How TikTok failed to take down Perez Hilton’s livestream
The celebrity blogger was hospitalised after allegedly harming himself on a TikTok livestream. Now the platform is reckoning with the consequences. Last Tuesday, celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton (born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.) appeared on a TikTok livestream naked, covered in a red substance that appeared to be blood, and...
Current in Media
Do we ever have the right to comment on someone’s body?
Public fixation over Ariana Grande’s appearance has driven the star to retreat from the spotlight. Where do we draw the line between scrutiny and concern when it comes to women’s bodies? Ariana Grande has lived half of her life in the spotlight. She’s had a hugely successful music career during...
Toy Story 5 comes for big tech, but does the moral lesson land?
The latest instalment in the beloved franchise tackles a new villain: the iPad. But what does ‘Toy Story 5’ get wrong about kids and screentime? Since the first film dropped way back in 1995, Toy Story has warmed hearts and raised minds with its ragtag group of friends. Each iteration...
Olivia Wilde’s experience reflects the misogyny framing age gaps
The actor Olivia Wilde spoke out about the response to her relationship with singer Harry Styles, which involved years of public shaming and criticism. Olivia Wilde has enjoyed a highly successful career as both an actor and filmmaker. But, as is often the case for high-profile women, it is a...
Levi’s subverts World Cup rules for social media campaign
Levi’s isn’t allowed to show its logo during World Cup games at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium this year. After being forced to cover up with a white sheet, the company has embraced the meme and utilised it across its social media channels. What does Levi’s, a globally recognised...
Opinion – The Odyssey casting meltdown misses the whole point
Actor Lupita Nyong’o has faced backlash over her role as Helen of Troy in the upcoming film. But fury surrounding her casting says more about our narrow understanding of identity than our interest in historical accuracy. When Christopher Nolan, purveyor of the epic thriller and sprawling cinematic project, announced he...
Murdoch’s son buys Vox Media assets worth $300m USD
James Murdoch, the son of famed media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has announced a deal to purchase New York Magazine from Vox Media. He will also acquire Vox’s news site and podcast network. Son of Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch, has announced a new deal with Vox Media worth $300 million USD. He is set to acquire New York Magazine, Vox’s news website, and its podcast network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph9OTBEuDdg The deal will be through...
Unpacking the moral dilemma of A24’s ‘The Drama’
Kristoffer Borgli’s 'The Drama' is less about cinematic clout and more an intelligent rumination on the systematic factors that situate us in the wrong place at the wrong time. On top of this, it offers an exercise in morality to determine, ultimately, how your morals lie with who you lie with. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ‘THE DRAMA’ ‘But of course you’d forgive Zendaya. It’s Zendaya!’ my friend quips as we exit...
The rage bait economy is officially a public safety issue
Controversial streamer ‘Chud the Builder’ has been charged with attempted murder after a heated altercation with a stranger ended in a shooting outside a Tennessee courthouse. If Dalton Eatherly, better known online as ‘Chud the Builder,’ has somehow escaped your feed, consider yourself lucky. His brand of rage bait is exactly the kind of content that keeps the attention economy thriving. In the most predictable set of circumstances ever, the 28-year-old...
AI will not be winning any Oscars
As artificial intelligence continues to threaten intellectual property, the announcement is a sigh of relief for those working in the creative industries. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has clarified that only acting and writing for films done by humans will be considered eligible to win an Academy Award. A few years ago, it would’ve been hard to take that statement seriously. But in the age of AI,...
