Su Ertekin-Taner

Jacksonville native Su Ertekin-Taner is a student at Columbia University with a passion for everything arts. While she writes creatively, satirically, journalistically, and enthusiastically (of course), she also loves to sing, dance, and do impressions; her favorites are Toddlers and Tiaras Mom and Shakira. Find Su critiquing the quality of reality TV that she willingly spends several hours a day watching, petting her cat even though she recently discovered her cat allergy, and probably watching paint dry because it's fun.

Obtaining Bodily Perfection: A Deep Dive Into the Rituals of Female Bodybuilders

Su Ertekin-Taner

November 16, 2023

Feature·Sports·The Cover Story

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner The process doesn’t begin at the start as most processes do. There is a prestart, a prelude to the prelude. The urge to body build begins in those moments before the decision to do it, 32-year-old female bodybuilder Shalom Barile informs me. We are on a Zoom call now, and she feels the need to justify

ART·Feature

Getting Candid with Photographer Christopher Parsons

Words by Su Erketin-Taner Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, B.o.B., Jeezy, Usher, Jameela Jamil, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford, Jaden Smith, Post Malone, 50 Cent, LL Cool J, A$AP Rocky, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, a slew of models. All captured in a single climax with signature stark,

Street Art

Jacksonville is a city of sun, beaches, nature trails and sky-high buildings,

Let’s Talk About Period Poverty

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner Alyx Carrasquel wasn’t surprised when I told

Canvas Chronicles: Meet Wendy Sullivan, the Artist Who Made the Starry Night Out of Hair Extensions

February 27, 2024

ART·Feature·Local Artists·Local Galleries·Public Art·Visual Art

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner Artist Wendy Sullivan’s house and barn are full of bins. Unlike the uber-organized parent or the halfway-moved homeowner though, Sullivans bins don’t store the children’s newest baubles or appliances respectively. Her collection of plastic bins are not household treasures at all — and especially don’t lend

Louise Freshman Brown: An Artist’s Story Through a Studio

December 29, 2023

ART·Feature

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner Multimedia artist Louise Freshman Brown makes her art in the studio tacked onto her garage. She describes the studio’s location as a choice of convenience, an architectural choice also that would be brought to fruition by her architect sister: “My sister designed my house. She

Podcast Picks

November 30, 2023

Editorial Opinion·podcasts

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner “Pops on Hops” For Barry and Abigail Hummel, podcasting is a family affair. The father and daughter duo are the co-hosts of podcast “Pops on Hops.” In their usually 90-minute to hour- long podcast episodes, the cross generational pair discuss two podcast topics — perhaps

Podcast Picks

November 1, 2023

Feature·podcasts

Words by Su-Ertekin-Taner The Terry Jaymes Show “Welcome to The Terry Jaymes Show” reverberates with a familiar voice. An original rock-esque theme song created for the show shortly follows. The Terry Jaymes — yes, the famed national radio co-host of Lex and Terry, podcaster, and comedian — then delivers a

Korean Food for the Soul

November 1, 2023

Editorial Opinion·Feature·Food + Drink·Restaurants

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner When I search for spaces to occupy, I search for untrodden spaces. That is not to say I don’t traverse or find myself in well-trafficked places, I just prefer those less-trafficked. Spaces uncharted or else well-charted but hidden. Places not at the center or the

Girl Dinner

October 20, 2023

Feature

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner I take a resident cheddar block out of the fridge and try my best to cut the hunk into small cubes— I am partial to the shape. I adorn a now cheddar-filled plate with pretzel crisps; I fashion hearts out of my pretzels that will frame

Cha-cha-ing for the Community with First Coast Dancing with the Stars

September 29, 2023

Dance·Feature

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner First Coast Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) wrapped up its eighth season with its annual gala and competition at WJCT Studios. The gala’s format imitates, as the name suggests, that of the eponymous Emmy Award-winning TV series, “Dancing with the Stars” — except on a

Podcast Picks

September 29, 2023

Feature·podcasts

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner The Quinntessentials’ Podcast In many ways, The Quinntessentials’ Podcast is a quintessential podcast: weekly, sometimes biweekly episodes, a bass intro, an hour-long exploration of a niche, an outro that advertises all hosts’ social media and frequent episode teasers. In other ways, this podcast exceeds the

The Rise of the Awkward Interview

September 25, 2023

Feature·Opinion·podcasts

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner At 13, I watched my words, spoke quietly and re-evaluated my interactions. Because awkward silences and missed social cues were a warrant for social death, I preemptively planned conversations and decisive reactions. Authenticity was vulnerability, and I attempted to adapt. What choice did I have?

Podcast Picks

August 29, 2023

Editorial Opinion·Feature·podcasts

Words by Su Ertekin-Taner Completely Booked: “Folio” is completely hooked on the Jacksonville Public Library’s official podcast, “Completely Booked”! On this bimonthly podcast, Jacksonville’s chroniclers, thriller authors, cookbook creators, biographers, queer historical fiction writers, poets, romance novelists and wordsmiths gather for a recorded tete-a-tete with a cute and snappy