alessandra garza

University of North Texas, Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies

Instagram | Personal Site

Brain listening to music on headphones in studying environment.

Background Bops: Why We Need Music to Focus

Mark StenbergandNatalie VanHecke, University of Texas at Dallas

Have you ever noticed that you tend to clean faster or more efficiently when you have music on? Some people love 80s rock, others love lo-fi. What is it about music that constantly draws people…

April 20, 2024

Against a purple background, a pile of Taylor Swift's "Midnights" are stacked next to a copy of Olivia Rodrigo's "Guts" served on a platter. Ms. Rodrigo's face has blown out, leaving splatters of purple and red across the white porcelain dish and the background. Within the tattered hole, the title is engraved on the purple back cover.

Instant Download or Delayed Gratification: The Dilemma of the Deluxe Album

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

In our current era of on-demand downloads, it really must be asked: Is it more fulfilling to have every piece of content at once or to wait?…

April 11, 2024

The Story Behind Bluey’s Most Hated Character: Muffin

Cerasela Hanseter, University of California, Berkeley

It's Muffin! Why arguably the most-hated character on Bluey plays such a valuable role. …

April 5, 2024

The terminator with its robotic features in detail.

100 Years of Fear: Artificial Intelligence and Film

Kyle A. McLaughlin, Elizabethtown College

Does the portrayal of artificial intelligence in the media have any bearing on the current distrust of the real thing?…

March 27, 2024

Two robed figures with swords stand against a black background bisected in half by a golden glow, framed by red symbols. The figure to the right is dressed in light robes, has a blue sword and blond hair; his symbol is round and curved. The figure to the right is dressed in dark robes, has two blade -- red and purple -- and a mask; his symbol is squared and point.

The History of the Star Wars Universe Pre-Skywalker

Hamad Naroze, Hunter College

Analyzing the history, lore and cultures of the Star Wars universe prior to the iconic, genre-defining Skywalker saga.…

March 22, 2024

Starbucks is Ruining Coffee

Vera Pavlovich, Loyola University Maryland

From burning beans to driving up prices, Starbucks has built a business around ruining the experience of craft coffee.…

March 8, 2024

A young woman in hunter's garb with red hair stands stoically against a jungle background, clutching an aquamarine orb decked in gold ornamentation. She is surrounded by a trio of green monkeys with excited (and perhaps sadistic) looks on their faces, two of them holding hunting rifles while the third looks forward menacingly. As the quartet are arranged against the skyline, a field of golden grain sprouts up around their feet.

How Palworld is a Necessary Evil

Cerasela Hanseter, University of California, Berkeley

PalWorld, the creature-catching game taking the internet by storm, takes a new needed spin on classic creature-catching games.…

February 20, 2024

Halo characters and an X-Box controller.

Paramount Plus’ ‘Halo’—Losing its Wings

Kyle A. McLaughlin, Elizabethtown College

This article will feature the upcoming second season of “Halo” and analyze the discontinuity the previous season had with its fanbase.…

February 12, 2024

‘You Don’t Own Me’: The Advertisement Taking TikTok By Storm

Sarah Erin, Brooklyn College

The newfound fame of an iconic song through advertising sparks conversation around sexuality. Objectification in media.…

February 8, 2024

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alessandra garza

Instagram | Personal Site