Rising to the Occasion
“Romance is about the possibility of the thing.”
“Love Jones” is a film deeply preoccupied with the vulnerability in chasing possibility. Both romantic leads, Darius and Nina, repeatedly split and reconcile in 90’s Black Chicago, as they struggle to give into emotion and become their fullest selves. It’s a cozy film that deftly intertwines the gravity of sharing love and art across moments big and small.
Darius plays Nina some Charlie Parker in a record store. He’s laboring to finish his book. Nina quotes Sonia Sanchez on their late-night strolls. She is rebuffed as a photographer for being too “raw.” Two impassioned spoken word poetry performances bookend the story. It’s only through stepping back and genuinely pursuing their individual dreams that they are finally able to reunite and address that final fear of a shared future. It takes courage to embrace openness and explore your potential.
Hosted every quarter by the Igwebuike Cultural Club, the “Love Jones” showcase has served as a unique campus platform for decades, where students are free to openly express their inner courage and talents. Last Friday’s show, fittingly titled “Winter Wonderland,” transported students and parents into a whirling blizzard of spectacular, contrasting skills across different forms.
D-Hawk’s inhumanly jagged and distorted beatboxing was followed by a crooning rendition of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” by duo Simone Gregory and Oshiozokhai Abu. Victor Bueno Garcia later plucked away an infectious take on “The Boxer.”
Measure Up, Vocalicious and Supertonic delivered to the audience those beautifully composed and resonant reimaginings of classics that only acapella captures. Daybreak and Hipnotik electrified the stage with coordinated attacks of motion, graceful and aggressive in their calculated execution of group dance routines.
And closing out the night was newcomer Mayday Mae, whose sheer energy bounded off the stage and sucker punched the first row as she performed a knockout original with steely heart.
Hosts Joshua Goodloe and KK Walker put on a memorable performance in their own right through their command of the event. The pair breezed through the evening's many activities (hosting trivia, reading live tweets and interacting with the crowd) while operating smoothly off the cuff.
Speaking to the power of the show, Goodloe reflected that “Everybody has their thing that they're doing. It's usually just people that you're working with that see all that, but I think with Love Jones it's like, that dance group who work until midnight, like multiple nights a week, get to finally show everybody what they've been working on.” He and Walker crafted an environment that encouraged enthusiasm from performers and audience members alike. At one point, a dance contest was hosted on stage and a parent set the crowd ablaze. Sandra absolutely killed it. Shoutout to Sandra.
Love Jones successfully distills what college should be about into a single evening: chasing new experiences and seeking out the best version of yourself. It teaches students to be comfortable in their skin, celebrate the achievements of others and proudly share what they love. As a campus establishment, Love Jones has long served as a proving ground for anyone taking the steps towards self-expression. As long as there are people willing to support, that possibility will never be exhausted.