the winter. To name a few, you can build an igloo or a snowman, have a snowball fight with friends, make snow angels on the quad, or go sledding down the Roth hill, sans cafeteria trays of course.
If you have a little more time on your hands, try renting snowshoes or cross-country skis from the gym; you can trek through the Houghton woods in a whole new way. If you’ve never been cross-country skiing before, find a friend who has taken a class and get a few tips. It is definitely a great form of cardiovascular exercise, and it is more exciting than going for a jog in the PEC.
Though downhill skiing and snowboarding don’t burn as many calories as, say, cross-country skiing, it can be thrilling to carve down the slopes and feel the wind on your face. If you have never gone before, Houghton is the perfect place to learn to ski or board; we have our very own ski hill, complete with a rope tow and ski shack.

The ski hill is open from 3 to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and from 12:50 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Ski and snowboard rentals are $5 at the ski shack; you can’t get much cheaper than that!

After taking a few turns on the bunny slopes here, you may want to try out the big-leagues. Swain Resort is about a forty minute drive east of Houghton, and offers approximately 100 skiable acres. Wednesdays at Swain are college days, with a $25 pass and $20 rentals available to anyone with a valid student ID.
At a comparable distance of 60 minutes from Houghton in Ellicottville, NY, Holiday Valley offers about 282 skiable acres, and college students can get night passes for $28. For the more experienced skier or boarder, I would definitely recommend a trip to Holiday Valley; in fact, the Houghton College Ski Club takes a trip there every Sunday, and transportation is free in the college vans.
So however you feel about the cold weather and snow that Western New York winters bring, try to make the best of the conditions by getting involved in winter sports and activities. You will have much more fun, I promise!

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Arts

Kerbal Space Program Beta a Success

Several members of the Houghton Physics Department introduced me a few weeks ago to Kerbal Space Program, an indie sandbox space flight simulator program. In this game, you can build various flying vehicles, including rockets and airplanes, and pilot them above the earth, into space, and even to other planets.

Courtesy of https://kerbalspaceprogram.com
Courtesy of https://kerbalspaceprogram.com

Though it is still in the beta stage of its development, this simulation game has many features that create a worthwhile player experience. These game elements include a large toolkit of vehicle parts, numerous planets and moons to travel to and land upon, and a system of game elements that allow players to undertake a wide variety of missions.

Since it is still in beta, the developers continue to add features. Already, a vibrant player community has developed and has produced many game modifications and add-ons.

Once in the game, you have the option of building your own vehicle or selecting a pre-made sample rocket or airplane for modification and testing. In the building process, the program assists with the proper alignment and orientation of vehicle parts according to various symmetry modes. This means that rocket boosters, jet engines, fins, and other parts can be evenly spaced on the vehicle, allowing for balanced control during flight.

As soon as your ship is ready to fly, you can enter the launch mode of the game. In this mode, you have control over the engines, staging sequence, electronic systems, and other deployable items. The passengers of this craft are small, greenish-yellow aliens called Kerbals.

These strange little people do not provide assistance in the mission, but do provide some laughs as they react wildly to the player’s actions in controlling the ship. Some of these passengers become easily panicked by even subtle shifts in the ship’s trajectory. Others are in a constant state of ecstasy, even when their conveyance is on its way to a fiery and explosive demise.

Once your ship lands on a planet or moon, the Kerbals can explore. The universe provided to the player is currently limited to a solar system much like our own.

You begin your missions on Kerbin, an Earth-like world that has several moons. The other planets in this solar system mirror the planets in our own solar system, including several gas giants with many moons, and a few terrestrial planets. In the missions you design for yourself, you can visit the terrestrial worlds and the moons of this solar system.

In order to travel to the other celestial orbs in the Kerbal solar system, the game provides a system of flight mechanics that allows for easier orbit manipulation called the maneuvers system. This system allows you to reach almost anywhere in the solar system without performing calculations. Because of systems like these, it is not difficult to get started with space exploration in Kerbal Space Program.

Several of my friends have launched numerous rockets with a variety of payloads into orbit around Kerbin, and have docked their vehicles together to create space stations. The process of bringing the vehicles into the same orbit, and eventually docking them involves time and effort, but it is rewarding, as it allows for further exploration of the Kerbal solar system.

Currently, Kerbal Space Program, is available from the Kerbal Space program store at: www.kerbalspaceprogram.com in a demo version and a full version that costs $23. Because it is being constantly updated, has an active modding community, and already includes features that enable the player to perform a variety of missions that are only limited by the player’s imagination, this simulation game is certainly worth checking out.

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Shen Olympics, a Cherished Tradition

Shen Olympics is a long-standing Houghton tradition that my family has participated in for years. Just like my father and brother, I lived on third floor Shen for my freshman and sophomore years. I first experienced Shen Olympics at nine years old, as I was visiting my brother.

arts&sports_shen2Now that I am a senior living in the dorm, I often get asked why I stayed in Shen for four years. I smile and say “when else am I going to be able to run around with 100 other dudes and have other people cook for me?”

On a serious note, I stayed in Shen because it is more than just a building. I wanted to have the impact on younger men that the older guys had on me. One of the ways that Shen continues to build men of character is through its rich traditions.

When I asked fellow senior and E.P.C. President Anthony Cappello to describe Shen traditions, he said that “With traditions like Shen Bloc, Shen Olympics, and Shenanigans the men of Shen are able to enjoy times of fellowship, craziness, and I.B.C. throughout the school year.”

Shen traditions are much more than a bunch of men running around having a good time. They are historical ceremonies that promote unity and brotherhood.

Out of all of the Shen traditions Shen Olympics is probably the dorm favorite. R.A. Steve McCord simply said “secrecy” when asked about what he thought was cool [memorable?] about Shen traditions.

One of McCord’s residents, Matt Munkittrick, told him, “I don’t know what Shen Olympics is, but I just know it’s gonna be awesome.” The secrecy surrounding many of Shen’s traditions creates a lot of mystery on campus, but it brings its residents into a brotherhood that is larger than any one person.

On Friday February 1 the men of Shen will be kicking off the Olympics with Fancy Friday. After a time of bonding and fellowship at a community dinner, each floor will put forth contestants to participate in an array of activities. The entire event will literally take hours and go well into the morning of February 2, so you shouldn’t expect to see any Shen men at breakfast or even lunch on Saturday.

The stakes are higher this year because of the rumors of a new trophy and the promise of an engraving for the winning floor. Each floor takes Shen Olympics seriously, and some host training sessions to practice for events weeks in advance. Winning a Shen Olympics title is something that every resident desires and afterwards takes pride in.arts&sports_shen7

Personally one of my favorite things about Shen Olympics is the vast array of events that residents participate in. This statement was echoed by Basement’s R.A. Elias Manzella who said “At the end of the day, we have all been blessed with our own gifts. The wide ranging event selection allows every resident the ability to represent their floor. The individuality contributing to unity is special and its impact extends beyond the night of the Olympics.”

Relationships are forged, renewed, and strengthened throughout the event by testing one’s endurance, perseverance, wits, strength, and skill. As an R.A. it is awesome to see my guys interact in ways that otherwise would not have happened.

I think a lot of people on campus would be surprised with Shen life and traditions. Aspects of the traditions have been changing the past few years in order to incorporate everyone in the dorm. I’ve always felt that people on campus assume that Shen is just a bunch of smelly guys running around doing crazy things, but Shen and its traditions are so much more than that. Every year we change some Olympic events to make sure we are safe, everyone feels comfortable, and that the events are fun.

Shen’s traditions emulate and foster the building’s core values of strength, honor, and brotherhood. As a member of the R.A. staff I can attest to the intentionality and time spent in planning to make sure that Shen Olympics is more than just a night of competition. It is a night of bonding and building Godly men. I am proud to call myself a lifetime Shen man and look forward to competing one last time on Friday.

 

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The Riviera Theater

The Riviera Theatre and Performing Arts Center in North Tonawanda has a rich history; in fact, you can read all about it on the theatre’s website thanks to Bob Sieben.

I learned the Yellen family built the theatre in 1926, and they installed a Wurlitzer pipe organ in the same year.  The theatre’s organ, nicknamed The Mighty Worlitzer, began with 11 pipes and has since expanded to 20, requiring constant attention and tuning according to Sieben.

The Riviera Theatre
The Riviera Theatre

The North Tonawanda History Museum’s website states that the theatre, which seats 1,200 people, first showed silent movies accompanied by Wurlitzer organ music. It goes on to explain that the theatre fell into disrepair for a time after television replaced movies.

In 1980, the Riviera Theatre was placed on the Register of Historic Landmarks by the US Department of the Interior. In 1988, the Riviera Theatre and its organ were put up for sale, and the Niagara Frontier Theatre Organ Society (NFTOS)  set out to purchase the theatre through the help of a fundraising drive in the Tonawandas and Western New York.

Now the NFTOS and Western New York aim to preserve and share the heritage of the historic “movie palaces and their original ‘Mighty Pipe Organs’ ” through the restoration and upkeep of the Riviera Theatre, in Sieben’s words.

You can go to see this nostalgic theatre and organ for yourself; it remains active to this day, still presenting movies, live theatre, concerts and other special events. Coming up on Friday and Saturday February 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday February 3 at 2 p.m. is a performance of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s Broadway show I Do, I Do.

The pair are best known for The Fantasticks, the world’s longest-running musical. Riviera Theater’s website describes I Do, I Do as the touching story of a couple’s journey through 50 years of marriage, eventually re-discovering how much they need one another.

Adult tickets for the production are $20, and they can be purchased online through the Riviera Theater’s official website. If you are a history buff or a theatre enthusiast, consider making the trip to North Tonawanda for this or one of the theatre’s later events.

 

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Hunting Locally

Hunting Locally
Hunting Locally

Hunting is important for many reasons, many of which I will not be able to fully explore.  One is to control the herd, and if you noticed, the herd in this area around Houghton is very large. Especially in areas where the nutrition is high, deer reproduction is very high.  What people tend to overlook is that if we don’t reduce numbers from the herd, there can become too many animals and not enough resources, such as food and water, to sustain all of them.  Herd management is the responsible approach contributing to the sustainability of both the deer population and the natural resources at stake.

Herd management is much deeper for me though, because I don’t look at deer as numbers.   Deer management is an art in my mind. Myself and several friends put forth significant efforts in providing the deer on our property with the nutrition in the form of food plots. We provide the deer with the nutrition and help create ideal habitats on the property through proper forestry practices. We have a management plan for our property which basically means that the senior members of our party are only allowed to shoot bucks with six points or more or any doe they wish.

So why do I hunt? I am not out for blood, and that would be a serious misconception of hunters.  I care more about taking care of deer and the land than any pencil pushing PETA member will ever do by protesting hunting. The act of killing is not always fun, but killing is only a part of the  overall whole.  When you have the larger whole of a hunting group (as close as a family) together, the fellowship and the bonds created between people by the activity of the hunt are nearly indestructible.

Here in  New York, deer hunting is rooted deeply in the culture especially in the area we find ourselves attending college. Did you know that in 1939 Calvin Roosevelt Lucky killed the state record buck that stood for over 70 years right in Fillmore? The deer sported over 200 inches of antler on its head. Even for anyone not particularly familiar with deer, you have to admit, having over 200 inches of bone sticking out of the top of an animal’s head is a lot.

Ways to prepare venison.

1) Jerky- The key to jerky is how you prepare it.  First step is to make sure you cut it into thin strips that can dry  thoroughly, and also remember with jerky that you are not cooking the meat, but are drying it. Second, you want to make up  the spices you wish to cure the meat in.  Many quality jerky cure kits can be bought at any sporting goods store.  Let the meat sit for several days in a cool area to really let the cure do its job.  The drying part of the job can be done in an oven, but I prefer to use my dehydrator at home.  If you are going to use an oven, heat the oven between 150 and 200 degrees, and I tend to let it dry for 12 or more hours.

2) Venison stew in a crockpot. What I do is take a few nice haunches of venison, chopped vegetables like peppers, onions, potatoes, and carrots  throw them into the crockpot with gravy seasoning packet and slow cook it all day.

3) Grilling- If you have the opportunity to grill your venison, I would suggest finding a marinade that you prefer and pre-soak it. Keep a close eye on your steaks; take my word for it especially if you want to eat your venison off the grill medium rare, trust me.  And sautédvegetables to go with your venison steak is always an excellent choice.

I don’t know how many times I’ve eaten at the dining hall with a hollow appreciation for my food, and I am sure that you have felt the same.  Every time I eat a piece of venison I can still feel that same joy and thankfulness for the animal as the same moment I knelt by its side and praised God.

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Downton Season 3 Disappointment

So, cult-favorite Downton Abbey is back for its third season, and once again American audiences can sit back and watch in gross fascination as the drama unfolds in 1921 England.

Seasons one and two brought a myriad of tragedy as the Crawley family lost an heir with the sinking of the Titanic, found an heir through a distant male cousin, struggled through a family scandal concerning the honor of eldest daughter Mary, lost another natural heir through an unfortunate miscarriage for Cora, not to mention the trauma of World War I, and the emotional turmoil of the love-triangle between Mary, Matthew, and Lavinia.

The first two seasons were fairly believable and quite enjoyable with the exception of the unlikely resurrection of a soldier who claimed to be Patrick, the lost heir from the Titanic sinking in the first episode of the first season. But, three episodes into this season I am already growing restless and lacking a certain sense of fulfillment.

The constant bickering between Matthew and Mary is tiresome due to Mary’s insensitivity and tunnel-vision towards saving her ancestral home. The on-going saga of Bates in prison never seems to developing past glimpses of his life behind bars. The writers could at least devote more time to giving the audience just a bit of resolution, or at least answers. Then, there is the overarching “Downton has no money” issue. But I won’t get into that, for fear of spoiling even more of the season than I already have.

Promotional poster for Downton
Promotional poster for Downton

Ultimately, the success of this season and subsequent seasons will depend on how well Julian Fellowes, creator, and his team of writers planned the storyline even before the pilot episode launched. My fear, based on season three’s dismal first three episodes, is that we will all continue to watch our beloved show out of loyalty and not necessarily due to a compelling storyline.

But, what happens if we do just keep watching out of loyalty and not because it’s really good anymore? Why will we keep watching? Why is it such a popular show? I’ll be honest, when I first heard the premise I couldn’t understand why everyone was watching PBS on a Sunday night. It was not until I was desperate to procrastinate writing the first part of my senior seminar project that I really became interested in the show. Four episodes and four hours later, I was addicted.

Downton Abbey has such a cult-following because we want to be transported to a different time and place. Yes, I understand this is why we read books and watch films—escapism at its finest—but watching Downton is about the experience. Everything from the costumes to the rich inclusion of history makes this an accessible show for just about everyone. We are fascinated by people who are not like us, which is exactly what the characters of Downton Abbey are. They are privileged and have servants and live in a time we cannot conceive of. We can’t relate to the upstairs, the elite, and we can’t relate to the downstairs, the servants, so we just sit back and watch in fascination.

It’s not just the accents or the costumes; it’s more about our fascination with the polished, elevated upper class. America just doesn’t have this. Yes, we have our trashy celebrities, but we lack our refined Will and Kate. In Matthew and Mary, we see the same thing, but in 1921. Two wildly attractive, seemingly committed people trying to figure out how love and relationships work. Rocky and painful, we want them to work and succeed, so we tune in week after week, just like we peruse the tabloids religiously while in line at the Jube (excuse me, Shop n’ Save) whenever we see Kate’s pretty face or Will’s big grin.

So, while I hope the third season of Downton Abbey proves to be as entertaining and enjoyable as the first two, I have low expectations. If I am not proven wrong, I will keep watching for the sole purpose of viewing Lady Mary’s excellent outfits and seeing Matthew and Mary cobble together a first year of marriage.