Should cis-gender actors ever play trans characters?
Actor Park Sung-hoon has been criticised for playing a trans woman in the latest season of Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’. But those defending his casting say the issue of on-screen trans representation is more complex and layered than we'd like to think. Squid Game’s second season is one of the most...
Current in Media
Chinese blockbuster Her Story sparks feminist discussion globally
The last week of November saw an unexpected champion at the Chinese box office. But beyond the numbers, ‘Her Story’ has ignited debates about feminism, representation, and the global lens through which Chinese culture is often viewed. It’s unusual for a comedy drama, no less a feminist one, to smash...
Musicians could lose €4 billion to generative AI every year
A first-of-its-kind economic study predicts that, in just four years, a quarter of music artists could see their earnings sabotaged by the rise of AI generated tracks. It’s getting harder and harder to trust the authenticity of ‘leaked’ songs from our favourite artists these days, and that’s all thanks to...
Opinion – it’s time to abandon our ‘always on’ culture
While smartphones have granted humans the remarkable ability to stay in touch from anywhere in the world, we need to acknowledge the consequences of never getting a chance to properly 'shut off'. Throughout history, no other group of human beings have lived the way we do, that is, completely immersed...
Whoopi Goldberg launches women’s sport network
US comedian and television host Whoopi Goldberg has launched All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), a new 24/7 global women’s sports channel. Women have historically been excluded and discouraged from practicing sports. During childhood, girls constantly hear phrases like ‘you run like a girl’ and ‘you kick like a girl’ – phrases...
Are brands crossing a line in the pursuit of relevance?
The widespread mocking of Gary Barlow’s son proves that virality alone should not equate marketability. Oh boy, does the internet love a spectacle. Over the past week, a photograph of Gary Barlow’s son, Daniel, towering above his dad, went viral. The memes arrived shortly after, and overnight Daniel became a...
Explaining the controversy around the Mexican song ‘Tu boda’
Is it problematic for musicians to use femicide as inspiration for their art? In the last few weeks, the public has expressed mixed opinions over the release of the song “Tu boda” by Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida. The song has gone viral on social media and has secured the number one spot on Spotify Mexico, despite – or perhaps in spite of – the serious controversy surrounding it. Assessing online...
The Film and TV industry reckons with its own shortcomings
Reports of staff abuse and toxic work environments, particularly amongst Runners, are forcing industry regulators to face uncomfortable truths. The film and TV industry is often sold as a world of glitz and glamour, a pipeline to the stars where creativity reigns and dreams come true. But for the runners – entry-level staff usually overworked and under-paid work – this is often far from reality. After actor Richard E. Grant recently spoke...
Let’s talk about MEXCLA Spotify: Palenque, Feria y Cotorreo
The festival, organised by the music streaming platform Spotify, was a celebration of Mexican artists, culture, and tradition. Last weekend – November 2nd and 3rd – the MEXCLA festival organized by Spotify took place. It had a 100 percent Mexican lineup, becoming the first festival of its kind in the country. According to Spotify, the streams of Mexican artists have increased 100 percent year on year since 2013, making it one...
This company is pressing indie music onto vinyl postcards
The first record subscription of its kind, Vinyl Post is bring back the nostalgia of listening to new music releases on vinyl flexi discs. I'm currently going through a “music lover” era, and I need to find more ways to enjoy music other than the conventional random playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. Thanks to TikTok, I found something that might fulfil that need. It's called: Vinyl Post Record Club. Unlike...
