Media is a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, so integrated that we cannot live without being affected by it. What we watch shapes our perception on topics, it changes our behaviors, and it has become a major part of our culture. Research from the National Center for Health Statistics from July 2021 – December 2023 revealed that teenagers from the ages of 12-17 spend four or … [Read more...] about Media Literacy Guide for Minorities
Representation
Inclusion in Star Wars
It is a period of civil war... The very first words from the title crawl of Star Wars foreshadows what would eventually happen to fans of the franchise over forty years after the words were written into the crawl. It is no secret that since the Disney-acquisition and the dawn of a new era of Star Wars, the fan base has been completely divided. Following the release of Star … [Read more...] about Inclusion in Star Wars
The Unrealistic Portrayal of High School in Teen Dramas
High school is a formative time for teens. Many teens get their first jobs, meet their first loves, learn to balance responsibilities, and experience a period of growth and self discovery. While all of these social, professional, and mental milestones are being met, these teens are also balancing the work of eight subjects and extracurriculars. For years, teen dramas have … [Read more...] about The Unrealistic Portrayal of High School in Teen Dramas
If It Bleeds, It Leads: Crime Reporting
Picture this: It’s 5 o’clock on a Tuesday night. You just got home from work and you turn on the news, local or national. On the screen, you see police tape, mugshots, crying victims, and maybe some blood on the pavement. You might feel shocked at what you are seeing; the crime reporting might concern you. Now imagine scenes like that are on every night. Crime … [Read more...] about If It Bleeds, It Leads: Crime Reporting
Body Image in the Age of Social Media
In today's day and age, we are all very aware of media concerns regarding all types of topics. The one that truly stands out to all ages is a person's body image on social media. Images of women are everywhere because of celebrities and influencers. Popular film and television actresses are becoming younger, taller and thinner. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that … [Read more...] about Body Image in the Age of Social Media
The Twists of Turning Red
I had the distinct pleasure the other day of sitting down to watch Pixar/Disney's new feature called Turning Red. Now why was it a distinct pleasure? Because my guest for the screening was my 8-year-old godchild. She happens to be the daughter of Moroccan and Arabic parents. She has a very outsized personality and a vocabulary to match. She had seen the film once before me and … [Read more...] about The Twists of Turning Red
Cartoons: Stereotypes and Social Awareness
A topic that I’ve thought about for a while is how cartoons are changing in the midst of our modern society with cancel culture. In recent times, people have spoken out against certain cartoon characters as they portray qualities that reflect current social issues. One example of recent controversy was the removal of the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from The Simpsons. Apu … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Stereotypes and Social Awareness
Lil Nas X
About a month or so ago, I got into a vehement argument with a good friend of mine. Our passionate conversation escalated quickly, and it reached a newfound intensity for most of our debates. And yet, the debate emerged from a very casual, unassuming subject: a music video. We discussed Rapper and Popstar Lil Nas X’s “MONTERO (Call me by your name)” music video. In part, I … [Read more...] about Lil Nas X
