Unless you’ve been living under a rock—or you’re pure of heart—you’ve probably heard of Wicker (2026). And if you’re like me, when the first official trailer came out on July 30th, 2026, your entire FYP on TikTok was flooded with clips, ads, and discussions over the movie. The film starring Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård […]
Read More Wicker (2026): A Wicker Man Argument on Women’s LiteratureAfter a long 148 days, the WGA and SAG-AFTRA have finally reached an agreement to end the writers’ strike in Hollywood. The strike began over the summer due to inadequate pay as well as the growing concerns of AI replacing writers. An agreement was reached that will significantly increase writers’ wages along with many other […]
Read More The end of the writers’ strike: effect on feminism in hollywoodBarbie and Oppenheimer catapulted box office sales in a cultural phenomenon referred to as “Barbenheimer,” with people heralding both movie’s tremendous success as the revival of cinema. As audiences slowly trickle out of the theaters and into their homes to watch movies from the comfort of their own living rooms and beds, Barbie and Oppenheimer […]
Read More The Hazardous History of OppenheimerOn Tuesday, March 28th, I attended a film series hosted by JMU’s Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. This event was located within JMU’s campus on the ground floor in Burris Hall. The movie was introduced by JMU’s French Professor Dr. Dorothee Polanz and was entitled “Portrait of a Lady on Fire.” In a […]
Read More Portrait of a Lady on Fire: A WGSS Film Series EventWill Smith and Chris Rock may have stolen the media’s attention from this year’s Oscars, but don’t let that distract you from the list of achievements from stars in marginalized communities. Award shows are known for their history of being white-washed and male dominant. Insider lists some scary statistics, including the fact that 89% of […]
Read More Inclusion & The OscarsLast week, my class SMAD 462: Documentary in Film and TV participated in the Reel Change Film Festival at Court Square Theater. The purpose of this festival was to expose issues relevant to JMU and the greater Harrisonburg community in order to educate, engage, and impact audiences while also celebrating the documentary medium as a […]
Read More Us Kids: the power of youth activism in the fight against gun violenceThe release of Pixar’s Turning Red has stirred up a conversation about whether or not it is appropriate to have puberty be a subject in a children’s film. Are movies like this a step in the right direction to normalizing periods for young girls or is it too advanced for Disney’s audience?
Read More Turning Red: The Importance of Normalizing Periods for Young GirlsTransgender representation is severely lacking in the media. When transgender characters are included in TV shows and movies, they are often portrayed in stereotypical ways that can consequently be harmful to the trans community. Additionally, male actors are often hired to portray trans women, which pushes the narrative that trans women are no more than […]
Read More Media representation of the transgender communityOne show that has all the fixings for a great but silly story…BUT, there’s a big elephant in the room we need to talk about.
Read More Bridgerton, Great Show…But ProblematicHow many UPB-chosen movies pass the Bechdel test?
Read More Is UPB Bringing Gender Inclusive Movies to JMU?