Entertainment

Last month, we looked back at Alan Moore’s Watchmen and began to explore the literary and visual art of graphic novels.  However, around the same time of the "Watchmen" release, DC Comics published another graphic novel that is as influential and critically adored as Alan Moore’s classic.  This story is Frank Miller’s "The Dark Knight Returns."  Like "Watchmen," this story helped pioneer the mature age of comic books, but unlike Watchmen, which had original characters, "The Dark Knight Returns" brings the mature cynicism and dark realism to DC’s mainstream characters. (more…)

Earlier this summer, controversy arose after the announcement that Matt Damon was cast as the lead in the upcoming epic, The Great Wall.  The current dilemma with whitewashing is on both sides concerning studio marketing and film authenticity. The casting of a well-known American actor over an unknown international actor  to secure funding is a common tactic; however, this marketing tool often undermines the film’s authenticity and historical accuracy. Accusations of whitewashing were almost immediate; Fresh Off The Boat star Constance Wu took to social media to vent her frustration with the casting choice. Wu stated that the film perpetuates the “white savior” narrative, all too common in the film industry. (more…)

The 1980s was a pivotal point for comic books and the medium as a whole. Even today’s modern elements seen in the ever-so-popular superhero television series and movies have their tonal origins from the period. During this, graphic novels began extremely popular. Though comic books and manga are all technically graphic novels, the term is separated from them because of its uniqueness. Graphic novels are larger and are more original stories in comparison to the thirty page monthly issue. Even when they adapt the characters from current comic stories, the graphic novel’s story is its own original work, and is usually not canon with the comic’s timelines. One graphic novel did exemplify the medium while symbolizing the transition of the 1980s which is Alan Moore’s "Watchmen." (more…...

Just over a month ago, the fourth season of Orange Is The New Black premiered on Netflix. Binge watchers all over the world rejoiced and immediately tuned in to follow the adventures of the women of Litchfield. Critics and viewers have praised the show for its groundbreaking representation of minority communities. Though the show’s protagonist is a self-described “WASP” (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant), the supporting cast is composed of women from various backgrounds.  Of these, the Latina inmates (known to the others as “Spanish Harlem”) are among the ones most frequently cited as examples of progress in representation. (more…)