"On a random Tuesday this month, the question popped up in our writing room: what four pieces of media would we take with us to a deserted island? As usual, much discussion ensued – the result, these answers. Here’s to hoping we’ll never have to use them." -- The Telegraph staff
Orion Songster, 9th grade
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Ava Rukavina, 10th grade
Recently I’ve been meaning to read Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation, ironically though it’s been scrolling through social media that has kept me from ever picking it up, so I figure a desert island would be a good place to start, given that it’s free from distractions. It’s not an especially long book but it deals with a lot of complex concepts that could occupy my mind for a while. Let’s be real though, that book is going to be boring so I’ll also bring all six seasons (and a movie) of one of my favorite comedy series, Community. I’m not really into gaming but I figure that’s a good way to kill time. What better way to do that than with a sandbox-style game like Animal Crossing, where you can explore and decorate your own desert island forever (not to brag but my island does already have a five-star rating). Speaking of five stars, I am absolutely in love with Melanie Martinez’s new album PORTALS. With the flawless transitions between tracks, bone chilling sound effects, and witty lyrics, it is one of the best things I’ve listened to in a while, so that will definitely have to be my soundtrack while I’m stranded.
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Bee Ahlers, 10th grade
If I was writing this at nine, I would have said Frozen, The Frozen Soundtrack, A ten hour fail compilation video (clean), and the song California Gurls by Katy Perry. At eleven I would have brought anything to do with Stranger Things—as I would wear the cheaply made Eleven hoodie every day straight for around two weeks, so much so that my mom would force me to take it off and wash it.
Now, I’m not too sure what I would bring. I feel like I’d say I’d bring something heartfelt, like a video of my baby sister and dad to get some “awes” and “That’s cute!”, but in reality I’d probably decide on bringing all eleven seasons of Shameless, because that show will never fail to make me laugh, cry, or gasp in shock. The second thing I’d bring would be my “liked songs” folder on Spotify because, well, I have like three thousand songs on there. I’d bring the Logic program so I could make some kind of music there so I don’t get bored, and lastly, I’d bring an app where you could read any book at any time. Even though I haven’t been into reading for a while, this seems appropriate.
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Declan McMahon, 10th grade
Elias Dickey, 10th grade
- Spotify. I know, I should probably just choose the discography of one or two artists at a time. But when I say I listen to all music, I mean I listen to all music. I can’t go a day without switching up my ever changing taste at least once. It’s best to just give me all of my music so I can listen to Vocaloid, death metal, and classic hip-hop all in one day.
- Youtube. I can watch whatever I want, and if the channels are still releasing new videos, then I’m all set. Not only will that be a constant source of entertainment, but I can get any information I might need to do something, like how to make a hammock out of big leaves.
- HBO Max, current and canceled shows. This way I could watch Over the Garden Wall, Legendary, Infinity Train, Craig of the Creek, and so much more. It doesn’t matter if it was taken off four months ago and I cried for hours, looking at all the Youtube compilations I could find – it’s back now!
- Minecraft. I’d be able to explore endless worlds and do whatever I want in them. It’s already a massive timekiller for me, so it’d just be even more of that. This is essentially an ad for Minecraft, but come on. I’d waste hours on that.
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Ava Rukavina, 10th grade
Recently I’ve been meaning to read Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation, ironically though it’s been scrolling through social media that has kept me from ever picking it up, so I figure a desert island would be a good place to start, given that it’s free from distractions. It’s not an especially long book but it deals with a lot of complex concepts that could occupy my mind for a while. Let’s be real though, that book is going to be boring so I’ll also bring all six seasons (and a movie) of one of my favorite comedy series, Community. I’m not really into gaming but I figure that’s a good way to kill time. What better way to do that than with a sandbox-style game like Animal Crossing, where you can explore and decorate your own desert island forever (not to brag but my island does already have a five-star rating). Speaking of five stars, I am absolutely in love with Melanie Martinez’s new album PORTALS. With the flawless transitions between tracks, bone chilling sound effects, and witty lyrics, it is one of the best things I’ve listened to in a while, so that will definitely have to be my soundtrack while I’m stranded.
***
Bee Ahlers, 10th grade
If I was writing this at nine, I would have said Frozen, The Frozen Soundtrack, A ten hour fail compilation video (clean), and the song California Gurls by Katy Perry. At eleven I would have brought anything to do with Stranger Things—as I would wear the cheaply made Eleven hoodie every day straight for around two weeks, so much so that my mom would force me to take it off and wash it.
Now, I’m not too sure what I would bring. I feel like I’d say I’d bring something heartfelt, like a video of my baby sister and dad to get some “awes” and “That’s cute!”, but in reality I’d probably decide on bringing all eleven seasons of Shameless, because that show will never fail to make me laugh, cry, or gasp in shock. The second thing I’d bring would be my “liked songs” folder on Spotify because, well, I have like three thousand songs on there. I’d bring the Logic program so I could make some kind of music there so I don’t get bored, and lastly, I’d bring an app where you could read any book at any time. Even though I haven’t been into reading for a while, this seems appropriate.
***
Declan McMahon, 10th grade
- Red Dead Redemption - Red Dead Redemption is the pinnacle of gaming. It is simply off the charts in engineering, immersion, story, cutscenes, fighting, open-world experience, and easter eggs. I already have more than 50 hours of playtime on this game, and I know I could log 400 more easily without ever getting bored, and always discovering more. In a league of its own for all categories with nearly unlimited play time, this game is the ideal replayable title for a desert island.
- Minecraft - Minecraft, while not only at the front of my mind when someone says “nostalgia,” is also endlessly playable. You can build literally infinite combinations of blocks and never get tired. I would hone my building skills, creating increasingly skilled buildings until I can’t get any better, reminiscing on my childhood all the while.
- David Bowie’s Complete Discography - This isn’t technically an album, but we were OK-ed to do playlists, so I picked the best and most prolific artist I could think of: David Bowie. David Bowie does not have a single song I don’t like. Not only that, Bowie and his music are interwoven with the fabric of my family so deeply that I would never forget my family with this at hand. At 22 hours, the playlist has plenty of listening and more than enough replayable hits.
- Fantastic Mr. Fox - The third nostalgia pick. I have, without a doubt, watched this film 20 times already, if not more. It never gets old. I’ve always said Wes Anderson is the best (certainly at least my favorite) director, and this movie all but proves it. This claymation masterpiece is the most Wes Anderson-y Wes Anderson movie, with a yellow, warm tint throughout and a number of symmetrical shots. Not only that, but Fantastic Mr. Fox does something most book adaptations can’t: It both does the incredible Dahl book justice, and also stands as it’s own cinematic tour de force.
Elias Dickey, 10th grade
- Star Wars complete original trilogy collection. Best movies ever put to screen except maybe inception or something. Fight me.
- American Idiot album Deluxe Edition. Masterfully written rock opera without a single dud song on the album. Everything is catchy as hell and the songs have an immaculate flow between them.
- Minecraft Java Edition. Don’t judge. Beating up children in a block game online is what electricity was invented for.
- Phineas and Ferb. It was tough between this and Rick and Morty, but I like the formulaic, but almost chaotic format of the show that sets and betrays its own norms in every episode, as well as their parodies on other real world stuff. I would’ve never learned what a platypus was without this show, so I consider it a critical stage in my development (even though I say that like I haven’t rewatched it multiple times this year alone).
