By Makiah Green Ryan Murphy and Ali Adler's new comedy series, The New Normal, aired for it's anticipated debut last week on NBC. In its attempt to redefine societal norms and family values, the pilot episode, instead, reinforces the modern familiar. Though the coincidental family depicted on The New Normal certainly doesn't reflect traditional American values, it is in … [Read more...] about TV Culture: “The New Normal” is Hardly New
Archives for 2012
Strangers in a Strange Land
By Amy Schilit You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt – Exodus 22:21 Last Passover, as I was walking in Jaffa, I passed a theatrical demonstration against the government’s treatment of plitim. Intrigued and confused about the meaning of the word, I walked through the demonstration to observe the actors as they … [Read more...] about Strangers in a Strange Land
The Rise of Waco Bill
Z woke up to find some white girl in horn-rimmed glasses – and she wasn’t trying to be hip, here – poking at his arm like she was priming a lawnmower. Girl was maybe eight, all freckled up with a bush of red hair on her scalp. Z picked his head up off the table, trying to hold on to some wispy dream, but it was already gone by the time she opened her mouth full of metal and … [Read more...] about The Rise of Waco Bill
Holy Engineering Feasibility, Batman!
By Michelle Dee Across various modes of media, from comic books to movies, Batman has distinguished himself from other superheroes through his unique superpower: technology. He may not have laser eyes like Cyclops, but you’ll find no cooler car than the Batmobile. Even if he can’t punch nuclear missiles in the face like Superman or run at the speed of sound like the Flash, … [Read more...] about Holy Engineering Feasibility, Batman!
Caring When You Can’t Cure
By Charlie Mach Although recent healthcare reform in the United States aimed to cease rapidly increasing medical costs, the final legislation failed to adequately address one of the greatest contributors to such high costs: excess care received towards the end of life (EOL). Those in their last year of life account for only five percent of patients, yet they account for nearly … [Read more...] about Caring When You Can’t Cure