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The student-run magazine of San Francisco State University

Xpress Magazine

The student-run magazine of San Francisco State University

Xpress Magazine

The student-run magazine of San Francisco State University

Xpress Magazine

Portrait of Jurnee Hernandez on the San Francisco State University campus. (Amaya Edwards / Xpress Magazine)

Living in a Filtered Reality

Mariana Garrick, Staff Writer
November 12, 2021

Plump glossy lips, a perfectly-contoured button nose, defined cheekbones and wrinkle-free skin are features that are easily attainable in just a few swipes thanks to the filters that have made their way...

Double exposure portrait of Gabe Salazar in San Francisco. (Garrett Isley / Xpress Magazine)

Simulation Theory: How Real is the World Around Us?

Nicole Gonzales, Online Editor
November 12, 2021

A collection of text algorithms and a series of binary codes run on a quantum computer making calculations and storing data, powerful enough to create entire civilizations. Together, it’s all programmed...

Alia Ismail, a social media influencer and YouTuber, shared their initial journey of transitioning from female to male with their audience in 2018, eventually documenting the process in a film titled “A Year in Transition.” Photo courtesy of Alia Ismail.

From Female to Male, and Back Again

Cash Martinez, Social Media Editor
November 12, 2021

For five years, Alia Ismail identified as a transgender man — until one day, they didn’t.   At the start of 2021, Ismail, now 26, began “detransitioning” — in simple terms, the process...

Kiana Honarmand poses for a portrait with her artwork at her studio in Palo Alto, Calif., on Nov. 4, 2021. Honarmand’s artwork uses colors, shapes and patterns that remind her of growing up in Iran. (Nicolas Cholula / Xpress Magazine)

Kiana Honarmand: An Iranian Woman’s Journey Shown Through Art

Hunter Troy, Staff Writer
November 11, 2021

  Kiana Honarmand places a wearable sculpture on her head. The black laser-cut felt covers her eyes, leaving the viewer with only glimpses of her face.    “The title for the series...

Portrait of Marianna Lira, director of the San Francisco State University Queer and Trans Resource Center. (Cameron Lee / Xpress Magazine)

Closeted: Coming Out in the Modern Age

Nicole Gonzales and Cash Martinez
November 11, 2021

  Embracing your sexual and gender identity can come with a whirlwind of emotions for those who are on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. Fear, anxiety, guilt and relief are among the most common feelings when...

Kiarra Dolan watches a show on her laptop outside of her work in San Mateo, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2021. Dolan is a student at California State University East Bay who enjoys true crime mysteries in her downtime. (Nicolas Cholula / Xpress Magazine)

A Morbid Curiosity: Why Do We Love True Crime?

Ximena Loeza, Staff Writer
November 11, 2021

  Mary Mayone puts her headphones on and turns to her bedside table to turn off the light. She lays her head against her pillow, picks up her phone and presses play. The story of a gruesome murder...

Portrait of David Jimenez in San Francisco, Calif.  Jimenez says “smoking has taken on a way of identity —a sense of glamour.” (Amaya Edwards / Xpress Magazine)

The Smoke and Mirrors of Cigarettes

Teo Mata, Online Editor
November 11, 2021

  Dressed in an all-black vintage Givenchy satin dress, Audrey Hepburn holds a drink in one hand, and in the other, she has a cigarette holder that looks like an extension of her body near her...

8645: Christina Lewis stands in the storage room in her basement that contains her life collection of clown costumes and memorabilia in San Francisco on Oct 27, 2021. (Saskia Hatvany / Xpress Magazine)

Deep Down, We’re All Clowns

Saskia Hatvany, Editor-in-Chief
November 11, 2021

On an early Sunday afternoon in a San Francisco warehouse, an unusual scene takes place. A young woman stares at a purse on the floor before gingerly placing her left foot inside of it. Across the room,...

Portraitof Luis De Paz Fernandez on campus in San Francisco on Nov. 4, 2021. Fernandez studied at SF State for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. (Morgan Ellis / Xpress Magazine)

The Dreamer’s Path

Fernando G. Pacheco, Staff Writer
November 11, 2021

  The sun illuminated the pavement of Sproul Plaza at the University of California, Berkeley, where the columns would raise students’ eyes to the sky. The Latin phrase fiat lux, meaning “let...

Alexiz Romero, 22, sits on a concrete bench at San Francisco State University on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. The mindset that comes with the role of machismo, like not showing emotion adds the difficulties faced by the Latinx/Hispanic community in the United States. (Cameron Lee /  Xpress Magazine)

Overcoming Mental Health in Latinx and Hispanic Households

Gia Opsahl, Staff Writer
November 11, 2021

  Nina Nazario, 23, struggles with discussing her post-traumatic stress disorder with her father. She feels it’s harder for older generations in Hispanic culture to share comfort surrounding...

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The student-run magazine of San Francisco State University
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