Dark

Light

Criticism

Labore nonumes te vel, vis id errem tantas tempor. Solet quidam salutatus at quo. Tantas comprehensam te sea, usu sanctus similique ei. Viderer admodum mea et, probo tantas alienum ne vim.

Illustration of Molly Ringwald in pink with flowered background.

A Holly Jolly Molly Ringwald: John Hughes’ Sexism of an Insecure 80’s Icon

Emily Diaz, DePaul University

John Hughes success lives on through the decades, but at whose expense?…

February 29, 2024

Evolution or Devolution? The Changing Structure of Songs

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Over time, music has varied in length and structure. In the current digital age, where does music clock in? …

January 24, 2024

7 Up and Coming Video Essay Creators To Check Out

Karla D. Galvan, The University of Texas at San Antonio

From True Crime to Film History, learn from some of YouTube’s brightest minds.…

November 29, 2023

For an article on the tourism problems in Riviera Maya, charcoal-like illustration of a white figure standing on a skull shaped platform stares up at a cenote with their hands up.

The Negative Impact of Riviera Maya’s Tourism Boom

Karla D. Galvan, The University of Texas at San Antonio

The beauty of Mexico and its Riviera Maya should not come at the expense of the people and ecosystems that make the country unique.…

November 15, 2023

For an article on capitalism at Christmas time, someone wearing a pair of green ribbed gloves catch a snowflake with a money symbol in the center. A string of multi-colored lights is spread through out the image.

How Christmas Capitalism Has Taken Over the Holiday Season

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

We might as well be passing out jingle bells with Halloween candy given how early Christmas comes.…

November 14, 2023

for an article on silent quitting, a person with short hair and a blue shirt stares drearily at a computer screen.

I Hate My Job! – The Phenomenon of Silent Quitting

Paiton Young, University of Georgia

With the highest inflation rates and cost of living in 40 years, silent quitting is on the incline as many Gen Zers are hopping from job to job.…

November 9, 2023

For an article about celebrities in politics, a woman with black hair stands tall above a pink mountain shaped like a face. Behind her is the "Hollywood" sign and a graph going up and down.

Celebrity Politics: A Double-Edged Sword

Karla D. Galvan, The University of Texas at San Antonio

From speeches at award shows to the extensive use of social media platforms, celebrities are more vocal about political issues than ever before.…

November 2, 2023

For an article about female sophomore albums, three women are pictured next to eac other.

The “Sophomore Slump” Effect on Young Female Artists

Emma Troise, Manhattan College

The "sophomore slump" label seems to plague many young female artists from Alanis Morissette to Olivia Rodrigo.…

November 1, 2023

For an article about surveillance culture, a person wears an eye glass piece with the words "no," "buy," "obey," "overturned," "overruled" on it. A city scape is behind them and different fliers are posted too.

Modern Dystopia: The Harrowing Reality Of Big Brother

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

How advances in technology are single-handedly causing Orwellian nightmares to become modern-day realities.…

October 31, 2023

For an article about music samples, a variety of artists are in a pitcure — Ray Charles in the upper left corner (man with sunglasses), Robin S in the lower left corner (woman with short faded hair singing into a microphone), Beyoncé in the center left (woman with long curly hair looking back while holding microphone), Taylor Swift in the center right (woman with gelled down hair and suit winking into the camera), Kanye West in the bottom right corner (a man with a jacket staring into an audience), Sister Nancy in the top right corner (woman with short hair singing into microphone) and Olivia Rodrigo in the top center (woman with dark brown hair screaming into the camera in front of an enflamed room.

Sample or Stealing? How the Music Industry Recycles Tunes

Christine Bardos, Santa Clara University

A hot take on the use of sampled songs in the music industry. …

October 30, 2023

For an article about Taylor Swift's marketing strategies, a dark image of a blonde woman with a white collar necklace holds her two fingers up like a "gun." In the background, a red figure with a similar pose is seen with red horns and a tail drawn on her.

Taylor Swift: Evil Genius?

Natalie VanHecke, University of Texas at Dallas

Is Taylor Swift a well-intentioned lyrical genius or a mastermind of manipulation?…

October 27, 2023

In a review of "Black Friend: Essays" by Ziwe, a black woman with pink hair clips and lipstickn stands with a pink sweater. The background repeats "Ziwe" in pink letters.

REVIEW: Ziwe Affirms Her Own Actions in ‘Black Friend: Essays’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

The Showtime starlet’s astonishingly witty and comedic literary debut dissects the concept of being a “Black friend”.…

October 26, 2023

In an article about dating for women, a woman (Lori Harvey) is being kissed by a man. Across the bottom, a woman in a v-neck dress (Dorothy Dandridge), a woman with her hands on her head (fictionalized Cleopatra) and a woman with her arms open (Eartha Kitt) stand.

Opinion: The “Lori Harvey Effect” on The Love Lives of Women

Paiton Young, University of Georgia

Who didn’t teach women how to date?…

October 21, 2023

In an article about media bias, the words "good news is coming" are in bold in the background. A young girl sits with a young boy kneeling in front of her as they are in front of a pile of newspapers.

Payment and Prejudice: Rampant Monetization is Killing American Media

Noah Hernandez, University of Texas at San Antonio

Every so often we ask "Is journalism dead?" How has hyperpartisanship challenged and even damaged credibility in American media?…

October 20, 2023

In an article about hustle culture in the US, a colorful beach landscape is far off to the left hand side. A greyscale person sits on the right side, typing on a laptop computer

“Live to Work” or “Work to Live”: Is Grind Culture Killing Americans?

Ava Coates, Emory University

Corporate culture is out of control in the US. It's time to take a vacation. …

October 18, 2023

In an Article about AI in Music, a teal robot carrie a trumpet, guitar, drumset, and horn.

AI in the Future of Music

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

As more artificially generated music circulates online, the concern for artistic property and originality come into question. …

October 3, 2023

In an article about the ric, white gaze that U.S. Vogue implores, a mannequin with pale skin and red lips stands with one arm behind their head and one arm across their belly. An off-screen figure's hand holds cash while another off-screen figure's hand holds a red credit card.

The Rich, White Gaze: Why Vogue Covers are so Boring

Kimberly Vazquez, Columbia College Chicago

The lack of risk in Vogue's creative direction is notable and based in white mediocrity. …

October 2, 2023

In an article about Latinx History Month, two hands carry a sun while rays and flowers surround.

“Latinx” Reclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month

Kimberly Vazquez, Columbia College Chicago

Changing the celebration’s name to “Latinx” isn’t an exclusion. It’s a reclamation.…

September 25, 2023

The “Hot Girlfriend, Ugly Boyfriend” Phenomenon

Kimberly Vazquez, Columbia College Chicago

While many accuse women of yearning for male validation, it is usually other men who seek it the most. …

September 22, 2023

Criticism

A Holly Jolly Molly Ringwald: John Hughes’ Sexism of an Insecure 80’s Icon

7 Up and Coming Video Essay Creators To Check Out

The Negative Impact of Riviera Maya’s Tourism Boom

How Christmas Capitalism Has Taken Over the Holiday Season

I Hate My Job! – The Phenomenon of Silent Quitting

Celebrity Politics: A Double-Edged Sword

The “Sophomore Slump” Effect on Young Female Artists

Modern Dystopia: The Harrowing Reality Of Big Brother

Sample or Stealing? How the Music Industry Recycles Tunes

Taylor Swift: Evil Genius?

REVIEW: Ziwe Affirms Her Own Actions in ‘Black Friend: Essays’

Opinion: The “Lori Harvey Effect” on The Love Lives of Women

Payment and Prejudice: Rampant Monetization is Killing American Media

“Live to Work” or “Work to Live”: Is Grind Culture Killing Americans?

AI in the Future of Music

The Rich, White Gaze: Why Vogue Covers are so Boring

“Latinx” Reclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month

The “Hot Girlfriend, Ugly Boyfriend” Phenomenon

EDITOR’S PICKS

Spanish Rock Band Airú Sparkles On Their First U.S. Tour

TV’s Future Golden Boy: Percy Jackson, The Hero You’ve Been Waiting For

The Brilliance of Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Leading Ladies in Television

Animation vs Cartoons: A Love Letter To An Unjustifiably Underappreciated Artform

Who Are P1Harmony?

Taylor Swift and the Maritime Superstition of Football Fans

It’s Time to Talk About Filipino Food

The Latin Lover Is Back and He Has A “Mustache Goatee Combo”

The Parallels Between ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ and ‘Saltburn’

By the Way, the Universe Is Always Singing

More than Struggle: Palestinian Cuisine

Debt and Dior: South Korea’s Advancing Debt from Luxury Purchases

Dark Cafes and Big Yellow Taxis—The Everlasting World of Joni Mitchell

What’s Behind Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s Massive 2023?

Suggestions

Suggestions

Criticism

EDITOR’S PICKS