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Articles by Ari Contreras
The fall of a showgirl: an embarrassing era for Swifties
After “The Life of a Showgirl” was released last October, I decided to take a bit of a Taylor hiatus. While I was originally excited to hear a new sound from her, perhaps even reminiscent of the production in “1989,” I was met with severe disillusionment. Since then, I’ve branched out and explored more music. I’ve listened to smaller artists and developed curiosity for different genres. From these experiences, my musical expectations have only increased.
MAGA’s Christian nationalism is the new wave of fascism
“There’s no hate like Christian love.” My heart sinks every time I see or hear a comment like the one above. As a Christian, I can’t believe we’ve reached a point as a society where the core of a religion deeply rooted in love has been twisted and weaponized to fit the agenda of many. As much as I dislike the statement, I can’t say I blame anyone who believes it’s true, especially when considering MAGA ideology in America that treats Christianity like a brand.
Manifestation is a myth
Over the last few years, manifestation culture has taken over the minds of those who have a certain vision of what their lives could become. As a concept, manifestation idealizes a certain reality by taking micro-steps to make it true. Some methods include vision boards, where people create a collage of images with their dreams and desires, as well as writing down affirmations and repeating them out loud.
Must watch: Exploring feminism on screen
Whether a movie or TV series has a female director, actress, screenwriter, or all of the above, the 21st century has seen a myriad of films showcasing women in cinema. Growing up, I wanted the confirmation of knowing I could be successful as a woman despite not having the perfect image or personality. I yearned to see women on screen that got their way without having to seduce anyone like Jasmine does in “Aladdin,” or wear heels to physically elevate themselves to a man’s level.
When discipline meets artistry: How musician Zach Brock mastered musical connectivity
As the sunset blurs the afternoon away, the gentle hums of a violin duet the whistle of the espresso machine. People sit back comfortably and close their eyes as they let the violin’s wand enchant them with the spell of soft melodies. The lights of Kenwick Table dim to adorn the man with a luminous halo, spotlighting him and his wooden instrument. The man is Zach Brock, Grammy-winning violinist and life-long musician.
Snap out of it: How Snapchat has ruined social relationships
Is it just me or is Snapchat one of the worst apps ever created? Ever since I quit utilizing it, I’ve discovered how much more gratifying conversations are when they’re guided by a sequence of texts longer than three letters each. Snapchat has welcomed a new wave of low-effort conversation, where tweens and teens communicate via “wyd” messages and mirror pics with half their face being covered by the convenient draping of their hair.
‘Wuthering Heights:’ Is modernity ruining classics?
Ever since the modern adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” was announced to release in 2026, my nervousness has risen on multiple occasions. Will this pay true homage to Emily Brontë’s masterpiece? Will there be changes altering the course of the story? How does this version’s quality compare to the original adaptation? Then came the most troubling question of all, what if I hate it? I must admit, my hopes for what the movie could become weren’t extremely high.
Why every centimeter counts at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Ever since Feb. 6, 2026, the Winter Olympics have gained the attention of many watching athletes compete in sports such as figure skating, curling and bobsleigh. However, one sport in particular has raised eyebrows globally. Back in 2025, Norwegian ski jumpers Marius Lindvik and Johann André Forfang were suspended for altering their suits before the men’s large hill event at the 2025 World Ski Championships. At first sight, this seems like an unfair sanction.
Valentine’s Day isn’t romantic anymore
Categories: February 14, 2026 Quick! What are three things you visualize when you think of Valentine’s Day? If you’re thinking of chocolates, flowers and stuffed animals, you’re definitely thinking of the right holiday. Except, wait. Should we be celebrating it still? Don’t get me wrong, I love love. All three items make for a pretty concept, but I must admit, Valentine’s Day has become rather boring. Trust me when I say I don’t hate the date itself.
2026 Grammy picks and predictions
It’s Grammy season! With that, it is time to celebrate the world’s best musical sensations in the past year. Since the first Grammy Awards in 1959, the event has traditionally occurred annually in the U.S., with hundreds of artists seeking recognition for their cultural impact and talent. Everyone knows that being awarded a Grammy is a massive honor, especially for rising artists.
When a snowstorm becomes the apocalypse
Think back to Sunday, Jan. 26, when you got the notification that UK has cancelled classes for tomorrow. Suddenly, the whole student community bonds over a wish, a plea that was heard. Hooray! Everyone’s grocery runs were worthwhile after all. The trip to their nearest Target or Trader Joe’s wasn’t in vain. It doesn’t matter that the shelves are lacking milk, bread and noodles because the whole world is on pause. Lexington rests. I, for one, was happy to receive the news of a five-day weekend.
Society is in a crisis of wonder decay
It’s another day at UK. You’re walking across campus, trying to make it to class, making sure your music isn’t too loud to disturb anyone nearby. But with every step you take, you notice your classmates and peers have turned into real life cyborgs. Suddenly, all you see are faces looking down, not at the flowers sprouting in between the pavement cracks or paying close attention at the beat their footsteps produce. Instead, everyone’s on their phone, doom scrolling.
Pop or stop: Singo! musical bingo educates students on Stalking Awareness Month
University of Kentucky students participated in an educational Bingo-style session hosted by the UK’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Center to spread knowledge about Stalking Awareness Month. The event took place at Pigman Hall, where students learned about stalking and its misconceptions, like stalking only happening to public figures, through an interactive game of sung Bingo on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
BookTok: How literature has been reduced to mediocrity
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, social media sites, such as Tik Tok, popularized the concept of online communities. One, specifically, gained traction during this time, BookTok. BookTok joined thousands of readers and grouped them into a literary nook within Tik Tok, where algorithms showcased book-related content that facilitated online conversation regarding plot twists, book recommendations and more. As a reader myself, I loved watching others share their passion for books.
Journaling: The best way to jump-start the new year
As a visionary, I’ve always set goals for myself for the upcoming year. With every year past, however, I’ve discovered I rarely meet the New Year’s resolutions I swore to commit to for a whole 365 days. Every time I wondered if it was a gradual loss of motivation or if my goals were simply too big, which led to my inability to stick to them. After much thought, I can safely say I’ve always been excited to accomplish my goals, but haven’t actually taken the time to construct a method to attain them.
Hallmark movies are the epitome of comedic nonsense
Over the years, the mass production of low quality movies has become a trend in cinema. Production companies like Hallmark follow suit and deliver recycled material time after time. While some might think of their seasonal specials as warm and delightful, the truth is they’re plain, uninteresting and frankly, a showcase of poor writing.
The best of the worst: A musical wrap-up for 2025
With every December, along comes the excitement of the long-awaited Spotify Wrapped, an annual summary of the favorite music genres, artists, albums and more every Spotify user consumed that year. To me, Spotify Wrapped results don’t influence my next year of streaming. Rather, I find it encouraging to explore even more genres and artists, thereby widening my musical taste.
2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade pays homage to modernity
Originally started as a tradition to promote sales of the Macy’s Department store in 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become an annual tradition rich in performances and family time. Nowadays, spectators still line the streets of New York in anticipation of witnessing their favorite characters in the shape of festive inflatables bouncing through the air.
‘We get to serve the world.’ International Thanksgiving Dinner unites customs and faiths
Families and students celebrated the Thanksgiving season at the annual International Thanksgiving Dinner held at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church. Open to individuals looking to spend time in the community, the event encouraged multicultural connections over a meal on Saturday, Nov. 22.
‘Remember your horizons:’ Daniel Esquivia Zapata blends culture with visual language
In a room overflowing with sketches and graphite stains, a drawing of two young men holding candles showcases the candid relationship between them. “Alien,” “undocumented” and “immigrant” are a few of the words written continuously across the paper, forming into a graphite image of two boys as they look at each other. The boys are visual depictions of University of Kentucky associate professor Daniel Esquivia Zapata and his brother as children.
Artistry bloomed at 2025 Latin Grammys
Every year, the Latin Grammys are the talk of the hispanic community as they honor artists with various cultural sounds and influences. This year, I was excited to see many of my favorite artists among the nominee list, including Joaquina, Bad Bunny, Natalia Lauforcade, Morat and Aitana. Hosts Maluma, Grammy-winning and nominated artist, and Roselyn Sánchez, renowned actress, presented many of the awards together and delivered energetic words to the artists filling up the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
‘It may not be perfect, but it’s yours.’ Punk-cycling event embraces clothing renovation
The University of Kentucky’s Office of LGBTQ* Resources hosted “Punk-cycling” to repurpose clothing pieces and build community among students. Students and staff shared stitching patterns and techniques at the event in the Office of LGBTQ* Resources in the Gatton Student Center on Thursday, Nov. 13. Alex Nacke, a senior majoring in communications and an advocate for the LGBTQ+ suite, said the event focused on deconstructing the shame some might feel about repurposing their clothes.
‘Saturday Night Live’: The downfall of live comedy
Ever since 1975, “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has been a medium for comedic entertainment many enjoy. The past decade, however, has proven the live sketch comedy show isn’t what it used to be. Every week is met with a new set of celebrity guests that join the season’s regular cast in a series of sketches, including pre-recorded skits. The show opens with the guest celebrity delivering a monologue, often humorously addressing controversies they’ve faced recently.
‘I take pride in being first-generation:’ CARES Kickoff event cultivates community
The University of Kentucky’s CARES First Generation office kicked off National First-Generation Week with an event to promote connectivity among students and inform them of campus resources. First-generation students and staff shared their stories and successes at the event in the Cat’s Den in the Gatton Student Center on Monday, Nov. 3. During the kickoff, students treated themselves to free food and merchandise while music played in the background in between student and staff speeches.
‘Violence doesn’t find a home here:’ VIP Center honors Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The University of Kentucky’s Violence Intervention and Prevention Center (VIP) hosted Purple Pumpkin Painting to encourage students to connect while raising awareness about Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). The event took place in the Multidisciplinary Science Building on Tuesday, Oct. 7, creating a comfortable space for conversation regarding heavy topics such as domestic violence.
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is actually an unimpressive spectacle
As a long-term Taylor Swift fan, I was extremely excited to learn the contents of her upcoming album “The Life of a Showgirl” upon its announcement in Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast episode. Due to Swift’s artistic productiveness, her fans are accustomed to anticipation. Her album releases and music videos are always the talk of the Swiftie community. It was because of this that my standards and expectations for her new body of work were extremely high.
Hispanic Heritage Month: An opportunity to embrace culture
Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of 21 incredibly diverse Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain and territories of Latin America. By honoring the past and inspiring our futures, Hispanic Heritage Month dedicates itself to celebrating and acknowledging a world of culture and history that deserves to be told.
UK students celebrate sweater weather at Fall Festival
The University of Kentucky Student Activities Board (SAB) hosted the Fall Festival, where students spent an afternoon enjoying a variety of fall-themed activities. The event took place in the Harris Ballroom in the Student Center on Tuesday, Sept. 23, to celebrate fall, according to Jack Lattuca, junior human health science major and event organizer, who has been planning the event since February.
Consumerism is Gen Z’s favorite trend
From fidget spinners to Labubus, it seems Gen Z has always fallen for consumeristic traps designed to last no longer than a few months. I remember being obsessed with the multiple designs of fidget spinners. Some would light up or would be completely bathed in a silver coat. While it was designed as an anxiety toy, my middle school heart collected them simply because they were the talk of the moment.
Humans of UK: Taylor Leigh connects passion with profession
The walls of William T. Young Library at the University of Kentucky are frequented by students in pursuit of knowledge, learning and intellectual community. Students gather to study or seek advice for projects that demand the help of academic professionals. For UK Librarian Taylor Leigh, the opportunity to guide students in academic research feels like a gratifying experience.
How to land on all fours: A Wildcat survival guide
Fall of 2024 was a true rollercoaster of emotions for me. I had just moved to a new city and I was now in college for the next four years. That sudden realization unlocked millions of fears. Will I get along with my roommate? How do I stop feeling small in a school so big? Are professors really that daunting? What if I can’t keep up with the fast-paced events of college life? Well into the fall semester, I no longer perceived the unknown as scary.
Dive into a story for International Literacy Day
Established in 1967 by the UNESCO, Sept. 8 celebrates International Literacy Day. With this annual event comes the reminder to foster passion for reading and internalize knowledge found within a book. As a kid, I was an avid reader. As an adult, I wish I had more time to just sit down and enjoy a novel. I’ve often found myself with time on my hands but no idea of the right type of book to read. Here’s what I’ve gathered, there is no right book.
OPINION: New year, same issues: Is UK’s campus all that safe?
As a University of Kentucky student, I’m more than familiar with the constant safety concerns that appear within the student community. The 2024-25 school academic year faced robbery, gun apparitions rape and assault cases leaving many students to wonder how the University of Kentucky Police Department (UKPD) would increase their responsiveness. On Wednesday, Aug. 27, UKPD and Lexington Police reported to William T. Young Library, where a shooting threat had been made.
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