Fairy tales have more substance to them than Disney would have you believe; despite the common perception of fairy tales as cute little stories that always end with a "happily ever after," in reality, fairy tales are a bit more complex. One such way this complexity is evident is in the way that fairy tales have evolved and transformed over time, being shaped by issues such as … [Read more...] about Modern Classics: Once Upon a Time
Archives for 2012
TV Culture: Does the TV Industry Need Affirmative Action?
Over the past year, there has been much talk of color-blind casting, and the lack thereof, in primetime television. While Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal, is praised for not considering race when casting a show, Lena Dunham, creator of the new hit HBO series, Girls, was harshly criticized for turning a blind eye to her colorless cast. … [Read more...] about TV Culture: Does the TV Industry Need Affirmative Action?
Brain Fodder: Big Kid Toys
Apple’s newest toys have many looking at their wallets and crying just a bit. Of course, the reviews by consumer electronics blogs take window-shopping to a new level. Of all the gadgets and gizmos talked about, the one that I wish I could drop a pretty penny on isn’t an Apple product though. One of the more eye-catching products puts even the highly-anticipated iPad (retina … [Read more...] about Brain Fodder: Big Kid Toys
Cinderella Goes to War
Kurt Vonnegut seemed to like the story of Cinderella. He alluded to it often. I submit that he went so far as to write his own version. He called it Slaughterhouse-Five. My claim may well be preposterous. Slaughterhouse-Five is not shiny or moralistic like fairy tales. It breaks most of the rules of narrative that fairy tales, particularly Cinderella, rigidly follow. Yet there … [Read more...] about Cinderella Goes to War
TV Culture: Is “Mad Men” Racist?
I hopped on the Mad Men bandwagon extremely late. In fact, I started watching the first season just a few weeks ago for a television writing class. Mad Men has done spectacular things for television since its anticipated debut in 2007. The series has garnered praise for its dedicated exploration of vintage New York and its sobering depictions of gender roles in 1960s America. … [Read more...] about TV Culture: Is “Mad Men” Racist?