Blog Posts

Netflix's Problem with Canceling Sapphic Shows

Good sapphic representation seems few and far between in media. Despite a steady increase in the number of sapphic characters we’ve seen on TV or in movies in recent years, much of the representation that is given is short-lived, just plain bad, or repetitive. Sapphic characters are often heavily sexualized, underdeveloped, or part of a period piece. Some networks have attempted to create characters that actually feel human in recent years and some of those attempts ended in great results. People were seeing themselves in characters perhaps for the first time ever. Take Netflix for example, they’ve created a variety of shows in recent years that feature strong sapphic leads and have made audiences very excited. Here’s the thing though, most of that progress ends up losing meaning. Because although Netflix can produce a show with good sapphic representation, they can’t seem to renew any of them. Most of the shows that Netflix has created in recent years that feature sapphic characters have been canceled. Netflix draws in queer audiences with the promise of representation, then betrays them. It’s time we talk about that.

All of the Important Rankin-Bass Stop Motion Holiday Specials, Rated

Thanksgiving is over so that means the Christmas season has officially begun. And now, finally, we can once again binge watch the Rankin-Bass Holiday specials on Freeform. What are the Rankin-Bass Holidays specials, you ask? I think you know. They’re the incredibly weird, claymation movies that come around every holiday season only to be hidden away the minute your last Christmas present has been unwrapped. Some of my favorites include: Santa Claus is Coming to Town, A Year Without a Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and much more. So here’s a list of all of those incredibly odd Christmas specials (only the important ones, of course) rated. 

Forgotten Art in Patapsco

Sometimes art can be forgotten and left to fall into ruin over time without the admiration of onlookers. I love to find that forgotten art. I am interested in urban exploration, which is the act of exploring manmade structures such as abandoned buildings. Most of these places are illegal to explore because they’re either property of the government or they’re privately owned. Urban exploration is very popular in photography and film and I have seen these types of places used as settings especially in the horror genre. From an artist’s perspective, I love to see how creative people have made their mark in these places. Sometimes artists leave their names or pictures on the crumbling stones but whatever they put there has a story to it. 

Art as a Powerful Force for Social Change

The first time I walked down the ambiguously hidden staircase of Dupont Underground (DU) I discovered a creative world safely tucked away in Dupont Circle’s abandoned trolley station tunnels. Walking down the staircase I did not imagine such a beautiful space to lie right beneath D.C’s iconic Dupont circle. But I guess that’s why it’s iconic. Dupont underground is a representation for D.C. as a whole. Underneath all the political drama, busy people, and suits, lies a world of creatives reflecting and expressing their emotions through beautiful photographs, paintings and designs.

Harry Styles: Attacking Masculinity, or Showing Us What a Man Can Be?

Take a Lesson From Thoreau

March 13, 2020. My last day of in person learning as a high-school student. After this date much of the world retreated into homes, into puzzles, into the spaces of the web where trends reside, into the dark corners of isolation. In searching for silver linings to the seemingly relentless onslaught of bad news I discovered how ideal, if ever a statement could be made, the timing was for a pandemic. The snow had begun to melt away and reveal a vibrant spring that shouted at those glued to Netflix that there was an alternative, a safe way to feel human. I believe we all found solace in the brief moments outside catching our breath and being reminded that there is normalcy, for the birds are still singing and the sun is still setting ever so peacefully over the Earth. 

Eggshells & Red Pills: The Matrix as a Trans Allegory

After a high-paced chase scene, the Wachowskis’ introduce us to their protagonist Neo found sleeping by a computer. Suddenly, the screen starts flashing messages, one of the most iconic being “Follow the White Rabbit,” after which Neo hears a knock on the door.

I Spy With My Little Eye: Hidden Treasures in Famous Artworks

I love art history. But in my freshman year art history class, in a basement classroom that was always dark and a little too warm, I constantly found myself drifting off as my professor showed us painting after painting and droned on in her quiet, soothing voice. I would always snap to attention when she urged us to look a little closer, and pointed out hidden symbols and messages that I never would have noticed at first glance. Throughout history, art is full of these little quirks if you can just look closely. Take a look at the paintings below and see if you can find them for yourself!

The Queen's Gambit: Best New Drama Series on Netflix

The Queen’s Gambit started a new debate about sexism in chess. Without a doubt this one of the best series that Netflix has, scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The character development, different display of emotions and struggles, length of the series, and original story are reasons why it’s #1. From the main character being a kid who had nothing and no one, to becoming a global phenomenon loved by all, The Queen’s Gambit shows that women are a force to be reckoned with. 

Crash Course But John Green Isn't Invited

There are lots of mediums in the world through which you can make art. While others may spend their time honing one skill into fine edge, I choose to use every medium I can and be mediocre at all of them. Jack of all trades, master of none, as the saying goes. In this blog post, I will be giving a short crash course on every medium I’ve ever tried, what they require to get started, their difficulty rating, and my general rating out of ten. John Green may not be hosting, but this IS a crash course.

Why I Can't Stop Reading Humans of New York

There’s this blog called Humans of New York. You may have heard of it. Self-taught photographer Brandon Stanton created it back in 2010; essentially he walked around New York City stopping random people on the streets, taking their portraits, learning snippets of their stories, and captioning the pictures with their quotes. It started out slow but has since exploded to the tune of 20 million followers. Back in 2013, Stanton bound several hundred of his best photos together in kind of coffee table book of the same name, the first of several.

Four Dark Academia Style Reads to Get You Through November

It’s officially November, so that means dark academia season has finally arrived. What is dark academia, you ask? Dark academia is an aesthetic centered on higher education, the arts, romantic longing, and (of course) death. It first gained popularity on blogging sites like Tumblr and can now be found on TikTok as well. Now that it’s fall, it’s the perfect time to take part in all the creepiness dark academia has to offer. But first, you’re gonna need to get a better idea of what dark academia entails. The best way to do that is to read the books that inspired the wonderful aesthetic. So, here are five dark academia style books to read this fall. 

Four Dark Academia Style Reads to Get You Through November

It’s officially November, so that means dark academia season has finally arrived. What is dark academia, you ask? Dark academia is an aesthetic centered on higher education, the arts, romantic longing, and (of course) death. It first gained popularity on blogging sites like Tumblr and can now be found on TikTok as well. 

Four Reasons Shakespeare is Still Timeless

Shakespeare’s plays and all of his work is not only entertaining enough to still be fun to read today, but truly stands against the test of time and other literature. I am currently taking a class on Shakespeare’s first decade of plays and it has brought me an appreciation for the playwright’s work. Shakespeare’s work has a range from tragedies that will make you cry to comedies that will make you laugh out loud, to histories that will entertain while educating. Across these three genres Shakespeare blended the three and tested the limits of writing to the point where his work is still timeless and enjoyable today.

The Feline Muse

There’s never been a shortage in history of cat-inspired art. From engravings on ancient Egyptian tombs, to Japanese woodblock prints, to Victorian greeting cards, cats feature prominently in many influential art periods. 

The Haunting of Bly Manor: A Love Story, Not Just a Ghost Story

Tucked away in The Haunting of Bly Manor's creepy story is a beautiful, yet tragic love story that the LGBTQ+ community needs. 

Decolonize Your Mind: A BLM Photo Series

Growing up in Hawai'i––an island some would consider a racial utopia (I certainly wouldn't)––it was rare to have discussions on race and privilege, especially about the Black experience in America. Being in such an isolated location made it feel as if we were immune to the racial inequities and injustices that plagued the "mainland," a term locals use to describe the continental United States. My friends and I would crack lighthearted jokes all the time, such as being "podagee" (Portuguese) for doing something in a foolish or incorrect way. 

Our Social Dilemma

 What is the problem? Is there a problem with our usage of social media? Yes, and it’s impossible to give it such a succinct answer when the list of problems is extensive. The creators of different social media platforms such as Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and so on never intended for social media to be as harmful as it has grown to become over the years. By watching the documentary-drama film “The Social Dilemma”, I got an understanding of how much social media has affected my life. I highly recommend that everyone watches this film, and I hope it changes something within you as it did me. As I continue my article, I will highlight some key takeaways from the film that impacted me the most.

Christian Girl Autumn: A State of Mind

Ah. The time has come at last. With the sweet goodbye kiss of the Hot Girl Quarantine Summer, our tan lines begin to fade and our minds go languid with thoughts of cinnamon and clove. Folks, freshly spent from your summers of slut-dom, lay down your SunBum and adjust your VSCO to warmer tones, for Mother Nature hath decreed…

BIPOC Deserve Love Stories, Too

Most of the time, BIPOC are left out of love stories. It doesn't mean they don't have them.