Everyone and Their Mother is an Influencer
Celebrity culture; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful; a symbiotic relationship between the viewer and viewed. It is an ever-present part of the human experience. I’m sure that somewhere thousands of years ago there was a caveman known for being particularly strong, and everyone in the cave cheered for Oorg of the Large Biceps and His Mandible-Crushing Hands.
“Don’t Worry Darling” Movie Review
Through systematic novels such as Brave New World and The Handmaid’s Tale, everyone is familiar with the trope of dystopian worlds and repressive societies. Although Olivia Wilde’s new film, “Don’t Worry Darling”, is classified as utopian, it is also classified under a “psychological thriller,” which doesn’t necessarily blend well with the emotions “utopia” invokes in audience members.
“Look Past the Rainbow”: Rainbow Capitalism
Monisha Mukherjee June 1st was upon us, and with it the rainbows descended. The first pride parade in two years was nearing and I was beyond excited for the festivities, the love, and let’s be honest, the outfits. I was ready to dress as chaotic as I wanted and then ride the metro like it […]
PrideFest 2022
With multi-colored balloons cascading on the bridge over James River, walking into a portal of multiple flags and accepting love through the air, PrideFest 2022 has officially launched.
Capes and Tights: Pop Culture’s Commodification of Comic Books
If you’ve been on the internet recently, you’ve probably heard of the upcoming Marvel film, Thor: Love and Thunder. Slated to hit theaters in July of this year, it’s being set up as the summer installment of Disney’s blockbuster franchise, the Marvel Cinematic Universe,
An Interview with Catch the Fire
About a month ago I was lucky enough to be able to sit down with some of the leaders of Virginia Commonwealth University’s Black Student Advocacy group to talk about their inspiring club, their struggles and hopes for the future and the sense of community they foster.
An Interview with Artist Aaron Tran: How World Issues Influence His Art and the Meaning Behind His Powerful Imagery.
In Jan 2022, I had the pleasure of talking with Aaron Tran. Aaron is a Junior in the Communication Arts department, a member of the Asian community, and my friend. Aaron’s art often confronts world issues, in 2020, he made t-shirts using imagery from the Black Lives Matter protests and donated his profits to organizations that supported the movement.
Sampling (Music): A Way to Reimagine Songs
The highlight of my middle school days were flipping through channels in the 900s range on Cox Cable. I would spend countless hours listening to music on the Music Choice channels. The service accompanied an endless range of genres from Rock to Soul, and with it, I was constantly immersed in new hit sounds.
The Climate Crisis is the Next COVID Crisis
Over the past few years, the world has experienced more noticeable and dramatic climate disasters than ever before, and yet our response has overall been stagnant. During this last year, I realized that the reaction to the worsening undeniable effects of climate change reminded me of the way the world reacted to another crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unsung Heroes: Fashion
For Black History Month, Ink Staff members created the Unsung Heroes to highlight black pioneers and trailblazers who have paved the way for new generations of people of color. Unsung Heroes: Fashion highlights five trailblazers who are the blueprint and appreciated throughout the fashion industry.
Black History Month Unsung Heroes: The World of Rock
The influence of Black culture on music in the past 100 years is not only obvious, but priceless. From Robert Johsnon to Bad Brains and Duke Ellington to Thundercat, Black musicians across the globe have time and time again influenced the trends and directions of music, like Coltrane’s solo on “Giant Steps” and Hendrix’s use of the dominant 7 sharp 9 chord.
Androgyny as a Form of Liberation
In October of 2021, actor Billy Porter shared his thoughts on Harry Styles’ appearance in Vogue: “I had to fight my entire life to get to the place where I could wear a dress to the Oscars and not be gunned down. All he has to do is be white and straight.” Porter later issued a public apology after much criticism- but why?