WGST305_SP26

What people online have been calling a “scandal” between  Alex Cooper  and  Alix Earle  is mostly based on rumors, short clips, and fan interpretation rather than confirmed facts. Cooper posted a TikTok where she shared her side of the situation and made it seem like she was open to hearing a response from Earle, but Earle has not publicly replied. Because of that silence, people on social media started guessing what might be going on, and those guesses quickly turned into “drama” online. This is a common pattern on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Small comments, body language, or even who someone follows or doesn’t follow can be turned into a big story. Once a narrative starts, it spreads fast because people add their own opinions and repeat it without checking facts. In reality, there is no clear proof that there is a serious conflict between them. Using what I learned from this class, this situation also shows how media and online culture often frame women as...

  American horror story is a popular show where every season is different and tells different stories. Since each season is different you don’t have to watch every season to understand the show as a whole because of the new characters and settings. For example some seasons are about haunted houses, asylums, witches and more. I have mixed feelings in the show of the same characters but different roles because sometimes you have to remember and not forget it’s not the same as the last seadon, but I enjoy seeing the same characters and they are all good at their roles. This show can be scary to most people or creep people out, but it tends to talk about real-life issues such as identity, fear, and how people deal with difficult situations. When it gets disturbing or intense people fail to realize they do that to make people be not only more interested but be interested in the deeper topics they are trying to get people to look at. 

 For this week’s blog post, I wanted to talk about a new show I recently started called “The Chi." It is a show that focuses a lot on the stereotypes about Chicago and the violence that goes on. It also shows a lot of what every day looks like for the people who live in Chicago, specifically in the South Side, as well as the struggles they deal with, the many different types of families. I really like the show because I feel like it really brings in a lot of attention towards gun violence in Chicago as well. I personally really like that it’s authentic stories that can probably be related to by people not just in Chicago, but it also gives multiple different perspectives within one community, and it doesn’t make everyone have the same kind of life. Everybody’s life is very different. Everyone has different struggles and goes through different stuff, but that’s what keeps it so interesting and how it seems so real. Like I said before I also really liked that. It talks a lot about t...

Earth Day is coming up on Wednesday, April 22, and I think its a good time to think about the Earth and how we treat it every day. Earth Day reminds me that even small actions can help the planet in important ways. I used to think helping the environment meant doing something really big or having a lot of money or power, but now I understand that it can start with simple choices we make every day. Things like recycling paper and plastic, using less single-use plastic, turning off lights when we leave a room, and saving water when brushing teeth or washing hands can all help over time. Even small habits like using a reusable water bottle, bringing your own bag to the store, or walking or riding a bike to class instead of always driving or taking the shuttle can help reduce pollution and waste. The Earth gives us so many important things like clean air, water, trees, animals, and food, but sometimes people forget to appreciate it or take care of it the way they should. Earth Day is a rem...

       Recently, Chappell Roan has come under fire for a situation that apparently occurred between her security team and an 11-year old, who is the step-daughter of a famous soccer star, Jorginho. Chappell has been known for being very vocal about her personal boundaries, and discussing many of the realities that come with being a popular figure. Allegedly, the 11-year old walked past Chappell’s table at a hotel, looked at her and smiled, then walked away. Jorginho took to social media after this incident occurred, immediately jumping to conclusions and blasting Chappell Roan, implying she sent security to speak with the 11-year old and her mother.       Weeks after this controversy became largely known and spewed tons of hate towards Chappell, Jorginho came out withdrawing his previous statements after realizing he was incorrect in what he said about the interaction. However, the negativity and targeting that Chappell endured and continues to en...

 I'm happy to read that the tradwife trend is dying out! The lifestyle, marketed by Evangelical influencers, is fading away. The influencers made it sound so alluring to stay home, raise the kids, and wait on your husband for all his needs, never putting yourself first. The tradwives tried to sell the concept by stating that if you work, your meals are microwaved dinners, life would be so much simpler if you stayed home to raise the kids, and if this were fifty years ago, you wouldn't even have to consider this.  The root of the movement was misogyny. It was about getting women to vote against their own rights. Making women dependent on men, reducing their own opportunities, and restricting contact with non-trad wives.  Tradwife and stay-at-home are not the same. Tradwife is a lifestyle, while stay-at-home moms do so without being unduly influenced by outsiders. https://medium.com/@ossiana.tepfenhart/why-did-the-tradwife-bubble-collapse-so-fast-bc8d4652b85c

This weekend I finished the anime series Death Note. The show follows Light Yagami, a student who finds a notebook that allows him to kill anyone simply by writing their name in it. With this starts Light's attempted to create a "perfect" word, but spirals. I really enjoyed Death Note because of the plot and characters. But beyond the plot it makes you think of morality and justice. It is a good shows to start with if you are starting to get into anime (one season with 37 episodes. Each episode is only about 20ish minutes ). Personally I watch it on Disney+ but I am sure there are other streaming services you can find it on. If you are into anime let me know if you have watched Death Note, any recommendations you have, and if you watch sub or dub version. I am starting Hunter x Hunter now!

I feel like I am running out of things to write about, so this week you all get to hear about my favorite Streamer/ Youtuber Ludwig “From Video Games”, okay just Ludwig. I find myself listening to the podcast he is on, The Yard, as well as watching some of his bigger videos like riding motorcycles across Japan/ China with Michael Reeves and even bigger events like Chess Boxing and Mogul Money (a streamer version of Jeopardy). The boys say some pretty wild stuff on The Yard, but it is always known to be jokes and they haven't gone to places that I would think are offensive. Ludwig to me is a very funny guy who also cares about viewers and seems politically correct. Within the past year, one of his trans viewers passed away and he hosted a stream that raised and donated a lot of money to The Trevor Project. When he was doing a stream where viewers link items to buy to decorate his room, someone wanted a trans flag purchased, and he hung it on his wall to be in the back of his streams...

  I was struggling to come up with a topic this week, but then I thought of shows that were huge for me growing up, and I remembered Gravity Falls. It was a cartoon show on Disney about a pair of twins moving to a supernatural town in Oregon. It was very fun to watch and very influential growing up. Showing different sides of gender and opening into sexuality. While mixing the coming of age theme with supernatural cartoonish elements, it struck into many. While one of the twins, Mabel, is a hyper-feminine romance-loving girl, she breaks from gender norms sometimes and isn't afraid to get dirty and go on adventures. Her brother, Dipper, struggles with his masculinity across the show and has an episode to go on a journey to become a man, but to show he is a true man, he doesn't need to be super tough and kill things. It shows sexuality as well, with a pair of side male police officers who are not afraid to be affectionate with each other and are most likely a couple. Unfortunatel...

 The music industry can play such a big role in spreading the thoughts of toxic masculinity, mostly in pop culture. In most songs, men are portrayed as dominant and powerful, and they never show their emotions. However, women in music videos are portrayed as objects, and they are just there to be a body. These messages can make the audience see masculinity as being a man and how they are supposed to act. As well as how they are seen to never show that they are weak, and how they are always providing for their significant other through money, and playing them like a puppet. This can affect the younger generation and how they perceive how they are supposed to act. This can then show disrespect towards women and make it seem normal to do. But then at the same time, it can put pressure on men and how they are supposed to hide their feelings so that they do not seem weak and get called names by their friends and others.         

  THERE'S no doubt that HBO's medical drama, The Pitt has found success with more of the recent months due to the release of season 2 during the beginning of the year. The Pitt additionally has managed to grow its fanbase across social media platforms, with fans being able to express any favoritisms of any of the characters. One of the favorites that has emerged from season one and two is doctor Samira Mohan, portrayed by South Indian actress, Supriya Ganesh. Throughout season one, it's evident that Mohan's character is a heavy advocate for the women of color patients and ensures that all her patients are taken care of, no matter if she's a bit on the slower end with treating her patients. She's also usually verbally attacked by Dr. Robby for her rather slow attending skills and not being able to leave her personal issues outside the medical sphere.  A couple weeks before The Pitt's last episode aired, it was revealed that Ganesh would not be back to repris...

This week I was able to attend the Ella Baker workshop with Kelli Williams where she talked about The Weight of Being “The Strong One”. I honestly learned a lot more than I thought I would and it was not at all what I thought the talk would be about. When thinking of the title, I assumed she would talk about being the strong person in a group, but I did not anticipate the depth Kelli would go into. During the session we talked about a few different reasons as to why the weight strong friend can be so heavy. We talked about how being the strong friend for everyone else while not maintaining yourself can lead to things like burnout, isolation, compassion fatigue, decision exhaustion, and even emotional suppression. After talking about these issues, we then talked about how things such as clear and strict boundaries, delegation, and resting without feeling guilty are all ways we can help ourselves help those around us.    Something that stuck with me was a quote from Kelli saying...

For this semester, the Social Justice Club had the honor of partnering with the community for the Ella Baker Day celebration. As a member of the Executive Board, it was rewarding to see my leaders speak in such a foundational role in the civil rights movement.  Before I talk about the event, I want to give some context on why we celebrate this day and the importance of Coastal's Spadoni apartment when it comes to celebrating Ella Baker. Ella Baker was the "mother of the civil rights movement," though she often worked behind the scenes. She believed that you didn't need a spotlight to be known for change. She was one of the lead people when it came to the founding of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), empowering young people to find their own voices.  Our keynote speaker was Kelli Williams. Williams has served an entire career dedicated to activism, even running for city council at the age of 25. She delivered a strong speech on the necessity of cult...

Over the last few days, Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut has been under fire after eliminating their D1 women's rugby team to a varsity club team so they could make room for their mens distance track team. This has blown up in the media (rightfully so) where top athletes like Ilona Maher, an olympic bronze medalist for the US women's rugby team who came from the Quinnipiac women's rugby team, have spoken out against the university saying "Shame on you" and tagging the university in her post. The team has brought the school three national division 1 titles and yet the school is cutting their program to make room for yet another mens team who, as of now, has shown no promise of bringing home national titles. In addition to three titles, the Quinnipiac women's rugby team was the longest standing program that helped pave the way for other women rugby athletes. Aside from the sport itself, people are wondering if these women athletes who competed on the...

  I know that Coachella has been a big topic in both social media and recent blog posts, and while a lot of people have gone into detail on the praise and money Justin Bieber received for a bare minimum performance, I wanted to discuss the other side of this situation. Sabrina Carpenter, who we all know at this point is a pretty popular popstar especially among younger audiences was another headliner who was present at the festival this past weekend. She presented an entirely brand-new production with multiple set and costume changes, along with a talented team of background dancers and special guests incorporated into the show. What I found interesting was the fact that she, as well as the Sunday headliner Karol G (who I don't know as much about but have heard she also had an exceptional production) were paid significantly less than Justin Bieber when he had barely any production at all. I think this really speaks to how men are required to do the bare minimum in order to receive ...

Toxic relationships are honestly something a lot of us deal with, even when we know they’re not good for us. Sometimes they feel normal because of how we grew up or what we’ve seen around us. You might stay because you love the person, or because you’re used to them being in your life every day. It can also feel easier to deal with the drama then start over alone. In certain situations, like when you’re feeling insecure or going through a hard time, toxic behavior can seem almost comforting, even if it hurts you. That’s what makes it so confusing. You keep hoping things will change, but they usually don’t unless both people in the relationship really try. Learning to see the signs and choosing yourself is hard, but it’s honestly one of the most important things you can do for your peace.

The whole idea of “pink jobs” vs “blue jobs” still feels so outdated, but it’s weirdly still a thing. Pink jobs are usually things like nursing, teaching, or childcare, while blue jobs are more like construction, mechanics, or engineering. The stigma comes from how people value them differently. Pink jobs are often seen as more “natural” for women but also less respected and paid less, which honestly makes no sense considering how important they are. On the other hand, blue jobs are seen as more physical and “for men,” so women who go into those fields sometimes get judged or not taken seriously. It creates this pressure where people feel like they have to choose a path based on gender instead of what they actually like. I think our generation is starting to question that more, but those stereotypes are still relevant in different ways.

 Many influencers, and those who want to be influencers, post about a day in their life. However, many of said influencers have been called out because of how unrealistic their lives are. I think that when these are posted, it creates another unrealistic expectation about what people's lives are "supposed" to look like. It shows everyone on their good days, running errands, eating healthy, cleaning, doing homework, and overall just things that are more positive that any normal person probably does not do on their average day.  While I do get that people posting their bad days or unproductive days maybe isn't the most entertaining or uplifting, I think also showing that not everyday as an influencer is great. Even sometimes I find myself watching these people's days and comparing them to my own, and they end up making me feel lazy and unproductive. I then also have to remind myself that a lot of influencer's lives on social media is essentially fake, and does n...

 *may spoil the first episode* Sunday, the third season of Euphoria had premiered. There has been a long gap since the last season was released, and the timeline of the show aligned with that gap. The show now follows the same characters, except they are now in their adult years. The show still does a great job at discussing topics that you don't really see in shows because they are so sensitive. Also, something that I like is how up to date on trends the show is too.  I have seen mixed reviews on just the first episode because of the dramatic energy shift in the storyline. While it is just the first episode and introduction, some people are saying they are not a huge fan because of how disconnected everyone seems from one another, and the plot lines themselves just seem to chaotic. However, other people online are discussing how much they really enjoyed the episode because of (even though not typical) how intense the storylines are. Rue is now a drug mule, and we see the hars...

 Recently on social media, trends and aesthetics from 2016 are returning. Filters, drinks, trends, and music are just a few that I have seen most commonly on my feed. I think that we see this cycle often, as trends from decades in the past resurface. In the 80s and 90s we saw trends of mom and baggy jeans, which then resurfaced starting in about 2020 or so. Scrunchies were extremely popular also in the 80s and 90s which made a HUGE comeback around 2018. In the early 2000s, we saw yoga pants, low rise pants, cutoff shirts, and bootcut jeans. Now, these are some of the most basic fashion standards that most women wear everyday.  While some trends that resurface are simple fashion or music trends that are harmless, we also see the recycling of beauty standards. In the early 2000s, it was the beauty standard to be extremely thin, which some call "heroin chic." The name itself is awful, but aside from that it puts an unrealistic standard for women to uphold that requires almost no...

 I'm sure you have heard the term "girl's girl." However, I feel like that term is really overused and has lost its meaning. Originally, I believe that this saying was used in situations when women were truly on other women's sides and was used as a term of empowerment. Now, I think that when people use the term girl's girl, it's used as as excuse and is thrown around lightly, and many people just say it when it simply just is not true.  I have seen in many cases where I find women using the saying they are a "girl's girl" to justify and excuse other female's actions. I do believe that you can be somewhat of a girl's girl, but that does not give provide backup for every argument. Many women make mistakes, and they cannot be turned into NOT a big deal simply because women in the comments feel the need to defend them in the name of being a "girl's girl." Also, I find the phrase to be annoying at this point because at least...

 A few days ago, a video went viral of a 68 year old Domino's delivery driver delivering a pizza and 2 liter of Diet Coke to a customer. The special part about this video though, was the fact that Domino's was out of Diet Coke, so Dan the Pizza Man went to the store and bought the customer a 2 liter with his own money. Because this video went so viral, a GoFundMe was launched for Dan to aid in his retirement and has raised almost $170,000.  This video is so heartwarming but I think the best part of it all is how much was raised for Dan. This truly shows the power of social media, that one small act of kindness has almost fully set him and his wife up for the rest of their lives. Money is flowing from people all over the world due to how viral this video has gone. 

 The Coachella wealth gap has been a pressing issue in what I think is overlooked and unaccounted for. The festival that previously just occurred along with the various statistics of what influencers payed to perform and stay there highlights the drastic economic disparity in the area. Half of the households in the area make less that $155,000 which is also the median net worth. The area persists more of the Latino community whom already face significant challenges for just whom they were born as. The prices for accommodations there are insane, including pizza ($34),  coffee ($17), parking ($300), last minute tickets ($3000+), locker usage ($89), caviar + chicken nuggets ($100), loaded fries ($28), and airbnbs ($40,000+). I understand they can market their accommodations however they lease but it’s starting to become more of a VIP event because many individuals in the area and across the country couldn’t afford the ticket alone. If the goal is to raise more money they can make...

 Just yesterday, Alex Cooper took to TikTok to address the "beef" between her and Alix Earle. Basically, this drama started when Alix Earle's podcast was no longer a part of Alex Cooper's podcasting network. Alex, had caught on to the fact that Alix was reposting TikToks, or something minor like that. Personally, I think that this whole drama thing is pretty stupid, and shows how one thing on social media can blow up into another. A couple reposts have been taken as this huge feud and has now resulted into Alex calling out Alix publicly. Perfect example on how I believe social media has negatively been impacting relationships between people because of how blown out of proportion things can get. 

 Freida McFadden is the author of the book, "The Housemaid," which recently was turned into a very popular movie with Sydney Sweeney. For years, she had used a fake name and wore glasses and a wig. She did this to hide her true identity, which was a doctor. She did this so she could keep her two lives separate. I think that this is a really good idea, since fame can cause real harm on someone's life. They can be bombarded by fans and the option of a "normal" life is not a choice. I think using a fake identity is really smart actually, especially if you want to be such a successful and popular figure, yet want to still be able to have a separate and private life outside of your work. 

 Recently, it has come out that Britney Spears had made the decision to check herself into rehab, following an arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence back in March. Someone from her team had made a statement about her situation basically saying that her actions were inexcusable and her checking into rehab was one of the first steps in the right direction for her. Britney has also posted many other questionable videos in the past of her in her house. Some of them are simple, just her dancing in her house, while others are a bit more concerning, like one she posted dancing around with a knife in her hand.  There have been many rumors about Britney, many of them surrounding the #FreeBritney movement. This was a movement that advocated for the end of her censorship, which is what concerned so many people. There have also been rumors that Britney was killed and she is a clone, but theories like that I believe are a bit far fetched. Circling back to rehab, I think this ...

 A few days ago, Justin Bieber performed at Coachella. His performance is taking over social media because of how unique it was. He did not have any backup dancers, a crazy set, no costumes, it was simply just him on stage. He had his computer out and was sharing funny and old videos but the main focus of his performance was him playing his old music/singing videos and doing a live duet with them. This performance has been special to so many people because this performance is bringing them back to their childhoods and has been a symbol that everyone is growing up.  I think this performance truly shows how much impact celebrities have on so many people. Justin Bieber for instance, is a celebrity that so many people listened to as a child and idolized. I personally loved his performance, but some people were upset because they thought his performance was too boring and not worthy enough for Coachella. 

Temptation Island is a reality dating show where couples come to test the strength of their relationships. Once they arrive, they’re split up with men in one villa and women in another and each group is surrounded by attractive "singles" whose purpose is to build connections and create temptation. Throughout the show, they go on dates, form emotional bonds, and sometimes even cheat. The couples are shown clips of what their partners are doing, which creates a lot of tension and drama. What stands out isn’t just the cheating but how people react to it while watching the show. Even when boyfriends cross clear boundaries or fully cheat, audiences often focus more blame on the single women involved. These women get labeled as “homewreckers” or manipulative, even though they’re not the ones in relationships. Meanwhile, the men’s behavior can be brushed off or excused more easily. It shows how quickly people judge women’s actions more harshly, especially when it comes to relationsh...

      I recently watched the new horror film Bugonia  and I absolutely loved it! The film is about aliens, conspiracy culture, and humanity's self destruction. Emma Stone's portrayal of the harsh, unbending CEO Michelle Fuller especially reflects how we see powerful, strong women in business. Her character is an exaggeration of an unempathetic executive who will do whatever it takes to stay on top. For example, there is on scene where she savagely tells off one of her workers, showing no sympathy for their situation. I also really appreciate Jesse Plemons' character which represented a specific male archetype of the outcast "incel". Stone and Plemmons play off of each other beautifully.     The movie features an insane plot twist that perfectly wraps up the story. I feel like there is a new wave of horror films starring female leads, letting them play the "ugly", nasty, and sometimes evil personas. It is a nice step away from the "blonde bimbo"...

  Something that I find really interesting is the depiction of women in reality tv specifically, and the best example that comes to mind for this is love island. The last two seasons there have been multiple examples of the show framing women to be seen in a specific light, all by the editors own doing. For example, there was a contestant named Kaylor who was known to be the "emotional" girl of the season. However, while she this may be partially true, the show really played into it and made this the only image of her that people saw. They would compile clips of her upset, change the music to sad songs, etc to play into this stereotype of the "emotional woman".  Though there is nothing wrong with being emotional, and open with your feelings, the way that they portrayed this and made it seem like there was nothing else to this girl other than her feelings, was really damaging to her and the publics view of women. Even for this post, when I looked up "Kaylor Love...

In 2018, Beyoncé didn't just perform at Coachella, she staged a cultural revolution, "Beychella." This performance had over 100 performers, a custom-built stage, and a setlist that served as a historical thesis on the Black college experience. It was eight months of physical training and creative direction. Fast forward to Coachella 2026, where we saw the other end of the spectrum Justin Bieber as a headliner, the highest paid headliner reporting at 10 million dollars with a price like that you'd expect some of the best work from Justice but for majority of his set he spent it huddled over a laptop scrolling through his own YouTube history singing along to old videos and new videos. (To preface this, I am not a big Justin Bieber fan due to his racist past. For a Black woman in music, perfection is the baseline. If Beyonce misses a single step or her vocals are not studio-quality while she's sprinting across the stage, the internet is ready with critiques (to be fa...

If anyone is a golf fan then I know you have been glued to your screens watching the Masters like me. Watching Rory McIlroy win the 2026 The Masters Tournament for the second year in a row was really amazing to see. It felt like a huge moment in sports history. Winning this tournament even one time is very hard but doing it two times in a row shows how talented and focused he is. The Masters is played at Augusta National Golf Club and it is known for being very difficult because every shot matters and small mistakes can change everything. This win is also important because only a few golfers have ever won the Masters in back to back years. Now Rory is one of only four players in history to do this which is a huge deal. The last time it happened was when Tiger Woods won in 2001 and 2002. Tiger Woods is one of the greatest golfers ever so being compared to him shows how important Rory’s achievement is. It also makes me think about how sports history is made by moments like this that peop...

 Just in these last few days, a spark of confusion has hit the internet with Melania Trump holding a conference stating that she had no knowledge of epstein's crimes. Do we believe her? Melania Trump denies having any knowledge of what sexual epstine did to his victims, which I don't know how I feel about that. In all realness, that could be true given the way Melania met trump through epstein, but throughout her statement, she uses "I" a lot when trying to clear her name. She says, "The lies linking me with the disgraceful jeffrey epstein need to end today," or "the individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect." Now the only time she talks about her husband is when she states that she and her husband did, in fact, cross paths with epstein because of their social circle. I find this very interesting because first, trump has denied being in cahoots with epstein and also, as Melania is trying to cover her behind, ...

I am so excited for the extended version of Conan Gray’s Wishbone Album (and also Noah Kahan’s new album). Kind of crazy that they both drop on the same day… I think “Nauseous” on this album might be my all-time favorite song of his (Family Line and Connell are up there as well). I also absolutely adored the “This Song”, “Vodka Cranberry” and “Caramel” music videos with Corey Fogelmanis showing short story videos of queer romance. I cried my eyes out pretty hard. I have enjoyed his music for a long time, but this new album just hits different. I wanted to see him in concert so bad, but I was working when he was decently close, so it is on my bucket list to see him live. Has anyone else watched these music videos and/ or listened to his music in general? If so, what is your favorite song he sings?

So Tomodachi Life's sequel is coming out. Many people, including myself, are very excited about this. It is a long awaited game as people had plenty of fun with the original and wanted some improvements. It was a simulation game that allowed people to make Miis of themselves, family, friends, or imaginary characters. Many loved it and wished there was more added for character creation, relationships, and more hands on interaction. The sequel seems to answer this by giving more creative ways to create Miis with different hair options, choosing bangs and back of hair, and a paint feature. Many are excited especially because you can choose the gender the Miis are attracted to now! They have nonbinary for an option as well, which is very exciting. It makes same sex relationships easier too, as before players would have to make them the opposite gender and dress them up as what they wanted. The demo came out and it gives more freedom of naming as well. People have been very creative and...

 I was scrolling on TikTok the other day, and I came across this video where they talked about how a contestant in RuPaul's Drag Race. It talked about Kenya Pleaser talking about how she was criticized about her performance that was coming up at the University of South Carolina and how Kenya said that she was very, very sad that people were making a fuss about it because she sees drag as something she does for herself and for her entertainment as well as a way of expressing her true self to others. To me, when I saw this, I felt as though this situation was talking about way more than just one performance. It can show how society is still judging people based on their gender and sexuality in public spaces, and it mostly happens in the South. I also feel as though since Kenya described herself as a Black Queer man from the South, it can also add more to her plate in society. It also connects to how the controversy shows that this type of pop culture can turn into a much bigger argum...

  Bob’s Burgers is one of the best shows in my opinion especially growing up and still watching till this day. This show is so good because it has its funny and related family dynamics. They all have their own funny personality and every episode there is something new which makes it good to watch such as Louise being the younger sibling always being up to something, but Tina being a teenager in her awkward ways and having odd, but funny obsessions. Me, my sister and mom watched it all together all the time and we remember the one episode where they have to write I believe creative essays so the episode puts it to real life with Gene doing his fart song, Tina with the obsession over butts and zombies stop attacking after seeing her flip her hair to be subductive, and Lousie with the principle being a robot and having to kill them, but when the principle calls Bob and Linda about how they were an issue, they ended up liking the stories in the end and tried to figure out why he hated ...

  “ Check this out. After Beyoncé perform, after she done the dance, Coachella gotta rename Coachella to Beychella. New name alert, Beychella. ”  COACHELLA has been a music festival held in Southern California for over two decades. With other iconic names to headline such as Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z. Before 2018, not a single black woman had headlined. Beyoncé was intended to headline in 2017, following the success of her 2016 studio album, Lemonade , but during the 2017 Grammy’s, she revealed that she was pregnant with twins. After she had her twins, she worked for her 2018 Coachella set with excessive physically training, and dieting, cutting out things such as meat, carbs, dairy, alcohol, and other things. She went in with the goal of honoring her culture shown through HBCU culture from the majorette dancers as her background dancers, to the band members, even with an all-black orchestra. Her set included her iconic hits from that of her first solo album...

  On march 16 the Atlanta Hawks had planned a “Magic City” themed promotion game, referencing the famous strip club Magic City in Atlanta. This event was later canceled after receiving heavy backlash from fans, media, and players. Although these strip clubs like Magic City are tied to the Atlanta culture, they raise questions about the objectification of women. The promotion had blurred the line between entertainment and exploitation. Showing how women’s bodies are often used as part of branding and entertainment in the NBA and other male-dominated spaces. While also demonstrating how gender issues still exist within our modern sports culture. 

  This year on march 10, 2026, Bam Adebayo recorded a game where he scored 83 points. Putting him second all-time for the most points scored ever in a NBA game, in doing so he passed Kobe’s previous second pace spot of 82 points. But I want to focus on what happened after the game. Once the game ended, Bam had his postgame interview like after every game, but this time he was accompanied by A’ja Wilson; who is a WNBA star, and also his girlfriend. This was a first though, as I had never remembered seeing a player have anyone else with them during a postgame interview, other than maybe another team member or their kids. This was nice to see though, as the media used this historic day in sports to celebrate the game of basketball, both men’s and women’s. The interview opened with a media member addressing Both Bam and A’ja as the players with the highest scoring games amongst all the active players in their given leagues; Bam now with 83 and A’ja with 53. A reporter than asked Bam ho...

Caitlin Clark is a women’s basketball player who has heavily impacted the world of women sports. It stems from her days playing college ball at the University of Iowa, where she grew into stardom. She was known for her deep shot making ability and playstyle, as they had made games more exciting and widely watched. This brought an unprecedented amount of attention to women’s college basketball, which helped break viewership and attendance records in the women’s NCAA tournament. But not only that, she has helped increase media coverage for women’s sport overall. Following her rise to the top, she sparked conversations about gender inequality in sports, especially for pay and recognition. As she was drawing comparisons to male athletes, challenging the idea that men’s sports are inherently more entertaining than women’s. Furthermore pushing women’s basketball into mainstream pop culture. She is an example that one athlete can have the ability to shift the public perception of sports.

  Laufey is a music artist who has been blowing up for the past few years now. Her music is a blend of jazz, classical, and pop influences. It has a very nostalgic or vintage vibe, but is packaged for a Gen Z audience. Critics like to argue that Laufey is not “real jazz”, as her and her music don’t fully fit the description of jazz.  Reasoning that sound alone doesn’t define someone as a jazz artist. As it is  a historical tradition, a community of musicians, and a shared musical language that is rooted in Black American history. As jazz is built off of the components of improvisation, live collaboration, and the musicians interacting with one another in real time. learned through playing with others, not just copying a style. As sounding like jazz is not enough, and participating in jazz culture is what really defines it. I do believe that some level of authenticity is needed, but it can be limiting at times. As authenticity is a way to show respect to the origins and hi...

 A festival in Ozoro, Nigeria, that took place in March 2026 is being called a 'rape festival'. The event was 'hijacked' by men who chased, harassed, stripped, and sexually assaulted women. Over 15 men were arrested for the assaults. No woman has come forward to press charges for the assaults. Some report that the raping of women during the festival has been allowed to happen for years, with the police looking the other way and not stopping the 'highjackers'. These assaults are similar to what we viewed in the screening of the Dreamworlds documentary. https://www.blanck.uk/post/the-ozoro-rape-festival-when-culture-becomes-an-excuse-for-violence

For this week's blog post I wanted to talk about Niall Horan. Niall was a member of the infamous boyband One Direction in the early 2010s alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, and Liam Payne. This year, Niall is releasing his fourth studio album 'Dinner Party'. While doing press for the album, I have seen a few interviews where the interviewer is asking Niall personal questions about his former bandmate Liam Payne who died on October 16th, 2024 in Argentina after an alleged accident in his hotel room. While I understand Niall has said there is a song on the new album about Liam and people will want to ask questions about it, I feel as though maybe this is one of those topics that we should stay away from asking. Niall has faced some backlash since Liam's death where people blame him for what happened to Liam. During the end one Niall's previous tour "The Show, Live on Tour", Liam went to Argentina to support his friend and attend one of Nial...

U.S. President Donald Trump posted today how  he's  pulling back on his threats to attack Iranian bridges, power plants ,  and other civilian targets, agreeing to a two-week  ceasefire  and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also said Iran has proposed a 10-point peace plan that could help end the war the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb r uary  28.  Trump had previously threatened t hat a "whole civilization will die tonight , n ever to be brought back again,  " if Iran  fails to  meet his deadline to strike a deal by reopening the Hormuz Strait through which a fifth of the world's oil is transported.  Many people , including Democrats in Congress, United Nations   officials, scholars in military law,  and even Pope Leo XIV argue that such strikes would violate intern at ional law. Hence, there is a heavy push for t he 25 th   A mendment to be invoked against  T rump. However, the  vice president ...