For decades, Africa has often been portrayed in the media as a "dark continent," a place defined by poverty, conflict, and lack of resources. Examples of this stereotype can be found in movies such as Blood Diamond (2007) or Out of Africa (1985), where the African characters and African continent are demoralized, all while the white protagonists are depicted as “saviors” of the … [Read more...] about Reimagining Africa: Black Panther and the Power of Afrofuturism
Articles
Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates
The primary objective characteristic of beauty is visual light. Live concerts, candlelight dinners, and sunsets all have a beauty that essentially lies in light. The ambiance is the secondary measure of beauty. The balance of other senses. What’s the weather like? What do I hear in my surroundings? Am I enjoying a meal throughout this? Am I in a fancy dress or a cozy … [Read more...] about Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates
Genre Evolution of the Romantic Musical
The modernist film The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) and the post-modernist film La La Land (2016) demythologize the romantic musical genre by separating the once infatuated romantic leads of each respective film in order to refute the genre’s idealistic myth that achieving one’s dreams always occurs perfectly with the lover they originally shared them … [Read more...] about Genre Evolution of the Romantic Musical
S.C. vs. ‘SC: an Investigation of the Relationship between the University of Southern California, and South-Central Los Angeles
The University of Southern California has been my dream school since I was a freshman in high school. At fourteen years old, a family friend asked me what my dream career was, and I told her that I wanted to be a film director. She then recommended that I go to USC, because it’s the best film school in the world. So, I worked tirelessly throughout high school to affirm … [Read more...] about S.C. vs. ‘SC: an Investigation of the Relationship between the University of Southern California, and South-Central Los Angeles
Prisoner Reentry & Employment: Re-evaluating Self-Efficacy
In the United States, a large number of prisoners face urgent employment barriers for reintegration upon their release. The United States imprisoned the greatest number of its citizens than any other country, and it houses approximately 25% of the world’s total incarcerated population (Welbeck 1). No other country at the current moment or in the recorded history has put these … [Read more...] about Prisoner Reentry & Employment: Re-evaluating Self-Efficacy