Category: Pop Culture

Wonder Woman: Patty Jenkins’ Stereotype-stomping Superhero Film

July 10, 2017

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman is this summer’s smash-hit movie. Not only is it the largest opening for a female director, but it’s quite likely to be the highest-grossing movie of the season. Before Jenkins, Hollywood had never produced a truly successful female superhero movie — and the Wonder Woman story, in particular, has proven particularly difficult to … More Wonder Woman: Patty Jenkins’ Stereotype-stomping Superhero Film

Race on CW’s Riverdale: What’s Different from the Archie Comics?

April 9, 2017

Over the past few years, TV has become more diverse. Not shockingly so: most lead characters on primetime shows are still white. But there’s no doubt that the number of black (or Asian) friends and supporting characters is increasing. It’s a small step, but still progress. And a larger number of shows, like Scandal and … More Race on CW’s Riverdale: What’s Different from the Archie Comics?

Hip Megachurch Pa$tor Wears De$igner Jeans: Is It an I$$ue?

June 24, 2016

The other day, an acquaintance I met at a Bible study shared on Facebook about her amazing experience visiting the Beverly Hills campus of her local church. This church is wildly popular. It’s a megachurch with multiple campuses in different cities, a flurry of celebrities in various locations, and its pastor is well known on social media. It’s … More Hip Megachurch Pa$tor Wears De$igner Jeans: Is It an I$$ue?

Let’s NOT Talk About Race: How Pop Culture is Minimizing Macklemore’s White Privilege II

January 23, 2016

Yesterday, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released “White Privilege II”–a song about the reality of white privilege and racism in the U.S. It’s a song about how white pop culture loves to use the music, clothes, dances and culture of African Americans … but dismisses the #BlackLivesMatter movement and don’t seem to care about injustice against people … More Let’s NOT Talk About Race: How Pop Culture is Minimizing Macklemore’s White Privilege II

How TV’s “The Flash” is Subverting Stereotypes (Also: Star Wars!)

January 2, 2016

If you’ve seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens, there’s a good chance that at some point, you’ve thought, “Huh, I wonder what the guy who plays Luke Skywalker has been up to.” Right now, Star Wars‘ Mark Hamill is taking a villainous turn as The Trickster, a super-criminal on CW’s The Flash…which just so happens to be … More How TV’s “The Flash” is Subverting Stereotypes (Also: Star Wars!)

Star Wars’ Rey vs. Padme: The Force Awakens to a New Feminism

December 28, 2015

The year was 1999. I was in the fourth grade. And Star Wars’ Queen Amidala was the coolest freaking heroine I’d ever seen. She was fearless, strong, and fiercely intelligent. The opposite of a damsel in distress. Wise, educated and incredibly well spoken — not to mention the ruler of her own freaking democracy — Padme … More Star Wars’ Rey vs. Padme: The Force Awakens to a New Feminism

Sean Lowe: The Christian Bachelor — And the HUGE Problem Nobody’s Picking Up On

May 10, 2015

I have mixed feelings about Sean Lowe, a former star of ABC’s The Bachelor. When I first saw him on TV, he wasn’t my favorite. I’m just not too fond of gym rats. Of prettyboys. Of too-attractive-to-be-normal bros with their bulging biceps and flawless six packs. I have a thing against prettyboy bros, and I probably need to get … More Sean Lowe: The Christian Bachelor — And the HUGE Problem Nobody’s Picking Up On