As the semester comes to a close, so does my time with Student Publications. I learned a lot in the two semesters that I spent writing news and opinion columns. It’s been an honor to share some of my pop culture opinions with the campus community, and, because of that, I’d like to dedicate my final column to my favorite topic of discussion—Harry Styles.
I’m not the first person to write about Styles. Publications big and small have featured the artist in think-pieces and opinion columns that examine his influences on popular culture, the music industry and fandom. Styles has been interviewed by Paul McCartney and Cameron Crowe, he’s hosted The Late Late Show with James Corden (yes, hosted), played a major role in hit movie Dunkirk, and toured the world on a multi-leg tour. Journalists are quick to comment on who he’s dating or what color he’s painting his nails, but Styles himself seems to focus on political and human rights issues, from the stickers on his guitar (pride flags, Black Lives Matter and End Gun Violence Now) to his charitable donations (a different organization for each city on his tour).
But somehow, even though everyone seems to be talking about him, there’s always more to be said.
Since 2010, Styles has been in the public eye as a member of One Direction, the pop music boy band that competed on the UK’s X-Factor television contest. One Direction was a huge part of my life for the time that they were together (2010-15). My high school days were spent keeping up with the band members’ tweets in between classes and learning their mediocre choreography from videos and vlogs. Even at OCU, I spent most of my initial sorority recruitment talking about the music video for Drag Me Down with Mary McLain, film senior, and the band’s final (and best) album, Made In the A.M., could be heard all throughout the third floor of Walker Hall dormitory thanks to Rachel Necessary, acting senior, and myself.
Styles transitioned seamlessly from being the long-haired member of One Direction to a solo career where he was front and center at all times. Thanks to him, the last few years of my life were spent attending multiple concerts, traveling on cross-country road trips, hosting birthday parties and Saturday Night Live viewings on his behalf, holding Twitter conversations with fans from across the world, and even getting themed tattoos. April 7 marked the two-year anniversary of Sign of the Times, the leading single from Stlyes’s self-titled album. Since then, I’ve finished two challenging years of college, worked multiple jobs and even studied abroad, but I could always come back to the album with the pink flowers on the cover.
Styles’s magic is that he has created a community that spans across the world. His “Treat People With Kindness” logo can be seen on laptops, water bottles and shirts across campus as well. Because of Styles, I’ve met so many people, seen so many new places and learned so many things about what matters most in life. I’m grateful that I get to be part of a movement that brings people together with a core value of just being a nice, kind person.
So, what’s next? Styles is co-hosting the Met Gala on May 6, and I have a feeling that the next few months will see the release of a new song or album from him. For me? I’ll graduate May 4, and I’ll start to figure out the real world, post-OCU. I have a feeling it will be challenging and rewarding in ways that I have yet to imagine, but I feel excited knowing that most things are possible. Thank you for reading, and be sure to Treat People With Kindness.
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