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A woman with brown skin, dark hair and a pink headband stands in front of a grey wall, with A-shaped markings in it. She's smiling into a camera stand from which the silhouette of an iPhone can be seen; the ring of the stand glows yellow, presumably casting light on her as the phone's camera captures her in shot.

Why Content Creators like xoxo, Akouto are Necessary Online

Cerasela Hanseter, University of California, Berkeley

Akouto Von brings a new perspective to YouTube content, offering a sense of vulnerability not often found in newer creators.…

April 10, 2024

The Last Dinner Party Explores Haunting Melodies and Depths with Prelude to Ecstasy

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

The Last Dinner Party's debut 'Prelude to Ecstasy' stands on its own amongst a sea of poppy rock.…

April 2, 2024

The image of a man in a suit and hat with a dark tie repeats through sets of images descending in three film strips, each of which is in imperfect alignment with each other. The first man is in a grey strip, reaching to touch the shoulder of his clone in a green strip, who in turn is staring at his copy in a blue strip, as if they are in a cycle repeating endlessly through time.

Black & White: The Historic Film Technique Directors Are Rediscovering

Santiago Rivera, Washington University in St. Louis

In the modern era of digital coloring and novel technologies, how is modern cinema reinventing its roots in Black and White?…

March 28, 2024

Two figures -- one with red hair, another in purple pants -- dive into a large checkered lunchbox, presumably looking for a bite to eat. It contains sandwiches, fruit, utensils and presumably more, placed in front of a background made up of lunchboxes in red, yellow, polka dots and even grey foam. A figure with dark skin peeks out of the yellow lunchbox.

Lunchboxes are for Adults

Cerasela Hanseter, University of California, Berkeley

Ask anyone about lunchboxes and they'll tell you it's kid's stuff. Not so. A lunchbox is as adult as a wallet, purse, even your credit score.…

March 20, 2024

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

Roberto Soto

The Spanish rock band, Airú, transcends with a hopeful energy and quiet optimism on their first U.S. Tour. …

March 18, 2024

Calico Cats and Littlest Pet Shop figurines dressed in dresses.

Sylvanian Drama and the Neverending Nature of LPS Popular

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

Sylvanian Drama has become a popular TikTok account through their videos of toys playing out soap opera plots, but the roots of this content go back further than one might think.…

March 17, 2024

Pedro Pascal's characters lined up with clouds in background.

Pedro Pascal in the MCU—Fantastic Casting

Kyle A. McLaughlin, Elizabethtown College

Pedro Pascal has recently been announced as the new actor for Mr. Fantastic in the upcoming “Fantastic Four” reboot; will he be able to compensate for the preceding 19 years of disappointment?…

March 13, 2024

Five Best Songs from Ariana Grande’s ‘eternal sunshine’

Roberto Soto

Ariana encapsulates the peaks and potholes that come from love and heartbreak in her 2024 album "eternal sunshine."…

March 11, 2024

7 Films to Hit at SXSW 2024

Roberto Soto

Black Twitter, DCOM-inspired horror, gay beaches and Ayo Edebiri. SXSW 2024 has the film for you!…

March 6, 2024

Collage of Mitski performing for a crowd.

Mitski and the Spirit of Intimate, Strange Performances

Mariana Vaca, Lake Forest College

Mitski’s 2024 “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” North American tour has social media users speaking about concert etiquette and performative art.…

February 26, 2024

A man in a blue gown with slick-backed hair sits on an examination table in a doctor's office adorned with diplomas, his sock adorned feet lying flat on a metal foot stool. Dr. Google is facing him, having clearly delivered terrible news based on his guarded posture, hands buried in his pockets; also, the fact that the man has broken down in tears and buried his face in his hands.

Social Media & Self-Diagnosis

Vera Pavlovich, Loyola University Maryland

With social media, awareness of symptoms of various diseases and disorders has spread rapidly, leading to a rise in self-diagnosis.…

February 23, 2024

For an article on the impact of the Garfield comic, an up close illustration of the iconic orange cat's low hanging eyes and iconic smirk.

Why We Love Garfield

Amelie Allen, University of Arizona

Dogs may be man’s best friend, but this lazy orange cat has been pop culture’s constant companion.…

February 22, 2024

A woman with brown hair in a pink coat beams with a bright smile against a pink and purple background. To her right, a golden statue leans against a smiling doll in the woman's image. Said doll holds its hand in its pocket as it cocks out its hip, standing in a firm yet casual pose.

An Ode to Gloria and Ordinary Barbies Everywhere

Archie Wagner, University of Iowa

Women can be everything, but with her Oscar-nominated performance in "Barbie", America Ferrera reminds us they don’t have to be.…

February 19, 2024

In this article, a feminist reading of Chinese mythology and culture, a fat, red, moustachio'd dragon with yellow wings sits in front of a pale yellow background with clouds. It opens and closes its eye whilst waving at the audience and breathing fire.

Women of the Red Dragon: Chinese Mythology as a Catalyst for Feminism

Emily Diaz, DePaul University

The possibilities of using Chinese mythology to reclaim feminine power in a world of “submissive” Chinese women.…

February 9, 2024

‘Masters Of The Air’ Takes Flight and Lands Safely In Viewers’ Hearts

Ally Najera, California State University, Northridge

The Tom Hanks and Stephen Speilberg project has finally taken off to new heights in this World War II-inspired miniseries.…

January 26, 2024

Radio: A Quest to Discover Your New Favorite Song

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

What happens when you ditch your playlists and listen to the radio for a day?…

December 8, 2023

‘Stargate’ May Be Sci-Fi’s Most Self-Aware Franchise

Sydney Chastain, Florida State University

Meet a franchise that parodies its genre, its fans and itself.…

December 1, 2023

For an article about "Piece of Me" by Britney Spears and "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, three photos of blonde hair Britney with her left hand up are in the bottom row. three photos of blonde Taylor on the top (upper left corner with mascara running, middle in action smashing a car hood, on right yelling with a kitchen knife in hand). In the top right corner, text in bright yellow letters, "Pop Idols Off the Deep End!" On the bottom a pink better with yellow text, "Bank Space Breaks Records. Piece of Me Breaks Britney."

How Britney Spears’ ‘Piece of Me’ Laid the Groundwork for Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’

Avery Heeringa, Columbia College Chicago

Taylor Swift found herself in a somewhat similar position to Spears’ mid-2000s public scrutiny.…

November 15, 2023

For an article on rhetorical devices in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a hand drawn monster portrait is center with red markings, a floral frame surrounds his face. The words "Mary Shelley's" appear at top and "Frankenstein" appears on the bottom.

The Use of Multiple POV in ‘Frankenstein’

Sydney Chastain, Florida State University

Mary Shelley masters the rhetorical device of multiple point of view narration. This is seen in an incredibly innovative way through the novel, "Frankenstein."…

November 13, 2023

Faded art of foods on decorative plates set out on a table with bright green, red and yellow colors.

More than Struggle: Palestinian Cuisine

Farah Shah, University of Central Florida

An ode to the flavors of Palestine, a culture exemplified through their soulful cooking and heartfelt social traditions.…

November 8, 2023

In an article about "Elf" 20 year anniversary, a man with orange hair and green coat and yellow stockings places a glowing yellow star with the number "20" on it" atop a green Christmas tree with red ornaments and bright yellow lights.

Son of a Nutcracker! “Elf” Celebrates 20 Years of Holiday Cheer

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf.…

November 7, 2023

For an article about Dia de los Muertos, a person stands with a pink cloth over their head with an orange monarch butterfly over their head. A collage of leaves, flowers, and butterflies lay by their head.

Bridging Worlds: The Significance of Día de los Muertos Altars

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

Día de los Muertos is a time to celebrate life, pay tribute to the past, and remember our loved ones.…

November 1, 2023

For an article about true crime television, two blonde women in jackets stand in front of a big head of a man with 70s style square glasses. They are set inside a black and white television set.

Desensitizing the World to True Crime

Julia Ray, Northern Arizona University

The trending true crime entertainments are making us less empathetic.…

October 31, 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 the Talking Heads concert film, the words "Stop Making Sense" are spelled out in bold across the top. A large stage in black and white is riddled with chracters: two women singing at microphones, a man dancing in front of a microphone, a woman crouched down playing bass and two men playing guitar.

Talking Heads ‘Stop Making Sense’ on the Biggest Screen

Sophie Serage, University of Massachusetts, Boston

The concert film, “Stop Making Sense” by Talking Heads, had its IMAX debut by A24 and will return to theaters this month, remastered and better than ever. …

October 19, 2023