THIS OR THAT
Camila Suarez, Kevin Monarrez, Estela Castanon, Melanie Molina
THIS OR THAT
DISNEYLAND
Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth, where dreams and magic are born. A place where your imagination runs wild. It first opened to the public on July 17, 1955, and over time, it has expanded and added new attractions for people of all ages to enjoy. Walt Disney first came up with the idea of Disney in the 1940s. This makes it only the 2nd most visited amusement park in the world. Ironically enough, it comes second to its own park, Magic Kingdom in Bay Lake, Florida. (According to “Magic Guides” on the official Disneyland website “1954: Construction of Disneyland Begins,” Disney Land cost about $17 million to build if we adjusted for inflation, it would have cost approximately $187 million today.) When it first opened there were a total of 33 rides and exhibits spread across five lands: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Main Street USA, and Tomorrowland. Admission was just $1.00, equivalent to about $11 today adjusted for inflation. Disney Land now has a total of 58 attractions, (The term "attractions" is used by Disney as a catch-all term for rides, shows, and exhibits.) Now split into nine distinctly themed lands, only about 30 of those attractions are actual rides.
The nine themed lands of Disneyland include Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Critter Country, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. The rides at Disney include Disneyland Railroad, Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, and plenty more. As with every amusement park, there will be rides that are more popular than the rest for Disneyland the most popular rides are, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion. These rides are always crowded and probably take the most time waiting in line. Although the wait in line can be a pain, these rides are the most popular for a reason. They are fun and sure to make your heart race.
KNOTTS BERRY FARM
Knotts Berry Farm is located in Buena Park, California. This year marks the 104th anniversary of its opening. In 1920 Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to Buena Park, California to farm 20 acres of rented land, which today is 160 acres. In 1927 Walter bought an adobe structure and made it the family’s first permanent building. Ready for occupancy a year later the building was 80 feet (24m) long and housed a tea room, berry market, and plant nursery. By now, the Knott family had four children - one son, Russell, and three daughters, Virginia, Toni, and Marion. To give waiting customers something to do and to pay homage to the pioneering spirit of his grandparents and his love of the Old West, Walter developed Ghost Town. The first structure was the Gold Trails Hotel, which was built from pieces from a hotel that had been constructed in Prescott, Arizona in 1868. In the 1960s, the Calico Mine Ride and Timber Mountain Log Ride were added and Knott’s built its second themed area: Fiesta Villageâ, a tribute to California’s early Spanish heritage. The third themed area opened in 1975 – Roaring 20s, featuring the Corkscrew, the world’s first looping coaster. Cordelia Knott died in 1974 at the age of 84 and Walter Knott continued to live on the Farm he loved until he died in 1981. The Knott Family maintained the operation of Knott's Berry Farm until it was bought by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company in December 1997.
Knotts features over 40 rides, including roller coasters, family rides, dark rides, and water rides. The rides at this park include Balloon Race, Butterfield Stagecoach, Calico Mine Ride, Calico Railroad, Calico River Rapids, California Mission Models, Carrusel de California, Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer, Coast Rider, Dragon Swing, Flying Ace, GhostRider, HangTime, Hat Dance, Jaguar!, Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, and many more heart racing games. Some of the most popular rides at this amusement park are Jaguar, Calico River Rapids, Timber Mountain Log Ride, and Coast Rider. These rides include loops, twirls, spins, and water splashing, they’re fun and accelerating while also being family-friendly. Whether you’re looking for rides that will make your heart race or rides you can enjoy with your family, Knotts Berry Farm is where you want to be.
If we compare the two amusement parks the clear winner is Knotts Berry Farm. Not only does Knotts have a wider variety of rides, but unlike Disney which is mostly centered on pleasing younger audiences, Knotts had rides for people of all ages. Everyone is guaranteed to have the time of their lives at Knotts Berry Farm.
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Universal Studios Hollywood is not your ordinary theme park. It is where the magic of movies comes to life with its amazing rides and attractions. It first opened to the public in 1964 in Los Angeles, California. Unlike other theme parks, Universal offers various rides such as action-packed, live shows, and behind-the-scenes popular movies and television shows. Universal mainly focuses on cinematic experiences and is a direct competitor with Disneyland. The Universal Studios in Florida costs an estimated 630 million dollars to build which seems like a lot until you see how much money they generate. Universal theme parks made 7.5 billion dollars in the year 2022 and went up by 20 percent the following year making a total of 8.9 billion dollars. This makes Universal Studios the second most paid amusement park falling right under Disney Land at number one.
My personal favorite ride from Universal Studios is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. The scenery in the waiting line is unique and the attention to detail is nice. You will enjoy it especially if you have watched or are a fan of Harry Potter. You are able to walk through Hogwarts and see all sorts of things from the show. This ride had my head spinning after and made me sick but the experience made it all better. The ride was visually appealing, and there was even a Harry Potter gift shop once you finished the ride. Besides the motion sickness I got from this ride, I had an amazing time while riding. You will be tilting in all sorts of directions quickly so if you are sensitive to motion sickness this is not a ride I would not recommend.
SIX FLAGS
Six Flags is a theme park mainly focused on big and thrilling rides. This park opened on May 29, 1971, and was originally owned by a different company called Newhall Land and Farming before buying it and rebranding it to Six Flags Magic Mountain. This theme park features an incredible 20 different roller coasters which gives it the world record for most roller coasters in an amusement park. If you are looking for an adrenaline-filled ride then your best option is the Superman Escape from Krypton. This ride features a scary 100 miles per hour drop and is the third tallest height for a roller coaster standing at 400 feet tall along with the fourth fastest roller coaster in the world. This ride pushes you backward before dropping you straight down from the top of the roller coaster at 400 feet at an incredibly fast speed. This park used to be managed by Gaylord Entertainment until another management took over and gave it the infamous name Six Flags in 1996. While Universal Studios is focused more on cinematic experiences, Six Flags is all about the thrill and adrenaline-type rides. This theme park is filled with more intense rides that will have your stomach to the floor and have you screaming. But this park isn't just for these intense rides, it also includes rides for people of all ages and has family-friendly rides like Air Penguin and Bugs Bunny World for the younger kids. Similar to other amusement parks, Six Flags hosts seasonal events like Fright Fest on October 18th. If we compare these two amusement parks it really would depend on what type of experience of rides you're looking for. If you want more entertaining rides and seeing your favorite characters then Universal Studios would be your best option. However, if you want thrilling and exciting rides that are more your style, then Six Flags Magic Mountain is the place to go. Both amusement parks are unique and will leave you with an unforgettable experience but for people like me who don't enjoy fast and extreme rides and more rides that have my favorite characters, I would go with Universal Studios.
THESE OR THOSE
POP
“I'm working late 'cause I'm a singer Oh, he looks so cute wrapped around my finger.”(Sabrina Carpenter, ‘Expresso” 2024) Does this song sound familiar? It's the number-one song of early October 2024. The song's name is Expresso; everyone has now heard this new treading song at least once because of its popularity. Popularity is also an abbreviated word for “pop music.” Sabrina Carpenter made this pop song. Now going back to the beginning of pop music It originated with the ragtime of the 1890s and early 1900s. Stephen Foste was the first to write a pop song, but the first time it grew in the country was in 1940 when Frank Sinatra wrote a song called “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” which was a billboard hit and finally made it hit just a decade later with “Stand By Me”, “Suspicious Times”, and “Dancing Queen.” All of these hits started as pop music and helped craft what music is today. The instruments in pop songs weren’t what made pop music; it was the type of vocal melodies that which typically rhythmic and harmonic put together. Furthermore, pop music frequently explores universal themes, making it broadly relatable.
The 2000s was the time of technology when people started to make or listen to music on iPods, radios, and phones. This would be their way to express themselves. Blasting music in their room and recommending songs, it was mainly females listening to this music. Justin Bieber began to grow and so did the fanbase because he was seen as young and wrote songs talking about women, Avril Lavigne was relatable to the female audience so all this caused a wave of a new trend because of how big this era was. Pop music began to belong to mainly the younger audience because of the catchy loud beats Later, social media began to come into the picture. Platforms like Myspace, YouTube, and later Instagram and TikTok became crucial for discovering new pop artists. Fans could now instantly share their favorite songs, causing new audio trends like dances and viral hits to grow overnight. Pop music became more than just what was on the radio; it was shaped by internet culture and memes and grew fanbases.
ROCK
Rock music has a long history going back to the mid-20th century. It originated in the 1940s and 1950s, evolving from earlier genres like blues, jazz, and gospel. One of the earliest rock 'n' roll songs was "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats in 1951, which many consider the first true rock song. Instruments played a key role in defining the sound of rock, with electric guitars, bass guitars, drums, and pianos central to the genre. The sound of the electric guitar, pioneered by artists like Chuck Berry and later perfected by legends like Jimi Hendrix, became the backbone of rock music. Rock's rebellious and energetic sound quickly caught on with younger audiences, paving the way for its rise in popularity throughout the 1950s and 1960s which was only the beginning until more came from the rock genre.
As rock music grew, it became a cultural force influencing the music industry, societal attitudes, and fashion. The 1960s marked the "British Invasion," with bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who introducing new styles of rock to American audiences, blending folk, blues, and psychedelic influence, the influence of rock during this time was making societal movements, like the norms, and addressing issues. The genre's themes often revolved around rebellion, freedom, and self-expression, which resonated with a generation seeking change and revolution. By the late 20th century, rock music had evolved into many sub-genres, including punk rock, hard rock, and alternative rock with experimentation with all kinds of new sounds, Their use of powerful riffs, complex guitar solos, and dramatic vocals helped define the era. Though rock’s big popularity has waned in recent years, it remains a genre with deep significance in the music industry, inspiring new generations of musicians and fans alike.
INDIE/ALTERNATIVE
Indie or Alternative music is a complicated and multi-layered genre. There is no clear definition of what it is, however, it has the same general idea. At first, it was used to describe music that was released by artists with no labels, but the term has been evolving and expanding as time goes on. Today, it can be classified as music that’s free-spirited and doesn't belong to any genre or sound. What’s unique about this genre is that artists from this genre can incorporate different sounds and influences from different types of music into their own. Indie first originated in the 60’s, with them having notable artists such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and The Clash. Even though Indie music originated during the late '70s and early '80s through bands like the Smiths, there has been a significant increase in Indie musicians in the 2000s.
As time goes on, more genres are derived from these genres. What's special about this genre is that there’s something for everyone. Some genres include Indie folk, Indie rock, Indie pop, and Indie R&B. Even though Indie is a genre itself, it still has subgenres that sound distinct from one another. For example, Indie pop focuses more on melody and harmonics than Indie rock. However, they all usually use guitars as one of the main instruments they use. Another thing about this genre that appeals to the public includes the ability for artists to experiment with lyrics and sounds, keeping the music fresh. It usually contains emotive lyrics, and the lyrics are mostly about love or teenage experiences. While Indie music might not be well-defined, it’s one of the most influential genres to hit our generation. Some of these artists include political movements in their songs, like “Zombie” by the Cranberries, “American Idiot” by Green Day, “Idles” by Mercedes Marxist, and “Mild High Club” by Me, Myself, and Dollar Hell. Each of these songs portray a unique political issue, and these songs each influence people to act to combat these issues.
HIP-HOP/RAP
When you think of hip-hop, you might think of groovy beats, and fast rhythms, and maybe picture some people dancing to them. Hip-hop is not only music, but it’s a culture. Hip-hop first started when an 18-year-old Jamaican immigrant called DJ Kool Here started incorporating Jamaican beats into his tracks. He also used to include spoken interjections in these tracks, which also started the rap genre. Many of his tracks were played in New York’s African American communities, and they used to often breakdance or freestyle while his tracks were playing. Today, he is considered one of the founding fathers of hip-hop. He made a blueprint for the future generations of hip-hop that many artists still use today. Many of today’s Hip-hop or rap artists are heavily influenced by his music. Years later, graffiti and their fashion style became part of hip-hop culture.
While hip-hop primarily peaked during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hip-hop remains to be one of the most listened-to genres today. Hip-hop has one of the most influential artists of all time, having music artists like Eminem, Tupac, Kendrick Lamar, and Travis Scott. Hip-hop uses a variety of different instruments, like turn tables, drums, and electric bass. All of this can be done on a computer, so it isn’t necessary to buy equipment to produce Hip-hop tracks. Hip-hop tracks often have a steady tempo, meaning that they don't go too fast or too slow. Hip-hop artists are notably the most skilled since they need writing skills, knowledge of music theory, and creativity to create their top hit songs. Some people might confuse themselves with the difference between Hip-hop and rap, and there’s still some debate going around on what the difference is. Hip-hop describes the broader and cultural scene rap is only a small part of.
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