Story by Katie HohmanStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator Tenet, the new sci-fi thriller from acclaimed auteur Christopher Nolan, is an exciting, if not confusing, journey filled with heart wrenching performances and mind-bending twists. The film focuses on a former CIA agent, simply called “the Protagonist” (John David Washington), who is recruited by an […]
‘Nice White Parents’ asks all the right questions
Story by Zoe SchlaakStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 4/5Host: Chana Joffe-WaltGenre: Podcast Nice White Parents confronts the power of white parents in public education and traces the deep roots of their power in one New York school. The five-part podcast series, hosted by Chana Joffe-Walt of This American Life, deftly explores the uncharted […]
Revisiting ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
Story by Sam GrotensteinStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Over six years and seven seasons, Buffy The Vampire Slayer has changed the way we view television. Adapted into a series from the 1992 film of the same name by Joss Whedon, one of the most prolific voices in popular culture, Buffy The Vampire Slayer […]
Anything goes?
Story by Katie HohmanStaff Writer Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Among the 800 million people who have downloaded the app TikTok, most are probably aware of the influence and impact that the app has had. Nowhere is that impact more prevalent than in the music industry, which has begun to see a dramatic shift due […]
Just Mercy has never been more relevant
Story by Quinn ManzoStaff Writer Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Just Mercy’s significance goes beyond its merits as a well-made film. The story that it tells forces the viewer to confront a truth that many are too sheltered or unwilling to acknowledge, even as it is brought to brighter light every single day: racism is […]
Punisher: Heartbreak and healing
Story by Georgia ParsonsStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher is a reassurance in the darkest of times. In her first album since the 2017 release of Stranger in the Alps, Bridgers explores the same heartbreak, but instead emphasizes her journey on the path to healing. The native Pasadenan is best known […]
Intersection: Books, movies, and TV shows about and/or created by LGBTQ+ people of color
Story by Georgia Parsons & Eddie ZhouStaff Writers Illustration by Tarry SongStaff Illustrator Intersectional LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media is growing increasingly prevalent as film, books, music, and TV strive to be more inclusive. Although queer and racial stereotypes still appear frequently in popular media, more projects continue to move towards telling stories about complex […]
Pete Davidson gets candid in The King of Staten Island
Story by Georgia ParsonsStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator The King of Staten Island offers a peek into a partly fictionalized version of the life of Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film considers what would have happened if Davidson didn’t get into comedy. With stellar performances all around, The […]
‘SAWAYAMA’ is a genre blending tribute to self identity
Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator 4.5/5Artist: Rina SawayamaLabel: Dirty HitGenre: Dance Pop, Contemporary R&BLength: 13 tracks, 44 minutes Rina Sawayama’s debut album SAWAYAMA is a stellar genre-blending tribute to her upbringing and identity. In it, Sawayama explores her identity as a queer Japanese-born and London-raised woman. The album is politically […]
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Netflix
Story by Aanji Sin & Amber ChenSenior Staff Writer & Staff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Netflix released many new films and TV shows just in time for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The entertainment company has contributed a decent amount to POC representation on screen in the past with To All […]
‘Stargirl’ misses its chance to shine
Story by Cloe MaurerAssociate Feature Editor Illustration by David SohnStaff Illustrator Disney’s film adaptation of the YA classic Stargirl was neither a trainwreck nor particularly well executed. It can be most fittingly described as “lost in translation.” The whole movie felt like a missed high five. Disney, with its nearly unlimited resources, was unable to […]
‘Miss Anthropocene’ brings post-irony to unrelenting darkness
Story by Peter WangCopy Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator Grimes is an enigma. Her meteoric ascent from underground electronic producer to almost-mainstream pop star shows remarkable dedication to indie ideals — but her boundary-pushing antics have incite controversy and confusion. On top of her divisive reputation, being pregnant with Elon Musk’s child deepens the […]
Is there a zone between race-blind and tokenism? ‘Altered Carbon’ says… sort of
Story by Dominic MarzialiOnline Managing Editor Illustration by Nicholas FormanStaff Illustration Netflix has taken a few turns and tumbles with the rise of the #MeToo movement. In its haste to become a fan favorite platform, the behemoth started mass-producing movies and shows with non-white leads. However, Netflix clearly became a believer of quantity over quality. […]
‘Modern Love: The Podcast’ masterfully captures the essence of love
Story by Amber ChenStaff Writer Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Illustrator 5/5 stars ‘Modern Love: The Podcast’ features a series of readings of love essays based on real-life experiences from The New York Times’ column “Modern Love.” These readings, recited by actors, masterfully encapsulate the emotion of the pieces they deliver, making for immersive and compelling […]
After a full season, ‘Love is Blind’ remains blind to its faults
Story by Cloe MaurerAssociate Feature Editor Illustration by Alicia ZhangStaff Writer Love is Blind, Netflix’s first attempt at a reality dating show, has been a wild success on paper. The show gained a large following and even a pull-down tab on Buzzfeed — major accomplishment alert. In the show, men and women live on separate […]
Salt & Straw loses authenticity through overcomplication
Story by Audrey Ernst Staff Writer Photos by Katelyn HernandezStaff Photographer Cardamom Black Pepper & Port Truffle probably isn’t the first flavor that comes to mind when thinking about ice cream, but at Salt & Straw, it’s an option in its wide variety of eccentric flavors. The Portland-based ice cream shop opened in Old Town […]