Neil Gaiman is a tremendously gifted writer. Sensitive, ambitious, brilliant. The worlds that he crafts on paper are simultaneously fantastical and grounded; there are just enough rules for readers to feel engrossed but not so many that they aren’t constantly filled with wonder. His central characters, often terse, observational, and utterly human, are brilliant guides […]
I watched the first three episodes of “Girlboss” on Wednesday night last week. I did it because I had been told by a friend that it was a terrible show. Which, to me, is as good a reason as any to watch something. This is what my friend said to me (paraphrased) a few nights […]
For standup comic and TV writer Ali Wong, the last year has brought on some pretty big life changes. Almost exactly a year ago on Mother’s Day, her standup special “Baby Cobra” aired on Netflix. The show was met with widespread acclaim; critics and viewers alike praised Wong’s bold, honest, and raunchy humor. Since then, […]
Beyoncé has kept a low profile ever since her stunning Grammy performance this past February. After announcing that she would not perform in Coachella this year due to safety concerns, she has kept her starved fans alive with a string of Instagram photos. The most recent dose came out this Sunday with the mother-to-be flashing her brilliant Cinco […]
“Mad Men” became one of the catalysts in my decision to apply to Wesleyan early decision when I was a senior in high school. I always found the show more critical of the toxic culture it captured than affirmatory, and something about it rendered me more receptive to introspection than any other cinematic experience could. […]
This past Wednesday, cinema lost one of its most understated and versatile auteurs in director Jonathan Demme. Known in his industry for his voracious love of cinema, his deep compassion, and his fearlessness in transcending genre and style, Demme left behind one of the most idiosyncratic filmographies of any modern director. From “Stop Making Sense” […]
In science and philosophy there’s something known as the Multiverse theory, which proposes a reality where infinite universes exist. As such, anything you can possibly imagine is currently happening in an alternate universe. There is a universe in which ferrets have established a perfectly peaceful society, ruling over humans and traveling by means of portals located in the […]
What happens when you cross an angsty high school love triangle with a coming-out story? Oh, did I mention it’s set to exclusively Avril Lavigne tracks? No? Well, it is. “Things I’ll Never Say,” written and directed by Maya Herbsman ’17, is centered around Susan B. Anthony High School students Shay (Ava Thornton ’20), […]
Origin stories have largely been corrupted by 21st century Hollywood to become overly saturated fan fiction, offering little to no aesthetic or narrative value (see “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” or just about any superhero movie that your one annoying friend insists is different from all the others). […]
When asked to name a conventionally feminine story, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? It could be a bubbly high school comedy like “Mean Girls” or “Clueless.” Perhaps it’s an old fashioned romance like “Wuthering Heights” or “Pride and Prejudice.” Or maybe it’s a classic fairytale like “Cinderella” or “Sleeping Beauty.” Whatever your […]