WGST305_SP26

  The show King of Queens is one of my all-time favorite shows to binge-watch because it is set in the late 1990s to early 2000s. The show has some old humor that wouldn't be in shows now because of how the humor was back then. I also think this show has some downsides to it with the coupling. Like we talked about in class early in the semester, some shows have couples that have the wife who is skinny and pretty, and then the husband who is the comedian and not as attractive. He makes light of the events that happen in the show, while Carrie, the wife, is more on the stern side, and she is making the money of the household. All in all I do love this show its one of my favorite shows to watch. 

     For the event I attended, I went to the Ella Baker Day celebration keynote speaker with Kelli Williams. I really enjoyed going to this event because it was very eye-opening to see how students can advocate against injustices they don’t agree with. I do feel like the speaker did a very good job of engaging with the group, even if many didn’t answer the question.   She focused on the ways we as students can contribute to society. She also talked about how we need to have hope and take the steps to contribute to our government and have a say. Kelli also said we can contribute to society by voting for our representatives and the next president, since our generation will be the next to work in the world. I enjoyed this event and would attend another one.

  Tyler, the Creator is a musician who challenges traditional masculinity through both his music and public persona. His music has evolved with his personality. His ea rlier music was more aggressive and controversial , fitting typical rap masculinity.  Over time, his sound has shifted to become more emotional, vulnerable, and include introspective themes.  Albums of his, such as IGOR focus on love, heartbreak, and identity. In which he o penly explores feelings that male artists are often expected to hide. Often b lending genres of music like rap, R&B, and soul, rejecting strict labels. As a person he e mbraces colorful, preppy, and “soft” fashion instead of hyper-masculine styles;  mixing traditionally masculine and feminine aesthetics together. He’s c onfident in being different, not trying to fit into the classic rap stereotypes.  Challenging the ideas that men, especially rappers, must be emotionless, aggressive, and/or dominant. Demonstrating how ...

  Nowadays h eadphones aren’t just tech anymore, they’ve become part of personal identity and image. Wired Headphones Stereotypes Seen as more “authentic” or serious about music Associated with people who care about sound quality and detail Sometimes viewed as old-school or anti-trend Linked to a more low-maintenance or practical personality Can signal someone who resists constant upgrades or consumer culture Bluetooth Headphones Stereotypes Seen as modern, convenient, and trendy Associated with brands like Apple AirPods culture Sometimes viewed as more about aesthetic and status than quality Linked to busy, on-the-go lifestyles (gym, commuting, multitasking) Can signal wealth or willingness to spend on convenience While tech and audio spaces often associate “serious gear” with masculinity,  minimalist Bluetooth products are often marketed with a more lifestyle/fashion angle. This helps r aise questions about how consumer choices reflect identity and social expecta...

  This movie offers a perspective into the lives of individuals struggling with mental health issues across different demographics. It highlights how mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of gender, race, upbringing, and can stem from all sorts of factors. The movie is set in a juvenile psychiatric facility, following a character named Lyle; a young man dealing with anger, trauma, and emotional repression. There are other patients there  who all have their unique struggles and problems. The movie spans over multiple days, each day showing the different battles that each of these people face daily. Helping raise awareness about the challenges faced by numerous people, no matter who they are.

  The upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday  will help continue the massive influence of superhero movies on pop culture.  Marvel films have traditionally been centered around  male heroes , but recently they have been shifting toward more female representation. Raising  questions about whether female characters are given equal depth and leadership roles.  Superhero films often reflect ideas of masculinity,  strength, power, and emotional restraint. These n ewer characters challenge these by showing vulnerability and emotional complexity.  Female superheroes are often still judged more on appearance and likability  rather than male counterparts.  This film can be used to analyze how gender roles are evolving within blockbuster media.   Marvel’s global audience means these portrayals will help shape societal expectations of gender.  This movie will offer a chance to see whether Marvel continues progressing or falls back into t...

The event that I chose to intend was a workshop led by Kelli Williams Akins, with a focus of “The weight of being “The Strong One” in movement spaces.” We focused on learning what it means to be “The Strong One” and ways to maintain being strong while not hurting yourself. Throughout the event everyone in the room was engaging within the conversations had. We were sharing personal stories and experiences that we had in relation to being “The Strong One” within our own lives. And moments were being the strong one was hurting us more than helping. After reflecting and being taught how to mange being said title, we were given the message, “The goal is not to stop being strong. The goal is to ensure no one has to be strong alone.” This message really opened up my eyes to the idea that if the load is too much don’t give up, but rather ask for help; Nobody should have to endure all the weight by themselves.  I just want to add that I really enjoyed the event, it was a very fun and intere...

I have mixed feelings about the new season of  Euphoria and it may be highly controversial . The pacing is my biggest issue. Each episode feels too slow and focuses on the same storyline for too long. Just when something interesting starts to happen, the episode ends, which makes it frustrating to stay interested. Instead of building suspense, it feels like the show is dragging things out. In earlier seasons, there was a better balance between slow emotional moments and intense or dramatic scenes, but now it feels like it leans too much on the slow parts.I’m also not happy with how some characters are handled. Fez getting 30 years in jail feels extreme and unfair, especially since many viewers liked him and connected with his story. Lexi also isn’t in the season enough, which is disappointing because she added something important before. Overall, the season feels less exciting, and I hope it improves.

Last night at 6pm, I attended the Poetic Justice night hosted by the CCU Women of Color organization. This was hosted to promote creativity, purpose, and community. On the informational flyer they asked for people attending to wear dark business casual attire, and bring good vibes. You could have purchased your ticket early for $3 in Lib Jackson, but tickets were $5 at the door. All proceeds went towards supporting events for black students including Donning of the Kente, the Summit, and other DEI resources.  At the event they had music and poetry performances, finger foods, mocktails, raffle prizes, introduced their new WOC members, and distributed graduation cords to their senior members. The purpose of this event was to not only support the organization, but to also speak out about what people of color, especially women of color go through. Performers had the open opportunity to speak out on serious and deep personal experiences. Within this event it brought up lots of good poin...

 These are the on-campus events that I attended this semester.  Recognizing & Preventing Human Trafficking - 1/20 I was really interested in this workshop after learning that two local women in Carolina Forest had been involved in trafficking five children, and one had died from abuse. Before learning about the Carolina Forest case, I never gave a thought to children being trafficked. I thought it was women who were trafficked. The billboards on Highway 501 raise awareness of trafficking in the Myrtle Beach area. The billboards depict women as the victims. But I, like so many, think that trafficking is done of adults. Attending the lecture taught me to be aware of signs of trafficking, such as a change of eating habits, being outgoing then quiet, and a change of clothing styles. Trafficking children for sex is rape. Children cannot consent to sex.  Healthy Relationship Workshop - 1/29 This was a very insightful lecture. Understanding of creating safe spaces for women ...

  A 50-year career cancer scientist, studying the earliest signs that someone might become sick, lost her funding to continue her research. The Trump administration's attacks on medicine, culture, and education—which include verbal threats and funding cuts—are about more than just budgeting and bravado. Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University and the author of  Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.  She argues that this effort is part of a larger autocratic project to maintain power. Ben-Ghiat sees this as a power struggle to radically alter the way people think by controlling knowledge and building distrust.  This podcast discusses the loss of scientists, engineers, and those who contribute to scientific research and the long-term effects it will have on our health. On a side note,  the CDC was informed to defund or significantly decrease any research that had the word 'women' in the title. The Atlantic:  htt...

  OVER the weekend, it was announced that rapper Megan Thee Stallion and her boyfriend, basketball player Klay Thompson had broken up due to cheating allegations. Even though not a lot of details have bene revealed between the two, Megan took to her story to announce the breakup, removed all her photos from her socials with Thompson, as well as ending her 8-week run as the character Zidler in the Moulin Rouge Broadway musical early.  Many people have showered Megan with love and support, while on the flip side, some individuals have taken it upon themselves to instead switch the blame on Megan, saying that she was in the wrong for being in a relationship with him. This is not the first time Thompson has cheated, in fact, it's reported that he also cheated on actress Laura Harrier as well as actress and singer Coco Jones. Ironically enough, Thomson does not have an impress record of cheating on black women and it may not be a coincidence that his string of cheatings follow this...

While it is definitely not a bad thing to be a fan of celebrities, it can get to a point of intensity where it lands in a parasocial relationship. A parasocial relationship is where the fan gets psychologically attached to a celebrity or fictional character, when that celebrity has no idea they exist. This can be extremely harmful to people because they are dedicating their time, energy, and intense emotions into somebody that has no idea they exist. People will have intense beliefs and in some severe cases even alter their motives due to these celebrities. They may verbally attack others in defense of that celebrity, or spend unhealthy amounts of time obsessing over them.  These relationships can be shown in many different ways, but I believe the most common is through social media. These can be people with fan accounts, or even just their normal accounts who obsess over their socials. If a celebrity likes their comment, they will take it personally and think the celebrity is sing...

 Everyone has heard of a doppleganger, but I think that society is taking this to be a little too far. I was recently reading an article about celebrity look alike contests, where the person found most to look like a celebrity is rewarded with some sort of prize, normally money. I have also heard of celebrity look alike meetups, which I also kind of find weird, or funny, I can't really tell. I have seen a couple that I can remember off the top of my head: Timothee Chalamet, Jeremy Allen White, and Ian. I'm sure there are plenty of others out there. Someone that attended the Timothee Chalamet one even shared his experience there, basically saying that it was insane and people were crowding around him, acting like he really was Timothee Chalamet himself.  I think that contests like this, when they get to an extreme point, can actually be toxic. This really shows how obsessed society is with celebrities and pop culture, that we are willing to reward people money simply for lookin...

  Hi everyone! When thinking about what I wanted to do for one of my last blog posts I knew I wanted to cover something more positive but also impactful, but I was at a loss for a while. But after a lot of consideration, I thought it would be good to help shed some light on one of the most revolutionary plays that has been on Broadway in the past few years. John Proctor Is the Villain is at its core a contemporary feminist reimaging of The Crucible. I had the honor of seeing this production last may while it was starring Sadie Sink who is an absolutely incredible Actress. This show sheds light on sexual misconduct, female solidarity and the reinterpretation of historical heroes all through the lens of high school students located in a small southern town (Georgia). It is also set around the height of the #MeToo movement, making it an extremely significant piece of media for shedding light on both this movement and what it stands for. Written by Kimberly Belflower I honestly think i...

 I came across this interesting page displaying artwork of women mostly naked other than an object covering their vulnerabilities. The artist is a male which made me question his target audience or purpose in creating the art. The name of his page too is “h_rny.art” and the creator is Ilya Gureev. He has around 37k followers which also makes me question if he just bought followers and the instagram verified tag. He is a talented artist and the artwork is very vibrant and creative, however, the whole aim w objectively portraying women with objects covering them. Just thought it was interesting and wanted to hear if anyone disagrees or shares the concern. https://www.instagram.com/h_rny.art?igsh=bGhpeDFhbDBmemdn

  Harm Reduction Workshop Reflection  Going to the Harm Reduction Workshop helped me better understand ideas that I have been learning this semester. Before the workshop, I mostly thought about substance use and sexual health in a general way, but this experience showed me how these topics connect to bigger social issues like stigma, inequality, and representation. One of the main ideas we talk about in class is how society judges people differently based on their gender, race, and identity. This came up a lot in the workshop. Harm reduction is about helping people stay safe without judging them for their choices. This connects to what we learned about stigma. People who use substances or are open about their sexual health are often judged, especially women and LGBTQ+ people. The workshop showed me that instead of blaming people, it is more helpful to support them and give them resources to stay safe. Hearing from Azhane Powell made this even clearer. It was powerful to hear...

 More allegations of Michael Jackson sexually assaulting children have came out. Michael Jackson claimed that the Cascio family was like his second family, and four out of five children have come out and accused him of sexually assaulting them. They have claimed that since they were younger, they were brainwashed by him and were trained to defend him against other allegations. In an interview with Oprah in 2011, they even came out and had said that he never assaulted them. These claims never came out before because they claimed to be "too overwhelmed" by the situations, and it wasn't until 2019 when they watched the documentary Leaving Neverland, they were able to compare the experiences in the documentary to their own.  There were many years of back and forth about lawsuits, which the siblings were able to get $16 million from Jackson's estate distributed over the span of 5 years. However, once those 5 years were coming to an end, they demanded more money or else the...

Modern Family is a huge deal in pop culture because it changed how we see families on TV. Instead of the "perfect" families from old shows, it showed a big, messy group that actually looks like the real world. By including a same-sex couple, a blended family, and people from different backgrounds, it made viewers feel seen and helped others understand lives different from their own. The show was also famous for its "mockumentary" style. There was no background laughter, and the characters often looked right at the camera or did private interviews. This made the audience feel like they were part of the family, making the jokes feel more personal and real. The show was important because it used humor to tackle everyday problems. Whether it was a parent trying too hard to be cool or siblings bickering, the situations were relatable to everyone. It proved that no matter how a family is built, the love and craziness are the same for everyone. It helped move society forwa...

  Public Strategist, leadership consultant, and also Coastal Carolina alumni Kelli Williams. In the celebration of Civil Rights activist, Ella Baker, Williams used the younger generation as a way to fight for change and how to find hope. A question she asked that stuck out to me was “How do we cultivate hope while fighting for a change?” What is the hope that keeps us motivated for a change? “Hope is a decision” she explained to us. Hope was used to guide us through her discussion of what it means to want change and fight for it. She really looked to us students in the room, trying to activate and spark something in us when it came to change as it doesn’t come or happen overnight.  We discussed moments in which change has happened, but the struggles that are still lingering in our society: We discussed things such as Civil Rights for African Americans, how that fight is still there and even among LGBTQ+ folks when it comes to gay marriage. We discussed the changes within the c...

I n the early days of audio technology, it was believed that higher-pitched voices were easier to hear over background noise, a factor in choosing female voices for airplane cockpits, despite later studies that showed little difference in intelligibility. A 2019 UNESCO report, "I'd Blush If I Could," noted that the prevalence of female voices reinforces harmful gender stereotypes, presenting AI as docile, obedient, and available to take orders without complaint. In recent years, the trend has shifted slightly due to ethical concerns about reinforcing gender stereotypes. Many companies now allow users to change the default voice and offer options that are gender-neutral or non-binary, such as the "Q" voice assistant. The article I read (link below) discusses how AI is used to promote female voices, eliminate jobs that are historically female (receptionists, data entry clerks), and use female robots in advertising that the 'woman' will be available 24/7 an...

I recently saw Michael in theaters and it was honestly amazing and way better than I expected. The movie shows Michael Jackson growing up and starting his career with The Jackson 5 and then slowly becoming a solo artist while also dealing with his family and all the pressure around him. I thought it was really interesting how the movie showed how he created his songs and came up with ideas because it made me see how talented he really was. When the music played in the theater I was literally dancing in my seat the whole time because the songs are so good and it made the movie even more fun to watch. Another crazy part was that the actor who played Michael was actually his real life nephew Jaafar Jacksonand he looked and acted just like him which kind of shocked me because it felt so real like I was watching the actual Michael Jackson. The movie ends when he is about 25 years old and on tour and then it says his story will continue which made me really want a part two because I feel lik...

I recently saw the CCU Theatre Department’s mainstage performance of Rhinoceros, and I went in completely blind. Growing up around theatre, I was used to musicals more than plays, so I had never even heard of this show before. I did not know what to expect, but it ended up being one of the funniest performances I have ever seen. The play is set around the time of World War II in a small French town where people slowly start turning into rhinoceroses. It sounds strange, but it is actually a metaphor for conformity during that time, showing how people followed the crowd even when it was dangerous. Even with that deeper meaning, the show was still hilarious. From the start, the cast brought so much energy and passion to the stage. You could tell they really cared about their craft. Every actor fully committed to the weird and absurd world of the play, which made it even funnier. Their timing and expressions kept the audience laughing the entire time. One of my favorite moments was with t...

 For this week‘s blog post I wanted to talk about something that I have been seeing all over my TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook on every shade room there is imaginable. Klay Thompson has been accused of cheating on Megan Thee Stallion. So far there is no confirmed proof of them even being in an exclusive relationship. But when celebrities get together, people take it more seriously, so even hanging out can cause the media to think they’re together. One thing I do hate about the media is that all these celebrities made it so that people can’t go out with their friends without it seeming like somebody has to be in a relationship with another person in their friend group. In pop culture, when people get involved with celebrity drama, they tend to treat celebrities like the character they’re used to playing in a show, expecting all the drama and the plot twist that the show has even though this is still their real life. Today alone I saw at least 10 posts about “Klay fumbling the bag....

 When someone like Megan Thee Stallion opens up about being cheated on, it hits differently because people tend to assume fame protects you from that kind of pain. It doesn’t. Just like when Shakira went through her very public breakup, it reminded everyone that betrayal isn’t about status, it’s about trust being broken. When celebrities experience cheating, it almost amplifies how universal the issue is. If someone successful, admired, and seemingly untouchable can be hurt like that, it makes people question what security in a relationship even looks like. It can create this lingering fear that if it happened to them, what about me? That mindset can quietly shape how people approach love, making them more guarded, more skeptical, and sometimes less willing to be vulnerable, even when vulnerability is exactly what relationships need to survive. Do public stories of cheating make you more cautious in relationships, or do they not affect how you trust people?

Taylor Swift  remains one of the most influential artists in pop culture because she continuously evolves while maintaining a strong connection with her audience. She began as a country singer and successfully transitioned into pop, and later explored indie and alternative sounds, showing her ability to adapt without losing her identity. Her songwriting is another major reason for her impact, as she is known for telling detailed, emotional stories that many fans find relatable. She also has a strong presence on social media, where she engages directly with fans and builds anticipation for new music releases. Beyond music, she influences fashion trends, album release strategies, and even the way artists tour, especially with large-scale productions like her Eras Tour. Her ability to reinvent each “era” of her career keeps audiences interested and invested. Overall, her combination of talent, storytelling, and cultural awareness helps her stay relevant across generations.

Noah Kahan just released his new album, The Great Divide. This is Noah's fourth studio album and he has received a lot of praise for the album. Noah is known for writing some sadder songs; If you now of his music some songs that might come to mine could be Orange Juice , Growing Sideways , Paul Revere , etc. I personally love the album, so far I think my favorite songs are Willing and Able , and The Great Divide . Noah's social media team made a post asking if everyone was okay after the album to which some people in the comments responded "Completely unwell thanks for asking!", "Genuinely what is your problem why would you ask me that right now", "I canceled Therapy today no joke". There is a running joke within Noah's fanbase that his music is so sad that his fans need therapy because of the ways they can relate the songs to their own lives. Overall, I really love the album and I hope the songs on the album keep climbing on charts for at leas...

When we talk about the gender pay gap, it’s so easy to imagine office jobs, corporate ladders, and salary negotiations. But the differences show up just as clearly, if not so much more in pop culture, sometimes in ways that are way harder to ignore. For example, Coachella, one of the biggest music festivals in the world I would say. This year, conversations were brought up around the difference in pay between Justin Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter. Despite Sabrina giving a widely praised, beautiful set that resonated with so many audiences, reports suggest she earned significantly less than Justin, whose appearance many critics described as extremely underwhelming. This isn’t just about two artists in general. It reflects a pattern in the music industry, where male performers are often looked at more highly, booked more prominently, and paid more generously than their female counterparts. Even when women drastically outperform men, artistically, commercially, or culturally, their labor is...

       This weekend, I was able to see CCU's production of the play, Rhin oceros,  written by  Eugène Ionesco. I absolutely loved the message, the comedy, and the talent that was presented on stage! It is a very important show, emphasizing themes of conformity and individuality, and mass ideology. While the writing is fantastic, I took a moment to think about the show from a WGST perspective and consider how the portrayal of the female characters might reflect the time it was written.     The female characters in the play are not fully developed characters, acting more as symbols or catalysts for the male protagonist. Specifically, the main love interest Daisy, who represents calmness and empathy (which are stereotypically associated with femininity). Daisy is less of an individual character and more of an emotional test for the leading man. After researching more about the play, I found that it was written in 1959, which gives some context to the...

 For my last blog, I do not really have something as big to share as everyone else, so I just wanted to share one more YouTuber I watch for feminist or trend reviews. Becauseimmissy_, or Missy for short, makes videos poking fun at ridiculous trends on TikTok or a hot topic of debate for the week. She has covered Tradwives, Utah Tok, and TikTok Military Wives. She shows her perspective as an ex-pick me and shows how patriarchal our media is wrapped up. While her content is more entertaining than a full essay channel, she still makes me more aware and keeps up with what is happening in the media. TikTok is especially huge and a big place for trends or pop culture. She is a fun channel to watch and involves her husband occasionally. They are an interracial couple, and she also has a perspective on how fetishized asian women can be. She makes parody shorts or TikToks on the trends she covers, or whatever ridiculous thing is happening. I recommend checking her out if you haven't. www.yo...

  CANADIAN artistic director and photographer, Petra Collins rose to popularity in the 2010s for the dream-like, striking aesthetic of her photography sets, but also how she's able to capture the female gaze in her photographs. Ironically enough, this same aesthetic is presented in the early season of the HBO 2019 show, Euphoria , starring actress Zendaya as drug addict Rue. Directed and written by American director Sam Levinson, Euphoria stands out within its earlier seasons for its stunning, striking cinematography and lighting choices, as well as makeup to represent the youth of teenage years, but it's used even more to highlight and romanticize the euphoric sensations Rue experiences when she's high.  Originally, Levinson had approached Collins to direct the series due to the inspiration he took from her photography, claiming that he had centered the narratives of the show around her photography. Unfortunately, Collins was not picked up for the project, however, almost ...

       Since 2021, pop culture icon Britney Spears has been free from her 13-year conservatorship. As defined by journalist Eric Reed, " A conservatorship is a form of legal guardianship for an adult. Under this structure you, the conservator, have legal authority over certain aspects of the conservatee’s life. This can range from a limited conservatorship, which addresses only specific matters such as health or finances, to a full conservatorship, in which you essentially have the same rights and responsibilities that a parent does over a child." Until 2021, it was alleged that Britney was horribly abused in many aspects, primarily by her father who was her sole conservator beginning in 2008. Her freedom in 2021 was a relief for many of Britney's die-hard fans and sparked a huge conversation surrounding mental health.       Since then, Britney has written a memoir and gained freedoms in her life she hadn't had since the early 2000's. Things seeme...

 Personally, I do not really listen to Taylor Swift, but my best friend back home does, and that is all she talks about sometimes. So I decided to write my blog about her. Taylor Swift is becoming one of the most listened to artists in the world, and to me, that shows how much power women can have. But her success is not just about the music she produces; it is also about how she is a white woman and how she has more fame, media, and other things than women of color in the music industry do.  She is extremely wealthy, so that helps her in the area of resources for her image, tour, and other brands in ways that other smaller artists cannot have. However, at the same time, being a woman, she is often criticized because all she writes about is relationships and dating, even though some male artists do the same exact thing. This can show how woman that are in pop culture can be very powerful but also can face the double standard between gender and race.